Michael´s Third Year

[PeterHG]

Snowfinch and Wallcreeper, @michael-ibk ! Excellent pictures as well. Yes, they would be high on any birder's list, so also on mine...

[elefromoz]

On 6/16/2018 at 1:33 AM, michael-ibk said:

Here with some Little Stints. (Yes, I know, what an incredibly beautiful, tidy and idyllic place. )

 

I hope its not "Birders" doing that. The White Tailed Eagle is majestic indeed, and the Stone Curlew is bird Id never thought about in Europe. A "bridge camera", how liberating for you 

[michael-ibk]

Well it seems I cannot find the time to get some new ones before Costa Rica so I have to dig into the archives.

 

297/E182.) Carrion Crow (Corvus corone) / Rabenkrähe

 

Chiemsee, 14/02. Our common Crow. Just a few 100kms to the East this species is disappearing and replaced by the Hooded Crow (which we don´t have in the Alps).

 

 

 

Edited July 8, 2018 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

-/E183.) House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) / Haussperling

298/E184.) Italian Sparrow (Passer italiae) / Italiensperling

 

Voracious little monsters, they eat most of my bird food.

 

 

 

The classic Sparrow, with greyish cheeks and cap.

 

In Italy this species is replaced by the Italian Sparrow. Its classification as a good species is still somewhat controversial but I´m going with my bird book (The Svensson) and Wiki here. From Kalterer See, February. White cheeks and brown cap.

 

 

Females and juveniles from both species look the same.

 

 

 

The two species are known to hybridise in Northern Italy. This is not a common thing to happen in Austria but my balcony Sparrows apparently don´t know that - we do have quite a few which look decidedly more Italian than Common - and obviously they are very caring dads:

 

 

 

 

 

And just to test if you are paying attention dear colleagues - one bird in this post is not quite right - why?

Edited July 8, 2018 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

299/E185.) Greenfinch (Chloris chloris) / Grünling

 

Another balcony bird. Although they are in the garden all year they do not frequent the feeders in winter which is still puzzling me. I can only assume that the place looks too open and coverless for them with the nearby trees all leafless.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

300/E186.) European Bee-Eater (Merops apiaster) / Bienenfresser

 

Dobruja, early May. Well, I had to save a good one for this post.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited July 8, 2018 by michael-ibk

[Galana]

300 up. It had to come and what a great bird to do it with. Congratulations.

and at least one of us is paying attention.

35 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

one bird in this post is not quite right - why?

Because it is a hybrid x Tree Sparrow. (The 'male' below the female in the pair.)

As for 'counting' Passer domesticus italiae you can rest assured that I will when in Italy later this year so it is open season for you!

[Tdgraves]

Well done on 300

[Peter Connan]

Indeed. And a lovely bird to do it with too!

[Dave Williams]

Italian Sparrow.... never heard of it, there will soon be a Slovenian too one methinks!

European is my favourite of the Bee-eaters.

Excellent collection of shots , well done on 300!

 

[PeterHG]

Congrats on reaching 300, and with a cracking series of Bee-eaters, too!  

[xelas]

Congratulations to #300, Michael! And what a splendid photos of already colourful bird!! Now you are ready to count next 200+ birds!

[Zim Girl]

Very well done on reaching 300 birds and a beautiful Bee eater to do it with.

 

Adrian and I were very pleased to be able to meet up with @michael-ibk, @AndMic, @TonyQ and @Thursday's Child in London for a really enjoyable GTG and lunch.

[TonyQ]

Congratulations on reaching 300, and what a magnificent series of photos of this beautiful bird.

Onwards to Costa Rica!

[Kitsafari]

What a beautiful bird for the 300th - congrats on hitting the magic 300. So many of them in that bush - i am so envious.

 

have a great trip to Costa Rica, all four of you!

[Galana]

On 7/8/2018 at 12:10 PM, Dave Williams said:

there will soon be a Slovenian too one methinks!

I would not put anything past him.

[xelas]

12 hours ago, Galana said:

I would not put anything past him.

 

Never heard of any bird being a Slovenian. Maybe you are confusing with Slovakian ?!

But I will peel my eyes to find a white-cheek / brown cap sparrow when in Italy next time .

Edited July 11, 2018 by xelas

[Galana]

5 hours ago, xelas said:

Never heard of any bird being a Slovenian.

We have. Although Slavonian is how we spell it. Podiceps auritus

However we do anticipate a Sparrow but not with such an outrageous Trump hairstyle.

[michael-ibk]

On 7/8/2018 at 12:36 PM, Galana said:

Because it is a hybrid x Tree Sparrow. (The 'male' below the female in the pair.)

 

Oh? I thought it´s just a juvenile Tree Sparrow?

 

And thank you everybody, hoping to get a couple more to add in Costa Rica very soon now!

[xelas]

2 hours ago, Galana said:

We have. Although Slavonian is how we spell it.

 

Slovenian - Slavonian - Slovakian .... they all sounds close but are not . More about them face-to-face with a bottle of Laško, a Slovenian beer 

[Galana]

3 hours ago, xelas said:

they all sounds close but are not 

True! A letter can make such a difference but at least I am not as bad as George DubYa as I was at least close. I look forward to the beers when I can help you with the difference between Scots, Scottish and Scotch.

Good luck to you both in CR.

[xelas]

1 hour ago, Galana said:

I look forward to the beers when I can help you with the difference between Scots, Scottish and Scotch.

 

As @Michael-ibk is busy with preparing luggage for upcoming trip, we could hijack his thread for a moment. On top of Scots, Scottish and Scotch, a lesson on whisky and whiskey (hopefully with samples ) would be an interesting one!

[Galana]

15 hours ago, xelas said:

a lesson on whisky and whiskey (hopefully with samples ) would be an interesting one!

The first part will only take a couple of minutes, the 2nd might take all night but if you are paying I can find the time. do you see my tongue hanging out?

[xelas]

19 hours ago, Galana said:

The first part will only take a couple of minutes, the 2nd might take all night but if you are paying I can find the time. do you see my tongue hanging out?

 

As I have a pit viper living in my wallet a bottle of malt will be brought to the meeting 

[Galana]

15 hours ago, xelas said:

As I have a pit viper living in my wallet

Well at least we know you have a wallet. I was more worried about that than finding the Pit Viper.