What will almost certainly be a quiet little year - Soukous 2019

[Alex Rogers]

Congrats on the double century, Soukous! And please keep the garden birds coming too. I learned that a common blackbird is also a thrush from your juxtaposition (a double turdus?) - something that had ever really occurred to me, but the similarity is clear. 

[Soukous]

thanks you for the congratulations @michael-ibk, @Alex Rogers, @Peter Connan, @Zim Girl, @Dave Williams

You'll have noticed that my BY has stalled for the time being. Not for want of trying, but nothing new is presenting itself. 

[Soukous]

A long gap between 201 and 202. 

I've been enjoying this too much

[Soukous]

I had hoped for better, but the only birds I've been able to photograph have been on my neighbour's roof or on the power lines. 

 

So here it is, #202 - House Sparrow - Passer domesticus

Peloponnese, Greece. September 2019

 

 

 

 

Edited September 19, 2019 by Soukous

[Soukous]

Number 203 is not any more exciting

Eurasian Collared Dove - Streptopelia decaocto

Peloponnese, Greece. September 2019

 

 

 

 

Edited September 19, 2019 by Soukous

[Soukous]

204 - Yellow-Legged Gull - Larus michahellis

Peloponnese, Greece. September 2019

 

 

 

 

Edited September 20, 2019 by Soukous

[Soukous]

#205 Dunlin (after gratefully accepted assistance from people who know a lot more than me)

Peloponnese, Greece. September 2019.

 

Size-wise it is about the size of a plover, that and its flight pattern suggest it is a Little Stint, but the bill looks too long for a Stint and I don't have any of  my books with me.

The markings are Sandpiper-ish, but I think it is too small (and the legs are too short) to be a Sandpiper

 

 

 

 

Edited September 20, 2019 by Soukous
ID updated

[xelas]

My ID would be a Curlew Sandpiper. But wait for experts .

[michael-ibk]

And I for Dunlin (especially for the second with the black belly spots). But far from an expert on waders.

[TonyQ]

I would go with Dunlin, but I am no expert!

[lmSA84]

Having recently spent a while staring at the differences between Dunlin and Sanderlings - I would say this is a Dunlin but I’m frequently wrong 

[PeterHG]

I agree on the Dunlin. Nice pictures! Your #202 male actually looks more like a Tree Sparrow than a House Sparrow.

[Soukous]

Thank you @michael-ibk, @PeterHG, @lmSA84, @TonyQ It does look like a Dunlin. 

I had discounted the Dunlin because there was no black on the belly and it should still have summer plumage, but I had neglected the juvenile. 

 

@xelas, I also looked at Curlew Sandpiper, but it should not occur in this area.

[Soukous]

#206 - Eurasian Tree Sparrow - Passer Montanus

Peloponnese, Greece. Sept 2019

 

 

[Soukous]

8 hours ago, PeterHG said:

Your #202 male actually looks more like a Tree Sparrow than a House Sparrow

 

Thank you Peter, I agree. It is now number 206

[Galana]

All now correct so little to add. Keep them coming.

[Soukous]

#207 - Black Swan - Cygnus atratus

River Stour, Mistley, Essex. Oct 2019

 

Well, this was not at all what I expected to see when I set out this morning.

 

 

 

I only had a short lens with me as I was heading to a friend's house to photograph some art works, when my attention was drawn to the gathering of birds on the shoreline. 

I didn't even see these guys until I was walking back to the car.

Edited October 13, 2019 by Soukous

[Soukous]

#208 - Black-tailed Godwit - Limosa limosa

River Stour, Mistley, Essex - Oct 2019

 

Oh how I wish I'd had a longer lens this morning.

 

 

 

there were plenty of them but they all flew off as I approached and a 100mm lens is not the best for BIF

 

 

Well, I just had to go back and see if I could do better. A little perhaps, though still not great

 

 

 

 

and another one from the River Deben in Woodbridge

 

 

 

Edited October 17, 2019 by Soukous

[Galana]

52 minutes ago, Soukous said:

a 100mm lens is not the best for BIF 

Nooo, but great for showing the black tails!

So you got your Black Swans at last!

[Soukous]

17 hours ago, Galana said:

So you got your Black Swans at last!

 

Was I looking for them? 

[Galana]

3 hours ago, Soukous said:

Was I looking for them? 

Only you know the answer to that but in a conversation on a recent thread I think I recall you mentioning them. Of course I have been to bed several times since then so my recall may not be all that reliable.

Maybe it was lunch at the Black Swan instead?

[Soukous]

1 minute ago, Galana said:

Only you know the answer to that but in a conversation on a recent thread I think I recall you mentioning them. Of course I have been to bed several times since then so my recall may not be all that reliable.

Maybe it was lunch at the Black Swan instead?

 

I don't recall mentioning them but my memory is probably no more reliable than yours. (not suggesting, God forbid, that your memory is unreliable ) 

Maybe it was lunch at the Black Swan, which I am still looking forward to.

[Soukous]

#209 - Shelduck - Tadorna tadorna

 

River Stour, Mistley, Essex, UK. Oct 2019

 

 

and then i was a bit silly. Instead of sticking around to see what else was there I drove up to an RSPB reserve on the Stour Estuary in the hope of more variety.

I walked 6 miles and saw bugger all. Should have stayed in Mistley. Ho hum.

[Galana]

5 hours ago, Soukous said:

I walked 6 miles and saw bugger all.

What is it they say about a bird in the hand?

[Soukous]

13 hours ago, Galana said:

What is it they say about a bird in the hand?

 

apparently it is worth a whole reserve full of birds that you can't see