lmSA84 - Big Year 2017

[lmSA84]

340. Blue Jay, Boston Nature Centre, 17.10.17

 

[lmSA84]

341. Northern Mockingbird, Boston Nature Centre, 17.10.17

 

[lmSA84]

342. Red-tailed Hawk, Boston Nature Centre, 17.10.17

 

[lmSA84]

343. Northern Cardinal, Boston Nature Centre, 17.10.17

 

This is the female

 

[lmSA84]

344. Turkey Vulture, Boston Nature Centre, 17.10.17

 

[lmSA84]

345. White-throated Sparrow, Boston Nature Centre, 17.10.17

 

I've always thought that African Cisticolas were the hardest birds to identify but having now studied an America bird guide I've learnt that American Sparrows are equally as hard. The yellow spot on this guys head gives him away. 

 

[lmSA84]

346. Great Blue Heron, Boston Nature Centre, 17.10.17

 

This was another image that I was going to delete on the basis that I thought it was a Grey Heron but the Grey is a vagrant in the US. 

 

[lmSA84]

347. Pine Siskin, Boston Nature Centre, 17.10.17

 

 

 

[Tdgraves]

Not sure about the heron - would have to defer to a u.s. birder.... @offshorebirder ??

[Galana]

19 minutes ago, Tdgraves said:

Not sure about the heron - would have to defer to a u.s. birder...

Me neither.

Also, late I know but I would put money on the Rainham marshes Egret being Little and not Great. The bill is dark and very slender. GWE is a much more dagger like bill and usually yellow.

 

Some interesting US birds there.

[lmSA84]

31 minutes ago, Galana said:

Me neither.

Also, late I know but I would put money on the Rainham marshes Egret being Little and not Great. The bill is dark and very slender. GWE is a much more dagger like bill and usually yellow.

 

Some interesting US birds there.

 

@Galana and @Tdgraves - quoting my guide book our Grey Heron is the Old World counterpart of the Great Blue Heron but smaller, with shorter legs and neck. The Grey Heron has been recorded twice - once in Newfoundland and Southwest Arkansas. 

[PeterHG]

Those stuffed birds inside the Boston Science Museum almost look real! Seriously, @lmSA84, you've collected a good number of North American species; it's a good thing you checked before deleting some of them. And a total now of 347: impressive!

[TonyQ]

Great additions. The downy woodpecker is lovely. 

[Dave Williams]

You are staying quietly ahead of the pack here, wonder what else you have up your sleeve!!!

[lmSA84]

For the sanctity of my count I'm going to rescind my Great Egret so I'll start my count again on 346. 

 

I have to admit that I'm now scrapping through the bottom of the proverbial barrel into the floor below! I had a quieter work week so I managed a quick trip to the London Wetland Centre and an evening trip to Rainham.

 

347. Northern Shoveler, London Wetland Centre, 27.10.17

 

 

[lmSA84]

348. Common Snipe, London Wetland Centre, 27.10.17

 

 

[lmSA84]

349. Water Rail, Rainham Marshes, 6.11.17

 

This is a lifer for me.

 

[lmSA84]

350. Northern Pintail, Rainham Marshes, 6.11.17 

 

[lmSA84]

351. Eurasian Wigeon, Rainham Marshes, 6.11.17

 

[lmSA84]

Without any trips abroad planned I'm getting desperate and when I do visit reserves I'm doing so to target specific species. In this case I was hoping to find Curlews. When I arrived I spoke to the receptionist who explained that there had been a small flock right out front all day but that they had just flown off! Sods law!

 

The Water Rail was a nice surprise but really it was quiet.

 

I arrived late so I waited till dusk hoping they would arrive, enjoying a few regulars and...

 

Female Stonechat

 

 

...and the scenary

 

 

Eurasian Teal

 

 

Marsh Harrier

 

 

Little Egrets

 

 

As I was leaving though I finally got my reward.

 

352. Eurasian Curlew

 

 

[Galana]

I would like a few 'quiet' days if I could get a photo of a Water Rail like that.

Nice collection.

[lmSA84]

9 hours ago, Galana said:

I would like a few 'quiet' days if I could get a photo of a Water Rail like that.

Nice collection.

 

@Galana - haha I think you're right. I reckon by December 31st I'll look back on that day with longing. 

[elefromoz]

@ImSA84, beautiful Red Tailed Hawk, the Boston Nature Centre looks like a great place to spend a few hours with the camera.

[Dave Williams]

It's suspiciously quiet here!!

[lmSA84]

On 12/29/2017 at 2:18 PM, Dave Williams said:

It's suspiciously quiet here!!

 

Ha! I wish your paranoia was well founded and that I had been hiding in deepest darkest Peru spotting more birds then a Collins Guide! Sadly the truth is that I've been in deepest darkest Peckham without so much as a Pigeon to spot