Peter B's 2024

[BRACQUENE]

And the next one was difficult to find but suddenly there were four of them : 

 

43/ Common Teal ( Anas crecca - Wintertaling ) Rood Klooster 31th of January 2023 : 

 

[BRACQUENE]

44/ Great Crested Grebe ( Podiceps cristatus - Fuut ) Rood Klooster 31th of January 2024 : 

 

[BRACQUENE]

And the next one I saw a few days ago in Neerpede ... but how can people behave like that?  

 

45/ Little Grebe ( Tachybaptus ruficollis - Dodaars ) Anderlecht Neerpede 27th of January 2024 : 

 

 

[BRACQUENE]

And this one the day before yesterday on my way to the Canal ... 

 

46/ Greylag Goose ( Anser anser - Grauwe Gans ) Anderlecht Neerpede 29th of January 2024 : 

[xelas]

A Mandarin Duck looks very exotic! You are adding numbers with steady pace, @BRACQUENE. 

[BRACQUENE]

And this morning after a few showers overnight I started very early to arrive before sunrise in Neerpede and the day started well with a Kingfisher on the other side of the lake : 

 

I had seen hundreds of the next bird this year already  but forget to take a picture so here it is : 

 

47/ Eurasian Coot ( Fulica atra - Meerkoet ) Anderlecht Neerpede 1st of February 2024:

 

[BRACQUENE]

The sun was present and gave me the perfect light to take the next one : 

 

48/ Short-toed Treecreeper ( Certhia brachydactyla - Boomkruiper ) Anderlecht Neerpede 1st of February 2024 : 

 

 

[BRACQUENE]

And then I heard the unmistakable sound of this songbird : 

 

49/ Song Thrush ( Turdus philomelos- Zanglijster ) Anderlecht Neerpede 1st of February 2024 : 

 

[BRACQUENE]

And my half century one might be small but I love their agility : 

 

50/ Grey Wagtail ( Motacilla cinerea - Grote Gele Kwikstaart ) Anderlecht Neerpede 1st of February 2024 : 

 

 

[BRACQUENE]

And then I continued to walk in the direction of Vogelenzang and saw another Little Grebe : 

 

And in the reserve itself two days later than I expected my fa

[BRACQUENE]

And to continue my unfinished sentence two days later than I expected my favorite bird of prey was this time present : 

 

51/ Common Kestrel ( Falco tinnunculus - Torenvalk ) Anderlecht Vogelenzangreservaat 1st of February 2024 : 

[xelas]

And you have collected 50+ local birds so congratulations!

[Kitsafari]

wow a quarter of a century in just over a month! that's dedication and beautiful photos too. The mandarin duck always looks so unreal - like a piece of colourful art that comes alive. 

 

 

[Peter Connan]

Congratulations on the first milestone of the year Peter!

[Galana]

Congratulations on your first half century.

[BRACQUENE]

Thanks @xelas@Kitsafari@Peter Connan @Galana

The weekend was overcast and rather windy even more so today but for the first time this year , I went for a short walk in "the Gavers" in my native town Geraardsbergen where I was often in 2023.

Even if it was in the far distance and I surely will have a better picture later so don't count it for now ,  the unmistakable sound of my third bird of prey of this year , a common buzzard , was a nice start : 

Some nice Grey Herons very approachable : 

 

 

And then another new one for 2024 : 

 

52/ Lesser Black-backed Gull ( Larus fuscus- Kleine Mantelmeeuw ) De Gavers Geraardsbergen 5th of February 2024 : 

 

But the main reason I was here was to see if the Cetti's Warblers that are around the whole year and were seen and heard recently would show up again ... ? 

 

 

[BRACQUENE]

And they did ! 

 

53/ Cetti's Warbler ( Cettia cetti - Cetti's Zanger ) De Gavers Geraardsbergen 5th of February 2024 : 

 

 

[BRACQUENE]

Looking out of my window an hour ago I saw this group arriving in the garden of my neighbours and immediately noticed it weren't the usual Rose-ringed parakeets but the bigger ones with the long tail , red shoulder patch and heavier red bill ; In 2023 I saw one in flight on Easter Sunday....

 

54/ Alexandrine Parakeet ( Psittacula eupatria - Grote Alexanderparkiet ) Dilbeek at home 6th of February 2024 : 

 

[BRACQUENE]

Another one taken from quite a distance  in de Gavers yesterday , according to birdingplaces.eu an area known for regular sightings of Caspian Gull  in recent years

mostly in Winter ... 

 

55/ Caspian Gull ( Larus cachinnans - Pontische Meeuw ) De Gavers Geraardsbergen 5th of February 2024 : 

[TonyQ]

Well done with the Cetti’s, great sighting and great photos.

[michael-ibk]

Agree, that's such a tough bird to get. Great progress Peter, can only see your dust!

[BRACQUENE]

Thanks Michael and Tony ! The weather has been dark and miserable lately as today but yesterday was the exception and it was about time to visit Liedekerke-and Hertigemforest again before the end of the winter as conditions are still good to see the woodpeckers more easily 

 

The first one was already in my 2024 collection : 

As was the second species : 

  

[BRACQUENE]

But not this one : 

 

56/ Middle Spotted Woodpecker ( Dendrocopos medius - Middelste Bonte Specht ) Liedekerke-Hertegem Bos 13th of February 2024 : 

 

 

[BRACQUENE]

Of course it was my goal to see ( and have a picture  ) of the other two species present , the Lesser Spotted and the Black ( rare ) and suddenly I heard and saw only a few seconds the first one but failed to take a picture as it was chased away by a couple of Great Spotted ....  ; but I will return to have another try 

 

A few minutes later I heard the sound of a bird of prey high in the sky this time a better view than on the 5th  : 

 

57/ Common Buzzard ( Buteo buteo - Buizerd ) Liedekerke-Hertegem Bos 13th of February 2024 : 

 

 

 

[BRACQUENE]

Some familiar ones on my walk : 

 

 

 

 

And a  new one : 

58/ Dunnock ( Prunella modularis - Heggenmus ) Liedekerke-Hertegem Bos 13th of February 2024 :