TonyQ: Big (??) Year 2021

[TonyQ]

135.UK.135. Dunlin  Calidris alpina  

Brownsea Island, Poole, Dorset         22.10.2021

Brownsea Island, Poole, Dorset         22.10.2021

[TonyQ]

136.UK.136. Grey Plover  Pluvialis squatarola         

Brownsea Island, Poole, Dorset         22.10.2021

Brownsea Island, Poole, Dorset         22.10.2021

[TonyQ]

137.UK.137. Knot  Calidris canutus  

Brownsea Island, Poole, Dorset         22.10.2021

A bit of a gamble this one! Just left of centre is a medium sized birdwith a dark stripe through the eye - pale above and below this stripe. The bird behind it is quite a lot bigger - it is a Grey Plover. The bird to the right of it (and slightly in front) is much smaller - it is a Dunlin.

SO - I claim a Knot.

[TonyQ]

138.UK.138. Spoonbill (Eurasian)  Platalea leucorodia 

No difficulty identifying this one!      

Brownsea Island, Poole, Dorset         22.10.2021

Brownsea Island, Poole, Dorset         22.10.2021

Brownsea Island, Poole, Dorset         22.10.2021

We have only ever seen one Spoonbill in the UK before. There were about 20 of them here - one of the largest groups seen in the UK.

[TonyQ]

139.UK.139. Red-breasted Merganser  Mergus serrator     

Studland, Poole, Dorset          23.10.2021

Studland, Poole, Dorset          23.10.2021

Very distant and in poor light but I will take everything!

[TonyQ]

That is all the birds from Dorset, but we did arrange to stop in Oxford on the way home, for lunch, and to catch up with this bird.

 

140.UK.140. Pectoral Sandpiper  Calidris melanotos    

A New bird for us      

Port Meadow, Oxford  24.10.2021

A photobombing Wagtail gives an indication of size, Port Meadow, Oxford  24.10.2021

Port Meadow, Oxford  24.10.2021

It is from North America but is a fairly regular vagrant in the UK. Nice to finish with a Lifer (and an addition to the UK list)

[PeterHG]

Certainly a nice finish with a lifer! Can’t argue with you claim on the Knot ( nor would I want to ;))

[Galana]

5 hours ago, TonyQ said:

but I will take everything!

Absolutely. Great find with the Pectoral and your Knot.

[shazdwn]

I know this is a bird thread but - gorgeous squirrel shot!

[Peter Connan]

7 hours ago, shazdwn said:

I know this is a bird thread but - gorgeous squirrel shot!

That's what I wanted to say!

[Zim Girl]

Great additions to end the year @TonyQ, 140 UK birds.  How does that compare to your other years for the UK?

I am hoping to get close to that, will start emptying my EBC cupboard shortly.

[michael-ibk]

On 12/20/2021 at 6:21 PM, TonyQ said:

Very distant and in poor light but I will take everything!

 

That´s what this game is all about! 

 

Some great late sightings, congratulations on your lifer (would be one for me as well)! And agree with Sharon, really love the Squirrel photo.

[Dave Williams]

Without becoming a twitcher you have a creditable UK score that falls in with the rest of us that aren't stuck on a rock in the Irish Sea! Well done.

[TonyQ]

Thank you for your kind comments and support during the year. I am happy with the total for a very constrained year!

@Zim Girl

I looked at my totals for previous years:

2016    UK 135 (Total 240)

2017    UK 163 (Total 228) (Included 2 trips to Scotland - February and May/June (Mull)

2018    UK 151 (Total 317) 

2019    UK 106 (Total 350)

2020    UK 125 (Total 257)

2021    UK 140 (Total 140)

 

My favourite bird of the year was a lifer and one that we really wanted to see

Crested Tit, Highlands in Scotland

 

Here's hoping for a better 2022!

[PeterHG]

For this year, this is certainly a good home score! I am envious of your lifer. That's a bird I would love to take a photo of!  I am looking forward to your 2022 contributions.

[Kitsafari]

A great score for a restricted 2021, and all the very best for 2022, and lovely sighting of the crested tit! wish we had a sighting like yours. 

[lmSA84]

Congrats! That’s a great year given the constraints. I’m not sure if I made a U.K. list that I would have 140 in my life