Birds in Berlin is written by Adrienne Eaton.
While living in Berlin, I kept a blog recording the birds I spotted in the city, either from my balcony looking over the Tiergarten or on my regular jaunts around town.
I no longer live in Berlin, but I’m still maintaining this site as a resource for birders and will happily hear your suggestions and do my best to answer questions.
If you’d like to know more about me and my projects, please visit my personal website.
Recordings that I have made of bird songs can be found here, on the wonderful website Xeno Canto.
To send me an e-mail, please fill out the form below:
Hi Adrienne, my wife and I are visiting Berlin from the UK. We are staying at the lovely Adlon Hotel which is well placed for Tiergarten.
Our trip is sightseeing and shopping but your blog inspired me to walk through Tiergarten this morning (in glorious sunshine). I did not have my binoculars but the bird life was prolific – you don’t hear so many birds singing in an English woodland – never mind a city park.
I was even fortunate enough to see a Goshawk being chased through the forest by two Hooded Crows. Also many Nightingales singing (they are quite rare in the UK) and I even saw one very well even down to watching his beak moving as he burst into song!
I also heard many Blackcaps singing (and saw one clearly) plus a singing Wood Warbler and also a singing Redstart (but didn’t see the latter but it sounded like a Redstart).
We are hoping to spend more time in Tiergarten tomorrow as we would like to see the Mandarin Ducks (on your blog today) and Red Squirrels – which are very rare in the UK.
Keep up the good work!
Steve Hearn
Devon (UK)
Dear Steve,
I’m so glad to hear that you like the blog and are enjoying the incredible bird songs in the Tiergarten! Could you let me know where you saw the Goshawk? I haven’t seen one in my usual haunts for a while, and I’d like to know where they are spending their time.
I happen to be in London at the moment (and have certainly noticed the lack of nightingales here) but am enjoying the far greater number of singing robins and the incredible variety of waterfowl. I hope to get out tomorrow and explore the bird life on the Thames. I hear so many lovely bird songs that I don’t recognize here, so I also look forward to finding some new favorite birds.
Thanks so much for writing. I hope the rest of your time in Berlin is wonderful!
Adrienne
Hi Adrienne
Just spent a lovely hour or so walking through Tiergarten again.
Saw a new bird for us – initially recognised by an unfamiliar song (in the UK). The bird was in a treetop belting out his song and slightly silhouetted. However we then saw another bird very close and at eye level – both birds being Icterine Warblers. A lifer for me.
Also saw a Goshawk again (near the small pond at the east end of Tiergarten). The one I saw the other day was near the Brandenburger Tor entrance.
Also saw a few Spotted Flycatchers (new in?), 2 Tree Sparrows (very uncommon in southern England), very obliging Blackcaps, 2/3 Nightingales singing, a Robin, lots of Swifts and a few Swallows, Nuthatch, Grey Heron, Goldfinch, Song Thrush (singing) yesterday, Redstart.
The best city park we have been too (well, next to Sydney!).
Last day tomorrow – hoping to do an early walk through Tiergarten in the morning.
Hope you are enjoying rainy (!) London.
Regards
Steve Hearn
Hi Adrienne
Back in the UK now. Left Berlin yesterday with sunny skies and 26C – to cloudy skies and 9C !
Spent last morning in Tiergarten (from 7.45am to c10am). Saw similar birds to those already reported with a few singing Nightingales and another Icterine Warbler but also brief view of a Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, 3 Great Spotted Woodpeckers, Long Tailed Tit (like your recent photo), Wood Warbler, a Serin, plenty of Nuthatches, a Tree Sparrow and many Blackcaps.
We loved Berlin, the sights, architecture, history, shopping, the Berliners and of course Tiergarten.
We will definitely return and will follow your blog to remind us of a lovely break.
Steve Hearn