Michael´s Sixth Year

[michael-ibk]

55/E55.) Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica) / Elster

 

Mils/Tirol, 1/3/21. A bird which is believed to be on the same intelligence level as the Great Apes. One of very few animals recognizing itself in a mirror.

 

 

And I was a bit more lucky with the Great Grey Shrike today. He should be leaving to the North any day now, maybe he decided I deserved a departure gift.

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

56/E56.) Blackbird (Turdus merula) / Amsel

 

Mils/Tirol, 1/3/21. One of our boldest and most common garden birds.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

57/E57.) Common Buzzard (Buteo buteo) / Mäusebussard

 

Gaisau/Tirol, 1/3/21. Our most common bird of prey but wary and difficult to approach. This one was distracted by mobbing Crows.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Galana]

1 hour ago, michael-ibk said:

Why a "Yaffle"?

Just an old countryman's name. Like "Mavis" for Song Thrush and "Storm cock" for Mistle Thrush.

I suppose Yaffle is linked to the laughing call..

I share your mixed feelings for Crows.

[PeterHG]

I understand the Corvid feelings, but I do love your raven shot. Perfectly exposed against the impressive backdrop of the mountain!

4 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

One of very few animals recognizing itself in a mirror.

I used to be able to do that, too, but it's getting more and more difficult...;)

[Soukous]

12 hours ago, PeterHG said:

17 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

One of very few animals recognizing itself in a mirror.

I used to be able to do that, too, but it's getting more and more difficult...;)

 

I stopped looking a long time ago 

[xelas]

19 minutes ago, Soukous said:

 

I stopped looking a long time ago 

I still look but I have stopped recognizing the face in the mirror 

[xelas]

17 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

54/E54.) Carrin Crow (Corvus corone) / Rabenkrähe

 

Carrion Crow - just to show you the level of my attention . Not the most popular latin name in these days .

[michael-ibk]

58/E58.) Short-Toed Treecreeper (Certhia brachydactyla) / Gartenbaumläufer

 

Kranebitten/Tirol, 2/3/21. Our second Treecreeper species, looking very much the same as the Eurasian. This species (and its cousin) would be much more deserving of the name Mousebird than the African birds, it really moves like a "Tree Mouse".

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

59/E59.) Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) / Gebirgsstelze

 

Kranebitten/Tirol, 2/3/21. Not uncommon along our rivers and creeks but rather shy. I shot this one through the shrubbery.

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

60/E60.) Eurasian Jay (Garrulus glandarius) / Eichelhäher

 

Kranebitten/Tirol, 2/3/21. A pretty patient individual, they are not known for their posing normally.

 

[Galana]

4 hours ago, xelas said:

I still look but I have stopped recognizing the face in the mirror 

Me too but Lady G is getting harder to fool these days. .

Sorry to interrupt Michael.

[Dave Williams]

On 2/27/2021 at 8:57 AM, xelas said:

 Anything that puts you 50 m away from your doorstep is called a trip nowadays.

 

Congratulations on reaching #50, all beautiful photos and some rare birds among them. 

 

50m .... that's an epic journey. Comparable to Hannibal crossing the Alps nowadays!

 

Some great birds and captures on your way past 50 Michael. Green woodpecker is near the top of my list but only because Bittern is virtually impossible around here in North Wales.

[michael-ibk]

I had a work thing appointment in Vienna. Quite absurdly they really insisted on me being there in person instead of video (which would have been perfectly managable). I really did not fancy going by train so a car trip it was. Long and more complicated than usual - since Tirol  has been declared a "mutant zone" (sounds like something from the Walking Dead) Germany has closed all borders, so the motorway was not an option. Oh well. If life gives you Viennese lemons make Seewinkel lemonade out of it. I could stay at my brother´s place in Vienna, and Seewinkel is only 50 minutes from there.

 

61/E61.) Northern Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) / Kiebitz

 

Seewinkel/Austria, 6/3. The signature bird of this area. Early March is a bit too early for the really good stuff, migration had not yet kicked in, and some of the more interesting winter guests (like Snow Buntings or Twites) have already left.

 

 

 

 

Hares were everywhere:

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

62/E62.) Eurasian Skylark (Alauda arvensis) / Feldlerche

 

Seewinkel/Austria, 6/3/21. Simply everywhere - really lovely walking in the areas where they are duelling with their songs.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

63/E63.) Greater White-Fronted Goose (Anser albifrons) / Blässgans

 

Seewinkel/Austria, 6/3/21. Wintering in the area in the thousands. More wary than the Greylags. Normally we visit a bit later in the year when they are already gone.

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

64/E64.) White-Tailed Eagle (Haliaeetus albicilla) / Seeadler

 

Seewinkel/Austria, 6/3/21. Causing a lot of action when it went after the Waterfowl. The hunt failed.

 

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

65/E65.) Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) / Spießente

 

Seewinkel/Austria, 6/3. One of the coolest-looking Ducks IMO, and the one I always have the most trouble finding and getting a picture of. Here they were in the dozens, albeit quite distant.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

66/E66.) Bearded Reedling (Panurus biarmicus) / Bartmeise

 

Seewinkel/Austria, 6/3/21. Enormously cool-looking birds! Hoped to get them somewhere along the reed, but luck is always needed for them.

 

 

 

The female was less bold:

 

 

 

Finally she came out as well:

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

67/E67.) White Wagtail (Motacilla alba) / Bachstelze

 

Seewinkel/Austria, 6/3. A very common and pretty confinding bird. Most have already returned from their Winter areas here in Tirol.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

68/E68.) Golden Plover (Pluvialis apricaria) / Goldregenpfeifer

 

Seewinkel/Austria, 6/3. An exciting bird for me. They are rarely seen in Austria. They migrate earlier than most of the other waders, so early March was actually a good time for them. Found one sizale flock (about 30) socialising with Lapwings. Most very far away but one curious individual approached just a bit closer.

 

 

A Great Grey Shrike was also in this spot. Should already be on its way to the North now. That said, I saw "my" local Shrike today - a return of Winter has probably kept it here.

 

 

We also saw a lot of Roe Deer - definitely way more than usually.

 

 

This one with brand new antlers freshly shed.

 

 

His rival still has the velvet.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

69/E69.) Song Thrush (Turdus philomelos) / Singdrossel

 

Seewinkel/Austria, 7/3. Always an early returner from its Winter quarters.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

70/E70.) Common Redshank (Tringa totanus) / Rotschenkel

 

Seewinkel/Austria, 7/3. One of the few breeding waders in Austria (only here more or less), and another early one coming back. No Plovers, Sandpipers et al yet. And only a fraction of the Redshank numbers seen later in Spring.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

71/E71.) Corn Bunting (Emberiza calandra) / Grauammer

 

Seewinkel/Austria, 7/3. Almost extinct now in Austria, the area is one of their last strongholds. I have a very reliable bush for them  - see them there eyery year.

 

 

 

Edited March 18, 2021 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

72/E72.) Great Bustard (Otis tarda) / Großtrappe

 

Seewinkel/Austria, 7/3. I was not aware they start their mating stuff that early. They are still going at it in May. Saw 25 birds this time, more than ever before. As is the norm here they keep their distance from the road.