Birding on 3 continents

[xelas]

Earlier in the morning we have seen this duck, just outside the main area.

 

 

BY196 / IT007

Tufted Duck - Aythya fuligula

 

Foce dell'Isonzo, 10.02.2018

[xelas]

And by exiting the Riserva one more sighting.

 

 

BY197 / IT008

(Eurasian) Curlew - Numenius arquata

 

Foce dell'Isonzo, 10.02.2018

[TonyQ]

I think the Penduline Tit would make any birding day! And beautifuly photographed!

Edited February 23, 2018 by TonyQ

[Peter Connan]

Really magnificent photographs from both of you this year!

[xelas]

Thank you for your comments, @TonyQ and @Peter Connan. It was a slow day for birding but nice day for walking, and yes, that Penduline Tit made our day!

 

[xelas]

Still early to go back home, we have moved towards Valle Cavanata in search of more ducks. And indeed there was a mix flock in the canal; they have kept themselves on the other side at healthy distance for them but not for us. I will come back when it will be warmer, to wait for them coming closer. 

 

 

BY198 / IT009

Gadwall - Anas strepera

 

 

 

BY199 / IT010

(Common) Pochard - Aythya ferina

 

 

 

BY 200 / EU027

(Common) Goldeneye - Bucephala clangula

 

 

 

BY201 / EU028

Black-necked Grebe - Podiceps nigricollis

 

 

all Valle Cavanata, 10.02.2018

 

 

As the title of this year is about continents I have changed the counting system to reflect this.

[TonyQ]

Well done on reaching the 200 so early in the year.

 

(100 per month.........)

[Galana]

Congratulations on the family's 200.

Some nice photos. Love the Goldeneye.

Interested to see how your new system of counting works in practice.

Edited February 24, 2018 by Galana
Additonal text.

[xelas]

9 minutes ago, Galana said:

Congratulations on the family's 200.

 

My other title for this year was about to be: BY 2018: A Family Effort .

 

9 minutes ago, Galana said:

Interested to see how your new system of counting works in practice.

 

What do you think, it would be too complicated?! I know my travels will took me to Africa (Botswana) and to Central America (not a continent but close enough) and of course Europe. Should I add also the country?? Like: BY201 / EU028 / IT012 ? And, should there be a space between the letters and numbers? BY 201 / EU 028 / IT 012 ??

 

I am asking also other readers to help me with above dilemma (trilemma ); please vote for your option.

Edited February 24, 2018 by xelas

[Galana]

5 hours ago, xelas said:

What do you think, it would be too complicated?!

Well the Acronym KISS comes to mind.

On the 4x4 Community forum a member includes this in his 'signature'.

" There is no task too simple for some people to complicate ! "

 

My simple view is that the object of the forum is to count each species of bird photographed and I wonder if it adds anything to run separate totals alongside as to location of the bird?

Look at how easily this old man got confused with @TonyQ's quite simple split for The Gambia.

However others may think differently so let's hear from them.

[TonyQ]

I think it depends on what you want the information for. Mine is not really relevant to other people, but I like to keep a UK score just for my own interest. I know that I will not challenge at the top of the table so it gives me other things to aim for.

So last year my overall total was lower than 2016, but my UK total was higher.

 

So if you want the information, do it. If not, don't.

[xelas]

Thank you both for your views. I will not complicate the counting system too much thus I will go the "title" way by counting birds per continent in addition to total.

[xelas]

After finishing with Italian side we have visited also the Slovenian bird sanctuary at Škocjanski Zatok. Birding was slow also here; probably because we were late there. At least what was there tend to stay closer.

 

BY 202 / EU 029

(Eurasian) Coot - Fulica atra

 

 

 

BY 203 / EU 030

(Northern) Shoveler - Anas clypeata

 

male

 

female

 

 

BY 204 / EU 031

White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons

 

all Škocjanski Zatok, 10.02.2018

[Peter Connan]

200 before February's payday! Well done!

 

I think if one wants to run separate scores for different countries (or continents), you kind-of need to pot all the birds you have seen in those countries, irrespective of whether you already have them on the count.

 

This may increase the workload even further, but could add to the interest...

[xelas]

@Peter Connan you are right. Counting only posted birds as "continent" or "country" bird is not really fair to other birds that we have photographed in specific country and continent.  I think I will go back to basic counting only. Just to keep track.

Edited February 24, 2018 by xelas

[michael-ibk]

A very special shot of the Penduline Tit, such a beautiful photo - Bravo! Why do you think you have a Caspian Gull there? I´d rather suggest Yellow-Legged, especially because of the bright iris, and of course it´s the much more common species.

 

I also use one of these Continent/Country-codes (this year it will probably be E/CR/CH for Europe/Costa Rica/Chad), but as Tony mentioned this is mostly for myself. Like him, I am particularly interested to see what I can get back home.

[Galana]

5 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

Why do you think you have a Caspian Gull there?

Well that is a good question @michael-ibk.

 

For a definitive answer one could try here:-

https://www.birdguides.com/articles/what-is-a-caspian-gull/   

and come away even more confused than before.

[xelas]

 

5 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

Why do you think you have a Caspian Gull there?

 

Mainly because of the pattern of the white tips on the wings, as visible on the bottom bird; white tip on both of the outer feathers (P10), and longer grey "tongues" penetrating the black (as described by Britain's Birds). The pale grey back and the yellowish legs indicates 3rd-winter bird. I could be wrong, of course.

[Dave Williams]

Nice work getting to the 200 mark!

As for counting countries, doesn't matter if you do or not really. I'm keeping a spreadsheet which tells me what I have posted but if I have seen it in two places it doesn't get posted again.

[Geoff]

On 24/02/2018 at 3:53 AM, xelas said:

(Eurasian) Penduline Tit - Remiz pendulinus

 

Lovely setting

[michael-ibk]

On 25.2.2018 at 4:08 PM, xelas said:

 

 

Mainly because of the pattern of the white tips on the wings, as visible on the bottom bird; white tip on both of the outer feathers (P10), and longer grey "tongues" penetrating the black (as described by Britain's Birds). The pale grey back and the yellowish legs indicates 3rd-winter bird. I could be wrong, of course.

 

Not saying it´s impossible but YLGs also have white tips on P10. Caspian´s P10 tip should be completely white (not the case here), YLs have a small black band near the tip (can be seen on the bird at the bottom.) Tongues (which I do not really see) should be more whitish, more contrasting to the grey wings. Definitely not 3rd winter birds, the head is too white, the bill too yellow. The bright iris (extremely rare with Caspains), not very strong bill and very yellow legs still say YL to me. A comparison (unfortunately in German) here:

 

http://www.dda-web.de/downloads/texts/publications/falke/51/gottschling_steppen_mittelmeermoewe_falke51.pdf

 

 

[xelas]

I am always prepared to learn! So I will have to look for those "bullet hole" eyes and thus I am changing:

 

BY 195

Yellow-legged Gull - Larus michahellis

 

Thank you both for added informations, @michael-ibk and @Galana.

[xelas]

End of last year I have walked along the Kamniška Bistrica river several times in search of Dipper. This time I hoped to find Bullfinches ... but the first bird spotted was ...

 

BY 205 / EU 032

(White-throated) Dipper - Cinclus cinclus

 

 

Domžale, 11.02.2018

 

 

[xelas]

My day birding day was made, but there were other birds waiting to be photographed.

 

 

BY 206 / EU 033

Common Buzzard - Buteo buteo

 

 

BY 207 / EU034

Goosander - Mergus merganser

 

 

BY208 / EU035

(Eurasian) Treecreeper - Certhia familiaris

 

all Domžale, 11.02.2018

 

 

[xelas]

And lets not forget the day's target species .

 

 

BY209 / EU 036

(Eurasian) Bullfinch - Pyrrhula pyrrhula

 

female

 

male

Domžale, 11.02.2018