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New Years Day
7am and we are with Moez Ali at the Sweetwater Sewage Works, Tucson, Arizona. It is cold, very cold and the first hints of light are in the sky. We are all looking intently at a cactus plant, nowhere else, no one even thinks of scanning around, we only have eyes for this particular cactus. Birds are calling behind us, no one turns, we watch and wait. There! Under the bush, it’s there! Cactus Wren, bird number one of The Biggest Twitch. Arizonas state bird and in its rightful habitat it kicks off our big year. With Bird number one under the belt and the one we wanted, we are now free to bird like crazy – so we did. Sweetwater quickly provided a further 40 species and then we headed off for Madera Canyon. Thankfully by now the temperature had risen above freezing and we began...
16/06/2010 17:07
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Tucson sewage works a fowl place
Bit of a cliché going birding at the sewage works but that’s just what we did. Sweetwater Treatment Works, Tucson doesn’t look like any sewage works we’ve been to before. A parking area is provided for birders with information boards and even a loo. Then a trail takes you around the pools which viewing pavilions overlooking them. But best of all, the place is heaving with birds. Never seen so many Yellow-rumped Warblers in one place, Orange-crowned Warblers were common and a Summer Tanager was unexpected. But the pools really provide the birds, Shoveler, Pintail, American Wigeon, Cinnamon, Green and Blue Winged Teal, Goldeneye, Ruddy Duck, Ring-necked Duck….amazing and all so close. Add to this, birds such as Sora, Harris’s Hawk, American Pipit and you...
16/06/2010 16:43
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Back home to North Wales and great excitement!
After a very long journey home, Quito, Houston, Newark, Manchester, we finally touched down in the UK. A bit of a shock stepping out into the sub-zero temperatures, great though to see the smiling face of John Roberts, our great friend and unofficial Biggest Twitch taxi driver, again getting up early and braving the icy roads to collect us. John soon had us on the road back home and we picked up a few UK year ticks along the way, Grey Heron, Fieldfare, Common Buzzard etc. It was great to see the mountains of North Wales covered in snow and the flat calm sea cobalt blue, not a bad place to come home to, very glad it wasn’t lashing with rain and blowing a gale. We had not been back home long when a very excited Steve Culley, birding friend and Anglesey County Recorder, was on the...
13/08/2009 15:05
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Into Arunachal Pradesh
6th December. Into Arunachal Pradesh With our new travelling companions, Philip and Pauline, two engineering professors from Alabama, USA, as well as Sudesh Pradhan and Rofic Islam, two of Peter’s eagle-eyed bird guides, and of course, Peter Lobo himself, we made quite convoy to our new destination of Dirang in the foothills of the Himalayas. A noticeable change in climate as we moved up from the warmth of the plains to the cold of the mountains, so we piled on the layers. The afternoon was spent exploring the Sangti Valley where we added Black-tailed Crake and Long-billed Plover to our list. Bird species total: 4174 The Biggest Twitch website will remain online in 2009 to keep you up to date with our birding adventures and let you know how we settle back into normal life, if we...
13/08/2009 15:05
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Tiger Camp to Jungle Lore, Nainital
17th November. The day began in fine style with a pair of Collared Scops Owls roosting in a tree just yards from the breakfast table! We said goodbye to Tiger Camp, a lovely place and ideal birding base for Corbett, and began the long drive up to Nainital, a Himalayan Hill Station. We birded as we drove of course and picked up great birds such as Maroon Oriole, Golden-fronted Leafbird and Crested Bunting. A loud call from a patch of woodland had us screeching to a halt, Himalayan Flameback woodpecker, not one but a pair showing off just yards away. We were about to jump back in the car when a green bird flew across the road and vanished. We waited and scanned, nothing, then it swept over again and this time landed in view. What a bird, Blue-bearded Bee-eater and a real stunner, what is...
13/08/2009 15:04
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End of the tour
We survived! A whistle-stop fast-paced tour down the east coast of Australia with Iain Campbell of Tropical Birding! Not for the faint-hearted but a keen birder's dream, this has been a rapid tour around all the best birding sites in this part of Australia, from mallee to mulga, pelagics, mangrove swamps, rainforest and dry savanna. And the birding's been phenomenal: 415 species seen in just 19 days adding a huge number of new species to our list. Looking down the checklist we just about saw everything possible! How to list all the highlights? We've seen every Australian family while in Australia, and all but one of those on this trip: Southern Cassowary, Plains-wanderer, Riflebirds, Parrots, Cockatoos, Raptors, Robins, Fairy Penguin and Fairy-wrens... And of course not forgetting the...
13/08/2009 15:04
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Birding the rainforest of Mount Lewis
Chowchilla and Noisy Pitta head up the list of fantastic birds we had here, well worth the 4.30am departure! Creeping through the undergrowth as quietly as possible, quite a challenge with a group of 7 birders, our stealth was rewarded with really good views of a pair of Chowchilla, Tooth-billed Catbird at its bower (this should really be called a bower bird) and glimpses of several Noisy Pitta. Other highlights here included White-throated Treecreeper, Eastern Whipbird, both Yellow-throated and Atherton Scrub Wrens and the diminutive Fernwren lurking in the shadows. The rest of the day was spent birding a variety of sites around Mareeba, adding Brolga (crane), Squatter Pigeon and Pale-headed Rosella to our list. Bird species total: 3576, 87 to go! Posted 24th October, Mareeba, Queensland
13/08/2009 15:04
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22nd Oct recap: Daintree River to Mareeba
The day started with a relaxing but birdy trip on the Daintree River with our captain and guide, Ian. Being down at water level gave us stunning views of male and female Shining Flycatchers, and the bizarre Papuan Frogmouth, while we also added Great-billed Heron, which lived up to its name, to our list. After breakfast, we jumped in the bus and drove to the beautiful Wonga Beach where we quickly added Collared Kingfisher and Pacific Reef Heron, but no time to admire the beach, as we had more sites to visit. Sides Creek gave us Yellow-breasted Boatbill, and then it was on to Lake Mitchell, where we enjoyed watching the masses of waterbirds and wildfowl. We added Magpie Goose, Red combed Jacana and had great views of a party of Red backed Fairy-wrens. On again to Mareeba where we stayed...
13/08/2009 15:04
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21st October recap: Cassowary House to Daintree
We were out at dawn searching the forest trails for surprise, surprise, a Cassowary. Sue Gregory, our host, had provided us with a mobile phone which she would call if the bird should appear around the house while we were out on the trails. Sure enough, the phone rang when we were a good long distance from the house, but we legged back nonetheless and, a little breathless, crept around the corner of the house to be confronted with an enormous apparition: a Cassowary! A huge ostrich-like bird with a black body, the most enormous feet, a long neck with patches of orange and blue, and a triangular horn on the top of its head. But no picture in the field guide can prepare you for the real thing! Other birds in the rainforest around here included Victoria’s Riflebird, Spectacled and Pied...
13/08/2009 15:04
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20th October recap: Out to sea again!
A recap of our boat trip to Michaelmas Cay Early morning, we boarded the Seastar at Cairns harbour in perfectly calm conditions. But once again we were fooled as, immediately we were out of the protection of the harbour, the waves began to pick up and Alan began to go green. An hour and a half into the journey, the inevitable happened and his breakfast went over the side. When we eventually reached the sandbar known as Michaelmas Cay, we were immediately surrounded by Sooty Terns and Brown Noddys. A noisy spectacle, the typical hive of activity of a tern colony with birds swooping low over us and greeting each other with raucous calls. We also added Lesser Crested Tern, Great Crested Tern, Black-naped Tern, Bridled Tern, Black Noddy and Brown Booby. All too soon it was time to return to...
13/08/2009 15:04
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Birding Western Australia
Back online again! We flew from Cape Town to Perth on 9th October, arriving early morning of 10th and headed straight out south towards Albany on the South Coast. It was a much longer drive than we'd anticipated - distances are vast here - and took up most of the day with a few stops en route as we tried hard not to fall asleep at the wheel. Highlights on the road were Australian Shelduck, Wedge-tailed Eagle, Welcome Swallow, Galah, Western Rosella and Crested Shrike-Tit.We arrived at Cheyne Beach at dusk. Our first Kangaroos, Western Grays, were seen beside the road to the campsite. At first light next morning we explored the area having woken to the call of Western Whipbird around our cabin. Red-eared Firetail, Brush Bronzewing, Western Spinebill, Noisy Scrubbird, Red-capped Parrot and...
13/08/2009 15:04
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From Satara to Lower Sabie
We left Satara and drove slowly south birding, and mammal-ing, as we went. The journey was slow as we kept on seeing amazing stuff. Every few hundred metres another bird or mammal would have us braking. Even before we had loaded the car we had enjoyed close up views of such delights as Crested Barbet, Green Woodhoopoe and Natal Francolin. As we turned onto the road south we encountered Lilac-breasted Rollers and Magpie Shrikes, none of these new but we just could not resist another look! This was how the day flew by, drive a bit, stop, drive, stop. We also eventually found internet access at Skukuza camp and spent the hottest hours of the day trying to catch up on admin. The internet was very slow so we are still way behind with emails, apologies if you still have not had a reply, we will...
13/08/2009 15:04
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Birding around Satara Rest Camp
7th Sept. Update on our birding in South Africa, finally found internet access so see below for more blogs. We spent the day birding the savannah around camp. New birds are hard to come by with Mosque Swallow as our only definite new bird. But Gray-headed Parrot is pending, as this species does not seem to be recognised by Clements’ taxonomy, yet. Some great mammals again today, with a magnificent male Lion topping the list. At lunchtime, as we wrote up our bird notes back at our rondavel in the heat of the day, we shared our table with Crested Barbets, Red- and Yellow-billed Hornbills, Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starlings, Natal Francolins and Arrow-marked Babblers – it all became rather crowded! After dark we took a night drive and saw Southern White-faced Owl, a new bird...
13/08/2009 15:04
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We survive a firestorm!
Shaken but still birding. Well we will not forget 31st August in a hurry, first because we caught up with Wattled Crane, a bogey bird for Alan, and second for not such a good reason. We spent the morning birding the mid lands and scored some great birds, Cape rock Thrush, Cape robin Chat, Red winged Francolin, Cape Vulture and of course the wonderful cranes. After a long morning, we left St. Lucia at 4am, we were ready for our lunch. As we drove looking out for a likely eating house grass fires were blazing on hillsides at many places, fanned by gale force winds. We found a café and pulled in to the car park, a grass fire was an impressive sight on the hillside above with huge flames leaping into the air. We joked that we could watch the fire as we ate lunch. We had a few...
13/08/2009 15:04
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Down to Amazonia Lodge 31st July
Further from civilisation! The whole day was spent travelling along the Manu Road from the Cock-of-the-Rock Lodge down into the jungle and eventually to Amazonia Lodge. As we slowly descended, the heat and humidity increased as did the biting insects, but we also saw some great birds. Stopping each time we encountered a feeding flock we enjoyed such delights as Bluish-fronted Jacamar, Paradise Tanager, Versicoloured Barbet, Orange-cheeked Tanager, Many-spotted Hummingbird, White-winged Shrike-Tanager, and Plum-throated Cotinga. Late in the afternoon, we reached the river at Atalaya, where we then took a motorised canoe downstream for half an hour, then a 15 minute walk through the jungle to eventually reach Amazonia Lodge at dusk. The highlight of the boat trip was Fasciated Tiger-Heron...
13/08/2009 15:04
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Tanagers provide a riot of colour
Early morning we again birded the railway line beside the river at Aguas Calientes. Tanagers were definitely the highlight of our birding. These included the very colourful Saffron-crowned Tanager, turquoise blue with a gold and orange head; Blue-necked Tanager; Beryl-spangled Tanager; Rust-and-yellow Tanager; Silver-backed Tanager; and Blue-capped Tanager. Keeping the colour theme going, we also had Orange-bellied Euphonia, Russet-backed Oropendola, Blue Dacnis, Black-backed Grosbeak, Slate-throated Redstart. We also enjoyed watching a pair of Cinnamon Flycatchers feeding from branches hanging over the river. The river itself again held Torrent Tyrannulet, Black Phoebe, White-capped Dipper and Torrent Duck. On our way back to the village, we added our one new bird of the day, a very...
13/08/2009 15:04
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In Rio
Now on 2738. Our last day at REGUA proved a little frustrating as we spent a lot of time in the car and little time birding, but these things happen, we didn't realise the distances envolved. But we did add nine new species - Golden Cheveroned Tanager, Blue naped Chlorophonia, Plain Parakeet, Mantled Hawk, Chesnut crowned Becard, Marron bellied Parakeet, Saphire spangled Emerald, Uniform Finch, Sharpbill so not bad. We then left REGUA and headed down to Rio and today we move on to Sao Paulo before arriving in Peru on the 15th. We would like to thank Nicholas and all the great people at REGUA - what a wonderful place! If you ever get the chance go there, you will see great birds and help surport all the amazing conservation work and help spread the word!
13/08/2009 15:04
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Birding the Bamboo and Cacao Trails
The morning was spent birding the forest where stands of particularly large bamboo grow. Plenty of birds kept us busy throughout the morning as we encountered several feeding flocks and enjoyed great views of some real skulkers. Highlights included White-browed Antbird, Rufuous-throated Sapphire hummingbird, Moustached Wren, White-eyed Antwren, Chestnut-crowned Foliage-gleaner, Ringed Woodpecker, Band-tailed Manakin, Thrush-like Antpitta, Blue-cheeked Jacamar, Amazonian Antshrike, Dusky-capped Greenlet, Striped Woodpecker, Pygmy Antwren, Bar-breasted Piculet, Glossy Antshrike, Amazonian Antwren, all new for our list. The afternoon was spent birding the forest on the opposite side of the river on the Cacao Trail. In contrast to this morning, new birds were hard to find and we only managed...
13/08/2009 15:04
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Swarming with birds!
More new birds, more new trails. By now we are back in the game of target birding in this area, and with that in mind we took the Caja trail at first light this morning. Cream-coloured Woodpecker got us off to a good start, quickly followed by White-capped, Snow-capped and Flame-crested Manakins, Long-tailed Woodcreeper and Chestnut-belted Gnateater. We came across a swarm of army ants, and choosing our spot with care to make sure we weren’t in the way of the marching ants, we crouched down to watch the feeding frenzy that ensued. We were treated to great views of Bare-eyed Antbird, Black-spotted Bare-eye, White-backed Fire-eye, Scale-backed Antbird, and causing concern amongst the other birds with its sudden arrival, the recently-described Cryptic Forest Falcon. What a show! In the...
13/08/2009 15:04
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Birding at Caiman Lodge
Twenty-seven new species today! With an early start, we spent the whole day birding around the reserve here until well after dark. Dawn highlights included Yellow-chinned Spinetail, Purplish Jay, Green-barred Woodpecker, Thrush-like Wren, and Blue-throated Piping-Guan. Forest areas provided Chestnut-vented Conebill, Yellow-browed Tyrant, Variable Antshrike, and Guira Tanager. OK, we did go back to the lodge for a delicious lunch, but were straight in the field again for more birds: Masked Gnatcatcher, Black-hooded Parakeet, Golden-green Woodpecker, Hooded Tanager and Black-tailed Tityra. In the evening we added Green Ibis, Bare-faced Curassow, Plush-crowned Jay and after dark, Ferruginous Pygmy-Owl, Tropical Screech-Owl and heard Ash-throated Crake.We also added some more mammals to our...
13/08/2009 15:04
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Last ptry for Ptarmigan!
Our last chance for this bird, so 5am saw just the two of us and Pekka braving the grim conditions. As we gained in altitude, so the rain became more persistent, then became snow and then became the full-blown white-out conditions of a blizzard – and we were in search of a white bird! Turning our collars up against the wind, we followed the trail out of the car park and up onto the open moorland, plodding uphill through deepening snow and straight into the teeth of the biting wind. Stopping intermittently, we peered through the snowstorm, hoping to see an elusive white Ptarmigan shuffling amongst the rocks, but alas the birds had more sense than us. Not a single Ptarmigan showed itself, though we were amazed to see a Wheatear struggling to survive in these conditions, and more...
13/08/2009 15:04
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We reach Brazil and great birds
Eighteen new birds in a few hours. After thirty hours travelling, including three flights delayed, we finally made to Campo Grande, Brazil, the gateway to the Pantanal. We were met at the airport by our friend Fernanda Melo, great to see a smiling friendly face after our long journey. We were soon at our hotel and just time for a quick wash before we were out birding. We visited some parks, one a nature reserve, around Campo Grande and with Fernanda’s local knowledge quickly scored 18 new birds for the year. No doubt about bird of the day for us, Toco Toucan, our mascot bird now on our year list. However it was a close run thing as we gazed in amazement at a male Helmeted Manakin, jet black with a crimson red crown and nape, the feathers above the bill protruding like a Rhino horn!...
13/08/2009 15:04
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The road to nowhere
Cracking views of Bluethroat. An early scour of the area on the mainland opposite the island of Vardo produced good views of female Steller’s Eider, Red-throated Pipits and breeding-plumaged Lapland Buntings. After breakfast, we set off in convoy along a long narrow lane which skirted the north coast to the hamlet of Hamningberg, a remote community at the far end of this extremely long dead-end road. A very scenic drive, we stopped along the way to scan various bays, inlets, rocky cliffs, small lakes, willow-fringed streams and areas of open bog and rocky tundra. This variety of habitat produced a wide range of birds including Brunnich’s Guillemot and Black Guillemot, Long-tailed Duck, displaying Common Eider with their distinctive ‘whuouh’ call carrying across...
13/08/2009 15:04
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Ten new birds
Pre-breakfast, the two of us plus Mike Duckham drove the back forest roads at Ivalo, saw Parrot Crossbill and Waxwing. First bird after breakfast, just on the outskirts of Ivalo, was a Little Bunting, showing off very close to us. Then we drove north to an area near the Russian Border. Three new birds here: Siberian Jay, Siberian Tit and a family of Hawk Owls. Then we headed towards Ujotski, stopping en route to enjoy fantastic close up views of Pine Grosbeak and Arctic Redpoll at the bird tables of a roadside café. On again, we stopped in the middle of a large bog, where we found another Hawk Owl and added Bluethroat to our list. A roadside lake gave us views of a pair of Bean Goose, our tenth new bird for the day. Bird species total: 2273
13/08/2009 15:04
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In search of more warblers
Booted Warbler provides great excitement! An early morning visit to a local marsh produced River Warbler, Marsh Warbler, Great Reed Warbler, Grasshopper Warbler, Savi's Warbler, and Sedge Warbler - not a bad list! Citrine Wagtails seemed to be all over the marsh, including some stunning males. Rather more unexpectedly, were great views of Lesser-spotted Woodpeckers which were obviously feeding young near by, as they repeatedly visited a clump of willows to collect food before flying off, presumably to feed their young.On to another marsh - hear the undoubted highlight was a pair of Lesser-spotted Eagles, perched in the poplar trees. From here we visited an area of parkland, where after a rather frustrating search, we eventually tracked down a Middle-spotted Woodpecker. The area also held...
13/08/2009 15:04
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Turkey Recap No. 7
25th May The morning was spent birding the Goksu delta and it was a huge relief, given our trials and tribulations in Spain with this bird, to finally see Marbled Teal. And of course, having found one bird, we then found plenty of these subtle but beautiful ducks. The delta is a superb area to bird and time flew by with us seeing such gems as White-throated Kingfisher, Gull-billed and Caspian Terns, Spur-winged Plovers, Bearded Reedlings and Black-headed Wagtails. If you haven't birded here, it comes highly recommended. All too soon it was time to return to our base, the Lades Motel in Tasucu (www.ladesmotel.com), pack our bags and head off for the airport for our return flight to Northern Cyprus. We arrive back at Paphos at midnight, exhausted but elated with our quick and highly...
13/08/2009 15:04
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Chasing the mythical Varied Thrush
American Dipper heads today’s cast of birds. At dawn it was cold, very cold, but the clear sky promised warm sunshine to come and there was no wind, ideal. We began our birding at Goldstream Provincial Park only a few minutes from the motel. The car-park was in a steep sided valley, heavily wooded with a fast flowing stream. It reminded us of parts of Wales, especially the temperature, chilly. We concentrated on the stream as we wanted a very special bird here, American Dipper. Movement caught our eye beneath willows, pair of Goosander, (Common Merganser ), then disturbance mid-channel, a River Otter, we were again treated to close views. Song Sparrows, Orange-crowned and Yellow-rumped Warblers all showed off and Brown Creeper and Chestnut-backed Chickadee came in to some...
13/08/2009 15:04
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Canal side birding
Just a quick update from alongside the Panama Canal, internet accesss limited at the moment. More detailed diary to follow asap. On the 20th we left the highlands and returned to Panama City, adding 19 new species including Brown-throated Parakeet, Prong-billed Barbet, Streak-breasted Treehunter, Black-hooded Antshrike, Torrent Tyrannulet....On the 21st we birded near the city and traveled around 20km all day but saw an amazing 144 species! Of which 31 were new for the year. Highlights were many and included Sunbittern, Grey-headed Kite, 1,000s of Mississippi Kites moving north, Pheasant Cuckoo, Cinnamon Woodpecker, White-bellied Antbird, Streak-chested Antpitta.....wow!One more moring birding Panama then back to Texas The two days brings our total for the year to 2060
13/08/2009 15:04
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Wader fest at Bolivar Flats
A birder's paradise, thousands of waders along the strandline and just offshore the beach at Bolivar Flats and all so close that you can enjoy fantastic views in the great light. Wish the birds were so confiding in the UK! With a few gaps in our wader list to be plugged, we headed down there this morning and met up with another Houston Audubon guided walk, led by Sam Woods with Tamie Bulow. Our target birds were Piping Plover and Long-billed Curlew, having not seen these birds at all on our earlier visit, and today we were in luck. Not just one but three Piping Plovers just feet away from us, resting and preening allowing us to enjoy a good long view. The regulars were all there as well: Short-billed Dowitchers, Dunlin, Sanderling, Semi-palmated Sandpiper and Western Sandpiper, Caspian...
13/08/2009 15:04
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Cairns to Daintree
20 October day on the high seas, yes Alan was sick, we went out to Michaelmas Cay home to Sooty and Bridled Terns, Lesser and Great Crested Terns, Black Naped Terns, Brown and Black Noddy, Brown Booby. The small boat used to transfer to and from the island nearly sank on the return, over loaded and swamped by waves!!We then up to Cassowary House, www.cassowary-house.com.au where we arrived at dusk21 October Southern Cassowary on the list!! What a bird and only feet away! Then up to Daintree and birded on route loads of new birds - Whire browed Robin, Channel billed Cuckoo, Pheasant Coucal....Bird species list 3535 just 128 to go!
13/08/2009 15:04
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Bird Race 2, Coto de Donana
We started this morning with seawatching off Matalascanas, again with the guys from North Wales. Flushed with their success from yesterday, we’d somehow agreed to do another birdrace. Despite the surprisingly cold dawn, the sea watch proved worthwhile. Highlights included Audouin’s Gulls, Balearic Shearwater, Common Scoter, and Whimbrel. Happy with our haul we turned our attention to the bushes behind the beach where grounded migrants were obvious. Best amongst these was a very showy Western Orphean Warbler.Moving inland we birded the area around the Acebuche visitor centre. The pools here quickly gave us Savi’s Warbler, Purple Swamphen, Squacco Heron, Red-crested Pochard, and an over-ambitious female Marsh Harrier who repeatedly attempted to take a drake Mallard! The...
13/08/2009 15:04
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