Our hide system was ready by the end of April and the first photo tour was a group of Swiss and Austrian photographers led by our old friend Beat Rüegger. Following the record breaking precipitation in 2010 the 2011 spring started with perfect dry and sunny weather. Luckily this continued all the way through the photo tour and our participants enjoyed some great moments.

Black-winged Stilts mating                                                                          Photo: Beat Rüegger

This week was deliberately positioned to be able to try for the shy Great Bustard and also to coincide with the arrival of the Red-footed Falcons. The group was lucky as they had experiences with both species. As soon as the Red-footed Falcons arrived they were busily into territorial fights and mating!

Red-footed Falcons mating                                                                        Photo: Beat Rüegger

The drinking pool hide was also very popular with up to 26 species per day(!) including several woodpeckers! The Shorebird hide with breeding plumages Ruffs and Black-winged Stilt was much appriciated too. One of the star attractions was the a confiding singing male Moustached Warbler right by our Pygmy Cormorant hide.

Moustached Warbler singing                                                                      Photo: Beat Rüegger

Some of the team managed to get some great images of Stone-curlew     Photo: Beat Rüegger

Sakertour Team