Zim Girl's 3rd Big Year 2020

[Zim Girl]

Here we go again.  Like last year, I would most like to beat my UK total and find some new birds along the way.

 

Just one bird to start, found on a quiet tarn in South Lakes on our usual New Year's Day walk.  Now I am waiting for some sunshine to get out again!!

 

1.  Mute Swan

 

Simpson Ground, Nr Newby Bridge  -  01/01/20

[Galana]

The longest journey starts with but a single step. Lao Tzu .

Good start.

[Zim Girl]

Step two is to get the daily visitors.

 

2.  House Sparrow

Front garden  -  09/01/20

 

 

Edited January 9, 2020 by Zim Girl

[Zim Girl]

And step three, one of my Dunnocks just for @michael-ibk.

 

3.  Dunnock

Front garden  -  09/01/20

 

You know where to come if you want one Michael!

 

[Zim Girl]

The Tree sparrows are currently having a party on the back garden feeders.

 

4.  Tree Sparrow

 

Back garden  -  09/01/20

 

 

[Towlersonsafari]

I am very jealous of your Tree sparrows in your garden!  @Zim Girl

[xelas]

7 hours ago, Zim Girl said:

You know where to come if you want one Michael!

 Michael is now spoilt for choices !

 

5 hours ago, Towlersonsafari said:

I am very jealous of your Tree sparrows in your garden!  @Zim Girl

Are they difficult to find in UK? I have a flock of them each day in our garden.

[xelas]

Very nice start of another exciting Big Year, @Zim Girl!

[Kitsafari]

1 hour ago, xelas said:

 

Are they difficult to find in UK? I have a flock of them each day in our garden.

 

same here too.

[TonyQ]

2 hours ago, xelas said:

 

Are they difficult to find in UK? I have a flock of them each day in our garden.

 

49 minutes ago, Kitsafari said:

 

same here too.

So now we know where they have all gone.

In many areas they are not common at all, or not seen at all

There are still sites where they are visible.

[xelas]

2 minutes ago, TonyQ said:

So now we know where they have all gone.

Interested in house exchange maybe?

[Towlersonsafari]

Enough of the Tree Sparrow boasting @xelas and @Kitsafari !!! Actually  they have suffered A 97% decline in the uk since 1970 and are a bird of farmland and often near water our local population  dissapeared  about 15 years ago over about 3byears

[Kitsafari]

1 hour ago, Towlersonsafari said:

Enough of the Tree Sparrow boasting @xelas and @Kitsafari !!! Actually  they have suffered A 97% decline in the uk since 1970 and are a bird of farmland and often near water our local population  dissapeared  about 15 years ago over about 3byears

 

I read that in the UK, the fall is due to agricultural intensification and pesticides. interesting that the tree sparrow  has adapted well to our urban and suburban areas but I have to admit that 10 years ago I saw more of them than I do now in our garden, but I had thought it was because they found a better place to feed. it could a silent decline that we didn't even notice.

 

Sorry @Zim Girl for diverging from your BY but you provided good fodder for discussion. 

[Zim Girl]

13 hours ago, Kitsafari said:

Sorry @Zim Girl for diverging from your BY but you provided good fodder for discussion

No problem at all.  We have been lucky enough to have a resident flock here for a number of years.  Until last year (when the blue tits took back the nest box) they nested in our garden too.

I didn't know they were quite uncommon until I started doing BY and noticed that the local birding forums always noted them when seen, which isn't that often.

[elefromoz]

@Zim Girl, great little bird feeders, something you don't see here

[Zim Girl]

We went on a Dipper hunt a few days ago and found 3 of them.  Usual stretch of river on the edge of the Forest of Bowland.  Not bad for our first attempt of the year.

 

5.  Dipper

 

River Brock  -  10/01/20

 

[Peter Connan]

Nice!

[pedro maia]

I wouldn´t mind to get a Dipper but it won´t be easy since the closest one must be about 300km from here, but you never know, one year is a long period of time...

[Galana]

Beautiful.

[TonyQ]

Dippers already! Not jealous at all.....

[Zim Girl]

Without jinxing it, I think you would be fairly unlucky not to see at least one on a walk along this river. They are great fun to watch and follow.

[PeterHG]

It's been a few years since I last sawa Dipper. Beautiful photos!

[Zim Girl]

Thank you @PeterHG

[Zim Girl]

First off, a trip to the local park and a few of the easier to find birds.

 

6.  Feral Pigeon

Stanley Park  -  15/01/20

 

[Zim Girl]

7.  Woodpigeon

Stanley Park  -  15/01/20