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Description
Sandberg is an uncovered sandstone hill peeking over the river Morava and the Austrian border. Sandberg itself is only a small part of the entire protected area of Devínska Kobyla. While the entire location is, generally said, a mix of grassland with occasional bushes and a fully grown forest.
Following the arrival of (Ευρωπαϊκός) Μελισσοφάγος from their spring migration, this location begins to swarm with more than a hundred individuals ready for the nesting season. The hill does not feature a bird hide. The best way to observe the birds is staying low and quiet to avoid disturbing them. You might consider bringing a small folding chair and binoculars. The birds tend to perch on the nearby trees while resting in between hunts, and fly deep down into the valley below where they nest in the sand wall of the hill. The nests themselves are not accessible, and should not be even approached – given that it is a protected area, but also an unstable sandy material, it is wise to keep to the path.
Besides the loud Bee-eaters, this area is home to many songbirds such as Αετομάχος, Κιτρινοστριτσίδα, Lesser Whitethroat, Σταχτομυγοχάφτης, finches like Σκαρθάκι, (Κοινός) Σπίνος or (Κοινή) Καρδερίνα which can all be observed in small bushes and trees scattered around. Common sights are also swifts and swallows, together with birds of prey like (Κοινή) Γερακίνα, Βραχοκιρκίνεζο or Ψαλιδιάρης. The route marked on the map is about 3 km long, so needless to say that with a few stops to observe the (Ευρωπαϊκός) Μελισσοφάγος, you will spend a few good hours birdwatching.
Details
Access
Sandberg is located about 15 km northwest of Bratislava. The specific location marked on the map is accessible on foot, either by walking up the hill from the nearest bus stop below the hill, or as a part of a full hike through the Devínska Kobyla national reserve, which is definitely also worth it. You can find quite a few parking lots around the hill, too. Press P on the map for directions to a parking spot.