Zvezda & Alex BY attempt #8

[Peter Connan]

Beautiful bird, great photos!

[PeterHG]

Excellent set of Dipper photos! It’s been years since I last saw one.

[TonyQ]

You can’t have too many Dipper photos of such quality.

Beautiful

[xelas]

Another walk in Škocjanski zatok offered me a rare opportunity to observe for extended time two Snipes: Common and Jack. As the former is, well, common sight, it was my first sighting of Jack. Such a funny bird with its jo-jo movements.

 

BY 392  /  SI 096    

Jack Snipe  -  Lymnocryptes minimus    

 

 

Škocjanski zatok    27-okt-2023
 

[PeterHG]

That is a very good sighting of the Jack Snipe, Alex. They often stay much more hidden.

[Dave Williams]

Excellent shots of the Jack Snipe, I like the fact you can picture the whole scene.

 

[Galana]

Great shots of Jack Snipe.

[michael-ibk]

Really awesome Jack Snipe photos - I have only ever seen it flying away after flushing it or very, very far away.

[xelas]

Our visas for South Africa were approved so we have to pick them up in Vienna. Since the weather forecast was good, Zvezda took a day off, we started (really) early and before midday we were already in Illmitz, to find a bird or two that would be added to the Big Year. As this was already our third visit to this area, our expectations were low.

 

While weather was fair, and even sunny in the afternoon, birds this time were very un-cooperative, keeping themselves far away or high above. And M4/3 sensor is just not that good with distant subjects. A bit of PP magic was needed to get at least presentable photos. On the positive side, the Subject detection AF works great.

 

BY 393  /  AT 036    

Common Crane  -  Grus grus

 

BY 394  /  AT 037    

Greater White-fronted Goose  -  Anser Albifrons

 

BY 395  /  AT 038    

Mistle Thrush  -  Turdus viscivorus

 

BY 396  /  AT 039    

Fieldfare  -  Turdus pilaris

 

 

BY 397  /  AT 040    

Common Reed Bunting  -  Emberiza schoeniclus

 

 

BY 398  /  AT 041    

Red Kite  .  Milvus milvus

 

BY 399  /  AT 042    

Hen Harrier  -  Circus cyaneus

 

Seewinkel    7-nov-2023
 

Edited November 10, 2023 by xelas

[Tdgraves]

When are you off to RSA Alex and where are you going?

[xelas]

21 hours ago, Tdgraves said:

When are you off to RSA Alex and where are you going?

From 20/nov - 10/dec, Western Cape area. A couple of locations we have been to, and a few new ones. 

Edited November 9, 2023 by xelas

[Tdgraves]

Might be a bit inclement…

[xelas]

25 minutes ago, Tdgraves said:

Might be a bit inclement…

Surely not as at home ... as any weather on travels is always better than weather back home . Plus there will be all sorts of different birds, and some that we might miss here.

Edited November 8, 2023 by xelas

[Tdgraves]

Holidays are always better 

[xelas]

Time to round up our Big Year count; while the photo is a prime example of an EBIFC, there are zero chances to get a better photo of it, this year anyway.

 

 

BY 400  /  AT 043    

White-tailed Eagle  -  Haliaeetus albicilla    

 

Seewinkel    7-nov-2023
 

[PeterHG]

Have a great trip Alex!

[michael-ibk]

Congrats on #400 Alex, #500 will be easy with South Africa waiting for you - enjoy!

[Galana]

Well done on the 400. Enjoy your trip to South Africa.

[TonyQ]

Well done on 500. Enjoy South Africa!

Edit: that was in anticipation. What I meant to say was well done on 400

Edited November 23, 2023 by TonyQ

[Zim Girl]

Congratulations on 400, Alex.

[Peter Connan]

Congratulations Alex and Zvezda!

Hope you have a great time in the "fairest Cape".

[Kitsafari]

Congrats on the 400th  - and very soon the next century. Enjoy the trip Alex and Zvezda!

[BRACQUENE]

Congratulations on your 400 Alex and Zvezda !

[pedro maia]

Congrats on the fourth century, have a nice trip Alex.

[xelas]

Thank you all! Although weather is a bit on the windy side, which is great for cooling us down but not so good for  birding, we are slowly approaching our first target, SA bird #50. 

Edited November 24, 2023 by xelas