Zvezda & Alex BY2022: Back on track

[xelas]

I have overlooked this bird probably thinking that we will get a better shot in Portugal. Not even a sighting of it so here it is from Slovenia.

 

BY 188 / SI 081

Common Tern - Sterna hirundo

 

 

Škocjanski zatok, 13-Apr-2022

[xelas]

This one is already post-Portugal photo, taken at a location we have never done birding before ... Dolenjska. We should go there more often.

 

BY 189 / SI 082

Red-backed Shrike - Lanius collurio

 

Podbočje, 4-Jun-2022

[Zim Girl]

What a really productive trip to Portugal you had.  Fabulous selection of birds, I particularly liked the Stork sequence.

[Dave Williams]

200 up soon Alex! 

I do enjoy shots of accommodation and the surrounds too, most informative.

[xelas]

On 7/6/2022 at 9:31 AM, Dave Williams said:

200 up soon Alex! 

 

Well, it looks like I needed a "gentle nudge" to move forward toward that "200 milestone. And who better to call for help than our champion BY birder, @michael-ibk . He is visiting his mom in Carinthia quite often, and we used the last such occasion to meet his mom, Andreas and him not far from our home.

 

But it is never a dull (=easy) birding day with Michael. This time he took me to get a few alpine birds up the mountain of Dobratsch (2.166 m asl). Luckily there is a parking lot a few hundred meters below. Thus I thought this will be a gentle "walk in the parking"  but birds and Michael decided that I need to stretch my legs well beyond "that next bend" . As it was a beautiful sunny day and a much cooler air as it is right now across the Europe, I have fallen to that "just after the next bend" trick. My bad as I have never asked which one is "that next bend" . 

 

We did have a quick descent towards the parked car at the end of our hike but birding wise, it was a success story! Thank you Michael and Andreas to guide me up the mountain, and safely back down from it. And to show me some fantastic birds along the way.

 

 

BY 190 / AT 040

Citril Finch - Carduelis citrinella

 

 

 

BY 191 / AT 041

Common Crossbill - Loxia curvirostra

 

female

 

male

 

 

BY 192 / AT 042

Alpine Chough - Pyrrhocorax graculus

 

 

 

Dobratsch    23-Jul-2022

Edited July 24, 2022 by xelas

[xelas]

All above happened between 5am and 10 am, so after the lunch (thank you Mom) and a short power nap we were ready for a second outing. This time along the artificial lake and Zvezda joined us here. We did get one target bird and one surprise bird, both juveniles.

 

 

BY 193 / AT 043

White-throated Dipper - Cinclus cinclus

 

 

 

BY 194 / AT 044

Fieldfare - Turdus pilaris

 

 

Muhldorf    23-Jul-2022

[michael-ibk]

All our pleasure Alex. Beautiful photos! 🙂

[TonyQ]

Beautiful photos @xelas

[Galana]

Good to see you getting out and about once more. and getting some exercise too.

[PeterHG]

As always the next bend offered great opportunities, Alex! Very good species ( never seen a citril finch) and excellent photographs.

[Kitsafari]

beautiful images. 

[xelas]

Summer is over, and it is time to add another bird to our collection.

 

 

BY 195 / SI 083

Eurasian Penduline Tit - Remiz pendulinus

 

juvenile

 

male

Škocjanski zatok, 9-Oct-2022

 

[TonyQ]

Welcome back @xelas- that was worth waiting for!

[xelas]

13 minutes ago, TonyQ said:

Welcome back @xelas- that was worth waiting for!

Thanks Tony! This summer I was even busier with my other favourite pastime activity. Now we need to get back into the "bird photography mode".

[PeterHG]

That is a very special bird for your return here! Beautiful photos, too!

[Dave Williams]

Your back! Nice bird too , never seen one!

[michael-ibk]

Glad to see you getting back into the game Alex - about time!

[Galana]

I thought you had gone AWOL as being quiet is quite out of character. You have missed some lovely Bulbuls.

[xelas]

Peter, Dave, Michael, Fred ... there will be more birds posted here before the end of this BY !

[pedro maia]

On 10/11/2022 at 5:04 PM, xelas said:

Thanks Tony! This summer I was even busier with my other favourite pastime activity. Now we need to get back into the "bird photography mode".

 

Can I ask what is that pastime (just being curious)?

[Galana]

5 hours ago, pedro maia said:

Can I ask what is that pastime (just being curious)?

It's what a lot of old men do on retirement when trying to re-capture their youth. (NO. Not that! The other one.)

[xelas]

21 hours ago, pedro maia said:

Can I ask what is that pastime (just being curious)?

 

@Galana is 100% right ! 40 years later and the boy got his toy (and joy) .

 

 

[pedro maia]

A true Son of Anarchy .

[Dave Williams]

No wonder the Tortoise couldn't catch the Hare.

No matter how hard I tried!!

Transport by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Edited October 14, 2022 by Dave Williams

[TonyQ]

Wow!