Alex & Zvezdana Big Year 2017

[xelas]

Harris & Lewis / 27. - 31.  August 2017

 

 

BY290 / SCO 27

Northern Gannet - Morus bassanus

 

 

BY291 / SCO 28

Common Guillemot - Uria aalge

 

 

BY292 / SCO 29

Black Guillemot - Cepphus grylle

 

 

BY293 / SCO 30

Great Northern Diver - Gavia immer

 

 

BY294 / SCO 31

Northern Fulmar - Fulmarus glacialis

 

 

BY295 / SCO 32

Black-legged Kittiwake - Rissa tridactyla

 

 

 

[Dave Williams]

Getting closer, love the not so Black Guillemot, I have never seen one close in non breeding plumage.

[TonyQ]

Well done with the Hen Harrier - you did really well with that. Great to see the Short-eared Owl as well.

It looks like the trip to Scotland was very productive, even if the weather didn't always cooperate.

[Galana]

@xelas

I think @PeterHG and I are thinking Tufted female. f Scaup would have more white in summer plumage and then there is the distribution to think of  as well as it is mainly a winter visitor.

Great photos.

[xelas]

@Galana, your expert guidance I will always follow:

 

BY 283 / SCO 19

Tufted Duck - Aythya fuligula

[xelas]

BY 296 / SCO 33

European Golden Plover - Pluvialis apricaria

 

 

BY 297 / SCO 34

Goosander - Mergus merganser

 

 

BY 298 / SCO 35

Northern Wheatear - Oenanthe oenanthe

 

 

[PeterHG]

1 hour ago, Galana said:

@xelas

I think @PeterHG and I are thinking Tufted female. f Scaup would have more white in summer plumage and then there is the distribution to think of  as well as it is mainly a winter visitor.

Great photos.

 I agree with you there

[xelas]

 

BY 299 / SCO 36

Golden Eagle - Aquila chrysaetos

 

 

[xelas]

And finally. Much later then in 2016, but here we are: the famous # 300 !!

 

 

BY 300 / SCO 37

White-tailed Eagle - Haliaeetus albicilla

 

[Tdgraves]

@xelas congratulations on 300 - you still beat me to it!

[PeterHG]

Wow, @xelas, your eagle shots (and Zvezda's, of course) are truly stunning! What a sight that must have been. I hesitate a little, though, about your Golden Eagle id. To me it looks more like a juvenile White-tailed Eagle (size of and bill and wedge-shaped tail). Either way, I love these shots!

[Galana]

Oh dear @PeterHG. I was thinking the same. I think the wing bend at the 'thumb' is very prominent. Ironic to think the Juv Goldie has a white undertail whereas the juv WT does not.

Congrats on 300 up my friend.

[xelas]

Oh boy, when I will accumulate of of your knowledge?! The wing bend!! Luckily, I have a joker to replace #299 :

 

 

Crianlarich / 02. September 2017

 

 

BY 299 / SCO 36

Coal Tit - Periparus ater

[Peter Connan]

Congratulations on 300!

 

A sterling effort with some magnificent photos and birds!

[Towlersonsafari]

Also the white tail just looks more thuggish!!! hope you had a splendid time in Scotland-judging from the pictures it looks like you did! @xelas

[xelas]

25 minutes ago, Towlersonsafari said:

hope you had a splendid time in Scotland-judging from the pictures it looks like you did!

 

While the weather was not that splendid, we did have a splendid time on islands!

[TonyQ]

Congratulations on the magic 300 - and what a fine bird to achieve it! It has been a real pleasure following your thread.

[xelas]

15 minutes ago, TonyQ said:

Congratulations on the magic 300 - and what a fine bird to achieve it! It has been a real pleasure following your thread.

 

To be honest, I have cheated a little to be able to put the eagle as #300 ; glad that you are enjoying "our" birds from Scotland.

[PeterHG]

I'm glad you had your 'joker. @xelas ! Congratulations on reaching 300! An excellent number and the year is not over yet...

[xelas]

Seewinkel / 09. - 10.  September 2017

 

A year ago, we went to Seewinkel National Park with Michael and Andrew, and the weather was not very obliging, with drizzling rain. This year, despite of an initial hiccup (or should I say key-up) we have had much drier weather. However that resulted in very low level of all lakes and ponds, resulting in waders being at far distance from the shoreline. Luckily not all of them. Also birds of prey kept themselves high, like the harrier below. Being 100% crop the IQ is passable for another ebc.

 

 

BY 301 / AUT 01

Montagu's Harrier - Cyrcus pygargus

 

 

 

[xelas]

To improve on the extreme ebc quality of the harrier, here is a kestrel; first two photos in the morning and last two photos in the afternoon.

 

BY 302 / AUT 02

Common Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus

 

 

 

[Dave Williams]

Congrats on the 300, closing in on me fast Alex!

[xelas]

BY 303 / AUT 03

Eurasian Spoonbill - Platalea leucorodia

 

[xelas]

This bird was seen on both days, same place, and I assume is also the same bird.

 

BY 304 / AUT 04

Knot - Calidris canutus

 

 

[xelas]

BY 305 / AUT 05

Curlew Sandpiper - Calidris ferruginea