Being a bit of a Corvid fan, and half-German, I couldn't resist going somewhere to find Alpine Choughs on a visit to the Bavarian Alps in 2007. My aunt suggested a trip to the Rauschberg and I wasn't disappointed! As most, if not all, corvids are, the Choughs were bold and cheeky, and not at all shy of coming very close to take food from you, or harrassing diners at the restaurant for a share!
Hoping for his share:
Wandering off with a tasty snack:
In flight:
A closed mouth gathers no foot.
Wow Maisie!! What a fabulous set of photos!! Never seen any type of chough before (although hoping to get to South Stack soon). They are stunning looking birds and it's great to hear that they are equally cheeky and inquisitive as the other corvids! I'll have to see if there are any in the French Alps where I might see them!!
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Hi Maisie,
Choughs are very high on my birds to see wishlist!
Only ever seen them on TV or photos..... :(
I'm off to Dorset at the end of the month - I wonder if there are any down there?
Love the photos.....
Best wishes, Graham
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Cheating, I know, but there are a pair of the orange-beaked non-Alpine variety of choughs at Chester Zoo. They're pretty hard to get a photo of - when they do come out they're wheeling round the huge Europe on the Edge aviary at warp speed. Apparently they have their first chicks at the moment, so I'm hoping for some chough baby photos later in the year!
What lovely pictures Maisie. They look like they belong to the Jackdaw family.
Of all creatures, man is the most detestable, he is the only creature that inflicts pain for sport, knowing it to be pain. ~ Mark Twain
Yep, they're members of the crow family. They're probably about the same size as jackdaws, but a little less stocky, and without the head-fuzz-and-trousers-out bickering ;)
I first saw them in Interlaken in Switzerland about 23 years ago.
Wonderful cheeky birds they were too.
That was a great time if very expencive lol
Cheers
AL
If its no fun Yer no doin it right!
Hi Maisie
What beautiful pictures of your Alpine Chough - what a beauty. Great to have up so close and personal as you have posted.
I see that the bird the yellow beak, unlike the Choughs we have in the UK that have the red beak.
Regards
Kathy and Dave