While there can of course be only one headline act on a tour we titled Goshawks of Berlin, that's not to say the support acts didn't give them a serious run for their money....
In the leafy south-western borders of Berlin, Pfaueninsel - Peacock Island in English - is an island on the river Havel, reached by the shortest ferry crossing you can imagine (under a minute?) and famed for its, well, Peacocks, and odd, garish, Prisoner-esque follies. But for us, it's a birding paradise, within easy reach of the city centre....
... and boy, is it full of birds. We've enjoyed our recons here and were full of hope that the same diverse range of species would play ball for our visiting teams; we needn't have worried, with quality birding from start to finish.
Legendarily elusive (even when you know where they're supposed to be breeding), and therefore a real bonus for us was this magnificent pair of Black Woodpeckers, who had fortunately set up a territory right where we wanted them, a just a few minutes from the ferry..... a serious stroke of luck!
