Michael´s Year

[michael-ibk]

317/E177.) Lesser Black-Backed Gull (Larus fuscus) / Heringsmöwe

 

Ebro Delta, 22/10. The third bird from the right. Gulls are an identification nightmare for me - without Carles I never would have realized that this is not a Yellow-Legged Gull (which are everywhere).

 

 

The Slender-Billed Gull (already in the count) is easier because of its distinctive bill colouring and pink hue.

 

[michael-ibk]

318/E178.) Cetti´s Warbler (Cettia cetti) - Seidensänger

 

Ebro Delta, 22/10 - very small birds, and deep in the reed most of the time.

 

 

And a Eurasian Reed Warbler, just because it was so much more cooperating:

 

[michael-ibk]

319/E179.) Bar-Tailed Godwit (Limosa lapponica) / Pfuhlschnepfe

 

Ebro Delta, 22/10.

 

[michael-ibk]

320/E180.) Common Rock Sparrow (Petronia petronia) / Steinsperling

 

Montgri Nature Park, 23/10.

 

[michael-ibk]

321/E181.) Blue Rock Thrush (Monticola solitarius) / Blaumerle

 

Montgri Nature Park, 23/10. Hey, we said Every Bird Counts! And be thankful I have not posted my Sparrowhawk and Serin "pictures" - but I will if I won´t get them till the end of the year.

 

[michael-ibk]

322/E182.) Black Stork (Ciconia negra) / Schwarzstorch

 

Montgri, 23/10.

 

[michael-ibk]

That´s it for my new conquests - we also saw White-Headed Duck but even I have some (low) standards - you could never tell by the picture.

 

A few doubles:

 

 

Marsh Harrier

 

 

An interestingly coloured Ruff.

 

 

Booted Eagle

 

 

Cattle Horse Egret

 

 

A (probably young and) not very shy Osprey - my favourite sighting.

[TonyQ]

@@michael-ibk

That was a very productive work(!) trip

Lovely photos

[michael-ibk]

323/E183.) Ruddy Shelduck (Tadorna ferruginea) / Rostgans

 

Chiemsee, 28/10 and 1/11/2016

 

 

[michael-ibk]

324/E184.) Chilean Flamingo (Phoenicopterus chilensis) / Chileflamingo

 

Chiemsee, 1/11/2016

 

This bird obviously is not a natural. Some 15 years ago some individuals escaped from a Zoo, and have since managed to survive - and even breed successfully.

 

[michael-ibk]

325/E185.) Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) / Spießente

 

Chiemsee, 28/10/2016

 

[michael-ibk]

326/E186.) Black Swan (Cygnus atratus) / Trauerschwan

 

Maria Elend, 29/10/2016

 

Black Swans are from Australia, but several feral (including a few stable) populations can be found in Europe. This individual has been around for more than six years now I was told.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

327/E187.) Grey-Headed Woodpecker (Picus canus) / Grauspecht

 

Maria Elend, 29/10/2016

 

[michael-ibk]

328/E188.) Red-Breasted Merganser (Mergus serrator) / Mittelsäger

 

Stausee Reißeck, 30/10/2016

 

A rarer sight in inland Middle Europe

 

[michael-ibk]

329/E189.) Red-Necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena) / Rothalstaucher

 

Stausee Reißeck, 30/10/2016

 

Migrating through. They lose their distincitve red throat and breast in winter plumage.

 

Edited November 2, 2016 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

And a few doubles, mainly from the balcony.

 

Crested Tit:

 

 

 

 

Coal Tit

 

 

Blue Tit

 

 

Great Tit

 

 

Blackbird

 

 

Pochard

 

 

Mute Swan

 

 

Tufted Duck

 

[TonyQ]

@@michael-ibk

The Crested Tit photos are stunning! (I have never seen one )

[michael-ibk]

Thanks, @@TonyQ . They are my favourite Tit, and I was delighted that they (or at least one) are coming to the feeders. Not impossible in the UK apparently, but not really close to you. Wiki says:

 

"Chiefly restricted to the ancient pinewoods of Inverness and Strathspey in Scotland, and seldom strays far from its haunts. A few vagrants have been seen in England."

[JohnR]

@@michael-ibk

The Crested Tit photos are stunning! (I have never seen one )

+1 on both counts.

[elefromoz]

@@michael-ibk, gorgeous shots of the "balcony" birds. How weird seeing a Black Swan in your home collection!

[xelas]

@@michael-ibk

 

Pulling ahead in big strides, eh?! Lovely photos, keep them coming (I know there will be more from you till end of this Big Year ).

[xelas]

@@michael-ibk

 

Juist found your Spanish collection; the #321 ... ebc ... but please let me know where to look to the bird !

[michael-ibk]

Need glasses, Alex?

 

Exactly in the middle. Unfortunately the female Blue Rock Thrush is not blue, but brown and grey.

[xelas]

No, only to clean them ... and some directions !

[michael-ibk]

The year 2016 is almost over but this Big Year is far from over!

Coming up are the birds from our Rwanda/Kenya trip in Nov/Dec 2016. Similar to South Africa I´m doing this in the order of my birdbook ("Birds of East Africa"). In South Africa I had 140 new (countable) ones and only 10 already in the count from Europe, so 150 total. This time there were about 80 already in the count (mostly from South Africa) - so how many new ones?

 

Let´s find out - this may take a while...

 

330/EA1.) Striated aka Green-Backed Heron (Butorides striatus) / Mangrovenreiher

 

Lake Baringo, 03/12. Also seen at Akagera´s Lake Ihema.