TonyQ Big Year Number 5

[TonyQ]

I am sure that this year I will not approach the total of last year, but hope to beat the UK score.

All photos taken with Canon 7dii and Canon 100-400ii unleass otherwise stated.

I will start off with a little garden birding (through the window) - and today we even had a little sunshine

 

1.UK.1 Blue Tit  Cyanistes caeruleus

Our Garden, Birmingham        03.01.2020

Daily visitors to our garden for food and water. Lovely little birds that appear full of character

[TonyQ]

2.UK.2 Redwing  Turdus iliacus        

Our Garden, Birmingham        02.01.2020

Not a great photo, and I hope to get a better one later in the year, but I have put this in for @michael-ibk. 

This is the first time we have seen one from our garden, so a new addition to the Garden List (now at 37!)

[michael-ibk]

Beautiful start with the Blue Tit Tony, really happy you´re in again! Which destinations can we expect from you this year? Excuse me, off now trying to hunt a Redwing, there must be at least one in Austria I can find!

[mvecht]

@TonyQ  great start. Can you please send some of the Redwings East so @michael-ibk and I can see them as well

[xelas]

Backyard list is a nice idea, @TonyQ, I must try it myself. Does it includes also those fly over birds?

[TonyQ]

@xelas - yes anything seen from our house or garden. Sometimes they are in a neighbour’s garden, sometimes they fly over (e.g. a Swift).

But of course you can make up whatever rules you want!

So the Redwing was on a neighbour’s tree, the Blue Tit was actually in our garden.

[PeterHG]

Good to see you back here and what an amazing garden list!

[TonyQ]

@mvecht thank you

@PeterHG thank you.

It is quite a good list for a small urban/suburban garden - but we have lived here for about 25 years so a lot of time to build up a list

@michael-ibk thank you. Malaysia (early) and South Africa (Tswalu with a bit of KZN). We will also try to get some more UK birds this year.

 

3.UK.3. Robin  Erithacus rubecula     

Our Garden, Birmingham        04.01.2020

A daily visitor - but always welcome

 

Edited January 5, 2020 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

A brief sunny patch did get us out of the house!

 

4.UK.4. Coot (Common or Eurasian) Fulica atra       

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham            04.01.2020

[TonyQ]

5.UK.5. Cormorant (Great) Phalacrocorax carbo       

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham            04.01.2020

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham            04.01.2020

Regular visitors, but not all year round

Edited January 5, 2020 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

6.UK.6. Moorhen  Gallinula chloropus           

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham            04.01.2020

[TonyQ]

7.UK.7. Mute Swan  Cygnus olor       

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham            04.01.2020

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham            04.01.2020

A magnificent bird, easy to take for granted

[TonyQ]

8.UK.8. Tufted Duck  Aythya fuligula 

(F) Swanshurst Park, Birmingham            04.01.2020

(M) Swanshurst Park, Birmingham            04.01.2020

[TonyQ]

9.UK.9. Canada Goose  Branta canadensis  

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham            04.01.2020

[TonyQ]

10.UK.10. Stock Dove  Columba oenas        

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham            04.01.2020

We don't see these that often so I am pleased to see one so early in the year. We have seen one in each of the Big Years, and 4 out of 5 of them have been seen in this park!

[xelas]

Beautiful weather, and equally beautiful photos, @TonyQ.

[PeterHG]

Excellent set of pictures, @TonyQ !

[michael-ibk]

Looks like a nice day out - beautiful pictures. Are the Stock Doves relatively confiding in that park? 

[TonyQ]

@xelas @PeterHG thank you

@michael-ibk thank you. Relatively is the key word. As it is a public park they will be more used to people, but are still more nervy than many other birds there. But we can get a lot closer than in other places we have seen them. The one in the photo soon flew off!

Edited January 8, 2020 by TonyQ

[Zim Girl]

Lovely pictures to start your BY, Tony.  A Redwing in the garden is pretty cool.

[Peter Connan]

Beautiful birds and beautiful photos Tony!

[TonyQ]

@Zim Girl @Peter Connan thank you

 

11.UK.11. Herring Gull  Larus argentatus      

Trittiford Pool, Birmingham     10.01.2020

I think this is the third most common of the gulls found locally

[TonyQ]

12.UK.12. Black-headed Gull  Chroicocephalus ridibundus  

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham            12.01.2020

(Immature) Swanshurst Park, Birmingham            12.01.2020

Easily the most common of the local gulls

[TonyQ]

13.UK.13. Mallard  Anas platyrhynchos         

(F) Trittiford Pool, Birmingham     10.01.2020

(M) Trittiford Pool, Birmingham     10.01.2020

[TonyQ]

14.UK.14. Woodpigeon  Columba palumbus 

Trittiford Pool, Birmingham     10.01.2020

Very common. So common, it is easy to forget about - so I am getting one in early!