TonyQ's Big Year: Number 4

[Zim Girl]

Congratulations on reaching 300 Tony, and well done on finding your first Pied Flycatcher.

[TonyQ]

@pedro maia @Soukous @michael-ibk @lmSA84 @PeterHG @Peter Connan @Kitsafari @Tdgraves @xelas @Zim Girl

Thank you all for your encouragement!

 

301.UK91. Mediterranean Gull  Larus melanocephalus        

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           17.04.2019

Edited July 8, 2019 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

302.UK92. Barnacle Goose  Branta leucopsis           

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           15.05.2019

Very distant!

[TonyQ]

303.UK93. Willow Warbler  Phylloscopus trochilus   

Wyre Forest, Worcestershire  12.05.2019

It was singing so we know it was not a Chiffchaff!

[TonyQ]

304.UK94. Wigeon  Anas penelope   

Belvide Reserve, Staffordshire           02.02.2019

You can tell from the date that I am searching down the back of the sofa

[TonyQ]

305.UK95. Rook  Corvus frugilegus   

Stonechurch, Buckinghamshire          06.06.2019

[TonyQ]

The next few will not move my total forward very much, but will allow me to reach 100 for the UK (a target of interest to me personally!)

 

UK96. Grey Wagtail  Motacilla cinerea   

Already seen in India, but better photos here!

     

Wyre Forest, Worcestershire  12.05.2019  

   

Coney meadow           04.05.2019

[TonyQ]

UK97. Ruff  Philomachus pugnax

Again, seen in India

    

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           15.05.2019

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           15.05.2019

It is interesting the range of colouration of Ruff - I don't think I have seen one so red in the UK before.

[TonyQ]

UK98. Peregrine  Falco peregrinus   

Seen in India

Leamington Spa, Warwickshire          23.06.2019

Leamington Spa, Warwickshire          23.06.2019

High up on the top of a church. We saw Peregines last year in Leamington (chicks were just fledging). This year we were a bit later - chicks have already fledged but this adult was still around.

[TonyQ]

304.UK99. Red Kite  Milvus milvus    

I forgot that we had seen Wigeon (304 above) in India, so I will make this the new 304!

Stonechurch, Buckinghamshire          06.06.2019

Stonechurch, Buckinghamshire          06.06.2019

 

If we drive down the M40 to Heathrow we often see Red Kites. We stopped at Stokenchurch this time to see the Kites (and the Rook above) as well has having a nice cup of coffee. (Red Kites last year were also taken at Stokenchurch)

[TonyQ]

UK100. Temminck's Stint  Calidris temminckii 

Seen in India, but a new bird for us in the UK         

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           15.05.2019

Next to an Avocet, showing how small they are, Upton Warren, Worcestershire           15.05.2019

These have been seen about every 4 or 5 years at Upton Warren and usually stay for a couple of days. We were lucky to be there when this one decided to drop in. A new bird in the UK for us to bring up 100 for the year so far.

[Peter Connan]

Congrats on your local century. Great shots of the red kite!

[Dave Williams]

Tearing away from the 300 now Tony, nice one. The Ruff in part breeding plumage is a nice find.

[Kitsafari]

stunning photos of the equally stunning red kite!

[TonyQ]

@Peter Connan @Kitsafari @Dave Williams  thank you

 

In June we spent just over a week in Iceland. (Reading @Dave Williams website blog was quite an inspiration for this – though I think he worked a lot harder than we did!). Iceland does not have huge numbers of species, but the viewing is often good. It also only has one sort of Pipit.  We hired a car and booked hotels/apartment online, all straightforward. The landscapes are also beautiful and fascinating.

 

When we arrived we did some birding near Keflavik airport, then

I night Hvammstangi

3 nights Myvatn (north of country)

3 nights Stykkisholmur (west of country) – while here we spent a day on Flatey Island and a day exploring Snæfellsnes Peninsula

1 night Gulfoss

1 night near Keflavik airport for early flight

 

305.Ic1. Arctic Tern     Sterna paradisaea      

Hvammstangi  08.06.2019

Hvammstangi  08.06.2019

Flatey Island    12.06.2019

Arctic Terns are very common in many parts of Iceland. On some roads there are signs warning to watch out for them flying across the road or sitting on the road.

On Flatey Island it wise to wear a hat as they would fly down and clip your head. I love watching terns fly - so graceful

Edited July 25, 2019 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

306.Ic2. Atlantic Puffin            Fratercula arctica       

Ferry to Flatey Island  12.06.2019

Ferry to Flatey Island  12.06.2019

We only saw Puffins at or on the sea. They do nest on Flatey Island, but the  nesting area is fenced off so that they are not interfered with.

Numbers of Puffins in this area have really dropped and they need as much help as they can get. There is a serious problem with food, and adults find it difficult to get enough food to feed their chicks. There is a really interesting discussion of this (and other seabirds) in the excellent book "The Seabird's Cry" by Adam Nicholson

[TonyQ]

307.Ic3. Barrow's Goldeneye  Bucephala islandica   

(F) Myvatn 09.06.2019

(M) Myvatn 09.06.2019

Myvatn 09.06.2019

[TonyQ]

308.Ic4. Black Guillemot         Cepphus grylle           

Flatey Island    12.06.2019

Flatey Island    12.06.2019

[TonyQ]

Ic5. Black-headed Gull            Chroicocephalus ridibundus

Already in UK list

 

Blönduós         08.06.2019

[TonyQ]

309.Ic6. Black-tailed Godwit   Limosa limosa

Blönduós         12.06.2019

[TonyQ]

310.Ic7. Brunnich's Guillemot Uria lomvia     

Snæfellsnes Peninsula           13.06.2019

Snæfellsnes Peninsula           13.06.2019

We have not seen this sort of Guillemot before - I will put the Common Guillemot next for comparison.

[TonyQ]

311.Ic8. Common Guillemot   Uria aalge       

Snæfellsnes Peninsula           13.06.2019

Snæfellsnes Peninsula           13.06.2019

[TonyQ]

312.Ic9. Common Eider          Somateria mollissima 

(M) Akureyri           08.06.2019

(F) Flatey Island    12.06.2019

EIder creche with 2 females and their chicks, Flatey Island    12.06.2019

[TonyQ]

313.Ic10. Common Raven      Corvus corax  

Snæfellsnes Peninsula           13.06.2019

Snæfellsnes Peninsula           13.06.2019

There are no crows on Iceland, so if you see a big black bird, it is a Raven. Very helpful!

[Dave Williams]

Well that was a surprise, it's nice to know that a trip report/blog helps inspire others to follow suit.Thanks for letting me know Tony.

The most interesting shot is the male Eider with a family in tow. I have been led to believe they clear off and let the female look after the ducklings.

The Brunnich's Guillemot is one that I haven't seen, maybe I need to revisit!! Did you find things as expensive as ever?