Alex & Zvezdana Big Year 2017

[xelas]

On the second day at Valli di Argenta we have tried our luck at aptly named Poiana hide. Star performers were Common Buzzards (3 individuals to my eye). First Zvezda's set:

 

 

 

Edited November 8, 2017 by xelas

[xelas]

Myself, I've tried my skills on action; I would love to discuss the merits of slightly blurred subjects in an action photo, but truth to be told, I was only caught by surprise, and did not adjust the shutter speed :

 

 

 

The 1/500 of a second was only quick enough for more static subject:

 

[xelas]

Our Quest for more Big Year birds took us to Italy again, this time much closer to the border. some of you knows about Soča river and how beautiful it is. In Italy it enters into Adriatic Sea under the name of Isonzo. There is a Foce dell'Isonzo Nature Reserve that covers 2350 ha of the river's estuary. In the heart of the Nature Reserve is Isola della Cona, with a visitor's centre and one shorter circular walk with sevral hides, and one longer walk. About 300 different birds have been recorded in this reserve. It is only 1 1/2 hrs away from Ljubljana, and for sure we will visit it more frequently in next years.

 

This is the link to its website for those that might be interested or in the vicinity of it: http://www.parks.it/riserva.foce.isonzo/Eindex.php

[xelas]

We have arrived a bit late, at 09:00 and the light was not that good anymore. In the main lagoon there were two large flocks, one of Greylag Geese and one of Teals. But Zvezda's keen eye has spotted several "intruders" trying to blend in.

 

BY 330 / ITA 04

Barnacle Goose - Branta leucopsis

 

 

BY 331 / ITA 05

White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons

 

 

BY 332 / ITA 06

Bar-headed Goose - Anser indicus

 

[xelas]

Also not all ducks were teals .

 

BY 333 / ITA 07

Pintail - Anas acuta

 

 

BY 334 / ITA 08

Wigeon - Anas penelope

 

[xelas]

One that was floating quite at a distance but still can be ID:

 

BY 335 / ITA 09

Red-breasted Merganser - Mergus serrator

 

 

 

 

[elefromoz]

On 11/3/2017 at 6:16 AM, xelas said:

In quest for more birds we did a short last-minute birding trip to Parco Nazionale Delta di Po in Italy.  

 Aaaargghhh, read and weep, nah not really, just a teeny bit jealous at being able to get in the car and within a few hours be in another country altogether... The Kingfisher shots make me wonder how anyone cannot just love Birds, pretty damn good photography too. 

[xelas]

39 minutes ago, elefromoz said:

just a teeny bit jealous at being able to get in the car and within a few hours be in another country altogether.

 

There are only a few others that have such a great location like Slovenia! Italy, Austria, Hungary, Croatia, all just within 1-2 hrs by car. 

[michael-ibk]

Looks like a very interesting area indeed! Remarkable you saw Bar-Headed, I assume they can only be escapees, or is there a self-sustaining feral population in Italy?

Edited November 12, 2017 by michael-ibk

[xelas]

I have no idea, Michael. It must have escaped, in this or in previous life.

[xelas]

More water birds from Foca dell'Isonzo. 

 

BY 336 / ITA 10

Pygmy Cormorant - Phalacrocorax pygmeus

 

 

BY 337 / ITA 11

Water Pipit - Anthus spinoletta

 

 

BY 338 / ITA 12

Water Rail  - Rallus acquaticus

 

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

Last two birds from this excellent birding day.

 

BY 339 / ITA 13

Eurasian siskin - Carduelis spinus

 

[xelas]

And the highlight of the day !

 

BY 340 / ITA 14

Firecrest - Regulus ignicapilla

 

 

[TonyQ]

What a very productive day! The firecrest is stunning.

[xelas]

6 minutes ago, TonyQ said:

What a very productive day! The firecrest is stunning.

 

Indeed it is a stunning bird, very active.

[Peter Connan]

What a beautiful little bird the Firecrest is!

 

Well done both of you!

[xelas]

Below are two photos of a "mistery bird"; it looks like a Snow Goose ... but it should not be around. It could also be a juvenile Greylag Goose, or an albino version ... but it is much bigger bird in comparison to Greylags around. Any idea about this one?!

 

 

[TonyQ]

@xelas

As you know I am no expert. If I saw that in the U.K. I would think it probably had some domestic goose in it as they are basically the same species (Anser anser domesticus). 

 But I could be wrong!

[Galana]

A worth while outing indeed. Strange to relate I have been out ticking a few new ones too and we have several in a surprising overlap as you will see later.

Your Barnacle Goose and Bar-Headed Geese are escapes from a collection I think.

The "Snow" looks very much like a Bar-Headed with a bit of something else in the mix. Or another escape??

[xelas]

1 hour ago, Galana said:

Your Barnacle Goose and Bar-Headed Geese are escapes from a collection I think.

 

At least for the Bar-headed Goose Zvezda has found article(s) saying they are now living wild in the country. Escape or no escape, they do count! I've heard a Bearded Tit can be found in Slovenia, that one will join Green Woodpecker on my "hunting" list !

[Galana]

43 minutes ago, xelas said:

saying they are now living wild in the country.

There is certainly a 'feral' population in Netherlands. It only takes two to start a flock.

 

Good luck with the 'Beardies'.

[michael-ibk]

@xelas

 

I know of at least one place in Carinthia with Bearded Tits, only one hour driving time from Ljubljana - Maria Elend.

[PeterHG]

3 hours ago, Galana said:

There is certainly a 'feral' population in Netherlands. It only takes two to start a flock.

 

Good luck with the 'Beardies'.

That is right, we have a fairly stable population of 250-300 pairs. No real increase, like Egyptian and Canada Goose, who seem to be better matched to compete with the Greylags

[xelas]

18 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

I know of at least one place in Carinthia with Bearded Tits, only one hour driving time from Ljubljana - Maria Elend.

 

So, we are all set for a visit to your mother next spring?!

[xelas]

This past weekend we have joined business with pleasure; by coming to Vienna to retrieve our visas for upcoming trip to South Africa we have extended it with short birding trip to Seewinkel. Weather was not good on Friday afternoon and on Sunday but forecast was spot on for Saturday, with enough sun to allow us a couple of new entries .

 

 

BY 341 / AUT 17

Bullfinch - Pyrrhula pyrrhula

Seewinkel, 18/11/2017

 

 

BY 342 / AUT 18

Great Grey Shrike - Lanius excubitor

Seewinkel, 18/11/2017

 

 

BY 343 / AUT 19

Ortolan Bunting - Emberiza hortulana

Seewinkel, 18/11/2017

Edited November 20, 2017 by xelas