Zvezda & Alex 4th time: Just birdin'

[xelas]

Next down the hill to Galata Bridge where I was hoping to find many gulls. Indeed there were many, but mainly Yellow-legged, in different winter's outfits. So glad to get at least one new bird.

 

 

BY 253 / TR 002

Common Gull - Larus canus

 

 

 

Istanbul, 18-Feb-2019

[xelas]

Also in the sea, there were a couple of cormorants, and this one.

 

 

BY 254 / TR 003

Shag (European) - Phalacrocorax aristotelis

 

 

 

Istanbul, 18-Feb-2019

[xelas]

And just because it looked so nice!

 

 

BY 255 / TR 004

Feral Pigeon - Columba livia ssp.domesticus

 

 

Istanbul, 18-Feb-2019

Edited April 21, 2019 by xelas

[Galana]

Not  a Rock Dove (which has definite dark blue wing bars on a dark grey back.)

but a domesticated descendant. Ssp. livia domesticus. Town pigeon or Flying rat!

[xelas]

In between posting birds from South Africa, we also did some home ground birding.

 

 

BY 256 / SI 033

Cetti's Warbler - Cettia cetti

 

 

Škocjanski Zatok, 9-Mar-2019

[xelas]

BY 257 / SI 034

 

Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collbita

 

 

Škocjanski Zatok, 9-Mar-2019

 

[xelas]

BY 258 / SI 035

Snipe (Common) - Gallinago gallinago

 

 

Škocjanski Zatok, 9-Mar-2019

[xelas]

BY 259 / SI 036

Curlew (Eurasian) - Numenius arquata

 

 

Škocjanski Zatok, 9-Mar-2019

[xelas]

BY 260 / SI 037

Water Pipit - Anthus spinoletta

 

 

Škocjanski Zatok, 9-Mar-2019

[Kitsafari]

What a great haul from SA! As always,  brilliant images from zvezda, and you,  of course. 

[xelas]

Another day we tried to find some ducks; no luck but still came back with a couple of new entries. Plus, we have had a really good hike that day .

 

 

BY 261 / SI 038

White Stork - Ciconia ciconia

 

 

Medvedce, 23-Mar-2019

[xelas]

BY 262 / SI 039

Long-tailed Tit - Aeghitalos caudatus

 

 

 

Medvedce, 23-Mar-2019

[xelas]

BY 263 / SI 040

Stonechat (Common) - Saxiola rubicola

 

female

 

Medvedce, 23-Mar-2019

Edited April 22, 2019 by xelas

[xelas]

This large black bird was an unexpected find; a week later we have seen another one, that one high in the hills above Soča Valley.

 

 

BY 264 / SI 041

Raven (Common) - Corvus corax

 

 

Medvedce, 23-Mar-2019

 

 

Kolovrat, 30-Mar-2019

[xelas]

A different passion, in the most beautiful river in the world!

 

 

"You are splendid, limpid daughter of the heights!
Your course is lively and gentle
Like the walk of highland girls,
You are serene as the mountain air,
You are loud as the vigorous
Chant of the highland youth –
You are splendid, daughter of the heights." by Simon Gregorčič

Edited April 22, 2019 by xelas

[michael-ibk]

Beautiful photos, especially like the Snipe. That unpronouncable place is really good for Cetti´s Warbler. It´s one of my embarrassments as an Austrian birder but I still find it difficult to tell Crows and Ravens apart. So I´m not totally sure but the tail in the second photo especially does not look right for a Raven?

[PeterHG]

What a splendid shot of the Cetti's Warbler! 

[Galana]

Nice bunch to continue. Did you ID the bird's feather that fisherman was using? They all count!

[xelas]

3 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

So I´m not totally sure but the tail in the second photo especially does not look right for a Raven?

 

The first bird was positively ID as a Raven, by a local birder that was at the same spot with us. The second one, from Kolovrat, it is only me. So if you think is a Carrion Crow, I am just happy to accept it.

Speaking of the local birder, this is how one can get water-level close-ups of ducks!

 

[Treepol]

@xelas what an amazing selection and so early in 2019 - I am wondering about your final total as you still have 8 months to go!

 

I particularly liked the bee-eaters and kingfishers.

[xelas]

13 minutes ago, Treepol said:

@xelas what an amazing selection and so early in 2019 - I am wondering about your final total as you still have 8 months to go!

 

I particularly liked the bee-eaters and kingfishers.

 

Thanks for working through all of them, and for your kind words. As for the end of year total, I am not that excited as you are, as our travel plans are mostly linked to Europe. However, as nothing has been booked yet, ....

[xelas]

Following are results of my foraging around the place we live: balcony birding and short walks.

 

 

BY 265 / SI 042
Tree Sparrow - Passer montanus
 

male

 

female

 

 

Ljubljansko Barje, 21-Mar-2019
 

[xelas]

BY 266 / SI 043
Wood Pigeon - Columba palumbus
 

 

 

Ljubljansko Barje, 21-Mar-2019
 

[xelas]

BY 267 / SI 044
Serin (European) - Serinus serinus
 

 

Ljubljansko Barje, 28-Mar-2019
 

 

Edited April 24, 2019 by xelas

[xelas]

BY 268 / SI 045
Greenfinch (European) - Chloris chloris
 

 

Ljubljansko Barje, 31-Mar-2019