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Alex & Zvezdana Big Year 2017


xelas

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@xelas, I have pm'd you, so as not to bore everyone else to death, just you...

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In quest for more birds we did a short last-minute birding trip to Parco Nazionale Delta di Po in Italy. One of the best places for birding in Italy with several locations is only 3 hrs drive from our home. We have visited two locations. First we have stopped at Comacchio.

 

 

BY 325 / ITA 01

Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis

59fb98dc49069_Yellow-leggedGullBA.JPG.7c8bdbfcac1a599226c6559fabe099e0.JPG

Salina di Comacchio, 29/10/2017

 

 

As gulls are awfully similar, two more photos for easier identification:

59fb98dd29247_Yellow-leggedGullC.JPG.d19e252a609f5f1f2d72aad49d2c7f76.JPG

 

59fb98d9dab5f_Yellow-leggedGullAA.JPG.69c626ba048f6fd5e897e6d7d1a29dd6.JPG

Edited by xelas
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Ah, interesting - this is actually closer for me than Seewinkel! Maybe next year ...

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BY 326 / ITA 02

Greenshank - Tringa nebularia

GreenshankDA.JPG.0050efeb9772f579d0816c5befca05e3.JPG

Salina di Comacchio, 29/10/2017

 

GreenshankEA.JPG.d5ffcbe469a030c29074b1c467bc7d8c.JPG

Salina di Comacchio, 29/10/2017

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Next three days we have spent in Valli di Argenta. It is another protected area, with plenty of water and marshland, and while birdlife was abundant, it was also very aware of humans ... to the point to wear down even the most hardcore of bird photographers. You can see them but you cannot approach them! For that reason there is a system of bird hides, which we have used to our great satisfaction. Only problem was, all birds photographed there were already posted.

 

This is one only new bird from that area, and even this one a lucky shot at great distance, and bird stayed there for only 1,2,3, I am gone seconds. This below is a 100% crop; it did turned out quite good, IMO.

 

BY 327 / ITA 03

Hawfinch - Coccothraustes coccothraustes

Hawfinch.JPG.9c3cb24618db1cfa9ce19a1a9b9a14b0.JPG

Valli di Argenta, 31/10/2017 

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You are of course welcome to show us some of the doubles?

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Just now, Peter Connan said:

You are of course welcome to show us some of the doubles?

 

If you insist ... ^_^ 

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Two EBC from Walvis Bay doubles:

 

Greater Flamingo (not yet close enough for enough details but much closer then in WB):

59fcb76c0c443_GreaterFlamingo.JPG.5bfd120b85b461674c9b7b0c7c2c1bde.JPG

 

Sandwich Tern (no need to squint your eyes to see the yellow tip anymore :D):

59fcb76ccdc34_SandwichTern_01A.JPG.14239afb28ea10a06784c5b84269355f.JPG

 

Great Crested Grebe (photo from Škocjanski Zatok was a decent photo but this one is much better, and shows more of the bird):

59fcb76a1a873_GreatCrestedGrebe_01A.JPG.b6bc1a905800cca2be19e7559bb2aeb9.JPG

 

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DOPPS - similar to RSPB in UK - has opened a new nature reserve in September; after years of hard work and some EU funds, we have a new wetland to observe the birds: Ormoške lagune - http://ptice.si/en/nature-conservation-and-research/nature-reserves/ormoske-lagune/ . Weather forecast was excellent for this part of Slovenia so we have decided to try our luck there. This place is about 2 hrs drive from Ljubljana, 3/4 on a highway, so relatively close even for a short, 1/2 day trip. The YR weather forecast was absolutely correct; still some clouds on the sky at 9:00 but clear sky at 10:00. Which would be perfect for photography ... if not for the birds that have decided to keep themselves always "on the sunny side of the street"! Below is an example of a general photo taken:

 

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Luckily the modern technology really does miracles, so we came back with 2 new birds! Really good result for end of the year and for 3 hours spent in the reserve.

Edited by xelas
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BY 328 / SI 069

Brambling - Fringilla montifringilla

BramblingC.JPG.6d9a706ec325cdbef6c4c27ce86c2ebf.JPG

 

BramblingBA.JPG.2bd7a67b2f8538f0883d9e17a4ab1cac.JPG

 

BramblingAA.JPG.398bd7e98530349839a6e197793c4236.JPG

Ormoške lagune, 04/11/2017

 

 

Edited by xelas
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BY 329 / SI 070

Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nissus

SparrowhawkB.JPG.ebcff7f7c4ffd9309854048d552f05ce.JPG

 

SparrowhawkAA.JPG.7d5c6cf4e073d81887da6429fb6cf633.JPG

Ormoške lagune, 04/11/2017

Edited by xelas
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Worth the drive if only for the excellent Sparrowhawk.

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Thanks for the beautiful doubles!

 

The Sparrowhaks is a great shot too.

Edited by Peter Connan
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Here is another improved ebc photo (a set of photos) of a Common Kingfisher - Alcedo Atthis.

This one from the hide in Valle di Argenta named Martin pescatore ;) on 31/10/2017:

 


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D72_4299A.JPG.8ff74cc9f7f91637beabf91407770745.JPG

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2 hours ago, TonyQ said:

Brilliant kingfishers- really beautiful!

 

Thanks, @TonyQ. In fact, it was only one kingfisher who returned 3 times. We were lucky!

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Really cool shots! What is that structure in the first picture?

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32 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

Really cool shots! What is that structure in the first picture?

 

Fish pond. Yes, that is how pros are getting their "out-of-this-world" photos! Perfect light, and an obliging bird. Only they crop the fish pond out of their pictures.

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Another set of same kingfisher, in previous attempt to get the fish, this time by Zvezda. Different body, lens, angle and approach.

 

D61_0624A.JPG.a9033efd6ea58e4af47366442f0b16f5.JPG

 

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Zvezda likes her photos to be more saturated, and to have something special. This one is her pick of the crop:

 

D61_0734A.JPG.ce8be95d0fab6e0a0066d03a54fc0dbe.JPG

 

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Now you are really 'Pro' with such photos and accessories..Zvezda's first entry shot. I would love to see it zoomed back a bit to show the inbound reflection.

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Wow Alex, just wow!

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9 hours ago, Galana said:

I would love to see it zoomed back a bit to show the inbound reflection.

 

Thanks @Galana! Quoting from one of very famous movies from the time when Yugoslavia was still going strong: "Svakoga dana u svakom pogledu sve više i više napredujem."

 

Unfortunately, that was it, no extra space at the bottom of the frame. But will took your reminder into account when we will be there next time.

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4 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

Wow Alex, just wow!

 

Thanks @Peter Connan! We were cramped in that hide for 5 hrs, but end result was more then worth the troubles. It is also revealing to see that our equipment can produce really "pro looking" images; being close enough to the subject that no extra cropping is needed really put a different"light" on both lenses.

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Great shots of the Kingfisher, Alex!!

 

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5 hours ago, PeterHG said:

Great shots of the Kingfisher, Alex!!

 

 Thanks, @PeterHG

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