Jump to content

TonyQ's Year (A beginner's tale)


TonyQ

Recommended Posts

Correction: Corvid Confusion

The Second picture in the Jackdaw post (bird No.19) is not a Jackdaw.

We were out walking and saw Jackdaws nesting in an old tree

post-45513-0-93410400-1460374659_thumb.jpg

A very different nest -so I looked back at the photos and checked. I now think the second photo is of a Rook -but it does give me another species!

I am sure will not be the first correction required in this thread :)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

27. Rook Corvus frugilegus

post-45513-0-34202300-1460374972_thumb.jpg

Lapworth 03.04.2016

post-45513-0-01652500-1460374984_thumb.jpg

Lapworth 03.04.2016

Link to comment
Share on other sites

28. Coot Fulica atra

post-45513-0-56236000-1460375132_thumb.jpg

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 25.02.2016

post-45513-0-06139200-1460375145_thumb.jpg

Building Nest - Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 14.03.2016

post-45513-0-07487000-1460375155_thumb.jpg

On Nest - Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 21.03.2016

Link to comment
Share on other sites

29. Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata

post-45513-0-32296400-1460375430_thumb.jpg

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 05.04.2016

 

Although originally from Central and South America, a number have escaped domestication in the UK andlive as wild birds.

 

post-45513-0-93384000-1460375442_thumb.jpg

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 14.03.2016

Link to comment
Share on other sites

30. Moorhen Gallinula chloropus

post-45513-0-20992300-1460375719_thumb.jpg

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 14.03.2016

post-45513-0-58282500-1460375729_thumb.jpg

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 05.04.2016

 

I put the second photo in to show the amazing legs and feet.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

31. Lapwing Vanellus vanellus

post-45513-0-18261300-1460375968_thumb.jpg

Sandwell Valley, West Midlands 17.03.2016

post-45513-0-10111400-1460375979_thumb.jpg

Sandwell Valley, West Midlands 17.03.2016

post-45513-0-18220600-1460375992_thumb.jpg

Sandwell Valley, West Midlands 17.03.2016

Link to comment
Share on other sites

michael-ibk

A good weekend for you it seems! Really like the Lapwing. How close was this?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@@michael-ibk

Thank you - I still have catching up to do!

I had only ever seen Lapwing from a distance before this sighting - I thought they were Black and White, so it was a pleasant surprise to see how colourful and beautiful they are. The two close-up pictures were taken from a Hide (Blind) at this RSPB reserve - my software suggests it was taken at between 15m and 18m. The image is cropped, but not heavily.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

michael-ibk

Ah, a hide explains it. I´ve rarely seen Lapwings, and only ever from long distances, they tend to be quite shy I think.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Lovely jay - I usually have to cheat and put one in from the camera trap, as for large birds, they are pretty shy (at least in my garden)

Link to comment
Share on other sites

@@Tdgraves

Thank you. The first on was on the other side of a canal so perhaps didn't see us as a threat so quickly - it did fly off though! We haven't seen one in the garden for a long time.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Peter Connan

Your UK lapwing really is a beautiful bird!

 

And of course, stunning photos once again.

Edited by Peter Connan
Link to comment
Share on other sites

32. Goosander Mergus merganser

post-45513-0-70542900-1460727998_thumb.jpg

Female, Earlswood,nr Birmingham 07.03.2016

post-45513-0-03236200-1460728010_thumb.jpg

M+F, Earlswood,nr Birmingham 13.03.2016

Link to comment
Share on other sites

33. Gadwall Anas strepera

post-45513-0-10959200-1460728142_thumb.jpg

Male, Sandwell Valley, West Midlands 17.03.2016

post-45513-0-98151500-1460728153_thumb.jpg

M+F, Marsh Lane Nature Reserve ,nr Coventry 01.04.2016

Link to comment
Share on other sites

34. Greylag Goose Anser anser

post-45513-0-70728100-1460728231_thumb.jpg

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 05.04.2016

post-45513-0-52077600-1460728240_thumb.jpg

Portrait, Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 05.04.2016

Link to comment
Share on other sites

35. Canada Goose Branta canadensis

post-45513-0-88557700-1460728367_thumb.jpg

Portrait, Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 05.04.2016

 

Many Canada Geese live all year round in the UK having been introduced about 300 years ago and then spread across the country. They are often considered a pest.

 

post-45513-0-39816200-1460728379_thumb.jpg

Wash: Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 04.04.2016

post-45513-0-11266600-1460728392_thumb.jpg

Dry: Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 04.04.2016

post-45513-0-56469900-1460728401_thumb.jpg

Preen: Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 04.04.2016

Link to comment
Share on other sites

36. Barnacle Goose Branta leucopsis

post-45513-0-30115500-1460728853_thumb.jpg

Sandwell Valley, West Midlands 13.04.2016

post-45513-0-03210800-1460728868_thumb.jpg

Sandwell Valley, West Midlands 13.04.2016

Link to comment
Share on other sites

37. Mute Swan Cygnus olor

post-45513-0-41633300-1460728963_thumb.jpg

(Appropriately) Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 14.03.2016

post-45513-0-80739800-1460728972_thumb.jpg

Portrait: Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 05.04.2016

post-45513-0-88777500-1460728982_thumb.jpg

Preening: Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 14.04.2016

Link to comment
Share on other sites

38. Shoveler Anas clypeata

post-45513-0-54631000-1460729176_thumb.jpg

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 14.03.2016

post-45513-0-33586500-1460729186_thumb.jpg

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 14.03.2016

Link to comment
Share on other sites

39. Black-headed Gull Chroicocephalus ridibundus

post-45513-0-69023000-1460729263_thumb.jpg

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 14.03.2016

I find Gulls really difficult to identify! The picture above is breeding plumage (and the head is brown :) ).

But then there is Winter plumage:

post-45513-0-45389900-1460729295_thumb.jpg

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 14.03.2016

And juveniles have a different plumage

post-45513-0-66723500-1460729305_thumb.jpg

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 14.03.2016

post-45513-0-66893300-1460729312_thumb.jpg

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 14.03.2016

Link to comment
Share on other sites

40. Lesser Black-backed Gull Larus fuscus

post-45513-0-39445900-1460729714_thumb.jpg

Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham 16.03.2016

post-45513-0-89367000-1460729687_thumb.jpg

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 04.04.2016

post-45513-0-36687400-1460729703_thumb.jpg

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 04.04.2016

Link to comment
Share on other sites

41. Wren Trogdolytes trogdolytes

(This Latin name makes the inclusion of these names worthwhile in itself!)

post-45513-0-02487400-1460730173_thumb.jpg

Earlswood,nr Birmingham 25.02.2016

 

The Wren is a tiny bird (10g according to my book). When I was young, the UK had a non-decimal currency. A Pound(£) was made up of 240 pennies. We also had a 1/2 penny coin, and a 1/4 penny coin - called a farthing (very small physically as well as in value). On one side of the farthing was a picture of a Wren. I was very aware that it was a small bird, but I never saw one!

 

post-45513-0-16793800-1460730227_thumb.jpg

Earlswood,nr Birmingham 25.03.2016

post-45513-0-39474100-1460730236_thumb.jpg

Earlswood,nr Birmingham 25.03.2016

post-45513-0-00673400-1460730247_thumb.jpg

Moseley Bog, Birmingham 14.04.2016

Edited by TonyQ
Link to comment
Share on other sites

42. Buzzard Buteo buteo

post-45513-0-86328500-1460730444_thumb.jpg

Over Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 21.03.2016

Books from 1990 showing the range of the Buzzard do not include the centre of England - but now they are quite common and we regularly see them over the city.

 

As I was taking the picture above, another Buzzard flew in and there was a big clash in the sky (poor photo but exciting action!)

post-45513-0-51369800-1460730453_thumb.jpg

Over Swanshurst Park, Birmingham 21.03.2016

Link to comment
Share on other sites

michael-ibk

Beautiful - particularly like the Wren. You're right, the Latin name is quite cool. Are the Barnacles "natives"?

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...

Important Information

Safaritalk uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. By using Safaritalk you agree to our use of cookies. If you wish to refuse the setting of cookies you can change settings on your browser to clear and block cookies. However, by doing so, Safaritalk may not work properly and you may not be able to access all areas. If you are happy to accept cookies and haven't adjusted browser settings to refuse cookies, Safaritalk will issue cookies when you log on to our site. Please also take a moment to read the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy: Terms of Use l Privacy Policy