TonyQ: Big Year 2023

[TonyQ]

73.UK.73 Goldcrest  Regulus regulus           

Earlswood, nr Birmingham     27.03.23

A brief patch of decent looking weather so we went to Earlswood in the hope of seeing two species that we have seen here before. This one was more of a gamble, but it was fun to see it high in the trees, jumping about a lot. It took a lot of photos to get one in focus and in the frame! A heavy crop

 

[TonyQ]

This was the other species we went to see. Fairly reliable at this site.

 

74.UK.74 Great Crested Grebe  Podiceps cristatus 

On the nest, Earlswood, nr Birmingham     27.03.23 (A good distance away, across water so not disturbing it)

The Partner bringing the ideal stick to make the nest just perfect! Earlswood, nr Birmingham     27.03.23

I have always enjoyed seeing these birds at any time of year, but in their breeding plumage I think they are very beautiful.

[Peter Connan]

Lovely shots Tony!

 

Never have gotten anywhere near one.

[TonyQ]

Thank you Peter!

 

A few more additions

75.UK.75 Little Ringed Plover  Charadrius dubius   

Upton Warren, Worcestershire           04.04.23

[TonyQ]

76.UK.76 Chiffchaff  Phylloscopus collybita  

Ladywalk  Reserve, West Midlands   07.04.23

Ladywalk  Reserve, West Midlands   07.04.23

There are lots of these spring arrivals around now. It is lovely to hear then sing

[TonyQ]

77.UK.77 Little Grebe  Tachybaptus ruficollis           

Ladywalk  Reserve, West Midlands   07.04.23

Distant heavy crop, but the handsome breeding plumage is still very attractive

[TonyQ]

78.UK.78 Shoveler  Anas clypeata   

(f) Ladywalk  Reserve, West Midlands   07.04.23

(m) Ladywalk  Reserve, West Midlands   07.04.23

[TonyQ]

79.UK.79 Swallow  Hirundo rustica   

Coney Meadow, Worcestershire        08.04.23

Our first Swallow sighting of the year (and the second!)

Always good to see these new arrivals

[PeterHG]

Really great photos again, @TonyQ!

[Galana]

Excellent.

[Zim Girl]

Lovely additions - great swallows!

[TonyQ]

@PeterHG  @Galana @Zim Girl  thank you!

First a duplicate

 

I still think that "our" Lapwing is one of the most beautiful -  especially in nice light.

 

[TonyQ]

And just one new addition at the moment

 

80.UK.80 Bullfinch  Pyrrhula pyrrhula           

(F) Our Garden, Birmingham       11.04.23

(M) Our Garden, Birmingham       11.04.23

Although they visit our garden virtually daily, I have waited a long time to get pictures of them. In the early part of the year they only sat in heavy shade before visiting the feeders. I could have got photos on the feeders but I didn't want that. Then finally they did sit on a bush with a bit of sunlight. (taken through window)

[michael-ibk]

Exquisite Lapwing. 🙂

[BRACQUENE]

That Lapwing is absolutely stunning Tony !

[Galana]

Another vote for the Peewit or Pyewype..Well done with the Bullfinch.

[Zim Girl]

Really lovely to have Bullfinches visit your garden.

[Soukous]

1 hour ago, Zim Girl said:

Really lovely to have Bullfinches visit your garden.

 

if only .... 

[TonyQ]

@michael-ibk @BRACQUENE@Galanathank you

@Zim Girl @Soukous we do enjoy seeing "our" Bullfinches!

 

So we went to North Norfolk for a week. This is the fourth time we have visited - and have always stayed in the same apartment in Welles-next-the-Sea.

We had a lot of good sightings, some very distant, some good photos, some bad photos

 

I will start off with a good sighting but poor photo! We stopped on the way to Welles

 

81.UK.81 Stone-curlew  Burhinus oedicnemus 

A New Bird for us

     

Weeting Heath Nature Reserve, Norfolk        15.04.23

Weeting Heath Nature Reserve, Norfolk        15.04.23

We arrived in the middle of a hot day. Very distant and lots of heat haze.

But we were excited to see it. A new species for us and very rare in the UK and we felt like we had got off to a good start!

 

[TonyQ]

We made a second stop on the way to Welles at Flitcham Abbey Farm. We have stopped here on each of our visits to Norfolk. There is a small hid as well as the general environment.

 

 

82.UK.82 Little Owl  Athene noctua  

Flitcham Abbey Farm, Norfolk            15.04.23

A heavy crop of a distant "Little" bird. Only the second time we have seen one, (and the first one was even further away!)

Enjoyable to watch it

 

[TonyQ]

83.UK.83 Wheatear  Oenanthe oenanthe     

(M) Flitcham Abbey Farm, Norfolk            15.04.23

(F) Near Welney, Norfolk     22.04.23

[TonyQ]

84.UK.84 Red-legged Partridge  Alectoris rufa         

 

Enjoying a dust bath, Flitcham Abbey Farm, Norfolk            15.04.23

Showing nicely, Road near Cholesley, Norfolk 19.04.23

[TonyQ]

One of the pleasures of being in Norfolk is the number of Hares that are easily seen (we don't really get them in our area) This one was sitting by the Hide

 

[TonyQ]

85.UK.85 Marsh Harrier  Circus aeruginosus           

(F) Flitcham Abbey Farm, Norfolk            15.04.23

Mating on the ground, Flitcham Abbey Farm, Norfolk            15.04.23

(M) Flitcham Abbey Farm, Norfolk            15.04.23

We saw quite a few Marsh Harriers during this trip in a number of places.

This is the first time we have seen Marsh Harriers mating.

[Galana]

A good start to our trip. Hard to pick out one but the Harrier sequence is excellent. One of my bogie birds that I can never seem to get with full facial mask etc..