TonyQ Big Year 2022 - We go again

[TonyQ]

107.UK.107. Lesser Whitethroat  Sylvia curruca      

New bird for us!

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           09.05.22

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           09.05.22

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           09.05.22

As mentioned, a lifer for us. Help from Merlin - we could tell one was around in the bushes. We spent a lot of time looking as it flew from one patch to another and then finally it did come out (briefly) into a more open position.

[TonyQ]

And a duplicate Sedge Warbler as I like the setting!

 

[michael-ibk]

Congratulations, always cool to get a lifer at home! 

[Galana]

Congratulations on the Lifer. Always a good feeling to get one especially a skulker like that. One that I need.

[Kitsafari]

Awesome lifer sighting!

[xelas]

Add also my kudos to getting a lifer at home!

[PeterHG]

+1 on the Lesser Whitethroat! A lifer is always special and being able to take good photos of it makes it even more so.

[TonyQ]

Thank you @PeterHG@xelas@Kitsafari@Galana@michael-ibk

Not many new recent ones so I am posting a sequence of this next one...

 

108.UK.108. Common Tern  Sterna hirundo

Belvide Reserve, Staffordshire           14.05.22

Belvide Reserve, Staffordshire           14.05.22

Belvide Reserve, Staffordshire           14.05.22

Belvide Reserve, Staffordshire           14.05.22

Belvide Reserve, Staffordshire           14.05.22

This is the first time we have seen one adult feeding fish to anotheras part of the courtship behaviour. A really enjoyable sighting

[michael-ibk]

A very nice sighting Tony, and well captured!

[shazdwn]

Belated congratulations on your 💯.

 

 I’ve tried the Merlin bird sound ID, doesn’t work so well in Australia due to a lack of recordings, but might improve over time. The photo ID feature is great too

[TonyQ]

@michael-ibk@shazdwnthank you

A couple more additions

109.UK.109.  Swallow  Hirundo rustica         

Coney Meadow, Worcestershire        17.04.22

Earlswood, nr Birmingham     12.05.22

[TonyQ]

110.UK.110. Peregrine  Falco peregrinus     

Leamington is a reliable site for Peregines - they nest on a tower, part of the Town Hall. Since 2017 16 chicks have fledged, and there are 4 more waiting to go in the current nest (due to fledge on 11th and 12th of June) . We had a really enjoyable sighting of the two parents

Calling from the top of the tower, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire          02.06.22

Incoming with pigeon (already counted!), Leamington Spa, Warwickshire          02.06.22

Coming into land with prey, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire          02.06.22

A bit later one flew off with the prey (after pulling off lots of feathers). We think it then flew down slightly to where the chicks were waiting. We could hear the chicks calling very loudly!

Settings not quite right, but I liked that 2 adults were visible, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire          02.06.22

 

https://www.warwickshirewildlifetrust.org.uk/peregrine

https://twitter.com/LeamPeregrines?ref_src=twsrc^google|twcamp^serp|twgr^author

 

[Galana]

2 hours ago, TonyQ said:

Settings not quite right,

If you say so. I quite like the action.

[PeterHG]

Great to be able to catch a Peregrine with its catch! 

[Dave Williams]

Looks like an excellent spot for photographing Common Terns Tony.

Lesser Whitethroat are not easy in the UK from my experience.

[TonyQ]

I have one shot from the waste bin before I start posting some hopefully better ones

 

111.UK.111. Bar-tailed Godwit  Limosa lapponica   

Very heavy crop, Upton Warren, Worcestershire           02.05.22

[TonyQ]

We went to Scotland for a couple of weeks. This included a week on North Uist (and the linked islands) and a week on Ardnamurchan on the west coast.

Thanks to @Soukousand @Dave Williamsfor useful information, but in particular to @Galanafor inspiration and for detailed very helpful advice

I will write a short trip report, so I won't include masses of other information in this thread. The weather was very mixed but didn't stop us getting out and having a great time - inparticular on Uist which we loved.

 

112.UK.112. Black-throated Diver  Gavia arctica     

On the way to Skye    10.06.22

On the way to Skye    10.06.22

@Galanawas key to us fining these birds, and it was a wonderful way to start our trip. It was the first time we had seen the Black-necked Diver in breeding plumage and it was a great sight!

[TonyQ]

113.UK.113. Hooded Crow  Corvus cornix   

Broadford, Skye          10.06.22

[TonyQ]

On to Uist- we stayed in a cottage on North Uist for a week.

 

114.UK.114. Red-breasted Merganser  Mergus serrator     

(F) North Uist        12.06.22

(M) North Uist        12.06.22

[TonyQ]

115.UK.115. Sand Martin  Riparia riparia     

North Uist        12.06.22

[TonyQ]

116.UK.116. Corn Bunting  Emberiza calandra        

North Uist        12.06.22

[TonyQ]

117.UK.117. Red-necked Phalarope  Phalaropus lobatus   

Benbecula       12.06.22

Benbecula       12.06.22

This is another bird we would not have seen without the kind help of @Galana

It was just where he said it would be! It is a very small bird that would have been very difficult to find.

[Soukous]

Lovely Black-throated Diver pix Tony. I've not yet managed to get that close.  Yet another reason to keep looking

[Dave Williams]

1 hour ago, Soukous said:

Lovely Black-throated Diver pix Tony. I've not yet managed to get that close.  Yet another reason to keep looking

I haven't seen one... cracking sight and capture Tony.

[Galana]

Footnote.

When I called at that BT Diver site on 25th, 14 days after @TonyQthere were no Divers visible that I could see. Of course they do range around a bit but this was my first 'failure' there.

Lovely capture of the chick too.

All round good photos too. Glad the RN Phalaropes obliged.

I dipped on the Bunting.

More please.