TonyQ: Big Year 2023

[Tdgraves]

16 minutes ago, TonyQ said:

@BRACQUENEthank you

@Tdgravessome of the hides were out of action as they had been flooded and one was still partially under water. We saw a number of fields in the area still under water. I think it was flooded in January, February and footpaths were closed then because of the floods.

This was our first visit so I don't know what it is usually like.

Sounds like it was wetter then. The proximal end of the Ouse Washes, where I live is definitely drying out and was not as flooded as is often the case. I won't be going for a while, as the main entrance road is closed for repairs and the detour is very tedious!

[PeterHG]

Marvellous sighting and photos of the stoats! Very special.

[Galana]

Absolutely epic stoats. Roe deer pretty good too esp. fawn.Nice birds but the mammal have the honours for me.

[michael-ibk]

Love the Stoat photos, wonderful sighting! 

[Peter Connan]

Lovely stuff Tony!

[TonyQ]

@Peter Connanthank you

@michael-ibk @Galana @PeterHGthank you - we were thrilled to get such good sightings of the stoats

And now the last couple of additions from Norfolk

 

121.UK.121. House Martin  Delichon urbica 

Welney WWT Reserve, Norfok          22.04.23

Welney WWT Reserve, Norfok          22.04.23

The House Martins were nesting under the roof of the main hide at Welney. This meant that we had a viewpoint which, unusually, was almost level with the birds

[TonyQ]

122.UK.122. Barn Owl  Tyto alba 

The first sighting was at Holme Observatory in Norfolk. At this stage it was the best sighting of a Barn Owl we had ever had. We watched it hunting over the feilds for over an hour. Fairly distant but in daylight (our prrevious sightings have been brief and in very low light).

Holme Observatory, Norfolk   20.04.23

 

On our way home from Norfolk we headed to Welney. About a couple of miles before we got there we passed a field at the side of a narrow lane. We glimsed something white moving so stopped. And enjoyed a wonderful sighting from more than an hour. Apologies for overloading....        

Near Welney, Norfolk 22.04.23

Near Welney, Norfolk 22.04.23

Near Welney, Norfolk 22.04.23

Near Welney, Norfolk 22.04.23

So although it was before we got to Welney, I wanted to save it until the end

Edited May 23, 2023 by TonyQ

[Tdgraves]

lovely owl Tony

[xelas]

Beautiful BOF, @TonyQ!

[Galana]

WOW!  No apologies needed.

[Peter Connan]

Beautiful!

[michael-ibk]

Terrific sighting Tony, and congrats on getting such fantastic photos - well done!

[Towlersonsafari]

lovely stoat and owls in particular @TonyQwe were at Welney last month and they had only just opened up some of the hides because of the floods

[PeterHG]

Stunning photos of the Barn Owl, Tony! 

[TonyQ]

@Tdgraves@xelas@Galana@Peter Connan@michael-ibk@PeterHGthank you

@Towlersonsafarithank you - Welney appears to have had pretty bad flooding

 

So after the Norfolk trip, a return to local birds

123.UK.123 Sand Martin  Riparia riparia      

Grimley, Worcestershire         25.04.23

Very high, heavy crop. I had a lot of photos of blue sky

[TonyQ]

124.UK.124 Reed Warbler  Acrocephalus scirpaceus      

Manual focus, through the reeds, Grimley, Worcestershire         25.04.23     

    

I don't think I have seen one singing in bushes before, Coney Meadow, Worcestershire        07.05.23

One of my favourite sounds in spring is hearing Reed Warblers in the reeds chattering away to each other.

[TonyQ]

125.UK.125 Cetti's Warbler  Cettia cetti        

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           25.04.23

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           25.04.23

We were sitting in a hide watching for Reed Warblers. We heard a lound call on our left and saw the bird fly across water to the reeds. After a few seconds it disappeared. Much more often heard than seen so I was pleased to get a photo!

[TonyQ]

126.UK.126 Cuckoo  Cuculus canorus         

Distant but distinctive, Coney Meadow, Worcestershire        07.05.23

We could hear it calling and spent quite a long time tracking it down. It eventually landed at the top of a tree at the side of the canal tow path. It stayed briefly and then left. We could still here it distantly but we didn't manage to get any closer.

[TonyQ]

127.UK.127 Common Sandpiper  Actitis hypoleucos     

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           07.05.23

[TonyQ]

128.UK.128 Wood Sandpiper  Tringa glareola           

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           03.05.23

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           03.05.23

Only the second time we have seen on in the UK. We thought we had finished birding for the day and were having a coffee in the Upton Warren Cafe. I checked Worcestershire Birding twitter before we were going to leave and saw that this had landed on the reserve - so a 5 minute walk to the "twitch"

Edited May 25, 2023 by TonyQ

[BRACQUENE]

Warbler's , notoriously difficult to photograph but you did very well Tony !

Spend four hours today to find another of those and finally got a picture but that’s for later

[xelas]

Warblers … they can pose or they can hide! 

[pedro maia]

Great pictures Tony, especially the owl and the martin, you show that the camera works, I just have to be able to work with it.

[TonyQ]

@BRACQUENE @xelas thank you

@pedro maiathank you. It took (and is taking) a lot of learning for me also!

More Warblers!

129.UK.129 Willow Warbler  Phylloscopus trochilus          

Wyre Forest, Worcestershire 14.05.23

Distant and high up. The only Willow Warbler we have seen so far this year.  We recognised it by the song

[TonyQ]

130.UK.130 Wood Warbler  Phylloscopus sibilatrix          

Wyre Forest, Worcestershire 14.05.23

Wyre Forest, Worcestershire 14.05.23

Wyre Forest, Worcestershire 14.05.23

I think the Wood Warbler is a particularly pretty warbler. The Wyre Forest is the only local place we know where there is a good chance of seeing them. We always listen to the song before we set out as it is essential to finding one in the woods.