Birding on 3 continents

[Galana]

Not knocking it or making an issue of grown men chasing a little bird. Just saying it is still 'just a tick' in BY2018 more is the pity.

 

[michael-ibk]

A really impressive score from South Africa, and looking forward to see what the Hare can come up with from Bots and good old Europe. Particularly like the Bishop and the Waxbill from the last batch (but the forum no longer allows me to like them.)

[xelas]

1 hour ago, michael-ibk said:

A really impressive score from South Africa, and looking forward to see what the Hare can come up with from Bots and good old Europe. Particularly like the Bishop and the Waxbill from the last batch (but the forum no longer allows me to like them.)

 

I know you like them all ! And thank you for that .

[xelas]

Coming back to Mystery Birds this is a list I have received from a birder from Hermanus:

 

1,2 African Dusky FC

3. Jackal Buzzard

4. Juv Red-winged Starling? (but surely not Common Starling)

5. Doesn't look like Karoo Scrub-robinn / remains mystery bird

6. White-throated Canary

7. Forest Canary

8. Fiscal Shrike (Common Fiscal)

[xelas]

Thus no new addition to South Africa, and ready to move on with European birds. For naming the birds I will be using denomination as found in Collins Bird Guide 2nd Edition.

 

To improve our "balcony birding" Zvezda has ordered a bird feeder directly from the UK!

 

 

Edited February 18, 2018 by xelas

[xelas]

This move proved to bear results i.e. attracting the local birds almost immediately. 

 

 

BY174 / SI001

Blackbird (Common) - Turdus merula

 

female

 

Barje, 25.01.2018 

Edited February 18, 2018 by xelas

[xelas]

Next task was to see if ducks are still "home". The lady obviously has found a new admirer .

 

BY175 / SI002

Rosy-billed Pochard - Netta peposaca

 

 

BY176 / SI003 

American Wigeon - Anas americana

Domžale, 27.01.2018

[xelas]

Birding along Kamniška Bistrica river always produces results.

 

 

BY177 / SI004

Goldfinch (European) - Carduelis carduelis

 

 

BY178 / SI005

Grey Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

 

 

 

BY179 / SI006

White/Pied Wagtail / Motacilla alba

 

Domžale, 27.01.2018

 

[xelas]

On that same day we have also paid a visit to another wintering home: Zbiljsko jezero.

 

 

BY180 / SI007

Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos

 

 

 

BY181 / SI008

Red-crested Pochard - Netta rufina

 

 

 

BY182 / SI009

Mute Swan - Cygnus olor

 

Zbilje, 27.01.2018

 

 

 

[xelas]

On the way back home we have done our first drive of the year on Ljubljansko Barje.

 

 

BY183 / SI010

Jay (Eurasian) - Garrulus glandarius

 

 

 

BY184 / SI011

Reed Bunting - Emberiza schoeniclus

 

Barje, 27.01.2018

[michael-ibk]

Cool photo of the Jay, I find them very difficult. What are these two Americans doing in Slovenia?

[xelas]

5 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

What are these two Americans doing in Slovenia?

 

Having a love affair? Political emigrants?? Found better social life???

[Dave Williams]

The 2 Americans are certainly a bonus. Been sat on these a while I see!

[Galana]

9 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

What are these two Americans doing in Slovenia?

They get everywhere these days. Can't keep em out!

[elefromoz]

@xelas, that's a very smart looking feeder in the Garden. Nice little Goldfinch, that was my first ever European Bird, so pretty. 

[PeterHG]

I browsed through your SA collection, @xelas and what a n excellent collection it is. Many great photos, like the flight shot of the Giant Kingfisher, the Klaas's' Cuckoo and many more. Please tell Zvezda that her photography has been outstanding! Good you got the chance of Little Bittern shot in Montagu. We did see it there, but only fleetingly. Apparently that was the first year they spotted it there, so it's nice to know it seems to have settled. Consider all your posts 'liked'

 

 

Edited February 22, 2018 by PeterHG

[xelas]

February came with snow; it should as it is main winter month in Slovenia. Our bird feeder became very popular with birds since Zvezda fed them well!

 

 

 

However photographing birds on snow is a tricky business. Much to learn for me.

 

BY185 / SI012

Dunnock - Prunella modularis

 

Barje, 08.02.2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

Tits were (are) visiting the feeder regularly; and the mix really surprised me. All 4 tits were photographed on the same day and place: Barje, 08.02.2018

 

BY186 / SI013

(European) Blue Tit - Cyanistes caeruleus

 

 

 

 

BY187 / SI014

Great Tit - Parus major

 

 

 

 

BY188 / SI015

Long-tailed Tit - Aegithalos caudatus

 

caudatus

 

europaeus

 

 

BY189 / SI016

Marsh Tit - Poecile palustris

 

 

 

[Dave Williams]

Not happy being left behind eh I wonder how many more aces up your sleeve!

 

Envious of Marsh Tit too.

[Galana]

Looks to me like a family effort. Time to buy the Missus a camera and borrow somebody's daughter.

Do God children count as I have what seems like hundreds of them?

[xelas]

@Galana as the feeder is in front of our family house, well, there are many photos of above birds by all three members of the family. Anyway, I have not seen or read anything about family members not being allowed to add/participate in Big Year. As final numbers are not (that) important but the variety and the quality is, I hope we will not be disqualified ?!

 

@Dave Williams you are partly right, and yes there are some birds in our hat, which will be posted over next days . Stay tuned!

[xelas]

Like birds like birders, so we headed south (OK, it was actually west) looking for warmer places. Although close to the sea and thus without snow, and supposedly excellent winter birding locations, we will have to repeat our trips several more times. First we crossed the border with Italy and visited Riserva Naturale Regionale della Foce dell'Isonzo.

 

 

Cormorants are becoming a nuisance, specially to fishermen and fisheries. They are quite common sight, yet we have seen this type of winter headgear for the first time.

 

BY190 / IT001

(Great) Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo

 

Foce dell'Isonzo, 10.02.2018

 

In the same channel just the opposite side was his cousin.

 

BY191 / IT002

Pygmy Cormorant - Phalacrocorax pygmeus

 

Foce dell'Isonzo, 10.02.2018

[xelas]

Central part of this Natural Reserve is named Isola della Cona. Nestled between Soča river and adjacent man-made canal, it has several big ponds and should be a haven for wintering water birds.

As said before, we did not have much luck with those. And also the rest of the birdlife was well hidden. But, sometimes only one bird can change the birding day completely.

 

BY192 / IT003

(Eurasian) Penduline Tit - Remiz pendulinus

 

 

Isola della Cona, 10.02.2018

 

[xelas]

This one was the only other bird photographed within Isola della Cona boundaries.

 

 

BY193 / IT004

Great Spotted Woodpecker - Dendrocopos major

 

 

Isola della Cona, 10.02.2018

Edited February 23, 2018 by xelas

[xelas]

Outside two gulls catched Zvezda's attention:

 

 

BY194 / IT005

 

Black-headed Gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus

 

Foce Dell'Isonzo, 10.02.2018

 

 

BY195 / IT006

Caspian Gull - Larus cachinnans

 

Foce dell'Isonzo, 10.02.2018