Zim Girl's 3rd Big Year 2020

[Zim Girl]

This noisy band of residents is still going strong.

 

8.  Ring-necked Parakeet

Stanley Park  -  15/01/20

 

[Zim Girl]

The next two birds are seen daily in our garden, but just easier to get a better picture of them in the park.

 

9.  Blue Tit

Stanley Park  -  15/01/20

 

[Zim Girl]

10.  Great Tit

Stanley Park  -  15/01/20

 

[Zim Girl]

11.  Tufted Duck

Female

 

Male

Stanley Park  -  15/01/20

 

[Zim Girl]

So birds are a bit like buses, you don't see one for ages and then loads come along all at once!

 

We saw our first ever Redwing just before Christmas last year, then last weekend the trees close to our back garden were full of them.  I took a picture of one from the garden (and using @TonyQ's rules that is going down as a new garden tick), then we went out on a local dog walk to see if we could get a better picture.

 

12.  Redwing

Back garden  -  19/01/20

Local field  -  19/01/20

 

 

[Zim Girl]

In the same field as the Redwing we found a bonus bird.

 

13.  Mistle Thrush

Local field  -  19/01/20

 

 

 

[Zim Girl]

Later on the walk we saw a large flock of Linnets flying from the fields to the trees.

 

14.  Common Linnet

 

There is a rogue goldfinch in among them, but I will count that later on when I can get a better picture.

Local fields  -  19/01/20

 

[Zim Girl]

Then, to go with the Redwing, a quick visit to the local nature reserve gave me this bird, which is a much improved picture and sighting than previous years.

 

15.  Fieldfare

 

Marton Mere  -  20/01/20

 

[Zim Girl]

Here comes my first new bird of the year! 

It is listed as a rarity in the back of my RSPB book of British birds and has been attracting a bit of attention locally in the County.

It is a Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris).  It is a North American vagrant and has similarities to Tufted duck, Scaup and Pochard.  We found it in a lake where it was mixing with all three.  Identifying features include a high crown and a thick white band behind the bill tip.

It is apparently called 'Ring-necked' because it has a dark chestnut ring around it's neck, but this is hard to see and certainly impossible in my pictures.  The duck was very distant so they are not great but we were just pleased to have found it among all the others.

 

16.  Ring-necked Duck  (Male)

 

 

Pine Lake, nr Carnforth  -  18/01/20

 

[Zim Girl]

The other species of duck were all very distant as well but there was a lone wader close to the shore line.

 

17.  Common Redshank

Pine Lake  -  18/01/20

 

[Soukous]

Sorry Angie, even though it is a nice photo I cannot bring myself to 'like' a Feral Pigeon. 

[Galana]

2 hours ago, Zim Girl said:

There is a rogue goldfinch in among them,

I would keep it.

You did well and I like @TonyQ's methodology.

[xelas]

Nice birds, including the Feral Pigeon . The Ring-necked Duck is a rare find indeed.

[Kitsafari]

goldfinch hiding in plain sight!

 

excellent additions. 

[Zim Girl]

21 hours ago, Soukous said:

Sorry Angie, even though it is a nice photo I cannot bring myself to 'like' a Feral Pigeon. 

That's perfectly ok, it is just a tick for the count and I got it out of the way early

[Zim Girl]

The highlight of the last few days is still to come.  After last year's very good sightings, I didn't think we could be so lucky to find it again!

We went out on Monday late afternoon looking for another 'rarity' that is in the area.  This was our 2nd attempt but still no luck, however, on driving away from the location I spotted this beautiful owl perched by the side of the lane.  We stopped and watched it for a couple of minutes before it dived into the ditch to catch something.  The light was fading fast but we were extremely happy as this is the closest we have ever been to one!!

 

18.  Barn Owl

 

Pilling, Lancashire  -  20/01/20

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

Wow, what an Owl Year this BY is having! Fantastic sighting!

[Peter Connan]

Lovely sighting!

[Galana]

I have friends in Pilling. I think they are due a visit. Jealous? Moi!

[TonyQ]

A wonderful photo and sighting of the Barn Owl.

[elefromoz]

Gorgeous Owl indeed, a lucky spot.

[Kitsafari]

wow fabulous sighting of a beautiful barnie!!

[Zim Girl]

Thanks everyone.  The area is a bit of a hotspot for owls, but to get this close to one was really special.

 

 

[pedro maia]

Great Barn Owl pictures, I have to go and look for them one of these nights, I doubt I will see them during the day.

[optig]

@Zim Girl I am so jealous of you. That is a fabulous sighting of a barn owl.