TonyQ Big Year 2022 - We go again

[TonyQ]

18.UK.18. Curlew  Numenius arquata           

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           05.01.22

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           05.01.22

[TonyQ]

19.UK.19. Water Rail  Rallus aquaticus 

       

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           05.01.22

We had seen one of these a little earlier, deep in undergrowth and impossible to photograph. This one we glimpsed as we walked past an area of recently cut reeds. It ran really quickly across the open area and I just managed to fire off a couple of quick snaps before it disappeared. Not a great photo but I am always happy to see a Water Rail.

[Galana]

2 hours ago, TonyQ said:

Not a great photo but I am always happy to see a Water Rail.

Any photo of a Water Rail is a great photo.

Like the curlews too.

[michael-ibk]

14 hours ago, Galana said:

Any photo of a Water Rail is a great photo.

 

Amen to that! Very nice sighting.

[Peter Connan]

Lovely photos Tony!

[TonyQ]

@Galana@michael-ibk@Peter Connan  Thank you

A few more additions

 

20.UK.20 Snipe  Gallinago gallinago

Earlswood, nr Birmingham     12.01.22

Just 5 visible in the photo, but we counted 11 on this small island in the middle of the lake. Warming themselves in the morning sun on a cold day

[TonyQ]

21.UK.21 Redwing  Turdus iliacus    

Earlswood, nr Birmingham     12.01.22

Moseley Bog, Birmingham      13.01.22

We have seen a lot of Redwing so far this year, but almost always high up in trees and partially hidden by branches. These were a bit lower!

[TonyQ]

22.UK.22 Nuthatch  Sitta europea    

Earlswood, nr Birmingham     12.01.22

Earlswood, nr Birmingham     12.01.22

[TonyQ]

23.UK.23 Chaffinch  Fringilla coelebs           

(m) Earlswood, nr Birmingham     12.01.22         

[TonyQ]

24.UK.24 Siskin  Carduelis spinus

Earlswood, nr Birmingham     12.01.22

Earlswood, nr Birmingham     12.01.22

High in the branches, but identifiable!

[TonyQ]

25.UK.25 Treecreeper  Certhia familiaris

Earlswood, nr Birmingham     12.01.22

Earlswood, nr Birmingham     12.01.22

I always enjoy watching Treecreepers, but they are trick to photograph!. Tiny birds, darting about - ususally in shade. I had a large number of out of focus shots, or birds with no heads. But I am happy with these 2.

[PeterHG]

On 2/4/2022 at 7:19 PM, TonyQ said:

But I am happy with these 2

And so you should be! They are tricky indeed.

[Kitsafari]

6 hours ago, PeterHG said:

And so you should be! They are tricky indeed.

 

x2

[Soukous]

On 2/4/2022 at 6:12 PM, TonyQ said:

Just 5 visible in the photo, but we counted 11 on this small island in the middle of the lake. Warming themselves in the morning sun on a cold day

 

I had to do a double take as for a brief moment it looked as though the Snipe were perched on a crocodile. 

[Dave Williams]

Pushing on well Tony. 

[TonyQ]

@SoukousI think it is an Alligator

A few more from Earlswood

 

26.UK.26 House Sparrow  Passer domesticus         

Earlswood, nr Birmingham     12.01.22

Earlswood, nr Birmingham     12.01.22

[TonyQ]

27.UK.27 Coal Tit  Periparus ater     

Earlswood, nr Birmingham     12.01.22

Earlswood, nr Birmingham     12.01.22

[TonyQ]

28.UK.28 Great Tit  Parus major       

Earlswood, nr Birmingham     12.01.22

Very common, but still very pretty!

[TonyQ]

29.UK.29 Long-tailed Tit  Aegithalos caudatus         

Earlswood, nr Birmingham     12.01.22

        

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           27.01.22

[TonyQ]

30.UK.30 Marsh Tit  Poecile palustris           

Earlswood, nr Birmingham     12.01.22

Earlswood, nr Birmingham     12.01.22 

 

Delicate colouration I find very appealing. Less common than many of the other Tits - this one never visits our garden for example.

Earlswood is a reliable site for seeing this bird

Edited February 6, 2022 by TonyQ

[Galana]

54 minutes ago, TonyQ said:

@SoukousI think it is an Alligator

Anything and everything is possible in British West Bromwich.

[shazdwn]

11 hours ago, TonyQ said:

Very common, but still very pretty!

 

 

Sure are.

[xelas]

You are making good numbers, Tony! Where others see crocodile I see boa constrictor .

 

 

[Soukous]

super Marsh Tit

[TonyQ]

Thankyou for kind comments!

A few more additions - firstly a couple from our garden..

 

31.UK.31 Blue Tit  Cyanistes caeruleus        

Our Garden, Birmingham       18.01.22

Our Garden, Birmingham       18.01.22

Probably our most common garden visitor, beautiful and full of "personality"