Zvezda & Alex BY2022: Back on track

[Galana]

The black tail and green/yellow rump in the original post. The alula is quite distinctive too. As I said, I am not disputing the ID but ......

[Soukous]

5 minutes ago, Galana said:

The black tail and green/yellow rump in the original post. The alula is quite distinctive too. As I said, I am not disputing the ID but ......

what do you think it might be, if not a Chiffchaff?

[Galana]

Western Bonelli's?

[xelas]

I would be extremely lucky to spot WBW two years in a row (seen one last year) therefore I will stick with the Chiffchaff.

[xelas]

Also next two weekends in January were sunny at the coast and we have visited Škocjanski zatok on both occasions. Temperatures have thawed the ice and ducks came closer to the hides. However, as my goal for this BY is to post more BIF, this is where I will start.

 

BY 014 / SI 014

Eurasian Sparrowhawk - Accipiter nisus

 

 

 

BY 015 / SI 015

Black-headed Gull - Chroicocephalus ridibundus

 

 

Škocjanski zatok , 15-Jan-2022

 

 

BY 016 / SI 016

Eurasian Jay - Garrulus glandarius

 

 

 

BY 017 / SI 017

Mute Swan - Cygnus olor

 

 

Škocjanski zatok , 23-Jan-2022

[shazdwn]

Nice BIFs

[Galana]

Indeed . Great BIFs.

[Soukous]

terrific BIF shots

[xelas]

Thanks! It is easier to start with larger, and relatively slow flying birds. 

[xelas]

23rd January was the third weekend in a row that was sunny and warm on the coast. It was quite busy with visitors but luckily bigger birds did not mind the traffic.

 

BY 018 / SI 018

Eurasian Wigeon - Mareca penelope

 

 

 

BY 019 / SI 019

White-fronted Goose - Anser albifrons

 

 

 

BY 020 / SI 020

Greylag Goose - Anser anser

 

 

 

BY 021 / SI 021

Eurasian Curlew - Numenius arquata

 

 

 

BY 022 / SI 022

Common Snipe - Gallinago gallinago

 

 

Škocjanski zatok, 23-Jan-2022

[xelas]

Although all of the above are nice, they are not that hard to find. So the Bird Of The Day (if not the year) award goes to this one. In past 2 years we have only seen glimpses of it, but were not been able to get and photo.

While Zvezda and Tanja have enjoyed their cappuccinos I went back to the hide where a perch for a Kingfisher is placed, hoping to get a close-up photo of one. The kingfisher did not reveal itself but a much more shy skulker decided to give me a show which was recorded with exactly 300 photos!

 

Below are: the first photo taken after the bird was spotted, next about the halfway to the hide, and last one parading just outside the hide. Photos are not cropped!

 

BY 023 / SI 023

Water Rail - Rallus aquaticus

 

 

 

 

Škocjanski Zatok, 23-Jan-2022

[TonyQ]

Excellent Water Rail photos. Worth missing the cappuccino 

[shazdwn]

5 hours ago, TonyQ said:

Excellent Water Rail photos. Worth missing the cappuccino 

I would have taken a cappuccino to the hide, best of both worlds!!

[Galana]

Excellent Water Rail.

The jury is out on the Cappuccino. Waste of good beans.

[PeterHG]

Great Water Rail shots and I agree about the BIFs: excellent!

Edited February 15, 2022 by PeterHG

[Soukous]

The last Water Rail shot is super. It must have been exciting watching it get closer & closer

[Zim Girl]

Stunning last picture of the Water Rail, you must have been very pleased!

[xelas]

That was indeed a special moment for me. From first sight/photo to last one 300 clicks and 7 minutes of pure pleasure. I was also lucky that no others have entered the hide in that time because after 7 minutes a couple came, and although they were warned by me, and they approach quietly, the Water Rail sensed their presence and immediately hide inside the reed not to be seen again. 

[xelas]

Last three photos from January. 26 birds plus 20 more in the EBC folder makes a good count for only 1 month, and that is a winter month. I assume February and March will be slower months.

 

From our feeder, and on a special day (for me).

 

BY 024 / SI 024

Great Spotted Woodpecker - Dendrocopos major

 

Ljubljansko Barje, 25-Jan-2022

[xelas]

Walking along Kamniška Bistrica river is a regular activity for me and Tanja. 

 

BY 025 / SI 025

Northern Pintail - Anas acuta

 

female

 

 

BY 026 / SI 026

Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos

 

 

Domžale, 30-Jan-2022

 

[Dave Williams]

You have suddenly sprung in to action Alex. The standard of photography excellent, the Water Rail is superb.

 

I was thinking of you when we went in to a local jewellers shop to pick up a watch repair yesterday and the guy who served us was telling us how he'd been to Lake Bled to get married last year. I asked if he has relatives there and he replied no , his bride-to-be just fancied on a lakeside ceremony to which he agreed thinking she'd book somewhere in Wales! Anyway, they loved it so much they are returning again this year!

[xelas]

Great to hear people loves our country, which is indeed beautiful and diverse. 

[Kitsafari]

wow really cool to have the rail sighting all to yourself.

 

 

[xelas]

February 8th is a public holiday in Slovenia, also known as Day of Slovenian Culture. As it was another glorious sunny winter day, we have spent it in, surprise, surprise, ... Škocjanski Zatok. This time Zvezda has the camera in her skilful hands.

 

First birds from the bushes; it was really difficult to get a clear line of sight.

 

BY 027 / SI 027

European Greenfinch - Chloris chloris

 

 

 

BY 028 / SI 028

House Sparrow - Passer domesticus

 

female

 

male

 

Škocjanski Zatok, 8-Feb-2022

[xelas]

Usually best light is in the morning. Yet also afternoon light sometimes can be really great.

 

BY 029 / SI 029

Northern Shoveler - Spatula clypeata

 

male

 

female

 

juvenile