TonyQ's Big Year 2024

[TonyQ]

So I have finally finished the 2023 Big Year.

This year we actually went out on January 1st. And it was a great start

 

UK.1 Waxwing  Bombycilla garrulus 

Just up the road, Birmingham 01.01.24

Just up the road, Birmingham 01.01.24

Just up the road, Birmingham 01.01.24

Just up the road, Birmingham 01.01.24

 

It is a Waxwing winter, and we were delighted to see these beautiful birds so close to home. Not quite in our garden, but probably a 15 minute walk.

This is the first time we have seen Waxwings since 2017 whhen we saw then in 2 or 3 locations. In February 2023, we saw them in this very same tree!

[BRACQUENE]

What a way to start the year Tony with those beautiful Waxwings ! 

[PeterHG]

A superb set of photos of the waxwings: a great start!

[xelas]

Based on your introductory photos and bird, this will be one colourful Big Year!

[Kitsafari]

waxwings are such beautiful birds - and this is the second year in a row you've seen close to home. how wonderful!

[Peter Connan]

A great start Tony!

[Soukous]

Just seeing some Waxwings would be a first for me. To get good photos would be a real bonus

Edited January 13 by Soukous

[JimS]

What a start to the year, and fantastic photos Tony

[Zim Girl]

What a great start, Tony.  Lovely pictures of the waxwings.

[TonyQ]

Thank you, it was a great start for us!

 

UK.2 Mistle Thrush  Turdus viscivorus 

        

Just up the road, Birmingham     01.01.24

The same place and time as the Waxwings but I didn't want to detract from the  Star Bird!

[TonyQ]

UK.3 Goldeneye  Bucephala clangula          

Distant (as usual), Sandwell Valley          04.01.24

[TonyQ]

UK.4 Coot  Fulica atra           

Sandwell Valley          04.01.24

[TonyQ]

UK.5 Ring-necked Parakeet  Psittacula krameri           

Introduced species, now a very common breeding bird, Sandwell Valley          04.01.24

[TonyQ]

UK.6 Cormorant  Phalacrocorax carbo         

SShowing colours in the sunlight, Sandwell Valley          04.01.24

Sandwell Valley          04.01.24

[TonyQ]

UK.7 Smew  Mergellus albellus         

Sandwell Valley          04.01.24

Sandwell Valley          04.01.24

Sandwell Valley          04.01.24

This bird was the reason we made a visit to Sandwell Valley. Only the second time we have seen a Smew so we were delighted to get a good view. It is probably a female (though juveniles also  have a brown cap).

 

[xelas]

The cormorants, being black birds, are so difficult to expose properly. You have nailed this shot, @TonyQ!

[michael-ibk]

Awesome birds to get going Tony! Jealous about the Waxwings, really would love to see them. Some have shown up in the East of Austria this Winter but so far none in the Alps here. 

[TonyQ]

Thank you @xelas@michael-ibk

 

UK.8 Fieldfare  Turdus pilaris

Very distant, heavy crop, Earlswood, nr Birmingham      09.01.24

Shame it has no beak , Earlswood, nr Birmingham      09.01.24

We didn't see one of these at all last year

Edited January 20 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

UK.9 House Sparrow  Passer domesticus    

(F) Earlswood, nr Birmingham      09.01.24

(M) Earlswood, nr Birmingham      09.01.24

[TonyQ]

UK.10 Snipe  Gallinago gallinago      

Earlswood, nr Birmingham      09.01.24

Earlswood, nr Birmingham      09.01.24

This is a small, obviously man-made island in the middle of a fishing lake. We have seen Snipe here before, but this day we counted 14 of them soaking up the sun and safe from predators.

[TonyQ]

UK.11 Chaffinch  Fringilla coelebs    

(M) Earlswood, nr Birmingham      09.01.24

[TonyQ]

UK.12 Blue Tit  Cyanistes caeruleus 

Earlswood, nr Birmingham      09.01.24

Earlswood, nr Birmingham      09.01.24

Very common but still a beautiful little bird I think

[TonyQ]

UK.13 Dunnock  Prunella modularis 

Earlswood, nr Birmingham      09.01.24

[TonyQ]

UK.14 Great Tit  Parus major

Earlswood, nr Birmingham      09.01.24

Earlswood, nr Birmingham      09.01.24

Our Garden, Birmingham        19.01.24

Again, very common but beautiful.

[TonyQ]

UK.15 Nuthatch  Sitta europea          

Earlswood, nr Birmingham      09.01.24