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Zim Girl's 3rd Big Year 2020


Zim Girl

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I have seen similar on the Continent at times. I believe it is some sort of Mite infestation.

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On 3/6/2020 at 8:38 AM, Zim Girl said:

On the way back I saw this poor bird in the trees.  I took a quick picture as I didn't know what it was at first but it is a Blackbird with a bald head. He was flying around ok.  But I felt quite sad watching him, never seen anything like this before.   

Anyone seen this in a blackbird before??  What is the cause?  Stress/disease/birth defect?

 

 

 

 

It happens a lot over in the US with blue jays and cardinals. It's usually just a molt.

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Finally, a few more birds for the BY. 

We dropped by Foulshaw Moss on our way for a walk in South Lakes. I really like this little nature reserve, it is very low key outside of Osprey season but you are pretty much guaranteed to find Reed Buntings and Redpolls here as well as Tree Sparrows (but seeing as we have our own we weren't looking for them:)).

 

33.  Common Reed Bunting

Female

P1240964c.jpg.d7088024c1197352fe7ae9fc147dcf15.jpg

Male

P1250242c.jpg.7f07e9fd909f0bd8481ba8158b504063.jpg

Foulshaw Moss  -  14/03/20

 

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The Redpolls here are identified locally as 'Lesser' but to be honest they all look a bit different to me so I have no idea. A few for comparison.

 

34.  Lesser Redpoll

P1230933c.jpg.5c2d4a52831077221f0cc8c39acf65da.jpg

 

P1240981c.jpg.c761ccfc3da7f98a7c4862af6b6c508c.jpg

 

P1250061c.jpg.ad7c2637d64862d7a4e4903c89623afd.jpg

 

P1250081c.jpg.5cb1265af4b814f3eddc1d09c5474e91.jpg

Foulshaw Moss  -  14/03/20

 

 

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35.  Chaffinch

Female

P1250178c.jpg.ca521a2e12489844f57271979514e5e9.jpg

Male

P1250243c.jpg.375881513f19d977884fb0c0271eaa17.jpg

 

P1250247c.jpg.83742bbaadbfcd1a6366f4cd1edc4515.jpg

Foulshaw Moss  -  14/03/20

 

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Lastly, this guy makes a brief appearance.

 

36.  Common Moorhen

P1250205c.jpg.671e511489f159cb1bfe2491a4ba57f1.jpg

Foulshaw Moss  -  14/03/20

 

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Then onto a different Moss.

My first proper visit to Leighton Moss this year, the weather was decent on Monday so I went up and spent the morning there.  The estuary hides couldn't be accessed because the car park had been flooded by high tides but the main reserve was open albeit a bit soggy.

This next bird has become a bit of a local superstar of late and I was hoping to find him before the trails got too busy.  Well it didn't take long, I waited in his favourite spot and after a few minutes he appeared out of the undergrowth. I had him to myself for as long as I could keep him entertained.  Sorry for the few extra pics but I think he is worth it.

 

37.  Water Rail

P1250299.JPG.f8cefb49421d4dfe1e117dcd00ac2ce1.JPG

 

P1250279c.jpg.e83eec38b2f8c705409db27772fa63f0.jpg

 

P1250319c.jpg.392e4c95d291839f095bc90d3beae4a1.jpg

 

P1250323c.jpg.d7f98e1cccbed6b8e7aaf350c9a978b3.jpg

 

P1250327c.jpg.1997c7eca0c2bca85480a9195805dc9c.jpg

Leighton Moss  -  16/03/20

 

 

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Another much loved LM inhabitant, the Robins here are renowned for being extremely tame and will happily feed from your hand.  They follow you closely down the trails along with the other very demanding birds, the Blue Tits and Great Tits.

 

38.  European Robin

P1250340c.jpg.b510db8fed7df3c0b4f9c93dc4d05019.jpg

 

P1250569c.jpg.5b17f9299a5409df79344d70cad14bad.jpg

Leighton Moss  -  16/03/20

 

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At least there is no problem identifying this bird as it's very similar cousin doesn't live here.

 

39.  Marsh Tit

P1250362c.jpg.f7e2d80e733b4ba89f3c86cd69929d41.jpg

 

P1250367c.jpg.c4a3e6bc41ad74067c3593f8e9c97c28.jpg

Leighton Moss  -  16/03/20

 

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40.  Coal Tit

P1250419c.jpg.2cbec89a069cc5ae2b77e80cb5aeba66.jpg

Leighton Moss  -  16/03/20

 

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Finally, another LM special.  The Marsh Harriers are displaying well and getting ready for nesting soon.  Five birds were counted while I was watching and they make a great sight flying over the reed beds.

 

41.  Western Marsh Harrier

P1250476c.jpg.ec7cca316eebd7c105a3db1203747565.jpg

 

P1250510c.jpg.31ef53a26683117433f159c1940d3064.jpg

 

P1250524c.jpg.cadf237c26e84fe2f1061f0b8789d8e7.jpg

 

P1250534c.jpg.8cf3b58ce84631fa4ce6900a239ba31b.jpg

Leighton Moss  -  16/03/20

 

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michael-ibk

Great Waterrail!

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A very productive trip to the two Mosses.

The Water Rail photos are wonderful.

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Great photos all round and a productive trip, indeed!

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Great stuff.

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Peter Connan

Lovely!

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Excellent. I am a fan of Foulshaw too. Nice and compact and often surprising me with sightings.

Lesser Redpoll is only a good species in Britain. Treated as a race in most countries so no wonder it hard to split them.

Lovely Water Rail sequence.

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Dave Williams

Nice set of shots from the weekend. I was up your way but social distancing!

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15 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

Nice set of shots from the weekend. I was up your way but social distancing!

Shame - we will get there eventually!!

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Lovely rail shots

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  • 2 weeks later...

So the next few pictures are pre lockdown, hoping to do better with some of them but there we go!

 

42.  Gadwall

P1240284c.jpg.60ad036a6e91ab5b0b75689790c1ca2e.jpg

Stanley Park  -  06/02/20

 

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We tried several times for these but they were always in the distant field.

 

43.  Whooper Swan

P1240637c.jpg.7cf6eaeb907b0c18f0a04d860b841244.jpg

Cockersands area, nr Glasson Dock  -  22/02/20

 

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This was taken on a fly by visit to the estuary hides at Leighton Moss early in March and already the Avocet numbers were building.

 

44.  Pied Avocet

P1240946c.jpg.b4bc5b8b39d43e8e05e7225416c63857.jpg

 

P1250647c.jpg.025239f80de5cc942bcd08d17da76d93.jpg

Leighton Moss  -  07/03/20

 

 

 

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