Zim Girl's 4th Big Year 2021

[PeterHG]

1 hour ago, Zim Girl said:

total of 26 birds and 12 species. 

That is quite impressive! I had a productive time, too with 4 birds and 2 species, but you certainly beat me there 

[Dave Williams]

Tree Sparrow and Goldcrest ....very nice!

[Zim Girl]

Back to the garden for the next two.

 

13.  Dunnock

 

Front garden  -  01/02/21

 

[Zim Girl]

14.  Common Blackbird

Female

Male

Back garden - 03/02/21

 

 

[Zim Girl]

Took advantage of a small window of sunshine yesterday to walk the dog by the coast.  I was hoping for 3 species but could only find this one, so I will make the most of it .

 

15.  Ruddy Turnstone

There was a small group of them on the rocks, this one didn't seem to mind the waves crashing behind him.

 

Further along the prom, a large flock of them landed in front of us and stretched themselves along the path. 

Quite impressive to see them so close, even the dog sat and watched with interest.

Rossall Point - 04/02/21

 

 

[Soukous]

Lovely Turnstone pics. Very atmospheric

[PeterHG]

Great Turnstone photos and I do love your Blackbird couple. We used to get them in the garden, but not in the last few years. 

[Kitsafari]

I enjoyed the ruddy turnstone shots a lot. 

[Zim Girl]

On 2/5/2021 at 5:57 PM, PeterHG said:

Great Turnstone photos and I do love your Blackbird couple. We used to get them in the garden, but not in the last few years. 

Thank you Peter, that is a shame, along with the house sparrows and goldfinches, blackbirds are our most numerous garden visitor.  Some nest very close by and we often have the youngsters hiding in nooks and crannies around the garden waiting to be fed by the parents in spring.

[elefromoz]

wow so many Turnstones, quite a sight.

[Zim Girl]

Finally the weather was good enough to make a trip to the local reserve and park.

 

16.  Magpie

Marton Mere  -  15/02/21

 

[Zim Girl]

These ducks do pose so nicely for you.

 

17.  Mallard

Stanley Park  -  15/02/21

 

[Zim Girl]

Unlike these ones that will not come anywhere near.

 

18.  Gadwall

Stanley Park  -  15/02/21

 

[Zim Girl]

Another friendly duck!

 

19.  Tufted Duck

Male

Female

Stanley Park  -  15/02/21

 

[Zim Girl]

20.  Eurasian Coot

 

Stanley Park  -  15/02/21

[Zim Girl]

21.  Common Moorhen

 

Stanley Park  -  15/02/21

[Zim Girl]

Nothing to see here, just in for the tick .

 

22.  Feral Pigeon

Stanley Park  -  15/02/21

[Zim Girl]

23.  Common Woodpigeon

Stanley Park  -  15/02/21

[Zim Girl]

Our most numerous gull. I picked a young one just for a bit more plumage interest.

 

24.  Herring Gull

Stanley Park  -  15/02/21

[Zim Girl]

Our second most numerous gull.

 

25.  Black-headed Gull

Stanley Park  -  15/02/21

 

[Zim Girl]

26.  Great Cormorant

 

Stanley Park  -  15/02/21

 

[PeterHG]

Almost doubled the numbers in one go! Love the male and female Tufted Duck.

[Galana]

A very worthwhile excursion. Strange you got the 'sinensis' race of Cormorant near you.

[Dave Williams]

Love that Cormorant!

[Zim Girl]

15 hours ago, Galana said:

A very worthwhile excursion. Strange you got the 'sinensis' race of Cormorant near you.

Hi @Galana, interesting, so I looked up the 'sinensis' sub-species, are you identifying it from the shape of the yellow pouch?  I assumed the white heads meant they were getting their breeding plumage but maybe not?  Most of the cormorants there had similar plumage.