Pedro´s Big New Year

[Galana]

2 hours ago, pedro maia said:

I thought my wife might want to join me,

Some bribe. I would love all of that. Even the photos had me salivating.

But I am sure the Stubaital will rise to the challenge.

[TonyQ]

Excellent start to your interesting take on the Big Year

[Zim Girl]

Great sighting of the Bittern!

[pedro maia]

Yesterday I went on a pelagic trip, starting from Lisbon to the area of Cabo Raso, passing Cascais, it was the least productive pelagic  did so far, few species and never close to the boat, also it was a semi-rigid boat and it was quite dificult to take photos, I didn´t get any decent pictures.

 

#7 (274), 29/1, Razorbill (Alca torda), Offshore Cabo Raso

 

 

Edited January 30, 2022 by pedro maia

[pedro maia]

I was also hoping for Common murre, maybe one of the jaeggers I I haven´t seen yet but none of those appeared.

 

The highlight of the trip was a group of a dozen or so dolphins that joined us for a few minutes, passing right by and even under the boat, they were so close I could have touched them, the proble was to take pictures with the 100-400 lens, it was stupid because I forgot I could use the cell phone but I didn´t.

 

It was quite a momment, I never saw dolphins so close.

 

 

 

[Galana]

Always a thrill to see the Common Dolphins even if they rarely surface just where the camera is pointing.

[PeterHG]

Glad you got the dolphins at least!

[lmSA84]

Congrats on the Bittern! Brilliant sighting

[pedro maia]

Moving slowly but steadily...

 

Yesterday it was EBC time...

 

#8 (275), 6/2, Eurasian bullfinch (Pyrrhula pyrrhula), Ribeiro da Concavada

 

A bit far and in the shadow, I couldn´t do any better. We had a brief glimpse of the male but it was impossible to even try to take a picture.

 

[pedro maia]

#9 (276), 6/2, Redwing (Turdus iliacus), Senhora da Guia

 

It´s not easy to take pictures of passerines uin flight, we saw more than 30 redwings but never close and never standing still, I don´t blame them, we could hear hunters shooting not far away, in their place I wouldn´t pose for pictures either .

[Galana]

One very worthy entry for EBC award and one 'mention'.

Shame on the hunters. I thought there was an EU prohibition these days!

[pedro maia]

Also from yesterday, not fo the count but because it´s a cool bird which I saw only twice before and never managed to take a decent picture:

 

 

[pedro maia]

I did another short skiing trip with my wife, this time to the italian Alps, and I took my camera, I had some hope to see the Bearded vulture, it was a long shot and I didn´t see it, but still it was not in vain that I took the camera, new birds outside of Portugal don´t count for my Small Year but they add for my life lists and are allways wellcome anyway.

 

We stayed at Santa Caterina Valfurva +- at 1750m, in the Stelvio National park, and the (small) town is crossed by a river, as soon as I saw it I thought I had a good chance to see a species that occurs in portugal but so far I wasn´t able to see.

 

It didn´t take me too long to see it right under one bridge but the damned bird didn´t make it easy for me and as soon as I grabed the camera it flew away.

 

 

I walked in the same direction with no luck and then I went back to the same bridge, thinking he might have returned as it must be it´s territory, and in fact there it was

 

 

And he flew away once again...

 

 

He didn´t go very far this time, so I was able to take a shot in the distance showing the white throat.

 

 

Next day I went after the Dipper once again and in a different bridge closer to the town I saw it immediately

 

 

But he flew away again...

 

 

and he hid in plain sight

 

 

Before leaving for good it gave me another chance to take a (slightly) better picture, but looking at the wrong side

 

 

 

Funny little bird .

[xelas]

And how was the skiing?!

[pedro maia]

45 minutes ago, xelas said:

And how was the skiing?!

It was great, Santa Caterina is a small high mountain ski resort, very good snow, great slopes, no crowds and we had lots of sun, perfect.

 

 

[xelas]

Looks like a great place for skiing!

[Galana]

Well done with the Dipper. Persistence paid off. No Lammergeirs up there. Too cold for them in winter.

I know that valley and Passo Gavia very well.

[pedro maia]

A few more birds from Santa Caterina

 

Great tit

 

 

Coal tit

 

 

And a new for me, Willow tit (I think it is a Willow and not a Marsh tit, I heard the call, but I accept any corrections).

 

 

 

 

Edited February 16, 2022 by pedro maia

[Galana]

Nice ones. I think you are safe with Willow Tit that high up.

[pedro maia]

I think I also have the correct ID for this species, Italian sparrow, it doesn´t have the grey crown of the House sparrow nor the black ear patch of the Tree sparrow:

 

 

[PeterHG]

Wonderful scenery in Italy and still a number of interesting additions. I haven’t seen a Dipper for many years. I think you’re quite right about the sparrow.

[TonyQ]

Well done with the Dipper, a great bird to see

[lmSA84]

Fantastic Dipper sighting. They're on my most wanted list for this year. It's been a long time since I've seen one. 

[Dave Williams]

Our local National Trust gardens were 100% certainty for nesting Dipper up to last year but suddenly they have vanished. Still quite easy to find here in North Wales though.

I'm not surprised that your pelagic wasn't too rewarding and I must admit I wouldn't have bothered at this time of year. When we sailed across the bay of Biscay in January 2014 we saw very few birds although we did see one or two Puffins and a a few Common Dolphins . Surprisingly the English Channel was better and we even had a single Sooty Shearwater.

[Kitsafari]

I would pick the dipper report over the skiing any time too.

 

awesome sighting of one of the cutest funniest birds.