TonyQ: Big (??) Year 2021

[TonyQ]

@elefromozyes it is spring, sunny but still cold in the morning. We are gradually being allowed to travel a little more so that may bring some new birds!

 

A few more from the last trip....

 

61.UK.61. Chaffinch  Fringilla coelebs          

(f) Belvide Reserve, Staffordshire           04.04.2021

(m) Ladywalk  Reserve, West Midlands   30.03.2021

[TonyQ]

62.UK.62. Tree Sparrow  Passer montanus 

Belvide Reserve, Staffordshire           04.04.2021

We don't get these locally, but this a reliable spot for them - they breed here.

[TonyQ]

63.UK.63. Goldeneye  Bucephala clangula  

Belvide Reserve, Staffordshire           04.04.2021     

Very distant! Interesting scientific name - Bucephala means Ox-head, because of the large head compared to most other ducks.

Tangentally, Alexander the Great had a horse called Bucephalus (possibly had a large head). He liked the horse so much he named a city in the Punjab after it!

[TonyQ]

64.UK.64. Pheasant  Phasianus colchicus   

(F) Belvide Reserve, Staffordshire           04.04.2021 

(M) Belvide Reserve, Staffordshire           04.04.2021 

Pheasants are not native to the UK, large numbers are bred and released so that they can be shot. Shooting is not allowed at Belvide, so a good hiding place.

 

We also saw some interesting Pheasant behaviour from two males (different colouration from the one above)

 

 

Sizing each other up..

and going for it....

[xelas]

Those are some feisty pheasants! 

[mvecht]

@TonyQMale Pheasants fighting can get ugly. I have seen similar a few times.

[michael-ibk]

Very cool Pheasant sequence. And I´m delighted you are bringing back the Latin stuff - that was my plan last year but aborted on page 2 I think!

[Galana]

On 4/12/2021 at 11:49 AM, Galana said:

Thanks @TonyQ. Yes all rings count.

This specimen would be described as "Red over black on Rt Tarsus. Blue left Tarsus, coded aluminium left Tibia."

I will see what I can find out.

Up date. Your birdy was ringed on Southampton Water.

I have been asked more. Lat Long I can do as I know Belvide well and time and date I assume as 4/4/21 at 11.54?

It was not High Water roosting I hope.

Was it breeding, roosting or what. Were there more of them if so estimated flock size.

Would you say the top ring on right Tarsus was red or orange?

 

I notice you have been off ST for a week or so and hope all is well with you.

[TonyQ]

@Galana thank you - we are fine thank you, just having a quiet week or so!

Interesting to see where it was ringed.

Date is correct, time was actually 10.54 as I hadn't changed the time in my camera! I think the ring was red rather than orange

There was one other Oystercatcher present which was "sleeping" so not possible to see if it had any rings.

They were both on a small island not far from the shore. We have seen  Oystercatchers on this island in a number of years. I have photos from 2018 of a pair with chicks, (but neither adult had rings.) so they do breed here.

Edited May 10, 2021 by TonyQ

[Galana]

Thanks.

We tend to agree the ring was Red. There is an Orange/Black but it was seen on Anglesey around the same time.

Good to see you are OK. Enjoy your rest but don't miss the warblers coming through.

 

[TonyQ]

We have just been to Scotland, but I realised I still have a few English birds to post first!

 

65.UK.65. Lapwing  Vanellus vanellus 

         

Ladywalk  Reserve, West Midlands   30.03.2021

[TonyQ]

66.UK.66. Little Grebe  Tachybaptus ruficollis          

Grimley, Worcestershire         27.05.2021

Grimley, Worcestershire         27.05.2021

[TonyQ]

67.UK.67. Blackcap  Sylvia atricapilla           

Earlswood, nr Birmingham     22.04.21

I was hoping for a better photo, but this is the only one I've seen so far....

[TonyQ]

68.UK.68. Common Tern  Sterna hirundo    

Earlswood, nr Birmingham     22.04.21

Again hoping for better, but we have seen very few this year

[TonyQ]

69.UK.69. Swallow  Hirundo rustica  

Earlswood, nr Birmingham     22.04.21

[TonyQ]

70.UK.70. Collared Dove  Streptopelia decaocto     

Coney Meadow, Worcestershire        19.05.21

[TonyQ]

A few duplicates..

Chiffchaff

Cormorant

Pied Wagtail

[TonyQ]

71.UK.71. Reed Warbler  Acrocephalus scirpaceus 

Coney Meadow, Worcestershire        19.05.21

Grimley, Worcestershire         27.05.2021

Grimley, Worcestershire         27.05.2021

I really enjoy listening to the sound Reed Warblers make chattering away to each other in the Reed Beds - one to look forward to each year as they arrive on their migration. I also enjoy the challenge of trying to photograph them as they jump around and are often completely hidden.

[TonyQ]

72.UK.72. Whitethroat (Common)  Sylvia communis

Coney Meadow, Worcestershire        19.05.21

Coney Meadow, Worcestershire        19.05.21

I think this is the best view I have had of a Whitethroat!

 

That is it for the current batch of English birds - I am now working on sightings from Scotland

[michael-ibk]

Beautiful Tony! Looking forward to your Scotland additions very much!

[xelas]

Lovely new additions and also duplicates!

[Kitsafari]

what a pretty whitethroat. 

[elefromoz]

nice, waiting to see how you went in Scotland

[TonyQ]

@michael-ibk@xelas@Kitsafari@elefromozthank you - and on to Scotland!

 

 

We went to Scotland for 2 weeks

4 nights Broughty Ferry - East coast, on the edge of Dundee. Family connections and some good bird sites.

6 nights Nethy Bridge in the Highlands

4 nights Kirkudbright in Dumfries and Galloway in the South West of the country

 

We intended to go to Scotland this year anyway and booked our Self-catering accomodationabout a year ago. Luckily we were able to go.

 

[TonyQ]

73.UK.73. Starling  Sturnus vulgaris 

Broughty Ferry, Scotland        30.05.2021

Not the most exciting bird to start the Scotland section, but it adds to the list as I have not seen one in England yet this year