Your favourite bird of the year (so far) (1 Viewer)

[Leafbringer]

What's your favourite bird species that you've seen so far this year and why?

My one is the musk lorikeet, because this year, I was finally able to get a good look at some, and I like the medley of colours on these parrots - the red face-markings, blue crown, and yellow accents. I also think they're adorable and lively. They're not common in my area and previously I only had short glimpses of this species.

 

[Bewick]

Tree sparrow for me, have seen some great species this year but the bird that got me the most excited was a tree sparrow. Provided some great views but was too distant for a decent pic.

Waxwings, bearded tits, the Rainham marshes common kingfisher pair, a group of snow buntings (lifer) and a short-eared owl are all runners up.

 

[treenity]

Rock pigeons. I can't get enough of them. I think they're beautiful, I don't care that other people call them flying rats. They're gorgeous and sound like serotonin.

 

[Val35]

Either the African Gallinule that was found in Corsica last March or the super tame Collared Pratincole I saw this spring !

 

[Jinac]

Elanion Blanc because one beautiful specimen come for three or four years next to my house and sometimes it's watching me when i come back home, planted on its telephonic pole, with its incandescent gaze

 

[Richard Prior]

I’ll let you know on 31 December 😉

 

[kb57]

So far I'd agree with @Val35 ...mine is collared pratincole too!

 

[Tero]

Kittiwake. It was m,y bird 400 for USA in Alaska. I had seen some about 20 years ago in Iceland. Puffins cute too. eBird list has photos.

https://ebird.org/checklist/S190115780

 

[Georgebirds]

It's a tie, between the gorgeous male Long-tailed Duck early in the year in terms of sheer handsomeness as well as being a lifer, and the pair of Bitterns flying over wetland not far from me - I was excited enough to hear the booms for the first time ever, so to actually see them was unexpected and brilliant!

 

[Jon Turner]

The Gran Canaria Sudan Golden Sparrow which will probably be the only new bird this year, but I reserve the right to change my mind, and try to update here if I do!

 

[dandsblair]

Two birds seen but not photographed could be bird of the Year - Diademed Sandpiper Plover (camera played up) or Zino's Petrel (too dark to photograph in the moonlight).
Best bird photographed would be Chucoa Tapacolo a bird family I rarely manage to see well let alone photograph but this bird followed us around

 

[Owene]

Pygmy owl. Sat there in daylight for quite a while singing. Interacted with other birds and moved from tree to tree but stayed in view for ages. Lovely bird.

Possibly something Ugandan will displace it but it’ll have to be good