Alex & Zvezdana Big Year 2017

[Galana]

8 minutes ago, PeterHG said:

We’re all scraping the barrel here 

1 hour ago, xelas said:

Where can I find Indian Runner?

Help yourself. https://www.omlet.ie/breeds/ducks/indian_runners

Love the webtitle. Omelet.

[xelas]

Thank you, @Galana! Omlet made by those eggs must be very tasteful. I will keep my eye wide open, I might add another bird to my count !

[Galana]

2 minutes ago, xelas said:

those eggs must be very tasteful

Even I would not let you count an Egg.

[xelas]

Why?! Is there an age restriction mentioned anywhere?! Who was first, the egg or the chicken?? 

Edited November 24, 2017 by xelas

[Galana]

1 hour ago, xelas said:

Why?! Is there an age restriction mentioned anywhere?!

 

No but ID may be a problem!

[xelas]

Back to more serious business . For #350 I was hoping to post a much nicer, and bigger bird. Unfortunately after crosschecking it I have to offer you this one; not the most rare nor the most beautiful but for sure one of the more complicated to be ID. Sorry for the subpar IQ, the light was just awful.

 

 

BY 350 / AUT 26

Caspian Gull - Larus cachinnans

Seewinkel, 17/11/2017

[Peter Connan]

Well, congratulations on the 300!

 

 

[Tdgraves]

Congrats on the 350

 

p.s. @Peter Connan having issues with maths today??

[Peter Connan]

Obviously...

 

Guess I wasn't really awake yet... My apologies @xelas

Just wondering if you can manage another 15 birds this year? One for every day of the year?

Edited November 26, 2017 by Peter Connan

[xelas]

No problemo, @Peter Connan !

 

As for the extra 15 birds this year, we will have one afternoon between CPT and Hermanus, and 1 whole day at Hermanus, so reaching 1 bpd is feasible, IMO.

[Galana]

4 hours ago, xelas said:

so reaching 1 bpd is feasible, IMO.

Take a torch and a camera trap!!

 

Anyway. Still some at home before you go!

Edited November 26, 2017 by Galana
amended spelling.

[xelas]

8 hours ago, Galana said:

Anyway. Still some at home before you go!

 Yes, there are still local birds that I could add to the count; the problem is weather is turning cold, with snow etc. Only known species like Blackbird, Black Redstarter, Robin, Marsh Tit etc from my balcony.

[xelas]

Scrapping the Namibian barrel has produced one more bird to be posted in our Big Year; but it will not count as increase total as it will replace the dubious Spotted Flycatcher photo (BY 189 / NAM 113). The non-Spotted was in reality a Chat Flycatcher. So here we go:

 

 

BY 189 / NAM 113

Grey Plover - Pluvialis squatarola

 

And as I am posting Tanja's photos (it's all inside a family), here is one more photo, which was not that good when originally posted:

 

Familiar Chat

[Galana]

1 hour ago, xelas said:

The non-Spotted was in reality a Chat Flycatcher

Shame that. But it is what it is.

 

I do like Tanja's  Familiar Chat. Typical pose with flirting tail.

 

Not sure about permitting a family collection. You could all be in different countries!!

Edited November 28, 2017 by Galana

[xelas]

6 hours ago, Galana said:

Not sure about permitting a family collection. You could all be in different countries!!

 

Indeed, however this one not. Maybe our 2018 Big Year should be a family thing?!

[xelas]

On 9/21/2017 at 10:55 PM, PeterHG said:

What a memorable visit it was with you and Zvezda, @xelas ! Lots of very good species as you are showing here. ( the 'feldegg' is a subspecies of the Yellow Wagtail, though, as far as I know)

 

Scraping the barrel I have encountered one mistake, which @PeterHG did pointed out yet I have simply overlooked his comment. The "feldegg" is indeed a subspecies of a Yellow Wagtail; I have incorrectly named it as Grey Wagtail. Thus I am correcting the name with an extra photo:

 

BY251 / SI047

Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava (race feldegg)

Škocjanski zatok, 17/06/2017

Edited November 28, 2017 by xelas

[xelas]

One more bird resulted from my browsing through photos taken this year in Slovenia .

 

 

BY 351 / SI 071

Marsh Warbler - Acrocephalus palustris

Škocjanski zatok, 24/06/2017

[xelas]

The misidentified wagtail was a blessing in disguise. Zvezda was sure she took a photo of the "other yellow" and after sipping through a couple of thousands photos, the golden nugget shined :

 

 

BY 352 / SCO 38

Grey Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

Isle of Mull, 15/08/2017

[xelas]

It was a lovely sunny day at Foce dell'Isonzo but bitterly cold, mainly because of strong north wind. The light was nice but small birds kept themselves inside bushes, and water birds all congregated at the other side of the small lake. Mostly old friends from our last visit but there was also one new friend. Speaking of friends, we have been accompanied by a fellow Slovenian birder and photographer, and the whole day was another excellent day in a great company.

 

 

BY 353 / ITA 15

Common Pochard - Aythya ferina

Foce dell'Isonzo, 02/12/2017

[xelas]

Not one but two new friends !

 

 

BY 354 / ITA 16

Gadwall - Anas strepera

Foce dell'Isonzo, 02/12/2017

 

[Dave Williams]

Impressive count increase while I have been away Alex, will start adding my meagre few when I finally arrive home but in the meantime catching up with all the BY's whilst sat in Dubai airport at silly o'clock.

[xelas]

@Dave Williams, it might be a silly hour but Dubai airport means only one thing ... great trip!

[Galana]

@xelas  Two more down. 11 to go. You can do this. Nice photos.

[xelas]

Zvezda worked hard today, to give you a different angle, and better IQ.

 

 

BY 355 / SI 072

Rudy Shelduck - Tadorna ferruginea

Domžale, 03/12/2017

 

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

BY 356 / SI 073

Rosy-billed Pochard - Netta peposaca

 

female

 

male

 

couple

Domžale, 03/12/2017