TonyQ Big Year 2017 (A second attempt)

[TonyQ]

@michael-ibk

Thank you - in time to edit the post as well

 

[Galana]

I had it down as a sitting on the "Fence Pipit!!"

 

A very good selection.

Edited August 16, 2017 by Galana
additional text.

[PeterHG]

Beautiful additions, @TonyQ ! Love your Red Kites shots.

[Dave Williams]

@TonyQSome cracking photos again , and yes the Corncrake is something else!

The big surprise was seeing that Gannet is a new bird to you, just shows that birds you take for granted locally are common but of course it helps if you live by the coast too!

[lmSA84]

@TonyQ - impressive list and photos! I'm not sure that I've seen all three pipits let alone photography them

[TonyQ]

@Galana @PeterHG Thank you

@ImSA84 I didn't know we had seen a Tree Pipit until we examined the photos!

@Dave Williams Thank you. Yes the Gannet was new (not many in Birmingham!). We only started birding at the beginning of last year, so it is still relatively easy to get "Lifers"

 

[Dave Williams]

1 hour ago, TonyQ said:

We only started birding at the beginning of last year, so it is still relatively easy to get "Lifers"

 

 

Wow, you surprise me! You are certainly throwing yourself in to this hobby with some gusto!!

[TonyQ]

@Dave Williams there are some advantages to being retired!

[TonyQ]

(UK.144). Linnet  Carduelis cannabina

Already posted in Mallorca     

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           22.04.2017

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           22.04.2017

Edited August 21, 2017 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

189. (UK.145). Spotted Sandpiper  Actitis macularis

New Bird

Belvide Reservoir        16.05.2017

Belvide Reservoir        16.05.2017

Belvide Reservoir, West Midlands        16.05.2017

 

A rare visitor from USA/Canada. A very pretty bird and a pleasure to see it.

Edited August 21, 2017 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

190. (UK.146). Swift  Apus apus        

Middleton Lakes, Warwickshire          10.06.2017

Middleton Lakes, Warwickshire          10.06.2017

[TonyQ]

191. (UK.147).  Red-necked Phalarope  Phalaropus lobatus

New Bird        

Middleton Lakes, Warwickshire          10.06.2017

A fairly rare visitor to the Midlands

Edited August 21, 2017 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

192. (UK.148). Cetti's Warbler  Cettia cetti    

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           02.05.2017

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           02.05.2017

 

More often heard than seen!

[TonyQ]

(UK.149). Swallow  Hirundo rustica   

Already posted in Mallorca

Mull, Scotland 28.05.2017     

[TonyQ]

193. (UK.150). Long-tailed Tit   Aegithals caudatus   

Our Garden, Birmingham        02.07.2017

Our Garden, Birmingham        02.07.2017

I don't know why some have a red eye ring and others have a yellow eye ring

Our Garden, Birmingham        28.06.2017

Large numbers sometimes visit the feeders - on this occasion we counted at least 15 in the flock (not all in picture)

 

I am pleased to have reached 150 UK birds!

 

[TonyQ]

I will now do a post with a few duplicates, so none of these will add to either total.

More in the garden (through the window)..

 

Juvenile Great Spotted Woodpecker - has become a regular visitor

Young Blue Tit

And further afield

Goldcrest,

Male Mandarin, Loch of the Lowes, Scotland (female posted earlier in year)

Treecreeper, Shire Country Park, Birmingham

Whooper Swan, Marsh Lane Reserve, West Midlands (replaces a very distant shot earlier in year)

Whooper Swan, Marsh Lane

Avocet Chicks- just because they are cute - amazing legs!

[michael-ibk]

Congratuations on 150 British birds - a really great achievement! The Spotted Sandpiper is a cool bird indeed.

[PeterHG]

You're showing us some excellent additions again, @TonyQ ! It appears you can just stay at home and have lots of birds come to you; what a wonderful garden!

[Dave Williams]

Some cracking birds @TonyQ, the Spotted Sandpiper and Phalarope are something I haven't seen in the UK, the Cetti's only once, the Goldcrest and Treecreeper are pretty difficult to nail too. You'd better slow down or you'll run out of birds then you'll have to take up DIY and jobs around the house to fill your time.

[Peter Connan]

Stunning shots @TonyQ

[Galana]

I agree. For an alleged beginner he is off to a cracking start and has some shots (and birds) there that others would probably kill for.

The Avocet chicks get my vote!

[TonyQ]

@michael-ibk @Peter Connan thank you

@Dave Williams DIY? -

@Galana thank you - we really enjoy seeing the Avocet develop

@PeterHG Thank you.

On 21/08/2017 at 3:48 PM, PeterHG said:

It appears you can just stay at home and have lots of birds come to you; what a wonderful garden!

It is interesting what you can see in a fairly small Urban garden (we do have the benefit of some larger gardens with mature trees at the end of our garden). I am sure that providing food and a water source helps. In response to your post we added up how many species we had seen in/from our garden and we got to 30. As we were doing this, sitting in the garden, I had to run inside to get my camera as this flew overhead...

Sparrowhawk - a snatched shot but good to see it!

[TonyQ]

            (UK.151). Sand Martin  Riparia riparia

(already posted in Mallorca)

Earlswood, nr Birmingham      24.04.2017

Earlswood, nr Birmingham      24.04.2017

[TonyQ]

            (UK.152). House Martin  Delichon urbica 

(Already posted in Mallorca)

Earlswood, nr Birmingham      25.04.2017

Collecting mud for nest, Arbroath Cliffs, Scotland         24.05.2017

[TonyQ]

            (UK.153). Marsh Harrier  Circus aeruginosus

(Already posted in Mallorca)

Leighton Moss, Lancashire     06.06.2017

 

We stopped off at Leighton Moss reserve on our way home from Scotland. It was a good place to have a break, though the weather wasn't great - so apologies for an EBC - but the only Marsh Harrier I have seen in the UK so far this year!