Birding on 3 continents

[Peter Connan]

Lovely Red-backed Shrike sequence!

[xelas]

For the second full day at Kiskunsagi, Gabor told us, and pointed on the map Zvezda had on her iPad, a location where we will most probably find several smaller birds of prey. They were there!

 

 

BY 345 / EU 092

Red-footed Falcon - Falco vespertinus

 

 

Kiskunsagi, 01.05.2018

[xelas]

With plenty of wooden boxes no surprise that also this one was hanging around.

 

BY 346 / EU 093

Common Cuckoo - Cuculus canorus

Kiskunsagi, 01.05.2018

 

Little Hortobagy, 28.04.2018

 

 

[xelas]

With two lakes probably filled with fishes, Zvezda has enough stuntmen for her to improve on the BIF skills.

 

 

BY 347 / EU 094

Common Tern - Sterna hirundo

 

 

Kiskunsagi, 01.05.2018

[xelas]

Last two birds from Hungary: another high flying bird of prey that might start a debate, and a Thrush that is usually seen on the ground.

 

 

BY 348 / EU 095

Osprey - Pandion haliaetus

Kiskunsagi, 01.05.2018

 

 

BY 349 / EU 096

Mistle Thrush - Turdus viscivorus

Kiskunsagi, 01.05.2018

 

 

 

 

[Dave Williams]

Nice additions Alex but I think your Common Tern is a Whiskered Tern.

[xelas]

9 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

Nice additions Alex but I think your Common Tern is a Whiskered Tern.

 

Thank you, Dave! I have missed the missing black tip on the beak ... now let me go out and find also the Common Tern, I know there is a colony near Ptuj.

 

BY 347 / EU 094

Whiskered Tern - Chlidonias hybrida

[xelas]

On our way back to Slovenia Zvezda asked me if we could made a quick stop at Kopački Rit, Croatia. Not the shortest way back home, but as a local saying: "Kud ona okom tu ja skokom!" I was more then happy to oblige her.

She mentioned a very good cappuccino but I knew her main target was something else.

 

 

BY 350 / EU 097

White-tailed Eagle - Haliaeetus albicilla

Kopački Rit, 02.05.2018

 

 

After such a successful trip and birding, with 33 new birds from Hungary, she was kind enough to let me chase our last one.

 

 BY 351 / EU 098

Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros

Kopački Rit, 02.05.2018

[TonyQ]

A very productive trip to Hungary, and your journey back was not bad, especially if you include the cappuccino

[xelas]

1 hour ago, TonyQ said:

A very productive trip to Hungary, and your journey back was not bad, especially if you include the cappuccino

 

Of course cappuccino was included. And a boat trip although it was more to cool off then to see birds.

[xelas]

After coming back to Slovenia it was time to revisit our usual "birding grounds". First we went to Škocjanski Zatok near Koper.

 

 

BY 352 / EU 099

Icterine Warbler - Hippolais icterina

Škocjanski Zatok, 12.05.2018

 

 

BY 353 / EU 100

Little Tern - Sternula albifrons

Škocjanski Zatok, 12.05.2018

 

 

BY 354 / EU 101

Little Ringed Plover - Charadrius dubius

Škocjanski Zatok, 12.05.2018

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

I think this one deserves its own post, and more then 1 photo!

 

 

BY 355 / EU 102

Great Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus arundinaceus

 

 

all Škocjanski Zatok, 12.05.2018

 

Edited May 20, 2018 by xelas

[TonyQ]

A beautiful Great Reed Warbler and a lovely Icterine Warbler- so yellow!

[Peter Connan]

Stunning shots throughout!

[PeterHG]

Beautiful photos of your trip to this familiar reserve! Love the Icterine Warbler and the Great Reed Warbler, 

[xelas]

We have missed your expert eye, @PeterHG! There were birds singing in the bushes and in the trees right above our heads but we were unable to spot any ; luckily this Icterine decided to stay on top of the tree. With Great Reed it was much easier . The place itself is quite empty of birds yet we were lucky to find at least 1 new bird on each visit.

Edited May 21, 2018 by xelas

[michael-ibk]

Very cool to see a Roller comparatively close to home. Also fantastic shots of Stonechat, Whinchat and Partridge. And a great Great Reed Warbler. You will have to show me that Little Tern!

[xelas]

1 hour ago, michael-ibk said:

You will have to show me that Little Tern!

 

Might just happen, @michael-ibk! We have seen it flying and fishing in Škocjanski Zatok yesterday again.

[xelas]

BY 356 / EU 103

Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus

Škocjanski Zatok, 12.05.2018

 

[xelas]

That same day we have also visited Foce dell'Isonzo. Now passing by to #100 of European birds, getting a new one has become increasingly difficult.

 

BY 357 / EU 104

Shelduck - Tadorna tadorna

Isola della Cona, 12.05.2018

 

 

[Tdgraves]

1 hour ago, xelas said:

BY 356 / EU 103

Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus

Škocjanski Zatok, 12.05.2018

 

 

@xelas after being corrected by @PeterHG on my own thread yesterday, I can confidently tell you that this is a yellow-legged gull (I had the IDs the other way around....)

[xelas]

@Tdgraves, that two (and Herring Gull) look so similar. And with this one not showing its legs, would you be so kind and tell me (us) which details are that makes this gull a Yellow-legged?

 

I was going for the Lesser black-backed on:

- the shape of the head (more smoother, less curved)

- the spots on the tail (smaller spots)

 

@PeterHG please add your comments also.

[Tdgraves]

Red eye ring

[PeterHG]

It is true, the YLG has a red orbital ring whereas the LBBG has an orange ring. The difference is not always clear, though in your picture it does look red. The heavier angle on the lower bill points more to the LBBG. The most distinctive feature is undoubtedly the mantle, which is not clearly visible here. With the YLG the mantle should be the same shade of grey as the Herring Gull, the LBBG’s mantle is always darker. From what I can see the mantle looks a little too dark for a YLG, so my guess would still be your original ID. Not conclusive, though.

[xelas]

While waiting for another opinion from local DOPPS, this is a series of European Bee-eater photographed at Isola della Cona. They have a colony in the sand cliff about 20 m away from the public hide, and they came as close as 5 m away. Just next door is a private hide that can be rented for 25 eur/day ... a proper bargain!