Michael´s Fourth Year

[michael-ibk]

Yes, this game is getting really difficult at the end of the year. Hm, helping out in Lissabon in November does sound a bit warmer than Fred´s place - tempting again!

 

Hey, and if you come skiing again @pedro maia maybe I can show you a Wallcreeper - very excited to find one today 30 minutes from home! Veeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeery distant but nonetheless really cool sighting!

 

 

Edited October 19, 2019 by michael-ibk

[pedro maia]

This may be the first year in quite a few that I won’t go skiing, right now I’m “geographicly” limited so I’ll probably have to stick to the local stuff and your help would be more than wellcome.

Edited October 19, 2019 by pedro maia

[Galana]

4 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

How´s the weather in your corner in November?

Best described as 'mixed'. Certainly no frosts to speak of.

I am heading for Galloway next month on what will literally be a wild goose chase plus supporting cast.

[Kitsafari]

Wallcreeper is very cool!

[michael-ibk]

511/E190.) Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) / Gebirgsstelze

 

Chiemsee, Germany, 19/9. Quite a common bird in the Alps but not very approachable.

 

 

-/E191.) Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia) / Raubseeschwalbe

 

Chiemsee, Germany, 19/9. Already seen in Gabon. An extremely rare bird in my area, but they move through in autumn regularly.

 

 

 

 

Some Snipes  gave a good show:

 

 

 

Edited October 20, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

512/E192.) Black-Necked Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) / Schwarzhalstaucher

 

Chiemsee, Germany, 19/9. Even though this is a regular on the lake the first time I´ve seen it there. A very rare breeding bird in Austria.

 

 

 

 

513/E193.) Slavonian aka Horned Grebe (Podiceps auritus) / Ohrentaucher

 

Chiemsee, Germany, 17/3. A leftover ebc from spring. An extremely rare Winter guest and my first sighting on my extended home turf. (Saw them before in Estonia.) Very similar to BN out of breeding plumage (the left one) but there´s more white in the head  and the head shape is a bit different, not as steep.

 

 

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

very cool shot of the caspian diving. 

[Galana]

Lovely Grebes. Two species that I usually see on my travels but neither were at home when I called this year.

@michael-ibk The regular site I use for BNG is also just over the border in Germany from you but not this year!

Slavs in Scotland.

[michael-ibk]

Where exactly @Galana?

 

[Galana]

5 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

Where exactly @Galana?

Slavs breed at Loch Ruthven RSPB.

Black-necks I found at a small fen east of Foggensee,

See the "H" north of Greith?. To the west is Schapfensee.

Park your car in the layby on the main road by the trees at NE corner of Schapfensee. Walk south to the track opposite the H and follow it around to where you near the S. No guarantees but lots of other birds any way. Also Goosanders below the Power Station dam and a nice Bar along the road connecting the two sites.

[TonyQ]

Beautiful photos of two types of Grebe.

Your total is creeping up......

[xelas]

Darn, almost 500 kms from Ljubljana. Only thing that would make me driving such a distance s one of the famous and delicious cakes made by @AndMic; but those only comes with an invitation ...

[Dave Williams]

Truly impressive count and some excellent birds here Michael. Well done!

[michael-ibk]

21 hours ago, xelas said:

but those only comes with an invitation .

 

You know you have a standing invitation all the time!

[xelas]

1 hour ago, michael-ibk said:

You know you have a standing invitation all the time!

 I know ... but is is always good to hear that again  (and again). Speaking seriously, what new birds we could find in this time of the year, there and around? The Wallcreeper alone would be worth to drive to Fulpmes (and the cake, of course .

[michael-ibk]

Let me put it this way - you will have to come for the cake.

 

Autumn/Winter really is not the best time here, and we are not exactly a hotspot at the best of times.

 

BTW, I think you can find Wallcreeper at Park Skocjanske jama and Mt. Mangart.

[michael-ibk]

514/E194.)  Ring Ouzel (Turdus torquatus) / Ringdrossel

 

Valser Tal, Tirol, 22/9. Same time, place and even tree like my #500 Bullfinch. While not the best photo (did not expect the bugger to fly off setting-wise) I was delighted about this sighting. I only see Ring Ouzels two or three times a year. Friends hiking repeatedly show me mobile pictures asking which species this almost tame bird so close to them was  but my Ring Ouzels are always the shy ones.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

515/E195.) Black Redstart (Phoenicurs ochruros) / Hausrotschwanz

 

Valser Tal, Tirol, 22/9. One of the most common birds in alpine areas in summer.

 

[michael-ibk]

516/E196.) Willow Tit (Poecile montanus) / Weidenmeise

 

Valser Tal, Tirol, 22/9. Almost indistinguishable from the Marsh Tit but no ID problem higher up in the mountains - Marsh Tits don´t occur at such altitudes.

 

 

 

A Coal Tit kept its cousin company.

 

[Galana]

Mopping up on home territory now. Great photos.

[Kitsafari]

acrobatic tit. 

 

lovely shots. 

[michael-ibk]

Not making much progress here. Tried to get Goldcrest and Crested Tit today (still haven´t managed decent photos this year) - and while I´ve seen plenty of them, failed (again) to get a picture. But a nice flock of Crossbills was a cool compensation - probably my favourite "locals", and I very rarely get good views of them like this. My excuse for posting them is that my Big Year only featured the females so far.

 

 

 

Edited November 10, 2019 by michael-ibk

[xelas]

Ohh, it has snowed in the Alps! The crossbill is a wonderful bird, specially on white&blue background .

[TonyQ]

You don’t need an excuse to post such great photos of a beautiful bird

[Kitsafari]

On 11/11/2019 at 4:07 AM, TonyQ said:

You don’t need an excuse to post such great photos of a beautiful bird

 

x2.  stunning photos of a stunning bird.