Zvezda & Alex BY2022: Back on track

[xelas]

On 4/18/2022 at 9:14 PM, TonyQ said:

The Pied Flycatcher is a decent substitute for a Dipper!

 

But it can only be counted as a Pied Flycatcher! However this morning one gets to be counted also for the second time, as a backyard visitor #29!

 

[xelas]

This is the day of the rounded numbers! Backyard visitor #30 and ... 

 

BY 080 / SI 080

Black Redstart - Phoenicurus ochruros

 

Ljubljansko Barje, 20-Apr-2022

[michael-ibk]

Great shots Alex! You have not left much for Seewinkel.

[xelas]

On 4/28/2022 at 2:39 PM, michael-ibk said:

Great shots Alex! You have not left much for Seewinkel.

Thanks, Michael! And as you know now, there were many birds left to be seen and photographed in Seewinkel .

[Kitsafari]

enjoy seewinkel both of you - @xelas and @michael-ibk

[xelas]

From @Kitsafarilips to God's ears ... and we have had the extra nice weather for an enjoyable birding! In 2019 was our last GTG at Seewinkel, as COVID forced us (well, Zvezda and me) to stay within our own country. However, COVID ended (in a way) and we were more than happy to join Michael and Andreas at their home turf.

 

Birds will be posted in chronological order (most of them). Any mistakes with ID please report immediately!

 

Here we go with first bird. As Michael ordered, we have started very early. No breakfast but some golden light instead .

 

 

BY 081 / AT 001

Dunlin - Calidris alpina

 

Seewinkel, 29-Apr-2022

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 2, 2022 by xelas

[xelas]

BY 082 / AT 002

Pied Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta

 

 

Seewinkel, 29-Apr-2022

[xelas]

BY 083 / AT 003

Common Pheasant - Phasianus colchicus

 

female

 

male

Seewinkel, 29-Apr-2022

[xelas]

Not a location where a wader should be. This one was also very brave and has approached us closely.

 

BY 084 / AT 004

Common Sandpiper - Actitis hypoleucos

 

Seewinkel, 29-Apr-2022

[xelas]

It looks like grassy areas are comfortable hideaways for many birds.

 

BY 085 / AT 005

Common Cuckoo - Cuculus canorus

 

 

Seewinkel, 29-Apr-2022

[Galana]

Special like button for Zvezda's Cuckoo in flight.

[TonyQ]

Agree with the comment about the Cuckoo. Well done Zvezda!

[xelas]

Zvezda is appreciating your kind comments, @Galanaand @TonyQ. New camera should ease the task of getting decent BIF photos. But not always .

[xelas]

Seewinkel area is a birding hotspot due to its extensive network of "soda lakes". These are very shallow (most of them), and in recent years, the level of underground water sinked, and many of those lakes are now only dusty patches. Which is not helping the birds yet it does help the birders. Many waders and ducks are now forced to look for the food at those deeper lakes, and there a birder can come much closer to the shore. Birding is possible either from the car or on the foot.

 

BY 086 / AT 006

Common Shelduck - Tadorna tadorna

 

female

 

male

Seewinkel, 29-Apr-2022

 

Edited May 3, 2022 by xelas

[xelas]

Among bigger and more common waders like Ruff and Sandpipers and Stilts (most of them already counted) there are also hidden gems. And as with gems also these are smaller, and one needs an expert by its side. That is why birding with Michael is so better then doing it on our own .

 

BY 087 / AT 007

Little Stint - Calidris minuta

 

Seewinkel, 29-Apr-2022

[xelas]

At the other end of this lake, and quite far there were several FFO on which Zvezda further honed her BIF skills (both Terns are heavily cropped!).

 

BY 088 / AT 008

White-winged Black Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus

 

 

 

BY 089 / AT 009

Black Tern - Chlidonias niger

 

 

Seewinkel, 29-Apr-2022

 

[xelas]

Not to be left out of the game, also I was able to get one FFO  (much closer to the shore and not so heavily cropped)!

 

BY 090 / AT 010

Common House Martin - Delichon urbicum

 

Seewinkel, 29-Apr-2022

[pedro maia]

I think you shouldn´t have gone to Seewinkel before coming here, there won´t be too many species left .

 

Another vote for the cuckoo.

[xelas]

@pedro maia, I have no doubt that Portugal will deliver the fair share of its bird life. Specially as I will be assisted by a local expert !

Edited May 3, 2022 by xelas

[xelas]

Our birding days (Friday and Saturday) were split between morning and afternoon segments. In between, Michael and Andreas has a special retreat in Illmitz ... with probably the best ice cream in Austria! After consuming a ton of (tasty) calories, it has been decided (not by me!) to have a short stroll (short for who was raised in the mountains) to a nesting colony of smaller birds of prey. 

 

BY 091 / AT 011

Red-footed Falcon - Falco vespertinus

 

female

 

 

Red-footed Falcons are listed as Vulnerable, thus seeing several exemplars was a good sight. Common Kestrel is, well, common. It can be seen all over Slovenia and also Austria. The observation tower here gave me an opportunity for a different BIF photo.

 

BY 092 / AT 012

Common Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus

 

 

 

 

Why are Common Kestrels more widespread and numerous? Some scenes from behind the closed doors 

 

 

 

Seewinkel, 29-Apr-2022

 

[xelas]

Also found at that same location.

 

BY 093 / AT 013

Eurasian Jackdaw - Corvus monedula

 

 

BY 094 / AT 014

Common Raven - Corvus corax

 

Seewinkel, 29-Apr-2022

[michael-ibk]

Very cool seeing your photos Alex - this was a really fun weekend.

 

Great shots of the Cuckoo and Falcons. And your Terns are definitely way more recognizable than mine! And thanks for another tick - never realized there were Ravens there.

[xelas]

At the very end of this very long and very prolific birding day, another bird that is listed as Vulnerable. Its cousin the Collared Dove is currently breeding above our home balcony.

 

BY 095 / AT 015

European Turtle Dove - Streptopelia turtur

 

Seewinkel, 29-Apr-2022

[xelas]

1 hour ago, michael-ibk said:

never realized there were Ravens there.

It was a Rook until I saw the curved bill up close and personal . Now I need to find a Rook photo; seen many but skipped them all, I am afraid .

[Galana]

Good to see the rewarding results of your trip and especially the RF Falcon and Turtle Dove.