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

[xelas]

Congratulations on reaching #100!

[PeterHG]

The first magic number reached ! 

[TonyQ]

Well done on racing past 100

[Kitsafari]

a speedy 100th achieved, and it's only mid-March so it's looking quite positive this year for your BY! congrats.  

[pedro maia]

Congrats on the 100th!!

[Zim Girl]

Congratulations on reaching 100 already!

[Soukous]

One from the bedroom window

 

#105 - Eurasian Jay - Garrulus glandarius

Suffolk, Uk. March 2022

 

 

 

[Soukous]

another one from the bedroom window. ( maybe I'll have to start keeping a camera in the bedroom )

 

#106 - Great Spotted Woodpecker - Dendrocopos major

Suffolk, Uk. March 2022

 

 

[Soukous]

A few more from close to home.

 

#107 - Chiffchaff - Phylloscopus collybita

Suffolk, UK. March 2022

 

 

 

# 108 - Coal Tit - Periparus ater

Suffolk, UK. March 2022

Plenty of Chiffchaff noise around, but there do not seem to be as many Coal Tits as there were last year.

 

The keen-eyed among you will notice that the Coal Tit used the same perch as the Chiffchaff.  I think they were both mesmerised by the sun reflecting off my head.

 

 

 

I thought I had this one for # 109, but even though we give it a different name, our Stonechat is the same species as the African Stonechat. (Saxicola torquata)

 

24/03/2022 - For some reason different books give different latin names. thanks to @xelasfor making me check. The European Stonechat is indeed Saxicola rubicola.

So #109 is as planned - European Stonechat - Saxicola rubicola. sequential numbers amended.

 

So This one will be #109 instead.

 

 

#111 - Yellowhammer - Emberiza citrinella

Suffolk, UK. March 2022

 

Not nearly asaccommodating as the Chiffchaff or Coal Tit. Although there were plenty of them about and they were calling all around me, they mostly stayed hidden high in the trees.

 

 

#111 - Rook - Corvus frugilegus

Suffolk, UK. March 2022

 

I wasn't going to bother, and I gave it plenty of time to fly away, but in the end I weakened

 

 

 

 

Edited March 24, 2022 by Soukous

[Tdgraves]

@Soukous European and African stonechats are different…

[xelas]

8 hours ago, Soukous said:

( maybe I'll have to start keeping a camera in the bedroom )

For birding purposes only, Martin!!

 

European Stonechat is Saxiola rubicola. African Stonechat is Saxicola torquatus. So move one step closer, to #111 .

[Soukous]

17 hours ago, xelas said:

European Stonechat is Saxiola rubicola. African Stonechat is Saxicola torquatus. So move one step closer, to #111

 

Thanks for making me check that @xelas & @Tdgraves.

I have 2 books on my desk (and many more on the shelf behind me) but these 2 are from the same publisher and 1 gives the European Stonechat as Saxicola torquatus, the other - now that I have checked has it as Saxicola rubicola.  

 

Another tick it is then.

Edited March 24, 2022 by Soukous

[Soukous]

12 hours ago, xelas said:

For birding purposes only, Martin!!

 

Indeed. With a 500mm lens on the camera I won't get much of the indoor action into focus.

[Soukous]

A short walk whilst my other (much better) half was at the dentist.

 

#112 - Wren - Troglodytes troglodytes

Woodbridge, UK. March 2022

 

 

#113 - Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus

Woodbridge, UK. March 2022

 

 

 

#114 - Common Redshank - Tringa totanus

Woodbridge, UK. March 2022

 

 

 

#115 - Song Thrush - Turdus philomelos

Woodbridge, UK. March 2022

 

This one gave me a merry chase. Singing loudly from high in a tree while I urged to to come lower and closer

 

to my surprise it did come closer, so much closer in fact that I could barely fit it in the frame.

 

[TonyQ]

Beautiful photos @Soukous!

The Stonechats used to be classed as one species but apparently split in 2002 after DNA analysis

[PeterHG]

You’re making good progress and with a set of excellent photos!

[Zim Girl]

Lovely close up of the Song Thrush.

[Galana]

Racing passed the magical ton. Congratulations indeed.

[Dave Williams]

Flying along Martin. Century up! Well done.

[Soukous]

I've not had many opportunities to get out lately, but there's always something happening in the garden.

 

I was going to wait for a better shot, but who knows when that might come.

 

#116 - Long-tailed Tit - Aegithalos caudatus

Suffolk, UK. April 2022

 

 

A quick visit to Minsmere didn't produce the results I hoped for. I saw plenty of birds, and lots of warblers skulking in the thickets, but few presented themselves for photos.

 

#117 - Greater/Common Whitethroat - Sylvia communis

RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk. April 2022

 

 

Minsmere almost always has good numbers of Avocets, and this year is no exception.

 

#118 - Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta

RSPB Minsmere, Suffolk. April 2022

 

 

[Soukous]

A nice sunny morning was the cue to go in search of my first Nightingale for the year.

 

It didn't take me long to find one, but it was not very cooperative.

 

#119 - Nightingale - Luscinia megarhynchos

Suffolk, April 2022

 

 

 After tormenting me for over an hour it finally emerged into the open.

 

 

Where there are Nightingales, there are often Blackcaps; and so it proved.

 

They were just as elusive though

 

#120 - Blackcap - Sylvia atricapilla

Suffolk, April 2022

 

 

and when it did finally show itself, of course it was in a shady spot.

 

[PeterHG]

Your patience with the Nightingale was well rewarded. Beautiful photo!

[Galana]

2 hours ago, PeterHG said:

Your patience with the Nightingale was well rewarded.

I will second that.

[Soukous]

Easter wekend is a good time not to go anywhere, so nothing much to add.

However I did make a list of the birds I would normally have in my BY that I have not yet got. There are 20 of them, most of which I could find either in the garden or within about 2 miles of home. Perhaps it is because they are so close and so reliable that I have not pursued them yet.

 

I did knock off one of them though

 

#121 - Robin - Erithacus rubecula

Suffolk, April 2022

 

 

[Dave Williams]

Like you I need to take time out to see what I could get easily Martin. Daft heading 100's, 1000's of miles even , if they are on the doorstep!