Zvezda & Alex BY attempt #8

[Galana]

Excellent collection. Esp like the second Beardie.

[Dave Williams]

Wow! That was an epic catch up. What a total you are building, you'll thrash the 500 and I'm betting pass my Big Years total too!

Some superb birds from Thailand and some cracking photos, too many to mention really but I loved the Cuckoos, The Pond Herons and particularly the Falconet. You included my long wanted but seen in January, the  Oriental Dwarf Kingfisher without a special mention, just one of many! You also gave it the inappropriate name of Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher which isn't half as exciting!

However, if truth be known, the photos that really made me envious was the one of the cakes and ice creams. They looked delicious and extremely calorific too!!

Anyway, I'm about to disappear to the Isle of May and no doubt you'll have added a whole lot more by the time I get back. I'm not expecting to add any!

Keep up the good work both! 

 

[xelas]

18 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

(should be Hooded or Rook there)

Got both but they surely are very much different to this one.

 

18 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

Next time we'll hopefully be along again.

We are looking forward to next BTG event!

[xelas]

20 hours ago, pedro maia said:

I don´t get to see those here

A short flight from LIS to VIE and you are always welcomed to join us, Pedro!

[xelas]

15 hours ago, PeterHG said:

but Zvezda vertainly did a good job there!

Thanks for your encouraging words, Peter!

[xelas]

14 hours ago, Galana said:

Esp like the second Beardie.

Me too! No hastag.

[xelas]

13 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

You also gave it the inappropriate name of Black-backed Dwarf Kingfisher which isn't half as exciting!

Was not me, was eBird. But yes, Oriental sounds much more exotic than Black-backed. Enjoy your time, birds and company on IOM. I wish you great weather.

[xelas]

Day 3 - 20/05

 

 

Weekend has started bright and sunny, and as it was a long weekend for Austrians there were many cyclists out already. Thus we decided to drive to a location that is outside of regular cycling routes: Andau. A place with guaranteed sighting of a Great Bustard, and a chance to find several BOP cruising above fields. Bustards were there, just at a very safe distance. BOP were there, but only harriers. Police was there (at the Andau bridge/canal that is also the border with Hungary) which was an awkward experience. But hey, maybe birding is also their hobby?!

 

 

BY 365  /  AT 015    

Great Bustard  -  Otis tarda

 

 

 

BY 366  /  AT 016    

Eurasian Spoonbill  -  Platalea leucorodia

 

BY 367  /  AT 017    

Corn Bunting  -  Emberiza calandra

 

 

BY 368  /  AT 018    

European Stonechat  -  Saxicola rubicola

 

 

BY 369  /  AT 019    

Montagu’s Harrier  -  Circus pygargus

[xelas]

Day 3 - 20/05

 

 

Returning to Illmitz well after the midday we have found the place even busier than before. Snapped last 2 seats at Dolce Vita by joining a local family, all passionate cyclists so there were no common POI between us. It was hot and we were lazy so we continued our birding only in the late afternoon. Based on Michael's advice (he coordinated our birding via social media) we went to a place having an unfortunate name: Hølle / Hell, with Unterer and Oberer Stinkersee (which might be the reason for that name). There is a long walking/birding route along the both lakes (which we have skipped) and a nice hide, which we used.

 

 

BY 370  /  AT 020    

Barred Warbler  -  Curruca nisoria

Unanimously voted The Bird Of The Day! Shy at beginning but once it realised we only want to photograph this warbler gave us some excellent poses.

 

 

BY 371  /  AT 021    

Pied Avocet  -  Recurvirostra avosetta

 

 

 

BY 372  /  AT 022    

Mediterranean Gull  -  Ichthyaetus melanocephalus

Spotted among Black-headed Gulls by a birder with a scope ... another B-H Gull .

Edited June 7, 2023 by xelas

[PeterHG]

Excellent photos of the Barred Warbler and the Montagu’s! I am a little hesitant about your Mediterranean Gull, though…

[xelas]

10 minutes ago, PeterHG said:

I am a little hesitant about your Mediterranean Gull, though…

I was expecting it coming. There were many B-H gulls there, and I might have picked a wrong one ... 

[michael-ibk]

Agree with Peter here. Great Barred Warbler, and all the Andau stuff is lovely.😃

[xelas]

2 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

Agree with Peter here.

So the MG is disqualified. Too bad. But among many gulls there might be something other than B-H or Y-L.

[Dave Williams]

I stood listening to a Barred Warbler singing away deep inside lots of bushes ( known as a Thicket incidentally) for an hour or so but it never showed once, not even a glimpse! Till on my yet to see one list!

[xelas]

@Dave Williams, I must be a lucky birder then 😄. You might take me to one of your birding trips, as a lucky charm ?

[Dave Williams]

2 minutes ago, xelas said:

@Dave Williams, I must be a lucky birder then 😄. You might take me to one of your birding trips, as a lucky charm ?

You missed the boat Alex...it leaves on Saturday! 

[Peter Connan]

Some really great birds and photos of the trip so far!

[xelas]

13 hours ago, Peter Connan said:

Some really great birds and photos of the trip so far!

Thank you, Peter! I am looking forward to upcoming trip to your (general) neck of the woods, where birds are even greater!

[xelas]

Day 4 - 21/05

 

 

 

After 2 1/2 days of general birding it was time to get the local specialties. Another lovely day, and it was Sunday so we feel lucky! And lucky we were!

 

BY 372  /  AT 022    

Common Tern  -  Sterna hirundo

 

 

BY 373  /  AT 023    

Lesser Kestrel  -  Falco naumanni

The targeted bird! First in line but on the wrong side of the rising sun.

 

 

 

BY 374  /  AT 024    

Rook  -  Corvus frugilegus

[xelas]

Day 4 - 21/05

 

 

More browsing of the local side roads, a Sunday lunch and in the afternoon, we went to nearby nesting location. I was afraid that there will be crowds of photographers; as lucky as we are, we were alone there.

 

 

BY 375  /  AT 025    

Eurasian Jackdaw  -  Corvus monedula

 

 

BY 376  /  AT 026    

European Bee-eater  -  Merops apiaster

The authorities have enlarged the No Approach Zone, and they have constructed a hide large enough for maybe 5 photographers. There is still the "overflow" area available.

 

 

 

BY 377  /  AT 027    

Icterine Warbler  -  Hippolais icterina

[michael-ibk]

Lesser Kestrel is great - huge rarity in Austria! 

[xelas]

Day 5 - 21/05

 

 

This was an extra day for us, so we use it to find another target bird. It was reported in the same vicinity as the Lesser Kestrel, around Apetloner Hof. We also hoped to find the Lesser Kestrel in a better light. No luck but we did find another nice surprise!

 

BY 378  /  AT 028    

Short-eared Owl  -  Asio flammeus

 

 

BY 379  /  AT 029    

Little Owl  -  Athene noctua

One little owl  yet Zvezda's sharp eyes spotted it! She got a look for that.

 

BY 380  /  AT 030    

Grey Partridge  -  Perdix perdix

 

BY 381  /  AT 031    

Eurasian Skylark  -  Alauda arvensis

 

 

 

This one tried to slip through! Was hiding in that flock of Common Ringed Plovers with Little Stints and Broad-billed Sandpipers.

 

BY 382  /  AT 032    

Dunlin  -  Calidris alpina

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

I'm jealous about both Owls.🙂 Never found the Little One, and only had lousy sightings of the SE Owl. 

 

Well done! 

[TonyQ]

You did really well with the Owls, great to see a Long eared Owl.

Excellent sightings and photos of of the Barred Warbler and the Montagu’s Harrier - we have never seen either!

[xelas]

21 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

Never found the Little One

We can try to find it this September?!