TonyQ Big Year 2017 (A second attempt)

[TonyQ]

174. (UK.128).  Red-throated Diver  Gavia stellata 

  (New Bird)    

Mull, Scotland 31.05.2017

Another distant EBC, but confirmed by a couple of birders with a powerful scope!

Edited August 11, 2017 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

175. (UK.129). Whitethroat  Sylvia communis           

Mull, Scotland  27.05.2017

[TonyQ]

176. (UK.130).  Wheatear  Oenanthe oenanthe

Mull, Scotland 27.05.2017

Baby, Iona, Scotland  3.06.2017

 

[TonyQ]

177. (UK.131). Great Black-backed Gull  Larus marinus 

   

Mull, Scotland  01.06.2017

Mull, Scotland  01.06.2017   

 

Lunga, Scotland          28.05.2017

[TonyQ]

178. (UK.132). Short Eared Owl  Asio flammeus

(New Bird)    

Mull, Scotland   31.05.2017

Edited August 11, 2017 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

179. (UK.133).  White-tailed Eagle  Haliaeetus albicilla 

(New Bird) 

Mull, Scotland 28.05.2017

Mull, Scotland 01.06.2017

Mull, Scotland 01.06.2017

Edited August 11, 2017 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

180. (UK.134).  Corncrake  Crex crex

(New Bird)

Iona, Scotland   03.06.2017

[Peter Connan]

Eagle with fish! You lucky man!

[TonyQ]

@Peter Connan

Not as luck as it looks - it was from a boat trip from Mull where they throw a fish and an Eagle comes to get it. Lucky to be able to go to Mull however! (details of the trip in the Mull trip report I did)

[PeterHG]

Great collection of seabirds from Lunga @TonyQ! And a Golden Eagle too!

[offshorebirder]

Corncrake!!!   Wow @TonyQ.

 

That is probably my #1 most-wanted bird on the planet.

 

And you got a photo of this incredibly shy and retiring bird.   Kudos indeed.

Edited August 12, 2017 by offshorebirder

[Galana]

Another great and enviable collection. Mull is certainly worth a visit both for Lunga and for the possibility of Corncrakes on Iona which are becoming more regular.

You might just want to revisit the first of your Black-backs. I felt the 'black' was not black enough and it does not look "evil" enough on first sight and closer investigation does indicate a hint of yellow legs in the lovely clear water. Is that another point for you? Hope so.

[TonyQ]

@Galana I think you are right about the Black-backed! I already have a Lesser Black-backed, so it will not add to the list, unfortunately!

[Peter Connan]

Thanks for the explanation @TonyQ. Still way more difficult than it sounds I'm sure.

[TonyQ]

@PeterHG @offshorebirder @Peter Connan

Thank you

[TonyQ]

181. (UK.135). Sanderling  Calidris alba

Iona, Scotland 03.06.2017

Iona, Scotland 03.06.2017

[TonyQ]

182. (UK.136). Gannet  Morus bassanus

(New Bird) 

    

Mull, Scotland 01.06.2017

[TonyQ]

183. (UK.137). Hen Harrier  Circus cyaneus

(New Bird)

Mull, Scotland 02.06.2017

[TonyQ]

184. (UK.138). Peregrine  Falco peregrinus 

 

Mull, Scotland 27.05.2017

[TonyQ]

185. (UK.139). Sparrowhawk  Accipiter nisus

Galloway, Scotland     05.06.2017

[TonyQ]

            .UK.140 Red Kite  Milvus milvus  

Seen in Mallorca, so not counted in overall total (but in my own UK total!)     

Galloway, Scotland     05.06.2017

Galloway, Scotland     05.06.2017

Galloway, Scotland     05.06.2017

[TonyQ]

186. (UK.141). Rock Pipit  Anthus petrosus  

Arbroath Cliffs, Scotland         24.05.2017

With Kill!, Arbroath Cliffs, Scotland         24.05.2017

[TonyQ]

187. (UK.142). Meadow Pipit  Anthus pratensis 

 

Iona, Scotland 02.06.2017

Iona, Scotland 03.06.2017

[TonyQ]

188. (UK.143). Tree Pipit  Anthus trivialis 

New Bird

Arbroath Cliffs, Scotland         24.05.2017

Arbroath Cliffs, Scotland         24.05.2017

 

Probably the last of the birds from Scotland (although one or two may sneak in later!)

Edited August 16, 2017 by TonyQ

[michael-ibk]

Love the Red Kites especially. Pipits are very tricky indeed, but trying to post exactly the same bird (photo 2) as two different species really underestimates our attention span, Tony.