Alex & Zvezda's Big Year 2021: Version 6.0 Limited Edition

[michael-ibk]

A great day out Alex! 

[xelas]

Once breaking the 100 birds barrier, adding new ones becomes quite difficult. Yesterday was another birding day where a lot of ground has been covered but only 1 new bird was found.

 

BY 113 / SI 113

Marsh Warbler - Acrocephalus palustris

 

 

 

 

Ljubljansko Barje, 26-May-2021

[Dave Williams]

Nice3 addition Alex, I have yet to see one!

[xelas]

Therefore a few improvements to already posted birds.

 

What I think is an intermediate stage of a Montagu's Harrier (#032):

 

 

 

 

 

 

A Red-footed Falcon female (#097):

 

 

And a Western Jackdaw (#069).

 

Edited May 27, 2021 by xelas

[xelas]

6 minutes ago, Dave Williams said:

Nice3 addition Alex, I have yet to see one!

I have heard it loudly but it was very tough to get a decent photo. For ID, I have used a new trick: listening to the bird's song found on the internet using the mobile phone. Someone should invent a "sound recognition" app, I will be a happy adopter.

[Galana]

Some nice Raptors there.

[xelas]

While we do not have (or I do not know about) a specific birder's group that would inform others about rarities, or even about good sightings, using eBird is useful to find new birding spots. I have noticed several posts from Črnotiče Airfield. Place is located on Karst plateau, close to the coast. It was a lovely sunny day, and although birds here a skittish, with Tanja's help we did grab a few new additions to BY.

 

BY 114 / SI 114

Eurasian Skylark - Alauda arvensis

 

 

 

Črnotiče airfield, 28-May-2021

 

[xelas]

BY 115 / SI 115

Alpine Swift - Apus melba

 

 

Črnotiče airfield, 28-May-2021

[xelas]

BY 116 / SI 116

Eurasian Linnet - Linaria cannabina

 

female

 

male

Črnotiče airfield, 28-May-2021

[Soukous]

On 5/27/2021 at 9:59 PM, xelas said:

Someone should invent a "sound recognition" app,

there is one for the UK, called 'Bird Up'. It is not very good but has helped me out a few times.

[michael-ibk]

On 5/27/2021 at 10:59 PM, xelas said:

Someone should invent a "sound recognition" app, I will be a happy adopter.

 

Try BirdNET - it works excellently. Obviously you need to be reasonably close but it´s perfect if you stand next to a bush, hear the bird clearly and just cannot figure out what it is. Beautiful Monty! I have yet to get a Marsh Warbler myself, as you say they are really tricky.

[xelas]

34 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

 

Try BirdNET

Yeah but my iphone/ios is too old 

[michael-ibk]

But Zvezda´s is not.

[PeterHG]

Well done on the Alpine Swifts! I can see why they have taken up residence at an airfield, though I doubt they'll use the landing strips

[xelas]

2 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

But Zvezda´s is not.

 Right! Now I need to find (and read) User Manual.

[xelas]

5 minutes ago, PeterHG said:

I doubt they'll use the landing strips

 Nor would any other aviator!

[Peter Connan]

Lovely repeat shots Alex!

[Galana]

Excellent Swift in flight.

[xelas]

No Seewinkel for us this spring but there is always Škocjanski zatok! This Sunday weather report was excellent for coastal region and indeed we have had a perfect family day out. While weather was great birding was not. However, we have tested our new assistant ... BirdNET app. It works! At least for warblers. Identified Cetti's and Reed and Great Reed without a miss. Our target bird was Melodious Warbler ... and there was no song nor view of this bird. And we have just missed to see the Common Kingfisher. In order not to come home with empty bag, I've remembered that Every Bird Counts !

 

BY 117 / SI 117

Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon - Columba livia

 

Škocjanski zatok, 30-May-2021

[xelas]

Zvezda was in charge of finding some improvements on already posted birds.

 

095 - Common Pochard couple

 

031 - Eurasian Magpie in colour

 

090 - Squacco Heron in flight

[Kitsafari]

Lovely additions from both of you.

[xelas]

Very late in the year we have visited Arboretum Volčji potok for the first time. I was hoping to find Crested and Coal Tits near the cafe shop but it looks like the long period of closure has made them to find other feeding grounds. Maybe later in the autumn. We have practised the use of BirdNET app and had a lot of fun. Now I can see why tickers can always bring home more species then us, clickers.

 

Most of the visible birds were our old friends. There is always room for some quality improvement when Zvezda is holding the camera.

 

Common Chaffinch

 

Eurasian Jay

 

[xelas]

With team effort we have managed to find 1 new bird.

 

BY 118 / SI 118

Eurasian Treecreeper - Certhia familiaris

 

Arboretum Volčji Potok, 5-Jun-2021

[elefromoz]

On 5/22/2021 at 4:34 AM, xelas said:

in which brown coal was exploited by a daily mine. Now is transformed into a recreational area.

 

I think I'll forward that photo to our Govt! 

Europe is looking very inviting at the moment with everyone posting photos of lakes, mountains, villages, wildflowers.....and so many beautiful birds

[Kitsafari]

On 6/9/2021 at 3:40 PM, elefromoz said:

 

Europe is looking very inviting at the moment with everyone posting photos of lakes, mountains, villages, wildflowers.....and so many beautiful birds

 

I so agree. now if only our govts will open those darn borders and shorten the quarantines, esp for fully vac people.