Zim Girl's 5th Big Year 2022

[Zim Girl]

We have been on several hunts for Hawfinch so far this year, in an area where there have been a few sightings, but no luck, really like looking for a needle in a haystack!

So we went to the only place where there is a good chance. It is in a car park for a stately home in Cumbria and in March and April the birds can be seen at the far end under the Hornbeam trees.  You have to get there early before cars coming in disturb them but to help, a National Trust ranger is present for a couple of hours on a Saturday morning to spot for you.

This is only the second time we have ever seen them and no improvement on the picture as you stand so far away from them.  One day it would be nice to see them up close.

 

56.  Hawfinch

Sizergh Castle  -  19/03/22

 

[Zim Girl]

Following on from the Sparrowhawk kill a few weeks ago we had another really good view from the house of a Sparrowhawk hunting.  This time we saw it in the front garden for a good few minutes flying between the hedges and bushes.  We could see a Blackbird hiding in the hedge and watched as the Sparrowhawk dived right in to try and get it but luckily for the Blackbird it was too big to get through the branches to reach it.  

 

Duplicate  -  Eurasian Sparrowhawk

 

 

 

 

 

[Galana]

Nice Hawfinch. Another place on my to visit list one day.

[PeterHG]

Always a treat to see a Hawfinch and great follow-up on the Sparrowhawk!

[xelas]

Exciting sighting and excellent shots of Short-eared Owl, a well worth #50. And by now you are sailing past that with yet another set of superb bird photos.

[Kitsafari]

lovely to see the hawfinch - it's a species we sorely missed in spain last year. 

 

so envious that the sparrowhawk is still in your garden (apologies to the poor birds being preyed though). 

[Dave Williams]

I haven't seen many shots of the Hawfinch at Sizergh so you did really well to get one! 

[TonyQ]

Well done with the Hawfinch - we have only ever seen one once!

[michael-ibk]

Same here, Hawfinch is such a rare bird here. A great find. 

[Zim Girl]

22 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

I haven't seen many shots of the Hawfinch at Sizergh so you did really well to get one! 

Thank you.  The problem is they are constantly getting disturbed by people getting in and out of cars, so you really only have a 1-2 hour window early in the morning.

[Zim Girl]

We have been on several Dipper hunts so far this year.  Seen lots of Dippers but not had one willing to sit still for long enough until recently, when one finally obliged!

The first picture shows I actually got a 2 for 1 without realising it.  Better picture of the interloper to come.

 

57.  Dipper

 

 

River Brock  -  28/03/22

 

Edited April 4, 2022 by Zim Girl

[Zim Girl]

58.  Grey Wagtail

River Brock

[Zim Girl]

Look what popped up at our local nature reserve.  This is another bird we went all the way to Scotland to see for the first time last year and now one turns up literally 5 mins down the road.

 

59.  Ring Ouzel

Marton Mere  -  31/03/22

 

Edited April 4, 2022 by Zim Girl

[TonyQ]

Wow.

I am not jealous at all! What a wonderful trio of sightings. We have never seen a Ring Ouzel so that would be special, and lovely Dipper photos

[Galana]

A great trio.Persistence paid off with the Dipper but the sun really shone on you with its cousin the Ring Ouzel.

[PeterHG]

Three wonderful sightings and ditto photos!

[xelas]

Just remarkable! Excellent trio!

[Kitsafari]

wonderful triplets!

[Zim Girl]

Thanks @TonyQ, @Galana, @PeterHG, @xelasand @Kitsafari

We were very lucky as there have been no further recorded sightings of the Ring Ouzel on the reserve, but one was seen over on the coast so could be the same bird that has moved.

[Zim Girl]

A couple more now from last month when we still had some sunshine!

 

The Avocets are back at Leighton Moss and are busy nest building. Over 60 birds have been counted so far at the Estuary hides.

Black-tailed Godwits are across the reserve in big numbers also.  The sun was very bright when I took these pictures so I have gone for a more reflective look with some of them.

 

60.  Pied Avocet

 

 

RSPB Leighton Moss  -  05/03/22

 

 

 

Edited April 6, 2022 by Zim Girl

[Zim Girl]

61.  Black-tailed Godwit

 

RSPB Leighton Moss  -  05/03/22

 

[Soukous]

beautiful

[PeterHG]

Really wonderful shots of Avocets and Godwits!

[Galana]

Splendid portraits.

[TonyQ]

Your reflective shots worked really well for both species