Michael´s Sixth Year

[michael-ibk]

Thanks!

 

91/E91.) Blackcap (Sylvia atricapilla) / Mönchsgrasmücke

 

Airport Innsbruck/Tirol, 31/3/21. Another species just returned from its Winter quarters, and already their beautiful song is everywhere.

 

 

And very lucky - another (albeit fleeting) Bluethroat sighting a few days ago:

 

 

[Kitsafari]

brilliant shots. so envious of that bluethroat, not that we'll get in our corner of the planet. 

[Tdgraves]

Funny, I saw my first blackcap yesterday as well!

[shazdwn]

Congratulations on your hawfinch and great sighting of the spotted crake

[Dave Williams]

Didn't realise I hadn't caught up recently Michael but I do see your pics elsewhere! 

So you like a Bluethroat eh? You are not alone , it was one of those birds you just have to see but after my Spanish trip in 2017 I still have 407 shots left after a major cull. I can't bring myself to delete anymore! I was supposed to be going back to the same spot this year .....

Anyway, for what it's worth, I'd choose seeing the Spotted Crake as my top in that list. Only seen one once and at some distance.

You have some rather special birds in this year's BY that's for sure.

[michael-ibk]

Thanks!

 

On 4/1/2021 at 4:29 PM, Kitsafari said:

so envious of that bluethroat, not that we'll get in our corner of the planet. 

 

Actually it seems to get pretty close to you in Winter Kit, it does occur in Thailand and Cambodia.

[michael-ibk]

92/E92.) Common Chiffchaff (Phylloscopus collibita) / Zilpzalp

 

Brenndorf/Carinthia, 2/4. Back in force, their song is everywhere. Picked a day with lousy weather to get a photo but at least it was close and relatively still.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

93/E93.) Red-Crested Pochard (Netta rufina) / Kolbenente

 

Brenndorf/Carinthia, 2/4. Quite an attractive duck. Normally I get them at Chiemsee, Lake Constance or Seewinkel. Much more difficult with those places off-limits, and we don´t have them im Tirol. So I was quite delighted to find a pair in my "second" home province (where I´m allowed to go because my parents live there).

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

94/E94.) Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) / Flussregenpfeifer

 

Maria Elend/Carinthia, 3/4/21. One of the few waders breeding in Austria (except Seewinkel where there are more species like Avocets, Stilts or Godwits). I like them a lot, always delightful to find one.

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

95/E95.) Mediterranean Gull (Ichthyaetus melanocephalus) / Schwarzkopfmöwe

 

Maria Elend/Carinthia, 3/4/21. Here with a BH Gull. A rarity in Austria - so a good tick for me. This one was ringed, and I got the characters. Apparently a Polish project, I sent in the data hope to hear from them soon.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

96/E96.) Hooded Crow (Corvus cornix) / Nebelkrähe

 

Maria Elend/Carinthia, 3/4/21. Another Corvid to get out of the way.

 

 

Some Duck doubles to add some colour:

 

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

97/E97.) Eurasian Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) / Rauchschwalbe

 

Tiebelmündung/Carinthia, 4/4, and Drauhofen/Carinthia, 5/4. I´m always happy when they return. We have a few breeding in our old barn. Every year my mother worries that they will not come back to nest. They always do - hopefully again this year.

 

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

98/E98.) Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) / Fitis

 

Thaur/Tirol, 6/4/21. The Chiffchaff twin - this one was singing loud and clear, so definitely not a Chiff. My first one this year. Never ceases to amaze me how far they fly - all the way down to South Africa even!

 

 

 

And a bonus Skylark just because I rarely get pictures like that (or pictures at all) of this species at home:

 

 

(Yes, we have snow again this week.)

 

 

Edited April 8, 2021 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

99/E99.) Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) / Schafstelze

 

Innsbruck airport, 7/4/21. Fallout day yesterday because of the weather, hundreds of Pipits and Wagtails (mostly Water and White) were found along the river, along with many Redstarts. Even saw a Hoopoe! And five WY Wagtails - our normal subspecies "flava". We don´t get them much in Tirol, we know of a total of four breeding pairs! Another ringed bird but I did not realize that. Got a few characters but probably not enough. Pity, would be interesting with this species, they travel far!

 

[michael-ibk]

100/E100.) Northern Bald Ibis (Geronticus eremita) / Waldrapp

 

Maria Elend/Carinthia, 3/4/21. Not a beautiful bird per se but special enough to hand the century post to it.  Technically not really wild, we have several colonies where the birds are slowly taught to relearn their old migration routes. All are free to come and go as they please. Less then 1000 remain without support, and probably another 1000 in projects like this. Only my second sighting.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

101/E101.) Green Sandpiper (Tringa ochropus) / Waldwasserläufer

 

Innsbruck airport, 7/4/21. A sparse but regular migrant in Tirol. It´s not impossible some are even breeding here (very few do in Eastern Austria) but AFAIK there are no confirmed records.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

102/E102.) Northern Shoveller (Spatula clypeata) / Löffelente

 

Airport Innsbruck/Tirol, 7/4/21. A new one for my Tirol list, so a cool find yesterday.

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

103/E103.) Eurasian Wryneck (Jynx torquilla) / Wendehals

 

Gaisau/Tirol, 8/4/21. Ebc but always an exciting bird! It was not even singing, not quite sure how I made it!

 

 

Some more doubles:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Galana]

Another great excursion with a good result. Congratulations on the first Century.

Colourful bunch too.

[TonyQ]

Well done on reaching 100 with some great birds 

[Kitsafari]

Excellent photos of lovely birds. Congrats on the 100th!

[Tdgraves]

Well done on the 100

[xelas]

Colossal achievement, Michael! 100 birds and living in a country with such tough restrictions shows your firm dedication. After vaccination (any date?) numbers will only get better.

[Dave Williams]

100! Nice one Michael. That shot of the Black Redstart, Yellow Wagtail and Wood Sandpiper had me thinking! I'll struggle to see any of these this year and here's a shot with all three!

[Zim Girl]

Congratulations on getting past the 100!