TonyQ Big Year 2017 (A second attempt)

[TonyQ]

97. (UK.97). Great Spotted Woodpecker Dendrocopos major

From our Garden, Birmingham 27.03.2017 - drumming very loudly

From our Garden, Birmingham 27.03.2017

The photo was taken from our garden but the tree, and the bird were in a neighbour's garden. (Our garden is not big enough for such a tree!)

[TonyQ]

98. (UK.98). Wren Trogdolytes trogdolytes

Earlswood, nr Birmingham 24.02.2017

Earlswood, nr Birmingham 24.02.2017

Earlswood, nr Birmingham 14.03.2017

The little worm struggles to avoid being eaten (it fails!)

Earlswood, nr Birmingham 14.03.2017

[TonyQ]

99. (UK.99). Coal Tit Periparus ater

Earlswood, nr Birmingham 21.03.2017

Earlswood, nr Birmingham 21.03.2017

Earlswood, nr Birmingham 21.03.2017

[TonyQ]

100. (UK.100). Water Rail Rallus aquaticus

Earlswood, nr Birmingham 14.03.2017

Earlswood, nr Birmingham 14.03.2017

Earlswood, nr Birmingham 21.03.2017

I saved this one to be No.100 as it is one of my favourite sightings of the year so far. Last year we saw a few Water Rails - always from hides and generally for a few minutes at a time. I saw this Water Rail when I was looking at a Wren near the surface of the water. Out of the corner of my eye I saw movement - and it was the Water Rail. It moved in and out of reeds, seemingly oblivious to people walking on the path. I watched it for about an hour (I only know this from the times on photos as the time flew by!). A number of passers-by told me "he" was regularly in this spot. I was on my own for the first sighting, so returned with MrsQ a few days later hoping she could see it, and indeed it was in the same spot. A real treat.

[Towlersonsafari]

lovely grebes an especially the black necked ones-and the wren is very nice indeed @@TonyQ and as I type this you add a Water Rail-splendid sighting indeed!

Edited April 21, 2017 by Towlersonsafari

[Tdgraves]

Well done on the 100 @@TonyQ

 

I was hoping for a water rail on my last day out, as I have never seen one, but it was not to be - maybe next time....

[michael-ibk]

Congratulations on reaching #100, Tony - and as always you did it with so much quality photography. Really love the Wren pics, and the Water Rail is of course a very worthy landmark post - I´ve still never had a photo-worthy sighting of this bird.

[monalisa]

Oh wow, I have never seen a black necked grebe before! They look like demonic birds, they are so fascinating! Are they common in the UK?

[Peter Connan]

Stunning photos Tony, especially the Wren and Rail!

[PeterHG]

Congrats on that wonderful #100, @@TonyQ ! Beautiful photos of the Rail and, of course also the Wren and the Grebes.

[Kitsafari]

as always, great photos. love the little wren and coal tit!

[TonyQ]

@@Towlersonsafari

@@michael-ibk

@@Peter Connan

@@PeterHG

@@Tdgraves

@@Kitsafari

Thank you - I was particularly pleased with the Water Rail.

 

@@monalisa

The Black-necked grebe is fairly rare I think. I only saw one last year (and that was the first time I had seen one) and these three are the only ones I have seen so far this year. I think they were on migration

[TonyQ]

We wanted a nice easy holiday, so went to Mallorca for 8 nights, renting an apartment overlooking the sea in Port de Pollenca in the north. It is quiet resort and a good base for birding.

 

101. (M.1). Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoloseuc

La Gola, Port de Pollenca 08.04.2017

La Gola is a very small reserve in Port de Pollenca - about 5 minutes walk from our apartment.

Edited May 3, 2017 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

102. (M.2). Common Redstart Phoenicurus phoenicurus

(New Bird)

La Gola, Port de Pollenca 08.04.2017

Only a quick sighting and a rubbish photo, but the first time I have seen one.

[TonyQ]

103. (M.3).Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata

La Gola, Port de Pollenca 08.04.2017

I am not sure why it was there....

[TonyQ]

104. (M.4). European Pied Flycatcher Ficedula hypoleuca

(New Bird)

Port de Pollenca 13.04.2017

Port de Pollenca 13.04.2017

These were taken in a small park on the way the way to the area for the next few sightings.

[TonyQ]

105. (M.5). Cirl Bunting Emberiza cirlus

(New Bird)

(f) Boquer Valley 10.04.2017

(m) Boquer Valley 10.04.2017

This bird is very rare in the UK and I have never seen on there.

The Boquer Vally is a walk from the edge of Port de Pollenca, through a rocky area and down to a small bay. Another one where we can walk from the apartment. We did the full walk once, but went to the area round the start a few times as it was very productive.

Edited May 3, 2017 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

106. (M.6). Garden Warbler Sylvia borin

Boquer Valley 13.04.2017

[TonyQ]

107. (M.7). Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus

Boquer Valley 13.04.2017

Boquer Valley 13.04.2017

[TonyQ]

- (M.8). Blackcap Sylvia atricapilla

Boquer Valley 10.04.2017

Boquer Valley 13.04.2017

I have already posted a Blackcap in the UK, so obviously not counting it in the total, but I thought I would show some of the variety of birds.

[TonyQ]

108. (M.9). Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans

(New Bird)

Boquer Valley 10.04.2017

[TonyQ]

109. (M.10). Blue Rock Thrush Monticola solitarius

(New Bird)

Boquer Valley 10.04.2017

Fairly distant, and with heat haze (not often a problem in the UK!) - but we were very pleased to see it.

[TonyQ]

110. (M.11). Audouin's Gull Larus audouinii

(New Bird)

Boquer Valley 10.04.2017

Boquer Valley 10.04.2017

A beautiful gull -at one time it was very rare but is now recovering and we saw a few every day. They were regulars on the beach at Port de Pollenca.

[Towlersonsafari]

Very impressive @@TonyQ the cirl bunting, thanks to a RSPB scheme and helpful farmers is making something of a small comeback in the UK and the redstart has to be one of my favourites look for them in th sessile oak alongside loch Ba on Mull as white tailed eagles fly overhead!!!

[TonyQ]

@@Towlersonsafari

Good to hear of the comeback of the Cirl Bunting in the UK. We will look out for Redstart in Mull!