Michael´s Fourth Year

[Dave Williams]

Envious , no VERY envious of the Crossbill!! Sun and snow, what a combination.

 

[PeterHG]

x3. Fantastic Crossbill shots!

[michael-ibk]

Moving on with some shots from the opposite side of the quality spectrum. I decided I could still have a chance in the ebc-contest this year (since I´m being trampled into the dust by Tony, Kit and probably Peter in the overall count). How to get perfect EBCs: Spend some birdhunting time in Seewinkel on a cold, misty, dark and gloomy rainy autumn day, take some long-distance shots of targets and then brutally crop them. Delivers remarkable results!

 

517/E197.) Hen Harrier (Circus cyaneus) / Kornweihe

 

Seewinkel, 29/11. A not too uncommon winter visitor in Austria´s lowlands but never found in the Alps (where I live). Long gone from Middle Europe as a breeding bird. Very similar to Montagu´s (and the very rare Pallid) but they don´t overlap much seasonally. And Hen Harriers have five (not four) "fingers".

 

 

As unappealing as the weather was it was still an enjoyable day with some special sightings for me. I always see Great Bustards when I go to Seewinkel but they usually stay 100s of metres away from teh road. This time I saw a whole flock of about 20 about 50 metres away.

 

[michael-ibk]

518/E198.) Great Grey Shrike (Lanius excubitor) Raubwürger

 

Seewinkel, 29/11. Another Winter visitor. A few individuals have known territories even in my area around Innsbruck but I have never managed to find one here.

 

 

The area is also good for White-Tailed Eagles in Winter. While we do have some breeding birds the species´ numbers almost triple come November. This is probably a second-Winter bird.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

519/E199.) Bar-Headed Goose (Anser indicus) / Streifengans

 

Seewinkel, 29/11. Winter is always a good time for some rare Geese among the huge flocks of Greylags and Greater White-Fronteds. This bird (barely recognizable in the background) was a surprise, it´s an Asian species famous for flying over the Himalayas. Probably an escapee but there are several long-standing self-sustaining populations in Europe, and it could possibly derive from there.

 

 

Just so you know how the bird is supposed to look like - a photo from India´s Kaziranga NP, taken 2015.

 

 

My surprise bird - all of a sudden a Middle-Spotted Woodpecker popped up. A first for me in Austria, and my first sighting ever just had happened this year in Bulgaria.

 

[michael-ibk]

520/E200.) Common Crane (Grus grus) / Kranich

 

Seewinkel, 29/11. A few years ago more and more Cranes started to be seen in Austria in Winter. By now it is widely accepted that a substantial chunk of the population has actually changed their migration route and Seewinkel has now become an established stopoper point with 1000s of birds this year in November. I wondered if I might be already too late but no, still a lot of them have lingered. Their sleeping place is well known. Unfortunately they only start flying it at dusk, and given the bad weather conditions it was almost dark. But still an incredibly experience seeing - and hearing! - 100s and 100s of these majestic birds flying in in a never-ending parade of grace and beauty. I did a very rough count from a watchtower and would estimate I saw about 3000 birds! The photos really don´t do it justice, but it was one of my wildlife moments of the year.

 

 

 

I also went there next morning but they flew off before sunrise.

 

 

 

Edited December 7, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

521/E201.) Stock Dove (Columba oenas) / Hohltaube

 

Seewinkel, 30/11. On the next day the weather was fantastic, nice sunshine, blue skies - perfect! Unforunately I only had two hours in the morning before I had to return to Vienna.  Stock Doves are probably the most difficult Pigeons to get here in Europe, very shy birds. A bit easier in Winter when sizable flocks can congregate in the fields.

 

Edited December 30, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

522/E202.) Greater White-Fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) / Blässgans

 

Seewinkel, 30/11. As I mentioned before 1000s and 1000s of these are wintering in Seewinkel. Did not allow close approch though unfortunately.

 

 

A White-Tailed Eagle did me the favour to stir them up:

 

 

 

 

(100 bonus honour points to anybody who can pick out the odd Ducks out.)

 

 

White-Fronteds are a bit darker than Greylags and have darkish stripes on their belly. Some Lesser White-Fronted Geese are also in the area but impossible to single them without a scope.

 

But I found two other specials:

 

523/E203.) Red-Breasted Goose (Branta ruficollis) / Rothalsgans

 

A very rare (but pretty regular) Winter guest. It breeds in Arctic Siberia, mainly on the Taymyr Peninsula, with smaller populations in the Gyda and Yamal peninsulas. Most winter along the northwestern shores of the Black Sea in Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine (occasionally moving further southwest to Greece), but some winter in Azerbaijan. And two at least in Austria apparently.

 

 

Edited December 30, 2019 by michael-ibk

[TonyQ]

Lovely additions @michael-ibk  and your total is getting close.......

[xelas]

 

19 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

(100 bonus honour points to anybody who can pick out the odd Ducks out.)

 

A Mallard maybe? Darn, I should join you, would reach now almost impossible goal of #365 ...

 

[pedro maia]

Nice additions Michael, tomorrow I may try to see the cranes after missing them last weekend but I don’t think their numbers here are as high as in Seewinkel.

[michael-ibk]

Thanks guys. Lots of Mallards @xelas but also two other Ducks. 

[PeterHG]

Some great additions again, Michael! I love that shot of the panic created by the eagle.

[Kitsafari]

love those shots of the geese and ducks in the air, the eagle in the midst of them

 

have you passed me already? 

[michael-ibk]

On 12/7/2019 at 5:13 PM, xelas said:

A Mallard maybe?

 

No, two Pintails, in the upper left corner of the picture. And this is about the quality of photos I am spoiling you with now. 2019 is almost over, so here come the black sheep of my Big Year, the most brutal ebcs - that´s right, I´m dumping all my leftovers on you now!

 

524/E204.) Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) / Spießente

 

 

Chiemsee, Germany, 20/1/19. My nemesis Duck, never managed to get close to these, and 2019 was no exception.

 

525/E205.) Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus) / Bartmeise

 

Lake Constance, Austria, 7/10/19. I usually am more lucky with this species in that area, but my two outings there this year were not very satisfactory.

 

 

526/E206.) Lesser Redpoll (Acanthis cabaret) / Birkenzeisig

 

Sulzenau, Tirol/Austria, 23/6. Did not have my DSLR with me - a grave mistake, the autofocus capabilities were greatly missed for this one.

 

 

527/E207.) Crested Tit (Lophophanes cristatus) / Haubenmeise

 

Fulpmes, Tirol/Austria, 26/10/19. Not a great BY for my favourite Tit.

 

 

528/E208.) Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) / Mäusebussard

 

Chiemsee, Germany, 17/3. Our most common raptor (I saw six of them yesterday while driving!) but I never manage a really good picture. Maybe 2020...

 

 

529/E209.) Eurasian Wigeon (Anas penelope) / Pfeifente

 

Tiebelmündung, Carinthia/Austria, 31/8. A pretty uncommon Duck in my area.

 

 

530/E210.) Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) / Rostgans

 

Chiemsee, Germany, 3/3/19. My only sighting this year.

 

 

531/E211.) Redwing (Turdus iliacus) / Rotdrossel

 

Mühldorf, Carinthia/Austria, 1/11/19. Atrocious photo but a very exciting sighting for me - a lifer!

 

 

532/E212.) Gadwall (Anas strepera) / Schnatterente

 

Chiemsee, Germany, 19/9/19. No excuse for this one, not an uncommon species, just sort of forgot about it.

 

 

533/E213.) Eurasian Sparrowhawk (Accipiter nisus) / Sperber

 

Maria Elend, Carinthia/Austria, 23/12. Believe it or not, my only sighting this year.

 

 

 

534/E214.) Goldcrest (Regulus regulus) / Wintergoldhähnchen

 

Inzing, Tirol/Austria, 9/3/19. Seen quite often but never an easy one to get.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

535/E215.) Common Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis) / Eisvogel

 

Chiemsee, Germany, 19/9/19.

 

 

And that´s it for my Big Year 2019 - see you all (hopefully) in the next one (Yes, I´m in again).

[xelas]

You have shown us some excellent photos also this year, @michael-ibk! Passing by #500 is always a great achievement, only that this year there are so many so dedicated participants (not me). Yet, I am accepting your invitation, Big Year 2020 will start in less than 48 hrs 

[PeterHG]

Even your EBC's are worth looking at. Thank you for all your beautiful contributions and see you again in next year's thread!

[TonyQ]

A stunning Kingfisher to end a magnificent Big Year. A treat to follow with excellent photos throughout (plus a few fine EBCs!).

I still find it interesting to see what is common or uncommon in particular areas. Yesterday we saw a flock of about 20 Redwings eating berries in a tree at the top of our road, but birds you see regularly we never see at all.

The beauty of the Big Year

[Galana]

Thanks from me too. A lovely bird to finish on. One I missed out on this year. Happy to trade you in Redwings every winter. Name your offer.

[pedro maia]

It was a pleasure to follow your BY and a greater pleasure to meet you, and if you like crested tits I know where to get good pictures of them...

Edited December 31, 2019 by pedro maia

[Kitsafari]

On 12/31/2019 at 2:20 AM, michael-ibk said:

 

 2019 is almost over, so here come the black sheep of my Big Year, the most brutal ebcs - that´s right, I´m dumping all my leftovers on you now!

 

 

You have exacting standards if you call these EBCs!!

[Dave Williams]

Excellent total for the year Michael. Interesting to see so many species in your part of Europe that we don't see over here in the UK. Maybe it's time to head east again!

[michael-ibk]

On 12/30/2019 at 8:44 PM, TonyQ said:

I still find it interesting to see what is common or uncommon in particular areas. Yesterday we saw a flock of about 20 Redwings eating berries in a tree at the top of our road, but birds you see regularly we never see at all.

 

They are rare winter migrants only, and just a few linger here for the cold months.

 

On 12/31/2019 at 12:11 PM, pedro maia said:

It was a pleasure to follow your BY and a greater pleasure to meet you, and if you like crested tits I know where to get good pictures of them...

 

Pleasure all mine Pedro, and beware - I might take you on your word, maybe (hopefully) I´m in Lissabon in April.

 

10 hours ago, Kitsafari said:

You have exacting standards if you call these EBCs!!

 

Well, I think the Pintail or Sparrowhawk certainly qualify. Some of the others might not be golden ebc-standard but those are quite common birds and it irks me a bit that I was not more successful with them.

 

6 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

Interesting to see so many species in your part of Europe that we don't see over here in the UK. Maybe it's time to head east again!

 

Absolutely Dave - I can show you around!

[michael-ibk]

And forgot to mention - again, this was a No-Dunnock-Year for me - I guess that must seem pretty weird for you UKers.