Zim Girl's 3rd Big Year 2020

[Zim Girl]

I see so many of these birds but so tricky to get a good picture.

 

160.  (UK 95)  Common Buzzard

Overhead back garden  -  31/03/20

[Zim Girl]

Disappointed I could not get a better picture of the kingfisher this year, not for want of trying, we scoured the canal a good number of times this year.

 

161.  (UK 96)  Kingfisher

Lancaster Canal  -  06/06/20

[Zim Girl]

162.  (UK 97)  Little Grebe

Fell End nature reserve  -  13/06/20

 

[Zim Girl]

163.  (UK 98)  Common Goldeneye

Aldcliffe Marsh, Lancashire Coastal Way  -  19/12/20

[Zim Girl]

164.  (UK 99)  Eurasian Curlew

 

Conder Green  -  19/12/20

[Zim Girl]

My final bird for 2020.  

On Christmas Eve we took the dog for a run on the local coastal sand dunes.  During the walk we saw a snow bunting hopping around the dunes. They are spotted occasionally along this stretch of coastline but this is the first time we have seen one.  However, I didn't have my camera.

So after christmas we went back to try to find it again.  We didn't hold out much hope as the dunes cover a large area with lots of grasses to hide in.  We trawled up and down  for quite a while, but the sun was going down and we started to head back to the car.  Then as if by magic it appeared in front of us!!  Adrian hung onto the dog while I quickly took a few pictures.  

Success  -  UK bird no 100. 

 

165.  (UK 100)  Snow Bunting

 

 

St Annes sand dunes  -  28/12/20

[Soukous]

Well done. I've been waiting for the rain to stop so I can go looking for Snow Buntings

[Peter Connan]

Great stuff! Although I don't think any of those qualify for EBC status...

[PeterHG]

Ending with a beautiful Snow Bunting! I really don't want to spoil the fun of reaching 100 UK birds, but I do feel that your UK 91 is a Redshank and not a Common Sandpiper  (I'd better lay low for a while now.......)

Edited January 4, 2021 by PeterHG

[michael-ibk]

Bad Peter! But anyway, a great finish with the Snow Bunting - would love to see one! 

[TonyQ]

Well done on reaching and passing 150. And 100 for UK

A very enjoyable Big Year to follow.

I think you are far too self critical of you photos. Most of your Zambia photos are excellent, and very few of your EBCs qualify! 

The Snow Bunting is a wonderful bird to finish on.

[Galana]

Well done indeed. I looked hard at the "Common Sandpiper" as I had doubts too. No white patch ahead of the shoulder tells me it is something else but I was not confident as to what it could be.

To counter that doubt I have no doubts whatsoever on your Little Owl. Great capture. Envious of the Snow Bunting. We get them every autumn/winter but not this year.

Congratulations on the UK 100 too.

[Zim Girl]

21 hours ago, PeterHG said:

Ending with a beautiful Snow Bunting! I really don't want to spoil the fun of reaching 100 UK birds, but I do feel that your UK 91 is a Redshank and not a Common Sandpiper  (I'd better lay low for a while now.......)

 

17 hours ago, Galana said:

Well done indeed. I looked hard at the "Common Sandpiper" as I had doubts too. No white patch ahead of the shoulder tells me it is something else but I was not confident as to what it could be.

To counter that doubt I have no doubts whatsoever on your Little Owl. Great capture. Envious of the Snow Bunting. We get them every autumn/winter but not this year.

Congratulations on the UK 100 too.

 

Mmm, can't remember why I thought it was a common sandpiper at the time, it was so long ago, and usually I think everything looks like a redshank unless proved otherwise 

 

Ok, so I have another one up my sleeve, I wasn't going to post it because it can't be identified by my picture (I couldn't get any closer to them).  There were a small group of Green Sandpipers seen on a flooded field just outside my village in December for a few days and positively identified by members of the local bird club.

 

If you are all ok with this then I can keep my UK 100.

 

UK 91  Amended to Green Sandpiper

 

17/12/20

 

 

 

Edited January 5, 2021 by Zim Girl

[Galana]

As you say not the most ideal of photos but "why not?"

[PeterHG]

Good for you. I'm happy to see you reaching 100 UK birds after all. I did not sleep too well last night...

[TonyQ]

Well done on your new UK 100!

[shazdwn]

Take it - I've seen (and posted) much worse photos on the BY to get the count!  Congratulations on 100 for the UK

[Kitsafari]

Ek - that snow bunting is a cutie! and well done on the common buzzard in BIF. 

 

Take that green sandpiper without guilt. errr, i've done worse EBCs without feeling guilty.

[Zim Girl]

Oh good, thankyou!!

Onward to 2021 now then.