tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-50689988788298221642024-03-06T02:51:11.226+00:00Thérèse Goes BirdingThérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.comBlogger168125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-17336136398606565512023-04-28T15:57:00.002+01:002023-06-04T16:43:12.425+01:0027th April - Santiago, Cape Verde<p> The final stop on the Hondius was Praia in Santiago and we hopped out and immediately went on a day-long birding tour which was great fun. At the first stop there were good sightings of <b>Cream-coloured Courser</b>,<b> Greater Hoopoe-lark</b> and <b>Black-crowned Sparrow-lark</b>. Hopping about in the bushes were also the endemic <b>Iago Sparrow</b>. </p><p>Onwards to the next stop where we were lucky enough to catch up with the <b>Cape Verde Buzzard</b>. As we were driving between all these stops we were also seeing numerous <b>Grey-headed Kingfisher</b> which really are beautiful.</p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhe2gMxqUpMmnZSRCbE1lwfP3YonJ1-ORUb1CmP84PtmFPoHDNFs-OBdxFbkQLc5CojU08IjtJ6MQ81xkUPW3FdPxV4xWZgf2fsMjip6aMjZoX1eWuC_mfhqRO3y9ZwgstT1660y74Bd6I9imKioPDPXfIPzSHpy-lv4SbTBFIK2EJ5I5K_cvjC6cGA/s4272/IMG_1823.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDhe2gMxqUpMmnZSRCbE1lwfP3YonJ1-ORUb1CmP84PtmFPoHDNFs-OBdxFbkQLc5CojU08IjtJ6MQ81xkUPW3FdPxV4xWZgf2fsMjip6aMjZoX1eWuC_mfhqRO3y9ZwgstT1660y74Bd6I9imKioPDPXfIPzSHpy-lv4SbTBFIK2EJ5I5K_cvjC6cGA/w400-h266/IMG_1823.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey-headed Kingfisher</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="text-align: left;">A stop off at the dam was a bit lacking but then as we headed back to the buses I picked up a </span><b style="text-align: left;">Spectacled Warbler</b><span style="text-align: left;"> so it was not all in vain! </span></div></div><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8IXLYQ2oMKcKiosRELZyOjLze7xi5LR1L9vNYhhwW8HaPJgYla3ZKbQ2JGDE8c_xS3sXyTB5i6c5I_2EJ52-fkVKB3X3mKTBixSxV0BZt8hynREc1unbyS42diGJFkhWXIUZdqB9bnj8XUAwnQNMCibo-DM-f1MXxJtMDgwGIZXh_j7Kju4I79Rzug/s4000/20230427_135204.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1868" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY8IXLYQ2oMKcKiosRELZyOjLze7xi5LR1L9vNYhhwW8HaPJgYla3ZKbQ2JGDE8c_xS3sXyTB5i6c5I_2EJ52-fkVKB3X3mKTBixSxV0BZt8hynREc1unbyS42diGJFkhWXIUZdqB9bnj8XUAwnQNMCibo-DM-f1MXxJtMDgwGIZXh_j7Kju4I79Rzug/w186-h400/20230427_135204.jpg" width="186" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some gorgeous plants</td></tr></tbody></table>Finished off the day with <b>Cape Verde Swift</b> and <b>Cape Verde Warbler</b> and that was the end of the birding for the trip, although I would go onwards to meet with friends in Lisbon and Funchal before heading home. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKw1efpFKF4yxyydklO75kpBug5dZQp1jm18QQ7zbXenPLALldMPkd5MwYZmUHJ-A54bGsjsiQjKRVO7f-NSxs6fTPSITDyLIeyB-KwKp7jaUsRGhmtqg594KtK2ZzjezW1YsShKdT8cFzETgfSm8sI-Hm8GXOjBPpWub8IML4szCXeROFszUHd4cxHA/s4272/IMG_1839.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKw1efpFKF4yxyydklO75kpBug5dZQp1jm18QQ7zbXenPLALldMPkd5MwYZmUHJ-A54bGsjsiQjKRVO7f-NSxs6fTPSITDyLIeyB-KwKp7jaUsRGhmtqg594KtK2ZzjezW1YsShKdT8cFzETgfSm8sI-Hm8GXOjBPpWub8IML4szCXeROFszUHd4cxHA/w400-h266/IMG_1839.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Verde Warbler</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Life List: 1128<br /><br /><p></p>Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com0Santiago, Cabo Verde15.0852627 -23.6204644-13.224971136178846 -58.7767144 43.395496536178847 11.5357856tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-51469979661375619762023-04-25T13:23:00.081+01:002023-06-04T19:58:46.651+01:0015th to 24th April - St Helena, at sea aboard the m/v Hondius & Ascension Island<p> St Helena was antoher place on this trip I'd meant to have a lot more time on, but due to the way the flight in and the boat out worked, I only had 3 nights there which was not nearly enough. There were people on the yachts in the harbour who had arrived intending to be there for a week and were still there two years later! It's certainly a unique, brilliant place and I hope I have the opportunity to go back. If anyone is heading there, I stayed at Wellington House with the delightful Ivy and her adorable cat and I'd highly recommend it. Anne's Place is wonderful for a bite to eat and you must visit Paul and Sally up at the distillery for a short tour and guided tasting. </p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN7QpIrzm6KDS7QLDKYMbko1wQb-NMm7-Mr_Vg5rqHN-O-1tXxXmSUjCAnuG3oDUXsvRksZhZDmD2giM3bFDOewR-iteT2-HrUx69GO61_SIR1LalP9JYDSqLnBso0oFiY5q1fTwWws9NYL8eOHcF7szhRY6u3UKpdINJNG4wYiV_mqHqmS2Oh_WvLw/s4000/20230417_110636.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1868" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhN7QpIrzm6KDS7QLDKYMbko1wQb-NMm7-Mr_Vg5rqHN-O-1tXxXmSUjCAnuG3oDUXsvRksZhZDmD2giM3bFDOewR-iteT2-HrUx69GO61_SIR1LalP9JYDSqLnBso0oFiY5q1fTwWws9NYL8eOHcF7szhRY6u3UKpdINJNG4wYiV_mqHqmS2Oh_WvLw/w186-h400/20230417_110636.jpg" width="186" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Helena</td></tr></tbody></table>Bird wise, I headed out of Jamestown to see the only endemic species, the wirebird (<b>St Helena Plover</b>) and got to see quite a few. Talking of endemic species, there used to be a St Helena Giant Hoopoe and I would have LOVED to have seen that. There were <b>Red-Billed Tropicbird </b>nesting behind the hotel which was a delight to wake up to and see out of my window and plenty of <b>White Tern </b>nesting all around the island, especially in the trees in Castle Garden, where you could watch them roost as you ate and drank at Anne's Place. Out on a boat trip around the north-west coast there were tonnes of birds including <b>Black Noddy </b>and <b>Masked Booby</b>, as well as loads of dolphins, a turtle and my first ever whale shark.<p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrB4hiyTiRM0da8t70B6Ew3LAeycxRKCulDdXDfIVQzBaIrlbXzeWu5lQ_EsaZpKhqlQbK8wyKvi0EQaRhGIbp1SNjdLwKHksFM6UuWjF0Yw9cf-0UtJu8H02O9ORkBWmufaHZTRO4uAs7Yb37D8Hw-EqEtpQ2BErQixGJbBhx1YysuhDVWrFi7koVQ/s4036/IMG_1281-2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2270" data-original-width="4036" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrB4hiyTiRM0da8t70B6Ew3LAeycxRKCulDdXDfIVQzBaIrlbXzeWu5lQ_EsaZpKhqlQbK8wyKvi0EQaRhGIbp1SNjdLwKHksFM6UuWjF0Yw9cf-0UtJu8H02O9ORkBWmufaHZTRO4uAs7Yb37D8Hw-EqEtpQ2BErQixGJbBhx1YysuhDVWrFi7koVQ/w400-h225/IMG_1281-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">St Helena Plover</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjhqpY_zoRbMjQip1wxe7RuPmmVpR-6FvBlZ1AdyCo7DjN1pMnZ15VtWUGVCZ67wChD2e8ZsugsX_zMDHKjAJsPv_yFLHUm8towoIh7sWmpt_ni0zvQsc8G4AK935kv3csEBpAMr6qqLo4J2-oUiwscAQwDdth-I2dN9nyqrGSYQrYTKLGgFF5yevCg/s4272/IMG_1308.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIjhqpY_zoRbMjQip1wxe7RuPmmVpR-6FvBlZ1AdyCo7DjN1pMnZ15VtWUGVCZ67wChD2e8ZsugsX_zMDHKjAJsPv_yFLHUm8towoIh7sWmpt_ni0zvQsc8G4AK935kv3csEBpAMr6qqLo4J2-oUiwscAQwDdth-I2dN9nyqrGSYQrYTKLGgFF5yevCg/w400-h266/IMG_1308.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masked Booby</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBX0b3fZWea0DdNsKm3NJbQw5LFt6k3G8ywouOKsYc_aAzCNK9Ct6tnXz24isqCRLP4XFlZ7iHEbMfCKRiyxbjiKma_Gsx-ah5YyAoRmjxZR6QFRZnzc1zH9TiwWQZ2WjSM1_fNGSvafozZEwt8r7V3KQV7568K3qg8K7kTKhZn034VsuEE1tHpyVzA/s3631/IMG_1528.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2421" data-original-width="3631" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIBX0b3fZWea0DdNsKm3NJbQw5LFt6k3G8ywouOKsYc_aAzCNK9Ct6tnXz24isqCRLP4XFlZ7iHEbMfCKRiyxbjiKma_Gsx-ah5YyAoRmjxZR6QFRZnzc1zH9TiwWQZ2WjSM1_fNGSvafozZEwt8r7V3KQV7568K3qg8K7kTKhZn034VsuEE1tHpyVzA/w400-h266/IMG_1528.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Noddy</td></tr></tbody></table>It was then onto the Hondius for the trip up to Cape Verde, with a stop off on Ascension Island. I didn't get to do as much sea-watching from deck as I would have liked due to my M.E having a few dodgy days but I still had sightings of some wonderful pods of dolphins, some whales and a good few birds. A lot of <b>Band-rumped Storm Petrel </b>were seen down towards the St Helena bit of the voyage, slowly giving way into an area filled with <b>Leach's Storm Petrel</b> instead. Once we got to Ascension Island, I added <b>Ascension Frigatebird</b> and <b>White-tailed Tropicbird </b>to my life list as well. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ISDNTEtyjmuPO2vOMn4cIxFufUmEpa93fPYK0L2k3tP7iBOmBYSMCBLcRxoeQTJWdKlziOQ0VJdCAJVmokyImaUlJveeMXRLMz3PgDo6_5iBDa2G98H050NXNCgrxh9gOytj3PDDBhvUJ0qpd_cr0Necqz-6T_11Ajnht-4HO3C0UZnsuJvnfH-97w/s4000/20230421_130044.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1868" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2ISDNTEtyjmuPO2vOMn4cIxFufUmEpa93fPYK0L2k3tP7iBOmBYSMCBLcRxoeQTJWdKlziOQ0VJdCAJVmokyImaUlJveeMXRLMz3PgDo6_5iBDa2G98H050NXNCgrxh9gOytj3PDDBhvUJ0qpd_cr0Necqz-6T_11Ajnht-4HO3C0UZnsuJvnfH-97w/w186-h400/20230421_130044.jpg" width="186" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Tern</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxMVb2fzNM3quYwQSgFWhQuPkrzyse-ovQpCMhBZTAIZqZ5pYgir_XWnVbzjZx7HzYLHfk84HXBUWRNlwzKnqTNUijV-b51l-MmHM9Iwo21KQd6n_-BpsWRE_F6tHNwgOfvwdujLA2eFXzbwYi2lrL8xyp0KjGPdk6cmDw1hH7hco0x_8VmBj3W2Hug/s2576/20230421_151035.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2576" data-original-width="1449" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJxMVb2fzNM3quYwQSgFWhQuPkrzyse-ovQpCMhBZTAIZqZ5pYgir_XWnVbzjZx7HzYLHfk84HXBUWRNlwzKnqTNUijV-b51l-MmHM9Iwo21KQd6n_-BpsWRE_F6tHNwgOfvwdujLA2eFXzbwYi2lrL8xyp0KjGPdk6cmDw1hH7hco0x_8VmBj3W2Hug/w225-h400/20230421_151035.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-tailed Tropicbird (and baby!)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynNKrWqimwQ13yST81y7e4d2Yu6ukTn-EJ0X_WcraQyR8qrmmlv_OIbnd6f_16upJGiCqQGj0o7wcbNCn-S3877CuXRilqNCdXIIr8gwqqQXdqiMPlb3JTWYjx-s9DlSGiuBa0syg2dq1cWGqPaS9WF8sqwhEbZPbE4HmdmnYx93hQgiumv2GwH9GCQ/s8544/IMG_1581-Enhanced-SR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="5696" data-original-width="8544" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiynNKrWqimwQ13yST81y7e4d2Yu6ukTn-EJ0X_WcraQyR8qrmmlv_OIbnd6f_16upJGiCqQGj0o7wcbNCn-S3877CuXRilqNCdXIIr8gwqqQXdqiMPlb3JTWYjx-s9DlSGiuBa0syg2dq1cWGqPaS9WF8sqwhEbZPbE4HmdmnYx93hQgiumv2GwH9GCQ/w400-h266/IMG_1581-Enhanced-SR.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ascension Frigatebird</td></tr></tbody></table>The it was onwards to Cape Verde!<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJYnRMkXHgUXtQ5IKb11-r0qpjWC5USR8LKQEwYURfzaakySb048WM7HI1nuKUI7qWEKXBorje_nhycmSqsFtC1bTXBYnbxreNWkU7XmSDuyyQOLGw4xlS8oV0Z3GO39lA9ofVpZMgcLVz_rmbSIZO_gFtt2467e1XmsXb4edhWmkcrUiiyG4YKbhrA/s1299/Screenshot_20230604_163007_Gallery.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1299" data-original-width="730" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJYnRMkXHgUXtQ5IKb11-r0qpjWC5USR8LKQEwYURfzaakySb048WM7HI1nuKUI7qWEKXBorje_nhycmSqsFtC1bTXBYnbxreNWkU7XmSDuyyQOLGw4xlS8oV0Z3GO39lA9ofVpZMgcLVz_rmbSIZO_gFtt2467e1XmsXb4edhWmkcrUiiyG4YKbhrA/w225-h400/Screenshot_20230604_163007_Gallery.jpg" width="225" /></a></div><br /><div><br /><br /><div><br /><p><br /></p></div></div>Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com0Ascension Island, ASCN 1ZZ, St Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha-7.9467165999999994 -14.3559158-36.256950436178847 -49.5121658 20.363517236178847 20.8003342tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-52462073214091483852023-04-14T14:29:00.058+01:002023-06-04T16:42:06.453+01:0012th & 13th April 2023 - South Africa (flying visit!)Back in 2019 I booked an awesome trip which centred around taking a ship from St Helena to Ascension Island to Cape Verde and I had planned for a good amount of time before the ship in South Africa, including Cape Town and a safari up near Johannesburg. This trip got postponed for covid reasons and now that it was finally able to go ahead, I sadly had other commitments that meant I only had 3 days in South Africa. I split that into two days in Cape Town (wine tasting and birding) and a day in Johannesburg (birding).<div><br /></div><div>First off on the Cape Town birding day I met with guide <a href="https://www.tablemountaintrekstours.com/tours#bird" target="_blank">Mark Hawthorne</a> at my hotel and we headed to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens which is incredibly beautiful. I am incredibly envious of anyone who has that as their local patch! The great thing about birding in a new area is that nearly every single bird I saw was brand new for me. There were lots of <b>Olive Thrush</b> around, with <b>Cape White-eye</b> hopping through the trees and a <b>Jackal Buzzard</b> soaring off in the distance. A few beautiful <b>White-backed Mousebird</b> were seen as we wandered along and the star of the show were the incredibly tailed <b>Cape Sugarbird</b>.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTDlcs7s6BiOFXeskF2yOLbjaReD_ag6zRF1f5hkd4C5IuBu05Dwivd0_hfW-DwSY5lAOl8xDCW2Z5T5LCvckTdvKETCot0ZBPejHrkcvW3y3KLEFRFr7NhEwLNaSXEMTp3YncCD60SPgICg0NrBiUjL830W7BDt5LozkaCYKbofH55BE0b4FgykTnQ/s10368/IMG_1725-Enhanced-SR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="6912" data-original-width="10368" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPTDlcs7s6BiOFXeskF2yOLbjaReD_ag6zRF1f5hkd4C5IuBu05Dwivd0_hfW-DwSY5lAOl8xDCW2Z5T5LCvckTdvKETCot0ZBPejHrkcvW3y3KLEFRFr7NhEwLNaSXEMTp3YncCD60SPgICg0NrBiUjL830W7BDt5LozkaCYKbofH55BE0b4FgykTnQ/w400-h266/IMG_1725-Enhanced-SR.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cape Sugarbird</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4z7Fomq5TJTqfs8yVw5QnaFX6vXw3HOP3qQOebVtLQ9k7P_UUQilmq4-e_H0NUwhoql6VKw20obwMv-8BV1pZ1sEUSVEwQI_4GG3flM3xGylRI5RG8ENKuRZ8-L2h5YDPOq1_p7YVfmL3qtIENB7Sgn-7JlYZ5h45dRNiBeRQNQ8q1nsbEAMgDVVcQ/s10368/IMG_1708-Enhanced-SR.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="10368" data-original-width="6912" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS4z7Fomq5TJTqfs8yVw5QnaFX6vXw3HOP3qQOebVtLQ9k7P_UUQilmq4-e_H0NUwhoql6VKw20obwMv-8BV1pZ1sEUSVEwQI_4GG3flM3xGylRI5RG8ENKuRZ8-L2h5YDPOq1_p7YVfmL3qtIENB7Sgn-7JlYZ5h45dRNiBeRQNQ8q1nsbEAMgDVVcQ/w266-h400/IMG_1708-Enhanced-SR.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Double-collared Sunbird</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Sadly we couldn't stay at Kirstenbosch all day and it was onwards to the peaceful Rondevlei reserve where we added some waterbirds to the list, along with <b>Fork-tailed Drongo</b> and a few stunning <b>Black-shouldered Kite</b>. Round to Strandfontein and to the list we managed to add ducks in the form of <b>Yellow-billed Duck</b>, <b>Fulvous Whistling Duck</b> and <b>Cape Teal</b>, as well as <b>Black-headed Heron</b>. A really cool snake was headed along the road too but I can't remember the name of it. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavGLX8g0Vqqds7eWKnxx4O6KCXtNLPNgQ3A3hgQ324iBbAm4CLB1HO8Kp2ki5-tgLJot0ZABSkTet5flcsl8785hZ5Nbpbp4N4-mfGL7rHr-YgjNWXfVMr9h3ynK1zS0Ql6Qmq_e7RYwo4x9p__37f_6GQBYVDEjK4k7nQPKHiMSDuYq9mp-FHdZonQ/s4272/IMG_1200.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgavGLX8g0Vqqds7eWKnxx4O6KCXtNLPNgQ3A3hgQ324iBbAm4CLB1HO8Kp2ki5-tgLJot0ZABSkTet5flcsl8785hZ5Nbpbp4N4-mfGL7rHr-YgjNWXfVMr9h3ynK1zS0Ql6Qmq_e7RYwo4x9p__37f_6GQBYVDEjK4k7nQPKHiMSDuYq9mp-FHdZonQ/w400-h266/IMG_1200.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-shouldered Kite</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFJ-IsiJ7klGrZprkQ0on9o1hvCO1a8E1vhGOlMbQPUsp5JJGEGIZKK8R5NX2KWKRt3plHSCGhtdAKsInwup_RidrjmW6VWHNjfVv6fttWhHkGTySUzzX3Hx7zaSUewUHgPiYxoYfvBy6hl5KP0iuJz95oDLBDb43vJjfy8XX2nai_G4ys2bzNFmNqg/s5062/IMG_1909.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3375" data-original-width="5062" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKFJ-IsiJ7klGrZprkQ0on9o1hvCO1a8E1vhGOlMbQPUsp5JJGEGIZKK8R5NX2KWKRt3plHSCGhtdAKsInwup_RidrjmW6VWHNjfVv6fttWhHkGTySUzzX3Hx7zaSUewUHgPiYxoYfvBy6hl5KP0iuJz95oDLBDb43vJjfy8XX2nai_G4ys2bzNFmNqg/w400-h266/IMG_1909.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Duckies</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tBWBWSUvY1L7pGZmf_fiscnUvMZC040JqtcM6cmgKGq8hr9H5LTRW6b0oRJz-YpNMjRrEa2S09k4WtVT7xlliSc5wouawyTi0K0PAyKCrWclFk7TBPtlayPj4X--q64WtZ39nB28zGJxd5g0TRUzbTFLd1F6v-AL43GMPR1AM3S18S5OHEo861O2Ag/s5184/IMG_1933.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tBWBWSUvY1L7pGZmf_fiscnUvMZC040JqtcM6cmgKGq8hr9H5LTRW6b0oRJz-YpNMjRrEa2S09k4WtVT7xlliSc5wouawyTi0K0PAyKCrWclFk7TBPtlayPj4X--q64WtZ39nB28zGJxd5g0TRUzbTFLd1F6v-AL43GMPR1AM3S18S5OHEo861O2Ag/w400-h266/IMG_1933.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-necked Heron</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KW00bxGRa0BqPIERJU18DBc2okyWg355yxKF2mQ6har2jFfQuGR28z3j0LoerzAzgqzTjmBLhnmElrZp8xxs4Z4q6p218XBuUWW7CnwRkFcmCdZbi4qyJp-cku0f4AytwCBPO3o71LRFP_00oIijvXGeJxVgK5yS-lLq_rl1k6O4oKciIjJD-iFiNw/s5064/IMG_1964.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3376" data-original-width="5064" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_KW00bxGRa0BqPIERJU18DBc2okyWg355yxKF2mQ6har2jFfQuGR28z3j0LoerzAzgqzTjmBLhnmElrZp8xxs4Z4q6p218XBuUWW7CnwRkFcmCdZbi4qyJp-cku0f4AytwCBPO3o71LRFP_00oIijvXGeJxVgK5yS-lLq_rl1k6O4oKciIjJD-iFiNw/w400-h266/IMG_1964.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greater Flamingo</td></tr></tbody></table>Popped in briefly to Boulders Beach to see the tiny penguins which are LOUD and then finished the day off down at the Cape of Good Hope, adding <b>Cape Bunting</b>, <b>Cape Cormorant</b> and <b>Cape Starling </b>amongst others. A great day to start off my trip!</div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixU5p2gUNkc9FWAh9biIHlFyuhKqnNrKb48MFa1rIsfhqklTvsq5Krx9GRDLgnN5Q8dl7j3faV8RW3u62GnaJ8-g_dpbG1Ve03XqXci2eMOwgQmQ9_DWXXzQWRffZ4G3sl0AwdTlGEzPmek1Vkepp5lECAbTamPXZ61BvZ5Y59aFy5YNr0vw6FvMP_Mg/s5184/IMG_2002.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="5184" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixU5p2gUNkc9FWAh9biIHlFyuhKqnNrKb48MFa1rIsfhqklTvsq5Krx9GRDLgnN5Q8dl7j3faV8RW3u62GnaJ8-g_dpbG1Ve03XqXci2eMOwgQmQ9_DWXXzQWRffZ4G3sl0AwdTlGEzPmek1Vkepp5lECAbTamPXZ61BvZ5Y59aFy5YNr0vw6FvMP_Mg/w400-h266/IMG_2002.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Penguin</td></tr></tbody></table>I got a flight the next morning up to Johannesburg and <a href="https://safariwian.com/" target="_blank">Safari Wian</a> picked me up to head out to Rietvlei Nature Reserve for the afternoon. We started with <b>African Wattled Lapwing</b> and <b>Crowned Lapwing</b>, then added a tonne of <b>Common Fiscal </b>and <b>Stonechat</b> along the drive around. I rather liked the personality of the <b>Arrow-marked Babbler </b>and we rounded off the day with a grumpy <b>Spotted Thick-knee</b>. <br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7hd0nYfsZu2qe62WQaGSC0h6tq3m9_WxL8EO_Brj7uIXxW1Y4f-LD557e9gcrI0fkAtrbIG1BzTMk8E8l07x8YqOlwT2Gz39wuH9H3iIF4qWbcSU50n3y1I2mcGPaLtJPFZD91vuczN_T6O2PRIf8jCKfsUL6K56fUaM2XcpBwRL98LBeEeiFpo-RA/s4272/IMG_1234.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn7hd0nYfsZu2qe62WQaGSC0h6tq3m9_WxL8EO_Brj7uIXxW1Y4f-LD557e9gcrI0fkAtrbIG1BzTMk8E8l07x8YqOlwT2Gz39wuH9H3iIF4qWbcSU50n3y1I2mcGPaLtJPFZD91vuczN_T6O2PRIf8jCKfsUL6K56fUaM2XcpBwRL98LBeEeiFpo-RA/w400-h266/IMG_1234.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted Thick-knee</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRgP5EsYzSQg3IcfUlers76E_0cezAoDQqNTmUoxgQk_VNjp_2AVXpyDfX2UejfOvd1zmAHbbhgCznfhzPRoJ_PB8Dl3coExa6lGCPFondpcaUaqPUZaLB2qIll4kWVPcHCbVZaRDXoLd-wKOVg7jIWDMTotZUnR1XFsyRL1PfYF-Uxj2BX_FFcCNXA/s4272/IMG_1172.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioRgP5EsYzSQg3IcfUlers76E_0cezAoDQqNTmUoxgQk_VNjp_2AVXpyDfX2UejfOvd1zmAHbbhgCznfhzPRoJ_PB8Dl3coExa6lGCPFondpcaUaqPUZaLB2qIll4kWVPcHCbVZaRDXoLd-wKOVg7jIWDMTotZUnR1XFsyRL1PfYF-Uxj2BX_FFcCNXA/w400-h266/IMG_1172.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zebras!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com0South Africa-30.559482 22.937506-58.869715836178841 -12.218744000000001 -2.2492481638211537 58.093756tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-36535039576618258402022-10-29T11:44:00.007+01:002023-05-04T10:43:16.389+01:0018th to 25th October 2022 - Socotra & Abd al-Kuri, Yemen<p> I don't really remember how I ended up choosing this trip a year ago but I am extremely glad that I did. Socotra is an island around 380km off of Yemen, who it belongs to and it has multiple endemic species - a third of its flora is endemic! A quick 2 hour flight from Abu Dhabi with Air Arabia and we landed in Hadiboh, the largest town on Socotra.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPhE2Dal31M8jKiM1mTEMH0uFzOfuMQ6te4URCgD1TwFhTfkm0BDSIRrrvGTrxMVbRGMR9xHJ-_cBW-po3Dd52v7P9WsnZArzdE1L7Hm4uYEVQHfZLT7JSy-cW5KDdDZRmqlLCvEaJc8lYOYlS99R_xZbQeqHwdhMfcnGvYujpROVrjJHKJgNPgEghw/s4272/IMG_0638.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAPhE2Dal31M8jKiM1mTEMH0uFzOfuMQ6te4URCgD1TwFhTfkm0BDSIRrrvGTrxMVbRGMR9xHJ-_cBW-po3Dd52v7P9WsnZArzdE1L7Hm4uYEVQHfZLT7JSy-cW5KDdDZRmqlLCvEaJc8lYOYlS99R_xZbQeqHwdhMfcnGvYujpROVrjJHKJgNPgEghw/w400-h266/IMG_0638.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somali Starling</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOBKs_Je6Sd9VQomB6x69nTN2OC_B876nD2TBdAj6AgSeKSigTmZ1pCt3pfw7Tc-QN05XU3wC3wVkMnY7qF95F-bTwPIjsso1NcYFOPBw27nh9Xt9AZmKwdCvQPdWdqN1D9wUGfeFXIEkUL6KKQ8ORb5XzSbm6tuiov89lM6d-Aq3F6g4FNQ-7YCoKw/s4272/IMG_0523.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiOBKs_Je6Sd9VQomB6x69nTN2OC_B876nD2TBdAj6AgSeKSigTmZ1pCt3pfw7Tc-QN05XU3wC3wVkMnY7qF95F-bTwPIjsso1NcYFOPBw27nh9Xt9AZmKwdCvQPdWdqN1D9wUGfeFXIEkUL6KKQ8ORb5XzSbm6tuiov89lM6d-Aq3F6g4FNQ-7YCoKw/w400-h266/IMG_0523.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dragon Blood Trees</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p>We spent the rest of the arrival day and the full next day travelling to different spots on the island, starting our list to try and cover the 10 or so endemics. The first bird I spotted coming out of the airport was an life lister - <b>Somali Starling</b>! With that great start we proceeded to rack up the list including <b>Socotra Sparrow</b>, <b>Socotra Bunting</b> and after dark, <b>Socotra Scops Owl</b>. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rTrk0npJW8-6LoXiugzY74HAlN6-g19V6uzgxCJ3V2RWrJKwgnZCSIseIqj1o5fpA5V13s2Fu95w843TYU5SfB-OIpHLQnitSoq8koKPQ_XL8Q1sNkZ_nKma-8wJsP0nBmVIKABHl6dfw0B5jIrqEvL6tm11_GS1CwjWoSqFjdPVnkqt0WX_DUQKMw/s1850/IMG_0531.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="1850" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rTrk0npJW8-6LoXiugzY74HAlN6-g19V6uzgxCJ3V2RWrJKwgnZCSIseIqj1o5fpA5V13s2Fu95w843TYU5SfB-OIpHLQnitSoq8koKPQ_XL8Q1sNkZ_nKma-8wJsP0nBmVIKABHl6dfw0B5jIrqEvL6tm11_GS1CwjWoSqFjdPVnkqt0WX_DUQKMw/w400-h266/IMG_0531.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Socotra Sparrow<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fAuRhvEJl6YTZfGOp6cpRIW64pb3B_7B8p7IldlnlAmPNeJGoSqBY-DUhSo4fHVkeZP0Hklh0WZkGUznZjRlQIglFet_eBODgmycqskO5YivPPxFUEHUB1WblLKQfYeLEVR3sQlzmW9JQZSMlhwaDhajIoAHjaKcW-GUyTO9sgyK81KGdzz3V27ONQ/s4272/IMG_1112.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4fAuRhvEJl6YTZfGOp6cpRIW64pb3B_7B8p7IldlnlAmPNeJGoSqBY-DUhSo4fHVkeZP0Hklh0WZkGUznZjRlQIglFet_eBODgmycqskO5YivPPxFUEHUB1WblLKQfYeLEVR3sQlzmW9JQZSMlhwaDhajIoAHjaKcW-GUyTO9sgyK81KGdzz3V27ONQ/w400-h266/IMG_1112.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Socotra Scops Owl<br /></td></tr></tbody></table>The third day was the day we headed onto the small fishing boats to travel across open sea to the second largest island in the archipelago, Abd al Kuri. The trip took about 7 hours and I am still bruised from how bumpy it was! Abd al Kuri is so beautiful and despite my absolute hatred for camping, I did rather enjoy camping on the unspoiled beach and waking up to the sea. I also thoroughly enjoyed how nosey the crabs were, you'd turn around at dinner and have one a foot behind just staring. <div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jGlvwcCpSG4ovb_XcGuKUc4H8zJDpVtfGVvlQ3KXQjAg6U87wV4a2YCffjy5P6WzBmvOHC3HfmQ7n31OCPFzTjlSRv45TM87aMdjbL-BJ9dcDSj9A4i-C_AI85VflVydCfKQOdaHk7JoEsyf6K9CC_3GAJFW0KZnX57q6kzeWNUTqUPKeU_ShewUEQ/s4000/20221020_060031.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-jGlvwcCpSG4ovb_XcGuKUc4H8zJDpVtfGVvlQ3KXQjAg6U87wV4a2YCffjy5P6WzBmvOHC3HfmQ7n31OCPFzTjlSRv45TM87aMdjbL-BJ9dcDSj9A4i-C_AI85VflVydCfKQOdaHk7JoEsyf6K9CC_3GAJFW0KZnX57q6kzeWNUTqUPKeU_ShewUEQ/w180-h400/20221020_060031.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The fishing boats to take you to Abd al Kuri<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmokyqe32t8JxV1JbhsO4B-Fk14SBZN9ySQII1m8A8E6UAEAat--cNMyPYtHxtIkxxNBaP9HHfGLw9JKn6YpuULelUkk-4YgdzKC8UwkbOyRl0eBqLrWXOy5jxQoMhIbxAcKJMgGWeSqC7c6lXKmFHRdlGSN10GS9FUi5uPtDtt8WHmfIE8jWC12FOQ/s4000/20221021_050410.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrmokyqe32t8JxV1JbhsO4B-Fk14SBZN9ySQII1m8A8E6UAEAat--cNMyPYtHxtIkxxNBaP9HHfGLw9JKn6YpuULelUkk-4YgdzKC8UwkbOyRl0eBqLrWXOy5jxQoMhIbxAcKJMgGWeSqC7c6lXKmFHRdlGSN10GS9FUi5uPtDtt8WHmfIE8jWC12FOQ/w180-h400/20221021_050410.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Camping on Abd al Kuri</td></tr></tbody></table><div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMacNhse0FfwTWvzmQD1EAI1YSxQuGIKioaenOH2ONBXhLvlvAhYmQ24KXNawNUc9F4rkgespSc-SbxsMgfjI3uc8ECIb8Q8cPvGuR3LK8Y-ANdQGBmphIC2RJ7OpubCTZ5RQHjkee2qT9Y63bBcms9dC9ZSs4wdS44ykdg3IhDPy0rgZOG8r8AQuVtw/s4272/IMG_0856.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="4272" data-original-width="2848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMacNhse0FfwTWvzmQD1EAI1YSxQuGIKioaenOH2ONBXhLvlvAhYmQ24KXNawNUc9F4rkgespSc-SbxsMgfjI3uc8ECIb8Q8cPvGuR3LK8Y-ANdQGBmphIC2RJ7OpubCTZ5RQHjkee2qT9Y63bBcms9dC9ZSs4wdS44ykdg3IhDPy0rgZOG8r8AQuVtw/w266-h400/IMG_0856.jpg" width="266" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><p>The trip to Abd al Kuri was to see a specific bird - the <b>Abd al Kuri Sparrow</b>. We didn't find it at the supposed normal spot but as we headed into another village, there were quite a few hopping around! A flock of nearly 100 was seen later so that's excellent news. As it's a very under birded location, plenty of unreported birds were seen and logged over the couple of days we were there, including my first and second <b>Ortolan Bunting</b> - the second hopping onto the tent in front of me as I was resting later that day. My kind of birding. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMix69PVvVbuIvKm3rkv49ZuFw0kKTBR6xrQEy5Z7jMIL0gGvHMhUi1v337rI-l94nrgASfDss8asKhgy3QdD98snWB8KkCYCojQACoN1R6gidexjQr4DNc1xoUyE3KS_RmoyYhLogfVF1lu5IDP3cnUelbhogdbqZu9AyD-zUA7DmZLZfRzE8u-IOrw/s2783/IMG_0780-Enhanced.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1855" data-original-width="2783" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMix69PVvVbuIvKm3rkv49ZuFw0kKTBR6xrQEy5Z7jMIL0gGvHMhUi1v337rI-l94nrgASfDss8asKhgy3QdD98snWB8KkCYCojQACoN1R6gidexjQr4DNc1xoUyE3KS_RmoyYhLogfVF1lu5IDP3cnUelbhogdbqZu9AyD-zUA7DmZLZfRzE8u-IOrw/w400-h266/IMG_0780-Enhanced.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abd al Kuri Sparrow<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQu3fo_N_o5MTQrDwBdWupnA31de2YSoay28u_pja59hYbsqlTYLHzH99EmIZGA2NElBUsWtd1iDunPDoZoeR_DN3TdnL9amWm4eGsqAj3Iac_MIcdoiyUBZnAfh_xUVFUiIGIfpDkslst94w7VyrQai-TOaZFDPauXDwyj9q-L-pIpOwDs_dfNDazTA/s3220/IMG_0801.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2147" data-original-width="3220" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQu3fo_N_o5MTQrDwBdWupnA31de2YSoay28u_pja59hYbsqlTYLHzH99EmIZGA2NElBUsWtd1iDunPDoZoeR_DN3TdnL9amWm4eGsqAj3Iac_MIcdoiyUBZnAfh_xUVFUiIGIfpDkslst94w7VyrQai-TOaZFDPauXDwyj9q-L-pIpOwDs_dfNDazTA/w400-h266/IMG_0801.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abd al Kuri Sparrow having a little jump<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1P_qAriz0J1HmMKb2VIEpg99-TZIngLQ8TVa1YbLphz-63vn99N0naUAyPXnh0R6LLX_jTEYWdshEaVWbNAFKWigI6tDZTporzjqHSt5e-Sj9HGPoNDMVDJAW-hSaib1LVM7JtMaekSSkADctjbfEAibIhWzZVH0m8ar8Ztp0Fk5uW0OH2z3Jv-eFg/s3384/IMG_0751-Enhanced.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2256" data-original-width="3384" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-1P_qAriz0J1HmMKb2VIEpg99-TZIngLQ8TVa1YbLphz-63vn99N0naUAyPXnh0R6LLX_jTEYWdshEaVWbNAFKWigI6tDZTporzjqHSt5e-Sj9HGPoNDMVDJAW-hSaib1LVM7JtMaekSSkADctjbfEAibIhWzZVH0m8ar8Ztp0Fk5uW0OH2z3Jv-eFg/w400-h266/IMG_0751-Enhanced.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First ever Ortolan Bunting<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC04j28NaRc0SgOs0iPwlWJ1SMsuG9UX7qxzsolEp6sm4WCe3HB7w9sWA-6h2n7xS4YcUKRl7mu7hnG32XcBFiZSN-eR6vSLSFN_MQvOz5NhRpOjczEINkQi06NucRhxCVY2zX3mcvv_pogn7slMiRJ_CaoZ8hDcYZnrg7TS6-LAvrZ7jgV1eiMwCP2Q/s4000/20221021_160522.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4000" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC04j28NaRc0SgOs0iPwlWJ1SMsuG9UX7qxzsolEp6sm4WCe3HB7w9sWA-6h2n7xS4YcUKRl7mu7hnG32XcBFiZSN-eR6vSLSFN_MQvOz5NhRpOjczEINkQi06NucRhxCVY2zX3mcvv_pogn7slMiRJ_CaoZ8hDcYZnrg7TS6-LAvrZ7jgV1eiMwCP2Q/w180-h400/20221021_160522.jpg" width="180" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Second Ortolan Bunting of the day (and of my life)</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvkfiFxfTGP6Ioq3fAvMBkiu1i4mi1XjkV1iuhWedQpllV9r6-7ZcEhoLqO_t2n8YBU4FTdrMzRsnapLq6i4yeyddjU7-hNuxiYUmym0EHWJ0cmmsYdL02g7YvYxnoao_UJQaDWImiKOKEAA9tf7Gf5mVTJRSaAeJHPMehTzHkZ8jGKtVRhFtkiYgHg/s4272/IMG_0874.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4272" data-original-width="2848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzvkfiFxfTGP6Ioq3fAvMBkiu1i4mi1XjkV1iuhWedQpllV9r6-7ZcEhoLqO_t2n8YBU4FTdrMzRsnapLq6i4yeyddjU7-hNuxiYUmym0EHWJ0cmmsYdL02g7YvYxnoao_UJQaDWImiKOKEAA9tf7Gf5mVTJRSaAeJHPMehTzHkZ8jGKtVRhFtkiYgHg/w266-h400/IMG_0874.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yet another gecko?<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p>The boat trip there and back (when I wasn't being distracted by trying not to be thrown out of the boat) was a great opportunity to increase my very small seabird list and I added quite a few, including <b>Swinhoe's Storm Petrel</b>, <b>Masked Booby</b> and <b>Jouanin's Petrel</b>.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_t9YsI6zbPvJ_t--kFc9KdgIU-SzAPjSwJAzROVtdA_ZEmDrAPrubveKShGUEuQMGFlw6yVSwCZiiIPPC4rXp2OkmVXdKjLQZu6S8UATItBg-P2tob-G-X_4JUSJxtgZjf7O-nkvc35p2OhIpyuw6bZDYjuQVhJMDriQRB5GXTBMfePLniN3F3wDUJQ/s5693/IMG_0935-Enhanced.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3795" data-original-width="5693" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_t9YsI6zbPvJ_t--kFc9KdgIU-SzAPjSwJAzROVtdA_ZEmDrAPrubveKShGUEuQMGFlw6yVSwCZiiIPPC4rXp2OkmVXdKjLQZu6S8UATItBg-P2tob-G-X_4JUSJxtgZjf7O-nkvc35p2OhIpyuw6bZDYjuQVhJMDriQRB5GXTBMfePLniN3F3wDUJQ/w400-h266/IMG_0935-Enhanced.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masked Booby stalking the boat and catching flying fish<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_ULRcLkc5aVBdeNY_hdH70NTZsljGo2CkUTUOFH4tixdps3HlMqcS0PpsdTILezRRR8_FT7r49W-PNK8wccqV6SiiSyEj0ip2SogqOGED-FmRAPzqq8pYvUMXnq6l_Ys5EklaINsOChHNHeuP1FgKkqBdZ3OMuirm_2tzjoto5I24aqPa-NFFh6kUw/s4092/IMG_0895.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2728" data-original-width="4092" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjI_ULRcLkc5aVBdeNY_hdH70NTZsljGo2CkUTUOFH4tixdps3HlMqcS0PpsdTILezRRR8_FT7r49W-PNK8wccqV6SiiSyEj0ip2SogqOGED-FmRAPzqq8pYvUMXnq6l_Ys5EklaINsOChHNHeuP1FgKkqBdZ3OMuirm_2tzjoto5I24aqPa-NFFh6kUw/w400-h266/IMG_0895.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seabirb<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvS3cIZvcUag2TOqyd_wnKVT39g_BKDmGmG3mS8I8WN-T0qFGvYCtMfNTZJFiBO13y4QqGBkaAlbQy26odsR7Q3INHQkbQjV2ETTol54rTvlx9iDXSlM7jEA2VXS2cH2X5znv-ctFd78XF15RhdtFXiUzyVKxfD9qIw4MifMHHyUbpkTeyeog2_db-lA/s4272/IMG_0993.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvS3cIZvcUag2TOqyd_wnKVT39g_BKDmGmG3mS8I8WN-T0qFGvYCtMfNTZJFiBO13y4QqGBkaAlbQy26odsR7Q3INHQkbQjV2ETTol54rTvlx9iDXSlM7jEA2VXS2cH2X5znv-ctFd78XF15RhdtFXiUzyVKxfD9qIw4MifMHHyUbpkTeyeog2_db-lA/w400-h266/IMG_0993.jpg" width="400" /></a><br /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> Masked Booby buddies</td></tr></tbody></table></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdddA9VvRJAZU1k6VJLeoeNcyE9aM3XlwJ3Ciok5gSMY7DKC7dcbzIXOJT12ZrYRmyvueLt8wAFu6dekHVMIWvnhVoHf2beh10Ofgaopiqj-k7uB-wBkYrOyg50y_fYiiPMh_EojmwjKwsDrPVtvnSMQ6dl2Xgmsq0WFdZBnHDtPkVm2ruXTT1Qrx5w/s4272/IMG_0744.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzdddA9VvRJAZU1k6VJLeoeNcyE9aM3XlwJ3Ciok5gSMY7DKC7dcbzIXOJT12ZrYRmyvueLt8wAFu6dekHVMIWvnhVoHf2beh10Ofgaopiqj-k7uB-wBkYrOyg50y_fYiiPMh_EojmwjKwsDrPVtvnSMQ6dl2Xgmsq0WFdZBnHDtPkVm2ruXTT1Qrx5w/w400-h266/IMG_0744.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div>For the last couple of days, we continued on with our pursuit of a full Socotra endemics list, adding <b>Socotra Sunbird</b> and not an endemic but one I had really been looking forward to seeing - <b>Bruce's Green Pigeon</b>. Still annoyed I didn't manage to get a decent picture as they're beautiful birds. </div><div><br /></div><div>Trip Lifers: 44 </div><div><br /></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELVYNnu60MZQUayBzZ5DaD3igKSeyBrbHT-1RlE7yUgMuqQEsUa3zhDDOymnxmPSzb-Ywj4NteTy3nS4N_ZHl5PIshymzoh_BQFABWHS3bVNkifiAJRcsobWicKAIu7Df_dBOJeKyFjYklPGhGkik-lKbsL8yTZFJlP34B4pk4FIbnKNd1dZLNS4iSQ/s3084/IMG_0673.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2056" data-original-width="3084" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhELVYNnu60MZQUayBzZ5DaD3igKSeyBrbHT-1RlE7yUgMuqQEsUa3zhDDOymnxmPSzb-Ywj4NteTy3nS4N_ZHl5PIshymzoh_BQFABWHS3bVNkifiAJRcsobWicKAIu7Df_dBOJeKyFjYklPGhGkik-lKbsL8yTZFJlP34B4pk4FIbnKNd1dZLNS4iSQ/w400-h266/IMG_0673.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some sort of gecko</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuPWdHZSzNbNr7VrZoTgk6fCUZFVOq2N_5Bh-gi-ve8N1C1H79YkkGimOidFrr6pu0P9CpIjmE7JpPUXhf8hu-TLbdYWQZHdL0kG3eKtQpUUAWO-NtoNDGVtc7C85pukc7kdinvvzDP5S/s4272/IMG_0703.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeuPWdHZSzNbNr7VrZoTgk6fCUZFVOq2N_5Bh-gi-ve8N1C1H79YkkGimOidFrr6pu0P9CpIjmE7JpPUXhf8hu-TLbdYWQZHdL0kG3eKtQpUUAWO-NtoNDGVtc7C85pukc7kdinvvzDP5S/w400-h266/IMG_0703.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Antlion I've ever seen and it was HUGE - Palpares inclemens maybe?</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7tCQXZT5IVILKPspYIR5mNZZH4Zvwx4OIR64E3sK3VllqZ0fkn_pDM1bIu7Ykjl_YB29PRTIyPs299LP5GLj3f89fy5nBWKmRerQllt3HAl6Q5Dc3YFSOzfFNbB6zkoX_twZOn6AC4MR/s2196/IMG_0759.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1464" data-original-width="2196" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP7tCQXZT5IVILKPspYIR5mNZZH4Zvwx4OIR64E3sK3VllqZ0fkn_pDM1bIu7Ykjl_YB29PRTIyPs299LP5GLj3f89fy5nBWKmRerQllt3HAl6Q5Dc3YFSOzfFNbB6zkoX_twZOn6AC4MR/w400-h266/IMG_0759.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another gecko</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42VmVlVMsYu0HnlCubSuSDbeOdo_8dx05LMRSmsx6QL4wxWuodHYSR4f3C7hFqBT-G-PqXDEfclJX7d8fT6XCnuPcvykvblyJ92lDzIl9V2H0FWpUfdNFZbcQiUUCq_DPAfzHZfUi2WLWVcZ2BgkIYtBuWpyWpPU4Ruus8Mannbdc7GaZ94feLlvJ8w/s4272/IMG_1107.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj42VmVlVMsYu0HnlCubSuSDbeOdo_8dx05LMRSmsx6QL4wxWuodHYSR4f3C7hFqBT-G-PqXDEfclJX7d8fT6XCnuPcvykvblyJ92lDzIl9V2H0FWpUfdNFZbcQiUUCq_DPAfzHZfUi2WLWVcZ2BgkIYtBuWpyWpPU4Ruus8Mannbdc7GaZ94feLlvJ8w/w400-h266/IMG_1107.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_aroxXzM9OlzMUDEiY_u58Uwz36K0M06x9gdEY1XNNM0sDgTklYAoZbeUBmHKgBhmA1eohHMxvaby2NeEIfW3pLmz_tsWu9AIOiGiPju84_OklOrJA5B2fi6UA1X38xa9DBRlxcYxuHxEt-bzg4zj7KzEmQgwq5vj84RkdLgSYwZCJuyvvk5Nvasqg/s3442/IMG_1117.jpg"><img border="0" data-original-height="2295" data-original-width="3442" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq_aroxXzM9OlzMUDEiY_u58Uwz36K0M06x9gdEY1XNNM0sDgTklYAoZbeUBmHKgBhmA1eohHMxvaby2NeEIfW3pLmz_tsWu9AIOiGiPju84_OklOrJA5B2fi6UA1X38xa9DBRlxcYxuHxEt-bzg4zj7KzEmQgwq5vj84RkdLgSYwZCJuyvvk5Nvasqg/w400-h266/IMG_1117.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDEf4ydj9uRvEs5_g0d2rfxABwgYnENzz2nTaaR4G2dRt42qovXVUbOk90JmTAgCHcUUFzmbRxX-krgahOL3c8vjeyqqzDHhG_ste-1s9oFNKHZQPKNzDJzxElGeiI1lrvce-4R7LXOEiu-vfKmg4FbWDIsK6uYikL3d5XCRorYsI2jduwLz2lljFzw/s2371/IMG_1145.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1581" data-original-width="2371" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFDEf4ydj9uRvEs5_g0d2rfxABwgYnENzz2nTaaR4G2dRt42qovXVUbOk90JmTAgCHcUUFzmbRxX-krgahOL3c8vjeyqqzDHhG_ste-1s9oFNKHZQPKNzDJzxElGeiI1lrvce-4R7LXOEiu-vfKmg4FbWDIsK6uYikL3d5XCRorYsI2jduwLz2lljFzw/w400-h266/IMG_1145.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Grey Shrike (maybe to become a Socotra endemic?)</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4TmYIsvQnmnoxzzCeS-r2sSV3lzthOaRH0XZVVcIsdcdfugvTVEfBKWLS3M4w1V6aSuUmNXYzSCa2H-ZOnfh81PrHtrkFtCz-FUwoweb7u7401F_OXYyxbTFBOtiBceD-d-4c92HdC1o137qqYKfrmEhb7mf8c7Q99E_rllXB3HVE5HyxA2XUprjlQ/s3597/20221019_054742-Enhanced.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3597" data-original-width="3597" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ4TmYIsvQnmnoxzzCeS-r2sSV3lzthOaRH0XZVVcIsdcdfugvTVEfBKWLS3M4w1V6aSuUmNXYzSCa2H-ZOnfh81PrHtrkFtCz-FUwoweb7u7401F_OXYyxbTFBOtiBceD-d-4c92HdC1o137qqYKfrmEhb7mf8c7Q99E_rllXB3HVE5HyxA2XUprjlQ/w400-h400/20221019_054742-Enhanced.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dragon Blood Trees</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><br /></p></div>Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-61896973116927647272022-10-10T16:06:00.000+01:002022-11-01T16:07:08.246+00:009th October 2022 - Burgas Lakes, Ropotamo & Strandzha Mountains, Bulgaria<p> I'd been meaning to go out birding since I moved to Bulgaria but work got in the way. I finally got away out to the coast for a day trip with <a href="https://www.neophron.com/">Dimiter Georgiev</a> and we headed out from Burgas south towards the border with Turkey. </p><p>We had a bumper day for woodpeckers, with 5 being seen including the lovely but elusive <b>White-backed Woodpecker</b>. I met my target of both Pelicans (<b>Great White Pelican</b> and <b>Damatian Pelican</b>) so was chuffed with that. The day was finished off with a new one for me, a <b>Pallas's Gull</b>.</p><p>My photos were abysmal so here are some flamingos and that's all I salvaged from my memory card. I saw 4 lifers so that was ace! </p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmnD5sLXLkIPyjRNBmIGujWmbYWpH_52o4LmEq4zKfFEWHbCcujt63ZjHEOBUwkkLZ7RZRQuw_S_xUZ6_PCAOo2x9yaNoKAHkgxewUQOLz2jG0jHvNKyTS0ZCpqjFPIuzCAqG2tlYbLNT/s4272/IMG_0446.JPG"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCmnD5sLXLkIPyjRNBmIGujWmbYWpH_52o4LmEq4zKfFEWHbCcujt63ZjHEOBUwkkLZ7RZRQuw_S_xUZ6_PCAOo2x9yaNoKAHkgxewUQOLz2jG0jHvNKyTS0ZCpqjFPIuzCAqG2tlYbLNT/w400-h266/IMG_0446.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><br /><br /><p></p>Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com0Strandzha, 8166, Bulgaria42.0125 27.60861140.385379102482062 25.411345375 43.639620897517943 29.805876625tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-62915878770208999842022-02-14T11:10:00.000+00:002022-02-14T11:10:32.044+00:0028th & 30th January, 2022 - Las Vegas, USA<p>It's been a while! I am still alive and trying to get out birding more - I had a birthday trip to the USA and took myself out to a couple of lovely places to birdwatch whilst I was there. First was a quick visit to the <a href="https://www.springspreserve.org/" target="_blank">Springs Preserve</a> - nobody I speak to in Vegas has ever been there which is baffling as it's pretty central and is absolutely gorgeous. The trails are lovely to walk or jog around and there are plenty of things for kids to get involved in. </p><p>My main target bird for Las Vegas every single time I go is <b>Greater Roadrunner </b>and without fail, I never see one. So when one casually strolled by in front of me, there were some select swearwords uttered - I was very excited! The Preserve was quite quiet birdwise but I spotted regular locals like <b>Verdin</b>, <b>Northern Flicker </b>and <b>Phainopepla</b>. I also discovered the cutest tiny fluffy things - <b>White-tailed Antelope Squirrel</b> I think?</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnDPoRXDkTx014evB0wioNU3kSfTsZxwOcfAGhAwET5LkYMFsUajV7aW16Q_z3r8bSl6rVKCPn0Uc1q4ZSwDLn3-vw-cXGCJ0dlYluVTtNTIyn6TdhM0UhTG-6UsxOuRtMavN7MUF-wMyWKvlnEqccxc_Sn_WdC5hRQ3mwufdOdC3OcEM-SgsNE5dXKQ=s2896" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1931" data-original-width="2896" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgnDPoRXDkTx014evB0wioNU3kSfTsZxwOcfAGhAwET5LkYMFsUajV7aW16Q_z3r8bSl6rVKCPn0Uc1q4ZSwDLn3-vw-cXGCJ0dlYluVTtNTIyn6TdhM0UhTG-6UsxOuRtMavN7MUF-wMyWKvlnEqccxc_Sn_WdC5hRQ3mwufdOdC3OcEM-SgsNE5dXKQ=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greater Roadrunner!</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieRWo4bzx39omSJjUlndf4iWIbYKYdJgyX8lTUu2P26oGLv4y49FUaT3ChFqxcDk5vum21i9fngTe9TXfnsQPp9qIogb73cStZfNuNjm--ylGW3rKvovymp3wM7LkDwFn_O1T6Qy61fAVRf7GB6w9Gsmv7n3oHa5VQ2SPzOfqPYkukRQGojMSAC39yXA=s1956" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1304" data-original-width="1956" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEieRWo4bzx39omSJjUlndf4iWIbYKYdJgyX8lTUu2P26oGLv4y49FUaT3ChFqxcDk5vum21i9fngTe9TXfnsQPp9qIogb73cStZfNuNjm--ylGW3rKvovymp3wM7LkDwFn_O1T6Qy61fAVRf7GB6w9Gsmv7n3oHa5VQ2SPzOfqPYkukRQGojMSAC39yXA=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Phainopepla</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMH1Xl-3y4xVZwfCIsGC2JLhLkHYcg-mxP43zxXypnIerOHeWYhJtzR0ZCBunLSwWaJUSZl8oM9-6AHKVH2p3XBhICcZ02i-doZEoayvgx-8rQvz3nHqeb5xauAB2LSBpAUHceSm7p2ius_F9E5zI6qgCGyAvr_6gR6fiQHI6w4wHyI4QdsJWB_xIynQ=s3691" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2461" data-original-width="3691" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjMH1Xl-3y4xVZwfCIsGC2JLhLkHYcg-mxP43zxXypnIerOHeWYhJtzR0ZCBunLSwWaJUSZl8oM9-6AHKVH2p3XBhICcZ02i-doZEoayvgx-8rQvz3nHqeb5xauAB2LSBpAUHceSm7p2ius_F9E5zI6qgCGyAvr_6gR6fiQHI6w4wHyI4QdsJWB_xIynQ=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-tailed Antelope Squirrel</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>A couple of days later I went to my absolute favourite place in Vegas - Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve. It's a bit of a way off the strip but it's absolutely worth it. I meant to only spend about an hour there but ended up wandering around for over 3 and I could have easily stayed a lot longer. This was a lot more productive bird-wise, but also means a lot more birds that I am not sure of the ID of! I had a list of 35 in the end which I felt was fairly decent and a few more I couldn't ID which I've stuck up on <a href="https://www.birdforum.net/threads/las-vegas-usa.419516/" target="_blank">BirdForum</a> if anyone wants to give it a shot. <div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHr9ZaAtSrtrjyxDwenRyFR92Bb8t3AhdpbWtPnWoASa22JBvuK1BaGkQKtuuyShI2vkzryVp1GPaY05-8GcMVsVrW6JVfYztz2aADcUSSYMbatty_0Yo1CiRE2qGDUmiwRZkw5u44ThoKxK5rzITGCd0_KbNJzBXqKiZgkKVL9eBmW9fPtJziwzU4dQ=s1800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1800" data-original-width="1800" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHr9ZaAtSrtrjyxDwenRyFR92Bb8t3AhdpbWtPnWoASa22JBvuK1BaGkQKtuuyShI2vkzryVp1GPaY05-8GcMVsVrW6JVfYztz2aADcUSSYMbatty_0Yo1CiRE2qGDUmiwRZkw5u44ThoKxK5rzITGCd0_KbNJzBXqKiZgkKVL9eBmW9fPtJziwzU4dQ=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOzxJHqdcu_1khIp-nOB1y5PSL19cRaBERtak-XoGFrBhmZnkO5WYbqPl3ZkqOf9l2Dv87IeaV3K8ETNbPgmzGV3H2j0VjeV5Wilu6aE_-pdJRk1iqQUc6ThagVlrPC0UamrucewJ9XIQuL3P4K_LTWN0d-ryJN8Xn8SittVB_oKeyr_iuu2nV5OVx0g=s2848" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="2848" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgOzxJHqdcu_1khIp-nOB1y5PSL19cRaBERtak-XoGFrBhmZnkO5WYbqPl3ZkqOf9l2Dv87IeaV3K8ETNbPgmzGV3H2j0VjeV5Wilu6aE_-pdJRk1iqQUc6ThagVlrPC0UamrucewJ9XIQuL3P4K_LTWN0d-ryJN8Xn8SittVB_oKeyr_iuu2nV5OVx0g=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Different view of Las Vegas Strip</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Plenty of ducks around, including <b>Bufflehead</b>, <b>Cinnamon Teal</b> and a lone <b>Wood Duck</b>, as well as a goose lifer for me, <b>Snow Goose</b>. A single <b>Snowy Egret</b> was hanging out at the edge of the path and by the time I was heading out, there were lots of raptors up and about. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyXYLf33NiTz3zW7T0Oc2bb2h39RAeMvc3ejL8A90sxXeRzIYDd3lmZMsU6TiU2eGKgGuPo_jKH8EmIZ3a-4_NLilEpB2acTxZv2zb2M-kqZlxfUx1ff9l6baseWecnTKfU5EC_4rmQvcH0TNqptpwR3ULpqbthCfG1ApxGFkFrBms2by_MOQgo7eG8g=s1692" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1128" data-original-width="1692" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhyXYLf33NiTz3zW7T0Oc2bb2h39RAeMvc3ejL8A90sxXeRzIYDd3lmZMsU6TiU2eGKgGuPo_jKH8EmIZ3a-4_NLilEpB2acTxZv2zb2M-kqZlxfUx1ff9l6baseWecnTKfU5EC_4rmQvcH0TNqptpwR3ULpqbthCfG1ApxGFkFrBms2by_MOQgo7eG8g=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hummingbird</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhES4nZ7YPLjfkRe1OzbdQMw0cqzkMCUS8BWTO-bbO5jeybYgwgaW7TsrOm0NOA2llVXAz4c-Gs5dCI6W7cqksffPElfgv1tNIg6mNxmKrjC2ogwMaP5VN8SNwajz-EgT2TMQpPx9YuAIRIfRhn3czWVQ06UZ0esZBNUJbsw3HS7SSmF5MuE9SslvMTww=s4272" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2848" data-original-width="4272" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhES4nZ7YPLjfkRe1OzbdQMw0cqzkMCUS8BWTO-bbO5jeybYgwgaW7TsrOm0NOA2llVXAz4c-Gs5dCI6W7cqksffPElfgv1tNIg6mNxmKrjC2ogwMaP5VN8SNwajz-EgT2TMQpPx9YuAIRIfRhn3czWVQ06UZ0esZBNUJbsw3HS7SSmF5MuE9SslvMTww=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snowy Egret</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQ0Y48cRAJiJVzeLsxBnQOL35hyiJk3iGl0JCKkD5IAM0EEI8T9W0PGBcswW5gfkfpkN_qgg5H6uxdM0vyKy6TSkna0JFUogLHOEskia6rF4hFPSLYGK9ZKbA28-Rl1JLrZ0fFQwbyBTDSueBuWDYDwUjoZtJf5hwb8_8nOC-pmBziddS_yXVxECy23A=s2251" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1501" data-original-width="2251" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiQ0Y48cRAJiJVzeLsxBnQOL35hyiJk3iGl0JCKkD5IAM0EEI8T9W0PGBcswW5gfkfpkN_qgg5H6uxdM0vyKy6TSkna0JFUogLHOEskia6rF4hFPSLYGK9ZKbA28-Rl1JLrZ0fFQwbyBTDSueBuWDYDwUjoZtJf5hwb8_8nOC-pmBziddS_yXVxECy23A=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Mockingbird</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDLEBySJ3ImAQc6smmvtL2Se1hVerRUbY1azjm8-kfoRXxfF2tpVFW9GmSlkeYt58wmjsy_sBE01yaSfWiMEI8AlvJdOGvdfxg1_3nSxz8h3UecKuCRfG7swODfb95-erKf111tlf8s_ASqtW8_CArbuVorIfsQUnuRyT_FbkIZkY6Vx5ZzPp6jncvLw=s2975" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1983" data-original-width="2975" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgDLEBySJ3ImAQc6smmvtL2Se1hVerRUbY1azjm8-kfoRXxfF2tpVFW9GmSlkeYt58wmjsy_sBE01yaSfWiMEI8AlvJdOGvdfxg1_3nSxz8h3UecKuCRfG7swODfb95-erKf111tlf8s_ASqtW8_CArbuVorIfsQUnuRyT_FbkIZkY6Vx5ZzPp6jncvLw=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Other hummingbird 😬</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div>These two visits brought my life list up to 998 - really need that 2 more. Perhaps in Bulgaria or Mexico later this year, or even the ones from Vegas I couldn't ID might bring me to that elusive 1000 bird mark!</div><div><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrCzVEpNOysGIwqt7A27J0mqLKBs4c-CS5kfKhZNcNqmH3vvFZjPc6lSKJ9HxAOj3ewOC-XRawAcXD1DepHHh7wMNP4dT7krgXEai_g8-hK3TGPoHkPX-XLsvGtQ47vTsu4YnMVp54kTUIZIdRVj5cy6Gjann7oT7MOczArHcNPpEIuQp2EUw5YpjTjg=s2281" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1521" data-original-width="2281" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhrCzVEpNOysGIwqt7A27J0mqLKBs4c-CS5kfKhZNcNqmH3vvFZjPc6lSKJ9HxAOj3ewOC-XRawAcXD1DepHHh7wMNP4dT7krgXEai_g8-hK3TGPoHkPX-XLsvGtQ47vTsu4YnMVp54kTUIZIdRVj5cy6Gjann7oT7MOczArHcNPpEIuQp2EUw5YpjTjg=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Verdin</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5CPi0mnXD1BFsUbY7Qnb9xPSZmQqBjwcv5KV1mJjckkijaeNvuTevx-7fJEonez3fVNp-JM8AtzoOIf5xx5eZhhFKSRsJiIS1wA1ACP4ObfJX4wWEVhVXwBeuO52d6T5a4OyYIzOEXVzwgznmgmVBgukqzt1yDd3BQkYI3Ix0ULJEquvxG24wGC1yVw=s2123" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1415" data-original-width="2123" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj5CPi0mnXD1BFsUbY7Qnb9xPSZmQqBjwcv5KV1mJjckkijaeNvuTevx-7fJEonez3fVNp-JM8AtzoOIf5xx5eZhhFKSRsJiIS1wA1ACP4ObfJX4wWEVhVXwBeuO52d6T5a4OyYIzOEXVzwgznmgmVBgukqzt1yDd3BQkYI3Ix0ULJEquvxG24wGC1yVw=w400-h266" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ruby-crowned Kinglet (I think?)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></div><p><br /></p><br /></div></div>Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-48695209026688541872018-12-30T21:10:00.000+00:002019-01-08T21:34:19.374+00:0016th, 19th & 20th December 2018 - Yucatan Peninsula, MexicoFor a break before Christmas, I found a cheap flight and headed to Mexico for the first time. I planned a small itinerary travelling around the Yucatan Peninsula, with a couple of days allocated to birding. My first full day was spent on a boat tour of a small part of the Sian Ka'an reserve, south of Tulum, on the east coast of the peninsula. As would be expected, there were many water birds, with <b>Little Blue Heron</b>, <b>Osprey</b> and <b>Magnificent Frigatebird </b>amongst them. The first lifer of the trip for me was the lovely <b>Couch's Kingbird</b> - similar to the Tropical Kingbird, it was once classed as a subspecies of the latter.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3E9Vfn6j_6nB0k3LXbGST27-CiHQbGGu-LP8SUtuzR_-zFfNAvDoEFyBqDmT9dfBalD8wvcdVedPANttQgkhMxJGfcdH8PcJ7Me0ybmqp1YvecSHH8U_LStXv5NvISrgfIv9kminwSay/s1600/IMG_6524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEga3E9Vfn6j_6nB0k3LXbGST27-CiHQbGGu-LP8SUtuzR_-zFfNAvDoEFyBqDmT9dfBalD8wvcdVedPANttQgkhMxJGfcdH8PcJ7Me0ybmqp1YvecSHH8U_LStXv5NvISrgfIv9kminwSay/s400/IMG_6524.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Black Hawk</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4u6OA8qTqTeIhbaYyw4JSV7EVRGaiOu347RROVzrCvUyQQ4ChjyTGHt2UguO5Kz1LOj1scxHfoa0rG1-sO6BBea7wqS0ez52ArlDFkBhiXs6j44mOInrhCS0BrizJ733K3pZbte9nARe-/s1600/IMG_6534.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4u6OA8qTqTeIhbaYyw4JSV7EVRGaiOu347RROVzrCvUyQQ4ChjyTGHt2UguO5Kz1LOj1scxHfoa0rG1-sO6BBea7wqS0ez52ArlDFkBhiXs6j44mOInrhCS0BrizJ733K3pZbte9nARe-/s400/IMG_6534.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful view with a Great Egret</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMzxmnnr1ol8pV8yNgUKZyJpgGdwHDD_Pqonbp94P9tR9sq43y0WketTixkjrUm-BcG__CMOQndfERNNRVuk6zwpl1VX3BnvkSoJiqRL7VkqaCua2RibWJ0K5PdEz7EqxTgwkG4d_d-69/s1600/IMG_6557.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQMzxmnnr1ol8pV8yNgUKZyJpgGdwHDD_Pqonbp94P9tR9sq43y0WketTixkjrUm-BcG__CMOQndfERNNRVuk6zwpl1VX3BnvkSoJiqRL7VkqaCua2RibWJ0K5PdEz7EqxTgwkG4d_d-69/s400/IMG_6557.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">CROC!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Z4VYs4hyphenhyphend9qcMLHUJdnUSVakDImXVAo1gkB5hyXcTX-oGto5rCo5Z3nrqlvbDVtBo54tBr1qs6mqJdZB0QxalDafKb1_E3p87GWE_Xxa47qfRJU7saQjdioWPIe3m9dF70Sm_Oz1jwDA/s1600/IMG_6578.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Z4VYs4hyphenhyphend9qcMLHUJdnUSVakDImXVAo1gkB5hyXcTX-oGto5rCo5Z3nrqlvbDVtBo54tBr1qs6mqJdZB0QxalDafKb1_E3p87GWE_Xxa47qfRJU7saQjdioWPIe3m9dF70Sm_Oz1jwDA/s400/IMG_6578.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Osprey</td></tr>
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5 buses and 2 days of sightseeing later, I arrived at Rio Lagartos, where I was to spend a delightful 24 hours. The first thing to do (after a couple of beers, a huge plate of ceviche and a lifer in the form of <b>Mexican Sheartail</b>) was to get out in the boat for the afternoon, where we saw a lot of the same species as my boat trip at Sian Ka'an, but it's always a delight to see birds no matter how recently you've last seen them! Notable additions were <b>Willet</b> and <b>Royal Tern</b>, as well as a lone <b>Reddish Egret</b>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeHQxpgq19VWVF-tHVzrmtSecjCAZ3HvPL8D2tElllF-x8Egahyphenhyphen0HwhKxPju6AjoGxa0Dzkvh_HnVCgFKPFq1QZsSuQCKbPf4JlTR_1LkvBi8A-hL_6WhEb0AqG4dKqYdsyxDmbauaI8E/s1600/IMG_6795.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWeHQxpgq19VWVF-tHVzrmtSecjCAZ3HvPL8D2tElllF-x8Egahyphenhyphen0HwhKxPju6AjoGxa0Dzkvh_HnVCgFKPFq1QZsSuQCKbPf4JlTR_1LkvBi8A-hL_6WhEb0AqG4dKqYdsyxDmbauaI8E/s400/IMG_6795.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mexican Sheartail</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1ISBiTAChjXz7Rn3BH57qNw1MmplIRTdzcoy6p7bvTIDoqnz7ytOTRhOsVCxDymlngn8FqYqOvgr9xTT8Kq-TeipJTkQurEJjZJ-XCB_ZgZzcCvhlj4-Wv6xQW9V8Lh713PbH8QtY16p/s1600/IMG_6826.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF1ISBiTAChjXz7Rn3BH57qNw1MmplIRTdzcoy6p7bvTIDoqnz7ytOTRhOsVCxDymlngn8FqYqOvgr9xTT8Kq-TeipJTkQurEJjZJ-XCB_ZgZzcCvhlj4-Wv6xQW9V8Lh713PbH8QtY16p/s400/IMG_6826.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reddish Egret</td></tr>
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As we were whizzing along the edge of the water I spotted a falcon shaped blob at the top of a tree a little inland and asked if we could go back. As we slowly got closer to the spot I thought I had seen, it, I worried it had already flown but we rounded a bush and there was a gorgeous <b>Laughing </b><b>Falcon</b>, a lifer! </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgby4jI0BR0CQMnXgLwXDy6J_wxx3KfnC8nbrZlS4BM-BiYxfxI8Fs_GcKolIs9dscQzK4adwbzUMtDCSjxbCbSmg8IXwPWomGdDaRKsSeaVUFRBWRh4xkQ_csvCwbcQxDMBltSvESTMRFH/s1600/IMG_6829.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgby4jI0BR0CQMnXgLwXDy6J_wxx3KfnC8nbrZlS4BM-BiYxfxI8Fs_GcKolIs9dscQzK4adwbzUMtDCSjxbCbSmg8IXwPWomGdDaRKsSeaVUFRBWRh4xkQ_csvCwbcQxDMBltSvESTMRFH/s400/IMG_6829.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laughing Falcon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aB21_QMxRri9nX9Wl8bpMD4S73cYoTlaTtoNATpg0FLV9IiSe6u7EozVK7UyqcFCg-67x25Ij_E3TMT2aL4SnsKTZ469HE948LiByQtze7C4NyPV9khJn5cCxC1icYUS-ZKtN6lT2zmq/s1600/IMG_6587.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6aB21_QMxRri9nX9Wl8bpMD4S73cYoTlaTtoNATpg0FLV9IiSe6u7EozVK7UyqcFCg-67x25Ij_E3TMT2aL4SnsKTZ469HE948LiByQtze7C4NyPV9khJn5cCxC1icYUS-ZKtN6lT2zmq/s400/IMG_6587.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-crowned Night-heron</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeQgxepG773pV-SR_AXMq3CYPVnyr8B11RW8LFLzoqn9a4wxWUUd1fyx8bkWfcEF1w5IaE80b6vn0CDhgLQrTLM9-0RvPETV-JcLkO4vROJPfj0otFBr-k8SrAh7s8jQPgNfXp9BEV9J7/s1600/IMG_6602.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXeQgxepG773pV-SR_AXMq3CYPVnyr8B11RW8LFLzoqn9a4wxWUUd1fyx8bkWfcEF1w5IaE80b6vn0CDhgLQrTLM9-0RvPETV-JcLkO4vROJPfj0otFBr-k8SrAh7s8jQPgNfXp9BEV9J7/s400/IMG_6602.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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A little further into the area, we stopped at a small jetty and had a wander into the mangroves. I spotted a Coati (a first for me) and a few smaller birds - <b>Hooded Warbler</b> and <b>American Redstart</b>. A Morelet's Crocodile lazed next to the boardwalk and I saw my first <b>Yucatan Woodpecker</b>, although it was rather far away! As we got back into the boat a <b>Boat-billed Heron</b> took flight from just metres away. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOjz9pJJ6TyAENmoVA9J95Au6Koih_FMlm6KZJUBbyrD1FR4e1aELmn_35PyeSIQirg_z5j7VTgBeYrgArk_rGoYkyKbsY-1VWvnuJ3AQnmGHU92m1QFgwxY99L12fzkGjNxhDNVbaRCe/s1600/IMG_6838.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWOjz9pJJ6TyAENmoVA9J95Au6Koih_FMlm6KZJUBbyrD1FR4e1aELmn_35PyeSIQirg_z5j7VTgBeYrgArk_rGoYkyKbsY-1VWvnuJ3AQnmGHU92m1QFgwxY99L12fzkGjNxhDNVbaRCe/s400/IMG_6838.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSU6-g6ih1d6VtP5eAR1yclOKcvPj8nQ4U_t_5pGvi96fawaebBHEfviW9w7WD4iL1fiyS0l_mG8Zn5DcxMhc7tH2Dd-dGHdtBUDnJJ2eWEsNW8SbHw1EwDrVXNRQY5auHeF0IB57qyNSt/s1600/IMG_6803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSU6-g6ih1d6VtP5eAR1yclOKcvPj8nQ4U_t_5pGvi96fawaebBHEfviW9w7WD4iL1fiyS0l_mG8Zn5DcxMhc7tH2Dd-dGHdtBUDnJJ2eWEsNW8SbHw1EwDrVXNRQY5auHeF0IB57qyNSt/s400/IMG_6803.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Flamingo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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A point of interest came up during the afternoon boat trip when the Yucatan Nightjar was mentioned in passing - having no access to a car meant I had written off seeing this endemic. I was informed it was regularly seen around the reserve at night, so the second I hopped off the boat, I signed up for the night boat tour. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgniE_ukeVO4K-s8LcCW3O9smr64Hs2tC1IMqmY3TlfJzU1BuHTpHHqIqtUL7gh96AWXJcP-038K_RIuQANMuqU_ROFB1LIM0yWYKjqJ9eppBoXXVarfBM5FJW4rn-KPTxn4_VzVE5VkUB6/s1600/IMG_6633.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgniE_ukeVO4K-s8LcCW3O9smr64Hs2tC1IMqmY3TlfJzU1BuHTpHHqIqtUL7gh96AWXJcP-038K_RIuQANMuqU_ROFB1LIM0yWYKjqJ9eppBoXXVarfBM5FJW4rn-KPTxn4_VzVE5VkUB6/s400/IMG_6633.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghG4WW5VRjXaf3j3N1FTIBqH7Ssf0BrOTT6ArIhximVK6badKA7tkKPh6DwVKRUoAQAcFtefPgBq53pHD6xDQJiifkrFWFKEUkEi81amdTHc4FIUgC7hdojBitkzHyrOI69SEWGoiIG0ZW/s1600/IMG_6651.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghG4WW5VRjXaf3j3N1FTIBqH7Ssf0BrOTT6ArIhximVK6badKA7tkKPh6DwVKRUoAQAcFtefPgBq53pHD6xDQJiifkrFWFKEUkEi81amdTHc4FIUgC7hdojBitkzHyrOI69SEWGoiIG0ZW/s400/IMG_6651.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Osprey</td></tr>
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Over beers and quesadillas that evening, I got chatting with a delightful Californian couple who run an organic farm and two friends from Denmark, who sounded like they were having the trip of a lifetime after a semester of study in the USA. I managed to persuade them all that a nighttime boat trip was exactly what they needed in their lives and after stocking up on more beers in an ice box we headed out on the water.<br />
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The two main aims were the nightjar for me and crocs for everyone else. Within minutes we came across a <b>Yucatan Nightjar</b> and throughout the next couple of hours we probably saw around 10 and were able to get remarkable views (obviously not translated in my photos, because I am an abysmal photographer). A few distant glimpses of crocodiles were seen (the slightly more aggressive American Crocodile this time), but it took until the last hour to get close enough to see any detail beyond the glare of their eyes in the torchlight. A family of Racoons foraging, a pair of <b>Black Skimmer</b> and a <b>Bare-throated Tiger-Heron</b> completed the list as we raced back to shore.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDSC_1ZcoTMgDhUS8DlpfJgmYXfbOqTBZWwvnkVeJNEd_CxOAx0XPEACV-PKJ0MkmUO0GMiSriuohWjtk5NCUFUfbZrPkC0d9JwHdmBp404tuFN0RzUem9nVWvezGUkIiv5lY0C2nz2NHL/s1600/IMG_6852.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDSC_1ZcoTMgDhUS8DlpfJgmYXfbOqTBZWwvnkVeJNEd_CxOAx0XPEACV-PKJ0MkmUO0GMiSriuohWjtk5NCUFUfbZrPkC0d9JwHdmBp404tuFN0RzUem9nVWvezGUkIiv5lY0C2nz2NHL/s400/IMG_6852.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yucatan Nightjar</td></tr>
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It was up bright and early the next morning for a delicious breakfast and to have a wander around on land. Almost straight away there was a lifer in <b>Zenaida Dove</b>, followed by the stunning <b>Yucatan Jay</b> (was too in awe to get a photo, but google it!) and <b>Yucatan Wren</b> in close succession. Lots of smaller birds were around, with <b>Scrub Euphonia</b> and <b>Canivet's Emerald</b> darting around my head. After adding plenty more to my list, including the most adorable flock of <b>Yucatan Bobwhite</b>, it was time to hop on another couple of buses to get to Cancun in time for my ridiculous dinner of 20 courses...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowKdjwJpjpsvBosHf3VlY74MNUgUmytKQcCnhpP9lLc_e5xXREDBOKT_RvjZRimwFJQo1uT3WHAb1wHtcpnBlndxF2o_SpvuHT-HMjrdSgWacOSLinI30iE6mJWHo0OziYbFQAGiX8y7f/s1600/IMG_6907.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1201" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjowKdjwJpjpsvBosHf3VlY74MNUgUmytKQcCnhpP9lLc_e5xXREDBOKT_RvjZRimwFJQo1uT3WHAb1wHtcpnBlndxF2o_SpvuHT-HMjrdSgWacOSLinI30iE6mJWHo0OziYbFQAGiX8y7f/s400/IMG_6907.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yucatan Wren</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlVcrq3lzehVh0g9jDpTvGclZ_PHX60P_zmH1uvA8PFSJPB4ffUDlmpNLPYn-ZMMPvh_79Yb59EmZO3-SVqBHtMhCqWO-7ffkiIeOzEj0oppNe8Im6ms4YcdkSvsHxnNip8DOYIXIxbyy/s1600/IMG_6634.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrlVcrq3lzehVh0g9jDpTvGclZ_PHX60P_zmH1uvA8PFSJPB4ffUDlmpNLPYn-ZMMPvh_79Yb59EmZO3-SVqBHtMhCqWO-7ffkiIeOzEj0oppNe8Im6ms4YcdkSvsHxnNip8DOYIXIxbyy/s400/IMG_6634.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifT4hHfZmAjc5Kp58oUooV_BiFiGjWorEdBi6lnGWb5ML4VojcPQqFsilLfuezSngvQ3O5dIlzYDJhZVDD_Ef4ivNTC0OFbJh4dvuKd8MmfxiOKqJFfh2XQOK7B8bVj5p9N5kWOaOqkDSO/s1600/IMG_6692.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifT4hHfZmAjc5Kp58oUooV_BiFiGjWorEdBi6lnGWb5ML4VojcPQqFsilLfuezSngvQ3O5dIlzYDJhZVDD_Ef4ivNTC0OFbJh4dvuKd8MmfxiOKqJFfh2XQOK7B8bVj5p9N5kWOaOqkDSO/s400/IMG_6692.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com1Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico18.806656 -89.39852830000000911.129294000000002 -99.7256768 26.484018 -79.071379800000017tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-29766737514032681842018-09-28T21:30:00.000+01:002019-01-08T21:32:13.804+00:0021st to 23rd September - EstoniaWith work, uni and illness, I've pretty much given up on UK birding and am just going to stick to world birding! A weekend in Estonia helped with that, adding a small number of cool species including Capercaillie (FINALLY) to my life list, as well as the actual target of the weekend, Brown Bear. Massive thanks to Oliver Simms for letting me tag along and for doing the driving! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwWCLb9kKVCVr_lz_-M5klGbj4yOMci0vIZJrPktBt2hs4KfBPEtASmU4ZIikv-pL6gXtPPBRvoT0mBSmyCo-xQblfzIOtsohnU0KY89jWXHKPIesroF7VON9UbWuNTNqw_PUBrjF1uOd/s1600/IMG_6164+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLwWCLb9kKVCVr_lz_-M5klGbj4yOMci0vIZJrPktBt2hs4KfBPEtASmU4ZIikv-pL6gXtPPBRvoT0mBSmyCo-xQblfzIOtsohnU0KY89jWXHKPIesroF7VON9UbWuNTNqw_PUBrjF1uOd/s400/IMG_6164+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wheatear</td></tr>
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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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdo8T5Ov5HizD9s5_3sODbffGG9xD4UYWgNv2Q_cToHFoPg1gF1KNkTSnNTrxPumqGHdbzVXqbHS-snrFJfigEyFeS0drKGIRp-ZbQoKoMuGir1aCgZg1HWd7PuijGZuqItUhrJBpLW5j/s1600/IMG_6168+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOdo8T5Ov5HizD9s5_3sODbffGG9xD4UYWgNv2Q_cToHFoPg1gF1KNkTSnNTrxPumqGHdbzVXqbHS-snrFJfigEyFeS0drKGIRp-ZbQoKoMuGir1aCgZg1HWd7PuijGZuqItUhrJBpLW5j/s400/IMG_6168+%25282%2529.JPG" width="266" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful sea</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpJGAiPcwf5zLyNlCLBvRiYYLxbBKQVWo3r-YZT2N_EpgTL-JrJCKsn_qkeox3447XzktxPRubrFR1xA4dZtYIt93-amsjy-YMjYll7_3WyMPXxGmVfQ_GGuO08_OfDd-uTZiKdekerVV/s1600/IMG_6193+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigpJGAiPcwf5zLyNlCLBvRiYYLxbBKQVWo3r-YZT2N_EpgTL-JrJCKsn_qkeox3447XzktxPRubrFR1xA4dZtYIt93-amsjy-YMjYll7_3WyMPXxGmVfQ_GGuO08_OfDd-uTZiKdekerVV/s400/IMG_6193+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I must have taken 20 photos of this bloody Nuthatch and this was still only the best I could manage. Sigh. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbEF_Jfdz3Gx3MU8LhH1rqq6SdXBAsOtpllnpKuqS90Evx9UhY1pYY3OyRiaaB2SAIwXkADOr4bgLc7FOr0DPU_rZNS-wIcbLmyZm8W320FHKcPNpN-ebmro7VLCCfrXrx0apgMUhtgww/s1600/IMG_6239+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbEF_Jfdz3Gx3MU8LhH1rqq6SdXBAsOtpllnpKuqS90Evx9UhY1pYY3OyRiaaB2SAIwXkADOr4bgLc7FOr0DPU_rZNS-wIcbLmyZm8W320FHKcPNpN-ebmro7VLCCfrXrx0apgMUhtgww/s400/IMG_6239+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">RACCOON DOG</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTmDHe5QvxsBEXyvOWuK1BUzVTRtnST5FwXmV09to_rt05N0ioWVAhuZ51bpozVHUTM9X3AG-TpnAzH-mYGdp2oScGbTYH1p5qFYQ-12pA0u83eUnerEQEX7KuqU5_87VGXsiYuDOEm1g/s1600/IMG_6253+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsTmDHe5QvxsBEXyvOWuK1BUzVTRtnST5FwXmV09to_rt05N0ioWVAhuZ51bpozVHUTM9X3AG-TpnAzH-mYGdp2oScGbTYH1p5qFYQ-12pA0u83eUnerEQEX7KuqU5_87VGXsiYuDOEm1g/s400/IMG_6253+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey-headed Woodpecker</td></tr>
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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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzeafa_n2cZUGfnQW471y1AQCnMoXEHzyCoBP2ygwawmF-WnAyWAW9gl7slBz_WjCNEIHeDTRrNGL2QZ2gVzO8FQ6Pj_lw1PwZ-rd_Ys4YQQyRUVPyA-c-CAxuTTdPSP244vvbgOluCY0/s1600/IMG_6262+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzeafa_n2cZUGfnQW471y1AQCnMoXEHzyCoBP2ygwawmF-WnAyWAW9gl7slBz_WjCNEIHeDTRrNGL2QZ2gVzO8FQ6Pj_lw1PwZ-rd_Ys4YQQyRUVPyA-c-CAxuTTdPSP244vvbgOluCY0/s400/IMG_6262+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jay</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And now for what you've all been waiting for - the worst ever photos of a bear, tahdah! <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXt2UsiQju7407CjZEWfaSJHnSCZa_9R3DATo6UvCAOEBWF0mQv6U7Kspom82XGH7WYmHKWawqlMaN4dW6Y3k9IVgrtgSNX_V9XFWsSgRbqxnwA4QgIQnB2AOULv7NmfgiL1ByucstN0U/s1600/IMG_6305+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXt2UsiQju7407CjZEWfaSJHnSCZa_9R3DATo6UvCAOEBWF0mQv6U7Kspom82XGH7WYmHKWawqlMaN4dW6Y3k9IVgrtgSNX_V9XFWsSgRbqxnwA4QgIQnB2AOULv7NmfgiL1ByucstN0U/s400/IMG_6305+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bear blob</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAuDeEvBkxXT9JRIoLrhoGTH4gpvJrTNo1BKPg8hw5t9x46OnrdR_AaWC-CzT36uPfiKCrLjyBfinb25YZUMvuM-cRpPPEfsQamHwW_eZ9fDIrfK3nzyQ1qcc2Bgstf1qnnX0sU4wTRiR/s1600/IMG_6313+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUAuDeEvBkxXT9JRIoLrhoGTH4gpvJrTNo1BKPg8hw5t9x46OnrdR_AaWC-CzT36uPfiKCrLjyBfinb25YZUMvuM-cRpPPEfsQamHwW_eZ9fDIrfK3nzyQ1qcc2Bgstf1qnnX0sU4wTRiR/s400/IMG_6313+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bear blob 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr49QXG4hjVjgm8WO9yNmWGpdIuQLx06NCVZyIowMWy0zQJ0xnO1IbKuIwBSJFnc08Oo9CWEtZxYo7MAS3Kj1RYuEPAL6c6u5mAMOHaCPmhTTC9ff8PrkUWTxiIiPI1WdMMz3qIsmrMLMt/s1600/IMG_6325+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr49QXG4hjVjgm8WO9yNmWGpdIuQLx06NCVZyIowMWy0zQJ0xnO1IbKuIwBSJFnc08Oo9CWEtZxYo7MAS3Kj1RYuEPAL6c6u5mAMOHaCPmhTTC9ff8PrkUWTxiIiPI1WdMMz3qIsmrMLMt/s400/IMG_6325+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caper!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFeLWhadzYj1FnvE_o0SUWRIEAhFp3wyJoSC3emavtFS6dnzzRyxP85CejNYA1L33IHjko21lwW25Z_eBL8nJ0PjnSjAobhnC5YqaBAj_D7V7QimaDHZui7EaYDOVHjgkT47e9X9RHOqi/s1600/IMG_6333+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMFeLWhadzYj1FnvE_o0SUWRIEAhFp3wyJoSC3emavtFS6dnzzRyxP85CejNYA1L33IHjko21lwW25Z_eBL8nJ0PjnSjAobhnC5YqaBAj_D7V7QimaDHZui7EaYDOVHjgkT47e9X9RHOqi/s400/IMG_6333+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lady Caper!</td></tr>
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<br />Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com0Estonia58.595272 25.01360709999994556.477823 19.850033099999944 60.712721 30.177181099999945tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-54883502816743030642018-05-30T13:21:00.000+01:002018-06-10T13:23:35.376+01:0026th May 2018 - DubaiThe trip to Dubai was a relaxing bank holiday break, but I managed to get a half day of birding in with Mark Smiles, who was a great guide. Whilst by the end of the time it was getting a bit too hot for me, I was very happy I went out as I hadn't birded in the Middle East area before and so added 22 lifers to my list.<br />
<br />
Mark picked me up from my hotel at 5am and we drove out of the city towards the south to start looking for birds. We stopped on a piece of land that has seed regularly put out and within minutes we saw my first lifer, the <b>Black-crowned Sparrow-lark</b>. It was followed by a flock of <b>Greater Flamingo</b> rising up above the treeline and a lone <b>Cream-coloured Courser</b> doing its funny run across the sand. Back on the main road and we saw <b>White-eared Bulbul</b>, <b>Brown-necked Raven</b>, the noisy <b>Red-wattled Lapwing</b> and skittish <b>Grey Francolin</b> at the side, all lifers for me!<br />
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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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtqoGy6xzt09mSOk2SvL3OSLwW6EGxg85E-Cm5-kwfTO9ItuEdsI-dauLCKNnPoXeLUeuFlEF8H_LkqXMJi5Ao_JH69s47qvcUDJJwwbo9fZd1f0MC_ri8PMizSGQaLfQRRn-QFGgNtri/s1600/IMG_5749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqtqoGy6xzt09mSOk2SvL3OSLwW6EGxg85E-Cm5-kwfTO9ItuEdsI-dauLCKNnPoXeLUeuFlEF8H_LkqXMJi5Ao_JH69s47qvcUDJJwwbo9fZd1f0MC_ri8PMizSGQaLfQRRn-QFGgNtri/s400/IMG_5749.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cream-coloured Courser</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We then drove off the road in search of <b>Greater</b> <b>Hoopoe-lark</b> and luckily Mark's sharp eyes managed to find one hopping around amongst the low shrubs. The next stop was a walk to a small lake, where I added <b>Clamorous Reed Warbler</b> and <b>Purple Sunbird</b> (such an awesome little bird) to my quickly expanding life list.<br />
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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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0U71tHvrxcaa7EztRmjlniZJtPOH_5NKzWx6lW_gqvv_8f4zqTiP-pZiUeazoyqU3Ayb-0VdK7AKiN3X_ch8ueGqI3374iAyIuuSSEVA8I_z7YxDKvG7xWCmnFc16vFEbftdz3VZFTsnb/s1600/IMG_5752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0U71tHvrxcaa7EztRmjlniZJtPOH_5NKzWx6lW_gqvv_8f4zqTiP-pZiUeazoyqU3Ayb-0VdK7AKiN3X_ch8ueGqI3374iAyIuuSSEVA8I_z7YxDKvG7xWCmnFc16vFEbftdz3VZFTsnb/s400/IMG_5752.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greater Hoopoe-lark</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaunvwD6UaGqAzn3bLxAOw9xbzHJwqmW54RYQsRECZfhcRF7R3MZrXiRZOQY5WfVgpP2Wt-8QTN1RxkOfE5ytucANJF2rrtDMLasNbr0ZpbY2W6Pi7ZR73-dYGaMq4IZ-8Zp4KSh4hd0Yn/s400/IMG_5765.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Wagtail</td></tr>
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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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoVNhhjqPURiOKnkkZR3yckc3ljoAaW00RahbDgM1nC2etkJhchPEFMEtJqqePZFCsCzlOJoP06SPLcGvBZtwhySUl85Bo-S__g3TuCXNGrnHAoKhCZ7FoVroFU99JaehnYrN2pdF5q5t/s1600/IMG_5775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAoVNhhjqPURiOKnkkZR3yckc3ljoAaW00RahbDgM1nC2etkJhchPEFMEtJqqePZFCsCzlOJoP06SPLcGvBZtwhySUl85Bo-S__g3TuCXNGrnHAoKhCZ7FoVroFU99JaehnYrN2pdF5q5t/s400/IMG_5775.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple Sunbird</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Waders were the target then, with <b>Kentish Plover</b> and <b>Black-winged Stilt</b> being seen in large numbers, with <b>White-tailed Lapwing</b> a lifer. It was starting to get a little too hot for me at this point, but a <b>Streaked Weaver</b> and<b> Green Bee-eater</b> cheered me right up!<br />
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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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCDHCtKow4pKWmY6ofZtSUzOYK9APcgSJxBdAPn7FPowTp3Cw5jPB0fIrTBqc_8A7MLiLa43wEEBN6JJJPlQgu2u1ppq8V4j940vBnc3gzYaOPWvDDGuy0sLmXfd-DJfQw8OtGHievt59/s1600/IMG_5771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiCDHCtKow4pKWmY6ofZtSUzOYK9APcgSJxBdAPn7FPowTp3Cw5jPB0fIrTBqc_8A7MLiLa43wEEBN6JJJPlQgu2u1ppq8V4j940vBnc3gzYaOPWvDDGuy0sLmXfd-DJfQw8OtGHievt59/s400/IMG_5771.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-winged Stilt and White-tailed Lapwing</td></tr>
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One last quick stop at the Ras Al Khor Sanctuary provided amazing views of <b>Striated Heron</b> and <b>Western Reef Heron</b> and was an excellent finish to the birding. <br />
<br />
Trip list: 62<br />
World list: 946<br />
Lifers this year: 24<br />
<br />
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFO48SN1T7FbcTZXOVpRClB0yDz_Ao_l7PXmaJNtKqSCXCazYzU0OcpQyjcbqM483BerdoPP1UKERALH5Rf1OKb1p5uuD0LuIzxwWhckr4uKvHoeFsAWYoHXftsqsFSfxy__IeNZTyIQR/s1600/IMG_5754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjFO48SN1T7FbcTZXOVpRClB0yDz_Ao_l7PXmaJNtKqSCXCazYzU0OcpQyjcbqM483BerdoPP1UKERALH5Rf1OKb1p5uuD0LuIzxwWhckr4uKvHoeFsAWYoHXftsqsFSfxy__IeNZTyIQR/s400/IMG_5754.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arabian Oryx</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0j_7yOIeQ64X2T-VoSd1lLKnaT50HsHTkEYVQxC-EksXXhcJK-dqenw5s2_vHABhaOYlij6Hz_GQPi-_vSlpSnbl4FaxPrfgYqWH1MaDuxV2WIw9HV55UE8hV6nxzKULL_M1C2n8rhyF/s1600/IMG_5760.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA0j_7yOIeQ64X2T-VoSd1lLKnaT50HsHTkEYVQxC-EksXXhcJK-dqenw5s2_vHABhaOYlij6Hz_GQPi-_vSlpSnbl4FaxPrfgYqWH1MaDuxV2WIw9HV55UE8hV6nxzKULL_M1C2n8rhyF/s400/IMG_5760.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Graceful Prinia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaunvwD6UaGqAzn3bLxAOw9xbzHJwqmW54RYQsRECZfhcRF7R3MZrXiRZOQY5WfVgpP2Wt-8QTN1RxkOfE5ytucANJF2rrtDMLasNbr0ZpbY2W6Pi7ZR73-dYGaMq4IZ-8Zp4KSh4hd0Yn/s1600/IMG_5765.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil491Hs-chOD2A6dUNx6gSMr0ww_dXSviVuigYNla1j3PBAP_JE80VoDEEj5-cpz4SrCZJguyiKFhZqboHzjMB2PtFQLEfpSZMtKIY9Fy_3siyak0M1Wo3U3jnjhTIoQlktRiTEegsPU0e/s1600/IMG_5786.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil491Hs-chOD2A6dUNx6gSMr0ww_dXSviVuigYNla1j3PBAP_JE80VoDEEj5-cpz4SrCZJguyiKFhZqboHzjMB2PtFQLEfpSZMtKIY9Fy_3siyak0M1Wo3U3jnjhTIoQlktRiTEegsPU0e/s400/IMG_5786.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House Sparrow and White-earred Bulbul</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMMirYerAcEWwpSklHvPp2G8xes-YlS5l_oNF2EdGsntQGirDRg7jAI32v2Bz7x5WXHocUVRNhwO78rGQbC-x908JbUe6KO_-3OuWRxUe85I4CU7kCrS-ur1_uA49LvZIgNI3wGPzpvMw/s1600/IMG_5811.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKMMirYerAcEWwpSklHvPp2G8xes-YlS5l_oNF2EdGsntQGirDRg7jAI32v2Bz7x5WXHocUVRNhwO78rGQbC-x908JbUe6KO_-3OuWRxUe85I4CU7kCrS-ur1_uA49LvZIgNI3wGPzpvMw/s400/IMG_5811.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">These guys are from a night walk the following night</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;">These guys are from a night walk the following night<br /></td></tr>
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Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com0Dubai - United Arab Emirates25.2048493 55.27078280000000624.2844238 53.9798893 26.1252748 56.561676300000009tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-25212601401101091542018-05-08T18:24:00.000+01:002018-06-10T13:23:35.333+01:003rd & 6th May 2018 - MarylandI've been a bit lacking in the birding department this year, constant flare-ups of the illness put a stop to it temporarily. I did manage to drag my boyfriend out for a birding walk when I was in the States though (apologies to him!) and it was such a delight to see birds again. As you'll know if you've read my blog before, I'm terrible at IDing things - I may need to make a birdforum post for assistance... However, I did get a definite lifer, a beautiful Eastern Bluebird.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLx9RoJ9aCGqzovsAXaKuNn7BYT142FoApVtovYi6yF0z6X1u0VFWZtL3os3542dnwXDHjkrMDEADIDdr7jf1E7FXZ-3Ro2rqh2EbIJEHkOlE2zbkwiy-z0hrI3eitZvf-VNF51EKg5Sq/s1600/IMG_5628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMLx9RoJ9aCGqzovsAXaKuNn7BYT142FoApVtovYi6yF0z6X1u0VFWZtL3os3542dnwXDHjkrMDEADIDdr7jf1E7FXZ-3Ro2rqh2EbIJEHkOlE2zbkwiy-z0hrI3eitZvf-VNF51EKg5Sq/s400/IMG_5628.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I feel like I should definitely know what this is...but I don't. Help?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-capped Chickadee</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5RMGf_TwSK4sbDp63rQarb4kZQJaTrIt8OPSMdv3FE9PBBI2iEq831Z856Ag7izasF5KIJLtmN7kuFnAgtP7Ax90ITfuAGmyjQrc3HgWs3b2G8Nx93k0fX433yMT0njhxtEJRzW0213L/s1600/IMG_5724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ5RMGf_TwSK4sbDp63rQarb4kZQJaTrIt8OPSMdv3FE9PBBI2iEq831Z856Ag7izasF5KIJLtmN7kuFnAgtP7Ax90ITfuAGmyjQrc3HgWs3b2G8Nx93k0fX433yMT0njhxtEJRzW0213L/s400/IMG_5724.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Rough-winged Swallow (?)</td></tr>
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Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com1Mountain Lake Park, MD 21550, USA39.3984308 -79.38171069999998539.3493553 -79.462391699999984 39.4475063 -79.301029699999987tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-52551119429504990902018-04-30T13:03:00.000+01:002018-06-10T13:23:35.355+01:002017 RecapHow on *earth* did I get through an entire year without posting a blog post?! I saw some pretty cool birds (and other animals!) so I'm not very impressed with myself. I shall try to do better this year.<br />
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A quick run down of the birds of 2017 then...<br />
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UK birding wasn't really paid attention to too much, but I did get to see my first <b>White-winged Black Tern</b>, which was awesome.<br />
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The main trip of the year was to Honduras and the second I left I wanted to go back. Part of the trip was at the gorgeous Pico Bonito which I can highly recommend for a relaxing bird watching base. We had two superb guides, Elmer and Esdras, both great guys with amazing bird knowledge. Here's basically a photo dump from the trip.<br />
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I did a bit of birding in Central Park on my first trip to New York on an organised bird walk. Great fun!<br />
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August was the time of the other big trip of the year - not a birding one but obviously some took place! A couple of days in Singapore produced some very cool birds, birding in Australia for the first time was amazing (and I found an echidna!) and on the way home a stop off in the Maldives produced tropicbirds, a resident heron and a couple of waders.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Echidna!</td></tr>
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Towards the end of the year was the annual trip to Las Vegas and I especially enjoyed my walk around the Springs Preserve. I thought I'd left plenty of time to visit but it was so interesting that I ended up not having enough time - will allocate a lot more time this year!Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-44293109639864600052017-01-01T20:21:00.000+00:002017-02-17T15:12:28.135+00:0027th to 31st December 2016 - Madeira<span style="font-family: inherit;">There were a couple of other days out birding and a trip to Gran Canaria before the end of the year but none of these produced much so I've skipped them in favour of a great trip had between Christmas and New Year to Madeira. It was the first time we'd been to the island and it was even better than I had hoped. We got a cheap last minute deal through BA Holidays, leaving on Boxing Day and coming back on NYE.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Madeira Firecrest (if you think this photo is bad then be happy <br />
I didn't subject you to the one of the Trocaz Pigeon)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chaffinch</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">We relaxed in our hotel for the afternoon of Boxing Day and then headed out for our first experience of the birding on the 27th to Ribeiro Frio. This was to prove ridiculously fruitful as we saw the 2 endemic species we had been hoping for within about 15 minutes of arriving. Nice! The </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Madeiran Firecrest</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> were flitting around in the trees on the path up to the viewpoint and at times came very close (but being me, I didn't get any decent photos. Of course). Next, we scanned the forest down below the viewpoint and saw numerous </span><b style="font-family: inherit;">Trocaz Pigeon</b><span style="font-family: inherit;"> flying around, eventually managing to get the scope on a perched one, which we watched for a good while. After this successful first day we rather eased off on the birding, exploring the rest of the island and the Madeira wine lodges instead! <br /></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speckled Wood (Madeiran or not?)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kestrel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monarch</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">A visit to the lava tunnels added <b>Sparrowhawk</b> (a species we've since heard is fairly uncommon on Madeira?) and <b>Whimbrel</b> to the list and a quick trip to Ponta do Pargo before we left saw <b>Bertholet's Pipit</b>, <b>Spectacled Warbler</b> and <b>White Wagtail</b> added to the list, among others. A very relaxing yet productive birding holiday we felt!<br /></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtzpBfcEI-wCIjQCEG6p5ivzb-_BhCVFWv1RXRm__RuMGfmzatkxGDGov9vFe8E0-UC3dz6tnVJqirfUQEq9S-2_13aGQEr9HYOuIy2TP6qgQbVTDzQCfEZWQzk9a-4debr4FhPQFkjK-/s1600/IMG_2914+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWtzpBfcEI-wCIjQCEG6p5ivzb-_BhCVFWv1RXRm__RuMGfmzatkxGDGov9vFe8E0-UC3dz6tnVJqirfUQEq9S-2_13aGQEr9HYOuIy2TP6qgQbVTDzQCfEZWQzk9a-4debr4FhPQFkjK-/s400/IMG_2914+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blackcap</td></tr>
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Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com0Madeira, Portugal32.760707400000008 -16.95947230000001629.299028400000008 -22.123046300000016 36.222386400000005 -11.795898300000015tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-1846300595239298332016-11-20T19:30:00.000+00:002017-02-16T19:45:35.934+00:0018th November 2016 - Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, Las VegasI was in Las Vegas for work for a week and wanted to get some birding in. I had arranged a trip to the Preserve early in the week but was, unfortunately, unable to attend, so the only other time I had was 2 hours on the Friday morning to pop over and have a wander around.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-crowned Sparrow</td></tr>
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The second I got out of the taxi I was in a happy place! The Preserve is beautiful, the people there very helpful and there are so many birds! I failed miserably in the first instance though - I had completely forgotten to charge my camera and despite trying to learn the birds I might see before I went to the US, 70% of the birds I was seeing I couldn't ID and I only had a small amount of battery to take photos of said birds. Doh!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMusG6DbWNO2rPPJmw0wad97X2vnqiTZk1fL24SK4Nj06PAKX8os5_AEc0ob0Kk5Tjfa6HFUZDdqkLWu-93zFIr00JckHAH8UMke4sfAlkU2FKvZI7-cc7Ep9BSJgQd7W8BtyqyKH7Mny/s1600/IMG_2740.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHMusG6DbWNO2rPPJmw0wad97X2vnqiTZk1fL24SK4Nj06PAKX8os5_AEc0ob0Kk5Tjfa6HFUZDdqkLWu-93zFIr00JckHAH8UMke4sfAlkU2FKvZI7-cc7Ep9BSJgQd7W8BtyqyKH7Mny/s400/IMG_2740.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Bufflehead!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The first bird I saw was actually one I could ID - a <b>Verdin</b>. Super pretty (and tiny!) bird and the only one of my visit. There were lots and lots of <b>Yellow-rumped Warbler</b>, a bird I luckily already knew from my trips to Florida. I had been hoping to see <b>Gambel's Quail</b> and there were plenty around, very quirky little characters. A <b>Northern Harrier</b> spent most of the time I was there seemingly following me around and over that period of time it had a kerfuffle with both a smaller falcon type bird and a larger raptor, neither of which I could ID.<br />
<br />
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA33JAjpm7zdDjCsdZMa4KmsV_ViPHpgrFJ4l3UnPdNq78Xe8s3zgHmw5UnYbZ8Uzun8EqMv_wrpBapowDCmHM6Q3lSlhbeRl2W5IO6jAHIdf7OpKtY4GhiJO7sORhAJRVhF6el47N4NPX/s1600/IMG_2751+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhA33JAjpm7zdDjCsdZMa4KmsV_ViPHpgrFJ4l3UnPdNq78Xe8s3zgHmw5UnYbZ8Uzun8EqMv_wrpBapowDCmHM6Q3lSlhbeRl2W5IO6jAHIdf7OpKtY4GhiJO7sORhAJRVhF6el47N4NPX/s400/IMG_2751+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Flicker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
A few of the other birds had stuck in my mind as they were a bit more obvious - so I instantly recognised the <b>White-crowned Sparrow</b> as it hopped around on the ground near me, a <b>White-faced Ibis</b> that flew past and the <b>Bufflehead </b>swimming everywhere. The speedy trip was finished with a pair of <b>White Pelican</b> sat in one of the pools. <br />
<br />
I say finished, but whilst out in the car park waiting for my taxi I was suddenly surrounded by the tiny whirring wings of 6 or so hummingbirds (not sure if Anna's or Costa's - probably Anna's?). I was so happy when I got in the taxi I completely bored the poor driver talking about them for the duration of the ride back to the hotel!<br />
<br />
Not at the preserve but a quick bird of note actually in Vegas - two <b>Nighthawk</b> flying down the Strip, which was a bit cool! I wouldn't have had a clue what they were if I hadn't seen my first ones in Florida a month or so before.<br />
<br />
I'll be back in both November of this year and Februrary of next, so I look forward to a few more trips to the Preserve where I can hopefully take a charged camera and also try to ID a few more!<br />
<br />
I've stuck on a few awful photos of the ones I couldn't ID either at all or for sure - if anyone feels like assisting me, that would be excellent, thanks!<br />
<br />
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tXmLPcgfVr9a2cypY2V6DDpi7F0EGasaRTi5ZTJ4wPTGYGlvaas_2y6vxTNarwM7QcFuQ99qTFhjzML3JPvAj64TN8bGWCZWAtT7syzWNeo0KZwVxeF5AlMxSU3DkGS7PU7uegjcBk2E/s1600/IMG_2594+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5tXmLPcgfVr9a2cypY2V6DDpi7F0EGasaRTi5ZTJ4wPTGYGlvaas_2y6vxTNarwM7QcFuQ99qTFhjzML3JPvAj64TN8bGWCZWAtT7syzWNeo0KZwVxeF5AlMxSU3DkGS7PU7uegjcBk2E/s400/IMG_2594+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">House Finch?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFiYDD1C64xxQ1VdRvBpdr2cY38osBaDBkadIzVhkLIWZgUy-g0AxT5RK2X4Epr1RrP8y2LxTmk3AINqeqXR1fjhYHsj68Hj6Hu_bTboFE5vdXVDADdVX0YOQf3CUc78gWP4LVte8LG1o/s1600/IMG_2726+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZFiYDD1C64xxQ1VdRvBpdr2cY38osBaDBkadIzVhkLIWZgUy-g0AxT5RK2X4Epr1RrP8y2LxTmk3AINqeqXR1fjhYHsj68Hj6Hu_bTboFE5vdXVDADdVX0YOQf3CUc78gWP4LVte8LG1o/s400/IMG_2726+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-rumped Warbler?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Kr8SxjX0il071ztfcUVmhrn3ukmsKBhniaCJlIPx6BC_hqSctBuTCTN2JfABZJmxpgr-fg61b9UZNnGUxQvikBitqNhzS8s22XeBMY2VHEMnJuX5BVIUsjCOjxNR1Uipj9JiBNy2zVDw/s1600/IMG_2733+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Kr8SxjX0il071ztfcUVmhrn3ukmsKBhniaCJlIPx6BC_hqSctBuTCTN2JfABZJmxpgr-fg61b9UZNnGUxQvikBitqNhzS8s22XeBMY2VHEMnJuX5BVIUsjCOjxNR1Uipj9JiBNy2zVDw/s400/IMG_2733+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suggestions for this on social media have been both Nashville Warbler and<br />
Orange-crowned Warbler, but no idea how common they'd be around Vegas in November?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tiMnQ4PzRT5KTrdzmnhk4mCZbafCjQpliNNYjQQgzcHkkBDEQ36j6TyI9lpbWS_SY1NjcqWn3PEs2uqnRUaN93gW-fkt8cEjgp2pbR5dEjJyAYAtmjIQ1bry7ixyveRkYBVXBGEUp_EE/s1600/IMG_2744+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-tiMnQ4PzRT5KTrdzmnhk4mCZbafCjQpliNNYjQQgzcHkkBDEQ36j6TyI9lpbWS_SY1NjcqWn3PEs2uqnRUaN93gW-fkt8cEjgp2pbR5dEjJyAYAtmjIQ1bry7ixyveRkYBVXBGEUp_EE/s400/IMG_2744+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some sort of flycatcher? </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FaaLnSnVh2y_3GSQQYruieVlPZyJNOON_CUdlsmHVeBdlwuLgM1_6amnoemhQKCAyHu-BJAJ1UNIqzVFvH6YChJMO9C1SLHs0Zto3e6qraipuygGrcRPRAAN4GXx8JEJ7dSHHcFwY1rv/s1600/IMG_2752+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FaaLnSnVh2y_3GSQQYruieVlPZyJNOON_CUdlsmHVeBdlwuLgM1_6amnoemhQKCAyHu-BJAJ1UNIqzVFvH6YChJMO9C1SLHs0Zto3e6qraipuygGrcRPRAAN4GXx8JEJ7dSHHcFwY1rv/s400/IMG_2752+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This was rustling round in the undergrowth for a long time, quite chunky.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktNoyx_DxceP4PG0ZScYeHINARDYjdalIFEo8fe8rYMRuaO8LWibQiB5OHoQft8HPxpE7_-HlUi3FIX15PEl_0dd-Y5M8AIbW4YbdXC0tkHgdajE-6L6dCn1uLkkQQjnpI5wUpbDrCI4z/s1600/IMG_2746+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjktNoyx_DxceP4PG0ZScYeHINARDYjdalIFEo8fe8rYMRuaO8LWibQiB5OHoQft8HPxpE7_-HlUi3FIX15PEl_0dd-Y5M8AIbW4YbdXC0tkHgdajE-6L6dCn1uLkkQQjnpI5wUpbDrCI4z/s400/IMG_2746+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Also no idea. Some sort of sparrow?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLJEtYAfIFMkxR1QQI5_ZvFr5eVYaMJq6DkpKeTzVMk5b2dVwy95yFv6xzaJ4XV7q8CxgOIXrm8hdAFFZbUXyjhOXgPE_mKIVRdFGi_BsuRDD2O6kMogOnPe-SaYMkqMT0iEeDIxmr14-/s1600/IMG_2754+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJLJEtYAfIFMkxR1QQI5_ZvFr5eVYaMJq6DkpKeTzVMk5b2dVwy95yFv6xzaJ4XV7q8CxgOIXrm8hdAFFZbUXyjhOXgPE_mKIVRdFGi_BsuRDD2O6kMogOnPe-SaYMkqMT0iEeDIxmr14-/s400/IMG_2754+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-rumped Warbler?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBfhtBBc0KGkfeqwWEbkNjAD8m6X73Wr962Wf6WG6EbVnBn9OIhnn60D201I_XUFzDWK53h8KLuqmY9yeIIwYuqYNMXEt-Dw6V2QsA4QGBYnr98PF5OTFQXOOhSS-I4-Rcopg_Ud51mzl/s1600/IMG_2756+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLBfhtBBc0KGkfeqwWEbkNjAD8m6X73Wr962Wf6WG6EbVnBn9OIhnn60D201I_XUFzDWK53h8KLuqmY9yeIIwYuqYNMXEt-Dw6V2QsA4QGBYnr98PF5OTFQXOOhSS-I4-Rcopg_Ud51mzl/s400/IMG_2756+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Say's Phoebe? Was more orange in real life</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com8Henderson Bird Viewing Preserve, 350 East Galleria dr., Henderson, NV 89011, USA36.0786746 -115.0006293999999815.642281099999998 -156.30922339999998 56.5150681 -73.69203539999998tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-32703741826801579052016-11-07T14:24:00.001+00:002016-11-07T14:24:03.560+00:004th to 6th November 2016 - ScotlandOur weekend trip up to Scotland wasn't specifically for birding, but we did manage to fit a couple of little bits in. We started with a trip to a small bit of water in Pitlochry where a Ring-necked Duck apparently was. We saw him before we ever got out of the car, happily bobbing around. We then headed up to Glenshee in yet another futile attempt to see Ptarmigan. Plenty of <b>Red Grouse</b>, but no Ptarmigan to be seen. However, we arrived in the blazing sun and 15 minutes later were engulfed by an incredible blizzard which instantly took the visibility right down - that was pretty interesting! Half an hour later and we were back to blazing sun. Crazy. <br />
<br />
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQQvmD-odQZiXVDEyfLOn6rabraMOEVGsD3fcWspDZ6mjbiPAOKZDRjypC6kTfhem85AmE8h40z5_boY1aTiCj9RLmpumtcFHW3MxgrKH0lZ0KuHMDa7ety2M59djEaP1z2GhKIW0ojWN/s1600/IMG_2462.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheQQvmD-odQZiXVDEyfLOn6rabraMOEVGsD3fcWspDZ6mjbiPAOKZDRjypC6kTfhem85AmE8h40z5_boY1aTiCj9RLmpumtcFHW3MxgrKH0lZ0KuHMDa7ety2M59djEaP1z2GhKIW0ojWN/s400/IMG_2462.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ring-necked Duck</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANcDbSbw2-4y6w37q4j1kYmRFnhzvRbIPHCVAyG7pIc3JE_VDtM4lL_munZmEGSYs8YKOc0enhrI7wWiEZ3v67PYkgCkmCJETiWjJgYA2Bgl48q45ltKtxrFuPUtkHJjDYsJ_brotaeHJ/s1600/IMG_2481.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiANcDbSbw2-4y6w37q4j1kYmRFnhzvRbIPHCVAyG7pIc3JE_VDtM4lL_munZmEGSYs8YKOc0enhrI7wWiEZ3v67PYkgCkmCJETiWjJgYA2Bgl48q45ltKtxrFuPUtkHJjDYsJ_brotaeHJ/s400/IMG_2481.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Glenshee ski centre before blizzard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dnnJbjyVeZ2gucQjXVJAcyBaWG3YFbjIDcwstgdH9jaIvD2ENPWmfyphQ74VDHEXK7SttaETAokWtmsa5ztLbK6myOQdeaN6jFcKEn8QmDSIDx8km2hKXphYdLIeqsO2VlqGZiM2w2DU/s1600/IMG_2472.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6dnnJbjyVeZ2gucQjXVJAcyBaWG3YFbjIDcwstgdH9jaIvD2ENPWmfyphQ74VDHEXK7SttaETAokWtmsa5ztLbK6myOQdeaN6jFcKEn8QmDSIDx8km2hKXphYdLIeqsO2VlqGZiM2w2DU/s400/IMG_2472.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fieldfare</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On the way back to the airport we had a hunt around Kinross for Waxwing (no takers) and also a stop off in Musselburgh. This proved quite productive, with <b>Red-breasted Merganser,</b> <b>Eider</b> and <b>Long-tailed Duck </b>amongst hundreds of <b>Oystercatcher</b>, as well as <b>Stonechat</b>, <b>Twite</b> and a <b>Bar-tailed Godwit</b>. We hadn't brought the scope, so whilst we could see a raft of black ducks that looked as though they could have held the Surf Scoter, we weren't actually able to check unfortunately.<br />
<br />
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfViKjQf-ddb9BUW-y_srafc7NqlcoNpmp4NyxqK50nd_cVeheKe2tK1z5b0Ux7ocdGLmSAraGDgZcjooYSEYQxgN0pA1A7fIQeK0Mi_eiEJKK59HKMJmAU2FaE87mdavKqWyDaH2KQ4U/s1600/IMG_2524.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixfViKjQf-ddb9BUW-y_srafc7NqlcoNpmp4NyxqK50nd_cVeheKe2tK1z5b0Ux7ocdGLmSAraGDgZcjooYSEYQxgN0pA1A7fIQeK0Mi_eiEJKK59HKMJmAU2FaE87mdavKqWyDaH2KQ4U/s400/IMG_2524.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jackdaw</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br /><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DiXjeQ6IguN4g6MUAiOiPiHxgqApNsWOcydagItTcQPd1J3O6j0hHKn20a1jcYyuZr1N825g34KjFBj5hwWG70uqytdsGZOb5x6sVbAnoiFaTQbFT3SELkqxc3lcJEcAM3ExoT-lwWZ1/s1600/IMG_2561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8DiXjeQ6IguN4g6MUAiOiPiHxgqApNsWOcydagItTcQPd1J3O6j0hHKn20a1jcYyuZr1N825g34KjFBj5hwWG70uqytdsGZOb5x6sVbAnoiFaTQbFT3SELkqxc3lcJEcAM3ExoT-lwWZ1/s400/IMG_2561.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stonechat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0JsCnbvWqeDhdxH-ATtG20yfNhw_tv-l6Xh3oVo_8Oq09i9NlDRj0p1zQu7u_Xia2K-REpasWzFwa8vS-K12ffrwv4V6ste-mh25dhrI7GNJodcqgQMky3IR4hOdAc2JRfx9BeG2a_3Wh/s1600/IMG_2584.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0JsCnbvWqeDhdxH-ATtG20yfNhw_tv-l6Xh3oVo_8Oq09i9NlDRj0p1zQu7u_Xia2K-REpasWzFwa8vS-K12ffrwv4V6ste-mh25dhrI7GNJodcqgQMky3IR4hOdAc2JRfx9BeG2a_3Wh/s400/IMG_2584.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lots of Oystercatcher</td></tr>
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<br />Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com0Pitlochry PH16, UK56.704361 -3.72971099999995256.6694945 -3.8103919999999523 56.7392275 -3.6490299999999518tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-34187932121027593312016-10-31T18:44:00.000+00:002016-11-01T23:00:46.688+00:0029th and 30th October 2016 - Norfolk<div class="MsoNormal">
I do love a weekend in Norfolk and this weekend was no different. Our main target was the <b>Isabelline Wheatear</b>, but I wasn’t overly looking forward to it as I remembered the walk to the Spectacled Warbler in the same location and I wasn’t convinced my dodgy hips would make it. Luckily as we left the flat a report came through of another near Ely, which is on our route up and so we made a beeline for that. A short walk later and we were gazing at the lovely bird. Perfect!</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEJoKuwtIsRDo7lTqycc_RzJ8n8GpHnYGd57zTbdHflU_0Z5MFvg-2pff-CcuDSryoFqlcgOjNEJBGTVeBNrCqsAyWZD1mPYeW2t_V5BGNqo9Gv29d5l-QUtnMP1izkVVhW8OkOMCLPly/s1600/IMG_2331.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtEJoKuwtIsRDo7lTqycc_RzJ8n8GpHnYGd57zTbdHflU_0Z5MFvg-2pff-CcuDSryoFqlcgOjNEJBGTVeBNrCqsAyWZD1mPYeW2t_V5BGNqo9Gv29d5l-QUtnMP1izkVVhW8OkOMCLPly/s400/IMG_2331.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cley beach</td></tr>
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A detour to Welney was made to try and see some Bewick’s Swan but to no avail unfortunately.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingq-aSFJzXWWHkiYjWZE-sgP7NOyXeFCKKXn7R-hUBMbs7vBkGQfdR4oNPG_kODxovW-xY5af9am9knkY3aB4q-ZLaP8jZ-Xof7nVtzevQE4JQGDz6h1fUDxGNdBk5lgvIwI_UAhNlcSS/s1600/IMG_2325.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEingq-aSFJzXWWHkiYjWZE-sgP7NOyXeFCKKXn7R-hUBMbs7vBkGQfdR4oNPG_kODxovW-xY5af9am9knkY3aB4q-ZLaP8jZ-Xof7nVtzevQE4JQGDz6h1fUDxGNdBk5lgvIwI_UAhNlcSS/s400/IMG_2325.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whooper Swan</td></tr>
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We’d left London pretty late so there was only time for one more thing before sunset and we decided on the <b>Desert Wheatear</b>. We parked at Salthouse beach and started trekking across the pebble beach which is when my hips decided they had had enough and I had to stop half way to the Wheatear. Boo! Amazingly though at this point Stuart spotted 2 low flying birds and got me onto my first ever <b>Shorelark</b>! I spent a very happy hour sat on the beach watching them and showing them to the birders who walked past whilst Stuart went to see the Desert Wheatear. Excellent evening.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Salthouse</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVmAwoaZ_PxZ61StEJUgTMNL9M0f8NyI_PSiTXp3Yy14oInkp8wAJx53sBTM3IJIB5PzBGa8jIAxD13wpH0J_1wK5auuorH_w-8OWK06Ee0FZcynFxwVE68dA608ouevQklbhglon4mXH/s1600/IMG_2405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUVmAwoaZ_PxZ61StEJUgTMNL9M0f8NyI_PSiTXp3Yy14oInkp8wAJx53sBTM3IJIB5PzBGa8jIAxD13wpH0J_1wK5auuorH_w-8OWK06Ee0FZcynFxwVE68dA608ouevQklbhglon4mXH/s400/IMG_2405.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awful photo, but SHORELARK! SQUEEEEE</td></tr>
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The next day we took our customary Sunday morning wander around Kelling Heath but there was nothing of note. A report of <b>Waxwing</b> in Brancaster from that morning lured us over there but after a while of driving and wandering around we hadn’t spotted anything that looked Waxwing like and so we decided to call it a day. As we were driving off, an odd looking Starling flock flew over. Braking abruptly we hopped out the car and found that the Waxwing flock were mixed in! We’d never seen Waxwing in flight before so it was really interesting to watch them before the eventually settled in a tree further down the road. <o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzg_srLFx6Spp-jhVfu3YeNH4wdEf91ZAIzrdxEougj2P8JqduUpFXorXSo8hgs3A9MwWmYyhenbEwH73cyVb06aFMwJG5-qaGv1n9GiykukK5hPyWcYTPHDl6NGCdBFM1CVp70jw-UPOw/s1600/IMG_2436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzg_srLFx6Spp-jhVfu3YeNH4wdEf91ZAIzrdxEougj2P8JqduUpFXorXSo8hgs3A9MwWmYyhenbEwH73cyVb06aFMwJG5-qaGv1n9GiykukK5hPyWcYTPHDl6NGCdBFM1CVp70jw-UPOw/s400/IMG_2436.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waxwing</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjhTA417dITuRcqQFgyIfWPyMc_JYOdZGkWXSacZUrzhlyCIQB5K7YHJT4LLPnYqJAQ9kgdH2duHe6sErqBQEWCs0FwQVtP1FrWD5fa0TQ5Y9EmaifLnHptoms0B5yobEmKsPuqd18Naf/s1600/IMG_2448.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSjhTA417dITuRcqQFgyIfWPyMc_JYOdZGkWXSacZUrzhlyCIQB5K7YHJT4LLPnYqJAQ9kgdH2duHe6sErqBQEWCs0FwQVtP1FrWD5fa0TQ5Y9EmaifLnHptoms0B5yobEmKsPuqd18Naf/s400/IMG_2448.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waxwing</td></tr>
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To finish the weekend we had a brief wander around Titchwell. As usual we amassed a decent list but there was a bit of uncertainty at the end when we were with a crowd watching the bushes where the <b>Dusky Warbler</b> had apparently been 10 minutes earlier. Eventually a small bird was spotted low down and said to be it. I’ve never seen one before so I’m still unsure – everyone there agreed it was but then 20 minutes later as we were driving off it was reported as not present! The bird we were watching had pale legs, a dark line through the eye and was very pale underneath but I didn’t know at the time to check for the flick up at the end of the supercilium so I’m in two minds. One to ponder on I think.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Year list: 212<br />
Lifers this year: 23<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIo_HhZnBGYf_KrzqnOCPTv7bK3m4KB9Ho5ha3_qJ7V5E7zmRylGHxRmKrOVSaf61EINF9Kltl4iyM9EQzxMS7FINZNEvo8GZMPr6bFFS6b1Wex5rJFxEMRJxHsvmh4_AAUMLhnFDGTW6G/s1600/IMG_2452.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIo_HhZnBGYf_KrzqnOCPTv7bK3m4KB9Ho5ha3_qJ7V5E7zmRylGHxRmKrOVSaf61EINF9Kltl4iyM9EQzxMS7FINZNEvo8GZMPr6bFFS6b1Wex5rJFxEMRJxHsvmh4_AAUMLhnFDGTW6G/s400/IMG_2452.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chaffinch having a bath</td></tr>
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Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com2Norfolk, UK52.6139686 0.8864020999999411351.9977441 -0.40449140000005879 53.2301931 2.1772955999999413tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-11875841939430615492016-09-18T15:14:00.000+01:002016-10-27T11:56:20.302+01:003rd to 17th September 2016 - Florida<div class="MsoNormal">
We took another trip to Florida in September, not a birding holiday (gasp!) but with a couple of birding days allocated. I’d done a small bit of research about what might be around but the first bird was a complete surprise and took some extra research to decide what it was – <b>Common Nighthawk</b>! Very cool. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYr2ihvvjJOukQfOur7bihz3psDEM8XWimHNBfDxcNZ5W11bgl7Cv96_QZOYdveaZ59lNoB1X5LlFX1B9II0IzZABGINjTesTVEtDdtYI0ZLiI3XpWzcx9rUnhebXYHg5ovbX41Hr59a79/s1600/IMG_2101.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYr2ihvvjJOukQfOur7bihz3psDEM8XWimHNBfDxcNZ5W11bgl7Cv96_QZOYdveaZ59lNoB1X5LlFX1B9II0IzZABGINjTesTVEtDdtYI0ZLiI3XpWzcx9rUnhebXYHg5ovbX41Hr59a79/s400/IMG_2101.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tricoloured Heron</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMStEoFfYnwbanIc8QXdSB1cpGEPkX1j19RMqTKoy-bE4bwQZCKOLEusebQLL-Gz3NpnsoBsVcthH-xjzaCIvokCOjrErmsATsbX1R9F76ZzvsfpXiytkt7FJryERxEphnhM337w7pN9TX/s1600/IMG_1938.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMStEoFfYnwbanIc8QXdSB1cpGEPkX1j19RMqTKoy-bE4bwQZCKOLEusebQLL-Gz3NpnsoBsVcthH-xjzaCIvokCOjrErmsATsbX1R9F76ZzvsfpXiytkt7FJryERxEphnhM337w7pN9TX/s400/IMG_1938.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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The first of the two allocated days of birding was at Merritt Island and the first stop on our driving tour was actually for a mammal – manatees! We went to the recommended location, expecting to see possibly a fin in the distance or something if we were lucky, but were surprised by what must have been about 20 manatees, coming as close as they could – I must have been less than a foot away from one at one point. We also nearly fell off the pier when one surfaced next to us with a teeny tiny baby manatee swimming beside it. Squee! When I was finally dragged away, we then started to do some birding, seeing a flock of <b>Osceola Wild Turkey</b>, a few <b>Red-shouldered Hawk </b>and two new ones for the list – <b>Red-tailed Hawk </b>and <b>Belted Kingfisher</b>. The next lifer was one we were aiming for and Tristan found it almost immediately after we set off on the walk – <b>Florida Scrub-jay</b>! That walk then turned into one of the worst experiences I have had with biting insects, they were continuously very painfully nipping at me and drew blood! Grr. It was a good location for Gopher Tortoise however. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Gg0c75JC952X-BjsoKyOqPXanMZcZ1MPVRpp8r9Opq2CgfHHLwrhftceDUocRlNcM2P3_fN5LWqg6gJzaPqIQeWm8vde1wkZgKcCAJ2uD59qFZZoUP4qu1ytTtXVKcEO0y9azd6reC4h/s1600/IMG_2118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Gg0c75JC952X-BjsoKyOqPXanMZcZ1MPVRpp8r9Opq2CgfHHLwrhftceDUocRlNcM2P3_fN5LWqg6gJzaPqIQeWm8vde1wkZgKcCAJ2uD59qFZZoUP4qu1ytTtXVKcEO0y9azd6reC4h/s400/IMG_2118.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sandhill Crane</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mOrh_lie6RVenz_tSIxZtQ1a-ohyvBAdeXnCA63e6Ver8djQDCUjKXwN1RvRChFJtjlezhNENlZ99pyPkdRhpQ9y8mVAyUfIhWOdsa1waPYiWeaVtYLe0KJnwG7VyQHwQz6UtSNNS_3B/s1600/IMG_1961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3mOrh_lie6RVenz_tSIxZtQ1a-ohyvBAdeXnCA63e6Ver8djQDCUjKXwN1RvRChFJtjlezhNENlZ99pyPkdRhpQ9y8mVAyUfIhWOdsa1waPYiWeaVtYLe0KJnwG7VyQHwQz6UtSNNS_3B/s400/IMG_1961.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Manatee!</td></tr>
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Back in the car and we saw plenty of species from the heron and ibis families. Another unexpected addition to the life list was <b>Mottled Duck</b> and a <b>Clapper Rail </b>who kindly flew across the road before landing right beside it. <o:p></o:p></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsX5PtSx1YIhG4F8x9ZYXoM_Zdyy1ccEVxMbJoh__oEN27u_7ywmzL6qL41MO1hECbnILVsXK2N9YQOUSALcraWDpqX1jew4Rw6AlW3F9g-lpuetSrOnFIiQ8BWbH5NDJWIA1S-TqWtGa/s1600/IMG_1980.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjsX5PtSx1YIhG4F8x9ZYXoM_Zdyy1ccEVxMbJoh__oEN27u_7ywmzL6qL41MO1hECbnILVsXK2N9YQOUSALcraWDpqX1jew4Rw6AlW3F9g-lpuetSrOnFIiQ8BWbH5NDJWIA1S-TqWtGa/s400/IMG_1980.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gopher Tortoise</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYMg_l5EBegQpLrQSNt9geNXpQM8oY8th2p9KaFnxTZXbj83xxh8q1yvCtQ2GUKEQ8X3-tLkTu6X9FnNuBb-mCzUnGZBZsgTF9BKUNLCOuHwlzjDvJGZNl_W28ENzpm99oRW8zkvOufnQ/s1600/IMG_1984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTYMg_l5EBegQpLrQSNt9geNXpQM8oY8th2p9KaFnxTZXbj83xxh8q1yvCtQ2GUKEQ8X3-tLkTu6X9FnNuBb-mCzUnGZBZsgTF9BKUNLCOuHwlzjDvJGZNl_W28ENzpm99oRW8zkvOufnQ/s400/IMG_1984.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Florida Scrub-jay</td></tr>
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I’d like to thank the lovely gentleman at the visitor centre for the really useful information and locations to visit, I wish we’d had at least double the time to explore.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZV9AE8PdrlzPlUFjDL2l4libRU_K0RMeS8xTXcaenu9H17ssnJ9uEq27UTW61NveTfsB5XLcnGtYljIbnYrrIODCiEQpAhqPdi0wwr604SHKiVyOCADqcSCEjfNUFUtrJkR8lIxTXy62/s1600/IMG_2007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEZV9AE8PdrlzPlUFjDL2l4libRU_K0RMeS8xTXcaenu9H17ssnJ9uEq27UTW61NveTfsB5XLcnGtYljIbnYrrIODCiEQpAhqPdi0wwr604SHKiVyOCADqcSCEjfNUFUtrJkR8lIxTXy62/s400/IMG_2007.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Heron (?)</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willet</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alligator</td></tr>
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It was off to the Disney Wilderness Preserve for the second day of birding. Whilst in the car going up the driveway we stopped to look at a lovely (loud!) bird that had flown up to a perch beside the road and identified it as an <b>Eastern Meadowlark</b>, a lifer for all of us. Another lifer kindly flew into view as we left the car, a massive <b>Pileated Woodpecker</b>. What an amazing bird. A loud bird stumped us somewhat, but later Oliver Simms kindly helped out with the ID and confirmed our suspicion that it was a <b>Carolina Wren</b>, another lifer. The rest of the walk around the Preserve was very quiet, with 3 unidentified birds, a very hot sun and some wading through flooded paths.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9wTZFDMcFSVLyKn26_Y-Adtd2Ych4S4727wNFHPZwdDWMuOY-DTgB0xTaLz6J6TE0X9o5Stfpsr2Wo4WQJ-c0jW5rSw-aagtYRYlnyfGpBe0JqyyX6mBepMMYFK7X1jcnsWPrrNJBm_1/s1600/IMG_2060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjL9wTZFDMcFSVLyKn26_Y-Adtd2Ych4S4727wNFHPZwdDWMuOY-DTgB0xTaLz6J6TE0X9o5Stfpsr2Wo4WQJ-c0jW5rSw-aagtYRYlnyfGpBe0JqyyX6mBepMMYFK7X1jcnsWPrrNJBm_1/s400/IMG_2060.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Meadowlark</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xIuQSHSS1tESKL_XSOp-kT7pT6KwKBj8sfauLJc8SVvtKRBniJDhSLQshHD2LTJCOZxEUuwpdjYBjhY99VkrpQHmF57MPeIjW1Khugky0axCvam3RfSi08iixM0aVicTWiPPGxA8xvPM/s1600/IMG_2072.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1xIuQSHSS1tESKL_XSOp-kT7pT6KwKBj8sfauLJc8SVvtKRBniJDhSLQshHD2LTJCOZxEUuwpdjYBjhY99VkrpQHmF57MPeIjW1Khugky0axCvam3RfSi08iixM0aVicTWiPPGxA8xvPM/s400/IMG_2072.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Carolina Wren (Thanks Ollie!)</td></tr>
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I wanted to carry on birding so on the way home we stopped off at Kissimmee Lakefront Park for a quick look, which became a lot longer look as it’s a great location! Almost immediately we had <b>Limpkin</b>, which wasn’t particularly phased as we walked past and there were plenty of both types of Grackle and both types of Vulture around too. We excitedly watched a group of 4 <b>Sandhill Crane</b> fly towards us and were amazed when they landed just feet away and happily went about pecking in the grass. They appeared to be a family group with two juveniles. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Limpkin</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Osprey</td></tr>
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The Park was good for warblers, with a couple we couldn’t ID as well as good views of <b>Yellow Warbler </b>and <b>Yellow-throated Warbler</b>. This is meant to be an excellent location for Snail Kite and whilst we saw a number of very large empty snail shells, the kite was nowhere to be seen. Something I was amazed at here and indeed over on Merritt Island, was the sheer number of <b>Osprey</b>. They were seemingly on every post and we had some brilliant views of them catching and carrying fish.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young Sandhill Crane</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Warbler?</td></tr>
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That was the end of the official birding but we of course kept our eyes open when out and about, spotting a few <b>Bald Eagle</b>, <b>Mockingbird</b> and other lovely birds.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lady Red-winged Blackbird (thank you for the ID Ollie) </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Anhinga</td></tr>
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Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com0Florida, USA27.6648274 -81.51575350000001720.4843744 -91.842902000000009 34.8452804 -71.188605000000024tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-16449515119411433232016-08-31T14:05:00.000+01:002016-10-22T18:24:50.447+01:00Summer 2016<div class="MsoNormal">
As is usual for me, birding was on the quiet front between June and September, with just a couple of trips. A brief weekend away with family in Wales produced a <b>Grasshopper Warbler</b> right next to the house – only the second I’ve ever seen! A last minute (flight booked 5 hours before departure) trip to Aberdeen was very productive, with 7 species added to the year list, 2 of these being life listers – <b>White-winged Scoter</b> and <b>King Eider</b>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukh7mrgmN_QmDwjRBuKDD554MYslFs74h4PsrUGv9PtbM1bpoQOzxFN36j4W5QBe3BiOXZEU37wzGkJywz-JNZ_CaSU8xfyPhnJXXXtvJ58L_qWKgHW9Yrnt2_UURQnsApdr11BtkDXws/s1600/IMG_1755.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgukh7mrgmN_QmDwjRBuKDD554MYslFs74h4PsrUGv9PtbM1bpoQOzxFN36j4W5QBe3BiOXZEU37wzGkJywz-JNZ_CaSU8xfyPhnJXXXtvJ58L_qWKgHW9Yrnt2_UURQnsApdr11BtkDXws/s400/IMG_1755.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puffin </td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skylark</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellowhammer</td></tr>
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A slightly more local twitch was for the lovely little<b> Common Rosefinch</b> in the Lee Valley, followed by a celebratory pint. The last trip of summer was a walk around Minsmere in hope of the Purple Swamphen. We missed out on that, but added 5 others to the year list (including that damned elusive <b>Reed Warbler</b>).<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baby Wheatear</td></tr>
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Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com0Lee Valley Park, Stanstead Abbotts, Ware SG12, UK51.7909703 0.01013009999996938931.3545578 -41.29846390000003 72.2273828 41.318724099999969tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-53644410696344853822016-06-06T14:04:00.000+01:002016-10-22T18:24:50.450+01:005th June 2016 - Caddington and Paxton PitsThe 5th June heralded a trip to Cambridgeshire via Bedfordshire, to try and see two birds that had been hanging about that week. The first was a <b>Rose-coloured Starling</b>, in Caddington. It had been spending time in the back garden of a residential area, so we parked up and wandered up and down the road for a bit, hoping to catch sight of the bird without looking *too* suspicious. We were kindly invited into one of the back gardens, the one next to where it had been seen earlier that day and we spent some time there, hoping it would return. After half an hour or so, we went for another wander and then admitted defeat. As we were returning to the car, we happened to glance down the side of another house and Stuart spotted it perched nicely at the top of a tree!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirEWEaP08sGBw5xyxgwOux91iraoXsERYg6-MrMlIqGUdblACtUsF4qTI4JUBHaAdjTcU3TGAurfa3X-K42_3zsAMzfqlubQd3H6X44xZp0nbVJccSd0Ud7EEUUzt73NrXIP-QOHqDhQy/s1600/IMG_1644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgirEWEaP08sGBw5xyxgwOux91iraoXsERYg6-MrMlIqGUdblACtUsF4qTI4JUBHaAdjTcU3TGAurfa3X-K42_3zsAMzfqlubQd3H6X44xZp0nbVJccSd0Ud7EEUUzt73NrXIP-QOHqDhQy/s400/IMG_1644.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banded Demoiselle</td></tr>
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It was then on to Paxton Pits, where Stuart again proved on fine form, rocking up to the lake where the <b>Great Reed Warbler </b>had been reported and getting on it within approximately 10 seconds - when we spoke to the others who were there, they said they hadn't seen it in the last hour! Jammy whatsit. I still haven't seen a normal Reed Warbler this year...<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5lcm7cbRBUKBVKr3HRYZGg86WlLj-X91GXg313D09hzx7W0E5-cwZeSBG93ztvGClqa2zxaToa-l9dY8aOhqS_AxpVtSGHXqiR58SSDgoJSJItp3X4tZ9ZUpnArpLa3XAu8lYzaKioxY/s1600/IMG_1656.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA5lcm7cbRBUKBVKr3HRYZGg86WlLj-X91GXg313D09hzx7W0E5-cwZeSBG93ztvGClqa2zxaToa-l9dY8aOhqS_AxpVtSGHXqiR58SSDgoJSJItp3X4tZ9ZUpnArpLa3XAu8lYzaKioxY/s400/IMG_1656.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tern raft</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cuckoo</td></tr>
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Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com0Caddington, UK51.867828 -0.4566509999999652851.8286115 -0.53733199999996528 51.907044500000005 -0.37596999999996528tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-68291027246382622472016-05-31T23:29:00.000+01:002016-06-01T09:23:41.791+01:0025th to 30th May 2016 - PortugalAfter a great weekend in Madrid for a friend's birthday, we flew to Portugal for a week away. The first couple of days were spent in Porto and Lisbon being tourists (eating lots of seafood and drinking lots of port and vinho verde). It was then time for some proper holiday activities - birding! <br />
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On the first day, we navigated Lisbon roads (eep!) to head to Paul de Barroca. It was a great first stop, with a variety of species, including <b>Spoonbill</b>, <b>Purple Heron</b> and plenty of <b>Stonechat</b>. After about half an hour we spotted a bright yellow bird and after further investigation discovered it was a <b>Black-headed Weaver</b>, our first lifer of the trip. A second soon followed as we heard and saw our first of many <b>Zitting Cisticola</b> of the trip. For some reason I had expected them to be larger than they are, they're very short and stubby! A great final bird for the location was a flypast <b>Little Bittern</b>.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAJAwutWBOhRiTYoAQMz4uq5L0vc75_4w0MeKXKpeCZoIqd28EQYZYnh7TUxteBhB9LnQz8A4h7Z7sNrFhxix0OiI-38EipmqzxZuuz8956khiP79Ok1lSOq5Ne5FKbp8GMGxYXiipx8e/s1600/IMG_1363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcAJAwutWBOhRiTYoAQMz4uq5L0vc75_4w0MeKXKpeCZoIqd28EQYZYnh7TUxteBhB9LnQz8A4h7Z7sNrFhxix0OiI-38EipmqzxZuuz8956khiP79Ok1lSOq5Ne5FKbp8GMGxYXiipx8e/s400/IMG_1363.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-headed Weaver</td></tr>
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It was then on to the Sítio das Hortas for the afternoon. There was a distinct lack of the waders we were expecting, but we had our first (again of many!) views of <b>Azure-winged Magpie</b>, a bird I was incredibly excited about seeing. It is such a gorgeous bird. We also had our first <b>Hoopoe</b> for the trip, Stuart's favourite bird.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stonechat</td></tr>
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A couple of other sites were visited in the evening, but none produced very much apart from pretentious photos for Instagram. Ha.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2x6yJW0Qszu4YlVEaXkmq9vRTW6V-55ClHZTO1T2KqoCE4Fi6AnqhMyalXZ_n0qCRLritY_90oHAKi859TwK5LzSGDbdy002tSxes_QITEGVg4zMd5JvaRcWrHTu5TATGcOzCZT1CocLl/s1600/IMG_1426.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2x6yJW0Qszu4YlVEaXkmq9vRTW6V-55ClHZTO1T2KqoCE4Fi6AnqhMyalXZ_n0qCRLritY_90oHAKi859TwK5LzSGDbdy002tSxes_QITEGVg4zMd5JvaRcWrHTu5TATGcOzCZT1CocLl/s400/IMG_1426.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coot </td></tr>
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The next day we were going down to the Algarve and so did a bit of birding in the Parque de Arrabida before we hit the motorway. It wasn't overly productive, but after many many attempts in different countries, we eventually saw our first <b>Blue Rock Thrush</b>! It was quite far away, but what a gorgeous colour.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKfcgl-GcvAmpTy4D_4jrG07bumfxVC9YejfBQUmVlPetFTu_zBnlDzCMR-UjRTuGtEUW-M87Kf9M8Nz_78KqQFKkvU6-GXooAI3Tugg2C_7hV7cnVW_phmHWsq1UrpoWAS11454Dr2El/s1600/IMG_1439.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCKfcgl-GcvAmpTy4D_4jrG07bumfxVC9YejfBQUmVlPetFTu_zBnlDzCMR-UjRTuGtEUW-M87Kf9M8Nz_78KqQFKkvU6-GXooAI3Tugg2C_7hV7cnVW_phmHWsq1UrpoWAS11454Dr2El/s400/IMG_1439.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Bittern</td></tr>
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We were staying close to Albufeira, which happens to be close to the amazing Lagoa dos Salgados and this is where we spent the evening. In an hour with not much moving around, we managed a list of nearly 40, which I thought was pretty decent. There were <b>Greater Flamingo</b>, <b>Black-winged Stilt</b> and the first <b>Purple Swamphen</b> of the trip. <b>Bee-eater</b> were flying around making their cute burbling noises and a lone <b>Dunlin</b> was hanging out with some <b>Avocet</b>. We weren't expecting it, but <b>Alpine Swift</b> were fairly numerous and three <b>Glossy Ibis</b> flew behind the lake.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dLPvPojLwPTfQ52UaXms-MufNTmqMGGYKUfkTMJMgxHjfOIC-cLtwgW1HV4wtvV_q4UaeP28bGKcdVpd6FEsKxaoeAZ-CnVVev69NgirWK-c6Zb742m3K_h0Q88QPYHHmy9EVWS9YVx8/s1600/IMG_1510.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6dLPvPojLwPTfQ52UaXms-MufNTmqMGGYKUfkTMJMgxHjfOIC-cLtwgW1HV4wtvV_q4UaeP28bGKcdVpd6FEsKxaoeAZ-CnVVev69NgirWK-c6Zb742m3K_h0Q88QPYHHmy9EVWS9YVx8/s400/IMG_1510.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greater Flamingo</td></tr>
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The next day it was time to explore more of the Algarve, mainly the Western part around Sagres. At Cabo de Sao Vicente we attempted some seawatching, but all that we could see going past were a lot of <b>Gannet</b> with their young. However, on the rocks was a lifer, <b>Rock Dove</b>. Yup, never seen one before! Elsewhere around the point were <b>Black Redstart</b>, <b>Sardinian Warbler</b> and a pair of <b>Chough</b>. A long lunch was then taken and followed by a gentle drive around the neighbouring area. Here we had two lifers at practically the same time, <b>Red-rumped Swallow</b> and <b>Pallid Swift</b>. Having not seen either before, we had worried they would be so subtly different from the ones we're used to that it would be hard to distinguish them, but that definitely isn't the case! The rest of the evening until sunset was spent wandering around Quinta da Rocha. Here I had my first ever <b>Woodchat Shrike</b> (Stuart saw one in the UK a couple of years ago) and there were plenty of other species we were getting used to seeing.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWkVvNlXfGEZ29sufaklb6bAaVjSvNyQuRKcsA2C00mnn4cuTpgR8SLHbOS2VMgrXHdNskUYcNsMhAKiLyNwkRQMDMHBim1jwq_uy0U5CX6IP9GkeSpgCR1AEK50dEvzRPLjp_pRxCk4v/s1600/IMG_1494.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsWkVvNlXfGEZ29sufaklb6bAaVjSvNyQuRKcsA2C00mnn4cuTpgR8SLHbOS2VMgrXHdNskUYcNsMhAKiLyNwkRQMDMHBim1jwq_uy0U5CX6IP9GkeSpgCR1AEK50dEvzRPLjp_pRxCk4v/s400/IMG_1494.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Owl</td></tr>
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Saturday was spent with the wonderful <a href="mailto:ruieufrasia@gmail.com" target="_blank">Rui Eufrásia</a>, a day organised by <a href="mailto:joao.ministro@proactivetur.pt">Joao Ministro</a>, who in turn was recommended by <a href="http://www.birdwatching-algarve.com/">Georg Schreier</a>. We spent the day in the Alentejo region, looking for a few of the specialities that we really wanted to see. The first target was <b>Lesser Kestrel</b> and we were not disappointed, seeing many in the Castro Verde region. A second lifer was entirely unexpected, a pair of <b>Gull-billed Tern</b> that flew past whilst we were sheltering from a downpour. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4dofVuQ60bAGSh0COXiOZkUeTcmy7iFfOS1z81xNZB22UnNN9Kflf1m0Lm72HYs5oZUc-wDmQBkiREzJ_WSLt-Pd8xsAs2q2G_INhlFmz5lcV5RRP56Ph-CeXT5xekk23kQWayw6-caN/s1600/IMG_1574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO4dofVuQ60bAGSh0COXiOZkUeTcmy7iFfOS1z81xNZB22UnNN9Kflf1m0Lm72HYs5oZUc-wDmQBkiREzJ_WSLt-Pd8xsAs2q2G_INhlFmz5lcV5RRP56Ph-CeXT5xekk23kQWayw6-caN/s400/IMG_1574.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Roller</td></tr>
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Once the rain had stopped, we carried on with our day and almost straight away saw <b>Calandra Lark</b>, a chunky lark. I thoroughly enjoyed hearing <b>Quail</b> whilst watching the larks and heard many more throughout the day! We made a stop off to find <b>Black-eared Wheatear</b> and were successful nearly immediately, seeing both male and female, beautiful birds. Whilst scanning a small pool, we had our first views of <b>Griffon Vulture </b>drifting over. The next stop was at a colony of <b>Spanish Sparrow</b>, there were hundreds of birds there and the noise was incredible! The next unexpected sight was a falcon coming towards us - a small amount of confusion before Rui realised it was a <b>Red-footed Falcon</b>! Not that common a bird in Southern Portugal, so a great one to see. The last two lifers before lunch were <b>Short-toed Lark</b> and amazing huge <b>Black Vulture</b>.</div>
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We had a wonderful lunch, then carried on with our birding day. The afternoon started very well with a <b>Short-toed Eagle </b>lifer and carried on with the raptor lifers with <b>Bonelli's Eagle</b> and <b>Spanish Imperial Eagle</b>. Amazing! We were seeing lots of <b>Black Kite</b> over and it was interesting to see them a lot closer and for longer than any previous times. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLm31lznRnYUABrM9LoaphEoYETKUpnfxyQ2pBtXUMzDdgItClSUR-R3EcqX4O3qK4R8MMfjk19UmsQ2OJ2CR36aPoXoApI6Vm7RLyi4vKv6RCxZ1dAdZGekEJnq-KVaHAgMQyr7JfNTdu/s1600/IMG_1576.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLm31lznRnYUABrM9LoaphEoYETKUpnfxyQ2pBtXUMzDdgItClSUR-R3EcqX4O3qK4R8MMfjk19UmsQ2OJ2CR36aPoXoApI6Vm7RLyi4vKv6RCxZ1dAdZGekEJnq-KVaHAgMQyr7JfNTdu/s400/IMG_1576.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White Stork and baby!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Moving on, we were looking for some bustards. We'd heard the smaller of the two making its amusing noise earlier in the day but not seen it. It was proving quite hard to find any, possibly because of it being so windy that they were hunkering down out of sight in the long grass. However, Rui eventually found some <b>Great Bustard</b>, swiftly followed by Stuart spotting a lone <b>Little Bustard</b> (although we could hear plenty more calling around us). Very exciting! </div>
<br />
We finished the day with Rui with two more amazing lifers, 2 pairs of<b> Rufous Bush Robin</b> and a cute<b> Black-winged Kite</b>. Rui was then kind enough to give us some locations for a couple of other birds we were hoping to see and we ended the day with excellent views of <b>Red-necked Nightjar</b> (and a mahoosive bat!).<br />
<div>
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5enTOR5hgBwJHnh6B-2_TuEa9ht0jIxp0dNjSwNkLbeXLLv0vIq9UsWpzukW87EWjURczsA9ZJA0naUgaF5TPP9Jjs5MBXN6t6-0n6NVOmbUJb8YJvEihCEtC4nXXiIiGfGt7gEJsq7B/s1600/IMG_1603.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw5enTOR5hgBwJHnh6B-2_TuEa9ht0jIxp0dNjSwNkLbeXLLv0vIq9UsWpzukW87EWjURczsA9ZJA0naUgaF5TPP9Jjs5MBXN6t6-0n6NVOmbUJb8YJvEihCEtC4nXXiIiGfGt7gEJsq7B/s400/IMG_1603.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collared Pratincole</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We followed another of Rui's instructions the next morning to see another lifer, <b>Collared Pratincole</b>. They are just adorable. We also added another species to the trip list with a few sleeping <b>Audouin's Gull</b>. We were pretty exhausted by this time so we had a tasty chicken meal in Guia, then filled our mini fridge with Portuguese beer and had an excellent afternoon on the balcony of our room, comparing bird lists and watching <b>Hoopoe</b>,<b> Azure-winged Magpie </b>and a <b>Yellow-legged Gull</b> thinking it was a duck, all mere yards from us. Too cool.</div>
<div>
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7VpOVaMcMnTjiNvGXoG1Z1bVGjffD1GRjiLhMakx0UyD0Rz36HZO26ibeZPAx9ll-b4HSJJwRuA8Uy9uhDM6os8NXCVNVWLd5QZY62ppmaUltSWhTBKmIARTrNQcMwpMdI79d_2tsyED/s1600/IMG_1639+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgA7VpOVaMcMnTjiNvGXoG1Z1bVGjffD1GRjiLhMakx0UyD0Rz36HZO26ibeZPAx9ll-b4HSJJwRuA8Uy9uhDM6os8NXCVNVWLd5QZY62ppmaUltSWhTBKmIARTrNQcMwpMdI79d_2tsyED/s400/IMG_1639+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hoopoe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Before our flight out the next afternoon we had a little wander around a site near Faro Airport. There were excellent views of <b>Purple Swamphen</b>, plenty of the stereotype of <b>Hoopoe</b> on a golf course and we added <b>Great Crested Grebe </b>to the trip list. It was a lovely ending to a great trip.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Trip list: 103<br />
Lifers: 23</div>
Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com2Faro District, Portugal37.0179538 -7.930834000000004436.2089908 -9.2217275000000036 37.8269168 -6.6399405000000042tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-64672800544272896332016-04-18T23:50:00.000+01:002016-05-31T23:28:43.734+01:0018th April 2016 - Rainham MarshesI woke up the day after getting back from Norfolk expecting to be absolutely exhausted as I'm just coming out of the end of a nasty virus which really aggravated my long term illness, but I was up and about by 8:30 (a miracle for me recently!) so I grabbed my optics and got the train out to Rainham. It was gloriously sunny but of course pretty much as soon as I left the first hide the rain clouds came rolling in. I had a walk round with none of the exciting things that had been reported over the weekend but enjoyable nonetheless. There were plenty of <b>Sand Martin</b> and <b>Swallow</b>, a distant <b>Marsh Harrier</b> and a couple of <b>Avocet</b>. Plenty of singing <b>Sedge Warbler</b> (not seen or heard a Reed Warbler yet though) and a brief glimpse of my first <b>Whitethroat</b> for the year. I was wasting a bit of time on the river wall before I had to head back to the station when I heard unmistakeable reeling coming from the reserve side and I made a mad (quiet) quiet scramble down the slope. I couldn't pinpoint the bird but spotted two gentlemen looking at something and made my way to them. It had stopped by the time I got there and I resigned myself to this being yet another episode where I heard but didn't see the bird. After chatting to the gentleman who stayed for around 20 minutes, the reeling started up again, right in front of us and seconds later and <b>Grasshopper Warbler</b> hopped into view. Lifer! It was amazing to watch, its whole body vibrating. I was grinning so much the other guy kept laughing at me, but I think he was happy he'd helped me see a lifer! Great trip (even if I did miss my train!).<br />
<br />
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXarS-f3dwr1ouxRgEoBR0QSEYUDbwCjTk3qpbmjJlXuSNTBQ21Lb7h2iAbsUt1snPNBBFvq8J7f1Stjbd-_IV4bauppR0LMFWpMmpVzYB5YFyYtwPRozV0yDtIfXJYX4EFNNVN5YoX-Po/s1600/IMG_1075+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXarS-f3dwr1ouxRgEoBR0QSEYUDbwCjTk3qpbmjJlXuSNTBQ21Lb7h2iAbsUt1snPNBBFvq8J7f1Stjbd-_IV4bauppR0LMFWpMmpVzYB5YFyYtwPRozV0yDtIfXJYX4EFNNVN5YoX-Po/s400/IMG_1075+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sedge Warbler</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrA-xAHBe80i1ftX-IktMYSpUIj-iCbgHFYS5rkQghxpdvET9St3vzvtX_VL_uoS9uaHPuHxhZ5YSjiUP80fUrBkjfRCRbck1Pf1-4q8YilmCoXdQnR_eREEFx-aSQ2VEQHJTcfu7HmY2R/s1600/IMG_1097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrA-xAHBe80i1ftX-IktMYSpUIj-iCbgHFYS5rkQghxpdvET9St3vzvtX_VL_uoS9uaHPuHxhZ5YSjiUP80fUrBkjfRCRbck1Pf1-4q8YilmCoXdQnR_eREEFx-aSQ2VEQHJTcfu7HmY2R/s400/IMG_1097.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Linnet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Year list: 175<br />
Lifers this year: 11</div>
Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-74854720829401011392016-04-18T21:03:00.000+01:002016-05-31T23:30:12.456+01:0016th and 17th April 2016 - Norfolk<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We went to Norfolk for the weekend for the third time in 2016, staying again with the lovely <a href="http://willowhousebedandbreakfast.weebly.com/" target="_blank">Viv and Barley</a>. Our wonderful (not just because she puts up with us making her go birding!) friend Naomi came with us and we set off from London early Saturday morning. First stop was just over the Norfolk border at Weeting Heath, where the<b> Stone-curlew</b> were showing remarkably well (not that you'd think that from my photos). Also at Weeting were some <b>Yellowhammer</b> and a lovely little <b>Treecreeper</b> nest. The next stop was a brief one at Lynford in the hope of Hawfinch, but to no avail although we had good views of <b>Siskin</b>, which is always welcomed.<br />
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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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wxQWWMzRr9m1I55DulkYegAOJUm_l0pimqPgdH_f49Zy53MfkZv8jMgpeU7ZccJ9N4Y9gUSxQki8anDGQkedxQbmsqRnX3xSYTD4om2p6NlTZiBbG44-3u755xlmG5vqJvyvgdYpxDcb/s1600/IMG_0956+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2wxQWWMzRr9m1I55DulkYegAOJUm_l0pimqPgdH_f49Zy53MfkZv8jMgpeU7ZccJ9N4Y9gUSxQki8anDGQkedxQbmsqRnX3xSYTD4om2p6NlTZiBbG44-3u755xlmG5vqJvyvgdYpxDcb/s400/IMG_0956+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stone-curlew</td></tr>
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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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97t__bnVm2K4pQQW_BFt7Pg4_XJ14num9LWkol3dmB4bZG-acw1RYWK_oaiheznoP0hecEQAzwvbynqYKaXdbNMci3ziAPI5qfzefV-3Tr-tNlGZSGRbXGS9rDW6KpeMHhkZDJfBlFXHE/s1600/IMG_0959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg97t__bnVm2K4pQQW_BFt7Pg4_XJ14num9LWkol3dmB4bZG-acw1RYWK_oaiheznoP0hecEQAzwvbynqYKaXdbNMci3ziAPI5qfzefV-3Tr-tNlGZSGRbXGS9rDW6KpeMHhkZDJfBlFXHE/s400/IMG_0959.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellowhammer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After a lunch from Cookies Crab Shop, we wandered around Cley for the rest of the afternoon. There were plenty of hirundines swooping around and my first<b> Yellow Wagtail </b>of the year were spotted. Also a first for the year were<b> Little Ringed Plover</b>, <b>Ruff</b> and just as we were leaving, two<br />
<b>Wheatear</b>.<br />
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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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6klNktEY0nlPn66jjPJu1OpWAGsbHyBPeYkIuG53gT7yINCxjaHJUQf4HQc8P1hCmhntvU76oGoPKZxLyFxIJODzFidhPmnDFKKAaeRMZQshzb_lN8AEX_k2LnRT3oy9qX4mNzjX7WcuG/s1600/IMG_0984.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6klNktEY0nlPn66jjPJu1OpWAGsbHyBPeYkIuG53gT7yINCxjaHJUQf4HQc8P1hCmhntvU76oGoPKZxLyFxIJODzFidhPmnDFKKAaeRMZQshzb_lN8AEX_k2LnRT3oy9qX4mNzjX7WcuG/s400/IMG_0984.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Avocet</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bfbhD5cBpW5ULWtFne6ksQNo88fSWp-G48GbNLD7jgWK4SWBrkgZGUpsr_kRRp21oJJ3TWS5PPM1ZrLwt9QiOEqevqFnuAbUfb4T8g17uQZ7RPY-WieGRoDGmL0FIJmXOdkIZ_AMRsRB/s1600/IMG_0994.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7bfbhD5cBpW5ULWtFne6ksQNo88fSWp-G48GbNLD7jgWK4SWBrkgZGUpsr_kRRp21oJJ3TWS5PPM1ZrLwt9QiOEqevqFnuAbUfb4T8g17uQZ7RPY-WieGRoDGmL0FIJmXOdkIZ_AMRsRB/s400/IMG_0994.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Egret</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHSTaqggHfWp2IajPfPCH2uuYwfpoH6gVdN0IlncBS76lA01rLbDd_01jaenno2kx6G3sBiRLUoavwFzJtCiigvaPpmGAeIZ0cglfnw9lR_ZYqz0SFalzZClJbrDB25mSc24yX8oIsrm1/s1600/IMG_0996.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYHSTaqggHfWp2IajPfPCH2uuYwfpoH6gVdN0IlncBS76lA01rLbDd_01jaenno2kx6G3sBiRLUoavwFzJtCiigvaPpmGAeIZ0cglfnw9lR_ZYqz0SFalzZClJbrDB25mSc24yX8oIsrm1/s400/IMG_0996.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brent Goose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIcYR1v-Hkpq_G6hBNpy1e-GCA6cCABre49UEZeGX30mfkJ6M7MrdPae9-9RbId2htCRy_-FeEuRispJo-nGe-FJNEHGT2xYkM-VsybXOxI10BM5On-EVq78LnAXE1gNeX27A7jVd3XNH/s1600/IMG_0997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIcYR1v-Hkpq_G6hBNpy1e-GCA6cCABre49UEZeGX30mfkJ6M7MrdPae9-9RbId2htCRy_-FeEuRispJo-nGe-FJNEHGT2xYkM-VsybXOxI10BM5On-EVq78LnAXE1gNeX27A7jVd3XNH/s400/IMG_0997.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cley Beach</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwx7edI06_8IgIGPT2_V7Gx6wZIc5K-FIBTOoPMyE8kirU7g85fXlPPaH-9CZ8zmqYUmB1Waydcmvb9YWmeC1LpR0FtwVIuN6PnornTun_aIDGeFScSGZfc0eZMMwtxdDR-elKG_IdPzZb/s1600/IMG_1015+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwx7edI06_8IgIGPT2_V7Gx6wZIc5K-FIBTOoPMyE8kirU7g85fXlPPaH-9CZ8zmqYUmB1Waydcmvb9YWmeC1LpR0FtwVIuN6PnornTun_aIDGeFScSGZfc0eZMMwtxdDR-elKG_IdPzZb/s400/IMG_1015+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wheatear</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Before breakfast on Sunday morning we popped out to Kelling Heath where we got a bit carried away (and mildly lost) and nearly missed breakfast! The highlight was 3 <b>Dartford Warbler</b>, singing away at the tops of their voices.<br />
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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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wPuEukEqr4iFSdmpeJjck08ij4nMo62MSnBSIuQ4dxQEd-4I9YFSho0n-faKM8PdbUaLG9wH9G3uQwTntwkNiub6PHFOKTba4GtJSlCWux8tmdlwyoLNeR9p6mDunjadVQd70RYuxOG7/s1600/IMG_1036.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-wPuEukEqr4iFSdmpeJjck08ij4nMo62MSnBSIuQ4dxQEd-4I9YFSho0n-faKM8PdbUaLG9wH9G3uQwTntwkNiub6PHFOKTba4GtJSlCWux8tmdlwyoLNeR9p6mDunjadVQd70RYuxOG7/s400/IMG_1036.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kelling Heath is beautiful</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FQFTmCRkvRPV9jW5zjc4BC1i4YmlddUQA-3bKkz091BCaZTYSN7zW2OzB3lJ-C7Wz9MD4zHOSFVS-AwyO_n0vu6An7eGwSthKLctpmT_VxqempN53_ogewkJFCMpZvliHd_jndYk70eB/s1600/IMG_1025+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3FQFTmCRkvRPV9jW5zjc4BC1i4YmlddUQA-3bKkz091BCaZTYSN7zW2OzB3lJ-C7Wz9MD4zHOSFVS-AwyO_n0vu6An7eGwSthKLctpmT_VxqempN53_ogewkJFCMpZvliHd_jndYk70eB/s400/IMG_1025+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dartford Warbler</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUsMvcYCEy8GDKtmYHigZ_TJRPhTiT51sJ7yJgQhUahHDZb0jBywpj1IdS99BRfVofw0OOopZNJzsWzfuMMMvCyltvCUbrm2EXY3nyjDjfDqHViA6neww8gbpQCkmXTnHU5ZD_6SKfJOV/s1600/IMG_1019+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTUsMvcYCEy8GDKtmYHigZ_TJRPhTiT51sJ7yJgQhUahHDZb0jBywpj1IdS99BRfVofw0OOopZNJzsWzfuMMMvCyltvCUbrm2EXY3nyjDjfDqHViA6neww8gbpQCkmXTnHU5ZD_6SKfJOV/s400/IMG_1019+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellowhammer</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
After a brief stop off at Choseley, where there were three <b>Ring Ouzel</b>, the rest of the afternoon was spent at glorious Titchwell. A <b>Water Rail</b> was a first for a very long time and both the <b>Cetti's Warbler </b>and<b> Bearded Tit </b>population were showing remarkably well. A couple of <b>White Wagtail </b>were seen but unfortunately yet again we missed the Water Pipit. Out on the beach I was happy to have a flock of <b>Sanderling</b> descend (one of my favourite birds!) and there was a <b>Great Crested Grebe </b>bobbing away out on the sea. The walk back to the car got us our second lot of<b> Siskin</b> for the weekend and then it was time for the long drive home.<br />
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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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFl7kAjMXdNBfTXmvsM-0UkDVUDgAVBZ_fCChaYug9SE0b8WsSsZA1k9MLpcjdR9183g6h_X8dmFpbum5F8-hT7i4nqO8BGyYV9C8t1YRHbGLI_d30qk78Lh5a3tFF8jNck9tiHRo00Qk/s1600/IMG_1043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaFl7kAjMXdNBfTXmvsM-0UkDVUDgAVBZ_fCChaYug9SE0b8WsSsZA1k9MLpcjdR9183g6h_X8dmFpbum5F8-hT7i4nqO8BGyYV9C8t1YRHbGLI_d30qk78Lh5a3tFF8jNck9tiHRo00Qk/s400/IMG_1043.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water Rail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUkUOL1DX-Rm-EY-jCw6iVaUnlh8iLrVmNiXGyijuasdRLgwIer_CGz8UPKTIMMv3KWRSeYjTw_4ES9WJOqoRMqse3GAUsJ0b0fAtcUTTI77ITUlHw3uzIOFQeFiQJGc-pN_UVxl12gJ5/s1600/IMG_1057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFUkUOL1DX-Rm-EY-jCw6iVaUnlh8iLrVmNiXGyijuasdRLgwIer_CGz8UPKTIMMv3KWRSeYjTw_4ES9WJOqoRMqse3GAUsJ0b0fAtcUTTI77ITUlHw3uzIOFQeFiQJGc-pN_UVxl12gJ5/s400/IMG_1057.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brent Goose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAVtJ8dmRxb9uTSD77MhEuxmUioYsPUuXMIdpDOyNezI4blsmaK8SLuxluFWvj3NgAwImXMOxFlpSD3EPKHXrmet8K0uLktnU58X4oI3AluM1jl_5IcgKV2pqDUt9xwfY9thrzXXL8zhyphenhyphen/s1600/IMG_1062.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdAVtJ8dmRxb9uTSD77MhEuxmUioYsPUuXMIdpDOyNezI4blsmaK8SLuxluFWvj3NgAwImXMOxFlpSD3EPKHXrmet8K0uLktnU58X4oI3AluM1jl_5IcgKV2pqDUt9xwfY9thrzXXL8zhyphenhyphen/s400/IMG_1062.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sanderling <3</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
It should also be noted that this trip (the Ring Ouzel specifically) took me over my 2015 total for the whole year! I did not have a good birding year last year...<br />
<br />
Year list: 172<br />
Lifers this year: 10<br />
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Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-36555575862461939332016-04-03T16:57:00.000+01:002016-05-31T23:28:43.727+01:003rd April 2016 - DungenessA lovely spring day lead to a trip to Dungeness. A brief sea watch didn't produce much but a wander onto the NNR had a lovely male <b>Black Redstart</b> and quite a few incredible views of <b>Firecrest</b>. My first Swallow of the year flew over but there were no other hirundines seen that day. <br />
<br />
Onto the RSPB reserve and the first bird over was a <b>Sparrowhawk</b>. Looking out from the first hide, we spotted our first terns of the year, <b>Sandwich Tern</b> and <b>Common Tern</b>. There were a few <b>Common Gull </b>around and both <b>Bearded Tit </b>and<b> Cetti's Warbler </b>were seen from the viewpoint. There were also the first few <b>Sedge Warbler</b> of the year.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJCcFpw9BXlIZ1gPa5pfDtFkYAraz8b9-_DJFc-dpz5Jv-pG5r2mAE2DkGZ5kAp53xwFYs0vfrhZ-vYSwgDJlaWVXqsOnZf1fAAYbImW0zQ9qjVpF5G4rkZOShniBva_bKYClgrMyVZlZ/s1600/IMG_0911.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbJCcFpw9BXlIZ1gPa5pfDtFkYAraz8b9-_DJFc-dpz5Jv-pG5r2mAE2DkGZ5kAp53xwFYs0vfrhZ-vYSwgDJlaWVXqsOnZf1fAAYbImW0zQ9qjVpF5G4rkZOShniBva_bKYClgrMyVZlZ/s400/IMG_0911.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Firecrest </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFYlN8_r-rCI3mH0pa5zyK6yMop3OWP8HTNS0Oe7GYa7bn76yDxg17p0iwTjnJs7Unl8_0a9JdjYEUMMkFHAHcoU6dLM7QYGw5VwuzL4qTS-R7GHyaw79kzBEnNFmckoXKRi-cp_aQnFf/s1600/IMG_0914+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFYlN8_r-rCI3mH0pa5zyK6yMop3OWP8HTNS0Oe7GYa7bn76yDxg17p0iwTjnJs7Unl8_0a9JdjYEUMMkFHAHcoU6dLM7QYGw5VwuzL4qTS-R7GHyaw79kzBEnNFmckoXKRi-cp_aQnFf/s400/IMG_0914+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Firecrest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Year list: 158<br />
Lifers this year: 10Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com0Dungeness, Romney Marsh, Kent TN29, UK50.919325 0.96528000000000730.4829425 -40.343313999999992 71.3557075 42.273874000000006tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-60714679902997258372016-02-21T16:12:00.000+00:002016-05-31T23:28:43.730+01:0019th to 21st February 2016 - The MidlandsOur jaunt to the Midlands for the Warwick University Beer Festival came round quickly. We had a slight detour to a local site where <b>Hoopoe</b> had been for quite a long time and were happy to spend time with it as it wandered around. We also headed to Brandon Marsh twice (the second time as I was rather ill and had to forfeit the annual trip to Draycote Water, sniff). There were the usual suspects at Brandon with a Marsh/Willow Tit (anyone know which is the more common here?) and an unexpected female <b>Goosander</b>.<br />
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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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lAVS6Vy2LK86wsoJXHrjUTTgoGqBX0pQobcKZ5LyKnXlK-cV8xJ2jBzqzppMy4e4Bx7dMm7yDCBtL8_p74Y4OfMBKqOPgkl9TaMkk2t7XiOR4agBqcM6mZkYZnO_xzX6PPojJmPiCbKW/s1600/IMG_0872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9lAVS6Vy2LK86wsoJXHrjUTTgoGqBX0pQobcKZ5LyKnXlK-cV8xJ2jBzqzppMy4e4Bx7dMm7yDCBtL8_p74Y4OfMBKqOPgkl9TaMkk2t7XiOR4agBqcM6mZkYZnO_xzX6PPojJmPiCbKW/s400/IMG_0872.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hoopoe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-Bj6YGrcigGvugC02tLWHcsN4r62Fy6cwUPrMy2kRxWMryrQ8eBHx6EHlqUHy3p75iSxqFGfgiRp4Js7kOCnkL1rHFL47HmpOA10Mm2FwQJgijDEzq-DwekbjmLtjIjOTaKo-r8tjH3v/s1600/IMG_0891.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-Bj6YGrcigGvugC02tLWHcsN4r62Fy6cwUPrMy2kRxWMryrQ8eBHx6EHlqUHy3p75iSxqFGfgiRp4Js7kOCnkL1rHFL47HmpOA10Mm2FwQJgijDEzq-DwekbjmLtjIjOTaKo-r8tjH3v/s400/IMG_0891.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Unexpected Goosander</td></tr>
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Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com0Brandon Marsh, Coventry, Warwickshire CV8 3ET, UK52.3754938 -1.431312599999955631.9391113 -42.739906599999955 72.8118763 39.877281400000044tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-91697337842013533692016-02-15T23:30:00.000+00:002016-05-31T23:32:15.910+01:0013th to 14th February 2016 - Norfolk Just two weeks later, we were back up in Norfolk agaim, although due to a mixture of illness (me) and late night drinking (Stuart), we didn't actually get there until around 2pm on the Saturday. The first stop was at Lynford in hope of Hawfinch, but we didn't spot any mid afternoon. We did however add <b>Nuthatch</b> to the year list, yay! We took a brief detour after to Brancaster Staithe, where a <b>Red-necked Grebe</b> had been reported and we spotted it before we even stopped the car, best views we'd ever had! There were also plenty of waders around, including <b>Curlew</b>, <b>Bar-tailed Godwit</b> and <b>Grey Plover</b>. The last visit of the day was back to Holkham Hall for the <b>Ferruginous Duck</b>, which had appeared the day after our last visit. It was dozing when we arrived, but a <b>Mallard </b>kindly woke it up and it had a small swim around before going back to dreamland. <br />
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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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJgq-jGE599_NgNPAMR8CQl8PJk9U1ghtVijS7o6VX8JdkBrWOhUDRofoZLySgTQIxJR9KxBRg62jQtDahfINSk6P7a240Wl3RWSGkOg7sRUMqc4q5l94FliX55CW958-1hdHB1BSML9H/s1600/IMG_0760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaJgq-jGE599_NgNPAMR8CQl8PJk9U1ghtVijS7o6VX8JdkBrWOhUDRofoZLySgTQIxJR9KxBRg62jQtDahfINSk6P7a240Wl3RWSGkOg7sRUMqc4q5l94FliX55CW958-1hdHB1BSML9H/s400/IMG_0760.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-necked Grebe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We started the Sunday off in freezing and windy conditions at Blakeney Marsh, where, third time lucky, we saw a <b>Lapland Bunting</b>. There were also 7 <b>Twite</b>, and seconds after I mentioned that I had seen on Twitter that there had been <b>Jack Snipe</b>, one kindly flew. On the walk back to the car, Scandinavian<b> Rock Pipit </b>and a pair of <b>Red-breasted Merganser</b> were also seen.<br />
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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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LxEOZNMVROcML2Y1pxoK-n-YH2n6zos9e8WEPRWYJ2rJzwl1dwvVoayxDViJxSrBBwyZgSyn2AZugQjb_8jrnM3cwArZy1wud2l7cnvP3arfOAVItEKkccMRaguHHdZzODnqmcqB_nUv/s1600/IMG_0814+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8LxEOZNMVROcML2Y1pxoK-n-YH2n6zos9e8WEPRWYJ2rJzwl1dwvVoayxDViJxSrBBwyZgSyn2AZugQjb_8jrnM3cwArZy1wud2l7cnvP3arfOAVItEKkccMRaguHHdZzODnqmcqB_nUv/s400/IMG_0814+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bad photo of Lapland Bunting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Two more sites that only provided a couple of birds (but included year listers!) were visited before lunch, which were Hickling Green, where a <b>Woodcock</b> flew low in front of the car as we were passing through and Acle Bridge, where the highlight was a pair of <b>Crane</b>. <br />
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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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxDKstDoP4ravZRqOrkASvmukumbF985g9Sq5njS4OQvMQyGR5G_4lMWL1LDr6u6qlweb6AS3W6kS5LydkDwbgdfxrd6abaOIyl10hxE9En-83EVn9QrPf30EfDgSwYtWBHsulvVdOOhw/s1600/IMG_0816.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxDKstDoP4ravZRqOrkASvmukumbF985g9Sq5njS4OQvMQyGR5G_4lMWL1LDr6u6qlweb6AS3W6kS5LydkDwbgdfxrd6abaOIyl10hxE9En-83EVn9QrPf30EfDgSwYtWBHsulvVdOOhw/s400/IMG_0816.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reed Bunting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbXoVzPVYYAAIRce2lGJ-H4znJGwovx_tt6xgfrsPlzTkj4UJkPBX2Ipr-mC-A9bgSIR-de3ShoBmWbpwkH1fvbaeMs7tkuTjr3CB2vtu5H_2BA0_CmBcQBNIOaV_OmOXCQMt033oXE7b/s1600/IMG_0864.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQbXoVzPVYYAAIRce2lGJ-H4znJGwovx_tt6xgfrsPlzTkj4UJkPBX2Ipr-mC-A9bgSIR-de3ShoBmWbpwkH1fvbaeMs7tkuTjr3CB2vtu5H_2BA0_CmBcQBNIOaV_OmOXCQMt033oXE7b/s400/IMG_0864.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crane!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Last for the short weekend was a small stop in Burgh St Peter, where a <b>Cattle Egret </b>had been hanging around for a short while. As we arrived we spotted it, but it flew off seconds later, not to be seen again. Lucky timing!<br />
<br />
<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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzUcya28FTaLl_Zyp28oRKXMx_yvwzfsGh0IKst_GP0BIqz4rNtd-1L61k8pAmyvjIKNA2QAHE0nSE0ej0yZAJgwiahbVsjrxtN0kmvrSeJjaAzCCd0Gxm5mgnHWRO12NcY1mW7_jKpUD/s1600/IMG_0866.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKzUcya28FTaLl_Zyp28oRKXMx_yvwzfsGh0IKst_GP0BIqz4rNtd-1L61k8pAmyvjIKNA2QAHE0nSE0ej0yZAJgwiahbVsjrxtN0kmvrSeJjaAzCCd0Gxm5mgnHWRO12NcY1mW7_jKpUD/s400/IMG_0866.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cattle Egret</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Year list: 145<br />
Lifers this year: 10Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5068998878829822164.post-42581660076539850432016-02-07T23:41:00.000+00:002016-02-15T00:30:18.129+00:007th February 2016 - Thursley CommonWe were hoping to head to see some geese including a possible escaped RBG but I was decidedly well into a bad phase of illness by the weekend so we decided to try and have a short walk around Thursley instead. Five minutes after we arrived there was a flash hail storm despite it being beautifully sunny and after a 'thunk' behind me, I turned around to see Stuart, scope and all, firmly fallen off the boardwalk and knee deep in water. Donkey. <br />
<br />
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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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiripDeZ5s2n4MGVg4X6o03aZjjVtGuckZA0KOtF08Jh4UvYizr1MWShZ07s0nSAzYRC9Pl-yJjBbgqz3Dhm4zI4JTVI5EYe14n4JLNPxB52MfpN2Ix1_RajYut9T780vxaOZmBysgY-Jp2/s1600/IMG_0739.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiripDeZ5s2n4MGVg4X6o03aZjjVtGuckZA0KOtF08Jh4UvYizr1MWShZ07s0nSAzYRC9Pl-yJjBbgqz3Dhm4zI4JTVI5EYe14n4JLNPxB52MfpN2Ix1_RajYut9T780vxaOZmBysgY-Jp2/s400/IMG_0739.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rainbow!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div>
The common was pretty quiet, but we caught up with two <b>Great Grey Shrike</b>, as well as a split second view of a <b>Dartford Warbler</b>. </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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKF4jc8RLIRb5W2PqFD1U_Xu6ASPh7KEDlxtz3ba5WVYFPGi-F9DN70IOFZ1VAjzk_MM1Z2PI7ZqiZ5E7iT1HO5fcIKr65npF38QRqLJHN-98xl_-2qgYxTVo3dimltX5oOGQhehi2gJ87/s1600/IMG_0744+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKF4jc8RLIRb5W2PqFD1U_Xu6ASPh7KEDlxtz3ba5WVYFPGi-F9DN70IOFZ1VAjzk_MM1Z2PI7ZqiZ5E7iT1HO5fcIKr65npF38QRqLJHN-98xl_-2qgYxTVo3dimltX5oOGQhehi2gJ87/s400/IMG_0744+%25282%2529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awful photo of GGS</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Also, Ollie 'I hate dogs' Simms, had a beautiful moment with one...</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFY-X6Eci1D-Ck5mY31yGArBEjUXmGy-awD4bEfRQVWst9UHfrustYdpVU3oJ4kKB_fKPutqbXThigFFj7g4SBIpwTcQksyLHnw-F4i-4q7ainNCVHnI044fTfDjsWmi2u-Am-m01WDUr/s1600/IMG_0751+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVFY-X6Eci1D-Ck5mY31yGArBEjUXmGy-awD4bEfRQVWst9UHfrustYdpVU3oJ4kKB_fKPutqbXThigFFj7g4SBIpwTcQksyLHnw-F4i-4q7ainNCVHnI044fTfDjsWmi2u-Am-m01WDUr/s320/IMG_0751+%25282%2529.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br />Year list: 137<br />
Lifers this year: 9</div>
Thérèsehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10563829359798085564noreply@blogger.com0