Saturday, 23 November 2013
Peregrine in the wind
Local patch: this morning a wind-blown Peregrine was present for some minutes in the airspace above my house, doing some nice stoops and soars around the cliffs and nearby woodland. It eventually disappeared NW. A good local record as I rarely see Peregrines from home. The above pics are phone-scoped.
Wednesday, 20 November 2013
Black-throat
Local patch: three Black-throated Divers yesterday were the major highlight on the coast. I followed them all the way from Miramare to Barcola's quay as they swam and dived towards Trieste, sometimes approaching very close to shore.
In the past few days there was a slight movement of late autumn birds over the patch, when the northeasterly kept the skies clear. A few Skylarks passing overhead were the most welcome, as were a patch year tick. Others included Meadow Pipit, Serin, Siskin and Grey Wagtail. Cirl Buntings have started to appear again in smaller flocks and I usually heard them as they pass overhead. The other day a female perched in the garden for a while, allowing good views. Meanwhile in the conifer trees some Goldcrests are present and Dunnocks are more frequently heard. There's also a slight increase in Black Redstarts numbers.
The other day I also found the corpse of the Common Redstart in the garden - the bird that lingered until 31st October didn't make it at the end.
In the past few days there was a slight movement of late autumn birds over the patch, when the northeasterly kept the skies clear. A few Skylarks passing overhead were the most welcome, as were a patch year tick. Others included Meadow Pipit, Serin, Siskin and Grey Wagtail. Cirl Buntings have started to appear again in smaller flocks and I usually heard them as they pass overhead. The other day a female perched in the garden for a while, allowing good views. Meanwhile in the conifer trees some Goldcrests are present and Dunnocks are more frequently heard. There's also a slight increase in Black Redstarts numbers.
The other day I also found the corpse of the Common Redstart in the garden - the bird that lingered until 31st October didn't make it at the end.
Saturday, 16 November 2013
SNOW BUNTINGS!
Finally, after the recent very bleak birding, a stunner to make everything shine once again. This morning I had the pleasure to get scope-filling views of 2 SNOW BUNTINGS (above). Three birds were discovered yesterday by a friend of mine, so I was asked to keep the location secret for now. Today early in the morning I only saw two of them, feeding together on some gravelly terrain, covered with short vegetation. They hardly moved around during the time I watched them (40 minutes) and remained in full view at about 3-4 metres away from my feet! Tame and fearless, as a real tundra bird should be!
Today I also saw my first Red-throated Diver of the season, along with good numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers, Great Crested and Black-necked Grebes on the sea.
A quick check of patch waters in the bay of Grignano revealed a Black-throated Diver (also a season's first), a Red-necked Grebe, a female Red-breasted Merganser and a Kingfisher.
Today I also saw my first Red-throated Diver of the season, along with good numbers of Red-breasted Mergansers, Great Crested and Black-necked Grebes on the sea.
A quick check of patch waters in the bay of Grignano revealed a Black-throated Diver (also a season's first), a Red-necked Grebe, a female Red-breasted Merganser and a Kingfisher.
Sunday, 10 November 2013
Long-eared Owl
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LEO's vigilant eye |
The area also held a few other birds of note which included a ringtail Hen Harrier, a Peregrine hunting above the lagoon and mixed lagoon specialties like Grey Plover, Dunlin, Wigeon, Great Crested and Black-necked Grebes ect. Also quite a lot of Goldcrests in the pines.
A brief stop at the Timavo's estuary near Lisert produced a female Red-breasted Merganser, 1 Black-necked Grebe, 1 Grey Plover, 1 Marsh Harrier, Dunlin (+10 roosting on the buoys), +10 Curlews and others. A Firecrest was calling from the small woodland by the brackish marsh.
A few days ago, while on the Karst I also had a close encounter with a male Black Woodpecker which gave brilliant close views.
Thursday, 7 November 2013
Pygmy Owl mood
I'm afraid I have nothing to report at this dull and endless autumn time. I'm in a Pygmy Owl mood, so here's a couple of pics of a species I'd really like to see at the moment. It's been four years from my last close encounter with a Pygmy - the above bird (November 2009 in Slovenia).
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