TonyQ Big Year 2018 (The Third)

[TonyQ]

A couple of duplicates

Our classic seaside Sea Gull - Herring Gull

Whooper Swan

Moorhen

I put in the Moorhen as it is behaviour we have not seen before. It climbed up the stem of the bullrush until the stem started to lean over. It then began to eat the Pollen(?) from the flower (?). It was fascinating to watch!

 

[TonyQ]

291.UK.126. Grey Wagtail  Motacilla cinerea

Wyre Forest, Worcestershire  19.05.2018

Youngster waiting to be fed, Wyre Forest, Worcestershire  19.05.2018

[TonyQ]

292.UK.127. Willow Tit  Poecile montanus    

Sandwell Valley           07.01.2018

You will ee that this was taken in January - I have been hoping for a better sighting since. We have not seen on at all since then so I thought I may as well post this one!

[TonyQ]

293.UK.128. Kestrel  Falco tinnunculus         

Titchwell Marsh, Norfolk          25.04.2018

Salthouse Marshes, Norfolk    26.04.2018

[TonyQ]

294.UK.129. Great Black-backed Gull  Larus marinus          

Morstone Quay, Norfolk          26.04.2018

This was found down the back of the digital sofa. I took the picture because the gull in the centre  looked a bit different. There are a number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls or Herring Gulls in the picture. But the one to the right is so much bigger than all of the others that I think it can only be a Greater Black-backed.

[TonyQ]

295.UK.130. Common Tern  Sterna hirundo 

Earlswood, nr Birmingham      19.05.2018

We haven't seen many terns this year, so here is a not very good one!

[TonyQ]

296.UK.131. Jay  Garrulus glandarius           

Our Garden, Birmingham        24.06.2018

Our Garden, Birmingham        24.06.2018

[Galana]

I like the way you get good birds in your garden. It saves a fortune in air fares!

GBB confirmed in #294

[michael-ibk]

I struggle to get a Jay picture at all here, and you have them in your garden!

[Kitsafari]

On 5/27/2018 at 10:20 PM, TonyQ said:

For my 100th from the UK, I am stepping out of date order as I wanted to show a sighting that we found particularly exciting.

 

270.UK.100 Sparrowhawk

 

(F) Birmingham     07.05.2018

I have not given a more precise location as people do persecute them, but it was thrilling to see them in our own city. Our only other sightings have been fairly brief glimpses as one flies high over head, so to us this was very special.

 

 

 

 

forgive me my ignorance @TonyQ, but why are sparrowhawks persecuted? are all raptors targeted?

Edited July 6, 2018 by Kitsafari

[Kitsafari]

great collection since I last glanced (back in May I think) at your BY!

[Galana]

2 hours ago, Kitsafari said:

but why are sparrowhawks persecuted? are all raptors targeted?

Sadly there are still those ignorant people around, Landowners, Keepers and just your average Urban Yob, that consider anything with a hooked beak must be killed. And again the noxious practice of egg collecting still persists despite it having been illegal for over 50 years.

[TonyQ]

@Kitsafari unfortunately @Galana is correct, and Sparrowhawks can be a particularl target because they kill small birds, e.g. Blue Tits, and some people don't like to think of "their" pretty garden birds being killed.

[Kitsafari]

thanks @Galana and @TonyQ. very sad to hear that. how much can a sparrowhawk or any raptor kill? they can't be responsible for the many deaths of garden birds or small creatures. surely humans or domestic cats are just as culpable. 

[Galana]

2 hours ago, Kitsafari said:

how much can a sparrowhawk or any raptor kill? they can't be responsible for the many deaths of garden birds

Obviously, as always, domestic cats are responsible for more bird deaths than other creatures. However Sparrowhawks will target a bird table in a garden and take maybe one a day. One Moorhen nest I was monitoring hatched 6 chicks and each day there was one less til they were gone.

But this is what happens and there is no need for the illegal persecution that takes place in Britain just so folks can eat a virtually inedibly tough Red Grouse on August 12th.

[Dave Williams]

I sensed a burst to 300 was imminent Tony. I'm sure you have the others ready for posting so get them on and join the 300 club!!

[TonyQ]

9 hours ago, Galana said:

Obviously, as always, domestic cats are responsible for more bird deaths than other creatures. 

I presume you mean non-human creatures?

[Galana]

2 hours ago, TonyQ said:

I presume you mean non-human creatures?

True enough.

[TonyQ]

@Galana @michael-ibk  It was only the third time I have seen a Jay this year and there were three of them around the garden area - having a bit of a dispute with Magpies.

@Kitsafari thank you for the kind comments. Research shows Sparrowhawks do not usually have a significant effect on populations of small birds, but obviously they do have a significant effect on individuals! I am quite happy that they don't take the birds at our feeders - but I don't blame a Sparrowhawk for being a Sparrowhawk!

 

I wanted to comment to Dave, but for some reason I cannot write after his tag, and I cannot delete his tag. Anyway Dave, I am about to make a burst to 299! Not that many new birds around locally at this time of year, but we have just visited Yorkshire for a couple of days....

@Dave Williams

 

@Dave Williams

Edited July 9, 2018 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

297.UK.132. Spotted Flycatcher  Muscicapa striata

New to UK      

Holt, Worcestershire   28.06.2018

 

Holt, Worcestershire   28.06.2018

Wyre Forest, Worcestershire  30.06.2018

[TonyQ]

298.UK.133. Kingfisher  Alcedo atthis

Wyre Forest, Worcestershire  30.06.2018

Wyre Forest, Worcestershire  30.06.2018

Wyre Forest, Worcestershire  30.06.2018

 

First sighting of a Kingfisher this year, but probably the best I have had.

[TonyQ]

299.UK.134. Peregrine  Falco peregrinus      

Two chicks, Leamington Spa,Warwickshire           10.06.2018

An unusual place to go on a bird watching trip. Leamington Spa is a town about 20 miles from Birmingham. Peregines were nesting on the clock tower and they had three chicks were were just at the stage of making a first flight. The youngsters have blue eye-rings.

Leamington Spa,Warwickshire           10.06.2018

Getting those wings working, Leamington Spa,Warwickshire           10.06.2018

Adult,  Leamington Spa,Warwickshire           10.06.2018

Leamington Spa,Warwickshire           10.06.2018

We were standing in the main street watching all this. A number of local people new about the birds and were proud of them. Others asked us (and other birders) what we were looking at, and when we gave them a look through our binoculars they were excited to see them.

[michael-ibk]

A wonderful sighting of the Peregrines, and excellent photos! If this is 299, what will be your 300?

[Towlersonsafari]

Great photos of the peregrines! @TonyQ  although I wish they had been nesting there for the 16 years I worked in Leamington! and the Spotted flycatchers were one of my father's favourite birds-the young of the first brood help feed the second brood was a fact that he was particularly keen on!

[elefromoz]

@TonyQ, fantastic Peregrine action and great to be able to share the excitement with others.