tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76988299722301230882024-03-13T22:04:32.939-07:00Ollie's Birding BlogOliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-43670117116689922612014-05-14T11:13:00.000-07:002014-05-14T11:13:31.126-07:00Israel: Part 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The rest of the trip we focussed our birding around the Yotvata and KM20 areas, and picked up plenty of good birds, and a noticeable increase of migrants:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pied Kingfisher-KM19-20 ditch</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Bush Robin</td></tr>
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Undoubtedly my best find of the trip was this Black Bush robin, initially found early morning at the Arabian warbler site near Yotvata where a few people got on to it.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hoopoe, Yotvata</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Issy wheatear</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ortolan</td></tr>
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The Black Bush Robin, or quite possibly another, then popped up 20km further south that afternoon, and again 2km further south 15 minutes later! One birding moving fast, or a bit of an arrival?<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Randomly hopping about under some desert scrub</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Rock Thrush in the middle of desert scrub</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Huge flock of Spanish Sparrows were present at Yotvata</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Breeding KP at Km20</td></tr>
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Selection of migrants:<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I found this Collared fly on birdrace day at IBRC, but it vanished before all but one team got to see it</td></tr>
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And on our way back to Tel Aviv we stopped at the wonderful Lahav, very different to the arid south.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Spotted Cuckoo</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-billed Pipit on territory</td></tr>
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When we arrived at Tel Aviv, we wasted ours pissing about in traffic, but we did get our only White-breasted Kingfishers of the trip before heading home via extremely heavy airport security.<br />
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Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-75835570218460044982014-04-27T13:20:00.003-07:002014-05-14T10:25:54.401-07:00Young People in Conservation<div class="Standard" style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;">
<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>This is a response to Danny Heptinstall's guest blog on Mark Avery's blog 'Standing up for Nature'</b><a href="http://markavery.info/2014/04/04/heptinstall/" style="text-decoration: none;">http://markavery.info/2014/04/04/heptinstall/</a> <b> and on his own website 'naturewarblings'</b><a href="http://naturewarblings.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/where-is-the-uks-youth-conservation-movement/" style="text-decoration: none;"><b>http://naturewarblings.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/where-is-the-uks-youth-conservation-movement/</b></a><b> .</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Every so often, an article appears haranguing 'today's youth' for their lack of engagement with nature. We sit on our Playstations all day, with an iPhone on our laps so we can flick between screens every second to absorb a constant stream of meaningless celebrity gossip whilst mutilating zombies, never having seen so much as a blade of grass in the flesh. As a young birder growing up reading this sort of article (or the endless, tedious Birdforum comments on the issue), I can only say that they are counter-productive and dispiriting for the very people they aim to encourage. To hear that there are no young birders around, that you are isolated and different, creates a barrier that is difficult to overcome. Why would you put effort in trying to find other people your age who share your passion when you have already been told there is none?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Danny's argument differs slightly from this familiar narrative, but I fear with the same negative, off-putting outcome. In this reading, there are plenty of 'interested' youths, signing up for conservation courses and over-subscribing any available jobs, but they are not of a high enough calibre to properly support the work of the current conservation NGOs, and they do not constitute a coherent (yet undefined) movement. The blame for this, rather than being the fault of the youth, is a lack of engagement from the large conservation NGOs, particularly within the 18-25 age bracket. Essentially there are too few engaged 18-25 year-olds with the ability to make a difference, and it is the responsibility of large conservation NGOs to resolve this problem.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">From my point of view, this reading of the situation is wrong in several ways, and is even harmful in the way the older, more clichéd articles were. Whilst I don't wish to comment too much on an overarching 'conservation' movement, I do know a bit about the birding scene, and I suspect that it is reasonably reflective of any larger nature or conservation movement. Within birding, whilst it may have been true a few years back that there was no coherent, appealing youth groups within birding, it no longer is. Both Next Generation Birders and A Focus on Nature (for more general naturalists) provide a fantastic forum- one of the recommendations for action in Danny's blog- from which young birders can meet, share ideas and generally evolve a sense of community. To characterise today's young enthusiasts as naïve, un-knowledgeable people prepared to drop £30,000 on a university course they know very little about, is not only to ignore all the people on NGB and AFON who are the very opposite of this, but it will also actively discourage the less engaged and knowledgeable from looking for these communities by denying their existence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3;"><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">It's not even clear that attempting to engage with this age group in the way advocated by Danny's article would be positive for the larger NGOs. It only takes a brief look through the annals of Twitter marketing failures to see just how hard it is to appeal to this age group, and it is often huge corporations with massive marketing budgets that are making this cock-ups. Do we really want our environmental NGOs diverting vital resources away from conservation in order to work out a strategy to appeal to an audience that is notoriously difficult to connect to? A large part of the problem is that those in this age bracket (including myself) often want to create our own identities, to differentiate ourselves from what went before, hence the advantages of groups like AFON and NGB. The RSPB have been remarkably and commendably quick in recognising this, offering assistance to NGB to grow support for conservation in a way that wouldn't work if operated through official channels like RSPB Phoenix. It may be in the nature of these newer 'un-official' groups to be somewhat ephemeral, with each new generation wishing to create new identities </span><span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and doing things their own way, but surely it is better for NGOs to offer a dynamic, supportive response to these groups as a strategy, than to risk diverting £1000s of pounds of funding finding strategies that are always likely to prove unappealing to its' target audience.</span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">That's not to say I disagree with all Danny had to say – or even the main thrust of his argument, that environmental NGOs are failing the 18-25 age group in becoming the future of conservation. To work out the best way for the RSPB and other groups to engage with this audience, it is necessary to look at what young people have most to offer. Clearly it's not money, of the RSPBs million plus members only a small proportion are ever going to fit into this category, and they are going to be less well off. I would envisage that the vast majority of the RSPBs youth membership have their membership paid for by well wishing relatives, or as family memberships, regardless of any interest shown by the younger people themselves. The dynamics of birding have changed as well, it's no longer a hobby adopted at a young age and continued through into older age, there are now far more beginners in the 40+ age bracket, replete with top range optics and DSLRs wandering round RSPB reserves. From a purely economic perspective, this should be the target audience for new membership campaigns, for finding new volunteers and support- instead of trying to develop a potentially non-existent loyalty from a dwindling group of youngsters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Instead, what's there is dynamism, energy, new ideas and enthusiasm, the same young people have to offer any corporate company. Many industries and companies acknowledge this, and offer an array of internships and graduate roles to young people to gain broad experience in their chosen career paths. It is here that the RSPB and other large environmental NGOs (although not all) let young enthusiasts down the most.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The RSPB job application forms are an exercise in intimidation, with huge amounts of skills and knowledge required for often the most simple of roles. Invariably a degree in a related subject is required. Furthermore, it is often the case that months of free labour, in the form of volunteering, is often required before even being considered for a job. Volunteering in general is of course a good thing, but as a pre-requisite for a job, can become a hurdle that rules out many talented individuals if they do not have the wealth to work for free for extended periods of time, or suitable access to reserves etc. For those coming out of university with upwards of £20,000 debt, finding any sort of paying job can take precedence over months of unpaid labour, regardless of the calibre of the individual. All of this serves to put off many talented young people looking for work within conservation NGOs, and substantially narrows the pool of people likely to be applying for a role, thus unnecessarily ruling out people who could be doing fantastic work for conservation.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">In my opinion, the best thing the RSPB and other large conservation NGOs could do to help and encourage young people is to establish an annual 6-month paid graduate internship programme, for those with a genuine interest in conservation and nature. Ideally this would be done in combination with several NGOs, allowing different experiences within different organisations, and spreading the costs. Roles could be offered in different areas, 'field and reserve work' for example, or 'research', 'campaigning and media engagement' and other important aspects of these NGOs work. Importantly, however, recruits should be drawn for the broadest possible of backgrounds, paid so as not to rule out people on a financial basis, and regarded as a way of finding the best 'raw materials' to train and teach, rather than as a route in for those already with huge skill-bases.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: #444444; color: #f3f3f3; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">This in turn I feel would further encourage the 'youth movement' so advocated by Danny, by showing that efforts and enthusiasm can be rewarded and appreciated by the large NGOs, that what can be accomplished by young people is still valuable.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-70409883023149957162014-04-07T10:32:00.000-07:002014-04-08T00:27:11.832-07:00Israel: Part 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The next day we headed to Yotvata in the morning with the intention of throughly exploring the large arable fields and excellent sewage works.</div>
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We headed to the sewage works first, which were excellent, with at least three Citrine wagtails, a dozen or so Bluethroats (both white and red spots) dashing about in the reeds, 2 Little crakes and a Savi's warbler singing.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W0sppzjmUL0/U0LZCObND_I/AAAAAAAABR8/k8yqRfg_fW4/s1600/IMG_9175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W0sppzjmUL0/U0LZCObND_I/AAAAAAAABR8/k8yqRfg_fW4/s1600/IMG_9175.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Selection of wagtails</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KSApdEfzXaM/U0LY7AGmQ7I/AAAAAAAABRU/XLxMvCDWbPg/s1600/IMG_9192.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KSApdEfzXaM/U0LY7AGmQ7I/AAAAAAAABRU/XLxMvCDWbPg/s1600/IMG_9192.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graceful prinia nest building</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QhNJIUxAWnQ/U0LY7ePRDrI/AAAAAAAABRY/pDn0l6sqNmE/s1600/IMG_9221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QhNJIUxAWnQ/U0LY7ePRDrI/AAAAAAAABRY/pDn0l6sqNmE/s1600/IMG_9221.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many Bluethroats</td></tr>
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We then headed to the North fields. On arriving we picked up a female kestrel sp. Tim refused to look at it as he didn't want his first Lesser kestrel to be an imm/female type, and whilst I was identifying it, he called to get on a wader going over, the immediately shouted 'Caspian plover'! The air became electric as we all swung round to get on it, zipping through fairly high up. Thankfully it slowed and turned, then came in to the fields, giving great views over the course of the next hour before twitchers started to arrive and we drifted away.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim got his male Lesser kestrel whilst watching the Caspian plover</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black kites were common over the fields</td></tr>
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We had heard that there was an Oriental skylark on South Circular field, so we headed there in the midday heat without very great hopes of success. After flushing several hundred Short-toed larks, along with a few buntings and pipits, three small larks flew up, all calling identically. What was going on? But sure enough, we persevered and there was indeed 3 Oriental skylark (and one European skylark) feeding along the weedy strip. Happily one perched for views, albeit somewhat distantly in the heat haze.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oriental skylark</td></tr>
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We then headed back to Km 20, as the heat had quietened most of the passerine action at Yotvata.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dKT3bozAZ4I/U0LZEEgPXvI/AAAAAAAABSM/BV9W79JVTtk/s1600/IMG_9470.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dKT3bozAZ4I/U0LZEEgPXvI/AAAAAAAABSM/BV9W79JVTtk/s1600/IMG_9470.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Apparently a bit scarce</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xd2rpL4Zkyg/U0LZKk3jfJI/AAAAAAAABSc/_rsLEzSSECI/s1600/IMG_9500.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xd2rpL4Zkyg/U0LZKk3jfJI/AAAAAAAABSc/_rsLEzSSECI/s1600/IMG_9500.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spur-winged plover</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>coutelli </i>Water pipit in Km19-20 ditch</td></tr>
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The next day, myself and James headed to the Dead Sea, to try and catch up with some of the specialities. In terms of the birds seen, we had a fantastic day, but most of the real specialities seemed to avoid the camera lens, so sadly not many pics!<br />
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We started at a wadi just south of the Dead Sea to look for Arabian warblers at dawn. Again, the wadi was incredibly alive with migrants, with at least two species of sandgrouse flying about. Eventually we tracked own a male Arabian warbler, which gave brief views before vanishing off down the wadi again.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_57N3rUU3_4/U0LZKyp-NzI/AAAAAAAABSg/8LMHlbZnHGk/s1600/IMG_9578.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_57N3rUU3_4/U0LZKyp-NzI/AAAAAAAABSg/8LMHlbZnHGk/s1600/IMG_9578.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tawny pipit</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m4v0yToV5EI/U0LZPzWdsrI/AAAAAAAABS0/bl65-UwzYY8/s1600/IMG_9586.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m4v0yToV5EI/U0LZPzWdsrI/AAAAAAAABS0/bl65-UwzYY8/s1600/IMG_9586.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Orphean warblers provided good comparisons</td></tr>
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We then headed on to Lot reservoir where we picked up a singing male Dead Sea sparrow, several singing Clamorous reed warblers and Indian silverbills<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SDi5-TUsT4A/U0LZQOgaOII/AAAAAAAABS4/M5LLYcAQbmI/s1600/IMG_9613.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SDi5-TUsT4A/U0LZQOgaOII/AAAAAAAABS4/M5LLYcAQbmI/s1600/IMG_9613.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These look like they should be in Star Wars</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aoAd8eiJE0I/U0LZRHhXFFI/AAAAAAAABTE/FP_tAJrXrR0/s1600/IMG_9636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-aoAd8eiJE0I/U0LZRHhXFFI/AAAAAAAABTE/FP_tAJrXrR0/s1600/IMG_9636.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was on the fence around Lot Reservoir</td></tr>
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We then headed on to En Gedi and a steep mountainous wadi to look for Sinai rosefinch. We went too far up, but the raptor watching was again spectacular, as were the Fan-tailed ravens and Nubian ibex. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i1-xLeQnUBw/U0Ld7lz6jrI/AAAAAAAABTo/_KeP4uD1j88/s1600/IMG_9792.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-i1-xLeQnUBw/U0Ld7lz6jrI/AAAAAAAABTo/_KeP4uD1j88/s1600/IMG_9792.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fan-tailed raven</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ypry6xZS1nU/U0LZe8UkrzI/AAAAAAAABTc/LhSInj2mi4w/s1600/IMG_9955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ypry6xZS1nU/U0LZe8UkrzI/AAAAAAAABTc/LhSInj2mi4w/s1600/IMG_9955.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Tristram's starling</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Bum43KTEEA/U0LZYWOeczI/AAAAAAAABTU/n4EjTlZdU9E/s1600/IMG_9983.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5Bum43KTEEA/U0LZYWOeczI/AAAAAAAABTU/n4EjTlZdU9E/s1600/IMG_9983.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black storks were going over with the raptors</td></tr>
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WE gave up after midday when the heat became too much and spent a few hours around En Gedi. Fortunately with a bit of encouragemnet from Josh Jones, we decided to return late afternoon, and found the spring. Within minutes a pair of Sinai rosefinch came in to drink, and the disembodied song that had been unlocatable in the morning eventually gave itself up as a distantly singing Mountain bunting. Excellent! but we had to dash to catch Barak Granit and his tour for the evening, rather than attempting closer views. We arrived with a few minutes spare, to be informed it was a perfect night for it. Good to his word, Barak had us watching a hunting Nubian nightjar within twenty minutes, then an hour or so later, a calling Hume's owl! All in all, a very succesful day.<br />
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More to follow<br />
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Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-55244957902474316512014-04-06T08:51:00.000-07:002014-04-06T08:57:40.369-07:00Israel: part 1I had heard how good spring trips to Israel could be, so when Tim Jones discussed the possibility of going out there for ten days in late March and early April, I decided to grasp the opportunity. As well as Tim, Rael Butcher and James Shergold came along, and we found pretty cheap flights in to Tel Aviv on the 23rd. We booked accommodation in a cheap hostel in Eilat, and based ourselves there throughout the trip.<br />
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We arrived too late to do any birding on 23rd, and just drove to Eilat. The 24th saw myself, James and Tim head to Holland Park early morning to try and catch up with a reported Black bush robin, but unfortunately no-one knew anything about it, and despite extensive searching. That said, Tim and James had wracked up half a dozen lifers before I'd even got my scope out of it's case, and after a few hours, I'd seen a fair few new birds myself. Holland Park was a fantastic start, absolutely dripping with migrants as well as some of the resident specialities.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pyAZTn2kzKc/U0FQtMATaHI/AAAAAAAABOQ/X3gYAc-HbCw/s1600/IMG_8248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pyAZTn2kzKc/U0FQtMATaHI/AAAAAAAABOQ/X3gYAc-HbCw/s1600/IMG_8248.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laughing dove</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pFl8wm7uFqY/U0FQbbURceI/AAAAAAAABN0/yKWGQ9qfucw/s1600/IMG_8257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pFl8wm7uFqY/U0FQbbURceI/AAAAAAAABN0/yKWGQ9qfucw/s1600/IMG_8257.JPG" height="320" width="221" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern bonelli's warbler</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gXHjaSSRMcc/U0FQbqGTlmI/AAAAAAAABN4/sezwiOmpyy8/s1600/IMG_8260.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gXHjaSSRMcc/U0FQbqGTlmI/AAAAAAAABN4/sezwiOmpyy8/s1600/IMG_8260.JPG" height="222" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sand partridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-socc5k99sXw/U0FQiQOa2eI/AAAAAAAABOE/zqti_U9TR9w/s1600/IMG_8274.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-socc5k99sXw/U0FQiQOa2eI/AAAAAAAABOE/zqti_U9TR9w/s1600/IMG_8274.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Ruppell's warbler-at least half a dozen of these beauties in Holland Park alone</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sspCGj5HU74/U0FQuZyxM4I/AAAAAAAABOc/p7XdMvk-V74/s1600/IMG_8297.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sspCGj5HU74/U0FQuZyxM4I/AAAAAAAABOc/p7XdMvk-V74/s1600/IMG_8297.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wrynecks were common throughout the trip</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OaG64QXbzqI/U0FQsYsaZwI/AAAAAAAABOM/ZRGclkveytU/s1600/IMG_8322.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OaG64QXbzqI/U0FQsYsaZwI/AAAAAAAABOM/ZRGclkveytU/s1600/IMG_8322.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arabian babbler</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b_LKK99UOaw/U0FQ489wsLI/AAAAAAAABO0/Fk8xVPk0da4/s1600/IMG_8335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-b_LKK99UOaw/U0FQ489wsLI/AAAAAAAABO0/Fk8xVPk0da4/s1600/IMG_8335.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Groups of these were easy enough to find once we worked out the whistling call</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nBcXN0b4u68/U0FQ3f1ZUqI/AAAAAAAABOs/s3KZZWm8lM0/s1600/IMG_8358.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nBcXN0b4u68/U0FQ3f1ZUqI/AAAAAAAABOs/s3KZZWm8lM0/s1600/IMG_8358.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little green bee-eater <i>cyanophrys</i>-perhaps the best looking subspecies?</td></tr>
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As we were leaving we bumoed into Paul French, who told us he'd just found a Semi-collared flycatcher in Ofira park, right in the centre of Eilat, so we nipped round to have a look<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TvNOdEHoao8/U0FQ0SzSDMI/AAAAAAAABOk/mcCZSYqcIuY/s1600/IMG_8392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-TvNOdEHoao8/U0FQ0SzSDMI/AAAAAAAABOk/mcCZSYqcIuY/s1600/IMG_8392.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Semi-collared flycatcher</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vQCdNZfYsjQ/U0FRQHkiwOI/AAAAAAAABPU/3XDVGBwzvTg/s1600/IMG_8396.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vQCdNZfYsjQ/U0FRQHkiwOI/AAAAAAAABPU/3XDVGBwzvTg/s1600/IMG_8396.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Right in the centre of Eilat</td></tr>
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The rest of the day was less succesful, as we got our bearings, tried out a few places and had a few trips to North Beach, where there were plenty of white-eyed gulls, terns but no sign of the brown booby.<br />
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The next morning we left our hostel at dawn to do some early morning birding in the Eilat mountains before the raptors got started. We came across this female Hooded wheatear, as well as a couple of more flighty males, as well as several White-crowned black wheatears<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J5OVNmOS-B8/U0FQ9A-BZYI/AAAAAAAABO8/ZpyKwApG9cI/s1600/IMG_8635.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-J5OVNmOS-B8/U0FQ9A-BZYI/AAAAAAAABO8/ZpyKwApG9cI/s1600/IMG_8635.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooded wheatear</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-40xC2LTME-g/U0FRT5EgpqI/AAAAAAAABPg/PA9IUhi-9ac/s1600/IMG_8669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-40xC2LTME-g/U0FRT5EgpqI/AAAAAAAABPg/PA9IUhi-9ac/s1600/IMG_8669.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tim and Rael trekking in the Eilat mountains</td></tr>
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By mid-morning raptors had started to stream over the Eilat mountains, with penty of Steppe eagles, 1000s of Steppe buzzards, Egyptian vultures, Pallid harrier and others. Hopefully I will do a seperate blog post with some raptor photos soon.<br />
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We spent the afternoon birding around Km20 and the IRBC, getting highlights like Namaqua dove and Pallas's gull.<br />
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The next morning saw a very early start as we made for the vulture feeding station near S'de Boker. No sign of the hoped for hyaenas, but a pair of distant wolves made up for it, as well as flyover Richard's pipit and spotted sandgrouse and an impressive number of vultures first thing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xbgvqowmlHg/U0FQ_mAcgcI/AAAAAAAABPE/cKh3gSYcBWg/s1600/IMG_8776.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xbgvqowmlHg/U0FQ_mAcgcI/AAAAAAAABPE/cKh3gSYcBWg/s1600/IMG_8776.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Distant pair of wolves</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-38Mkr4qQGks/U0FRKK0X8zI/AAAAAAAABPM/WerqCzhla4o/s1600/IMG_8851.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-38Mkr4qQGks/U0FRKK0X8zI/AAAAAAAABPM/WerqCzhla4o/s1600/IMG_8851.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This jackal ran across the track on the way back to the main road</td></tr>
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Unfortunately, we stayed for little too long, and missed our chance to see Mcqueen's bustards displaying in the early morning, and there was no sign of tghem in the increasing mid-morning temperatures. Sandgrouse were also notably absent around the sewage pools at Nizzana, but there was still some outstanding desert birding to be had, including one wadi absolutely stuffed with migrants.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hx6Zeu0aA6U/U0FRVMVmgMI/AAAAAAAABPs/KxQB8C7GBSI/s1600/IMG_8927.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Hx6Zeu0aA6U/U0FRVMVmgMI/AAAAAAAABPs/KxQB8C7GBSI/s1600/IMG_8927.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern grey shrike <i>aucheri</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iVAljw-LlYo/U0FRTJiTOVI/AAAAAAAABPc/Vg-wCMxEt0w/s1600/IMG_8946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iVAljw-LlYo/U0FRTJiTOVI/AAAAAAAABPc/Vg-wCMxEt0w/s1600/IMG_8946.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chukar</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HAvb5RCfSs0/U0FRXp-wdhI/AAAAAAAABP0/OrenLyxjJ68/s1600/IMG_8956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HAvb5RCfSs0/U0FRXp-wdhI/AAAAAAAABP0/OrenLyxjJ68/s1600/IMG_8956.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Part of a family group of 4 CCC with juvs</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nFwxd4fVg4k/U0FRb-u751I/AAAAAAAABP8/FUT2lh5f_vk/s1600/IMG_8970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nFwxd4fVg4k/U0FRb-u751I/AAAAAAAABP8/FUT2lh5f_vk/s1600/IMG_8970.JPG" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern black-eared wheatear</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FnvgtS4QVWU/U0FRgLUQGGI/AAAAAAAABQI/_uJtjbJoWv8/s1600/IMG_9047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FnvgtS4QVWU/U0FRgLUQGGI/AAAAAAAABQI/_uJtjbJoWv8/s1600/IMG_9047.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We flushed these feeding out in the desert on lush growth</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dsq4uHtVFMQ/U0FRkjhhUYI/AAAAAAAABQU/bED6FjypDOg/s1600/IMG_9054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Dsq4uHtVFMQ/U0FRkjhhUYI/AAAAAAAABQU/bED6FjypDOg/s1600/IMG_9054.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XWHvtvHQc98/U0FRfrizwEI/AAAAAAAABQE/21aakEPKXyA/s1600/IMG_9055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XWHvtvHQc98/U0FRfrizwEI/AAAAAAAABQE/21aakEPKXyA/s1600/IMG_9055.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pin-tailed sandgrouse</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jdMcULMOjB0/U0FRlnxelHI/AAAAAAAABQc/7v7fQ_esjKg/s1600/IMG_9075.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jdMcULMOjB0/U0FRlnxelHI/AAAAAAAABQc/7v7fQ_esjKg/s1600/IMG_9075.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Desert lark- a very washed out individual</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2MudbVwnkEc/U0FRopke5cI/AAAAAAAABQo/zy3z0km6-WQ/s1600/IMG_9112.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2MudbVwnkEc/U0FRopke5cI/AAAAAAAABQo/zy3z0km6-WQ/s1600/IMG_9112.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-rumped swallow</td></tr>
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We decided to wait it out until the evening when the bustards would be back out displaying again, but whilst we were escaping the midday heat in a nearby shack/cafe, news came through of a Pied bushchat back at Neot Samadar. We decided to dash back for it, and leave the bustards for another day. The drive back was somewhat eventful, whilst James slept, myself and Tim managed to count 300+ painted ladies crossing north over the road in just 15 minutes whilst the road was running east-west. Truly incredible, although there seemed to be an even higher density moving on our final day further north in Tel Aviv. Certainly our windscreen was constantly smeared with the unfortunate ones.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4zqSTH1wcmc/U0FRr8rYyGI/AAAAAAAABRE/t6T33m7NLeM/s1600/IMG_9119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4zqSTH1wcmc/U0FRr8rYyGI/AAAAAAAABRE/t6T33m7NLeM/s1600/IMG_9119.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roadside Mourning wheatear</td></tr>
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We arrived at Neot Samaderto find the Pied Bushchat showing well, a cracking male...<br />
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More highlights to follow.</div>
Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-17432302378859597932014-04-05T07:50:00.003-07:002014-04-05T07:50:36.655-07:00Late winter and early springA few highlights from work and the odd birding trip in the UK at the start of this year:<br />
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The period started quietly, but as always there were plenty of gulls at Rufforth tip, with a smattering of Iceland and Glaucous gulls around, and Chris' 3w Kumlien's continued to knock about.<br />
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The first hints of spring came on a walk along Filey bay with Cat, with double figures of skylark arriving in off. The sea was a bit more wintery though, with slav grebe, velvet scoter and a few red-throats seen distantly. The cute sanderlings stole the show though, and I put up with still digging sand out of my hair the next day to get a few eye level shots.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young male peregrine over Bank Island</td></tr>
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In terms of finding birds, the first weekend of March was the highlight, when this Tundra bean goose showed up at Castle Howard in the feral goose flock one afternoon, and the next day, two more bean geese were at Bubwith Bridge, but stayed too frustratingly distant to be ceratin of racial ID, despite hinting at being Taiga.</div>
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From March, the survey season picks up a little and I was kept busy at work out in the field (thankfully the weather was pretty good):<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j7HzSr6eriE/U0APXLl9HaI/AAAAAAAABLE/EduLinIbTDU/s1600/IMG_7598.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-j7HzSr6eriE/U0APXLl9HaI/AAAAAAAABLE/EduLinIbTDU/s1600/IMG_7598.JPG" height="194" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">These always brighten up a survey</td></tr>
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It's been great working on quite a few sites with these this year:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JjaDdCybgVc/U0APV9I2VkI/AAAAAAAABKs/eVbDNLi2CjY/s1600/IMG_7604.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JjaDdCybgVc/U0APV9I2VkI/AAAAAAAABKs/eVbDNLi2CjY/s1600/IMG_7604.JPG" height="192" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This 2cy male came close whilst hunting woodpigeons</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-riU_e_qDP0U/U0APU78ifrI/AAAAAAAABKk/UXaSbrIaK4Q/s1600/IMG_7616.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-riU_e_qDP0U/U0APU78ifrI/AAAAAAAABKk/UXaSbrIaK4Q/s1600/IMG_7616.JPG" height="174" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Showing the white patchy markings to the mantle</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5l6t0BHPu_U/U0APXFLJ3tI/AAAAAAAABK8/ghZXtabbwks/s1600/IMG_7637.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5l6t0BHPu_U/U0APXFLJ3tI/AAAAAAAABK8/ghZXtabbwks/s1600/IMG_7637.JPG" height="231" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1cFftNyWYK0/U0APXe-vLhI/AAAAAAAABLA/uzLdH0-EVqw/s1600/IMG_7700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-1cFftNyWYK0/U0APXe-vLhI/AAAAAAAABLA/uzLdH0-EVqw/s1600/IMG_7700.JPG" height="275" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and clear streaking on the underside</td></tr>
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Meanwhile it was good to start bumping into the odd barn owl back out hunting in the day again. After a poor breeding season in 2013, this was a hard species to see locally over winter with the adults hunting almost entirely after full darkness<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LyvxXw2aCLE/U0APZ7jwvbI/AAAAAAAABLY/4yKhCK_PZOY/s1600/IMG_7798.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LyvxXw2aCLE/U0APZ7jwvbI/AAAAAAAABLY/4yKhCK_PZOY/s1600/IMG_7798.JPG" height="244" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HNmBvXqcun8/U0APZXmyGhI/AAAAAAAABLU/8TYPirmvqrw/s1600/IMG_7807.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HNmBvXqcun8/U0APZXmyGhI/AAAAAAAABLU/8TYPirmvqrw/s1600/IMG_7807.JPG" height="136" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carrying food back to it's box</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MF6fSWofjhU/U0APuMMmBcI/AAAAAAAABL4/pUN2GNBMteQ/s1600/IMG_7839.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MF6fSWofjhU/U0APuMMmBcI/AAAAAAAABL4/pUN2GNBMteQ/s1600/IMG_7839.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Church Bridge at dusk</td></tr>
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And some from work trips further north:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uSOA8a6FNw8/U0APuPxsvVI/AAAAAAAABL0/pUoy_niWRPk/s1600/IMG_7858.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-uSOA8a6FNw8/U0APuPxsvVI/AAAAAAAABL0/pUoy_niWRPk/s1600/IMG_7858.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adders were out basking in early March</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zrFDBCDUG30/U0APskgFXbI/AAAAAAAABLs/uaNjCXSW21c/s1600/IMG_7941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zrFDBCDUG30/U0APskgFXbI/AAAAAAAABLs/uaNjCXSW21c/s1600/IMG_7941.JPG" height="320" width="314" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And ravens were 'gronking' and displaying overhead</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iRKT5tTTkV4/U0APu0I1ppI/AAAAAAAABL8/D1Gv0YQI34o/s1600/IMG_7976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iRKT5tTTkV4/U0APu0I1ppI/AAAAAAAABL8/D1Gv0YQI34o/s1600/IMG_7976.JPG" height="229" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kEoVFKEokeo/U0APvDTueyI/AAAAAAAABMM/DrXgDrb0I04/s1600/IMG_8007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kEoVFKEokeo/U0APvDTueyI/AAAAAAAABMM/DrXgDrb0I04/s1600/IMG_8007.JPG" height="181" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Always a highlight of any day!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lO5G9BsIVpk/U0APyA3BLjI/AAAAAAAABMU/5rzuKRxeFcY/s1600/IMG_8074.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-lO5G9BsIVpk/U0APyA3BLjI/AAAAAAAABMU/5rzuKRxeFcY/s1600/IMG_8074.JPG" height="177" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And it was good to see these back on their ledge</td></tr>
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Whilst it was pretty quiet locally in March, there were a few nice bits and pieces to see:<br />
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dhe3y_1UXSM/U0AP77X9zxI/AAAAAAAABMo/-Z6UJ4gt4nU/s1600/IMG_8156.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dhe3y_1UXSM/U0AP77X9zxI/AAAAAAAABMo/-Z6UJ4gt4nU/s1600/IMG_8156.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qQHuRGe6aBc/U0AP8InXBAI/AAAAAAAABMw/AWWoo2WPBo8/s1600/IMG_8160.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-qQHuRGe6aBc/U0AP8InXBAI/AAAAAAAABMw/AWWoo2WPBo8/s1600/IMG_8160.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G31VQcyxn2s/U0AP3kl5iII/AAAAAAAABMc/-ZcFBlnUh-Q/s1600/IMG_8191.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-G31VQcyxn2s/U0AP3kl5iII/AAAAAAAABMc/-ZcFBlnUh-Q/s1600/IMG_8191.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...including Glaucous and 3 Iceland gulls in one field in Poppleton</td></tr>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-brcJUx7Mi-s/U0AP7NdOZII/AAAAAAAABMk/QLa0s8k2L4k/s1600/IMG_8201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-brcJUx7Mi-s/U0AP7NdOZII/AAAAAAAABMk/QLa0s8k2L4k/s1600/IMG_8201.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-62269828651710319552014-03-08T15:14:00.001-08:002014-03-09T11:19:19.498-07:00The Drakensberg to Cape Town<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The final part of the trip was much less about birding and game watching, and more a bit of a road trip and city break. Given the biodiversity and wealth of wildlife in South Africa, it was impossible to get away from great birds, and I couldn't resist the odd stop here and there.</div>
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After leaving Hluhluwe, we headed for Harrismith where I'd spent 3 months back in 2008. This took us not too far away from the forest board walk in Eshowe, so we stopped there to break up the journey. Unfortunately we were there mid-morning on a hot day, with some sort of school event making a racket nearby, so needless to say it wasn't at it's best. Highlights included Narina trogon, Lemon dove and Chorister robin chat.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CtwZirlDSYc/UxuVIFCjzNI/AAAAAAAABI0/S8vlDODsRMs/s1600/chorister+rc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CtwZirlDSYc/UxuVIFCjzNI/AAAAAAAABI0/S8vlDODsRMs/s1600/chorister+rc.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chorister robin chat being skulky</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fXMBYpCXRGw/UxsmAunNy3I/AAAAAAAABG8/re5gmtL_NBM/s1600/lemon+dove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fXMBYpCXRGw/UxsmAunNy3I/AAAAAAAABG8/re5gmtL_NBM/s1600/lemon+dove.jpg" height="320" width="318" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lemon dove in very dim light under the thick canopy</td></tr>
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After a pretty long drive, with only an always disappointing Wimpy burger for relief, we were grateful to be arriving in Harrismith with a few hours of daylight left. Plans were made with Michael and Kate (with whom we were staying) to head out to Clarens for dinner, which would take us through Golden Gate NP, a really spectacular place around sunset, especially on the plains where large numbers of antelope gather in late evening</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U17qzUwL4u0/UxuY8QX5W8I/AAAAAAAABJA/1ufv-Fw8Eb4/s1600/gg1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-U17qzUwL4u0/UxuY8QX5W8I/AAAAAAAABJA/1ufv-Fw8Eb4/s1600/gg1.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden Gate NP is named after the glorious golden colour of the rock outcrops</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IkPQHoS0H_I/UxuZzpbtEsI/AAAAAAAABJQ/K6HRIo9B8vI/s1600/gg3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-IkPQHoS0H_I/UxuZzpbtEsI/AAAAAAAABJQ/K6HRIo9B8vI/s1600/gg3.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Large numbers of antelope like these springbok and blesbok gather on the plains at dusk</td></tr>
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After a lovely meal, we decided that we would stay in Harrismith a second night, so as to give ourselves a day to do some walking in the Drakensberg the next day. The plan was to drive up to the Sentinel car park, and try and walk up to Mont aux Sources plateau. Unfortunately, the Micra let us down (or my courage did), and I couldn't get it up the extremely rugged track to the car park. Luckily the tarmac lasted far enough to get to the Witsieshoek Hotel, where the hotel manager puts out bones to feed the Lammergeier. They had already been fed when we arrived, but the manager kindly agreed to put more bones out, whilst we got stuck in to some apple crumble in the hotel restaurant. The birds arrived so quickly I had to dash out and abandon mine, but they did give stunning views, better than any pudding!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pLuZJavnKhs/Uxsl3ujeYmI/AAAAAAAABGs/8GKRR2u9wpA/s1600/lammergeier.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pLuZJavnKhs/Uxsl3ujeYmI/AAAAAAAABGs/8GKRR2u9wpA/s1600/lammergeier.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lammergeier being mobbed by White-necked raven</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sqaGCmCzkL0/Uxsl41b-7TI/AAAAAAAABG0/YRhQq5QrgV0/s1600/lanner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sqaGCmCzkL0/Uxsl41b-7TI/AAAAAAAABG0/YRhQq5QrgV0/s1600/lanner.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this young Lanner dropped by, before getting mobbed by a Black-shouldered kite</td></tr>
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We then headed round to Golden Gate to go walking, and to have a look in the vulture hide. There weren't any vultures but a few jackals were scavenging around the carcasses.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Amxc77fwhSA/UxslFLChwLI/AAAAAAAABFE/v7yW1knNd9o/s1600/african+stonechat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Amxc77fwhSA/UxslFLChwLI/AAAAAAAABFE/v7yW1knNd9o/s1600/african+stonechat.jpg" height="400" width="273" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African stonechat</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nBFE7RyM2s0/UxslhoKPf0I/AAAAAAAABF8/-H8bNas24s0/s1600/cape+longclaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nBFE7RyM2s0/UxslhoKPf0I/AAAAAAAABF8/-H8bNas24s0/s1600/cape+longclaw.jpg" height="292" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape longclaw</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nrN6nqNwtgc/Uxslv5wfyQI/AAAAAAAABGc/KuBsxaAQdeI/s1600/cape+rock+thrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nrN6nqNwtgc/Uxslv5wfyQI/AAAAAAAABGc/KuBsxaAQdeI/s1600/cape+rock+thrush.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape rockthrush</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r65FnuTv3Ec/UxsmHnGDxhI/AAAAAAAABHM/uBaVdcOWcV4/s1600/LT+Widow+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r65FnuTv3Ec/UxsmHnGDxhI/AAAAAAAABHM/uBaVdcOWcV4/s1600/LT+Widow+(2).jpg" height="337" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ugz3835NS2k/UxsmKkKMepI/AAAAAAAABHU/1hbwcgq0EZ4/s1600/lt+widow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ugz3835NS2k/UxsmKkKMepI/AAAAAAAABHU/1hbwcgq0EZ4/s1600/lt+widow.jpg" height="192" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-tailed widowbirds</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aDQq4XhA7cc/UxsmevW60fI/AAAAAAAABHs/p5Awe00O_nE/s1600/rc+cuckoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-aDQq4XhA7cc/UxsmevW60fI/AAAAAAAABHs/p5Awe00O_nE/s1600/rc+cuckoo.jpg" height="325" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-chested cuckoo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WQI_qBgNNVU/Uxsm3sv0XkI/AAAAAAAABIU/q-EcFSOjcEA/s1600/sb+ibis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-WQI_qBgNNVU/Uxsm3sv0XkI/AAAAAAAABIU/q-EcFSOjcEA/s1600/sb+ibis.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern bald ibis</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iaRGufspots/Uxsm2dHcK-I/AAAAAAAABIM/cXbhjVnjppk/s1600/streaky-headed+seedeater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-iaRGufspots/Uxsm2dHcK-I/AAAAAAAABIM/cXbhjVnjppk/s1600/streaky-headed+seedeater.jpg" height="288" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Streaky-headed seedeater<br />
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The next day we were in for a long and somewhat monotonous drive across the Karoo, stopping for the night in an amazing little hamlet called Nieu Bethesda. </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7_xhwS4yfJ0/UxslQBt2_GI/AAAAAAAABFM/k3ZgH08oZ6Y/s1600/A+hoopoe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7_xhwS4yfJ0/UxslQBt2_GI/AAAAAAAABFM/k3ZgH08oZ6Y/s1600/A+hoopoe.jpg" height="271" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Hoopoe on the lawn of the water tower we stayed in at Nieu Bethesda</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QhrN4Vo7TqU/UxslW4hgRbI/AAAAAAAABFk/_i_NvVmJ30E/s1600/blue+crane.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QhrN4Vo7TqU/UxslW4hgRbI/AAAAAAAABFk/_i_NvVmJ30E/s1600/blue+crane.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue cranes in the Karoo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ig53FjF20MA/UxslZR_CuoI/AAAAAAAABFs/UmZRLalvhPk/s1600/bs+chat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Ig53FjF20MA/UxslZR_CuoI/AAAAAAAABFs/UmZRLalvhPk/s1600/bs+chat.jpg" height="313" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buff-streaked chat, Eastern Cape</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0nDRxmZVCFc/UxsmVuO_KMI/AAAAAAAABHk/ErSnYMBNSpA/s1600/meerkat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0nDRxmZVCFc/UxsmVuO_KMI/AAAAAAAABHk/ErSnYMBNSpA/s1600/meerkat.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spot the meerkat<br />
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We then headed down into the Western Cape, via a rubbish night in a train in Mossel Bai. We had a very pleasant day the next day however, dropping in to De Hoop NR on the way to Hermanus, and getting great views of several Southern Right Wales just offshore, as well as Bontebok, Cape Zebra and Eland. Hermanus was even better, with another great wildlife experience vying for highlight of the trip when we went cage diving with great white sharks, and dropped in to Betty's Bay for the penguin colony, also scoring an Ichneumon/Egyptian mongoose on the way in. We finished off the trip with a few days R&R in Cape Town, although I managed to escape to Kirstenbosch botanical gardens and Strandfontein sewage works to do a spot of birding.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NNJ0H3FBAiA/Uxsmk4JFyxI/AAAAAAAABH8/bltL211LRzQ/s1600/sr+whale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-NNJ0H3FBAiA/Uxsmk4JFyxI/AAAAAAAABH8/bltL211LRzQ/s1600/sr+whale.jpg" height="278" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Right Whale, De Hoop</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OC0VMpAulpA/UxslurVQmiI/AAAAAAAABGM/ifpBiPaeZyE/s1600/cape+sugarbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OC0VMpAulpA/UxslurVQmiI/AAAAAAAABGM/ifpBiPaeZyE/s1600/cape+sugarbird.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Sugarbird in the Capefold mountains</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LjumcAoVVT0/UxslROCpc0I/AAAAAAAABFY/TOtfYzh5vEc/s1600/a+lb+lark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-LjumcAoVVT0/UxslROCpc0I/AAAAAAAABFY/TOtfYzh5vEc/s1600/a+lb+lark.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Agulhas long-billed lark, near De Hoop</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hadleql_LaI/UxslQ6_2P4I/AAAAAAAABFQ/vzx2h6DmHq0/s1600/Black+oik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Hadleql_LaI/UxslQ6_2P4I/AAAAAAAABFQ/vzx2h6DmHq0/s1600/Black+oik.jpg" height="248" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African black oystercatcher, De Hoop</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y0yEEZ2n6F0/UxslvDvcO9I/AAAAAAAABGQ/LCP8hIV9kYo/s1600/capped+wheatear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y0yEEZ2n6F0/UxslvDvcO9I/AAAAAAAABGQ/LCP8hIV9kYo/s1600/capped+wheatear.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Capped wheatear, near De Hoop</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_2H3vNQU1MQ/UxsmAvF4AjI/AAAAAAAABHA/1RneBUGtScM/s1600/gw+francolin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_2H3vNQU1MQ/UxsmAvF4AjI/AAAAAAAABHA/1RneBUGtScM/s1600/gw+francolin.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey-winged francolin, De Hoop</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gkDnk2zzVWc/UxsnAo_VitI/AAAAAAAABIk/mGmSPzOxviw/s1600/wt+swallow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-gkDnk2zzVWc/UxsnAo_VitI/AAAAAAAABIk/mGmSPzOxviw/s1600/wt+swallow.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-throated swallows, near De Hoop</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dVn2mCI6kJI/Uxsl0vpnwWI/AAAAAAAABGk/FD0UnR4X_S8/s1600/kittlitzs+plover.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dVn2mCI6kJI/Uxsl0vpnwWI/AAAAAAAABGk/FD0UnR4X_S8/s1600/kittlitzs+plover.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kittlitz's plover, Groot Braksrivier</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RbjT4T0UIzk/UxsmlCSz_0I/AAAAAAAABIA/A4O9Tb1deQc/s1600/penguins.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-RbjT4T0UIzk/UxsmlCSz_0I/AAAAAAAABIA/A4O9Tb1deQc/s1600/penguins.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African penguin, Betty's Bay</td></tr>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-losfG2iIzAs/UxsljbWPqXI/AAAAAAAABGE/ijbiL5RcM3c/s1600/cape+batis2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-losfG2iIzAs/UxsljbWPqXI/AAAAAAAABGE/ijbiL5RcM3c/s1600/cape+batis2.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o4UGlFIgmJw/UxslfNmj4WI/AAAAAAAABF0/KB0bHt732Rw/s1600/cape+batis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-o4UGlFIgmJw/UxslfNmj4WI/AAAAAAAABF0/KB0bHt732Rw/s1600/cape+batis.jpg" height="298" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Batis, Kirstenbosch gardens</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_lLHyI3B9mc/UxsmTFr94RI/AAAAAAAABHc/P2EvC118XXc/s1600/paradise+fly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_lLHyI3B9mc/UxsmTFr94RI/AAAAAAAABHc/P2EvC118XXc/s1600/paradise+fly.jpg" height="400" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African paradise flycatcher, Kirstenbosch gardens</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sn-JCcjd9Y0/Uxsm98oUe8I/AAAAAAAABIc/4sLAJAgu9PQ/s1600/water+dikkop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Sn-JCcjd9Y0/Uxsm98oUe8I/AAAAAAAABIc/4sLAJAgu9PQ/s1600/water+dikkop.jpg" height="266" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water dikkop, Strandfontein Sewage works</td></tr>
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Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-39748698614738241512014-03-08T06:00:00.002-08:002014-03-08T06:38:00.507-08:00SA: St.Lucia and Hluhluwe-Imfoloze<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
From Kruger we headed south through Swaziland to St.Lucia and iSamangaliso Wetlands Park. This area is well known for having high biodiversity, and several endemic species of birds that specialise in the coastal sand forest that dominate the local dune habitat.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5AnBO9zAVD4/UxsQMzF3nJI/AAAAAAAABBA/XefHxPGGmTs/s1600/crowned+hornbill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5AnBO9zAVD4/UxsQMzF3nJI/AAAAAAAABBA/XefHxPGGmTs/s1600/crowned+hornbill.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crowned hornbill collecting bark for nest</td></tr>
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Unfortunately during our stay the winds were very strong, which put paid to our plans to go snorkelling, and the exorbitant prices of whale-watching trips and nocturnal trips to watch turtles coming up on to the beaches proved to be prohibitive, so instead I focussed my attention on the patch of sand forest to the south of St.Lucia, just behind our accommodation, whilst Cat had a more relaxing period after a series of 4am starts in Kruger.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hb24WCcQOjY/UxsPr3DS_dI/AAAAAAAABAo/2KpRsq-Pfyw/s1600/ashy+fly.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-hb24WCcQOjY/UxsPr3DS_dI/AAAAAAAABAo/2KpRsq-Pfyw/s1600/ashy+fly.jpg" height="230" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashy flycatcher</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nsZCiJyHzWI/UxsQOtUOclI/AAAAAAAABBI/6JlWKG55iSs/s1600/crested+guineafowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nsZCiJyHzWI/UxsQOtUOclI/AAAAAAAABBI/6JlWKG55iSs/s1600/crested+guineafowl.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crested guineafowl</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gKw1AY1RXzY/UxsQUd5tvWI/AAAAAAAABBY/dZfZ8FXJJhw/s1600/gt+woodpecker+sq-t+drongo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-gKw1AY1RXzY/UxsQUd5tvWI/AAAAAAAABBY/dZfZ8FXJJhw/s1600/gt+woodpecker+sq-t+drongo.jpg" height="243" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden-tailed woodpecker and Square-tailed drongos</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XbGy0U7a-wo/UxsRI7mXcqI/AAAAAAAABCo/O-L7_qFIOBQ/s1600/rc+robin+chat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XbGy0U7a-wo/UxsRI7mXcqI/AAAAAAAABCo/O-L7_qFIOBQ/s1600/rc+robin+chat.jpg" height="217" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-capped robin chat</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-drtfjp1FKF4/UxsRXcKhSBI/AAAAAAAABCw/CC5cOfacwF4/s1600/tb+weaver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-drtfjp1FKF4/UxsRXcKhSBI/AAAAAAAABCw/CC5cOfacwF4/s1600/tb+weaver.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thick-billed weaver</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJMcCJBROzc/UxsRmoohlqI/AAAAAAAABDI/oge01F4BVc0/s1600/trumpeter+hornbill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ZJMcCJBROzc/UxsRmoohlqI/AAAAAAAABDI/oge01F4BVc0/s1600/trumpeter+hornbill.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trumpeter hornbill</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CPjPOMnkKSc/UxsRDMY8OpI/AAAAAAAABCc/HIcGlQrDOw8/s1600/liv+turaco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CPjPOMnkKSc/UxsRDMY8OpI/AAAAAAAABCc/HIcGlQrDOw8/s1600/liv+turaco.jpg" height="270" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Livingstone's turaco</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I4nRNBfgExg/UxsSIu01bDI/AAAAAAAABD8/202bUff89kc/s1600/yb+greenbul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-I4nRNBfgExg/UxsSIu01bDI/AAAAAAAABD8/202bUff89kc/s1600/yb+greenbul.jpg" height="320" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-bellied greenbul</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PBWiEEZ7N7o/UxsSTmiZIEI/AAAAAAAABEY/NeOyV1G8LRg/s1600/brown+scrub+robin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PBWiEEZ7N7o/UxsSTmiZIEI/AAAAAAAABEY/NeOyV1G8LRg/s1600/brown+scrub+robin.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown scrub-robin</td></tr>
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All of the above were seen along a couple of kilometre long trail around a tiny patch of sand forest behind our accommodation!<br />
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We also headed out to Cape Vidal, driving through the game park to get there, seeing more rhino and several species of antelope, but not adding any species of mammal we hadn't seen in Kruger. Birding was again good:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dpvCHOqvw9o/UxsPq0regbI/AAAAAAAABAg/2kmQHtgGNec/s1600/amur+falcon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dpvCHOqvw9o/UxsPq0regbI/AAAAAAAABAg/2kmQHtgGNec/s1600/amur+falcon.jpg" height="320" width="234" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Amur falcon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KKu0HVdV2Bs/UxsPyfLuRWI/AAAAAAAABAw/Msy1x3Dg4Fk/s1600/bh+kimgfisher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KKu0HVdV2Bs/UxsPyfLuRWI/AAAAAAAABAw/Msy1x3Dg4Fk/s1600/bh+kimgfisher.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown-hooded Kingfisher</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H7lqzQ7D5G4/UxsSXHz_mMI/AAAAAAAABEg/Xt-0iAAd0Wg/s1600/yt+longclaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H7lqzQ7D5G4/UxsSXHz_mMI/AAAAAAAABEg/Xt-0iAAd0Wg/s1600/yt+longclaw.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-throated longclaw</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t59BaSwcF1g/UxsR6QG6qEI/AAAAAAAABDg/uCIbNLQPsWg/s1600/wn+stork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t59BaSwcF1g/UxsR6QG6qEI/AAAAAAAABDg/uCIbNLQPsWg/s1600/wn+stork.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woolly-necked stork</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w_QhzylfLrw/UxsTQOLzIlI/AAAAAAAABE0/oNHemM8tTtY/s1600/stlucia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w_QhzylfLrw/UxsTQOLzIlI/AAAAAAAABE0/oNHemM8tTtY/s1600/stlucia.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The view towards Lake St.Lucia</td></tr>
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Cape Vidal itself was very windy, but we did get views of Samango monkey, and better views of Yellow-rumped tinkerbirds and White-eared barbets than I'd managed in St.Lucia<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O23Vu40n3UE/UxsSM0vKoCI/AAAAAAAABEQ/_h57HxRjKsY/s1600/yr+tinkerbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-O23Vu40n3UE/UxsSM0vKoCI/AAAAAAAABEQ/_h57HxRjKsY/s1600/yr+tinkerbird.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-rumped tinkerbird</td></tr>
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We also went on a very touristy hippo-watching boat cruise, where the highlights were unsurprisingly several large pods of hippos, more woolly-necked storks, a fishing African fish eagle and brown-throated weavers around St.Lucia bridge<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0dzCOJZ6s_4/UxsQ3qPruII/AAAAAAAABCA/VJ0qXkbVsOk/s1600/hippo3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0dzCOJZ6s_4/UxsQ3qPruII/AAAAAAAABCA/VJ0qXkbVsOk/s1600/hippo3.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GnzlVl4Rbmg/UxsQqhdCwBI/AAAAAAAABBo/bnaUhQ3x0Eo/s1600/hippo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-GnzlVl4Rbmg/UxsQqhdCwBI/AAAAAAAABBo/bnaUhQ3x0Eo/s1600/hippo.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some hippos</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W6Sx42lDNbI/UxsQRG9MqwI/AAAAAAAABBQ/c6X8eJ-wLpQ/s1600/Fish+eagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-W6Sx42lDNbI/UxsQRG9MqwI/AAAAAAAABBQ/c6X8eJ-wLpQ/s1600/Fish+eagle.jpg" height="192" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African fish eagle</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-73vu2J3hyUM/UxsP21X8ThI/AAAAAAAABA4/qRQQWUHj7KA/s1600/bt+weaver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-73vu2J3hyUM/UxsP21X8ThI/AAAAAAAABA4/qRQQWUHj7KA/s1600/bt+weaver.jpg" height="195" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown-throated weaver</td></tr>
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Next up was a couple of days in Hluhluwe-Imfolozi game reserve, the reserve where all of South Africa's white rhinos originate from. It was also my last chance to see my main mammal target f the trip, African wild dog, but after not having had a sniff in Kruger, and knowing very little about the pack(s) in Imfolozi, my hopes weren't high.</div>
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We arrived at the gate at about 8am, slightly later than planned. When we went to pay for entry, we were greeted with the incredible news that one of the wild dog packs were jogging along the road on the Imfolozi side of the reserve, about 15 km to the south! Needless to say we jumped back in the car, and shot past herds of elephant, family groups of rhino and various antelope to try and get there before the dogs left the road. As we rounded a steep bend we were greeted with this sight:</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radio-tagged wild dog</td></tr>
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Two wild dogs happily jogging down the centre of the road towards us, clearly in travelling rather than hunting mode, but still! In less than a minute they'd loped out of sight, leaving me elated, We headed on the the campsite in Imfolozi to have breakfast, and watch a massive warthog rummage through a compost heap outside the toilet block. On our way back, when we thought it couldn't get any better, we bumped into the rest of the pack, 16 wild dogs lounging and napping under the shade of one large tree, right on the roadside. Absolutey incredible, and we spent the next couple of hours watching them, but eventually the heat of the day and desire to get out of the car got the better of us, and we headed up to Hluhluhwe and Hilltop camp for lunch, passing some huge buffalo herds and lots of giraffe on the way.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j1T3R2e0xJw/UxsR9RufoJI/AAAAAAAABDo/92ORnhd97uk/s1600/wild+dog2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j1T3R2e0xJw/UxsR9RufoJI/AAAAAAAABDo/92ORnhd97uk/s1600/wild+dog2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wild dogs!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9198dGrjmkw/UxsR3di00SI/AAAAAAAABDY/uRyUehGalyc/s1600/wild+dog3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-9198dGrjmkw/UxsR3di00SI/AAAAAAAABDY/uRyUehGalyc/s1600/wild+dog3.jpg" height="320" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PNbVm-8bPrA/UxsQY_D94NI/AAAAAAAABBg/DTb3RHV7Mcg/s1600/c+sunbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PNbVm-8bPrA/UxsQY_D94NI/AAAAAAAABBg/DTb3RHV7Mcg/s1600/c+sunbird.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collared sunbird, Hilltop camp</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QZsdiI6CBBA/UxsRC7_lrDI/AAAAAAAABCY/cQkbC3-Qz2g/s1600/lg+beeeater2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QZsdiI6CBBA/UxsRC7_lrDI/AAAAAAAABCY/cQkbC3-Qz2g/s1600/lg+beeeater2.jpg" height="320" width="260" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little green bee-eater</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KClH4-6gopQ/UxsQ8tLhuXI/AAAAAAAABCI/iVBtwSo3KI8/s1600/pc+turaco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-KClH4-6gopQ/UxsQ8tLhuXI/AAAAAAAABCI/iVBtwSo3KI8/s1600/pc+turaco.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple-crested Turaco, Hilltop camp</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xeXFQgCuTmM/UxsRBy_llRI/AAAAAAAABCQ/Wd4eki3pOB8/s1600/pygmy+kingfisher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xeXFQgCuTmM/UxsRBy_llRI/AAAAAAAABCQ/Wd4eki3pOB8/s1600/pygmy+kingfisher.jpg" height="320" width="259" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pygmy kingfisher</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fM4rxzHCZx0/UxsSC1-SwPI/AAAAAAAABDw/ge1kW-aSx9E/s1600/wt+widowbird2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fM4rxzHCZx0/UxsSC1-SwPI/AAAAAAAABDw/ge1kW-aSx9E/s1600/wt+widowbird2.jpg" height="245" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fan-tailed widowbird...</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jK1YN189yFM/UxsSJx-DU7I/AAAAAAAABEI/HGXS3bIc1tM/s1600/wt+widowbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jK1YN189yFM/UxsSJx-DU7I/AAAAAAAABEI/HGXS3bIc1tM/s1600/wt+widowbird.jpg" height="268" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and showing the lovely colours on the wing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XY6pZuXTqHY/UxsSIO9K7KI/AAAAAAAABD4/bxnuWATjy8E/s1600/yf+canary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XY6pZuXTqHY/UxsSIO9K7KI/AAAAAAAABD4/bxnuWATjy8E/s1600/yf+canary.jpg" height="320" width="231" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-fronted canary</td></tr>
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After lunch and a stroll around Hilltop camp, we headed back out in the evening. The density of white rhinos in the park is quite incredible, we must have seen over twenty in a couple of hours. After arriving back at the camp after dark, we took stock of our situation. We had seen all of the large mammals we could realistically hope to, and we had an extremely long drive down to Cape Town stretching ahead of us over the next few days, so we took the reluctant decision to sacrifice a second night in the game reserve, and instead depart the next morning for the Drakensberg to break up the driving.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fGB1Tfkitec/UxsRiNiejXI/AAAAAAAABC4/6sPn2O9stKo/s1600/rhino1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fGB1Tfkitec/UxsRiNiejXI/AAAAAAAABC4/6sPn2O9stKo/s1600/rhino1.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of many white rhinos seen on an evening drive around Hluhluwe</td></tr>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r3bBHx37mjQ/UxsRieXirVI/AAAAAAAABC8/PYnmUTh24bs/s1600/rhino2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-r3bBHx37mjQ/UxsRieXirVI/AAAAAAAABC8/PYnmUTh24bs/s1600/rhino2.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6mCmidKYzc/UxsTN3E9K8I/AAAAAAAABEs/GXM0LMiYtJo/s1600/hluhluwe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Q6mCmidKYzc/UxsTN3E9K8I/AAAAAAAABEs/GXM0LMiYtJo/s1600/hluhluwe.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Evening view on the way back to Hilltop camp</td></tr>
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Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-11402985871381761982014-03-08T03:59:00.002-08:002014-03-10T14:20:04.292-07:00Mammals etc in Kruger<br />
The mammals in Kruger were the true highlights though. It was breathtaking at times,sometimes being close enough to megafauna that you almost forgot you weren't in a zoo, and at others being on vast open plains surrounded by huge herds of buffalo and elephants (and silently praying that no predators were going to scare the herds in your direction). I would like to be able to claim that I was above the 'Big 5' hype, and that I spent as much time looking at smaller, less famous species, but I can't. Coming face to face with an apex predator, having a hyaena brush itself against the car, or having a leopard saunter across the road in front of you a few hundred metres from camp when you've given up on the day, are just amazing moments that will truly stay with me for a long, long time.<br />
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Our first sighting on entering the park was of three giraffe sauntering around in the road, less than 100 metres inside the entrance gate, before galloping up a bank and peering down on us. Although not rare, it was on of the species Cat was keenest to see, so an excellent start:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_5bh6ZfhB4Y/Uxrqh3VTnCI/AAAAAAAAA8s/dc1LJfroriI/s1600/giraffe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_5bh6ZfhB4Y/Uxrqh3VTnCI/AAAAAAAAA8s/dc1LJfroriI/s1600/giraffe.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This giraffe was in the Lower Sabie/Crocodile Bridge area</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OqSwVp8JKBw/UxrpQHUqX9I/AAAAAAAAA7Q/dTUnC1tLQPY/s1600/baby+giraffe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OqSwVp8JKBw/UxrpQHUqX9I/AAAAAAAAA7Q/dTUnC1tLQPY/s1600/baby+giraffe.jpg" height="235" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And it was nice to see a few young antelope on the trip.</td></tr>
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By the time we arrived at Letaba that evening after about 6 hours driving through the park, we had seen four of the big five, as well as many other interesting species:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sz4ZLktvrSs/UxrqmVyoPlI/AAAAAAAAA80/HfA24LiV21c/s1600/elephant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sz4ZLktvrSs/UxrqmVyoPlI/AAAAAAAAA80/HfA24LiV21c/s1600/elephant.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephants were common throughout, but always a thrill to see</td></tr>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E4gnKdnNQZI/UxrrYqZfJ5I/AAAAAAAAA9s/Oz4i9bfX_Og/s1600/impala2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-E4gnKdnNQZI/UxrrYqZfJ5I/AAAAAAAAA9s/Oz4i9bfX_Og/s1600/impala2.jpg" height="260" width="320" /></a></div>
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Impala are the common prey item in Kruger, and incredibly numerous. These again had a few yound with them:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EkWv1VGeeKs/UxrrPRpg6FI/AAAAAAAAA9c/GgsvFtNOnsc/s1600/impala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EkWv1VGeeKs/UxrrPRpg6FI/AAAAAAAAA9c/GgsvFtNOnsc/s1600/impala.jpg" height="221" width="320" /></a></div>
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We also came across a huge herd of buffalo, numbering between 500-100 individuals just north of Satara, as well as our first male Lion, chilling out under a tree:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bLDSUIoCsQU/UxrpuMtiqTI/AAAAAAAAA70/kIA4NZ6DvXc/s1600/buffalo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bLDSUIoCsQU/UxrpuMtiqTI/AAAAAAAAA70/kIA4NZ6DvXc/s1600/buffalo.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buffalo; big cows and every bit as boring</td></tr>
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When we arrived at Letaba, despite being exhausted after a couple of long days, essentially non-stop travelling, we were too excited not to sign up for our first night drive. Undisputable highlight was watching this young hyaena pup at it's den, cavorting with it's mother and siblings:<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_ANb33MCBdE/UxrqzOHhKMI/AAAAAAAAA88/a4VrRWWCjPw/s1600/hyaena+cub.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_ANb33MCBdE/UxrqzOHhKMI/AAAAAAAAA88/a4VrRWWCjPw/s1600/hyaena+cub.jpg" height="222" width="320" /></a></div>
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Other highlights included honey badger, spring hare, scrub hare, baboon spider, thick-tailed scorpion and common egg-eater</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rWROzGYNzQY/UxrsNBDouJI/AAAAAAAAA-8/JTlHrccWi2U/s1600/scrub+hare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rWROzGYNzQY/UxrsNBDouJI/AAAAAAAAA-8/JTlHrccWi2U/s1600/scrub+hare.jpg" height="222" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scrub hare...dull</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EpjW0IDTBfo/UxrzKqY4afI/AAAAAAAAA_s/Sr7ChQeYm44/s1600/spring+hare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-EpjW0IDTBfo/UxrzKqY4afI/AAAAAAAAA_s/Sr7ChQeYm44/s1600/spring+hare.jpg" height="222" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spring hare...awesome</td></tr>
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The next couple of days were spent driving around the area between Letaba and Olifants, which often involved long stints in dense Mopane woodland, frustrating and pretty boring! However there were still some awesome new species seen, and elephants were pretty ubiquitous:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SNVJUJe9Apw/UxrrySkXUDI/AAAAAAAAA-E/EZ_3fNBLKEI/s1600/lion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SNVJUJe9Apw/UxrrySkXUDI/AAAAAAAAA-E/EZ_3fNBLKEI/s1600/lion.jpg" height="199" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This female lion was lounging in it's own on the roadside just after dawn on the second day at Letaba</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hc6GPGiLd8g/UxrrTuRSSRI/AAAAAAAAA9k/mDy0F0tWclQ/s1600/klipspringer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Hc6GPGiLd8g/UxrrTuRSSRI/AAAAAAAAA9k/mDy0F0tWclQ/s1600/klipspringer.jpg" height="199" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Klipspringer love rocky slopes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4d1vxx8zH08/UxrsjsaHpaI/AAAAAAAAA_c/BsD05eLzjfM/s1600/waterbuck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4d1vxx8zH08/UxrsjsaHpaI/AAAAAAAAA_c/BsD05eLzjfM/s1600/waterbuck.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waterbuck (sorry about the dodgy sky editing, just try and pretend it isn't there)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P6sxnKytbEk/UxrrhZ2NGRI/AAAAAAAAA90/wbCKAxTqNIM/s1600/kudu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-P6sxnKytbEk/UxrrhZ2NGRI/AAAAAAAAA90/wbCKAxTqNIM/s1600/kudu.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Kudu</td></tr>
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We also had a close encounter with a family group of hyaena on one of the high bridges, essentially blocking the road by wandering past our car, giving the tyres a sniff, then falling asleep in the middle of the road on the warm tarmac:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y5lbocOXrAs/Uxrq-gm8OeI/AAAAAAAAA9M/y1F-rI9pxqA/s1600/hyaena3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y5lbocOXrAs/Uxrq-gm8OeI/AAAAAAAAA9M/y1F-rI9pxqA/s1600/hyaena3.jpg" height="230" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adult hyaena having a midday nap</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mrdKPbiimpk/UxrrBekEIcI/AAAAAAAAA9U/ieNzcIHUbVs/s1600/hyaena.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mrdKPbiimpk/UxrrBekEIcI/AAAAAAAAA9U/ieNzcIHUbVs/s1600/hyaena.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the younger hyaenas</td></tr>
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There was also some good wildlife within the camp, and some spotlighting produced various bats and mice, as well as good numbers of thick-tailed bushbaby. Bushbuck were also common within the camp, and a monitor lizard was ferreting around behind our safari tent one afternoon. On a less pleasant but equally interesting note, there was a massive hatch of some locust/cicada/big beetly-buggy creatures which filled the air (and anywhere else they could get to, including the bathroom sinks, urinals and toilet bowls) from dawn to dusk each evening:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2VoanLbCfjM/Uxrp3G7ZY3I/AAAAAAAAA78/tXOnZUbeaVg/s1600/bushbuck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2VoanLbCfjM/Uxrp3G7ZY3I/AAAAAAAAA78/tXOnZUbeaVg/s1600/bushbuck.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bushbuck were common in camp (this photo was taken just outside it tho)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZXkdUqzyy4/Uxrr6LiDhSI/AAAAAAAAA-c/uBs0fKKpqvw/s1600/monitor+lizard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ZZXkdUqzyy4/Uxrr6LiDhSI/AAAAAAAAA-c/uBs0fKKpqvw/s1600/monitor+lizard.jpg" height="222" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monitor lizard sp (is it a young Nile monitor, or a Water?)</td></tr>
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On the afternoon of our third day in the park, we headed back down to the wildlife rich plains between Satara and Lower Sabie. This is a truly spectacular area, with huge herds of elephant, buffalo, zebra, wildebeest, and impala dominating the landscape. The large, open grassy plains gave it an 'East African' feel compared to the more scrubby 'bush' habitat that dominates most of the southern, game-rich part of Kruger. Rhino were also surprisingly common and easy to see along this stretch:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4XqeX1iJzuQ/Uxrppt7vGTI/AAAAAAAAA7o/Q7wBw2OIXSM/s1600/blue+wildebeest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4XqeX1iJzuQ/Uxrppt7vGTI/AAAAAAAAA7o/Q7wBw2OIXSM/s1600/blue+wildebeest.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue wildebeest<br />
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<tr><td><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TkTvzhgcB7g/UxrsWhaLV6I/AAAAAAAAA_M/0a9xInUD7j0/s1600/rhino3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TkTvzhgcB7g/UxrsWhaLV6I/AAAAAAAAA_M/0a9xInUD7j0/s1600/rhino3.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px;">White rhino<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-84A9gHzKUEw/UxrsXx0r5hI/AAAAAAAAA_I/BGw8wzeTed8/s1600/vervet+monkey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-84A9gHzKUEw/UxrsXx0r5hI/AAAAAAAAA_I/BGw8wzeTed8/s1600/vervet+monkey.jpg" height="320" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vervet monkey</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4u9OKgyjtkE/UxrsdR_vbbI/AAAAAAAAA_U/ohJWFuM-8nc/s1600/vervet+monkey2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4u9OKgyjtkE/UxrsdR_vbbI/AAAAAAAAA_U/ohJWFuM-8nc/s1600/vervet+monkey2.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Vervet monkey at one of the rest stops</td></tr>
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We called it a day when we arrived at our 'safari tent' - complete with en-suite bathroom, and prepared for an extremely long day, and a very early start, the next day.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HM30krQTD4k/UxrrxpEtz7I/AAAAAAAAA98/-xmdeFYjY2A/s1600/lion2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-HM30krQTD4k/UxrrxpEtz7I/AAAAAAAAA98/-xmdeFYjY2A/s1600/lion2.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pride of female lions from dawn game drive</td></tr>
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It turned out to be our best day in the park, and<span style="text-align: center;"> started with a pre-dawn guided game drive from Lower Sabie*, when we had this pride of female Lions looking interested in a hunt, but never quite mustering the energy to chase the surrounding zebra:</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-small;">*Just a note on the guided rives from the camps; although we very much enjoyed them all, with the exception of the drive from Letaba, I often felt they were too often focussed on seeing the Big 5, and other megafauna that was relatively easy to see on your own during the day, particularly those from Lower Sabie and Skukuza (although I have since heard that the drives from Crocodile Bridge can be excellent). It is undoubtedly worth making it clear to the drive/guide from the outset if you are particularly interested in nocturnal species/birds</span><br />
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Other highlights on the drive included elephant, several rhino, vulture roost, Verreaux's Eagle Owl, Mozambique nightjar, hyaena and other bits and bobs. On returning to camp. we wolfed some breakfast, packed our stuff and headed back out, primarily to look for cheetah:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fLLp1FAybCc/Uxrp7f7eDxI/AAAAAAAAA8E/cU6x6JV63Ag/s1600/cheetah1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-fLLp1FAybCc/Uxrp7f7eDxI/AAAAAAAAA8E/cU6x6JV63Ag/s1600/cheetah1.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cheetah</td></tr>
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These cheetahs were one of the outstanding highlights of the trip. Having spent several hours driving promising habitat near Lower Sabie, these two trotted out on to the main Satara-Lower Sabie road just as we turned back towards camp. They continued to doze, play and generally laze about for 30 minutes or so before trotting off into the dense bush :<br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-clT1M31WcSo/Uxrp95y0csI/AAAAAAAAA8M/41zA4BUM6Ig/s1600/cheetah2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-clT1M31WcSo/Uxrp95y0csI/AAAAAAAAA8M/41zA4BUM6Ig/s1600/cheetah2.jpg" height="187" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_vqWhPHgSg/UxrqC6DAyQI/AAAAAAAAA8U/1m8TBPKIw8g/s1600/cheetah3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Y_vqWhPHgSg/UxrqC6DAyQI/AAAAAAAAA8U/1m8TBPKIw8g/s1600/cheetah3.jpg" height="207" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Having been on safari once before in Namibia/Botswana, these were my first 'top predator' lifer, and one of the most hoped for species on this trip.</span></td></tr>
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We headed back to Lower Sabie for some lunch, then got on the road to Skukuza, one of the most game-filled, and consequently well-driven roads in the park. In the middle of the afternoon it was quiet for apex predators, but there were some nice sightings:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0aGsimVlETk/UxrsDrniGVI/AAAAAAAAA-s/FTJrsFXS3vA/s1600/nyala.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-0aGsimVlETk/UxrsDrniGVI/AAAAAAAAA-s/FTJrsFXS3vA/s1600/nyala.jpg" height="199" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nyala-an extremely handsome antelope</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a8NeTGURqd8/UxrqMVVqO6I/AAAAAAAAA8c/Cl0V_DPqum0/s1600/croc.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-a8NeTGURqd8/UxrqMVVqO6I/AAAAAAAAA8c/Cl0V_DPqum0/s1600/croc.jpg" height="200" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nile crocodile above, and Nile Monitor Lizard below<br />
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FO8P0uD04xw/Uxrr_xve4FI/AAAAAAAAA-k/xnXPLEh0t9I/s1600/nile+monitor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-FO8P0uD04xw/Uxrr_xve4FI/AAAAAAAAA-k/xnXPLEh0t9I/s1600/nile+monitor.jpg" height="221" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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On arriving at Skukuza, we booked ourselves on to a night drive, had a nap, then headed back out late afternoon to try and catch up with some wild dogs. None were seen, but this was more than made up for by this beauty trotting out at dusk only a few hundred metres from camp, Cat's most wanted species, and so close it had to divert its route around our stationary car!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tD8KJ2VUPpE/UxrrzbtB15I/AAAAAAAAA-Q/cGO1iEptkbw/s1600/leopard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tD8KJ2VUPpE/UxrrzbtB15I/AAAAAAAAA-Q/cGO1iEptkbw/s1600/leopard.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This isn't cropped, and it's on 100mm zoom!</td></tr>
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The highlight of the night drive was incredible views of two male lions, right next to the truck and roaring at each other:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tT_NO3kyxlk/UxrsLABFUVI/AAAAAAAAA-0/_n9L5RtmhWg/s1600/lion4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-tT_NO3kyxlk/UxrsLABFUVI/AAAAAAAAA-0/_n9L5RtmhWg/s1600/lion4.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male lion roaring</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--vawZxbuHcc/Uxrr3pylfSI/AAAAAAAAA-U/6km9vGeg_EM/s1600/lion3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--vawZxbuHcc/Uxrr3pylfSI/AAAAAAAAA-U/6km9vGeg_EM/s1600/lion3.jpg" height="320" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male lion (possibly yawning)</td></tr>
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We also saw a female lion with three young cubs, elephant, lesser bushbaby, spotted genet and some other bits and pieces. We were truly exhausted by the end, and headed straight to bed.<br />
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The next morning we made it up for dawn again and were royally rewarded when I had to kick Cat awake to have a look at an unidentified blob ahead in the road, which to my drowzy mind looked like a small horse. As we got closer, it quickly resolved into this fine male lion:<br />
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nWQbSuDYvE8/UxsCizFzCdI/AAAAAAAABAE/A3KTp-RI-5A/s1600/lion5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-nWQbSuDYvE8/UxsCizFzCdI/AAAAAAAABAE/A3KTp-RI-5A/s1600/lion5.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Further along the road to Crocodile Bridge we came across this honey badger, with a broken leg giving it a very odd hopping gait:</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eu6x9v1MfIk/UxrqYpGLZZI/AAAAAAAAA8k/oIyFZkmx7RY/s1600/honey+badger.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Eu6x9v1MfIk/UxrqYpGLZZI/AAAAAAAAA8k/oIyFZkmx7RY/s1600/honey+badger.jpg" height="319" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some grass - with a honey badger behind</td></tr>
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Other than a few more rhino, the rest of the drive was relatively quiet and we arrived at Crocdile Bridge relatively early. After discovering it didn'y have a restaurant, or even a proper shop, we headed back up towards Lower Sabie to get lunch, and some food for that evening. The area in the immediate vicinity of Crocodile Bridge is again excellent for game drives with lots of rhino and antelope. At lunch at Lower Sabie, we got a tip-off about a Cheetah that had made a kill, so we headed out there and got distant views of a very bloated looking animal resting up after eating it's fill of impala. The vultures were surrounding the remains of the poor impala, and provided an altogether better spectacle.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jzeviBQ0MKo/UxrpW9IESrI/AAAAAAAAA7c/UuEqwaNj_Fw/s1600/baby+rhino.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jzeviBQ0MKo/UxrpW9IESrI/AAAAAAAAA7c/UuEqwaNj_Fw/s1600/baby+rhino.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby rhino, much needed with the massive increases in poaching </td></tr>
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The next day we had a brief drive round the Crocodile Bridge area, primarily to look for birds, then headed south for St.Lucia wetlands.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QoWKVOpoSDc/UxrpWWXcRpI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/y0WZ96iGdqQ/s1600/bat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QoWKVOpoSDc/UxrpWWXcRpI/AAAAAAAAA7Y/y0WZ96iGdqQ/s1600/bat.jpg" height="320" width="216" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bat sp. under the roofs at Crocodile Bridge</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D2Ll-YUD3nU/UxsCWAzb_iI/AAAAAAAAA_8/gIZ0s9tWFrU/s1600/warthog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D2Ll-YUD3nU/UxsCWAzb_iI/AAAAAAAAA_8/gIZ0s9tWFrU/s1600/warthog.jpg" height="231" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Warthog family</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lByyxHu9Lvk/UxsFpkM9QWI/AAAAAAAABAQ/8pvGle0sEN0/s1600/lower+sabie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-lByyxHu9Lvk/UxsFpkM9QWI/AAAAAAAABAQ/8pvGle0sEN0/s1600/lower+sabie.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">And this was my favourite spot in Kruger, the view from Lower Sabie restaurant, from which we managed to see Elephant, Buffalo, Waterbuck, Impala, Hippo, Croc, terrapins and dozens of species of birds</td></tr>
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Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-82627896202829025342014-03-08T01:18:00.001-08:002014-03-08T01:20:23.292-08:00South Africa November 2013: KrugerI visited South Africa with my girlfriend in November 2013 for three weeks, a spectacular trip with some truly memorable highlights. It wasn't a proper birding trip, but we did spend the majority of the time in 'birdy' places or on safari.Having stayed in the Free State studying southern bald ibis for three months on my gap year, my main aim was to get up into the wildlife-rich north-east of the country, and in particular, go on safari. We flew to Jo'burg, picked up a Nissan Micra (which did admirably well, surviving gravelled and heavily potholed roads, as well as several thousand km on the main artery roads, without a blemish) and headed straight up towards Kruger. Our first night was spent just outside Orpen gate, at Mariepskop View, where I managed to see about forty species in a brief walk around the grounds the next morning. Kruger, needless to say, was absolutely incredible, with dozens of rhino, two cheetah, and a single leopard standing out amongst the mammal highlights, as well as constant bird interest. We spent two nights at Letaba, one at Lower Sabie, one at Skukuza and one at Crocodile Bridge. All had their own merits, with different wildlife seen at and within each camp, but given the chance to repeat the trip, I think we would spend more time around Lower Sabie/Satara and less at Letaba, which is surrounded by miles of Mopane woodland, which can be very quiet for game viewing. Below are some of the ornithological highlights from Kruger:<br />
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Feel free to get in touch for any info.<br />
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African Green Pigeon, Letaba camp</div>
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Bateleur</div>
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Bearded scrub-robin</div>
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Black-bellied Bustard</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ozoju9fpt8/UxrYFeW25AI/AAAAAAAAAyY/Oges-qogH9M/s1600/bc+barbet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5ozoju9fpt8/UxrYFeW25AI/AAAAAAAAAyY/Oges-qogH9M/s1600/bc+barbet.jpg" height="320" width="217" /></a></div>
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Black-collared Barbet above our restaurant table in Olifants camp</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6NvBT5OAhSg/UxrYPOBbTlI/AAAAAAAAAyg/deA14Fz73Bk/s1600/bee+eater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6NvBT5OAhSg/UxrYPOBbTlI/AAAAAAAAAyg/deA14Fz73Bk/s1600/bee+eater.jpg" height="116" width="320" /></a></div>
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European Bee-eater</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7VTQNHThZPo/UxrYY6-5AqI/AAAAAAAAAyw/A8HGnLhvS_c/s1600/bh+tchagra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7VTQNHThZPo/UxrYY6-5AqI/AAAAAAAAAyw/A8HGnLhvS_c/s1600/bh+tchagra.jpg" height="236" width="320" /></a></div>
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Brown-headed Tchagra</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kt8G4TaaTpU/UxrYmIel1PI/AAAAAAAAAzU/jEHZt_EHRGY/s1600/black+spar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Kt8G4TaaTpU/UxrYmIel1PI/AAAAAAAAAzU/jEHZt_EHRGY/s1600/black+spar.jpg" height="320" width="179" /></a></div>
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Black Sparrowhawk</div>
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Bronze Manninkin</div>
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A very wet Brown-headed Parrot, Satara restaurant</div>
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Burchell's coucal</div>
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Cape Glossy Starling, Lower Sabie restaurant</div>
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Crested Barbet, Satara camp</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_W5X23KVUmM/UxrY-m13qZI/AAAAAAAAA0E/zasIq_hg5wQ/s1600/crested+francolin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-_W5X23KVUmM/UxrY-m13qZI/AAAAAAAAA0E/zasIq_hg5wQ/s1600/crested+francolin.jpg" height="203" width="320" /></a></div>
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Crested Francolin</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-heKwb8Q3Tkw/UxrY-Y6vuyI/AAAAAAAAA0A/y5yO38tl98o/s1600/dc+bulbul.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-heKwb8Q3Tkw/UxrY-Y6vuyI/AAAAAAAAA0A/y5yO38tl98o/s1600/dc+bulbul.jpg" height="273" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cark-capped Bulbul, Skukuza</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jO3x8SJtYWw/UxrZIyUiXsI/AAAAAAAAA0g/xF4ny5d99ws/s1600/g+kingfisher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jO3x8SJtYWw/UxrZIyUiXsI/AAAAAAAAA0g/xF4ny5d99ws/s1600/g+kingfisher.jpg" height="185" width="320" /></a></div>
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Giant Kingfisher</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DUn8j1yY6TQ/UxrZFmINwzI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/szCOCY4ATXk/s1600/gb+bunting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DUn8j1yY6TQ/UxrZFmINwzI/AAAAAAAAA0Y/szCOCY4ATXk/s1600/gb+bunting.jpg" height="263" width="320" /></a></div>
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Golden-breasted Bunting</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G5yI23jUm-Y/UxrZLEDZpCI/AAAAAAAAA0o/T4_bmcuP2TI/s1600/greater+scimitarbill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-G5yI23jUm-Y/UxrZLEDZpCI/AAAAAAAAA0o/T4_bmcuP2TI/s1600/greater+scimitarbill.jpg" height="320" width="229" /></a></div>
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Greater Scimitarbill, Satara restaurant</div>
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Grey Hornbill, Satara restaurant</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l6AOwNDsV3s/UxrZbe_hPMI/AAAAAAAAA1I/aex6jyKd26k/s1600/hamerkop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-l6AOwNDsV3s/UxrZbe_hPMI/AAAAAAAAA1I/aex6jyKd26k/s1600/hamerkop.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hammerkop</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-haveaPZk4ew/UxrZYNtuJdI/AAAAAAAAA1A/m06j1RY-NvE/s1600/helmeted+guineafowl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-haveaPZk4ew/UxrZYNtuJdI/AAAAAAAAA1A/m06j1RY-NvE/s1600/helmeted+guineafowl.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></div>
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Helmeted Goineafowl</div>
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Hooded Vulture</div>
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Kori Bustard</div>
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Lilac-breasted Roller</div>
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Lappet-faced Vulture</div>
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Masses of Little Swifts, which can be seen at every high-level bridge in the park</div>
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Lesser Masked Weaver, Lower Sabie restaurant</div>
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Lesser Striped Swallow</div>
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Magpie Shrike</div>
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Malachite Kingfisher</div>
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Martial Eagle</div>
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Orange Breasted Bush-shrike</div>
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Open-billed Stork</div>
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African Palm Swift, Lower Sabie Restaurant</div>
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Red-billed Oxpecker</div>
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Red-billed Oxpeckers on Impala</div>
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Red-billed Quelea in a pre-roost gathering (there was a line of bushes about half a kilometre long all equally full)</div>
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Red-breasted Swallow</div>
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Red-crested Korhaan</div>
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Red-crested Korhaan</div>
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Red-headed Weaver</div>
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Scarlet-chested Sunbird</div>
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Southern Ground Hornbill</div>
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Spotted Dikkop</div>
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Square-tailed Nightjar on a nightdrive from Letaba</div>
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Swainson's Spurfowl</div>
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Southern Yellow-Billed Hornbill</div>
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Southern Yellow-Billed Hornbill</div>
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Tawny Eagle</div>
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Tawny-flanked Prinia, Skukuza</div>
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Violet-backed Starling, Skukuza</div>
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Wattled Starling</div>
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White-browed Robin Chat, Skukuza</div>
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White-browed Scrub Robin</div>
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White-bellied Sunbird, Skukuza</div>
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White-crowned Helmetshrike</div>
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White-crowned Lapwing</div>
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White-fronted Bee-eater</div>
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White-headed Vulture</div>
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Yellow-breasted Apalis, Skukuza</div>
<br />Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-42331653245518423452014-03-03T11:45:00.002-08:002014-03-03T11:45:16.785-08:00Irish trip: February 2014 a few highlightsFollowing the big weterly gales over the Christmas period, I was desperate to get out and check the Irish west coast, surely some goodies had been blow across in all this extreme weather. Myself and Tim Jones managed to find some cheap return flights from Stansted-Shannon, and as usual, Ireland didn't let us down. We managed to see a 1w Forster's tern (nice after only previously having brief views of the longstaying Galway adult), as well as finding lesser scaup, spotted sandpiper (in exactly the same spot as the one in 2011), and a golf course (Keel, Achill, Co.Mayo) that held ring-billed gull, kumlien's gull, 8 glaucous gulls and 2 iceland gulls! Pretty amazing stuff.<br />
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1w Forster's tern on The Mullet, Co.Mayo</div>
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Ring-billed gull, Keel Golf Course, Achill Island, Co.Mayo</div>
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A selection of the other gulls on the golf course</div>
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And iceland gulls at Westport, Mayo and Rossaveal, Galway</div>
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<br />Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-52096257456120491192012-10-14T11:59:00.000-07:002012-10-14T12:37:04.679-07:00Acro confusion:<br />
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A few photo's I had of an acro at Whitby yesterday. It fed almost exclusively in long grass and low bramble, only occasionally popping up into low branches of elderberries. I watched it on and off for nearly two hours, and still not really sure what species it is. It didn't have a tail, which didn't really help.<br />
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FWIW, I think the photo's make it look a little warmer than it was in the field, adding more brown tones. They are unedited. I should add i was veering towards Blyth's in the field, but the tertials are worrying me.Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-85476439894167561842012-09-01T11:52:00.001-07:002012-09-02T07:10:38.321-07:00Spanish seawatchingHey<br />
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As usual, big gap between posts (and I know I still haven't finished the one from Egypt, hopefully I'll post some catch up photo's soon), but the last trip I went on was really good, so thought I'd write a post before I forget to do it.<br />
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Spain August 2012<br />
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So when planning a seawatching trip earlier this year, I only really considered Bridges of Ross or Cornwall. That was until I went on a pelagic from Lanzarote (hopefully photos to follow soonish) in July, and chatting to Daniel Lopez-Velasco, realised how easy and relatively cheap a few days at Estaca de Bares, Galicia would be, and with previous day counts of thousands of long-tailed skuas, 4 pteredromas, south polar skuas etc etc etc my mind was made up.<br />
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So on Friday of the August bank holiday, I touched down at Asturias airport (with Easyjet), picked up the hirecar and met up with Dani. 2 hours later we were at Estaca de Bares, watching a trickle of fully spooned poms and sum-plum arctic skuas go by at closeish range, along with some lingering cory's, balearics and sooty shears. I headed back to the town that evening pretty happy with a few good birds, promise of north-westerly winds the next day, and met up with some of the Spanish guys from the Lanzarote pelagic for a great dinner full of fresh seafood for the princely sum of 15euros.<br />
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The next day I was up early(ish), the dawns are later in Spain, to get to the headland for about 07:45, for the best passage of the trip:<br />
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Saturday seawatching<br />
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In 13 hours:<br />
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202 pom skuas (mostly summer-adults with full spoons, some within 100m of headland)<br />
62 arctic skuas<br />
14 bonxie<br />
4 long-tailed skua<br />
5 great shearwater<br />
grey phalarope<br />
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Plus a sprinkling of waders, terns and plenty of cory's, manx, sooty and balearic shearwaters, both moving and feeding in the area.<br />
(These are just the totals of what I saw, I'm sure the recorded totals for the day were considerably higher)<br />
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On Sunday, Dani had a pelagic organised from Malpica, leaving at 08:00. The flat calm conditions were a blessing in the small fishing boat, with only 10 people on board, it made the perfect scenario for getting incredibly good views of seabirds. The result was incredible, undoubtedly the most enjoyable pelagic I've ever been on, some great birds seen astonishingly close, with one incredible highlight.<br />
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Totals:<br />
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1 Fea's petrel; first definitively identified in Spain, see Dani's website, Reservoir Birds (or Birding frontiers) for some stunning pics. It gave at least two passes, coming very close to the boat c20-30m I guess, but we were all incredibly excited at the time.<br />
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3 wilson's storm-petrel<br />
4 long-tailed skua<br />
c25 pom skua<br />
c8 bonxie<br />
c15 arctic skua<br />
c150 sabines gulls<br />
c25 great shearwaters<br />
2 grey phalarope<br />
10 european storm petrel<br />
Dani seemed a bit disappointed with storm-petrel numbers, but very pleased with the Fea's.<br />
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(the numbers are all a bit rough as I was enjoying myself too much to keep an exact tally)<br />
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Celebrating a first for Spain<br />
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We dashed back to Estaca for the evening, to catch the end of a decent passage of skuas and terns. Dani picked out another Pteredroma sp. (all pteredromas are currently left unidentified from land at Estaca), probably Fea's, from the headland. Unfortunately I was unable to get on it, despite it feeding offshore for a while.<br />
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On Monday I was at Estaca de Bares again for a much quieter day, with light south-westerly winds. The species list was pretty similar to the last few days, but with much lower numbers the day really dragged. However the highlight came in the evening, just before dusk. With everyone else packing up before a rainshower hit, I was having one final scan when I picked up a bird at midrange. It took a few moments before I was sure I hadn't gone mad or seen one too many Cory's, but soon the shout went up of another pteredroma, but the bird soon landed on the sea. Antonio picked it up again a few minutes later, before it ditched again, appearing to land with some possibly roosting shearwaters. Was this the same as yesterdays bird, coming back to roost in the same spot as the night before? Timing and behaviour certainly seemed to suggest so.<br />
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The next day, the weather looked even worse, so after a few quiet hours in the morning, I headed off to the Somiedo Biosphere reserve, about 3.5 hours away (only 1.5hrs from Asturias airport), to look for European brown bear. After a few slightly disconcerting hours in the midday heat with no people and no bears (but some mouflon) I got some good gen from a bar in Caunedo, and made my way to a picnic table at the base of El Llamardal at about 6pm, where half a dozen Spanish guys were already watching a bear on a hillside about a mile away. Despite my complete lack of Spanish and their understandable lack of English, they were very friendly and put my scope on the bear for me as the directions were entirely lost in translation. I spent a happy 2 hours watching it wander from bush to bush happily feeding on berries.<br />
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The next morning I returned to the same spot, and to my surprise, there was a mother and cub bear in the same area, again happily feeding, and a 3rd (4th over the two days) darker, almost black bear feeding above them. What a fantastic morning, and what a shock only 5 hours later to be back in a rainy, drizzly Stansted.<br />
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All in all, a truly fantastic trip, and so close to the UK.<br />
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Feel free to contact me for any more info on any of the above.<br />
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OllieOliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-20926334998236772612012-04-21T12:29:00.001-07:002012-04-21T13:13:51.725-07:00Egypt 2012 - The Nile Valley<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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First up, a warning. If you are reading this as preparation for a trip to Egypt soon, think very hard about your trip. We had a very difficult time of it due to a massive fuel crisis all over the country. Our first experience of it, on the first night, was an hour and a half wait at the pumps, we didn't realise at the time, but we had got off pretty lightly. After that, we drove past multiple closed stations due to lack of fuel, had to wait 5 hours plus for fuel to arrive at one station, and queued for many, many hours at other stations. We had to organise an expensive trip in a locals vehicle to get to Shalatein and back as no-one could guarantee petrol in the three stations between Lahami and Shalatein (there wasn't any in the end, but some did arrive whilst we were there). If you are still going, make sure you keep a very close eye on the news to find out what is happening with the fuel crisis, and talk to the locals to find out where has petrol, and when its arriving, although they quite often didn't seem to know either.
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Above photo's from Tut Amon Fishponds and the Nile.
The 1st April saw me heading out from Gatwick to Hurghada with Josh Jones and Rich Bonser on a birding trip to Egypt. Expectations were high for lots of high quality birding, although we had been warned by Rich that it wouldn't necessarily be as relaxing and pleasant as our Spanish jaunt this time last year. Our plan for the week was to get the Nile Valley section of our trip done first, hopefully cleaning up some of the trickier speciality species, before having a few days to relax and look for migrants on the Red Sea. We knew it was going to be less than luxurious, with a long drive, a high density of people and lots of pollution. I wasn't quite prepared for how bad it was.<br />
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It got off to a bad start; a long drive down from Hurghada to Aswan was greatly extended by queues for petrol, police checkpoints, unplanned police escorts, and mountainous speed bumps every kilometre or so on on the road (for several hundred kilometres). We had planned to get there for around midnight and find a room; we finally rocked up at 4:30 and spent a few fitful hours napping in the car.
Our days birding began with a brief walk around Aswan, picking up commoner species like gull-billed tern, eastern ollie, masked shrike, purple gallinule, Nile valley sunbird, lesser whitethroats littering every bush, and our only white-winged black tern of the trip.<br />
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Proper birding commenced with a guided tour (you can only get in with a guide) of Tut Amon fishponds. This was a pretty good site, with a series of saltpan-type lagoons holding a nice variety and quantity of birds, but it took a bit of searching before we found the target, three-banded plover, apparently at a breeding site on the edge of Lake Nasser with a couple of Senegal thick-knees. By that stage, we had already notched up the likes of clamorous reed warblers, graceful prinia, spur-winged plovers, night, squacco, purple and grey herons, more sunbirds and masked shrikes, temminck's stint, wood sand, LRP, bluethroat and many others. The guide was decent, but disappeared pretty quickly after finding us the plovers. If you wan't to go, you'll need Hosni, his e-mail is goodhosni@yahoo.com.<br />
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The rest of the afternoon was written off queuing for petrol, but we did have the advantage of getting plenty of time to meet up with Aswan fixer extraordinnaire Yasser. He was fixing us up with the boat trip the next day in Abu Simbel, and suggested we also went on one down the Nile that evening from Aswan. At $10 each, we jumped at the chance to fit in a bit more birding. In the end, it was a great idea, one of the more relaxing experiences of the trip, lots of birds, good views and a chance to get out of the smog, noise and heat of Aswan.
The next day we were up early (no sleep for the wicked, or WP tick-obsessed), to make the organised convoy down to Abu Simbel for African Mourning Dove, and a 4 hour trip on Lake Nasser. In the end, the convoy was pretty pointless, as we had to do 50mph to make sure we could get there and back on one tank of fuel with no hope of petrol at Abu Simbel due to the crisis, and the convoy soon left us far behind.<br />
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Once it got light, migrant Ospreys were a bizarre sight adorning many of the pylons in the middle of the desert, with no water for miles. On arrival, we headed for the gardens where the Mourning doves had been found. We heard them singing as soon as we stepped out of the car, and a bit of a search found one singing from the top of a tall tree, and occasionally display flighting. After half an hour of good views, we left to get on a boat round Lake Nasser.
The boat trip was great, with lots of fantastic birds, although we were clearly to early for two of the semi-hoped for birds, African skimmer and pink-backed pelican. Highlights included 3 yellow-billed storks, Kittlitz's plover, several pairs of African pied wagtails which came and landed on our boat, 19 black-winged pratincoles, 100's of waders like marsh sands, little stints and wood sands, 3 ospreys, 2 Senegal thick-knee, 250 odd great white pelican, and 50ish each of greater flamingo and spoonbill. All in all very pleasant, and we were pretty happy when we returned to shore to begin the tedious drive back.<br />
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On returning to Aswan, panic began to set in as neither petrol station had any fuel, but they did have the longest queues I have ever seen waiting for non-existent benzine. We rang Yasser, who happily got a call as fuel arrived at one of the stations, and somehow got us to the front of the queue! Incredible. We had Yasser's number for the boat trip, but he seemed exceptionally happy to help with any problems we had in Aswan, and organised the Nile boat trip for us; if you need something in Aswan or Abu Simbel he is probably the man to ask yasser.waris@yahoo.com. We went to bed with a full tank, and looking forward to leaving the Nile Valley the next morning.<br />
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Photo's from Abu Simbel and Lake Nasser:
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-93hTdA97MXA/T5MEjWCBv2I/AAAAAAAAAig/YA810_wYTlA/s1600/IMG_5518.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-93hTdA97MXA/T5MEjWCBv2I/AAAAAAAAAig/YA810_wYTlA/s320/IMG_5518.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-47974543361311090932012-04-15T13:49:00.005-07:002012-04-15T14:11:47.381-07:00Fade to grey?Having been back from the aforementioned Irish trip a while, I was having a flick through my photo's of the adult Kumlien's gull at Reenard point, Kerry:<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2b22qlByWg/T4s2ZGag1_I/AAAAAAAAAfs/TrYT5uWbhYc/s1600/IMG_5210.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O2b22qlByWg/T4s2ZGag1_I/AAAAAAAAAfs/TrYT5uWbhYc/s320/IMG_5210.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731734755605534706" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4sGbdlkVMSY/T4s2YiOvAVI/AAAAAAAAAfg/IQBwaMGxyQQ/s1600/IMG_5192.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4sGbdlkVMSY/T4s2YiOvAVI/AAAAAAAAAfg/IQBwaMGxyQQ/s320/IMG_5192.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731734745892454738" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Asd9ko-W38c/T4s2YK3E8gI/AAAAAAAAAfU/fdxDJyV4Mo8/s1600/IMG_5182.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Asd9ko-W38c/T4s2YK3E8gI/AAAAAAAAAfU/fdxDJyV4Mo8/s320/IMG_5182.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731734739619213826" /></a><br /><br /><br />Then this photo caught my eye:<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g1ANXM8HnMM/T4s27LNS6RI/AAAAAAAAAf4/XajSGPrf9sw/s1600/IMG_5017.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g1ANXM8HnMM/T4s27LNS6RI/AAAAAAAAAf4/XajSGPrf9sw/s320/IMG_5017.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731735341007825170" /></a><br /><br />I thought I had a different bird, one that we hadn't noticed in the field, paler but with still enough grey in the webs to make a decent candidate for Iceland gull. However, I looked again when I got back from Egypt (blog post soon), and there seems to be a bit of a scale in the darkness of grey shown in my photos of Kumliens gull(s) at Reenard, for instance:<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_M10go3piQs/T4s5ZEFhtEI/AAAAAAAAAgE/yXbZyLIEN2Q/s1600/IMG_5009.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_M10go3piQs/T4s5ZEFhtEI/AAAAAAAAAgE/yXbZyLIEN2Q/s320/IMG_5009.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731738053515523138" /></a><br /><br /><br />I'm now pretty confused. In the field we only had one bird we thought was Kumlien's, which appeared to show charcoal grey in the outer primaries, although most of my attention was focussed on photography, rather than observation. There were certainly a few adult Icelands knocking about as well. Are there two birds, or is the camera just responsible for the colour change?<br /><br />Any comments gratefully recieved.Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-30422914090683989152012-04-15T09:41:00.018-07:002012-04-15T12:23:05.547-07:00Irish gulls are always classy<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rMjEj3OoSm0/T4sXRZottBI/AAAAAAAAAYk/SOUIxGBVOdY/s1600/1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rMjEj3OoSm0/T4sXRZottBI/AAAAAAAAAYk/SOUIxGBVOdY/s320/1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731700538465956882" /></a><br /><br /><br />1w Iceland gull in Bantry harbour<br /><br /><br /><br />2012 started in much the same way as 2011 ended, fairly quiet locally, but enough nationally to keep hopeful. The highlight of January was a weekend away with Cat, when I somehow managed to sneak in the time to see the western sand at Cley and the Spanish sparrow and dark-eyed junco in hampshire (she's such a lucky girl), although i did bugger my scope dipping the fudge duck at Blashford lakes.<br /><br />The year really started to pick up when storms in the north atlantic caused huge wrecks of Iceland gulls on the west coast of Ireland and the Northern isles, which eventually led to decent numbers spread through the rest of the UK. Effort at the local tip was increased, and I found a very small adult Iceland, then Tim weighed in with a couple of Casps, before the floodgates truly opened, and white-wingers started popping up all over the place locally. I reckon I have seen about 10-12 different white-wingers this winter personally in the York area, and there were clearly more individuals than that knocking around. Myself and Chris Gomersall worked out we had seen 9 different Iceland gulls, of all ages except 3+4w (maybe just lack of attention), and 3 different Glaucs. Pretty impressive stuff.<br /><br />Despite this, the truly astounding numbers coming from places like Killybegs were still very tempting, and I decided to tag along on a trip to Ireland already arranged by Rich Bonser and Alan Clewes. In total that trip, we had 150 white-winged gulls including 5 Kumlien's, and other good birds in the form of Todd's canada goose (found by JJ on an earlier trip), 3 Richardson's canada geese, black brant found by Alan and a scattering of ring-billed gulls. The residing memory of the trip will always be the regularity in which we found ourselves looking at <em></em>flocks<em></em> of white-wingers in harbours and beaches, and the excitement and confusion of trying work out counts, when often birds were seemingly everywhere, whilst also commonly having several extremely confiding birds to study and photograph.<br /><br />Not gull photos:<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QB2rAhuYfbk/T4sdYeLurzI/AAAAAAAAAek/JY5L0k_r2Sg/s1600/34.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QB2rAhuYfbk/T4sdYeLurzI/AAAAAAAAAek/JY5L0k_r2Sg/s320/34.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731707257015414578" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pe6mAdy9Ewo/T4sdXt8w5HI/AAAAAAAAAeM/tOUwC3qqlpA/s1600/32.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Pe6mAdy9Ewo/T4sdXt8w5HI/AAAAAAAAAeM/tOUwC3qqlpA/s320/32.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731707244067742834" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CIme6oFsOPU/T4sdjBNPXSI/AAAAAAAAAfI/Y5VylEjBYog/s1600/37.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CIme6oFsOPU/T4sdjBNPXSI/AAAAAAAAAfI/Y5VylEjBYog/s320/37.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731707438215683362" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mctRGVCPMLI/T4sdZDFe7BI/AAAAAAAAAe8/Q0be8Ox7W0A/s1600/36.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-mctRGVCPMLI/T4sdZDFe7BI/AAAAAAAAAe8/Q0be8Ox7W0A/s320/36.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731707266921327634" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JU91_Us3DYE/T4sdYtazLgI/AAAAAAAAAew/KQa4t5be9HM/s1600/35.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-JU91_Us3DYE/T4sdYtazLgI/AAAAAAAAAew/KQa4t5be9HM/s320/35.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731707261105155586" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d-EonCXL338/T4sceMrqKoI/AAAAAAAAAd0/VY31WLviyy0/s1600/30.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-d-EonCXL338/T4sceMrqKoI/AAAAAAAAAd0/VY31WLviyy0/s320/30.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731706255885085314" /></a><br /><br />Ok, there is a glauc in this one, couldn't get away from them...<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sNTJT-cIwuE/T4sceQUNkPI/AAAAAAAAAeA/8ZKybI2rb1Q/s1600/31.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-sNTJT-cIwuE/T4sceQUNkPI/AAAAAAAAAeA/8ZKybI2rb1Q/s320/31.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731706256860483826" /></a><br />Rich doing what he does best.<br /><br /><br />Gull photos (in no particular order):<br /><br />Castletown Bearehaven, Cork:<br /><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EuBOHYpFW9c/T4sXS1lDMTI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/TcVNP88nF0w/s1600/5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 198px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EuBOHYpFW9c/T4sXS1lDMTI/AAAAAAAAAZQ/TcVNP88nF0w/s320/5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731700563146649906" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bCu6OXAsCug/T4sXSWaLgAI/AAAAAAAAAZI/OFtnHkAiRu4/s1600/4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 199px; height: 320px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bCu6OXAsCug/T4sXSWaLgAI/AAAAAAAAAZI/OFtnHkAiRu4/s320/4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731700554779557890" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gTuJ-TI1_tI/T4sXSGLYaYI/AAAAAAAAAY4/XJBPqVpP00o/s1600/3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gTuJ-TI1_tI/T4sXSGLYaYI/AAAAAAAAAY4/XJBPqVpP00o/s320/3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731700550422522242" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eWQxHlVFfWY/T4sXR5OZveI/AAAAAAAAAYw/zblw_-gFbOc/s1600/2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 201px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eWQxHlVFfWY/T4sXR5OZveI/AAAAAAAAAYw/zblw_-gFbOc/s320/2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731700546945531362" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VnB9u-88DpQ/T4sYPC6r7XI/AAAAAAAAAZg/tiJNABc0HZU/s1600/6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VnB9u-88DpQ/T4sYPC6r7XI/AAAAAAAAAZg/tiJNABc0HZU/s320/6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731701597519211890" /></a><br /><br />Reenard Point, Kerry:<br /><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bUnF3LZSUSk/T4sYo9DB-qI/AAAAAAAAAa0/AQymTXnbv2A/s1600/13.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-bUnF3LZSUSk/T4sYo9DB-qI/AAAAAAAAAa0/AQymTXnbv2A/s320/13.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731702042620197538" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rs3dRmPtq_8/T4sYonWQktI/AAAAAAAAAao/v-oo5syhROg/s1600/12.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-rs3dRmPtq_8/T4sYonWQktI/AAAAAAAAAao/v-oo5syhROg/s320/12.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731702036795265746" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2X_NzIsnRus/T4sYoO4vuZI/AAAAAAAAAac/a9f-xAMsss4/s1600/11.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-2X_NzIsnRus/T4sYoO4vuZI/AAAAAAAAAac/a9f-xAMsss4/s320/11.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731702030229027218" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hi-3VsUF5iw/T4sYQ1g8ALI/AAAAAAAAAaM/KLs2voxmb9o/s1600/10.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 199px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-hi-3VsUF5iw/T4sYQ1g8ALI/AAAAAAAAAaM/KLs2voxmb9o/s320/10.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731701628281290930" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GZE-uCUu5bw/T4sYQYHve-I/AAAAAAAAAaE/Cpa6h2mpfF0/s1600/9.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 201px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-GZE-uCUu5bw/T4sYQYHve-I/AAAAAAAAAaE/Cpa6h2mpfF0/s320/9.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731701620390984674" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wn0JMRngbHY/T4sYP6LAJ8I/AAAAAAAAAZ4/wVEeFWgkUHc/s1600/8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wn0JMRngbHY/T4sYP6LAJ8I/AAAAAAAAAZ4/wVEeFWgkUHc/s320/8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731701612351596482" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u0cBwFnDrXk/T4sYPicKBoI/AAAAAAAAAZs/Hu7kHyKdYFU/s1600/7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u0cBwFnDrXk/T4sYPicKBoI/AAAAAAAAAZs/Hu7kHyKdYFU/s320/7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731701605981095554" /></a><br /><br />Bantry, Cork:<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zvDAewRgov4/T4sYpwp0otI/AAAAAAAAAbM/pjN8XQHq7R4/s1600/15.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zvDAewRgov4/T4sYpwp0otI/AAAAAAAAAbM/pjN8XQHq7R4/s320/15.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731702056473109202" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ivcm3gk578k/T4sYpWBkKSI/AAAAAAAAAbA/XeGtE_UrVAw/s1600/14.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ivcm3gk578k/T4sYpWBkKSI/AAAAAAAAAbA/XeGtE_UrVAw/s320/14.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731702049324935458" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nZPymR7C0QY/T4sZd9aHZnI/AAAAAAAAAbk/kHsGc0I3E7c/s1600/17.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 222px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nZPymR7C0QY/T4sZd9aHZnI/AAAAAAAAAbk/kHsGc0I3E7c/s320/17.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731702953250088562" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1BmE1PyY80E/T4sZdUyBlJI/AAAAAAAAAbY/RJlGySGEFms/s1600/16.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 221px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1BmE1PyY80E/T4sZdUyBlJI/AAAAAAAAAbY/RJlGySGEFms/s320/16.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731702942344516754" /></a><br /><br />A very unconvincing 'Kumlien's' in Stab city:<br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mjhbCcHnnmY/T4sbI9iWs7I/AAAAAAAAAcU/XLuDN1F-6sQ/s1600/21.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mjhbCcHnnmY/T4sbI9iWs7I/AAAAAAAAAcU/XLuDN1F-6sQ/s320/21.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731704791530648498" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qnqkPCrMy3A/T4sZfVUNsmI/AAAAAAAAAcE/nrGJgKHvbFg/s1600/20.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-qnqkPCrMy3A/T4sZfVUNsmI/AAAAAAAAAcE/nrGJgKHvbFg/s320/20.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731702976847655522" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DdpnuGxGrlE/T4sZemvoe7I/AAAAAAAAAb8/wXuJ3XS1cgI/s1600/19.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 230px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-DdpnuGxGrlE/T4sZemvoe7I/AAAAAAAAAb8/wXuJ3XS1cgI/s320/19.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731702964346190770" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y-R62osdf2c/T4sZea_ZGvI/AAAAAAAAAbw/E8SGsq5Varc/s1600/18.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-y-R62osdf2c/T4sZea_ZGvI/AAAAAAAAAbw/E8SGsq5Varc/s320/18.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731702961191066354" /></a><br /><br />Compulsory visit to Nimmo's pier, Galway<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6rnYetCnWCg/T4sbKYr6fmI/AAAAAAAAAdE/6crm02rxCQo/s1600/25.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6rnYetCnWCg/T4sbKYr6fmI/AAAAAAAAAdE/6crm02rxCQo/s320/25.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731704815998369378" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3e4pHAz7pLs/T4sbKOMJgoI/AAAAAAAAAc4/1nRJF4pFXC4/s1600/24.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 231px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-3e4pHAz7pLs/T4sbKOMJgoI/AAAAAAAAAc4/1nRJF4pFXC4/s320/24.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731704813180781186" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sykNlcT5IRg/T4sbJlbLIiI/AAAAAAAAAcs/Yh3qSeOcoUM/s1600/26.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-sykNlcT5IRg/T4sbJlbLIiI/AAAAAAAAAcs/Yh3qSeOcoUM/s320/26.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731704802237948450" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w9T_e_WAQZI/T4sbJNo6RCI/AAAAAAAAAcg/SroHEvkchQg/s1600/22.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 231px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-w9T_e_WAQZI/T4sbJNo6RCI/AAAAAAAAAcg/SroHEvkchQg/s320/22.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731704795853112354" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--CsiKK7lQVw/T4scdHEwFmI/AAAAAAAAAdc/nprSxzAH0yg/s1600/28.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/--CsiKK7lQVw/T4scdHEwFmI/AAAAAAAAAdc/nprSxzAH0yg/s320/28.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731706237199849058" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jyHXvYFEKz0/T4sccuWoNEI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/RXJKG1krpwI/s1600/27.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 221px; height: 320px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jyHXvYFEKz0/T4sccuWoNEI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/RXJKG1krpwI/s320/27.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731706230563943490" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iukKAyzcRLM/T4scdlS_YoI/AAAAAAAAAdo/mFdi3us6tcc/s1600/29.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-iukKAyzcRLM/T4scdlS_YoI/AAAAAAAAAdo/mFdi3us6tcc/s320/29.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731706245312635522" /></a><br /><br />Somewhere else in Ireland:<br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TNwjfGMuugs/T4sdX8tioeI/AAAAAAAAAeY/8HgdnmUFGbY/s1600/33.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 222px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-TNwjfGMuugs/T4sdX8tioeI/AAAAAAAAAeY/8HgdnmUFGbY/s320/33.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731707248030425570" /></a>Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-74324591946322456432012-04-14T10:56:00.005-07:002012-04-14T13:47:09.026-07:00The rest of Autumn 2011<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kyIYLeMCuyc/T4m-jOdWdZI/AAAAAAAAAUo/XLqRD8saFHE/s1600/SAM_1964.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731321513191568786" border="0" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-kyIYLeMCuyc/T4m-jOdWdZI/AAAAAAAAAUo/XLqRD8saFHE/s320/SAM_1964.JPG"></a><br /><br />And the rest of Autumn 2011 went by in a bit of a blur, with various twitches, new birds, and the odd minor find, although October and November failed to live up to the thrills of September.<br /><br />On my return from Ireland, a midnight dash up to Strathbeg was in order for the Sandhill crane (seen briefly close up and for a second time much more distantly, so no photos) with a bonus couple of Pec's, and the Black Scoter on the way home.<br /><br />Other highlights of the Autumn included the Veery on Muck, a Ferruginous duck locally at Castle Howard, and a pleasant day on the south coast with Glossy ibis, wryneck and rose-coloured starling.Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-23891375470971438232012-04-14T10:16:00.007-07:002012-04-14T10:55:52.837-07:00The long-awaited part 2<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4yBN6FBDacg/T4m13wM2bjI/AAAAAAAAATU/0x-v1-GYKtM/s1600/SAM_1918.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731311970241900082" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4yBN6FBDacg/T4m13wM2bjI/AAAAAAAAATU/0x-v1-GYKtM/s320/SAM_1918.JPG"></a><br /><br />Ok, so I gave up on this blog for a while, so a quick catch up is in order. I'll spare you the long-winded stories, and just post up a load of pics. <br /><br />Suffice to say the trip to Ireland was pretty awesome, starting with a twitched pallid harrier, then a flurry of co-found yanks, including 8!! semi-p's, a spotted sand, buff-breast, american golden plover, as well as some great fillers, like red-necked phal,sab's gull and a couple of yellow-browed warblers. There really is no place like Ireland in September when the depressions are racing across the Atlantic, and on this trip, Achill island and the Mayo coast came up trumps.<br /><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sUEejHnUL0I/T4mzuO-FyEI/AAAAAAAAATI/e_KzC5saY7A/s1600/SAM_1913.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731309607679543362" border="0" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sUEejHnUL0I/T4mzuO-FyEI/AAAAAAAAATI/e_KzC5saY7A/s320/SAM_1913.JPG"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tC4JibjIPG4/T4m2aYUapkI/AAAAAAAAATg/eXoAs_FS_bY/s1600/SAM_1924.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731312565126604354" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tC4JibjIPG4/T4m2aYUapkI/AAAAAAAAATg/eXoAs_FS_bY/s320/SAM_1924.JPG"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y_6qatj676Q/T4m2zKpH-kI/AAAAAAAAATs/PjAEb3uZgSo/s1600/SAM_1925.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731312990952094274" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-y_6qatj676Q/T4m2zKpH-kI/AAAAAAAAATs/PjAEb3uZgSo/s320/SAM_1925.JPG"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F4MbbFL-5CI/T4m3LkMxhFI/AAAAAAAAAT4/FvajHQADJT0/s1600/SAM_1933.JPG"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; width: 320px; height: 240px; text-align: center; display: block; cursor: pointer;" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5731313410129364050" border="0" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-F4MbbFL-5CI/T4m3LkMxhFI/AAAAAAAAAT4/FvajHQADJT0/s320/SAM_1933.JPG"></a><object id="BLOG_video-FAILED" class="BLOG_video_class" width="320" height="266" contentId="FAILED"></object><br /><br />Videos to follow some time in 2014.Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-59364784979405507682011-09-25T12:05:00.000-07:002011-09-25T13:51:54.130-07:0025 Yanks, 7 lifers...6 days (part 1)<A href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wlYCJWRgKmE/Tn-SWJTmpKI/AAAAAAAAAS0/3LbAAKANdvw/s1600/IMG_3093.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656400566153553058 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-wlYCJWRgKmE/Tn-SWJTmpKI/AAAAAAAAAS0/3LbAAKANdvw/s320/IMG_3093.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EBxKlG3oEq8/Tn-SVxATEYI/AAAAAAAAASs/C7MQNypBWFw/s1600/IMG_3084.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656400559630127490 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-EBxKlG3oEq8/Tn-SVxATEYI/AAAAAAAAASs/C7MQNypBWFw/s320/IMG_3084.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ilYBKMj9kdY/Tn-SVf0iccI/AAAAAAAAASk/sY_vTsbwrlQ/s1600/IMG_3077.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656400555017400770 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-ilYBKMj9kdY/Tn-SVf0iccI/AAAAAAAAASk/sY_vTsbwrlQ/s320/IMG_3077.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v3mrnWW-l6s/Tn-QRX2UgDI/AAAAAAAAASc/Q3vT3UbCBrQ/s1600/IMG_3119.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5656398285134659634 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 214px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-v3mrnWW-l6s/Tn-QRX2UgDI/AAAAAAAAASc/Q3vT3UbCBrQ/s320/IMG_3119.JPG" border=0></A> Myself and Josh Jones had planned on heading back to Ireland in September, well pretty much since we left there this time last year. As the departure date got closer, excitement and expectation levels increased, as low after low came across the Atlantic depositing a very healthy number of nearctic waders across the western extremities of the British Isles. The ferry was booked, all that needed to happen was for us to leave. Then, whilst walking round Flamborough, Black-and-White Warbler broke, the day before departue. A few calls later, the ferry had been pushed back a night, and changed to Fishguard-Rosslare. I met Josh mid-afternoon on Sunday to make a leisurely way down to Cornwall, stopping off in Lydney, Glos to have a look for the Spotted sand. Unfortunately we got there a bit late, no-one was around, the directions weren't entirely clear, and there was a huge amount of riverbank to search, so we missed it. It didn't really dampen our spirits, and we pulled in at Drift reservoir for a few hours kip, nervous and expectant at the thought of an excellent few hours on Scilly (and in my case, with a degree of nervousness about getting seasick on the Scillonian). The weather was pretty crap at dawn, but we still headed off down to the end of Drift at first light in the fog and drizzle to get a glimpse of our first Yank of the trip, the juv Lesser Yellowlegs doing what Yellowlegs do and mooching round the edge of the reservoir, looking pretty tame. We didn't have much time to hang about tho, as we needed to buy tickets for the crossing. By midday, we found ourselves in St.Mary's harbour, after a blissfully sickness free trip, picking up a Leach's petrel on the way across as a yeartick. Garry Bagnell kindly offered us a couple of spaces on the taxi he had booked, and we agrees that we should go to Newford duckpond for the briefest of looks for the Solitary Sand, before heading off to Lower Moors for the warbler. When we arrived, the taxi promptly departed for another fare, and with the Solitary Sand absent we were left to watch the Blue-winged Teal Ash Howe had found at the weekend squirm around in the mud, feeding constantly, only a few feet away. A very different experience to the one at Wheldrake. After about 10 minutes, another taxi appeared and we jumped in and headed off to Lower Moors. We had a wade through the mud on the side of the path, and headed in to a swamp filled with 30+ birders looking for the warbler and the waterthrush. It had become apparent that the waterthrush was far from pinned down, and that I could easily spend all of the 4 precious hours I had on the island waiting for it to show without success, so I decided to concentrate my efforts on the other birds on the island that would be lifers for me. After about 10 minutes of running, pishing and stalking through the Lower Moors rainforest, the Black and White warbler gave itself up, a truly stunning little bird. Pictures really don't do the bird justice, like the parula last year, it really seemed to glow in the dark and damp of the woodland. After getting good views of our main target, myself and Josh walked on to the Garrison and Lower Broome platform, which was only populated by only 3 other birders, a pleasant change to the slightly cramped Lower Moors. I picked up the Red-eyed Vireo, and it showed fantastically well, sitting out in the open for prolonged periods before crashing off to pick up more shield bugs to eat, then popping out again. We then shared a taxi with Will Soar and Stu Piner, and headed back up to Newford duck pond. By this stage, the Sandpiper had come on the pagers as showing at project pool, so we had the briefest of looks for the Bee-eater (fail), whilst Will and Stu enjoyed the teal, then headed back to Dump Clump. At the pool, the Solitary sand was showing incredibly well, showing down to just a few metres (unfortunately my camera was on the wrong setting, hence the blue appearance). We then returned to Lower Moors for a second crack at the warbler, this time getting even better, more prolonged views. With all the species we expected to see in the bag, with crippling views to boot, we chilled out, chatted a bit, and wandered down to the ISBG hide to check out the Pec. On my way to catch up with Josh, who had gone on ahead, I realised that somehow it was already 4pm! We needed to check in at the harbour in ten minutes at the latest, and it was at least a 20 minute walk. I dashed in to the hide to get Josh, glanced at the head and breast of a Pec sand buried in vegetation, and sprinted up to the road. A local was driving, thumbs out, and miraculously the car stopped and gave us a lift all the way to the quay! We boarded with time to spare, and I enjoyed a few decent seabirds on the crossing back (60+ Stormies, 3 Balearics, 3 Sooties and 15+Common Dolphins) while Josh kipped in preparation for the dash round to Fishguard in time for the 02:45 ferry. Day 1: 6 Yanks, 3 lifers to be continued....<br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-7c89b037995169e0 height=266 width=320 contentId="7c89b037995169e0"></OBJECT>Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-63216094111222539482011-09-11T14:00:00.001-07:002014-03-08T06:47:21.033-08:00A cracking day...followed by a weekend of dross.<br />
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But still, Friday was a very good day. I had a six hour dawn survey, beginning at 6am, at a site in north(ish) North Yorkshire. Normally these surveys drag a bit, with hours passing without seeing a recordable bird, or getting excited about a single feral Greylag at a miles range that can be recorder. Not this time however, with wader action coming thick and fast, lots of autumnal flocks of the commonest waders, plus a migratory Dunlin, a White Wag on the deck, and a fair few passerines on the move overhead, with hundreds of hirundines hawking around. All of this would have been enough to make the morning pass fast enough, and lead to a good day, but to top the survey off, after returning from an enforced hours break, an Osprey was circling over site, before heading off at about 10:30ish. <br />
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During the break, I had recieved a call from Tim Jones about the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper that had been found in Gretham Creek. We made plans to meet up in Northallerton at the end of my survey, and sure enough, despite Tim hitting some rough traffic on the way up, we were under way by 14:30. I wasn't particularly optimistic, with the bird having gone missing once already, and it apparently being very flighty. It was with great surprise and relief then that we rocked up in Cleveland to people walking away from site, looking pretty happy and reporting the bird as still there. Five minutes later, we were watching a stonker of a summer-plumages ST Sand at about 70m range, showing off a fantastic array of plumage features. I will at some stage try and upload my field notes, which completely fail to do it justice, but they are full of outrageous comparisons, from Stilt Sand through Ruff to Pec. An all brown wader never looked so good. Sadly, its absence on Saturday came as no surprise, with it being very flighty and not particularly happy associating with the Dunlin flock. There were a few Curlew Sands and Ruff around, allowing for further comparison to a few common species.<br />
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We carried on to Whitburn, in the hope of getting Tim another multiple tick day, but sadly neither the AGP or Bonapartes Gull felt like co-operating, the highlight being an interesting small gull, that I think is a Med Gull x BH Gull hybrid, and Tim thought was a slightly abherrent Med Gull (although he may have returned to sitting on the fence by now).<br />
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After such a good day, the weekend had a lot to live up to, which it spectacularly failed to do. Saturday I headed over to Flamborough, a bit late on in the morning admittedly, and had a wander round Old Fall and the Gorse field. This produced a dozen odd phylloscs and a Spot Fly. Then spent 30 minutes looking for a slightly suppressed RB Fly, before giving up and having a look round Holmes Gut. After not seeing another bird, I gave up in disgust and went home.<br />
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Sunday wasn't much better, but at least involved less petrol. A trip to Wheldrake resulted in little more than a new found appreciation of Wheldrake when there is actually water there. In fact, I got so bored, I started to learn stuff about common birds, disgusting. If you're interested, the amount of orange on Teal's beaks is quite important in ageing and sexing them. There was a 2y male and a juv Marsh Harrier buzzing about as well. I then headed on to North Duff, again no water, and again another juv Marsh Harrier and not a lot else. A wandering route home meant that I (independently) bumped in to the same gull flock Russ had, this time with just the one YL Gull in it, near East Cottingwith, as a mild bit of interest to round off a niceish weekend.Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-46884480728910995182011-09-08T08:32:00.001-07:002012-04-14T13:56:06.479-07:00Early Autumn updateHaven't posted in a while, partly because with the new job I haven't had as much time to write rubbish blogposts, and partly because I haven't had as much time to be a rubbish birder. <br /><br />Anyway, in terms of actually finding stuff for myself, the summer has been pretty uneventful. I added Quail to my self-found list (as has everyone in the country I think), and found some breeding Nightjar near Harrogate, and a pair of HB's at a new location in the New Forest(for myself at least, I'm fairly sure the locals know about them). Twitching was also fairly uneventful, with new birds in the form of a long overdue WR Sand at Saltholme, and a hugely distant and hazy Stilt sand at Lodmoor RSPB. A return trip to Salthome a bit later gave nice comparisons of the back and tail of a Semi-P with a Temminck's Stint(the Semi-P was being thoroughly crap and not coming out from behind the causewy at all). I probably saw more stuff, but I was presumably so un-enamoured with it that I can't remember them.<br /><br />But now Autumn has started, the blood is up again, and the first trip in anger was had, down to Cornwall for a spot of seawatching on August bank holiday weekend. In hindsight, I clearly chose the wrong weekend, and sat in the wrong location in Cornwall pretty much everytime I moved, but these things can't be helped. I console myself with the thought that I was at least out in the field seeing birds rather than sat at home on my arse, despite the trip having cost me 150 quid+ with only 1 very crap tick to show for it,despite the weather, time of year and location promising a whole lot more.<br /><br />Thursday night saw me and Tim heading down from York at 7pm, aiming to get a little sleep in PG car park before dawn. As we hit Cornwall, a storm was brewing, wth immense lightning flashes over Dartmoor and Bodmin, promising a good seawatch ahead. As dawn broke, Ash Howe and Joe Stockwell pulled into the car park, and we headed for Gwennap head. The day started well at PG, with 3 Great Shears, 10+ stormies mooching, and our best counts of Balearics for the weekend. In the afternoon, we moved on to Pendeen as the wind had switched a bit, and arrived to the impressive site of thousands of Manxies streaming past, with good numbers of Sooties caught up with them. However, I found it more of a struggle to get on birds from here with the higher elevation, and missed all 3 of the large shearwaters that were called out, which resulted in a rather bad tempered seawatch on my part. A couple of Basking sharks thrashing around went some way to cheering me up a bit. <br /><br />Saturday saw more of the same off Pendeen, with large numbers of Manxies and a good passage of skuas as well, which included 3 poms, including one stunning intermediate morph bird with full spoons just beyond the rocks. (Joe and Ash missed most of the moring, including that Pom, through a combination of sleeping, getting breakfast, and generally being a bit dudey). By about half 11 the passage had dried up, and we headed down to the Hayle, where we found (at least we didn't know of their existence before we rocked up) a Little Stint and a Curlew Sand, along with about half a dozen Med Gulls of varying ages. We headed to Long Rock, full of sunbathers, holidaymakers and a few <em></em>definitelynotstrungasapurplesandcostheyweresatonrocksinmountsbay<em></em> Knot, where we got a call from Ash to say the Black Kite had been seen again on the Lizard. We headed off to see the bird, and I picked it up briefly dropping down behind a house in the direction of Lizard point. Unfortunately the others wouldn't leave with only 3 second, head on views of a Black Shite (in fact, didn't even believe I had identified it), so I wasted at least half an hour of seawatching time watching the most boring raptor in the world fly around a field eating a vole, whilst locals and holidaymakers borrowed our bins and said stupid things like 'isn't it beautiful' and 'look how big it is'. <br />We headed back to pendeen, to hear we had missed about 3 manx shearwaters, and continued to see about 3 more for the rest of the afternoon. then we went to the pub and drank Rattler. After the Pom, that was probably the highlight.<br /><br />On Sunday we got up, I chucked some grass in a north easterly direction, and we drove to PG. Quickly realising I am an idiot, and cannot tell which way the wind is blowing, we headed back to pendeen (but not before logging a few Sooties)and didn't see a lot from there either, the highlight of an otherwise quiet morning being an adult Sabs Gull picked up by Brett. By (sometime before) midday it had gone dead again, so the three others went to string stuff at Drift whilst I slept. None of us were particularly succesful. An afternoon session off PG was more fun, with a steady drip of Sooties and skuas keeping us in good humour, with Joe being a wuss and staying down in the cove (but still managing to see roughly the same birds). The highlight was an adult Roseate tern which we succesfully picked out, despite the obvious skepticism of the Seawatch SW observer, who missed it, picked it up late, then sounded very doubtful about its identity. We were very pleased to have it confirmed later by Brett and Joe who had watched it at much closer range as it had passed the Cove. <br /><br />On Monday, the wind had completely died, so we sacked of seawatching, Tim dragged me down to Devon kicking and screaming, to sit in Bank Holiday traffic round Paignton and eventually look at a few partially concealed Cirl Bunts in a hedge in Broadstairs car park (tart tick number 3 for Tim). We split from Ash and Joe who headed back to watch woodpeckers in Hants, whilst we continued on to stare at a reedbed in Somerset (Meare Heath). The pool in front of the reeds had a couple of Garganey, a Spotshank, a few Greensands and other bits and bobs that made for a pleasant few hours unsuccesful wait. I wandered down to Noah's lake to watch an osprey sit on a large stick, and I'm told that if there had been space in the hide for me to turn my head, I could have seen a Great White Egret (which Tim promptly ticked on my return to Spotted Crake watch). There wasn't, so I didn't, and a chat with Dan Pointon, sheer laziness and a pressing engagement with a 6 hour drive all conspired to stop me returning to the hide for a second attempt to see one of the largest and most obvious birds on the British list.<br /><br />Overall, it wasn't a bad weekend, with some very good birds seen. Unfortunately, as is so often the case, it is the story of what might have been that means it was not a pleasant an experience as it might have been otherwise. On the Saturday, we (and everyone else watching) missed what seems to be a very dodgy claim of Yelkouan Shear, on the Sunday, we missed a close in Little Shear (that passed PG cove whilst we were watching from Gwennap) last thing in the evening, partly because we had decided passage was done for the day despite all evidence to the contrary, and because we were looking to far out at Sooties, despite repeated warnings from regulars that the biggies pass close in. It was even worse for Joe, who had left the cove ten minutes before it was seen, due to another pressing engagement with a nap. On the same evening, one of our number (who shall remain unnamed *cough* hants birder *cough* Cockram *cough* failed to mention an unidentified bird which possibly/probably got picked up and seen on Scilly the next day, until we reached the pub that night. A few days (one??) after, a Baird's was found on the Hayle, and this week, record numbers of Great Shears and Balearics went past. Overall, these cast a bit of a shadow on our trip, but at least we saw the birds we did, better than being stuck in front of the TV any day of the week. <br /><br />The big question is, with more weather fronts piling in to the Uk over the next few weeks, where to head to next? My money's on NW Ireland, where I fully expect to find myself, hopefully finding, not twitching, before September is out.Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-73827069615352902832011-06-25T09:19:00.000-07:002011-06-25T09:33:59.416-07:00New jobSo I have now finished my degree (although I'm yet to get my results, or graduate - an unpleasant limbo) and have quit my weekend job at Birdnet. Instead I now have a job working as an Assistant ornithologist, largely doing bird survey work in the field. This means that I have been pretty busy in the last 3 weeks, with several overnight stays in West Yorkshire, and I have seen 04:30 more times in the last 3 weeks than I think the rest of my life combined. There have been some terrible, dull surveys, for instance 6 hours with only a couple of canada geese as company is as dull as birding gets, but there have also been some brilliant highlights, including a male Hen Harrier hunting over moorland, Short-eared Owl, Merlin, Quail in the open, as well as hearing several others, and just having the pleasure of watching breeding waders on upland sites. Overall, a fantastic job, and one that I am enjoying the challenge of getting to grips with.<br /><br />It is, combined with end of degree socials, having something of a negative impact on my birding and twitching. The first two Mondays i worked coincided with 2 1st for Britain's, wholly unexpected in June. I have only so far managed to connect with the WT Robin, happily standing on some scaffolding on the back of a pick-up to get decent views of the bird. Not the most relaxed twitch ever, but pretty funny, and my first ever post-work, which i must say adds to the stress of the whole thing. The duck will have to wait for a bit yet unfortunately.<br /><br />The only birding I have managed recently, other than a few uneventful hours locally, was a day out at Wykeham with Cat. The HB's performed admirably, wing-clapping overhead and giving stunning views. Even still, I was shocked by the number of people, 50+ watching the HB's and another 20 odd looking at Turtle Doves!?! round the corner. On a weekday! Surely there must be more HB pairs in the UK than this this year. After that I headed up on to the moors again with Cat, to show her Ring ouzel and Whinchat, but unfortunately failed to track down any Redstarts in a brief look in the lazy mid-afternoon sunshine.<br /><br />All very pleasant, but unfortunately the next few weeks will be dominated by moving house (twice) and all the stress and faffing associated with it. Roll on August and the seabird season!Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-30769208854254325222011-05-26T11:28:00.000-07:002011-05-26T12:10:51.792-07:00Long time no post<A href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F12pvFdRHFI/Td6igJ3THKI/AAAAAAAAASQ/WkZwslzdMBw/s1600/SAM_1736.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611100859037588642 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-F12pvFdRHFI/Td6igJ3THKI/AAAAAAAAASQ/WkZwslzdMBw/s320/SAM_1736.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LcmmCK5krzA/Td6if2WYuNI/AAAAAAAAASI/8Kr6EJOBH1o/s1600/SAM_1733.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611100853799270610 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LcmmCK5krzA/Td6if2WYuNI/AAAAAAAAASI/8Kr6EJOBH1o/s320/SAM_1733.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yTZCGwu5NcY/Td6ifpMK-TI/AAAAAAAAASA/h60X2LrDCQ8/s1600/SAM_1726.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611100850266765618 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-yTZCGwu5NcY/Td6ifpMK-TI/AAAAAAAAASA/h60X2LrDCQ8/s320/SAM_1726.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x1hCcGDJSTg/Td6hjsKhvZI/AAAAAAAAAR4/k9rxqgtnbB4/s1600/SAM_1676.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611099820273024402 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-x1hCcGDJSTg/Td6hjsKhvZI/AAAAAAAAAR4/k9rxqgtnbB4/s320/SAM_1676.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HZgu0V0MSxA/Td6hjPwtGFI/AAAAAAAAARw/bjphzSvITGA/s1600/SAM_1699.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611099812648523858 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-HZgu0V0MSxA/Td6hjPwtGFI/AAAAAAAAARw/bjphzSvITGA/s320/SAM_1699.JPG" border=0></A> <A href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XdQ0tUCDIgo/Td6hi8WGhVI/AAAAAAAAARo/11Gfl0QG9fc/s1600/SAM_1673.JPG"><IMG id=BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5611099807436670290 style="DISPLAY: block; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 320px; CURSOR: hand; HEIGHT: 240px; TEXT-ALIGN: center" alt="" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-XdQ0tUCDIgo/Td6hi8WGhVI/AAAAAAAAARo/11Gfl0QG9fc/s320/SAM_1673.JPG" border=0></A> Hey. Sorry about the long break in posting, had my final exams and stuff all went a bit manic. Nearly done now tho. Anyway, no wildly exciting local birding done by me, but a fair bit of twitching in the last few weeks. I was on the way to Flamborough when news of the Calandra broke, so kidnapped Chris Gomersall and took him kicking and screaming across the county line. Needless to say we failed to connect, seeing as the warden had booted it halfway to Scandinavia by all accounts, but spent a pleasant few hours at Frampton Marsh RSPB, finally managing to put KC's name to a face, and year-ticking R-N.Phal, 6+Temminck's Stint, Garganey and a few other pleasant bits and pieces. O, Tim <EM></EM>TICKED<EM></EM>WATER PIPIT, the big tart. We then dipped on WT Eagle again. FFS. <br /><br />The next day I was back at Frampton so Josh could yeartick all that stuff, on the way to dip Great Snipe at Cley. Did get Lesser Yellowlegs, Spoonbill, and Bearded Tits bouncing about whilst we were aimlessly standing around, ostensibly in a queue. <br /><br />Sunday picked up the success rate a bit, with two ticks in an afternoon, me and Tim driving to Sheff to meet up with Josh, before picking up his Uncle just over the border. Not really what you expect when you're travelling to Wales, and don't leave the house til half 3. Anyway, the 1s male Citrine Wag at Conway was stunning, the Broad-billed Sand was underwhhelming, whilst the flock of Dunlin it was with was really quite impressive. A Curlew Sand amongst them as well. Sadly there wasn't enough light to make it a 3 tick day with the Buff-breast at Frodsham. <br /><br />This Sunday saw a dawn start with Josh picking me up at half 4, and watching the Rustic Bunting at Filey by just gone half 5. An absolutely stonking bird, very tame and showed magnificently. No one else had bothered to get up for it, and what a tret it was compared to the Cley twitch to have such a fantastic bird to ourselves. We carried on to Easington, so that Josh could yeartick Tawny Pipit. It was my first time out that way this spring and was quite impressed by the constant hirundine passage, although i know its been far bigger and more impressive on other days. <br /><br />Thats me up to date, I'm currently writing this rather than watching a Least Sand cos i seem to have mislaid my car keys quite seriously, so fingers crossed the situation will be resolved soon and you wont hear from me again for a week or two.<br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-469c6b713e04650 height=266 width=320 contentId="469c6b713e04650"></OBJECT><br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-6b5168d3dcb57f5a height=266 width=320 contentId="6b5168d3dcb57f5a"></OBJECT>Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-55926855160267258952011-04-23T13:38:00.000-07:002011-04-23T15:52:32.303-07:00Yellow Wag<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YpnWBuwAoTc/TbM8sVgWhZI/AAAAAAAAARg/ppGFt9sEn7I/s1600/SAM_1600.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-YpnWBuwAoTc/TbM8sVgWhZI/AAAAAAAAARg/ppGFt9sEn7I/s320/SAM_1600.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598885494136407442" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qe6UdZgCtu0/TbM8bmeN6TI/AAAAAAAAARY/kO9o2hldpkA/s1600/SAM_1598.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qe6UdZgCtu0/TbM8bmeN6TI/AAAAAAAAARY/kO9o2hldpkA/s320/SAM_1598.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598885206633081138" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S0si8zAkvnE/TbM8bIxCi-I/AAAAAAAAARQ/FRPBugxG7T4/s1600/SAM_1597.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S0si8zAkvnE/TbM8bIxCi-I/AAAAAAAAARQ/FRPBugxG7T4/s320/SAM_1597.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598885198658964450" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jf5gqLqXBxs/TbM8az94AyI/AAAAAAAAARI/M9cXVL1OUIc/s1600/SAM_1596.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-jf5gqLqXBxs/TbM8az94AyI/AAAAAAAAARI/M9cXVL1OUIc/s320/SAM_1596.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598885193075655458" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tzlm961X0vI/TbM8au0GAKI/AAAAAAAAARA/YHKkx18CIFw/s1600/SAM_1592.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tzlm961X0vI/TbM8au0GAKI/AAAAAAAAARA/YHKkx18CIFw/s320/SAM_1592.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598885191692452002" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GKa12mAg5TI/TbM8aECrDSI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/j89g1_ovKZA/s1600/SAM_1593.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GKa12mAg5TI/TbM8aECrDSI/AAAAAAAAAQ4/j89g1_ovKZA/s320/SAM_1593.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598885180210875682" /></a><br />This is the Yellow Wag mentioned in the last post. It had an obviously paler grey mantle than the other <EM></EM>flavissima<EM></EM> it was feeding with, and the head had a grey hue to it as well. Altogether very odd. I watched it with Jack Ashton-Booth, who initially picked it out, and it may well be the same bird Tim saw yesterday evening. When it called, it didn't seem very different from the others, certainly not a rasping call. Anyway, I'm pretty stumped by it, more research needed. Apologies for the quality of the photo's it was pretty dark, but the video is OKish, and will hopefully give some clues.<br /><br />EDIT: Problem solved? Just a grey-coloured Flavissima it seems, my ignorance shining through brightly again.<br />http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?t=169438&page=2 -see post 32<br /><br /><OBJECT class=BLOG_video_class id=BLOG_video-e351fa6bad32a23 height=266 width=320 contentId="e351fa6bad32a23"></OBJECT>Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-20670343921882397582011-04-23T13:19:00.000-07:002011-04-23T13:37:49.756-07:00Hes East; productive day<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5QfVmzl5-6I/TbM4LCL5GII/AAAAAAAAAQw/um9f-xEXmHY/s1600/SAM_1564.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5QfVmzl5-6I/TbM4LCL5GII/AAAAAAAAAQw/um9f-xEXmHY/s320/SAM_1564.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598880523968125058" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DyOzb16mVCI/TbM4KgRWJII/AAAAAAAAAQo/nYvyaylCwPA/s1600/SAM_1565.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DyOzb16mVCI/TbM4KgRWJII/AAAAAAAAAQo/nYvyaylCwPA/s320/SAM_1565.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598880514864194690" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qc17cXnTtY4/TbM4KSWO4-I/AAAAAAAAAQg/whXijWant4Q/s1600/SAM_1566.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Qc17cXnTtY4/TbM4KSWO4-I/AAAAAAAAAQg/whXijWant4Q/s320/SAM_1566.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598880511126594530" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8mkmhmS1JDc/TbM3ckR474I/AAAAAAAAAQY/O5Bm8vTd8wQ/s1600/SAM_1568.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8mkmhmS1JDc/TbM3ckR474I/AAAAAAAAAQY/O5Bm8vTd8wQ/s320/SAM_1568.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598879725666234242" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fK4OPeSrwxk/TbM3cYsUX3I/AAAAAAAAAQQ/yep56EgwuNM/s1600/SAM_1573.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-fK4OPeSrwxk/TbM3cYsUX3I/AAAAAAAAAQQ/yep56EgwuNM/s320/SAM_1573.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598879722555858802" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pojJBx2dO9Y/TbM3b1jlQyI/AAAAAAAAAQI/Ax6qRYEfWfs/s1600/SAM_1575.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pojJBx2dO9Y/TbM3b1jlQyI/AAAAAAAAAQI/Ax6qRYEfWfs/s320/SAM_1575.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598879713123975970" /></a><br />Spot the Green Sand (not deliberate, just got the pics mixed up)<br /><br />Had a decent day today, although infuriating at times. Woke up to a text from Tim saying he had found 2 Wood Sands and a Green Sand on one of the smaller pools at Hes East. I was feeling pretty lazy, so didn't head down til about half 9, to the sight of a person stood out on the bank, clearly against the horizon and very close to the pool, and unsurprisingly no sign of the Wood Sand. I later found out that there had been 3 people twitching the Wood Sands, all stood far too close and clearly above the horizon (one person came back later and apologised for disturbing the birds, so fair play to him), which just seems to display a lack of common sense and field craft. I headed up to to the c/pk to scan the other pools, to one of the same guys having parked out at the end of one of the construction tracks. When Tim confronted him about driving out and flushing the birds earlier, apparently he was met with silence. Not really on, especially given the effort Tim went to to give clear directions for viewing and to help everyone see these birds. I'm committed to putting bird news out whenever possible, but days like today make you question when it's appropriate. Anyway, one of the birds returned later on, and I got some decent views of it with a Green Sand. I went back later on, and had a decent flock of 13 yellow wags, including an odd bird, that I'll post photos of above.Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7698829972230123088.post-85137291453974760882011-04-21T07:16:00.000-07:002011-04-21T07:32:04.965-07:00Wheatear age<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CnsvPcBSUXo/TbA_z8YqR_I/AAAAAAAAAQA/rJfw9C0j0WE/s1600/SAM_1543.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-CnsvPcBSUXo/TbA_z8YqR_I/AAAAAAAAAQA/rJfw9C0j0WE/s320/SAM_1543.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598044498436966386" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nB8i9eDisAo/TbA_ztRztyI/AAAAAAAAAP4/D9Bttqr_nBw/s1600/SAM_1546.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nB8i9eDisAo/TbA_ztRztyI/AAAAAAAAAP4/D9Bttqr_nBw/s320/SAM_1546.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598044494381692706" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KJjLzQrq2vc/TbA_za5mf5I/AAAAAAAAAPw/gsGYL7c5oy0/s1600/SAM_1549.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KJjLzQrq2vc/TbA_za5mf5I/AAAAAAAAAPw/gsGYL7c5oy0/s320/SAM_1549.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598044489448325010" /></a><br /><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Am6jCrOS1bE/TbA_zK6AIFI/AAAAAAAAAPo/Tq46_p_T7Bk/s1600/SAM_1546.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Am6jCrOS1bE/TbA_zK6AIFI/AAAAAAAAAPo/Tq46_p_T7Bk/s320/SAM_1546.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598044485155037266" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XU7Gw9mJAN4/TbA-l9GzO5I/AAAAAAAAAPg/MVWf1ytrwLE/s1600/SAM_1536.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XU7Gw9mJAN4/TbA-l9GzO5I/AAAAAAAAAPg/MVWf1ytrwLE/s320/SAM_1536.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598043158600694674" /></a><br /><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vgqODug6xkQ/TbA-lZ66YwI/AAAAAAAAAPY/UXmrxw90q_E/s1600/SAM_1554.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vgqODug6xkQ/TbA-lZ66YwI/AAAAAAAAAPY/UXmrxw90q_E/s320/SAM_1554.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598043149155590914" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GjwGPyeOA1A/TbA-lN8KmaI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/aVj6u4wkBu8/s1600/SAM_1542.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GjwGPyeOA1A/TbA-lN8KmaI/AAAAAAAAAPQ/aVj6u4wkBu8/s320/SAM_1542.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598043145939622306" /></a><br /><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xgO2ok8BuKE/TbA-k2-abAI/AAAAAAAAAPI/30fSEC2_HlM/s1600/SAM_1541.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xgO2ok8BuKE/TbA-k2-abAI/AAAAAAAAAPI/30fSEC2_HlM/s320/SAM_1541.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598043139775032322" /></a><br /><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kbWudI_FNQI/TbA-kiaALtI/AAAAAAAAAPA/cHtftj_yniA/s1600/SAM_1532.JPG"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-kbWudI_FNQI/TbA-kiaALtI/AAAAAAAAAPA/cHtftj_yniA/s320/SAM_1532.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598043134253608658" /></a><br />Just had a quick look round Hes east, not much doing at all, but wI was watching this Wheatear and was struck primarily by how variable it seemed, at times apparently showing a peachy was across all of the breast, at times white flanks and a clear colour divide between the breast and underbelly of the bord, as well as primaries that seemed to look anything from chocolate brown to black. I also wasn't sure if I could reliable age the bird, is it an adult or 2cy male? Any comments welcome, fwiw i think it's possibly a 2cy male, my 1975 Svensson seems to suggest that if the remiges are darker than the lores, it's 2cy. However this http://www.birdforum.net/showthread.php?p=1786040 and http://www.ibercajalav.net/img/336_WheatearOoenanthe.pdf have confused me a bit.Oliver Metcalfhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16360860924375259888noreply@blogger.com0