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Zim Girl's (very tiny) Big Year 2018


Zim Girl

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i've never seen a rail, so well done and also on your UK 100

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A very good UK total and what a treat to see the Water Rail!

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Thanks, everyone, I was really pleased to find the Water Rail especially so close to home.                                                                                                                             

On 12/14/2018 at 5:09 PM, Dave Williams said:

You get some fantastic Starling murmurations around your way, around Blackpool Piers perhaps? Worth a visit at sunset ?

I am up there tomorrow evening for the night, might take a peep!

 

There certainly can be Dave.  We might try again in the New Year for a 2019 bird.

Did you have any luck?

 

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Another duck, then it is EBC time.

 

130.  (UK 101)  Wigeon

P1090766c.jpg.aaed973a37bd2b643216bd806d70a4a3.jpg

 

P1090770c.jpg.12a021f21677fcba9ec9f7f565e059bb.jpg

Leighton Moss  -  15/11/18

 

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Taken in Scotland back in June.

 

131.  (UK 102)  Goosander  (with chicks)

P1040976c.jpg.60a6eea40521f1ab8c5e2faf9fab8a8b.jpg

Comrie, Perthshire  -  15/06/18

 

Edited by Zim Girl
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The next few pictures were very distant, but hopefully you can identify the birds.

 

132.  (UK 103)  Whooper Swan

P1090605c.jpg.de3d3b9b4dc03a0e3407c2ec83e1a617.jpg

Fields near home  -  11/11/18

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133.  (UK 104)  Barn Owl

P1060513c.jpg.0b19e626460e0672aec4d6d931801927.jpg

Forest of Bowland  -  04/08/18

 

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Look at the small white dot in the middle of the picture.

 

134.  (UK 105)  Spoonbill

P1030648c.jpg.10c18de523a6927d2196bceadc57e497.jpg

Leighton Moss  -  10/05/18

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Last one for now.  This bird was hunting from the branch stood in the middle of the reeds for quite some time.  Everyone in the hide confirmed the identity for me.

 

135.  (UK 106)  Merlin

P1090816c.jpg.16cabeb01e0400edbbeb97ab1cbcfc57.jpg

Leighton Moss  -  15/11/18

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The last few may be just about EBSs, but some great sightings - Goosander chicks, a Barn Owl and a Merlin!

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Dave Williams

Barn Owl and Merlin are the top two on my wish list. Very envious!

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A Barn Owl, no less! Great sighting!

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Indeed, i have never seen one in Europe. Merlin yes (even this year) but never managed a photo. Cool birds to get!

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So Mother Nature gave me a fantastic Christmas present for my 2018 Big Year :)

 

But first a couple more EBC's.

 

136.  (UK 107)  Dunlin

P1060861c.jpg.6eecf18963c16ae8f37203d946f0e4d9.jpg

Leighton Moss  -  05/09/18

 

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137.  (UK 108)  Golden Plover

P1090641c.jpg.22033750231dfb3c283185b28927d54c.jpg

Glasson Dock  -  13/11/18

 

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So yesterday we were walking in an area that I was hoping would give me one of the ducks I am missing.  A group of Goldeneyes had been sighted with the Tufted ducks at the Glasson Basin on the Lancaster Coastal Way.  We arrived early and there was indeed a small group swimming around the moored boats.  

 

138.  (UK 109)  Goldeneye

P1100334c.jpg.8672260517b0c48f373517ca336dcd27.jpg

Glasson Basin  -  22/12/18

 

 

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So job done, we carried on our walk. At the halfway point we turn and come back via the Lancaster Canal and there it was!!

A flash of blue skimming over the water.  Kingfisher!!

We hurried to where we saw it landed, hoping we might just get a look before it flew again.  Not only that but this lovely little bird gave me just enough time to take it's picture before whizzing off again.

 

Our first Kingfisher seen in the UK - we were over the moon.:)

 

139.  (UK 110)  Kingfisher

P1100260c.jpg.d97c70e4946e13d62592e8ab76705234.jpg

 

P1100264c.jpg.f36607f0ba903245fdc980fbc4427f41.jpg

Lancaster Canal  -  22/12/18

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So that will probably be the end of my Big Year 2018.  

Total of 139 birds with 110 UK ones.  I had no idea when I started this how many I would get, to be honest I would have been happy to reach 50, so I am actually quite pleased with the result.

It certainly gives me something to try and beat for next year.

 

Before the wonderful Kingfisher sighting I was going to finish with a bird I spent some time watching the other day. Already posted so no count but because it was such a joy to see quite close up, here it is anyway.

 

Kestrel  (Duplicate)

P1100138c.jpg.9565856cd33987282817bbff013c298a.jpg

 

P1100146c.jpg.c1069286eb9968b13995eeb7b1ce5d20.jpg

Marton Mere  -  17/12/18

 

 

Happy Christmas and have a great New Year :)

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well done on the kingfisher- I have only ever caught a glimpse of one, never a chance for a photo...

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Dave Williams

That's a decent haul for the UK, well done! 

Happy Christmas from me too.

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@Zim Girl

Well done with your first Big Year - and what a fabulous sighting and photos of the Kingfisher to round it off. Also a great photo of the Kestrel.

I can see that you are both hooked now - it really is a great "competition" to get people involved in watching birds.

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A kingfisher is the perfect bird to finish, congratulations on your first Big Year, I enjoyed following it a lot. Any particular target birds for next year? 

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Wonderful Kingfisher sighting! And merry Christmas from me too.

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