Page 21 - Out Birding Autumn 2024

Back on the road we made a few more stops for Pygmy Owls but to no avail. We did get good views of Willow Tit on these stops however, and Jure explained that, in Slovenia, Willow Tit is quite abundant in contrast to the UK.
We then made a stop for lunch at the Rogla Ski Resort where the air was decidedly chilly. The area around the café was surprisingly busy with bird life, with probably half a dozen Ring Ouzels on the playing fields and in the trees, a breeding pair of Fieldfare, Mistle Thrush, Chaffinch, two Wheatear, and a hybrid Common/Black Redstart. It confused us ini􏰀ally by looking more like a Common Redstart but singing like a Black Redstart.
It was then a return to the fishponds at Krajinski, where we hoped to catch up with the Li􏰁le Bi􏰁erns which eluded us on our previous visit. They did not disappoint: we spent a couple of hours watching what were probably two pairs of these deligh􏰂ul birds flying around. We watched the female swallow two improbably large fish in quick succession, much to our amusement. There were now two drake Red Crested Pochards on the lakes. Meanwhile, a pair of Golden Oriole and a Kingfisher buzzed around, a Black Woodpecker and a Cuckoo flew over.
Our guides Jure and Nastja joined us for dinner that night at the Hotel where Andy gave a review of the wonderful things we had experienced and thanked them for all their hard work and care they had taken with the group. Jim also said a few words thanking Andy and George for organising such a fantas􏰀c holiday on behalf of GBC. Malcolm
The following day we began the return journey to the UK with lots of memories of a fun week with friends old and new. Between us, we saw or heard 162 species and all of us saw something new. For most people, the ‘Bird of the Trip’ was the Ural Owl, but that does not diminish the many wonderful birds we experienced.
Andy
Tricky Word Play: Answers
Cryp􏰀c
1. Brambling
2. Bi􏰁ern
3. Sand Mar􏰀n
4. Dipper
5. House Sparrow
6. Snipe
7. Stonechat
8. Waxwing
9. Turtle Dove
10. Chough
Anagrams
1. Sanderling
2. Mandarin
3. Capercaillie
4. Green Sandpiper
5. Tree Pipit
6. Grey Phalarope
7. Nigh􏰀ngale
8. Oystercatcher
9. Corncrake
10. Red Grouse
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