PeterHG's Big Year-4th time

[Game Warden]

4 hours ago, PeterHG said:

13. Goldcrest. Flevoland, 3 January 2019

 

Great shot Peter...

 

[PeterHG]

Thank you, @TonyQ and @Game Warden!

[PeterHG]

16. Common Buzzard. Flevoland, 3 January. Our most common raptor and in winter the number triples. You can often see them perched on poles and gates, looking for a chance to grab un unsuspecting vole. That is when some of the buzzards are much more approachable than in the rest of the year.

 

 

 

[PeterHG]

17. Common Kestrel. Arkemheen, 3 January. Also hunts for voles, and fortunately in still considerable numbers.

 

 

[Galana]

A great start and no doubt it will continue. What an amazing shot of the Goldcrest. I have enough problems getting one sitting still.

[Zim Girl]

Stunning Buzzard and Kestrel @PeterHG

[Dave Williams]

I have to agree with Ms Zim ! Both are lovely subjects if you are lucky enough to get close enough.

[michael-ibk]

Fantastic Kestrel, and that incredible Goldcrest catch is ultimate proof that you are our BIF-Master!

[PeterHG]

18. Eurasian Wigeon. Arkemheen, 9 January. Hundreds of these ducks, well maybe even thousands, are present in the area during the winter. The 'Arkemheen' polders are close to where I live and can produce interesting birds all year round. 

 

 

The most important landmark is the old steam pumping station that can be seen here. Not with Wigeons, obviously, but a flock of Curlews. I won't include them in my count again, I promise

 

 

 

[PeterHG]

19. Grey Heron. Arkemheen, 9 January. 

 

 

 

[PeterHG]

20. Great Egret. Arkemheen, 9 January. We have no breeding egrets in the polders here as there are no extensive reed beds. In winter they gather here in considerable numbers, though.

 

[PeterHG]

21. Eurasian Teal. Arkemheen, 9 January. They are really tiny, compared to the Mallards and Wigeons

[Peter Connan]

Those little birds are really tough to capture! Belated happy birthday Sir!

 

Lovely shots of the raptors too.

Edited January 13, 2019 by Peter Connan

[PeterHG]

3 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

Belated happy birthday Sir!

Thank you, @Peter Connan

[PeterHG]

22. Great Crested Grebe. Arkemheen, 9 January. A common bird, wherever there is enough water. They can have quite fierce territorial disputes, but for now, all is still peaceful.

 

[PeterHG]

23. Siskin. Amersfoort, 11 January. Liek @michael-ibk pointed out with his excellent Siskin series, they are usually found high up in the trees and more difficult to photograph. I'm proving his point here

 

[PeterHG]

24. Short-toed Treecreeper. Amersfoort, 11 January. Not uncommon at all, but constantly on the move, so I've never really been able to take a good shot of one. At least not a better one than this. The same patch of trees as the Siskins and the same grey weather, but iso 6400 did the job

 

[Dave Williams]

In the lead at the first corner! Keep it up.

[PeterHG]

25. Common Moorhen. Amersfoort 14 January. Quite common indeed, though not as numerous as the Coot and usually a little more shy.

 

[PeterHG]

26 Eurasian Coot. Amersfoort, 14 January. 

 

 

[xelas]

Looks like in Europe, we are seeing same birds at the start of the season. Yours are nicer, though .

[PeterHG]

4 hours ago, xelas said:

Looks like in Europe, we are seeing same birds at the start of the season. Yours are nicer, though .

I don't know about that but I do know who's bound to win again at the end of the year...;)

 

[Dave Williams]

We'll make him work for it though Peter!

[Galana]

2 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

We'll make him work for it though Peter!

Count me in too. After all he has help so needs a handicap.

Everybody know I am real handicap.

[PeterHG]

27. Mallard. Arkemheen, 18 January. I bit of sunshine today so let's get the Mallard into the count. If it weren't so common, we would marvel at the colours every time we saw one.