Zim Girl's 6th Big Year 2023

[Zim Girl]

So here we go again!

Still using my little bridge Panasonic FZ330.

I doubt I will beat last year's UK total of 153, but you never know.  Last year I didn't think I would get anywhere near that.  

UK birds I have never seen and would love to get include Waxwing and Brambling.

 

Weather has been dreadful here with so much wind and rain.  I had my best chance of a good bird to start the year with on New Year's Day, but the forecast was for heavy rain and we left for our walk in heavy rain, so obviously I didn't take a camera.  We parked up and the sun came out!!  Then we had eight separate sightings of Dippers along the river, our best ever.  Gutted!!

 

Anyway, I have managed to scrape one or two together to start with.  Yesterday the sun came out and we headed up the coast.  I wanted Goldeneye.  We got Goldeneye, but pics too crap for this early in the game so made do with some friendly Turnstones and a swan on a mission.

 

UK 1.  Ruddy Turnstone

 

 

Fleetwood  -  16/01/23

 

[Zim Girl]

UK 2.  Mute Swan

Fleetwood Marine Lake  -  16/01/23

 

[Zim Girl]

Now, we thought we had found the snow buntings again when Adrian spotted a little bird hunkered down on the sand.  It let me get quite close but I could see it wasn't a bunting.  You would think after 5 years of doing BY I would have sussed these LBJ's out, but I am not entirely sure with this.  I think it is just a squashed up meadow pipit, young one possibly?  Anyway, let me know if I am wrong.  (Edited to correct ID, thanks @xelas and @galana)

 

UK 3.  Eurasian Skylark

Fleetwood  -  16/01/23

 

Edited January 18, 2023 by Zim Girl
Correct ID

[Zim Girl]

This last one is from a very wet walk at the weekend.

 

UK 4.  Eurasian Treecreeper

Brock Bottom, Forest of Bowland  -  14/01/23

 

[xelas]

Nice start, Angie! And an early lesson to never leave the camera at home .

 

Re. your #3, I think it is a squashed Skylark. Anyone else?

[Galana]

46 minutes ago, xelas said:

I think it is a squashed Skylark. Anyone else?

So do I.

So sorry you missed the Dippers.

The only place I have ever seen Brambling was near Dunsop Bridge as the road follows that river. Quite near you so go for it.

 

[Zim Girl]

Thank you @xelas and @Galana.

I did wonder about skylark, which makes more sense as they are definitely seen in that location.  The lack of obvious crest confused me.

 

20 hours ago, Galana said:

The only place I have ever seen Brambling was near Dunsop Bridge as the road follows that river. Quite near you so go for it.

We do get to Dunsop Bridge quite a lot but not normally at 'brambling' time of year.  Will bear it in mind.

[TonyQ]

Good you are taking part again!

That is an excellent photo of the Treecreeper- tricky little fast moving birds.

[Galana]

4 hours ago, Zim Girl said:

'brambling' time of year. 

November is good as the beech mast is falling. The riverside (Wyre) where the road goes alongside Tower Lodge.

As @TonyQsays. An enviable Tree Creeper.

[Zim Girl]

Thank you very much Tony.  It was being very accommodating so I was actually a bit disappointed that it wasn't better, but it was raining and the light was rubbish.

 

@Galana, we know that stretch of road very well indeed.  We have a walk that goes from Abbeystead, over the tops and down the lane past Tower Lodge and we always have lunch opposite by the river.

[michael-ibk]

Very nice start Angie. Waxwing is high on my list as well!

[Zim Girl]

We are very pleased to see that the Tawny owl pair have returned to their roost just outside our local nature reserve.  They are easily seen when you know where to look but I could only get a picture of one of them as the other was higher up and more obscured by leaves.  The pictures are from two different visits.  I love owls, so you get 3 pics!

 

UK 5.  Tawny Owl

 

 

Marton Mere LNR  -  26&30/01/23

[Zim Girl]

A walk around some local fields produced the regular winter geese.

 

UK 6.  Pink-footed Goose

Fields near home  -  26/01/23

 

[Zim Girl]

UK 7.  Barnacle Goose

 

Fields near home  -  26/01/23

 

[Zim Girl]

A walk into the local park to round off the geese.  Couldn't find a proper greylag (so many hybrids), but there will be some around somewhere.

 

UK 8.  Canada Goose

Stanley Park  -  30/01/23

 

[Zim Girl]

Being near to the coast you are never far away from a gull or two.  This one competes for top spot with the black-headed gull in terms of numbers.

 

UK 9.  European Herring Gull

Stanley Park  -  30/01/23

[Zim Girl]

UK 10.  Common Moorhen

Stanley Park  -  30/01/23

 

[Zim Girl]

UK 11.  Common Woodpigeon

Stanley Park  -  30/01/23

 

[Zim Girl]

UK 12.  Magpie

Stanley Park  -  30/01/23

 

[Galana]

Good to see you are scoring well again.

[PeterHG]

A beautiful set of photos! Great views and shots of the owl

[Zim Girl]

And some more from the end of January.

 

UK 13.  Carrion Crow

Marton Mere  -  30/01/23

 

[Zim Girl]

UK 14.  Great Cormorant

 

Stanley Park  -  30/01/23

 

[Zim Girl]

There has been an established number of breeding parakeets in the park and nearby woodland for many years.  I found this pair checking out a hole in a tree.  In the 2nd picture you can see the female about to enter the hole above the male's head.  She stayed in there with the male looking in occasionally.

 

UK 15.  Ring-necked Parakeet

 

 

Stanley Park  -  30/01/23

 

[Zim Girl]

Who can resist these cute little birds.  I think this one knew I had sunflower seeds in my pocket as it wouldn't leave me alone.

 

UK 16.  European Robin

 

Stanley Park  -  30/01/23