TonyQ: Big (??) Year 2021

[Soukous]

Lovely Bar-headed Goose. I've never seen one.

[Galana]

Excellent KIngfisher. Yes, they do seem to thrive in towns.

[PeterHG]

A beautiful collection @TonyQ! Those kingfisher photos are wonderful. I do hope the period of severe frost we are having now will not have too great an impact on the Kingfisher population here, but they are facing hard times, I'm afraid.

[michael-ibk]

Love the Shoveller, and wonderful photo of Ms. KF of course.

[Kitsafari]

Ms CKF looks divine in that light. and  the wood pigeon is very pretty, even if it is common.

[elefromoz]

Those little Kingfishers should be easy to spot when they're around, such dazzling colours. Not to say they're easy to photograph.

[Zim Girl]

Fabulous kingfisher!

[Dave Williams]

Steady progress here Tony. Interesting that we have the same problems with the likes of the Coal Tit's habits!

 

[TonyQ]

@Soukous@Dave Williams@elefromoz@Kitsafari@Zim Girl@PeterHG@michael-ibk@Galanathank you!

Pretty quiet at the moment - very windy

 

A couple of finches from the garden

35.UK.35. Greenfinch  Carduelis chloris       

Our Garden, Birmingham       30.01.2021

Dark, snowing, through double glazing, on a feeder - perfect conditions!

The Greenfinch is an infrequent visitor to the garden

[TonyQ]

36.UK.36. Goldfinch  Carduelis carduelis     

Our Garden, Birmingham       08.02.2021

A very common garden visitor - usually arrives in small flocks. It still provides us with a treat to see it.

[TonyQ]

37.UK.37. Carrion Crow  Corvus corone      

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham           18.02.2021

Very common - we see/hear them every day

[TonyQ]

38.UK.38. Stock Dove  Columba oenas       

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham           18.02.2021

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham           18.02.2021

Not as common as the Woodpigeon cousin, but this park is a reliable spot. I read that in the UK they don't stray very far from the place they were born. I think these are pretty much in the same tree where I photographed them last year!

[TonyQ]

39.UK.39. Great Crested Grebe  Podiceps cristatus

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham           18.02.2021

Not yet in full breeding finery, but a lovely bird, I think

[TonyQ]

40.UK.40. Great Spotted Woodpecker  Dendrocopos major

Swanshurst Park, Birmingham           18.02.2021

[Galana]

5 hours ago, TonyQ said:

Dark, snowing, through double glazing, on a feeder - perfect conditions!

I agree but you don't get any more points.

Nice collection though.

[elefromoz]

On 2/25/2021 at 1:02 AM, TonyQ said:

Dark, snowing, through double glazing, on a feeder

and then the bright cheery Goldfinch photo, such a smart little bird

[michael-ibk]

Agree, always love Goldfinches! Ah, the Stock Dove - I remember from previous years you have a park for them. I find them awfully difficult and was not able to get one in several BYs myself.

[TonyQ]

@Galana@elefromozthank you

@michael-ibkthank you - you have a good memory!

 

We have had a few days with good weather. On Friday went for a walk along a stretch of river that had been productive before. No new birds - but some nice ones (I think)

Kingfisher - already counted

 

 About 400m from last place we saw it - so probably the same individual female, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham 26.01.2021

It flew off and landed in a place where we coulld get a bit closer, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham 26.01.2021

We were also delighted to see a male (black beak) along the same stretch of river, Cannon Hill Park, Birmingham 26.01.2021

Hopefully some babies a little later in the year

 

We didn't see a Kingfisher in the UK until November last year, so we are doing well this year. And all very close to home!

Edited March 1, 2021 by TonyQ

[michael-ibk]

A beautiful couple!

[Galana]

44 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

A beautiful couple!

I agree. Looking good for breeding.

[PeterHG]

Beautiful kingfishers! I am a little worried about the population here after the frost period. I know that at least the local kingfisher in the polder I usually visit did not make it.

[Dave Williams]

I must get out, everyone is leaving me behind!

[TonyQ]

@michael-ibk@Galanathank you

@PeterHGthat is sad

@Dave Williamsthere is no race -but it is good to get out!

 

A few new ones- though this one is from January

 

41.UK.41. Jay  Garrulus glandarius  

Moseley Bog, Birmingham      07.01.2021

 

[TonyQ]

A few new ones from a local outing on Saturday. I have posted birds from Trittiford Pool earlier in this thread, but there is also a section of adjoining land with a river/stream running through it which makes a nice walk

 

42.UK.42. Little Egret  Egretta garzetta        

Trittiford Park/Dingles, Birmingham    27.02.2021

Hiding amongst branches, but still nice to see.

[TonyQ]

43.UK.43. Lesser Redpoll  Carduelis cabaret           

Trittiford Park/Dingles, Birmingham    27.02.2021

Trittiford Park/Dingles, Birmingham    27.02.2021

Trittiford Park/Dingles, Birmingham    27.02.2021

High in the trees but very enjoyable to watch them eating