BY 2022 - Soukous (even if there are no birds, you can still enjoy the music)

[Dave Williams]

Excellent progress Martin , you remind me that I must get out here at home too but it's so cold at the moment. All those over wintering ducks will be gone and I'll have missed them.

Love your on land Scoter, very enviable sighting along with the Cranes.

[Soukous]

#41 - Blackbird - Turdus merula

Lake Constance, Germany. Feb 2022

 

It could have been taken almost anywhere as there are plenty around at the moment

 

[Soukous]

#42 - Siskin - Spinus spinus

Lake Constance, Germany. Feb 2022

 

 

 

[Soukous]

This has been amended from the original ID. Originally listed as a Yellow-legged Gull.

 

#43 - Common Gull (also called Mew Gull)  - Larus canus

Lake Constance, Germany. Feb 2022

 

My first instinct was that this is a Yellow-legged Gull, but the bill does not look quite heavy enough. I considered Caspian Gull but the streaking on the head and neck brought me back to Yellow-legged.

 

 

Edited February 15, 2022 by Soukous

[Soukous]

#44 - Teal - Anas crecca

Lake Constance, Germany. Feb 2022

 

 

I spent a lot of time trying to work out what this is, but I think it is a young Teal. There is just a glimpse of green plumage.

[Soukous]

#45 - Great (White) Egret - there is a discrepancy between the Latin names given in my British book - Casmerodius albus - and my German book - Ardea alba.  

Lake Constance, Germany. Feb 2022

 

[Soukous]

#46 - White Stork - Ciconia ciconia

Lake Constance, Germany. Feb 2022

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#47 - Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea

Lake Constance, Germany. Feb 2022

 

 

[Soukous]

the next few are birds I could get on my home patch, but as I'm here ...

 

#48 - Buzzard - Buteo buteo

Lake Constance, Germany. Feb 2022

 

 

[Soukous]

#49 - Blue Tit - Cyanistes caeruleus

Lake Constance, Germany. Feb 2022

 

 

[Soukous]

#50 - Great Tit - Parus major

Lake Constance, Germany. Feb 2022

 

 

 

[Soukous]

and while I'm here, I'll add a better image for #26

 

Great-crested Grebe

 

This one got me very confused. I was looking for Ferruginous Ducks (didn't see any) and was quite excited when for a while I thought that this could be a Ring-necked Duck, but eventually worked out it was a Pochard. The variations in Pochard plumage are a challenge for me 

 

 

[Soukous]

While I was trying to get closer to the Great Egret I saw a Grey Heron in the top of a dead tree. Then a Red Kite joined it in the tree. Lousy light but I thought I'd take a picture anyway.

 

 

[Galana]

Fairly cracking along with some good additions.

Confirm Pochard and Juv/female Teal. Green speculum showing.

My British Book agrees with your German one for GW Egret.

and finally whilst no arbiter have you considered Common Gull for your mystery?

[TonyQ]

Really excellent additions here @Soukous

My books agree on Ardea alba

[shazdwn]

Really like that grey heron shot

[Soukous]

15 hours ago, Galana said:

My British Book agrees with your German one for GW Egret.

and finally whilst no arbiter have you considered Common Gull for your mystery?

 

I have always thought of it as Ardea alba, but the Collins Bird Guide is pretty reputable, this is what Wikipedia says

"The great egret — unlike the typical egrets — does not belong to the genus Egretta, but together with the great herons is today placed in Ardea. In the past, however, it was sometimes placed in Egretta or separated in a monotypic genus Casmerodius."

 

Yes, now that I look more closely it could well be a Common Gull. Proportions are far more in line with that. Ta!

[Soukous]

no new sightings today but as we drove around in the rain I did see these White Storks out in the fields

 

 

 

[Soukous]

another rainy day , even a bird as colourful as this struggles to shine

 

#51 - (Common) Kingfisher - Alcedo atthis

Mindelsee, Germany. Feb 2022

 

 

[TonyQ]

Still a beautiful Kingfisher @Soukous

[Dave Williams]

You have set the bar higher in terms of photo quality this year Martin. Some excellent captures in the collection. Half a century in too!

Edited February 17, 2022 by Dave Williams

[Kitsafari]

still a good shot of a stunning Kingfisher even in dull light.

[Galana]

My congrats on your half Century too.

[Soukous]

#52 - Starling - Sturnus vulgaris

 

 

[xelas]

If I'm lucky, I'll be on safari. If not, behind a desk. In between, I am happy birding!

 

That is one extra nice photo of a metallic shiny bird!