TonyQ Big Year 2018 (The Third)

[Galana]

@TonyQ  I have the same problem with some @s on some days. I find the Enter Key often breaks the 'lock'. Other times I give up and delete, write the message and then inert the @TonyQ again.

With a Kingfisher at 298 and Peregrines at 299 you MUST have a good one for 300 surely.

Yorkshire will produce the goods.Bempton? Fairburn? Spotted Crakes at North Cave??

[Kitsafari]

Wonderful series of the peregrines! 

 

Come on @TonyQ dont keep us in suspense-what is #300? And I’m jumping the gun - an advanced congratulations on hitting that number!

[Peter Connan]

The suspenders are killing us!

[xelas]

@TonyQ excellent sightings on unusual places. I am sure you are building up suspension on purpose, and that you will celebrate both the England win and the #300 altogether with an exceptional addition to your Big Year .

[PeterHG]

I’m not going to increase the pressure. I’m looking forward to your #300 even if it turns out to be a Common Moorhen..... 

[Zim Girl]

@TonyQ

Lovely Kingfisher, a real treat to see in the UK and the Peregrines are just wonderful.

[TonyQ]

@michael-ibk @elefromoz @Towlersonsafari

Edited July 12, 2018 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

Same problem with using notification, and using "Enter" key doesn't clear it

I did want to say thank you to those people. I think I will continue without using the "@" function

Galana -we went to Bempton so you can guess the sort of birds

Kitsafari - thank you.

I think you all might be a bit disappointed by Number 300. I did want to use the Peregrines, but I ran out of Local Birds at 299.

I have a few from Yorkshire, but we had a nice local sighting yesterday so I will use that

[TonyQ]

300.UK.135. Water Rail  Rallus aquaticus     

Juvenile, Upton Warren, Worcestershire        11.07.2018

We watched it for a while lurking amongst the reed, but then it did finally come out

   

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           11.07.2018

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           11.07.2018

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           11.07.2018

It was the first Water Rail we have seen this year, and the first time we have seen a Juvenile. (We did see some chicks in Year 1). It was a really enjoyable sighting so I am happy for it to be Number 300.

[Peter Connan]

No disappointment at all, a real beauty and a lovely sequence!

 

Well done on the 300.

[Dave Williams]

Excellent capture for the 300, nice one!

[Galana]

A worthy 300 indeed. This @ business is sporadic, let's try one now @TonyQ  Nope. That went OK. Odd. This time I used the left right arrows not the space bar.

[michael-ibk]

Congratulations Tony, a very cool bird for post #300 - I still haven´t seen one in Austria! You are really having a great Big Year.

[xelas]

Having the Water Rail in the open is rare so worth to become #300 of your big Year, @TonyQ. And congratulations!!

[Tdgraves]

Well done on the 300. I have never seen a water rail....

[Zim Girl]

Me neither, excellent bird to reach 300 with - congratulations.

[PeterHG]

Beautiful photos of the Water rail, @TonyQ ! A very good bird to reach the magic number with!

[Kitsafari]

Your patience paid off and it came into the open for you. Love that last photo with it framed against the leaves and flowers (are those some kind of water lilies?) - pretty as a pciture.

Edited July 19, 2018 by Kitsafari

[TonyQ]

@Kitsafari @PeterHG @Zim Girl @Tdgraves @xelas @michael-ibk @Galana @Dave Williams @Peter Connan

Thank you all for your kind comments

[TonyQ]

We went to Yorkshire for a couple of days, staying near Bempton Cliffs. There is an RSPB reserve there, and a little further along the coast are Flamborough Cliffs, managed by Yorkshire Wildlife Trust. We also visited a couple of inland sites.

 

 

 

The number of seabirds is amazing - some estimate 200,000 breeding birds in season. I have no idea if tha figure is accurate, but the feeling of the sheer abundance of life is very strong.

I will show some individual birds!

 

[TonyQ]

301.UK.136. Puffin  Fratercula arctica

 

Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire       05.07.2018

Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire       05.07.2018

Always a pleasure to see (well actually I have only seen them once before!). Not in the huge numbers of the other birds, but easy to see.

[TonyQ]

302.UK.137. Guillemot  Cepphus grylle         

Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire       05.07.2018

These are seen in very large numbers. One towards the left has the white eye-ring (bridle).

Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire       05.07.2018

With chick, Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire       05.07.2018

Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire       05.07.2018

Sharing a nesting spot with Kittiwake - they seemed to tolerate each other without a problem. This time of year is very interesting because so many birds do have chicks.

[TonyQ]

303.UK.138. Kittiwake  Rissa tridactyla         

Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire       05.07.2018

Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire       05.07.2018

[TonyQ]

304.UK.139. Razorbill  Alca torda      

Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire       05.07.2018

With sand eels for chick,Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire       05.07.2018

With a larger fish for chick, Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire       05.07.2018

Chick swallowing fish, Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire       05.07.2018

Parents giving care and attention, Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire       05.07.2018

[TonyQ]

305.UK.140. Gannet  Morus bassanus  

Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire       05.07.2018

I have only seen Gannets very distantly before this trip. I was surprised how beautiful and interesting they are.

Coming in to land, Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire       05.07.2018

Preening while flying, Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire       05.07.2018

Display, Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire       05.07.2018

Display, Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire       05.07.2018

Conflict?, Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire       05.07.2018

Year 3 Gannet plus adult, Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire       05.07.2018

With chicks, Bempton Cliffs, Yorkshire       05.07.2018

 

Edited July 23, 2018 by TonyQ