mvecht`s Big Year

[mvecht]

30 minutes later, still from the sofa

This is a little bit trickier as I only saw the bird for a few seconds and it never came back.

This is definitely a Redpoll, but in Denmark we get both the common Redpoll and the Lesser Redpoll  (Acanthis flammea/Acanthis cabaret).

They are very difficult to tell apart and should normally be reported as common/Lesser Redpoll.

Most likely it is Lesser Redpoll but I will go with the safe bet.

#62  Common/Lesser Redpoll

[mvecht]

Next day another bird showed up that I had been missing all winter

24 March, sofa,  #63 Dunnock (Prunella modularis)

Edited April 1, 2019 by mvecht

[mvecht]

# 64, 24 March, Vrads Denmark,  White Wagtail (Motacilla alba)

[Galana]

No disrespect but that "American Tree Sparrow" looks a heck of a lot like the ubiquitous House Sparrow.

Your Redpoll is on much safer ground.

[mvecht]

@Galana  thanks for correcting. Maybe it is because I have not seen a House Sparrow in ages  The text has been edited.

 

[Dave Williams]

Your sofa seems a lot more appealing than hanging out of my bathroom window. (memo to self. Consider removing bath, enlarging window and buying a sofa!!)

Good to see you back in the game too.

[mvecht]

@Dave Williams   I consider myself very lucky having a sofa like this combined with panoramic windows and a great view/location. There are multiple different types of habitat around so I never know what will show up 

I must say that I have enjoyed watching birds for app 45 years but trying to photograph them adds another angle and a lot more fun. It was not that long ago that I did not really like bird photographers as they would often ruin a good sighting by scaring the birds but now that there are so many bird photographers I guess the game is changing.

Anyhow I truly admire your photography skills and I always look forward to new posts by you!

[mvecht]

Sunday I made a good deal with my wife. She went shopping and I went birding.

She dropped me of at a lake just north of Aarhus and I had two hours birding.

The lake is very new. It is less than 15 years old and is basically a meadow that has been flooded. As it is very shallow it is a heaven to waterbirds..

 

On a day like this there are 5000+ birds including but not limited to Geese, ducks, gulls and many others

#65  Egaa Engsoe near Aarhus, Little Ringed Plover (Charadius dubius)

[mvecht]

Egaa Engsoe

30 March

A bit of an EBC and I will come back later in the year with better shots.

#66  Oystercatcher  (Haematopus ostralegus).

 

and even more of an EBC

#67 Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis)

[mvecht]

This bird is quite common here

Egaa Engsoe 30 March

#68 Northern Lapwing  (Vanellus vanellus)

i am posting one more bird here hoping to have some feedback

Gadwalls are fairly common at this lake with 10-15 pairs but as it was quite windy I had some hard time finding them.

Is this a female Gadwall or is it a female Mallard?

[mvecht]

Egaa Engsoe is a great place for watching Whitetailed Eagles. They nest nearby and with the abundance of food available they put in regular appearances. Saturday they were active for app 15 minutes trying to get at the Geese (sorry, not the best pictures of the unsuccesful hunt). The gulls and Crows were very busy trying to chase them away.

 

Edited April 1, 2019 by mvecht

[mvecht]

Sunday the 31st of March I went to Bryrup Denmark to look for two species that I have tried to photograph all winter.

The Dipper was not there (but had been seen earlier in the morning) but the Grey Wagtails are nesting and quite easy to find.

#69

Grey Wagtail  (Motacilla cinerea)

 

[Peter Connan]

What a lovely eagle experience! Pity you couldn't get closer.

[Dave Williams]

Mallard vs Gadwall. I can't help, I can see good reason for both. I usually decide if there is a male of the species close at hand too as they normally go around in pairs, or at least with others of  the same species close at hand.

Photographers vs birdwatchers. Let's not go there , faults on both sides. I get annoyed with both on occasions but I try and avoid gatherings where possible as the safest way of keeping out of it.

[TonyQ]

Just catching up - you have some great photos of a wonderful selection of local birds

[PeterHG]

Great eagle series, even at that distance!

[Galana]

A great Eagle sequence. Very good.

As to the female duck.

If presented with the photo unprompted I would say "Malllard"! Based on my theory that the first call is often the correct one, I will stick with that. The white tail 'trim' leads me to think this is a mallard.

[Dave Williams]

4 minutes ago, Galana said:

A great Eagle sequence. Very good.

As to the female duck.

If presented with the photo unprompted I would say "Malllard"! Based on my theory that the first call is often the correct one, I will stick with that. The white tail 'trim' leads me to think this is a mallard.

If I'm honest that's what I was thinking too.

[mvecht]

@Galana @Dave Williams  this duck was with another female that was hiding well and as there was a lot of stuff going on I was not paying too much attention.

I am perfectly happy to let it go as a Mallard.

[mvecht]

Nothing much happening today.

Caught a glimpse of a Kingfisher (not from the sofa  ) but no chance of a shot.

The pair of Hawfinches came back late in the afternoon. They are incredibly shy so if I move in the sofa they are off.

I did however get one shot showing their beautiful colours.

[xelas]

If hawfinches would be near my balcony, I would not call that day "nothing much happening" . Lovely colours captured from your sofa.

[Zim Girl]

Wow, lovely picture of the Hawfinches.

Glad I hadn't seen this before I posted my picture of them or I might not have bothered 

[mvecht]

@Zim Girl   I think you did just fine with your pictures and I am glad you got to see them after a long drive.

They are not uncommon in Denmark but very few people actually see them as they tend to be very shy.

When they arrive on the terrace I have to grab and lift my camera very carefully and slowly in order not to spook them.

Earlier years when our terrace were more protected in terms of having more trees nearby we could see up to 5 Hawfinches at the same time but this seson they only started appearing app 1 week ago. They probably feel more vulnerable on the terrace and with good reason as the Sparrowhawk is constantly patrolling.

[mvecht]

A very quiet weekend.

Early evening the Starlings visited the terrace for the first time this year and the Deer were feeding very close by so I thought I would share a few pictures even though they dont add to my count.

[pedro maia]

@mvecht You live in some kind of national park?