Peter B's 2024

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For the first time it is to early to tell what this year might bring in terms of new sightings or pure numbers for the good reason that no safari or other trip is planned yet : but like I said before birding in your own country and even in your garden can be as rewarding as going abroad and in 2023 , at least until June , I went out for long walks sometimes taking the car to get to some amazing birdingplaces in Belgium  and the Netherlands , close to the border . 

I am not sure that I will do it as intensively in 2024 depending also of course on the unpredictable weather that hampered birding in the last months of last year ; on the 4th of January it was the first time I could go out with my OM-1 and the 300mm lens and what better place to start ( like in 2023 ) than Anderlecht Neerpede only half an hour walk from where I live .

The first bird took me almost six months last years to chase it and finally immortalize it and I wondered if I could do better this time ; I was lucky because after a few minutes I heard its sound and saw it flying over the lake and then chased it for at least half an hour ...

 

1/ Common Kingfisher ( Alcedo atthis - IJsvogel ) Anderlecht Neerpede 4th of Januari 2024 : 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[xelas]

A Kingfisher in flight is a perfect way to start the Big Year, and will probably be the theme for 2024. OM-1 surely allows for this to happen.

[PeterHG]

Beautiful photos of the kingfisher and even a few in flight! Well done.

[Zim Girl]

What a lovely set of Kingfisher pictures!

[TonyQ]

A wonderful start. Beautiful Kingfisher!

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Thanks @xelas @PeterHG@Zim Girl& @TonyQ

 

For the next one I used to go to the lovely Tenbosch Park in Brussels ( Elsene ) : now I can stay at home and find them in my garden 

 

2/ Goldcrest ( Regulus regulus - Goudhaan ) Home 12th of January 2023 : 

 

 

 

 

 

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A first walk in the Wolfsputten Dilbeek on the 9th and with the frost since last Sunday much easier to walk in , than I would have thought after the rains ! 

 

3/ European Robin ( Erithacus rubecula - Roodborstje ) Wolfsputten Dilbeek 9th of January 2024 : 

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And close to the entry of the Wofsputten and Westrand at the carpark this familiar one : 

 

4/ Great spotted Woodpecker ( Dendrocopos major - Grote bonte specht ) Dilbeek Westrand 9th of January 2024 : 

 

 

 

 

[Kitsafari]

excellent kick-off to your 2024 BY with BIFs of that colourful bird! and the subsequent birds are just as excellent. 

[Peter Connan]

Wow, what a start Peter!

[JimS]

Great start Peter. The kingfisher photos are great and I really must get one of those on my list this year, the common kingfisher is native to the UK but I've never been able to photograph one, yet I have hundreds of photos of malachite, pied and brown-hooded kingfishers from just one trip to Tanzania.

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In their thousands in Brussels and surroundings .... 

 

5/ Rose-ringed parakeet ( Psittacula krameri - Halsbandparkiet ) Dilbeek Park 9th of January 2024 : 

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Like this one ... 

 

6/ Monk parakeet (Myiopsitta monachus - Monniksparkiet ) Anderlecht Neerpede 4th of January 2024 : 

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7/ Common Moorhen ( Gallinula chloropus - Waterhoen ) Dilbeek Park 9th of January 2024 : 

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After so many in Rwanda Akagera NP now in my home town ....

 

8/ Great Cormorant ( Phalacrocorax carbo - Aalscholver ) Dilbeek Park 9th of January 2024 : 

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9/ Eurasian Nuthatch ( Sitta europaea - Boomklever ) Dilbeek Park 9th of January 2024 : 

 

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A delight to see them in one of my favorite places .... 

 

10/ Redwing ( Turdus iliacus- Koperwiek ) Dilbeek Wolfsputten 9th & 10th of January 2024 :

 

 

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11/ Eurasian Chaffinch ( Fringilla coelebs - Vink ) Dilbeek Wolfsputten 9th of January 2023: 

 

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12/ Black-headed Gull ( Chroicocephalus ridibundus - Kokmeeuw ) Anderlecht Neerpede 4th & Dilbeek 9th of January 2024 : 

 

 

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And the Black-headed in flight over Neerpede Lake on the 4th  ....

 

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13/ Herring Gull ( Larus argentatus - Zilvermeeuw ) Dilbeek 4th of January 2024 : 

 

 

[Peter Connan]

Beautiful!

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Winter is in Dilbeek with a. few inches of snow yesterday so this morning I had a long walk in my favorite Wolfsputten :

 

14/Common  Blackbird ( Turdus merula - merel ) Dilbeek Wolfsputten 18th of January 2024 : 

 

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15/ Eurasian Collared Dove ( Streptopelia decaocto - Turkse Tortel ) Dilbeek Westrand 18th of January 2024 : 

 

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16/ Common Starling ( Sterns vulgaris - Spreeuw ) Dilbeek Westrand 19th of January 2024 :