tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-25830453254379879722024-02-08T04:17:36.402+00:00Jupiter BirdingThe birds and birding travels of June and Peter.Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.comBlogger478125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-44727326441503582332019-11-04T22:11:00.000+00:002019-11-04T22:18:49.065+00:00Algarve Autumn UpdateAfter our trip to Bulgaria we had only a few days in the UK before we returned to the Algarve. We expected October to be a busy month and it certainly was!<br />
<br />
October is always a month that produces rarities in the Algarve. This year has been no exception although the suspicion must be that several of them are birds that have returned for at least a second visit here. Surely this must be the case for the Rock Pipit at Porto do Baleeira, the Ring-necked Duck(s) at the ETAR de Vilamoura and probably the Marsh Sandpiper at Marinha do Grelha. Still, it’s always good to see old friends.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxegF45Ximf7hgv08a-7F3X7xEVZ1M4hlzSNyM3CAgPtjbsqAZ269NA6oHtbG074x8juvjmGF7jUfw85BgatUkY4BngErBV9zAcFELu35KhJdwEpXTwhl12ynnnwTCg5T9YWIjczBsTvhc/s1600/IMG_2999-Rock-Pipit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxegF45Ximf7hgv08a-7F3X7xEVZ1M4hlzSNyM3CAgPtjbsqAZ269NA6oHtbG074x8juvjmGF7jUfw85BgatUkY4BngErBV9zAcFELu35KhJdwEpXTwhl12ynnnwTCg5T9YWIjczBsTvhc/s320/IMG_2999-Rock-Pipit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rock Pipit</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Most photographed bird of the month (judged from appearances on Facebook) must be a Snow Bunting that was a surprise find at Alvor that gained many admirers. As well as being a particularly attractive bird, this is not an easy species to see in the Algarve, one we have seen here only once, back in 2012.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgmieS1d2Wv0gOjcLf20Ks69SX_MGlnegCoLMZMgzHYs9AMHHxe9LOu44QSfJ7TQvLeVBzjxLaHh1_xDEVhH-cbSQVrPDMqR0nm0HR1iCa8tlDjLxHjvUDOx71kAyQoSQGFMUXmcDvTcP/s1600/IMG_3172-Snow-Bunting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWgmieS1d2Wv0gOjcLf20Ks69SX_MGlnegCoLMZMgzHYs9AMHHxe9LOu44QSfJ7TQvLeVBzjxLaHh1_xDEVhH-cbSQVrPDMqR0nm0HR1iCa8tlDjLxHjvUDOx71kAyQoSQGFMUXmcDvTcP/s320/IMG_3172-Snow-Bunting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Snow Bunting - this one from 2012</div>
<br />
Also much photographed eventually was an American Golden Plover at Quinta de Marim although when we went to follow up on the initial report we were the only ones there – a typical Algarve twitch! Interest in it did increase in subsequent days and it was present for at least two weeks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqptt3J_fFNBP1NA3pwCosGxzPcD7ksysGcgWNFtUaAy6y65YSvdeHV-5U2HSLIu00Mm6xDGkW4v5FxhNSILbSD9XTg47jHj29SlgIYdDjVF3bzg_Er-3X2RQGXE9Ls1EV6nj0PNJ6TVD/s1600/X86A0332-American-Golden-PLover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSqptt3J_fFNBP1NA3pwCosGxzPcD7ksysGcgWNFtUaAy6y65YSvdeHV-5U2HSLIu00Mm6xDGkW4v5FxhNSILbSD9XTg47jHj29SlgIYdDjVF3bzg_Er-3X2RQGXE9Ls1EV6nj0PNJ6TVD/s320/X86A0332-American-Golden-PLover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
American Golden Plover</div>
<br />
Possibly the most surprising rarity has been the single Pink-footed Goose that was first seen mid-month. This was the first of this species recorded in the Algarve and it has remained in the Sagres area at least until the end of the month but has sometimes been elusive.<br />
<br />
A couple of Olive-backed Pipits have been seen and several Yellow-browed Warblers, encouraging us to look carefully at the numerous Meadow Pipits and <i>Phylloscopus</i> warblers that have been arriving even though those two rarities are probably more likely to be identified by their calls.<br />
<br />
At this time of year there is a tendency for rarities to be found in the Sagres area in the extreme south-west. At least in part this is probably the result of an increased number of birders in that area during the migration season. The annual birdwatching festival brings visitors from far and wide with raptors being the particular attraction. More than 20 raptor species were reported during the month including Golden, Bonelli’s & Spanish Imperial Eagles and Rüppell's Vultures. We saw about 400 Griffon Vultures during one of our visits there but only from such a distance that any Rüppell's amongst them were impossible to pick out.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnkD7TSJPcby59t88_lP08yVXjYlqSH7QjI8yuq4kVmZkJWrn0722RqC2dimBPqJmVBJuz7bhtWTdSYmQyeYAHAs-LUkggEAm1URANeYLb9HJ6A004lNABGW7G4zivQWwhSKAXXu9szia/s1600/IMG_7823-Griffon-Vultures.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfnkD7TSJPcby59t88_lP08yVXjYlqSH7QjI8yuq4kVmZkJWrn0722RqC2dimBPqJmVBJuz7bhtWTdSYmQyeYAHAs-LUkggEAm1URANeYLb9HJ6A004lNABGW7G4zivQWwhSKAXXu9szia/s320/IMG_7823-Griffon-Vultures.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Griffon Vultures</div>
<br />
This has been the first autumn for several years when we haven’t managed to take a boat trip to look for seabirds. Reports suggest that it hasn’t been a vintage year for seabird passage but the Long-tailed Skua photographed on 12th October and the Sabine’s Gull on the 18th would both certainly have been nice to see. Many of those who have ventured out to sea have been rewarded with some excellent cetaceans including Fin & Humpback Whales. As it is, we have had to content ourselves with watching distant Cory’s & Balearic Shearwaters from the cliff top at Cabo de São Vicente.<br />
<br />
In the past, our friends from Belvide Ringers in the UK have trapped and ringed a few rarities here during their annual autumn visits. Common Yellowthroat, Aquatic & Paddyfield Warblers and Common Rosefinches spring immediately to mind! This year they were here for two weeks, one spent as usual in the Parque Ambiental de Vilamoura and the other spent ringing waders at Quinta de Marim. We spent several hours with them at both locations and although there were no rarities it was as always educational to see so many birds at close quarters.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnH1ijrj7u5tzCULzDYm8rq083MXEKpCVpw5bt6dw4s4b9Wtk8Z2rf8hcPkFHr0K05Os1q3SoWRvKgIYMxARSHRUzDfDE4UpKBrAW3sOleWB0ZI-3Agr4uwFBwbMhwJBJvqnURPyGZwvl/s1600/IMG_2215-Eurasian-Wryneck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnH1ijrj7u5tzCULzDYm8rq083MXEKpCVpw5bt6dw4s4b9Wtk8Z2rf8hcPkFHr0K05Os1q3SoWRvKgIYMxARSHRUzDfDE4UpKBrAW3sOleWB0ZI-3Agr4uwFBwbMhwJBJvqnURPyGZwvl/s320/IMG_2215-Eurasian-Wryneck.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wryneck</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-haeY_ZD20EYmV0qmKf0LmEfUbbBjVXrnbRB-d8MBVvrYKQGCPC0qVTiN0KCtAvd8hqtQxm81T_VFk1iTZUMoXMuftuVQFopyXTu_of8GR62922cfqRxzSnIREfVxWWNYvDH9jt14HtSF/s1600/IMG_0428-Penduline-Tit.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-haeY_ZD20EYmV0qmKf0LmEfUbbBjVXrnbRB-d8MBVvrYKQGCPC0qVTiN0KCtAvd8hqtQxm81T_VFk1iTZUMoXMuftuVQFopyXTu_of8GR62922cfqRxzSnIREfVxWWNYvDH9jt14HtSF/s320/IMG_0428-Penduline-Tit.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Penduline Tit</div>
<br />
When we haven’t been guiding we’ve spent time birding around our local patch, the Tavira/Santa Luzia saltpans. It’s not unusual to see 20 or more wader species during a visit here as well as six gull species and at least two terns. There have been hundreds of Audouin’s Gulls, many of them with colour rings and we have reported quite a few. Most have been birds from the Algarve breeding colony on the Ilha da Barreta but we have also seen ART8, a bird ringed in 2005 on the Isla de Alborán in Spain that we have now seen about a dozen times over the years. The number of Slender-billed Gulls also increases year after year - it’s amazing to think that only quite recently this species was treated as a rarity in Portugal! If ever people we meet here suggest they’re not keen on gulls we try to convert them by showing readily identifiable and attractive Slender-billed & Audouin’s Gulls.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPVtvtBoFRLe0tXGQkNIsNHe_FekKy4la7g-1Gfiq7OdQpVRJoxQh_17cMSCMQweakC7brLk5Q5YUcHNzggNELtCQX9Dg4WWhTfoXLAHO8WW2SADfOvJcr6UNCrKDUv7PKHyLU3_OXU8D/s1600/IMG_1360-Greenshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrPVtvtBoFRLe0tXGQkNIsNHe_FekKy4la7g-1Gfiq7OdQpVRJoxQh_17cMSCMQweakC7brLk5Q5YUcHNzggNELtCQX9Dg4WWhTfoXLAHO8WW2SADfOvJcr6UNCrKDUv7PKHyLU3_OXU8D/s320/IMG_1360-Greenshank.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Greenshank</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgZogyWp-1FwacwCQiQiGQwKic9iZtbLExYvqi8wyxeqgTBoFGBIh7P9asKi12r6s7ECtTn0jb4PxCAB8M1N2_Hi83i_JPAllyhinUAs6PieXtBzz75t_gCs3yVIkfcL9OYDZbzbcy4um/s1600/IMG_2066-Spotted-Redshank.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisgZogyWp-1FwacwCQiQiGQwKic9iZtbLExYvqi8wyxeqgTBoFGBIh7P9asKi12r6s7ECtTn0jb4PxCAB8M1N2_Hi83i_JPAllyhinUAs6PieXtBzz75t_gCs3yVIkfcL9OYDZbzbcy4um/s320/IMG_2066-Spotted-Redshank.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Spotted Redshank</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoz3n_zm-bL4vsJW723LO-voKghg-u0WntAG0q5IcJdPSVI-6c-neMI-8e-Z4lxPIluUNP6pjNvGFWdz54pm_J3BORGSKmeNdTgjIEOAru9EEf2rQZ4J44Xz0FstolTTeMx1AokJQUZoMg/s1600/IMG_9023-Whimbrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoz3n_zm-bL4vsJW723LO-voKghg-u0WntAG0q5IcJdPSVI-6c-neMI-8e-Z4lxPIluUNP6pjNvGFWdz54pm_J3BORGSKmeNdTgjIEOAru9EEf2rQZ4J44Xz0FstolTTeMx1AokJQUZoMg/s320/IMG_9023-Whimbrel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Whimbrel</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7iz5t3xwKwtyV6NX9AbutTQWV7PaIXFQTeO2Et3q713wnB94KQlnXSwAAJE8X0AglMbiNVzr_7mt0_w1O4XZawa21x54N-oSjg7tVqoQ6P2gLnN-QMylj_NBk12HtuhifJjP4hiy6rNK/s1600/IMG_9861-Ruddy-Turnstone.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="461" data-original-width="600" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE7iz5t3xwKwtyV6NX9AbutTQWV7PaIXFQTeO2Et3q713wnB94KQlnXSwAAJE8X0AglMbiNVzr_7mt0_w1O4XZawa21x54N-oSjg7tVqoQ6P2gLnN-QMylj_NBk12HtuhifJjP4hiy6rNK/s320/IMG_9861-Ruddy-Turnstone.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ruddy Turnstone</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMT0gsrUlcFSi5PBtuyJdyY6yNYc7UqNjpqaGqms5dCMkaephvRd1mjJGYchsTGQ3fMwF-8ig_KDuXpmoa9ue-0_N9xpPJFzUUF9zjiWcwNJWvL7hLPIH4EBi_W2r-mjYbGH-nONiqFhw/s1600/X86A0074-Slender-billed-Gull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPMT0gsrUlcFSi5PBtuyJdyY6yNYc7UqNjpqaGqms5dCMkaephvRd1mjJGYchsTGQ3fMwF-8ig_KDuXpmoa9ue-0_N9xpPJFzUUF9zjiWcwNJWvL7hLPIH4EBi_W2r-mjYbGH-nONiqFhw/s320/X86A0074-Slender-billed-Gull.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Slender-billed Gull</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsrFd5laUFFUfswIey9nfH_5y8IW256gTDswBDEakFEqw1Mak9nTFJixYgVhrZOP8f3NlUPQrJ_m3yaWsVmCQ3FB7mmo6v2zxjg0CJNznvtRGwC7Twu12BctAlRkLmiZqYyFaahH3mJrN/s1600/X86A0144-Audouin%2527s-Gull-P237.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFsrFd5laUFFUfswIey9nfH_5y8IW256gTDswBDEakFEqw1Mak9nTFJixYgVhrZOP8f3NlUPQrJ_m3yaWsVmCQ3FB7mmo6v2zxjg0CJNznvtRGwC7Twu12BctAlRkLmiZqYyFaahH3mJrN/s320/X86A0144-Audouin%2527s-Gull-P237.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Audouin's Gull</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpro9IBqKie16q5CScjV5gPCw8H99dNsu1wzV97T3mGwfppMI0La3nXzpx-nXAJT6FnLUWc-KqvlqYLNfxvaXINCqWqLMmcH6otyy248YWDunxNL6NLo3xV5klOGyOIyjoGbcWqHgmCOyJ/s1600/IMG_0420-Reservoir-at-%25C3%2581lvares.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpro9IBqKie16q5CScjV5gPCw8H99dNsu1wzV97T3mGwfppMI0La3nXzpx-nXAJT6FnLUWc-KqvlqYLNfxvaXINCqWqLMmcH6otyy248YWDunxNL6NLo3xV5klOGyOIyjoGbcWqHgmCOyJ/s320/IMG_0420-Reservoir-at-%25C3%2581lvares.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Reservoir at Álvares - almost dry!</div>
<br />
We’ve also had a couple of trips to see Great Bustards in the Castro Verde area. Visiting this area has underlined the fact that the southern part of Portugal is suffering from a severe drought. A favourite site, the reservoir at Álvares that stores water to irrigate a huge olive plantation is currently reduced to just a small ‘puddle’ and passing by the Barragem de Odeleite, on the way north, we saw the water level there lower than we have ever seen it. And this is the reservoir that supplies mains water to most of the Eastern Algarve. We really do need to have a seriously wet winter! Something to look forward to?<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-51594519279594981082019-10-03T12:08:00.000+01:002019-10-03T12:08:07.862+01:00Bulgaria & RomaniaWe recently returned from leading an <a href="http://www.avianadventures.co.uk/" target="_blank">Avian Adventures</a> tour in Bulgaria and Romania where Dimiter Georgiev of <a href="http://www.neophron.com/" target="_blank">Neophron Tours</a> was our local driver/guide. We took a British Airways flight from Heathrow Terminal 5 to Sofia and then spent three nights at Kraimorie and three nights at Kavarna before crossing into Romania for some birding around the Danube Delta and then a return flight from Bucharest.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Il1dNamhE1jXys6ji5BmxeMuYUyjoGLm7DcpTybcRAFdjmCrx8zcx5U3w5bQO0C5x8nLt5RAJkKs3Nvmb1IyP3bLCjo4drmzegahblpglw6_faINuEqZSyhnEshjaZLVHTx2JXGD4XTX/s1600/X86A9846-Red-backed-Shrike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Il1dNamhE1jXys6ji5BmxeMuYUyjoGLm7DcpTybcRAFdjmCrx8zcx5U3w5bQO0C5x8nLt5RAJkKs3Nvmb1IyP3bLCjo4drmzegahblpglw6_faINuEqZSyhnEshjaZLVHTx2JXGD4XTX/s320/X86A9846-Red-backed-Shrike.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Red-backed Shrike - seen everywhere we went</div>
<br />
Kraimorie was a convenient base for two days birding around the Burgas Lakes. We divided our time in that area mostly between Lakes Vaya, Mandrensko, Atanasovsko & Pomorie and Poroy Reservoir. From Kavarna, we visited Durankulak Lake and Shabla Tuzla Lake, Cape Kaliakra and areas of nearby steppe grassland.<br />
<br />
Not surprisingly, we saw an impressive variety of wetland birds that included Great White & Dalmatian Pelicans, Ferruginous Duck, Pygmy Cormorant, Squacco Heron, White Stork, Gull-billed, Caspian & Whiskered Terns, Slender-billed & Caspian Gulls, Kentish Plover and Broad-billed Sandpiper. The downside was that water levels were generally low and as a result birds were mostly further away than we would have liked. Certainly, opportunities for photography were very few.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9Ns9v4adod9kaj2IJh_R9PnZKt_f9Bmca7vZu3Wo8VJYLbkGI4p3vVJbhdG0wKcOd_KEIX2Ep9Q02_8lOhHDejjGxvvVNmB-wqXX8fm9kGqJIaFUGgo8cpXhdEA1XNB-frNhnQJlnnP-/s1600/X86A9635-Broad-billed-Sandpiper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf9Ns9v4adod9kaj2IJh_R9PnZKt_f9Bmca7vZu3Wo8VJYLbkGI4p3vVJbhdG0wKcOd_KEIX2Ep9Q02_8lOhHDejjGxvvVNmB-wqXX8fm9kGqJIaFUGgo8cpXhdEA1XNB-frNhnQJlnnP-/s320/X86A9635-Broad-billed-Sandpiper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Broad-billed Sandpiper</div>
<br />
We also managed to see a good variety of raptors including Lesser Spotted, Short-toed, Booted & Eastern Imperial Eagles, Hobbys, Common & Long-legged Buzzards, Marsh Harrier, Eurasian & Levant Sparrowhawks and Red-footed Falcon. Mostly, however, these were in quite small numbers and we missed out on any raptor migration ‘spectacle’ that we might have wished for.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WzwRvgjypEkra192Lf86a7KARxqFBDdJV7jIBVkTkzbrnx1ItG3GO0Wgik0_oJ4V_ydJYwH5bhceg0o7OTqnre4EG76foAUcdejAeOe3pud59ZXFkEgTMgoQgpNoogUVtYlSoVPzbh2G/s1600/X86A9789-Levant-Sparrowhawk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1WzwRvgjypEkra192Lf86a7KARxqFBDdJV7jIBVkTkzbrnx1ItG3GO0Wgik0_oJ4V_ydJYwH5bhceg0o7OTqnre4EG76foAUcdejAeOe3pud59ZXFkEgTMgoQgpNoogUVtYlSoVPzbh2G/s320/X86A9789-Levant-Sparrowhawk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Levant Sparrowhawk - a 'lifer' for both of us</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcexu4I5cxgX9K8WQ-UBzVbfliB0Nk3SiKLjaCxqNeBn3LDeD9wrJGFpIZW4JvDs7qr2VhP040CmvLSXGqYln3EkMUlyTjnfzsHt61OwXoSJ6P3RbFjo_DAoumBIX2XrKToEUi7EiG0bg/s1600/X86A9804-Lesser-Spotted-Eagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcexu4I5cxgX9K8WQ-UBzVbfliB0Nk3SiKLjaCxqNeBn3LDeD9wrJGFpIZW4JvDs7qr2VhP040CmvLSXGqYln3EkMUlyTjnfzsHt61OwXoSJ6P3RbFjo_DAoumBIX2XrKToEUi7EiG0bg/s320/X86A9804-Lesser-Spotted-Eagle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lesser Spotted Eagle</div>
<br />
September is probably not the best time of year to see woodpeckers but June’s particular interest was satisfied by the Black, Syrian & Middle Spotted varieties that we don’t get to see very often. Other highlights were Sombre Tit, Yelkouan Shearwater, Corncrake, European Rollers, European Bee-eaters, Eurasian Eagle Owl, Red-breasted Flycatcher and, a sign of the times – European Turtle Dove. It was also good to see so many Red-backed Shrikes almost everywhere we went.<br />
<br />
Early one morning we visited a ringing camp and got to see several birds in the hand, notably Marsh, European Reed & Great Reed Warblers, Spanish Sparrow and Red-backed Shrike. However, few birds had been trapped and migration generally was probably affected by the weather, which for most of the week was unseasonably warm with temperatures often exceeding 30°C.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5AkIwgcAUxc-mypo8p-FMuJEheyoBId5oldo3CEMt_T6NDfIGR_EEKj2LCk-1y-cWZnx297diZlqiOakpCGJDx6IhIG6w0Beai3Y1dpXU51nY7kuk3invdaIjI9u74OiWWH9Bq_EJeBi/s1600/X86A9686-Spanish-Sparrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiL5AkIwgcAUxc-mypo8p-FMuJEheyoBId5oldo3CEMt_T6NDfIGR_EEKj2LCk-1y-cWZnx297diZlqiOakpCGJDx6IhIG6w0Beai3Y1dpXU51nY7kuk3invdaIjI9u74OiWWH9Bq_EJeBi/s320/X86A9686-Spanish-Sparrow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Spanish Sparrow</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL58SH93CaozbihokWyiMalQZR8tMbrgxq6VAQh1cS-bibthR7Ec5AB_eGuJyLYGlei2WE87yXBUjIY0BDbjHOmaP-N50xZIilAMM6k1zikyCdoVMnnMBjXihGD5dtyvTbGmzIP105C64i/s1600/X86A9692-Red-backed-Shrike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL58SH93CaozbihokWyiMalQZR8tMbrgxq6VAQh1cS-bibthR7Ec5AB_eGuJyLYGlei2WE87yXBUjIY0BDbjHOmaP-N50xZIilAMM6k1zikyCdoVMnnMBjXihGD5dtyvTbGmzIP105C64i/s320/X86A9692-Red-backed-Shrike.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Red-backed Shrike</div>
<br />
Although the week was mostly spent in Bulgaria, for the last day and a half we crossed into Romania with an overnight stay at Sinoe. This gave us an opportunity to sample just a very small part of Europe’s largest wetland, the Danube Delta. Undoubtedly the highlights here were the Red-footed Falcons. We were pleased enough to see at least 50 or so late in the afternoon of our arrival and then the following morning in a different area there were at least 250.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YpraO0s0X_rWu_M3V0cQev239_AQLorv7wpXSs75oNDDCgPgxBQ2zOeOozzHwbGt3p7EUFfdmsOS2693BBZYujJojFcSDQR0hj6Qe-lrstKmN5BA8RaTkXz0OB1LeRR5AbyFpVZyN_cy/s1600/X86A9888-Red-footed-Falcon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1YpraO0s0X_rWu_M3V0cQev239_AQLorv7wpXSs75oNDDCgPgxBQ2zOeOozzHwbGt3p7EUFfdmsOS2693BBZYujJojFcSDQR0hj6Qe-lrstKmN5BA8RaTkXz0OB1LeRR5AbyFpVZyN_cy/s320/X86A9888-Red-footed-Falcon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmWuYPJWndU6ggArI-6V7WYZuAgmY7SVQfsmCYqMAQpUdExFEu_yF3T0eJh-BfxjIf86yvilC0NYY1xD4KZIX0jeyxXqZSZpYq0T92WJJcK5nf9jhMJ7Yg0jfdNcPC_kSvmnrhX9_Oif3/s1600/X86A9946a-Red-footed-Falcon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmWuYPJWndU6ggArI-6V7WYZuAgmY7SVQfsmCYqMAQpUdExFEu_yF3T0eJh-BfxjIf86yvilC0NYY1xD4KZIX0jeyxXqZSZpYq0T92WJJcK5nf9jhMJ7Yg0jfdNcPC_kSvmnrhX9_Oif3/s320/X86A9946a-Red-footed-Falcon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Red-footed Falcons</div>
<br />
As with all tours that are aimed at seeing birds on migration there is a certain amount of luck involved with both the timing and the weather. Certainly, the cloudless skies and high temperatures during our week didn’t enhance our birding experience. Low water levels were also far from ideal. Nevertheless we did manage to see more than 150 bird species and everyone had at least one or two ‘lifers’. It's a tour we will look forward to repeating.<br />
<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjneIj0MQC68fGCDEhIW8nxjo7cg7JlZe7Ph9B9awHe4bplzQTffWc8MnebiT-pCazQtxDKlMUt53R9RibLKNa5ShZPy9CJtnPg5uCrhKLI3pk8Yop0hlw4rzByu7B_EyT6MlwBtMNKWc2G/s1600/IMG_0282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjneIj0MQC68fGCDEhIW8nxjo7cg7JlZe7Ph9B9awHe4bplzQTffWc8MnebiT-pCazQtxDKlMUt53R9RibLKNa5ShZPy9CJtnPg5uCrhKLI3pk8Yop0hlw4rzByu7B_EyT6MlwBtMNKWc2G/s320/IMG_0282.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Simultaneously looking for crakes and raptors!</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eCfzhwQmVb5ikUIFaxQwFu6K6aGFULNu22CrQ0WvO8vTOluZZ4XCyDNxeDdTGGotgwtl2mxXp7uDp6cI4DGFuiVQGgv6qlrln0ATegeE9V53JfFHnQouGO-9cH8bZkGVM4ACq0rV-Umx/s1600/IMG_0306a---straightened-horizon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2eCfzhwQmVb5ikUIFaxQwFu6K6aGFULNu22CrQ0WvO8vTOluZZ4XCyDNxeDdTGGotgwtl2mxXp7uDp6cI4DGFuiVQGgv6qlrln0ATegeE9V53JfFHnQouGO-9cH8bZkGVM4ACq0rV-Umx/s320/IMG_0306a---straightened-horizon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Now looking out over the Black Sea for shearwaters</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDwVkpQqz-x-V-7cNJsAErth775qDEDzaU4gZ6OHmvISopymWXzeiiZXwYhUcA86Q2Cvt5WpuQnfLWaP0YjN1AM6QGAmEejzb0602AEQ_gk_5mhxsI4R2dnyu-enb6iVIGUuB2af1PN0e/s1600/IMG_0315-Wind-turbines.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnDwVkpQqz-x-V-7cNJsAErth775qDEDzaU4gZ6OHmvISopymWXzeiiZXwYhUcA86Q2Cvt5WpuQnfLWaP0YjN1AM6QGAmEejzb0602AEQ_gk_5mhxsI4R2dnyu-enb6iVIGUuB2af1PN0e/s320/IMG_0315-Wind-turbines.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cape Kaliakra - we've never seen so many wind turbines</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowm_NEJWzCo-LPh2yxgHICKVZEynp0N898G1zjwh_w4mV9OGD9v-0GAC36vJF4JTvkz3k4yCVE1itIcyPQX0tMOXiJo-RoZUcosIH5-60RUNtWCUcCPI_jmhXbzMxqt5J4OF6Al5vqIJC/s1600/OTRM1781blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhowm_NEJWzCo-LPh2yxgHICKVZEynp0N898G1zjwh_w4mV9OGD9v-0GAC36vJF4JTvkz3k4yCVE1itIcyPQX0tMOXiJo-RoZUcosIH5-60RUNtWCUcCPI_jmhXbzMxqt5J4OF6Al5vqIJC/s320/OTRM1781blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ruddy Turnstone</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaORVw3ozW1UhUwPTNZwGODqvSajV5z8VbbrZsH6nx2joKwkL0hdxvv5bhFoNIMO4eszI0tME22WgdQP-aZ35C_KeGXStCZAUZMJ2t-jBA9uiArMg7rxVwQNsf7BJgKo2S4Rrm6aDD5gk3/s1600/X86A9570-Paper-wasps.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaORVw3ozW1UhUwPTNZwGODqvSajV5z8VbbrZsH6nx2joKwkL0hdxvv5bhFoNIMO4eszI0tME22WgdQP-aZ35C_KeGXStCZAUZMJ2t-jBA9uiArMg7rxVwQNsf7BJgKo2S4Rrm6aDD5gk3/s320/X86A9570-Paper-wasps.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
European Paper Wasps (Polistes dominula) - we think</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XBnSaqUJz0zVJSke37SwCUvhGAVfKgFxdyeTPLVB58Cxy9edd200V9SrvzC1a5wkBQA6GO8MFoeh_bK0rqwhNNw_mNsSX6lCwcIc0Q2OOccPJuuVH4qfHMFvXNzX9wdRdbQgvI3CLCtk/s1600/X86A9886a-Northern-Wheatear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-XBnSaqUJz0zVJSke37SwCUvhGAVfKgFxdyeTPLVB58Cxy9edd200V9SrvzC1a5wkBQA6GO8MFoeh_bK0rqwhNNw_mNsSX6lCwcIc0Q2OOccPJuuVH4qfHMFvXNzX9wdRdbQgvI3CLCtk/s320/X86A9886a-Northern-Wheatear.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Northern Wheatear</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNhyBHrRQOp8c95CLNzX8OGlyK0gkqBT5fxPOr0t5iEB2KJDMnQMGX42IrFJmoDYe5yGZjIVXPgqKArPQUeemL1VC6sFM9uDumKWHCCcgH4DtfnPiDP3tJZtBA34yraPRNae08IJZGKEP/s1600/X86A9984a-Cardinal-butterfly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPNhyBHrRQOp8c95CLNzX8OGlyK0gkqBT5fxPOr0t5iEB2KJDMnQMGX42IrFJmoDYe5yGZjIVXPgqKArPQUeemL1VC6sFM9uDumKWHCCcgH4DtfnPiDP3tJZtBA34yraPRNae08IJZGKEP/s320/X86A9984a-Cardinal-butterfly.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cardinal butterfly</div>
</div>
Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-65495879726546023772019-06-11T13:47:00.001+01:002019-06-11T13:47:48.966+01:00Ohio, Michigan, Indiana & IllinoisIn recent years northern Ohio has become the most popular destination in North America for birders wishing to witness the arrival of migrant birds in the spring. For some time we had been promising ourselves a visit there and at last this year we made it!<br />
<br />
It did mean having to leave the Algarve much earlier than normal but the timing is crucial; after doing our research we decided that the third and fourth weeks of May should give us the best experience both in terms of the number of birds and the variety of species. We also wanted to avoid the festival week as it attracts hundreds of birders to the area. “The Biggest Week in American Birding” hosted by Black Swamp Bird Observatory was this year held from 3rd to 12th May; we were keen to avoid the crowds and arrived in Ohio on the 15th.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEZHFMxWaqh7OLfgPWMKT7BFJ183EO0DObrx8vwES46wEl_9NuTSzjrqsiaey0dLmLayQaAFirtu_XUhkAwGNHrLXmF2b8vLUfltxOXnWV5jJF4l81kMdn1gwhzxU9f-1ObrUq1rpTZnz/s1600/IMG_2681-June-at-Magee-Marsh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinEZHFMxWaqh7OLfgPWMKT7BFJ183EO0DObrx8vwES46wEl_9NuTSzjrqsiaey0dLmLayQaAFirtu_XUhkAwGNHrLXmF2b8vLUfltxOXnWV5jJF4l81kMdn1gwhzxU9f-1ObrUq1rpTZnz/s320/IMG_2681-June-at-Magee-Marsh.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
The best known site is Magee Marsh Wildlife Area located on the south side of Lake Erie. It has become popular because the occurrence there of warblers, tanagers, thrushes, vireos and other neotropical migrants is much less dependent on weather conditions than it is at places such as High Island in Texas and Point Pelee in Ontario that were previously the two best-known spring migration hotspots.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNr6z9t2w22C8vn9a8NGb1Pu2U7oBeMoAirN7YPACdriexsDk5gFB2eXRNTifz9VyZtjIadWD2GLtFGqFRkL-X8njuRqsDGJV66OxGCTrQodCZbGwceaUY-S0lAwI9BduoHO6hKbQjh47/s1600/X86A7653-Swainson%2527s-Thrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiNr6z9t2w22C8vn9a8NGb1Pu2U7oBeMoAirN7YPACdriexsDk5gFB2eXRNTifz9VyZtjIadWD2GLtFGqFRkL-X8njuRqsDGJV66OxGCTrQodCZbGwceaUY-S0lAwI9BduoHO6hKbQjh47/s320/X86A7653-Swainson%2527s-Thrush.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Swainson's Thrush</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9X-eqypFBzk3epaYtTjh3ggvPok_OUgSNM9qq8hMl1HqgktJd-BKEjAwtoLtaESjohwltR-bU1ccPTe4EJac-Pgdw5sNMSIYBO03UFHIFPlTVJg-ur9b0l8Cgy42j8ep7-F8LBL4_vtn/s1600/X86A7918-Chestnut-sided-Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV9X-eqypFBzk3epaYtTjh3ggvPok_OUgSNM9qq8hMl1HqgktJd-BKEjAwtoLtaESjohwltR-bU1ccPTe4EJac-Pgdw5sNMSIYBO03UFHIFPlTVJg-ur9b0l8Cgy42j8ep7-F8LBL4_vtn/s320/X86A7918-Chestnut-sided-Warbler.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chestnut-sided Warbler</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmxcBLM8x_3HV_t0U_TH895RBETIamtzwwaCtw53ba3rkJSh9bocieAki8LDrq5_o4K31dDVfH6VX0dpJC-QNfiD-BPf7jdDvgKpH2b7YLlZlbe27suOggHGPfjetK2-Q_jva1UTn3L5z/s1600/X86A7317-Warbling-Vireo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmxcBLM8x_3HV_t0U_TH895RBETIamtzwwaCtw53ba3rkJSh9bocieAki8LDrq5_o4K31dDVfH6VX0dpJC-QNfiD-BPf7jdDvgKpH2b7YLlZlbe27suOggHGPfjetK2-Q_jva1UTn3L5z/s320/X86A7317-Warbling-Vireo.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Warbling Vireo</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fUtcwfQ2sajlmbIadHwq1M7En8FlMG8ZVILKTn3XrZ80JvT9jxWrDcSo4YVr4UWu3B58oikIYJajjB3N9LV2Bcu9rax_VPZy4cB6tzpkKx8hXV1zwNFA-8vfl9qlHXgH1xAvy-PpenyB/s1600/X86A8198-Scarlet-Tanager.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6fUtcwfQ2sajlmbIadHwq1M7En8FlMG8ZVILKTn3XrZ80JvT9jxWrDcSo4YVr4UWu3B58oikIYJajjB3N9LV2Bcu9rax_VPZy4cB6tzpkKx8hXV1zwNFA-8vfl9qlHXgH1xAvy-PpenyB/s320/X86A8198-Scarlet-Tanager.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Scarlet Tanager</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJZEoil8oHtRIpicYS8zEgMzPCTOZ5EPchJWn3DmMnsDcIaIiWfGxqJooMF2weO7w4AgzHzXsgkdP-T3eXKMEh6FmRHzns9ovy9yK4XMWsWCkHu1TG_ckIc01o-ZXTeAPtFsu5q2EbC7X/s1600/X86A7299-American-Redstart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJZEoil8oHtRIpicYS8zEgMzPCTOZ5EPchJWn3DmMnsDcIaIiWfGxqJooMF2weO7w4AgzHzXsgkdP-T3eXKMEh6FmRHzns9ovy9yK4XMWsWCkHu1TG_ckIc01o-ZXTeAPtFsu5q2EbC7X/s320/X86A7299-American-Redstart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
American Redstart</div>
<br />
We have been fortunate in the past to make multiple visits to the USA, including tours in Texas for the spring migration at High Island and elsewhere. As a result we were already quite familiar with most of the species we were likely to see in Ohio and being on our own for once, we were under no pressure to chase around trying to see absolutely every species on offer. This was to be a relaxing birding trip with time taken for some photography.<br />
<br />
However, most of our trips to the USA have been to the west and there were three species that we thought should be possible on this trip, which we hadn’t seen before. These were American Woodcock and Black-billed Cuckoo, which are very much ‘eastern birds’ and Kirtland’s Warbler, which breeds in nearby Michigan and which we would probably have to travel to find unless we were lucky enough to see a migrant passing through Magee.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6MoJsXEfom42R3K57Q7SAxXk23__i0IsWBaCEyn0eQehuUxoXA-L9uQgrueBPHY37xZvz0Kder5a4Mm8RWel0JIYaLZdtSyVInoyFDsOvAhxEFlkWss4w1SrRrj0g_syvdU1fPCQB5hD/s1600/X86A7252-Black-and-white-Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis6MoJsXEfom42R3K57Q7SAxXk23__i0IsWBaCEyn0eQehuUxoXA-L9uQgrueBPHY37xZvz0Kder5a4Mm8RWel0JIYaLZdtSyVInoyFDsOvAhxEFlkWss4w1SrRrj0g_syvdU1fPCQB5hD/s320/X86A7252-Black-and-white-Warbler.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Black-and-white Warbler</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Also on our radar was Connecticut Warbler, a shy, skulking species which has the reputation of being one of, if not the most difficult of the warblers to see and which had previously eluded us.<br />
<br />
We began with a six-night stay at Port Clinton, which gave us five days within easy reach of Magee Marsh and we went there for at least part of each of those days. On every visit the ‘famous’ boardwalk through the marsh was well-populated with birders and photographers but never to an extent that it felt overcrowded. The whole place was also full of birds. We managed to see 22 warbler species and we were delighted that these included a Connecticut Warbler. Other migrants included four vireo species, half a dozen or so flycatchers, Baltimore Oriole, Grey-cheeked & Swainson’s Thrushes and another of our targets, Black-billed Cuckoo. Sadly, there was no sign of American Woodcock and hardly a mention of one.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQTqNnR0BjJrovYCnMCMC065s0lpHpSTYcmWJx8nNqtdiw_0iYLrpC0mpKaliJTVmqQ8m9z7QAo2RCfFjQdUGeeZSsOlGgDCRFwv54Kgq0V79mZYJwA1WdG07uLkfN7Z1tgN7oMQ_uSwB/s1600/X86A8080-Baltimore-Oriole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQTqNnR0BjJrovYCnMCMC065s0lpHpSTYcmWJx8nNqtdiw_0iYLrpC0mpKaliJTVmqQ8m9z7QAo2RCfFjQdUGeeZSsOlGgDCRFwv54Kgq0V79mZYJwA1WdG07uLkfN7Z1tgN7oMQ_uSwB/s320/X86A8080-Baltimore-Oriole.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Baltimore Oriole</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOe435tP8gEPPx_xp3YZ0QE3kgiryObpq7fs0ahaIHB19-nqLEybLJPe6YiApz9QXX6T7R5iKCriyF82hU4bvgxYd1D4CNyAg6SbTlWNq44-w8hNd5kQMhmCx14AeLWzF4mplXX68QwM_Z/s1600/X86A7598-Bay-breasted-Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOe435tP8gEPPx_xp3YZ0QE3kgiryObpq7fs0ahaIHB19-nqLEybLJPe6YiApz9QXX6T7R5iKCriyF82hU4bvgxYd1D4CNyAg6SbTlWNq44-w8hNd5kQMhmCx14AeLWzF4mplXX68QwM_Z/s320/X86A7598-Bay-breasted-Warbler.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bay-breasted Warbler</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYYtJCmb9bODHjNEbEo8aKQWmiQR9Amd3tQwlH-18k7RtlpOk2kh4KcmCR2P4jUKAGZkAAheXk-GgSPQl9NDIngtlo37tOzV9YsYbTyUyE-O6SihNXFzzcbaGLmlY06Wo0HL_ukAGheEi/s1600/X86A8517-Connecticut-Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinYYtJCmb9bODHjNEbEo8aKQWmiQR9Amd3tQwlH-18k7RtlpOk2kh4KcmCR2P4jUKAGZkAAheXk-GgSPQl9NDIngtlo37tOzV9YsYbTyUyE-O6SihNXFzzcbaGLmlY06Wo0HL_ukAGheEi/s320/X86A8517-Connecticut-Warbler.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Connecticut Warbler</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQhNDrRsh7Y4nTUXvBN2Dr0YcAg4mVXkDSzEiKGDeLBg1RkMDg_VQ-BMiW1zRg-VaVFbipw-cvvnCdkm7yKYeEcCc_v_GyA3AMwJNNy_DmECLdoIwbSoRImgStdLKmim64oH_HY-npS4F/s1600/X86A8007-Northern-Parula.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQhNDrRsh7Y4nTUXvBN2Dr0YcAg4mVXkDSzEiKGDeLBg1RkMDg_VQ-BMiW1zRg-VaVFbipw-cvvnCdkm7yKYeEcCc_v_GyA3AMwJNNy_DmECLdoIwbSoRImgStdLKmim64oH_HY-npS4F/s320/X86A8007-Northern-Parula.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Northern Parula</div>
<br />
In the same general area, we visited Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge, Oak Openings Preserve Metropark, Maumee Bay State Park, Howard Marsh Metropark and Black Swamp Bird Observatory. There were other options available but Magee Marsh was excellent throughout and there were enough birds everywhere to more than satisfy us. In fact, we even cancelled our planned trip to Cleveland and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame because the birding was so good!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmVBOfiS9dMnq0h4DoUIDSSWFmHx-D7WeE9ty0nXsXAYswE0snLKHSBkaj4k100hFA6pgRrcj7j09pZ2XOEMYE1TE3xepsu5ALWH4E-Dstx-uZE55gdPlpeTqCBKwDxUfjs8Q3Jw2wC85/s1600/X86A8637-Yellow-Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCmVBOfiS9dMnq0h4DoUIDSSWFmHx-D7WeE9ty0nXsXAYswE0snLKHSBkaj4k100hFA6pgRrcj7j09pZ2XOEMYE1TE3xepsu5ALWH4E-Dstx-uZE55gdPlpeTqCBKwDxUfjs8Q3Jw2wC85/s320/X86A8637-Yellow-Warbler.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yellow Warbler</div>
<br />
Eventually we moved on into neighbouring Michigan, spending a very enjoyable couple of hours first of all at the Motown Museum in Detroit. Here we saw the famous Studio A where so many hit recordings were made between 1959 and 1972 by Smokey Robinson & the Miracles, the Supremes, Stevie Wonder, the Jackson 5, the Four Tops and others. We even got to sing a long to the Temptations' 'My Girl'!<br />
<br />
The afternoon was spent birding at Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge located five miles south of the city of Saginaw where an Orange-crowned Warbler, two Sandhill Cranes and several Wild Turkeys were among several species that we hadn’t seen earlier in Ohio.<br />
<br />
Next we went further north to Oscoda for a four-night stay on the shore of Lake Huron. The main birding locality here is Tawas Point State Park, another well-known site for migrants while nearby is Tuttle Marsh Wildlife Area. Much of our time was spent visiting these two areas but we also enlisted the help of local birder and guide, Matt Hegwood to make sure we saw our remaining target species, American Woodcock and Kirtland’s Warbler. Matt took us to various places, mostly within the Huron-Manistee National Forest and his local knowledge was invaluable.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGXj8hyphenhyphen_daqmuybq07im7-Qq7Q7A919SlJ6VDxYiNMeYlZcIfROHk9Q4oH2nBbDr_lh-E6seiCpPF9WP9PCRpbAQThIW9sh0RPxxLiTAaClDxITRdlo_-crg1XyRwhTjq-dyvJhpOGOML/s1600/X86A8701-Kirtland%2527s-Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiGXj8hyphenhyphen_daqmuybq07im7-Qq7Q7A919SlJ6VDxYiNMeYlZcIfROHk9Q4oH2nBbDr_lh-E6seiCpPF9WP9PCRpbAQThIW9sh0RPxxLiTAaClDxITRdlo_-crg1XyRwhTjq-dyvJhpOGOML/s320/X86A8701-Kirtland%2527s-Warbler.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Kirtland's Warbler</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
At Tawas Point we found a very similar selection of migrants to those we had seen at Magee Marsh and again in very good numbers. Further additions to the growing list of warblers were a Mourning Warbler and a Black-throated Blue Warbler. As well as warblers and vireos there were Bobolinks, Cedar Waxwings and Brown Thrashers and at the end of the peninsula, shorebirds, notably more than 200 Whimbrel.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9N32QFuc4oYwLLsGfxdtpgrzU34LI-2yqFeahwqAJcBZygVWap1AQBfXrknsFl79VAb8b8Ao6ItfMZRX36Q0VZY3-4RWZb0JOnoz8J5o_DPH-Xs0XlXyyEd-EFblKMXF4KUeQJGSeD8Y8/s1600/X86A8679-Red-eyed-Vireo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9N32QFuc4oYwLLsGfxdtpgrzU34LI-2yqFeahwqAJcBZygVWap1AQBfXrknsFl79VAb8b8Ao6ItfMZRX36Q0VZY3-4RWZb0JOnoz8J5o_DPH-Xs0XlXyyEd-EFblKMXF4KUeQJGSeD8Y8/s320/X86A8679-Red-eyed-Vireo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Red-eyed Vireo</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSQJD_1mk0VWL8UriBvR3iUfdRUCG6ShZ6aNkuR_kewHwMjEcfm46S7IOADuUm1sQzVg-apZwkem6rNAKmwL9lpMydsK0aTMoEMbtGcnZIdxgwFmctelFKfbEr1uyHF-g21dfN52aXHD4/s1600/X86A8733-Rose-breasted-Grosbeak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvSQJD_1mk0VWL8UriBvR3iUfdRUCG6ShZ6aNkuR_kewHwMjEcfm46S7IOADuUm1sQzVg-apZwkem6rNAKmwL9lpMydsK0aTMoEMbtGcnZIdxgwFmctelFKfbEr1uyHF-g21dfN52aXHD4/s320/X86A8733-Rose-breasted-Grosbeak.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rose-breasted Grosbeak</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Tuttle Marsh also produced a very worthwhile selection of birds including Barred Owl, American Bittern, Golden-winged Warbler, Virginia Rail, Bald Eagle (at one point mobbed by an Osprey), Belted Kingfisher, Wood Ducks (18 in one tree) and Olive-sided Flycatcher.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRCAwME-zRyWCGeXsaJz4RvL2op478eJSzuEizzNMlonkLnFh4ZYc_dsUZw2gX-h4dtE29HG-xTRoU4SheK_5OvmD7PjGGy-cldz1K4cT-Zb4hByT8py2GQU4Hu6JrGURBvzY-tva2tty/s1600/X86A8874-Virginia-Rail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcRCAwME-zRyWCGeXsaJz4RvL2op478eJSzuEizzNMlonkLnFh4ZYc_dsUZw2gX-h4dtE29HG-xTRoU4SheK_5OvmD7PjGGy-cldz1K4cT-Zb4hByT8py2GQU4Hu6JrGURBvzY-tva2tty/s320/X86A8874-Virginia-Rail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Virginia Rail</div>
<br />
Matt very soon found for us a pair of Kirtland’s Warblers that we were able to see at very close range. Almost extinct 50 years ago, this species has recovered well as large areas of its favoured jack pine forest habitat have been managed to meet its needs and large numbers of Brown-headed Cowbirds have been removed. It is reported that in the 1960s, 70% of warbler nests were parasitized by cowbirds reducing the number of warbler chicks to fewer than needed to perpetuate the species.<br />
<br />
During our time with Matt we also saw Pine & Palm Warblers and Northern Waterthrush, bringing the warbler total to 29 species, seven woodpecker species, White-breasted & Red-breasted Nuthatches, Merlin, Northern Harrier, Red-shouldered Hawk, Golden-crowned Kinglet and lots more.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPh9tS9cv4LVzkeXxAh-sBTL9ONiWdVPkZTJN_bd0O3SYnb1q65thoLtwcZf2LsOZB3tsk1yhcDnyf4xripJ5v89L4-3_zL7Q8OW0IGWZw_nZ732mYt6OUiV9JhBpgnomIx9SWKL_yya5/s1600/X86A7477-Red-breasted-Nuthatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtPh9tS9cv4LVzkeXxAh-sBTL9ONiWdVPkZTJN_bd0O3SYnb1q65thoLtwcZf2LsOZB3tsk1yhcDnyf4xripJ5v89L4-3_zL7Q8OW0IGWZw_nZ732mYt6OUiV9JhBpgnomIx9SWKL_yya5/s320/X86A7477-Red-breasted-Nuthatch.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Red-breasted Nuthatch</div>
<br />
That left just the American Woodcock to find, which Matt duly did although it did take two attempts. Eventually, we saw and heard the display flight and heard the strange ‘peent’ call of a bird on the ground just a short distance along the track from where we were standing. All this was, of course, at dusk in fading light; while we were waiting for the action to start we watched Common Nighthawks overhead and then, just a few yards away, an Eastern Whip-poor-will began singing. All in all it was a memorable experience.<br />
<br />
After ten days birding in Ohio and Michigan we moved on again and enjoyed two visits to Indiana Dunes State Park, situated on the shores of Lake Michigan but, of course, in the state of Indiana. Just to confuse things further, we stayed overnight in Michigan City, which itself is in Indiana!<br />
<br />
Although we enjoyed a few sunny days during the trip, we also had our share of cold days and rain. The most extreme weather came while we were in Michigan City in the form of a severe thunderstorm and a tornado that eventually passed by about five miles to the south of us leaving all sorts of damage in its wake.<br />
<br />
Indiana Dunes State Park was excellent. As well as more than three miles of beach and towering sand dunes there is visitor centre with bird feeders and a network of forest trails where we found lots of interest. Highlights among the birds were again the warblers including Mourning, Prothonotary, Magnolia and two additions to our list, Worm-eating & Cerulean. On our second morning there we ran into Kyle Wiktor who had been carrying out a visible migration count, which had included a remarkable 8,681 Cedar Waxwings!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8S3Rn87eEJItJctRjgDdJ351iMAbMLAwGfTfxas6fx9kwVG69FIm7AjQIsOj2Cr-JpgW-CIozYb61ZwyLe3MtkXL3lipHRIZnR0qouMQxHV0PK1c8npDqFolnxSC-JoAgfjzuFNZPGvi/s1600/X86A9224-Downy-Woodpecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL8S3Rn87eEJItJctRjgDdJ351iMAbMLAwGfTfxas6fx9kwVG69FIm7AjQIsOj2Cr-JpgW-CIozYb61ZwyLe3MtkXL3lipHRIZnR0qouMQxHV0PK1c8npDqFolnxSC-JoAgfjzuFNZPGvi/s320/X86A9224-Downy-Woodpecker.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Downy Woodpecker</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kVs2aUll4Kb2MZeT0rO3pn3kLpZnVqeCJRYFvFY6DLD-C3A3JmZPkaJdO4GmAH4SfrtE9oOf-rO3tBbVVDnBSUllduB1I42_S9NlQXuIgR06RYxi_lB56AIkoghZGbWFd_1M6qi2BHuR/s1600/X86A9259-Red-headed-Woodpecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kVs2aUll4Kb2MZeT0rO3pn3kLpZnVqeCJRYFvFY6DLD-C3A3JmZPkaJdO4GmAH4SfrtE9oOf-rO3tBbVVDnBSUllduB1I42_S9NlQXuIgR06RYxi_lB56AIkoghZGbWFd_1M6qi2BHuR/s320/X86A9259-Red-headed-Woodpecker.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Red-headed Woodpecker</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJ70JU8NwbfArSX9Hh9UlnJDeyQkjbGtubfm2OPZq7-c4mArynOp6tHQSL7eZgUIrYY9nsyg6V3KzlyJ8avUPrQowpArqdskl3bkjz8HMK6N-zF4Ciah_oKSbmqPErYhwjXl0bsmgmKtH/s1600/X86A8669-Cedar-Waxwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsJ70JU8NwbfArSX9Hh9UlnJDeyQkjbGtubfm2OPZq7-c4mArynOp6tHQSL7eZgUIrYY9nsyg6V3KzlyJ8avUPrQowpArqdskl3bkjz8HMK6N-zF4Ciah_oKSbmqPErYhwjXl0bsmgmKtH/s320/X86A8669-Cedar-Waxwing.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cedar Waxwing</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFJ5nIXBrEV2TEJVnkgOfGevn9XgpQ9trAdT4q_LzM8eKmFKzau0xQrvM0ow_3Lg38ML6hr6vQIYXGsOUe0ztQyd6Lb7G9hPIvu5wI_JLscvSZOyCglIbdnr-KjxHO6XHeg2OdKyFE28H/s1600/X86A9303-Prothonotary-Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlFJ5nIXBrEV2TEJVnkgOfGevn9XgpQ9trAdT4q_LzM8eKmFKzau0xQrvM0ow_3Lg38ML6hr6vQIYXGsOUe0ztQyd6Lb7G9hPIvu5wI_JLscvSZOyCglIbdnr-KjxHO6XHeg2OdKyFE28H/s320/X86A9303-Prothonotary-Warbler.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Prothonotary Warbler</div>
<br />
From Indiana we drove into Illinois to stay with family for a week. During this time there was a day trip to see the sights of Chicago but the birding continued. We were staying within easy walking distance of Burnidge Forest Preserve and made four visits there. The area has a nice mix of habitats that includes oak woodland, marshes and restored prairie. The birds were mostly species we had seen before on the trip but at last we got good looks at Eastern Towhee and Field Sparrow and it was good to have both Alder and Willow Flycatchers singing. By now it was early June and there wasn’t much evidence at this inland site of any migration in progress. Obviously, it was time to come home! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLAOUPFLqP2c-9eSklt3pYTWVzY2Da2SARyfNvTSZ_4x_vvcMlQjo2_kbdbk0E9OJvZFE_cwLhWgbkC8hFVDfwLHPUXUEixZdZgndk0c6sdSPH4UZKENWx-HHfmdirzBF_tIkRpKtylKM/s1600/IMG_2147a-Chicago.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="327" data-original-width="600" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCLAOUPFLqP2c-9eSklt3pYTWVzY2Da2SARyfNvTSZ_4x_vvcMlQjo2_kbdbk0E9OJvZFE_cwLhWgbkC8hFVDfwLHPUXUEixZdZgndk0c6sdSPH4UZKENWx-HHfmdirzBF_tIkRpKtylKM/s320/IMG_2147a-Chicago.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The Windy City</div>
<br />
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Yha1VFGTKhH5K5y6OD-1eEXP09SVvu9e4hUqqeAM-cMgM6CbQJzYJXaHt76mWmAI5Wtq3WxHrj2yrQV3NMHwfdcGU_k8QjLMTf_7L7HqmUrDgUJbNYoftOnNe3mG2zVoq6J8YjfbQiXZ/s1600/X86A9447-Field-Sparrow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Yha1VFGTKhH5K5y6OD-1eEXP09SVvu9e4hUqqeAM-cMgM6CbQJzYJXaHt76mWmAI5Wtq3WxHrj2yrQV3NMHwfdcGU_k8QjLMTf_7L7HqmUrDgUJbNYoftOnNe3mG2zVoq6J8YjfbQiXZ/s320/X86A9447-Field-Sparrow.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Field Sparrow</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyM0UTgGUI9Cf8ki64Ob9MlJ2usVq9sTtpl0HFrzsI7DaX8EteHHMBvNRhRohjDidBRZvIGYRCtpofRPshZRKPAHtDqHxlw7BV6-JnpiZAaHANzn9j2pSJDV5q7aa2i-BVVzVYOx8H9Yo/s1600/X86A8547-Red-winged-Blackbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihyM0UTgGUI9Cf8ki64Ob9MlJ2usVq9sTtpl0HFrzsI7DaX8EteHHMBvNRhRohjDidBRZvIGYRCtpofRPshZRKPAHtDqHxlw7BV6-JnpiZAaHANzn9j2pSJDV5q7aa2i-BVVzVYOx8H9Yo/s320/X86A8547-Red-winged-Blackbird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Red-winged Blackbird</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhId5yNo4U7EWSCkaDskCafxvK_CVPOJnWFcNYx_xNfIwccdFNPszzUDGmJ2byNJnVaYgeIOdbyUg_8wnXoeyhTKOqJt_MibB_N886dCXOtTBWzhknBo4bSII-NcGaAMM85tMxyD26vPTwI/s1600/X86A7130-American-Robin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhId5yNo4U7EWSCkaDskCafxvK_CVPOJnWFcNYx_xNfIwccdFNPszzUDGmJ2byNJnVaYgeIOdbyUg_8wnXoeyhTKOqJt_MibB_N886dCXOtTBWzhknBo4bSII-NcGaAMM85tMxyD26vPTwI/s320/X86A7130-American-Robin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
American Robin</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16Cs4apH9bagvrBsf4OYqRXkidPUMS_LXPO6noBh3CQ0HdKU6t0Dis3hSeNEb9887CFkaMiwS2SUBBSknPLWXXCfOt0eIX31DD1CSLpWO7wrhNg2oHFhuU-zhrMkjs_1mIS4M2p47nXHY/s1600/X86A7333-Grey-Catbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi16Cs4apH9bagvrBsf4OYqRXkidPUMS_LXPO6noBh3CQ0HdKU6t0Dis3hSeNEb9887CFkaMiwS2SUBBSknPLWXXCfOt0eIX31DD1CSLpWO7wrhNg2oHFhuU-zhrMkjs_1mIS4M2p47nXHY/s320/X86A7333-Grey-Catbird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Grey Catbird</div>
<br /></div>
Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-38091441734288821452019-03-21T15:39:00.002+00:002019-03-21T15:41:07.327+00:00India photography tourRecently I (Peter) spent a week in India photographing birds and mammals. Like my visit to Guatemala last year, this trip was arranged by <a href="http://www.innatenetwork.com/" target="_blank">Skua Nature INNATE</a>. Again I was the only Brit in a multinational group with representatives from Australia, Belgium, Italy, Norway, Sweden and USA.<br />
<br />
The week began with a flight to Delhi and then transfer by road to Bharatpur in Rajasthan where we stayed at The Bagh, a very comfortable hotel located just 4 km from Keoladeo National Park. The National Park, formerly known as the Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary, is an artificial, man-managed wetland that protects the city of Bharatpur from frequent floods and formerly was used as a waterfowl hunting ground. Known locally as Ghana, the 29 sq km reserve is a mosaic of dry grasslands, woodlands, woodland swamps and wetlands which are home to 366 bird species. It is a World Heritage Site and is designated as a wetland of international importance under the 1971 Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. With transport around the site by cycle rickshaw, it is also a great place for photography!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vk1C3HxXylJbb_ss6nxj-MUap6LHvc0w0y1giBATYOLxhGrK_vZdM0FX9t1dAKlyT_AJro5ttHLuBH4JyNY3sCtQ8jy4_aB-yK1PDh1e6zBbhFJyujRF2cqsGZSKyv5pysZGvZFx6TDH/s1600/X86A2369-White-throated-Kingfisher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2vk1C3HxXylJbb_ss6nxj-MUap6LHvc0w0y1giBATYOLxhGrK_vZdM0FX9t1dAKlyT_AJro5ttHLuBH4JyNY3sCtQ8jy4_aB-yK1PDh1e6zBbhFJyujRF2cqsGZSKyv5pysZGvZFx6TDH/s320/X86A2369-White-throated-Kingfisher.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
White-throated Kingfisher</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6djC7IvNKphuT_xIRrlm1UVOER3ZZM3CYudcaRza4DPuKM9EO6DAfazyU4rCFWedtaLQC-KW6L3O_yFlfdl_juFrvrx8PX5N50lIcPr24hmif2GguTpHQQeuThFbwVof_rmjU_hoMo0u/s1600/X86A2359-Indian-Pond-Heron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf6djC7IvNKphuT_xIRrlm1UVOER3ZZM3CYudcaRza4DPuKM9EO6DAfazyU4rCFWedtaLQC-KW6L3O_yFlfdl_juFrvrx8PX5N50lIcPr24hmif2GguTpHQQeuThFbwVof_rmjU_hoMo0u/s320/X86A2359-Indian-Pond-Heron.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Indian Pond Heron</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbvZGNpHLdiEoyUjRToaJpV2T-5Vly5PPcjaaPzfBgCoFwjOujHHyhMiqUfwLRzKxtvvqJxXhhaSYi41JB3VW0igYQjrkjCT3NL6Ef4v6HSmCeZBlkq0F1ij53Zem0bpZm5v24_loILbX/s1600/X86A2618-Little-Cormorant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHbvZGNpHLdiEoyUjRToaJpV2T-5Vly5PPcjaaPzfBgCoFwjOujHHyhMiqUfwLRzKxtvvqJxXhhaSYi41JB3VW0igYQjrkjCT3NL6Ef4v6HSmCeZBlkq0F1ij53Zem0bpZm5v24_loILbX/s320/X86A2618-Little-Cormorant.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Little Cormorant</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoHwB7hYGoltsALGSb8hINKth41lWLphi8tsfvg4BaBlGO6HKOOskaaa0yeWYhVEB4qLt8Bj8gS_1fmAdPO1qNY_k6n5TPh-BuNxQgzlHX_g24GGppEKbmzvMcaYdp4JQ_7cHhyBYDV-S/s1600/X86A2713-Bronze-winged-Jacana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwoHwB7hYGoltsALGSb8hINKth41lWLphi8tsfvg4BaBlGO6HKOOskaaa0yeWYhVEB4qLt8Bj8gS_1fmAdPO1qNY_k6n5TPh-BuNxQgzlHX_g24GGppEKbmzvMcaYdp4JQ_7cHhyBYDV-S/s320/X86A2713-Bronze-winged-Jacana.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bronze-winged Jacana</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZ-_gcISrd9pdJHpbZhdttm5luJPKaua38Jaq9LZXq7nlLsVDnRM6GTkjQCC5Z0NeSTrhrMv-Zp3oqi31WI3-3C3ZC2yrWWJzA3oRZPt7VFuHjPeK0W8yn8I4KwxYwxz332o1Yqe4x6pX/s1600/X86A3709-Sarus-Crane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIZ-_gcISrd9pdJHpbZhdttm5luJPKaua38Jaq9LZXq7nlLsVDnRM6GTkjQCC5Z0NeSTrhrMv-Zp3oqi31WI3-3C3ZC2yrWWJzA3oRZPt7VFuHjPeK0W8yn8I4KwxYwxz332o1Yqe4x6pX/s320/X86A3709-Sarus-Crane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sarus Crane</div>
<br />
The hotel was also excellent for photography. The Bagh is set in 16 hectares of grounds where up to 200 bird species are said to have been recorded. Several hides have been built here specifically for bird photographers. They are constructed from traditional materials, overlook differing habitats and vary in capacity for two to eight people. So we were able to divide our time between the National Park and the hotel gardens with plenty of subjects to photograph at both.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3h8SpnPZrgtvR3TN6c0cKYgvR5SD8f6mhVMThL418U_9JmqfOGAP4yhDyKMaGuwp9ITCuYlfvgxP_R1IrT6c7rjzRZMkrxM5MrTkl0D8MzxZwgjCdc8p-mOh_IGW4EnKsznHBmYkiOs_/s1600/X86A3105-White-breasted-Waterhen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG3h8SpnPZrgtvR3TN6c0cKYgvR5SD8f6mhVMThL418U_9JmqfOGAP4yhDyKMaGuwp9ITCuYlfvgxP_R1IrT6c7rjzRZMkrxM5MrTkl0D8MzxZwgjCdc8p-mOh_IGW4EnKsznHBmYkiOs_/s320/X86A3105-White-breasted-Waterhen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
White-breasted Waterhen</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkkLwuVDLoJd9LvslaM25vgF1CbQT6RG6ZJeMFQMLo7i_PioBA49V2gUlEuCcskbT13ah-TiRUMBqlf-NcmdMlfB3pHIz5R3mNCWGoxHMjjX7ofOOT2oapUBojRrayXAs7IlnMb8CnVU3/s1600/X86A3524-Rufous-Treepie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkkLwuVDLoJd9LvslaM25vgF1CbQT6RG6ZJeMFQMLo7i_PioBA49V2gUlEuCcskbT13ah-TiRUMBqlf-NcmdMlfB3pHIz5R3mNCWGoxHMjjX7ofOOT2oapUBojRrayXAs7IlnMb8CnVU3/s320/X86A3524-Rufous-Treepie.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rufous Treepie</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumivjYCWiYP7nVBZs1uXenY73RuGvKQ7lEZn_mH4NB821IFKvneijeoYYBq3busfS6jwlP-9dqFmC_6ds7oTuDfEwAzlo2jfmvK4ZMaJQNrr4SFYtq9-JuNyKiL42s7AqhTSJCbpllDUr/s1600/X86A3589-Shikra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhumivjYCWiYP7nVBZs1uXenY73RuGvKQ7lEZn_mH4NB821IFKvneijeoYYBq3busfS6jwlP-9dqFmC_6ds7oTuDfEwAzlo2jfmvK4ZMaJQNrr4SFYtq9-JuNyKiL42s7AqhTSJCbpllDUr/s320/X86A3589-Shikra.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Shikra</div>
<br />
After briefly sampling the delights of Bharatpur, we took a flight from Delhi to Raipur and from there travelled by road to Kanha. Again the hotel was The Bagh, this version located in the rolling Maikal hills of Madhya Pradesh and very close to Kanha National Park that provided inspiration for Rudyard Kipling’s classic “The Jungle Book”.<br />
<br />
Our main aim at Kanha was to see and to photograph Bengal Tigers but the 1,005 sq km National Park is home to many other mammals as well as 300 bird species. Although our time here was limited and photography in mainly forest habitat was more difficult (as it was mostly carried out from the back of a 4x4 Jeep), we had good success. This was my first experience of Tigers and I was seriously impressed!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieye75KESDDjhgf1XFTIi_PlYCSNhuvIUCMoRlbg5SN5pxAzOZkpfJlmR7QstF8TOj73-58SGbzA_lW53AFw5RNzIHyNkuwzA40eH0Ue0Xzw9W5FDTQwzStMRyWSFSu3oZI89QTF2g2sE7/s1600/X86A4402-Bengal-Tiger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieye75KESDDjhgf1XFTIi_PlYCSNhuvIUCMoRlbg5SN5pxAzOZkpfJlmR7QstF8TOj73-58SGbzA_lW53AFw5RNzIHyNkuwzA40eH0Ue0Xzw9W5FDTQwzStMRyWSFSu3oZI89QTF2g2sE7/s320/X86A4402-Bengal-Tiger.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bengal Tiger</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Again the hotel was excellent and there were more specially constructed hides for bird and mammal photography. The star attractions here were Jungle Cats but we all enjoyed the enormous Flying Foxes, one of the world’s largest bats.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBE1ko9IjexL2jrgSoiNlYRlibxH5RcrHLdBljQZt3a5WbshnxnYC-LdWt4rWXSkbAucu_F3DYxCqjQbA99enjQmEJDGx6lTFBo1lS4xAvWWbx2wggstlZ-ZlS9s8-p3WKDeTrf5lAqaMh/s1600/X86A4154-Fruit-Bat-sp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBE1ko9IjexL2jrgSoiNlYRlibxH5RcrHLdBljQZt3a5WbshnxnYC-LdWt4rWXSkbAucu_F3DYxCqjQbA99enjQmEJDGx6lTFBo1lS4xAvWWbx2wggstlZ-ZlS9s8-p3WKDeTrf5lAqaMh/s320/X86A4154-Fruit-Bat-sp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Flying Fox</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SYIO9C4NhOMYVMu2wfrfvJyYMNZU-SOhbNDCEZle-adGXRHneiHGCuXBkmYEbrhbF9e2nqu9l5bIQySdHwxMh-Xn-5Xgbg0tHQBilNnzeCGQYehWP_uMWAIxDBx-pT8NdYOghxdsel4S/s1600/X86A4801-Jungle-Cat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2SYIO9C4NhOMYVMu2wfrfvJyYMNZU-SOhbNDCEZle-adGXRHneiHGCuXBkmYEbrhbF9e2nqu9l5bIQySdHwxMh-Xn-5Xgbg0tHQBilNnzeCGQYehWP_uMWAIxDBx-pT8NdYOghxdsel4S/s320/X86A4801-Jungle-Cat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jungle Cat</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz1WeELMsTZdHF9CCipf51-DQUBiDCP0QpmKmxsTTQhhZ2MZ5PaXpFiRomIlKVDuj02K8rlqkVezCKgJq_sCA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jungle Cat</div>
<br />
All in all, this was a very enjoyable trip and <a href="http://www.avianadventures.co.uk/" target="_blank">Avian Adventures</a> will plan to offer a similar but rather longer photography tour to India in 2020 based on my experience. Thanks go to Skua Nature INNATE and to the Exotic Heritage Group, operators of The Bagh hotels.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-30175002167014340282019-02-05T21:34:00.002+00:002019-02-05T21:34:31.393+00:00Moustached Warbler twitchThere have been only a handful of records in Portugal of Moustached Warbler (<i>Acrocephalus</i> <i>melanapogon</i>) and only two in the Algarve, the last of them in 1998. So a report of one near Vila Real de Santo António last Wednesday was bound, you might have thought, to result in a big twitch.<br />
<br />
However, this has not been the case. In fact, we have spent more than five hours trying to see this bird and during all that time there have been no more than two other birders present. For long periods we have been there on our own! <br />
<br />
Apart from the fact that there are relatively few resident birders here, it’s not really a time of year when we expect many visiting birders and in any case visitors are not usually bothered to chase local rarities and often are not even aware of them.<br />
<br />
Another factor is that the location is in the extreme south-east corner of the country about 300km by road away from Lisbon. Also, it’s been an extremely difficult bird to see. Although it has been singing from first light until about 9.00 am, it wasn’t until this morning, on our third visit, that we at last managed a few brief glimpses of it! Such limited prospects of success don’t really encourage any but the very keenest to embark on a long journey.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi002i6PLGEq4CNeznn8mgv7a2BFB9fgVqmJTO34qCDdma_oPLJYiXydnQ0ZmBgucbgjM6DwokOR241sspJSEfJ8GsH4qPuU1HZY5rykIroz67TAg3xBWATdalaRcha6iKo5mOKg0Fpwsj0/s1600/IMG_2351.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi002i6PLGEq4CNeznn8mgv7a2BFB9fgVqmJTO34qCDdma_oPLJYiXydnQ0ZmBgucbgjM6DwokOR241sspJSEfJ8GsH4qPuU1HZY5rykIroz67TAg3xBWATdalaRcha6iKo5mOKg0Fpwsj0/s320/IMG_2351.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The bird has been singing from within this reed bed.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLf0_zntdL1hs-wXgXdXLb_FNODH4h7zNXiORMOES2jJb0lVhjg1r7m7-daUhcicXfu3A5TviJhuNFFrZdjfo3Tz3qPFEHN97rDJ4vGqbU_GqeeNGoQyqCdUnTlekwSImKd_tqZDyshjPH/s1600/IMG_2354.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLf0_zntdL1hs-wXgXdXLb_FNODH4h7zNXiORMOES2jJb0lVhjg1r7m7-daUhcicXfu3A5TviJhuNFFrZdjfo3Tz3qPFEHN97rDJ4vGqbU_GqeeNGoQyqCdUnTlekwSImKd_tqZDyshjPH/s320/IMG_2354.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The location is close to the main railway line.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oNttcY1RL6qjynVhd7OWs6xeDvANN6UuZBNMH3wtO1WxLY-7qgxz_MefowRDrFxBDMb-319aJToNSVQupZUeZ59sP5xtDgwry7MOnBeb4mRJeZD36YEsjmnZUSQc3PtgGlxel6qY0alX/s1600/IMG_2350.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_oNttcY1RL6qjynVhd7OWs6xeDvANN6UuZBNMH3wtO1WxLY-7qgxz_MefowRDrFxBDMb-319aJToNSVQupZUeZ59sP5xtDgwry7MOnBeb4mRJeZD36YEsjmnZUSQc3PtgGlxel6qY0alX/s320/IMG_2350.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Something for the trainspotters!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The site is a wetland close to the Castro Marim Nature Reserve and immediately adjacent to the main railway line that serves the Algarve. Fortunately, for us it has required a drive of only 20 minutes. Early mornings have been chilly and sometimes breezy but it’s been sunny and generally quite pleasant and while we’ve been waiting for the bird to show itself there have been plenty of other species to see. Our bird list from this one spot has included Greylag Geese, Greater Flamingo, Red-crested Pochard, Water Rail, Marsh Harrier, Common Buzzard, Booted Eagle, Osprey, Western Swamphen, Glossy Ibis, Great Egret, Caspian Tern, Water Pipit, Black-winged Stilt, Greenshank and Green Sandpiper. Numerous Common Chiffchaffs have been hawking insects around the reeds and tamarisks and Barn Swallows and a few House Martins have joined with the many Crag Martins finding food overhead.<br />
<br />
Sadly, we have no photographs of the bird but this was an occasion when even seeing it was an achievement. If you are unfamiliar with Moustached Warbler, it can best be described as a Sedge Warbler lookalike. It is actually very slightly bigger than Sedge Warbler and has a whiter supercilium. Its song, with which we became quite familiar, is typical of an <i>Acrocephalus</i> warbler and similar to both Reed and Sedge Warblers but includes some Nightingale-like whistling notes.<br />
<br />
How long it has been present is impossible to say. The site isn’t one that any birder visits regularly and it’s amazing that the bird was found at all let alone identified. Credit for this goes to Rui Rufino and Ricardo Silva whose first report suggested there might actually be two birds present although we haven’t seen any evidence for that ourselves. <br />
<br />
It isn’t hard to imagine the crowds that would turn up to see a Moustached Warbler in the UK. In the past, the species has been the subject of controversy and is no longer on the British list. You can read about that <a href="https://britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/article_files/V99/V99_N09/V99_N09_P465_478_A005.pdf" target="_blank">here</a>. Anyway, we dread the thought of trying to manage a twitch next to the unfenced railway line!<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-32838085614340309472019-01-11T21:38:00.000+00:002019-01-11T21:38:42.034+00:00WaxwingsEarlier this week we made the short trip to Hednesford, near Cannock, to see the flock of Waxwings that has been there since before Christmas. Early reports had been of five birds but by last weekend this had increased to nine and we actually saw ten.<br />
<br />
Waxwings or, more precisely, Bohemian Waxwings (<i>Bombycilla garrulus</i>) are starling-sized birds that are regular winter migrants to western Europe from their breeding grounds in Fennoscandia and Siberia and some reach Britain most years. Not surprisingly, their first landfall in the UK is usually in the north or east and it is not every winter that they reach as far inland as Staffordshire. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwfTPbfRnJByC0PmtNow8znpuymyDXuC-sf6zmmzImPbHuL2n92OzwC96Vfng1Lv5FAgusvMnBBU9W_5RzFmR5MVlYrBrxH0cWsgq9zr04j7EtLAOKyQR_jmvj-_e-X4UdJVTA46lLIj0/s1600/X86A0682a-Bohemian-Waxwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMwfTPbfRnJByC0PmtNow8znpuymyDXuC-sf6zmmzImPbHuL2n92OzwC96Vfng1Lv5FAgusvMnBBU9W_5RzFmR5MVlYrBrxH0cWsgq9zr04j7EtLAOKyQR_jmvj-_e-X4UdJVTA46lLIj0/s320/X86A0682a-Bohemian-Waxwing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
They have a particular liking for the berries of <i>Sorbus spp</i>. such as rowan but also take hips, haws and mistletoe and the berries of various ornamental trees and shrubs. They are nomadic and irruptive and in years when large numbers arrive, they quickly strip the trees and move on in search of new food sources. They are frequently seen feeding on exotic trees and shrubs planted in urban situations such as roadside verges, supermarket car parks, the surrounds of public buildings and private gardens.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLxy2i6nCVNDyfhrBAu_QctsYoDd1Ug3_UuIyIE64rg70yFC04c4ReMwQ-KE_GS5ycHoe-RKDSoPzUGojCtO0vr4-MhXRrsyC_gZDwcwNT93eW2EJuE079oLHOr8rQpSyZGceqUlqf_Wf/s1600/X86A0730-Bohemian-Waxwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLxy2i6nCVNDyfhrBAu_QctsYoDd1Ug3_UuIyIE64rg70yFC04c4ReMwQ-KE_GS5ycHoe-RKDSoPzUGojCtO0vr4-MhXRrsyC_gZDwcwNT93eW2EJuE079oLHOr8rQpSyZGceqUlqf_Wf/s320/X86A0730-Bohemian-Waxwing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The genus name <i>Bombycilla</i> comes from the Greek <i>bombux</i>, "silk" and the Modern Latin <i>cilla</i>, "tail"; this is a direct translation of the German <i>Seidenschwanz</i>, "silk-tail", and refers to the silky-soft plumage of the bird. The species name <i>garrulus</i> is the Latin for talkative and is said to be a reference to a supposed likeness to the Eurasian Jay (<i>Garrulus glandarius</i>) rather than to the Waxwing's vocalisations. The English name "waxwing" refers to the bright red tips of the secondary feathers on its wings, which look like drops of sealing wax.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLCNFL9lds6n0LK4Uw0yOJeLANRev1-bKOjIYVRZA_3QnUxqS3P02jn2GPiE-L0jm3u3kXHt0UH7kiTbIGFaUUZ7EzegZMfOhRhU3PGLg0JZOlIYA4mt72YsJqYWW7ahUm1G7-Cm0zRWt/s1600/X86A0732-Bohemian-Waxwings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsLCNFL9lds6n0LK4Uw0yOJeLANRev1-bKOjIYVRZA_3QnUxqS3P02jn2GPiE-L0jm3u3kXHt0UH7kiTbIGFaUUZ7EzegZMfOhRhU3PGLg0JZOlIYA4mt72YsJqYWW7ahUm1G7-Cm0zRWt/s320/X86A0732-Bohemian-Waxwings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It is reported that in the past, the arrival of Waxwings sometimes coincided with epidemics of cholera or plague, and this led to the old Dutch and Flemish name <i>Pestvogel</i>, "plague bird". The juniper berries on which they fed were thought to offer protection, and people consumed the fruit and burned branches to fumigate their houses.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNNw-RYr3-XPZ6twLZn6xSickXc11EnUpuMZYDEya-dV6ww6hxkIYMnm5ZhOsiY0HLBw11Vn0pppegTWM9ALFSKqdQULeBg5cOypdtXQ3PjzUtXKzZhkusBNbY6oVvVUOv5MXEj-8l44n/s1600/X86A0736-Bohemian-Waxwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVNNw-RYr3-XPZ6twLZn6xSickXc11EnUpuMZYDEya-dV6ww6hxkIYMnm5ZhOsiY0HLBw11Vn0pppegTWM9ALFSKqdQULeBg5cOypdtXQ3PjzUtXKzZhkusBNbY6oVvVUOv5MXEj-8l44n/s320/X86A0736-Bohemian-Waxwing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
In past years Waxwings have often occurred in the urban and suburban areas surrounding Cannock Chase and those currently in Hednesford conform to that pattern. Maybe the birds are initially attracted to the Chase as a safe roosting area or perhaps some birds are returning to an area where they have found good food supplies in the past.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvewf9sn5b0VjVsEAy6-t9lcigtGrScL0Rxsl3TndRgU5Am_8r2Rhxi2skqDpouuvoosZJ0FXsXzm8I5B_n5mvkXU3eZ5rW86dpJcUR0ZNDs4ohKixI-d7eErvxSPph8oRWvph7LKTjA_j/s1600/X86A0745-Bohemian-Waxwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvewf9sn5b0VjVsEAy6-t9lcigtGrScL0Rxsl3TndRgU5Am_8r2Rhxi2skqDpouuvoosZJ0FXsXzm8I5B_n5mvkXU3eZ5rW86dpJcUR0ZNDs4ohKixI-d7eErvxSPph8oRWvph7LKTjA_j/s320/X86A0745-Bohemian-Waxwing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
Some years there are none here at all but the winters of 1965/66, 1995/96 and 2010/11 have all seen several hundreds of Waxwings arriving in Staffordshire. Because the birds are so mobile, precise counts are always difficult. but in January 2005 more than 2,300 were reckoned to be present in the county, a number that hasn’t been equalled before or since. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyEA_RRwpxLvKWV8gi79SC0axYPxQtFtm0SpGPE-CSosxQ60kxUBcsqyIq11BfJxM1Doycz_GsZyFfx4Z5QRxNsKGOKb6TUt-dNcRIcd8nQ2nQWpeRWpiGn4MPRbHQaqeelVkpNKVAPIV/s1600/X86A0815-Bohemian-Waxwing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVyEA_RRwpxLvKWV8gi79SC0axYPxQtFtm0SpGPE-CSosxQ60kxUBcsqyIq11BfJxM1Doycz_GsZyFfx4Z5QRxNsKGOKb6TUt-dNcRIcd8nQ2nQWpeRWpiGn4MPRbHQaqeelVkpNKVAPIV/s320/X86A0815-Bohemian-Waxwing.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
Most occur here between November and March but there are records as early as late September and as late as mid-May. Often numbers increase at this time of year as more birds move west having exhausted food supplies elsewhere. There is certainly a chance that more will arrive during the coming weeks!<br />
<br />Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-70148529231297681632018-12-15T13:03:00.000+00:002018-12-15T23:10:17.260+00:00Guatemala photo trip<i>After returning to the UK from Texas, two days later Peter was travelling again. This time his destination was Guatemala as the only Brit in a group of ‘nature photographers’ invited by INNATE Skua Nature Latin America to view their photographic hides and to experience other photo opportunities in a Central American country that is gradually attracting more and more birdwatchers. Others in the group were from Belgium, France, Hungary, Italy, Spain and the USA.</i><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmhYkgohhjE7V5DANwz__z5-HGEUku_FYt9uXLPLg46hMnASPg0vRD8epUFpkQPchmGZBcSEpf-0cmMKkyG0TByaDXWNzLou11ZemCzqwnitt38_eG6SwtDeXgwHNsUxRruCct13teCI0/s1600/IMG_2232-Lenses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmhYkgohhjE7V5DANwz__z5-HGEUku_FYt9uXLPLg46hMnASPg0vRD8epUFpkQPchmGZBcSEpf-0cmMKkyG0TByaDXWNzLou11ZemCzqwnitt38_eG6SwtDeXgwHNsUxRruCct13teCI0/s320/IMG_2232-Lenses.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tools of the trade!</div>
<br />
The tour began with a two-hour journey by road from the airport in Guatemala City to Monterrico, a town on the Pacific Coast. Overnight accommodation here was at the Estación Biológica El Blanco. The huge, volcanic black sand beaches around Monterrico are prime nesting sites for sea turtles and a reserve has been established to protect the turtles and curb the collection of their eggs, which are apparently considered an aphrodisiac in Guatemala. We were fortunate to actually see an olive ridley sea turtle laying its eggs in the sand just outside the dining room where we were having our evening meal. The following morning we were present when 300 tiny turtles, hatched from eggs that had been ‘rescued’, were released on the beach and made their way into the ocean. Thousands of turtles are released in this way every year but only a very small percentage will survive to maturity and to return to the beach to lay their own eggs.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mwpqZzORfw9FKceRdDm1G3yVQwZAtbB3ONjGbimkaoGvYXkqgK40rR29bbfY7gejbAkvBEbHCDxYrT1sm3MwxEFHUXv5SDxYBvh70j4grV0PI69P6RpqA1sv8YjC-jFBzrH6REa4Qe6C/s1600/IMG_2192-Olive-ridley-sea-turtle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-mwpqZzORfw9FKceRdDm1G3yVQwZAtbB3ONjGbimkaoGvYXkqgK40rR29bbfY7gejbAkvBEbHCDxYrT1sm3MwxEFHUXv5SDxYBvh70j4grV0PI69P6RpqA1sv8YjC-jFBzrH6REa4Qe6C/s320/IMG_2192-Olive-ridley-sea-turtle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Olive ridley sea turtle</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9h6ENJV5zDX-oQgB8lrRnhrVEsvyj6L6HkFhcEgP6Z-IEiAi4xaIQJ0mXtS1c9mQpOReXJLQwAtlPWDfaEmYftxbzSx8DvS9BeLU6VK8D07-x19zz80UNX7BHNJneqE-nH5N69WvnzZo/s1600/IMG_2203-Olive-ridley-sea-turtle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD9h6ENJV5zDX-oQgB8lrRnhrVEsvyj6L6HkFhcEgP6Z-IEiAi4xaIQJ0mXtS1c9mQpOReXJLQwAtlPWDfaEmYftxbzSx8DvS9BeLU6VK8D07-x19zz80UNX7BHNJneqE-nH5N69WvnzZo/s320/IMG_2203-Olive-ridley-sea-turtle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Turtle hatchling ready for release</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
A morning boat trip in the nearby wetland provided opportunities to photograph a nice selection of common egrets and herons, Ringed Kingfisher, Mangrove Swallows, Northern Jacanas and Neotropical Cormorants. Unfortunately, species such as Limpkin, Snail Kite and Least Bittern were less obliging but the highlight was a really close view of Lesser Yellow-headed Vultures.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDeEx2GbiHlYscVmu0ez9yVJ3LlIO1qI96RUb4_LXUqciG3d1gx4Nw2ucJJyM9u5M4p-HSMBSZ3MFlGYRyjTzOaMOuw_NtmpYaKsQwAJAdUup2WYwh1r7q3ZaTsCBOL3HrRsUJHq9HbeP/s1600/X86A8837-Little-Blue-Heron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBDeEx2GbiHlYscVmu0ez9yVJ3LlIO1qI96RUb4_LXUqciG3d1gx4Nw2ucJJyM9u5M4p-HSMBSZ3MFlGYRyjTzOaMOuw_NtmpYaKsQwAJAdUup2WYwh1r7q3ZaTsCBOL3HrRsUJHq9HbeP/s320/X86A8837-Little-Blue-Heron.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Little Blue Heron</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSn402eD37lo44jugg6cplnHgio_m-MIdqobZgjHaCJIIp3F1OfW403_3NjyzLEVpxcaoEWZtKEiD_GdkfDO9Ydkzm_2r7eflXl_N15k6sI2TrT3PBtdzJFuaVtdBm6qIBv0wEERdJ_3q/s1600/X86A8856-Mangrove-Swallow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOSn402eD37lo44jugg6cplnHgio_m-MIdqobZgjHaCJIIp3F1OfW403_3NjyzLEVpxcaoEWZtKEiD_GdkfDO9Ydkzm_2r7eflXl_N15k6sI2TrT3PBtdzJFuaVtdBm6qIBv0wEERdJ_3q/s320/X86A8856-Mangrove-Swallow.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mangrove Swallow</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisP_sB9-5bRw7GUuMQkIIHo08aU_HOHukyy3S4JnIrMSCWQxxP5XivU-qCA_LfwIXc5Sfl_mKYCtmbBaowvRBHnaXfKRjhezFL8QcCQ3nYuiI1720jmsNYU0Ni3pRBNBqKeCzrmumDBhQL/s1600/X86A9931-Northern-Jacana.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisP_sB9-5bRw7GUuMQkIIHo08aU_HOHukyy3S4JnIrMSCWQxxP5XivU-qCA_LfwIXc5Sfl_mKYCtmbBaowvRBHnaXfKRjhezFL8QcCQ3nYuiI1720jmsNYU0Ni3pRBNBqKeCzrmumDBhQL/s320/X86A9931-Northern-Jacana.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Northern Jacana<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSDXDg0FmYDdgUsp_EqLA3Ghm_pDhLHuQstXSQWgidAOECGlwScMMzbu9Vx7vRH_1ndHICpJM4A6_YFLeecU6BrMVkNc4O6TKSqzRkVYFhAsGf6u8ZIVSSxeTDmJ9Xyz_8UTRRyqi-cvg/s1600/X86A8977-Lesser-Yellow-headed-Vulture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzSDXDg0FmYDdgUsp_EqLA3Ghm_pDhLHuQstXSQWgidAOECGlwScMMzbu9Vx7vRH_1ndHICpJM4A6_YFLeecU6BrMVkNc4O6TKSqzRkVYFhAsGf6u8ZIVSSxeTDmJ9Xyz_8UTRRyqi-cvg/s320/X86A8977-Lesser-Yellow-headed-Vulture.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture</div>
<br />
There was another boat trip in the afternoon, this one from El Paredon, an hour away to the west. This time we were in a tidal area and our attention was centred on a sandbank where Black Skimmers and Royal Terns were roosting together with a few Sandwich (Cabot’s) Terns, Franklin’s Gulls and Sanderlings. As the tide came in, this refuge was slowly diminishing and the birds were restless. However, the water still wasn’t deep enough to get the boat close to them – wading in the water was the only solution!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiYyaqOuuCs9lmVfOGmOr4WlkN0___XBId6iXChAn8en6K_FjxZGFseBhHHvCTPLR3lqGFeVnnemHaqL10Jy59xpzZjNMavhQ67XZhRA92VcOemfUZcqa4dMnBWr0VA4SgItbdtfHSgFB/s1600/IMG_2215-El-Paredon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUiYyaqOuuCs9lmVfOGmOr4WlkN0___XBId6iXChAn8en6K_FjxZGFseBhHHvCTPLR3lqGFeVnnemHaqL10Jy59xpzZjNMavhQ67XZhRA92VcOemfUZcqa4dMnBWr0VA4SgItbdtfHSgFB/s320/IMG_2215-El-Paredon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Black Skimmers </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpW8u61ScL6ox9wySmqHKLWm77IeNBrxlFNdNnkJOaHl10UKD7As3a-iQS1FYsxd5apTsV0vIeSzQkYzjymhJaKzTHQwdpynWRxxihZrHkyq6nxIAoC-fDf7kMToGWxaeTkRryTJZ8wPt/s1600/X86A9206-Royal-Terns.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="284" data-original-width="900" height="100" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpW8u61ScL6ox9wySmqHKLWm77IeNBrxlFNdNnkJOaHl10UKD7As3a-iQS1FYsxd5apTsV0vIeSzQkYzjymhJaKzTHQwdpynWRxxihZrHkyq6nxIAoC-fDf7kMToGWxaeTkRryTJZ8wPt/s320/X86A9206-Royal-Terns.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Royal Terns</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwkYsR3Mzlfg-rPrCyIhI-2X362E1EffSezflNxUsW_D16_JSEtr0jeGO-vWfErayAKdaAKd6ZLQpYWSFAYP_jnPT40S01QRSe0Q02wsILXLOUJD5tAGnLxEbQ948tO0abtFqIV33HlfG/s1600/IMG_2213-La-Paredon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIwkYsR3Mzlfg-rPrCyIhI-2X362E1EffSezflNxUsW_D16_JSEtr0jeGO-vWfErayAKdaAKd6ZLQpYWSFAYP_jnPT40S01QRSe0Q02wsILXLOUJD5tAGnLxEbQ948tO0abtFqIV33HlfG/s320/IMG_2213-La-Paredon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSjXXqZoH9kmnNFGA8U1o4dxbtYKE53gJzuF9Dqva4l1igbAz2AAO4j64WaRJplw_bay22okyJ1xUcps2CZjF-0i1tfIjBwVsvwVK0abZl1n7VPwcWd1SmW3Y20nIX-Z3VCyaUFXfb3OC/s1600/X86A9038-Caspian-Tern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUSjXXqZoH9kmnNFGA8U1o4dxbtYKE53gJzuF9Dqva4l1igbAz2AAO4j64WaRJplw_bay22okyJ1xUcps2CZjF-0i1tfIjBwVsvwVK0abZl1n7VPwcWd1SmW3Y20nIX-Z3VCyaUFXfb3OC/s320/X86A9038-Caspian-Tern.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Caspian Tern</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOEQM1Mo_p0rIZ8aiLrRyAFz-C03ulAXa2lT-3re-KNh2B-LJEJR9zMg3e-Ow7zW9uaIXtD0NKQd6HNdyCDbVFnFjwNt7IZHlTqB0IZKv1v5t758Lsxzbk3P9hwVxNY_vMAaHwNMUPIbp/s1600/X86A9077-Black-Skimmer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXOEQM1Mo_p0rIZ8aiLrRyAFz-C03ulAXa2lT-3re-KNh2B-LJEJR9zMg3e-Ow7zW9uaIXtD0NKQd6HNdyCDbVFnFjwNt7IZHlTqB0IZKv1v5t758Lsxzbk3P9hwVxNY_vMAaHwNMUPIbp/s320/X86A9077-Black-Skimmer.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Black Skimmer</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIoF-K2OHcN8iFT-x42tGRzFJ4ddrhBj8H9GK_2ZzRr8Nk83GcSuKsLpXxYESXAy-5weff5SSz9DDdPDWXQxU6KLtR055z9grTtJc_EG77M2H1D41Q0gn1DkAVB7RcMe0ncSS3BzW-ILo/s1600/X86A9318-Royal-Tern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUIoF-K2OHcN8iFT-x42tGRzFJ4ddrhBj8H9GK_2ZzRr8Nk83GcSuKsLpXxYESXAy-5weff5SSz9DDdPDWXQxU6KLtR055z9grTtJc_EG77M2H1D41Q0gn1DkAVB7RcMe0ncSS3BzW-ILo/s320/X86A9318-Royal-Tern.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Royal Tern</div>
<br />
From El Paredon, we travelled for our next overnight stay, at Los Andes Nature Reserve on the southern slopes of Volcán Atitlán. To save some journey time, our bus was ferried down a river for part of the way.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnl1Mnv6RPwfotS7iN4WhCQRj5ioCbB29Tpo9ymOgxYrAktnyhfAtY0dVdkMzq_yLQltiL_LFmaR9l6JqWjZ3cYuUp_wMwXmCUVZsZ-ejSOcGxnb4kIfRLwt5-NcBOPzeJ3ja5s8aKt-2/s1600/IMG_2218-Bus-on-ferry.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRnl1Mnv6RPwfotS7iN4WhCQRj5ioCbB29Tpo9ymOgxYrAktnyhfAtY0dVdkMzq_yLQltiL_LFmaR9l6JqWjZ3cYuUp_wMwXmCUVZsZ-ejSOcGxnb4kIfRLwt5-NcBOPzeJ3ja5s8aKt-2/s320/IMG_2218-Bus-on-ferry.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It was on the slopes of Volcán Atitlán that I had trekked in search of a Horned Guan during my previous visit to Guatemala in 2013. Thankfully, there were no plans to repeat that this time! Instead, we used 4x4 pickup trucks to climb part way up the slope to see two photo hides that are being developed – one to attract forest birds, such as tanagers, toucans and the like and the other where it is hoped that Turkey Vultures and perhaps some other raptors will come to feed. Resplendent Quetzal and Azure-rumped Tanager are high on a list of sought-after species here.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcMGj4t1csrPciShZSLUCTkqZcPh2Q0CSKAtNGAt7rvUAI7eiyYPpQ_Teme8WIahyphenhyphenqbcdKiQaxnVqRAmXca1ooPqxPcwhsT6kZoOTrJj5ZJACoMVHh7tY_JY9NnF1f7N_NEMsGAnM0obx/s1600/X86A9119-Turkey-Vulture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrcMGj4t1csrPciShZSLUCTkqZcPh2Q0CSKAtNGAt7rvUAI7eiyYPpQ_Teme8WIahyphenhyphenqbcdKiQaxnVqRAmXca1ooPqxPcwhsT6kZoOTrJj5ZJACoMVHh7tY_JY9NnF1f7N_NEMsGAnM0obx/s320/X86A9119-Turkey-Vulture.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Turkey Vulture</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
To get there we drove through plantations of coffee (for Starbucks), macadamia, tea and cinchona (quinine). Now and again we heard loud rumbles coming from nearby Volcán de Fuego, which we could see just 40km away. Both Atitlán and Fuego are active volcanoes but Fuego had been erupting for some time and back in June many people were killed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6T9Nt8s1tsgQeuO-V_zJSbYzSqtrnZ-2DqvHZS0mEuQ9f_d5mqGS1Pd004Q8N48XYLYHRStWuy_JEAx3MNJELthYfi_Ar3eQg2q8s0BSAbEQcOd9phwSiI93lH19idDMlLRTmpDlQKiqi/s1600/IMG_1999-Coffee-plantation%252C-Los-Andes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6T9Nt8s1tsgQeuO-V_zJSbYzSqtrnZ-2DqvHZS0mEuQ9f_d5mqGS1Pd004Q8N48XYLYHRStWuy_JEAx3MNJELthYfi_Ar3eQg2q8s0BSAbEQcOd9phwSiI93lH19idDMlLRTmpDlQKiqi/s320/IMG_1999-Coffee-plantation%252C-Los-Andes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Coffee growing on the slopes of Volcán Atitlán</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The accommodation here was very comfortable indeed and being able to photograph hummingbirds, orioles, tanagers, euphonias and several other species from the veranda was also nice. Sadly, it was for just one night.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMgUNXKt9UNHbH5Q5tLj-wfA9EX3eqDTBrlRr5C4NeIGh8_Q3fK0M3TM8ROQhkzecUJGRPciSgwP_exYVbImVr10mfST4OCsZ-QIBsPxWNTkxQcDzTFINpXMUyp10ShRLuO9UdYs1y33s/s1600/IMG_2006-Los-Andes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilMgUNXKt9UNHbH5Q5tLj-wfA9EX3eqDTBrlRr5C4NeIGh8_Q3fK0M3TM8ROQhkzecUJGRPciSgwP_exYVbImVr10mfST4OCsZ-QIBsPxWNTkxQcDzTFINpXMUyp10ShRLuO9UdYs1y33s/s320/IMG_2006-Los-Andes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Casa Oliver at Los Andes</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4gQDwBNFNsI2fhj4LQGJqm63juoSSX65cS8qXMiM7MNCXM4jIz6Bjsdr6Hd7lnr-dwBRw2aEM915mzlbBHIuw_cWus0Hy3tf4w7qGabU0jfx5jKmOYx8xeNFzswAFfMr4pGMCTci9WC0/s1600/X86A9688-Yellow-winged-Tanager.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT4gQDwBNFNsI2fhj4LQGJqm63juoSSX65cS8qXMiM7MNCXM4jIz6Bjsdr6Hd7lnr-dwBRw2aEM915mzlbBHIuw_cWus0Hy3tf4w7qGabU0jfx5jKmOYx8xeNFzswAFfMr4pGMCTci9WC0/s320/X86A9688-Yellow-winged-Tanager.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yellow-winged Tanager</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_rGwvcYKmwxlwDzS1OwxHa_rFUyud53F7nyuD_J7vs7UOYDUX62cE48Kz8y3p-7IVjo_X8yV7DiUNz8DvGX2A-zeJQoAuI1kZBO5rtk8Aqo7yF_TrTkdK76r_W696Ql6glXJoxpJ5lIX/s1600/X86A9744-Baltimore-Oriole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN_rGwvcYKmwxlwDzS1OwxHa_rFUyud53F7nyuD_J7vs7UOYDUX62cE48Kz8y3p-7IVjo_X8yV7DiUNz8DvGX2A-zeJQoAuI1kZBO5rtk8Aqo7yF_TrTkdK76r_W696Ql6glXJoxpJ5lIX/s320/X86A9744-Baltimore-Oriole.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Baltimore Oriole</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-94K6A_UoZZ9s3mewuZsjL4CixiPBO4z1UkSo8YDdauW5gbwYB-AM5PSqY4SY65vyvPzwgZh5d6lU4jSZ1jxz6nFr8dRL7taav2eYXhAFBb-hxpbSwWTTXUnHRQqAc9JpWue0izOVhqn6/s1600/X86A9796-Clay-colored-Thrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-94K6A_UoZZ9s3mewuZsjL4CixiPBO4z1UkSo8YDdauW5gbwYB-AM5PSqY4SY65vyvPzwgZh5d6lU4jSZ1jxz6nFr8dRL7taav2eYXhAFBb-hxpbSwWTTXUnHRQqAc9JpWue0izOVhqn6/s320/X86A9796-Clay-colored-Thrush.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Clay-colored Thrush</div>
<br />
After a night back in Guatemala City at the Hotel Stofella, we headed next to the Caribbean coast where we took an afternoon boat trip to look for manatees. This proved unsuccessful but it did provide further opportunities to photograph Ringed Kingfisher, Northern Jacana, Neotropic Cormorants and Brown Pelicans. We spent the night at the Hotel Amatique Bay in Puerto Barrios.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9PIN_nrPSj4PUUW_UHKg5MMefBQ8ZRHW3qZBjwSBGK_uwuEY2BDM5P6u_3l-aIXbhCkbI8YndVU6b2e2rawpizUCs977HscK3G_tEdvYRt1vGVNOXg6CwSRDeMBxIxtwOupOhVZWxpJq/s1600/X86A9922-Ringed-Kingfisher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO9PIN_nrPSj4PUUW_UHKg5MMefBQ8ZRHW3qZBjwSBGK_uwuEY2BDM5P6u_3l-aIXbhCkbI8YndVU6b2e2rawpizUCs977HscK3G_tEdvYRt1vGVNOXg6CwSRDeMBxIxtwOupOhVZWxpJq/s320/X86A9922-Ringed-Kingfisher.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ringed Kingfisher</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQDObfzx_Hjub4WsiqfEDvCi_YNxDQsyGk-fBe9s_l-TLbAzLE62CyvwocFPOKH54vJZXwsiBZHoq70Hx3dEu34ol12X6Whk6HkNGOKL54nS8KDomW3ArXoh32Ix3QIDQTL7xwYnWkKYC/s1600/X86A9019-Green-Heron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzQDObfzx_Hjub4WsiqfEDvCi_YNxDQsyGk-fBe9s_l-TLbAzLE62CyvwocFPOKH54vJZXwsiBZHoq70Hx3dEu34ol12X6Whk6HkNGOKL54nS8KDomW3ArXoh32Ix3QIDQTL7xwYnWkKYC/s320/X86A9019-Green-Heron.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Green Heron</div>
<br />
Another day, another country – a three-hour boat excursion took us to Sapodilla Cayes, a group of small uninhabited islands located in the Gulf of Honduras that are generally regarded as part of Belize (although also claimed by Guatemala and Honduras). Getting there and back obviously took up a big slice of the day but the time spent there was well worth the effort. There was an opportunity to photograph Brown Pelicans and Magnificent Frigatebirds from the boat but the sky was overcast making most of the images rather disappointing. Some of the group even went into the water to take photos but I was a bit too precious about my camera gear to risk that! We went ashore for a late lunch on Lime Caye where some went snorkelling and others went birding. The birders were rewarded with Magnolia, Black-and-white, Black-throated Green, Hooded & Myrtle Warblers, an Ovenbird, several Wood & Grey-cheeked Thrushes, ten or more Grey Catbirds, a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and a Merlin! Were these birds wintering there or still on migration?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWADja3cxxxx0MW7zScr3hf0SaWCy42bFDk7WUNOLt7frdaBYzWzqRt5bH46o1NJXenPQvPGuTFSUW1dwwIKnqryqTYRQnqqZkWwpe4u_q7QSroc2E2olR5MpFuXSTMmlB28gg7ZmbPEy/s1600/IMG_2020-Photographing-Pelicans-%2526-Frigatebirds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWADja3cxxxx0MW7zScr3hf0SaWCy42bFDk7WUNOLt7frdaBYzWzqRt5bH46o1NJXenPQvPGuTFSUW1dwwIKnqryqTYRQnqqZkWwpe4u_q7QSroc2E2olR5MpFuXSTMmlB28gg7ZmbPEy/s320/IMG_2020-Photographing-Pelicans-%2526-Frigatebirds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHn6azwT_wTpoRaBhh5HDhs7y9KkRtwz493jFExJDFMjbxUR76rKQYuvM78FTvMsdEWr9ROBUYO8woKnM4gufu6_43Dbu-I6jhPFbPaNZmehfTdjJ4olGxYFLranmL-gckvTvRA0h47mQP/s1600/X86A0040-Brown-Pelican.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHn6azwT_wTpoRaBhh5HDhs7y9KkRtwz493jFExJDFMjbxUR76rKQYuvM78FTvMsdEWr9ROBUYO8woKnM4gufu6_43Dbu-I6jhPFbPaNZmehfTdjJ4olGxYFLranmL-gckvTvRA0h47mQP/s320/X86A0040-Brown-Pelican.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Brown Pelican</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEito-I-TchQZ3TiCexdjeIUJXXJXOxkS1F2CpnrMmUImctVVzblSaao7CoBcay3rKQtyom25Axmj71_vgMqys90TJJsYnX5LYDgABSTP8MaipWRmuLDwKae8iLSQQxZ9IbMrMFslfYC8nv8/s1600/X86A0218-Magnificent-Frigatebird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEito-I-TchQZ3TiCexdjeIUJXXJXOxkS1F2CpnrMmUImctVVzblSaao7CoBcay3rKQtyom25Axmj71_vgMqys90TJJsYnX5LYDgABSTP8MaipWRmuLDwKae8iLSQQxZ9IbMrMFslfYC8nv8/s320/X86A0218-Magnificent-Frigatebird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Magnificent Frigatebird</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAa_zl5Oi1vbpAwvrE6QTfjHL_uda6rJlWQNutRizEgcrup1U900WvYFa72FERBuLI4dQ4TNlby6Z9-0L1Iy4f6sL-yYweyYEyo4zhOkAdPnLVgedkl0FNYsQGe5NeCZWZX8ibEsiKjSiC/s1600/X86A0435-Grey-Catbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAa_zl5Oi1vbpAwvrE6QTfjHL_uda6rJlWQNutRizEgcrup1U900WvYFa72FERBuLI4dQ4TNlby6Z9-0L1Iy4f6sL-yYweyYEyo4zhOkAdPnLVgedkl0FNYsQGe5NeCZWZX8ibEsiKjSiC/s320/X86A0435-Grey-Catbird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Grey Catbird</div>
<br />
After a night in Livingston, at the Hotel Villa Caribe, we took a boat next morning to Las Escobas Tropical Rainforest Trail in the Cerro San Gil where another photo hide has been built. Again this is still being developed but there were hummingbirds to photograph, including Long-billed Hermit, and it looks to have good potential. We also had a chance here to photograph a couple of snakes and a tarantula, which had temporarily been deprived of their liberty. I’m not sure that this was really ‘nature photography’ but they were interesting creatures to see up close, nevertheless. There was also time for a short walk along the trail where Gartered Trogon, Kentucky & Worm-eating Warblers, Northern Royal Flycatcher and White-whiskered Puffbird were amongst the species seen.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxb2u72W2IQmAbp57CsQwU3L7duFQAI6sHohIrAMdL-45MjHDLVkkFtjlK_2CczCA9zBFIHAMp-XkP2bWqrKlIGXlC-iCSUeQ_i-5wIJYZtkAR8U-UKhraJoSNU-lAcQof8zS1CmXnYZN/s1600/IMG_2261-Las-Escobas-hide.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQxb2u72W2IQmAbp57CsQwU3L7duFQAI6sHohIrAMdL-45MjHDLVkkFtjlK_2CczCA9zBFIHAMp-XkP2bWqrKlIGXlC-iCSUeQ_i-5wIJYZtkAR8U-UKhraJoSNU-lAcQof8zS1CmXnYZN/s320/IMG_2261-Las-Escobas-hide.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
From the hide at Las Escobas</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSt79K9SwOoV_HIU7DQZs5iXfNQ9gFWPIPWxZqRUW10eaWnrX0-8a8U4cpMOpSfh_1CXCWE2RTtzYrBMYnsCCqXGsB4BMzXHLi75BZRuGTI4J0F0amMFT0RlvXExSX-Fh0qFFKht-J_zDK/s1600/X86A0557-Snake-sp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSt79K9SwOoV_HIU7DQZs5iXfNQ9gFWPIPWxZqRUW10eaWnrX0-8a8U4cpMOpSfh_1CXCWE2RTtzYrBMYnsCCqXGsB4BMzXHLi75BZRuGTI4J0F0amMFT0RlvXExSX-Fh0qFFKht-J_zDK/s320/X86A0557-Snake-sp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
Fer-de-lance ?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
After lunch in Rio Dulce, there was a five-hour road trip to Tikal, welcome time to deal with emails and to catch up on sleep! We stayed overnight at Tikal Jungle Lodge where I had stayed before in 2013. We arrived late and left early next morning for just a half day around Tikal National Park. This is one of the major sites of Mayan civilisation, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and an important tropical rainforest reserve. The temples, palaces and other Mayan ruins are extremely impressive and really deserved much more of our attention but it is the birds that make this place a must-visit part of any tour in Guatemala. More than 300 bird species have been recorded here and amongst many others we did see Orange-breasted Falcon, Black-throated Shrike-Tanager, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Plain Xenops, Spot-breasted & White-bellied Wrens, Mayan Antthrush, Bay-breasted & Yellow Warblers and Sepia-capped Flycatcher. With more time there are great opportunities for photography. As it was, I managed only a few photos, including the Ocellated Turkeys (that are very much habituated to tourists), a Rufous-naped Wood Rail and an Erato Heliconian butterfly (also known as the Red Postman).<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivz5ELSg-PpeqL0_sR9oQnLuVRBGyYqWmmmiwbIXdjliUMdjJBJCvEW9fshxWzCRPniivAFno9ZIACSCsMTltJle549dSxIjVOVBPP4zpZu_GvOHjGYQ_LVoia8vsrF2OCiMgPP7AZBdK5/s1600/X86A0004-Ocellated-Turkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivz5ELSg-PpeqL0_sR9oQnLuVRBGyYqWmmmiwbIXdjliUMdjJBJCvEW9fshxWzCRPniivAFno9ZIACSCsMTltJle549dSxIjVOVBPP4zpZu_GvOHjGYQ_LVoia8vsrF2OCiMgPP7AZBdK5/s320/X86A0004-Ocellated-Turkey.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ocellated Turkey</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-v6zc4RWrfsUb6sAlG7wIPp15Mfp1AvFw6ShR3Z873Moto2DfOkqK3fmktJk9NetQNO0xvFGuFfTqQ8RcUhxKbrwfgYouzqywFuOtS11nqS8mdu5kIcRGHrMFylbms6-4GjIK5ROIHch2/s1600/X86A0204-Rufous-naped-Wood-Rail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-v6zc4RWrfsUb6sAlG7wIPp15Mfp1AvFw6ShR3Z873Moto2DfOkqK3fmktJk9NetQNO0xvFGuFfTqQ8RcUhxKbrwfgYouzqywFuOtS11nqS8mdu5kIcRGHrMFylbms6-4GjIK5ROIHch2/s320/X86A0204-Rufous-naped-Wood-Rail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rufous-naped Wood Rail</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWPATltO4CjEaln5SFMX0o5dwq01hyLp3NI3X9M5vYutBhxFRtgvex1R_BlCZx94OyQnGwMgJTR7sBCHsY9CMYv7-Ex-Qp5ceyOhGD7IogkRJZ1m2DH0loYL5xBIqERHi9KBqsyP3ewg7/s1600/X86A0320-Erato-Heliconian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUWPATltO4CjEaln5SFMX0o5dwq01hyLp3NI3X9M5vYutBhxFRtgvex1R_BlCZx94OyQnGwMgJTR7sBCHsY9CMYv7-Ex-Qp5ceyOhGD7IogkRJZ1m2DH0loYL5xBIqERHi9KBqsyP3ewg7/s320/X86A0320-Erato-Heliconian.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Erato Heliconian</div>
<br />
There followed another long journey, first by bus, then by pickup truck and finally by boat which brought us to the Estación Biológica Las Guacamayas, located near the edge of Laguna Del Tigre National Park. Again it was just one night here but it clearly somewhere that one would ideally like to stay much longer. Next morning there was another boat trip, which among others produced Green, Amazon & Ringed Kingfishers, White-tailed Kite, a pair of Bat Falcons, a Sungrebe and a Black-and-white Hawk Eagle. Then there was time for more hummingbird photography and another different selection of species such as Wedge-tailed Sabrewing, Green-breasted Mango and Scaly-breasted Hummingbird.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1dMOZvUlaa0kN9PXR0vNUkXZSUpe6Xq68k2OBJRVYRjE1yqZ9yZ5d-6K4Yjyv8G35Ygfm2UaWza7Ls0CHOeuqGUALKYRCRRzN4GntErZ9f1k3xEA3rVSMRUHTS7Jz_YRvdo91s-aF6Z0/s1600/IMG_2284-View-from-Las-Guacamayas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb1dMOZvUlaa0kN9PXR0vNUkXZSUpe6Xq68k2OBJRVYRjE1yqZ9yZ5d-6K4Yjyv8G35Ygfm2UaWza7Ls0CHOeuqGUALKYRCRRzN4GntErZ9f1k3xEA3rVSMRUHTS7Jz_YRvdo91s-aF6Z0/s320/IMG_2284-View-from-Las-Guacamayas.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Las Guacamayas</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9JY8HwldY3SbG44R4LKxEH-OZp94IUASVqIpLZEwPXpT46WX9rugjN35G3wbI2QAF3TpwSkDP83uHeaIwyg9uat6t16Gr9MgffkdW26-J1PKpOIytMfe5-3N1mRjNHUudvf2fvcWHU4E/s1600/X86A0153-Wedge-tailed-Sabrewing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij9JY8HwldY3SbG44R4LKxEH-OZp94IUASVqIpLZEwPXpT46WX9rugjN35G3wbI2QAF3TpwSkDP83uHeaIwyg9uat6t16Gr9MgffkdW26-J1PKpOIytMfe5-3N1mRjNHUudvf2fvcWHU4E/s320/X86A0153-Wedge-tailed-Sabrewing.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wedge-tailed Sabrewing</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
We finished with a flight from Flores to Guatemala City, an overnight in the very nice Hotel Intercontinental and then return flights home the next morning, mine via Houston and Frankfurt to Birmingham.<br />
<br />
All in all, it was a very enjoyable whistle-stop tour, which achieved the aim of showing the participants as much as possible in a very short time. Guatemala undoubtedly has much to offer to birders from Europe including quite a number of species such as Horned Guan, Black-capped Siskin, Pink-headed & Goldman’s Warblers and Azure-rumped Tanager that are not easily seen elsewhere. It also looks set now to become an attractive destination for bird photographers. My thanks go to everyone at Skua Nature for inviting me along and to my multinational travelling companions for making it such a fun trip.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-27439587612060230662018-12-09T18:07:00.000+00:002018-12-09T18:07:14.152+00:00Avian Adventures in TexasOur recent visit to Texas was Peter’s eleventh Avian Adventures tour in the Lone Star State and June’s third but for both of us it was the first there for several years.<br />
<br />
We travelled from Manchester to Houston with Singapore Airlines, which was still a 10-hour flight but better than most transatlantic crossings we have experienced with a variety of other airlines and, of course, it avoided what for us is the tiresome journey down to Heathrow.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, we arrived in Texas to find that it was cold, windy and raining – not at all what we had hoped for! It wasn’t heavy rain but persistent drizzle and it continued through the following morning. It was a miserable start, horrible conditions for birding and we struggled to find many birds in W Goodrich Jones State Forest. A lone Pileated Woodpecker made our excursion there worthwhile but only just! <br />
<br />
When we moved to the Gulf Coast, the rain had stopped but the wind was even stronger and it was really cold. Rockport and Fulton had been severely damaged by last year’s Hurricane Harvey and we began to imagine how awful that must have been. It was no surprise that our boat trip from Fulton was cancelled – it simply wouldn’t have been safe to go out. <br />
<br />
Instead we had a day birding around Rockport and Goose Island State Park, mostly from our minibus. We counted more than 30 Common Loons (Great Northern Divers) off Rockport beach and in the town’s Beach Park there were a few terns and waders taking shelter. Herons and egrets were everywhere, we saw a variety of duck species and there were Turkey & Black Vultures, Osprey, Northern Harrier, Cooper’s & Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrel and Crested Caracara. However, there were precious few small birds in evidence anywhere. Our total for the day barely reached 60 species.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KIh0spw1sLjkqMLYI8IsHUndMMFrP4PG2H6dMrauF0gkwz5Jc3BGGTNCoQ6V_Vp14LhnHP935DwG6ohVL-RUg-Z0940sw6XUaSvvFqtuB767RLeKg63C_NhCrjHffglPf0WNFqrEThhf/s1600/X86A7832-Long-billed-Curlew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KIh0spw1sLjkqMLYI8IsHUndMMFrP4PG2H6dMrauF0gkwz5Jc3BGGTNCoQ6V_Vp14LhnHP935DwG6ohVL-RUg-Z0940sw6XUaSvvFqtuB767RLeKg63C_NhCrjHffglPf0WNFqrEThhf/s320/X86A7832-Long-billed-Curlew.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Long-billed Curlew</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFWv8EkstY-5AWf5dNGl-QEkXM88FVK5g2G3rom1ux0P5MLHNBYRelhda-r-UOvdlaEH6I6QsemrLRK7z5FHLAJhzuH_V1aqG5ybgaQRaYj1SaxE0CAIh_N0rIcmeGf6gSln5iHyEi3F9/s1600/X86A7883-Turkey-Vulture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoFWv8EkstY-5AWf5dNGl-QEkXM88FVK5g2G3rom1ux0P5MLHNBYRelhda-r-UOvdlaEH6I6QsemrLRK7z5FHLAJhzuH_V1aqG5ybgaQRaYj1SaxE0CAIh_N0rIcmeGf6gSln5iHyEi3F9/s320/X86A7883-Turkey-Vulture.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Turkey Vulture</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97mjCUI5nnoiHk_h1JnM1FlKIGGOw4HnsAOjj20jGLsBt229O3EhZKXQ19bXiS91IQb9B0hH6CkZ4CR0Ojs14568EXMuwXXK3RGB2SUgEFWn0IX80FrO-wsuzxLbTSedYj1PFhwLIVtY4/s1600/X86A7949-Great-Northern-Diver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh97mjCUI5nnoiHk_h1JnM1FlKIGGOw4HnsAOjj20jGLsBt229O3EhZKXQ19bXiS91IQb9B0hH6CkZ4CR0Ojs14568EXMuwXXK3RGB2SUgEFWn0IX80FrO-wsuzxLbTSedYj1PFhwLIVtY4/s320/X86A7949-Great-Northern-Diver.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Common Loon</div>
<br />
Things improved when we moved to the Rio Grande Valley – the weather was better and during our several days there we visited five out of the nine sites in the area that have rather irritatingly branded themselves as the ‘World Birding Center’: Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park, Edinburg Scenic Wetlands, Estero Llano Grande State Park, Roma Bluffs and South Padre Island Birding & Nature Center. We also travelled west to Falcon State Park and on the way popped into Salineño for the feeders and the trail alongside the Rio Grande. In addition, we went to Santa Ana National Wildlife Refuge, now it seems safe from the threat of having a Border Wall built through it, and to Frontera Audubon Thicket, where a rare Golden-crowned Warbler had been seen recently. There are quite a few other sites that we could have gone to if time had allowed and one has to admire the effort that has been made in recent years to promote birding tourism in this area and to develop some excellent sites and facilities.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6jDrrp3faa73ywJCQmaHzVHNlaBiY7rtk0UfnPtNcJdE6lvCYfYsrtE6dny6Iiqt7MKMYX6sj8QI3gxT4nBdOBglcn6F35degEEvuP6nSKY7r-ovRlXbxBK2kOC_m-IelOrQHHjLFm-Z/s1600/X86A7959-Yellow-rumped-Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN6jDrrp3faa73ywJCQmaHzVHNlaBiY7rtk0UfnPtNcJdE6lvCYfYsrtE6dny6Iiqt7MKMYX6sj8QI3gxT4nBdOBglcn6F35degEEvuP6nSKY7r-ovRlXbxBK2kOC_m-IelOrQHHjLFm-Z/s320/X86A7959-Yellow-rumped-Warbler.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yellow-rumped Warbler</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoReIBSHhg3FuGfpy3eNaf2u6h-PU2Zw0mAH3hEEKjIqNJjPb_-vw34mTmK9s5Wsm1WGY6C5dTyHd6Zr4wX1zhtXMTKcudkpehADNuvqnr9idvCfaeoQvmnGE7jY9gyOwOcOLg0i8zyPX/s1600/X86A8072-Least-Grebe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUoReIBSHhg3FuGfpy3eNaf2u6h-PU2Zw0mAH3hEEKjIqNJjPb_-vw34mTmK9s5Wsm1WGY6C5dTyHd6Zr4wX1zhtXMTKcudkpehADNuvqnr9idvCfaeoQvmnGE7jY9gyOwOcOLg0i8zyPX/s320/X86A8072-Least-Grebe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Least Grebe</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcsF_1CqS1xyiob0vUHghJgPr2uYE1X2oomuyvaTMpcUSKgef2cm-T9Wcj2asQOXVDj7lR5oRNqUhsHUtj9SIfhggdkY_1owzrtHhoHUVVi3QMpHjjBNw7kOx-RFDrIB8oWJx4_D-rK4j/s1600/X86A8096-White-tailed-Kite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXcsF_1CqS1xyiob0vUHghJgPr2uYE1X2oomuyvaTMpcUSKgef2cm-T9Wcj2asQOXVDj7lR5oRNqUhsHUtj9SIfhggdkY_1owzrtHhoHUVVi3QMpHjjBNw7kOx-RFDrIB8oWJx4_D-rK4j/s320/X86A8096-White-tailed-Kite.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
White-tailed Kite</div>
<br />
On South Padre Island, as well as the Birding & Nature Center we went to Sheepshead Street and to the Pier 19 Restaurant. Sheepshead Street is an unlikely birding area at first sight but one that has a record of attracting unusual migrant and wintering birds. Land on either side of the street was acquired about 15 years ago by a local conservation group and has since revegetated, providing resting and feeding habitat for birds that have few other options in this mainly built-up area. <br />
<br />
At the Pier 19 Restaurant, a Masked Booby had been hanging around for several weeks and was being fed with fish by restaurant staff who are now well used to showing it off to visiting birders. When we turned up there with binoculars we were quickly walked through the dining area out to the back where this bird was standing behind a slatted gate looking through to see whether we were bringing food. Masked Booby is a species of the tropical oceans that is rarely seen from the mainland and it’s certainly a rarity in North America so it was fun to see it even if the circumstances were a bit bizarre.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggo8fgSFnRTUywELAxLUf6vQJfYdF8v514V98feEaa9Qll4XF-ELmAw4aA8gZ6RSvdft5p2lHlPOfKtGw6aSA_Wp0xdARDTCYwghIS3zMkETCmUHmDwUcGJJsQhyphenhyphenVfaR_AikHgmbZRIMpK/s1600/Masked-Booby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggo8fgSFnRTUywELAxLUf6vQJfYdF8v514V98feEaa9Qll4XF-ELmAw4aA8gZ6RSvdft5p2lHlPOfKtGw6aSA_Wp0xdARDTCYwghIS3zMkETCmUHmDwUcGJJsQhyphenhyphenVfaR_AikHgmbZRIMpK/s320/Masked-Booby.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Masked Booby</div>
<br />
Each site we visited had something to offer and, of course, the Rio Grande Valley is home to a number of birds that are not easy to see elsewhere in the USA, which is why we were there. We should also mention that we saw a good selection of butterflies, including a great many Monarchs that were on their migration to Mexico. Conditions were not always good for photography but here are a few images taken during the tour.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiANvr63uI_vYE3dX8IG2A9423Fmn2rVhZumyo2FheOKnjEucLlo3yFyCCZbqaqAPvUxJbZrD28DATM9ORjfTTyY9xxgRv_AGvadPENDXl-_hjlXnkhCcpv3w7dMPV8XehvfZCMFEZVMw/s1600/X86A7906-Monarch-%2528butterfly%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioiANvr63uI_vYE3dX8IG2A9423Fmn2rVhZumyo2FheOKnjEucLlo3yFyCCZbqaqAPvUxJbZrD28DATM9ORjfTTyY9xxgRv_AGvadPENDXl-_hjlXnkhCcpv3w7dMPV8XehvfZCMFEZVMw/s320/X86A7906-Monarch-%2528butterfly%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Monarch</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigp5VJmxwJFg3ZmJ0BMOrYsluBgVfOjpo0UM_oLtbbV6Jqy8KSk7XJIzNWwCNskaIRQulM3mOAA3-KMWujccU0TJtNLuu4pW3ftUISzpYc9pBjiW6AMYotRyJXXtGfLMt3ZMzHnFTa7Jx/s1600/X86A8132-Black-bellied-Whistling-Ducks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhigp5VJmxwJFg3ZmJ0BMOrYsluBgVfOjpo0UM_oLtbbV6Jqy8KSk7XJIzNWwCNskaIRQulM3mOAA3-KMWujccU0TJtNLuu4pW3ftUISzpYc9pBjiW6AMYotRyJXXtGfLMt3ZMzHnFTa7Jx/s320/X86A8132-Black-bellied-Whistling-Ducks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMf7opwD1GQ4K1bcwtogZ157u5f88RPiyiVR9KdZOO-1lRMqEs_TnOvhqfQ0DQOgyrDNppDMbwZa6ulJRQ4moBcS7TiPqXCMLamc2OcfKqH0eKLxlQlI4SldwGZMmwdSoEfHx4ogA8TnO/s1600/X86A8222-Yellow-bellied-Sapsucker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMf7opwD1GQ4K1bcwtogZ157u5f88RPiyiVR9KdZOO-1lRMqEs_TnOvhqfQ0DQOgyrDNppDMbwZa6ulJRQ4moBcS7TiPqXCMLamc2OcfKqH0eKLxlQlI4SldwGZMmwdSoEfHx4ogA8TnO/s320/X86A8222-Yellow-bellied-Sapsucker.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRZo-ZQLxFZio6NJCAqJ9xRg1m8hN5xzIyheYSHpBgkYXFrk98El3NvGtgmUs-9560g6yDdEqjkGQDbffpBHPoY_zN7BQLlKwlG6zc3cjlUN-gatVABqnlOVKWSNMSm3kC47lWZGtjuDj/s1600/X86A8346-Green-Jay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlRZo-ZQLxFZio6NJCAqJ9xRg1m8hN5xzIyheYSHpBgkYXFrk98El3NvGtgmUs-9560g6yDdEqjkGQDbffpBHPoY_zN7BQLlKwlG6zc3cjlUN-gatVABqnlOVKWSNMSm3kC47lWZGtjuDj/s320/X86A8346-Green-Jay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Green Jay</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1UJI5MxkNCr8mpwEUZMbtUAKa6m3M0k0XNZmy-bTcidjdxLccCDwxogKTBkOsop9sRTLMzy0AyUiZoOjTu773aQk70BjpCB9oQRubyzgCpgULP086OT2vkKVgI0No4Dfy2CiKVzVyY0hF/s1600/X86A8333-Plain-Chachalaca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1UJI5MxkNCr8mpwEUZMbtUAKa6m3M0k0XNZmy-bTcidjdxLccCDwxogKTBkOsop9sRTLMzy0AyUiZoOjTu773aQk70BjpCB9oQRubyzgCpgULP086OT2vkKVgI0No4Dfy2CiKVzVyY0hF/s320/X86A8333-Plain-Chachalaca.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Plain Chachalaca</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5FCNqPsmnNCZsM4kUPWOABjX_X1t6AMoGPJ4YX6N4pWi-kwYnuD5L39m2XVZn7gUvtNlhkABNp90LTjetA0yTxcusRxLN3Lp5juTyShlc6_1PE8o0zaHEveugp7_JDiReFRC47VRI6tb/s1600/X86A8295-Osprey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE5FCNqPsmnNCZsM4kUPWOABjX_X1t6AMoGPJ4YX6N4pWi-kwYnuD5L39m2XVZn7gUvtNlhkABNp90LTjetA0yTxcusRxLN3Lp5juTyShlc6_1PE8o0zaHEveugp7_JDiReFRC47VRI6tb/s320/X86A8295-Osprey.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Osprey</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv201YH29UkDnQTtUmtb4jqwA-moN7RcaUgF2QY5rQl1CRV6n0bswBVSfDsh38Kk75ryHem6-1IZi7Z3jifdkMPrQ6EYY-buvAhgKiKOrDpeGCsrJmmcFsrf7lyALfCK-UXSkOFpLz33Kz/s1600/X86A8276-Anhinga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiv201YH29UkDnQTtUmtb4jqwA-moN7RcaUgF2QY5rQl1CRV6n0bswBVSfDsh38Kk75ryHem6-1IZi7Z3jifdkMPrQ6EYY-buvAhgKiKOrDpeGCsrJmmcFsrf7lyALfCK-UXSkOFpLz33Kz/s320/X86A8276-Anhinga.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Anhinga</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvctg_QaqrUodYT1SIUCucsUALPkOe2PkmUgIluiyxxOCvMECoPMkD6FiNEw-nPtz75wtHdRg7vuHTysVDeErkxv9w6u-FZuRzCQMqza8EOfAqU1uAHTF15GYTsGm2PwfaQXERPeEK6o9r/s1600/X86A8271-Alligator.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvctg_QaqrUodYT1SIUCucsUALPkOe2PkmUgIluiyxxOCvMECoPMkD6FiNEw-nPtz75wtHdRg7vuHTysVDeErkxv9w6u-FZuRzCQMqza8EOfAqU1uAHTF15GYTsGm2PwfaQXERPeEK6o9r/s320/X86A8271-Alligator.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Alligator</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXpRGXjlv7_VXfJbthfWMH5woC2Y_qLwAlHYmHD30Jg8HuWUZtwZgDs7niSzmj3Xzjtf3mJDtAWP3HCyfPgHUe6TFTnjk4ukvaJcom4oDkc5oIuimj-jx4yheeEjJwbui3tf-JeEFV4pn/s1600/X86A8391-Eastern-Collared-Lizard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBXpRGXjlv7_VXfJbthfWMH5woC2Y_qLwAlHYmHD30Jg8HuWUZtwZgDs7niSzmj3Xzjtf3mJDtAWP3HCyfPgHUe6TFTnjk4ukvaJcom4oDkc5oIuimj-jx4yheeEjJwbui3tf-JeEFV4pn/s320/X86A8391-Eastern-Collared-Lizard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Eastern Collared Lizard</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhzatpX3QLjDwfzFmH14ocHSwEuxveSawAq_tnMkZ-Qaq1yypo9jS-su7ZkA3k2OFyY78xMheaWEXwUK3soWbPYIroqMyOq8hFYGXDRZLQhyphenhyphenWdXLRaG37cvvtGqC7tr2iCLClU95ilOUk/s1600/X86A8394-Great-Kiskadee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWhzatpX3QLjDwfzFmH14ocHSwEuxveSawAq_tnMkZ-Qaq1yypo9jS-su7ZkA3k2OFyY78xMheaWEXwUK3soWbPYIroqMyOq8hFYGXDRZLQhyphenhyphenWdXLRaG37cvvtGqC7tr2iCLClU95ilOUk/s320/X86A8394-Great-Kiskadee.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Great Kiskadee</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7PlGyWhh5xfoigFP-nz4K-1XBORMkpSq4zcEnqR6CoRrNoUFm0peK6wongY3rqYMn7I2GebHs6tx39Do9fJ5228RhQSPQM2UAWtdAnRrn1-JUm0igYiZNyM_C1KtOBKTmQ4hRXq8nPHD/s1600/X86A8435-Solitary-Sandpiper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK7PlGyWhh5xfoigFP-nz4K-1XBORMkpSq4zcEnqR6CoRrNoUFm0peK6wongY3rqYMn7I2GebHs6tx39Do9fJ5228RhQSPQM2UAWtdAnRrn1-JUm0igYiZNyM_C1KtOBKTmQ4hRXq8nPHD/s320/X86A8435-Solitary-Sandpiper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Solitary Sandpiper</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoXT2EjtkXAb1pLijeswMwYArVGC2QsAhDs8OwcMiQyb_NrLrQYKuNTJpsMIYV68Ps0qt3-XYcuYGaEfE6p16Djb43eivq-S5vvsz46OZ1IHQEFhG4L_KCMu4OXHVSdL4gBunhzkvEPEs/s1600/X86A8444-Yellow-crowned-Night-Heron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdoXT2EjtkXAb1pLijeswMwYArVGC2QsAhDs8OwcMiQyb_NrLrQYKuNTJpsMIYV68Ps0qt3-XYcuYGaEfE6p16Djb43eivq-S5vvsz46OZ1IHQEFhG4L_KCMu4OXHVSdL4gBunhzkvEPEs/s320/X86A8444-Yellow-crowned-Night-Heron.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yellow-crowned Night Heron</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDGFa_zer4UGZOrgZiFqQLq6nSns9Lxxx3etylfMG_MjyTLbt1AGvvAUGXcjWEjFsi6bsdLwQ2MmWY2eTInFicqJfhnA21y6xt93WPQl3snZ6A07D9r7OZoifEI2m4Nw0IG-yXMWPSSlw/s1600/X86A8648-Clay-coloured-Thrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVDGFa_zer4UGZOrgZiFqQLq6nSns9Lxxx3etylfMG_MjyTLbt1AGvvAUGXcjWEjFsi6bsdLwQ2MmWY2eTInFicqJfhnA21y6xt93WPQl3snZ6A07D9r7OZoifEI2m4Nw0IG-yXMWPSSlw/s320/X86A8648-Clay-coloured-Thrush.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Clay-colored Thrush</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJNwvah1nH2BsNHRf4qQ9Uy5ew3cH5rZsfSlH5Gz4hu84DMR9MbYKsg9c3dd1Hhf5_fG_y3AItMaSs2NG3rDgdRZYLtT2WaBYvVOWqaamvpHVibHBgxj5FPDmTdNic0jLc8IWsKYKkTLj/s1600/X86A8643-American-White-Pelicans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJNwvah1nH2BsNHRf4qQ9Uy5ew3cH5rZsfSlH5Gz4hu84DMR9MbYKsg9c3dd1Hhf5_fG_y3AItMaSs2NG3rDgdRZYLtT2WaBYvVOWqaamvpHVibHBgxj5FPDmTdNic0jLc8IWsKYKkTLj/s320/X86A8643-American-White-Pelicans.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
American White Pelicans</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizs15R54MbzJekQd7e7iGP2ptYEeRudllWthDzR8dZSvyjadGZwZjuEJOgXZ77UPqh1VptcjrYsvfPIXETMsXy0xrhNDf2Nuga63j9Y5QqOxo_ZN11OqElXoDdQ1sgWCcYo-8zXtTugLvQ/s1600/X86A8625-Greater-Roadrunner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizs15R54MbzJekQd7e7iGP2ptYEeRudllWthDzR8dZSvyjadGZwZjuEJOgXZ77UPqh1VptcjrYsvfPIXETMsXy0xrhNDf2Nuga63j9Y5QqOxo_ZN11OqElXoDdQ1sgWCcYo-8zXtTugLvQ/s320/X86A8625-Greater-Roadrunner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Greater Roadrunner</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitu3j65-2hayIjpo2bSM_HDeaxS1ZSTJ_tGfBS4deHubgQBu3SsRPzapSZzFYPiLwmXy3Fg1ahv1yny-VLuI3wEuzi1gn3Ru-ssnqbj83hChIpk2jrxIdKw9E6VrSjVzGRILXChjg16J7o/s1600/X86A8518-Altamira-Oriole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitu3j65-2hayIjpo2bSM_HDeaxS1ZSTJ_tGfBS4deHubgQBu3SsRPzapSZzFYPiLwmXy3Fg1ahv1yny-VLuI3wEuzi1gn3Ru-ssnqbj83hChIpk2jrxIdKw9E6VrSjVzGRILXChjg16J7o/s320/X86A8518-Altamira-Oriole.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Altamira Oriole</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-21622835617939660752018-11-04T18:40:00.000+00:002018-11-04T18:40:14.753+00:00Avian Adventures in Peru - 4Our flight from Lima to Cusco took just an hour. There we were met by our new guide, José Antonio Padilla and driver Yosua. On our way through the city we picked up Juan who was introduced as our cook but who also proved to be very good at finding birds.<br />
<br />
Very soon we were birding! Just a short way out of Cusco we had an hour looking for birds and also getting used to the altitude. In Tarapoto we had been at 350 metres above sea level; Cusco is at 3,400 metres and we could feel the difference! Also, it was probably a bit warmer than most of us had expected so it was quite a leisurely walk that we had. Most of the birds seen, such as Andean Flicker, Cinereous Conebill, Chiguanco Thrush and Black-throated Flowerpiercer, were ones that would become familiar during the coming days but Rusty-fronted Canastero, White-browed Chat-Tyrant and Yellow-billed Tit-Tyrant were seen on just this one occasion.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSUyKHMNtbrwrEYj3xaapPYMo2XLE9NPzjecrWg0k4vzh56IkjchOYa2MtmmK5g4NRm5VyFRs6VNutSmwdw3V5Pp0in0NyWKqNQ7olaH3UBkC0f09zMuovcCsFnE5gaZBm7gXb-Mb2v8L/s1600/X86A6403-Chiguanco-Thrush.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzSUyKHMNtbrwrEYj3xaapPYMo2XLE9NPzjecrWg0k4vzh56IkjchOYa2MtmmK5g4NRm5VyFRs6VNutSmwdw3V5Pp0in0NyWKqNQ7olaH3UBkC0f09zMuovcCsFnE5gaZBm7gXb-Mb2v8L/s320/X86A6403-Chiguanco-Thrush.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chiguanco Thrush</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
We drove for another hour and then stopped by Lake Piuray, a wetland that was teeming with birds. Among the many ducks were Yellow-billed Teal, Puna Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail and Andean Duck; there were Andean Coots and White-tufted Grebe, Andean Gulls, Andean Lapwings, Neotropic Cormorants and Puna Ibises. Burrowing Owl and Many-colored Rush Tyrant were species we had seen before but were pleased to see again.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cvyLfI9AsQKOJgeEUvJCM-dPrLHA6YzOBrwfl2ECpxhDTFdp5wnLdLz38zgqGSAv9nwTH6KclujlbGPqUe1tNIrZsIqPz1YnmA8mbNXP0VoLeHupr6mq1SQnGnyqcxxjkbpXxW1F-tIi/s1600/X86A5931-Andean-Gulls-1blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5cvyLfI9AsQKOJgeEUvJCM-dPrLHA6YzOBrwfl2ECpxhDTFdp5wnLdLz38zgqGSAv9nwTH6KclujlbGPqUe1tNIrZsIqPz1YnmA8mbNXP0VoLeHupr6mq1SQnGnyqcxxjkbpXxW1F-tIi/s320/X86A5931-Andean-Gulls-1blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Andean Gulls</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpilMJD9b2IpDdUhGMl4w8DC2uP7jUDCxcgUEKZTw3gPrBhK_SPT84CN4GOO9XE2LfdjPHyJd8F5QonUrEVSNmHZuIVV6ArxnuP9vA4ldoYrXVVVZIEK3YxYQg-VBYs-alJEjm9xNBpUFV/s1600/X86A6044-Andean-Lapwing.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpilMJD9b2IpDdUhGMl4w8DC2uP7jUDCxcgUEKZTw3gPrBhK_SPT84CN4GOO9XE2LfdjPHyJd8F5QonUrEVSNmHZuIVV6ArxnuP9vA4ldoYrXVVVZIEK3YxYQg-VBYs-alJEjm9xNBpUFV/s320/X86A6044-Andean-Lapwing.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Andean Lapwing</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
A little further on was Lake Huaypo where Juan had the first opportunity to display his culinary skills. He provided a very adequate lunch, certainly sufficient to distract us from birding for at least a few minutes. Andean Geese and Silvery Grebes were additions to our list here, there were more than 50 Puna Ibises and there was a nice selection of waders. These included Baird’s & Spotted Sandpipers and more than 30 Wilson’s Phalaropes and later, after lunch, we also found three Stilt Sandpipers. Two Black-faced Ibises here were the only ones seen during the tour. We re-acquainted ourselves with Grassland Yellow Finches and as we had done when we saw them at the start of the tour we tried hard to imagine a Peruvian Pipit amongst them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXK0mTyktUe5PNpkTplFBV3HZjExXfTQfLpNj4dh5XCZ8-jmKznZBRhyphenhyphenAXdJK3aUd9FngUOJu58m_t4Mqdc6f4N8dt9Q36s3xxBAAuhbtFQGTxfpX-Lhi_4S1VP17ZocIAGq7Gus7_2fMW/s1600/X86A6426-Wilson%2527s-Phalarope.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXK0mTyktUe5PNpkTplFBV3HZjExXfTQfLpNj4dh5XCZ8-jmKznZBRhyphenhyphenAXdJK3aUd9FngUOJu58m_t4Mqdc6f4N8dt9Q36s3xxBAAuhbtFQGTxfpX-Lhi_4S1VP17ZocIAGq7Gus7_2fMW/s320/X86A6426-Wilson%2527s-Phalarope.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wilson's Phalarope</div>
<br />
A short while later we stopped again briefly at another lake and saw much the same selection of birds although one species that we hadn’t seen before was a Cinereous Harrier. That was our last birding of the day and now we headed to our overnight stay at the Hotel Munay Tika in Ollantaytambo. <br />
Next morning we met at 4:00 am for coffee and to collect our packed breakfasts. It was then just a short walk from the hotel to the railway station. We were booked on the 5:00 am PeruRail service to Aguas Calientes, gateway to Machu Picchu.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGFWXPkmLW2OwOCoGqC6b6b1iSrfntAyt7irDqVPn7rDWAi83Cf5druIxSwxq1jhRUOpzd0zdqBHlFXmt9vC0UCgZ6CEyM3Z43cuBjhSqceDKSTkIW39Fdr3ECifRE06AilT14lmxiJlf/s1600/IMG_2065-PeruRail-%2528Aguas-Calientes%2529blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyGFWXPkmLW2OwOCoGqC6b6b1iSrfntAyt7irDqVPn7rDWAi83Cf5druIxSwxq1jhRUOpzd0zdqBHlFXmt9vC0UCgZ6CEyM3Z43cuBjhSqceDKSTkIW39Fdr3ECifRE06AilT14lmxiJlf/s320/IMG_2065-PeruRail-%2528Aguas-Calientes%2529blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
PeruRail</div>
<br />
For much of the hour-and-a-half-long journey the railway line follows closely the Urubamba River and more than 20 Torrent Ducks were seen from the train. At least one Black Phoebe was also identified.<br />
<br />
At Aguas Calientes we walked through the town and then back along the river, sometimes actually walking on the railway line. This provided some excellent birding with highlights that included Grey-fronted Dove, Green-and-white Hummingbird, Golden-headed Quetzal, Andean Motmot, Ocellated Piculet, Torrent & Sclater’s Tyrannulets, Streak-necked & Golden-crowned Flycatchers, Red-eyed Vireo, Andean Solitaire, Slate-throated Whitestart, Russet-crowned Warbler, Black-backed Grosbeak, Dusky-green Oropendola and some reasonably close Torrent Ducks with young. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmvEXrrkdsAX0Ys9ayHrGlyYJma-uR0yGATO96miEbkYYZJuVe5-h3iBpBwbdMvz5YL93LGqEzoVPxRb7aP-P_x9lrei0yvMF9pQgTzaQa1jc_l9hL4Asw1OpI7e2LchBIbNRaRzLR9_k/s1600/X86A5942+Torrent+Duck+Tour+Report.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmvEXrrkdsAX0Ys9ayHrGlyYJma-uR0yGATO96miEbkYYZJuVe5-h3iBpBwbdMvz5YL93LGqEzoVPxRb7aP-P_x9lrei0yvMF9pQgTzaQa1jc_l9hL4Asw1OpI7e2LchBIbNRaRzLR9_k/s320/X86A5942+Torrent+Duck+Tour+Report.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Torrent Duck</div>
<br />
At 9:30 am it was time to take the shuttle bus from Aguas Calientes, a journey of half an hour or so up a steep mountain road. And then, finally, we were able to enter Machu Picchu itself. Voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World in a 2007 worldwide Internet poll and designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site, not surprisingly Machu Picchu is a major tourist attraction and although the number of visitors is restricted it can only be described as crowded. Cameras and selfie sticks were the order of the day!<br />
<br />
It is believed that Machu Picchu was constructed around 1450 but abandoned a century later at the time of the Spanish Conquest. It seems that it wasn’t discovered by the Spanish and it remained unknown to the outside world until American historian Hiram Bingham brought it to international attention in 1911.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDwX36FaOSa_RojDfa8B8TBFvkHBKbtL-YF6vDhufX4ADYw5qa4ZQYGs3neHP2TfHBf5lEtIyUp6gue2lsFv9_852A6sRJeXmUoTPMAO6Z2Dr-9VvZMsDQw926P_spYPmPgmuOhPdjq3t/s1600/IMG_1975+Machu+Picchu.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnDwX36FaOSa_RojDfa8B8TBFvkHBKbtL-YF6vDhufX4ADYw5qa4ZQYGs3neHP2TfHBf5lEtIyUp6gue2lsFv9_852A6sRJeXmUoTPMAO6Z2Dr-9VvZMsDQw926P_spYPmPgmuOhPdjq3t/s320/IMG_1975+Machu+Picchu.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Machu Picchu</div>
<br />
If such an impressive and sizeable Inca development was unknown for so many years, perhaps it is less surprising that Inca Wren wasn’t described as a species until 1985. Of course we were interested in the Incas and their construction work but also we were still birding and Inca Wren was a particular target here at Machu Picchu. It didn’t take long for José to find one once we had located the necessary bamboo habitat. There were few other birds around but hardly surprising with so many people everywhere!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBX-ab7iZtlF5FdEPZ6yVelMcvPFj9NqZZmN6x39xl598Zy0C83Up6utniqYmgkqdXEi4fia9Vx5m9ZorFvIRRupZv7n6jDasVXQFnFlcJS6z7J2xY3VeD-ikbGmDIyfz-xEjk6bZx3Xi1/s1600/X86A6001-Inca-Wren.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBX-ab7iZtlF5FdEPZ6yVelMcvPFj9NqZZmN6x39xl598Zy0C83Up6utniqYmgkqdXEi4fia9Vx5m9ZorFvIRRupZv7n6jDasVXQFnFlcJS6z7J2xY3VeD-ikbGmDIyfz-xEjk6bZx3Xi1/s320/X86A6001-Inca-Wren.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Inca Wren</div>
<br />
At around midday we joined the very long queue for the bus back to Aguas Calientes where we had a very nice buffet lunch at Toto’s House Restaurant. We caught the 2:55 pm train back to Ollantaytambo, which arrived at 5:00 pm. Two White-capped Dippers were seen by those of us who were sitting on the right side of the train from which to see the river.<br />
<br />
Our next day was devoted to birding in the Abra Malaga area. Abra Malaga is actually the name of a mountain pass located at about 4,200 metres above sea level. The road from Ollantaytambo climbs via numerous hairpin bends that each offers a spectacular view. We would be birding at various different points along the road. It was a cloudy morning with a hint of drizzle and we were warned that it might be cold higher up.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuQkpp6cIB0H5olIjJK9vDS_1HUjIuVlckS3AOAMhfE7KdoKS3Po1HuLM6tQOaMSwbmnKuRs9vdFQhbxLQCC89cJd1DIo9TwqYCsWjAa953w5qPWPOXmaf05whDtR-VLWUMp5x9EMWho2/s1600/IMG_2085-Road-to-Abra-Malaga.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipuQkpp6cIB0H5olIjJK9vDS_1HUjIuVlckS3AOAMhfE7KdoKS3Po1HuLM6tQOaMSwbmnKuRs9vdFQhbxLQCC89cJd1DIo9TwqYCsWjAa953w5qPWPOXmaf05whDtR-VLWUMp5x9EMWho2/s320/IMG_2085-Road-to-Abra-Malaga.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
On the road to Abra Malaga</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Our first stop was at Las Peñas, where White-tufted & Shining Sunbeams were yet two more additions to our list of hummingbirds seen. Further on there were brief stops for a Red-crested Cotinga, then for Cream-winged Cinclodes and Plumbeous Sierra Finch and later for Ashy-breasted Sierra Finch and White-winged Diuca Finch - the bird names got longer and longer!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7NBWFA0fPTQxniiGafC7xTsFROTRUZ2j3hKY4kT0dqQCpnWCfz1sU9taDF0u6jvySM1P0C1GRlUmjXVJLaxAOk8WW71BtWuuP_Lia1OLOJBziH8OS38M-yDh4HoGhCsdl1uLofof3geH/s1600/X86A6336-Cream-winged-Cinclodes.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi7NBWFA0fPTQxniiGafC7xTsFROTRUZ2j3hKY4kT0dqQCpnWCfz1sU9taDF0u6jvySM1P0C1GRlUmjXVJLaxAOk8WW71BtWuuP_Lia1OLOJBziH8OS38M-yDh4HoGhCsdl1uLofof3geH/s320/X86A6336-Cream-winged-Cinclodes.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cream-winged Cinclodes</div>
<br />
Higher still we found a Paramo Pipit and a Streak-throated Canastero before stopping for tea/coffee at Thastayoc. Here we stayed a little longer and found Rufous-breasted & Brown-backed Chat-Tyrants, Moustached Flowerpiercer, Puna Thistletail, Tyrian & Scaled Metaltails, White-throated Tyrannulet, White-browed Conebill, Pearled Treerunner, Three-striped Hemispingus and there was a brief glimpse of a Diademed Tapaculo. Surprisingly, we saw three species of swallows during the morning: Andean, Brown-bellied & Pale-footed, although it’s fair to say that we would have struggled to sort them out without the help of José as the light was mostly very poor and the finer features of identification very difficult to discern.<br />
<br />
At Carrizales we took a trail from the road that climbed gently up the hillside. Here we were about 3,200 metres above sea level. At last the rain cleared and for a while we even saw the sun! It was here that we also saw one of the avian highlights of the day, a Rufous Antpitta that in the end was quite obliging and showed well. Another star was the Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager, such a bright, colourful bird in contrast to the many shades of grey, brown and olive that predominated. Parodi’s Hemispingus and Marcapata Spinetail were two birds here more memorable for their names than their appearance. Apparently, José Parodi Vargas was a Peruvian politician and landowner and Marcapata is one of the twelve districts in the Quispicanchi Province in Peru.<br />
<br />
After two hours we returned to the minibus and headed off to lunch, which Juan was preparing by the roadside at San Luis. We had a long wait before we had anything to eat but fortunately we were able to fill the time by searching for a Yungas Pygmy Owl, which called repeatedly in response to José’s recording but took a very long time before sitting out in the open to be admired and photographed. Two Red-crested Cotingas and a Sierran Elaenia were also around at lunchtime.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHus6pdJ_DAxTjrbzXXpZwQ-kcB1cAtWzfh48x84Og6So7hUMVchmHo4vUeLZl9Ymk0Jh9WgaQSKrQ5AibTms8NcUqYEVJ-7ikj-6oMPrdrNNufigz5rqgME8nc590wpwavKasuMQ-8zD/s1600/X86A6244-Yungas-Pygmy-Owl.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKHus6pdJ_DAxTjrbzXXpZwQ-kcB1cAtWzfh48x84Og6So7hUMVchmHo4vUeLZl9Ymk0Jh9WgaQSKrQ5AibTms8NcUqYEVJ-7ikj-6oMPrdrNNufigz5rqgME8nc590wpwavKasuMQ-8zD/s320/X86A6244-Yungas-Pygmy-Owl.blog.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yungas Pygmy Owl</div>
<br />
The following morning we left the hotel at 6:00 am and walked down the road to Hotel Pakaritampu where we spent an hour or more birding around the neatly laid out gardens. Our targets here were mostly hummingbirds and we very quickly found the unmistakable Bearded Mountaineer, a bird of the tropical high-altitude shrubland with a particular fondness for the flowers of tree tobacco (<i>Nicotiana</i>). A female Green-tailed Trainbearer soon followed and later we saw a White-bellied Hummingbird and Lesser Violetear. Other garden birds included Black-throated & Rusty Flowerpiercers, Blue-and-yellow Tanager, Bare-faced Ground Dove, Golden-billed Saltator and Black-backed Grosbeak.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rBtz_E5ZiZT0w45EuYluDo85PKdg5uGmIxVxbOu0sTDNTT_2rKapZLKUx4Wie7SMbELy_BjuvrngxyBDZxvPrmVqal1rxACLm7peBe5F-gZ9TxbubR7NZk-Yq9TsBiSfOnZSdxvpKYoP/s1600/X86A6293-Bearded-Mountaineer.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9rBtz_E5ZiZT0w45EuYluDo85PKdg5uGmIxVxbOu0sTDNTT_2rKapZLKUx4Wie7SMbELy_BjuvrngxyBDZxvPrmVqal1rxACLm7peBe5F-gZ9TxbubR7NZk-Yq9TsBiSfOnZSdxvpKYoP/s320/X86A6293-Bearded-Mountaineer.blog.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bearded Mountaineer</div>
<br />
After breakfast back at Hotel Munay Tika we packed up and checked out and by 8:15 am we were heading once again up the mountain road that we had been on yesterday. This time the plan was to concentrate mainly on sites at lower elevations although we did eventually reach 4,000 metres. Mostly we were birding from the roadside.<br />
<br />
At our first stop we saw the only Rust-and-yellow Tanager of the tour and a Shining Sunbeam; there was also a better view than most of us had had before of a Creamy-crested Spinetail. Further on, there was a striking Chestnut-bellied Mountain Finch, another Peruvian endemic and a Tyrian Metaltail, yet another new hummingbird species for our list.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HNsAAaOeYEzNi_y3xVdGbPa755jw-cF9cZ-8oaTAXqlQJQLtzw3ikNwrEycmtVoUn991sfoDXxHOvZCyZNwd3CPlJzYjo-_koHGYXtqUYrMtXXzr2J3X2PTL33xLfZLuvsUviInn6TmJ/s1600/X86A6328-Chestnut-bellied-Mountain-Finch.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0HNsAAaOeYEzNi_y3xVdGbPa755jw-cF9cZ-8oaTAXqlQJQLtzw3ikNwrEycmtVoUn991sfoDXxHOvZCyZNwd3CPlJzYjo-_koHGYXtqUYrMtXXzr2J3X2PTL33xLfZLuvsUviInn6TmJ/s320/X86A6328-Chestnut-bellied-Mountain-Finch.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chestnut-bellied Mountain Finch</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
A particularly rewarding stop was one where we saw Rufous-naped & Puna Ground Tyrants, D’Orbigny’s Chat-Tyrant, Plain-colored Seedeater, Plumbeous & Peruvian Sierra Finches. Why did the Chat-Tyrant have a hyphen while the Ground Tyrants and the Sierra Finches didn’t? Should the Seedeater be Plain-coloured? It was too cold to care!<br />
<br />
A little further on, we saw more Rufous-naped & Puna Ground Tyrants, Hooded Siskins and two Andean Flickers and five Puna Ibises. A tiny dark dot about 400 metres away up the hillside was identified by José from its song as a Puna Tapaculo and it was clearly responding to playback.<br />
Soon it was time for lunch, which again was prepared in an unlikely setting by Juan with assistance from Yosua. Juan had cooked both meat and potatoes using the most basic of equipment and a table and stools had been carried up the hillside for us!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiKMOhmR24V7gJKci7goi0WZlPWoNroYVz4ylV7UDGbKHqeSCIngDmmqP66lcuyAvVUJwf-u2E6o-ygzHhM-7wMcicaRAoJj9isA2-sj1CacZZaSStARoJakWT1F93BsXiuieFrlwFOHK/s1600/IMG_2087-Lunch-on-the-hillside.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTiKMOhmR24V7gJKci7goi0WZlPWoNroYVz4ylV7UDGbKHqeSCIngDmmqP66lcuyAvVUJwf-u2E6o-ygzHhM-7wMcicaRAoJj9isA2-sj1CacZZaSStARoJakWT1F93BsXiuieFrlwFOHK/s320/IMG_2087-Lunch-on-the-hillside.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lunch on the hillside</div>
<br />
At about 1:00 pm we set off to Cusco, a journey that took almost three hours. Our hotel was the Antares Mystic Hotel, which was a good choice although its location in the historic centre of the city meant that to reach it we had to negotiate narrow streets and traffic.<br />
<br />
Next day we headed out to the north-west of Cusco, beyond the Sacsayhuamán archaeological site to an unnamed area where we walked a trail that took us eventually to an elevation of around 4,100 metres. Although not particularly steep it did prove something of a struggle. We had been as high as this previously but this was probably the furthest we had had to walk or climb at this altitude. In the event, it proved well worth the effort with several birds seen for the first time. It was also a very pleasant morning, mostly sunny but with a comfortable temperature.<br />
<br />
Birds seen on the way up included Streak-throated Bush Tyrant, Common Miner, Spot-billed Ground Tyrant, Streak-fronted Thornbird and Junin Canastero. Just at the point where we decided not to go further, we flushed three Puna Snipe from a wet area just below the trail and then a Streak-backed Canastero was found. In the same area we saw a Stripe-headed Antpitta.<br />
<br />
After lunch back in Cusco we had a couple of hours before we had to be at the airport, time enough to drive out to the east of Cusco to the Lucre - Huacarpay Wetland. Situated at an altitude of 3,020 metres, this High-Andean wetland is part of the Pikillaqta Archaeological Park and was designated as a Ramsar Site in 2006. The birds here included many wetland species that we had seen before including Puna Teal, Yellow-billed Pintail, Wilson’s Phalarope and the appropriately named Andean Gull, Andean Duck, Andean Lapwing and Andean Coot. A Cocoi Heron was a surprise find, we had a closer view of Plumbeous Rail than we had before and we had two ‘new birds’, an Aplomado Falcon and a Black-tailed Trainbearer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_ONHlHZvlOipuviIS_CW5s4nuDdAq2PfhkMTvEY9V7hwMZ16oSc9ATIpIfPp_Z0__b34JNz2XYdlbSHPs12yuhCazipbfCwftT-NqhxIH3xbMB0GtXa3kbCobQLTnnVBm8C7BwWbdsZq/s1600/IMG_2102-Lucre---Huacarpay-Wetland.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_ONHlHZvlOipuviIS_CW5s4nuDdAq2PfhkMTvEY9V7hwMZ16oSc9ATIpIfPp_Z0__b34JNz2XYdlbSHPs12yuhCazipbfCwftT-NqhxIH3xbMB0GtXa3kbCobQLTnnVBm8C7BwWbdsZq/s320/IMG_2102-Lucre---Huacarpay-Wetland.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lucre - Huacarpay Wetland</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Our flight to Lima took about an hour and a half, arriving there at 8:15 pm. We were met at the airport by Manuel Zamora and at just after 9:30 pm we were once again checking in at the Hotel San Agustin Exclusive, Miraflores.<br />
<br />
Our last day in Peru was spent in the company of Alejandro Tello, another guide working for Kolibri Expeditions. He took us firstly to Pantanos de Villa Wildlife Refuge, a protected area of coastal marshes and brackish water lagoons located in the district of Chorrillos in Lima. This is another Ramsar Site and it provided an excellent morning’s birding including some species we hadn’t seen before. We spent our time walking first along the sandy shore and then around the main lagoon. It was an early start and so to begin with the light was quite poor but gradually it improved and there were excellent opportunities for photographing gulls and shorebirds. Highlights were Harris’s Hawk, Semipalmated Plover, Whimbrel and Killdeer, Kelp, Grey, Franklin’s & Belcher’s Gulls, American Oystercatcher, Barn Swallow, Black Skimmers, Yellow-hooded Blackbird, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Elegant Terns, Burrowing Owls, Peruvian Thick-knees, Many-colored Rush Tyrant, Scrub Blackbird, Shining Cowbird and Peruvian Meadowlark. Looking out to sea there were two Great Grebes on the water, several groups of Guanay Cormorants passed by and there were Peruvian Pelicans and Peruvian Boobies.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9eg5GM5n4tpd-_Vz39bEH4w17AXb68_OE2azXIpCuPsAguNCqnqfiqnPErui_ZiWQKjy8cRiTYLWmOZQLPGIr0NYP-bmyVgvJ53WybRtt_4wIZKkFNBPSS4_2S3tu23TU3Wlj8w1YgBw/s1600/X86A6436-%2528Hudsonian%2529-Whimbrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9eg5GM5n4tpd-_Vz39bEH4w17AXb68_OE2azXIpCuPsAguNCqnqfiqnPErui_ZiWQKjy8cRiTYLWmOZQLPGIr0NYP-bmyVgvJ53WybRtt_4wIZKkFNBPSS4_2S3tu23TU3Wlj8w1YgBw/s320/X86A6436-%2528Hudsonian%2529-Whimbrel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hudsonian Whimbrel</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivN5yHclGHHfRpVHhP2nyssiHgo0X7crzNoRhuSR11iC6nXpf8YhtZs7FPtUI-uI-ig99ADv_Ok-jC3VmZ25NiHeDOC0xcgOM8QlnQ5yfL99yh_0uuNzdRsyW9dfJOwwl2cXyFkUGA5zXj/s1600/X86A6459+American+Oystercatcher+Tour+Report.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivN5yHclGHHfRpVHhP2nyssiHgo0X7crzNoRhuSR11iC6nXpf8YhtZs7FPtUI-uI-ig99ADv_Ok-jC3VmZ25NiHeDOC0xcgOM8QlnQ5yfL99yh_0uuNzdRsyW9dfJOwwl2cXyFkUGA5zXj/s320/X86A6459+American+Oystercatcher+Tour+Report.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
American Oystercatcher</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyspIUVA-muzGIPlvxuLFnazTKRpVs0u_wga276JGjLIljqHGOmWfr8bYRysP_zaRkI4H6Dk9bQaQZix0TEZLvZFqCdfwFCyiJ7nwbc_ljEaNIIOUxKNhS0JFylh1U0DrkTh620pWkwSp/s1600/X86A6505-Black-Skimmer.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLyspIUVA-muzGIPlvxuLFnazTKRpVs0u_wga276JGjLIljqHGOmWfr8bYRysP_zaRkI4H6Dk9bQaQZix0TEZLvZFqCdfwFCyiJ7nwbc_ljEaNIIOUxKNhS0JFylh1U0DrkTh620pWkwSp/s320/X86A6505-Black-Skimmer.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Black Skimmer</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiR-aXGFtnVqE67wAeaEeNdlRS_fPFk3mDOLejHRfSoNzo4Vfe44Y0HML-FCF_LUL0J1DafJjKv6iSwtoK2IQWDIKvGy-klVyV132rkQSUNt5Ht3uOIdG2fuSs8BLxt1zzko2ZeeMcacn/s1600/X86A6619-Peruvian-Thick-knees.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiR-aXGFtnVqE67wAeaEeNdlRS_fPFk3mDOLejHRfSoNzo4Vfe44Y0HML-FCF_LUL0J1DafJjKv6iSwtoK2IQWDIKvGy-klVyV132rkQSUNt5Ht3uOIdG2fuSs8BLxt1zzko2ZeeMcacn/s320/X86A6619-Peruvian-Thick-knees.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Peruvian Thick-knees</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWERGqKcRpQdhuPpTX-cosiiUO4wXVNgirgvot2uWc7ZdCfqIhgmL6FNvWQqAZ-eoGVJYELVaFyBTk-_-tb94zUV16tYer0883cTz7O3n0mCFQnL-SO0prHo8iDirgxAtbo6mBCmWD_Spg/s1600/X86A6667-Many-colored-Rush-Tyrant.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWERGqKcRpQdhuPpTX-cosiiUO4wXVNgirgvot2uWc7ZdCfqIhgmL6FNvWQqAZ-eoGVJYELVaFyBTk-_-tb94zUV16tYer0883cTz7O3n0mCFQnL-SO0prHo8iDirgxAtbo6mBCmWD_Spg/s320/X86A6667-Many-colored-Rush-Tyrant.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Many-colored Rush Tyrant</div>
<br />
We returned to the hotel to pack our bags for the last time and then spent an hour before lunch at the Larco Museum (Museo Arqueológico Rafael Larco Herrera), a privately owned museum of pre-Columbian art, located in the Pueblo Libre District of Lima.<br />
<br />
Later there was time for one last birding session before our flight home and for this we went to Arenilla, a coastal site close to Jorge Chávez International Airport. Although there were quite a few species here that were very familiar, it was surprising at this late stage to find Western & Semipalmated Sandpipers and Black-bellied Plover that we hadn’t seen before and these brought the total number of species that we had seen during the tour to 434.<br />
<br />Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-8562179424676055522018-10-31T21:36:00.000+00:002018-10-31T21:36:20.059+00:00Avian Adventures in Peru - 3After our unscheduled night in Moyobamba, we went for breakfast at Waqanki Lodge, just a 15-minute drive away to the south of the town. We had planned a two-night stay here but now we made arrangements to extend that to three. This would put us back in line with our original itinerary, which had been disrupted by the protesting rice growers.<br />
<br />
Birding around the grounds of the lodge we soon found ourselves facing another set of hummingbirds to be identified. On this occasion they were coming to flowers rather than feeders. One of them at least was distinctive, the diminutive Rufous-crested Coquette, but also seen were Violet-headed Hummingbird, White-chinned Sapphire, Sapphire-spangled & Blue-tailed Emeralds and Amethyst Woodstar that, when all arriving together, provided more of a challenge. Great Kiskadees were noisy as always, a Blue-headed Parrot and several Cobalt-winged Parakeets flew over, a Dull-colored Grassquit lived up to its name. During breakfast, a Purple-throated Euphonia, a Black-bellied Tanager and a Palm Tanager came to a nearby feeder.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaERByDXVU3IYSXGUUSBAunQzt6iLuycDi7VHocQgApg7IqngAETyDuI2i9YOrWZu4RHMgMnbhVo33AS9folMcpzEqBqu1JqqRSkCoVfUgxh_7gskZnN_fyFvRMhErtbbIVM_anL9sfET/s1600/X86A5403-Rufous-crested-Coquette.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivaERByDXVU3IYSXGUUSBAunQzt6iLuycDi7VHocQgApg7IqngAETyDuI2i9YOrWZu4RHMgMnbhVo33AS9folMcpzEqBqu1JqqRSkCoVfUgxh_7gskZnN_fyFvRMhErtbbIVM_anL9sfET/s320/X86A5403-Rufous-crested-Coquette.blog.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rufous-crested Coquette</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyL9EQ2xxC_-1NUHlv_OP93BAl0AH3Z3JTyYmgcvst39ZzWndXdtNBmydivh5VitzUZwgJj0Ch0O1PXPqNEH4Btg8sXbEzQ7nIciIi7qQY443OjKxidxBXJhNtbXZTBa-4WyR0nUcutODt/s1600/X86A5409-Rufous-crested-Coquette.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyL9EQ2xxC_-1NUHlv_OP93BAl0AH3Z3JTyYmgcvst39ZzWndXdtNBmydivh5VitzUZwgJj0Ch0O1PXPqNEH4Btg8sXbEzQ7nIciIi7qQY443OjKxidxBXJhNtbXZTBa-4WyR0nUcutODt/s320/X86A5409-Rufous-crested-Coquette.blog.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rufous-crested Coquette</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8HLRyXZT7n4DCJTWktnGukYkrJuw81-4-fp1HFA26It8DU2W1Tonz8sAKIV28djNUWPMI-Piob_TVemkckyqZJY55fDH6cB9t5h4C1oVoESTv-ZVKkiO_HlUFmwvqAL0zcfVXXlqCnsv/s1600/X86A5564-Violet-headed-Hummingbird.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjF8HLRyXZT7n4DCJTWktnGukYkrJuw81-4-fp1HFA26It8DU2W1Tonz8sAKIV28djNUWPMI-Piob_TVemkckyqZJY55fDH6cB9t5h4C1oVoESTv-ZVKkiO_HlUFmwvqAL0zcfVXXlqCnsv/s320/X86A5564-Violet-headed-Hummingbird.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Violet-headed Hummingbird</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
There followed a walk into the forest along a trail that was at times quite steep. We began by differentiating between Crested & Russet-backed Oropendolas, we had great close-up views of a Sooty-headed Tyrannulet and we saw what is said to be world’s smallest passerine bird species, a Short-tailed Pygmy Tyrant. The last of these measures only 6.5 cm and on average weighs only 4.2 g.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXjs-fXKY-n7o_QTuVxIaJIPPSNk4X2X6fRsEAEn_VwqiO-5VKTUIv5tejlzQW22wpiOz8z86bA6SEyygL5bz2Z-UmJjQNRU36uaEsVmIwgTrTi9pUZHmjCeHmIgO0ULiPU6wHlDFjrMh/s1600/X86A5314-Sooty-headed-Tyrannulet.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixXjs-fXKY-n7o_QTuVxIaJIPPSNk4X2X6fRsEAEn_VwqiO-5VKTUIv5tejlzQW22wpiOz8z86bA6SEyygL5bz2Z-UmJjQNRU36uaEsVmIwgTrTi9pUZHmjCeHmIgO0ULiPU6wHlDFjrMh/s320/X86A5314-Sooty-headed-Tyrannulet.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sooty-headed Tyrannulet</div>
<br />
Further on there were Fiery-throated Fruiteaters, a White-flanked Antwren, Squirrel Cuckoo and Green-backed Trogon, we heard the loud song of Buff-rumped Warbler and the call of Broad-billed Motmot. When we returned to the lodge, a Yellow-tufted Woodpecker was surprisingly approachable.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8arxkJRE64XqSJwG1c5hYeisJnO_gX2x_kmWkdQi7Yr3YrAnPTkIpzuTXjmb_ifZlY9mh81rtumH_mONrzkVcIqC_ySeJHSp6wt6yCdRrdcfDOQVp1iIbniuDG8_KUbyb0gdSCHqdr_JC/s1600/X86A5361+Yellow-tufted+Woodpecker+Tour+Report.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8arxkJRE64XqSJwG1c5hYeisJnO_gX2x_kmWkdQi7Yr3YrAnPTkIpzuTXjmb_ifZlY9mh81rtumH_mONrzkVcIqC_ySeJHSp6wt6yCdRrdcfDOQVp1iIbniuDG8_KUbyb0gdSCHqdr_JC/s320/X86A5361+Yellow-tufted+Woodpecker+Tour+Report.blog.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yellow-tufted Woodpecker</div>
<br />
Later, we set off to enjoy one of the lodge’s main attractions, the hummingbird feeders. This involved quite a steep climb up the hillside but resulted in even more different species. Black-throated, Green, Reddish, Long-tailed & Rufous-breasted Hermits, Grey-breasted Sabrewing, White-necked Jacobin, Brown Violetear, Black-throated Mango, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Long-billed Starthroat and Little Woodstar brought the number of hummingbird species for the day to twenty! It was a good job we had Carlos to help us sort them out!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNQ7wjRAdmZy3IDiLRTRH0EIp1z-1dPGGvDmf0rrZSSWDf94yzzB-b1p_JWIZzSkXgb1VsC6aOpMKNmu97zaAUQfM99ELNOPua7qNMlA1MoqRALiSkCm61HcpkjPYORCRt44oGWzehKqp/s1600/X86A5497-White-necked-Jacobin.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkNQ7wjRAdmZy3IDiLRTRH0EIp1z-1dPGGvDmf0rrZSSWDf94yzzB-b1p_JWIZzSkXgb1VsC6aOpMKNmu97zaAUQfM99ELNOPua7qNMlA1MoqRALiSkCm61HcpkjPYORCRt44oGWzehKqp/s320/X86A5497-White-necked-Jacobin.blog.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
White-necked Jacobin</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
On the way back down to the lodge there were lots more birds we hadn’t seen before including Lafresnaye’s Piculet and Gilded Barbet, which appeared almost simultaneously and in the same tree. Others were Pale-breasted Thrush, Black-faced Tanager, Little Woodpecker, Social & Short-crested Flycatchers and Russet-crowned Crake. The last of these was teased out of the vegetation with just a little ‘playback’ and showed itself only briefly.<br />
<br />
We went into Moyobamba for dinner but only after a short walk in the dark to look for an owl. At this point in the tour we had probably missed as many owls as we had seen but on this occasion we were successful and a Band-bellied Owl duly appeared at Carlos’s beckoning.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7nsDnoINrx863lUnwAy-di63eC7KKFWjKbQtxUiRrAJQWHiLSqFD2GAezIhP44oI1VURUrRVVE9XuBYpdkiCVulIViaZEjuBxxRMJkbT7zzh_4DYA1oYe5I0PtDgU_eptfDi0oGLsq9y/s1600/X86A5557+Band-bellied+Owl+Tour+Report.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy7nsDnoINrx863lUnwAy-di63eC7KKFWjKbQtxUiRrAJQWHiLSqFD2GAezIhP44oI1VURUrRVVE9XuBYpdkiCVulIViaZEjuBxxRMJkbT7zzh_4DYA1oYe5I0PtDgU_eptfDi0oGLsq9y/s320/X86A5557+Band-bellied+Owl+Tour+Report.blog.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Band-bellied Owl</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Dinner was interesting! Chifa Central was a Chinese restaurant but, of course, the menu was in Spanish. Chinese immigrants came to Peru in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and Chifa is a culinary tradition based on Cantonese elements fused with traditional Peruvian ingredients.<br />
On the way back to the lodge, we looked for a Stygian Owl around the backstreets of Moyobamba but didn’t find one.<br />
<br />
Next morning we once again headed along (and up) the forest trail we had been on yesterday.<br />
One of the first birds we caught a glimpse of was a Ferruginous Pygmy Owl as it flew away from us and disappeared into the trees. We continued to hear it for some time. Inevitably, we saw quite a number of species we had seen yesterday but an Ochre-bellied Flycatcher and a Mouse-colored Tyrannulet were further additions to our list before we came upon what would have one of the star birds of the whole tour, a Golden-collared Toucanet, if only we could have had a closer view. Further notable species included Wing-barred Piprites, Mishana Tyrannulet, Tschudi’s Woodcreeper, Peruvian Warbling Antbird, Plain-winged Antshrike, Olivaceous Flatbill, Black-and-white Tody-Flycatcher, Olivaceous Woodcreeper, Thick-billed Euphonia and Slaty-capped Flycatcher. This forest gave the impression that there would always be the chance to see something new no matter how many times we walked the same trail.<br />
<br />
Back at the lodge we realised that the strange structure we had seen yesterday hanging from inside the roof of the substantially-built gazebo in the garden was the nest of a Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift. We realised this because a Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift made several visits to the nest while we were standing underneath! The nest, made from plant material, seed heads and the like, was barely recognisable as such and it was hard to imagine how the contents stayed in it, defying gravity.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBtEG_fj2KnUfo_x3PLysI5XhOUktxSravvxZ8RR7XkBIvEIxncgijaRThVve-eLdjW-NQVUKLeQIOoa0bUzhznD4dmT2LV0BxjhbwR4-ApG1FtWUXzc-4IvHcxwvJzOqGFpq5XLCoxyI/s1600/X86A5569-Nest-of-Lesser-Swallow-tailed-Swift.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWBtEG_fj2KnUfo_x3PLysI5XhOUktxSravvxZ8RR7XkBIvEIxncgijaRThVve-eLdjW-NQVUKLeQIOoa0bUzhznD4dmT2LV0BxjhbwR4-ApG1FtWUXzc-4IvHcxwvJzOqGFpq5XLCoxyI/s320/X86A5569-Nest-of-Lesser-Swallow-tailed-Swift.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Nest of Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
After lunch we were given a short tour of the Waqanki Orchid Centre, an attraction that apparently brings in quite a number of visitors who pay 10 soles to look round the 150 or so species of orchids that grow here. Carlos knew the orchids like he knew the birds.<br />
<br />
After seeing Chestnut-bellied Seed Finch and Blue-winged Parrotlet in the garden, we boarded the minibus and went off to a site where the main target, Point-tailed Palmcreeper, could hardly have been easier to find. Even before we were off the bus one was showing in a roadside tree and was well seen. A short walk here also produced Chestnut-eared Araçari, Common Tody-Flycatcher, Sulphury Flycatcher and another Mouse-colored Tyrannulet, a bird that didn’t seem any more or less mouse-coloured than several other small flycatchers that we had seen.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSj5JgnygmNrM2-gmXE37S7omxAsmqo8k7DSvUEKrtq4azx5VTcZNIP2RB72ifbQvn0RqRjyOEBsgQP0Ob14lVFoP2dPXudsQ-vSCUL-7A-kgHR22JckVyVk4PDLTXaQjzXlGmiv-zxkp/s1600/X86A5588+Chestnut-eared+Aracari+Tour+Report.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLSj5JgnygmNrM2-gmXE37S7omxAsmqo8k7DSvUEKrtq4azx5VTcZNIP2RB72ifbQvn0RqRjyOEBsgQP0Ob14lVFoP2dPXudsQ-vSCUL-7A-kgHR22JckVyVk4PDLTXaQjzXlGmiv-zxkp/s320/X86A5588+Chestnut-eared+Aracari+Tour+Report.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chestnut-eared Araçari</div>
<br />
Next we drove to a pond where Carlos seemed confident we would see Masked Ducks. We did see them but would not have done without the aid of a telescope and even then they were hard to make out as they slept among the waterside rushes. Common & Purple Gallinules were also present and a Black-capped Donacobius made a brief appearance. We walked along the road and found two more new species, Rusty-backed Antwren and Cinereous-breasted Spinetail, before heading back to the lodge.<br />
<br />
For dinner we went to the Hospedaje Ecologico Rumipata where the food was Japanese-style and the tilapia in particular was very tasty. It rained while we were there. A few detours on the way back around Moyobamba looking for a Stygian Owl, or indeed any other sort of owl, brought the same result as last night.<br />
<br />
By changing our schedule we had missed a planned visit to Reserva Arena Blanca. This morning we put that right by making an early start and driving for more than an hour in order to get there by 6:30 am to see the main attractions at the feeders. In fact, there are a number of species that come early in the day to take advantage of the seed put out for them. We had really good views from the hide of two Little Tinamous, a female and a juvenile, and a Cinereous Tinamou but didn’t see the Grey-cowled Wood-Rail, Ruddy Quail-Dove, Orange-billed Sparrow or Rufous-breasted Wood-Quail which are also visitors here on some mornings. However, there was no sense of disappointment; tinamous are notoriously shy and secretive birds and it was an unusual experience to watch these three birds for several minutes at a range that allowed us to take photographs.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUYWhNnyucVPY2VudduFgqn1XeCGUhXXX0Ve32ZDExwVuYwsAZqlVKsyy0Bbi0sEfxx4jHmHrAi4vOkVK-ckJLNUkVHJrLmfYOCYg79qGws6DoTrmU9PGMcW_lENi2itlt8i9V5sTi4Rp/s1600/X86A5596-Cinereous-Tinamou.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJUYWhNnyucVPY2VudduFgqn1XeCGUhXXX0Ve32ZDExwVuYwsAZqlVKsyy0Bbi0sEfxx4jHmHrAi4vOkVK-ckJLNUkVHJrLmfYOCYg79qGws6DoTrmU9PGMcW_lENi2itlt8i9V5sTi4Rp/s320/X86A5596-Cinereous-Tinamou.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cinereous Tinamou</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ19tqjNcI73OWW3OjU9_uHzit_HBXoSNJYv-9fM9PYVRVfZ5gBXJm7SuxWBOUvKt2Mle3DZEFcyveRbsxCytlYzWXBraY-8Foy1aQYVJVvwfkSQKnDuzRM2iUy6-I7Q-q616_e1bO7wHf/s1600/X86A5608+Little+Tinamou+Tour+Report.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ19tqjNcI73OWW3OjU9_uHzit_HBXoSNJYv-9fM9PYVRVfZ5gBXJm7SuxWBOUvKt2Mle3DZEFcyveRbsxCytlYzWXBraY-8Foy1aQYVJVvwfkSQKnDuzRM2iUy6-I7Q-q616_e1bO7wHf/s320/X86A5608+Little+Tinamou+Tour+Report.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Little Tinamou</div>
<br />
Outside the hide there was a brief view of an Andean Cock-of-the-rock and a Pale-eyed Thrush before we moved on to breakfast by the hummingbird feeders. The star turn here was Wire-crested Thorntail but the supporting cast of Many-spotted Hummingbird, Golden-tailed Sapphire, Blue-fronted Lancebill, Brown Violetear, Grey-chinned Hermit and Violet-fronted Brilliant kept everyone on their toes. It is reported that 28 species of hummingbirds have been recorded here.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiIQRHMWceP51wMmLVUhvqZS9pm1d-JbSPLV6NlF1Bd3PfIzPWRUxLD7FV6KIWGw4vkAYSLc1rwkpQfTl_cZj2ukFirqx0eQHRpSimFdT98naimKOjGWZYF-2GE2YmhPsE7iv7HA7sG8T/s1600/X86A5617-Many-spotted-Hummingbird.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiIQRHMWceP51wMmLVUhvqZS9pm1d-JbSPLV6NlF1Bd3PfIzPWRUxLD7FV6KIWGw4vkAYSLc1rwkpQfTl_cZj2ukFirqx0eQHRpSimFdT98naimKOjGWZYF-2GE2YmhPsE7iv7HA7sG8T/s320/X86A5617-Many-spotted-Hummingbird.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Many-spotted Hummingbird</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_z14yYeWYDg15gqvuRwJvi-QjRCVoJphD1sKMI5XYta3XRZkU0odc3yTz06nObZIZyvPzpAdd4AosVKjoocRBEywyt22xbupcu39JpUAkvRkxz2HEFikyI0pdYXxOSbwUIFm9zCoeLPen/s1600/X86A5740-Golden-tailed-Sapphire.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_z14yYeWYDg15gqvuRwJvi-QjRCVoJphD1sKMI5XYta3XRZkU0odc3yTz06nObZIZyvPzpAdd4AosVKjoocRBEywyt22xbupcu39JpUAkvRkxz2HEFikyI0pdYXxOSbwUIFm9zCoeLPen/s320/X86A5740-Golden-tailed-Sapphire.blog.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Golden-tailed Sapphire</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Later in the day we visited some ricefields where, resisting the temptation to debate with the farmers the rights and wrongs of Brazilian imports, we concentrated on the wealth of bird life. It had been a week since we had seen a wader of any sort so Wattled Jacana, Spotted & Solitary Sandpipers, Black-necked Stilts and Lesser Yellowlegs were welcome sights. Little Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night Heron, Great & Snowy Egrets had also been absent from our list since we left the coast. This was the only occasion during the tour that we saw Limpkins and it was no surprise a few minutes later to see a Snail Kite. Both species feed particularly on apple snails (<i>Ampullariidae</i>). It was very noticeable how much darker in colour the Limpkins were compared to those which most of us had seen previously in the USA and Central America. Limpkin was in fact split into two species for many years but has been treated as one since 1934.<br />
<br />
We spent our last morning at Waqanki Lodge walking the same steep trail we had been on twice before but it came as no surprise to find several bird species that we hadn’t previously seen. Most prominent were the noisy Speckled Chachalacas and yet we failed to see them. They were close and called loudly but still remained out of view. Those species that we did manage to see included Yellow-browed Sparrow, Forest Elaenia, Yellow-crowned & White-lored Tyrannulets, Foothill Antwren, Bluish-fronted Jacamar (‘a hummingbird on steroids’), Stripe-chested Antwren (looking very much like a Black-and-white Warbler), Chestnut-throated Spinetail, Coraya Wren, Fiery-capped Manakin, Guira Tanager, Lemon-chested Greenlet, Slaty-capped Flycatcher and, somewhat unexpectedly, Cerulean Warbler.<br />
<br />
After an early lunch we left Waqanki Lodge at about 1:00 pm. Just as we were about to leave Carlos’s mother appeared with an enormous yellow caterpillar. This we learned was a flannel moth caterpillar and she was keeping it well away from her skin as its long hairs are extremely venomous and can cause a painful sting. It seems it belongs in the genus <i>Megalopyge</i> and is known in the USA as a “Trumpapillar” because of its resemblance to the President’s hair!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozZfy5MhqPVpYdWAru3DJH92qiwqsp2GjIZvVrrVXOca5J4e3ww8tssc0SbmxZApDx7lZBgc3Yj25ApWWSYtUru1WOzaeNcYdsAkNmKrsvCayNsMCJKfXcpabxRbaI_ProLEKN9Zng71C/s1600/IMG_1997+Flannel+Moth+Caterpillar+Tour+Report.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjozZfy5MhqPVpYdWAru3DJH92qiwqsp2GjIZvVrrVXOca5J4e3ww8tssc0SbmxZApDx7lZBgc3Yj25ApWWSYtUru1WOzaeNcYdsAkNmKrsvCayNsMCJKfXcpabxRbaI_ProLEKN9Zng71C/s320/IMG_1997+Flannel+Moth+Caterpillar+Tour+Report.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Flannel moth caterpillar</div>
<br />
It was a long drive to Tarapoto. On the way we stopped for some birding and although it was a relief to break the hot, uncomfortable journey, we now spent an hour feeding the mosquitoes along a narrow trail. However, it was worth any discomfort as we were rewarded with a succession of birds we hadn’t seen before including White-browed Antbird, White-lined Tanager, White-bellied Pygmy Tyrant, Stripe-chested Antwren, Black-fronted Nunbird, Plain-crowned Spinetail and Northern Slaty Antshrike.<br />
<br />
Finally, we drove for another hour to the Hotel Cumbaza in Tarapoto where we had had lunch almost a week ago. Now we had dinner and a bed for the night.<br />
<br />
Next morning we left the hotel at 6:00 am taking the winding mountain road north from the city. It was another bright, sunny morning and soon we were birding along the roadside. During the first hour or so we found Cliff, Social & Streaked Flycatchers, Slaty-capped Shrike-Vireo, three or four Andean Cock-of-the rocks, Buff-throated Foliage-gleaner, Bay-headed, Masked & Swallow Tanager, Rufous-bellied Euphonia and low-flying Turkey Vultures. One or two Swallow-tailed Kites also past over but mostly remained higher.<br />
<br />
The main purpose of our excursion to this area was to visit the ACONABICKH Reserve, a well-known site where the endemic Koepcke’s Hermit is just one of several interesting hummingbirds seen regularly at the feeders. It took some time at the feeders before we all had a satisfactory look at Koepcke’s Hermit but in the meantime we were entertained by several other species, notably Gould’s Jewelfront, Grey-breasted Sabrewing and White-necked Jacobin. Koepcke’s Hermit is fairly new to science, first discovered as recently as 1977. Unusually for a hermit, it has an almost straight rather than down-curved bill.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXePoShSQ69AlKzeMg3fxjzUW18YaEwJgIAkoireNJ6MA0iKspCT0Cjh4dlUcQi_H3NnFPWQpXoLNpc7DgXrGJ4QXD4kJC7Hd0sz_HFafJclB5xxWXX_XvIbOf3VJbzC1MxqFAi_oGDuL9/s1600/X86A5853+Koepcke%2527s+Hermit+Tour+Report.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXePoShSQ69AlKzeMg3fxjzUW18YaEwJgIAkoireNJ6MA0iKspCT0Cjh4dlUcQi_H3NnFPWQpXoLNpc7DgXrGJ4QXD4kJC7Hd0sz_HFafJclB5xxWXX_XvIbOf3VJbzC1MxqFAi_oGDuL9/s320/X86A5853+Koepcke%2527s+Hermit+Tour+Report.blog.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Koepcke’s Hermit</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
After lunch back in Tarapoto we headed to the airport for a LATAM flight to Lima. All went smoothly and the evening saw us back at the familiar Hotel San Agustin Exclusive, Miraflores.<br />
<br />Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-13270835288918287522018-10-29T13:48:00.000+00:002018-10-29T13:48:27.848+00:00Avian Adventures in Peru - 2After a second night in Lima we were up early next morning so as to take a LATAM flight to Tarapoto. The flight was a routine affair arriving in Tarapoto at around 11:00 am. Half an hour later, we were with new guide, Carlos Altamirano and heading for lunch at the nearby Hotel Cumbaza.<br />
<br />
Tarapoto is in the north of Peru, the largest city in the San Martin region. From here we spent the rest of the day making our way along the main road (the 5N) to Owlet Lodge where we planned to spend three nights. On the way there we made a number of stops, the first at Cañón Quiscarrumi where from the roadside we looked down into a dark cave where there was a colony of Oilbirds. Carlos told us that there were as many as 300 of them but it was hard to estimate how many we actually saw, perhaps 25 at one time, some flying others resting on the rocky ledges. These birds are nocturnal and nightjar-like in appearance but unlike nightjars they are said to be fruit eaters. The common name "oilbird" derives from the fact that in the past chicks were captured and boiled down in order to make oil!<br />
<br />
At about 3:00 pm we stopped to refuel in Moyobamba, the regional capital. After that it was another long drive before we paused again to look for birds. This time we were on a bridge high above a river. A flock of Band-tailed Pigeons flew over as Carlos began playing the call of Ferruginous Pygmy Owl. This had the desired effect and in just a short time the call had attracted a selection of birds, mostly tanagers, to come looking for the owl. Species seen were Bay-headed, Golden, Paradise, Green-and-gold, Yellow-bellied, Yellow-crested and Blue-necked Tanagers, Orange-bellied Euphonia, Purple Honeycreeper and Fork-tailed Woodnymph. Quite a collection!<br />
<br />
At last, at around 7:00 pm we reached Owlet Lodge. By this time is was dark and climbing from the parking area to the lodge was a bit of a challenge but we soon settled into our rooms. Dinner quickly followed and it wasn't long before we were in bed anticipating another early start tomorrow.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzecqAelfuCe5l3JxcxO1uJE18NraZJXXsicNG2qHTiKjG9XfxvEFxJK_rI_2NOT7fm3AC9W-UXYNxT_9ZVfohZLyaSoZVXbHQEZfML0Ht-nYEx8UKjzxBBTlVVqJ7BVMXkJ9hJyYA9RZ9/s1600/X86A4930-Crimson-mantled-Woodpecker.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzecqAelfuCe5l3JxcxO1uJE18NraZJXXsicNG2qHTiKjG9XfxvEFxJK_rI_2NOT7fm3AC9W-UXYNxT_9ZVfohZLyaSoZVXbHQEZfML0Ht-nYEx8UKjzxBBTlVVqJ7BVMXkJ9hJyYA9RZ9/s320/X86A4930-Crimson-mantled-Woodpecker.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Crimson-mantled Woodpecker</div>
<br />
Part of our first full day at Owlet Lodge was spent quite close to the lodge itself. Just outside the main building, we found Golden-olive Woodpecker, Variable Antshrike and Yellow-breasted Brushfinch, Rufous-browed Peppershrike, Bluish Flowerpecker and Spectacled Whitestart. When we explored nearby forest trails Peruvian Tyrannulet, Sierra Elaenia and Glossy-black Thrush were among the first to show but were soon eclipsed by the more colourful Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Grass-green, Flame-faced, Yellow-scarfed and Blue-and-black Tanagers and Lacrimose Mountain Tanager.<br />
<br />
We also spent quite a while by the hummingbird feeders that are one of the main attractions here. On Thursday we had struggled to identify the three hummingbird species seen at Lomas de Asia, now we had eight species appearing almost simultaneously and before the end of the day we would see thirteen! It took a while to get to grips with them. Most numerous at this first session were the Chestnut-breasted Coronets; cutest were the White-bellied Woodstars, the latter hovering at the feeders without ever landing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlbT5dcSgsiFcLufWzL4bFGqE6y-8kOz_5sb3wwrLZUQhUK_UPJ_IVoI-l8V4knHbncqD1xPh0BE7cCII2GLWMl6dFqEqjP7XwC4lnuarIlnJzShdN6Cab9JT3LmvAb20R-qZFvHzO9dv/s1600/X86A4939-Collared-Inca.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLlbT5dcSgsiFcLufWzL4bFGqE6y-8kOz_5sb3wwrLZUQhUK_UPJ_IVoI-l8V4knHbncqD1xPh0BE7cCII2GLWMl6dFqEqjP7XwC4lnuarIlnJzShdN6Cab9JT3LmvAb20R-qZFvHzO9dv/s320/X86A4939-Collared-Inca.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Collared Inca</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QSiRfyzcUQnViTEgU9IUlHXs5yFb-0McfAYLgpwRwtrRbmm7Eo5haWb2OPKmZOyLPY3I1OPPafBTSX9vlIcQk9FCQwVs2YfXh5-hf-DKZWqRvbeAANxD-QAT2klQhu6dqt7QulLHKYU9/s1600/X86A5063-White-bellied-Woodstar.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9QSiRfyzcUQnViTEgU9IUlHXs5yFb-0McfAYLgpwRwtrRbmm7Eo5haWb2OPKmZOyLPY3I1OPPafBTSX9vlIcQk9FCQwVs2YfXh5-hf-DKZWqRvbeAANxD-QAT2klQhu6dqt7QulLHKYU9/s320/X86A5063-White-bellied-Woodstar.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
White-bellied Woodstar</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNl8ep9iAkYRHftfzI3YU153DeS-mfSzS_YOrWFF_xKun-IrGLHzhALCohZyOozE0M4C5fBuEsxKunR76YdmBgK9TroyGg0GXkYMzmy0cjn9fxJ0QlWJccSCFtHG-r9eJfpGFO4mAwGQVE/s1600/X86A5083-Chestnut-breasted-Coronet.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNl8ep9iAkYRHftfzI3YU153DeS-mfSzS_YOrWFF_xKun-IrGLHzhALCohZyOozE0M4C5fBuEsxKunR76YdmBgK9TroyGg0GXkYMzmy0cjn9fxJ0QlWJccSCFtHG-r9eJfpGFO4mAwGQVE/s320/X86A5083-Chestnut-breasted-Coronet.blog.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chestnut-breasted Coronet</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvQLmnhzArpeF8wpQeBFLYt1kN5B6qt-Uxu0zBDDI-qXheLnOT95ZTecbqoJguNWlrb5VNprTpINZ_5suEV80OHxj_dM3yVl8kQdKlh9dp7sa68srhLL2qlkW-sLwQfJ7KljdvLQ7Xi_7/s1600/X86A5148-Sword-billed-Hummingbird.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbvQLmnhzArpeF8wpQeBFLYt1kN5B6qt-Uxu0zBDDI-qXheLnOT95ZTecbqoJguNWlrb5VNprTpINZ_5suEV80OHxj_dM3yVl8kQdKlh9dp7sa68srhLL2qlkW-sLwQfJ7KljdvLQ7Xi_7/s320/X86A5148-Sword-billed-Hummingbird.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sword-billed Hummingbird</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoe8uJlXgIlmKkr-uTcM9gLTnnAyQiio9MX_AToXi3zV3XOfTDdlDgzjePvfqAKMi8jiYXerz5DGQ4M-Vskg414WxICnVyJBCVX4pnwNBlemX3g0FQkhWIjSZMTh6OM5a9P99bbkhEOkX/s1600/X86A5245-Sparkling-Violetear.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFoe8uJlXgIlmKkr-uTcM9gLTnnAyQiio9MX_AToXi3zV3XOfTDdlDgzjePvfqAKMi8jiYXerz5DGQ4M-Vskg414WxICnVyJBCVX4pnwNBlemX3g0FQkhWIjSZMTh6OM5a9P99bbkhEOkX/s320/X86A5245-Sparkling-Violetear.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sparkling Violetear</div>
<br />
Also on our agenda was to go and watch the feeding of the antpittas, another of the attractions at Owlet Lodge. Feeding individuals of this hard to see family of birds so that they are more easily seen seems to have started in Ecuador but now happens at quite a number of sites in South America. Here the species involved were Rusty-tinged & Chestnut Antpittas, both of them endemic to Peru. Despite the fear of some that worm-feeder tourism may have a negative impact on many species of threatened antpittas, it has also been suggested that it is not far from being natural behaviour. Commensal foraging relationships involving birds as “follower” species are common and wide-spread geographically and taxonomically (e.g. Cattle Egret and Yellow Wagtail) and perhaps surprisingly there are well documented cases of antpittas actually following humans through the rainforest in order to feed on prey items that are disturbed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDS9dcLsPgyqZOsEsBLOhd4EHiZcJF3BG0oPrh3ixxz3d1fCS8Ca94_pX6zSKi0fJesb4R1GekuiYDpNRGWRPz7f3tXYEHI0qH1p_zYMQdWEVpVysDzc0rUbB_wAX89yluy22S2tWPOqF_/s1600/X86A5007-Chestnut-Antpitta.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDS9dcLsPgyqZOsEsBLOhd4EHiZcJF3BG0oPrh3ixxz3d1fCS8Ca94_pX6zSKi0fJesb4R1GekuiYDpNRGWRPz7f3tXYEHI0qH1p_zYMQdWEVpVysDzc0rUbB_wAX89yluy22S2tWPOqF_/s320/X86A5007-Chestnut-Antpitta.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chestnut Antpitta</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJaiPvjTsYFnceuHfy69q__jv21Cdq_LYHGxgBRxid4KKK5zl3MgAc4judg68se0ROv-40DtZfBYCmeZwJiiho1RfIqth0e_qASmlwa_7kIdmh3yKpouy8ccaL7_3YU9BBLUvyG2aH4Ac/s1600/X86A5021-Rusty-tinged-Antpitta.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvJaiPvjTsYFnceuHfy69q__jv21Cdq_LYHGxgBRxid4KKK5zl3MgAc4judg68se0ROv-40DtZfBYCmeZwJiiho1RfIqth0e_qASmlwa_7kIdmh3yKpouy8ccaL7_3YU9BBLUvyG2aH4Ac/s320/X86A5021-Rusty-tinged-Antpitta.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rusty-tinged Antpitta</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Our re-start after lunch was delayed by rain but by 3:00 pm it had stopped and we boarded the minibus to travel just a short distance and then do some birding along the main road. Notable here were Barred Becard, Rufous-capped Antshrike, Green-and-black Fruiteater, Common Chlorospingus and Oleaginous Hemispingus (notable at least for its name if not for its appearance). On the way back to the lodge we saw two White-capped Dippers, a Hooded Mountain Tanager and, fittingly, close to the highway, a Roadside Hawk.<br />
<br />
The whole day had been cloudy and dull with light rain (heavier around lunchtime) and most of us had had enough when we got back to the lodge at about 5:00 pm. The weather conditions were such that the scheduled long trek to try and see the Long-whiskered Owlet (after which the lodge was named) was out of the question.<br />
<br />
Breakfast next morning was at 6:00 am. There was a cloudy start to the day but at least there was only very light drizzle as we set off to walk a trail that would take us eventually down to and along the main road. We were out for about an hour and a half during which time the highlights were Azara’s & Rufous Spinetails, Johnson’s Tody-Flycatcher, about half a dozen Sharpe’s Wrens, Russet-crowned Warbler, Inca Flycatcher, Geoffroy’s Wedgetail and a very brief glimpse of the sun.<br />
<br />
Having failed to find any worthwhile flocks of tanagers or other birds close to the lodge, we set off in the bus to try our luck along the main road. It took a while but eventually we found ourselves with a nice mixed flock, so many birds in fact that it was hard to see all of them. They included Ashy-browed Spinetail, Equatorial Greytail, Ecuadorian Tyrannulet, Grey-mantled Wren, Yellow-throated Chlorospingus and Green-backed Becard. They were quickly followed by White-winged Tanager, Olive-backed Woodcreeper, Ornate Flycatcher, Orange-bellied & Bronze-green Euphonias and more. This was more like it!<br />
<br />
A five-minute drive further along the road and again we found ourselves trying to cope with a bird flock. This time it was mostly tanagers: Golden, Golden-eared, Green-and-gold, Paradise, Blue-grey and Palm were quickly followed by Magpie Tanagers. Not far away an Andean Cock-of-the-rock could be heard but, unfortunately, remained unseen.<br />
<br />
It was now a 45-minute drive back to Owlet Lodge; at last the sun was shining and most importantly, we had seen a good variety of birds; things were looking up! However, lunchtime brought news that would mean we had to change our plans for the next couple of days (and nights) and difficult decisions would have to be made.<br />
<br />
Carlos had been warned that there was going to be a protest made by local rice growers about cheap imports of rice from neighbouring Brazil. These protests were going to involve blocking the main road between Owlet Lodge and Moyobamba, the road on which we were due to travel on in two days’ time, a road to which there was no real alternative. Road blocks would be in place from midnight, we were told. The rice farmers really were having a paddy! But it was no joking matter. Previous similar protests had seen roads blocked for days on end and we were threatened with the possibility of having to stay longer at Owlet Lodge and, in the worst case scenario, there could be the chance we might miss our flight back to Lima at the end of the week. There seemed to be three possibilities: we could take that chance and stick with our planned itinerary, we could take to the road but in the opposite direction, go to Chiclayo and fly to Lima from there or we could pack our bags now, cut short our stay at Owlet Lodge and make sure we reached Moyobamba tonight while the road was still open.<br />
<br />
It didn’t take long to decide on the third option, but that meant having to sacrifice not only a night at Owlet Lodge but also our one planned night at Hotel Puerto Pumas. The main purpose of going to Puerto Pumas was to try and see the Marvelous Spatuletail, a hummingbird that has an extraordinarily long tail and is unique among birds in having just four feathers in its tail. It was little more than an hour away. We decided to go now!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrDtX-Yyx8vw4UW86CfAqrhpVzPBg9mctyP7gWd85yG3vndwdkGQUOwyfrrS1BGAQvGe_wx-t-TCCfjFwxCgC1r2Mig3JTGIuQcQcKg7bHbLx4FilAngbJG1piclZhcOYYx0HK4ErtSUt/s1600/X86A5274-Marvelous-Spatuletail.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwrDtX-Yyx8vw4UW86CfAqrhpVzPBg9mctyP7gWd85yG3vndwdkGQUOwyfrrS1BGAQvGe_wx-t-TCCfjFwxCgC1r2Mig3JTGIuQcQcKg7bHbLx4FilAngbJG1piclZhcOYYx0HK4ErtSUt/s320/X86A5274-Marvelous-Spatuletail.blog.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Marvelous Spatuletail</div>
<br />
The feeders at Puerto Pumas did not disappoint! Not only did we see a Marvelous Spatuletail but also Andean Emerald, Violet-fronted Brilliant and White-bellied Hummingbird that we hadn’t seen before. As we sat watching the hummingbirds, three Andean Guans were also seen coming to another feeder about 100 metres away.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Za65lnXIPjvLP0Tz7xw7agj9O3GChLqW3uNuKqUoWt12ZQ4OG7dLuLJslyTksX-l0VrZuQAB2taKdlk0vqmf0Dwlyi4GUa6UqDt02u3vXHIjv25SpsG4aZQjOdbRMfsFqWfyHftfALPr/s1600/X86A5265-Andean-Guan.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7Za65lnXIPjvLP0Tz7xw7agj9O3GChLqW3uNuKqUoWt12ZQ4OG7dLuLJslyTksX-l0VrZuQAB2taKdlk0vqmf0Dwlyi4GUa6UqDt02u3vXHIjv25SpsG4aZQjOdbRMfsFqWfyHftfALPr/s320/X86A5265-Andean-Guan.blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Andean Guan</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKAvoDt6GRhuDvfIKiz_IIxPoSSE-xnikNBe1T9Wmb_H74C6C-zuOpgC3lFqcntMiu3G-d7y3KcOTONap2MCvxCCZy0bY2PGuyOLJwb8laWWqA8SP9m2WI4n-BX-lLVHB0WyClnd4qdy3/s1600/X86A5294-Andean-Emerald.blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKAvoDt6GRhuDvfIKiz_IIxPoSSE-xnikNBe1T9Wmb_H74C6C-zuOpgC3lFqcntMiu3G-d7y3KcOTONap2MCvxCCZy0bY2PGuyOLJwb8laWWqA8SP9m2WI4n-BX-lLVHB0WyClnd4qdy3/s320/X86A5294-Andean-Emerald.blog.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Andean Emerald</div>
<br />
The Marvelous Spatuletail came to the feeders just twice while we were there. On the first occasion it fed and then perched very conveniently for photographs. The second visit was much shorter and coincided with a lot of activity at the feeders – maybe it was intimidated by the many larger birds and not willing to compete. It was an individual with a fairly long tail but a tail that was still not fully grown. As soon as it was gone the second time, we also left.<br />
<br />
We were back at Owlet Lodge for 6:00 pm, had dinner at 6:30 pm and left again at 7:00 pm. We were off to Moyobamba for the night where a stopgap booking had been made at the Gran Hotel Dorado. Our sole aim was to avoid the road blocks. It was definitely the right decision to leave but, unfortunately, it did put an end to any chance we might have had of seeing the mysterious Long-whiskered Owlet.<br />
<br />
More to follow…<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-48479417410973592932018-10-18T13:44:00.000+01:002018-10-18T13:59:39.471+01:00Avian Adventures in Peru - 1Peter writes...<br />
Last November I was fortunate enough to visit Peru at the invitation of <a href="https://www.peru.travel/en-uk/" target="_blank">PROMPERU</a>, the country’s tourism authority. The plan was that I might at some later date, as a result of that trip, take a group of birdwatchers to Peru for <a href="http://www.avianadventures.co.uk/" target="_blank">Avian Adventures</a>. Well, last month that plan came together and I led an Avian Adventures tour to the north of Peru and to the Andes and Machu Picchu.<br />
<br />
The tour began with an early morning KLM flight from Birmingham to Amsterdam followed by a 12-hour flight to Lima. It wasn’t nearly as bad as it sounds with comfortable seats, plenty of legroom and in-flight food and entertainment both of a good standard. I managed to watch three movies!<br />
<br />
We arrived at Jorge Chávez International Airport more or less on time at around 6:00 pm, passed quickly through immigration formalities and picked up our bags without fuss. Unfortunately, traffic in Lima was dreadful and it then took about an hour to get to our hotel in Miraflores, which is described as “an exclusive residential and upscale shopping district south of downtown Lima”. However, it had been a long day and by the time we had checked in there was no appetite for anything other than sleep!<br />
<br />
To enable us to acclimatise and recover from the long flight we spent our first day in Peru birding in areas close to Lima. Our local guide was Gunnar Engblom, owner of <a href="http://kolibriexpeditions.com/" target="_blank">Kolibri Expeditions</a>. I had been birding with Gunnar on the last day of the November trip and had met him again recently at the Birdfair at Rutland Water.<br />
<br />
We began by driving to a wetland area, Humedales Puerto Viejo. This provided some easy birding to get us started – ducks, herons, cormorants, shorebirds and just a few passerines. Highlights were the colourful Peruvian Meadowlark and Many-colored Rush Tyrant, a dozen or so Grassland Yellow Finches and numerous Black-necked Stilts and Wilson’s Phalaropes.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-G1akTddRbBRlmqafcel6YHDs2ks8PQBM3MRj7q27L8N26hiOZMZw4NUK0gHkui6T3QBx1EHhWugSuZha3aAcQZhgkY5hzC_sQbS1MfnMAr1P8s13l1flwfZcTIhwg3WdTQGEcqb1sC-/s1600/X86A6692+Many-colored+Rush+Tyrant+Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-G1akTddRbBRlmqafcel6YHDs2ks8PQBM3MRj7q27L8N26hiOZMZw4NUK0gHkui6T3QBx1EHhWugSuZha3aAcQZhgkY5hzC_sQbS1MfnMAr1P8s13l1flwfZcTIhwg3WdTQGEcqb1sC-/s320/X86A6692+Many-colored+Rush+Tyrant+Blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Many-colored Rush Tyrant</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjTgMMr8Zlt6khp5hCQlghfp2ivRZ9blN6666Zqi723nFxRirwXoiKizdvmIBeGQ0YZCNh13iYKrfUmfoq8Iu6l1KqJFiW49d8Hrn2btQYtED5_xO0-tAiMfMELXtC3fXRTb15dKlp1rT/s1600/X86A4516+Black-necked+Stilt+Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdjTgMMr8Zlt6khp5hCQlghfp2ivRZ9blN6666Zqi723nFxRirwXoiKizdvmIBeGQ0YZCNh13iYKrfUmfoq8Iu6l1KqJFiW49d8Hrn2btQYtED5_xO0-tAiMfMELXtC3fXRTb15dKlp1rT/s320/X86A4516+Black-necked+Stilt+Blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Black-necked Stilts</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Later we went to Lomas de Asia, a relatively new birding site that seems set to become a popular destination for visitors to Lima. Lomas is the name given to fog-watered vegetation in the coastal desert, a region that experiences little or no rainfall and is otherwise devoid of plant life. Lomas de Asia is essentially a fog oasis. We spent a couple of hours here during which we saw Burrowing Owls, a Black-chested Buzzard-Eagle, Vermilion Flycatchers and a number of species that weren’t seen again during the tour. Several of these were attracted to a small reservoir and to various puddles around the parking area. They included Band-tailed Sierra Finch, Raimondi’s Yellow Finch, Collared Warbling Finch and Chestnut-throated Seedeater. Particularly notable were the Thick-billed Miners, a species that is endemic to Peru. Several of them were very confiding and they were probably used to finding food around the picnic site where Gunnar and his driver, Renzo, prepared our second breakfast of the day! While we waited for food we occupied ourselves trying to identify the various hummingbirds that came by. Gunnar named them as Amazilia Hummingbird, Peruvian Sheartail and, appropriately, Oasis Hummingbird. These were just the first three of more than 50 hummingbird species that we would see in the next two weeks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatozxQas9G0LvAtbZPico7MRBaQ_ZsH7ioBGBLu8ffhEpEMRIX67psIW7rKeUrAxZoRhVKCQ39zXk3nS5AeS7fBMgY330cfF8ZmdkVAN2yVTJ_KJrFRnojrhEXW5HHYDn9QLCINNAnW3O/s1600/X86A4593+Band-tailed+Sierra-Finch+Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiatozxQas9G0LvAtbZPico7MRBaQ_ZsH7ioBGBLu8ffhEpEMRIX67psIW7rKeUrAxZoRhVKCQ39zXk3nS5AeS7fBMgY330cfF8ZmdkVAN2yVTJ_KJrFRnojrhEXW5HHYDn9QLCINNAnW3O/s320/X86A4593+Band-tailed+Sierra-Finch+Blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Band-tailed Sierra Finch</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAg1OoKsG0__3NYOV7VnBluXWS4LKVwUdTW2haTV1IllcRzDDBzU0xTNIXeRLxToShctmyU1iJzOHY-ToPIQlaOmreHhoWcIObATK5ghoLY95_SApbLEH3zVqjjIjgFFhH1pVzerHoxeRK/s1600/X86A4602+Burrowing+Owls+Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAg1OoKsG0__3NYOV7VnBluXWS4LKVwUdTW2haTV1IllcRzDDBzU0xTNIXeRLxToShctmyU1iJzOHY-ToPIQlaOmreHhoWcIObATK5ghoLY95_SApbLEH3zVqjjIjgFFhH1pVzerHoxeRK/s320/X86A4602+Burrowing+Owls+Blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Burrowing Owls</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmKabz_H4r3ptUh08Zo0940osuhzkWsIFYttbvqe5F9S_0k-CcE32m5NM7oOBLXKfbDNjZE0UVj6DdMoE0OZIS0vTW2N9MGpMg20jDlX1WkKUaEbiXE7ajZ2JsyQ4xW2S6cMsv0sq6Pmh/s1600/X86A4631+Thick-billed+Miner+Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmKabz_H4r3ptUh08Zo0940osuhzkWsIFYttbvqe5F9S_0k-CcE32m5NM7oOBLXKfbDNjZE0UVj6DdMoE0OZIS0vTW2N9MGpMg20jDlX1WkKUaEbiXE7ajZ2JsyQ4xW2S6cMsv0sq6Pmh/s320/X86A4631+Thick-billed+Miner+Blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thick-billed Miner</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHiX2Kr8i8-5uTQFDwEj1mJZA3hhQ3PAQ3bSi3Z7frmg41uvCkZ22xv8Mxw952tPV9sRfFAKpCGVp-zFhZSObNMnk5HbokPZ96p3QnMhchaWpUJY2qnaVX5abaX1RqIL-tbe7S2N76Dqu/s1600/X86A4637+Vermilion+Flycatcher+Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqHiX2Kr8i8-5uTQFDwEj1mJZA3hhQ3PAQ3bSi3Z7frmg41uvCkZ22xv8Mxw952tPV9sRfFAKpCGVp-zFhZSObNMnk5HbokPZ96p3QnMhchaWpUJY2qnaVX5abaX1RqIL-tbe7S2N76Dqu/s320/X86A4637+Vermilion+Flycatcher+Blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Vermilion Flycatcher</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNp6hJ8YeBFVkoUFUdmXgXQkqOWAYp62HrkEpw0TCwLMSWC8KRrBI9nFjSvtnrKim5Tw5noa8DuhmiHKmU7BgOikd9VPPX3ZmvgP7rhBUib2vV5fwnWAGqJEcOwTdm_owcHmwCBOK7VHs/s1600/X86A4697+Grassland+Yellow+Finch+Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPNp6hJ8YeBFVkoUFUdmXgXQkqOWAYp62HrkEpw0TCwLMSWC8KRrBI9nFjSvtnrKim5Tw5noa8DuhmiHKmU7BgOikd9VPPX3ZmvgP7rhBUib2vV5fwnWAGqJEcOwTdm_owcHmwCBOK7VHs/s320/X86A4697+Grassland+Yellow+Finch+Blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Grassland Yellow Finch</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpXJ7Npg_sqO2B4VnVW6sf6JhveXlNs82N7tVtPHrD-GQEE7I25AnRw0nwcbBkhgOmsAapwsbpDoeGflR4f7W1J-qt9WH5r84fgOk3xOYGqRd3TeE8ja_sFN8KUd8D-t7DzqVYlykjDX2/s1600/X86A4702+Collared+Warbling+Finch+Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOpXJ7Npg_sqO2B4VnVW6sf6JhveXlNs82N7tVtPHrD-GQEE7I25AnRw0nwcbBkhgOmsAapwsbpDoeGflR4f7W1J-qt9WH5r84fgOk3xOYGqRd3TeE8ja_sFN8KUd8D-t7DzqVYlykjDX2/s320/X86A4702+Collared+Warbling+Finch+Blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Collared Warbling Finch</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
From Lomas de Asia we drove back north to Pucusana, a small fishing town where we saw hundreds of small boats anchored in the shelter of the harbour. They were a colourful sight but thankfully, Gunnar recognised them as a sign that we probably shouldn’t go ahead with the boat trip he had planned – conditions out at sea were a bit rough! In reality this was no big deal although it did mean that we would have to be content with seeing Humboldt Penguins from a distance, which after only a short while we did. From the cliff top we also watched Inca Terns, Red-legged Cormorants, Peruvian Pelicans and Peruvian Boobies. Along the sandy shore were Ruddy Turnstones, Belcher’s & Grey-headed Gulls and Blackish Oystercatcher. Inca Terns were also hanging around the fish market, even perched on the market stalls in the manner of gulls rather than terns. They really are unusual birds with their dashing curly white moustaches. They are placed in the monotypic genus <i>Larosterna</i>, a name that seems to imply a combination of gull and tern.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-9ZvONFcHeI0G7HB28ly8C90dOznjVg7towuWr35muM8QRIPcGBKEZw-Wr_r-AgBoueCAga3VOqjuDH7JK233uoV2cN52YdBIYTQnt_6OSPlikpMNXrriOsiLms11SbtPptx6qToq5vp/s1600/X86A4712+Belcher%2527s+Gull+Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL-9ZvONFcHeI0G7HB28ly8C90dOznjVg7towuWr35muM8QRIPcGBKEZw-Wr_r-AgBoueCAga3VOqjuDH7JK233uoV2cN52YdBIYTQnt_6OSPlikpMNXrriOsiLms11SbtPptx6qToq5vp/s320/X86A4712+Belcher%2527s+Gull+Blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Belcher's Gull</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoK7TLUke2rD0e-_uD9WelNshGq2qbPksc1XZX5Ov0yInNhyphenhyphenndyWXKXKBu9uCBOatHG90zlr_wEdg2FNRhHnMQWs8u6vT5LImcBdIgPllPMXt3mVJa8veSycVSCUgfJvnxIL8vl1_TYFUN/s1600/X86A4721+Blackish+Oystercatcher+Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoK7TLUke2rD0e-_uD9WelNshGq2qbPksc1XZX5Ov0yInNhyphenhyphenndyWXKXKBu9uCBOatHG90zlr_wEdg2FNRhHnMQWs8u6vT5LImcBdIgPllPMXt3mVJa8veSycVSCUgfJvnxIL8vl1_TYFUN/s320/X86A4721+Blackish+Oystercatcher+Blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Blackish Oystercatcher</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYrRdvLEbAc_4_erOzuFpiFqzhK95cQEC4uKoikxjLhuC30aTmb_7v-xESdeP33rpxO1L-auuop_OU6O5uSRomx2rrOCJylso7hmNv2BFLQHpZFle1HZ72zZl98kPXHDFJWMLpNTA0YrZ/s1600/X86A4737+Inca+Tern+Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNYrRdvLEbAc_4_erOzuFpiFqzhK95cQEC4uKoikxjLhuC30aTmb_7v-xESdeP33rpxO1L-auuop_OU6O5uSRomx2rrOCJylso7hmNv2BFLQHpZFle1HZ72zZl98kPXHDFJWMLpNTA0YrZ/s320/X86A4737+Inca+Tern+Blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Inca Tern</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1Xy6VmHQvnSIJUeULUVZncM0gEQ7CnS12hNNWJOWq3flVsEuMDr489pA-hBSw-PxootODnSeHh-sR_r-phiyQPqF47hMXEp2ZdrBEwyx96EOAuc94tLJZApqGb6PkMVyHZ1R2gWyXOoo/s1600/X86A4773+Peruvian+Pelican+Blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN1Xy6VmHQvnSIJUeULUVZncM0gEQ7CnS12hNNWJOWq3flVsEuMDr489pA-hBSw-PxootODnSeHh-sR_r-phiyQPqF47hMXEp2ZdrBEwyx96EOAuc94tLJZApqGb6PkMVyHZ1R2gWyXOoo/s320/X86A4773+Peruvian+Pelican+Blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Peruvian Pelican</div>
<br />
All in all it was an excellent start to our tour; during the day we visited several other sites and recorded about 70 bird species.<br />
<br />
More to follow…<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-17469138852181055212018-08-10T18:43:00.000+01:002018-08-20T10:41:34.861+01:00Estonia in early May - 2The second instalment from the <a href="http://www.avianadventures.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Avian Adventures</span></a> tour in Estonia:<br />
<br />
After staying out late the previous night we had a delayed start on the morning of Day 5 with breakfast in the hotel at 7.00 a.m. and departure an hour later. Today we were moving from Pärnu to Tartu, the second largest city of Estonia.<br />
<br />
Before long we entered Soomaa National Park where one of the first birds seen was a Lesser Spotted Eagle and this was quickly followed by another. Both birds were perched and seen well from the minibus. Next was a White-backed Woodpecker, seen briefly by those of us who had a view out to the right of the vehicle. Unfortunately, it didn’t stay to be admired and although we got out of the minibus to look for it, it wasn’t seen again. We walked along the road and did see a Great Spotted Woodpecker and we heard the drumming of a Lesser Spotted (Woodpecker) but these were hardly consolation. We heard a Cuckoo calling, a Redwing was singing and a Green Sandpiper passed over.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFr-Nsg1oczeOI-KvsJ_8kUPfpDGe-dmepS5WXN_SinAxD4PnKlzF-6D2sxwRl6y5rLCUSbsSUPT4SNA-TwTxCXcn4vfJsl_Q75HRreNaxL60FDWUHI-9hdc117N_X-pjWGzV5HXng4VT/s1600/X86A2279-Lesser-Spotted-Eagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGFr-Nsg1oczeOI-KvsJ_8kUPfpDGe-dmepS5WXN_SinAxD4PnKlzF-6D2sxwRl6y5rLCUSbsSUPT4SNA-TwTxCXcn4vfJsl_Q75HRreNaxL60FDWUHI-9hdc117N_X-pjWGzV5HXng4VT/s320/X86A2279-Lesser-Spotted-Eagle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lesser Spotted Eagle</div>
<br />
Eventually, we set out on the Hüpassaare hiking trail that winds first through forest and then on a boardwalk to the Kuresoo bog. Thick layers of peat have formed here, preventing the vegetation from reaching nutrients in the ground below. The soil is poor and acid and the trees, even the very old ones, look like small miniatures. It was interesting even if the bog itself wasn’t particularly bird-rich. Species seen in the wooded area included Wood Warbler, Marsh Tit, Common Rosefinch and Pied Flycatcher, while the bog held Teal, White Wagtail, Tree Pipit, Lapwing, Common Gull and a distant Great Grey Shrike. A Common (Viviparous) Lizard was seen very briefly.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHKngGsMRHUaKaAfVwqHIPc2OU_RVNxXmKJ97VlvxmkhkZRby86E03lM9VXtpOtpBw7VYMiW_oN1-eo8E08F5uq0pkzyAIe4goK5MyMU1K5OaTRbagVA2Cc_7KwrVNUD_oWW_tfA4JpA2/s1600/IMG_1875-Kuresoo-bog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHKngGsMRHUaKaAfVwqHIPc2OU_RVNxXmKJ97VlvxmkhkZRby86E03lM9VXtpOtpBw7VYMiW_oN1-eo8E08F5uq0pkzyAIe4goK5MyMU1K5OaTRbagVA2Cc_7KwrVNUD_oWW_tfA4JpA2/s320/IMG_1875-Kuresoo-bog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Kuresoo bog</div>
<br />
After dinner at the rather quirky Hansa Hotel we drove out of Tartu to Kärevere to see Great Snipes lekking. It has to be admitted that this was not a great spectacle! Although the Great Snipes did indeed jump into the air they were too far away for their sounds to be well-heard (if at all) and by the time there was any action the light was really poor. In fact the Great Snipe were totally eclipsed by a Hobby that put on a wonderful flying display while we were waiting for the waders to perform. Also seen were Lapwings, Wood Sandpipers, roding Woodcock, a Common Buzzard, a Red Fox and several geese, (probably Greater White-fronts) that arrived late. The soundtrack to all this, as so often during the week, was the song of Thrush Nightingale and Cuckoo. It was 10.30 p.m. when we arrived back at the hotel. <br />
<br />
Next morning, we left the hotel at 6.00 a.m. taking breakfast with us. We travelled east from Tartu to the Järvselja Primeval Forest, protected as a nature reserve since 1924. Once there, we set off on a boardwalk through the forest and either saw or heard a good selection of bird species most of which were familiar from back home. These included Cuckoo, Wren, Chiffchaff, Wood Warbler, Blue, Great, Willow & Long-tailed Tits, although the last of these was a bird of the white-headed caudatus race. A Woodcock was flushed from beside the trail and quickly flew off out of sight.<br />
<br />
Once again our particular targets here were the woodpeckers and three species were recorded in fairly quick succession. These were Great Spotted, White-backed and Grey-headed. A Grey-headed sat motionless and we had great views of it through a telescope. Sadly, the White-backed wasn’t as obliging. Soon after this flurry of woodpeckers, a Spotted Nutcracker made its presence known (at least to Tarvo!) and it was soon located perched at the top of a tree close to the trail. As we raised our binoculars it flew and that was the last we saw of it.<br />
<br />
Later we drove to what was obviously a huge lake; it proved to be Lake Peipus, the fifth largest lake in Europe and across the other side we could see Russia. We had just a short walk here but it was notable for giving us our best view of the week of a Thrush Nightingale, a species heard everywhere but usually from deep cover. There were good views of Garganey and Great Crested Grebes and several Common Whitethroats were seen. A flock of more than 50 Cormorants flew over and after circling for a while landed on the water.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxQMqEiy_w6u96RWxP6qaja4j5XouBQmlEN8EzWt6uzNXiac_Ttm8UBKVFeTKXYmkuvb19umL2jjyxS_nFzpF9OlQGIYuxWDe0lXy2qGCDLkqP7odDchCwGXqMQD-xxs1OFNWNRKVcimY/s1600/X86A2490-Thrush-Nightingale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcxQMqEiy_w6u96RWxP6qaja4j5XouBQmlEN8EzWt6uzNXiac_Ttm8UBKVFeTKXYmkuvb19umL2jjyxS_nFzpF9OlQGIYuxWDe0lXy2qGCDLkqP7odDchCwGXqMQD-xxs1OFNWNRKVcimY/s320/X86A2490-Thrush-Nightingale.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thrush Nightingale</div>
<br />
For an early lunch we went to Mooste Viinavabrik, a former vodka distillery and now a guesthouse and restaurant, quite an impressive location next to scenic Lake Mooste. Afterwards we had a short walk nearby without finding many birds, although again we saw a Nuthatch that was clearly different from those we see further west in Europe having a white breast.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpA33JudyPp6ocbS5UB3ZlDFwRfF2atC1TU3VIpCBy3x1-CgGLz2RO__S7_qCLvZRwOaXpDWYDVp3OP-ehKWDzDKeRfgLQYXo6gBcYfeZcCNL5mDPpOsyD3obx7gC8YUqVERZbgTt_3v3/s1600/IMG_1882-Mooste-Viinavabrik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWpA33JudyPp6ocbS5UB3ZlDFwRfF2atC1TU3VIpCBy3x1-CgGLz2RO__S7_qCLvZRwOaXpDWYDVp3OP-ehKWDzDKeRfgLQYXo6gBcYfeZcCNL5mDPpOsyD3obx7gC8YUqVERZbgTt_3v3/s320/IMG_1882-Mooste-Viinavabrik.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mooste Viinavabrik</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Later we went to the Aardla wetlands visiting two separate areas. At the first there were thousands of Great White-fronted Geese, two Common Cranes, about 10 Goldeneyes, a pair of Great Crested Grebes, at least one pair of Marsh Harriers, a Common Raven plus Whinchat and Reed Bunting. A dragonfly here was identified as a Downy Emerald.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxwfYuRpAkl8QR3jkWT4ELmL2WoKWadHHxyJ5ON1qLUGuNV6AnxnHClY28pSeDhSi0-Em9epuTERflfThqM291pr6OAFy7HUfpVx4fmFv39L2lYP9vsf-ciWvZE5hOObjpz4zq__M9CYU/s1600/X86A2578-Common-Raven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglxwfYuRpAkl8QR3jkWT4ELmL2WoKWadHHxyJ5ON1qLUGuNV6AnxnHClY28pSeDhSi0-Em9epuTERflfThqM291pr6OAFy7HUfpVx4fmFv39L2lYP9vsf-ciWvZE5hOObjpz4zq__M9CYU/s320/X86A2578-Common-Raven.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Common Raven</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfH2sbgRez5OsUYmpYfiVrR7gtPnvtagg323UkhWXnd6SkBgxSJ6YJ9egnZDrdEYwcDEcczdtZyOng8am6yK1lxaVqOil0VtQO9J-2SgnYWzHsMTe_NuA4_aEF99fU7u_-5gdEkd49RHa4/s1600/X86A2619-Greater-White-fronted-Geese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfH2sbgRez5OsUYmpYfiVrR7gtPnvtagg323UkhWXnd6SkBgxSJ6YJ9egnZDrdEYwcDEcczdtZyOng8am6yK1lxaVqOil0VtQO9J-2SgnYWzHsMTe_NuA4_aEF99fU7u_-5gdEkd49RHa4/s320/X86A2619-Greater-White-fronted-Geese.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Greater White-fronted Geese</div>
<br />
The second area had many more birds, including many thousands of geese, mostly Greater White-fronts. At one point, presumably spooked by a White-tailed Eagle, each and every one of these geese took to the air creating a noise reminiscent of a passing freight train! It was quite a sight and sound! There was a nice selection of ducks that once again included Garganeys and there were at least three Red-necked Grebes. Two Black Terns here were the first we had seen.<br />
<br />
Breakfast on Day 7 was at 7.00 a.m. and departure from the Hansa Hotel just an hour later. Today was our last full day in Estonia and a day when we had to travel back to Tallinn, a distance of only about 190 km. This meant that there was plenty of time for birding on the way and we began at Ilmatsalu where the fishponds proved to be quite productive.<br />
<br />
The most memorable birds at Ilmatsalu were those that required some effort and persistence to see. Savi’s Warblers reeled from the reed beds and Great Reed Warblers croaked; eventually there were reasonably good views of both species. A Marsh Warbler sang from cover but finally gave us a glimpse; most difficult to see was Penduline Tit but we did after a while get one to show itself. A Red-breasted Flycatcher was unexpected in this habitat and was presumably a newly arrived migrant. It was a relief to see this bird having heard several during the previous two days. Other notable birds here were a Common Rosefinch, about 20 Little Gulls, a pair of nesting Whooper Swans, a Red-necked Grebe, an Osprey, a Marsh Harrier and a flock of Black Terns.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65ZHNoo3xgL-NZ6d0VH0Mmytabd1D3ennMRWqD4PRRjkMpDVHKebpT6nd4h3qKpHD3c7QbbJNHU_a_tRSr5fQISyff1BGRdZDqb8mWXJzCo4HQgUoN0BEU62yiAIi5ODPBNWpVFs2fxJh/s1600/X86A2646-Whooper-Swan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg65ZHNoo3xgL-NZ6d0VH0Mmytabd1D3ennMRWqD4PRRjkMpDVHKebpT6nd4h3qKpHD3c7QbbJNHU_a_tRSr5fQISyff1BGRdZDqb8mWXJzCo4HQgUoN0BEU62yiAIi5ODPBNWpVFs2fxJh/s320/X86A2646-Whooper-Swan.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Whooper Swan</div>
<br />
Next we went to the village of Puurmani where a walk by the lake in Puurmani Mõisa Park resulted in us having a good view of a singing Icterine Warbler as well as both Spotted & Pied Flycatchers. A pair of White Storks were on a nest and obliged with a bout of bill-clapping. A Wryneck was heard briefly but failed to reveal itself.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54qBLsgViX4HXzhhEjpDxIW4FN_FC4URrtlrUNU-ZW2Q0iMJogvxZ7A_8cG-CI2UKI-dQMTWtDwS6L_94XXB3rgdDFr2DHBXmNW_ee0497Bpty56aBn9dN9RLkcKfei1LKm_hjQgRA1As/s1600/X86A2673-Icterine-Warbler.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj54qBLsgViX4HXzhhEjpDxIW4FN_FC4URrtlrUNU-ZW2Q0iMJogvxZ7A_8cG-CI2UKI-dQMTWtDwS6L_94XXB3rgdDFr2DHBXmNW_ee0497Bpty56aBn9dN9RLkcKfei1LKm_hjQgRA1As/s320/X86A2673-Icterine-Warbler.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Icterine Warbler</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fXWvkDpzCAQVznetjHED6siJGOcmfX1oQjei6IUCGv25LFJmS7Q58P8e2Fzs1wt3ID8RXsbdziS6rx2yDb0C826LpLykP1L0u7BZnAEb3R7uENMPtJZ7FToHUrpqJXb9hGvXjrfxnrTt/s1600/X86A2659-White-Storks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3fXWvkDpzCAQVznetjHED6siJGOcmfX1oQjei6IUCGv25LFJmS7Q58P8e2Fzs1wt3ID8RXsbdziS6rx2yDb0C826LpLykP1L0u7BZnAEb3R7uENMPtJZ7FToHUrpqJXb9hGvXjrfxnrTt/s320/X86A2659-White-Storks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
White Storks</div>
<br />
We completed our jorney to Tallinn with lunch on the way at Põhjaka Mõis where we also saw a Lesser Spotted Eagle. In Tallinn we checked in at the Hestia Euroopa Hotel and at this point we had to say good-bye to Tarvo who had been an excellent guide and good company throughout our trip. <br />
Those of us who used a period of down time before dinner to take a walk outside and explore the city a little were rewarded by finding a spiffy male red-spotted Bluethroat in a fairly unlikely-looking city centre setting. Unfortunately, it could not be found again when we returned later. It was presumed to be a recent arrival that after feeding had quickly moved on in search of a more suitable location. <br />
Our last morning was spent on a ‘proper’ guided tour of Tallinn Old Town. Said to be the best preserved medieval city in Northern Europe boasting Gothic spires, winding cobblestone streets and enchanting architecture, the Old Town was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997.<br />
After lunch at Kuldse Notsu Kõrts (The Golden Piglet Inn), we walked back to the hotel to await our taxi to the airport. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5Eb8y6gQTead1gf0uluoLAdp6DAJfnGcZNIA3cpmjyHgdFYYrgAXrCnaK0DUUAu3X5IArkg_zlzwEdN46HrAseBxLInUUaJSLookEEl_KgKa5iVBgW7x185mzEaOyv461UjbVC8PKq7Y/s1600/IMG_1900.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5Eb8y6gQTead1gf0uluoLAdp6DAJfnGcZNIA3cpmjyHgdFYYrgAXrCnaK0DUUAu3X5IArkg_zlzwEdN46HrAseBxLInUUaJSLookEEl_KgKa5iVBgW7x185mzEaOyv461UjbVC8PKq7Y/s320/IMG_1900.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA91qkhMR4gL5P26RayZ1LAvbEP4GR6fZyOgT1sl_Llw9KRpmfDb3jrXhBGfaUO7TbyvtOnO6rePIJEst3cy7RO7P-H1O1FxxCXXLe_-n0jw55O_X6v2QeXjMMvLUbG8fKHv-sT_DrD1UR/s1600/IMG_1780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA91qkhMR4gL5P26RayZ1LAvbEP4GR6fZyOgT1sl_Llw9KRpmfDb3jrXhBGfaUO7TbyvtOnO6rePIJEst3cy7RO7P-H1O1FxxCXXLe_-n0jw55O_X6v2QeXjMMvLUbG8fKHv-sT_DrD1UR/s320/IMG_1780.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-42313815935569473442018-08-10T17:15:00.000+01:002018-08-10T17:15:08.961+01:00Estonia in early May - 1This was an <a href="http://www.avianadventures.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Avian Adventures</span></a> tour from <span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 107%;">4th to 11th May 2018.</span><br />
<br />
A morning flight from Gatwick took us to Lennart Meri Tallinn Airport where we were met by Tarvo Valker who was to be our guide for the week. Our first aim then was to reach Rohuküla Harbour in time to catch the 7.00 p.m. ferry to the island of Hiiumaa. On the way, there was time for a short stop at a lake in the town of Haapsalu where two or three pairs of Slavonian Grebes were present and we were able to get reasonably close views.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWsYkfbGtEUsN5jP8RahYgaLwCg6hkPe7npSeQ6Vtdnt65ofv-Zt-laLW02wwewdeggQstrcVtSG4gfVFxTGdvRvMt8oRItM-LEVFMTR1h3hvYufXmoQ6emsyT0-pT2E6cfoYyYGdbzXN/s1600/X86A1646-Common-Scoters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbWsYkfbGtEUsN5jP8RahYgaLwCg6hkPe7npSeQ6Vtdnt65ofv-Zt-laLW02wwewdeggQstrcVtSG4gfVFxTGdvRvMt8oRItM-LEVFMTR1h3hvYufXmoQ6emsyT0-pT2E6cfoYyYGdbzXN/s320/X86A1646-Common-Scoters.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Common Scoters</div>
<br />
The ferry crossing of the Väinamere Sea from Rohuküla to Heltermaa is scheduled to take one hour and forty minutes and it presented a good opportunity for us to see some sea ducks and other birds. Unfortunately, it was much too cold and windy for us to stay out on deck for very long but watching through a window proved to be just fine and we saw hundreds of Greater Scaup and smaller numbers of Common Eiders, Common Scoters and Long-tailed Ducks. Perhaps most memorable were 37 Bewick’s Swans flying strung out in a long line. Least memorable was probably a distant Ringed Seal, which would have gone unnoticed had Tarvo not pointed it out as it was virtually indistinguishable from the rocks on an offshore island.<br />
<br />
The following morning we set off to Ristna Cape. Ristna is the most western point of Hiiumaa Island and well known as somewhere from which to observe wildfowl migration through the Baltic Sea. In our first hour there, we saw thousands of Common Scoters, hundreds of Long-tailed Ducks and numerous but smaller numbers of Common Eiders and Red-breasted Mergansers. As these birds passed by, from left to right as we looked out to sea, it was necessary to maintain concentration in order to pick out the less common species: a flock of 12 Steller’s Eiders, just two Velvet Scoters, a Razorbill, a Red-throated Diver and two Black-throated Divers, a pair of Shelducks, a few Lesser Black-backed Gulls of the less familiar <i>fuscus</i> race known as ‘Baltic Gull’ and a single Arctic Skua. A Rough-legged Buzzard was also identified and a few common passerines noted including Lesser Whitethroat, Chiffchaff and Chaffinch.<br />
<br />
By 8.00 a.m. the number of birds passing by had reduced quite substantially and so we next turned our attention to the nearby trees and bushes to look for passerine migrants. A Sparrowhawk here presumably had the same object in mind. We saw Black Redstart, Northern Wheatear, Willow Warbler, Lesser Whitethroat and ‘Northern’ Bullfinches but the highlights were undoubtedly two Red-backed Shrikes, a male and a female. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjIkmDS4-I8gdL9YFBaV_zhvKn95fwdEEkvQw7mvhV51lIzia_PsEHcMyEAjQ7gtiJ1BeoNrDL4pMYtLZXjksAuYWEw1-YEh3efOlSJwfiXY1lkSSBySH39qpeCl-7bbDYtc5yi06cjPG/s1600/X86A1662a-Red-backed-Shrike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLjIkmDS4-I8gdL9YFBaV_zhvKn95fwdEEkvQw7mvhV51lIzia_PsEHcMyEAjQ7gtiJ1BeoNrDL4pMYtLZXjksAuYWEw1-YEh3efOlSJwfiXY1lkSSBySH39qpeCl-7bbDYtc5yi06cjPG/s320/X86A1662a-Red-backed-Shrike.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Red-backed Shrike</div>
<br />
At the nearby harbour at Kalana we found Goosanders and Red-breasted Mergansers, Common & Black-headed Gulls, Northern Wheatear, White Wagtail and Woodlark, Siskins and Redpolls and a Common Buzzard.<br />
<br />
We had an early lunch at the Kõpu Lighthouse Café. The lighthouse is one of the oldest in the world, having been in continuous use since its completion in 1531 and is apparently a popular tourist attraction.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQ-cn-WMzimkSLkZZiaHrDLmjk6VSGO_kMxyqQuVms95jBi-VHRAyMyPKyT4B1ZEE6_Qbw1Fo0L8c6nf7rVDGQNtzgHAWpQcOVKUFxWXs1zCs_vuzM9KhzxXUyN4h-MyGEU2yNDVQ0gOG/s1600/IMG_1856-K%25C3%25B5pu-Lighthouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoQ-cn-WMzimkSLkZZiaHrDLmjk6VSGO_kMxyqQuVms95jBi-VHRAyMyPKyT4B1ZEE6_Qbw1Fo0L8c6nf7rVDGQNtzgHAWpQcOVKUFxWXs1zCs_vuzM9KhzxXUyN4h-MyGEU2yNDVQ0gOG/s320/IMG_1856-K%25C3%25B5pu-Lighthouse.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Kõpu Lighthouse</div>
<br />
An hour or so birding around coastal meadows and reed beds produced Lapwing, Greenshank, Redshank, Common Sandpiper and Ringed Plover, Mute Swan, Gadwall, Shelduck and Shoveler, Greylag & Barnacle Geese, Little Tern, Marsh Harrier, Whinchat, Reed Bunting, Skylark and Common Whitethroat. There was also our first White-tailed Eagle but just a distant view of a bird flying away. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgdpVX4Q-QTOrnlJbHz4gjcPKi56M-m7ZMAMVOz7nU45jiSMohGKefpZFl_UKSnfCA_i1wirbvZCbHrdTBJzVR3jF0v3TM5YtNzquLfbk3n_H-hK6VsFlu1VgpZd2z6nV-axdzmVnGmrW/s1600/X86A1719-White-tailed-Eagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAgdpVX4Q-QTOrnlJbHz4gjcPKi56M-m7ZMAMVOz7nU45jiSMohGKefpZFl_UKSnfCA_i1wirbvZCbHrdTBJzVR3jF0v3TM5YtNzquLfbk3n_H-hK6VsFlu1VgpZd2z6nV-axdzmVnGmrW/s320/X86A1719-White-tailed-Eagle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
White-tailed Eagle</div>
<br />
Later, at Käina Bay, we visited a tower hide from where we could see maybe as many as 15,000 geese, mostly Barnacles and Greylags but also some Tundra Beans. Also from the tower there were distant views of about ten Smew, a few Common Pochards and 50 Avocets.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmKi4WEqcgz-t8xW36ZiBI_0AAv1GB9R-11n2TLvch5kYxpAwc7EPDyjymCd0uYfmRNwOEE8l89TqsCrmw9mevTyosXCY6Ioo1mcfqc9aiiTyjUBETRvO385w-STfLePKo_cL8VKyin-3/s1600/IMG_1865+K%25C3%25A4ina+Bay.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqmKi4WEqcgz-t8xW36ZiBI_0AAv1GB9R-11n2TLvch5kYxpAwc7EPDyjymCd0uYfmRNwOEE8l89TqsCrmw9mevTyosXCY6Ioo1mcfqc9aiiTyjUBETRvO385w-STfLePKo_cL8VKyin-3/s320/IMG_1865+K%25C3%25A4ina+Bay.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Käina Bay</div>
<br />
Soon there were further opportunities to look at geese with thousands of Greater White-fronts, Barnacles & Tundra Beans. The search was now on for a rare Red-breasted Goose or Lesser White-front, a search that was to go on without success throughout the week whenever we encountered these large flocks. The improvement in the conservation status of many European goose populations since the 1940s is one of the major success stories of European bird conservation but these large numbers of geese are clearly not universally popular and can cause severe problems for farmers. On one occasion the geese that we were watching were deliberately flushed by a presumed farmer, something that must go on routinely in an attempt to protect crops and grazing land.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxiXLBFKg7R-mlz_25nV3z0HznY0zs6zey2br68f403zCXQPKvmc0d3ojNVxN0N2whf6IfD9XokiCNJFa9DF2-mHMO4dzlsZeLz2YQmsVYXzbpY_mt-MiLvWItgHdw7PIrZxSnlwF5bT6z/s1600/X86A1769-Greater-White-fronted-Geese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxiXLBFKg7R-mlz_25nV3z0HznY0zs6zey2br68f403zCXQPKvmc0d3ojNVxN0N2whf6IfD9XokiCNJFa9DF2-mHMO4dzlsZeLz2YQmsVYXzbpY_mt-MiLvWItgHdw7PIrZxSnlwF5bT6z/s320/X86A1769-Greater-White-fronted-Geese.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Greater White-fronted Geese</div>
<br />
On the morning of Day 3 we went first to Tahkuna Cape at the northern tip of Hiiumaa. A sea watch from the lighthouse here produced Common Eiders, Red-breasted Mergansers and Long-tailed Ducks but nowhere near the numbers seen yesterday at Ristna. Passerines in the same area included Red Crossbills, a Common Redstart, Yellow Wagtails, Chiffchaffs and Lesser Whitethroats. This time there were two Sparrowhawks in attendance. We saw just a small number of Yellow Wagtails during the week, some <i>flava</i> but mostly <i>thunbergi</i>.<br />
<br />
Next we went to Suuresadama and a somewhat derelict industrial harbour notable mainly for a distinctive old barn but also for the occurrence here in April 2014 of an Alpine Accentor that was only the second record for Estonia. Here there were seven Great Crested Grebes on the sea, a singing Woodlark, Black & Common Redstarts, Common Sandpiper and Greenshank.<br />
<br />
We were heading for Heltermaa and the ferry to take us back to the mainland but there were further stops on the way. At one of these Tarvo found two Pink-footed Geese in amongst a flock of Bean Geese, the only time during the week that we saw this species. At another, we had a short walk in an attractive woodland area where Pied & Spotted Flycatchers, Tree Pipit, Bullfinches and Fieldfares were seen and Hawfinch heard.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyqQqyBV-AGWMG9Sa5WlkmLr_8V0BnLyoGcKU5VghZw2LMDxPxZ402mRQJfOnyi7a29QQXGO6-q9xY13WpgH2em_C559F2f74SAD0w49Sf_igl_HJ78ox08l3GDTr0KGFz16ofs7rDoD5/s1600/X86A2720-Pied-Flycatcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAyqQqyBV-AGWMG9Sa5WlkmLr_8V0BnLyoGcKU5VghZw2LMDxPxZ402mRQJfOnyi7a29QQXGO6-q9xY13WpgH2em_C559F2f74SAD0w49Sf_igl_HJ78ox08l3GDTr0KGFz16ofs7rDoD5/s320/X86A2720-Pied-Flycatcher.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pied Flycatcher</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
The weather, which at the start of the tour had been better than most of us expected, improved further today and the ferry crossing was a much more pleasant experience. Again it featured a flock of Bewick’s Swans.<br />
<br />
We enjoyed a very nice lunch at Tuulingu Farm at the edge of the village of Haeska and Matsalu National Park. The coastal meadows surrounding the farm are grazed by Highland cattle and birds here included both Ruff and Black-tailed Godwit in very smart breeding dress. There were thousands of Barnacle Geese to search through and we saw Caspian Tern and Yellow Wagtail.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTP2aVLNhbIXl4jMrN0yU0QFGUzbfMqy1tsfxPXJn1f9qr6iA8eLgGeVOuACSww-2tyIpsQpDTR9zAmRABH5pW_ecpbaYGUzlTGbsqSZmYH3d2G0mV0qa_WXn1RjNQGf6bmDQC5GBAVlUV/s1600/X86A1850-Barnacle-Geese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTP2aVLNhbIXl4jMrN0yU0QFGUzbfMqy1tsfxPXJn1f9qr6iA8eLgGeVOuACSww-2tyIpsQpDTR9zAmRABH5pW_ecpbaYGUzlTGbsqSZmYH3d2G0mV0qa_WXn1RjNQGf6bmDQC5GBAVlUV/s320/X86A1850-Barnacle-Geese.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Barnacle Geese</div>
<br />
Next Tarvo headed to a site where in previous years he had seen Ortolan Buntings. On this occasion we were unlucky and maybe we were too early to see them but we did find there a pair of Red-backed Shrikes and we had our first sighting of a Lesser Spotted Eagle. The surrounding farmland had Yellowhammers and Skylarks. Further on when we stopped to photograph a pair of Common Cranes we also saw the only Honey-buzzard of the week.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93WggTjB6G5aCGd54U9KSKZ66CYmHfz4QlbIDoK7u7boyKimd3tNDYlFd1-1TQeOI6PHzv4H1oKRXSHCQyodtRliF1I-QNZzbCl0HAnjZPv99WbIP-OrFh-WFuxAVteEetKeXm_OHc42z/s1600/X86A1985-Common-Crane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi93WggTjB6G5aCGd54U9KSKZ66CYmHfz4QlbIDoK7u7boyKimd3tNDYlFd1-1TQeOI6PHzv4H1oKRXSHCQyodtRliF1I-QNZzbCl0HAnjZPv99WbIP-OrFh-WFuxAVteEetKeXm_OHc42z/s320/X86A1985-Common-Crane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Common Crane</div>
<br />
We continued our journey to Pärnu, the fourth-largest city in Estonia and a popular summer holiday resort. Here, the Rannahotell proved to be a good choice for our two-night stay. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDig16pKBF5GUQxQ0LgA4IUXXl1Q9FWYSgNtTbNPiFiEgyXvC487xhFsRNeJeWw0IE1IWGRf_aojDhJ0uMxOBiyZ5QJIKMGpM9kaEr95oncqEkiyyRN1CLacIF8_pIEkgNPiISnD4p4_uO/s1600/IMG_1871.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDig16pKBF5GUQxQ0LgA4IUXXl1Q9FWYSgNtTbNPiFiEgyXvC487xhFsRNeJeWw0IE1IWGRf_aojDhJ0uMxOBiyZ5QJIKMGpM9kaEr95oncqEkiyyRN1CLacIF8_pIEkgNPiISnD4p4_uO/s320/IMG_1871.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The next morning, we left the hotel at 5.30 a.m. to spend several hours at two forest sites near Soometsa, a village to the south of Pärnu. Here we were looking for woodpeckers but had only limited success. There were brief views of Three-toed & Black Woodpeckers but only Great Spotted really co-operated and stayed in place for proper scrutiny. Robin, Blackcap, Willow Warbler, Chiffchaff, Cuckoo and Green Sandpiper were amongst the other species seen. The Green Sandpiper, a species that typically uses an old Fieldfares’ nest in which to lay its eggs, was displaying above the forest. It was here that we saw a Green Hairstreak but it wasn’t a particularly good week for butterflies with Brimstone the most frequently seen of just a handful of species.<br />
<br />
On the way back to the hotel for breakfast we stopped at a wooded park where Nuthatch, Fieldfare, Spotted Flycatcher and Marsh Tit were seen.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEino_i4ZYAQrEqxBq9BiEtPM3-MnwETEP6qfPjmxzn-5TekTeXhyphenhyphensBQy-Rs8HpgRyRU6_NmshraK6suLmlPicMJPCUaSileJzMIUFIj99-FSyQA83R5t1__9Wy4UIoumW4HJNnGVdAbiVZl/s1600/X86A2056-Eurasian-Nuthatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEino_i4ZYAQrEqxBq9BiEtPM3-MnwETEP6qfPjmxzn-5TekTeXhyphenhyphensBQy-Rs8HpgRyRU6_NmshraK6suLmlPicMJPCUaSileJzMIUFIj99-FSyQA83R5t1__9Wy4UIoumW4HJNnGVdAbiVZl/s320/X86A2056-Eurasian-Nuthatch.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Eurasian Nuthatch</div>
<br />
Later we went to the Nätsi-Võlla Nature Reserve, a wetland area near Audru, comprising extensive reed beds, some open water and grazing meadows. The star birds here were Citrine Wagtails and we watched them for quite a while. It was difficult to be sure how many there were but probably at least three pairs. Also seen were three Garganeys, seven Spotted Redshanks, two Hobbys, a ‘ringtail’ Montagu’s Harrier, a Common Buzzard, Greenshank, Great Crested Grebes and lots of Greater White-fronts & Barnacle Geese.<br />
<br />
Nearby, we had a walk in Audru Park where a Middle Spotted Woodpecker was seen very well and there was a nice selection of other woodland species including Eurasian Treecreeper and Hawfinch. After dinner there was an excursion to the local forest in search of night birds but, a little disappointingly, it produced only Woodcock, Nightjar and Tawny Owl. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGtHdNaznHtSdPc2tV5EA30h_PtYc51FpSg5WzZc16TUbgZ5LpRfhAmK3O-tO1WAdnB130aZHqRYZtZ9MOYXG85EGx5sLH-SyOgMmE-niyWBVNcH1GEQg3bpLrCQw5-cUnC0P5JzqMUSa/s1600/X86A2245-Middle-Spotted-Woodpecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioGtHdNaznHtSdPc2tV5EA30h_PtYc51FpSg5WzZc16TUbgZ5LpRfhAmK3O-tO1WAdnB130aZHqRYZtZ9MOYXG85EGx5sLH-SyOgMmE-niyWBVNcH1GEQg3bpLrCQw5-cUnC0P5JzqMUSa/s320/X86A2245-Middle-Spotted-Woodpecker.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Middle Spotted Woodpecker</div>
<br />
To be continued...<br />
<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-42148578195926183022018-07-21T15:48:00.000+01:002018-07-21T15:48:47.218+01:00Avian Adventures in TanzaniaThis year’s <a href="http://www.avianadventures.co.uk/" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Avian Adventures</span></a> tour in Tanzania was Peter’s
seventh visit to that country.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> Although m</span>inor
changes to the tour itinerary have been made from year to year each one, including this latest, has
included Tarangire, Lake Manyara and Serengeti National Parks and Ngorongoro
Crater.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSY5jNMHED0_cBfJIk3BBVpOoG_kV-taHqqSj-nl5fM7ah2RfHHGXYx9DnvjZMdmx7oOzuv6oSqY3zbDEGz_oUAEZwGM1RzxIlgxIC7v5N6vjjWjlKIENT2y0f17kQLDnk0t-PYCRV-md/s1600/IMG_1786+Ngorongoro+Crater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrSY5jNMHED0_cBfJIk3BBVpOoG_kV-taHqqSj-nl5fM7ah2RfHHGXYx9DnvjZMdmx7oOzuv6oSqY3zbDEGz_oUAEZwGM1RzxIlgxIC7v5N6vjjWjlKIENT2y0f17kQLDnk0t-PYCRV-md/s320/IMG_1786+Ngorongoro+Crater.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Ngorongoro Crater</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">In some years, depending on the length of the tour, Arusha National
Park has also been included and in recent times there has been a two-night stay
in the Ndutu area, in the northern part of the Ngorongoro Conservation Area.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ndutu is adjacent to the Serengeti and forms
part of the annual migratory route of hundreds of thousands of Wildebeest and Zebra as well as being good for birds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytfPXV5KkHOrXtYabCMNjNpfoI2AcZu0jP22UqjzWfPP4cfEgqZ-HENVaidvOqRcGbRUufX1nGT3VnnETJ29-OUIC0GHHxOczvxxaSELD0ioYKzZ_aai5FKt02OrtZsUibY5CmUR59-Y6/s1600/IMG_1804+Wildebeests.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgytfPXV5KkHOrXtYabCMNjNpfoI2AcZu0jP22UqjzWfPP4cfEgqZ-HENVaidvOqRcGbRUufX1nGT3VnnETJ29-OUIC0GHHxOczvxxaSELD0ioYKzZ_aai5FKt02OrtZsUibY5CmUR59-Y6/s320/IMG_1804+Wildebeests.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">Wildebeest</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Opportunities have also arisen over the years for short excursions to Eluanata Dam, a recognised Important Bird Area near Arusha and to Olduvai Gorge, an important site for the study of human evolution, located in the Great Rift Valley.</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">For this
year’s tour, we changed things around a little so as to make time for a visit
to </span><span style="mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri;">the Asogati Plain situated to the north of Arusha, the only known
location in the world where <span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: bold;">Beesley's
Lark occurs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Previously regarded as a
race of Spike-heeled Lark, a species mostly confined to southern Africa,
Beesley’s Lark is now widely recognised to be a separate </span></span>species. As has been pointed out elsewhere, although larks have in the past inspired poets including Wordsworth and Shelley they are regarded by many birders as simply exasperating LBJs and their identification treated as something of a chore. In the case of Beesley’s Lark, its status as well as identification has also been the subject of debate.<br />
<br /></div>
To help us find these birds and several other lark species that occur in
the same area we engaged with the Beesley’s Lark Conservation Program of
Engikaret.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Engikaret is the nearby
village that is using income from ecotourism to generate a community development fund and to provide motivation for villagers to help conserve the Beesley's Lark. On a very limited scale, these birds are tourist attractions! It’s fair to say, however, that the quest for Beesley’s Lark wasn’t met with universal enthusiasm from tour participants, probably because it came early in the tour when we hadn’t yet seen Lion or Leopard or many of the other ‘must see’ species that people were impatient for. Never mind that Beesley’s Lark was quite likely to be the rarest bird some of us would see…ever!<br />
<br />
Over two weeks we did eventually get to see most of the bird and mammal species that were expected and, as always, one or two that came as a surprise. Inevitably, there were also one or two minor disappointments – how did we manage NOT to see a Verreaux’s Eagle Owl?<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQICBI0ssy4rcyB56SS4ET4wx8ijk7DludUEXPH-lE80vI6mHOZPQ4xVvPAYFJlycNE0rVFR-XUSdOxtc67RcdEXlCBN7J1fjIfhM6US9rvyrsVyOY8HPkU-YfvwimRXzi-aHyofGc-3xz/s1600/X86A0246+Cheetah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQICBI0ssy4rcyB56SS4ET4wx8ijk7DludUEXPH-lE80vI6mHOZPQ4xVvPAYFJlycNE0rVFR-XUSdOxtc67RcdEXlCBN7J1fjIfhM6US9rvyrsVyOY8HPkU-YfvwimRXzi-aHyofGc-3xz/s320/X86A0246+Cheetah.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
Cheetah</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
In spite of all the wonderful bird sightings, the one memory that we will all retain involved watching a Cheetah make a kill. When we first saw it, the Cheetah was lying down but we could see that it clearly wasn’t asleep. With just its head visible above the vegetation it was keeping a lookout for a meal. As we watched, we soon realised that it actually had one in view. It seemed to have a particular interest in a young Thomson’s Gazelle that was gradually coming closer, oblivious to any danger. The gazelle, which was probably no more than a month old, had strayed away from its mother. We knew that if we could be patient it wouldn’t be long before the Cheetah would make its move and it took only a few minutes before the gazelle was within chasing distance. At this point the Cheetah stood up and went off like a rocket in pursuit of the hapless creature, which was no match for the cat. The young gazelle’s short life was over in a matter of a few seconds and a cloud of dust!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNnPdHnsat5NNKxsXHBZ1V6tlQ3IJGBAhlgwtDt3BSZyoOs0AyZ3kO_UPmlLL058xMCMHH_FOx9gamDEBncWJy-Oww-VRppwFb1k-CeobflDzH048mWB3_-BOIQpGjQkugZKaSDWbkKnq/s1600/X86A0247+Cheetah.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTNnPdHnsat5NNKxsXHBZ1V6tlQ3IJGBAhlgwtDt3BSZyoOs0AyZ3kO_UPmlLL058xMCMHH_FOx9gamDEBncWJy-Oww-VRppwFb1k-CeobflDzH048mWB3_-BOIQpGjQkugZKaSDWbkKnq/s320/X86A0247+Cheetah.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
Cheetah with gazelle carcass<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
It was the sort of action that we always hope to see on
African tours but which certainly can’t be guaranteed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As a spectacle it left Beesley’s Lark in the
shade!<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Although we take every opportunity to look at the mammals, expecting to see around 40 different species, these are always very much birdwatching tours with more than 300 species recorded. <span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Brief details and some photographs from previous tours can also be found <a href="https://jupiterbirding.blogspot.com/2017/04/photos-from-tanzania.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a>, <a href="https://jupiterbirding.blogspot.com/2016/04/tanzania-big-five-x-2.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a>, <a href="https://jupiterbirding.blogspot.com/2015/08/tanzania-ngorongoro-crater.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a>, <a href="https://jupiterbirding.blogspot.com/2015/07/tanzania-serengeti.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a>, <a href="https://jupiterbirding.blogspot.com/2015/07/avian-adventures-in-tanzania.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a> and <a href="https://jupiterbirding.blogspot.com/2010/05/on-safari-in-northern-tanzania.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">here</span></a>. Below are some photographs from this year; next year's tour is scheduled for 4th to 18th April 2019. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="background: white; color: #222222;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliWcyc22gKEGEpEyf2XPBMGLdrkRaBAAvNPf8aN_SKOk3ZZViwdgtkAatWgpAWr_VVk939VtEt3idLTVN1WkLWKPnQ2nFC-CumxpF7m0xd2DylKMppZpwRyl2K_AMaoUJ3sJRxxhQpXq4/s1600/X86A0060_1+Superb+Starling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgliWcyc22gKEGEpEyf2XPBMGLdrkRaBAAvNPf8aN_SKOk3ZZViwdgtkAatWgpAWr_VVk939VtEt3idLTVN1WkLWKPnQ2nFC-CumxpF7m0xd2DylKMppZpwRyl2K_AMaoUJ3sJRxxhQpXq4/s320/X86A0060_1+Superb+Starling.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Superb Starling</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTv_uMBPkFnKdfNWcqx9riQVtxTUaX7vYmh6BH65pfbjfhA8YAba3D5OaWCKOgfWu90_yhH-Bq3Sme9KpEurlo0JoCGQe_hKbq2mJAkE6sYnasjaV6j4XPdnKc0pROUUtD6L1YYAvfNRE/s1600/X86A0071+Grey-breasted+Francolin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWTv_uMBPkFnKdfNWcqx9riQVtxTUaX7vYmh6BH65pfbjfhA8YAba3D5OaWCKOgfWu90_yhH-Bq3Sme9KpEurlo0JoCGQe_hKbq2mJAkE6sYnasjaV6j4XPdnKc0pROUUtD6L1YYAvfNRE/s320/X86A0071+Grey-breasted+Francolin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Grey-breasted Francolin</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzLyf5Phxi0N8oJVaqUb26stPXIw6QHgA9lLFu5zn-Cx_IROz5CkOxZTX-ismRFOt0Ucpf5OpE88dr3rlKWO02Js0xtt9X2_L4g8i1KxLj_kS6TNj_BAFA7MQAJjUIosCg4ZpMEakE7sz/s1600/X86A0089+Black-winged+Kite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZzLyf5Phxi0N8oJVaqUb26stPXIw6QHgA9lLFu5zn-Cx_IROz5CkOxZTX-ismRFOt0Ucpf5OpE88dr3rlKWO02Js0xtt9X2_L4g8i1KxLj_kS6TNj_BAFA7MQAJjUIosCg4ZpMEakE7sz/s320/X86A0089+Black-winged+Kite.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Black-winged Kite</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2wmwiLZj5vIDPlFX9G7BJbhgfaVClwVbXMcXwwbDZ7MnnSMcpYRmVkwMWWALy7-A1Uy0ULTNj8hqBBzIO-YVNBm6orE81TR3VVpmHrwWAMjKLWQfYDK1KTpqTG_BN6II6fwxO7iiN3Yb/s1600/X86A0112_1+Black+Rhinoceros.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy2wmwiLZj5vIDPlFX9G7BJbhgfaVClwVbXMcXwwbDZ7MnnSMcpYRmVkwMWWALy7-A1Uy0ULTNj8hqBBzIO-YVNBm6orE81TR3VVpmHrwWAMjKLWQfYDK1KTpqTG_BN6II6fwxO7iiN3Yb/s320/X86A0112_1+Black+Rhinoceros.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Black Rhinoceros</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UeYqMHGQM2FBBmxUnLOTsRj2uBF6wnGE5ut3BQQOakR1eeGxKdgECcVMQtskZ9mR_QAGjgDY4lJ6LE8uiTiDUVwpxqTQWYi0prDWOz3Eb6H43mTxw7y0Y0vl2FQMXqqqxaGadu-TuHbN/s1600/X86A0159+Lion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2UeYqMHGQM2FBBmxUnLOTsRj2uBF6wnGE5ut3BQQOakR1eeGxKdgECcVMQtskZ9mR_QAGjgDY4lJ6LE8uiTiDUVwpxqTQWYi0prDWOz3Eb6H43mTxw7y0Y0vl2FQMXqqqxaGadu-TuHbN/s320/X86A0159+Lion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lion </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQG7qMAMmXXJLtJ82_yWsccl9gYHmdwrDou36AdOE6bVKYcBR0gPJO868NC9kjiFyhTKHzfL9hG_05cY3vuXEdXMIM93RAQTb3_vYEmTUTHUxNXDyyAEqFsjBenxUNQoyCbyLfBrD8td9a/s1600/X86A0269_1+Red-and-yellow+Barbet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQG7qMAMmXXJLtJ82_yWsccl9gYHmdwrDou36AdOE6bVKYcBR0gPJO868NC9kjiFyhTKHzfL9hG_05cY3vuXEdXMIM93RAQTb3_vYEmTUTHUxNXDyyAEqFsjBenxUNQoyCbyLfBrD8td9a/s320/X86A0269_1+Red-and-yellow+Barbet.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Red-and-yellow Barbet</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqd86HBDeYFZajmJejTvhpxNmtVswhBz4nxAUcKz1CoQYYf03OGFX971MHh9pC687GQk0uV4M5VO1W3NcIloO6dUsZzBY6Jkw_5JXGzDmraGwi1ohwY0_6mWRvkOA-2FbW1nH3qBsb9Hl/s1600/X86A0411_1+Rosy-breasted+Longclaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqd86HBDeYFZajmJejTvhpxNmtVswhBz4nxAUcKz1CoQYYf03OGFX971MHh9pC687GQk0uV4M5VO1W3NcIloO6dUsZzBY6Jkw_5JXGzDmraGwi1ohwY0_6mWRvkOA-2FbW1nH3qBsb9Hl/s320/X86A0411_1+Rosy-breasted+Longclaw.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rosy-breasted Longclaw</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHke4GFZFeeMtHrhKepuKrWECAwnj6DNYX4HXP35MXJXyiWc_PrMnBY2GTF2uYQLtpPLy1gw0qiRKnGMt8Kvsrv89fnuUJGY4ISolU_AwcGqVS3LYEarY06qYaoPCmUSmwLZXQTXUQIJs/s1600/X86A0468+Long-crested+Eagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwHke4GFZFeeMtHrhKepuKrWECAwnj6DNYX4HXP35MXJXyiWc_PrMnBY2GTF2uYQLtpPLy1gw0qiRKnGMt8Kvsrv89fnuUJGY4ISolU_AwcGqVS3LYEarY06qYaoPCmUSmwLZXQTXUQIJs/s320/X86A0468+Long-crested+Eagle.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Long-crested Eagle</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7aXuEeA8tZBRGzu78lIPAFhjMKSo3y1CbJxPBgy-1vFDpTcauXz0B9EtzUzM6XxS1517eYFzMmDF13ys6PjhxkDc8PxXncHXTqeoudhmBom1Ep-lSnBc0IFO0ko_g0rh2hdoWCBoYV47X/s1600/X86A0470_1+Lion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7aXuEeA8tZBRGzu78lIPAFhjMKSo3y1CbJxPBgy-1vFDpTcauXz0B9EtzUzM6XxS1517eYFzMmDF13ys6PjhxkDc8PxXncHXTqeoudhmBom1Ep-lSnBc0IFO0ko_g0rh2hdoWCBoYV47X/s320/X86A0470_1+Lion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Another Lion</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6V_tgWp85c-x-kmCH-ld3TiEUwp7iseaSP7OsJhsVuaq8tVR_4RUd9SNPRnis7Rbb3TDT8NDHYFug27ZHBE5jmBvFjVi2iPc-HGW7VYqoloYrAMSjqQz9RV3uni-XsO2NWY7ICXrh6aMA/s1600/X86A0503+Eland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6V_tgWp85c-x-kmCH-ld3TiEUwp7iseaSP7OsJhsVuaq8tVR_4RUd9SNPRnis7Rbb3TDT8NDHYFug27ZHBE5jmBvFjVi2iPc-HGW7VYqoloYrAMSjqQz9RV3uni-XsO2NWY7ICXrh6aMA/s320/X86A0503+Eland.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Eland</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkMzJWTqcSxbHJKzUTxYza5pKYwMx6HpG9AyifLjPdAliri7hvhkzIfWuQIHhOlzbdmpE7S7wyQI1Hddtflvv-M6KLPL2DIHp-5_wkpMEEj9uER71_s9ha44oji09iZEqsRyyCWmxfJG1/s1600/X86A0626+Chestnut-banded+Plover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBkMzJWTqcSxbHJKzUTxYza5pKYwMx6HpG9AyifLjPdAliri7hvhkzIfWuQIHhOlzbdmpE7S7wyQI1Hddtflvv-M6KLPL2DIHp-5_wkpMEEj9uER71_s9ha44oji09iZEqsRyyCWmxfJG1/s320/X86A0626+Chestnut-banded+Plover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chestnut-banded Plover</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4x3kgYRouBD1yH9u-Dq_UaU1rh9DzHVjfBXx46d9Gqnhin-JaWN-oGmYoD1lL-4C2-OMuq6czb-8LUc10xHs2cP_asiv8IYDX1b97Cj2AIjPiwco6FVkGQmwJyIo-FvCNgoZ6Yk2Rcy9/s1600/X86A9115+Gabar+Goshawk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe4x3kgYRouBD1yH9u-Dq_UaU1rh9DzHVjfBXx46d9Gqnhin-JaWN-oGmYoD1lL-4C2-OMuq6czb-8LUc10xHs2cP_asiv8IYDX1b97Cj2AIjPiwco6FVkGQmwJyIo-FvCNgoZ6Yk2Rcy9/s320/X86A9115+Gabar+Goshawk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Gabar Goshawk</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEUGFBJ-orIKkMB8HjcGyAp_Tk9Yc1db6sRwLfGtN7jtBqOsQZOfslNehFLmdK-sKHZtl2hTkbx_izFpoK5gMk0isrpReAbcdXlTMf__p4nT6TAGvFKB7FMIFTyCs3iwF9emdJOgglNv2/s1600/X86A9143+Saddle-billed+Stork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMEUGFBJ-orIKkMB8HjcGyAp_Tk9Yc1db6sRwLfGtN7jtBqOsQZOfslNehFLmdK-sKHZtl2hTkbx_izFpoK5gMk0isrpReAbcdXlTMf__p4nT6TAGvFKB7FMIFTyCs3iwF9emdJOgglNv2/s320/X86A9143+Saddle-billed+Stork.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Saddle-billed Stork</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20Bye6ca7MsOzXrx8Zszi5LOCotiemVe9lyj7hjVS_6bJ7YchQSmwA_iJxtFfMKsv6TNp3603hJyt27-N4xy6gz3Oj3zVMuaSweBWLtfP-_zJryyu5uxAWofQG56N_fcha3ZslA_ha8hi/s1600/X86A9227+Blue-cheeked+Bee-eater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj20Bye6ca7MsOzXrx8Zszi5LOCotiemVe9lyj7hjVS_6bJ7YchQSmwA_iJxtFfMKsv6TNp3603hJyt27-N4xy6gz3Oj3zVMuaSweBWLtfP-_zJryyu5uxAWofQG56N_fcha3ZslA_ha8hi/s320/X86A9227+Blue-cheeked+Bee-eater.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQ8zQkbxbl1ZdkyskZevfyLN6BgbDyeL01O9sNTmWGZQDiOrSBugt2OipkVdifiU60Rs8gXkoyHsCJAy0CurLQMKi_ZSYGYJw1iEfmaCWbd9mcDrsb51jhcfe10jqQ6X4JqV-42Zdl87E/s1600/X86A9528+R%25C3%25BCppell%25E2%2580%2599s+Griffon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwQ8zQkbxbl1ZdkyskZevfyLN6BgbDyeL01O9sNTmWGZQDiOrSBugt2OipkVdifiU60Rs8gXkoyHsCJAy0CurLQMKi_ZSYGYJw1iEfmaCWbd9mcDrsb51jhcfe10jqQ6X4JqV-42Zdl87E/s320/X86A9528+R%25C3%25BCppell%25E2%2580%2599s+Griffon.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
Rüppell’s Griffon<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzrmsYMMAMeZ3AUoFCHyjLeg6KqDS0MR2Gbw0DoL25_HvNl7TNgAfS3ef5mIQbKw8_Z2Mvs0b7SDuz8w9az3xyYSdiSRl6hYV98eC96YuvqgcJGbj3yj0UNjtPddN-Oqs0Q-Mu9H0mNUk/s1600/X86A9386+Yellow-billed+Stork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLzrmsYMMAMeZ3AUoFCHyjLeg6KqDS0MR2Gbw0DoL25_HvNl7TNgAfS3ef5mIQbKw8_Z2Mvs0b7SDuz8w9az3xyYSdiSRl6hYV98eC96YuvqgcJGbj3yj0UNjtPddN-Oqs0Q-Mu9H0mNUk/s320/X86A9386+Yellow-billed+Stork.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yellow-billed Stork</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLvJqGeeu6yUh1lVkp6i7MszKu9qTxpzKRum_VdWHG5WDOlB2lP8TDExvZslSjEHn4e-mG0b2pCt8wLvtGfGdsDwDzW42OSavUZai-i5Ed_VwoB05cKuDwhJpTAEFdZZRGR13kKNscZmc/s1600/X86A9916+Black-headed+Heron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlLvJqGeeu6yUh1lVkp6i7MszKu9qTxpzKRum_VdWHG5WDOlB2lP8TDExvZslSjEHn4e-mG0b2pCt8wLvtGfGdsDwDzW42OSavUZai-i5Ed_VwoB05cKuDwhJpTAEFdZZRGR13kKNscZmc/s320/X86A9916+Black-headed+Heron.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Black-headed Heron</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjSSmBQqdMY-ppmlKQMzW3f5wHwQdPWugI8bX1earJqUTS6Nak1dYwYYkYSHlqIqNusjyVCdMVtK1DXPkC9HwqdpcgIySj9NbxL09dXf4XaNWBzlqzIzWsfR9j8BQ6ZSDQH-YAFtYefKm/s1600/X86A9710+Grey-headed+Kingfisher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOjSSmBQqdMY-ppmlKQMzW3f5wHwQdPWugI8bX1earJqUTS6Nak1dYwYYkYSHlqIqNusjyVCdMVtK1DXPkC9HwqdpcgIySj9NbxL09dXf4XaNWBzlqzIzWsfR9j8BQ6ZSDQH-YAFtYefKm/s320/X86A9710+Grey-headed+Kingfisher.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Grey-headed Kingfisher</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iXuXvS2xaaVvr2kjNuAeOCXQrzrljfbxUZpay3v_xPOBE59gdcFaKEpseiatuPV3ycZqyZw7Tr4Ebg6qdYa2_hyZ5ZcFNdk-dE2FQUTrEUYtgwKsHzYGUhU4ulkhs7FTH5zfWIdjbItl/s1600/X86A9362+Silverbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-iXuXvS2xaaVvr2kjNuAeOCXQrzrljfbxUZpay3v_xPOBE59gdcFaKEpseiatuPV3ycZqyZw7Tr4Ebg6qdYa2_hyZ5ZcFNdk-dE2FQUTrEUYtgwKsHzYGUhU4ulkhs7FTH5zfWIdjbItl/s320/X86A9362+Silverbird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Silverbird</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uGI1zN23Z5hvjq86nGtAl4xX2hx3c_ixPDNHgI_0q0ggs8yE2YMvdMC9r9842jZWN36AKkYrZOJVTsilGEhBhXgsLGvEZRtNUAU_Jy3Ci_Xp_GW2z9y7ZLVdkC-itOzKAB9pkXe9dMVp/s1600/X86A9303+European+Roller.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1uGI1zN23Z5hvjq86nGtAl4xX2hx3c_ixPDNHgI_0q0ggs8yE2YMvdMC9r9842jZWN36AKkYrZOJVTsilGEhBhXgsLGvEZRtNUAU_Jy3Ci_Xp_GW2z9y7ZLVdkC-itOzKAB9pkXe9dMVp/s320/X86A9303+European+Roller.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
European Roller</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkXcVEYcQJ5vBWwWqXx227y1Gfy2BatGeYs-zgT9MK-20H_rcnCM5zyQAG2PgwWlk7wpb64_F7OaxL8yD7k31od5b1y5jCynaFZKTajl2_Hu4veQn5zoreYTy2dT26yyLogvhOlIgOm_y/s1600/X86A9658+Tawny+Eagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmkXcVEYcQJ5vBWwWqXx227y1Gfy2BatGeYs-zgT9MK-20H_rcnCM5zyQAG2PgwWlk7wpb64_F7OaxL8yD7k31od5b1y5jCynaFZKTajl2_Hu4veQn5zoreYTy2dT26yyLogvhOlIgOm_y/s320/X86A9658+Tawny+Eagle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Tawny Eagle</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcDX9l0bluDbFg9D3aIf9J_1OdEpJyFSlbgAIcrJGah9muvH2i_US_s5MukCzwJRflBqaiX2jODdcvFNnKgRbzyp-0wniJL1BUpud9eY7UT7Tyy6E5O6nwCqEJDu0Bk38SzAdARfV_JP3/s1600/X86A9589+Hildebrandt%2527s+Starling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzcDX9l0bluDbFg9D3aIf9J_1OdEpJyFSlbgAIcrJGah9muvH2i_US_s5MukCzwJRflBqaiX2jODdcvFNnKgRbzyp-0wniJL1BUpud9eY7UT7Tyy6E5O6nwCqEJDu0Bk38SzAdARfV_JP3/s320/X86A9589+Hildebrandt%2527s+Starling.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hildebrandt's Starling</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4v7hxJdHJR74s3E1rPvbit4E8DMEtbISZMgjDi03mgVENjJg5jwDxec_D82eDHgVwiHaYBYhA5VQM9jPNfV0QIXkuKi0qUJmK_Uvnac898im0XeOiIQSLgM4X3QqOYfSlMrTX4ab6k-8t/s1600/X86A9255+Grey+Crowned+Crane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4v7hxJdHJR74s3E1rPvbit4E8DMEtbISZMgjDi03mgVENjJg5jwDxec_D82eDHgVwiHaYBYhA5VQM9jPNfV0QIXkuKi0qUJmK_Uvnac898im0XeOiIQSLgM4X3QqOYfSlMrTX4ab6k-8t/s320/X86A9255+Grey+Crowned+Crane.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Grey Crowned Crane</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjE7B-QuHC1XVY7UZDjAl4e1XwhBpkcAJ0Ch9ePN_7HISJbMKzv0pwbV1CyxdFUtIMS6245UTrCbKwh6xa-XhO7Q2kUIRBIZWdjf6FiOQASKvcbWyepannyLC6jAuGI1_gW1rUtBN4zbd/s1600/X86A9944+Lesser+Masked+Weaver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYjE7B-QuHC1XVY7UZDjAl4e1XwhBpkcAJ0Ch9ePN_7HISJbMKzv0pwbV1CyxdFUtIMS6245UTrCbKwh6xa-XhO7Q2kUIRBIZWdjf6FiOQASKvcbWyepannyLC6jAuGI1_gW1rUtBN4zbd/s320/X86A9944+Lesser+Masked+Weaver.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lesser Masked Weaver</div>
</div>
<br />Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-25962761242418520192018-03-09T23:39:00.001+00:002018-03-09T23:39:50.072+00:00Algarve winter birdingFollowing our return from Thailand at the end of January we enjoyed almost a month of really good birding in the Algarve before the weather intervened. However, for more than a week now heavy rain, gale-force winds and even several mini tornados have rather disrupted things!<br />
<br />
Winter birding in the Algarve is never lacking in interest. Without too much effort our daily bird list, even in short daylight hours, usually extends to 90 or more species and often exceeds 100. No two winters are exactly the same and although huge numbers of birds migrate from Northern Europe to escape the cold, it is only extremely adverse conditions that drive some species this far south. Only rarely, for instance have we seen Snow Buntings or Long-tailed Ducks in the Algarve and when Redwings and Fieldfares arrive they are only ever in quite small numbers. Likewise, Short-eared Owls are irregular and unpredictable. This winter there have been more Siskins than usual, there’s been no shortage of Ring Ouzels in their usual haunts around Sagres and even a few Bramblings have been reported.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYchkt696v8FzGM4ghCkJ1Oyoeo3HVQ4LEUYpV8RSmSLzwyyaBi34Z2kuvRSoh76WK6vy2TU-aS2VeNH0HmAPQewBzsYj3MPV9tEsDvWMl-u6pZr3346m1ORDxdLKcNruz8PWhlKOLPrjs/s1600/IMG_3075-Snow-Bunting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYchkt696v8FzGM4ghCkJ1Oyoeo3HVQ4LEUYpV8RSmSLzwyyaBi34Z2kuvRSoh76WK6vy2TU-aS2VeNH0HmAPQewBzsYj3MPV9tEsDvWMl-u6pZr3346m1ORDxdLKcNruz8PWhlKOLPrjs/s320/IMG_3075-Snow-Bunting.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Snow Bunting</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkP6MI3XPfPJ48YdvwB8G_lz19IQQ4cv99u8II71PDWAPlof2U1KV6zMqSXNueWhLg6cvA6UaUz3ZHvNy19gSdA-BSSO9ufqHb2WeFYGjr7LdlhUgUqHyRWzSlnXyWwHCwdIyILMSemYr5/s1600/IMG_8080-Redwings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkP6MI3XPfPJ48YdvwB8G_lz19IQQ4cv99u8II71PDWAPlof2U1KV6zMqSXNueWhLg6cvA6UaUz3ZHvNy19gSdA-BSSO9ufqHb2WeFYGjr7LdlhUgUqHyRWzSlnXyWwHCwdIyILMSemYr5/s320/IMG_8080-Redwings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Redwings</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1zlDjVAAVfr-NLyKcrZGNahonFmMVRs6-WV7MdLK3oJL3X-M1IrLWrH8iublTcXbvDjjb7klxLuqRR0baavbKnjAKcKURgoZOFcGoeDOo9lpwdVk-0nagARcHXNkoTCyXYbG0COsB2Q0/s1600/IMG_1343-Short-eared-Owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgB1zlDjVAAVfr-NLyKcrZGNahonFmMVRs6-WV7MdLK3oJL3X-M1IrLWrH8iublTcXbvDjjb7klxLuqRR0baavbKnjAKcKURgoZOFcGoeDOo9lpwdVk-0nagARcHXNkoTCyXYbG0COsB2Q0/s320/IMG_1343-Short-eared-Owl.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Short-eared Owl</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMTYseG7qn9NEUb2dyqJlZakqgAFa33SmoNYiO4z3Dn48jAtcDPnzex9ymUbUsJgXqghSSqiJvEQZMiiygM-Oqk4qDI9IME7qbZSrWd30GKjlcArA-UdDe6A_K5kLpX1bUHNvUeZWr5sh/s1600/IMG_7586-Ring-Ouzel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMTYseG7qn9NEUb2dyqJlZakqgAFa33SmoNYiO4z3Dn48jAtcDPnzex9ymUbUsJgXqghSSqiJvEQZMiiygM-Oqk4qDI9IME7qbZSrWd30GKjlcArA-UdDe6A_K5kLpX1bUHNvUeZWr5sh/s320/IMG_7586-Ring-Ouzel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ring Ouzel</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfSmVRDZAmWabqd7s1NMHDz67OzRrziIbkESLmzDapZ1wOlTd1fND8Qs3QkHG6z9tSkFHoQ8gbpMTa2sHTz5nB0uxNvFkN6-RW8h7UHAGMTa7u3St5lxstms2n3NntLwF_ZScM2Gc2Mvr/s1600/X86A7964-Eurasian-Siskin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfSmVRDZAmWabqd7s1NMHDz67OzRrziIbkESLmzDapZ1wOlTd1fND8Qs3QkHG6z9tSkFHoQ8gbpMTa2sHTz5nB0uxNvFkN6-RW8h7UHAGMTa7u3St5lxstms2n3NntLwF_ZScM2Gc2Mvr/s320/X86A7964-Eurasian-Siskin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Eurasian Siskin</div>
<br />
Perhaps not surprisingly the number of birdwatchers visiting the Algarve in winter is relatively small but those who do come are seldom disappointed. Species such as Alpine Accentor, Penduline Tit, Richard’s Pipit, Caspian Tern, Little Bittern, Bluethroat, Booted Eagle and Black-winged Kite are usually not difficult to find and most years there has been something unusual, like last winter’s Sora, the Bufflehead in early 2016 or the Red-breasted Flycatcher of 2014/15.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivW_MM7XPlib6CWKR8k-qr-t1sl_mHfkMXICUeoXyfOdltLHJ0997MfRwFj3n0SiqQEa6eWmMv6jiI94idRB1oiFZ8keqnABvktYVOEHQDOLmmsbjvE3RcKuX0yjE_UJzy7a1UiqLe46W0/s1600/X86A7292-Alpine-Accentor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivW_MM7XPlib6CWKR8k-qr-t1sl_mHfkMXICUeoXyfOdltLHJ0997MfRwFj3n0SiqQEa6eWmMv6jiI94idRB1oiFZ8keqnABvktYVOEHQDOLmmsbjvE3RcKuX0yjE_UJzy7a1UiqLe46W0/s320/X86A7292-Alpine-Accentor.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Alpine Accentor</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4XtYfK9bDtpdgQuMkWUjXBvI6lUuX2vybXaxAwMm5Cl_2Q0SG5ohbKsShXihNXwzphZd5DYgjOOKsoCvRJFRyENxvaNAKPjAOnWcayR8ME_85e1VjBB8cIocW1SY5q0TmVrSrkMRKPmx/s1600/IMG_9864-Caspian-Tern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC4XtYfK9bDtpdgQuMkWUjXBvI6lUuX2vybXaxAwMm5Cl_2Q0SG5ohbKsShXihNXwzphZd5DYgjOOKsoCvRJFRyENxvaNAKPjAOnWcayR8ME_85e1VjBB8cIocW1SY5q0TmVrSrkMRKPmx/s320/IMG_9864-Caspian-Tern.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Caspian Tern</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EmgjU2LykKc1hg5MeT1vIaafNATs7hGS400fMMAseqJ2fqwpTdSn6PzRDNiMz9KCxWEWlxNnOdmdwUxxx3HoKW-ZglgX3Fy9kfk0W32u6ja5sCaGRCUqLkQrskDCkVn0igZVHSVO9LOE/s1600/IMG_0410-Black-winged-Kite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3EmgjU2LykKc1hg5MeT1vIaafNATs7hGS400fMMAseqJ2fqwpTdSn6PzRDNiMz9KCxWEWlxNnOdmdwUxxx3HoKW-ZglgX3Fy9kfk0W32u6ja5sCaGRCUqLkQrskDCkVn0igZVHSVO9LOE/s320/IMG_0410-Black-winged-Kite.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Black-winged Kite</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYP_Quoaq6JSjEt5vJQJ4SfO4QCiDVzvqfdFTxQ_9p69kKsy7w0pl9DCAacuFvamQ0PqE8G_kLd83jNa65mxJrej6ChccsI8K1AhFnpMefFHtIRijkiUqMPvoxxphyYRIQlOcXSlSM8iQH/s1600/X86A2149-Sora.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYP_Quoaq6JSjEt5vJQJ4SfO4QCiDVzvqfdFTxQ_9p69kKsy7w0pl9DCAacuFvamQ0PqE8G_kLd83jNa65mxJrej6ChccsI8K1AhFnpMefFHtIRijkiUqMPvoxxphyYRIQlOcXSlSM8iQH/s320/X86A2149-Sora.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sora</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_shwn4jKoH8xChcXGd92IcRRgVFT3bVosGxLlOs4RvZWCgZxnvAS94uBOltb-u9L33gNilpcUKfYbSzip85ok80vet4q7fqiC_cV1FK-M1xwj7SeqkfBJnTU0uFbVtPBsUPo2SP7KBKGj/s1600/IMG_4315-Bufflehead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_shwn4jKoH8xChcXGd92IcRRgVFT3bVosGxLlOs4RvZWCgZxnvAS94uBOltb-u9L33gNilpcUKfYbSzip85ok80vet4q7fqiC_cV1FK-M1xwj7SeqkfBJnTU0uFbVtPBsUPo2SP7KBKGj/s320/IMG_4315-Bufflehead.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bufflehead</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvb2h4EsxP5op1DuxgDTU6HnJpgXIF1HwhwJ_p1tNH2VdZH8qg6mbNXTFwId4IAgW4stAejF9qyZ_qndm6UTkRbZaAy6RsEu8eXHd0N-VJtKZWDexcyjIg7_N104aJvP01WewxrHik2kq/s1600/IMG_4669-Red-breasted-Flycatcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicvb2h4EsxP5op1DuxgDTU6HnJpgXIF1HwhwJ_p1tNH2VdZH8qg6mbNXTFwId4IAgW4stAejF9qyZ_qndm6UTkRbZaAy6RsEu8eXHd0N-VJtKZWDexcyjIg7_N104aJvP01WewxrHik2kq/s320/IMG_4669-Red-breasted-Flycatcher.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Red-breasted Flycatcher</div>
<br />
On 27th December a Pallas’s Leaf Warbler found at Fonte Benémola was just the third record for Portugal. It was seen for just a few days and then only with difficulty! It’s remarkable that the two previous records of this species, both in the Algarve, were on 27th December (1999) and 31st December (2002). <br />
<br />
This winter has been exceptional for long-staying rarities and near-rarities. The star bird has been a Sociable Lapwing that was found at Lagoa dos Salgados in November and remained in that general area at least until last week. For several weeks a Marsh Sandpiper has been frequenting a site near Olhão and recently a Red-knobbed Coot has been faithful to the same corner of the San Lorenzo golf course. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kEPQ-giXmcjBtZFT-JQ3lCk-Ucyi-n7YG-RXl3B9VThsgObwldPYrRboyMVf_V0QnbADofLPdjeQG4CJKVBBpLCHKj-6uykARqSQu6dhi5vecsBi2IHJpqBZ0avA-wMkqfvBNDERyExE/s1600/X86A8065-Red-knobbed-Coot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7kEPQ-giXmcjBtZFT-JQ3lCk-Ucyi-n7YG-RXl3B9VThsgObwldPYrRboyMVf_V0QnbADofLPdjeQG4CJKVBBpLCHKj-6uykARqSQu6dhi5vecsBi2IHJpqBZ0avA-wMkqfvBNDERyExE/s320/X86A8065-Red-knobbed-Coot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Red-knobbed Coot</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0QvKnginaGu_kzppayne6XJfA2PjNTH2qud533XYlvk0onifKUO6kfGiePvYD9fnF8Z1JqAlyHFYgpmBnrEwZN8m0ApSRqfS8IkugbNTKfYJuVOyV414wrm9snJDEaDkRtspWbn-SrTT/s1600/IMG_1074-Marsh-Sandpiper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0QvKnginaGu_kzppayne6XJfA2PjNTH2qud533XYlvk0onifKUO6kfGiePvYD9fnF8Z1JqAlyHFYgpmBnrEwZN8m0ApSRqfS8IkugbNTKfYJuVOyV414wrm9snJDEaDkRtspWbn-SrTT/s320/IMG_1074-Marsh-Sandpiper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Marsh Sandpiper</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
For a while a Lesser Yellowlegs was also at Lagoa dos Salgados but perhaps influenced by rising water levels there it has since been seen at the ETAR Faro Nascente, Lagoa do Trafal and Foz do Almargem. Not officially rarities but still scarce in the Algarve, two Temminck’s Stints have been viewable in the Ria Formosa at Quinta do Lago and in that same general area, a possible Pallid Harrier has been seen several times and photographed but it remains the subject of debate. There have also been occasional sightings near Estômbar of one or two Little Buntings.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPRj4wMrXeU0KJMwR4qOGX-0t8BARmIp3u6VyntO0JcNOX30AJnsNV810pdTIbRCcHCBURs_5Nk4EbcLwcYni54Mg5-pQyuaeBfHfIImYu1TGHuEmnqNgIkwLK033mKDRmmIm4zB-pQmr/s1600/X86A8505-Lesser-Yellowlegs.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibPRj4wMrXeU0KJMwR4qOGX-0t8BARmIp3u6VyntO0JcNOX30AJnsNV810pdTIbRCcHCBURs_5Nk4EbcLwcYni54Mg5-pQyuaeBfHfIImYu1TGHuEmnqNgIkwLK033mKDRmmIm4zB-pQmr/s320/X86A8505-Lesser-Yellowlegs.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lesser Yellowlegs</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8RM9zs4SVKrsrDz1MJHKTUUpI92z9LZGZPQyigw9ZfL7vV6Iy6PogVSufFXVU7iLRGiCK0Y7e_j7OXzUVZLQpsGiMW2CzurGAF92i9WdYmk9pKWLkPJK3Xv4yNu-s9cVmDnTL2rf4odr/s1600/X86A8030a-Temminck%2527s-Stint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC8RM9zs4SVKrsrDz1MJHKTUUpI92z9LZGZPQyigw9ZfL7vV6Iy6PogVSufFXVU7iLRGiCK0Y7e_j7OXzUVZLQpsGiMW2CzurGAF92i9WdYmk9pKWLkPJK3Xv4yNu-s9cVmDnTL2rf4odr/s320/X86A8030a-Temminck%2527s-Stint.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Temminck's Stint</div>
<br />
And there have been a few birds that will have only been seen by those who were there at the time. We were lucky to get a very good but brief look at what could only have been a Little Swift at Lagoa dos Salgados on 2nd February and a Rustic Bunting was photographed near Sagres on the 7th. Neither of these birds was seen again. The same is true of a Red-throated Diver seen at the end of December flying out to sea from the mouth of the Guadiana River. <br />
<br />
A few Greylag Geese often occur, most regularly at Castro Marim but otherwise geese are scarce here. Brent Geese sometimes turn up in the Ria Formosa or at Ria de Alvor and there have been records of Barnacle Geese but their origin is open to question. Ducks on the other hand are here in their thousands and have sometimes included American Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck and other rarities.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbOzF6C_jwJ8HDV8Gqm5uYFRkWQcxjfQKPQ6s3twqwpmvVV24vSQU0dR6ilcM4oornH47LCEXvask-4GcSKi765KM7MS7tbG0DgVD8IAS9H-xSo32-2IV6G4EpGK1sCvmfq31gIiaeDTK/s1600/IMG_0204-Greylag-Geese.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="600" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvbOzF6C_jwJ8HDV8Gqm5uYFRkWQcxjfQKPQ6s3twqwpmvVV24vSQU0dR6ilcM4oornH47LCEXvask-4GcSKi765KM7MS7tbG0DgVD8IAS9H-xSo32-2IV6G4EpGK1sCvmfq31gIiaeDTK/s320/IMG_0204-Greylag-Geese.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Greylag Geese</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGtJrhVBYTzptBjz0teeXnEc80oHcWuV5n22C6oiDKAFs6lfQ2lJSjuisyh6CJZDJkABMW_3qVE9QzxdHuwbCVbP_f_vLd8JHZ2LEKBI4FR7-ksFXu3geEyVy3iz1qX0Xb4K5_GD7o7Qd/s1600/IMG_4317-Brent-Goose.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLGtJrhVBYTzptBjz0teeXnEc80oHcWuV5n22C6oiDKAFs6lfQ2lJSjuisyh6CJZDJkABMW_3qVE9QzxdHuwbCVbP_f_vLd8JHZ2LEKBI4FR7-ksFXu3geEyVy3iz1qX0Xb4K5_GD7o7Qd/s320/IMG_4317-Brent-Goose.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Brent Goose</div>
<br />
Finally we have to mention that thousands of gulls descend on the Algarve in winter. As well as the six regular species (Lesser Black-backed, Yellow-legged, Black-headed, Mediterranean, Audouin’s & Slender-billed) those among us who are prepared to put the time in scrutinising the flocks may be rewarded by finding a Great Black-backed, a Common, a Glaucous or even a Caspian or Ring-billed Gull. The recent storms brought a number of Kittiwakes into view and this week has seen the arrival of two or possibly three Iceland Gulls. Remarkably, one of the Iceland Gulls has been seen on the so-called Roman bridge over the Gilão River in the centre of Tavira.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnAu-s5dyfgG1GRpGXcATWmczQ1SUJpo4sNlc7h82eqXnOuHc898z1jy192O9hBOraxbiDv2v1zVI1xdWBcE2fA1lp1Rabzj005j1hC8hfMc9rY-keQCaGSck_VGgZFn2BhIpH5vZ5qTc/s1600/IMG_4208-Slender-billed-Gull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZnAu-s5dyfgG1GRpGXcATWmczQ1SUJpo4sNlc7h82eqXnOuHc898z1jy192O9hBOraxbiDv2v1zVI1xdWBcE2fA1lp1Rabzj005j1hC8hfMc9rY-keQCaGSck_VGgZFn2BhIpH5vZ5qTc/s320/IMG_4208-Slender-billed-Gull.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Slender-billed Gull</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyBnqeyMrXSS106SWgPePZD0JsGzyS6f22VWjy1nexrcRuaKjQH-nYJUGuUAVSpmRdEZMmKaXVrkaWW9CpxnZhjmEWkLXnubETH8l_25YNcZJaGRaeOjSVYX_tBECsi0MwYJTa6jayYiq/s1600/X86A8909-Iceland-Gull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoyBnqeyMrXSS106SWgPePZD0JsGzyS6f22VWjy1nexrcRuaKjQH-nYJUGuUAVSpmRdEZMmKaXVrkaWW9CpxnZhjmEWkLXnubETH8l_25YNcZJaGRaeOjSVYX_tBECsi0MwYJTa6jayYiq/s320/X86A8909-Iceland-Gull.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Iceland Gull</div>
<br />
As we see now the return from Africa of Pallid Swifts, Yellow Wagtails, Red-rumped Swallows and other migrants it would be nice to think that winter is over but in the wake of the destructive 'Storm Emma', the coming days see the Algarve once again on high alert as 'Storm Felix' approaches bringing who knows what new rarities.<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-80526538851796606422018-03-01T18:13:00.000+00:002018-03-01T18:13:19.687+00:00Thailand...again - 5An overnight stay in Nakhon Sawan gave us an opportunity to take a boat trip on the lake at Bueng Boraphet. Last year this trip was one of the highlights of our time in Thailand and we had no hesitation when a repeat was suggested. It has to be said, however, that this second trip didn’t quite live up to our expectations. One of the main reasons for this was this year’s much higher water level, which certainly had an effect on bird numbers and distribution. Another reason was that the boatman was intent on finding for us a Baer’s Pochard that had been seen just a few days earlier. What was supposed to be a three-hour trip turned into more than four hours and when it finished we had to hurry to meet the check-out time back at the hotel. <br />
<br />
Baer’s Pochard is a rare bird and there is no doubt that we would all have liked to see it but Beung Boraphet is the largest freshwater swamp and lake in central Thailand covering 224 square kilometres (for readers in Staffordshire that’s just about 300 times the size of Belvide Reservoir!). We would have needed some luck to find it, particularly given the large numbers of Garganey, Lesser Whistling Ducks and other species on the water. Really, we spent far too much time concentrating on just this one target although the morning’s bird list was still impressive, including Pied & Eastern Marsh Harriers, Black-eared Kite, Pheasant-tailed & Bronze-winged Jacanas, Green & Blue-tailed Bee-eaters and White-throated Kingfisher as well as many long-legged waterbirds.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOnen7nH8DB7Ii5tqlTHxN6PTcgKOfxbbAe_bV-q6wAVtlsbQOYt8vaG0oM9mnklPTgOmqi9wAhuUCNtnNiZZiH0179Z6gwWU43LE-6ZiTP1TNNayf2-A0_sAaa2GWRUAJLJluzDxtXPx/s1600/X86A6004-Blue-tailed-Bee-eater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOnen7nH8DB7Ii5tqlTHxN6PTcgKOfxbbAe_bV-q6wAVtlsbQOYt8vaG0oM9mnklPTgOmqi9wAhuUCNtnNiZZiH0179Z6gwWU43LE-6ZiTP1TNNayf2-A0_sAaa2GWRUAJLJluzDxtXPx/s320/X86A6004-Blue-tailed-Bee-eater.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Blue-tailed Bee-eater</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_eF0ZsWaGFfkGNWX6bejbgvr25i_Guo0tDyzRVm7G1lbqmUH79mRE6wH5WcHNm2SnKXLVMU2Um_SjCKwaRkgzaijrVNl5miIu9GQDuAOSzM-6BRJ4uLyvLUUQCXuGpg7yBbu8jBvZKjr/s1600/X86A6080-Oriental-Darter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_eF0ZsWaGFfkGNWX6bejbgvr25i_Guo0tDyzRVm7G1lbqmUH79mRE6wH5WcHNm2SnKXLVMU2Um_SjCKwaRkgzaijrVNl5miIu9GQDuAOSzM-6BRJ4uLyvLUUQCXuGpg7yBbu8jBvZKjr/s320/X86A6080-Oriental-Darter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Oriental Darter</div>
<br />
Our next three nights were spent at Ban Bang Home Resort, near the coast on the Gulf of Thailand. How very different it seemed without the continuous, torrential rain that we experienced there last year. The same could also be said of the nearby saltpans at Pak Thale and Laem Pak Bia, where we were able to enjoy looking at the thousands of waders without the need to be regularly drying off our binoculars. The boat trip to the sandspit, which previously had been quite unpleasant, was this time really enjoyable and we were able to get much better views of Malaysian Plover, Chinese Egret, Pacific Reef Egret and the other species that make this short boat ride well worth the effort.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SnejQuC575LCgYmuasJ_CtOKAAzFAh2tBR2aAWF7EdNQIXYxqqiIfSMQKd5qRnywdy33AirRFBE7g528kGW792R2EdcC-lbues-ljM_bQzat24A928WCO7ukGImg-avDoZvY6mnA7Czv/s1600/IMG_1700-Ban-Bang-Home-Resort.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7SnejQuC575LCgYmuasJ_CtOKAAzFAh2tBR2aAWF7EdNQIXYxqqiIfSMQKd5qRnywdy33AirRFBE7g528kGW792R2EdcC-lbues-ljM_bQzat24A928WCO7ukGImg-avDoZvY6mnA7Czv/s320/IMG_1700-Ban-Bang-Home-Resort.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ban Bang Home Resort</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUibg81oVGE8OJ8FDUrIBM38HEYG0vmo4F-j6xfFWZufB0O33Ois2RI8sm115osc6nix7_ymUq5TPqgJ8nsR-GFO4m2j0JN4_jUPx9v1OrW0R52-WVcxoNqGIuQJBAl314kcuX3fIoVQ7/s1600/X86A6291-Pacific-Reef-Egret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjUibg81oVGE8OJ8FDUrIBM38HEYG0vmo4F-j6xfFWZufB0O33Ois2RI8sm115osc6nix7_ymUq5TPqgJ8nsR-GFO4m2j0JN4_jUPx9v1OrW0R52-WVcxoNqGIuQJBAl314kcuX3fIoVQ7/s320/X86A6291-Pacific-Reef-Egret.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Pacific Reef Egret</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-LHGp5FXHYioxROuDYBh19RGUNLr1w8iEg80RBfU-RVK3BqCLrVGAUDVa4lEwzkgBFuPxvpVYb-_YRbGJyjCPJ6E7aeDeMZe0ZX-xprvZjRuyW6tYDhqIiZQfjXnZIedX431YxtKBjcw/s1600/X86A6348-Malaysian-Plover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho-LHGp5FXHYioxROuDYBh19RGUNLr1w8iEg80RBfU-RVK3BqCLrVGAUDVa4lEwzkgBFuPxvpVYb-_YRbGJyjCPJ6E7aeDeMZe0ZX-xprvZjRuyW6tYDhqIiZQfjXnZIedX431YxtKBjcw/s320/X86A6348-Malaysian-Plover.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Malaysian Plover</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VBFhsrFUg1xTg5vcVXM5C9jV-Ojwplt7PUpauc0NTfjbhgBhIdWcPQ9GjKDiu6NbYTZr5wuBzf5WdpudZ6JbOVyuZXRRSfqBnfY_PiIa79aFBgU3qo9WmlFyNqHhXMeQkSmEK0uVWnBu/s1600/X86A6448-Chinese-Egret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-VBFhsrFUg1xTg5vcVXM5C9jV-Ojwplt7PUpauc0NTfjbhgBhIdWcPQ9GjKDiu6NbYTZr5wuBzf5WdpudZ6JbOVyuZXRRSfqBnfY_PiIa79aFBgU3qo9WmlFyNqHhXMeQkSmEK0uVWnBu/s320/X86A6448-Chinese-Egret.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chinese Egret</div>
<br />
During our time in this area we identified 38 wader (shorebird) species, including Spoon-billed Sandpiper, Nordmann’s Greenshank, Far Eastern Curlew, Long-toed Stint, Asian Dowitcher and Malaysian Plover. We also saw White-faced Plover, also known as Swinhoe’s Plover, which (depending on who you ask) may or may not be a separate species from Kentish Plover. What a treat it was to see a flock of about 1,200 Eurasian Curlews but at the same time be able to watch more than 300 Terek Sandpipers gathering to roost.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8Y3pJxTIo6QU1k1miGBDtNMgHRu-J7OgfNdwiySmAU3c6xJS_yhmukRprxULSFf-JfUlQV1zMJmCJni1tPH__Ta_6YxDHNpGSV4NJ27i7mf5K4q1e1nXGmCuAds8JlDbJdwWhHtmhpA4/s1600/IMG_1662-Don%2527t-disturb-the-birds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjD8Y3pJxTIo6QU1k1miGBDtNMgHRu-J7OgfNdwiySmAU3c6xJS_yhmukRprxULSFf-JfUlQV1zMJmCJni1tPH__Ta_6YxDHNpGSV4NJ27i7mf5K4q1e1nXGmCuAds8JlDbJdwWhHtmhpA4/s320/IMG_1662-Don%2527t-disturb-the-birds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijE6k8OU6QDdIyu46D6HmalGSAAzKSkckHggStGYoIChwYzQ1m_my99mwNmeZJsF3UqjauLA2fiukseHozrm3hOd1m7NaDKYvWZUFvI_0TWDqrF-B5F5wiPP8TppUQaikZpsYJ_HMjzxNi/s1600/IMG_1675-Watching-the-Spoon-billed-Sandpiper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijE6k8OU6QDdIyu46D6HmalGSAAzKSkckHggStGYoIChwYzQ1m_my99mwNmeZJsF3UqjauLA2fiukseHozrm3hOd1m7NaDKYvWZUFvI_0TWDqrF-B5F5wiPP8TppUQaikZpsYJ_HMjzxNi/s320/IMG_1675-Watching-the-Spoon-billed-Sandpiper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Spoon-billed Sandpiper...in the 'scope!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5ERf9SadUo0CM6mDDSJtbWmUWt0coS5IOBj7exfs8F_gr555qy7uK6lxQKLMiUsGJMCMdggWLNBzk1eGSn0b7qh5E7Vb73f2e6N4d-ehU84LF0oVtKCb_iu_HvHzJ1ZASAqruHyVdcPE/s1600/X86A6272-Great-Knot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO5ERf9SadUo0CM6mDDSJtbWmUWt0coS5IOBj7exfs8F_gr555qy7uK6lxQKLMiUsGJMCMdggWLNBzk1eGSn0b7qh5E7Vb73f2e6N4d-ehU84LF0oVtKCb_iu_HvHzJ1ZASAqruHyVdcPE/s320/X86A6272-Great-Knot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Great Knot</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIUDIya8cEIWDrlf1m_A7_4VuQm0wu8esuNngZeo9Bd3JMDLRrau6mGAmOyvgiTxHJ-4rB58Au-7jaNlYW1S83P5ODtM4jysfulc1yQxfAfS_2GazVespfH2Lx08-nANyKjCZtaiYE6D5/s1600/X86A6538-Marsh-Sandpiper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsIUDIya8cEIWDrlf1m_A7_4VuQm0wu8esuNngZeo9Bd3JMDLRrau6mGAmOyvgiTxHJ-4rB58Au-7jaNlYW1S83P5ODtM4jysfulc1yQxfAfS_2GazVespfH2Lx08-nANyKjCZtaiYE6D5/s320/X86A6538-Marsh-Sandpiper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Marsh Sandpiper</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiKM8rhzZ6hTiRIJFO7OWhuoeXyKFEatZlGDK3Gce7o5EXyQAdsfBG6jUyVlfuATzUoEF6r3VgNoAAZyOtZDUS-ijvDl11T1HDQQfm0GS5_kPQ3PEw6wRUavDhYTH-pZx_Ec8Jfe1lyDO/s1600/X86A6596-Black-winged-Stilt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfiKM8rhzZ6hTiRIJFO7OWhuoeXyKFEatZlGDK3Gce7o5EXyQAdsfBG6jUyVlfuATzUoEF6r3VgNoAAZyOtZDUS-ijvDl11T1HDQQfm0GS5_kPQ3PEw6wRUavDhYTH-pZx_Ec8Jfe1lyDO/s320/X86A6596-Black-winged-Stilt.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Black-winged Stilt</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qXjzJxVsjbNtDpV9DOnr1izhzvugH9PeJj5i58gs39fzWcj6Gtk3_s-CvYMfnwiLvDAiovjcwBwWVvIhlyzYJQyoMlipfkMrcO_AEiSHqRewAaFGOXGSIXo1M33R9g7iw9jYOeRpYAzN/s1600/X86A6612.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qXjzJxVsjbNtDpV9DOnr1izhzvugH9PeJj5i58gs39fzWcj6Gtk3_s-CvYMfnwiLvDAiovjcwBwWVvIhlyzYJQyoMlipfkMrcO_AEiSHqRewAaFGOXGSIXo1M33R9g7iw9jYOeRpYAzN/s320/X86A6612.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Spoon-billed Sandpiper</div>
<br />
We also managed to visit several sites that we didn’t get to last year. Notable was a lake near Wat Takaro where we went to look for Spot-billed Pelican. We found just one but among the many accompanying ducks we were surprised to find a drake Red-crested Pochard, thought to be only the fifth or sixth record of this species for Thailand.<br />
<br />
Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end and we had to head for Bangkok and one last night in Thailand before our flight home. On the way to the capital we stopped at Nong Pla Lai rice paddies, where Booted, Greater Spotted & Eastern Imperial Eagles and Black-eared, Black-winged & Brahminy Kites were all seen.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOabrBzW-VhORlEtMo9fWe2W8lFTXBoXUzklUXpFxcUO_zDolOs_XehHZzSbK7B0TpN0m8OyDEPvrHuNJ7khajdTQpzS6NKwYj88-qehsmcwVLq0ObC1Ia-LOxKOrPtwVx5xfJrpM9_5sL/s1600/X86A6668-Brahminy-Kite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOabrBzW-VhORlEtMo9fWe2W8lFTXBoXUzklUXpFxcUO_zDolOs_XehHZzSbK7B0TpN0m8OyDEPvrHuNJ7khajdTQpzS6NKwYj88-qehsmcwVLq0ObC1Ia-LOxKOrPtwVx5xfJrpM9_5sL/s320/X86A6668-Brahminy-Kite.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Brahminy Kite</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrFw3U7s5Q3AE2A8uyPOW5arnCJ4Xr-DECsBd5HcdnQW81k9dV5Sy2aY-UHS2q4_tN2P5QQfE9Jx1-BK5VbUn-r-3FI5mof_8umVM1FOB5lcvp6iUY7w9UjxeoJVTg6bOzqH3fuXw_0Wq/s1600/X86A6734-Black-eared-Kite.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrFw3U7s5Q3AE2A8uyPOW5arnCJ4Xr-DECsBd5HcdnQW81k9dV5Sy2aY-UHS2q4_tN2P5QQfE9Jx1-BK5VbUn-r-3FI5mof_8umVM1FOB5lcvp6iUY7w9UjxeoJVTg6bOzqH3fuXw_0Wq/s320/X86A6734-Black-eared-Kite.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Black-eared Kite</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx30EVzan2x2VRy2ikYLnuB2SA4XLvaO8eUxQRXwxm6KWwIZqhEE5vyidDIGd9io3Txi3G7SAkte8evaswChjCrQde5eX-58Z22tkjDaX0DsKj1WjLWxOoVVSIcVcXb2dj1Rh-q_5BOfYf/s1600/X86A6994-Greater-Spotted-Eagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx30EVzan2x2VRy2ikYLnuB2SA4XLvaO8eUxQRXwxm6KWwIZqhEE5vyidDIGd9io3Txi3G7SAkte8evaswChjCrQde5eX-58Z22tkjDaX0DsKj1WjLWxOoVVSIcVcXb2dj1Rh-q_5BOfYf/s320/X86A6994-Greater-Spotted-Eagle.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Greater Spotted Eagle</div>
<br />
Our flight from Bangkok was an evening departure, which meant that we had plenty of time for birding on our last day. We went first to Muang Boran Fish Ponds, located on the outskirts of the city but by 8.30 a.m. the heat and humidity were such that we decided to head for the coast and Bang Poo. Here a Slaty-breasted Rail showed well from the hide and among the huge numbers of Brown-headed Gulls and Whiskered Terns present, we were able to find both Black-headed & Slender-billed Gulls both scarce winter visitors.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtrQgnsVIEHixqUsL-kB_QbtdrXMugpdAHmT-9ac5lHgrOQUeXlWAC0sBoigjz4AQOTtjyIsIRZmAo-INGjnL54MdlB2fG3Q9bdSLeUn1Ilr5ixJeul_1hP7o-NPb70kLfNpRhu5X4YMt/s1600/X86A7069-Slaty-breasted-Rail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdtrQgnsVIEHixqUsL-kB_QbtdrXMugpdAHmT-9ac5lHgrOQUeXlWAC0sBoigjz4AQOTtjyIsIRZmAo-INGjnL54MdlB2fG3Q9bdSLeUn1Ilr5ixJeul_1hP7o-NPb70kLfNpRhu5X4YMt/s320/X86A7069-Slaty-breasted-Rail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Slaty-breasted Rail</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Mtlc8GNPFYlcnnE0JGJBnF2w8UJv-ipjGOu6-SOytSmOEA6J7hPjqymgQGR6DnOLknDE0WFHKtvjm6hp1IC0DAa_Pscdt5oEnXm7LtlZfdyFPoT5xZTnCup3DD-o9NX8FpsIF_rYAyFE/s1600/X86A7135-Brown-headed-%2526-Black-headed-Gulls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Mtlc8GNPFYlcnnE0JGJBnF2w8UJv-ipjGOu6-SOytSmOEA6J7hPjqymgQGR6DnOLknDE0WFHKtvjm6hp1IC0DAa_Pscdt5oEnXm7LtlZfdyFPoT5xZTnCup3DD-o9NX8FpsIF_rYAyFE/s320/X86A7135-Brown-headed-%2526-Black-headed-Gulls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Brown-headed & Black-headed Gulls</div>
<br />
Will we go again to Thailand? Possibly – it’s a big country and there are lots more birds to see! In spite of the dreadful weather early on in both trips and some seriously hard beds, we have really enjoyed most aspects of Thailand, including the food. Thanks are due to Neil & Pennapa Lawton for arranging it all. <br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-78605086277628306862018-02-26T20:46:00.000+00:002018-02-26T20:46:46.898+00:00Thailand...again - 4After leaving Malee’s our next three nights in Thailand were spent at Mr Deang’s Birds Centre, situated in Doi Inthanon National Park. At 2,565 metres above sea level, Doi Inthanon is the country’s highest point and quite an attraction for tourists. Unfortunately, the mainly miserable weather that we had been experiencing so far on this trip continued and it was cold, foggy and damp throughout most of our stay on the mountain. As a result, the birding was sometimes hard work. After our experience with the rain and mud during our 2017 visit we had at least equipped ourselves properly this time and we were particularly pleased with ourselves for packing our wellies.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FzfdgOhRbVWfyqRvx3h5GGtNmt4jPFQ5quaQ3FHSgusutq3b8wbOFRfgqQViE5LYUZ8HbDQOBC9zaThGQgdWHXkWUN-MY8WvehHF_OduCAirF6cdCgt-siYXxlFRxOnuxg-AQ0CjEwqi/s1600/IMG_1649-Doi-Inthanon-signboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8FzfdgOhRbVWfyqRvx3h5GGtNmt4jPFQ5quaQ3FHSgusutq3b8wbOFRfgqQViE5LYUZ8HbDQOBC9zaThGQgdWHXkWUN-MY8WvehHF_OduCAirF6cdCgt-siYXxlFRxOnuxg-AQ0CjEwqi/s320/IMG_1649-Doi-Inthanon-signboard.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNueLlircMz1pAF39Q8talJCuw8usO-TJZXTzm0RaBW6viFaida3MvW4itPQ-RO6wv0pWNIyb5vD8Ch1qtdS6LEeSv3XIBlJyzZAtksW6gsi0Fkgy6fkun-CyEmTzkGwgjB7vfmZCMfoxC/s1600/IMG_1639-Mr-Deang%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNueLlircMz1pAF39Q8talJCuw8usO-TJZXTzm0RaBW6viFaida3MvW4itPQ-RO6wv0pWNIyb5vD8Ch1qtdS6LEeSv3XIBlJyzZAtksW6gsi0Fkgy6fkun-CyEmTzkGwgjB7vfmZCMfoxC/s320/IMG_1639-Mr-Deang%2527s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
We made several visits to the 340-metre long boardwalk trail known as Angkha (or Ang Ka), located near the summit and enjoyed some reasonable birding in spite of the conditions and the many non-birding, sometimes noisy tourists who seemed largely oblivious to the presence of any birds. Highlights here included Dark-sided Thrush, White-browed Shortwing, Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker, Snowy-browed Flycatcher and a brief look at a Grey-sided Thrush.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpzWqwBGLljUKa69AHsfWaB4u8Fvd_iAKdv3msZ8sDDRJTtuc-elOOmMww4KOFz-ajWg_PNRz2_aasK29751uFTTTfkOXnh5cYEYmyHukFUcrrHRIOjYQCSVxJR4g2CsPSCDBFwTx28XB/s1600/P1140306-On-the-Ang-Ka-boardwalk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJpzWqwBGLljUKa69AHsfWaB4u8Fvd_iAKdv3msZ8sDDRJTtuc-elOOmMww4KOFz-ajWg_PNRz2_aasK29751uFTTTfkOXnh5cYEYmyHukFUcrrHRIOjYQCSVxJR4g2CsPSCDBFwTx28XB/s320/P1140306-On-the-Ang-Ka-boardwalk.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ang Ka boardwalk</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpECj7KD2kPeADByDll80pXdjxeu3rTzF0ScyugS10bAZr816aPhGjHYPeOLD8ueoUm5NVFpGZE8pVcglKRxPvKUkAbLJNWlgErgf-ETgyayLYjJFccYzBlXkFtT9m-AK7vois16beHbZO/s1600/X86A5547-Yellow-bellied-Flowerpecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpECj7KD2kPeADByDll80pXdjxeu3rTzF0ScyugS10bAZr816aPhGjHYPeOLD8ueoUm5NVFpGZE8pVcglKRxPvKUkAbLJNWlgErgf-ETgyayLYjJFccYzBlXkFtT9m-AK7vois16beHbZO/s320/X86A5547-Yellow-bellied-Flowerpecker.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yellow-bellied Flowerpecker</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0IRj_lOP-RwYQ50fnaIWiuaICYGYQvyAts83_-PkM8IXN8FlY0Qj7fTj5sq4bL2hyphenhyphenHWI9ACFm8-5cHAl5pWhuPnBP5clJqv3iRZK2bowKyB069kdId9KFu6ESWuVOHebOJDGfzc3gq-4/s1600/X86A5612-Snowy-browed-Flycatcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr0IRj_lOP-RwYQ50fnaIWiuaICYGYQvyAts83_-PkM8IXN8FlY0Qj7fTj5sq4bL2hyphenhyphenHWI9ACFm8-5cHAl5pWhuPnBP5clJqv3iRZK2bowKyB069kdId9KFu6ESWuVOHebOJDGfzc3gq-4/s320/X86A5612-Snowy-browed-Flycatcher.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Snowy-browed Flycatcher</div>
<br />
Across the road from the trailhead, the small café attracted even more tourists but as well as enjoying a warming drink there we also had good views of Blue Whistling Thrush and Bar-throated Minlas among the sea of selfie sticks.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCKMneM_roaRPsGt1ccz7E6nKBeI3YcvXrJUMLlK4W5vEX6pDEjA-hGrsVKIkwcDypaRmjnGeiC1q8YD3KudeGGaWhCBtart_2bSDOc8XOGbFfnbyprMVe76gC1R_-NRv4ZFq7fEGUtKL/s1600/X86A5435-Blue-Whistling-Thrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCKMneM_roaRPsGt1ccz7E6nKBeI3YcvXrJUMLlK4W5vEX6pDEjA-hGrsVKIkwcDypaRmjnGeiC1q8YD3KudeGGaWhCBtart_2bSDOc8XOGbFfnbyprMVe76gC1R_-NRv4ZFq7fEGUtKL/s320/X86A5435-Blue-Whistling-Thrush.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Blue Whistling Thrush</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMRkaQNOLGCj549B1zKwWgnawIkPaIztOHD1SPt8nZZ9PTp_p_5hLcjhUruaolWRjNkun1LAm1WZCm6JndAnTuItjbbVQAxZBNx9jJlRVhu9k4E3iSTYOCyA_ks-AtIGVX_yFaySAQwlJ/s1600/X86A5487-Bar-throated-Minla.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxMRkaQNOLGCj549B1zKwWgnawIkPaIztOHD1SPt8nZZ9PTp_p_5hLcjhUruaolWRjNkun1LAm1WZCm6JndAnTuItjbbVQAxZBNx9jJlRVhu9k4E3iSTYOCyA_ks-AtIGVX_yFaySAQwlJ/s320/X86A5487-Bar-throated-Minla.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Bar-throated Minla</div>
<br />
In spite of the weekend traffic there was some good birding from the side of the main road up the mountain and when the dust and noise of the traffic became too much there were tracks off that provided some relief and some interesting birds. Probably the best of these was the abandoned jeep track at kilometre 37.5 but it was badly overgrown and with numerous fallen trees to climb over it was a bit of an obstacle course. It was badly in need of a work party with a couple of chain saws!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZc9dqcIqaGzO_SvJDwR4wH7gjcAOiCuQHl9yeesjmP7YlS9grIFvKYRjA0H3iMIAzRnCPaoK7zS235Z5fOXiXEjwdIcXv_iEQmdeVvtOubg3gRQAwMiGuikScIIe8Ke6M86d3sCKDvFX/s1600/IMG_1643-Overgrown-trail-with-fallen-trees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqZc9dqcIqaGzO_SvJDwR4wH7gjcAOiCuQHl9yeesjmP7YlS9grIFvKYRjA0H3iMIAzRnCPaoK7zS235Z5fOXiXEjwdIcXv_iEQmdeVvtOubg3gRQAwMiGuikScIIe8Ke6M86d3sCKDvFX/s320/IMG_1643-Overgrown-trail-with-fallen-trees.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Climbing over fallen trees</div>
<br />
Just a short drive up the road from Mr Deang’s, the ‘kilometre 34.5 track’ was another one of the recommended sites on the mountain. After who knows how many days of rain it was horribly muddy but still we went there twice, the second time hoping it would be better than the first! It wasn’t! Birds seen included Asian Emerald Cuckoo and a female Vivid Niltava and we also flushed a couple of Mountain Bamboo Partridges off the track but the conditions were awful and the birds disappointing.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1a4-Ey4ZGb6SlTtpWcm0x9-ughcshqpsQMuPcFD6E_XamS4vNDdGEm8tUG-74uhxLFmJ5uylO0JxBNx2IgzzGiUofiPurZitW-fQExykUcyhKTzerXk5XAVsPT-LGLIkOZDpc93xRuibH/s1600/IMG_1647-Muddy-trail-at-Km-34.5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1a4-Ey4ZGb6SlTtpWcm0x9-ughcshqpsQMuPcFD6E_XamS4vNDdGEm8tUG-74uhxLFmJ5uylO0JxBNx2IgzzGiUofiPurZitW-fQExykUcyhKTzerXk5XAVsPT-LGLIkOZDpc93xRuibH/s320/IMG_1647-Muddy-trail-at-Km-34.5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is why we packed our wellies!</div>
<br />
It’s fair to say that we didn't see Doi Inthanon at its best and we were all pleased when it came time to leave! There was at least the expectation that we would be warmer and drier elsewhere. In fact we did see some sun on the last morning there but under a clearer sky it was colder than ever. On the way down the mountain we made two short but worthwhile stops that produced Slaty-backed Forktail, Plumbeous Water Redstart, Collared Falconet, Red-billed Blue Magpie and a couple of picturesque waterfalls.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81pjVKp6alORgJiKkpaVSz5znfq0unLuOnIwpMoOXno8HQwp4KZN_V1aekwf2bkc2ZxicNShc18WwSDPvC_wqB5NZXS6G3YdROvybQRzFpHfgP83cnlbzSajrI8V0oTQqR0V-6_MISytW/s1600/IMG_1647-Our-group-with-Mr-Deang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh81pjVKp6alORgJiKkpaVSz5znfq0unLuOnIwpMoOXno8HQwp4KZN_V1aekwf2bkc2ZxicNShc18WwSDPvC_wqB5NZXS6G3YdROvybQRzFpHfgP83cnlbzSajrI8V0oTQqR0V-6_MISytW/s320/IMG_1647-Our-group-with-Mr-Deang.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Our group with Mr Deang</div>
<br />
Our next destination was Seng Dao Resort Li from where we made two visits to the nearby Mae Ping National Park. This area of mainly dry dipterocarp forest had been billed as a site where we might find some woodpeckers and we did indeed see Grey-capped Pygmy Woodpecker, White-bellied Woodpecker, Greater & Common Yellownapes, Common Flameback and several groups of striking Black-headed Woodpeckers. In addition Blossom-headed & Grey-headed Parakeets, Common & Large Woodshrikes, Rosy Minivet, Black-naped & Black-hooded Orioles, Rufous Treepie and Violet Cuckoo were among the highlights. We did a lot of walking but we got our reward. Better weather and plenty of birds were just what we needed!<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdTOw9p-s9AFOae-yKr3hYjIt1TBmJtmjBU8ojzaANqn1mEMUmSxqXoM5Ty18-Kj-Qb4IJfiOFnsc9SLfZ5vtmg0L8iV8uUq04R7cUUlzUvZVLrj7vIJXiK_RPdYqLdo9zJg0D1yUodQW/s1600/X86A5732-Common-Flameback.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibdTOw9p-s9AFOae-yKr3hYjIt1TBmJtmjBU8ojzaANqn1mEMUmSxqXoM5Ty18-Kj-Qb4IJfiOFnsc9SLfZ5vtmg0L8iV8uUq04R7cUUlzUvZVLrj7vIJXiK_RPdYqLdo9zJg0D1yUodQW/s320/X86A5732-Common-Flameback.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Common Flameback</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0O7M0KWmIcINAZeMrAGJl8gbT1QFRByl2q_HrHttrsgpJAPrblobu0Dx3wxe1gUItR3IMN1X-CWKIPypjII114DkBLZBpcbMg4bCLKEaY8a71imfSar2ea_lBKzw_kDDq-FFAfhOMuWNs/s1600/X86A5721-Black-naped-Oriole.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0O7M0KWmIcINAZeMrAGJl8gbT1QFRByl2q_HrHttrsgpJAPrblobu0Dx3wxe1gUItR3IMN1X-CWKIPypjII114DkBLZBpcbMg4bCLKEaY8a71imfSar2ea_lBKzw_kDDq-FFAfhOMuWNs/s320/X86A5721-Black-naped-Oriole.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Black-naped Oriole</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5RAFjXqmcmOHxIa1oE9UOISTXgNM9BsF0Do3ixEl6DOP4jfxgQqYVh_4ZW6znSTooRBOoj40b4oDK9nDRqP8aWfAwRxDdtdLde9jL0T6p302f740SpYULqjgLEm93hhHMx-iLpRSvmJu/s1600/X86A5832-Violet-Cuckoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb5RAFjXqmcmOHxIa1oE9UOISTXgNM9BsF0Do3ixEl6DOP4jfxgQqYVh_4ZW6znSTooRBOoj40b4oDK9nDRqP8aWfAwRxDdtdLde9jL0T6p302f740SpYULqjgLEm93hhHMx-iLpRSvmJu/s320/X86A5832-Violet-Cuckoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Violet Cuckoo</div>
<br />
From Mae Ping it was a long drive to Nakhon Sawan, a journey punctuated by a diversion to the Bhumibol Dam on the Ping River to see Dusky Crag Martins. It was a chance for some to catch up on their sleep, for others to simply look forward to another night in a comfortable bed – we were heading to MaiHom Resort, a hotel that we had stayed at last year. In fact much of the rest of the trip was a repeat of last year’s itinerary.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7lt_UYz6lYHBNmelhQWxKbdG1T9zCxO6QZcecsjZcVoCFV51R5miIbRawADN3SVFu8s7IOk6rPvfUry1V5tnDZ1nAxZMY4GcsbpJSDM30WorOe_m2PIxo5MQZin3Vfefkc28RZBL38QL/s1600/IMG_1661-from-Bhumibol-Dam.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX7lt_UYz6lYHBNmelhQWxKbdG1T9zCxO6QZcecsjZcVoCFV51R5miIbRawADN3SVFu8s7IOk6rPvfUry1V5tnDZ1nAxZMY4GcsbpJSDM30WorOe_m2PIxo5MQZin3Vfefkc28RZBL38QL/s320/IMG_1661-from-Bhumibol-Dam.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="text-align: center;"> Bhumibol Dam</span><br />
<br />
More to follow...<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-35105357826833802282018-02-22T21:39:00.000+00:002018-02-22T21:44:22.371+00:00Thailand...again - 3We were not disappointed by Malee’s Nature Lovers Bungalows; it was a very pleasant place to stay and the beds were indeed comfortable as promised. However, a 5.30 a.m. departure on our first morning meant that we didn’t get to linger long in them. We were taken by 4x4 pick-up truck to a well-documented birding site, Den Ya Khat sub-station, where we spent the morning walking trails in the forest and looking for birds around the campsite. The road up the hillside was steep and rough in places and a high clearance vehicle was a must. The bird most enjoyed was a Collared Owlet. Like the bird at Doi Lang it was very vocal but we did manage to find this one after a brief search. Other highlights were Grey-headed Parrotbill and Slender-billed Oriole and there was a first proper look at a Mountain Imperial Pigeon, up to now seen only as a flyover.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gLrXZruac3xZwA5sjrlw_cruvCNPJrpw3ZykucmKVTqg3vfAos23are0s5kKgaa6IdkckLi_bdwvIZaJeF2laywd0IoG3PCuQhpgG-LwYQYyEprXuiDmpGttWBlUgsqPSBQjtSnaxisv/s1600/IMG_1610-Malee%2527s-Nature-Lovers-Bungalows.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2gLrXZruac3xZwA5sjrlw_cruvCNPJrpw3ZykucmKVTqg3vfAos23are0s5kKgaa6IdkckLi_bdwvIZaJeF2laywd0IoG3PCuQhpgG-LwYQYyEprXuiDmpGttWBlUgsqPSBQjtSnaxisv/s320/IMG_1610-Malee%2527s-Nature-Lovers-Bungalows.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Malee's </div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4MUCyZgGguxgwfu4l_CJEUpIzqEz8N0FgohtQqQqh0e8HUlsCPUjWITWamIf7kY-RG1vun7wnnwtiG_zHoxLmh3TwpSoOoUzJVSWdZYvrJ_0VAtv-nBOfj2_MpafDC84QiwsKWt8GMih/s1600/IMG_1631-Accommodation-at-Malee%2527s.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj4MUCyZgGguxgwfu4l_CJEUpIzqEz8N0FgohtQqQqh0e8HUlsCPUjWITWamIf7kY-RG1vun7wnnwtiG_zHoxLmh3TwpSoOoUzJVSWdZYvrJ_0VAtv-nBOfj2_MpafDC84QiwsKWt8GMih/s320/IMG_1631-Accommodation-at-Malee%2527s.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A Nature Lover at the door of her bungalow</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIJ6nfgcoYXXwAYI0AxLAAsS4MRu9Bp5_s_R6TZfOr58_O6ChIk6eNpTcGbHMYcHGH3lK01WHzEig4-H73BT_BLH7H_QfCqr6e5YC0vx9kbzyYngwHvWV2Z5kywmFdOLfqvJYW5FVpvLn/s1600/X86A4961-Collared-Owlet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="653" data-original-width="600" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMIJ6nfgcoYXXwAYI0AxLAAsS4MRu9Bp5_s_R6TZfOr58_O6ChIk6eNpTcGbHMYcHGH3lK01WHzEig4-H73BT_BLH7H_QfCqr6e5YC0vx9kbzyYngwHvWV2Z5kywmFdOLfqvJYW5FVpvLn/s320/X86A4961-Collared-Owlet.jpg" width="294" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Collared Owlet</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixL-9r9pmGquyf7PL-Cd1EhgYx3ptjXlph8gLlcUMi910Ie9T_Z6b66Ac2xeCpczahXssjy5xcXKjDZ7uoHa5yJzxuU7ICefx4DTLnZfZ8BQu2eoJEUMpku12c-EXH2ZfCS9XpUU4hN5s1/s1600/X86A4970-Mountain-Imperial-Pigeon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixL-9r9pmGquyf7PL-Cd1EhgYx3ptjXlph8gLlcUMi910Ie9T_Z6b66Ac2xeCpczahXssjy5xcXKjDZ7uoHa5yJzxuU7ICefx4DTLnZfZ8BQu2eoJEUMpku12c-EXH2ZfCS9XpUU4hN5s1/s320/X86A4970-Mountain-Imperial-Pigeon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mountain Imperial Pigeon</div>
<br />
From Malee’s we were able to walk to the nearby temple, which was quite interesting in itself and also produced a few birds along the way, such as Pin-tailed Pigeon, Orange-breasted Trogon and Hill Blue Flycatcher. There were 500 or so steps up to the temple so regular stops to look at birds were very welcome! The same walk also gave the opportunity to photograph Brown Shrike and a couple of the common bulbul species.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkaInvHEyzf68dIohsT1cjvcsLqPLNsUm7M1BoDAkTSRfOgKwcqUccTF5tFRkFB93fHb7Uu5ghg3OxzlKUN5GnALzhYD0HX0mdOWHZwxLlqIc8qmi5rwwmPTipqtpd2XnqJx-zfRbIO-ep/s1600/IMG_1637-Words-of-wisdom-at-the-temple.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkaInvHEyzf68dIohsT1cjvcsLqPLNsUm7M1BoDAkTSRfOgKwcqUccTF5tFRkFB93fHb7Uu5ghg3OxzlKUN5GnALzhYD0HX0mdOWHZwxLlqIc8qmi5rwwmPTipqtpd2XnqJx-zfRbIO-ep/s320/IMG_1637-Words-of-wisdom-at-the-temple.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Words of wisdom at the temple</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDOZoNR4HifeS_nkf43TyG5JzGUVP0TbIIFYYtsajPWlv0nIrFb6K-wtI2deWLtJcEEvkigxch_AuOoKO2PRFD1hZV3poRiYH1W1IhwFf4Jtmb911dbfLwGs920iWY1M4jEMbjvYhBMVi/s1600/X86A5017-Sooty-headed-Bulbul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdDOZoNR4HifeS_nkf43TyG5JzGUVP0TbIIFYYtsajPWlv0nIrFb6K-wtI2deWLtJcEEvkigxch_AuOoKO2PRFD1hZV3poRiYH1W1IhwFf4Jtmb911dbfLwGs920iWY1M4jEMbjvYhBMVi/s320/X86A5017-Sooty-headed-Bulbul.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sooty-headed Bulbul</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWdKhlknrstGRZr-MZM6Dzuj2fpce7Pi4nQuwTm9T81eVgqcyMzEusOA8zxkKD8EzEETQ6IJrjhgX38A6UsfPO7MEwYJSlvVeYLxLoBfBthuVKMN5zi_DXiMJES7aKnDoSaclKTWTBRAW/s1600/X86A5038-Red-whiskered-Bulbul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWdKhlknrstGRZr-MZM6Dzuj2fpce7Pi4nQuwTm9T81eVgqcyMzEusOA8zxkKD8EzEETQ6IJrjhgX38A6UsfPO7MEwYJSlvVeYLxLoBfBthuVKMN5zi_DXiMJES7aKnDoSaclKTWTBRAW/s320/X86A5038-Red-whiskered-Bulbul.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Red-whiskered Bulbul</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo76X5LeLB4WE9G96JLM4gl9INaPY2BXb6Ba8YJScAs6Y5B5ZOgSL6OeS4EevGiBOgdjZuu7Bj1vBkXg2p-vHb4fNbikCMhMkhy8DBgvawAXENpDw4Ziz1AbgGlIl4lY4SsvnIPII590G1/s1600/X86A5089-Brown-Shrike.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo76X5LeLB4WE9G96JLM4gl9INaPY2BXb6Ba8YJScAs6Y5B5ZOgSL6OeS4EevGiBOgdjZuu7Bj1vBkXg2p-vHb4fNbikCMhMkhy8DBgvawAXENpDw4Ziz1AbgGlIl4lY4SsvnIPII590G1/s320/X86A5089-Brown-Shrike.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Brown Shrike</div>
<br />
Another excursion from Malee’s was to some rice paddies south of Chiang Dao town where the ‘star’ species were Glossy Ibises and Eurasian Starlings! Neither of these species that are common in Europe was to be expected in Northern Thailand but from our point of view it was a rather disappointing outcome to say the least. There were also a great many Eastern Cattle Egrets but they too had a somewhat familiar look about them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoT18iYnEtk5JWjpxgEAUc9NSPgYpjBCMbXx-u3GAYXf7SlsVytcqcOO068R_QhsKRKqCPO6dUSA7U4ptiKoGce9gTswZUnmCoQdoALXRp4sOEQGtxXf-AKBz4NwtNAA33AQdKVEmGMApv/s1600/IMG_1624-Neil-walking-the-rice-paddies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoT18iYnEtk5JWjpxgEAUc9NSPgYpjBCMbXx-u3GAYXf7SlsVytcqcOO068R_QhsKRKqCPO6dUSA7U4ptiKoGce9gTswZUnmCoQdoALXRp4sOEQGtxXf-AKBz4NwtNAA33AQdKVEmGMApv/s320/IMG_1624-Neil-walking-the-rice-paddies.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rice paddies near Chiang Dao</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgwwG8N01IfHf41IVArmi9lS1dI6LGohV2EqA7jlJftnMUleVPz9mQnMC4IUdXWQN93xKlT_A0tQU18gKu2EsWslCWKcdcXNRYCacQw2ouN7fpu0MH9q-xzE_JvtI1E1m7dy-ERTCg9nQ/s1600/X86A5109-Eastern-Cattle-Egret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKgwwG8N01IfHf41IVArmi9lS1dI6LGohV2EqA7jlJftnMUleVPz9mQnMC4IUdXWQN93xKlT_A0tQU18gKu2EsWslCWKcdcXNRYCacQw2ouN7fpu0MH9q-xzE_JvtI1E1m7dy-ERTCg9nQ/s320/X86A5109-Eastern-Cattle-Egret.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Eastern Cattle Egret<br />
<br /></div>
The best birding in this area was on Doi Ang Khang, a mountain that peaks at 1,928 metres and, we were told, offers some wonderful scenery. Unfortunately, once again we were blighted by the weather. During the journey the fog became thicker and thicker with light rain, and by the time we arrived visibility was just a few metres. Our first stop was at a Chinese Cemetery, again apparently a well-known birding site. Here in the fog and drizzle we saw Brown-breasted Bulbuls, a species with a very limited range in Thailand and White-browed Laughingthrush.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigr4vJHQPWizEZHxgPyNQ-id5lWrRF7NV69-ZkR0EntOxXNxyftEjU6mQMtpGMSSrdB3OTLViA8ETsE8QzniCsZXH4S-5ST5p11UvhdKT8qkkHTyZVUW5LLVOTja-NG65xYNcIIt6lPPPS/s1600/P1140153-Birding-in-the-Chinese-Cemetery.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigr4vJHQPWizEZHxgPyNQ-id5lWrRF7NV69-ZkR0EntOxXNxyftEjU6mQMtpGMSSrdB3OTLViA8ETsE8QzniCsZXH4S-5ST5p11UvhdKT8qkkHTyZVUW5LLVOTja-NG65xYNcIIt6lPPPS/s320/P1140153-Birding-in-the-Chinese-Cemetery.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Conditions for birding around the Chinese Cemetery were less than ideal!</div>
<br />
We quickly moved on to Ban Luang Resort where over breakfast we enjoyed great views of Eyebrowed & Black-breasted Thrushes, Oriental Magpie Robin, White-capped Redstart and some very obliging White-headed Bulbuls but the light was still very poor. A wander around the grounds produced Streaked Spiderhunter, Mrs Gould’s & Black-throated Sunbirds and a female Daurian Redstart. On a better day it would have been good to spend more time here.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeQt_XuUb1JpZl_8roZLDc963UQoDDoWOXmAikwwGB5dSjNMFd3Lb5OP8YbGBvDEhWTCNOx7wD2R2Eb_QcK8rOICIFjkvOm7A2W63e4VA2nK6PU6sCUBxQ-NTHRR4W6nJazja0hzytqzF/s1600/X86A5137-Eyebrowed-Thrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxeQt_XuUb1JpZl_8roZLDc963UQoDDoWOXmAikwwGB5dSjNMFd3Lb5OP8YbGBvDEhWTCNOx7wD2R2Eb_QcK8rOICIFjkvOm7A2W63e4VA2nK6PU6sCUBxQ-NTHRR4W6nJazja0hzytqzF/s320/X86A5137-Eyebrowed-Thrush.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Eyebrowed Thrush</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tOXKbInEzzewA4KZB45pmCTL_-qJs28TOZEdigW3p87uVvwfLyVb-PYWLSZJpyPOBjO24TyQTjHfAahxrG6_KJpJ06ccC94FG6hy9AF-DwEIsKMUjmTZHM8CAvYDbU4XXt0IcYs4UWYx/s1600/X86A5151-Black-breasted-Thrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tOXKbInEzzewA4KZB45pmCTL_-qJs28TOZEdigW3p87uVvwfLyVb-PYWLSZJpyPOBjO24TyQTjHfAahxrG6_KJpJ06ccC94FG6hy9AF-DwEIsKMUjmTZHM8CAvYDbU4XXt0IcYs4UWYx/s320/X86A5151-Black-breasted-Thrush.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Black-breasted Thrush</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YfEEFGVb7TcmKhkmQ_pNUgJnJX89hMQTqSdF1h60oGXVFsPzS9lxZBxuQ23BBsM9IfwqJXQiRewIS7Kkf3IJRTU5ZU5KqSvTqx-0VsMM7gLZyDF2tvuI2qnSWBNSMGITAdqE_Xv_Lpcw/s1600/X86A5272-White-headed-Bulbul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9YfEEFGVb7TcmKhkmQ_pNUgJnJX89hMQTqSdF1h60oGXVFsPzS9lxZBxuQ23BBsM9IfwqJXQiRewIS7Kkf3IJRTU5ZU5KqSvTqx-0VsMM7gLZyDF2tvuI2qnSWBNSMGITAdqE_Xv_Lpcw/s320/X86A5272-White-headed-Bulbul.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
White-headed Bulbul</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTD_L8NH5VMTHipnDchTy3jyUEcCNPmBfWZli9WjyV_g6KqlZXSztgbvFIGDh9xPfECnCMM91tG_WFyqn5kLiW1cXBkTaxiMO6X_kShFmPL3APp8yYWEQIKn_0pq-fYs7Z6t4jOy6kPGK/s1600/X86A5294-Oriental-Magpie-Robin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuTD_L8NH5VMTHipnDchTy3jyUEcCNPmBfWZli9WjyV_g6KqlZXSztgbvFIGDh9xPfECnCMM91tG_WFyqn5kLiW1cXBkTaxiMO6X_kShFmPL3APp8yYWEQIKn_0pq-fYs7Z6t4jOy6kPGK/s320/X86A5294-Oriental-Magpie-Robin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Oriental Magpie Robin</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJt51EiP0BAPFfbGSSuW0_-xmTjhPHUoQDQJKPMsBIGT-x4p1d-BpvM5K-o_AGn_cwmESH523ubFyPdTd1B1s36Srpn5gBNYKwzfQJGemx6ukKGL7CEQtyUTMqNUX9ND7q5wYFV9_rajKd/s1600/X86A5322-White-capped-Redstart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJt51EiP0BAPFfbGSSuW0_-xmTjhPHUoQDQJKPMsBIGT-x4p1d-BpvM5K-o_AGn_cwmESH523ubFyPdTd1B1s36Srpn5gBNYKwzfQJGemx6ukKGL7CEQtyUTMqNUX9ND7q5wYFV9_rajKd/s320/X86A5322-White-capped-Redstart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
White-capped Redstart</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgsI5iLNRX_GOpqSPC4Zug1cOwUyaa6zrPuhMLGHQdzEWV2ddPm1OUP0pfDyiDs-wtUdLQQUpR6PnIu74fN9iV35cGKChTLTIqi4akgveSzRNEwkw25itbNs8E_B5VRaUAwgCUs-raYVX/s1600/X86A5346-Streaked-Spiderhunter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBgsI5iLNRX_GOpqSPC4Zug1cOwUyaa6zrPuhMLGHQdzEWV2ddPm1OUP0pfDyiDs-wtUdLQQUpR6PnIu74fN9iV35cGKChTLTIqi4akgveSzRNEwkw25itbNs8E_B5VRaUAwgCUs-raYVX/s320/X86A5346-Streaked-Spiderhunter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Streaked Spiderhunter</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
Despite continuing poor weather, we managed to see some decent birds in and around a nearby army camp. What we wouldn’t have given for some sunshine as we peered into the gloom looking at, or more often looking for, Scarlet-faced Liocichla, Common Rosefinches, Mountain Bulbuls, more White-browed Laughingthrushes and a Pallas’s Warbler. Even a poor view of the last of these was pleasing as our absence from the Algarve had recently resulted in us missing a Pallas’s Warbler at Fonte da Benémola.</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6RZNspFHxOhm7pwfmQABwrAzeszN47X0mK9ECswjss21L51_1kOlOMIBO52-MigFkGaIwp7mh2m9zZI9bah8KeULsg3ufB0ZPBM7_avsd8j5i0acHNIJ1c6m1vikMu9frWVAfLR77WPR/s1600/X86A5351-Mountain-Bulbul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv6RZNspFHxOhm7pwfmQABwrAzeszN47X0mK9ECswjss21L51_1kOlOMIBO52-MigFkGaIwp7mh2m9zZI9bah8KeULsg3ufB0ZPBM7_avsd8j5i0acHNIJ1c6m1vikMu9frWVAfLR77WPR/s320/X86A5351-Mountain-Bulbul.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mountain Bulbul</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FvbmaVHpAqm1F5Cf4XZ0z2EeidhEktMnfb4OryZFv8zoB-TaYjnxbL28NDTBVHNx6CXbabdJOyAxp00o89lqy-yik8GOGC5Y7kO6cHKd5GlFLMdaNBkfYyZDhn1pm7cYSttPNCYP9MeT/s1600/IMG_1626-Thai-campers-on-Doi-Ang-Khang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FvbmaVHpAqm1F5Cf4XZ0z2EeidhEktMnfb4OryZFv8zoB-TaYjnxbL28NDTBVHNx6CXbabdJOyAxp00o89lqy-yik8GOGC5Y7kO6cHKd5GlFLMdaNBkfYyZDhn1pm7cYSttPNCYP9MeT/s320/IMG_1626-Thai-campers-on-Doi-Ang-Khang.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Camping in the fog!<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
It was amusing (bemusing?) to see scores of Thai tourists arriving to Doi Ang Khang, many of them setting up tents with the intention of camping there on the mountain for the weekend. Apparently, the cold and particularly the prospect of experiencing frost are the attractions for those who live in the heat of Bangkok. It takes all sorts…</div>
</div>
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="text-align: center;">More to follow…</span><br />
<div>
<span style="text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-27450729982691891202018-02-16T22:28:00.000+00:002018-02-16T22:28:03.118+00:00Thailand...again - 2The second full day of our trip to Thailand started just as the previous day had finished – with rain. From Viang Yanok Resort we visited the nearby private Nam Kham Nature Reserve, which protects one of the last remaining areas of riverine habitat in the area. Star birds here included a male Jerdon’s Bushchat, a species which, we were told, is becoming increasingly difficult to see due to habitat loss. The first male Siberian Rubythroat of the trip was also seen and there was a bonus in the form of a Brown-cheeked Rail, a fairly recent split from Water Rail. It was also good to see Citrine Wagtail, a species that neither of us has seen very often.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqTtEzfblk1tzO8Rsv0SlRxtjukqulmQ5lIBnRMzDLM-5QZf98C8CqsLd7yCJXcZ7oIJ-rJiq-F0bhvsTqcSijqagTpxzAT44YV1sywULkRwxm2CBX16FlGBlidive2epPyn24e4_vXbc/s1600/X86A4153-Jerdon%2527s-Bush-Chat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghqTtEzfblk1tzO8Rsv0SlRxtjukqulmQ5lIBnRMzDLM-5QZf98C8CqsLd7yCJXcZ7oIJ-rJiq-F0bhvsTqcSijqagTpxzAT44YV1sywULkRwxm2CBX16FlGBlidive2epPyn24e4_vXbc/s320/X86A4153-Jerdon%2527s-Bush-Chat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Jerdon’s Bushchat</div>
<br />
Later we headed along the banks of the Mekong River, where water levels were very high, stopping briefly at the Golden Triangle, the point where the borders of Thailand, Myanmar and Laos come together. Known locally as Sop Ruak, this is where the Mekong meets the Ruak River and was once the centre of one of Asia's main opium-producing areas. We then headed to Fang, our base for the next three nights.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62Q3_i7sgKmc5QT1c-7tyMVwwkSOKo181ZbuZUSNmv_qUjQ-LW6EC-9pvqV4wCkI1axVjYyQmtVEth_OAYDtzG5-zCeKAtv4tEEkZFX8Ge1cbdp5Z-1vDEZdLvT-dc_0h2d0KNEXxtWi8/s1600/IMG_1591-June-at-the-Golden-Triangle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh62Q3_i7sgKmc5QT1c-7tyMVwwkSOKo181ZbuZUSNmv_qUjQ-LW6EC-9pvqV4wCkI1axVjYyQmtVEth_OAYDtzG5-zCeKAtv4tEEkZFX8Ge1cbdp5Z-1vDEZdLvT-dc_0h2d0KNEXxtWi8/s320/IMG_1591-June-at-the-Golden-Triangle.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
June at the Golden Triangle</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLL7FLEt6UwyL_OUah4Rn7NlfDNlSY-crnWC778_uNheMwvLILZg7XSjbll_nPLsBpZ1D4gkY2qljeNMoPiY2Ail8AW17oAbPNxXYYcpfp2hb5_VKME5hKI3awwvx2qYUdJukVjdsyJQiD/s1600/IMG_1622-Buddha-statue-at-Golden-Triangle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLL7FLEt6UwyL_OUah4Rn7NlfDNlSY-crnWC778_uNheMwvLILZg7XSjbll_nPLsBpZ1D4gkY2qljeNMoPiY2Ail8AW17oAbPNxXYYcpfp2hb5_VKME5hKI3awwvx2qYUdJukVjdsyJQiD/s320/IMG_1622-Buddha-statue-at-Golden-Triangle.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Buddha statue at the Golden Triangle</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGNiFLvN5XfLZNXhWxAucnKI8qBwIQKjhhExO7oBz-rgGaCD_3oXZeSYNUCqm6F_dxyiPp1UiHf7Q1SDo-1NncZO5Oa2uYbJCRItfcUdVHFf-rPou-Cr0bXwXqbcKPchFaNsMV1kXeX-s/s1600/P1120733+Enjoying+a+drink+beside+the+Mekong+River.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjGNiFLvN5XfLZNXhWxAucnKI8qBwIQKjhhExO7oBz-rgGaCD_3oXZeSYNUCqm6F_dxyiPp1UiHf7Q1SDo-1NncZO5Oa2uYbJCRItfcUdVHFf-rPou-Cr0bXwXqbcKPchFaNsMV1kXeX-s/s320/P1120733+Enjoying+a+drink+beside+the+Mekong+River.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Enjoying a drink beside the Mekong River</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMetaBH8phBzjG05WzDNfzjdZhc7s2Q_IHQsXW_sAO2CinoHrKvhh0sMYIu266e09Qt71PM1D8mpcreieoANoOEfJOXn00G5e6hgxC_5eM6RuBUlSVxkzKWyzrDLLtKAJmecqsTwOrrs8/s1600/IMG_1592-The-border-town-of-Mai-Sai-showing-the-country%2527s-most-popular-form-of-transport..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="526" data-original-width="600" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibMetaBH8phBzjG05WzDNfzjdZhc7s2Q_IHQsXW_sAO2CinoHrKvhh0sMYIu266e09Qt71PM1D8mpcreieoANoOEfJOXn00G5e6hgxC_5eM6RuBUlSVxkzKWyzrDLLtKAJmecqsTwOrrs8/s320/IMG_1592-The-border-town-of-Mai-Sai-showing-the-country%2527s-most-popular-form-of-transport..jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The border town of Mai Sai showing the country's favourite form of transport</div>
<br />
After checking into Wiang Kaew Resort, mid-afternoon we headed out to some nearby rice paddies, where despite light rain and plenty of mud, we eventually found both of our target species, Horsfield’s Bushlark and Chestnut-eared Bunting. It was interesting to see and differentiate between Common and Pin-tailed Snipes but unfortunate that only one of us saw a Barred Buttonquail that was flushed but quickly disappeared into the rice stubble.<br />
<br />
The following day was also cloudy and damp as we headed up the western slope of Doi Lang but it did eventually manage to brighten up a bit later. There was a brief view of a Mrs Hume’s Pheasant on the way and a decent selection of species once we were out of our vehicle and walking the road, among them Giant Nuthatch, Wedge-tailed Pigeon and Crested Finchbill. Doi Lang is a favourite venue for Thai bird photographers and there are a number of ‘stakeouts’ where they routinely deploy mealworms to entice species such as Siberian Rubythroat, White-bellied Redstart, Rufous-bellied Niltava, Rufous-gorgeted & Ultramarine Flycatchers and Silver-eared Laughingthrush. At one point there was a line of pop-up hides projecting half across the road! At the army checkpoint near the top of the mountain, only a stone’s throw from the border with Myanmar, we watched numerous Dark-backed Sibias and several stunning male Mrs Gould’s Sunbirds in a flowering tree.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhml2lgE4g5V66yA9W5k_bY7JRECx1ICsNTCu44g9-npAvpYRWNYjVWSrx5YmeWcVdShwuKon76bda-Hn32kGUbuwkF9R5r6OfVaayHU1WGTwxycu0lVoPc8ysuBQxIasaZZG4XgwaMveat/s1600/P1120738-Roadside-birding-on-Doi-Lang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhml2lgE4g5V66yA9W5k_bY7JRECx1ICsNTCu44g9-npAvpYRWNYjVWSrx5YmeWcVdShwuKon76bda-Hn32kGUbuwkF9R5r6OfVaayHU1WGTwxycu0lVoPc8ysuBQxIasaZZG4XgwaMveat/s320/P1120738-Roadside-birding-on-Doi-Lang.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Roadside birding on Doi Lang</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGbzqJFlxEk_soYY7dt9JLoNfZhxg5uxTm4q-haPHRH3GIFquVkjS4Yphzo7mgCG9LRV1KLHMkYzRIA4zkvJfgvgMLHKzRviwpFt9YUD-8MvDjjck8SEapYll8n81b76uXtKCbK8jN1wc/s1600/P1130149-Roadside-breakfast-on-Doi-Lang.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGbzqJFlxEk_soYY7dt9JLoNfZhxg5uxTm4q-haPHRH3GIFquVkjS4Yphzo7mgCG9LRV1KLHMkYzRIA4zkvJfgvgMLHKzRviwpFt9YUD-8MvDjjck8SEapYll8n81b76uXtKCbK8jN1wc/s320/P1130149-Roadside-breakfast-on-Doi-Lang.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Roadside lunch on Doi Lang</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNC-aVk2OpVmuu0WnXrtPNX3qLFHqyQCmb-_CmXrZ8n52Lzi7JlWdawlRR23Czzr2WuiygW-W4MUGS1pZRWJhXRmbzFDRemQJd5dOPxOzwBibL-Oohwm7PalvIRcO2H0E8YQyqK0y7c-a/s1600/X86A4252-Siberian-Rubythroat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBNC-aVk2OpVmuu0WnXrtPNX3qLFHqyQCmb-_CmXrZ8n52Lzi7JlWdawlRR23Czzr2WuiygW-W4MUGS1pZRWJhXRmbzFDRemQJd5dOPxOzwBibL-Oohwm7PalvIRcO2H0E8YQyqK0y7c-a/s320/X86A4252-Siberian-Rubythroat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Siberian Rubythroat</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg853rwTdEqEnjIT2fc8B5ponw2xZ5FUgtHaIhlcytIq8lKYSZVjdUL3-htFBmZ0GBtB70rJktC3moAC8zB5EDs-FFaBI29a7yMXsAntftHJLpqTdGZ2wffBOGkc3uLg72nggAdEzoWqnO8/s1600/X86A4400-Silver-eared-Laughingthrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg853rwTdEqEnjIT2fc8B5ponw2xZ5FUgtHaIhlcytIq8lKYSZVjdUL3-htFBmZ0GBtB70rJktC3moAC8zB5EDs-FFaBI29a7yMXsAntftHJLpqTdGZ2wffBOGkc3uLg72nggAdEzoWqnO8/s320/X86A4400-Silver-eared-Laughingthrush.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Silver-eared Laughingthrush</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA273eUsCwfe8uRyE6UBHfGow0VXSebg34DBbZWCKsH5s9RA2KsuaLS9K81pqLpJCDUBv2HP2ghAJJyymH1mYYO1AOFiEXAoLe6CTNCIK2_obrJfAECPAloO-nvPd34oLNnr_P0OyFr21Y/s1600/X86A4457-Rufous-bellied-Niltava.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA273eUsCwfe8uRyE6UBHfGow0VXSebg34DBbZWCKsH5s9RA2KsuaLS9K81pqLpJCDUBv2HP2ghAJJyymH1mYYO1AOFiEXAoLe6CTNCIK2_obrJfAECPAloO-nvPd34oLNnr_P0OyFr21Y/s320/X86A4457-Rufous-bellied-Niltava.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rufous-bellied Niltava</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMj2P9XCLQfPQAL0D9k1Lp1dxtkNtnmSjFwi_qu7qseQEqJ3_lfxWJSDmtZ2qwfNy0_Gq1bd08i3WAv8agI2XHfmDgNuUdWHnuQYelfj6MY_PcbEZ1qNvq7a-ASa-hSiOkMnskU1z_anqn/s1600/X86A4905-Ultramarine-Flycatcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMj2P9XCLQfPQAL0D9k1Lp1dxtkNtnmSjFwi_qu7qseQEqJ3_lfxWJSDmtZ2qwfNy0_Gq1bd08i3WAv8agI2XHfmDgNuUdWHnuQYelfj6MY_PcbEZ1qNvq7a-ASa-hSiOkMnskU1z_anqn/s320/X86A4905-Ultramarine-Flycatcher.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ultramarine Flycatcher</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWMMz2CcNBFpF2V0aj0CSZHLGPx12bVqtlHf21zlOLrKn1a-XMqUTx3C_hO9eE9_Yu2tt_1EfYskXwmn2ILZ_6PgdfpG9h6wjpdv2VN38w7ExySQnKnVHudxkEUEQeF_boy0U5DNGi0v3/s1600/X86A4844-Rufous-gorgeted-Flycatcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoWMMz2CcNBFpF2V0aj0CSZHLGPx12bVqtlHf21zlOLrKn1a-XMqUTx3C_hO9eE9_Yu2tt_1EfYskXwmn2ILZ_6PgdfpG9h6wjpdv2VN38w7ExySQnKnVHudxkEUEQeF_boy0U5DNGi0v3/s320/X86A4844-Rufous-gorgeted-Flycatcher.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rufous-gorgeted Flycatcher</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdg9cEUWhp9Gi3X-j4HO1ENboURhDUH7jV64RZl5mOUYuEe2OT1Xa5KJ6f6RT0zBEWy7dtIDCj86xGXHBuYl4dRm0QpWus6HvSLN846OlW4rdi5uS4KOaBIDOfZEt0-90CpMRWPsCGq_9Q/s1600/X86A4546-Mrs-Gould%2527s-Sunbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdg9cEUWhp9Gi3X-j4HO1ENboURhDUH7jV64RZl5mOUYuEe2OT1Xa5KJ6f6RT0zBEWy7dtIDCj86xGXHBuYl4dRm0QpWus6HvSLN846OlW4rdi5uS4KOaBIDOfZEt0-90CpMRWPsCGq_9Q/s320/X86A4546-Mrs-Gould%2527s-Sunbird.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mrs Gould's Sunbird</div>
<br />
There was a second trip up Doi Lang the next morning and at last there was some real sunshine! This time there were much longer views on the way of Mrs Hume’s Pheasant, a male and two females. We drove as far as the army checkpoint and then walked along the road. A Collared Owlet was very vocal and quite close but unfortunately remained unseen but a Spot-breasted Parrotbill, regarded by Neil as one of the star birds of the whole trip, was much more obliging.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSeZWRiwXE7oJJ_A0Sb7F5ornOU-jFn8utBxQvXvUlpCY_4KX7Ev71IjRyh9ZP0gUat3zcAfyfllUPI-Np0EOIt7Mog3lKa_OzdK3QUi8_Fv0RFS0KTjXAmA0GvGP7dADyosDl-6NhgDVM/s1600/X86A4527-Spot-breasted-Parrotbill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSeZWRiwXE7oJJ_A0Sb7F5ornOU-jFn8utBxQvXvUlpCY_4KX7Ev71IjRyh9ZP0gUat3zcAfyfllUPI-Np0EOIt7Mog3lKa_OzdK3QUi8_Fv0RFS0KTjXAmA0GvGP7dADyosDl-6NhgDVM/s320/X86A4527-Spot-breasted-Parrotbill.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Spot-breasted Parrotbill</div>
<br />
After a brief break at the resort, mid-afternoon we headed to the rice paddies at That Ton. A short walk here produced a few Chestnut-eared Buntings and a quail that was flushed twice but remained unidentified – it was probably Japanese Quail but could possibly have been a Rain Quail. We were delighted to see a group of Small Pratincoles flying over the nearby Khok River, a new charadriiform for both of us! They landed some way off but we had decent scope views. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aJE5UXQ5-qK0HPUOGaki1e_1nKg_HtVFHGl9WHGfReY6dBmuRuBEHmRUjI2fD1E9RIh6bhNLsflkxBoHoP0L5sAmOy2OIdN-ok8oMtX4f2WxAAJUnBWZy8gj_eRB8f1oyI98W7dubOPG/s1600/IMG_1605-Doi-Pha-Hom-Pok-National-Park.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4aJE5UXQ5-qK0HPUOGaki1e_1nKg_HtVFHGl9WHGfReY6dBmuRuBEHmRUjI2fD1E9RIh6bhNLsflkxBoHoP0L5sAmOy2OIdN-ok8oMtX4f2WxAAJUnBWZy8gj_eRB8f1oyI98W7dubOPG/s320/IMG_1605-Doi-Pha-Hom-Pok-National-Park.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hot springs at Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park</div>
<br />
Before breakfast the following morning we headed to nearby Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park, where once the thick fog had cleared, we quickly found our main target, a small flock of Spot-winged Grosbeaks, which apparently feed on minerals deposited on trees by the hot springs. After breakfast we headed to Chiang Dao, where Malee Nature Lovers Bungalow our base for the next four nights, held the promise of soft, comfortable beds that would be a welcome relief after the hard beds of the previous three nights!<br />
<br />
More to follow…<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-53795151458039320272018-02-11T20:41:00.000+00:002018-02-11T21:17:43.327+00:00Thailand...again - 1Our first visit to Thailand in January last year (see blogs <a href="http://jupiterbirding.blogspot.pt/2017/01/thailand-1.html" target="_blank">here</a>, <a href="http://jupiterbirding.blogspot.pt/2017/02/thailand-2.html" target="_blank">here</a> and <a href="http://jupiterbirding.blogspot.pt/2017/02/thailand-3.html" target="_blank">here</a>) was memorable in many ways, not least for the fact that we saw Spoon-billed Sandpiper for the first time. However, the dreadful weather experienced during the first few days of the trip has also stayed long in the mind. With January supposedly being in the ‘dry season’ we had been told not to expect rain but in the event a cyclone in the Bay of Bengal resulted in a continuous downpour (and consequent mud) that detracted greatly from our wader experience at Laem Pak Bia and Pak Thale. We weren’t prepared for it and we were ill-equipped.<br />
<br />
In spite of that it was a great trip and it wasn’t long after returning home that we decided we must go again to Thailand. And so it was that a plan came together for another visit in January this year. Again we went with friends, Chris & Graham Weston and our guide in Thailand was Neil Lawton.<br />
<br />
When deciding the itinerary, a return to Pak Thale was essential in order to enjoy all those waders in better weather conditions but otherwise we set out to see different parts of the country from those we had been to in 2017. We also decided that two weeks wouldn’t be long enough this time and we arranged for 19 nights actually in Thailand. We planned to start in the north of the country and then to work our way south by road, finishing with a couple of days around the Gulf of Thailand and another visit to the saltpans of Pak Thale...<br />
<br />
We flew from Birmingham to Dubai and then from Dubai to Bangkok, both flights on the very comfortable Airbus A380, the world's largest passenger airliner. We had time for a snack in Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok and got off to a great start there when we looked out of a window to see a Pallas’s Grasshopper Warbler on the grass below! From Bangkok we took an internal flight to Chiang Rai where we were met by Neil, his wife, Pennapa and driver, Choom.<br />
<br />
We spent our first two nights at the Viang Yanok Resort, only about an hour’s drive from Chiang Rai and located on the shores of Chiang Saen Lake. We arrived late and very tired but we were up 5.30 a.m. the following morning for some local birding, the highlight of which was a boat trip on the lake. This produced quite a number of familiar species such as Little Grebe, Grey & Purple Herons, Great Egret, Garganey and Ferruginous Duck but also Grey-headed Swamphen, Lesser Whistling Ducks, Indian Spot-billed Ducks, Chinese Pond Heron and Asian Openbill.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ53XugaxvbHl_TL_Sf-4gMvVC2BHVpGZ0DZputKGSsqrKoGGLIpsFK-BUM7u8ddWeHi7qcHIEO9hoRg76Q5spboTcDpDCg3ntbNr8sY9vvlasevcVXEPywTwNsiUTe4ughMkS3CPtvFuz/s1600/IMG_1586-Viang-Yanok-Resort%252C.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ53XugaxvbHl_TL_Sf-4gMvVC2BHVpGZ0DZputKGSsqrKoGGLIpsFK-BUM7u8ddWeHi7qcHIEO9hoRg76Q5spboTcDpDCg3ntbNr8sY9vvlasevcVXEPywTwNsiUTe4ughMkS3CPtvFuz/s320/IMG_1586-Viang-Yanok-Resort%252C.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Viang Yanok Resort</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PvvjvRgxrDIuuHn4KoWdHdmRmAWwCtL1SO_RnFuspTyx-l262S_-UjO1HJz705r7rJfASWAdYN1mKl3eUyBqXw9Cu8wzhAMJ0zf6zaLo6woAcIw0elzptNOc-fNoQ4k_qwn839544hnZ/s1600/IMG_1584-Chiang-Saen-Lake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7PvvjvRgxrDIuuHn4KoWdHdmRmAWwCtL1SO_RnFuspTyx-l262S_-UjO1HJz705r7rJfASWAdYN1mKl3eUyBqXw9Cu8wzhAMJ0zf6zaLo6woAcIw0elzptNOc-fNoQ4k_qwn839544hnZ/s320/IMG_1584-Chiang-Saen-Lake.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chiang Saen Lake<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGEiBFGDQ3j78nXzvdjqWKeaog36PA8SEaCkgDaBheElTJQ19I8PSZAu7RGqikPIt3ynS0VjE5LuqEHhnh5-UQHxfil9VKkmyXyuv2HFtKVVlyJ10OSFhYsb6vOMw5yp3AB85KnTv_8l9/s1600/P1120551.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPGEiBFGDQ3j78nXzvdjqWKeaog36PA8SEaCkgDaBheElTJQ19I8PSZAu7RGqikPIt3ynS0VjE5LuqEHhnh5-UQHxfil9VKkmyXyuv2HFtKVVlyJ10OSFhYsb6vOMw5yp3AB85KnTv_8l9/s320/P1120551.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
On the boat</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4VXBcqxPjjFp-f4lnyiZzxa90PfqLRMOrNu2_bBd0_g7cmOq0D0HXz28I7BGnqr4uVA3dQSFhI24OYTHLW6FDKbIcChyphenhyphenCl-_0fM-V19XoScYW1dwiow9LXNhlidYuV_AIj3LcDb_kLoX/s1600/X86A3992-Grey-headed-Swamp-hen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI4VXBcqxPjjFp-f4lnyiZzxa90PfqLRMOrNu2_bBd0_g7cmOq0D0HXz28I7BGnqr4uVA3dQSFhI24OYTHLW6FDKbIcChyphenhyphenCl-_0fM-V19XoScYW1dwiow9LXNhlidYuV_AIj3LcDb_kLoX/s320/X86A3992-Grey-headed-Swamp-hen.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Grey-headed Swamphen</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzAXlnuM70efG6f_grmhrQ_P03FlEBqXLXJoNcCTYTswWbyT9vdl9d3Hefyuc-_dfhRFKD-HeWopJd3pOQBSYP1miBDimQH8rKKEqUTvV1BTIYZVT3xiuHnWaL2omZCV50zCtnvSMK6Ez/s1600/X86A4000-Purple-Heron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYzAXlnuM70efG6f_grmhrQ_P03FlEBqXLXJoNcCTYTswWbyT9vdl9d3Hefyuc-_dfhRFKD-HeWopJd3pOQBSYP1miBDimQH8rKKEqUTvV1BTIYZVT3xiuHnWaL2omZCV50zCtnvSMK6Ez/s320/X86A4000-Purple-Heron.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Purple Heron</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Oxmiaqr3UVzXlH8Fq9Z-aJIL09GfGMyHZ4ON0YTyN-N1nxmhtKynjx_KPYQOSdA-CY1117-xohhP7W3PmnFWMjwDNwvwhhQsURvQZlbwz4kNuzNXmtHRTA8k2ynP6aE0cii5caNrZGEU/s1600/X86A4016-Spot-billed-Duck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Oxmiaqr3UVzXlH8Fq9Z-aJIL09GfGMyHZ4ON0YTyN-N1nxmhtKynjx_KPYQOSdA-CY1117-xohhP7W3PmnFWMjwDNwvwhhQsURvQZlbwz4kNuzNXmtHRTA8k2ynP6aE0cii5caNrZGEU/s320/X86A4016-Spot-billed-Duck.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Indian Spot-billed Ducks</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqx10C1sRwuVpZypj4DKctBcN8UFW-ZrB9DA5HDMxxaPZ2EL-Yma0Jk4kBb6gOO5ZMgzdFk5llFv17bCCwD8Zw1z8Mxon9zO0R8y6JR_1HyTJw7lkR73NL8v43shZ5aRLz26nyT27Pcph4/s1600/X86A4051-Lesser-Whistling-Duck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqx10C1sRwuVpZypj4DKctBcN8UFW-ZrB9DA5HDMxxaPZ2EL-Yma0Jk4kBb6gOO5ZMgzdFk5llFv17bCCwD8Zw1z8Mxon9zO0R8y6JR_1HyTJw7lkR73NL8v43shZ5aRLz26nyT27Pcph4/s320/X86A4051-Lesser-Whistling-Duck.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Lesser Whistling Ducks</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
After lunch we headed to the nearby harrier roost at Wiam Nom Long, just in time for heavy rain to begin…talk about déjà vu! Surely we weren’t in for a repeat of last year’s unseasonal weather. We managed to find some shelter from the rain and soon found a male Western Marsh Harrier, a scarce winter visitor to Thailand, quartering the marsh. As the afternoon passed and the rain continued to fall, lots of harriers began to arrive at the roost including many fine male Pied Harriers.<br />
<br />
We arrived back at the resort in a familiar damp and soggy state. Several different weather forecasts were consulted. We tried to remain optimistic but it seemed fairly clear that we were once again going to experience a rather wet ‘dry season’!<br />
<br />
More to follow…<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-13811256471914820132017-11-19T15:02:00.001+00:002017-11-20T20:15:18.642+00:00Peru Fam Trip - 2<div class="MsoNormal">
Our time at Hacienda Concepción had been all too short but after
breakfast we packed our bags and took the boat back to Puerto Maldonado to
catch a flight to Cusco. Puerto Maldonado
lies at about 600 feet above sea level; Cusco is at 11,200 feet – we were now
well and truly in the Andes. We arrived
in Cusco in mid-afternoon; our next destination, now travelling in a minibus,
was the luxurious Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba. However, there were stops on the way
at a couple of lakes to see a completely different range of bird species:
Andean Gulls, Chilean Flamingos, Yellow-billed & White-cheeked Pintails,
Puna Ibis, White-tufted & Silvery Grebes, Black-necked Stilts, Andean Coots
and Andean Ducks. A surprise among all
these ‘strange’ birds was to see two Sanderlings pecking about at the water’s
edge.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JvuA-Ld-KUhPG0cZNIVAfIoA6WiX6oposR7hmDlkzCRBTm7noYGYdKs8SfizudAZC9GdpnhQx2ul6HZDnEgRBmWY4TXb3PQMVAWxJc9Z5_j4pIkV6BFkTpKYRyrJyFwTFXGPRhxORK-S/s1600/X86A2714-Andes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JvuA-Ld-KUhPG0cZNIVAfIoA6WiX6oposR7hmDlkzCRBTm7noYGYdKs8SfizudAZC9GdpnhQx2ul6HZDnEgRBmWY4TXb3PQMVAWxJc9Z5_j4pIkV6BFkTpKYRyrJyFwTFXGPRhxORK-S/s320/X86A2714-Andes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsegxHKBqoS_bRMflmsvcRkLo3-9fk8WHAZviln49xmHwMgojheOrLBBfKSvh1MVnZtfIpvUwt2E_sljAt3bFw2-Vv6nVtugyj_qRXedE32AUWhjgbwxr0SPR1HgfogI6SKy4OUcY8MHN/s1600/X86A2732-Sanderlings.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsegxHKBqoS_bRMflmsvcRkLo3-9fk8WHAZviln49xmHwMgojheOrLBBfKSvh1MVnZtfIpvUwt2E_sljAt3bFw2-Vv6nVtugyj_qRXedE32AUWhjgbwxr0SPR1HgfogI6SKy4OUcY8MHN/s320/X86A2732-Sanderlings.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sanderlings</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMYG6Z2FuiQZuueoFZo097DyGi0zC6Rl6Yx5GxNfFqpSF3pL_umBAHOBgZTLHiB-_SM35scdBcsocKPISpHyU6SkbFxiaYrjCvcgZ8aIf9QDZq_P3Ugeot2-SZV803EPzE10mOxlEpSFN/s1600/X86A2763-Andean-Gulls.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWMYG6Z2FuiQZuueoFZo097DyGi0zC6Rl6Yx5GxNfFqpSF3pL_umBAHOBgZTLHiB-_SM35scdBcsocKPISpHyU6SkbFxiaYrjCvcgZ8aIf9QDZq_P3Ugeot2-SZV803EPzE10mOxlEpSFN/s320/X86A2763-Andean-Gulls.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Andean Gulls</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUm3woNqW8DEeAJtFTlEANESvabuZPyc9_dfPNgz99y41-pWp6P8JOnX7RwiPUYpdwFd-R3kaCGTzfiE7rETX3hHuy3MNKrfvS0Kh8RSp3nOWN_J-23gp7JkfVfLvKNDCP_JxoD9wRY8s5/s1600/X86A2805-Chilean-Flamingos.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUm3woNqW8DEeAJtFTlEANESvabuZPyc9_dfPNgz99y41-pWp6P8JOnX7RwiPUYpdwFd-R3kaCGTzfiE7rETX3hHuy3MNKrfvS0Kh8RSp3nOWN_J-23gp7JkfVfLvKNDCP_JxoD9wRY8s5/s320/X86A2805-Chilean-Flamingos.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chilean Flamingos</div>
<br />
Located in the Sacred Valley of the Incas, Hacienda Urubamba is described as "a contemporary hacienda-style hotel...immersed in the countryside in a gorgeous area...surrounded by imposing green mountains...(with) breathtaking views of the valley." And that's before you go inside! Suffice to say that normally it would be way beyond my budget.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RJ7vSbNVLIZEldzJX7-1DWXzfFBvtRnTMSH9a4kISaV0tx5CP94Q51fYkdz-WhwdJ5N0pO_5uC4l5EspkyAcl8IG41HwUmTQDk11qs0jsmmuPSjREZD029f9lQ9YUSV1TzNO2xttzZjI/s1600/IMG_1561-Inkaterra-Hacienda-Urubamba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8RJ7vSbNVLIZEldzJX7-1DWXzfFBvtRnTMSH9a4kISaV0tx5CP94Q51fYkdz-WhwdJ5N0pO_5uC4l5EspkyAcl8IG41HwUmTQDk11qs0jsmmuPSjREZD029f9lQ9YUSV1TzNO2xttzZjI/s320/IMG_1561-Inkaterra-Hacienda-Urubamba.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Inkaterra Hacienda Urubamba</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
There was clearly the possibility of some good birding
around the hotel but with departure at 6.30 a.m. there was little time to
explore. We were now heading to an even
higher elevation and fittingly, a Mountain Caracara was one of the few birds we
saw as we climbed a winding mountain road to about 14,000 feet. Leaving the vehicle by the roadside, we
climbed up the nearby hillside to reach the Royal Cinclodes Trail at about
14,500 feet and by now a shortage of breath was an issue for some of us! Royal Cinclodes is a Critically Endangered
species with a very small population and there was no chance of us finding one
without going much further than we did.
Just being at that altitude was a great experience and we did see
White-winged Cinclodes, which although quite a common species really does look
quite similar to Royal! Also up here were
Andean Lapwing, Plumbeous Sierra-Finch and what we eventually identified as
Cordilleran Canastero. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOjDh1WpxoEPCwhJwY0P0p-0MOIhWeFAQSkj1-xT1BRJ3BkfHwBTBp2Aw0Qmvj2vdzZCkcPWXC_6r9fkW0p3vRdx1Var5qajx_PH5KwJ3vwPj-mbzUx4YIOwSY4T2vbjUglTRLPwS_WhU/s1600/X86A2833-Mountain-Caracara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOjDh1WpxoEPCwhJwY0P0p-0MOIhWeFAQSkj1-xT1BRJ3BkfHwBTBp2Aw0Qmvj2vdzZCkcPWXC_6r9fkW0p3vRdx1Var5qajx_PH5KwJ3vwPj-mbzUx4YIOwSY4T2vbjUglTRLPwS_WhU/s320/X86A2833-Mountain-Caracara.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mountain Caracara</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CeyQW5YCEgfdrK1ZgXjrI9LIN4svteFpmJRcy5ldt1Mlc4zRqrLNIk7a62yai_UzGOf9ACT5f3RmO94jKwCjUwSJnlg1vpBnbcM_UACYQHAFXf1CZ4ofMHedzS5JHlvJOeknP52_pINk/s1600/X86A2846-White-winged-Cinclodes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-CeyQW5YCEgfdrK1ZgXjrI9LIN4svteFpmJRcy5ldt1Mlc4zRqrLNIk7a62yai_UzGOf9ACT5f3RmO94jKwCjUwSJnlg1vpBnbcM_UACYQHAFXf1CZ4ofMHedzS5JHlvJOeknP52_pINk/s320/X86A2846-White-winged-Cinclodes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
White-winged Cinclodes</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We couldn’t stay at high elevation for too long as we had a
train to catch and after just one further brief stop we descended to the town of
Ollantaytambo for the 12.55 p.m. service to Machu Picchu. My recent experience of trains has been
confined to the Cross Country Trains service between Stafford and Birmingham
Airport and to the service between Tavira and Faro in the Algarve. It’s fair to say that my expectations weren’t
high! However, I was pleasantly
surprised by virtually all aspects of this journey, the comfort, the
refreshments, the helpful staff, the view and not least by the regular pairs of Torrent
Ducks that could be seen as the train passed alongside the Rio Urubamba. A
Fasciated Tiger-Heron and one or two White-capped Dippers were also seen.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2W108ooyIY3JhwJZRLkn0PopZIi69NTm7idSt7cbPwgVg-Ya1bTsVwO6-FtGdURRSSl4NOM5cdtj1fycZ-qPdYFSn4rJNRQY1MT_u0NsZdLeHqBhzJQ9rRuYxWdEKae4uZbC4D0qI7rN/s1600/IMG_1566-Perurail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-2W108ooyIY3JhwJZRLkn0PopZIi69NTm7idSt7cbPwgVg-Ya1bTsVwO6-FtGdURRSSl4NOM5cdtj1fycZ-qPdYFSn4rJNRQY1MT_u0NsZdLeHqBhzJQ9rRuYxWdEKae4uZbC4D0qI7rN/s320/IMG_1566-Perurail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Perurail</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaLOD40u02pLdv7HB3AmHDQzpMdhPhyphenhyphenBqo86hiHPY67_PY44YbQtBQ9dNILJdI2yScd76cRNILywT3Uq0kqMJbzWtS8RRJzSLJ2XmdpliLeNZChUTnhBwA3Evyku1UIkh9ck4dzjhyphenhyphenClY/s1600/IMG_1509-%25282%2529-From-the-train-window.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCaLOD40u02pLdv7HB3AmHDQzpMdhPhyphenhyphenBqo86hiHPY67_PY44YbQtBQ9dNILJdI2yScd76cRNILywT3Uq0kqMJbzWtS8RRJzSLJ2XmdpliLeNZChUTnhBwA3Evyku1UIkh9ck4dzjhyphenhyphenClY/s320/IMG_1509-%25282%2529-From-the-train-window.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rio Urubamba from the train</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrMGcu_i5Ohsd7pvcClWnDb-iOL3p7GP_vDwV6mQ5T_7GLRFUQjNaQXvoeuwifLNQTQu-iWxj77maskiAgiEsolxuVRLHhMH2fE8vn-HLJfB11EJl_uaPjRc4n_7Cbp3oacmbIlY3vjzh/s1600/X86A2956-Torrent-Ducks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjrMGcu_i5Ohsd7pvcClWnDb-iOL3p7GP_vDwV6mQ5T_7GLRFUQjNaQXvoeuwifLNQTQu-iWxj77maskiAgiEsolxuVRLHhMH2fE8vn-HLJfB11EJl_uaPjRc4n_7Cbp3oacmbIlY3vjzh/s320/X86A2956-Torrent-Ducks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Torrent Ducks</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
On arrival it was just a short walk from the station to the
Inkaterra Machu Picchu Pueblo Hotel and the rest of the day was spent birding
in the grounds there. For the first time
on this trip there were hummingbird feeders and also feeders with fruit for
tanagers, euphonias and, as it turned out, for Dusky-green Oropendolas. The species list was impressive with Andean
Cock-of-the-rock probably the star bird.
It was also good to see hummingbirds such as Gould’s Inca, Chestnut-breasted
Coronet and the endemic Green-and-white Hummingbird.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkC3BZbcfLfqlESup9RAaZ-KDRcG9KT_Tgf9xPXurSA6JXYd-85lyLYFWX97028AVWnfIDDwLzwHO967UajzbWb52xnFby1PoIapJfqe5n091gUBZOWAdxGjr_EIzRPO7jldT4vY5p_Tg/s1600/X86A2890-Blue-grey-Tanager.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCkC3BZbcfLfqlESup9RAaZ-KDRcG9KT_Tgf9xPXurSA6JXYd-85lyLYFWX97028AVWnfIDDwLzwHO967UajzbWb52xnFby1PoIapJfqe5n091gUBZOWAdxGjr_EIzRPO7jldT4vY5p_Tg/s320/X86A2890-Blue-grey-Tanager.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Blue-grey Tanager</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UVKUEparU2eyWCeoZO3862UjGVORs48JuWGaJnhdYSN04nxjOsXgdT_ImU3eyg7D0-3xPVNE2NohkoeCqE9yal0AgOVyZE6AhoLBsGluHNC7i39H3lrGNPwfEhMU0lThAmWaeq3SyzBx/s1600/X86A2896-Thick-billed-Euphonia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9UVKUEparU2eyWCeoZO3862UjGVORs48JuWGaJnhdYSN04nxjOsXgdT_ImU3eyg7D0-3xPVNE2NohkoeCqE9yal0AgOVyZE6AhoLBsGluHNC7i39H3lrGNPwfEhMU0lThAmWaeq3SyzBx/s320/X86A2896-Thick-billed-Euphonia.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thick-billed Euphonia</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP12L5qGcqdxRO0cBJTLOaJMrx32xCe8LFroGwK5SFWtezdQiIDOcSMFHC1Jp9y3EtKaP53iiMLmy0ZW7FKXdVeL-QWSppaWomeVg7EMoJgMzyg8GDzMVyI8_XqL9LwXsjKzhcPQRW7s1S/s1600/X86A2974-Gould%2527s-Inca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP12L5qGcqdxRO0cBJTLOaJMrx32xCe8LFroGwK5SFWtezdQiIDOcSMFHC1Jp9y3EtKaP53iiMLmy0ZW7FKXdVeL-QWSppaWomeVg7EMoJgMzyg8GDzMVyI8_XqL9LwXsjKzhcPQRW7s1S/s320/X86A2974-Gould%2527s-Inca.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Gould's Inca</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bzLjXP9pMkx5puVqTFQKfHjaRGwvzUrwWxl8c_L5ItOATXs3f-lsXvLM4vAuTzqabURi_w18f21-Qjyn8xWlvbeSsylrGt39Y_adbKXwfnnDiOsUtn10BMbmfIeLyzOF-f2BQVIVmemj/s1600/X86A3091-Chestnut-breasted-Coronet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9bzLjXP9pMkx5puVqTFQKfHjaRGwvzUrwWxl8c_L5ItOATXs3f-lsXvLM4vAuTzqabURi_w18f21-Qjyn8xWlvbeSsylrGt39Y_adbKXwfnnDiOsUtn10BMbmfIeLyzOF-f2BQVIVmemj/s320/X86A3091-Chestnut-breasted-Coronet.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Chestnut-breasted Coronet</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
At last came the day for us to visit Peru’s main
attraction. It required just a short
walk from the hotel to catch a bus that took us up the mountainside to the
entrance of Machu Picchu. To say that
Machu Picchu is impressive would be an understatement. The setting is spectacular and not for
nothing is it a UNESCO World Heritage Site and listed among the New Seven
Wonders of the World. You can read about
it <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Machu_Picchu" target="_blank">here</a>. Suffice to say that it was
built by the Incas in the 15<sup>th</sup> Century but not known at all to the
Spanish colonists and somehow remained unknown to the outside world until
American historian Hiram Bingham brought it to international
attention in 1911. Not surprisingly, we weren't the only visitors! In fact Machu Picchu attracts more than a million tourists annually. Although I had binoculars and two cameras I somehow felt under-equipped without a selfie stick.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTi-ECeUJGuuxJDiMRuX5LCFxZL0X8z65tPHcyiIEzEzQ1gaBkOjI19Hq53B7aq55xSflT9PjsJ6kH2DqZcPPc3CsIj_hxP0_cVm_i80YJjKeYuvEzXdSO12G_7uNeXLX_-ncbho9FP1Q/s1600/IMG_1576-Machu-Picchu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtTi-ECeUJGuuxJDiMRuX5LCFxZL0X8z65tPHcyiIEzEzQ1gaBkOjI19Hq53B7aq55xSflT9PjsJ6kH2DqZcPPc3CsIj_hxP0_cVm_i80YJjKeYuvEzXdSO12G_7uNeXLX_-ncbho9FP1Q/s320/IMG_1576-Machu-Picchu.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8Pwu2UIlBtJYO9xhCSnN6K_3bwg5n8tm0id-QKzaG1Ti6CEy4HOWqgLkmFujwC2sFyo26p1V62s4eb39F4yfPn_Me4Z-cVDTcKaAy5hQeQYW9Gqu8J_AZdDZUrDvueYKgi98V6Gj4E56/s1600/IMG_1531-%25282%2529-Machu-Picchu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi8Pwu2UIlBtJYO9xhCSnN6K_3bwg5n8tm0id-QKzaG1Ti6CEy4HOWqgLkmFujwC2sFyo26p1V62s4eb39F4yfPn_Me4Z-cVDTcKaAy5hQeQYW9Gqu8J_AZdDZUrDvueYKgi98V6Gj4E56/s320/IMG_1531-%25282%2529-Machu-Picchu.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Machu Picchu</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Apart from ruins, there are many birds to be seen at Machu
Picchu, perhaps most notably the Inca Wren, a species first described as
recently as 1985. Quite what the Incas
(not to mention the Spanish) were doing that they overlooked this bird one can
only imagine!<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzQD5smhbxG_zOw7tIDgPRmKkjOWRVeHO8It_NE3josFKaBk2nwTH1b7e4WjATRjiwd_SWoFQTtvlu24pnnYhKoAIg5dXQRo_FqQJinjNSMlrwjkiR1tD79ZfvjulQFqjF-KOajbYUKp0/s1600/X86A3034--Inca-Wren.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkzQD5smhbxG_zOw7tIDgPRmKkjOWRVeHO8It_NE3josFKaBk2nwTH1b7e4WjATRjiwd_SWoFQTtvlu24pnnYhKoAIg5dXQRo_FqQJinjNSMlrwjkiR1tD79ZfvjulQFqjF-KOajbYUKp0/s320/X86A3034--Inca-Wren.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Inca Wren</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
We spent the afternoon birding back at the hotel, also
walking along the railway line and the river.
It was really good with quite a number of species that we hadn’t seen
previously and we gave up only when the light became too poor to see. The afternoon bird list included Violet-throated
Starfrontlet, Streaked Xenops, Brown-capped & Red-eyed Vireos,
Plumbeous-crowned Tyrannulet, Capped Conebill and several species of tanagers.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsroJKDE3Z9bU7uCR-_YuH3KWJyum8_1nR2Jfnmcj7ecruDf1X69DASUotvEqzp65vv_LSjY6IwyBOxyYN6Dkq25K_3SW87skewDNVCngIzwNGXLjftiPWxwCmL5By7PZArngc69OAPMI4/s1600/IMG_1514-%25282%2529-Birding-along-the-railway.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsroJKDE3Z9bU7uCR-_YuH3KWJyum8_1nR2Jfnmcj7ecruDf1X69DASUotvEqzp65vv_LSjY6IwyBOxyYN6Dkq25K_3SW87skewDNVCngIzwNGXLjftiPWxwCmL5By7PZArngc69OAPMI4/s320/IMG_1514-%25282%2529-Birding-along-the-railway.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Birding along the railway line</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The following day was spent travelling to Lima. We caught the 5.35 a.m. train to Ollantaytambo,
a minibus from there to Cusco and then a LATAM flight to the capital, where we
arrived at 6.30 p.m. There was just one
worthwhile birding stop. It was at a
lake where Plumbeous Rail, Puna Teal, Wren-like Rushbird, Yellow-winged
Blackbird and Band-tailed Sierra-Finch were the most notable species.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Our last morning of the trip was spent at the offices of
PROMPERU where a workshop was held during which we had the opportunity to meet
and talk to various local ground operators and hoteliers/lodge owners. It was a well-organised and worthwhile
event. It was also an opportunity to
meet and thank the people from PROMPERU who had organised our trip.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
So that was it, except that some of us had flights home that
weren’t leaving until late evening.
There was only one thing to do – we went birding! Local guide Gunnar Engblom had been involved
in the workshop and was already known to a couple of us so it didn’t take much
to arrange an afternoon tour of coastal sites around Lima. With the accent on gulls, terns and waders,
this was really easy birding compared with the rainforest and thoroughly
enjoyable. Standout species were Inca
Tern, Peruvian Thick-knee, Belcher’s, Kelp & Grey-hooded Gulls (not
forgetting hundreds of Franklin’s), Red-legged Cormorant, Peruvian Pelican and
Peruvian Booby. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnM1ZCE19XTM6M8_s35AyZjNp5jRvGeKIDQemQL3qthdJBFYPdanCs0OTKEIjr7m7nYC3ig_G0IdPpNpIseTlTQ59ydCklPhCMp7iixLymw1Vd93FMhWRdeG7y02JUY_X4qcMYKZEDRTfO/s1600/X86A3162-Franklin%2527s-Gull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnM1ZCE19XTM6M8_s35AyZjNp5jRvGeKIDQemQL3qthdJBFYPdanCs0OTKEIjr7m7nYC3ig_G0IdPpNpIseTlTQ59ydCklPhCMp7iixLymw1Vd93FMhWRdeG7y02JUY_X4qcMYKZEDRTfO/s320/X86A3162-Franklin%2527s-Gull.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Franklin's Gull</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXbcgm3LM-PuQotDBbCf0Y6tchifB6kncJCHrILEIWcbZwPIPqCRVqSR7HpqyRtCBHx__9fblOH-S1OUJJv80po0n8oQnj8N2kFS3odVgfDDChAB2QBzeGFStM4r2FgTu1zB9cbcLCtrq/s1600/X86A3220-Belcher%2527s-Gull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzXbcgm3LM-PuQotDBbCf0Y6tchifB6kncJCHrILEIWcbZwPIPqCRVqSR7HpqyRtCBHx__9fblOH-S1OUJJv80po0n8oQnj8N2kFS3odVgfDDChAB2QBzeGFStM4r2FgTu1zB9cbcLCtrq/s320/X86A3220-Belcher%2527s-Gull.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Belcher's Gull</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwqUYlBn0ls4YWZwIw2kON2WBvmM4xH_ubRTwL5q6WVo6WmpQkXNFoI0rKoeRwvgFBpcBzKCrY1_A0iyt8wvyeIDVy56Tf6_X3a3K6TZnxK0_tu_pdPMXPWhG-fN3PG27hr3DUFnEkKrH/s1600/X86A3221-Red-legged-Cormorant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGwqUYlBn0ls4YWZwIw2kON2WBvmM4xH_ubRTwL5q6WVo6WmpQkXNFoI0rKoeRwvgFBpcBzKCrY1_A0iyt8wvyeIDVy56Tf6_X3a3K6TZnxK0_tu_pdPMXPWhG-fN3PG27hr3DUFnEkKrH/s320/X86A3221-Red-legged-Cormorant.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Red-legged Cormorant</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPI0hQzxMBIaHgdpKcvke_sbYhId1qtahr8hgACfVZPa_NK5n0kr1Q5vtBM2ohrzihz_C6BxtoZ2L0bTtEcqBBvIHoQjrZQNmfJFX7YdQAZNow9SnOw476AtWr_NkQx-p6rSLfZoW-npg/s1600/X86A3263-Elegant-Tern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdPI0hQzxMBIaHgdpKcvke_sbYhId1qtahr8hgACfVZPa_NK5n0kr1Q5vtBM2ohrzihz_C6BxtoZ2L0bTtEcqBBvIHoQjrZQNmfJFX7YdQAZNow9SnOw476AtWr_NkQx-p6rSLfZoW-npg/s320/X86A3263-Elegant-Tern.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Elegant Tern</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6D6mCJcsC1kCzSonns6IOC3GHJNOmrvMkP79y4UFh6zOuBEvvdj4Kfm3eED2-vg-fIfj0kGe6rOiTMJWw1l4w_p4EJzuFycGt5jflnfawTBfP5p1LztGdtPs8J_Kl4YzHqlb3_WomgqSH/s1600/X86A3406-Peruvian-Thick-knee.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6D6mCJcsC1kCzSonns6IOC3GHJNOmrvMkP79y4UFh6zOuBEvvdj4Kfm3eED2-vg-fIfj0kGe6rOiTMJWw1l4w_p4EJzuFycGt5jflnfawTBfP5p1LztGdtPs8J_Kl4YzHqlb3_WomgqSH/s320/X86A3406-Peruvian-Thick-knee.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Peruvian Thick-knee</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
All in all it was a great trip and confirmed what we already
knew, that Peru really is a great birding destination. The country’s bird list runs to about 1,800
species with more than 100 endemics. It
has a wealth of other wildlife, stunning scenery, huge areas of unspoilt
wilderness, including vast tracts of forest and lots of historical
interest. Without exception in my
experience, the people were friendly and welcoming, the accommodation is good and
I enjoyed the food. There was nothing
not to like! My return is already
scheduled with an <a href="http://www.avianadventures.co.uk/section313338_319102.html" target="_blank">Avian Adventures</a> tour to Peru already planned for September
2018.</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
</div>
Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-36585567295682812742017-11-16T17:53:00.002+00:002017-11-16T17:53:33.165+00:00Peru Fam Trip - 1<div class="MsoNormal">
Peter writes:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
My recent visit to Peru came about as a result of an
invitation from <a href="http://www.peru.travel/?internacional" target="_blank">PROMPERU</a>, the country’s tourism authority, for <a href="http://www.avianadventures.co.uk/" target="_blank">Avian Adventures</a>
to send a representative on a short familiarisation trip. The object was for me to gain some further
experience of Peru with particular reference to the birdwatching but also the
accommodation, transport, guiding and infrastructure relevant to us offering a
tour there.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I was part of a group of eight (three of us from the UK, two
each from Italy and the USA and one from Canada) and we were accompanied
throughout by at least four local Peruvians.
Without exception, they were a great bunch and a pleasure to travel
with.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Apart from hotels in Lima at the start and end of the trip,
accommodation was in hotels and lodges operated by <a href="http://www.inkaterra.com/" target="_blank">Inkaterra</a>, a company at the
forefront of ecotourism and sustainable development in Peru. More than 800 bird species and 100 mammal
species have been recorded in the grounds and surroundings of Inkaterra’s seven
properties and we got to stay at four of them.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
After a night in Lima on arrival we were back at the airport
next morning for a flight to Puerto Maldonado, known as ‘the gateway to the
southern Amazon jungle’. When we arrived
there just after midday the temperature was a steamy 32ºC. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
From the airport it was just a short way to the Rio Madre de
Dios, a river that flows into neighbouring Bolivia and is part of the
vast Amazon River watershed.
Here we boarded a boat that took us to the Inkaterra Guides Field
Station. Birds seen from the boat included
many Plumbeous Kites, Cocoi Heron, Wood Stork, Snowy Egret, Pied Lapwing, Black Skimmer, Red-throated
Caracara and four species of vultures – a very satisfactory start. In the afternoon we were birding in nearby
forest as we walked to a canopy tower and a slightly scary walkway between the
trees, 100 feet above the forest floor.
Amongst the birds seen were Russet-backed Oropendola, Buff-throated
Woodcreeper, Black-fronted Nunbird, Curl-crested Aracari and several tanager
species; mammals included a Night Monkey and a Mouse Opossum.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5E2Og2nO_A0Ghgzd6kG2_rLpT7B2dMFnyISMgBY28pfEfPIcLUNM_ZhYhyphenhyphenBWTFeVw3ZMbjJ6mNNWjiDDEA6d_Z6NKldEZ9E4PLmxAyRnHxGto_9CX8nQkHTWYUmWQc2CdrG3hCgZ1Erox/s1600/IMG_1507-Boating-on-the-Rio-Madre-de-Dios.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5E2Og2nO_A0Ghgzd6kG2_rLpT7B2dMFnyISMgBY28pfEfPIcLUNM_ZhYhyphenhyphenBWTFeVw3ZMbjJ6mNNWjiDDEA6d_Z6NKldEZ9E4PLmxAyRnHxGto_9CX8nQkHTWYUmWQc2CdrG3hCgZ1Erox/s320/IMG_1507-Boating-on-the-Rio-Madre-de-Dios.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
On the Rio Madre de Dios</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RZ5pfi5Q5XrmNqvIE5yhKvLnVa7EbvB9Qo_9hU0FB0jwgg8lp5jWE4eVLinC2ogSB4KC8IOuLa4FlfH1QaG0eJpUs8yqjPlmqSOZESiNO-fCwl2L8GPP2lApoQpgmp1c_4zThK0NztJu/s1600/X86A2235-Snowy-Egret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7RZ5pfi5Q5XrmNqvIE5yhKvLnVa7EbvB9Qo_9hU0FB0jwgg8lp5jWE4eVLinC2ogSB4KC8IOuLa4FlfH1QaG0eJpUs8yqjPlmqSOZESiNO-fCwl2L8GPP2lApoQpgmp1c_4zThK0NztJu/s320/X86A2235-Snowy-Egret.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Snowy Egret</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgro6mJGionzdmq0SwI3cg0NX46gmm4s918pjceCGltOxkCxACPVt4LepOjVw8oy7PZqbs8K-aNymaSD1VklUZmqjW3lQn8CoxZ5XSeVoXMdc4NrFHTy2Glar_AsM0dadjRBG5SuznDaGwD/s1600/X86A2208-Wood-Stork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgro6mJGionzdmq0SwI3cg0NX46gmm4s918pjceCGltOxkCxACPVt4LepOjVw8oy7PZqbs8K-aNymaSD1VklUZmqjW3lQn8CoxZ5XSeVoXMdc4NrFHTy2Glar_AsM0dadjRBG5SuznDaGwD/s320/X86A2208-Wood-Stork.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Wood Stork</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizB-Rpmd5aNq4ut1KgY11bzsSAPt1AW0p95-vN4Mf6Vp2AyEcirP_Z_lMBIb9ndFyjSClBlZeoA7dfywp8Sjp8plEheDciUrym4DBAtvH7zxSt0uIt2jFt-WHd5TW3ycWGgngdPpOHyC_c/s1600/IMG_1510-Inkaterra-Guides-Field-Station.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizB-Rpmd5aNq4ut1KgY11bzsSAPt1AW0p95-vN4Mf6Vp2AyEcirP_Z_lMBIb9ndFyjSClBlZeoA7dfywp8Sjp8plEheDciUrym4DBAtvH7zxSt0uIt2jFt-WHd5TW3ycWGgngdPpOHyC_c/s320/IMG_1510-Inkaterra-Guides-Field-Station.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Inkaterra Guides Field Station</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDx4MxlIGgWVyY_oGyuYK66mC22x5SZXONf7qzpFlo-TBCPVHRpakliTNdv4diTsHgQ7r-q58aIMqeHJB6B8MyotWgxUNemNo8Faf44c47v1oZidPWcfwpqmUb15vkXRj-Fh6AMJDmNjEQ/s1600/X86A2158-Mouse-Opossum-sp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDx4MxlIGgWVyY_oGyuYK66mC22x5SZXONf7qzpFlo-TBCPVHRpakliTNdv4diTsHgQ7r-q58aIMqeHJB6B8MyotWgxUNemNo8Faf44c47v1oZidPWcfwpqmUb15vkXRj-Fh6AMJDmNjEQ/s320/X86A2158-Mouse-Opossum-sp.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
Mouse Opossum</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Next day we took to the river again but only after dragging
ourselves away from the amazing number and variety of birds seen around the
lodge. We were at the edge of the
Tambapota National Reserve, a vast area of Amazonian rainforest with tanagers,
motmots, barbets, parrots, macaws and parakeets, woodcreepers, flycatchers and
lots more, all vying for attention and often presenting an identification
challenge – in other words great birding!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The boat took us downstream to an oxbow lake, Lago Valencia. Again it was birds all the way with Amazon
Kingfisher, Grey-lined Hawk, Black Caracara, Jabiru, Collared Plovers, Hoatzins
and a Ladder-tailed Nightjar among the many highlights. We walked a forest trail and got up close to
enormous Brazil nut trees. As well as
birds there were butterflies to enjoy (and identify later!) and an occasional
lizard or monkey.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeveho88lW6gQRk0Eo1SMxFKcto_XahVuRnVsptKnJSJPnLigK9xE07TPQb7rcucfL3QGQQInKWGpscsunb_rLHP4qE8h0zKkG2xNYFomVjg5os3e2ETaWDeS6WGecUJDtmU9pdSmWifC/s1600/X86A2167-Grey-lined-Hawk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZeveho88lW6gQRk0Eo1SMxFKcto_XahVuRnVsptKnJSJPnLigK9xE07TPQb7rcucfL3QGQQInKWGpscsunb_rLHP4qE8h0zKkG2xNYFomVjg5os3e2ETaWDeS6WGecUJDtmU9pdSmWifC/s320/X86A2167-Grey-lined-Hawk.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Grey-lined Hawk</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXF89Bksx7q9Fvv72adoInMs1JL1cOKw8vIt91KPSG3BSod7DjeICFnnzgA4K7FzyahFBM_K2-Y-ypIX2DB4wB1w1Uz8Np8D9bRvDdB07awza-aTd_iWbAWgmT3NGDvs-LEXTbSrhwNNY5/s1600/X86A2312-Ladder-tailed-Nightjar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXF89Bksx7q9Fvv72adoInMs1JL1cOKw8vIt91KPSG3BSod7DjeICFnnzgA4K7FzyahFBM_K2-Y-ypIX2DB4wB1w1Uz8Np8D9bRvDdB07awza-aTd_iWbAWgmT3NGDvs-LEXTbSrhwNNY5/s320/X86A2312-Ladder-tailed-Nightjar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ladder-tailed Nightjar</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeFSedQvYe5L8oGFH4KYnt6EkwgvLhyj_CWau-Lmz-bkOy1OgUU0vtzn8zP6NMiWS0nRMpQHbrMYUSqTEukMl7UdRLe30hyphenhypheneGzZxkBfTqcg-LXQgtO_vk2bPqr47VWHij6fq1nTsQMcOY/s1600/X86A2327-Glittering-Sapphire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIeFSedQvYe5L8oGFH4KYnt6EkwgvLhyj_CWau-Lmz-bkOy1OgUU0vtzn8zP6NMiWS0nRMpQHbrMYUSqTEukMl7UdRLe30hyphenhypheneGzZxkBfTqcg-LXQgtO_vk2bPqr47VWHij6fq1nTsQMcOY/s320/X86A2327-Glittering-Sapphire.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Glittering Sapphire</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNafYDKq4JmbB9MOLxTEadfmWpfi782MT6VH1p7644g_nMFvyEC4J9mMMegtJNQdKv4WzqokPS9PrWnskGCA4FvZw8XTzGd_BLzjI5sE3fNH4vRqQqLuZSx_9NVsqFUx_DKNCwsjxDSLQI/s1600/X86A2335-Iphiclus-Sister.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNafYDKq4JmbB9MOLxTEadfmWpfi782MT6VH1p7644g_nMFvyEC4J9mMMegtJNQdKv4WzqokPS9PrWnskGCA4FvZw8XTzGd_BLzjI5sE3fNH4vRqQqLuZSx_9NVsqFUx_DKNCwsjxDSLQI/s320/X86A2335-Iphiclus-Sister.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Iphiclus Sister</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErV2Jh-Zg2-20N6tf9KxDPjHX2mlIPLFTZMLr-Rtv75_ByreZKa3EKdz7vbct-tISak-svhmK6pSfyUr68lzZvvoW2vKGjVJJbE11WThCBP6hJfYwYDxPAm6RTsbYrePrm-3RvNVOpWHQ/s1600/X86A2355-Giant-Ameiva-or-Amazon-Racerunner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhErV2Jh-Zg2-20N6tf9KxDPjHX2mlIPLFTZMLr-Rtv75_ByreZKa3EKdz7vbct-tISak-svhmK6pSfyUr68lzZvvoW2vKGjVJJbE11WThCBP6hJfYwYDxPAm6RTsbYrePrm-3RvNVOpWHQ/s320/X86A2355-Giant-Ameiva-or-Amazon-Racerunner.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Giant Ameiva</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lCULGro7P8CGUsUlPWv9PiVBv9ybrCgH71HIOk5FRGZtz5WDY6UvI0wInS8OmmFaL48stfdU8eI7EYOgawraTHyfqPsaBWWyvblo2RxiUCVuwyVeIDq93-bSaV9OeVP025xydMlLFmUm/s1600/X86A2363-Blue-Morpho.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0lCULGro7P8CGUsUlPWv9PiVBv9ybrCgH71HIOk5FRGZtz5WDY6UvI0wInS8OmmFaL48stfdU8eI7EYOgawraTHyfqPsaBWWyvblo2RxiUCVuwyVeIDq93-bSaV9OeVP025xydMlLFmUm/s320/X86A2363-Blue-Morpho.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Blue Morpho</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrshuundPdnXd_pPQ-DfhMYs76CtwlV3c1i9Quk50Gr4iI8vVXX3P6zgwnPD2IyECYv5CXFoT_XJXyV5slXhZaTx6PRmMQqIu5cWTgvjqCvXAn6-uEqrcaIUhZEQ4QjcOTHX_0XVUg4XSW/s1600/X86A2493-Black-Caracara.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrshuundPdnXd_pPQ-DfhMYs76CtwlV3c1i9Quk50Gr4iI8vVXX3P6zgwnPD2IyECYv5CXFoT_XJXyV5slXhZaTx6PRmMQqIu5cWTgvjqCvXAn6-uEqrcaIUhZEQ4QjcOTHX_0XVUg4XSW/s320/X86A2493-Black-Caracara.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Black Caracara</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
The following day saw us board the boat again and head off along
the river. However, we didn’t go very
far before taking off on foot along a muddy trail that led us to another oxbow lake,
Lago Sandoval. The walk produced
Collared Trogon, Plumbeous Antbird, Plain-winged Antwren, Dull-capped Attila
and much more. At the lake we climbed
aboard two smaller boats and went looking for Giant Otters. Around the edge of the lake were Hoatzins,
Rufescent Tiger-Herons, Limpkins, Grey-necked Wood-Rail, Striated Herons,
Anhingas, Neotropic Cormorants and Sunbitterns.
Long-nosed Bats were found roosting on a tree trunk. There was a thunderstorm while we were out on
the lake and when we returned to the muddy trail it was even muddier! <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaCFYtdIsROTEsnBe2ap8Y4LBvFH36NK0lh9XbIDtiv45VdgXGVr_V4NKG7cOLsD6G1Draau8m9UBrX_kjK8xZiMEFtDvu88K6cQfAqq_0Q6xQSRki3xaRWoxtUAs4zn0l6GweIon0frf/s1600/IMG_1525-Muddy-trail-to-Lago-Sandoval.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizaCFYtdIsROTEsnBe2ap8Y4LBvFH36NK0lh9XbIDtiv45VdgXGVr_V4NKG7cOLsD6G1Draau8m9UBrX_kjK8xZiMEFtDvu88K6cQfAqq_0Q6xQSRki3xaRWoxtUAs4zn0l6GweIon0frf/s320/IMG_1525-Muddy-trail-to-Lago-Sandoval.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The trail to Lago Sandoval</div>
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUwvUTotsXf7sdX74kxIURu5TBKJ-nLRTdTmKkEK7Nqu8dXCUF83emAyXzYOoI3d48oW7TyTCfeDXxHQ2bI0Kjjyi9FGYVob11gvusuLFy724aFGwKPH7CZow6MFy47q_PTf00_LwzQUB/s1600/X86A2564-Giant-Otter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicUwvUTotsXf7sdX74kxIURu5TBKJ-nLRTdTmKkEK7Nqu8dXCUF83emAyXzYOoI3d48oW7TyTCfeDXxHQ2bI0Kjjyi9FGYVob11gvusuLFy724aFGwKPH7CZow6MFy47q_PTf00_LwzQUB/s320/X86A2564-Giant-Otter.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Giant River Otter</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYK_lsyyB5z1jbB-rEdYcxJOLthVeTQBlExXYJOaNeTFu54mQBNbfnfpUX05Oozyw5zNuayulXB0bl2y8AG1IDE0JkOyOkz-wMMp2F0pmpRhAkj1lLLRm3Pv6iYoVrkaRbl4nqvCQbcDv/s1600/X86A2566-Boat-on-Lago-Sandovar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjYK_lsyyB5z1jbB-rEdYcxJOLthVeTQBlExXYJOaNeTFu54mQBNbfnfpUX05Oozyw5zNuayulXB0bl2y8AG1IDE0JkOyOkz-wMMp2F0pmpRhAkj1lLLRm3Pv6iYoVrkaRbl4nqvCQbcDv/s320/X86A2566-Boat-on-Lago-Sandovar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Birding on Lago Sandoval</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlldxHrJjbuNg3uoK-_v2YBxz1vKtH4EPoCL5cBXYG0afczNh7h0fG0KISxIvABfVCqlBGmLNsdVqejd-3yJnyiQZwGNNKnY3-1ud89OB66DJg03Eiv2to6lNIUrA9ztd51gQWM-9NlPL/s1600/X86A2585-Limpkin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZlldxHrJjbuNg3uoK-_v2YBxz1vKtH4EPoCL5cBXYG0afczNh7h0fG0KISxIvABfVCqlBGmLNsdVqejd-3yJnyiQZwGNNKnY3-1ud89OB66DJg03Eiv2to6lNIUrA9ztd51gQWM-9NlPL/s320/X86A2585-Limpkin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Limpkin</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPjHhBgt_5JFrNd2Vp76dbrd7KgEfiAad4iwlp8L-E6kXTE2a-X_yxI-R2Sy8s8PhZw0at9Iq1XLC1dSySusO2xgkRqIsvnAW4n3_8Z1V6rklxo7zSf0KFqDhwRbIWfPSYGzFsUvM9gOm/s1600/X86A2611-Anhinga.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPjHhBgt_5JFrNd2Vp76dbrd7KgEfiAad4iwlp8L-E6kXTE2a-X_yxI-R2Sy8s8PhZw0at9Iq1XLC1dSySusO2xgkRqIsvnAW4n3_8Z1V6rklxo7zSf0KFqDhwRbIWfPSYGzFsUvM9gOm/s320/X86A2611-Anhinga.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Anhinga</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxM3WamU90RyBM_exr6tvQ_TvPII-II7gMXnycbubsnpTPwBFCR-Pyn3oSVsf6JqBud5d79us6Xd3mknjzbc9k1m-iQ7iF9XHsLNP9CwdkfqNxZHpf8KeSWelQtxiYtebP9DqC-1gFoxSo/s1600/X86A2628-Long-nosed-Bats.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxM3WamU90RyBM_exr6tvQ_TvPII-II7gMXnycbubsnpTPwBFCR-Pyn3oSVsf6JqBud5d79us6Xd3mknjzbc9k1m-iQ7iF9XHsLNP9CwdkfqNxZHpf8KeSWelQtxiYtebP9DqC-1gFoxSo/s320/X86A2628-Long-nosed-Bats.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Long-nosed Bats</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblPgk8PfUsSx7jXlWEEFebr3yNR2Ul7QxBU8QNaNGLXXfzQU4knrhLBRDx5Qoq6FqK_KG4SlanBZBDLDdj8CzLLNJLMAKKq-YajY0PrXkuqL1Z8Dc1NRcef5fAZlreYPRgYrPyamr3Bkv/s1600/X86A2655-Hoatzin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblPgk8PfUsSx7jXlWEEFebr3yNR2Ul7QxBU8QNaNGLXXfzQU4knrhLBRDx5Qoq6FqK_KG4SlanBZBDLDdj8CzLLNJLMAKKq-YajY0PrXkuqL1Z8Dc1NRcef5fAZlreYPRgYrPyamr3Bkv/s320/X86A2655-Hoatzin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hoatzin</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmtx04YdnUUH9SToNd3bwc51HFW1ci9UifVqGaV_bs1pkR3bEqI-PIVe3R2bdNuJpzadVy7QRuetY_3lNf3yQjw4uPEbjvRLq6ZhCRRKgnaXVxYhBxBLXbWOFQ2yGIV4Qfe1LrE1LAJUU/s1600/X86A2695-Grey-necked-Wood-Rail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWmtx04YdnUUH9SToNd3bwc51HFW1ci9UifVqGaV_bs1pkR3bEqI-PIVe3R2bdNuJpzadVy7QRuetY_3lNf3yQjw4uPEbjvRLq6ZhCRRKgnaXVxYhBxBLXbWOFQ2yGIV4Qfe1LrE1LAJUU/s320/X86A2695-Grey-necked-Wood-Rail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Grey-necked Wood-Rail</div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
After two nights at the Field Station, we now went to spend
a night at the Inkaterra Hacienda Concepción.
We arrived late afternoon when the light was starting to fade but still
managed to find a few birds around the grounds as well as Bolivian Squirrel
Monkeys and a Brown Agouti. There was
much better birding during the pre-breakfast session the next morning, starting
at 5.00 a.m. Species seen included
Yellow-tufted & Red-stained Woodpeckers, White-throated Jacamars,
White-browed & Chestnut-tailed Antbirds, Amazonian Motmot, Great Antshrike
and Speckled Chachalaca but none of these gained our attention more than a
Rainbow Boa, a strikingly-patterned snake that allowed close approach and, in
fact, might easily have been stepped on. <br />
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8iIdpcsEasqwIzSrPxbMfaNDB798VYVfqIe39S3Smcmy7rUi4b6_Z5jmE6ohVnnSyq8EQmGHvWg3J4YlRmLJvgnpW54bWl5K8QmHZ0bP3DWxPgtSfPAOrHv_o1fYsFOOP4HozfsoTKV9h/s1600/IMG_1530-Inkaterra-Hacienda-Concepcion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8iIdpcsEasqwIzSrPxbMfaNDB798VYVfqIe39S3Smcmy7rUi4b6_Z5jmE6ohVnnSyq8EQmGHvWg3J4YlRmLJvgnpW54bWl5K8QmHZ0bP3DWxPgtSfPAOrHv_o1fYsFOOP4HozfsoTKV9h/s320/IMG_1530-Inkaterra-Hacienda-Concepcion.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Hacienda Concepción</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7lMY2VYKdbYheotZY-YOAA5sB5xLyWoH1-G4pa7PxrjxA6risEYsydYsoBIBp29iwEQHmkB6OadPEdcxjkl1fJKjSbT7toIn7jRZXtNsRSLUk7P1er9SEg1xV76YzMeCagQezXaPW2D_/s1600/IMG_1532-Rainbow-Boa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb7lMY2VYKdbYheotZY-YOAA5sB5xLyWoH1-G4pa7PxrjxA6risEYsydYsoBIBp29iwEQHmkB6OadPEdcxjkl1fJKjSbT7toIn7jRZXtNsRSLUk7P1er9SEg1xV76YzMeCagQezXaPW2D_/s320/IMG_1532-Rainbow-Boa.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Rainbow Boa</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
More of my Peru Fam Trip to follow...</div>
<br /></div>
Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-77174247831867189162017-10-13T22:39:00.000+01:002017-10-14T08:54:03.251+01:00Piscivore partyAn unusual concentration of fish trapped in one of the salt pans here in Tavira has been attracting numerous birds these past few mornings. Up to 80 Spoonbills and about 50 Little Egrets have been joined by smaller numbers of Cormorants, Grey Herons, White Storks and a single Great Egret.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiICV8gM5IqlXkCwn67aa3stgwkzL2izO1-CC7BVHDmrRowwMTfaezNmsc0M0cj5wD5jxXJ1zhmGV6uIj7rqYx_Sq2TEyx04tqoczUOQIfg_29DCdM_MxoOJgVmOKVWmnCX9a5E4bRj-XC/s1600/X86A1175-Spoonbills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="235" data-original-width="600" height="125" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiICV8gM5IqlXkCwn67aa3stgwkzL2izO1-CC7BVHDmrRowwMTfaezNmsc0M0cj5wD5jxXJ1zhmGV6uIj7rqYx_Sq2TEyx04tqoczUOQIfg_29DCdM_MxoOJgVmOKVWmnCX9a5E4bRj-XC/s320/X86A1175-Spoonbills.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
The fish seem to have been of a size to suit these larger birds but both Caspian & Sandwich Terns have been joining in and have presumably been able to find some smaller ones. Gulls, too, have been looking for a cheap meal, a few Lesser Black-backs but mostly Slender-billed and Black-headed.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOzEfIe33oOEtXZNQJPIYBUgFl4xac0CVQqcZjwrc-sHJNauKDyMJyxRbLwCD0x7Zphpta0_gT0ZUxMdOj9dBYFP1WWHU_zftFggp7K8NVmk9OJPXxLN9qamYc2R0l2RKsNfyIBcqxKtC/s1600/X86A0958-Eurasian-Spoonbill-GBL-aLYf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifOzEfIe33oOEtXZNQJPIYBUgFl4xac0CVQqcZjwrc-sHJNauKDyMJyxRbLwCD0x7Zphpta0_gT0ZUxMdOj9dBYFP1WWHU_zftFggp7K8NVmk9OJPXxLN9qamYc2R0l2RKsNfyIBcqxKtC/s320/X86A0958-Eurasian-Spoonbill-GBL-aLYf.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It’s not an ideal site for photography but it has been hard to resist trying to get some images. I used a Canon EOS 7D Mk ll with a 100-400mm lens and a 1.4x extender but would have liked to get closer.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSOkQx5j2IYqDSGS4v9S78PZoNdxb3FspCS60KN1bfsA_C0X2zhL3pMKleqSidS_11id8r8U0Jbd2qXhoFLapSK_xItXjYbdoSvocd5dEnPWHKFKyBs6YhpxqlQpFu1MGbrK7vu4I3VDl/s1600/X86A0983-Great-Cormorant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFSOkQx5j2IYqDSGS4v9S78PZoNdxb3FspCS60KN1bfsA_C0X2zhL3pMKleqSidS_11id8r8U0Jbd2qXhoFLapSK_xItXjYbdoSvocd5dEnPWHKFKyBs6YhpxqlQpFu1MGbrK7vu4I3VDl/s320/X86A0983-Great-Cormorant.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhu8x0yLOc2qIjVIWVE5FWXGDge6bNrUzuFSBMMu8u4VHgnSU8vNjg-yvH4hP1sGvq3OYsba-rXkHWVJtyCo_H6TXCH0BzD19PbnC9RP9lAAwazf8IvYmH6wluM-DAYrC6yTlCqvFZJKQ/s1600/X86A1018-White-Stork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGhu8x0yLOc2qIjVIWVE5FWXGDge6bNrUzuFSBMMu8u4VHgnSU8vNjg-yvH4hP1sGvq3OYsba-rXkHWVJtyCo_H6TXCH0BzD19PbnC9RP9lAAwazf8IvYmH6wluM-DAYrC6yTlCqvFZJKQ/s320/X86A1018-White-Stork.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwd0Z5Ydx47chwfmJkvH1bJ8kHWgW8hu-p38nVPa6NH_r8m9z3TmymnQCOO4QSZ9S-JyK0pPtE3W6S9c3nq9CGHOVVgtHlnUnC9eFAaxzLzunLR0UV-zri7CtIfpNBafJAsZsnMIsx5FXk/s1600/X86A1027-Grey-Heron-%2526-Spoonbills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwd0Z5Ydx47chwfmJkvH1bJ8kHWgW8hu-p38nVPa6NH_r8m9z3TmymnQCOO4QSZ9S-JyK0pPtE3W6S9c3nq9CGHOVVgtHlnUnC9eFAaxzLzunLR0UV-zri7CtIfpNBafJAsZsnMIsx5FXk/s320/X86A1027-Grey-Heron-%2526-Spoonbills.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJHO8RK0ohF2koiBbTFT1Oe7lGCztWjJDy-eP30R5fdDe42JmMyBy7SydZ0EyBmCrvRhiqhu4W6fSEPC0-Nwzlwv7fF4lVCPxZO9EOCfKbbqe0MDEK5sfo3A41AiZ6Clli2Q0s0vX1mcK/s1600/X86A1059-Caspian-Tern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHJHO8RK0ohF2koiBbTFT1Oe7lGCztWjJDy-eP30R5fdDe42JmMyBy7SydZ0EyBmCrvRhiqhu4W6fSEPC0-Nwzlwv7fF4lVCPxZO9EOCfKbbqe0MDEK5sfo3A41AiZ6Clli2Q0s0vX1mcK/s320/X86A1059-Caspian-Tern.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpgv08E3ds1nekzN4JnXccNBc5H-iKdyaa4LtHrTiwkXjHEnNP45O-D1mnFfZORXrNjySFkzO9t9CUkSCxbcW2aM-LCAr19Ysb2HuFbo8ZFz_4u4HoA1S-FOnFikU4JZHqSdU70RbDHzA/s1600/X86A1322-Black-headed-Gull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKpgv08E3ds1nekzN4JnXccNBc5H-iKdyaa4LtHrTiwkXjHEnNP45O-D1mnFfZORXrNjySFkzO9t9CUkSCxbcW2aM-LCAr19Ysb2HuFbo8ZFz_4u4HoA1S-FOnFikU4JZHqSdU70RbDHzA/s320/X86A1322-Black-headed-Gull.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It was no surprise to find that some of the Spoonbills were colour-ringed but the depth of the water made it difficult to record the details. As so often, taking the ring details from the photographs was the best plan. Full details are still awaited of the five birds reported but it looks as though three were ringed in The Netherlands and one each in France and Portugal. One of the Dutch birds we have actually seen here before in 2011 and 2013; it's a female ringed in 1999.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZDIbjnKOr-EucrM7cSXDvvvIY9pD3fZWiDqHw4Ta_usgabGN0qyTdtbMaDQWGek6cKGUk32nCgTLYExFsPsJit7b78SyFt8_xs-R8t2g1X2IZLoOlOWllnSqvdf4ICAHH-bH7d_wwnpg/s1600/X86A1147-Grey-Heron.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGZDIbjnKOr-EucrM7cSXDvvvIY9pD3fZWiDqHw4Ta_usgabGN0qyTdtbMaDQWGek6cKGUk32nCgTLYExFsPsJit7b78SyFt8_xs-R8t2g1X2IZLoOlOWllnSqvdf4ICAHH-bH7d_wwnpg/s320/X86A1147-Grey-Heron.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqf4uo5nj0iNJX1O-bqyIPsy1pz2idFN5eqxn5H8Tj8haBI-bqtK2mCsDPFSdbIloTaHbCVjh2JrUONyblzylhHdTcHgQW4x1WILkYpfWpYZF6-wRVSM_6z2zfdKOgXhqR5oUcKw1Q12g/s1600/X86A1166-Eurasian-Spoonbill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbqf4uo5nj0iNJX1O-bqyIPsy1pz2idFN5eqxn5H8Tj8haBI-bqtK2mCsDPFSdbIloTaHbCVjh2JrUONyblzylhHdTcHgQW4x1WILkYpfWpYZF6-wRVSM_6z2zfdKOgXhqR5oUcKw1Q12g/s320/X86A1166-Eurasian-Spoonbill.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvF7XgePauiyoHVvUVDr0YxCgy4nbrB6E6bXr1MhmMouBM_VkbK750fPQiizYaJVY01QBYQXoY08iwmBaUkrlSiNvFWdgI0lRv5rIVsZ0v7OhfSvmYssMB4rMAKCqNviSu1sNycDS4B_7L/s1600/X86A1193-Sandwich-Tern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvF7XgePauiyoHVvUVDr0YxCgy4nbrB6E6bXr1MhmMouBM_VkbK750fPQiizYaJVY01QBYQXoY08iwmBaUkrlSiNvFWdgI0lRv5rIVsZ0v7OhfSvmYssMB4rMAKCqNviSu1sNycDS4B_7L/s320/X86A1193-Sandwich-Tern.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbOuNwR1BpBPW5BHynnBhF6MLCOPiBGr0Q5tlTeBCUZ_JI7hFwSrxCJMA7uqDEb3RQu34VHJshWD8yh7Hb8xMehMNfzJyTC7N6YMP0gqDWLCpVG4h7BNEctFPZVy8Bag7UDYDW3Pp1oLR/s1600/X86A1316-Little-Egret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbOuNwR1BpBPW5BHynnBhF6MLCOPiBGr0Q5tlTeBCUZ_JI7hFwSrxCJMA7uqDEb3RQu34VHJshWD8yh7Hb8xMehMNfzJyTC7N6YMP0gqDWLCpVG4h7BNEctFPZVy8Bag7UDYDW3Pp1oLR/s320/X86A1316-Little-Egret.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6tdVaI4IgNfBKE5PJN8_CGQx3AoHazOvkGTIqVFaInp_bKbSe0IQ9Yt7-6IWNY5t1yWPZglODGPVAn8FRob2HuxPWJ0M0gZdTNjnTD7I9W4nl7R6KQvaEcCsqZKOzlSQ_IExr3j-yyBs/s1600/X86A1284-Slender-billed-Gull.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX6tdVaI4IgNfBKE5PJN8_CGQx3AoHazOvkGTIqVFaInp_bKbSe0IQ9Yt7-6IWNY5t1yWPZglODGPVAn8FRob2HuxPWJ0M0gZdTNjnTD7I9W4nl7R6KQvaEcCsqZKOzlSQ_IExr3j-yyBs/s320/X86A1284-Slender-billed-Gull.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBa9J9LhU79a-iVwfPe-dUnzvKz58tbJCj6Zb6Z1t2qbU0u6p17xcl3d4p4aZKfVhjQABwFhakjd4D_DN9xzMLXA6E_vUEkXRDW5uHq6jdLDdfkXKRvnXLknp68vkkD1kS_yj64iDRtke/s1600/X86A1249-Little-Egret.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQBa9J9LhU79a-iVwfPe-dUnzvKz58tbJCj6Zb6Z1t2qbU0u6p17xcl3d4p4aZKfVhjQABwFhakjd4D_DN9xzMLXA6E_vUEkXRDW5uHq6jdLDdfkXKRvnXLknp68vkkD1kS_yj64iDRtke/s320/X86A1249-Little-Egret.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESTH93xYcFt4GX43HPr8qYYHJGldlPkAsf7FoB3I_TXzP2iQBPN5hWUPmRLU0ULGPs793lD5oQNGCb9UeSyFsJqpp-rBi03n2n1Co7rzhiU_JU3dfpBL-corQ-Ct1Opa_grSd-FNtUy7v/s1600/X86A1225-Spoonbills.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgESTH93xYcFt4GX43HPr8qYYHJGldlPkAsf7FoB3I_TXzP2iQBPN5hWUPmRLU0ULGPs793lD5oQNGCb9UeSyFsJqpp-rBi03n2n1Co7rzhiU_JU3dfpBL-corQ-Ct1Opa_grSd-FNtUy7v/s320/X86A1225-Spoonbills.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVtIGgHjX39ZEyRYjOV6djA-vkL53JYS5TKHJUBrfHdsS8koErZlYqDRA2oxMPT-OsEUCH4FFfb31zN4BHy9LIu_-GUkwsq2GmH87AgvoJyU0_NGq9jlNh6nOuyWSb4KSJfS1Ypzr2vuW/s1600/X86A1338-Caspian-Tern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIVtIGgHjX39ZEyRYjOV6djA-vkL53JYS5TKHJUBrfHdsS8koErZlYqDRA2oxMPT-OsEUCH4FFfb31zN4BHy9LIu_-GUkwsq2GmH87AgvoJyU0_NGq9jlNh6nOuyWSb4KSJfS1Ypzr2vuW/s320/X86A1338-Caspian-Tern.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
No doubt some of these Spoonbills will stay in the Algarve for the winter but many will find their way to Mauritania and Senegal.<br />
<br />Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2583045325437987972.post-78991883729528694402017-10-06T18:36:00.000+01:002017-10-06T18:36:13.883+01:00Algarve autumnAfter spending much of the summer in the UK in order to avoid the extreme heat of the Algarve we returned here in September to find that it was still pretty warm. And so it continues with the temperature rising to 30º C again yesterday and there’s continuing, wall to wall sunshine forecast for at least another week. Not that we’re complaining, of course, but it isn’t ideal weather for long birding days and it isn’t weather that’s been bringing in many of the scarce or rare migrants that we hope for at this time of year.<br />
<br />
Having said all that, we’ve been birding most days since our return and it’s been great. Mostly we’ve been in the Ria Formosa but there have been days around Castro Verde to see the specialities of that area and we have had a couple of trips to Sagres where raptors and seabirds are the main attractions; we also spent some time with the team from <a href="http://www.brewoodringers.com/" target="_blank">Brewood Ringers</a> who had another very successful visit to the Parque Ambiental de Vilamoura.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmvbHKict-qOeHLYUuYT32sGcENjCA8D-2vlNVn0nCxUn5CLYgc0jqnwCL9heYPoMkDfoOgdQllQ7CmcfbRRflaXeUZ8Tb1iQnjoDaBkC4AAugttChyphenhyphenUzbK7NTi-rQN6aOEuRhXrW1xXY/s1600/X86A0781-Spanish-Imperial-Eagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmvbHKict-qOeHLYUuYT32sGcENjCA8D-2vlNVn0nCxUn5CLYgc0jqnwCL9heYPoMkDfoOgdQllQ7CmcfbRRflaXeUZ8Tb1iQnjoDaBkC4AAugttChyphenhyphenUzbK7NTi-rQN6aOEuRhXrW1xXY/s320/X86A0781-Spanish-Imperial-Eagle.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Spanish Imperial Eagle</div>
<br />
As always, there’s been lots to see in the Ria Formosa. It isn’t difficult to find 20 or more shorebird species in a morning around the tidal areas and saltpans and it’s usually possible to see six gull species without too much difficulty. There was a Pectoral Sandpiper last month and a Red-necked Phalarope but so far nothing more exotic than those. It’s fair to say that not everyone we take birding shares our enthusiasm for waders and gulls and still we find that Little Bitterns, Black-winged Kites, Western Swamp-hens and Bluethroats are the biggest ‘crowd-pleasers’.<br />
<br />
One or two Yellow-browed Warblers have appeared in recent days but rare passerines have otherwise been missing. In former years the ringers have produced the goods – we remember a Common Yellowthroat, Common Rosefinches, a Paddyfield Warbler and an Aquatic Warbler turning up in mist-nets at Vilamoura in the recent past but this year their success was simply in the actual number of birds they caught and ringed rather than finding rarities – 1903 birds of 56 varieties! Their efforts once again underline the importance of the Parque Ambiental to a wide selection of migrant species.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sYL3qPlveaDSRXssyCn4hOiLDx8wVoXfbpXnoUrb90H4ol3JkW2B-lqpjRd7_oKd2iopBzF6okE6QmT9Iq8o9EewGtdgjjKZdhKTR2e7f6J5RMhcSLOc9PuBnRhc_gwPteqzuoKXRgtG/s1600/X86A0184-Iberian-Woodpecker.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4sYL3qPlveaDSRXssyCn4hOiLDx8wVoXfbpXnoUrb90H4ol3JkW2B-lqpjRd7_oKd2iopBzF6okE6QmT9Iq8o9EewGtdgjjKZdhKTR2e7f6J5RMhcSLOc9PuBnRhc_gwPteqzuoKXRgtG/s320/X86A0184-Iberian-Woodpecker.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Iberian Green Woodpecker</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZ80lyNuR3rb9MsgUgPei7tCHKV2MGJX4-bogIBP8G2bpU35x40fg9FAJOfbC8v4kMz_5Ho254OXZ8VU1YQ_M3tY6eopoZvU6PKVMM0Sj7k1bIhcuJhtCQNmbZmtsIRomfLpzj2Gbr4jd/s1600/X86A0293-Common-Kestrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="600" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqZ80lyNuR3rb9MsgUgPei7tCHKV2MGJX4-bogIBP8G2bpU35x40fg9FAJOfbC8v4kMz_5Ho254OXZ8VU1YQ_M3tY6eopoZvU6PKVMM0Sj7k1bIhcuJhtCQNmbZmtsIRomfLpzj2Gbr4jd/s320/X86A0293-Common-Kestrel.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Common Kestrel</div>
<br />
At Sagres we managed to see a reasonable number of raptors but to be honest it would have been nice to view them at closer range. Some days they come closer to Cabranosa than others and we just haven’t been lucky. Highlights there so far (and there’s plenty of time left for more) have been two Rüppell’s Vultures and a Lesser Spotted Eagle. We did get a distant view of the eagle, coincidentally on the same date that we saw a much closer one in 2015.<br />
<br />
Highlights among the seabirds have been two Brown Boobies and a Yelkouan Shearwater, both seen from Cape St Vincent. Whilst there is a nice photograph of the Brown Booby, the shearwater record may not have such an easy passage through the hands of the Rarities Committee. We went out to sea about nine miles with <a href="http://marilimitado.com/" target="_blank">Mar Ilimitado</a> and on a fairly calm day saw Cory’s, Balearic & Great Shearwaters, European & Wilson’s Storm-petrels, Northern Gannets and just one Great Skua. Maybe it wasn’t the most productive trip we’ve ever done but it was certainly memorable. There were close encounters with a Fin Whale, several Striped Dolphins and far more Common Dolphins than we have ever seen before.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3zR4e-6bVLUzC1rW8-7PJ_vTGUrLxibdtm0TGwgZLP-ugJO4GlndymxEPzveLnrAYwhM8eCNkb3mVShB788L4H0w9XMw7wCXLi59TO5h7Xqofswu6ilKZVX-9GyvZpSmTnz2YlDGfYVp/s1600/X86A0506-Fin-Whale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC3zR4e-6bVLUzC1rW8-7PJ_vTGUrLxibdtm0TGwgZLP-ugJO4GlndymxEPzveLnrAYwhM8eCNkb3mVShB788L4H0w9XMw7wCXLi59TO5h7Xqofswu6ilKZVX-9GyvZpSmTnz2YlDGfYVp/s320/X86A0506-Fin-Whale.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Fin Whale</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjuiJjqfvuY64hn_uOu1d5ov_K74x4BfdWS5A8jpC79_suziMQa53YgLW8dUKj5KDlqrclkEz7Ny9u6Od9WZ9vUxwUIqC5Y2UZj89-7BzKSV2sTr3vAK3bgNw2IynlPWRmE7jZwDtSgL-/s1600/X86A0477-Common-Dolphin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrjuiJjqfvuY64hn_uOu1d5ov_K74x4BfdWS5A8jpC79_suziMQa53YgLW8dUKj5KDlqrclkEz7Ny9u6Od9WZ9vUxwUIqC5Y2UZj89-7BzKSV2sTr3vAK3bgNw2IynlPWRmE7jZwDtSgL-/s320/X86A0477-Common-Dolphin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Common Dolphin</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKx7d7yiW3usbj1UzV7XXmIkRdjJQapDlKZEhkUydYF_M-n9qmb81_saRJw_MEKJSiobyXuucuNOJ7oZwfIJBZ_CtpyZf6_rotjPvXACskogbrqln33elLhCal_xWIFMvzlKWKp2cvcxEx/s1600/X86A0545-European-Storm-petrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKx7d7yiW3usbj1UzV7XXmIkRdjJQapDlKZEhkUydYF_M-n9qmb81_saRJw_MEKJSiobyXuucuNOJ7oZwfIJBZ_CtpyZf6_rotjPvXACskogbrqln33elLhCal_xWIFMvzlKWKp2cvcxEx/s320/X86A0545-European-Storm-petrel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
European Storm-petrel</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjW-764wZh9r0aLDOwXFAXQNnzP8TylhzmhmUHzzEpGtpRzEitg_XFQ7_C4QL0DRH5hw6pLp5BBrO7YpsUG_57aPm0fOfz8-EBoUwznUNMeGMaTBbchyphenhyphen-JbMxiqszDtSAkFupy1wtJwpN/s1600/X86A0382-Cory%2527s-Shearwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYjW-764wZh9r0aLDOwXFAXQNnzP8TylhzmhmUHzzEpGtpRzEitg_XFQ7_C4QL0DRH5hw6pLp5BBrO7YpsUG_57aPm0fOfz8-EBoUwznUNMeGMaTBbchyphenhyphen-JbMxiqszDtSAkFupy1wtJwpN/s320/X86A0382-Cory%2527s-Shearwater.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Cory's Shearwater</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSK3XnssZIvbS0LCkcOhp5Om62KDPzPCMPXqEtLm5e-qvp0jnebh33sI0yN1gSmDYs7-6Q_nTWo3TO1NcZ7E9dZ6wBtXZMFkZfH2DhPujqaSgdmhmDdi8o15ipGiO4T5R1GFGlYNbXxTak/s1600/X86A0372-Cory%2527s-%25285%2529-and-Balearic-%25281%2529-Shearwaters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSK3XnssZIvbS0LCkcOhp5Om62KDPzPCMPXqEtLm5e-qvp0jnebh33sI0yN1gSmDYs7-6Q_nTWo3TO1NcZ7E9dZ6wBtXZMFkZfH2DhPujqaSgdmhmDdi8o15ipGiO4T5R1GFGlYNbXxTak/s320/X86A0372-Cory%2527s-%25285%2529-and-Balearic-%25281%2529-Shearwaters.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Five Cory's and one Balearic Shearwater</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
We continue to read and report inscriptions from colour-rings. These include the regular rings on Spoonbills and Greater Flamingos but more interestingly we have seen recently a nine year-old Glossy Ibis that was ringed in the Doñana area and which has returned to more or less the exact spot that we saw it in 2010 and 2012. Also a Slender-billed Gull is back in the same saltpan where we first saw it at this time last year.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCB7mjkyUM4Cn-UsKDozHvK-rXN5Fg5DpUjAYJNw4RgCEgboVM7Hb9oKuhOwGDpULs8mek3iTdGCk0848HWihNPWRsAUlQYNcqxICgXQjZw4OPR8jdl7TAKlzJ02TnfGGXDZf-_EhQcDG/s1600/X86A0237-Eurasian-Spoonbill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZCB7mjkyUM4Cn-UsKDozHvK-rXN5Fg5DpUjAYJNw4RgCEgboVM7Hb9oKuhOwGDpULs8mek3iTdGCk0848HWihNPWRsAUlQYNcqxICgXQjZw4OPR8jdl7TAKlzJ02TnfGGXDZf-_EhQcDG/s320/X86A0237-Eurasian-Spoonbill.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Spoonbill (ringed in The Netherlands)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Peter and Junehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13407482544472056644noreply@blogger.com0