mvecht`s not so big third year 2021

[mvecht]

Today I went to the ponds at the Sugar Factory enjoying the warm weather.

#88 (IOM 78) Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava)

 

 

 

Had an exciting time watching the Cormorant fight and eat an Eel.

 

[Kitsafari]

that looks like one big eel. i'm guessing the cormorant won. 

[mvecht]

@Kitsafariyes, the Cormorant won but it had to work very hard for several minutes.

[shazdwn]

That eel is quite a mouthful, great find 

[Peter Connan]

What a great sighting!

[Dave Williams]

You are making excellent progress on your new island home. Am I the only one that thinks No 86 isn't a Tree Sparrow. @Galana @michael-ibk??!!

[Tdgraves]

@Dave Williams I think you in the right house for this....

[Galana]

3 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

Am I the only one that thinks No 86 isn't a Tree Sparrow. @Galana @michael-ibk??!!

No.

[Soukous]

5 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

Am I the only one that thinks No 86 isn't a Tree Sparrow. @Galana @michael-ibk??!!

 

If it is what I think it is it would be pretty rare in Denmark and so easy to discount

[mvecht]

7 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

Am I the only one that thinks No 86 isn't a Tree Sparrow.

 

@Dave WilliamsThank you for the input.  assume you think that it is a House Sparrow? Unfortunately I only took two pictures and with the same pose.

I must admit I did not take a closer look at the bird. The House Sparrow has gone from being one of the most common birds in Denmark to now being a much rarer sight so normally I am on the lookout for House Sparrows. I am open to the idea of this being a House Sparrow, especially as it would give me one more for my IOM count as I have Tree Sparrows in the garden every day

 

[michael-ibk]

Then go take this as your House Sparrow Michael - it definitely is one. Cool Cormorant sighting!

[mvecht]

#89 (IOM) Barn Swallow (Hirunda rustica)

Singing his heart out today.

[michael-ibk]

Nice! Singing performances is not something I much associate Swallows with - good to see it.

[mvecht]

Today I went to the Eastrn part of the Island hoping for some migration.
Yesterday the had a Black Stork which is a big hit for the area.

Instead I got two #90 (IOM 80) Black Kite which is also a very good find in Denmark. This is only my 4th sigthing in Denmark.

Unfortunately only an EBC as they very very far away.

[PeterHG]

That is certainly a good find!

[Kitsafari]

Hope you find the black stork, not that the black kite is unwelcomed as well!

[elefromoz]

my goodness, the cormorant swallowing the Eel is something else, I can only wonder what it feels like when it hits the bottom. Great WTE news. Your fast approaching 100 too now

[mvecht]

Yesterday I went looking for a fairly uncommon bird.

We have 5-15 singing males in Denmark each spring but it is uncertain how many actually breed.

#91 (IOM 81) Great Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus arundinaceus), Eastern part of the Island.

They are often skulking in the reeds but I got lucky. The wind made it tricky though as the moving reeds really fooled the AF most of the time.

 

[PeterHG]

That is a very good bird to add to your list! I've heard it here ( pretty rare in our country, too), but it never showed itself.

[mvecht]

It has been a bit quiet on the birding front lately. The garden has had higher priority.

#92 (IOM 82) House Martin (Delichon urbicum)

Quite a few around the house but always racing by and the AF of my aging camera is not quite fast enough

One of the local Red Kites flew by with a bird chick in its fangs.

[mvecht]

#93 (IOM 83) Icterine Warbler (Hippolais icterina)

Not very cooperative but at least I got a decent shot although at very i.high ISO.

[Galana]

Any shot of an Icky is a decent shot.

[mvecht]

#94 (IOM 84) Common Swift (Apus apus) have arrived quite late this year

There are a few near the house at the moment.

 

[mvecht]

Also close to home, #95 (IOM 85) Greater Whitethroat (Sylvia communis)

[mvecht]

Went to the cliffs on the East side of the Island to have a look at the Peregrine chick.
The cliffs are spectacular but you have to deal with 400+ steps to get to the viewpoint.

There is only one chick this year probably because of the extremely cold and wet spring.
Furhter along the cliffs there are two other Peregrine pairs with at least one of them having chicks.
My timing today was the worst. The chick had been ringed just a few hours before I arrived and it was hiden at the back of the nest/cave.
The parents flew by a few times but did not attempt to feed the chick.

The nest can not be seen in the picture but is just outside the top left corner of the picture.