Zim Girl's 5th Big Year 2022

[Zim Girl]

I did, however, get better shots of the Twite this time.

 

No count.  Twite  

 

Knott End-On-Sea  -  07/03/22

 

[Zim Girl]

On my most recent visit I carried on and walked along the Coastal Way.

 

47.  Rook

Knott End, Lancashire Coastal path  -  15/03/22

 

[Zim Girl]

This is a view from the coastal path.  My next bird is sitting on a rock in the middle of the picture.

 

48.  Northern Wheatear

 

Lancashire Coastal Way  -  15/03/22

 

[Zim Girl]

Back at the quayside the tide had gone out and there were plenty of these birds looking for food in the mud.

 

49.  Common Redshank

Knott End  -  15/03/22

 

[Dave Williams]

I heard that there were some arrivals of Wheatear around. Nice one. I spent the last week dog sitting/walking so birding was largely out.Don't think I'll return for the Twite which is a shame but next winter perhaps!

 

[PeterHG]

That looks like a lovely coastal path!

[Zim Girl]

18 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

I heard that there were some arrivals of Wheatear around. Nice one. I spent the last week dog sitting/walking so birding was largely out.Don't think I'll return for the Twite which is a shame but next winter perhaps!

 

Thank you.  Don't worry, the Twite are pretty regular so will be waiting for you next winter!

 

1 hour ago, PeterHG said:

That looks like a lovely coastal path!

It is.  It runs for miles along the Lancashire coastline.

[Zim Girl]

So, finally number 50!

For me this was a real biggie.  You probably all know that my favourite birds are owls.  At the end of February a Short-eared Owl was being seen quite regularly at a spot we know well around half hour drive away.  Last Monday I went up in the morning and stood around in the freezing cold hoping to spot it, but no sign at all, oh well.  This week the weather has warmed up a bit and I thought I would have another go.  Bingo!!  I could see it hunting as soon as I arrived.  I then had the pleasure of watching this beautiful owl for the next 15 minutes before it disappeared.  Last year we had gone all the way up to the Isle of Mull to catch a glimpse of our first ever SE Owl and now there is one just up the road.

 

A few pictures to follow.  Sadly the sun was in the wrong place and this is where I do really need a better camera, but still, one of my best bird sightings ever!

 

50.  Short-eared Owl

 

 

 

Diving into the grass to catch prey.

 

 

Conder Green  -  15/03/22

[Towlersonsafari]

wonderful sighting @Zim Girl

[Tdgraves]

How exciting @Zim Girl!

[Soukous]

A lovely sighting

[PeterHG]

That is a wonderful #50!

[michael-ibk]

Fantastic sighting (and photos!), a very worthy #50!

[TonyQ]

A superb set of Owl photos for your 50!

[Zim Girl]

Thank you very much @Towlersonsafari, @Tdgraves, @Soukous, @PeterHG, @michael-ibkand @TonyQ

[Kitsafari]

what a sighting, and a hunt too! a great bird to mark your half century. 

[Galana]

Same from me. I love these Owls when they cooperate and well done in hitting the 50 with such a nice sequence.

[Zim Girl]

On 3/26/2022 at 3:27 PM, Galana said:

Same from me. I love these Owls when they cooperate and well done in hitting the 50 with such a nice sequence.

Thank you @Galana

[lmSA84]

Lovely Owl photos and congrats on the sightings! Always good when they're accommodating and actually come to you 

[Zim Girl]

6 minutes ago, lmSA84 said:

Lovely Owl photos and congrats on the sightings! Always good when they're accommodating and actually come to you 

Thank you @lmSA84

[Zim Girl]

Very easy to find the next two gulls around locally.

 

51.  European Herring Gull

Stanley Park  -  15/03/22

 

[Zim Girl]

52.  Lesser Black-backed Gull

Stanley Park  -  15/03/22

 

[Zim Girl]

53.  Long-tailed Tit

Silverdale  -  05/03/22

 

[Zim Girl]

54.  Eurasian Wigeon

Newton Marsh  -  17/03/22

 

[Zim Girl]

55.  Song Thrush

 

Sizergh Castle  -  19/03/22