TonyQ Big Year Number 5

[TonyQ]

204.UK.67. Chiffchaff  Phylloscopus collybita

Coney Meadow, Worcestershire         14.05.20

Coney Meadow, Worcestershire         14.05.20

One of the joys of Spring is the arrival of Warblers. A very distinctive song makes the identification easy. There were lots of these about.

Edited May 17, 2020 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

205.UK.68. Willow Warbler  Phylloscopus trochilus  

Coney Meadow, Worcestershire         14.05.20

A close relative of the Chiffchaff, and sometimes difficult to distinguish. It does usually have paler legs, but we hear this one sing, and it has a very different song. The only one we saw.

Edited May 17, 2020 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

206.UK.69. Red-legged Partridge  Alectoris rufa       

Coney Meadow, Worcestershire         14.05.20

Distant, difficult light. When we saw it we thought it was a female Pheasant as we had seen many of them that morning. I didn't try to get a better photo. It was only when I looked at the photo at home that I relised what it was! We only get 2 types of partridges, and the head markings on this are very distinctive (even if you can't see the Red Legs)

[TonyQ]

207.UK.70. Sedge Warbler  Acrocephalus schoenobaenus  

Coney Meadow, Worcestershire         14.05.20

Coney Meadow, Worcestershire         14.05.20

 

Coney Meadow has a Canal, some Reed Beds, and some reeds along the canal. Ideal for this bird. There were many of them about, and I love listening to the noise they make - I can just stand and listen even when they are deep in the reeds.

[TonyQ]

208.UK.71. Reed Warbler  Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Coney Meadow, Worcestershire         14.05.20

Coney Meadow, Worcestershire         14.05.20

A close relative of the Sedge Warbler, this one has a simpler chattering song, but it is still very enjoyable when there are lots of them about. Unlike the Sedge Warbler, they tend not to sit out to sing so they are bit harder to see clearly.

[TonyQ]

209.UK.72. Cuckoo  Cuculus canorus           

Coney Meadow, Worcestershire         14.05.20

Coney Meadow, Worcestershire         14.05.20

Fairly distant,showing the distinctive way it holds the wings.

It is no coincidence that they are found in the same places as Reed Warblers and Sedge Warblers as they are favourite targets for laying their eggs in the nests of these birds.

We saw a Cuckoo here last year also

[TonyQ]

210.UK.73. Kestrel  Falco tinnunculus           

With (I think!) a vole, Coney Meadow, Worcestershire         14.05.20

Coney Meadow, Worcestershire         14.05.20

Coney Meadow, Worcestershire         14.05.20

 

So a very productive and enjoyable day out. It was good to see local birds again and to take pleasure in these birds. It has been easy to take them for granted but recent events make one think differently about such things.

[Galana]

As you say. A worthwhile trip out. It's always good to welcome back our summer visitors.

Star shot has to be the Reed Warbler.

[Dave Williams]

Great stuff Tony, well done on the double century, it's my target for the year as and when we are allowed to travel  anywhere other than the supermarket!

Nice one finding a Cuckoo too.

 

Is it me and my laptop being slow, your photos take ages to load.

[TonyQ]

@Galana thank you, it was good to get out!

@Dave Williams thank you. The photos come up normally on my iPad, and on MrsQ’s iPad. I don’t know what they are like loading for other people.

@pedro maia are they loading for you.

[pedro maia]

3 minutes ago, TonyQ said:

@Galana thank you, it was good to get out!

@Dave Williams thank you. The photos come up normally on my iPad, and on MrsQ’s iPad. I don’t know what they are like loading for other people.

@pedro maia are they loading for you.

 

Loading ok in the PC.

[Dave Williams]

Thanks Tony, I think it's my laptop that's short on memory.

[Zim Girl]

Great find with the Cuckoo, Tony.

[TonyQ]

On 5/18/2020 at 9:05 AM, Dave Williams said:

Thanks Tony, I think it's my laptop that's short on memory.

I know how it feels

@Zim Girl thank you

 

A few more

 

211.UK.74. Whitethroat  Sylvia communis     

Earlswood, nr Birmingham      18.05.20

Earlswood, nr Birmingham      18.05.20

Typically we have seen one Whitethroat a year. This is the first time we have seen a pair of them! Fairly distant, but pleased to see them.

[TonyQ]

212.UK.75. Common Tern  Sterna hirundo   

Earlswood, nr Birmingham      18.05.20

[TonyQ]

UK.76. Grey Wagtail  Motacilla cinerea     

Already seen in Malaysia   

Male, Wyre Forest, Worcestershire  20.05.20

Juvenile, Wyre Forest, Worcestershire  20.05.20

Edited May 23, 2020 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

213.UK.77. Dipper  Cinclus cinclus    

Juvenile, Wyre Forest, Worcestershire  20.05.20

Juvenile, Wyre Forest, Worcestershire  20.05.20

We saw an adult fly along the river, but it did not stop near us

[TonyQ]

214.UK.78. Siskin  Carduelis spinus  

Wyre Forest, Worcestershire  20.05.20

[michael-ibk]

Great additions Tony, good that you can go out again. Particularly like the Whitethroat (very rare here) and the Reed Warbler.

[Galana]

Nice additions.

Dipper especially are hard to come by. Nice Whitethroats too.

[PeterHG]

A very nice set aian, @TonyQ. Dippers are quite rare here and Siskins and Grey wagtail would be very good finds, too!

[Soukous]

Nice additions @TonyQ, the only way I will get photos of a Dipper is to cross to the other side of the country; which is out of the question at the moment. 

[TonyQ]

@michael-ibk @Galana @PeterHG@Soukous  thank you. The Dipper was on the same stretch of river where we saw one last year!

 

A few more additions

215.UK.79. Little Ringed Plover  Charadrius dubius  

Grimley, Worcestershire         25.05.20

[TonyQ]

216.UK.80. Redshank  Tringa totanus           

Grimley, Worcestershire         25.05.20

Grimley, Worcestershire         25.05.20

[TonyQ]

And a few babies...

Coot with baby

Greylag Goose

Mute Swan