TonyQ Big Year 2017 (A second attempt)

[michael-ibk]

Some very cool pelagic birds Tony - I´ve seen none of those!

[xelas]

Nice collection, @TonyQ!

 

Would you be so kind (and others also invited) to describe the Goshawk vs. Common Buzzard differences based on your photo. I have a couple of similar high flying ebc photos but have filed them all under CB ... and also I am quite prepared to be wrong .

[TonyQ]

Hi @xelas

As a fellow beginner.........

It is complicated as there are different forms in different parts of Europe, and dark and pale morphs, different colours, and juveniles. (So some excuses in early)

 

My thinking

Fairly even stripes all up the tail

Stripes on wings go all along the wings and right round the end of the wing (apologies for lack of anatomical language) (Buzzard usually has black feathers (fingers) at the end of the wing

Streaks on chest

The base of the tail starts well back from the wing edge - in the buzzard it is closer or even overlapping the wing edge.

Here is an old picture of a buzzard

and another old one

 

What do you think?

[xelas]

I am going to revise my photos now, armed with new knowledge.

[Galana]

4 hours ago, TonyQ said:

But I am quite prepared to be wrong

So would I. I like the unmarked plain head and the ladder marked back.

[Galana]

1 hour ago, TonyQ said:

(apologies for lack of anatomical language)

Stripes on tail are 'bars' or barring. Four clear bars on Goshawk, multiple on CB. I was actually also considering juv Bonelli's Eagle until I saw the tail bars and trailing edge.

Sorry for two posts. I replied before the page had turned.

[xelas]

I am going to revise my photos now, armed with new knowledge.

[TonyQ]

17 hours ago, Galana said:

So would I. I like the unmarked plain head and the ladder marked back.

I got distracted by the Goshawk. 

Does your comment suggest that the Kestrel is Lesser Kestrel?

 

 

 

[Galana]

@TonyQ I would be comfortable with Lesser Kestrel for the reasons stated. (then we can both be wrong if @Dave Williams disagrees.)

[Dave Williams]

1 hour ago, Galana said:

@TonyQ I would be comfortable with Lesser Kestrel for the reasons stated. (then we can both be wrong if @Dave Williams disagrees.)

 

Why pick on me! I would like to see other angles but it looks good for Lesser to me.

[TonyQ]

After consulting with an international panel of experts I have decided to repost!

223. (P41). Lesser Kestrel  Falco naumanni  

New Bird

Sagres 26.09.2017

Edited December 9, 2017 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

And to finish Portugal this a non-bird flying creature....

[TonyQ]

Back to the UK - first a duplicate (the original was in EBC territory)

Stock Dove  Columba oenas  Sandwell Valley

[TonyQ]

      UK.159            Garden Warbler          Sylvia borin

Previously seen in Mallorca

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           08.11.2017

[TonyQ]

224. (UK.160). Jack Snipe      Lymnocryptes minimus

New Bird         

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           08.11.2017

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           08.11.2017

 

Very distant,but distinctive bobbing up and down. I have put in 2 photos just so you have a better chance of seeing it! Still, first time we have seen one.

Edited December 9, 2017 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

225. (UK.161). Barn Owl    Tyto alba

Ladywalk  Reserve, West Midlands    30.11.2017

Very distant - roosting during the day.

[TonyQ]

226. (UK.162). Willow Tit  Poecile montanus 

Ladywalk  Reserve, West Midlands    30.11.2017

Ladywalk  Reserve, West Midlands    30.11.2017

 

One of the most "at risk" birds in the UK. Numbers have fallen by about 96% since the 1970s. A sad loss.

[TonyQ]

227. (UK.163). Ring-necked Parakeet  Psittacula krameri      

Sandwell Valley           16.11.2017

Sandwell Valley           16.11.2017

 

Perhaps a surprising bird for the middle of England, but they are well established. These are much further north than the distribution maps show in my bird book. A few days before, we saw a flock of about 5 or 6 flying overhead close to our house in Birmingham. Even though we know they live here, it still comes as a bit of a surprise to see them!

Weather was cold and very dull.

Edited December 9, 2017 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

228      UK.164            Firecrest          Regulus ignicapillus

New Bird

Sandwell Valley           24.11.2017

Sandwell Valley           24.11.2017

 

A real thrill to see this bird, a fairly rare visitor to the area. We saw this bird briefly a week earlier in the same place (when the light was even worse). Light was still very bad, but I was pleased to get any sort of photo!

Edited December 9, 2017 by TonyQ

[michael-ibk]

Well done with the Firecrest, never managed to photograph one myself. Interesting about the Willow Tit - a very common bird here in the forests.

[xelas]

I took your word on #225, @TonyQ; all I can see on that photo is a wooden box on a tree ... 

[TonyQ]

@michael-ibk  thank you. One of the features of the Big Year I have found interesting is learning about which birds are common/uncommon in different countries.

@xelas - you may need to get your binoculars out

Here it is enlarged even more. But if you wish, I can withdraw it and reduce my total by 1?

[xelas]

@TonyQ now also I can see the bird ! Why I would wish you to withdraw this bird? However as already mentioned in @michael-ibk Big Year my opinion is as this is a photo Big Year, bird should be recognisable beyond any doubts (to a specialist birder, not me). But this "wish" goes for Big Year 2018, and is only an initiative.

[Galana]

Perfectly good Barney. Count it.

[TonyQ]

Well that was it for 2017!

We went to look for a Hawfinch on 30th December, but didn't see it unfortunately.

Fewer birds overall than in 2016. All 228 were seen in Europe.

I am pleased with the UK total (164) which was higher than 2016.

So all in all a very enjoyable Big Year.

 

As the last photo I posted was a very poor distant owl-in-a-box, I thought I would end with a better photo, taken through the window into the garden, with a bit of winter snow.

Blue Tit

 

And so to 2018........

 

Edited January 2, 2018 by TonyQ