Galana's Seventh. Lucky numbers.

[Galana]

2 hours ago, kittykat23uk said:

we've had good numbers here too 

That cold snap that exercised the forecasters minds last week brought them in.

[michael-ibk]

Jealous! Still very high on my wishlist. 😁

 

Thanks for sharing your Ecuador birds, really enjoyed them. 

[Peter Connan]

Beautiful! And thanks for showing me the plumbeousness!

 

 

[xelas]

How lucky are you!

[PeterHG]

Great collection from Ecuador with some very good photography as well, like the nighthawks and the close-up of the bat! And continued back home of course with the beautiful shots of the waxwings. We have some in our country, too, but too far up north for me.

[Zim Girl]

Lucky you, with the Waxwings.

We have tried three different locations so far and still haven't caught up with them.

[Galana]

19 hours ago, xelas said:

How lucky are you!

 

1 hour ago, Zim Girl said:

Lucky you, with the Waxwings.

Lucky sometimes and at others just darn careless.

Ventured out this morning to find two 'certainties' , Purple Sandpiper and a chance of Scoter. Sea was too rough so got neither but to do 'something' I casually  snapped a very common bird. Then when I got home found it was not yet counted. Ooops!

So here it is.

599.(IOM55) Rock Pipit. Peel Harbour.

 

 

[BRACQUENE]

Wonderful Ecuador collection Fred and the Waxwings are awesome ! 

[Galana]

Braved the early morning icy road to head down south to Langness to coincide with sunshine and High tide. Don't recall if I ever got there earlier in the year or not.

 

Got three nice additions for my IOM list that are already counted for overall total although I thought at the time the Greenshank would have taken the honours for my 600 which would have been nice as it is quite a rarity here so I burned zillions of electrons waiting for the tide to wake the sleeping beauty. So many that when it did move my own battery was spent.  and by the time I replaced it the beggar had his head under the wing again. I was fairly certain of my ID but really wanted a sight of the bill.

Even a passing Snipe could not wake it.

 

Damp nether regions opened its eyes (it does mine too)

But lots of shots and minutes (around ten or more)it moved again and patience was rewarded.

256 & 121 (IOM 57 & 58) Common Snipe and Common Greenshank. Stinking Dubh, Langness.

 

A little earlier a mixed flock of finches produced another island count..

266 (IOM 59) Greenfinch. Fort Island, Langness.

 

Is IOM 56 missing?

Nope I kept the best til last.

600. (IOM 56) Light bellied Brent. Derbyhaven, Fort Island and elsewhere on Langness.

I spared you the sighting shots and picked this pair top do the honours..

 

And I cannot resist our Goldies so took a few in flight.

 

The pressure is now off but I may get a few more before December 31st..

 

 

 

[PeterHG]

Congrats on reaching a splendid 600 ! 

[michael-ibk]

And from me Fred, great score! 

[TonyQ]

Well done on 600, a brilliant score with so many great birds!

Edited November 29, 2023 by TonyQ

[Peter Connan]

Congratulations on another magnificent year Fred!

[Kitsafari]

what a spectacular count for you - congrats on the 600th - needless to say you're highly likely to crack your own record (2018's 605) this year.

 

[BRACQUENE]

Magnificent 600 !! out of my league Fred at least for now  

[Zim Girl]

Fantastic result getting to 600!

[Galana]

10 hours ago, Kitsafari said:

needless to say you're highly likely to crack your own record (2018's 605) this year.

Damn! I had not looked at that and was thinking of winding down. I can think of two 'regulars' that should be possible so.......!

[JimS]

605??! 
 

Were there any birds left you didn’t see?

 

(OK, as a complete birding newbie I just googled and see there are 11,000+ species, so I guess there are still some to chase 😁)

[Tdgraves]

Congratulations on an impressive total (so far….)

[xelas]

Congratulations on reaching #600, Fred!

[Galana]

Had another shot at Sand Pipers this morning. I was late for the  tide I thought and the sun went in to add to my woes.

Walked the patch and apart from a cormorant narry a feather. So returned and on an off chance took another look down the rock as the tide was not yet full. Yeah I saw my quarry. Just the one but worth a try. And as I lined up yet another EBC for you another wave moved more from their comfy dry and wind proof roost..

I took a full 30 minutes to get a semi decent shot so indulge me.

After shuffling for new perches their heads went under their wing which made a portrait a bit difficult but I persevered.

It was also difficult to get a clear shot free from extraneous bits of their neighbours as you will see.

Sandpipers using rocks is a bit of an oddity that makes this species unusual in its habitat.

 

 

Hard to get a good clear portrait from tip to toe so went for a Head and shoulders instead.

601/ IOM 60.  Purple Sandpipers. Calidris maritima. Looyran gorrym  Peel Castle Rocks.

 

[TonyQ]

Well done with the Purple Sandpiper- well worth a few photos!

[pedro maia]

Trying to catch up in a work break, congrats on #600 Fred!

[PeterHG]

On 12/20/2023 at 4:39 PM, pedro maia said:

Trying to catch up in a work break

I see that you only need 472 more to catch up with Fred. That should be doable in a work break…

[Galana]

Now on my holidays.

Covid taught us a good lesson. Airports atChristmas are not what travel should be about. One can enjoy a decent break without all that drama and hassle. For years we had always taken a long break to avoid the core period but even doing that got to be a pain as those 'in authority' still failed to grasp that all those songs and cards about "White Christmasses" actually meant bad weather, blocked roads, closed runways, cancelled ferries and flights.

Having been locked down, rightly or wrongly, we realised what a nice break we could enjoy much closer to homeso for the fourth Christmas in a row we have moved all of 8 miles into the heart of the Manx 'Wilderness'. Ballaugh Curraghs. To a small cottage called 'Thie Lough' which we have rented for the week.OK, it is not Kafunta or Wildlife Camp in South Luangwa or Broadbill Forest Camp in Bwindi or even Frans Indongo's but we don't have any hassle getting here either.

There are birds and wildlife around too. Take a look.

Even a decent place to write and post.....where I am now,,,,

 

And if anything should happen by this is the view from the window by my desk.

 

So folks it only remains for me to wish you all a very pleasant Christmas and a full calendar of trips for 2024 and the health to enjoy them.

 

Nollick Ghennal as Blein Vie Noa!