Zim Girl's 4th Big Year 2021

[Zim Girl]

I see this bird quite a bit in the garden but so tricky to get a picture before it flies off.  This is it waiting at the back of the pond before diving into the nearby bush after the small birds.

 

136.  Eurasian Sparrowhawk

Back garden  -  11/04/21

 

[Zim Girl]

137.  Marsh Tit

Leighton Moss  -  19/06/21

 

[Zim Girl]

138.  Northern Raven

Raven Crag, Kirkstone Pass, Lake District  -  15/09/21

[Zim Girl]

We have been trying for a decent picture of this bird all year, still might just have another chance before the end of the year.

 

139.  Common Kingfisher

Conder Pool, Glasson  -  16/10/21

 

[Zim Girl]

140.  Redwing

Near Sizergh Castle, South Lakes  -  13/11/21

 

[Zim Girl]

And finally (for now hopefully), this was taken on a local dog walk when I didn't have the camera so had to make do with a dodgy mobile phone pic.

 

141.  Barnacle Goose

Staining village  -  13/12/21

 

 

[Dave Williams]

I think you might have just snuck in to pole for EBCOTY!

[PeterHG]

That Kingfisher is a lot taller than you might think!

[michael-ibk]

Not good enough to beat my Somali Ostrich for sure!

 

Congratulations on your best ever UK count Angie!

[Zim Girl]

23 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

Not good enough to beat my Somali Ostrich for sure!

 

Congratulations on your best ever UK count Angie!

 

Thank you Michael.

 

Have a great Christmas everyone!

[michael-ibk]

Same to you Angie. 

Edited December 24, 2021 by michael-ibk

[Kitsafari]

Merry Christmas too @Zim Girl

[Zim Girl]

After a bit of final determined birding the last few days, we managed to add 3 more to the 2021 list.  

 

These birds are seen in this spot almost daily during winter, but you just have to be lucky with the weather and check the tide times. This was our third try at getting them.

 

142.  Twite

 

Knott End -  25/12/21

 

[Zim Girl]

A Boxing Day wander around our local nature reserve gave us our first sighting of a Bittern at this location.  We watched it fly and land in the reedbed and waited for about an hour but couldn't see any sign of it, so no photo.

We still got another bird for BY though.

 

143.  Stock Dove

Marton Mere  -  26/12/21

 

[Zim Girl]

Large groups of Whooper swans always over winter in the same fields further north up the coast towards Lancaster and this is the first time we have managed to find the Bewick's swans that sometimes stay with them.  A very long way off from the nearest stopping place though.

 

144.  Bewick's Swan

 

Fields south of Glasson Dock  -  29/12/21

 

[Zim Girl]

Other birding highlights included finally finding a Green Woodpecker.  We have been looking in this location for the last four years.  We have occasionally heard them but never seen one.  This time we saw one flying, unfortunately away from us, so no photo again.  

While trying to get yellowhammers and corn buntings locally (we failed), we did get to see a fantastic hunting display by the resident barn owls.  Three different birds and one of them had a successful hunt, flying off with a vole, and we watched as it transferred it from beak to claws.  Didn't try to get pictures, we were just enjoying the view.

 

So I have ended on 144 UK birds including 25 lifers.

 

I finish with an improved picture of the Kingfisher which we were hoping for, taken on Christmas Day.

Lancaster Canal

 

 

[Peter Connan]

A really good effort! Happy new year!

[xelas]

While birding at home grounds only usually does not bring high numbers, it does bring happiness, and it keeps us motivated.

[Galana]

A decent score for the year and especially liked the Bewick's in that herd. I have never seen one (yet).

[PeterHG]

A fitting end to the year with some good additions and even better sightings like Barn Owl and Bittern !

[Dave Williams]

Well done, an excellent score for home.

[michael-ibk]

No better bird to finish than with a beautiful Kingfisher photo - well done. The Twite and Bewick´s are great, both would be lifers for me.

[Zim Girl]

Thank you very much everyone, and A Happy New Year to you all!

 

 

[TonyQ]

Well done for an excellent and enjoyable Big Year.

A good total for the UK! (i.e. better than mine)

[lmSA84]

Well done! Congrats on a great U.K. score