A Conversation for Join the Q: #My200BirdYear - the Results

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Post 1

Caiman raptor elk - Inside big box, thinking.

Now that is a good idea. Maybe I'll try that this year. I usually take pictures of whatever wildlife or static natural beauty I come across when carrying my camera.

Did you spot me at the Raptorwatch? (I would be surprised) Though I have been wading two days ago...


Spot on

Post 2

SashaQ - happysad

Yes, I recommend it - 200 birds is a big challenge, but I certainly have learned a lot about birds and my camera since this time last year smiley - ok

I'm sort of doing the challenge again this year, as the Birdwatching magazine invited me to join a group to share knowledge, but my main goal is to see if I can beat the target of 78 wild birds smiley - ok

I didn't see anyone at the Raptorwatch, as I think I went to the wrong end of the marsh, sorry! Did you see much variety of birds when you went wading? I went last weekend but only saw gulls as the tide was further out and the weather was not good.


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Post 3

Caiman raptor elk - Inside big box, thinking.

I was referring to my name. Not actually present at the raptorwatch.


But still, I intend to catch more birds with my camera.


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Post 4

SashaQ - happysad

smiley - doh oh, of course - so yes I did see 'you' there in the form of a Marsh Harrier smiley - ok


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Post 5

Caiman raptor elk - Inside big box, thinking.

I just started. Counter is on 7 now.

The trouble is, we only have 321 native species (according to the Dutch bird authorities). So I expect 200 wild birds will be a real challenge. (My 7 already include an emu in captivity)

The exercise does learn me new things. I always thought we had two types of tits in our garden. Turns out there is another subspecies I never heard of. If you then look up the English names it gets confusing.

Koolmees (literally coal tit) is Great tit
Zwarte mees(literally black tit) is Coal tit
Pimpelmees (literally purple tit) is Blue tit


The great cormorants I saw tried to confuse me by sporting different colour schemes.


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Post 6

SashaQ - happysad

smiley - biggrin Yes 200 native species is a challenge indeed - according to the RSPB, the UK is host to about 250, so I've got no hope without either combing the length and breadth of the country or photographing 'plastic birds' that are not wild... (I didn't find an emu in 2018, but I did see a Cassowary at the zoo!)

Not a problem, though, as the main benefit of the challenge is that it encourages us to look more closely and see the similar but different species, like the Coal Tit vs Great Tit and the different species of Thrushes smiley - ok

Different colour schemes are extra challenge, though - buzzards are the species I have trouble with, but I have probably only seen Common Buzzards in different plumages rather than anything more exotic...

That is very interesting about the different names! I wonder if you see a blue smiley - tit as more purple because of the name, whereas I see the blue colour on their heads first, but can see that they have darker blue/purple wings and tail now we mention it! smiley - ok


Spot on

Post 7

Caiman raptor elk - Inside big box, thinking.

I would call a blue smiley - tit blue as well. Basically I learned: Black head = koolmees, non-black = pimpelmees

Other confusing translations:

Sparrow = Mus
Starling = Spreeuw


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