TonyQ Big Year 2022 - We go again

[Zim Girl]

Oh, very jealous of the Black-throated Diver with chick, ours were just too far away for a picture.  Great to find the Phalarope too. I have never seen one of those.

[Treepol]

Fabulous collection of UK birds, thanks for sharing. Your garden is a hotspot, how lucky to have the cute Blue Tit as a frequent visitor.

[PeterHG]

Beautiful collection with great sightings and photos, like  the Black-throated Diver and Phalarope!

[Kitsafari]

beautiful phalarope - i've only seen it  in its winter coat and it was a really pretty bird even then. Never seen a diver but would love to see any one day!

 

[TonyQ]

@Soukous@Dave Williamsthank you - keep looking!

@Galanathank you - sorry you missed the Divers

@Zim Girlthank you

@PeterHG@Kitsafarithe phalaropes are lovely little birds

@Treepolthank you - we get a lot of pleasure from our garden birds, and yes the Blue Tits are very pretty. It is easy for us to take them for granted

 

A few more from Uist

118.UK.118. Common Gull  Larus canus     

North Uist        12.06.22

North Uist        12.06.22

Where we live it is very unusual to see a Common Gull. On Uist they are indeed very common!

A very pretty looking gull I think

[TonyQ]

119.UK.119. Turnstone  Arenaria interpres  

North Uist        12.06.22

North Uist        14.06.22

[TonyQ]

120.UK.120. Whooper Swan  Cygnus cygnus          

North Uist        12.06.22

[TonyQ]

A couple of duplicates. Many of the waders are very approachable, often sitting near to the road

Curlew

Redshank

 

[TonyQ]

121.UK.121. Meadow Pipit  Anthus pratensis           

North Uist        12.06.22

bathing on the track outside our house, North Uist        15.06.22

Meadow Pipits are very common here, and it is a pleasure to hear then singing and calling all over the place

[TonyQ]

122.UK.122. Skylark  Alauda arvensis          

North Uist        12.06.22

Also a pleasure to hear lots of Skylarks

[TonyQ]

123.UK.123. White-tailed Eagle  Haliaeetus albicilla

North Uist        12.06.22

South Uist       13.06.22

A very large, heavy looking Eagle with very distinctive wing shapes.

The second bird is carrying prey- possibly a rabbit

[Treepol]

The turnstone is so well camouflaged against the rocks...

[Galana]

Those are cracking shots of the WT Eagle especially the 2nd. Love the eye expression.

[xelas]

Outer Hebrides are very special place to visit. Great photos, especially of the eagle.

[michael-ibk]

Looks like you had a fantastic time! Love the Diver with chicks - and the Eagle of course, great photo!

[TonyQ]

@Treepolyes the Turnstone does blend in well

@Galanathank you = pleased with the catch do you think?

@xelasthank you - they are special

@michael-ibkthank you - we did have a great time. (Are you back from Ecuador or just about to go??)

 

A few more additions

124.UK.124. Eider  Somateria mollissima     

 

(M) Benbecula       12.06.22

(F) North Uist        14.06.22

[TonyQ]

125.UK.125. Arctic Tern  Sterna paradisaea

(poor light - I think it was raining!)North Uist        12.06.22

[TonyQ]

126.UK.126. Cuckoo  Cuculus canorus        

South Uist       13.06.22

Very distant, but having two of them helps a bit. As usual we heard them first and then spent quite a bit of time tracking them down

[TonyQ]

127.UK.127. Wheatear  Oenanthe oenanthe

North Uist        16.06.22

[TonyQ]

Hebridean Wren  Trogdolytes trogdolytes hebridensis         

North Uist        14.06.22

This is only a subspecies so does not get a number, but I have put it in out of interest. They are supposed to be a bit bigger and a bit darker than the Wren we get on the mainland, and the song is supposed to be a bit different. Nice to see it anyway!

[TonyQ]

128.UK.128. Raven  Corvus corax    

North Uist        13.06.22

[TonyQ]

129.UK.129. Corncrake  Crex crex   

One of the special birds on North Uist, but still difficult to see! We had only ever seen one before (on Iona)

We looked on many occasions, and this video represents the experience most of the time we looked - turn the sound up! It was fun

Taken on phone, North Uist        15.06.22

 

We did have more luck later, close to this site

First sighting was a distant glimpse - they move surprisingly quickly and hide very well!  North Uist        15.06.22

We then got a closer view amongst the wild flowers, North Uist        15.06.22

We went back later in the afternoon in break in the rain, heard two or three, and then saw

North Uist        15.06.22

 

We didn't see many birds on that day but we were delighted with our sightings of the Corncrake

 

Edited July 11, 2022 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

130.UK.130. Hen Harrier  Circus cyaneus    

Another of the special birds on Uist - we saw them pretty well every day (I only ever had two brief glimpses on Mull before)

 

(F or immature)South Uist       17.06.22

(F or immature) North Uist        17.06.22

(M)North Uist        17.06.22

This last male bird was photographed from our cottage - we rushed out from our dinner!

 

Edited July 11, 2022 by TonyQ

[michael-ibk]

35 minutes ago, TonyQ said:

(Are you back from Ecuador or just about to go

 

I leave August 6th - hopefully. 🙂

 

Great Corncrake! 

[Galana]

Another great haul. Congratulations on the 'rock Corncrake.' that sort of shot has always eluded me but one day I will get it.