tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-24256249666813207582024-02-07T09:49:47.386-08:00notbirdingNick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.comBlogger702125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-35765903631712551702019-09-27T13:59:00.000-07:002019-09-27T13:59:02.715-07:00Late September in Northumberland<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Having left it too late to book into Spurn for a few days this autumn, myself and Dave Craven hatched a plan to head somewhere else on the east coast; Northumberland seemed like a good, under-birded option, but unfortunately Dave tore a ligament in his shoulder so had to bail. I decided to go anyway, as winds from the SE looked promising... So I booked two nights in the bunkhouse at Beal - just a few minutes drive from Lindisfarne.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Heading up the A1 early on Tuesday I got snarled up in traffic around Newcastle and was worried I was going to miss the window in the tides to cross over to Lindisfarne, so I headed to Low Newton instead, an area I knew a bit from a visit last spring. I spent two hours at the tree belt by the tin church, eventually hearing and then briefly seeing the mega elusive <b>Red-breasted Flycatcher</b> that had been found two days earlier. Single <b>Pied Flycatcher</b>, <b>Spotted Flycatcher</b> and <b>Yellow-browed Warbler</b> were more co-operative.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The tin church at Low Newton</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OqeWo3mu-TWNl-2qVmnFLvETgXe3AImDSb6VJG-edXbgoPPiLs0tfC1VMkk9XHRXaOxoTa5tvZuVE7mZ_54DdstdroA8HuKsJ3q7fI4MwDLBwKQeqf7NxznAGNUrKR198lAjGl_bYxvT/s1600/IMG_5119-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9OqeWo3mu-TWNl-2qVmnFLvETgXe3AImDSb6VJG-edXbgoPPiLs0tfC1VMkk9XHRXaOxoTa5tvZuVE7mZ_54DdstdroA8HuKsJ3q7fI4MwDLBwKQeqf7NxznAGNUrKR198lAjGl_bYxvT/s400/IMG_5119-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pied Fly</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spotted Fly</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iOsUZZEtPDT_T1qWcW4Kgf1wgOqOVVj2E1k5kMdrGD5jFh3sdvlUYh9H4JsCstBsJO2Uaz5LmH18-tOyo_8JxdpjW5SeCfxcbKSIeQui9PZ0bYlQuwthon9jfYhDaw99AbzoMV_BD6DG/s1600/IMG_5156-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0iOsUZZEtPDT_T1qWcW4Kgf1wgOqOVVj2E1k5kMdrGD5jFh3sdvlUYh9H4JsCstBsJO2Uaz5LmH18-tOyo_8JxdpjW5SeCfxcbKSIeQui9PZ0bYlQuwthon9jfYhDaw99AbzoMV_BD6DG/s400/IMG_5156-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yellow-brow</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Heading down into the village and the dunes beyond, another </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">YBW </b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">was in the trees of a back garden adjacent to the rear of the pub, but I didn't see much else of note - a couple of </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Spotted Redshanks</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> and a </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Med Gull </b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">on the flash. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I continued on to Bamburgh, birding the dunes east of the castle. There are a couple of willow clumps here, and I worked my way through their tangled midsts, with 2 <b>YBW </b>in the first clump and a third in the second clump (along with a <b>Redstart</b>). These aren't the birds they used to be, but still great to come across. By now it it was p*ssing it down and I was fairly wet, so I called it a day just before 6pm.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dune scrub at Bamburgh</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tangled willows</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xTaVTHYo7eR1QmqveoN6x4W1MJ3Mbzl-n9881VRtPNIKpIPUzTQek9crGVPsd_6O_qb483IS1HrWsVrOjbEgLy3ba0p7BZaq4WnElypudg7_iDjkzSYlIPVKZWg2trVwtlC87DBKMG1r/s1600/IMG_5177-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xTaVTHYo7eR1QmqveoN6x4W1MJ3Mbzl-n9881VRtPNIKpIPUzTQek9crGVPsd_6O_qb483IS1HrWsVrOjbEgLy3ba0p7BZaq4WnElypudg7_iDjkzSYlIPVKZWg2trVwtlC87DBKMG1r/s400/IMG_5177-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">YBW</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">The following day I was out onto Lindisfarne - my first time birding on the island. Beginning at the Snook, I bumped into two local birders, who were welcoming and gave me some good advice. There were two </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">YBW </b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">and two </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Redstarts </b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">in the plantation here, with a </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Garden Warbler</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> at the house (but I failed to see the Barred Warbler). Further into the Snook, at Half-moon Slack, the willows held another </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">YBW</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, plus </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Redstart </b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">and </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Tree Pipit</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, but I couldn't find much else in this area, although 3 </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Redwing </b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">flew over heading inland and a </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Merlin </b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">dashed through.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgb3EAtWXmxdBe_Tbzb5VVDnfoIwrFGVWiHxRBEro14PxE1YnD2wvRuEN1CKFM4__8XpxLj98Hen1G9B11jVgfdnDJcxmb8LHowawj7plYh7TUXVooQD_yvvf6_eEjU3QmpcBcj_QkC5SE2/s1600/IMG_2804.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/AVvXsEgb3EAtWXmxdBe_Tbzb5VVDnfoIwrFGVWiHxRBEro14PxE1YnD2wvRuEN1CKFM4__8XpxLj98Hen1G9B11jVgfdnDJcxmb8LHowawj7plYh7TUXVooQD_yvvf6_eEjU3QmpcBcj_QkC5SE2/s400/IMG_2804.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Snook House</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX0158hxbNrF9510aoAhbfV5FZ_wHoFSJx9wl2RdJbR3ywf-boKfcNXWFqcUnL5q6WjjUgyejNDU2k4TXmS-jzRXHlmVs2boHeJ-IYqvPTwzKYFnaIVFHNnFNB6nWjrVrlUgy-R0XzjkW9/s1600/IMG_2807.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/AVvXsEiX0158hxbNrF9510aoAhbfV5FZ_wHoFSJx9wl2RdJbR3ywf-boKfcNXWFqcUnL5q6WjjUgyejNDU2k4TXmS-jzRXHlmVs2boHeJ-IYqvPTwzKYFnaIVFHNnFNB6nWjrVrlUgy-R0XzjkW9/s400/IMG_2807.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Half-moon Slack</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVtep6-0ffwTtqoq2cZwBNjhYQGPJriDG5n09eKvOU04Hinhp1mNM3WVXdnbsnEXOrEfBHYAMO-suu5Xap-D2isiL2MX7Fjizkge_9br2FwwAcQCQA6-qg8raQ1vESE_GMBDKYL0OJuRj/s1600/IMG_5218-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXVtep6-0ffwTtqoq2cZwBNjhYQGPJriDG5n09eKvOU04Hinhp1mNM3WVXdnbsnEXOrEfBHYAMO-suu5Xap-D2isiL2MX7Fjizkge_9br2FwwAcQCQA6-qg8raQ1vESE_GMBDKYL0OJuRj/s400/IMG_5218-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tree Pipit</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Onward, I walked up Chare Ends (seeing another <b>YBW </b>and a <b>Wheatear</b>) into the north dunes and across to the Excavations. A <b>Lapland Bunting</b> flew over calling, and I also came across a very late a juvenile <b>Cuckoo</b>. Walking down Straight Lonnen and back out to the coast on Crooked Lonnen I didn't see much else until I got to the Lough, where there were 4 <b>Whinchats</b>, with 3 more <b>Wheatears </b>near the castle. Ending up in the village, there were 2 <b>Pied Flys</b> in the Vicar's Garden. News then came on of a Wryneck back at the end of Straight Lonnen in the dunes. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeGxdRunXzveVR9I-LHr8qdm1VMdbBbedt6jhskA8UJWC8kOxjlORLj9GV1vp77Ey1Q3krNY7Xz05wKmDGKQjC2BALw81fLtQIt6egO6f-L0xCWp9PEG2mJ4mPcbzzbalF6vkJ3bN4ifA/s1600/IMG_5356-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkeGxdRunXzveVR9I-LHr8qdm1VMdbBbedt6jhskA8UJWC8kOxjlORLj9GV1vp77Ey1Q3krNY7Xz05wKmDGKQjC2BALw81fLtQIt6egO6f-L0xCWp9PEG2mJ4mPcbzzbalF6vkJ3bN4ifA/s400/IMG_5356-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Juv Cuckoo</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nI2usnzIczWG56dW4l8zwHwUu8P9TUFx4tdVOXMuC4t2Cz47Qf_sSLwUthX2lVM9cuRJ9kOt24sh7ypE2NkjPMltnd8QEgHOdxnzphLvqM6ApBPe9OlaG8-b0PMGIgVq03nh3QPMTEf-/s1600/IMG_2825.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/AVvXsEg_nI2usnzIczWG56dW4l8zwHwUu8P9TUFx4tdVOXMuC4t2Cz47Qf_sSLwUthX2lVM9cuRJ9kOt24sh7ypE2NkjPMltnd8QEgHOdxnzphLvqM6ApBPe9OlaG8-b0PMGIgVq03nh3QPMTEf-/s400/IMG_2825.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Straight Lonnen</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2AzKurjJzoYYqSn5K72svtG-xGV7TW4zQWfm0jWLi6uuJ-Ytqzx-hTrLshrjGjoWhZ40JfXYRkQgRZTYfpeiFgNwW3Yv-P8esfK0LflL188jXzfAr7jfxQje9bdAFvcxfV9kibgKM7QG/s1600/IMG_5489-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2AzKurjJzoYYqSn5K72svtG-xGV7TW4zQWfm0jWLi6uuJ-Ytqzx-hTrLshrjGjoWhZ40JfXYRkQgRZTYfpeiFgNwW3Yv-P8esfK0LflL188jXzfAr7jfxQje9bdAFvcxfV9kibgKM7QG/s400/IMG_5489-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wheatear</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Heading back to the car to top up my water, I decided to go back to Snook House and plantation (which was very quiet - still no Barred Warbler), before going to look at the Wryneck. Bumping into the finder, one of the aforementioned locals, he gave me directions. I eventually located the broken green plastic chair which marked the area the bird had been favouring, but I couldn't find the bird itself. Annoyingly, the area was one I had walked through 3 or 4 earlier - I still need Wryneck for my self-found list! </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Neverthless, it had been a good day, and my personal totals were 1 </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Lapland Bunting</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, 4 </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">YBW</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, 3 </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Redstart</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, 2 </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Pied Fly</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, 1 </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Garden Warbler</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, 1 </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Blackcap</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, 2 </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Willow Warbler</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, 3 </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Chiffchaff</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, 2 </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Goldcrest</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, 4 <b>Wheatear</b>, </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">4 </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Whinchat</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, 3 </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Redwing</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, 27 </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Song Thrush</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, 1 </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Tree Pipit</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> and 1 </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Cuckoo </b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">- so not bad. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next day I had another wander on the island, deciding to bypass the Snook and instead walking up Chare Ends. I again couldn't locate the Wryneck, but the juv <b>Cuckoo </b>was still present; however, there was nothing of note in the Vicar's Garden. Time was ticking on, and with the window to cross back to the mainland fast approaching, I decided not to visit the Snook - which proved to be a mistake, with another Wryneck found </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">by the other of yesterday's locals </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">in the scrub by the carpark! Hey ho. </span><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/AVvXsEhDaZIuRnJeF2aX-wkV_F0AASLfwR_YhA8jFGR4-Y6VLbZd58UW9wrIK5IFOPjQJ6HbnvI5J1rtaJGPMgDY21I3-O5yWg3tFiQ1Xz3S1Ypqq2UpC1TdtmI4JA4CHulnU8hxPBeendCkjjHP/s1600/IMG_2834.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/AVvXsEhDaZIuRnJeF2aX-wkV_F0AASLfwR_YhA8jFGR4-Y6VLbZd58UW9wrIK5IFOPjQJ6HbnvI5J1rtaJGPMgDY21I3-O5yWg3tFiQ1Xz3S1Ypqq2UpC1TdtmI4JA4CHulnU8hxPBeendCkjjHP/s400/IMG_2834.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Vicar's Garden</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I headed back towards Bamburgh via Budle Bay, where a </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Spoonbill </b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">was asleep - this came as a surprise, but had apparently been present for a few days. There were also hundreds of geese - </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Pale-bellied Brents</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Pink-feet </b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">and </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Barnacles</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><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/AVvXsEj8sAoaoQEpEG2vdcvwvy3jGPRPpcsViq9Wcu6Rg0AwabwKFJZ44Tj2UInv9sBlczzAjzONbK6nkpITecDMIrQxeLL7stzweNvR93nSz7qYhC6Wa5l6B3PyGKvGU6jZGLxg4JZlwYaoA-Yr/s1600/IMG_2847.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/AVvXsEj8sAoaoQEpEG2vdcvwvy3jGPRPpcsViq9Wcu6Rg0AwabwKFJZ44Tj2UInv9sBlczzAjzONbK6nkpITecDMIrQxeLL7stzweNvR93nSz7qYhC6Wa5l6B3PyGKvGU6jZGLxg4JZlwYaoA-Yr/s400/IMG_2847.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spoonbill</span></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At Bamburgh, I worked through the first willow clump where one of the <b>YBW's </b>was still present along with a <b>Redstart</b>, then seeing a tweet about a 'small white goose' which had gone south-east over Lindisfarne. Guessing this may have been headed to Budle Bay I dashed back there, but all I could find was a <b>Bar-headed Goose</b>, looking pale at range, in with the <b>Barnies</b>. However, photos suggested the original culprit was a white Barnacle. </span><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/AVvXsEiyFheCAhQJBXHr76aXwRUBB24Y475CVhCgK9zq4UTKUKlbtNPs0HGGXUMOnAtv_hguo1QqaeUK6Pa6W3-dI0Qv5387_tvanVbnyievZxbBm8ses7KWi9mENmSm8XYmcsptt3y8XUuhMGOi/s1600/IMG_2866.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/AVvXsEiyFheCAhQJBXHr76aXwRUBB24Y475CVhCgK9zq4UTKUKlbtNPs0HGGXUMOnAtv_hguo1QqaeUK6Pa6W3-dI0Qv5387_tvanVbnyievZxbBm8ses7KWi9mENmSm8XYmcsptt3y8XUuhMGOi/s400/IMG_2866.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bar-headed Goose (heavy crop!)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I returned to Bamburgh, but the only other bird of note was another <b>Redstart</b>. By now it was getting on for later in the afternoon, and having promised not to be back late, I headed home; however, I had also missed a Pacific Golden Plover which had been found in fields to the east of Straight Lonnen over high tide!</span><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/AVvXsEj3Tiy6DW-1Z1PM6w3lHcXrOy4lv_fnPsbZQgFECgG8zmkql9qAcUQZByC8GKv4lQ7MOoQQWziuJFyJHUICFclnvQCVPbyg3BKABpA_gP_Kqg9QyDSD2uFoDHAfNOG3YYcKXv_eyGR0A_PB/s1600/IMG_2876.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/AVvXsEj3Tiy6DW-1Z1PM6w3lHcXrOy4lv_fnPsbZQgFECgG8zmkql9qAcUQZByC8GKv4lQ7MOoQQWziuJFyJHUICFclnvQCVPbyg3BKABpA_gP_Kqg9QyDSD2uFoDHAfNOG3YYcKXv_eyGR0A_PB/s400/IMG_2876.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Bamburgh Castle - and plenty of habitat!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All in all a good trip, even with the dips and lack of any notable finds. I'll be back...</span>Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-51211580140162364432019-08-27T14:46:00.000-07:002019-08-27T14:46:15.458-07:00Kicking off autumn<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The first of what will hopefully be several trips to the east coast this autumn saw me head to the scrubby dunes at Saltfleetby-Theddlethorpe on Monday. It was to be a roasting hot day, which somehow never feels like it is going to be productive, but with plenty of Pied Flys around the day before and an Icky at Flamborough, and winds still set in the south-east, it was worth a shot. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, starting off at Rimac, I birded my way south. There were plenty of warblers around - mainly <b>Chiffchaffs</b>, but a <b>Grasshopper Warbler</b> showed quite well, with another calling nearby (presumably local breeders?). A few <b>Yellow Wags </b>and <b>hirundines </b>moved south, and a <b>Turtle Dove</b> flew across, however, I hadn't seen anything of further note by the time I got to the next carpark at Churchill Lane, 3 hours after setting off. </span><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/AVvXsEjQiFKYShRCxFs6Uad2IAU0rY-749jzPiyFG3114wd6ZzTPmSVLEaeXQeldzl34PwW2oNOCfQevxTbM0mefsEtUlFq_PJTAR6dJRE6VfbYc5rIU3nIg9l9w9KfB7QThKhRppgnuGfv-fni3/s1600/IMG_4828-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQiFKYShRCxFs6Uad2IAU0rY-749jzPiyFG3114wd6ZzTPmSVLEaeXQeldzl34PwW2oNOCfQevxTbM0mefsEtUlFq_PJTAR6dJRE6VfbYc5rIU3nIg9l9w9KfB7QThKhRppgnuGfv-fni3/s400/IMG_4828-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Gropper</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a chat with the former site manager, John, I set off into the grazing compartment to the south, pausing in a patch of shade for some water. As I did so, a twangy call had me spin round - and there on a patch of bramble was a <b>Common Rosefinch</b> - great! The first British bird I've find outside of Scotland... It looked like a youngster, with slightly olivey tones particularly on the fringes to the primaries. </span><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/AVvXsEgoLOmYvHU8AvmhTm0Sf6qfRZN4nRwicScY_x2ypo7Ix756LKX6lxeSY2OXSGZHG52iyiXCUb0eVS9D7OjXmTmAoCkiJTfC7bMfvR_TjKqjMG9rVK0WMUc3anRReGyFnXAdnXaXAmWtnhYb/s1600/IMG_4862-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoLOmYvHU8AvmhTm0Sf6qfRZN4nRwicScY_x2ypo7Ix756LKX6lxeSY2OXSGZHG52iyiXCUb0eVS9D7OjXmTmAoCkiJTfC7bMfvR_TjKqjMG9rVK0WMUc3anRReGyFnXAdnXaXAmWtnhYb/s400/IMG_4862-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Initial views of the Rosefinch</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I rattled off some shots, before it did the right thing and flew into a hawthorn immediately opposite me - I got some more shots, and it then flew south, and I lost it to view behind some scrub. I had a hunt for it, but couldn't relocate it, although another <b>Turtle Dove</b> was nice. </span><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/AVvXsEiaLuyK6lqQYy1y3zRhKc55Oj_3Qnq-UT2Smi0hLiXzdw899w7Hx3ZXErTjo1RQ6Ejx-zHhJLQQRMKBtf0xOMsy8hCBePHCHKNmG4ajOie9p1YTThy-KJOUyWW3LmzAZ6w9yXjoFqzUVPcv/s1600/IMG_4925-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="985" data-original-width="1478" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaLuyK6lqQYy1y3zRhKc55Oj_3Qnq-UT2Smi0hLiXzdw899w7Hx3ZXErTjo1RQ6Ejx-zHhJLQQRMKBtf0xOMsy8hCBePHCHKNmG4ajOie9p1YTThy-KJOUyWW3LmzAZ6w9yXjoFqzUVPcv/s400/IMG_4925-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Common Rosefinch</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Returning north, I tracked down a <b>Pied Fly</b> on the path at the back of the dunes, and then relocated to Sea View Farm, where I spent some time around the sycamores by the carpark, where there were there were two more <b>Pied Flys</b>. I then called it a day. </span><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/AVvXsEgmr_H1RUEiHUrbhoKeokUiM-seSovYiOjuJkvcWk_NUBAj3FQdt4bhTyYJvTWw7XJvcNISPYj5eNist3-WrWi2hZWKDZ2DN603B-icD0eCHHxn9fjTAe6WvEHKE_9HJWMcwWjuqYVeHEOu/s1600/IMG_4972-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmr_H1RUEiHUrbhoKeokUiM-seSovYiOjuJkvcWk_NUBAj3FQdt4bhTyYJvTWw7XJvcNISPYj5eNist3-WrWi2hZWKDZ2DN603B-icD0eCHHxn9fjTAe6WvEHKE_9HJWMcwWjuqYVeHEOu/s400/IMG_4972-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pied Fly</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-57751867224208099752019-06-02T12:43:00.000-07:002019-06-07T06:27:33.980-07:00Finland 2019<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back in January, I was at a christening along with Lincs
birder, Andy Chick. Needless to say we talked birds, and lo and behold, four
days later we had a spring birding trip to Finland booked… (one of the more productive christenings I've been to). This was to be a
fairly flying visit, as (a) I could only negotiate a few days away from the
family, and (b) it was already shaping up to be an expensive trip (albeit much
less than a trip with a tour company).<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">May rolled round, and we were off, flying out on
Wednesday 15th, returning on Saturday 18th. Our itinerary was to arrive
Wednesday night, have a morning's birding with Finnature around Oulu on the
Thursday before driving over the Kuusamo, where we would have another a
morning's birding with Finnature on the Friday before returning back to Oulu
that evening, and then flying home on Saturday morning.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All in all it was a pretty successful trip - we had a
tight connection in Oulu, which we made (although this wasn't helped by our
Helsinki flight being delayed - we had to run through the terminal), and our accommodation in (or rather, just south of) Oulo was... interesting (think <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@64.928214,25.5132642,3a,75y,62.1h,70.17t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sJs868QpRZz2BCtEXyELBeQ!2e0!7i13312!8i6656">1970s motel</a>). We also had one big dip, but we were always going to be lucky to get a
clean sweep. This is how things panned out:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Thursday </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We arrived into Oulu (which is at the northern end of the
Gulf of Bothnia, Finland's fifth largest city, and self-titled 'Capital of
Northern Scandinavia') in the late afternoon. After picking up the hire car, we
drove a short distance to the <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/64%C2%B056'38.7%22N+25%C2%B027'01.1%22E/@64.9440943,25.449074,266m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d64.9440931!4d25.4503062">Finlandia Hotel Airport</a>, which was to be our
meeting point the following morning.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<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/AVvXsEjYQxBVQ6pWRtAgDJle3QjGO0zFAkf7kKR9jBruLhO_vrjQiY_mpZGpnk19glGCsXD6_W7IKjRpQY1Fz7WE0sqI_bLqDArReo65RLiLTmdjj80a9fqOmENX4HuDdaLmd6lsY1VWvHEKmQSq/s1600/IMG_8843.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/AVvXsEjYQxBVQ6pWRtAgDJle3QjGO0zFAkf7kKR9jBruLhO_vrjQiY_mpZGpnk19glGCsXD6_W7IKjRpQY1Fz7WE0sqI_bLqDArReo65RLiLTmdjj80a9fqOmENX4HuDdaLmd6lsY1VWvHEKmQSq/s400/IMG_8843.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Flying from Helsinki to Oulu</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was found without any difficulties, and would have
been a very pleasant place to stay had we not been on a budget... There is
also a viewing platform and trails on the shoreline behind the hotel, and of
course we couldn't resist a quick look, which a range of wildfowl (including a
pair of </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Garganey</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">) and waders (including displaying </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Snipe </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Green Sandpiper</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">),
and a selection of other bits and pieces, including a </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Crane </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">over, singing </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Redwing</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">,
</span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Fieldfare</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Swallow </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">House Martin</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">White Wagtail</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Willow Warbler</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, and plenty of </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Little Gulls</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGWzLXyx-wl1dpKkhecEfZOhGL82U7DKBRqBCbUbQM-tlwBDxIUIOv9KtNaAq6pHyMMjBjsBWfx3QWufTykkXaYxyTL67EInlGJiFPNCtxZMlY2eriCLa5AwwNHA-dsQoXb3TQHiWBfOP/s1600/IMG_8854.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDGWzLXyx-wl1dpKkhecEfZOhGL82U7DKBRqBCbUbQM-tlwBDxIUIOv9KtNaAq6pHyMMjBjsBWfx3QWufTykkXaYxyTL67EInlGJiFPNCtxZMlY2eriCLa5AwwNHA-dsQoXb3TQHiWBfOP/s400/IMG_8854.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first bit of birding</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was then off to our hotel for a very unsatisfactory
night's sleep before out early start the following morning….</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Friday<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With alarms set for 2.30am, it felt like I’d barely
closed my eyes before it was time to get up; we arrived back at the Finlandia
Hotel Airport just before 3am, meeting our Finnature guide for the day and the
rest of our group – three fellow Brits, a Dutchman and a Californian.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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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/AVvXsEhuKC84lMwXxz611cAgU3RiwNuubHEjtw2uCNX8zXs6l6H-Kxox7ab94uBcEVeg_3K-_0sYofigl6uYqMKdFlm9Xdbvv3pMRQ-YGifpEaLMtC-P319AyiQUNPlHp7cHpE7o5IUBG7PPYHij/s1600/IMG_8857.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/AVvXsEhuKC84lMwXxz611cAgU3RiwNuubHEjtw2uCNX8zXs6l6H-Kxox7ab94uBcEVeg_3K-_0sYofigl6uYqMKdFlm9Xdbvv3pMRQ-YGifpEaLMtC-P319AyiQUNPlHp7cHpE7o5IUBG7PPYHij/s400/IMG_8857.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">2.30am</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finnature are obviously keen not to have the locations of breeding owls etc.. published on the internet (and to be honest, I didn’t really know where we were going anyway), so ‘Stop 1’ was somewhere north of Oulu, and produced a singing <b>Pygmy Owl</b>, brought in by a quick bit of playback. Only my second ever, following my first in Slovakia back in 2007. This patch of forest also held <b>Black Grouse</b> (bubbling somewhere in the distance), <b>Waxwing </b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and displaying</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Greenshank</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. A female Moose was the first of three we saw during the trip, and both Brown and Mountain Hares the first of many.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNnE06nZeoV70PeFhOdLLB3eSWWWHrmrcSfV_VX6ED_5AmyY1pL-7DnAhCU65xF-fA3Q2c2M3JNlxsBa2sLGzy724JDR-X6KVaZnpdqXh496Ig8REckwvK0xZ1FsCaS0tGlFpnsv-jXH4g/s1600/IMG_8870.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/AVvXsEhNnE06nZeoV70PeFhOdLLB3eSWWWHrmrcSfV_VX6ED_5AmyY1pL-7DnAhCU65xF-fA3Q2c2M3JNlxsBa2sLGzy724JDR-X6KVaZnpdqXh496Ig8REckwvK0xZ1FsCaS0tGlFpnsv-jXH4g/s400/IMG_8870.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our group and guide at our first stop</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoULd-NBK2Ak85LYAvaQC_tBvEhYSRKUBvyq1R3UvpBS9zln3bNkQPF6XycvF63akMDD5cLfcqXhf8_Vlr5yolmTxwBx_3FwRhYWODJU2mm2GBT-1cxVEcJ8H4zFr_FeFVonX6ZaXUtpv/s1600/IMG_2942-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwoULd-NBK2Ak85LYAvaQC_tBvEhYSRKUBvyq1R3UvpBS9zln3bNkQPF6XycvF63akMDD5cLfcqXhf8_Vlr5yolmTxwBx_3FwRhYWODJU2mm2GBT-1cxVEcJ8H4zFr_FeFVonX6ZaXUtpv/s400/IMG_2942-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pygmy Owl</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7G8vGFtFJKNEcLyHHdQN1o9YxcoaUayzsmckojnH24IWxX6IxO_pyqYTQRIuOTCAikjCk75wyGuxNa8TwvVMzfj9gRgWRx2XSTOZItt9SB6mW_3p7puelysn8K0UrPm51WItByST_DAZc/s1600/IMG_8864.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/AVvXsEh7G8vGFtFJKNEcLyHHdQN1o9YxcoaUayzsmckojnH24IWxX6IxO_pyqYTQRIuOTCAikjCk75wyGuxNa8TwvVMzfj9gRgWRx2XSTOZItt9SB6mW_3p7puelysn8K0UrPm51WItByST_DAZc/s400/IMG_8864.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pygmy Owl</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbvsvdaoAWwej8etL_J4DXexat0oigM-natpo_IlQVfBHad-bLH6hkk_y6-ITG60QKDBE1Oqd7DSESdbGghPnI6wvtZGOcC-tjz3kGppoNyFLyidnytXffVEXviZxk37RiZWdlPbOZvVs/s1600/IMG_2959.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgbvsvdaoAWwej8etL_J4DXexat0oigM-natpo_IlQVfBHad-bLH6hkk_y6-ITG60QKDBE1Oqd7DSESdbGghPnI6wvtZGOcC-tjz3kGppoNyFLyidnytXffVEXviZxk37RiZWdlPbOZvVs/s400/IMG_2959.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Moose - big beasts!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A short distance further on, our second stop produced my Most
Wanted – a </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Great Grey Owl</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, initially spotted in a roadside tree by the Dutchman
who was riding shotgun. It moved further away as the minibus was backed up, but
we had satisfactory views of it before it melted away into the forest.
Excellent! I was surprised that it wasn't in some pristine bit of forest, but on the edge of a small settlement (lots of rodent prey I guess). This area also produced </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Goshawk</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, 2 </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Parrot Crossbills</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and trumpeting Northern
</span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Bullfinch</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsGIrJb5VPjxodFoII9Ng7sgSAYLdMBVRJPrONZMSgxaHr7nL3DJlJy6ZpDu9u9cXX0206sy2etyQ9Hat6_rdv-y0QFiHkUtnmD-ZaMKazMTcKRW2JBAUvd3IbsOR7APSM1zcZzKNIVH3/s1600/IMG_8874.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/AVvXsEgZsGIrJb5VPjxodFoII9Ng7sgSAYLdMBVRJPrONZMSgxaHr7nL3DJlJy6ZpDu9u9cXX0206sy2etyQ9Hat6_rdv-y0QFiHkUtnmD-ZaMKazMTcKRW2JBAUvd3IbsOR7APSM1zcZzKNIVH3/s400/IMG_8874.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The track through the forest</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Slightly further on, in the same area, we were then taken
to a </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Great Grey Owl</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> nest. This is what Finnature do (under controlled conditions), and it’s what you pay an
eye-watering sum of money for 8 hours guiding for. The female was clearly used
to visitors, looking at us for a couple of minutes, before losing interest. She was sat on a huge old Goshawk next, and the whole experience was fairly
mind-blowing, made even more so when the male appeared with some prey. What fantastic birds.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0CVoK6t_o5F0MXrIaoWfwvq2Gx5V0cTaD5TNcVH0bBLVLIwhrSIYjZRZbMJfrC9kxcYzSMR4ASZEFiqPbephEXEiYwOj9g7YjtoMTcuL41u-K_hXDYOZwfTc5FpNj9_zjZzbywsR3-41H/s1600/IMG_8880.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/AVvXsEh0CVoK6t_o5F0MXrIaoWfwvq2Gx5V0cTaD5TNcVH0bBLVLIwhrSIYjZRZbMJfrC9kxcYzSMR4ASZEFiqPbephEXEiYwOj9g7YjtoMTcuL41u-K_hXDYOZwfTc5FpNj9_zjZzbywsR3-41H/s400/IMG_8880.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Heading towards the nest</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYMOthGiuGDLRKLaQjtBzpYTjKAU7G2p3kkML0IuMep5vU40fNVK4Bvs6Je0BTP0Nyk7kDZvWnTfsuPslC-NLA4kWfT3UulqfJsRBNZIFyceJNAP1oFbHrn9EnSHMI2lCi1vNt3HpGgUb/s1600/IMG_2986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieYMOthGiuGDLRKLaQjtBzpYTjKAU7G2p3kkML0IuMep5vU40fNVK4Bvs6Je0BTP0Nyk7kDZvWnTfsuPslC-NLA4kWfT3UulqfJsRBNZIFyceJNAP1oFbHrn9EnSHMI2lCi1vNt3HpGgUb/s400/IMG_2986.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And what a nest it was...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwLud-o1iiZBD43b76ldjnBP_6g1qwrxZFdtJgwZAi-d1SxkDbk6CLZYPOkVKtjVC0v-dVK0uBF3QzB71oryjqUyHu7O19hN2dYjXbP0Rn19JloCV5rVLN0ZC7sBYlaZq2z9WXpn1mtPSN/s1600/IMG_8885.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/AVvXsEjwLud-o1iiZBD43b76ldjnBP_6g1qwrxZFdtJgwZAi-d1SxkDbk6CLZYPOkVKtjVC0v-dVK0uBF3QzB71oryjqUyHu7O19hN2dYjXbP0Rn19JloCV5rVLN0ZC7sBYlaZq2z9WXpn1mtPSN/s400/IMG_8885.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking on</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdrt5QdLOXawxouuQKNy3eLwPD1vysHcsk4362bu9JWrTOn69iVkm8vgvjMkgGmmWKWw15A91bn4ZqUYj898bfcSMZZ82uu4erZ_ID7VDtgbxAlrfs_KVhZwXjsX8S4A-Hl2-zwyLirte/s1600/IMG_2995-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdrt5QdLOXawxouuQKNy3eLwPD1vysHcsk4362bu9JWrTOn69iVkm8vgvjMkgGmmWKWw15A91bn4ZqUYj898bfcSMZZ82uu4erZ_ID7VDtgbxAlrfs_KVhZwXjsX8S4A-Hl2-zwyLirte/s400/IMG_2995-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Views of the male</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh78XbG6IvsrT3g88XQfzXuO25QWFc-vZxcYkNCzddUCJS7bWr_hIr4GpSMr7wF4X-shXaPXYyTWNADupf9pygaxS4uD9mqM-QG50Jlu8moPQefKlLgDsydlTXu9G1TrV-6JrOiYCMKsmk_/s1600/IMG_8897-eddit.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/AVvXsEh78XbG6IvsrT3g88XQfzXuO25QWFc-vZxcYkNCzddUCJS7bWr_hIr4GpSMr7wF4X-shXaPXYyTWNADupf9pygaxS4uD9mqM-QG50Jlu8moPQefKlLgDsydlTXu9G1TrV-6JrOiYCMKsmk_/s400/IMG_8897-eddit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The male Great Grey Owl</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a bit of a drive off somewhere to the east, seeing <i>thunbergi</i> <b>Yellow Wagtail</b>, <b>Wood Sand</b>,
<b>Whooper Swan</b> and <b>Raven </b>on the way, we were taken to location 3 for another owl
nesting site – this time <b>Ural Owl</b>. This was a bit unsatisfactory, requiring a
mirror to see into the nest box, and raised a philosophical dilemma – can you
tick a bird if you’ve only seen its reflection? I have... </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This productive piece of forest and adjacent mire also
held singing <b>Pied Fly</b>, <b>Redstart </b>and <b>Tree Pipit</b>, </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">borealis</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>Willow Tit</b> (very smart and frosty), <b>Cuckoo</b>, <b>Hazel </b>and
<b>Black Grouse</b> and <b>Crane</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<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/AVvXsEg0Mdinhubr8v9fV46DFkIbrG3byH2JHv7PRSXfmYJ-xKkJzZ52mwgfLaHk1hujXwX8-nu_oJ1G2zUgCgBbjAHhmrew3AwWcWu0sOTv15AmdoycaqPWTilZDzeXMtJVKvW56vHhsXCqyy1X/s1600/IMG_3018-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0Mdinhubr8v9fV46DFkIbrG3byH2JHv7PRSXfmYJ-xKkJzZ52mwgfLaHk1hujXwX8-nu_oJ1G2zUgCgBbjAHhmrew3AwWcWu0sOTv15AmdoycaqPWTilZDzeXMtJVKvW56vHhsXCqyy1X/s400/IMG_3018-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wood Sand on a roadside pool</span></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/AVvXsEg9zc6DaWSE9X0gzbAaidrDjybB-ytGx2Twz_CEsfwdVm199YwqSWYq_ot2uWVErA71Q2D_FfwWDSpY9T5CopXUhNqrCmWyyFaP6m3nl6yKVihk83mhM6NZo8esB9qdx1ISTGIXooBtL8ID/s1600/IMG_8921.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9zc6DaWSE9X0gzbAaidrDjybB-ytGx2Twz_CEsfwdVm199YwqSWYq_ot2uWVErA71Q2D_FfwWDSpY9T5CopXUhNqrCmWyyFaP6m3nl6yKVihk83mhM6NZo8esB9qdx1ISTGIXooBtL8ID/s400/IMG_8921.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Viewing the Ural Owl nest box...</span></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/AVvXsEhqW7htqZ84aWBBTiLeMLBkIckCgn-0E7XgSqvi1d8E44w9Y0NCbHhyphenhyphenClYFh3FX2Oq9RATdzlFs4bHUjaM_adahBfeEngSQHr3RW9shebMDKiThHHSA9vcxLlidVwRkugvspIQS4mbErSJX/s1600/IMG_8924.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/AVvXsEhqW7htqZ84aWBBTiLeMLBkIckCgn-0E7XgSqvi1d8E44w9Y0NCbHhyphenhyphenClYFh3FX2Oq9RATdzlFs4bHUjaM_adahBfeEngSQHr3RW9shebMDKiThHHSA9vcxLlidVwRkugvspIQS4mbErSJX/s400/IMG_8924.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">She was visible in real life!</span></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/AVvXsEgrXfH10B0BaFsSmJB9jtFSQjTo478jJ5_BeI0SQtW1LPhUi8jnI7QxCC-ukHezF3JXg4WdeCMbjvJ1EyRwg39cRRYgDdnyk_c6gc8AvZgeoj-Mp3nt8gwal_6TPGT1PHhpCOphmE0f27lH/s1600/IMG_3009-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrXfH10B0BaFsSmJB9jtFSQjTo478jJ5_BeI0SQtW1LPhUi8jnI7QxCC-ukHezF3JXg4WdeCMbjvJ1EyRwg39cRRYgDdnyk_c6gc8AvZgeoj-Mp3nt8gwal_6TPGT1PHhpCOphmE0f27lH/s400/IMG_3009-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Female Black Grouse</span></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/AVvXsEhe9W9A3UVmLxequBhusvO2AcFO698uqIpjt0HHClgt_LSrvRyyYkw_pnbLNTH_30NnABeBGu8yM_2ECXWLdZyrKaEUrMKpsnsaDNdd8SZWOUJ0M2aLXZpRjMvoyNIiZ5FaUOMBz3hlPJ_2/s1600/IMG_8912.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/AVvXsEhe9W9A3UVmLxequBhusvO2AcFO698uqIpjt0HHClgt_LSrvRyyYkw_pnbLNTH_30NnABeBGu8yM_2ECXWLdZyrKaEUrMKpsnsaDNdd8SZWOUJ0M2aLXZpRjMvoyNIiZ5FaUOMBz3hlPJ_2/s400/IMG_8912.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Birding in the forest</span></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/AVvXsEiRPeLXtqBTpdYsh1SE9ydvbXwtPTjgTZWY4Z5AaOxW5BupN9B9E-5m5ohCqPkCr9CKamdV5SfN6tkrY7j4A58CYJE1EZ7MYr-S5Qbvy9ai02Ub6Xwq6hWcGpEw4o5oI-SuBgm3I8SMa_Nz/s1600/IMG_8927.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/AVvXsEiRPeLXtqBTpdYsh1SE9ydvbXwtPTjgTZWY4Z5AaOxW5BupN9B9E-5m5ohCqPkCr9CKamdV5SfN6tkrY7j4A58CYJE1EZ7MYr-S5Qbvy9ai02Ub6Xwq6hWcGpEw4o5oI-SuBgm3I8SMa_Nz/s400/IMG_8927.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The forest is commercially managed, but still pretty nice</span></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/AVvXsEh3s1mKJQkzcZ8d8lCIq_qspALhzdWi8Jj8PIy7KwRwWVcj_FTEfiJvjpEMA9pdTzRos_kA69q0Dv2Z0u_RuK3Q-uDj_QV5TVrAX0ogGTIHOm-JNQ7ESyhIyVUpk10MaRShKCTj7QKhiNVt/s1600/IMG_3013-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3s1mKJQkzcZ8d8lCIq_qspALhzdWi8Jj8PIy7KwRwWVcj_FTEfiJvjpEMA9pdTzRos_kA69q0Dv2Z0u_RuK3Q-uDj_QV5TVrAX0ogGTIHOm-JNQ7ESyhIyVUpk10MaRShKCTj7QKhiNVt/s400/IMG_3013-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Prancing Cranes</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">Stop 4, back towards Oulu, was for</span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> Tengmalm’s Owl</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"> –
another bird in a nest box, but this time bird did at least stick it’s head out
to see what was going on; we enjoyed its permanent state of surprise for a few
minutes before backing off. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: center;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<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/AVvXsEgXzk80o3peGr6gPY55k594K2bAB5e0TL7xuSGMgvIxuMrMEZRPO5pbFzJkK1TchfBuLnhtm5zUtH_XelLKlxe_RLD82TjXET6Ynl7JFG_BLlPCslw2rtOyjObGPDn6ey0pNcKklani78UP/s1600/IMG_3039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXzk80o3peGr6gPY55k594K2bAB5e0TL7xuSGMgvIxuMrMEZRPO5pbFzJkK1TchfBuLnhtm5zUtH_XelLKlxe_RLD82TjXET6Ynl7JFG_BLlPCslw2rtOyjObGPDn6ey0pNcKklani78UP/s400/IMG_3039.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tengmalm's Owl</span></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/AVvXsEihvPAOwibB24x3kEOA6klA_L6UrqHzWoS7uqK0m3RxoCST_z-4s2CPkpSn-wp0gtlJPLpVh9gO7ZetHxzFAt0Uymp38EL4MZpKJVdvq_9pBAkMjEusXmguIEZXCzTfQ8YtsU75dZ0CYlzL/s1600/IMG_3040.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihvPAOwibB24x3kEOA6klA_L6UrqHzWoS7uqK0m3RxoCST_z-4s2CPkpSn-wp0gtlJPLpVh9gO7ZetHxzFAt0Uymp38EL4MZpKJVdvq_9pBAkMjEusXmguIEZXCzTfQ8YtsU75dZ0CYlzL/s400/IMG_3040.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Better at least than the Ural Owl...</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our fifth and final stop was back on the
coast at Oulu – a small and unprepossessing tidal pond next to an industrial
area, but one of just of a handful of sites were <b>Terek Sandpiper </b>still breed in Finland –
and we were rewarded with a bird flying in and giving a quick burst of song. An
<b>LRP </b>and two displaying <b>Common Sands</b> were also present here. And t</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">hat completed our first session with Finnature – and
very good it was too. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<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/AVvXsEjCfWuTs8S45UwSVlgA6qMVnav43w-OH2OZHpYvGsWFaHGzSosa6javCPP5IcL7BZ8NDqEEfh8Zk-3QKrpgSSjhsOlZu-XGZhNpwFT-Jg0qqL5kJTKdRvlAPawf07a-rmsWMuONpe0m5jBw/s1600/IMG_3044-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCfWuTs8S45UwSVlgA6qMVnav43w-OH2OZHpYvGsWFaHGzSosa6javCPP5IcL7BZ8NDqEEfh8Zk-3QKrpgSSjhsOlZu-XGZhNpwFT-Jg0qqL5kJTKdRvlAPawf07a-rmsWMuONpe0m5jBw/s400/IMG_3044-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Terek Sandpiper</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We then started our nearly 3 hour journey north-east to
Kuusamo, breaking at a couple of places along the way. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">First up was a huge mire site called <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/65%C2%B012'07.6%22N+26%C2%B017'33.0%22E/@65.2021202,26.2903163,469m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d65.2021177!4d26.2925048">Hirvisuo</a>, although
we didn’t see that much here – </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">thunbergi</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
<b>Yellow Wags</b>, <b>Siskin</b>, <b>Common Redpoll</b>, <b>Tree Pipit</b>, 2 <b>Whinchats</b>, and <b>Cranes</b>. Just
short of Kuusamo we stopped by a lake just south of <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/65%C2%B049'30.6%22N+28%C2%B048'49.4%22E/@65.8251288,28.8139759,458m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d65.8251749!4d28.8137292">Kuolio</a>, which yielded an
adult <b>White-tailed Eagle</b>, several <b>Little Gulls</b>, our first singing <b>Brambling</b>,
and a male <b>Smew</b>. Birds seen on the drive included familiar fare, such as <b>Whooper Swan</b> (not quite present on every lake and wetland).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<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/AVvXsEgimajBP5GWD7gb6p3hiAndDbgDCrW0PQTCZZurtKkSx_H0S795cxbc3dpZqSUbmKtkV8tDo6WQZWNfxuEmt7GBbp3urnWYe3344cQPd50jUjrA03Vv3wHCTC4Qmkr4HuhadLdjVndVCqj4/s1600/IMG_8945.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/AVvXsEgimajBP5GWD7gb6p3hiAndDbgDCrW0PQTCZZurtKkSx_H0S795cxbc3dpZqSUbmKtkV8tDo6WQZWNfxuEmt7GBbp3urnWYe3344cQPd50jUjrA03Vv3wHCTC4Qmkr4HuhadLdjVndVCqj4/s400/IMG_8945.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Top notch mire habitat at Hirvisuo</span></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/AVvXsEixHYLBSXyILVXR_PjIi2fShppsq2VmYcmfBckpd5oeouWtLUK4wMLWXST4KYmGbvjsNxsBX-VhARxTCvWVeuHHd_qN6qNoWepZ4GE0J_1ccdkDJhbB22aN9v7XgIw93Y3Cz3ktzALi6DbR/s1600/IMG_8944.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/AVvXsEixHYLBSXyILVXR_PjIi2fShppsq2VmYcmfBckpd5oeouWtLUK4wMLWXST4KYmGbvjsNxsBX-VhARxTCvWVeuHHd_qN6qNoWepZ4GE0J_1ccdkDJhbB22aN9v7XgIw93Y3Cz3ktzALi6DbR/s400/IMG_8944.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Viewing tower</span></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/AVvXsEhsBPR5rwZT_nMIFk5OPLZHDpAHdunZ2nAT7P91XocOCwDyRchjSPOGFuFK2rANPCywP7aq5gQcKeNRakOUrr883Gt7mCWcEKo1uwGfzPRbeW7a6reQ8Uoh9yYgqCaQPEfP20XLwiXmQAsf/s1600/IMG_3091-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsBPR5rwZT_nMIFk5OPLZHDpAHdunZ2nAT7P91XocOCwDyRchjSPOGFuFK2rANPCywP7aq5gQcKeNRakOUrr883Gt7mCWcEKo1uwGfzPRbeW7a6reQ8Uoh9yYgqCaQPEfP20XLwiXmQAsf/s400/IMG_3091-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>thunbergi </i>Yellow Wagtail</span></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/AVvXsEjUHUK0h-ajuvOLXjpqOXh1zVM554668CsRlNoTwN9Joma9ztIqgPfvpthFDAeXK_DeQiPr5XoM6k4E043DK9bUfX0fVQT3aWmnl5t3H76NZ-4Z3aBgt5vFTXrMtVmfxgEDjPXLv0gy2nkk/s1600/IMG_8974.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/AVvXsEjUHUK0h-ajuvOLXjpqOXh1zVM554668CsRlNoTwN9Joma9ztIqgPfvpthFDAeXK_DeQiPr5XoM6k4E043DK9bUfX0fVQT3aWmnl5t3H76NZ-4Z3aBgt5vFTXrMtVmfxgEDjPXLv0gy2nkk/s400/IMG_8974.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An icy lake at Kuolio</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Arriving into Kuusamo (a small town c.60km south of the
Arctic circle and c.35km from the Russian border), we checked into our hotel - a
great improvement on the one in Oulu. Grabbing an early supper, we then headed
out for some more birding, visiting an area of forest about 15km to the north which looked promising based on its eBird list. We
couldn’t find much here, but did have a couple of </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hazel Grouse</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, 3 </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">borealis
</i><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Willow Tits</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, and a few each of the widespread breeders (</span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Brambling</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Chaffinch</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Siskin
</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">etc.).</span></div>
</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a much better night’s sleep, we were up again at
2.30am for a 3am meet with our new Finnature guide. Our group today was comprised of three of yesterday’s
party (two of the Brits and the Dutchman), plus a third Brit who was driving
up through Scandinavia in his motorhome. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first stop was just outside town, with a </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Willow
Grouse </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">by the road and two singing </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Rustic Buntings</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. Driving on, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Capercaillie</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">,
</span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Black Grouse</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hazel Grouse</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> were all seen on the roadside, making it a
four-grouse day, whilst two </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Woodcock </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">were feeding in a grassy field.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<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/AVvXsEjgh4JqGPQoz9xDOsjA7t4xAGJpddCMAYOR_BgT8wMvWO1clcYWRP4GDPDT-Wp8L4kkqR4BpSLAQNLwqzaZRQOPxuSz5S9HRaUj-oT-E4WgFToqD04pZhGO9TX3F-t3iRbvGeDxw0RKWg2j/s1600/IMG_3104-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgh4JqGPQoz9xDOsjA7t4xAGJpddCMAYOR_BgT8wMvWO1clcYWRP4GDPDT-Wp8L4kkqR4BpSLAQNLwqzaZRQOPxuSz5S9HRaUj-oT-E4WgFToqD04pZhGO9TX3F-t3iRbvGeDxw0RKWg2j/s400/IMG_3104-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Willow Grouse</span></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/AVvXsEgqAZEpUVUzI_5W1egz09d5R_5I7qycr52hv7WB8pTxygY54ChisUHqKOVrV57hC7n1seT_vWjDpxwE25hVF7vwPIK6_WjXzXOb_YWqoOjsPBn-OkKaIV3iUr7bBmHBE_Y4G-FMU4udotHD/s1600/IMG_3106.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqAZEpUVUzI_5W1egz09d5R_5I7qycr52hv7WB8pTxygY54ChisUHqKOVrV57hC7n1seT_vWjDpxwE25hVF7vwPIK6_WjXzXOb_YWqoOjsPBn-OkKaIV3iUr7bBmHBE_Y4G-FMU4udotHD/s400/IMG_3106.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Woodcock</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Arriving at our second stop, the singing Red-flanked
Bluetail present the day before failed to show, which was a shame – this was
something I had been looking forward to. I think we were still slightly early
in the season for this species (and seemingly others too, as many areas of forest were very quiet). However, compensation came in the form of a
pair of <b>Pine Grosbeaks</b> which flew in and showed well for about 10 minutes – I’d
not realised how big these would be (the size of a Redwing), and the colour of the male was something else - superb. Other birds
included a pair of <b>Rustic Buntings</b> (I tried to log the call in my memorybank...), breeding <b>Greenshank</b> and <b>Black-throated
Diver</b>, a <b>Short-eared Owl </b>and several <b>crossbill </b>sp over.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<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/AVvXsEgVQgVCYFKw_ELNDfurVd-_8YhHYOF4gI09ao22f2er3fVd7s-YeTo74QOlnq9_CxdWfk1_haa3VpUR6LBU9U2o-GWSOcsWl5k1vJ_XVI8GVXIhyEdmjoTy6D51gt6x1F66LqgnGIA0oEv4/s1600/IMG_9007.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/AVvXsEgVQgVCYFKw_ELNDfurVd-_8YhHYOF4gI09ao22f2er3fVd7s-YeTo74QOlnq9_CxdWfk1_haa3VpUR6LBU9U2o-GWSOcsWl5k1vJ_XVI8GVXIhyEdmjoTy6D51gt6x1F66LqgnGIA0oEv4/s400/IMG_9007.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Snowy forest</span></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/AVvXsEhFQ1PuTdMhmybAr4XXYJmRIbM8oif8WrK1i43vqKvXVMvxhFoyuJAricQ9aATr7YGVZlMZUiynbciZfES0cqrM4EaScIo36oLZTqTPtdCphko_opUtPxWAkd4B6lwUFSeoiwnCusGn-epG/s1600/IMG_3185-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFQ1PuTdMhmybAr4XXYJmRIbM8oif8WrK1i43vqKvXVMvxhFoyuJAricQ9aATr7YGVZlMZUiynbciZfES0cqrM4EaScIo36oLZTqTPtdCphko_opUtPxWAkd4B6lwUFSeoiwnCusGn-epG/s400/IMG_3185-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Male Pine Grosbeak and an annoying twig</span></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/AVvXsEj9zZI26ec-z4ubk5FNw4EPPyJMbRHuAE9jc_qjFJO_VwqCwnJ1bPudFbMsCbP2rdtSVgoe8hpvcDGjjMfOMaqQqUELfqnDgRPgVZYBBtSxXq-R8zyVa-7mnZVrOgzQY_9hO1wA9THr2I_Z/s1600/IMG_3166-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9zZI26ec-z4ubk5FNw4EPPyJMbRHuAE9jc_qjFJO_VwqCwnJ1bPudFbMsCbP2rdtSVgoe8hpvcDGjjMfOMaqQqUELfqnDgRPgVZYBBtSxXq-R8zyVa-7mnZVrOgzQY_9hO1wA9THr2I_Z/s400/IMG_3166-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Female Grosbeak</span></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/AVvXsEj8BM90QUSyzzzoUFooA_5hlH-CBrWgD4ZQx19HfR1CgDnzt-4DIhbixpmzMUpQkxl25QCOpfleefz4qAeWLZduN4V6a4jPLb5ToefHDHsrDrZYjMUqML6alTt9p_hyphenhyphenkMzc9mxig30QpznC/s1600/IMG_3161-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BM90QUSyzzzoUFooA_5hlH-CBrWgD4ZQx19HfR1CgDnzt-4DIhbixpmzMUpQkxl25QCOpfleefz4qAeWLZduN4V6a4jPLb5ToefHDHsrDrZYjMUqML6alTt9p_hyphenhyphenkMzc9mxig30QpznC/s400/IMG_3161-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Male Rustic Bunting - very smart</span></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/AVvXsEirhZ4xbo819AwJhhH-LyBsFEq09MKC6zne2N_Yy8E90JgPKJTNi7GnS8paPb-J04pCbXVXHaSXcYPG3Ie_FANwEnrEcfXdtuksF-WeDWbAgCgqKrqnwgll3mCjzwK00G6UHKNvqAJwk2hN/s1600/IMG_3206-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirhZ4xbo819AwJhhH-LyBsFEq09MKC6zne2N_Yy8E90JgPKJTNi7GnS8paPb-J04pCbXVXHaSXcYPG3Ie_FANwEnrEcfXdtuksF-WeDWbAgCgqKrqnwgll3mCjzwK00G6UHKNvqAJwk2hN/s400/IMG_3206-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Greenshank</span></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/AVvXsEgCxiMzhX7Qca93SovYK0YnPnr3hiBAEFch0oJ4LqcK-lkZ4yZgaSuNT5OqKAoMLBUtNbarjKtfyfXCjO2dD9eZwTTktLJRR-zcREQry3qLXguU0cqYfu-OwA4rkHwLDVkd0AJhC-V1rXoz/s1600/IMG_9019.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/AVvXsEgCxiMzhX7Qca93SovYK0YnPnr3hiBAEFch0oJ4LqcK-lkZ4yZgaSuNT5OqKAoMLBUtNbarjKtfyfXCjO2dD9eZwTTktLJRR-zcREQry3qLXguU0cqYfu-OwA4rkHwLDVkd0AJhC-V1rXoz/s400/IMG_9019.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Greenshank habitat</span></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/AVvXsEg4x4jTwvOsys_-duIrMK0eo4aC1Ss7IpkCzoxD-nMPJ2TYlX9cgDNH9e495fPP4C7RnDTlxjg55xPXQZ_BT6ulYg7IX1eVVBHcL-vUhpYPOJQVFHQxHIybGwgiIuPtJ5D8rJBzduU_Vz4g/s1600/IMG_3211-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4x4jTwvOsys_-duIrMK0eo4aC1Ss7IpkCzoxD-nMPJ2TYlX9cgDNH9e495fPP4C7RnDTlxjg55xPXQZ_BT6ulYg7IX1eVVBHcL-vUhpYPOJQVFHQxHIybGwgiIuPtJ5D8rJBzduU_Vz4g/s400/IMG_3211-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Breeding Greenshank</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our next stop produced </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Siberian Tit</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> without too much
difficulty, and we enjoyed watching these birds over coffee. However, our luck
then began to falter – at our fourth stop of the day, within spitting distance of the Russian border, there was no sign
of the Hawk Owl which had been seen as recently as the previous day by another
group. It was a bit windy, which perhaps didn’t help. A pair of </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Waxwings</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, 5
</span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Taiga Bean Geese</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and a </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Rough-legged Buzzard </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">provided some interest whilst not
seeing the owl.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<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/AVvXsEikeWcWhCHPtKDVByHu09hOcDLRH2T0vpSQc5GHCM-Dqy1WGqHbeDJfjaPSTVkq56QzzcYookJJBXQAg6t5GibwI7oF-bGDyfdXcLGBStxV8iUBHkisz3Ia9WlZQ8iMqbST1jvsKAkhHBHQ/s1600/IMG_3251-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikeWcWhCHPtKDVByHu09hOcDLRH2T0vpSQc5GHCM-Dqy1WGqHbeDJfjaPSTVkq56QzzcYookJJBXQAg6t5GibwI7oF-bGDyfdXcLGBStxV8iUBHkisz3Ia9WlZQ8iMqbST1jvsKAkhHBHQ/s400/IMG_3251-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Siberian Tit</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczxJLPlciEx7dhLIEgPV_LiAyM9yoA1hDEcugNy9k_Z6HLeRdfS_q-v5KvO_5DeOFZMVVyy8J5XQPr6NYDFTchnw3ZjOtXlMHHxWpGkfbsGIf8GXiu8GVxB9DLGswm84DJF9pivM8Dubi/s1600/IMG_3299.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjczxJLPlciEx7dhLIEgPV_LiAyM9yoA1hDEcugNy9k_Z6HLeRdfS_q-v5KvO_5DeOFZMVVyy8J5XQPr6NYDFTchnw3ZjOtXlMHHxWpGkfbsGIf8GXiu8GVxB9DLGswm84DJF9pivM8Dubi/s400/IMG_3299.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Andy not seeing a Hawk Owl</span></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/AVvXsEjxTJCfPiiTPxtuK4dcyFmDCtldNh8BreZVe0RtBNmWliq5uBJjnU-s6j4LkzZmWdfR0yeigPsU6FgvRV-mnsrDpSzta5zeoyEuk8XsOKoBKys4htQAhF8KxiL8y2YeSXZmHDD2hcL7sJd5/s1600/IMG_3285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxTJCfPiiTPxtuK4dcyFmDCtldNh8BreZVe0RtBNmWliq5uBJjnU-s6j4LkzZmWdfR0yeigPsU6FgvRV-mnsrDpSzta5zeoyEuk8XsOKoBKys4htQAhF8KxiL8y2YeSXZmHDD2hcL7sJd5/s400/IMG_3285.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Taiga Bean Geese in the taiga</span></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/AVvXsEjaIuiMgLoQqWfLflVWI52gdVIN10nU5DTr6SLSywxnazRxjj9uLfcSeVPf6VHWS6SqBXC8NUCsVHU6jOPBKz_bsrOltQP1oEih6nNDpfVSOPkHXJNjgit1ePt4fvQf-aMoo2h9ap3MxSTl/s1600/IMG_3293-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaIuiMgLoQqWfLflVWI52gdVIN10nU5DTr6SLSywxnazRxjj9uLfcSeVPf6VHWS6SqBXC8NUCsVHU6jOPBKz_bsrOltQP1oEih6nNDpfVSOPkHXJNjgit1ePt4fvQf-aMoo2h9ap3MxSTl/s400/IMG_3293-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Waxwing</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our luck continued to waiver, as we spent ages looking
for <b>Siberian Jay</b> in a very nice patch of protected forest at our fifth and final stop </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">– this was a bird I really didn’t want to dip, as it would have required another trip back!</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> However, they eventually showed up </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">back by the minibus just before we were due to leave, but only because another group had arrived, and their guide had put some bits of sausage out; the Jays took approximately 2 minutes to arrive! We also couldn’t locate any Three-toed Woodpeckers here, despite plenty of
fresh field signs – a would-be tick for Andy.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgoW5ZrvpOtFRQeZoVUzlS8hA4_r0Eo82CHKLCjchTKhjgFn48tivJrleGlojj0mqzq_Kaw0JBzHI_pIx4wbo7JnX71bEnSXSV9-YXpk1pQZTT52Cft9hai1rV9BjhQMa72m6UizDx-ZPJ/s1600/IMG_9076.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/AVvXsEhgoW5ZrvpOtFRQeZoVUzlS8hA4_r0Eo82CHKLCjchTKhjgFn48tivJrleGlojj0mqzq_Kaw0JBzHI_pIx4wbo7JnX71bEnSXSV9-YXpk1pQZTT52Cft9hai1rV9BjhQMa72m6UizDx-ZPJ/s400/IMG_9076.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nice (protected) forest</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhQnzzTtS5NARQKkLRdfNpEAGAl6OeIwJQO4vIA62ms9vZNpEHCM5p8IueSuR9zB6gLIH9kqSbP5g0dFalLWDAXdl3VdKbJms9_Bzp-g3UKjrDQzJuZDdo91WdWvINWX8iHAGS6v2oVdnm/s1600/IMG_9042.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/AVvXsEhhQnzzTtS5NARQKkLRdfNpEAGAl6OeIwJQO4vIA62ms9vZNpEHCM5p8IueSuR9zB6gLIH9kqSbP5g0dFalLWDAXdl3VdKbJms9_Bzp-g3UKjrDQzJuZDdo91WdWvINWX8iHAGS6v2oVdnm/s400/IMG_9042.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Waiting for the Siberian Jays to show up</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back in Kuusamo, and having said farewell to our companions,
we grabbed a quick bite for lunch before retracing our steps, first to an area
just north of Kuusamo airport where our guide said a Hawk Owl had been seen two
weeks previously. Needless to say, we couldn’t find it, but did have an
immature </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">White-tailed Eagle </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">overhead, plus 3 </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Whimbrel</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, and a </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Golden Plover</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHewgeGJhoeASbXBDzD-UP3aplvzMTbXx8zM-9Vw-oN6YcShaC-mCmJMJrTF880nP2t3uAK3UEY7qXQt-HeehaBeMaTtkaJ-KDXnrIzw2UZJszZJXt49PKfTns8NuXAlgl9uA0ECLOERd/s1600/IMG_9049.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/AVvXsEhXHewgeGJhoeASbXBDzD-UP3aplvzMTbXx8zM-9Vw-oN6YcShaC-mCmJMJrTF880nP2t3uAK3UEY7qXQt-HeehaBeMaTtkaJ-KDXnrIzw2UZJszZJXt49PKfTns8NuXAlgl9uA0ECLOERd/s400/IMG_9049.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No Hawk Owls here either</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsaYB1pPcRyW_7b-E5yCPMvqKG30877q3hDY2hYJX6Lq-NaXSSZ6n6w87dRm89cWzj50t_WlEteTfUYtMSTRsqAHiyCnMgWobfLhJSmAPNFWENe1UU7GeGExHM_no6tNtXWZ2t55-R4ou/s1600/IMG_3350-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFsaYB1pPcRyW_7b-E5yCPMvqKG30877q3hDY2hYJX6Lq-NaXSSZ6n6w87dRm89cWzj50t_WlEteTfUYtMSTRsqAHiyCnMgWobfLhJSmAPNFWENe1UU7GeGExHM_no6tNtXWZ2t55-R4ou/s400/IMG_3350-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Juv White-tailed Eagle - I'm not quite sure of the age of this - looks like a <br />2cy on plumage (lacking extensive white mottling on the belly), but a 3cy <br />based on wing moult?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Heading back to the </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Siberian Jay</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> spot, we saw another
Moose and a</span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> Rough-legged Buzzard</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><i style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">en route</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">,
and then enjoyed close and prolonged views of the <b>Siberian </b></span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Jays</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, and</span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">wondering at their ability to appear out of nowhere, and vanish equally quickly on silent wings. However, once again the
Three-toed Woodpeckers didn’t show. In fact, the only woodpeckers we saw or
heard during our trip were </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Great Spots</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, which was a bit surprising given all
the trees! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVgFfAcYo9z9J89mAw55drr47x0r7DYwCIRq2K6aWpIlKLhwI35xMUHSGjHzIB_x_rJef6kdAlLG0Psx5pcLJ2m-AP98NrYjk59iliUgd8QSRbP1W0gt9Utya0JeAbO1QAHROMLT1hNC8/s1600/IMG_3489-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnVgFfAcYo9z9J89mAw55drr47x0r7DYwCIRq2K6aWpIlKLhwI35xMUHSGjHzIB_x_rJef6kdAlLG0Psx5pcLJ2m-AP98NrYjk59iliUgd8QSRbP1W0gt9Utya0JeAbO1QAHROMLT1hNC8/s400/IMG_3489-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Siberian Jays</span></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/AVvXsEjGo3KB36o-kgQPD1VxXHpPKEBZmRVXxoMfRtIy4famDX-ML8YU7nk_03Jvtf2t4o6dEye0L7Z0eqSiSa-HrOlRKKSS1-zrvClTAGupc_WiwCcVhxnxMpArWACRnddJePhjAtm-l148ya7Y/s1600/IMG_3560-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGo3KB36o-kgQPD1VxXHpPKEBZmRVXxoMfRtIy4famDX-ML8YU7nk_03Jvtf2t4o6dEye0L7Z0eqSiSa-HrOlRKKSS1-zrvClTAGupc_WiwCcVhxnxMpArWACRnddJePhjAtm-l148ya7Y/s400/IMG_3560-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Siberian Jay</span></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/AVvXsEg1DHkF1uQopjJ57erVcY4BcYPnHq4qiIRidBimYh8oT0BfUPR54uJoNQVMefLbZonWBC-m3xMR85yIqBVcGqHML9Ud9JJenK6B7zvwluHoWpD6-e7_UPBw-erpoJm87ezd4-G-usFKtPc2/s1600/IMG_3606-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1DHkF1uQopjJ57erVcY4BcYPnHq4qiIRidBimYh8oT0BfUPR54uJoNQVMefLbZonWBC-m3xMR85yIqBVcGqHML9Ud9JJenK6B7zvwluHoWpD6-e7_UPBw-erpoJm87ezd4-G-usFKtPc2/s400/IMG_3606-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Siberian Jay</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JKBXlxON1M-kXY2Zz303JFcTMTl0eNB7LzbgQIqKuMTmY4TU6JoaMlCEU0absLIMKUw5VgR1Ljpm83v5TLaFYXJg4aAUbkZx0jLg_pObA1Y8EOnzUTXiLL-7-baurt5YRxw4Lst2h1Rb/s1600/IMG_3717-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8JKBXlxON1M-kXY2Zz303JFcTMTl0eNB7LzbgQIqKuMTmY4TU6JoaMlCEU0absLIMKUw5VgR1Ljpm83v5TLaFYXJg4aAUbkZx0jLg_pObA1Y8EOnzUTXiLL-7-baurt5YRxw4Lst2h1Rb/s400/IMG_3717-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Siberian Jay</span></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/AVvXsEgG1yO4i6E_FFnQpPBmMipKuU22Yrr62NWy84p4u6R0IRa1CXG4cVTOzYwa4qee0zeP10C2vtIzt3tHLjuDCbtpUYeBp59rUWqjxu3r8EHc0lT6u7FzwLC5ne6Jejp9_uMnDkXFpc6GgJEV/s1600/IMG_3734-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG1yO4i6E_FFnQpPBmMipKuU22Yrr62NWy84p4u6R0IRa1CXG4cVTOzYwa4qee0zeP10C2vtIzt3tHLjuDCbtpUYeBp59rUWqjxu3r8EHc0lT6u7FzwLC5ne6Jejp9_uMnDkXFpc6GgJEV/s400/IMG_3734-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Siberian Jay</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was then an uneventful drive back to Oulu, for another night in strange (albeit different) accommodation.With a little time to kill before our flight on Saturday morning, we
revisited the <b>Terek Sandpiper</b> site, seeing two birds before they were flushed
by a photographer, along with 2 <b>Ruff </b>and a <b>Wood Sand</b>. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back at Finlandia Hotel Airport, the tide was lower than
our previous visit, and the exposed mud held at least 12 <b>Temminck’s Stints</b>,
lots of <b>Ruff </b>(including a displaying male), and a <b>Black-tailed Godwit</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJPc5kf_yzKWvWkOZbz0igcT91yl-5UhTlRp0Y8uy61P-byDOrpNCVUGXJb7p6DwKdxSljWVpe97lmVnuReWkcSQjjqkTYo6t8jdCjTmgbtOqQcDzvWggt-H9JNzhS3nDmhFTJ2Y6xuQm6/s1600/IMG_9159.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/AVvXsEiJPc5kf_yzKWvWkOZbz0igcT91yl-5UhTlRp0Y8uy61P-byDOrpNCVUGXJb7p6DwKdxSljWVpe97lmVnuReWkcSQjjqkTYo6t8jdCjTmgbtOqQcDzvWggt-H9JNzhS3nDmhFTJ2Y6xuQm6/s400/IMG_9159.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Coastal habitat looking towards Oulu</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And that was it – two flights and we were home by mid-afternoon.
We clocked up just over 100 species in our short stay, despite several notable omissions, including Red-flanked
Bluetail, Bluethroat, Two-barred Crossbill, Little Bunting and Three-toed Woodpecker. However, I can’t complain having seen 6 of
my 7 target species – </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Great Grey</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Ural</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Tengmalm’s Owls</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Siberian Tit</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and
</span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Jay</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, and </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Pine Grosbeak</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, and a nice selection of other northern species. I’ll
have to twitch a Hawk Owl next time there is one within striking distance of
the UK (or maybe even in the UK…). </span></div>
Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-1613515903274932022019-04-05T14:42:00.000-07:002019-04-05T14:42:13.374-07:00Phylloscopus txmaxxii<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yesterday morning, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">whilst walking to work, </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Tom Hibbert found a </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chiffchaff </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">with an interesting song on the riverside path in Newark behind TX Maxx, tweeting a short video in which the song was audible. The suggestion, from someone at RBA, was that it was a </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Siberian Chiffchaff (<i>tristis</i>)</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, which appeared to be confirmed by a sonogram (see </span><a href="https://twitter.com/TomHibbert54/status/1113870081883344896" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">here</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">). </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I headed down there first thing this morning, finding Mark Dawson already on site, who had located the bird. We were joined shortly after by Tom. It was singing intermittently and somewhat quietly from the riverside shrubs and willows. It didn't show particularly well, and was obscured a lot of the time, but it did emerge on occasionally, and responded to two short bursts of Siberian Chiffchaff playback by flying towards us and over our heads.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The brevity of the views, and my desire to get some pictures meant I didn't scrutinise it as much as I would've liked, but my impression was it had greyish-brown upperparts lacking any olive component, buffish-white supercilium and underparts without any hint of yellow (with buffer flanks and upper breast and paler belly), very black bill and legs, and a faint green tinge to the fringes of the remiges. So good for a Siberian in terms of plumage. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUCduixCjI5Rg-vGluu-niHW5GZuIsIxoJTV0KrqLdYtLiPABD3NrSFpRoCQ1CoTlP820YLrtYsKgveolXn_5A2wcR_LRVG3E9j8csYJ1giYUyAgkLuKPqJqmmD_Y0S2YeIV3EnYR9I2Z/s1600/IMG_2900-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1024" data-original-width="1536" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisUCduixCjI5Rg-vGluu-niHW5GZuIsIxoJTV0KrqLdYtLiPABD3NrSFpRoCQ1CoTlP820YLrtYsKgveolXn_5A2wcR_LRVG3E9j8csYJ1giYUyAgkLuKPqJqmmD_Y0S2YeIV3EnYR9I2Z/s400/IMG_2900-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I have no prior experience of singing Siberian Chiffchaff - it's a wacky and distinctive song. Listening to recordings on Xeno Canto, this bird sounded like a good match, albeit delivered at perhaps a slightly slower pace than some (but I'd need to listen to more recordings to be sure of this). Several phrases of song can be heard in a video I posted <a href="https://twitter.com/notbirdingnick/status/1114095923985113088">on twitter</a>. However, it did occasionally throw in the odd standard Chiffchaff phrase, audible in <a href="https://twitter.com/notbirdingnick/status/1114097161715765251">this clip</a>... It wasn't heard to call. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Further research suggests that this may throw </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a safe ID of this bird as a <i>tristis </i>into </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">doubt. <a href="https://britishbirds.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/article_files/V98/V98_N08/V98_N08_P396_410_A001.pdf">This article in BB</a> indicates that '</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>fulvescens</b></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">' needs to be considered, which may (or may not) be an integrade occurring in the overlap zone between </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">abietinus </i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">and </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tristis</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, and that such birds can be mixed ('intermediate') singers - as in this case. The article (and the Handbook of Western Palearctic Birds) indicate that '</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">fulvescens</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">' can look virtually identical to </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">tristis</i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">... So maybe that's what we're dealing with here? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Read the article though - it's complicated!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, I do wonder if this could be a young bird (i.e. a 2cy), exhibiting song plasticity - i.e. responding to the <b>Common Chiffchaffs</b> it is hearing singing around it (of which there were a couple). My photos aren't really good enough, but I think a moult limit is visible in the greater coverts which would support this ageing. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Note also that the BB article, on page 403 states "</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">a certain amount of ‘mixed’ singing can result from one species adopting part of the song of another species which is present at high density in its natal area, and is not necessarily proof of hybridisation</span>"<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, whatever it is, it's come from a long way east... and this is one of the things I love about birding; there are always things to learn, even from a bird on a scruffy bit of land behind a retail park in the middle of Newark!</span>Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-18792250181208519442019-02-17T12:55:00.001-08:002019-02-17T12:55:18.343-08:00Getting a goose<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Brent Goose is a bird I've dipped twice in Notts (at Dunham and Langford), but it's also one I've been expecting to find locally one day - and that day was yesterday (Saturday). I'd had a nice morning out at Collingham, with the two redhead <b>Smew </b>still on Ferry Lane Lake, along with a <b>Great White Egret</b> which then flew south towards Langford. This bird is missing a primary from the middle of its right wing, and is the same bird that has been frequenting the area of late. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Running out of time, I had a quick look at Mons Pool. As well as a pair of <b>Red-crested Pochards</b>, there were lots of <b>Greylags </b>present. After a quick scan, I concluded there were no Pinkies (or indeed any other grey geese) lurking amongst them, and started back towards the car. What sounded like a Pinkie calling had me turn round, and note a small, dark goose... scoping it revealed it to be a juvenile Dark-bellied Brent Goose. I'm not sure how I'd missed this initially, but at least I got it in the end... A county tick and my 185th patch species. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Juv Dark-bellied Brent Goose</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Juv Dark-bellied Brent Goose</span></td></tr>
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Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-43053980872845664042019-02-17T12:41:00.000-08:002019-02-17T12:41:08.554-08:00Ice n' easy<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cotham Landfill apparently only has about 14 months left - so one more winter after this one. After that, the chances of finding white-wingers and Casps locally will be dramatically reduced. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">However, I've been a bit rubbish at visiting the site over the last few weeks, mainly due to work pressures. But with Wednesday and Thursday off work to paint my front room, I was planning a visit on the Thursday, once I'd done the majority of the decorating. However, this proved to be an error, with someone finding an Iceland Gull at Kilvington Lakes, and then at Cotham Landfill on the Wednesday. Oh well, kudos to them!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A visit to the tip first thing on Thursday paid instant dividends, as although </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">most of the tipping area is now not visible from the cyclepath, the 2cy</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Iceland showed nicely for a few minutes on the front bank before flying out of sight (where the majority of the gulls were). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Anyway, always nice to see a white-winger. But how many more...?</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Iceland Gull</span></td></tr>
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Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-27863678963604482842019-02-04T13:59:00.001-08:002019-02-04T14:01:12.867-08:00All of Jan and the start of Feb<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Its been a steady start to 2019 on the patch; <b>Smew </b>and <b>Great White Egret</b> lingered from 2018, but a <b>Raven </b>over Mons Pool on 27th was a species that eluded me last year. Both <b>Jack Snipe </b>and <b>Woodcock </b>gave themselves up without too much trouble (the former on Ferry Lane Lake, the latter at Parish Field). A whopping 105 <b>Pochard </b>held a <b>Red-crested Pochard</b> at the end of the month, and <b>Wigeon </b>numbers built up to around 340, although <b>Tufted Duck</b> numbers remained low - making the chances of finding a Lesser Scaup a bit of a long shot. I finished the month on a modest 78 species, with plenty still to go at in February. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">GWE, with Little Egrets and Grey Herons</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Away from the patch, I caught up with the <b>Hooded Crow</b> at Bothamsall on 25th, on my fifth attempt, and bagged the three <b>Shorelarks </b>at Langford Lowfields before work today, having been unable to do any birding over the weekend. Added to the Velvet Scoters in November, it has been a good run in Notts for county listers (one of whom I'm not...).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Visits to Cotham Landfill have been few and far between; the tip is getting increasingly</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> difficult to view, and gull numbers have been unremarkable. This has been reflected by a lack of white-wingers in the roost at Hoveringham, and similarly low gull numbers. My best there was a 2cy <b>Caspian Gull</b> on 2nd.</span>Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-50137567064752071262019-01-21T13:10:00.000-08:002019-02-04T13:36:02.743-08:00Wrapping up 2018<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">After the Velvet Scoters in mid November, I managed just two further additions for Patchwork Challenge 2018 </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">the first was <b>Great White Egret</b> on 25 November, finally catching up with the bird that had been frequenting the area for around 3 weeks. The second were two <b>Waxwings</b>, which were calling from the hedge by the conveyor outfall next to the Trent when I pulled up on 9 December; unfortunately they were immediately flushed by a dog walker and flew west across the Trent Valley.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Great White Egret</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">I finished the year on 137 species, and 160 points. This was not, however, my worst performance, despite the significant reduction in patch visits as a result of Dad Duties:</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Number of visits</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtu4r83YJde4pxnW80WenBzSvZ6qa_jgZy3YR91P14feVzHGZOpty57NdkTZw1V1-buH4LNgiziO20ILlzJqCcWf3PgrbdJ-CPml9dhzID4OMD5bpnUABVi_5B3h7wez9Fmxy4PJ55kmyJ/s1600/Chart+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="754" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtu4r83YJde4pxnW80WenBzSvZ6qa_jgZy3YR91P14feVzHGZOpty57NdkTZw1V1-buH4LNgiziO20ILlzJqCcWf3PgrbdJ-CPml9dhzID4OMD5bpnUABVi_5B3h7wez9Fmxy4PJ55kmyJ/s400/Chart+1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Species and points by year</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBU-6Ul_1qf8_cvGm3DrNFR5djsBBQ6ZYXJfJqU0NO6prBHCTOhJrmnv5CKPGjSXSAe9tRNo32xRZbTgWz2bWqSGOyumWWP-WRjlGaULBs_ECYpPtuQf2_vipsndyikj5utncHmkL2gao6/s1600/Chart+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="455" data-original-width="754" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBU-6Ul_1qf8_cvGm3DrNFR5djsBBQ6ZYXJfJqU0NO6prBHCTOhJrmnv5CKPGjSXSAe9tRNo32xRZbTgWz2bWqSGOyumWWP-WRjlGaULBs_ECYpPtuQf2_vipsndyikj5utncHmkL2gao6/s400/Chart+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Points per bird by year</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHKkQzg0z0jx86XnFU6ZDFkyhWyUeNSiIuMrQ8LfCRJckPrnQHfBwUqEDihSVvMJZKKykRSzQw86lxfLBigoGV1ymLTp3p-0pAoiO1WSRJ4BYrTLwFBe_WnCJmGrIDpiFUPfXNKjwOBnU/s1600/Chart+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1107" data-original-width="1355" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXHKkQzg0z0jx86XnFU6ZDFkyhWyUeNSiIuMrQ8LfCRJckPrnQHfBwUqEDihSVvMJZKKykRSzQw86lxfLBigoGV1ymLTp3p-0pAoiO1WSRJ4BYrTLwFBe_WnCJmGrIDpiFUPfXNKjwOBnU/s400/Chart+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Cumulative species total by 10 day period</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Highlights during the year were <b>Bearded Tit</b>, <b>Grey Phalarope </b>and<b> Velvet Scoter</b>, which were full fat patch ticks (and the latter the first in Notts since 1996), along with <b>Spotted Redshank</b> and <b>Waxwing</b>, which were firsts for the Patchwork Challenge era. Added to these were the likes of <b>Turtle Dove</b>, <b>Black Tern</b>, <b>Little Gull</b>, <b>Sanderling</b>, <b>Turnstone</b>, <b>Grey Plover</b>, <b>Whimbrel </b>and <b>Garganey</b>, so all in all it was an OK year. Notable omissions included included Brambling, Red Kite, Ruff, Tree Sparrow and Whinchat...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-x3GJnF9IdXtrC3e8rt57pVvcz1Jb6kVdPbztfcQ3I_y_nENbwP7xiQv_BViCC_TSxfBqBk-xbpvy2yiF3xbMn_hnSlXmxcKvKgvVfSM6nktdSZI-d4uHQbxj8XCwl0DncQdIaoBmzyCv/s1600/IMG_0715-edit.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/AVvXsEj-x3GJnF9IdXtrC3e8rt57pVvcz1Jb6kVdPbztfcQ3I_y_nENbwP7xiQv_BViCC_TSxfBqBk-xbpvy2yiF3xbMn_hnSlXmxcKvKgvVfSM6nktdSZI-d4uHQbxj8XCwl0DncQdIaoBmzyCv/s400/IMG_0715-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Bearded Tit</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8a9GLdU-sOqVhkF8AbT32BTHkMBgu8685wXEjE0XXxhOIGdWwrYEZJLQWk2zIHsOAw_9yTDYNtux1-BwVPLVzS2PGerY0C2NQqoTSU7jkXjrVqCe4kxFWNExamNrqncrLuDn44q0qIvQ/s1600/DSC05811-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW8a9GLdU-sOqVhkF8AbT32BTHkMBgu8685wXEjE0XXxhOIGdWwrYEZJLQWk2zIHsOAw_9yTDYNtux1-BwVPLVzS2PGerY0C2NQqoTSU7jkXjrVqCe4kxFWNExamNrqncrLuDn44q0qIvQ/s400/DSC05811-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Velvet Scoters</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />Away from the patch, and it was a pretty unspectacular year for bird finding and twitching; a fortnight on Unst in the autumn was particularly</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;"> missed... I guess my best find was the <b>Kumlien's Gull</b> at Cotham Landfill, which also frequented Hoveringham and Kilvington, and was just the second of this form for Notts. My only ticks were <b>Snowy Owl</b> (Snettisham in March) and the <b>Grey Catbird</b>... Hopefully 2019 will deliver a bit more. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9dKDWFf6VscJEgoLVVk1nwAcbVCqY851yAsq9IB5u8awnEpEH4GQ4F_O-x1vopL10fHaEyJbJX6i6scc2-f353UeeAGfdAwgzFF4ctT3JEDSzZ4vPg6-KaMzU-r4pdAbyAaOpDkjrk1o/s1600/DSC02647-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt9dKDWFf6VscJEgoLVVk1nwAcbVCqY851yAsq9IB5u8awnEpEH4GQ4F_O-x1vopL10fHaEyJbJX6i6scc2-f353UeeAGfdAwgzFF4ctT3JEDSzZ4vPg6-KaMzU-r4pdAbyAaOpDkjrk1o/s400/DSC02647-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Kumlien's Gull</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FSpekPR4Kw5XZ-eyYgUUQE2qB3BZMYdnEPbHJ3gz2XBwnaCyYmISPzopXVghYvwsOAVz2ruOzu2_spgqThyCNctCEOgInsKZO3IaGocBEcbvCxCDbL71mU5rdTYQ154hMjDwK0hEIhh0/s1600/DSC03054-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FSpekPR4Kw5XZ-eyYgUUQE2qB3BZMYdnEPbHJ3gz2XBwnaCyYmISPzopXVghYvwsOAVz2ruOzu2_spgqThyCNctCEOgInsKZO3IaGocBEcbvCxCDbL71mU5rdTYQ154hMjDwK0hEIhh0/s400/DSC03054-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Snowy Owl</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9i_eGPRQj52BaXTObjqw-20o4BQEwf8jJWsHOrmbIQ1nxQ3dVJhSHNt6A_DvyvgZba9eqNG8iRThbG85j77YxOR0kBCoKyBm83uUlGTY1DXiDqfkhUq3FaotZlaBCwQi7aeLCYOS_FGs_/s1600/DSC05535-edit2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="1600" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9i_eGPRQj52BaXTObjqw-20o4BQEwf8jJWsHOrmbIQ1nxQ3dVJhSHNt6A_DvyvgZba9eqNG8iRThbG85j77YxOR0kBCoKyBm83uUlGTY1DXiDqfkhUq3FaotZlaBCwQi7aeLCYOS_FGs_/s400/DSC05535-edit2.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Grey Catbird</span></td></tr>
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Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-59064759284618181382018-11-18T12:49:00.000-08:002018-11-28T12:41:35.679-08:00Patch mega!<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had a whole day with Freya today, and after a morning playing and an early lunch, we headed out to Collingham, and she fell asleep in the car (as I hoped she would). I was after the Great White Egret which has been kicking around here and Langford (and Meering), and with which I haven't been having much luck. Having looked at Ferry Lane Lake yesterday, I had a quick scan, not expecting much to have changed, but almost did a double take as I completed my first sweep - there were two female-type <b>Velvet Scoters</b>! This is a rare bird inland, and the last one in Notts was at King's Mill Res way back in 1996 (my GCSE year at school). They were diving quite happily, but occasionally becoming more alert, necks extended. I aged these as 1cy birds from photos, with a pale belly patch visible in the wing-flapping photo below (although other features of this age such as browner plumage tones and pale fringes to scaps and upper-wing covs are difficult to make out). </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YNBO77Dflx0ZC-_XwWgLLclU8GL20ry3fk0RcXHZdXxyJB3fUhB8SwvbfqgegRio9XXOcQ3PfxuTAb5RqHNJe-UKrimOHBru5W7egMdZA48Ey7nckseh7yihS-A3rAjnLTJl-kfUjU2C/s1600/DSC05763-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_YNBO77Dflx0ZC-_XwWgLLclU8GL20ry3fk0RcXHZdXxyJB3fUhB8SwvbfqgegRio9XXOcQ3PfxuTAb5RqHNJe-UKrimOHBru5W7egMdZA48Ey7nckseh7yihS-A3rAjnLTJl-kfUjU2C/s400/DSC05763-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Velvet Scoters</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWaI6vLohqf457DDZGskE_gdHyrzpJLS8hPHWuvCV3FQ6jm3b_nOz6g-lvV6kBZOD8jqxHBV8xciXx47uy3mr3ktRddjP74bn_e6qyjudUzDuZVp5ysEA_7E59yQYyoYfdTTETq7l6zka/s1600/DSC05773-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFWaI6vLohqf457DDZGskE_gdHyrzpJLS8hPHWuvCV3FQ6jm3b_nOz6g-lvV6kBZOD8jqxHBV8xciXx47uy3mr3ktRddjP74bn_e6qyjudUzDuZVp5ysEA_7E59yQYyoYfdTTETq7l6zka/s400/DSC05773-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Velvet Scoters</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSDIxu-Oz-G6E9M961LiueHTBMXF2WiBj0rrIx6KMbjxhYSS4BiV9QzMWO7CVEkuyMPe_ZoVdx3cgUh7I-nOlgvUTLAoMlq5btGGCXJbz3C68DKTwVczMwmUj_7M4qwK5t06DoKdMc3sV/s1600/DSC05782-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilSDIxu-Oz-G6E9M961LiueHTBMXF2WiBj0rrIx6KMbjxhYSS4BiV9QzMWO7CVEkuyMPe_ZoVdx3cgUh7I-nOlgvUTLAoMlq5btGGCXJbz3C68DKTwVczMwmUj_7M4qwK5t06DoKdMc3sV/s400/DSC05782-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Velvet Scoters</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3x7pNymMoj34TH7lHoLdpRv9c0tCem9HCYU4ydUa3jok9BCAI6RVAKdGpr2vHrPNaZna7RsDXbOGdhx8ML10qaJ37iAooxhFE3pA5hP98jeiblrezqbqCnUDsLP0rhjJ_6ZYDAyVHNV8/s1600/DSC05801-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEia3x7pNymMoj34TH7lHoLdpRv9c0tCem9HCYU4ydUa3jok9BCAI6RVAKdGpr2vHrPNaZna7RsDXbOGdhx8ML10qaJ37iAooxhFE3pA5hP98jeiblrezqbqCnUDsLP0rhjJ_6ZYDAyVHNV8/s400/DSC05801-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Velvet Scoters</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxgEeKCzIciO8JwVd_i0IGlQ_PXy2DtxesWskZa8wSSjgTN2-IunN4lSbHjHBR2hyE0cWab-KUe5pI4WAOh867bBI_1lqKNVTusVaWjCdJ_36rxxZfaST7XfTIP0KaEjjOrMiR0SH7BaB/s1600/DSC05811-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioxgEeKCzIciO8JwVd_i0IGlQ_PXy2DtxesWskZa8wSSjgTN2-IunN4lSbHjHBR2hyE0cWab-KUe5pI4WAOh867bBI_1lqKNVTusVaWjCdJ_36rxxZfaST7XfTIP0KaEjjOrMiR0SH7BaB/s400/DSC05811-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Velvet Scoters</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I called Mark Dawson, and was just about to put the news out when my phone died. Mark arrived (and was suitably excited about a Notts tick), and then called various people, and RBA. I stayed until Alan Clewes arrived, and by which time Freya had woken up, so we went off for a push around in the push chair. Once again, no sign of the Great White Egret (like yesterday), but there were a few other bits round - 5 </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Curlew</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, 3 </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Common Redshank</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and a </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dunlin</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, with the </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spotted Redshank</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> still present on Ferry Lane Lake. The Scoters stayed for the rest of the day, and were widely appreciated by Notts listers, but had gone the following day. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2gK4cjBrH-zqB7-TcTDqqISq45l3WqxdIRIza7Q7RidtZCJM48rnIMCzAu2Edh4SEjp8leoxjFhO81UmlvVTLWfFmZk1_Kn3aOc5qyfwZrUNqnRftsNVGexcljtFzgYHKrEYCSvzD5Nz/s1600/DSC05587-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF2gK4cjBrH-zqB7-TcTDqqISq45l3WqxdIRIza7Q7RidtZCJM48rnIMCzAu2Edh4SEjp8leoxjFhO81UmlvVTLWfFmZk1_Kn3aOc5qyfwZrUNqnRftsNVGexcljtFzgYHKrEYCSvzD5Nz/s400/DSC05587-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Spotted Redshank</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Last weekend was a non-birding weekend (stag do in Leeds), and the weekend before I had my parents visiting; this was when the GWE first turned up (found by Mark D), and despite an immediate visit, I couldn't locate it - the aforementioned <b>Spotshank </b>was some recompense, being the first here for some time (since at least 2013). </span>Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-38992972825222292732018-11-06T14:26:00.000-08:002018-11-08T12:31:40.785-08:00South Africa part 3 - Cape Town<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With the <a href="http://notbirding.blogspot.com/2017/11/south-africa-part-1-kruger-and.html">first</a> and <a href="http://notbirding.blogspot.com/2018/10/south-africa-part-2-st-lucia-and-durban.html">second</a> parts of our trip now behind us, a </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Black-headed Heron </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">at King Shaka Airport bid us fairwell from Durban, and we were then on a two-hour Mango Airways morning flight to Cape Town for the third and final leg. We enjoyed spectacular views of a snow-clad Lesotho shortly after take-off - somehow difficult to reconcile with the heat of Kruger we'd been experiencing just a few days earlier. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking towards Lesotho</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After an uneventful flight, we picked up our new hire car and drove to Hout Bay, a small town just south of Cape Town, at the base of the Cape Peninsular. The only birds of note on the drive were 15 <b>Greater Flamingos</b> taking off from a river by the motorway. Arriving in Hout Bay, a <b>Malachite Sunbird </b>was the first new bird, whilst a couple of <i>capensis</i> <b>Cape White-eyes</b> and <b>Speckled Pigeons</b> were in the garden of our pleasant accommodation. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hout Bay</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We decided to take advantage of the bright and clear weather and head straight out to <a href="https://www.sanparks.org/parks/table_mountain/">Table Mountain</a>. After almost bailing because of the massive queue (which you can partly jump by going onto their wifi and buying tickets online), we enjoyed the cable car up to the top, complete with rotating gondola. At the top, several very tame <b>Orange-breasted Sunbirds</b> were the first Cape region endemic for my list, added to which were lots of <b>Red-winged Starlings</b>, and </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Peregrine</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, plus the odd</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> <b>Familiar Chat</b>, <b>Cape Robin-chat</b>, and <b>White-necked Raven</b>. Some obliging </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rock Hyrax (I prefer their Afrikaans name - </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dassies) were entertaining, sunbathing on the the rocks. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back at the bottom, a female<b> Cape Sugarbird</b> showed well in the fynbos. We then headed the short distance to Camp's Bay, where we had a meal watching the sun set over the south Atlantic. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The cable car up Table Mountain</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking south</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cape Town, Robben Island to the left</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Red-winged Starling admiring the view</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Orange-breasted Sunbird</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A female Cape Sugarbird</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dassie</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sunset from Camp's Bay</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next day I was up early for what I was hoping would be a highlight of the trip - a pelagic out of Simon's Town, with </span><a href="http://www.capetownpelagics.com/" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Cape Town Pelagics</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. This was, in the event, a slight anticlimax... by which I mean it was still brilliant, but not as good as perhaps I was hoping. We also finished an hour and a half early, having steamed 13 miles south of the Cape of Good Hope in search of a trawler which was apparently out there. The sea was very lumpy, and having crashed our way out, the trawler proved to be a tanker, so there was no big aggregation of pelagic seabirds. We then crashed our way 13 miles back into shore - which was fairly exhausting. I don't get sea-sick, but had some taken some anti-sickness pills just in case, which I think proved to be the right decision (as one person was violently ill and didn't look like they enjoyed the trip at all...).</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking back towards the Cape of Good Hope - a smooth start</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On a more positive note, as we rounded the Cape on our way out, there were huge numbers of <b>Sooty Shearwaters </b>(1000s) just offshore, and we saw c.100 <b>White-chinned Petrels</b>, c.10 <b>Shy Albatrosses</b> (my first albatross), a few <b>Cape Gannets</b>, plenty of <b>Cape Gulls </b>and <b>Cape Cormorants</b> (the latter streaming our of False Bay in the morning), and two <b>Sub-antarctic Skuas</b>, neither of which I saw well. Added value was provided by cetaceans - a breaching Humpback was fantastic, and a bucket-list moment, although it disappeared as soon as we'd seen it, but two Southern Right Whales just off the Cape were more co-operative. A super-pod of Large-beaked Common Dolphins (100s and 100s) was an incredible sight, as they surrounded the boat. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seabird melee</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdH-M0HphEYYcI9ncTyLVqUSD6s7qbA0dd8xrtNQPh4hmncSq7jkcUaZMFzjMlxna-wzMTFvWg4uOhsXLFzWPHAZ009pNjJwQzcUdHjqivPwX-cRkIl1Rz_K5duugsD3BD48X14dq6-LE/s1600/IMG_5568.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsdH-M0HphEYYcI9ncTyLVqUSD6s7qbA0dd8xrtNQPh4hmncSq7jkcUaZMFzjMlxna-wzMTFvWg4uOhsXLFzWPHAZ009pNjJwQzcUdHjqivPwX-cRkIl1Rz_K5duugsD3BD48X14dq6-LE/s400/IMG_5568.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seabird melee</span></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/AVvXsEiQZV-Y0oCvnG7rCrHs5o2kMkJzD2Pi2yGCDpcsGzs-FdA7tPfPQAEUkbsImJsgUb269dr6dcaUOBke7ePzI-fCI3LEJppSIjAXqlSaNQJfBMG7kmzLfICk5UgJ_WJhp1_cRaeWQb7-9TZr/s1600/IMG_5518-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQZV-Y0oCvnG7rCrHs5o2kMkJzD2Pi2yGCDpcsGzs-FdA7tPfPQAEUkbsImJsgUb269dr6dcaUOBke7ePzI-fCI3LEJppSIjAXqlSaNQJfBMG7kmzLfICk5UgJ_WJhp1_cRaeWQb7-9TZr/s400/IMG_5518-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sooty Shearwater</span></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/AVvXsEi78z3mg3849F91Sbqgx0ioQYgqvN6x2V1O646WcZJ6SLrsRvcbBOH_IpjEeymB2rkkaQAdRFMrxW_juzM9W3tdTpnm91xLDUIUzZXYQahV-U4qs75oLS1FclUVURUNXgH35bwLXgOABPU0/s1600/IMG_5558.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi78z3mg3849F91Sbqgx0ioQYgqvN6x2V1O646WcZJ6SLrsRvcbBOH_IpjEeymB2rkkaQAdRFMrxW_juzM9W3tdTpnm91xLDUIUzZXYQahV-U4qs75oLS1FclUVURUNXgH35bwLXgOABPU0/s400/IMG_5558.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sooty Shearwaters</span></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/AVvXsEhUsT5i8VjssXPOsY1u4jfrDzUQ-qDmXmZ6WpEevZmLjwrvoKEzn1IJF2MAX-al26b6-8NaY41mg3avL6gSo7yI87E9XKdhJ44SERTL_kYlMlYW1-avMQRTZzN8-i15kttMI_Qo8DK_GZ1z/s1600/IMG_5588.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUsT5i8VjssXPOsY1u4jfrDzUQ-qDmXmZ6WpEevZmLjwrvoKEzn1IJF2MAX-al26b6-8NaY41mg3avL6gSo7yI87E9XKdhJ44SERTL_kYlMlYW1-avMQRTZzN8-i15kttMI_Qo8DK_GZ1z/s400/IMG_5588.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Southern Right Whale</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwdAFKlVfYHN7_FVh9W7XpX74e_foiQqRRkyqu9v_xOUeV25lj80KDg3ZXtA-6xnLK_ciiLCQpEnAOfZ4nmwB4CF5cbeVfmgSliWbZF3W-Z_4eCePXJJYRas8ME9iAC0F15uzdA0k3D3S/s1600/IMG_5596.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiwdAFKlVfYHN7_FVh9W7XpX74e_foiQqRRkyqu9v_xOUeV25lj80KDg3ZXtA-6xnLK_ciiLCQpEnAOfZ4nmwB4CF5cbeVfmgSliWbZF3W-Z_4eCePXJJYRas8ME9iAC0F15uzdA0k3D3S/s400/IMG_5596.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Southern Right Whale</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></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/AVvXsEhjUXIUPqHFx1673URWPMZvSBZFqaqgXywsN3s-XciVJksCQQnMgfYcR1A6Dcm6C20uMSHOXgqkW3TYE5QnUVr2Sf1yMV1bjBstKyPRjcQwk2eq47xGaopYBYzfw-3TmLCJFcG4pQWDUe6w/s1600/IMG_5615.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUXIUPqHFx1673URWPMZvSBZFqaqgXywsN3s-XciVJksCQQnMgfYcR1A6Dcm6C20uMSHOXgqkW3TYE5QnUVr2Sf1yMV1bjBstKyPRjcQwk2eq47xGaopYBYzfw-3TmLCJFcG4pQWDUe6w/s400/IMG_5615.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Breaching Humpback - awesome!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuwhBwW-jgWfi9MVOcOvacwM6_TnlAnvGZ0v6-qnSBa_W_wcrfMow4WY-uPH0NwkvyjVaMVda30m5YNFSoHKeHBrnWn9IKqCQS6h_1TOV9o1CFv2EQIKcfNgdqUBzcgRzfEpTYRU_jbHR/s1600/IMG_5626-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuwhBwW-jgWfi9MVOcOvacwM6_TnlAnvGZ0v6-qnSBa_W_wcrfMow4WY-uPH0NwkvyjVaMVda30m5YNFSoHKeHBrnWn9IKqCQS6h_1TOV9o1CFv2EQIKcfNgdqUBzcgRzfEpTYRU_jbHR/s400/IMG_5626-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shy Albatross and White-chinned Petrel</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilKleuZTAhFpf9UHrsgzNj9gwV4mMzNoLSQAKsaFv_kNXeBqIa1wc2F9Ur3BV0IVRHj_KiXo3xUeAB9i53_pHdQ399Qqpp9Czzs9PgD2hCKzyLKl30KQtIGQtgkKApj5c6kElGS0VCdyv/s1600/IMG_5652-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiilKleuZTAhFpf9UHrsgzNj9gwV4mMzNoLSQAKsaFv_kNXeBqIa1wc2F9Ur3BV0IVRHj_KiXo3xUeAB9i53_pHdQ399Qqpp9Czzs9PgD2hCKzyLKl30KQtIGQtgkKApj5c6kElGS0VCdyv/s400/IMG_5652-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shy Albatross and White-chinned Petrels</span></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/AVvXsEjJdkxg9UzWNvYWhvI-Mea158mvBpA6asO5rjKbZkQvBPTHWIUmDxlNQGxlwXSomhfnbKNXTR5xQuMVXp35dXnif9fBIq3CgGsOex52t3bwHbiqXsAsmtvRVhVJ9JXcPbfGJYJw392P2mmC/s1600/IMG_5660.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdkxg9UzWNvYWhvI-Mea158mvBpA6asO5rjKbZkQvBPTHWIUmDxlNQGxlwXSomhfnbKNXTR5xQuMVXp35dXnif9fBIq3CgGsOex52t3bwHbiqXsAsmtvRVhVJ9JXcPbfGJYJw392P2mmC/s400/IMG_5660.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Shy Albatross</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi23K-nFr5UuQhFEjgU7OewI1HzCko_EMRvODWIBAKb0j2yqT6Gn_5z2NwADUpLmO3st7gDQu8jcbLpu2eCbmwM8XkNI0px99-NG2NgLk8SGEj7AhicfGVYt74nwBPf1EOQkIcXhnaoYsL/s1600/IMG_5690-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi23K-nFr5UuQhFEjgU7OewI1HzCko_EMRvODWIBAKb0j2yqT6Gn_5z2NwADUpLmO3st7gDQu8jcbLpu2eCbmwM8XkNI0px99-NG2NgLk8SGEj7AhicfGVYt74nwBPf1EOQkIcXhnaoYsL/s400/IMG_5690-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">White-chinned Petrel</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1poN-BIbY2vKnDmxbNA2gwBSSwJEGp6gYpqnm_f3EF6A8ywRxmMzY-cl7FTu28Bev8uZ42gIWRkR1HSBMjCfsvwIHaHCaOWL2GSLq5sR9L-koDXd7IZL4XjvjrBE45h6-M-oOHOa8pH8/s1600/IMG_5750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji1poN-BIbY2vKnDmxbNA2gwBSSwJEGp6gYpqnm_f3EF6A8ywRxmMzY-cl7FTu28Bev8uZ42gIWRkR1HSBMjCfsvwIHaHCaOWL2GSLq5sR9L-koDXd7IZL4XjvjrBE45h6-M-oOHOa8pH8/s400/IMG_5750.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Large-beaked Common Dolphins</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Returning towards Simon's Town, <b>Bank</b>, <b>Crowned</b> and <b>White-breasted Cormorants</b> on the rocks made it a four-cormorant morning (and five species for the trip), although these were eclipsed by my first ever wild penguins, with around 50 <b>African Penguins</b> on the sea off their colony at Boulder's Beach. An <b>African Black Oystercatcher</b>, a <b>Rock Kestrel </b>and a couple of <b>Hartlaub's Gulls</b>, plus lots of Cape Fur Seals, completed things. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8oAZv0XGCRqvYvl8yemB0s2Advu_DDdigxnX6UtR4jdVh9u9OSxzXpYr7D9-n1loXWYRopRqCOd-EspQ6LiRmLLW2Shb9KiIuGaTP3P-l9W45UiDA1jIVrFg6sIbdzVxuoeHPTsq4W75/s1600/IMG_5882.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy8oAZv0XGCRqvYvl8yemB0s2Advu_DDdigxnX6UtR4jdVh9u9OSxzXpYr7D9-n1loXWYRopRqCOd-EspQ6LiRmLLW2Shb9KiIuGaTP3P-l9W45UiDA1jIVrFg6sIbdzVxuoeHPTsq4W75/s400/IMG_5882.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cape Fur Seals and Cape Gulls</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKq_O_M6Z3eM9_Wa3yKZ9_SIH4_pof_hzJRPyzwNSkd8jxftRnSKQod14a5nFHv9o1yolzQ4punIpfPmVFHnGQeBk_A_t0PbNza1BaOj6pTMydXfkoJqkCmXANffAs6UjHr86vbxOeLaJ/s1600/IMG_5854-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwKq_O_M6Z3eM9_Wa3yKZ9_SIH4_pof_hzJRPyzwNSkd8jxftRnSKQod14a5nFHv9o1yolzQ4punIpfPmVFHnGQeBk_A_t0PbNza1BaOj6pTMydXfkoJqkCmXANffAs6UjHr86vbxOeLaJ/s400/IMG_5854-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bank Cormorants</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XTxX1hNm-E2ITAN0jUINxDS6hQFQFzIac7FCbap2FIVVkymWlALPZcCvQOchQ0eFjGLhGuFZxaRPj8IadnQ0z5a2wj8opgkwEQ-7BEuYmu_jn6Nq1YfJ2XkEN5baZgbj7yk9Qf7mb3Jk/s1600/IMG_5969-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XTxX1hNm-E2ITAN0jUINxDS6hQFQFzIac7FCbap2FIVVkymWlALPZcCvQOchQ0eFjGLhGuFZxaRPj8IadnQ0z5a2wj8opgkwEQ-7BEuYmu_jn6Nq1YfJ2XkEN5baZgbj7yk9Qf7mb3Jk/s400/IMG_5969-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Crowned Cormorants</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Turning the early finish into a positive, I stopped to do some fynbos birding on the way back to Hout Bay, visiting Jonkersdam just west of Glencairn. This seemed like a productive spot, producing frequent <b>Karoo Prinia</b> and <b>Southern Double-collared Sunbirds</b>, a couple of <b>Cape Siskins</b>, two <b>Cape Buntings</b>, two <b>Common Waxbills</b>, a <b>Rock Martin</b>, at least three <b>Cape Grassbirds</b>, a <b>Cape Bulbul</b>, a couple each of <b>Malachite Sunbird</b> and <b>Cape Robin-chat</b>, and a pair of <b>Cape Sugarbirds</b>. A Painted Lady and what I think was an Angulate Tortoise provided some non-avian interest. Back in Hout Bay, there was a touch of the familiar with a <b>Little Egret</b> and <b>Chaffinch</b>.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6EYbDhSxh3cQpE6U3keT3U-9dYx2_pokb24xl1M3TvT998UjG4IWx_TtRlfi0np5f_LPJ2qs52vfjtQmvzUNWAnkZ5UBkFFQa01BY9pTUNtcOn5FBT-CEEpDfAlULOq26xOSs-XvolOW/s1600/DSC09700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd6EYbDhSxh3cQpE6U3keT3U-9dYx2_pokb24xl1M3TvT998UjG4IWx_TtRlfi0np5f_LPJ2qs52vfjtQmvzUNWAnkZ5UBkFFQa01BY9pTUNtcOn5FBT-CEEpDfAlULOq26xOSs-XvolOW/s400/DSC09700.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The path at Jonkersdam</span></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/AVvXsEjP8GbmMRLkN257M6F_e40uqsGy4cY6IEIePJERNBte7lwyvrYlM60o5YzNHPmIfbB-mJh4U5NAS_GvrUYvn3HLEAioWeRHQp-Q2qfjrB6yjSkSTuepbrzZY0ke40CSmSJVOc6cQWJUkuKh/s1600/IMG_7285.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP8GbmMRLkN257M6F_e40uqsGy4cY6IEIePJERNBte7lwyvrYlM60o5YzNHPmIfbB-mJh4U5NAS_GvrUYvn3HLEAioWeRHQp-Q2qfjrB6yjSkSTuepbrzZY0ke40CSmSJVOc6cQWJUkuKh/s400/IMG_7285.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Southern Double-collared Sunbird</span></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/AVvXsEjJ6hD0gQDjLzv6nBh7rNUZUJP8UDnBaIMm1kwfYCeaRZB7z2lJGH4OmnRFnYjFfAE_mVr00ivvAjfjv40En1ipdyhLDWA6BOpzTev22QJIqApChfycxBk73EpZbtVhsFn00HeyNYqmYvLt/s1600/IMG_6025-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ6hD0gQDjLzv6nBh7rNUZUJP8UDnBaIMm1kwfYCeaRZB7z2lJGH4OmnRFnYjFfAE_mVr00ivvAjfjv40En1ipdyhLDWA6BOpzTev22QJIqApChfycxBk73EpZbtVhsFn00HeyNYqmYvLt/s400/IMG_6025-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cape Grassbird</span></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/AVvXsEioAmttW_8y7n8Ge1Y_crBA8lygyGTgLawWMW3lOsJ0BF1JuoPVU8CQ0pg5XuDzOzsnIn6IXCAFkiZPiE9yUCuuDdMZ2zhVh8GgLgTV-WQ1yys5SFtTlCGnZ7ji_MhVqZ8O_9U9GJqY97n5/s1600/IMG_7296-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEioAmttW_8y7n8Ge1Y_crBA8lygyGTgLawWMW3lOsJ0BF1JuoPVU8CQ0pg5XuDzOzsnIn6IXCAFkiZPiE9yUCuuDdMZ2zhVh8GgLgTV-WQ1yys5SFtTlCGnZ7ji_MhVqZ8O_9U9GJqY97n5/s400/IMG_7296-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Karoo Prinia</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div 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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5_cD71GsUW2ndlflm9MaVfqdLI9fgHDGZLTtU6RqMEoz5hKOiE8j8Rz4B3COoPXx-6uL0dBA5ELoqSvK01flJGJ84bhTkSOjNqaFL8-4ltGtOAyIH4Zs6DIDkMhzjLNJSdMTO0detJy5/s1600/IMG_6029-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5_cD71GsUW2ndlflm9MaVfqdLI9fgHDGZLTtU6RqMEoz5hKOiE8j8Rz4B3COoPXx-6uL0dBA5ELoqSvK01flJGJ84bhTkSOjNqaFL8-4ltGtOAyIH4Zs6DIDkMhzjLNJSdMTO0detJy5/s400/IMG_6029-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Angulate Tortoise</span></td></tr>
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</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next day, as our Great White Shark cage diving trip was cancelled due to the heavy seas (and the backup day was also subsequently cancelled - the biggest disappointment of the trip), we amended our plans. I had a short walk before breakfast at Del Hel in Constantia, just up the road from Hout Bay. This wooded valley produced lots of <b>Olive Thrushes</b>, a pair of <b>Olive Woodpeckers</b>, two pairs of very smart little <b>Swee Waxbills</b>, a couple of <b>Yellow Canaries</b> in the pines by the road, and an <b>African Olive Pigeon</b>, unfortunately only in flight. In addition, a <b>Spur-winged Goose</b> flew over. Unfortunately, I couldn't locate any Knysna Warblers in the time available.</span><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/AVvXsEii4nPNkQ4EXkJHfSMxp64QEm4ahukxJfZ9nLXvVlW0ScFl-7dQlu8Q5cPYLqVrLgXAcoo1svkxmBi1cG2-1deIl5Lp9xlgdiUrUt-QnQ1UiPsXkn2TtV0HBl2b76s3P2q_w8is6Zu0s_rX/s1600/IMG_6080-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEii4nPNkQ4EXkJHfSMxp64QEm4ahukxJfZ9nLXvVlW0ScFl-7dQlu8Q5cPYLqVrLgXAcoo1svkxmBi1cG2-1deIl5Lp9xlgdiUrUt-QnQ1UiPsXkn2TtV0HBl2b76s3P2q_w8is6Zu0s_rX/s400/IMG_6080-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Olive Woodpecker</span></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/AVvXsEgheH25C-P0Kjpbf1Gh158gsWkD_u_kag11skjEvXfDFHKHwH1Rvb7go5tr6OJuhHSnrmjjelfK3TZOTu1SjrtVIv14QWwKgV8hSHggInVLulCfLj7jpHYjTzrad7bMceger1xsgANTJMxG/s1600/IMG_6092-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgheH25C-P0Kjpbf1Gh158gsWkD_u_kag11skjEvXfDFHKHwH1Rvb7go5tr6OJuhHSnrmjjelfK3TZOTu1SjrtVIv14QWwKgV8hSHggInVLulCfLj7jpHYjTzrad7bMceger1xsgANTJMxG/s400/IMG_6092-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Olive Thrush</span></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/AVvXsEiVnvZQDZI09TFGSe7TQCvWesFblkkfkcRzjZvSli-LBdAkxleN_HglGw22kXmgXFrpR1mF7iyQcHqPrzqI5sroXgMes2foqtx1ceMlFbJxUdHPMYCyRoqcYC4Oyl0XzfbnaApOexAeldl1/s1600/IMG_6096-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVnvZQDZI09TFGSe7TQCvWesFblkkfkcRzjZvSli-LBdAkxleN_HglGw22kXmgXFrpR1mF7iyQcHqPrzqI5sroXgMes2foqtx1ceMlFbJxUdHPMYCyRoqcYC4Oyl0XzfbnaApOexAeldl1/s400/IMG_6096-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Swee Waxbill</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We then headed to Boulder's Beach, back over near Simon's Town, enjoying the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">spectacular coastal road known as Chapman's Peak Drive en route</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. Boulder's Beach was a fairly surreal experience - </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">African Penguins</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> nesting in the coastal scrub and loafing on the beach, in blazing sun, with tourists wandering around on board walks amongst them. A </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Cape Batis</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and a </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Fiscal Flycatcher</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> were the only other birds of note, and a Four-striped Grass Mouse was the only mammal. </span><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/AVvXsEhEtjHDVHlLfsKay8WZoeiiDQmHQBYSmg_KVfIBhG4n0Ni71Ts81_j5G9vqX9Jf8MqxYVh__M_j5ylpG75SPqEiWRRXWBi1aS25-YZn1LCEnz9G_2S0Tz5nKCeBLp1rwNMvDQ1yQmi9a3Gs/s1600/DSC09760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEtjHDVHlLfsKay8WZoeiiDQmHQBYSmg_KVfIBhG4n0Ni71Ts81_j5G9vqX9Jf8MqxYVh__M_j5ylpG75SPqEiWRRXWBi1aS25-YZn1LCEnz9G_2S0Tz5nKCeBLp1rwNMvDQ1yQmi9a3Gs/s400/DSC09760.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Noordhoek beach, at the southern end of Chapman's Peak Drive</span></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/AVvXsEhGfhCmOrvd-QXGFGfQi_OIM8fnZo7Wre3jGcC_GjzmTi_6686yOeDo1M9-cVU3JXwUA7cPFQBuPYkAwSGmc9XlqUasN7UyjT4k7GvtGWjGKxj3AvlwcabwGBPXC5baxkMziSWkQgL3cRY6/s1600/DSC09772.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGfhCmOrvd-QXGFGfQi_OIM8fnZo7Wre3jGcC_GjzmTi_6686yOeDo1M9-cVU3JXwUA7cPFQBuPYkAwSGmc9XlqUasN7UyjT4k7GvtGWjGKxj3AvlwcabwGBPXC5baxkMziSWkQgL3cRY6/s400/DSC09772.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Welcome to Boulders</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</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/AVvXsEg_GWQaSCQ9sLO4fk7e9nvtka0SfJuHVoemIWYH9gDMPe2nhubhEaoLh9oc2PX9IErZrPY8k3KpzHC_K9vTDNsZxkCh8fuaceOaaVa9AKmtHbHmwoYFlSEDuKY2mUuPdOeoq1GX2JKpDQWT/s1600/IMG_6151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_GWQaSCQ9sLO4fk7e9nvtka0SfJuHVoemIWYH9gDMPe2nhubhEaoLh9oc2PX9IErZrPY8k3KpzHC_K9vTDNsZxkCh8fuaceOaaVa9AKmtHbHmwoYFlSEDuKY2mUuPdOeoq1GX2JKpDQWT/s400/IMG_6151.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">African Penguins</span></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/AVvXsEg7zs-ADjumSkixFvTw8U7jTt-A4yPEZzHdMssmb7z33YPQJfzHdLvTxYaulsnsuxIG7REKZGuHV6LseXUAoF7gBXjeVPKarAKmJjW5hTcCKBuyMvqa8In1RARhiQKb9RIHoZb6qm9NSSQA/s1600/IMG_6201.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7zs-ADjumSkixFvTw8U7jTt-A4yPEZzHdMssmb7z33YPQJfzHdLvTxYaulsnsuxIG7REKZGuHV6LseXUAoF7gBXjeVPKarAKmJjW5hTcCKBuyMvqa8In1RARhiQKb9RIHoZb6qm9NSSQA/s400/IMG_6201.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">African Penguins</span></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/AVvXsEhN0CROg6ZE5a6F8VWhyphenhyphenUv4key4iVtfpl79j3CGofksL6LDDfdEPxZcKCaXRvxLeyZYlDeRzsSl05mvweXrAa1u_Kx-6GbZ3hNf9zx7Ro02U6TCCMj07PjqWfoWsnjb8n2sMlhBnPv5VubF/s1600/IMG_6236.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN0CROg6ZE5a6F8VWhyphenhyphenUv4key4iVtfpl79j3CGofksL6LDDfdEPxZcKCaXRvxLeyZYlDeRzsSl05mvweXrAa1u_Kx-6GbZ3hNf9zx7Ro02U6TCCMj07PjqWfoWsnjb8n2sMlhBnPv5VubF/s400/IMG_6236.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">African Pelican</span></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/AVvXsEjoSe1gVrRPJiHSIXo_PPRZ_0TSqArs2iOyLXsgKUHwDO4vVJfl90yXOnP5Yrmy1L1n8lZ2pD1J8ge7c2BA-CTnuokPeNQT8uo8W9no7y2QWx1ulNMXC9MjtSshrPJYUBhJ1MwapyQo7oVi/s1600/IMG_6134.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoSe1gVrRPJiHSIXo_PPRZ_0TSqArs2iOyLXsgKUHwDO4vVJfl90yXOnP5Yrmy1L1n8lZ2pD1J8ge7c2BA-CTnuokPeNQT8uo8W9no7y2QWx1ulNMXC9MjtSshrPJYUBhJ1MwapyQo7oVi/s400/IMG_6134.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">African Penguin</span></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/AVvXsEhX5BS68LjmpdkPg5WaxqlS6VncfDidJ3CXa2WUxKffTgCRDxITMqzJ0IjS1HvIqEGyjjBgrZpKU3Ip4V8U6kSJWI0bHnEprSxdJLE_h51daarib9G32TCG-eqUIc-x0RsZp8vaTKprf7Dn/s1600/DSC09787.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5BS68LjmpdkPg5WaxqlS6VncfDidJ3CXa2WUxKffTgCRDxITMqzJ0IjS1HvIqEGyjjBgrZpKU3Ip4V8U6kSJWI0bHnEprSxdJLE_h51daarib9G32TCG-eqUIc-x0RsZp8vaTKprf7Dn/s400/DSC09787.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chillin' on the beach</span></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/AVvXsEirjBI9cPtyZ4_0CSsc1MSPYI4TFGq1IIvdMMKLxKlksi73giVVsofB08JG-ufoWKYI8P4_eAwq4yyfgFwZpIXvp6_WL1KF7ImHuMHI7zvRMSMCY3ozsabBcJamEsYFJRVGQ6vhj9-R06ob/s1600/IMG_6255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjBI9cPtyZ4_0CSsc1MSPYI4TFGq1IIvdMMKLxKlksi73giVVsofB08JG-ufoWKYI8P4_eAwq4yyfgFwZpIXvp6_WL1KF7ImHuMHI7zvRMSMCY3ozsabBcJamEsYFJRVGQ6vhj9-R06ob/s400/IMG_6255.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Youngsters in their artificial burrow</span></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/AVvXsEiZmoX49kGlO4-Ruv4yiSS-DVldmnbo9snbDPZpABA3LkDRazZTAECUGpdF9noPd9jt9xHg6TpCKipI_yHZb54umz857HjN7fv_IVeBxExlE70c9fBhG0Asb7bQz384FL94DN5IYbiV8Hbh/s1600/IMG_6261.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZmoX49kGlO4-Ruv4yiSS-DVldmnbo9snbDPZpABA3LkDRazZTAECUGpdF9noPd9jt9xHg6TpCKipI_yHZb54umz857HjN7fv_IVeBxExlE70c9fBhG0Asb7bQz384FL94DN5IYbiV8Hbh/s400/IMG_6261.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Popular penguins</span></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/AVvXsEjOj-uXpkg9RMbfSp-qFbsXEtRcqN4jKuEilyUPcpZm-ehRZ-LudHJPBuBzY_F3TwM3WLN3RWKmdHjy5IGCC-OxoQgCiiTYv0WCBYFfmTl7XovuKJCmNIXvN5YtEUuyZN5I-d4m2J8gfnIn/s1600/IMG_6282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOj-uXpkg9RMbfSp-qFbsXEtRcqN4jKuEilyUPcpZm-ehRZ-LudHJPBuBzY_F3TwM3WLN3RWKmdHjy5IGCC-OxoQgCiiTYv0WCBYFfmTl7XovuKJCmNIXvN5YtEUuyZN5I-d4m2J8gfnIn/s400/IMG_6282.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Popular penguins</span></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/AVvXsEgqIxS6WlYpVy9JbqB2YCfPn_hD9WAFlr5u-PdplGvjPCANEKq0W7ALMjxsZvlLGE492FeqlVhd-YO055hQzUEBpHtBJPKbtU8ZlXizI-JF3tD5IHw-xfTg6vB9FTF0aB5UJu0h1Kqc9917/s1600/IMG_6283.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqIxS6WlYpVy9JbqB2YCfPn_hD9WAFlr5u-PdplGvjPCANEKq0W7ALMjxsZvlLGE492FeqlVhd-YO055hQzUEBpHtBJPKbtU8ZlXizI-JF3tD5IHw-xfTg6vB9FTF0aB5UJu0h1Kqc9917/s400/IMG_6283.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unexpected hazards</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Continuing on, we made our way down through Table Mountain National Park, seeing <b>Familiar Chat</b>, <b>Karoo Prinia</b>, <b>Fiscal Flycatcher</b>, <b>Common Fiscal</b>, <b>Orange-breasted Sunbird</b>, <b>Jackal Buzzard </b>and several <b>Ostriches</b>, along with several Bontebok and Chacma Baboons. At the Cape of Good Hope there was a <b>Rock Kestrel</b> (with a couple more elsewhere) and two super-smart <b>African Black Oystercatchers</b>, with four Southern Right Whales just offshore. We didn't bother to queue up to get our photos taken with the 'Cape of Good Hope' sign...</span><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/AVvXsEgTctAIekcHby4t1bzFlCfib1IQMyFwj7Hrr4YGEXL-EgOlxaycvz_bkRSni5vpamBTQtKuNUPgA89dWHoNDO5VtfMtLkOzIwQ66GCIlJ0TWdfIycpEBEJRnA42HA6Jtm0vXWQ_6rVB8Mqh/s1600/DSC09859.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTctAIekcHby4t1bzFlCfib1IQMyFwj7Hrr4YGEXL-EgOlxaycvz_bkRSni5vpamBTQtKuNUPgA89dWHoNDO5VtfMtLkOzIwQ66GCIlJ0TWdfIycpEBEJRnA42HA6Jtm0vXWQ_6rVB8Mqh/s400/DSC09859.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The interior of the Cape of Good Hope</span></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/AVvXsEi4IyPSs22SmwtHNv_9uX-xpVdJIlijHmKQEbBV9ktM-0KyvWbS5k2S0hZvSU94JZKtWWflnNJy3G5hyphenhyphenab3Wjo6-QjaaxwaWmcAzHoWUjRLBR8VZ9l_HgBko7fmpKl0qv89PE51rPKyMjAr/s1600/IMG_6389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4IyPSs22SmwtHNv_9uX-xpVdJIlijHmKQEbBV9ktM-0KyvWbS5k2S0hZvSU94JZKtWWflnNJy3G5hyphenhyphenab3Wjo6-QjaaxwaWmcAzHoWUjRLBR8VZ9l_HgBko7fmpKl0qv89PE51rPKyMjAr/s400/IMG_6389.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Southern Right Whales close offshore</span></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/AVvXsEjcH7vYmL6YmYImE5uNnKMsxn2SXqB-zHXU7s8QLWJLztDKHmf_M6jE3gXOipM3jqwLaovUD0dwJQaEEBqVqxKEYjQseM7iclayz9joRYyelEDKaN2JSn3z11KarRRMC_pAmNFeUcFLnKAX/s1600/IMG_6451-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcH7vYmL6YmYImE5uNnKMsxn2SXqB-zHXU7s8QLWJLztDKHmf_M6jE3gXOipM3jqwLaovUD0dwJQaEEBqVqxKEYjQseM7iclayz9joRYyelEDKaN2JSn3z11KarRRMC_pAmNFeUcFLnKAX/s400/IMG_6451-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">African Black Oystercatcher - stunner</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<br />
<span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">We had lunch in a nice little bay at Olifantsbos, where there were 100s of </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hartlaub's Gulls</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, lots of </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">African Sacred Ibises</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, a few </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Kelp Gulls</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> and two or three </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">African Black Oystercatchers </b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">feeding on kelp on the strandline. There were also streams of </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Cape Cormorants </b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">flying past, along with several</span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> Swift Terns</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, and two </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Cape Wagtails</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">. A quick stop at the visitor centre on the way back out produced my first </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Cape Spurfowl</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, as well as </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Bokmakierie</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Cape Wagtail</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Cape Robin Chat </b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">and </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Malachite Sunbird</b><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">.</span><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/AVvXsEiDbwjWrlVHWvdvRbWTppHirdWlk8EoT-Sfu8gtCfsmjra8jov4pqskZDhpPZiK9eSrktkU8dDnH1bUKVdHC8asCHeBdx-1HtZA7CGCqU2mFw-cy_DxyoD6w3-1ZAtZZOecja3wWJ5G4Ke4/s1600/IMG_6294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDbwjWrlVHWvdvRbWTppHirdWlk8EoT-Sfu8gtCfsmjra8jov4pqskZDhpPZiK9eSrktkU8dDnH1bUKVdHC8asCHeBdx-1HtZA7CGCqU2mFw-cy_DxyoD6w3-1ZAtZZOecja3wWJ5G4Ke4/s400/IMG_6294.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mainly African Sacred Ibises</span></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/AVvXsEhH14elFs6qi1Qt649NXNJI31PA_pXwIiK-ZIV5BCh3pBQ2W-zt0k6CcaxCe1qD1JIGMNmP8LIPIx0DWr7V2o9oJkX8Ya45WBPn22rI_bnvZOZRxrJTYGkFXcpXKDyHHiRwyrGtgVzOb0lz/s1600/IMG_6300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhH14elFs6qi1Qt649NXNJI31PA_pXwIiK-ZIV5BCh3pBQ2W-zt0k6CcaxCe1qD1JIGMNmP8LIPIx0DWr7V2o9oJkX8Ya45WBPn22rI_bnvZOZRxrJTYGkFXcpXKDyHHiRwyrGtgVzOb0lz/s400/IMG_6300.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cape Cormorants</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The following day we turned north, visiting <a href="https://www.sanparks.org/parks/west_coast/">West Coast National Park</a>. This place is famed for its display of wildflowers at the right time of year - and that time was now. Unfortunately we had picked a cloudy day, and the flowers were mainly shut up, although there was still a hint of their splendour. However, there was still plenty to see. Starting with mammals, the undoubted star was a Caracal, the third cat species of the trip and one I didn't think we'd see. This was initially just sitting in the road, and from a distance I wasn't sure what it was... but as we got closer, the penny dropped, and I tried to position the car for a photo. I then had one of those nightmare moments where my camera refused to take a shot, and then another car came the other way. This stopped too, but too late, pushing the Caracal off into the adjacent low scrub. The other car drove off, but we lingered, and I decided to get out. Fortunately, the cat was stalking parallel with the road, and I had some glimpses of it before it vanished deeper into the strandveld vegetation. One of the best moments of our trip.</span><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/AVvXsEhvv7N4-JzkBWfOdGbmb21_mRJzEyviD4IQeo912iwApxJ8ow9raEKFdm6My-te3VCmkeaiv4wHOcR0a-sXq7UJbA4dN7icyhntUK5zgTsZMs6BWL0fS5lUUjYicWA6mttpEoHZo_KP1zQf/s1600/IMG_6688-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvv7N4-JzkBWfOdGbmb21_mRJzEyviD4IQeo912iwApxJ8ow9raEKFdm6My-te3VCmkeaiv4wHOcR0a-sXq7UJbA4dN7icyhntUK5zgTsZMs6BWL0fS5lUUjYicWA6mttpEoHZo_KP1zQf/s400/IMG_6688-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Caracal</span></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/AVvXsEjEotz0lgJjvrygda6hb5AQypZ58g9Egz8SKVGQVEQL0RlPKuzPaVciJkjjf5Xst4j5YFU-rn0ZP3GjOGp9LetuzEJQzi0vp8QmZnxxHjJQOmTKEjCVOQAiJLrUfakPEAx9s8oVsecae_Bm/s1600/IMG_6690-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEotz0lgJjvrygda6hb5AQypZ58g9Egz8SKVGQVEQL0RlPKuzPaVciJkjjf5Xst4j5YFU-rn0ZP3GjOGp9LetuzEJQzi0vp8QmZnxxHjJQOmTKEjCVOQAiJLrUfakPEAx9s8oVsecae_Bm/s400/IMG_6690-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Caracal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In addition we encountered several herds of Eland, several Mountain Zebras and Bontebok, two Wildebeest, and a few Springbok; I suspect that many, if not most of these were (re)-introduced, but I may be wrong. On the smaller side were a few Dassies, and number of Cape Fur Seals were offshore.</span><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/AVvXsEgDW1u_eotWJ1Q3Z3noNyjc1JNdRLmoGQNlZHbutnAyfZnJTxDpIw7aHHyNioS4XaFI-C4IdxGwrf4vpKCJ4wuG-ojxZHTvs4Fn1xWXatkXphYVkfE-9wiJvU3lfviS3UKXcNxAlS2SnFFn/s1600/IMG_6476.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDW1u_eotWJ1Q3Z3noNyjc1JNdRLmoGQNlZHbutnAyfZnJTxDpIw7aHHyNioS4XaFI-C4IdxGwrf4vpKCJ4wuG-ojxZHTvs4Fn1xWXatkXphYVkfE-9wiJvU3lfviS3UKXcNxAlS2SnFFn/s400/IMG_6476.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Eland, with the road to Geelbek behind</span></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/AVvXsEgYWrn-_td2b257G4WlqmWWmdi0I7TV2tvUu9tbhumXl2QPjxqqxYUUDNvOCsvu918ZWXix5AULt43Y3nNNYCebKSztKeqzBcWNJAxpyE3OhXxstu7xA3HHQQJ6goKSCfZgaXXYgUeQq2rr/s1600/IMG_6815.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWrn-_td2b257G4WlqmWWmdi0I7TV2tvUu9tbhumXl2QPjxqqxYUUDNvOCsvu918ZWXix5AULt43Y3nNNYCebKSztKeqzBcWNJAxpyE3OhXxstu7xA3HHQQJ6goKSCfZgaXXYgUeQq2rr/s400/IMG_6815.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mountain Zebras</span></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/AVvXsEgHGbqOOHeKpHvxGvSiZVxsA1WEXALtl0UOfvit85uOiDz_aQ579nI0MltWPllOIYdev752hN83sKaOXyhN7v45DkF_BSKFRTMJ4Br6A_O-ZHDgnSZFAt2VlmoKJ9f6FysRfxITGABBd0WK/s1600/IMG_6823.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHGbqOOHeKpHvxGvSiZVxsA1WEXALtl0UOfvit85uOiDz_aQ579nI0MltWPllOIYdev752hN83sKaOXyhN7v45DkF_BSKFRTMJ4Br6A_O-ZHDgnSZFAt2VlmoKJ9f6FysRfxITGABBd0WK/s400/IMG_6823.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bontebok</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The birding was good, and as ever, I could have done with more time to catch up with a few more of the local specialities. However, n</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ew birds included frequent <b>Karoo Scrub Robin</b>, along with
several groups of <b>White-throated</b> and <b>Brimstone Canaries</b>, several <b>Grey-backed
Cisticolas</b>,<b> White-backed Mousebirds</b> and <b>Bar-throated Apalises</b>, and single
<b>African Rail</b>, <b>Karoo Lark</b> and <b>White-throated Swallow</b>. </span><br />
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<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/AVvXsEgvqs_3GiCDQh8gs2Rt4SWTaFx9lqPPMj2wnv01bAMTk6AOCfP54sP-hH3d-VTZjrkRiWMD-b72k4O0YaAMJ9GttJExuvrD1G2A02bFAaXQGFyp6CBdOLYTClxbaF6kYOP-06_gBbOT4Yot/s1600/IMG_6487-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvqs_3GiCDQh8gs2Rt4SWTaFx9lqPPMj2wnv01bAMTk6AOCfP54sP-hH3d-VTZjrkRiWMD-b72k4O0YaAMJ9GttJExuvrD1G2A02bFAaXQGFyp6CBdOLYTClxbaF6kYOP-06_gBbOT4Yot/s400/IMG_6487-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Karoo Scrub Robin</span></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/AVvXsEg7a6rPbSaRNglyYZxvzwZq7giKW8VuF4v2s4QGEgpLirlWLTQXwzfxR1xDXJ9kMjEfnnucl9oY41rtzQpI2-4QSjNMKFKiKNHiGe9ZjZ9kegJpidpW76rdxjZPKVIOVerRDC9qkwwOJDie/s1600/IMG_6516-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7a6rPbSaRNglyYZxvzwZq7giKW8VuF4v2s4QGEgpLirlWLTQXwzfxR1xDXJ9kMjEfnnucl9oY41rtzQpI2-4QSjNMKFKiKNHiGe9ZjZ9kegJpidpW76rdxjZPKVIOVerRDC9qkwwOJDie/s400/IMG_6516-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">White-throated Canary</span></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/AVvXsEgmTB6FLIxXttj20pzNIUC_itaibW3Ic774JHeBrNRA1VRaByPnEX5QEtPBBS55p8IsU5l0QZW4XPXl7cVyws_mrqfDSfmNvrTu0FvQ6A1BmwJfzqtaYbd10IUvk0jw51_Qi7kKW0xf_P6Q/s1600/IMG_6586-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmTB6FLIxXttj20pzNIUC_itaibW3Ic774JHeBrNRA1VRaByPnEX5QEtPBBS55p8IsU5l0QZW4XPXl7cVyws_mrqfDSfmNvrTu0FvQ6A1BmwJfzqtaYbd10IUvk0jw51_Qi7kKW0xf_P6Q/s400/IMG_6586-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Brimstone Canary</span></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/AVvXsEibVx0ck4Yb7K6VXCvbIGEoFBNqI5zE5KwaXM79b60TtrzOkVR9yznjZGfzWDI3EpxnUWIKspFg6zH9XmvZG2yHel0afQTJBh07javNDzE8s3a9eCCdF4kMk2jXiK3SjHypyn7w6I8tTjjn/s1600/IMG_6894-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibVx0ck4Yb7K6VXCvbIGEoFBNqI5zE5KwaXM79b60TtrzOkVR9yznjZGfzWDI3EpxnUWIKspFg6zH9XmvZG2yHel0afQTJBh07javNDzE8s3a9eCCdF4kMk2jXiK3SjHypyn7w6I8tTjjn/s400/IMG_6894-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grey-backed Cisticola</span></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/AVvXsEgbClA2DYtfWx6NLegrsD246ou7MaEmlmxcnSlkqsNPlqBoZBgqFprtLNJbyiWCQbaYO9genLTTE9xyj-BUYEHIkQ0Qx9i67ARq1RrRwnOS8nwEtZ33aLWD7tjY1keb2F3nNhO1CX1Fer9X/s1600/IMG_6748-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbClA2DYtfWx6NLegrsD246ou7MaEmlmxcnSlkqsNPlqBoZBgqFprtLNJbyiWCQbaYO9genLTTE9xyj-BUYEHIkQ0Qx9i67ARq1RrRwnOS8nwEtZ33aLWD7tjY1keb2F3nNhO1CX1Fer9X/s400/IMG_6748-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Karoo Lark</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But perhaps best of all were up to six </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Black Harriers</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> – these are absolute stunners; a black-and-white harrier, for which West Coast NP is a real strong-hold. Surely up there as one of the best looking raptors in the world.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<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/AVvXsEhncAiXXuhZilg-oWoi0CytBnoNjzMe34KsqlS9O5j2PO6gizkT6BVEzljXDBjzT78CinWm8bwy_TOYyewOtCmYshjGdP2gYwKBJTJsVOTZDdP-AyzIDPyJDkLscAgR3cwY0zVnxWkcLsKF/s1600/IMG_6708-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhncAiXXuhZilg-oWoi0CytBnoNjzMe34KsqlS9O5j2PO6gizkT6BVEzljXDBjzT78CinWm8bwy_TOYyewOtCmYshjGdP2gYwKBJTJsVOTZDdP-AyzIDPyJDkLscAgR3cwY0zVnxWkcLsKF/s400/IMG_6708-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Black Harrier with Geelbek behind</span></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/AVvXsEipqMSfsUbfafPB-4lTGn6mGsOA05xZXsROxWWeSuk8832A6AWeWdQjKEN9isANV3Vuc0TllJyfOyN_OoQ_SEvm9XSMMACzT4gbbAhV1YaBRxtUJRiRm163tHZmPnKezt7OFiJZbRx7OZGu/s1600/IMG_6721-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipqMSfsUbfafPB-4lTGn6mGsOA05xZXsROxWWeSuk8832A6AWeWdQjKEN9isANV3Vuc0TllJyfOyN_OoQ_SEvm9XSMMACzT4gbbAhV1YaBRxtUJRiRm163tHZmPnKezt7OFiJZbRx7OZGu/s400/IMG_6721-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Black Harrier</span></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/AVvXsEgJluEElCsF6k2Cxrqzq7I8F0wnruGUy1vSq7vTZQ58Ihu9-hhL79XcUk8uYzuqUqeKxrlmz5jq7ndnb0lG0ztq0BeYnwvniQpzS1LUYUolazYY1Urs3cImsHEhOsKZZ8YSspqae2fRbfYU/s1600/IMG_6725-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJluEElCsF6k2Cxrqzq7I8F0wnruGUy1vSq7vTZQ58Ihu9-hhL79XcUk8uYzuqUqeKxrlmz5jq7ndnb0lG0ztq0BeYnwvniQpzS1LUYUolazYY1Urs3cImsHEhOsKZZ8YSspqae2fRbfYU/s400/IMG_6725-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Black Harrier</span></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/AVvXsEj5JaUlyvR4-7aq3Chg4KRD0j4t72g9uUWq28JjFVueHVwmwcYmkCydMCGOFLjfXjmHnhukGGMS0z0SgMnTVnRbD5v1ul2fE6TME9gp3Lki3Yrz9AVycwdflxUzd3mL2F9F91DLIPnil42G/s1600/IMG_6763-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5JaUlyvR4-7aq3Chg4KRD0j4t72g9uUWq28JjFVueHVwmwcYmkCydMCGOFLjfXjmHnhukGGMS0z0SgMnTVnRbD5v1ul2fE6TME9gp3Lki3Yrz9AVycwdflxUzd3mL2F9F91DLIPnil42G/s400/IMG_6763-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Black Harrier</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There was a good selection of other stuff on offer in the
park’s terrestrial habitats. Amongst the ‘</span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Capes</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">’ were </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Bulbul</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Spurfowl</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">,
</span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Longclaw</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Robin Chat</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Bunting</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Sparrow </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Weaver</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, added to which were </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Karoo
Prinia</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Southern Double-collared Sunbird</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Bokmakierie</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, <b>Common </b></span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Fiscal</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Pied
Starling</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Malachite Sunbird</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Levaillant’s Cisticola</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Common Waxbill</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Helmeted
Guineafowl</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Rock </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Brown-throated Martins</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Pied Crow</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. And loads of
</span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Ostriches</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">! </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Jackal Buzzard</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and several
</span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Black-winged Kites</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Rock Kestrels</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> were the only other raptors in addition to
the <b>Black Harriers</b>.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<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/AVvXsEiZ0ODHXqkWv9Y0vpjNkzWLS1ypmz0pOfUMGIS2pfT2DOWRnvmOFfwLuBxja_VNQ3ppBI5ItyJyogsruzJtklHzpIAF-OIrdXtupkfSxxFVb1M7tVjM6qYBp8z1ZJY_9J9lLRvo_tm6pThS/s1600/IMG_6771.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ0ODHXqkWv9Y0vpjNkzWLS1ypmz0pOfUMGIS2pfT2DOWRnvmOFfwLuBxja_VNQ3ppBI5ItyJyogsruzJtklHzpIAF-OIrdXtupkfSxxFVb1M7tVjM6qYBp8z1ZJY_9J9lLRvo_tm6pThS/s400/IMG_6771.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cape Bulbul</span></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/AVvXsEgQj22atGIE5Z0WkboRKT8goc6oUkmA2E5ahXF-WHREKQvrpxIKpN63toUb49bLX-sptxwAxA5tdtrIqZ71fBZKsGEWf2Gp2A2235IqirgPiI_ljjoCje7qDiKck3bnkCZPCvSX-nGVwdZe/s1600/IMG_6634-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQj22atGIE5Z0WkboRKT8goc6oUkmA2E5ahXF-WHREKQvrpxIKpN63toUb49bLX-sptxwAxA5tdtrIqZ71fBZKsGEWf2Gp2A2235IqirgPiI_ljjoCje7qDiKck3bnkCZPCvSX-nGVwdZe/s400/IMG_6634-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cape Bunting</span></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/AVvXsEiuF0tpReiYZpB3dgpiAHZejdsNMAjnumsh5UEbAG0i5TUht1U-H4zSfbFB6V-M6EwY8Xgth5a1TFfGOCfTC3QSkVzLpnbsX5RlPsyJq_b142rtka1b7t7t3JYC8d3n7w_sw1oLf_s0njhX/s1600/IMG_6677.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuF0tpReiYZpB3dgpiAHZejdsNMAjnumsh5UEbAG0i5TUht1U-H4zSfbFB6V-M6EwY8Xgth5a1TFfGOCfTC3QSkVzLpnbsX5RlPsyJq_b142rtka1b7t7t3JYC8d3n7w_sw1oLf_s0njhX/s400/IMG_6677.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Common Fiscal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div 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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30nnwO4mFEH1wEpBXqJ-CVsKA9K27IeAFC_dCc8YOJEPCqcIZFVLNz7Q6flD8AZeFduS5OUubYXpUXL5zXuW5B9mmdRrhyphenhyphenTmzoFEmKt_hwZRpbefVCf4zxrFsMXUY1_LKicvCgzp4PWUz/s1600/IMG_6735.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh30nnwO4mFEH1wEpBXqJ-CVsKA9K27IeAFC_dCc8YOJEPCqcIZFVLNz7Q6flD8AZeFduS5OUubYXpUXL5zXuW5B9mmdRrhyphenhyphenTmzoFEmKt_hwZRpbefVCf4zxrFsMXUY1_LKicvCgzp4PWUz/s400/IMG_6735.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An Ostrich family</span></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/AVvXsEjGrUZySM-2kpMHZ1KxJoGyu1LeX1irlMiOGXGaVqbmSMwqH6H9UnqNxyNqUbAxnLHbBrXGIC_kEJ84CP_JMNChOdNgSMfQR0aDqDQY-HC80koRzeegQ3CYwjgYK3xXEAsYumO6Gm3VhwAv/s1600/IMG_6830.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGrUZySM-2kpMHZ1KxJoGyu1LeX1irlMiOGXGaVqbmSMwqH6H9UnqNxyNqUbAxnLHbBrXGIC_kEJ84CP_JMNChOdNgSMfQR0aDqDQY-HC80koRzeegQ3CYwjgYK3xXEAsYumO6Gm3VhwAv/s400/IMG_6830.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A distant Ostrich</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A short spell in the hide at Abrahamskraal produced the
aforementioned <b>African Rail</b> (nice to see after a heard-only bird at
Wakkerstroom), along with </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Lesser Swamp Warbler</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Red-knobbed Coot</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">,
</span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Little Grebe</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Cape</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Shoveler</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. Slightly frustrating were several
calling </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Red-chested Flufftails</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, remaining firmly buried in the emergent
vegetation.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<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/AVvXsEi5BnowgAAFAZhM0zj0cAKC_VbSyENPxduWbhcxdj9xENlMFIDzXVzT9k1ZP1fB4e1ZC2uWI2WCBgHQK8DYKOWAVrikeYgyP4w3tAaUA88OXAlUQ8_mBMcz9nZ0EtqcFsd2ha-fFPVRXQom/s1600/DSC00093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5BnowgAAFAZhM0zj0cAKC_VbSyENPxduWbhcxdj9xENlMFIDzXVzT9k1ZP1fB4e1ZC2uWI2WCBgHQK8DYKOWAVrikeYgyP4w3tAaUA88OXAlUQ8_mBMcz9nZ0EtqcFsd2ha-fFPVRXQom/s400/DSC00093.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Abrahamskraal hide</span></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/AVvXsEgdUtWEK6A5wpsWBda7u84-HoEJ1j_2Po8wSJOaj4A2lYxHou1cKGT0ZFo2_pABp9y0D38TZmVlpAJX4RTQiqzb4PAbfqFd-R29aIYaz0ZdoO_9MCo5AfBnlcsMTD9VpGDLkWmfsp5gcCH5/s1600/IMG_6835-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUtWEK6A5wpsWBda7u84-HoEJ1j_2Po8wSJOaj4A2lYxHou1cKGT0ZFo2_pABp9y0D38TZmVlpAJX4RTQiqzb4PAbfqFd-R29aIYaz0ZdoO_9MCo5AfBnlcsMTD9VpGDLkWmfsp5gcCH5/s400/IMG_6835-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lesser Swamp Warbler</span></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/AVvXsEiLxyDPDyk8RS1_pPv_K74jg2ynE8aXPTE7fd3d1Ozrwwpj7Vo1IF6J54Kzs2vDrIbJniiYh1x5l62vUexGQGCnhhKY7IuEckP2ppr3kVXPX931WstHFXg18gJiQIImdGTRENUDZscEMpmm/s1600/IMG_6880-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLxyDPDyk8RS1_pPv_K74jg2ynE8aXPTE7fd3d1Ozrwwpj7Vo1IF6J54Kzs2vDrIbJniiYh1x5l62vUexGQGCnhhKY7IuEckP2ppr3kVXPX931WstHFXg18gJiQIImdGTRENUDZscEMpmm/s400/IMG_6880-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">African Rail</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another hide, overlooking the Langebaan lagoon at Geelbeck was
productive, with a good selection of Palearctic waders in the form of lots of
<b>Whimbrel</b>, <b>Grey Plover</b> and <b>Black-tailed Godwits</b>, several <b>Greenshank</b>, <b>Avocets </b>and
<b>Black-winged Stilts</b>, and two <b>Terek Sandpipers</b>. A couple of <b>Blacksmith Plovers</b>
were less familiar. In addition, there were c.100 <b>Lesser </b>and c.30 <b>Greater
Flamingos</b>, one <b>Sandwich </b>and a couple of <b>Caspian Terns</b>, a number of <b>Hartlaub's Gulls</b>, the odd <b>Little Egret </b>and <b>Grey Heron</b>, and the first two <b>Cape Teal </b>of the trip. </span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<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/AVvXsEhuBrmpzkeBhzik6cNiy-Vx4mdiDSxlnvZNxatwdPcrL8-qSjUGx_f4Qw3jRc0FtnUSc0yMNuujDcA2r3yT9LPqXkg-JOyHHDpK31twcC7BrlxTaeucvW0HF9dfW53FqsCJR4qO5qz4fxG-/s1600/IMG_6644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuBrmpzkeBhzik6cNiy-Vx4mdiDSxlnvZNxatwdPcrL8-qSjUGx_f4Qw3jRc0FtnUSc0yMNuujDcA2r3yT9LPqXkg-JOyHHDpK31twcC7BrlxTaeucvW0HF9dfW53FqsCJR4qO5qz4fxG-/s400/IMG_6644.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lesser Flamingos</span></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/AVvXsEj4RyHjq0T1cSfk0FIeZ8VDukkfD8ni9NOeu52OVoY5e3SRY4yngPFhrrd1yok8ppxkPE4Yk5OWaSGmKYm05NGY77f1_rXAPNo4WHxWyYP6s-u1wQIj8YsLCvX7Olck7XP3YDZWYMvg9NzM/s1600/IMG_6647.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4RyHjq0T1cSfk0FIeZ8VDukkfD8ni9NOeu52OVoY5e3SRY4yngPFhrrd1yok8ppxkPE4Yk5OWaSGmKYm05NGY77f1_rXAPNo4WHxWyYP6s-u1wQIj8YsLCvX7Olck7XP3YDZWYMvg9NzM/s400/IMG_6647.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hartlaub's Gull</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A third hide at Seeberg produced more of the same, plus <b>Kittlitz’s
</b>and <b>White-faced Plovers</b>, whilst a drive to the end of the Postberg Peninsular
(which would have had the best wildflower display had the weather been
conducive, and which is closed for most of the year) added several <b>Antarctic
Terns</b> feeding offshore amongst some <b>Swift Terns</b>. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<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/AVvXsEjTqTal0u9GmSfdZnnOSlXk6ybh3L7VF8VS8SQEaWOElxFOkwq8ubtu1R2yZnZm0CFx5wVwGZ-K9S9V8Ajp9W1gGLHfHTB9GxT4OFRSY8Y9Tg3_mE4atzDBR2yTWW-0RYyqN-4rS4fIQD-N/s1600/DSC00018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqTal0u9GmSfdZnnOSlXk6ybh3L7VF8VS8SQEaWOElxFOkwq8ubtu1R2yZnZm0CFx5wVwGZ-K9S9V8Ajp9W1gGLHfHTB9GxT4OFRSY8Y9Tg3_mE4atzDBR2yTWW-0RYyqN-4rS4fIQD-N/s400/DSC00018.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The viewpoint at Seeberg</span></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/AVvXsEhRmSq1U6s-QAjQw8YXxXBYS2iJJGaQ24qC-IEUNOu7epYqG17C6yfSQf5v-rKX05E2SzCjHZr2kA6VFpSP2ZbmifnbLviwxiJx-T0ulzotuocJ6IolNUUN04R2NXMJC7Vsud_YvPXXs-jE/s1600/DSC00003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRmSq1U6s-QAjQw8YXxXBYS2iJJGaQ24qC-IEUNOu7epYqG17C6yfSQf5v-rKX05E2SzCjHZr2kA6VFpSP2ZbmifnbLviwxiJx-T0ulzotuocJ6IolNUUN04R2NXMJC7Vsud_YvPXXs-jE/s400/DSC00003.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Seeberg</span></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/AVvXsEgCVU8ZOhDXWuo8GizoL8XOhfus1rP8jAUB396dogzGMAcWtOgMUGD-qRXdfcd57mqVmecfuUvocylfCbhVgFCYCoGODMWe0fY0UQQlwdXxTxeEzajAjLpJ45HfSSS5aguXIKsrSwnNI51q/s1600/DSC09995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCVU8ZOhDXWuo8GizoL8XOhfus1rP8jAUB396dogzGMAcWtOgMUGD-qRXdfcd57mqVmecfuUvocylfCbhVgFCYCoGODMWe0fY0UQQlwdXxTxeEzajAjLpJ45HfSSS5aguXIKsrSwnNI51q/s400/DSC09995.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The boardwalk down to the hide at Seeberg</span></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/AVvXsEjIb5cl6S-90RN3Y3uFI-IafSQSVdvMS61hyEAk4MYKWo8ykdkSZIdyi6QfDOenhc6Zu_CGyAi2XD0yTvC2oLbTdZrb92r24pAyCCUVOLrAEY6PS03iwrAFeaC-5i6nW2Uns8nxje4llNZo/s1600/DSC09997.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIb5cl6S-90RN3Y3uFI-IafSQSVdvMS61hyEAk4MYKWo8ykdkSZIdyi6QfDOenhc6Zu_CGyAi2XD0yTvC2oLbTdZrb92r24pAyCCUVOLrAEY6PS03iwrAFeaC-5i6nW2Uns8nxje4llNZo/s400/DSC09997.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Habitat at Seeberg</span></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/AVvXsEg-MqHHUiTRt1IQrW6Umy32XbLsJREKby1fQWCHTlqsddo4yzfdqWMgYIHjvONwG4W0k-IgWUogxXesF3AncASox27zCpMqCOlquAE5JundLxDHV0KfMf-AC7d0Xpc7t3QyJJoPFH-QOxAK/s1600/IMG_6553-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-MqHHUiTRt1IQrW6Umy32XbLsJREKby1fQWCHTlqsddo4yzfdqWMgYIHjvONwG4W0k-IgWUogxXesF3AncASox27zCpMqCOlquAE5JundLxDHV0KfMf-AC7d0Xpc7t3QyJJoPFH-QOxAK/s400/IMG_6553-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kittlitz's Plover</span></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/AVvXsEgsMROCLuIRkT-X4oRxKVyjU-4FC6vhVj_A0cK_kubsFfpim472M1x8C-oY2lhwGjomSuQsL5ev6sr92_hbWV1UMYy1iCWRkft8CK16eqPR1HmzPD0DB1l4Ym_2jL0LurWxtoXFZiIhVhWL/s1600/DSC00059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMROCLuIRkT-X4oRxKVyjU-4FC6vhVj_A0cK_kubsFfpim472M1x8C-oY2lhwGjomSuQsL5ev6sr92_hbWV1UMYy1iCWRkft8CK16eqPR1HmzPD0DB1l4Ym_2jL0LurWxtoXFZiIhVhWL/s400/DSC00059.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Plankiesbaai on the Postberg Peninsular</span></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/AVvXsEjFWyyJATL3lpv7OLuHhuUTyfr2-3aYRf36rKCGmyTYmldSQFNw9cDefIVow_tan4nZdb1riDl7xmJPurzRZcYQ_62zQTQh4-H39Aw1gQa52MWUEUAcdkzZO5uX7b-3ARiFTM55dMPTkENk/s1600/IMG_6818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFWyyJATL3lpv7OLuHhuUTyfr2-3aYRf36rKCGmyTYmldSQFNw9cDefIVow_tan4nZdb1riDl7xmJPurzRZcYQ_62zQTQh4-H39Aw1gQa52MWUEUAcdkzZO5uX7b-3ARiFTM55dMPTkENk/s400/IMG_6818.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wildflowers</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">
</span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sir Lowry’s Pass was the first destination the following
day. This site features in a book I was given a couple of Christmases ago by a
well-meaning in-law, entitled the ‘Top 100 Birding Sites of the World’.
However, far from being an amazing site, this is where things began to unravel... Unfortunately, the
weather at the top of the pass was poor, windy with low cloud. Having
managed not to get killed crossing the busy road to access the path to the
north, things got worse. Despite Cape Town being in the
clutches of a terrible drought, it started to rain, and to top it off, the first kilometre or
so of habitat had recently been burnt. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<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/AVvXsEgIo5Y9VBOZ_7SraYPJfuqEqRbKYodNIzeF7kGpyMpdC7eaDdHcJAxf05Cf2ynaFVik4bRQcX8Cl8aWVTgwkQ4fWv7q-h-D_t11T8P8K4qkEEgVbNETUH4lV9Q1V52bHzmiw3Kb6NgrMepQ/s1600/DSC00103.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIo5Y9VBOZ_7SraYPJfuqEqRbKYodNIzeF7kGpyMpdC7eaDdHcJAxf05Cf2ynaFVik4bRQcX8Cl8aWVTgwkQ4fWv7q-h-D_t11T8P8K4qkEEgVbNETUH4lV9Q1V52bHzmiw3Kb6NgrMepQ/s400/DSC00103.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sir Lowry's Pass - no birds here...</span></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/AVvXsEgPIU4d6o7jf2bH0mZ27c8po8P65H9Y46lUbYiqeckoFvXppjwJx9NFYyEEho5vlGOB7a786ZqssVpaEahVtP9zBQKbybgqAvM6iZIyHILZDQZl_rf-btfYfYxSRNhgvrrfE17spn9mrlgg/s1600/DSC00105.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPIU4d6o7jf2bH0mZ27c8po8P65H9Y46lUbYiqeckoFvXppjwJx9NFYyEEho5vlGOB7a786ZqssVpaEahVtP9zBQKbybgqAvM6iZIyHILZDQZl_rf-btfYfYxSRNhgvrrfE17spn9mrlgg/s400/DSC00105.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sir Lowry's Pass</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With time against me, I bombed out. No Cape Rockjumper, no
Ground Woodpecker, and heard-only
Victorin’s Warbler. Birds were very thin on the ground, but I did at least see
my only <b>Neddicky </b>of the trip, along with a party of <b>Cape Siskin</b>, two or three
<b>Cape Grassbirds</b>, and a couple of <b>Orange-breasted </b>and <b>Malachite Sunbirds</b>. But
not much else… By the time I returned to the car I was pretty much soaked
to the skin, requiring a change of clothes. Some non-birding time was then in
order, so we visited Stellenbosch just to the north. Several <b>Cape Canaries</b> were
in trees in a town centre park, and to the south of the town, two beautiful
<b>Blue Cranes</b> were in a grassed field (much closer but more fleeting than encounters in Wakkerstroom), with three <b>Great White Pelicans</b> nearby.</span><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/AVvXsEgmsbqfkFeAH0NSxeYFqkC0AHQRYNNjIOcfzNIXDpsZq6JBPQgOJGtVSFHxci7QOpW-gKEUUXZ8Ca-pfOMXON7z2_UyHws5_jymFNxO-p0kxmjHuTqeDLMKaz1f2YU6bA9OiWl2WQ0XL5Mn/s1600/DSC00114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmsbqfkFeAH0NSxeYFqkC0AHQRYNNjIOcfzNIXDpsZq6JBPQgOJGtVSFHxci7QOpW-gKEUUXZ8Ca-pfOMXON7z2_UyHws5_jymFNxO-p0kxmjHuTqeDLMKaz1f2YU6bA9OiWl2WQ0XL5Mn/s400/DSC00114.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stellenbosch</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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</div>
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</span>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Heading back towards Hout Bay, we detoured via <a href="http://www.capetown.gov.za/Family%20and%20home/See-all-city-facilities/Our-recreational-facilities/Nature%20reserves/False%20Bay%20Nature%20Reserve">False BayNature Reserve</a>. This site comprises a lake and waterworks and surrounding
habitat, and again, merited more than the hour or so I could give it. There
were swifts and hirundines in abundance, with lots of <b>African Black Swifts</b>,
several <b>Little Swifts </b>and at least one <b>Horus Swift</b>, and plenty of <b>White-throated
Swallows </b>and <b>Rock Martins</b>,<b> </b>several <b>Brown-throated Martins</b>,<b> </b>two <b>Barn Swallows</b>, and at least two huge <b>Greater Striped Swallows</b>.</span><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/AVvXsEjVU7NCucyxBKw529P-Nd9vLxp-zmvC49Y20CPPTB0t1blZ3FhW7CTeTn8hAd1eYHlNQEyH6i0gdaTzgbnaRtJym8d15ccz1WYbz60HMvndQlPqC3dTqLA6pCr2IF7McNf7fexRgf6_Bmbs/s1600/IMG_6940-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVU7NCucyxBKw529P-Nd9vLxp-zmvC49Y20CPPTB0t1blZ3FhW7CTeTn8hAd1eYHlNQEyH6i0gdaTzgbnaRtJym8d15ccz1WYbz60HMvndQlPqC3dTqLA6pCr2IF7McNf7fexRgf6_Bmbs/s400/IMG_6940-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">African Black Swift</span></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/AVvXsEiAWxto4bkdQ9brXV3LRhFlfzh3wubay5qouQjyuUI_RwBSsBzCultZlO7WCrcDCykgBfHH5lyLp4ZKmBVhM_OaWrH1ZWq1xbxfgZL6f2OIlexQjZ21KSCj4DuUBOcRSdJKyZ9GmsusJNFX/s1600/IMG_7037-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAWxto4bkdQ9brXV3LRhFlfzh3wubay5qouQjyuUI_RwBSsBzCultZlO7WCrcDCykgBfHH5lyLp4ZKmBVhM_OaWrH1ZWq1xbxfgZL6f2OIlexQjZ21KSCj4DuUBOcRSdJKyZ9GmsusJNFX/s400/IMG_7037-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">White-throated Swallow</span></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/AVvXsEhKo4g7oqkyHp0c8qvEgeR2cszjIn69YjQZT-tQsnfqoZTxnQDvqq7IsEF5vyIQS0pRDYBg5o6j50zwg5dIoiRzASR5wXk7DoTBbotfKzhIE_qco6AEMz2jss53T3Gm7hBI_tUKOjB0Yy-r/s1600/DSC00128.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKo4g7oqkyHp0c8qvEgeR2cszjIn69YjQZT-tQsnfqoZTxnQDvqq7IsEF5vyIQS0pRDYBg5o6j50zwg5dIoiRzASR5wXk7DoTBbotfKzhIE_qco6AEMz2jss53T3Gm7hBI_tUKOjB0Yy-r/s400/DSC00128.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking out over the Zeekoevlei, with the back of Table Mountain beyond</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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</div>
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</span>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I only peeked into the
first tank at the waterworks, which held lots of <b>Little </b>and two <b>Black-necked
Grebes</b>, several <b>Southern Pochard</b>, good numbers of <b>Cape Teal</b> and <b>Cape Shoveler</b>,
an escaped <b>Red-crested Pochard</b>, and a <b>Spur-winged Goose</b>, plus lots of <b>Red-knobbed Coots</b>,
as well as <b>Moorhen</b>, <b>Cattle Egret</b>, <b>Black-headed Heron</b>, <b>Spotted Thick-knee</b>, <b>Egyptian Goose</b>, <b>Sacred Ibis</b> and <b>Blacksmith Plover</b>. Adjacent dry
habitats held several now-familiar species, plus a few <b>Yellow Bishops </b>and at
least one <b>Little Rush Warbler</b>. A Cape Grey Mongoose was a new mammal. We then drove back to Hout Bay via the coast road overlooking False Bay, which merged with the beach in several places.</span><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/AVvXsEi0VV2w8VgPK07zCnebB0O_Vn37VJTb1hd7HkvGrGPhDp7LYzTE8hzl5U5BkZnv0rpHiYO0LrJJhsPR89mJjtTYgJ0xFZdJvCzspjR0M8ONjb1rvKxGwwf6wn6crrWJitI1WFOtwmIRwyvl/s1600/IMG_6886-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0VV2w8VgPK07zCnebB0O_Vn37VJTb1hd7HkvGrGPhDp7LYzTE8hzl5U5BkZnv0rpHiYO0LrJJhsPR89mJjtTYgJ0xFZdJvCzspjR0M8ONjb1rvKxGwwf6wn6crrWJitI1WFOtwmIRwyvl/s400/IMG_6886-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yellow Bishop</span></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/AVvXsEi62sCZfJUoQGW3v2QuNbDLwedIuCSvgi21dCzypsiq-oipSu4cH_xy7nyU_cycwZ6PlsNRKQUhrZXLMUTMDYRnKIdwq-dB3xnsDCTpKswmnvzUayu0L6MPmc5glf0rtmXBQheRME4JrHs0/s1600/IMG_6913-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi62sCZfJUoQGW3v2QuNbDLwedIuCSvgi21dCzypsiq-oipSu4cH_xy7nyU_cycwZ6PlsNRKQUhrZXLMUTMDYRnKIdwq-dB3xnsDCTpKswmnvzUayu0L6MPmc5glf0rtmXBQheRME4JrHs0/s400/IMG_6913-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Little Rush Warbler</span></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/AVvXsEgX8bwe8n9YYw8pxM1SvKrJJbmZlYhpCl9xfqJjigk2kDBgqzT75DCztrChbi4q03IJ4oIF7sZRGXj_OHSOjRWFu_879oS1lSvyEG7CL1Ik93LaqTxu9ASLTuS1KklNor6Qfux43eMHKJV3/s1600/IMG_6930.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX8bwe8n9YYw8pxM1SvKrJJbmZlYhpCl9xfqJjigk2kDBgqzT75DCztrChbi4q03IJ4oIF7sZRGXj_OHSOjRWFu_879oS1lSvyEG7CL1Ik93LaqTxu9ASLTuS1KklNor6Qfux43eMHKJV3/s400/IMG_6930.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Strandfontein Sewage Works, within False Bay NR</span></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/AVvXsEh0pAaBV5y1xgk9ypiOpn0OvKxKhfjgWmWoiFn2OA4PeyFGN5Fkbg4RR6uuR4oob53FgAiV65N6iP32coJldzneO_JWgMAemSTbSqMG4Eq8WzIZhCEL-h4Z8DMtdVwOJjJc3Mwa7Nlgg6f2/s1600/IMG_6931-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0pAaBV5y1xgk9ypiOpn0OvKxKhfjgWmWoiFn2OA4PeyFGN5Fkbg4RR6uuR4oob53FgAiV65N6iP32coJldzneO_JWgMAemSTbSqMG4Eq8WzIZhCEL-h4Z8DMtdVwOJjJc3Mwa7Nlgg6f2/s400/IMG_6931-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Spotted Thick-knee</span></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/AVvXsEi-rjFHEvOcy11LRNDKqH1t7dnyRbQEuBU6OnOggNZZh44IzNkVapllR33bZKGsEdQ38gOQPPATtXSzJQXm3x-iTprgzTa_XBCZ1RDqzR7SUtWCGlSQmPNvlHpCUima5Vf17aNLMz39XO7g/s1600/DSC00139.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-rjFHEvOcy11LRNDKqH1t7dnyRbQEuBU6OnOggNZZh44IzNkVapllR33bZKGsEdQ38gOQPPATtXSzJQXm3x-iTprgzTa_XBCZ1RDqzR7SUtWCGlSQmPNvlHpCUima5Vf17aNLMz39XO7g/s400/DSC00139.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The beach at Stranfontein</span></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/AVvXsEiisyMZYHeGWBG-ZN1Aicvou8wp6yaofGfbbn-6g1JyJvcxTI_pK4k1cZwWI4vE4_APyVh0k88w-vTdpxGheiSo4vdkvCvJAXry9ukBCCLyv-RWFRnACjqCbOxUyowQd8xCQX0ONQHgHZw4/s1600/DSC00144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiisyMZYHeGWBG-ZN1Aicvou8wp6yaofGfbbn-6g1JyJvcxTI_pK4k1cZwWI4vE4_APyVh0k88w-vTdpxGheiSo4vdkvCvJAXry9ukBCCLyv-RWFRnACjqCbOxUyowQd8xCQX0ONQHgHZw4/s400/DSC00144.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">False Bay at Strandfontein</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And all too soon it was our final day. I had a pre-breakfast
excursion back to Jonkersdam in hope of a Ground Woodpecker, without luck (and Cape
Rockjumper doesn’t occur on the Cape Peninsular, for some reason). Along with a
typical selection of fynbos birds, the only new species for the trip was a
<b>Lanner</b>. A Cape Grey Mongoose was seen on the drive back to Hout Bay.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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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/AVvXsEjB8Lpqy4g6YW3pdiZWqOtNLnSnJjfarV1iG-_Fw4JV7HB6BySSNXF1L-P2x39rWembQLzN4m4fC2J7pq3rSDNDovFD_ojkxbgizzQINruLa2jxcmg5tigYKxwucZ94FdqFGjsb8HAm7ah2/s1600/IMG_7042.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB8Lpqy4g6YW3pdiZWqOtNLnSnJjfarV1iG-_Fw4JV7HB6BySSNXF1L-P2x39rWembQLzN4m4fC2J7pq3rSDNDovFD_ojkxbgizzQINruLa2jxcmg5tigYKxwucZ94FdqFGjsb8HAm7ah2/s320/IMG_7042.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A fancy orchid</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With our flight not until the evening, we spent much of the rest of the day at <a href="https://www.sanbi.org/gardens/kirstenbosch/">Kirstenbosh Botanical Gardens</a>. This is a spectacular site, and produced several new birds – two <b>Spotted Eagle Owls</b> (roosting in a tree above the ticket inspection point), a <b>Forest Canary</b> and two <b>African Goshawks</b>. Another accipiter went unidentified, but may have been a Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk.</span></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/AVvXsEhR-CMfsGpCjuxMt0Hgc5gqit1Womxc7pa0EBOiIWBKqRBUUvEijPCj-lstU11CmvkI1HRJerPJStfauyXuZm5cygJ52wbHUdufa_YUDGcWNBqaNy00d6KCbWOt__BjSlqp3uVomCPk2Jp0/s1600/IMG_7064-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR-CMfsGpCjuxMt0Hgc5gqit1Womxc7pa0EBOiIWBKqRBUUvEijPCj-lstU11CmvkI1HRJerPJStfauyXuZm5cygJ52wbHUdufa_YUDGcWNBqaNy00d6KCbWOt__BjSlqp3uVomCPk2Jp0/s400/IMG_7064-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spotted Eagle Owl</span></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/AVvXsEiBH9H7aqEfzCTt-CP8exsHXxf2sGvcEZozlaAqOwj5Q4KhfR2uJHoWdNUDyL5vvV52gZdlQ54fEYp5Xe9cmnX-SRFTx90JZ0TzanmB9HWyiIALROtVWRd7kyd49mTgg2IH3uGA8qqObDnc/s1600/DSC00158.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBH9H7aqEfzCTt-CP8exsHXxf2sGvcEZozlaAqOwj5Q4KhfR2uJHoWdNUDyL5vvV52gZdlQ54fEYp5Xe9cmnX-SRFTx90JZ0TzanmB9HWyiIALROtVWRd7kyd49mTgg2IH3uGA8qqObDnc/s400/DSC00158.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The gardens</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwyyCRrluDMnlAbnclcg1VWI4hjnJHLKp1wGVLmPAPnHfvVuDm74np8ZN1z3HFUT4qt9NFUO_uaWFF3x3dRS7wqJFhSVqR0Uihp7mAFvo64xw7wecPtXtmOMo3AVvADB3hl1AxZkIGMJp/s1600/DSC00215.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXwyyCRrluDMnlAbnclcg1VWI4hjnJHLKp1wGVLmPAPnHfvVuDm74np8ZN1z3HFUT4qt9NFUO_uaWFF3x3dRS7wqJFhSVqR0Uihp7mAFvo64xw7wecPtXtmOMo3AVvADB3hl1AxZkIGMJp/s400/DSC00215.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The gardens, looking north over Cape Town</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Added to these were several <b>Olive Thrushes</b>, three very
confiding <b>Lemon Doves</b>, three <b>Cape Canaries</b>, a couple of <b>Cape Batises </b>and <b>Sombre
Greenbuls</b>, several <b>Cape Sugarbirds</b>, three <b>Speckled Mousebirds</b> and a male <b>Swee
Waxbill</b>, plus <b>Karoo Prinia</b>, <b>Cape White-eye</b>, <b>Cape Robin Chat</b>, <b>Malachite </b>and
<b>Double-collared Sunbirds</b>, <b>Cape Turtle Dove</b>, <b>Egyptian Goose</b>, <b>Cape Spurfowl </b>and
<b>Hadada Ibis</b>. Another Cape Grey Mongoose was the mammal highlight, whilst a visit to the Garden of Extinction was sobering.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9wXH0U7G0YCkp0GiCxVjZOie76ooOaaFzrsasTbB2W0L4OzCJ15PyW9jRZIAO4FJBVLxJomtZHGCs6lEvPXDzEaV_ZuKmUlSwxzpoN2VmyQofm9YVa8EfX443Sj0ybgcgRrD_-LZxEvA/s1600/IMG_7147-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ9wXH0U7G0YCkp0GiCxVjZOie76ooOaaFzrsasTbB2W0L4OzCJ15PyW9jRZIAO4FJBVLxJomtZHGCs6lEvPXDzEaV_ZuKmUlSwxzpoN2VmyQofm9YVa8EfX443Sj0ybgcgRrD_-LZxEvA/s400/IMG_7147-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lemon Dove</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjN_2wx7h6mAQhyRb391i8bSgm5eOV3Dx_BqmQx39JTY4w4ySKUOUNd5TxNkH8xxeVwbnlL8DO41SsolKaGrBbfO3r7P0SRQPNtFCLSMSYbY9hDUpIx1T-CVirSIl3jfNEsBK2uI9AuK8/s1600/IMG_7151-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUjN_2wx7h6mAQhyRb391i8bSgm5eOV3Dx_BqmQx39JTY4w4ySKUOUNd5TxNkH8xxeVwbnlL8DO41SsolKaGrBbfO3r7P0SRQPNtFCLSMSYbY9hDUpIx1T-CVirSIl3jfNEsBK2uI9AuK8/s400/IMG_7151-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cape Robin Chat</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BgwBH8xm19k2QJM8AUudqbJSYpJzYn5sZ-2MV9qDgFo-d0HRqCXCvUn9dp8OpKaOk8yAT4WLd1hIG52gPQaF5d50e9lAcIdrtcup6n4JK_7AAPoZqWkRGTH8QD9IgY9ciYw0LDqdIxfq/s1600/IMG_7194-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8BgwBH8xm19k2QJM8AUudqbJSYpJzYn5sZ-2MV9qDgFo-d0HRqCXCvUn9dp8OpKaOk8yAT4WLd1hIG52gPQaF5d50e9lAcIdrtcup6n4JK_7AAPoZqWkRGTH8QD9IgY9ciYw0LDqdIxfq/s400/IMG_7194-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Malachite Sunbird</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQg4dTEUp_KusUhlBG74kJkRGtCnvA_iC2FUN9SxHTu-bkLAYt2jwb5wlBUVWDEX8beHrbR5DwN18RfA4VuGI0fP8Mq61llgdiO3hPf04QSDXHerEpHLUQWEAS5-tfz9LONaSHlALq9Xo/s1600/IMG_7208-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFQg4dTEUp_KusUhlBG74kJkRGtCnvA_iC2FUN9SxHTu-bkLAYt2jwb5wlBUVWDEX8beHrbR5DwN18RfA4VuGI0fP8Mq61llgdiO3hPf04QSDXHerEpHLUQWEAS5-tfz9LONaSHlALq9Xo/s400/IMG_7208-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cape White-eye</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkNN5vO63Xu1vArUjXkHY2Xl4mDV6Kk39MBQDq2PfL6e8E-9O9bH4ko16fFsDHUEZYYpKP-nD80FWl9cWToi9o3zJI5Wu2uiP_FWdaaqBFSIWZD7x6fxr_un8cHUrc3YD9jqVg8EAbQnE/s1600/IMG_7235.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirkNN5vO63Xu1vArUjXkHY2Xl4mDV6Kk39MBQDq2PfL6e8E-9O9bH4ko16fFsDHUEZYYpKP-nD80FWl9cWToi9o3zJI5Wu2uiP_FWdaaqBFSIWZD7x6fxr_un8cHUrc3YD9jqVg8EAbQnE/s400/IMG_7235.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cape Spurfowl</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KhS8SjR7NSNUx2XTxg1AyqepLqAvhDaBJtW3lyQ-BAIyriSMkzUWwDM2T3nSLeMxTtd8og4Nyr9nWz8G9bUFD0RjlPwGQRf0_w_urRkaWtprJ8NO91mc-a7opPj3JlJ5Pj4Xpu1tc0yZ/s1600/IMG_7233-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2KhS8SjR7NSNUx2XTxg1AyqepLqAvhDaBJtW3lyQ-BAIyriSMkzUWwDM2T3nSLeMxTtd8og4Nyr9nWz8G9bUFD0RjlPwGQRf0_w_urRkaWtprJ8NO91mc-a7opPj3JlJ5Pj4Xpu1tc0yZ/s400/IMG_7233-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cape Grey Mongoose</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And that completed our trip. The eighteen days had flown by,
and everywhere we’d been we felt that we needed at least a couple more days.
South Africa is an incredibly diverse country, and the birding and mammaling is
top notch. We had absolutely no issues whilst travelling around, and never felt
unsafe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My final tally was 326 species of bird, of which 225 were ticks; I suspect had I been birding 100% of the time, I could have pushed my trip list up towards 400 species. I'm always keen to see as many endemic or restricted-range species as possible when I visit somewhere new; of the c.37 species endemic to SA, I was in-range for 31, and saw 14, so just under a 50% strike rate. In terms of 'southern Africa' endemics/near endemics, I was in range for c.101 species, and saw 64 (so a slightly better hit rate). But hey, it ain't about the numbers... the highlights are really too many to mention, but Bateleur, Taita Falcon, Botha's and Rudd's Larks, Blue Crane, Southern Bald Ibis, Secretary Bird, African Penguin, Shy Albatross, Black Harrier, African Black Oystercatcher and Cape Sugarbird spring to mind.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The mammals were as good as, if not better than the birds; I notched up 48 species, the vast majority of which I'd never seen before, including Lion, Leopard, Caracal, African Elephant, Southern White Rhino, Hippo, Cape Giraffe, Wildebeest, Cape Buffalo, Plains and Mountain Zebras, Spotted Hyena, Meerkat, Humpback Whale...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Quite the best two and a half weeks I've ever had. </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">I’d go back in a shot.</span></div>
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Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-22884120584052277682018-10-26T12:51:00.000-07:002018-11-08T12:48:28.918-08:00South Africa part 2 - St Lucia and Durban<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Having completed the <a href="http://notbirding.blogspot.com/2017/11/south-africa-part-1-kruger-and.html">first part</a> of our trip, we left Wakkerstroom and began the four and a half hour drive to the coast. T</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">he only notable birds </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">were a </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Black Sparrowhawk </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">circling over a plantation</span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">near Piet Retief, plus a </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Yellow-billed Kite</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, an </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">African Marsh Harrier</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, and a couple of </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">White-necked Ravens</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. After grazing the border of Swaziland, we turned south, pausing briefly at the Mkhuze village (where there was a large </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Village Weaver</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> colony). I had hoped we might have time to visit Mkhuze game reserve itself, but decided this would have to wait for another visit. So we pressed on, arriving in St Lucia mid afternoon.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbc8XS3jNLvxfN53mKqbLA5QuiAoa250IRqvWlpYtovuqfnoCaG64ftJf5Jdg78QrVuFGvNxlByhQm2s_LHlJqcJd-kB2JpJVIzBXqhhAOwL0LBaTiMZblBWI3l8yD0XXuEy_UC4_YK-DW/s1600/IMG_4131-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbc8XS3jNLvxfN53mKqbLA5QuiAoa250IRqvWlpYtovuqfnoCaG64ftJf5Jdg78QrVuFGvNxlByhQm2s_LHlJqcJd-kB2JpJVIzBXqhhAOwL0LBaTiMZblBWI3l8yD0XXuEy_UC4_YK-DW/s400/IMG_4131-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Black Sparrowhawk</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohqn9qiCCqnmUABwRcz9yA10UECaRCecU0Z4ZJwc-NGZ9s_yF8BRARKoMszjaly6DfaoLw3NO1R-0dY35z31eIc2TVJqZoq-OvQnEO19MJLPoC5UM8GAe9gDAWfRLfv3PGY5Cb3_EAsPn/s1600/DSC08995.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjohqn9qiCCqnmUABwRcz9yA10UECaRCecU0Z4ZJwc-NGZ9s_yF8BRARKoMszjaly6DfaoLw3NO1R-0dY35z31eIc2TVJqZoq-OvQnEO19MJLPoC5UM8GAe9gDAWfRLfv3PGY5Cb3_EAsPn/s400/DSC08995.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A long drive...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7REfTBW7R0G4wr4vD_2sy8HF6Xy_AXddBY8ml4siTHc_B9asqzYZIbO3TxmoTlJ3t9oyP2qm6cdMhKqKRQafDPY_URCPo_is1NJhnG4hCJLqIH1JcvL-yOZ2S0QjFUTjq7c5oY260QWLI/s1600/DSC09004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7REfTBW7R0G4wr4vD_2sy8HF6Xy_AXddBY8ml4siTHc_B9asqzYZIbO3TxmoTlJ3t9oyP2qm6cdMhKqKRQafDPY_URCPo_is1NJhnG4hCJLqIH1JcvL-yOZ2S0QjFUTjq7c5oY260QWLI/s400/DSC09004.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Swaziland on the left</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyxJkpWEnjOtenbVBHIMLzxP4N-JDaB0RYkr05rD9j3LT5hHMELCYezFVjUla40FEuO_5rcSJOlTtmJO1UyIc6axHb-YJtjFVyPvPPAKEfZ0VszUkNf-_8PKMd2sYv_3tqNBfV2ZgkNnw/s1600/DSC09026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxyxJkpWEnjOtenbVBHIMLzxP4N-JDaB0RYkr05rD9j3LT5hHMELCYezFVjUla40FEuO_5rcSJOlTtmJO1UyIc6axHb-YJtjFVyPvPPAKEfZ0VszUkNf-_8PKMd2sYv_3tqNBfV2ZgkNnw/s400/DSC09026.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Approaching the coast</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">St Lucia is a small town on the edge of the <a href="https://isimangaliso.com/">iSimangaliso Wetland Park</a>, a World Heritage Site on South Africa's east coast, supporting coastal dune forest, savanna and wetland habitat. And its sub-tropical climate of course brings a different range of birds and mammals... The town itself is relatively touristy, but most of this is built around the natural environment, and we liked the place despite the chain restaurants and the relatively large numbers of people compared to Kruger. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFsgTOOwwGeF9vu7LVyn6_Mr5AeTaTuUedQdVqppdZg-QfGzAYuIfi_6jv6crlR8prE1r2zkjjZeshRe-uzvIb8gqfqr3b30-xzGWzxNLriwC7J9yr20Sehnw9yJ9s9eh3VVOyFc7yjSg/s1600/DSC09034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVFsgTOOwwGeF9vu7LVyn6_Mr5AeTaTuUedQdVqppdZg-QfGzAYuIfi_6jv6crlR8prE1r2zkjjZeshRe-uzvIb8gqfqr3b30-xzGWzxNLriwC7J9yr20Sehnw9yJ9s9eh3VVOyFc7yjSg/s400/DSC09034.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The last few miles down to St Lucia</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSwp07YxYBy0UE-9YH10oI7drItZKStu6BPPyDxe0elzU-QAtf1c0TphhfhlTEcVd5X8bcXOueTFOx2L-4qM_A4hS8OAYUyJZVHs9qfSPnFJIGptfQSkCAr8bFDN65U6Uem4iiahWbf6g/s1600/DSC09039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHSwp07YxYBy0UE-9YH10oI7drItZKStu6BPPyDxe0elzU-QAtf1c0TphhfhlTEcVd5X8bcXOueTFOx2L-4qM_A4hS8OAYUyJZVHs9qfSPnFJIGptfQSkCAr8bFDN65U6Uem4iiahWbf6g/s400/DSC09039.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Caution - hippos crossing</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I kicked things off with an hour in the hotel garden and adjacent streets, seeing a </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Woolly-necked Stork </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">overhead, several</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">White-eared Barbets</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, several </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Lesser Striped</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and two </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Wire-tailed Swallows</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, a <b>White-rumped Swift</b>, at least one </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Brown-throated Martin</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, a few <b>Yellow Weavers</b>, an </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">African Dusky Flycatcher</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and two </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Black-bellied Starlings.</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> A party of twenty Banded Mongoose and three Natal Red Duiker made up the mammal contingent. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbpiVO33enGgOcot7MnAMHetBDcQ6LVu_bNdChMBFfzFi21p3K8bFcE71aT8zWP_HdwIlz6Te2gKsWqSVbfM9L8dP6W1wjRedOq99hqCqwiYTZL3HPSvXPvL9wDEd5ECOOo6IFpotHOM4/s1600/IMG_4231-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnbpiVO33enGgOcot7MnAMHetBDcQ6LVu_bNdChMBFfzFi21p3K8bFcE71aT8zWP_HdwIlz6Te2gKsWqSVbfM9L8dP6W1wjRedOq99hqCqwiYTZL3HPSvXPvL9wDEd5ECOOo6IFpotHOM4/s400/IMG_4231-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">White-eared Barbet</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi034zixbB_2ST41f8edvDGLMsw9-zVXgVq2aNpbz1K_R_OPEIkiMN_wy2V_cpUBW62qi-8M1IRL42dk0FTZIupHR3-K5hc3U4GbrVaC9ZhdUctgO7epgWAkVRooMBRoB_YrKZ-LLhGY44N/s1600/P1070255-edit.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/AVvXsEi034zixbB_2ST41f8edvDGLMsw9-zVXgVq2aNpbz1K_R_OPEIkiMN_wy2V_cpUBW62qi-8M1IRL42dk0FTZIupHR3-K5hc3U4GbrVaC9ZhdUctgO7epgWAkVRooMBRoB_YrKZ-LLhGY44N/s400/P1070255-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yellow Weaver</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYa75WClcyNNWUTFyDFyjvssGVp0JCl99-phwlr-HLq3HeN-4fxumlcgFvs4z9zjMm8Rg1WiqL0_6PCdEPaQjC9Lsa9wgP4GKdHvEo-qtey-qKsljgqSVpA5cpagQC1GnpxDc4asAy9hbh/s1600/IMG_4208-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYa75WClcyNNWUTFyDFyjvssGVp0JCl99-phwlr-HLq3HeN-4fxumlcgFvs4z9zjMm8Rg1WiqL0_6PCdEPaQjC9Lsa9wgP4GKdHvEo-qtey-qKsljgqSVpA5cpagQC1GnpxDc4asAy9hbh/s400/IMG_4208-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">African Dusky Flycatcher</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKkUK007txoy7k6nsLp5yQ6CFVry0eoT0X4fqMDyGSum7qzcUQmiXfWJ89g5fE9bjBmuWNmFqD5wC_uUGOcCEWUnGc0nZmND43VLZNPKP3jFJxBmS8pOeNgXcK3K-noomK0ZU5YfzEvc8/s1600/DSC09043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNKkUK007txoy7k6nsLp5yQ6CFVry0eoT0X4fqMDyGSum7qzcUQmiXfWJ89g5fE9bjBmuWNmFqD5wC_uUGOcCEWUnGc0nZmND43VLZNPKP3jFJxBmS8pOeNgXcK3K-noomK0ZU5YfzEvc8/s400/DSC09043.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Banded Mongooses on the back streets of St Lucia</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTKKWoE0rI2gbVTYAM4GxAi_FstbLsJCxwkEZgSdRL17YVYgllu3NqB4GgpicMX7Le718JR8_F-opoCabDw25bhFVIl-fRHTPdb9UzXLgYqrREnOIA2BpsmUvWgPNB6v9Z_81Gv9qDHi4/s1600/P1070240.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTKKWoE0rI2gbVTYAM4GxAi_FstbLsJCxwkEZgSdRL17YVYgllu3NqB4GgpicMX7Le718JR8_F-opoCabDw25bhFVIl-fRHTPdb9UzXLgYqrREnOIA2BpsmUvWgPNB6v9Z_81Gv9qDHi4/s400/P1070240.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Natal Red Duikers</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDiwYStO8sTcXz0BoWT9WI1cZnC9KTZW8nggr821IV1iBJLFcZdrvwqhFrCBSvqgZ4l2RsM-lWc-gbZZDpRIXLsmzqe1DpvrQbWcRjD7jGVNkNwyypcx29OlKvE-D3u2-YR67jYbCR3mC/s1600/DSC09212.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDiwYStO8sTcXz0BoWT9WI1cZnC9KTZW8nggr821IV1iBJLFcZdrvwqhFrCBSvqgZ4l2RsM-lWc-gbZZDpRIXLsmzqe1DpvrQbWcRjD7jGVNkNwyypcx29OlKvE-D3u2-YR67jYbCR3mC/s400/DSC09212.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our hotel</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That evening, we had a night game drive into the Western Shores area of the reserve. This was a bit disappointing, not helped by some heavy rain - although being out in the open in the middle of a lightning storm was pretty spectacular. We did see a few mammals, with several Southern Reedbuck, a few Wildebeest and Hippos, a Buffalo and two Scrub Hares; the only birds were four <b>Spotted Thick-knees</b>. We also got our eyes in spotting chameleons. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyXrVR2WgR7keIDubw94k__4KIbgR1ISB424Emhmd1Vq3nGc1MeBO52qC3Y7x9_uljtXU43bPjZ3leuia2nsEQXzYh22oKrNKurwxgIORrs-VA8meG7YZpLMv2fcrq02QSREkZbtaH9xn/s1600/IMG_6533.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSyXrVR2WgR7keIDubw94k__4KIbgR1ISB424Emhmd1Vq3nGc1MeBO52qC3Y7x9_uljtXU43bPjZ3leuia2nsEQXzYh22oKrNKurwxgIORrs-VA8meG7YZpLMv2fcrq02QSREkZbtaH9xn/s400/IMG_6533.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Flap-necked Chameleon</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next day I had two hours before breakfast walking the iGwalagwala Trail, near our hotel. This area of coastal scrub was very productive, although as usual not knowing calls was frustrating. My morning's list included single <b>Yellow-billed Kite </b>and <b>Little Sparrowhawk</b>, a pair of <b>Tambourine Doves</b>, three or more <b>Livingstone's </b>and two or more very exotic looking <b>Purple-crested Touracos</b>, a couple of <b>Striped Kingfishers</b>, one <b>Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird</b>, several <b>Terrestrial Brownbul </b>parties, a few <b>Yellow-bellied Greenbuls</b>, a number of smart looking <b>Red-capped Robin-chats</b>, two <b>Yellow-breasted Apalises</b>, two <b>Southern Boubou</b>, a <b>Grey-headed Bushshrike</b>, single <b>Olive </b>and several <b>Collared Sunbirds</b>, and four female <b>Thick-billed </b>and at least two <b>Dark-backed Weavers</b>. Best were two of this area's specialities, in the form of two <b>Rudd's Apalises </b>and a <b>Woodward's Batis</b>, along with a <b>Spotted Ground Thrush</b> and a <b>Buff-spotted Flufftail</b>, the latter dashing across the path just at the moment that I looked back over my shoulder, and the former being another sought-after speciality species. Red Bush Squirrel was a new mammal. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaHUCGuEKu_FN-mz1Tr5b2bX8GkZhGMC8e43uRTWC6S_-Z5rxKozPRbZLJ12EuwKJ8FEjo3PiM_cRpYXdauN7EyVJeX7PilTXEngnCM8Ho6MeqsDsYdRgcZb-YEXNXQlTfPYkHZgUAino/s1600/DSC09068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlaHUCGuEKu_FN-mz1Tr5b2bX8GkZhGMC8e43uRTWC6S_-Z5rxKozPRbZLJ12EuwKJ8FEjo3PiM_cRpYXdauN7EyVJeX7PilTXEngnCM8Ho6MeqsDsYdRgcZb-YEXNXQlTfPYkHZgUAino/s400/DSC09068.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The iGwalagwala Trail</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo10Gvdbp8_MugWFBIujl3Dbq9oTAUmycKI3Hn42fIjqQnY1q2BgG-noCWS9y-xtp6dtCDgwm-eeEIQb2NG6A3oEEBFeArT5wJItwH5ipLL9lypAXKjdo9TSIImO-61a7_BVvZQV-y5WpQ/s1600/IMG_4282.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo10Gvdbp8_MugWFBIujl3Dbq9oTAUmycKI3Hn42fIjqQnY1q2BgG-noCWS9y-xtp6dtCDgwm-eeEIQb2NG6A3oEEBFeArT5wJItwH5ipLL9lypAXKjdo9TSIImO-61a7_BVvZQV-y5WpQ/s400/IMG_4282.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yellow-billed Kite</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbkzBm7VwB1YSDr23aXEGegUqmDrQrNNS6GFGw8kAlAVyv5fwkkgfvIHsoSwuGAveXr3LV-yCZNPeUwOvsrBLkLWUqO_aKOeX4_OYCsERLNJKx8RGJ_jaKqdGDCYRsgju_0afLVd3LvyW/s1600/IMG_4340-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXbkzBm7VwB1YSDr23aXEGegUqmDrQrNNS6GFGw8kAlAVyv5fwkkgfvIHsoSwuGAveXr3LV-yCZNPeUwOvsrBLkLWUqO_aKOeX4_OYCsERLNJKx8RGJ_jaKqdGDCYRsgju_0afLVd3LvyW/s400/IMG_4340-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Red-capped Robin-chat</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGtrL8g3dcZRqbmnjdoTmqALAGsaJggraXXYYG-gsSa8QTTSY5Ov0P0Ihht5VXbmX3RK4ez7-RBHu-QMtiNqkB-wPk8q8WSDA469FAgDg_IHPjjZAi4LK6A5fqVIS73bC-qq4WryBrElu/s1600/IMG_5330-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgGtrL8g3dcZRqbmnjdoTmqALAGsaJggraXXYYG-gsSa8QTTSY5Ov0P0Ihht5VXbmX3RK4ez7-RBHu-QMtiNqkB-wPk8q8WSDA469FAgDg_IHPjjZAi4LK6A5fqVIS73bC-qq4WryBrElu/s400/IMG_5330-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Woodward's Batis</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_n-YZsGXi2_stEag4ndwvOZK6x78annfJR5emzTxP9lvgFqVY1Buu6K2ULQSb1DS47zn09LrlLxoKV3-q5BaLDGDuHmN5aKRQKZKJCww9y2Us-oDR6flSJmzwkDbyvwHfmNMljFWbpIn/s1600/IMG_4177-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_n-YZsGXi2_stEag4ndwvOZK6x78annfJR5emzTxP9lvgFqVY1Buu6K2ULQSb1DS47zn09LrlLxoKV3-q5BaLDGDuHmN5aKRQKZKJCww9y2Us-oDR6flSJmzwkDbyvwHfmNMljFWbpIn/s400/IMG_4177-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Collared Sunbird</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzCBGfMkxHkohj-gUi_V1NAdIzOdWVhXuram3ckDb1TziyG28G71ud5mTz86jsa9tmXDFnhCJ79pPfvNV92Nw2hluM9BGtRSQjJIbuT0fjJwOTgy8_OLPzEbGH55rVXiKYggZgVPOmL9bL/s1600/IMG_4244-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzCBGfMkxHkohj-gUi_V1NAdIzOdWVhXuram3ckDb1TziyG28G71ud5mTz86jsa9tmXDFnhCJ79pPfvNV92Nw2hluM9BGtRSQjJIbuT0fjJwOTgy8_OLPzEbGH55rVXiKYggZgVPOmL9bL/s400/IMG_4244-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Livingstone's Touraco</span></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/AVvXsEjXV2UfJMP7hmz2iscf6eMY53bPfizneWgDXUkRQtnZBTruLsfx_HsoG1zhRLiTsa4L50kBHGW9XSb2o8IDz01EA_tEfhAmKH27-gkVzl07NSjg1HDrS_dKf66JLPZKHDx5-uB2G4D8FiAH/s1600/IMG_4302-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXV2UfJMP7hmz2iscf6eMY53bPfizneWgDXUkRQtnZBTruLsfx_HsoG1zhRLiTsa4L50kBHGW9XSb2o8IDz01EA_tEfhAmKH27-gkVzl07NSjg1HDrS_dKf66JLPZKHDx5-uB2G4D8FiAH/s400/IMG_4302-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Purple-crested Touraco</span></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/AVvXsEj7OssMbe-AiXqEvGZhpEymvXueNozhsVPHIqomyLHUl-FgeYEZudBG0uQiJ6WE-qvvtov2S9BN_KrXILCDUJDFwU8WovCcJ4PU1BNRpWZSFHRgIR_5JpLcFhjopclVceRK95anHNwqGTEC/s1600/IMG_4191-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7OssMbe-AiXqEvGZhpEymvXueNozhsVPHIqomyLHUl-FgeYEZudBG0uQiJ6WE-qvvtov2S9BN_KrXILCDUJDFwU8WovCcJ4PU1BNRpWZSFHRgIR_5JpLcFhjopclVceRK95anHNwqGTEC/s400/IMG_4191-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yellow-bellied Greenbul</span></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/AVvXsEjAd1td3NzmwPLLE5oCPKLEz-k7quuETVMHx5znA-qiLmUtlhYm3pZVpHv_nHZShwu23TWK-tevuB06nEZHYJ8NDSkwm_guCkK4ouDQaz9eJM5ywMDg4-47dPFMJhNaMWo58qznNmw_BnaX/s1600/IMG_4260-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAd1td3NzmwPLLE5oCPKLEz-k7quuETVMHx5znA-qiLmUtlhYm3pZVpHv_nHZShwu23TWK-tevuB06nEZHYJ8NDSkwm_guCkK4ouDQaz9eJM5ywMDg4-47dPFMJhNaMWo58qznNmw_BnaX/s400/IMG_4260-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Red Bush Squirrel</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We then drove up the coast to Cape Vidal, seeing <b>Rufous-naped Lark</b>, <b>Black Saw-wing</b> (what's not to like about an all-black swallow), <b>Red-breasted Swallow</b>, <b>African Stonechat</b>, <b>Croaking Cisticola</b>, <b>Fiscal Flycatcher</b>, <b>Crowned Eagle</b>, <b>Black-chested Snake Eagle</b> and <b>Grey Sunbird</b>. Mammals were a bit sparse, but we saw small numbers of the usuals (Burchell's Zebra, Wildebeest, Buffalo, Impala, Warthog), a few Kudu, Chacma Baboons, Vervet Monkeys and Samango Monkeys.</span></div>
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<div 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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Cpt8aVucC4Nviv2A6s0ON4CFm10eIBgyyL-kQlW9ckoBybBLZVNm16CIGm2xAOYgPaGOcL5zRDnLUOWKuEXQzWT6Yfk3EB6D-0AWHYGMOMdF7V4Sud-yn7rxIlXD4-0kWMa3BCwSQXdR/s1600/DSC09129.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8Cpt8aVucC4Nviv2A6s0ON4CFm10eIBgyyL-kQlW9ckoBybBLZVNm16CIGm2xAOYgPaGOcL5zRDnLUOWKuEXQzWT6Yfk3EB6D-0AWHYGMOMdF7V4Sud-yn7rxIlXD4-0kWMa3BCwSQXdR/s400/DSC09129.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Driving north to Cape Vidal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</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/AVvXsEgSClz6IR3oGPJSoRwp_eUilzAsftnvYOQM_HPxgYXpinjDPwmOZ2qKNk9-R0mF5IHjCwIMGb46wsrz3eiqbYfPBv-ZY9UrTHP5yeSHEtCPOmVArWtTgKAww4Niyd6Qeo_ivIyRll54_EhU/s1600/IMG_4381-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSClz6IR3oGPJSoRwp_eUilzAsftnvYOQM_HPxgYXpinjDPwmOZ2qKNk9-R0mF5IHjCwIMGb46wsrz3eiqbYfPBv-ZY9UrTHP5yeSHEtCPOmVArWtTgKAww4Niyd6Qeo_ivIyRll54_EhU/s400/IMG_4381-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">African Stonechat</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZPjg87gyj3Dt9W5ZrvqpJvL5Cz_1Y3hIsraYYQ_bEmeB4C5Hj7Cb_xTiu7KPlpGdfarp1qQ1j0KQ5U9yGOQucS2ifccp8_Rp51hCqGD_PZI_3V4Bw-BU6j0EGYeloDPJxhKKnsvBmQeX/s1600/DSC09133.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzZPjg87gyj3Dt9W5ZrvqpJvL5Cz_1Y3hIsraYYQ_bEmeB4C5Hj7Cb_xTiu7KPlpGdfarp1qQ1j0KQ5U9yGOQucS2ifccp8_Rp51hCqGD_PZI_3V4Bw-BU6j0EGYeloDPJxhKKnsvBmQeX/s400/DSC09133.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking west</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPc_RhBC07WdDRE9sylO17m1IIcXWHWlakp7NJ3HyhXTofdbg1EdxSAvMT6R0xxwvY5YtaNxBcOOPPKEe3b0wAH0KbfgW1-6jbxbs3I-pJfYSHlLiLwhrilVVBM90Nxd-J36xtSts5e8wM/s1600/IMG_4443-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPc_RhBC07WdDRE9sylO17m1IIcXWHWlakp7NJ3HyhXTofdbg1EdxSAvMT6R0xxwvY5YtaNxBcOOPPKEe3b0wAH0KbfgW1-6jbxbs3I-pJfYSHlLiLwhrilVVBM90Nxd-J36xtSts5e8wM/s400/IMG_4443-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A Kudu</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div 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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkforN8pEjwMV01aSP6gxqZwuvwfldC8VeISs_Dqc0TTa6Mzio-ulhjQqNMXsVsar9NIIIi6IN6BnfsrYKs951P6Q9jOFNQuHBw67CQ4AdC77yoyoJGnJgqkG-AqLb2F9T0CY-f9rjDdz2/s1600/IMG_4495-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkforN8pEjwMV01aSP6gxqZwuvwfldC8VeISs_Dqc0TTa6Mzio-ulhjQqNMXsVsar9NIIIi6IN6BnfsrYKs951P6Q9jOFNQuHBw67CQ4AdC77yoyoJGnJgqkG-AqLb2F9T0CY-f9rjDdz2/s400/IMG_4495-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Samango Monkey</span></td></tr>
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<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cape Vidal itself is a wide and wild bit of beach, and whilst we enjoyed lunch, I bagged a couple of </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">White-fronted Plover</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, a party of </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Swift Terns</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, a sub-adult </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Cape Gannet</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> offshore, and an </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">African Fish Eagle</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, whilst the </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Grey-headed Gulls</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> were very friendly/hungry. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVw0cJgYcQ0WHC_RD6IUoEa7bPvvn62dKmqFcr-VdZfKboDc2dqlVXIj2Ej123p2YyvQ8vzFRq4oc76ZLgZc8LqJt0-DbcQTPG69jYGh3qTKEPKi4HsHOybnWqXmXBI956ms2gi2Tkjbu/s1600/DSC09141.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGVw0cJgYcQ0WHC_RD6IUoEa7bPvvn62dKmqFcr-VdZfKboDc2dqlVXIj2Ej123p2YyvQ8vzFRq4oc76ZLgZc8LqJt0-DbcQTPG69jYGh3qTKEPKi4HsHOybnWqXmXBI956ms2gi2Tkjbu/s400/DSC09141.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The beach at Cape Vidal</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vXfZVA851b4tq4vUwISV4NhgZ35a4VDBIG1xRmheoqKzn46_6nUFNhpJ0PtpVYAYQIZ4LpuxTtk8PXun18IorvZiS-y1E_h8Td9ytvsReOp-8oCaKe9obJjnHzV8ODQfNsrNiRHeLUR8/s1600/IMG_4529-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2vXfZVA851b4tq4vUwISV4NhgZ35a4VDBIG1xRmheoqKzn46_6nUFNhpJ0PtpVYAYQIZ4LpuxTtk8PXun18IorvZiS-y1E_h8Td9ytvsReOp-8oCaKe9obJjnHzV8ODQfNsrNiRHeLUR8/s400/IMG_4529-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">White-fronted Plover</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjccRxN727sF9mEv-t1BNFCmOpaqHS81WVN3B4GHPnzUm5suqEZID4f1vNAvnoikPummT11HKOMCzNAf0ATdKe9ECSyhs-qTz7Dja8_DDyQI-5ZqusC8nuFxC7igvD2V_t4eqJQ5ELnFg/s1600/IMG_4572-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHjccRxN727sF9mEv-t1BNFCmOpaqHS81WVN3B4GHPnzUm5suqEZID4f1vNAvnoikPummT11HKOMCzNAf0ATdKe9ECSyhs-qTz7Dja8_DDyQI-5ZqusC8nuFxC7igvD2V_t4eqJQ5ELnFg/s400/IMG_4572-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grey-headed Gull</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgY5b2hyphenhyphenxpyu8xNAa61z1UoECk5rSnpml8tVVKgeTsDLIZFx5oxqWTjLwPm6NDMMhJF-Rqar01TtKKIPqwC6pko_eYtnlRspU7JAvU4d5fFcIdps2PL4bc5uMRMSZ88AyAAEr5rUCNTQ0/s1600/IMG_4542-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYgY5b2hyphenhyphenxpyu8xNAa61z1UoECk5rSnpml8tVVKgeTsDLIZFx5oxqWTjLwPm6NDMMhJF-Rqar01TtKKIPqwC6pko_eYtnlRspU7JAvU4d5fFcIdps2PL4bc5uMRMSZ88AyAAEr5rUCNTQ0/s400/IMG_4542-edit.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Swift Terns</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the drive back to St Lucia, we took the Grassland Loop track, adding one each of </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Long-crested Eagle</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Collared Pratincole</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Burchell's Coucal</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, a couple of</span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </b><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Southern Black Flycatchers</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, two </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Rosy-throated Longclaws</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, and at least three <b>African Pipits</b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. A Southern Reedbuck was the most notable mammal.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnz61QCUvmSD_iVleb9t5UcgRkg6ynydFnj6qnUqnqS6AtblUI2KKmMf2b9ojIAQZdEfTc6MIHpBoQfbXL6P625c4yVnhWani_V9cEkfBv3W___pryz6mzKCoa7zYNdijXOQ5nI9BL_jI3/s1600/DSC09110.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnz61QCUvmSD_iVleb9t5UcgRkg6ynydFnj6qnUqnqS6AtblUI2KKmMf2b9ojIAQZdEfTc6MIHpBoQfbXL6P625c4yVnhWani_V9cEkfBv3W___pryz6mzKCoa7zYNdijXOQ5nI9BL_jI3/s400/DSC09110.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Grassland Loop</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ebF1BjMNBh_XwtMa-C29ioH7zYf5r9DVY6WduUqZLIsxiCKvy-4_TbeXVhuVfoVLVCMK9bn2lno5k-9AQUdC1UF9dksI6MAVIYqu_LID6uysoprXKf8f_hvq2r3CeMrgpTVVv5E-CtQ3/s1600/IMG_4615-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-ebF1BjMNBh_XwtMa-C29ioH7zYf5r9DVY6WduUqZLIsxiCKvy-4_TbeXVhuVfoVLVCMK9bn2lno5k-9AQUdC1UF9dksI6MAVIYqu_LID6uysoprXKf8f_hvq2r3CeMrgpTVVv5E-CtQ3/s400/IMG_4615-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Long-crested Eagle</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6spbBV1zpL6kntf-iJkYEp5tp23aZfVRMMKLcFxUcFr78tY4Nwa0uNvDm0QBzWDJyI-z-ry-LN2sHdoc_HR9IEh3oiTmg02WxqhvNYeisA0MzT89V6chwySrIf3L9qc2SF2uieaQ7b4rP/s1600/DSC09182-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6spbBV1zpL6kntf-iJkYEp5tp23aZfVRMMKLcFxUcFr78tY4Nwa0uNvDm0QBzWDJyI-z-ry-LN2sHdoc_HR9IEh3oiTmg02WxqhvNYeisA0MzT89V6chwySrIf3L9qc2SF2uieaQ7b4rP/s400/DSC09182-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A dung-beetle doing its thing</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfOYYThq9Um2laoJ5mx22CpjdYe6_kyvnbGzQ7UsbmIZQnDpJSuTW4DFOVuZFSUt7DXtxRy-_RHCUJuTS2uvjCNPs2DX0L_lkcN45zf-3Kviolvq7mNorR2ZnooecrXCNG3L-xDE9Euto/s1600/IMG_4631-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtfOYYThq9Um2laoJ5mx22CpjdYe6_kyvnbGzQ7UsbmIZQnDpJSuTW4DFOVuZFSUt7DXtxRy-_RHCUJuTS2uvjCNPs2DX0L_lkcN45zf-3Kviolvq7mNorR2ZnooecrXCNG3L-xDE9Euto/s400/IMG_4631-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Southern Reedbuck</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back in St Lucia, we had a 3pm 'Sunset Hippo Cruise' up the St Lucia River booked. Whilst the hippos can be seen from the main bridge into town, it was pretty cool to see them up close from a boat just a foot above the water's surface. Birds included <b>Southern Brown-throated Weavers </b>nesting in the reeds just upriver from the bridge, one <b>Great White</b> and c.50 <b>Cattle Egrets</b>, two <b>African Fish Eagles</b>, at least two <b>Caspian Terns</b>, a pair of <b>Trumpeter Hornbills </b>which flew across the river, a<b> Banded Martin</b> and an <b>African Reed Warbler</b>. Hundreds of <b>Little Swifts</b> over the bridge were impressive. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAu5Gq7ebUgWyp0kuj5Kptu_8HLvlOnywSB1BbZfoyZkOr3OAXU811XU0ZkdAhnCJKHPd6QzjaFKzLGEo2IR_ZTd-Hpy8xQQ-caoeckcwwf9vZIT5V95_5scpIOgHx8UEQsLfTONkcmqql/s1600/P1070298.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAu5Gq7ebUgWyp0kuj5Kptu_8HLvlOnywSB1BbZfoyZkOr3OAXU811XU0ZkdAhnCJKHPd6QzjaFKzLGEo2IR_ZTd-Hpy8xQQ-caoeckcwwf9vZIT5V95_5scpIOgHx8UEQsLfTONkcmqql/s400/P1070298.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hippos lounging in the shallows</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaj7ZSI8OMaIC6tHHDzefixLNPsoFQrpi2Cs3KVJrOAEpUXvM0uoPOINTA7BD6HwCnamruzakhWqhOJbLPY3BhAVXrNUWe_HBxNAsuZtxhsHYL7b9aMgr9du0KCpWmqDV6ye2eSUKQ19Kt/s1600/IMG_4724.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaj7ZSI8OMaIC6tHHDzefixLNPsoFQrpi2Cs3KVJrOAEpUXvM0uoPOINTA7BD6HwCnamruzakhWqhOJbLPY3BhAVXrNUWe_HBxNAsuZtxhsHYL7b9aMgr9du0KCpWmqDV6ye2eSUKQ19Kt/s400/IMG_4724.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Reedbed management</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRAekLGOZr6WD2GxhVyBaIkN2Jp3-6jAxZ5oEyK6NRS17YKIJ-IbZtL9RKl3rQRAyMo-CvE664M6rF9PYQDqOrYabWx2_TtARupHcUwQ07HIMW10T4224YfnIytsS4lgv_W7k2RsK1BLB/s1600/IMG_4708.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRAekLGOZr6WD2GxhVyBaIkN2Jp3-6jAxZ5oEyK6NRS17YKIJ-IbZtL9RKl3rQRAyMo-CvE664M6rF9PYQDqOrYabWx2_TtARupHcUwQ07HIMW10T4224YfnIytsS4lgv_W7k2RsK1BLB/s400/IMG_4708.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mother and calf</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zoLP2qGjVt-ziLbN0xKXdu2GjgxWRXGPwJpIG_BuAyBU90C_3HPnkf8AVMBEj2gIUKfDt5lJOSmJ4Q_uVWIZfJovLkunCp8MTlTlE8CvpYDds0Ge_rV5iaRthonC66BpkKM0JaTglrBE/s1600/IMG_4818.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zoLP2qGjVt-ziLbN0xKXdu2GjgxWRXGPwJpIG_BuAyBU90C_3HPnkf8AVMBEj2gIUKfDt5lJOSmJ4Q_uVWIZfJovLkunCp8MTlTlE8CvpYDds0Ge_rV5iaRthonC66BpkKM0JaTglrBE/s400/IMG_4818.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">An impressive set of teeth</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PUkiShKDI3vQoqtW9cnIWKZoLHhwbPmvpHc1ylvRoaM3aYrbJJtOgGP9mngpwwHhChNkEPzJyJ_OSTE4sTzIrttogukPEkAYtnZcrCOs0M-ZhrIh7Hj-W2y08UY-H5MAEVyQHKnnOF8q/s1600/IMG_4698.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PUkiShKDI3vQoqtW9cnIWKZoLHhwbPmvpHc1ylvRoaM3aYrbJJtOgGP9mngpwwHhChNkEPzJyJ_OSTE4sTzIrttogukPEkAYtnZcrCOs0M-ZhrIh7Hj-W2y08UY-H5MAEVyQHKnnOF8q/s400/IMG_4698.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Nile Croc</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCE6flJ1-3icFKD_qgPnQZi3b_bfxtEAw1FQfZMC6sYBE8zoj1SLk-J4xWPoSi64yXNRvQFu3xS3NLiE1UxpUOulLvqMkY6yASrf0BQdX4YbU-bfrYY5xZQ84KXoYaRzjSt3kC9hiUTDo/s1600/IMG_4780-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdCE6flJ1-3icFKD_qgPnQZi3b_bfxtEAw1FQfZMC6sYBE8zoj1SLk-J4xWPoSi64yXNRvQFu3xS3NLiE1UxpUOulLvqMkY6yASrf0BQdX4YbU-bfrYY5xZQ84KXoYaRzjSt3kC9hiUTDo/s400/IMG_4780-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">African Fish Eagle</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3uzfA8C0WeTUH1_nK3igPLd6co6C6mw-Dps869-GZdLRjaWxpzG83I1p2yUqL2IKgrKIn1u1SCUZk-J73hzgF8XO2qyNRpZ2yTMQEg44MDOTMZBPkjCJ5VK2vag52kUURd1fAVzicykv/s1600/IMG_4751-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhC3uzfA8C0WeTUH1_nK3igPLd6co6C6mw-Dps869-GZdLRjaWxpzG83I1p2yUqL2IKgrKIn1u1SCUZk-J73hzgF8XO2qyNRpZ2yTMQEg44MDOTMZBPkjCJ5VK2vag52kUURd1fAVzicykv/s400/IMG_4751-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Caspian Tern</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FK1V0qrtEnNA8vFlarTppQ9H9dmm38mz9UfRE6dxixWyW1VorXSTwuBaOIse9PupxZoeoAzwmAcWC6al8Z249adJgR67JAvn5EnojvqdbqvFvIF-DP35_vC_uhMChFGa4_5-u4EsHpq2/s1600/IMG_4652-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-FK1V0qrtEnNA8vFlarTppQ9H9dmm38mz9UfRE6dxixWyW1VorXSTwuBaOIse9PupxZoeoAzwmAcWC6al8Z249adJgR67JAvn5EnojvqdbqvFvIF-DP35_vC_uhMChFGa4_5-u4EsHpq2/s400/IMG_4652-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Trumpeter Hornbills</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cattle Egrets, looking towards the bridge into town</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The following day we took another organised tour, this time a day safari in <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hluhluwe%E2%80%93Imfolozi_Park">Hluhluwe-iMfolozi </a>park, about an hour's drive away. This reserve is small compared to Kruger, but at 960 square kilometres is half as big again as my home district of Newark and Sherwood. It is also very picturesque, with a hilly topography, and is the place where the Southern White Rhino was saved. </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dawn in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dawn in Hluhluwe-iMfolozi</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This was a good day, broken with a braai in one of the picnic areas. During our safari we saw 11 Southern White Rhinos (including a calf), reasonable numbers of Elephants, several Nyala, Kudu and Waterbuck, a Bush Duiker and the usual Wildebeest, Zebra, Buffalo, Waterhog and Impala. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mother, calf and passengers</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; 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/AVvXsEiqTogXX_Bk9kMZMIU9RzyGUvGZXeJg8XbYq-9dP7PSu6-jnnLKI2faif20c38bEttu8V7LO-5IS0FiUztBipJQMXygq4zTsBzOAifVv2HjF0OCHyZbV_qNYPlTf34I12KBDQT_mS6S0O4d/s1600/IMG_5144.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTogXX_Bk9kMZMIU9RzyGUvGZXeJg8XbYq-9dP7PSu6-jnnLKI2faif20c38bEttu8V7LO-5IS0FiUztBipJQMXygq4zTsBzOAifVv2HjF0OCHyZbV_qNYPlTf34I12KBDQT_mS6S0O4d/s400/IMG_5144.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Southern White Rhino</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; 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/AVvXsEjgHIyh6VnjqvzZdaAphdUOhBnP_2ck7SYwbjP03ZcADRSjRCRrmTonK0oq8qx9Aqe8IwTnGImuXTRfZlXQr_k2u8bhGFHke5gwMp9LcwK3ZLxyMzQDmZdxErUPXf1XOjRYv9i2ZEmm68Ws/s1600/P1070357.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgHIyh6VnjqvzZdaAphdUOhBnP_2ck7SYwbjP03ZcADRSjRCRrmTonK0oq8qx9Aqe8IwTnGImuXTRfZlXQr_k2u8bhGFHke5gwMp9LcwK3ZLxyMzQDmZdxErUPXf1XOjRYv9i2ZEmm68Ws/s400/P1070357.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Snapping some ellies</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span></div>
</div>
<div 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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10yZwRKFnaHQD6DLdN9sFsinB6aFJ-oMPdrtXYV5m4TATWxncacBXPambqRLGkN8hETDDqIvg8-ZDhlPMBslYseeqOrD4IIbuhrKMLvMve91DDmluLLJzzRV75H4sDCXh6oQ7DXqjE5mX/s1600/IMG_5228-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj10yZwRKFnaHQD6DLdN9sFsinB6aFJ-oMPdrtXYV5m4TATWxncacBXPambqRLGkN8hETDDqIvg8-ZDhlPMBslYseeqOrD4IIbuhrKMLvMve91DDmluLLJzzRV75H4sDCXh6oQ7DXqjE5mX/s400/IMG_5228-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">African Elephant</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div 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><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwxURgLMkz3l6shoR0gGfG3TV7wG0XweVIgDdzrjvYfxy1yjFooQqaUrdvn5GMjSaw-AxcD-R37saIdm3YajNQ5XiWN3VMY3iQJKrayK5f0eKrKQ1XbqcKzQe-Az_g-ZTvF7iq50IrHtG/s1600/IMG_4880.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbwxURgLMkz3l6shoR0gGfG3TV7wG0XweVIgDdzrjvYfxy1yjFooQqaUrdvn5GMjSaw-AxcD-R37saIdm3YajNQ5XiWN3VMY3iQJKrayK5f0eKrKQ1XbqcKzQe-Az_g-ZTvF7iq50IrHtG/s400/IMG_4880.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wildebeest</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</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/AVvXsEjGolRyxpPAYuWbii2yfUDGqvXeQ3YrSji5-scxKQ-rgA_nxNPNH95qzR-b4cD_NfQv6VatiAzkEFXnLDENvOcCkneOMiTj2hxbBz1YeSyimbV8q36hGfi7KkKdr5rQrVrapDLWYgGjPO4p/s1600/DSC09242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGolRyxpPAYuWbii2yfUDGqvXeQ3YrSji5-scxKQ-rgA_nxNPNH95qzR-b4cD_NfQv6VatiAzkEFXnLDENvOcCkneOMiTj2hxbBz1YeSyimbV8q36hGfi7KkKdr5rQrVrapDLWYgGjPO4p/s400/DSC09242.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hluhluwe-iMfolozi</span></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/AVvXsEikLVa7CPm0spGjmy2e4S7tgXKh1wEy2T_4y7cSXPNBwHzPoLPNJ1rx985Mra6lsjh_5VoZojOqpXL7VAiJj8W0zMlUr8aDb715IYactAh5sMGdzyluQ-dfkXk1YlZwOkayX1iYPgTq7x_8/s1600/DSC09254.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikLVa7CPm0spGjmy2e4S7tgXKh1wEy2T_4y7cSXPNBwHzPoLPNJ1rx985Mra6lsjh_5VoZojOqpXL7VAiJj8W0zMlUr8aDb715IYactAh5sMGdzyluQ-dfkXk1YlZwOkayX1iYPgTq7x_8/s400/DSC09254.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hluhluwe-iMfolozi</span></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/AVvXsEgaDcX3dw9jmPcMddoU7TU2QOD3VvmX66291xZSNUDhNdoMzNKbc5JrcdIBFOGjoH871HMLx14kpS0RwUPx7E_ufslMd4j6X8mHX2AoEOxfZ_O45AaBnz-8nI-s9UeBEMeG_LSOvzO1d_yH/s1600/DSC09291.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaDcX3dw9jmPcMddoU7TU2QOD3VvmX66291xZSNUDhNdoMzNKbc5JrcdIBFOGjoH871HMLx14kpS0RwUPx7E_ufslMd4j6X8mHX2AoEOxfZ_O45AaBnz-8nI-s9UeBEMeG_LSOvzO1d_yH/s400/DSC09291.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hluhluwe-iMfolozi</span></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/AVvXsEgw6ubKw-GHpeii7f66Ir8Y_EOA-_OBQIJMQZWte4z04EVa_L3iQXQsPKaKYrChjwVKRsItB8J11q7BbVSbQ1GdHNJPOKIThbJovjMLEkienGkBU9I1kRkppDStRH6Q_7ikjv6IRMJeuXoa/s1600/DSC09338.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw6ubKw-GHpeii7f66Ir8Y_EOA-_OBQIJMQZWte4z04EVa_L3iQXQsPKaKYrChjwVKRsItB8J11q7BbVSbQ1GdHNJPOKIThbJovjMLEkienGkBU9I1kRkppDStRH6Q_7ikjv6IRMJeuXoa/s400/DSC09338.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hluhluwe-iMfolozi</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</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/AVvXsEgZkfUIkbpr4tDXOGHYyWhuM-mutrtZDjpCNS86j7DUmoQo8EuO-5O3UbJQm7WFxdpVI0ezlMnb90d07mp2eOBMU5xY_KLD6p38n4gGNU7F7Gi9N3FyADxZNdG__XZzsgqvIZX1wixuerKw/s1600/IMG_6577.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZkfUIkbpr4tDXOGHYyWhuM-mutrtZDjpCNS86j7DUmoQo8EuO-5O3UbJQm7WFxdpVI0ezlMnb90d07mp2eOBMU5xY_KLD6p38n4gGNU7F7Gi9N3FyADxZNdG__XZzsgqvIZX1wixuerKw/s400/IMG_6577.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lunchtime braai</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The best birds were single <b>Martial </b>and <b>Crowned Eagles</b>, a </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Kurrichane Thrush </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(I do like a jazzy thrush...) and a </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">White-browed Scrub Robin</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, along with several <b>White-backed Vultures</b>, a <b>Wahlberg's Eagle</b>, one <b>Jackal Buzzard</b>, four </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">African Green Pigeons</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, a pair of </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Emerald-spotted Wood Dove</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, single <b>Striped Kingfisher</b>, a couple of <b>African Hoopoes</b>, frequent <b>Dark-capped Bulbuls </b>and <b>Zitting</b>, <b>Croaking </b>and <b>Rattling Cisticolas</b>, a few <b>Common Fiscals</b>, a <b>Black-crowned Tchagra</b>, a few <b>Blue Waxbills </b>and<b> Golden-breasted Buntings</b>, a <b>Square-tailed Drongo</b>, two </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Little Bee-eaters</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> a <b>Southern Black Tit</b>, two <b>Southern Black Flycatcher</b>, a <b>Mocking Cliff-chat</b> and two <b>White-faced Whistling Duck</b> amongst other things.</span><br />
<div>
<br /></div>
<div 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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRrExtpS9Sxh27l1vqTArVSMbc6vt0fZBBoWZm0TPH1a8AkwOQlFPJfj_qfxCfeHLWIsOtfZgmABPhpfPXucqXMczN2pjWUDvBCy5HY_XOEFJmu4f2MrZsTETOYlpob-u6VQ4GMemR2NE/s1600/DSC09257.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRrExtpS9Sxh27l1vqTArVSMbc6vt0fZBBoWZm0TPH1a8AkwOQlFPJfj_qfxCfeHLWIsOtfZgmABPhpfPXucqXMczN2pjWUDvBCy5HY_XOEFJmu4f2MrZsTETOYlpob-u6VQ4GMemR2NE/s400/DSC09257.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hluhluwe-iMfolozi</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div 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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQK6o059boDlYbQ0Q0O7uMzFIEIJTLhFir71VZCaQSHolEJRnA1N0ItDtoTQlaqQTzcYWZAYT9sms4J3d3l0GGFjmK_QzuXwhi9BlDg4oiL2IcJj86qPSKiE3OagqfdJUN06AZ83oFgqbW/s1600/DSC09300.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQK6o059boDlYbQ0Q0O7uMzFIEIJTLhFir71VZCaQSHolEJRnA1N0ItDtoTQlaqQTzcYWZAYT9sms4J3d3l0GGFjmK_QzuXwhi9BlDg4oiL2IcJj86qPSKiE3OagqfdJUN06AZ83oFgqbW/s400/DSC09300.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hluhluwe-iMfolozi</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div 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 style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTSk2hA6IqnK9xH2LpvILORWY8tIkj2HbTnKC5FabkCRHCGrOLKi_vhbZB-01YGIkmqCf94-Z6w4TSFq5QxtbN9z1PaZHd9CRygpa1-Dj52LSNHxyCwyOBPFyry_HO27Fj8rS8KU1oaCR/s1600/DSC09348.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXTSk2hA6IqnK9xH2LpvILORWY8tIkj2HbTnKC5FabkCRHCGrOLKi_vhbZB-01YGIkmqCf94-Z6w4TSFq5QxtbN9z1PaZHd9CRygpa1-Dj52LSNHxyCwyOBPFyry_HO27Fj8rS8KU1oaCR/s400/DSC09348.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hluhluwe-iMfolozi</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</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/AVvXsEhgPuf3_Ce1Lsg7gYirD-HVWj76wVsla6sHC9QQAn3FKl2RglUSwb6vyaA3mRkcecC_bvW6lAu7QYVJhGVdhIojWfHY9vPMjR3bBmqFZMUO6v9Q6qCphZPSvD1BJ6dO_aH6I88R_8RjWM5-/s1600/IMG_5170-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgPuf3_Ce1Lsg7gYirD-HVWj76wVsla6sHC9QQAn3FKl2RglUSwb6vyaA3mRkcecC_bvW6lAu7QYVJhGVdhIojWfHY9vPMjR3bBmqFZMUO6v9Q6qCphZPSvD1BJ6dO_aH6I88R_8RjWM5-/s400/IMG_5170-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">White-browed Scrub Robin</span></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/AVvXsEj_lbbzlp2hWR2eya2BkTY14LlE6YP11MmD_Dn_aRk_m5guK9pNNFMrhPH_qpFJmIEY3pT7q_RmH7R-d9r_B_xdpLZHQtpk5wV38-90FG2cdTLPxnWDrROpJ2p8kwP9TVZMdnVQbcvowzxj/s1600/IMG_5127-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_lbbzlp2hWR2eya2BkTY14LlE6YP11MmD_Dn_aRk_m5guK9pNNFMrhPH_qpFJmIEY3pT7q_RmH7R-d9r_B_xdpLZHQtpk5wV38-90FG2cdTLPxnWDrROpJ2p8kwP9TVZMdnVQbcvowzxj/s400/IMG_5127-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kurrichane Thrush</span></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/AVvXsEj0S9yRoTQe-WcthEGhybMXSr9eLIKy4HNe1KJFL4FabYyWDgcMKKMDe6XKonGw5ke795poP8ZNxzg5MUhVwC9AueBIzeJyxPzqwrc0TWmjdH2N3CCSfXV9jbGGQoutI_gxWPvoDMYmucVq/s1600/IMG_4999-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0S9yRoTQe-WcthEGhybMXSr9eLIKy4HNe1KJFL4FabYyWDgcMKKMDe6XKonGw5ke795poP8ZNxzg5MUhVwC9AueBIzeJyxPzqwrc0TWmjdH2N3CCSfXV9jbGGQoutI_gxWPvoDMYmucVq/s400/IMG_4999-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Crowned Eagle</span></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/AVvXsEgo9NsZCi6DOZelx895xv44hfvbvcfL8rRnTT9oqjgt43EcOQdLeJQpx3u02QswPyz0b2VG3lAfmWOFCn0XAy9lOf4AW0wIvvVZW7FH__Ucp0P6af7Td22aA5D7wTIGO2WkUiSi5CmZyPsm/s1600/IMG_5190-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgo9NsZCi6DOZelx895xv44hfvbvcfL8rRnTT9oqjgt43EcOQdLeJQpx3u02QswPyz0b2VG3lAfmWOFCn0XAy9lOf4AW0wIvvVZW7FH__Ucp0P6af7Td22aA5D7wTIGO2WkUiSi5CmZyPsm/s400/IMG_5190-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Southern Black Tit</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDp592KF5q4MNDDrRa-95hb9UeoSGxKc_dWs01jQ7bcq5AyO22GsXJIfbHRutMNtnEKxTwBWlgbD5ZcO7k3SQ9NG2hz43w2S0XqlBnTS5GqSbhVYbmk6P9nWwPVNuJsDNb7oOq-Dco7Nd0/s1600/IMG_5249-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDp592KF5q4MNDDrRa-95hb9UeoSGxKc_dWs01jQ7bcq5AyO22GsXJIfbHRutMNtnEKxTwBWlgbD5ZcO7k3SQ9NG2hz43w2S0XqlBnTS5GqSbhVYbmk6P9nWwPVNuJsDNb7oOq-Dco7Nd0/s400/IMG_5249-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Southern Black Flycatcher</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjohSm235fHu5a4hctpcRIkYmDkmdCnq9fOD-Tf-M30yW8J8CrBJwHZgtlc0fBRsfsmaCOIQcPg1rjtk8uYnwdWIK76BcwgKr22oLTXisqN5sY-Vs5rgECjlXzbAcwnFq35TAHdH56b9hs/s1600/IMG_5178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjohSm235fHu5a4hctpcRIkYmDkmdCnq9fOD-Tf-M30yW8J8CrBJwHZgtlc0fBRsfsmaCOIQcPg1rjtk8uYnwdWIK76BcwgKr22oLTXisqN5sY-Vs5rgECjlXzbAcwnFq35TAHdH56b9hs/s400/IMG_5178.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A monster Water Monitor</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqLHZwRJrodgvOzyq69neZUIARir3vzABZgdvwyl5PM9uDVtZH47Wcd5mcHM9CJd5k4Dp_5ISEFDAFlYtb6Npcnk6EEBa-MxdAp27yWfAOFTGg-dZk1kLC2hQVJxAEyjd8YOza5R_W_dm/s1600/DSC09366.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTqLHZwRJrodgvOzyq69neZUIARir3vzABZgdvwyl5PM9uDVtZH47Wcd5mcHM9CJd5k4Dp_5ISEFDAFlYtb6Npcnk6EEBa-MxdAp27yWfAOFTGg-dZk1kLC2hQVJxAEyjd8YOza5R_W_dm/s400/DSC09366.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There is always something to see by the roadside...</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Back in St Lucia, a look at the mouth of the estuary produced three <b>Yellow-billed Storks</b>, ten <b>Lesser Flamingos</b> (mainly youngsters), eight <b>Pink-backed Pelicans</b>, thirteen <b>African Darters</b>, an unexpected <b>Sooty Tern</b>, and a selection of waders including small numbers of <b>Kittlitz's</b>, <b>Three-banded</b> and <b>White-fronted Plovers</b>, <b>Ruff</b>, <b>Curlew Sandpiper </b>and <b>Black-winged Stilt</b>, with a <b>Cape White-eye</b> in the scrub. A quick look at the iGwalagwala Trail yielded one new bird in the form of two <b>Crowned Hornbills</b>. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZuKmOPvwpP_uIFpfm8p4k14MdWEhLH6zwQKmkmCnPUCQ3uAO_BkOQaW6IULrfykCRMegxZZ7yu_OXsu304NsAOTCuMeIgOE1uobSSaNxvZ8bJS7pZhWcQpKSMuo8yi9qKXZnb8HlB0Fp/s1600/IMG_6579.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFZuKmOPvwpP_uIFpfm8p4k14MdWEhLH6zwQKmkmCnPUCQ3uAO_BkOQaW6IULrfykCRMegxZZ7yu_OXsu304NsAOTCuMeIgOE1uobSSaNxvZ8bJS7pZhWcQpKSMuo8yi9qKXZnb8HlB0Fp/s400/IMG_6579.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sharks, crocs, hippos... at least there aren't lions to worry about!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmuynEBN-p9C5d3w6iH5WYRMAHdmslEHXXdOfQutzuuzh2aJ_ukir8h91Zy2SQPL4wpdVCXMiPSFTRfgxl1C48FGIYzOhv0ZqReE91RnFXDGoGzgpaHNXaZumeS_O3qRS9zQUdXUJzpP_/s1600/IMG_6582.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHmuynEBN-p9C5d3w6iH5WYRMAHdmslEHXXdOfQutzuuzh2aJ_ukir8h91Zy2SQPL4wpdVCXMiPSFTRfgxl1C48FGIYzOhv0ZqReE91RnFXDGoGzgpaHNXaZumeS_O3qRS9zQUdXUJzpP_/s400/IMG_6582.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The boardwalk to the estuary</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnStkAecRUrY4Up-TcPm2JLE5WWuoi0uL6tAGhsvD_ioPpxla_Zs56ajCa9fThpWqSmoeeeVvCYmoL6NEgdpVftSvnBTmpywiwLFXV18dEZjgvEZCEE_4cFu_kJh2Y4Gx3NcDvuO7ZuYc/s1600/IMG_5255.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghnStkAecRUrY4Up-TcPm2JLE5WWuoi0uL6tAGhsvD_ioPpxla_Zs56ajCa9fThpWqSmoeeeVvCYmoL6NEgdpVftSvnBTmpywiwLFXV18dEZjgvEZCEE_4cFu_kJh2Y4Gx3NcDvuO7ZuYc/s400/IMG_5255.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The St Lucia estuary</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiomnPKmRTID-RHCzXXzpPz2g4I266A5QLEHCFUFLgMhcKckkIXuM4zOO85aRdA7Q2OUFn5esT_zfZgw0W1s4_it_H4AZRz6bV4ZWfgJxT5mE3l9TzI0t8MYngDTV3CBqtolTrmNRzjbr/s1600/IMG_5261-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQiomnPKmRTID-RHCzXXzpPz2g4I266A5QLEHCFUFLgMhcKckkIXuM4zOO85aRdA7Q2OUFn5esT_zfZgw0W1s4_it_H4AZRz6bV4ZWfgJxT5mE3l9TzI0t8MYngDTV3CBqtolTrmNRzjbr/s400/IMG_5261-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Crowned Hornbill</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was up early the next morning for another session on the iGwalagwala Trail, this time managing to connect with the third of this site's speciality species, </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Brown Scrub Robin</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, seeing no fewer than four including two out in the open at the entrance - not sure where these had been hiding. Also new were a party of 15 </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Crested Guineafowl</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, a </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Cardinal Woodpecker</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> and a male </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Spectacled Weaver</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Nx03hYXX8PbLW_uXbawcPfeR3t17hBw5f4c4jWaw0Za82sE_DKnWOx8l_Fv7yAFZRGYBLE7evLHSgQYf5PVDlUs2DM65oAJcs-y9OminbwvGcV_nxVCWBgoRIMbyo3XSJqHf3lEehhJI/s1600/DSC09389.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Nx03hYXX8PbLW_uXbawcPfeR3t17hBw5f4c4jWaw0Za82sE_DKnWOx8l_Fv7yAFZRGYBLE7evLHSgQYf5PVDlUs2DM65oAJcs-y9OminbwvGcV_nxVCWBgoRIMbyo3XSJqHf3lEehhJI/s400/DSC09389.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The start of the iGwalagwala Trail</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gyyCnrT5FUYwyruVZzdBFBn27VCi1mfKhYqISQL6q6UydX7dZEVF2EfCKtC6wIAUkJVOosTuvdVTv_SEdKTrTvNFlnEp-X5lqoGnoVl5h0-oXvyyODVddpvrhSm_1tm6-M_HrO71EhL-/s1600/IMG_5316-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gyyCnrT5FUYwyruVZzdBFBn27VCi1mfKhYqISQL6q6UydX7dZEVF2EfCKtC6wIAUkJVOosTuvdVTv_SEdKTrTvNFlnEp-X5lqoGnoVl5h0-oXvyyODVddpvrhSm_1tm6-M_HrO71EhL-/s400/IMG_5316-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Brown Scrub Robin</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAET-qVD9pAIrG50LM53dE51FpEtf9ri2IDZlIATdPn8DTB9hyzoHcitDFSPZ_QNuWjPQ9ayhZ8L6WQiv1wbF_UwyBhsAIENfC4NjdASQZAYllDGLlrFScibSwfro4fpPTbVTPiuTXf6J/s1600/IMG_5281-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAET-qVD9pAIrG50LM53dE51FpEtf9ri2IDZlIATdPn8DTB9hyzoHcitDFSPZ_QNuWjPQ9ayhZ8L6WQiv1wbF_UwyBhsAIENfC4NjdASQZAYllDGLlrFScibSwfro4fpPTbVTPiuTXf6J/s320/IMG_5281-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Crested Guineafowl</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbk9Op62YClpHInl-t7HvZeotxYGJYt8Nbc3pXVx5TFlNP0hK9U7h2iIHONG0R5FFCH1Pu749U6AqaT1vAeFOrN4jpOFDHiR4qIPfbm12eZrK-RFLdYlVyMr8gxdQAANA_K3TSrc8LBtrs/s1600/IMG_5367-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbk9Op62YClpHInl-t7HvZeotxYGJYt8Nbc3pXVx5TFlNP0hK9U7h2iIHONG0R5FFCH1Pu749U6AqaT1vAeFOrN4jpOFDHiR4qIPfbm12eZrK-RFLdYlVyMr8gxdQAANA_K3TSrc8LBtrs/s400/IMG_5367-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cardinal Woodpecker</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Reluctantly, we bid farewell to St Lucia after breakfast. Once again, another day or two would have been good as there were plenty of species still to go at - Green Malkoha, African Broadbill, Narina Trogon, Eastern Nicator, Pink-throated Twinspot... Heading</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> south towards Durban, we detoured via <a href="https://www.birdlife.org.za/get-involved/join-birdlife-south-africa/item/208-sa067-dlinza-forest-nature-reserve">Eshowe (Dlinza) Forest</a>. This is a beautiful fragment of coastal scarp forest, with an aerial walkway and home to several speciality species. Unfortunately, with limited time across the middle of the day, I failed to connect with several of these, but did see two </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Cape Batis</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, a </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Lemon Dove</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">,</span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">two </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Spotted Ground Thrush </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">and a </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">White-starred Robin</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, amongst other things.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon and Green Twinspot will have to wait for another visit. The mammal highlight was several rather crazy Blue Duikers dashing about in the undergrowth, seemingly completely unconcerned by our presence. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOnNTc9b3UHUzSru5AbrpsrOLzN6z6aQZfj_vWrYTBeGcvYIjDjcAA4kJ5UCRj16vm6AvJcPLkDvaS9HdIwJv8Dl6mrieRblM9fel8xVPUxbKPCf2JwUVynYysudckzoaiSvuUgYQagck/s1600/DSC09430.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYOnNTc9b3UHUzSru5AbrpsrOLzN6z6aQZfj_vWrYTBeGcvYIjDjcAA4kJ5UCRj16vm6AvJcPLkDvaS9HdIwJv8Dl6mrieRblM9fel8xVPUxbKPCf2JwUVynYysudckzoaiSvuUgYQagck/s400/DSC09430.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The path through Eshowe</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfKPXGnt1lSv1-jVLJrmOrqfr38LpqPj1LnWSaMCiMytWDbYkhfXQOryyEe3tikh4I3o1dk58fmocrS5bnDTTmZ3aKsQ1s6gADmMWYS_aKQNJpR5K5L1HdxDkh3a1vdi1KfqCHIN28TJI/s1600/DSC09436.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRfKPXGnt1lSv1-jVLJrmOrqfr38LpqPj1LnWSaMCiMytWDbYkhfXQOryyEe3tikh4I3o1dk58fmocrS5bnDTTmZ3aKsQ1s6gADmMWYS_aKQNJpR5K5L1HdxDkh3a1vdi1KfqCHIN28TJI/s400/DSC09436.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some impressive trees</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCjXPHl41lxlnrEWgnKzkASugOwSYGgkcMjnwk4JQr2ST3xk0YCY7tP-xO_dW0noWeoZPmkWOIzvPhbpcvRWYg0Z4tZCRjhHPziDra7oQ3B7d_Ur61Jgjy1wHBbp-kBFyMgtCzKHZQato/s1600/DSC09449.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzCjXPHl41lxlnrEWgnKzkASugOwSYGgkcMjnwk4JQr2ST3xk0YCY7tP-xO_dW0noWeoZPmkWOIzvPhbpcvRWYg0Z4tZCRjhHPziDra7oQ3B7d_Ur61Jgjy1wHBbp-kBFyMgtCzKHZQato/s400/DSC09449.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The view from the top of the viewing platform</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The aerial walkway</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Spotted Ground Thrush - stunner</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Blue Duiker</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Red-tab Policeman - a very snazzy skipper</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Staying with friends just north of Durban, at Salt Rock/Ballito, I managed a visit to a small scrap of forest on the Dunkirk Estate, encircled by expensive houses and crossed by a boardwalk. The birding was surprisingly good, with three <b>Black-throated Wattle-eyes</b>, a male and several female <b>Amethyst Sunbirds</b> and a fly-over <b>White-breasted Cormorant</b> new for the trip; other birds included single <b>African Paradise Flycatcher</b>, three <b>Speckled Mousebirds</b>, at least 13 <b>Bronze Mannakins</b>, two <b>Yellow-breasted Apalises</b> and two <b>Yellow-rumped Tinkerbirds</b>. A Blue Duiker and several Bushbucks were lurking in the undergrowth. A 1st W <b>Kelp Gull</b>, a few <b>Cape Gannets</b>, two <b>Swift Terns</b> and a <b>Giant Kingfisher</b> were the avian highlights of an afternoon at Salt Rock beach. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Forest fragment</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Amethyst Sunbird</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Black-throated Wattle-eye</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bronze Mannakins</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Speckled Mousebird</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The beach at Salt Rock</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The following day we were at King Shaka Airport in the morning for our two hour flight to Cape Town for the <a href="https://notbirding.blogspot.com/2018/11/south-africa-part-3-cape-town.html">third and final leg</a> of our trip...</span></div>
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Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-71313942364232364602018-10-23T12:47:00.000-07:002018-11-22T14:04:22.804-08:00Late to the party<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Opportunities for birding this autumn have been pretty limited - both bird finding/seeking and twitching. Of the two big 'uns of the month, the White-rumped Swift at Hornsea wasn;t there long enough, but the Grey Catbird in Cornwall, now present for over a week, had been eating away at me since it was found - or rather, since twitter was saturated with photos of it... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Twitching Cornwall is not something I normally do - psychologically, it's too far, and it's not very green either... The last time I did so was in March 2007 with Dave Craven, when we spent a cold and sleepless night in the car at Stepper Point to connect with a Gyr Falcon, then seeing White-billed Diver on the Hayle and Dusky Warbler in Newquay later in the day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So more than 10 years later, I could no longer resist another Cornwall twitch, this time solo - despite having a couple of lifts offered, I hadn't been able to get down prior to today due to family and work commitments - and I was beginning to think it was now or never. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Setting off at 8.30 last night, I overnighted at Tiverton (this time in a Travelodge - much more civilised than the back seat of the car), and was on site at Treeve Moor just after 8.30 - and just after the bird had been showing quite well (I shouldn't have had that cup of tea in the hotel). However the <b>Catbird </b>showed well 20 minutes later or so, and again briefly on a further three occasions, and I left for home just after 11.30 (so that I could get back to give Freya her supper and bath). A <b>Short-eared Owl</b> was a bonus, and I enjoyed watching a <b>Song Thrush</b>, sat out in the open at 30m range, be identified as a Redwing by a fully kitted out birder. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So worth it, definitely, but with views of the Catbird amounting to no more than a couple of minutes across two hours, and 12 hours sat in the car driving over 700 miles, I'm not planning to twitch Cornwall again any time soon. Unless it's something completely off the scale... a Varied Thrush (preferably fully pigmented) would do it...</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grey Catbird</span></td></tr>
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<br />Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-67076694213233953062018-10-09T14:09:00.000-07:002018-10-10T12:12:02.131-07:00Spurn and Suffolk<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This year's autumn trip was reduced to two nights at Spurn with Dave Craven - instead of 2 weeks on Shetland. Given how cr*p this autumn has generally been, hitting a productive period of weather was always going to be a long shot, and so it proved, with winds continuing to be from the SW or W (going N/NNE for a short period) during our stay - birding in bright sun in a t-shirt never feels promising at this time of year... Hey ho. That said, it wasn't a complete disaster! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our first day (Monday 24th Sept) was actually our best. Whilst doing a bit of seawatching at Numpties in the morning (god I am out of practice...), Spurn's first <b>Yellow-browed Warbler </b>of the autumn started calling just to the north - for a moment I thought it was going to be someone playing a call on their phone, but there it was, in classic YBW habitat - a scrappy little sycamore. Very nice.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yellow-browed Warbler - pic by Dave Craven</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">15 minutes later, and a thin 'seee' call overhead had us looking upwards. It took a moment for the penny to drop, but after the bird uttered a 'pix' call, and revealed itself as a chunky finch with big white wing flashes things clicked into place - '<b>Hawfinch</b>!'. Also nice! </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And a few minutes after this, a <b>Common Rosefinch</b> was found within spitting distance at the Warren, feeding unobtrusively in amongst the Good King Henry (or something similar). And in fact, there were two. So, a good 40 minute spell.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Things went a bit flat after that. There were few migrants around generally, although vis-migging at Numpties was fun, and produced a few bits including single <b>Brambling </b>on 25th<b> </b>and <b>Lapland Bunting </b>on 26th, amongst the <b>Linnets</b>, <b>Meadow Pipits</b> and <b>Tree Sparrows</b>, and seeing the likes of <b>Sparrowhawk</b>, <b>Kestrel</b>, <b>Skylark </b>and <b>House Martin</b> coming in-off was also fun. And back to seawatching, I had almost got my eye back in at the end of a couple of sessions - which produced small numbers of <b>Manxies</b>, <b>Arctic Skuas</b>, <b>Bonxies</b>, <b>Red-throated Divers</b>, 2 <b>Little Gulls</b>, and small numbers of <b>Common </b>and <b>Sandwich Terns</b> etc.. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So that was Spurn. This weekend just gone, and we were back in Suffolk visiting my parents. I had planned to have an early morning session birding at Landguard on either Saturday or Sunday morning, plumping for the latter, with Northerlies forecast. Two hours really wasn't long enough, and best was a 1st W male </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ring Ouzel</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. </span>Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-15237312225328809082018-09-21T12:32:00.001-07:002018-11-21T04:06:30.558-08:00Frustrating Phalarope<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With plenty of Grey Phalaropes turning up at inland locations over the last day or two, I was feeling the need to check there wasn't one at Collingham, but hadn't been able to get out until tonight. Having scanned Ferry Lane Lake a couple of times, I had resigned myself to the inevitable - there wasn't one. Hey ho. But there were a few gulls, and one of them was an adult <b>Yellow-leg</b>, my first of the year here. So not a complete waste of time.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Having photographed the gull, I was having another look at it when something flew west through my field of view, close to the water... a <b>Grey Phal</b>! I tracked it for a few seconds, but it was sufficiently close to shore that I soon lost it behind the willows which are growing up on the bank. Goddam! It was heading towards the south-west corner of the pit, but in a quick half-hour search (before having to get home to do the little one's bedtime) I couldn't relocate it - although there were two <b>Garganey</b> with a group of <b>Shoveler</b>. Tom Malarkey had a look later and couldn't find it either, although I find it hard to believe it left the site heading into a strong headwind.... so worth a look early tomorrow (although I wouldn't be surprised if it/one was found on Phase 3 at Langford!). </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-71038828918176340512018-09-07T12:42:00.000-07:002018-09-07T12:42:12.768-07:00Missing Lincs<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last time I went bird seeking on the Lincs coast was last Autumn. Despite the rather unpromising forecast, I had already decided to take today off work and head over there. Starting out from Sea View Farm at Saltfleet, I birded north, and then back south past Rimac and as far as South Bank Farm. There were lots of <b>House Martins</b>, and lesser numbers of <b>Swallows </b>around, but common migrants were thin on the ground, with a smatter of <b>Chiffchaffs</b> and <b>Goldcrests </b>and small numbers of <b>Willow Warbler</b>, <b>Lesser Whitethroat</b>, <b>Whitethroat </b>and <b>Blackcap</b>. More notable were a single <b>Turtle Dove</b> which flew north, and a young <b>Gropper </b>north of Sea View Farm. I almost stood on the latter, and after flushing it out of some long grass it sat up in some sea buckthorn, allowing me to confirm that it was indeed a <b>Gropper</b>, and not anything more notable... A party of 7 <b>Whinchats </b>were the only other birds of note. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Giving up after 5 hours in the field, I started home, taking a short detour via Manby Flash near Louth - somewhere I've never been before. A <b>Pec Sand</b> had been found shortly before, and this was showing well on the exposed mud with 11 <b>Ruff </b>and a young <b>Black-wit</b>. </span></div>
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Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-56714340419912051662018-09-07T12:29:00.000-07:002018-09-07T12:29:25.230-07:00American double<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When asked on Saturday by a non-birding friend about the 'bird in Norfolk which was the first one ever the be seen in Britain', which turned out to the the <b>Stilt Sandpiper</b> in Lincs, I decided I really ought to go and see it. So having received the necessary clearance, I was up at 5am on Sunday, and had seen the bird by 7am, along with its compatriot, the <b>Long-billed Dowitcher</b> - indeed, both were feeding together at one point, which was quite a sight. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So well worth the effort. And actually, it wasn't much effort at all - Frampton is barely over an hour from home. I clocked up 21 species of <b>wader </b>without too much trouble (including several <b>Curlew Sands</b>), there were scores of <b>hirundines </b>over the site first thing, and the saltings were hooching with <b>Yellow Wagtails</b>, feeding around the cattle. I guess if I wanted to go somewhere close to home and have a realistic chance of finding something good, then this has got to be the best option, so why don't I come here more often? Something to factor in for next year... </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Having seen the two main draws, I had a walk down the Witham bank to the Wash. There are hawthorn bushes dotted along here, but save for two <b>Goldcrests </b>and a <b>Robin </b>they were birdless on this occasion...</span><br />
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Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-36623910220659466972018-08-31T04:24:00.000-07:002018-08-31T04:24:19.355-07:00Birding bits in August<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My birding during August has continued to be fairly low key. Saturday morning patch visits with the little one have been a feature, but are typically rather brief and superficial, and I have failed to manage many visits at any other times without an impatient 9 month old. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As a result, hopes of a Redstart, Spotted Fly or Whinchat, or a decent wader, have faded, and I've had to make do with generally low numbers of common passage waders at Mons, interspersed with the odd other highlights- a 2cy <b>Med Gull </b>which lingered at Meering before flying upriver on the 12th, a <b>Whimbrel </b>calling over Mons on the 16th, a <b>Grey Wag </b>south on the 25th (new for Patchwork Challenge in 2018), and a <b>Garganey</b> on Mons on the 27th. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The highlight of breeding bird activity has been the successful fledging of three <b>Common Terns</b> from the new tern raft on Mons Pool - build it and they will come! These young are still hanging around with their parents. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Elsewhere, I've managed a few visits to Cotham Landfill, generally on the way into work - the highlight there was an adult (or possibly 4cy) <b>Caspian Gull </b>on 20th. Work took me north on 21st, and a quick look at Hagg Lane Flash near Newington produced 2 <b>Ruff</b>, a <b>Greenshank </b>and a <b>Dunlin</b>, and 52 <b>Little Egrets</b> - a local had had 63 there that morning, and I know there was count of 70+ made a few days later. Pretty amazing given the status of this species not so very long ago... A visit to the new visitor centre at Sherwood Forest was generally unremarkable, save for a party of four <b>Woodcock </b>- at least 2 juvs, and one or two adults. I can't remember ever having seen a family party before. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Finally, birding from the garden has produced a couple of garden ticks - <b>Hobby</b> and <b>Yellow Wag</b>. The <b>Swifts </b>departed promptly and en masse, with 120 in a high-flying screaming flock being present on the 2nd, and then just the odd one or two in subsequent days. Having purchased a Swift box at the Birdfair, I hope maybe to have a pair nesting on my house in the coming years...</span><br />
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<br />Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-71627779882254090732018-08-03T13:40:00.000-07:002018-08-03T13:40:58.821-07:00Summer gulling<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With no big gulls at Collingham at the moment, I've been getting my gull fix at Cotham Landfill and Kilvington Lakes. A couple of visits to the latter this week have produced decent numbers of <b>Yellow-legged Gulls</b> - 16 on Wednesday, and at least 30 today. Most are adults or near adults, but there have been a couple of 2cy and juv birds around - with two juvs together today (and a few juv <b>LBBGs </b>for comparison). A juv <b>Common Gull </b>was the only other gull of note.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The images below show the 2 juv <b>YLGs </b>from today - the second and third birds from the left in the first shot (with <b>LBBGs</b>), and shots of both birds showing upper wing, and nice tail/rump pattern. I appreciate they're not the best photos in the world...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-24688460501903727102018-07-31T05:51:00.001-07:002018-07-31T05:51:29.444-07:00Summer doldrums<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Despite the fact that June has been and gone, the summer doldrums on the patch continue, with small numbers of passage waders, but nothing of particular note. However, pair of <b>Red-crested Pochards</b> on 21 July were the first addition for PWC in too long, and a juvenile <b>Garganey </b>on Mons Pool<b> </b>at the weekend was a welcome, if expected, appearance. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Frustratingly, </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Yellow-legged Gull</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> remains elusive - normally expected this time of year, but Phase 3 at Langford seems to be too much of a draw for them. Small number of GBBG and LBBGs have been the only big gulls. I guess I'll have to wait for the normal autumn roost build up for this species, and hopefully also a Casp or two. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />Elsewhere, I've had a couple of pre-work summer gulling visits to Cotham Landfill, where there have been small numbers of Yellow-legged Gulls of various ages present.</span>Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-16642296084532166042018-07-15T13:26:00.000-07:002018-07-15T13:28:24.066-07:00Lesvos, June 2018<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm not sure why I've never been to Lesvos before; I think maybe I felt that I'd probably have a birding trip to Turkey one day, which would negate the need to go to Lesvos (in terms of specialities). However, a Turkey trip has never happened, so whilst casting around for holiday ideas which would suit a 7 month old, somewhere that wasn't too far away, and which would provide an opportunity for some new birds, Lesvos soon came to the top of the pile, and we booked a package holiday with Thomas Cook for early June (2nd to 9th). We stayed in Skala Kalloni, at the </span><a href="https://www.thomascook.com/destinations/greece/lesbos/skala-kalloni/pasiphae-hotel/?cvosrc=ppc.google-%5BAC%5D%20-%20DSA%20Acco%20-%20%5BC%5D%20-%20Greece%20-%20%5BR%5D%20-%20Lesbos.DYNAMIC%20SEARCH%20ADS&cvo_campaign=%5BAC%5D%20-%20DSA%20Acco%20-%20%5BC%5D%20-%20Greece%20-%20%5BR%5D%20-%20Lesbos&cvo_crid=264877413027&Matchtype=b&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIstjP4O772wIVjIaRCh2IZQr-EAAYASAAEgLPDvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Hotel Pasiphae</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> - a birder's favourite. I cannot recommend this hotel enough. It wasn't too big, had a nice pool and clientele, and the staff were incredibly friendly (perhaps helped by having a little blonde baby for them to coo over). It was also a pleasant walk down to the village, past the dried up Skala Kalloni Pool, allowing a bit of gentle birding on the way there and back. I have no doubt we'll be back for another stay one day.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hotel Pasiphae</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Skala Kalloni Pool - water long gone</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: center;">In terms of the birding and wildlife, spring passage was clearly going to be well over by the time of our visit, but this was actually no bad thing as it meant I wouldn't want to be out birding all the time... Indeed, my trip list was pretty modest (just 89 species), and I didn't chase around trying to see as many of the available species as possible, focusing on four main targets. All in all, this worked well (with one exception!), with a number of early starts and other incidental birding. Most of the ephemeral wetlands were already dry, and herbaceous vegetation was already looking parched - it must be burnt to a crisp by August. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Steve Dudley's book was obviously my main source of information, but I also used a <a href="http://www.fssbirding.org.uk/lesvos2017trip.htm">trip report by Fraser Simpson</a> due to it's comprehensive nature and site co-ordinates. I encountered one other birder during our stay. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Olive-tree Warbler</u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Having failed to find this species a few years ago in Croatia, OTW was at the top of my wanted list. Despite some useful tips from Steve James and Gav Thomas, I failed to see (or hear) any birds along the Platania track (although I did have a cracking morning's birding). </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bemoaning my failure on Twitter, the power of social media kicked in, and very soon I had an alternative site provided by Andrew Kinghorn who had been on the island the week before, over on the western side of the island near Sigri. A visit to the petrified forest at Sigri allowed me to reccy the site one afternoon, before having a more concerted effort the following morning...</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhR_gQxkRzkjS8EbLVuB40EOmZGztbgushDMzJ0VE3pJBYErfGzn2aIpNh9wfAK7tuBgCj8wsroxqfwB5NHBq86Zxo8r9tVHIssHT7YFhTdGo04UsvHHOUCtLWhejhMUsfWQdspHcL0HuD/s1600/IMG_2695.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/AVvXsEhhR_gQxkRzkjS8EbLVuB40EOmZGztbgushDMzJ0VE3pJBYErfGzn2aIpNh9wfAK7tuBgCj8wsroxqfwB5NHBq86Zxo8r9tVHIssHT7YFhTdGo04UsvHHOUCtLWhejhMUsfWQdspHcL0HuD/s400/IMG_2695.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Petrified tree at Sigri - a monster </span></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With a 3.30am start I was on site at </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faneromeni</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> by 5am, and had heard an </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Olive-tree Warbler</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> by 5.20am (an air-grab moment). After some very obscured views (little more than a silhouette), I had nice views of a bird sat out for maybe 8 seconds or so by 6am. For once I resisted the temptation to reach straight for my camera and just enjoyed looking at it. I hung around for another hour or so hoping for another view without luck. There were two birds present, but both were singing very intermittently, making tracking them very difficult; but I was pretty pleased with my success.</span><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/AVvXsEh4uMrIg_JnZVL3T0ani4eMy7glGWiEIQsExWskWYSSyqhG9IWNgSVqR_tIXvH4uxLPhN1M2NcT_ThE7lUmeE3OW-z2_hKG6_hTRkMfdYkMoA4rvALmuSijb99unu3AKq5yu39x4m3NFRMI/s1600/IMG_2728.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/AVvXsEh4uMrIg_JnZVL3T0ani4eMy7glGWiEIQsExWskWYSSyqhG9IWNgSVqR_tIXvH4uxLPhN1M2NcT_ThE7lUmeE3OW-z2_hKG6_hTRkMfdYkMoA4rvALmuSijb99unu3AKq5yu39x4m3NFRMI/s400/IMG_2728.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The groves at Faneromeni</span></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/AVvXsEi8MDcM-htBpJH3Uriq1H-Th8M2VerXsDsRgnPpkhLjv8XOT9vt_2VP6Vcqq9dbtcVm4xm5oTcZZjEFMLmOFwbrjhjPfEEGOCgR73LoQsn0xU1E2iavZ9qPdEcsuVcJfs5iDdMfd2kgcdAM/s1600/IMG_2720.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/AVvXsEi8MDcM-htBpJH3Uriq1H-Th8M2VerXsDsRgnPpkhLjv8XOT9vt_2VP6Vcqq9dbtcVm4xm5oTcZZjEFMLmOFwbrjhjPfEEGOCgR73LoQsn0xU1E2iavZ9qPdEcsuVcJfs5iDdMfd2kgcdAM/s400/IMG_2720.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The groves at Faneromeni</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The site is located about 3km north of Sigri, in the Faneromeni area, </span><a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/39%C2%B014'05.7%22N+25%C2%B052'11.7%22E/@39.2349192,25.869269,255m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d39.2349175!4d25.8699074" style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">here</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">. The groves are small and compact, and the trees fairly well spaced, making them relatively easy to work. It is possible to drive the track and park in the open area immediately west of the groves - the first OTW was singing just 20m from the car. The only downside of this site is that it is an hour and 20 minute drive from Skala Kalloni on fairly winding roads, but it could be worse. In fact, I was back for breakfast. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Cinereous Bunting</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After initially failing to locate this species at Ipsilou Monastery (one was singing distantly on the north side) during a fairly brief stop on the way to the petrified forest, I located a couple of </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Cinereous Buntings</b> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(which could've been closer...) on the Antissa to Sigri road, <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/39%C2%B013'47.4%22N+25%C2%B054'25.4%22E/@39.2298323,25.9063537,281m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d39.2298314!4d25.9070571">here</a>, on the way back from the Olive-tree Warbler - just west of the Monastery. This was a fairly random stop, prompted by a bunting sp. flying across in front of me, but it proved to be a birdy little area. I'm sure anywhere along this road could yield Cinereous Buntings.</span><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/AVvXsEjyx8G3BHiGFFD0NIEwH6lgS85VMezEQxKnVTQxCG7MYfcUh5jXqXWif_h43-SdPamrQIfk4R8DcQx-HbLgJZJ85uTu7brBdg_OwR0TDHgK5P0hXXHkIEiQ5H4Yiyw17BPQRfGZkzLsGkuu/s1600/IMG_2734.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/AVvXsEjyx8G3BHiGFFD0NIEwH6lgS85VMezEQxKnVTQxCG7MYfcUh5jXqXWif_h43-SdPamrQIfk4R8DcQx-HbLgJZJ85uTu7brBdg_OwR0TDHgK5P0hXXHkIEiQ5H4Yiyw17BPQRfGZkzLsGkuu/s400/IMG_2734.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The road down from Ipsilou Monastery</span></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/AVvXsEglSu8syrJGGMgOy73UC_wsn9JGdie0Sz1SJDFmrm6O0UnyOzAkW2UgT3CEk1pbj0GFf_BnBs6B1y8cmcLiiqsdqeou0OawXL7TTAjjV4zD2LxdS4hyOPyiMbek4yQiglDoBw0nL6Xz9Vyn/s1600/IMG_2658.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/AVvXsEglSu8syrJGGMgOy73UC_wsn9JGdie0Sz1SJDFmrm6O0UnyOzAkW2UgT3CEk1pbj0GFf_BnBs6B1y8cmcLiiqsdqeou0OawXL7TTAjjV4zD2LxdS4hyOPyiMbek4yQiglDoBw0nL6Xz9Vyn/s400/IMG_2658.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking north</span></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/AVvXsEiMC6xBsfdrCjHSSnl2nMfqZeMelKlmMV8chyphenhyphenZBRZ4metxUGSLSQsbhC8i1kB3k4_nnX4SwSL1VBTAM347OESqj1hPtX8Pjg7etggZWqR3UTQIbxblJETO43YZDeswcWNXg0CppWZS9XuXx/s1600/IMG_2735.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/AVvXsEiMC6xBsfdrCjHSSnl2nMfqZeMelKlmMV8chyphenhyphenZBRZ4metxUGSLSQsbhC8i1kB3k4_nnX4SwSL1VBTAM347OESqj1hPtX8Pjg7etggZWqR3UTQIbxblJETO43YZDeswcWNXg0CppWZS9XuXx/s400/IMG_2735.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking south</span></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/AVvXsEh0gVcDpKDKvzHdncmg93n7tgOan3DRAs4UAIjmB3Cw0qrRoHDIMZXWZwltfUuJZeVaLl9uFjrVgyzWligqp_Fb8nKQ482DaPER7bP0-xduD_CkdfQLTZZ4C7UkxIhN0m_4nWGygji2N3iU/s1600/IMG_2142-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gVcDpKDKvzHdncmg93n7tgOan3DRAs4UAIjmB3Cw0qrRoHDIMZXWZwltfUuJZeVaLl9uFjrVgyzWligqp_Fb8nKQ482DaPER7bP0-xduD_CkdfQLTZZ4C7UkxIhN0m_4nWGygji2N3iU/s400/IMG_2142-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cinereous Bunting</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2ojXPT6SqT-uRdLDBUEkBkiB3cM9ZFtjct5RuDX_JvMAZ8XqX6AhQraxnN910gjkvhQHiJlppLOvwKZp-j8Zqp_S2decfJ9PD165N6lUb51YG4WKH_SnZLNjb75KD4VAnB2oGoG1FI-M/s1600/IMG_2124-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="1552" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgM2ojXPT6SqT-uRdLDBUEkBkiB3cM9ZFtjct5RuDX_JvMAZ8XqX6AhQraxnN910gjkvhQHiJlppLOvwKZp-j8Zqp_S2decfJ9PD165N6lUb51YG4WKH_SnZLNjb75KD4VAnB2oGoG1FI-M/s400/IMG_2124-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cinereous Bunting</span></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/AVvXsEhIe2g2qTMd7_c-mHGSmlQ3pG84XXsy296QtIPg1X4KxxuwwgW4R-hpw7hSjhSGS-BjX4qd6qxmYqGPZSKFTXzw2xzOyb1Rq2_1pJU5d0RbKhzgpQPCbRvSOtAcA4mfV2Jm6a2ikIOROgqV/s1600/IMG_2731.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/AVvXsEhIe2g2qTMd7_c-mHGSmlQ3pG84XXsy296QtIPg1X4KxxuwwgW4R-hpw7hSjhSGS-BjX4qd6qxmYqGPZSKFTXzw2xzOyb1Rq2_1pJU5d0RbKhzgpQPCbRvSOtAcA4mfV2Jm6a2ikIOROgqV/s400/IMG_2731.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cinereous Bunting habitat</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Kruper's Nuthatch</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Kruper's Nuthatch </b>were easy at the Achladeri Forest, <a href="https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/39%C2%B008'56.9%22N+26%C2%B017'03.7%22E/@39.149132,26.2838008,219m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m6!3m5!1s0x0:0x0!7e2!8m2!3d39.1491314!4d26.2843478">here</a>, being active and vocal. I spent an hour watching these in the midday heat, with 5 or 6 moving about in the tops of the pines, and occasionally dropping lower. </span><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/AVvXsEiRGkdVUV2ojNvM6jJR_rZm9aaoJdrNH-oruo3pi-jdPvfZSpaGJTa9sNYnjHpSSf2Rg4EneVD3vx2IUNDB3VOc67zjt_EwQgStttG-VpPv5AzUbPk8qKXttSAGLRA8O1c8LPCQliFWhYXz/s1600/IMG_1629-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRGkdVUV2ojNvM6jJR_rZm9aaoJdrNH-oruo3pi-jdPvfZSpaGJTa9sNYnjHpSSf2Rg4EneVD3vx2IUNDB3VOc67zjt_EwQgStttG-VpPv5AzUbPk8qKXttSAGLRA8O1c8LPCQliFWhYXz/s400/IMG_1629-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kruper's Nuthatch</span></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/AVvXsEjJq1HLKeiHpRrpXrjKJ_OC8KZSd52dyJAgA8RWs9sL59yctSM9GNVFw0rGpoBaWvBIgmqgckH2ZLEZHRVDxwnkVz4bF2uAa2uBn5TEAbD9_ZrlG0280aU9JA7tnS5D0KcNj04wYlSIZaJJ/s1600/IMG_1652-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJq1HLKeiHpRrpXrjKJ_OC8KZSd52dyJAgA8RWs9sL59yctSM9GNVFw0rGpoBaWvBIgmqgckH2ZLEZHRVDxwnkVz4bF2uAa2uBn5TEAbD9_ZrlG0280aU9JA7tnS5D0KcNj04wYlSIZaJJ/s400/IMG_1652-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kruper's Nuthatch</span></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/AVvXsEjKauCx6DiRvQw_De-cPTcPRbiUepzrz6Viw4a9HvXi4H331BY-dCBd4PhgG2V4-7Qc8xrPZnrU_2XKd1oTV24sErjOMJpcIFm89Vwa-GPRce1_Dws9ha2uiaPX5XKHZbCjf-FAKzcWVuaX/s1600/IMG_2601.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/AVvXsEjKauCx6DiRvQw_De-cPTcPRbiUepzrz6Viw4a9HvXi4H331BY-dCBd4PhgG2V4-7Qc8xrPZnrU_2XKd1oTV24sErjOMJpcIFm89Vwa-GPRce1_Dws9ha2uiaPX5XKHZbCjf-FAKzcWVuaX/s400/IMG_2601.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The path up to the Nuthatch spot</span></td></tr>
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<u style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Ruppell's Warbler</u><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Unfortunately this species didn't play ball. I had a couple of hours at the Kavaki site (just south of Molyvos) on one occasion without luck - there were several <b>Eastern Subalpine Warblers</b> singing, but no Ruppell's. Clearly by the start of June this species has gone quiet, and I decided not to waste more time looking for it. At least there'll be something new for me when we revisit (earlier in the year..?).</span><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/AVvXsEiEQrRbi6CjC2tXqYzQAmac9er2-fSXjfz3daWmDI7cXlKF220HL3ZHSEat7TuuNpfWuiRP2grNwcvxOg9tuGk6Y9WPqcnf6xpvHFAaAUmR6JQ19Micxs_a8xCM3E3HWBdj9ztTqMZ2BYyj/s1600/DSC03529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEQrRbi6CjC2tXqYzQAmac9er2-fSXjfz3daWmDI7cXlKF220HL3ZHSEat7TuuNpfWuiRP2grNwcvxOg9tuGk6Y9WPqcnf6xpvHFAaAUmR6JQ19Micxs_a8xCM3E3HWBdj9ztTqMZ2BYyj/s400/DSC03529.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">The track above Kavaki</span></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/AVvXsEj3TmDvcJ8gV18dZJFZ8n84DfQ6jNkbDv-ZLymHqlksyPmg3GYgxMLTzQk6lNNrcV1aTlLZCMwhfxI3RMYI0C4KLjRAgfCQm98LZ0BHSrdicevA96BAV89OjtF9nReTGERGaN_YA_pFBbKS/s1600/DSC03644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3TmDvcJ8gV18dZJFZ8n84DfQ6jNkbDv-ZLymHqlksyPmg3GYgxMLTzQk6lNNrcV1aTlLZCMwhfxI3RMYI0C4KLjRAgfCQm98LZ0BHSrdicevA96BAV89OjtF9nReTGERGaN_YA_pFBbKS/s400/DSC03644.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking north to Molyvos, just beyond Kavaki</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pOGh2yDnhu7ivPoCnu8Beuued5IEdikW3OfTNz920dfC-We642x4hATJpgksQbzCX9q48WK2r8tLpXgxvtGP8mtZnu22cFiyc-Pbt8yHYv2HtLrF-z-mwZ4OUyP9PXiDtcRnVrs7OyDa/s1600/IMG_1433-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4pOGh2yDnhu7ivPoCnu8Beuued5IEdikW3OfTNz920dfC-We642x4hATJpgksQbzCX9q48WK2r8tLpXgxvtGP8mtZnu22cFiyc-Pbt8yHYv2HtLrF-z-mwZ4OUyP9PXiDtcRnVrs7OyDa/s320/IMG_1433-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Eastern Subalpine Warbler</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><u>Supporting cast</u></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There were several species which I have only seen once or a handful of times before, but which were readily encountered - <b>Masked Shrike</b>, <b>Cretzschmar's Bunting</b>, <b>Black-headed Bunting</b>, <b>Rock Nuthatch</b> and various <b>Easterns </b>- <b>Black-eared Wheatear</b>, <b>Olivaceous Warbler</b>,<b> </b>and <b>Subalpine Warbler</b>. <b>Eastern </b></span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Orphean Warbler </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">was seen on two occasions (Platania track and Kavaki), whilst I only</span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;"> </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">saw </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Sombre Tit </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">along the Platania track, albeit without any difficulty. A </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Rufous Bush Robin</b> in song at the OTW site at </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faneromeni</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> was a nice bonus - a special bird I've only seen once before in Spain. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87UlJENpTXWxGQvmFdWDyrhNGf2JjW186iEfFkJIc-KKsGFJaatEh7ND5WPbHWAFfRSbvNGK6YpJjkCbm7OrKuOn-R2Cs_0TNufFYWFslwOo2UP_QGh0JLgehd7oZ5p0MR0HZRVAjbPS7/s1600/IMG_1142-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj87UlJENpTXWxGQvmFdWDyrhNGf2JjW186iEfFkJIc-KKsGFJaatEh7ND5WPbHWAFfRSbvNGK6YpJjkCbm7OrKuOn-R2Cs_0TNufFYWFslwOo2UP_QGh0JLgehd7oZ5p0MR0HZRVAjbPS7/s400/IMG_1142-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Eastern Olivaceous Warbler</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1stmzjbEAVoX3nuliF1OOr3RbO4KwFlR0N7Boh6SsfXm2U16ibqQO4MEGr_IGPntaRrO9eTDbjPdj64w6D78tvssA2tApTwmol01sQVLCjc51wPkPg_gsaY14EbJGG1TwC3kbmdGzgD9/s1600/IMG_1324-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW1stmzjbEAVoX3nuliF1OOr3RbO4KwFlR0N7Boh6SsfXm2U16ibqQO4MEGr_IGPntaRrO9eTDbjPdj64w6D78tvssA2tApTwmol01sQVLCjc51wPkPg_gsaY14EbJGG1TwC3kbmdGzgD9/s400/IMG_1324-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Female Cretzschmar's Bunting</span></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/AVvXsEjtgHkBBrpZ6pp0v0pjKg0J1Qo6GhnLy_fClQWmWVb42NydiEry33gE7g6ocYHNAp6kpOKkBvmovICvCHPvIqUPGf6Scf1TjUP9gRBu8PeRzo_BEQx5_mF_k5bzPCdhDm13QNTQNJvLqrg3/s1600/IMG_1381-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtgHkBBrpZ6pp0v0pjKg0J1Qo6GhnLy_fClQWmWVb42NydiEry33gE7g6ocYHNAp6kpOKkBvmovICvCHPvIqUPGf6Scf1TjUP9gRBu8PeRzo_BEQx5_mF_k5bzPCdhDm13QNTQNJvLqrg3/s400/IMG_1381-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rock Nuthatch - confiding at times</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_nZUjjKKPr5wl9ViytOVvXsBr2Wzj_sFgmmu8t3VJdPk9W9TDzouuE-PzTWClIHuovg8ny72n5XCJf0j0dW5ROz3s_chvX6Z0asyLNjTf2Uvsh0WW0oBZW3ngGklKjb6yJ92y1uONRIL/s1600/IMG_1819-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL_nZUjjKKPr5wl9ViytOVvXsBr2Wzj_sFgmmu8t3VJdPk9W9TDzouuE-PzTWClIHuovg8ny72n5XCJf0j0dW5ROz3s_chvX6Z0asyLNjTf2Uvsh0WW0oBZW3ngGklKjb6yJ92y1uONRIL/s400/IMG_1819-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Black-headed Bunting</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIvBrq7zm6dfXECETNv1zFlL4ze-a3STuGhE4cCH2y6N5Sb1paml8FTEXVv3jVa5U-JmAtixWj2r9gXdx4SKZsr5vztO9dkyr8cn7MWW_irDkaoPQ8j3C4iWYYLushMA-xQdBkkjjKTB5/s1600/IMG_1926-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDIvBrq7zm6dfXECETNv1zFlL4ze-a3STuGhE4cCH2y6N5Sb1paml8FTEXVv3jVa5U-JmAtixWj2r9gXdx4SKZsr5vztO9dkyr8cn7MWW_irDkaoPQ8j3C4iWYYLushMA-xQdBkkjjKTB5/s400/IMG_1926-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Masked Shrike - the best shrike?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQteKimQqGVD3fXy2djVq2GcfbUDIAiBOdj5Czct0xwz5ngVmPTDeVAOGy6MEYAInV5eyd7_2_6idWoYJaY9_6fs3TjdkqlbrIjnN90M4MNp3IBQ7FnwB-cYrcoT7udnKh7hKoOBw2h1Ms/s1600/IMG_2074-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQteKimQqGVD3fXy2djVq2GcfbUDIAiBOdj5Czct0xwz5ngVmPTDeVAOGy6MEYAInV5eyd7_2_6idWoYJaY9_6fs3TjdkqlbrIjnN90M4MNp3IBQ7FnwB-cYrcoT7udnKh7hKoOBw2h1Ms/s400/IMG_2074-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rufous Bush Robin</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiUoNnZ1JmuuJxtknhDlJFz0F_CtlwXBXWa03i8wEnewLcswrvJc5X5G0k9oVPc75oMDBqDQ4aQ85riAcM7f7sevMUJTNi1eIR9bXBSmkCjgvjCd37mBGqi7offZI_hCwd9zq2OnoSu5T/s1600/IMG_2111-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTiUoNnZ1JmuuJxtknhDlJFz0F_CtlwXBXWa03i8wEnewLcswrvJc5X5G0k9oVPc75oMDBqDQ4aQ85riAcM7f7sevMUJTNi1eIR9bXBSmkCjgvjCd37mBGqi7offZI_hCwd9zq2OnoSu5T/s400/IMG_2111-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Rufous Bush Robin - that tail!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLO_EvLCwUEcVHVcyIiRd8p9serREWVNn-xAcRkKbHkKts1KxeqpeypsjTID5x4lMQKQmqtPRsPiHlx9gJsbGmqsAdHiJW42BddKZn3vuTBDjSu1bL6tglUON6tBrayM75wS3Zi8YWPnhz/s1600/IMG_2492.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/AVvXsEhLO_EvLCwUEcVHVcyIiRd8p9serREWVNn-xAcRkKbHkKts1KxeqpeypsjTID5x4lMQKQmqtPRsPiHlx9gJsbGmqsAdHiJW42BddKZn3vuTBDjSu1bL6tglUON6tBrayM75wS3Zi8YWPnhz/s400/IMG_2492.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Dawn on the Platania track, looking SE towards Turkey</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4ZSyScMIk8fV4O0RK4guPX6gGqOz2omdFBIqP1eL2TSlcyZByIK6vWj1A9CCHrpEbGKNNjW_PEnm-UtxmflIUjoJXHu6UjiOu2B0aJfGl18B12nl7Pu6PcRrJLdBGDIZCvwSpVYYyDob9/s1600/IMG_2493.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/AVvXsEi4ZSyScMIk8fV4O0RK4guPX6gGqOz2omdFBIqP1eL2TSlcyZByIK6vWj1A9CCHrpEbGKNNjW_PEnm-UtxmflIUjoJXHu6UjiOu2B0aJfGl18B12nl7Pu6PcRrJLdBGDIZCvwSpVYYyDob9/s400/IMG_2493.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Platania track</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuoIpMA4aywkMyndIB5-kJRd84uFEgVoL_HdrN6klVWf_-nacmse9S_NNI6SjrVsvplekjh72xDXlhm75979XneH7wOWlDbK72kViYbMdQyPQMcl_1TK6aXQao3dy3U5pUS4L-6F3eqUh-/s1600/IMG_2494.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/AVvXsEjuoIpMA4aywkMyndIB5-kJRd84uFEgVoL_HdrN6klVWf_-nacmse9S_NNI6SjrVsvplekjh72xDXlhm75979XneH7wOWlDbK72kViYbMdQyPQMcl_1TK6aXQao3dy3U5pUS4L-6F3eqUh-/s400/IMG_2494.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Platania track</span></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/AVvXsEi-if7DIjba7FNQCEhMN3N6TmfUKqOsO-b3AGTNutuyT8_2WiCzrhEw-PjXOZmLfox62CqbHYajbfuuPYIXRR3PXbu_shehHolV8kxWCxXq5aOD_n1OJVpxMlEJeKzO-ZHUHC13nA4d0h69/s1600/IMG_2498.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/AVvXsEi-if7DIjba7FNQCEhMN3N6TmfUKqOsO-b3AGTNutuyT8_2WiCzrhEw-PjXOZmLfox62CqbHYajbfuuPYIXRR3PXbu_shehHolV8kxWCxXq5aOD_n1OJVpxMlEJeKzO-ZHUHC13nA4d0h69/s400/IMG_2498.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Platania track</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<u style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Best of the rest</u><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Other nice species, in no particular order, included <b>Long-legged Buzzard</b>, <b>Honey Buzzard</b>, <b>Short-toed Eagle</b>, <b>Blue Rock Thrush</b>, <b>Scops Owl</b> (heard only around the hotel), <b>Caspian Tern</b> (one hunting just off the beach at Skala Kalloni on our last evening), <b>Gull-billed Tern</b> (one at the Kalloni salt pans), <b>Ruddy Shelduck</b>, <b>Black Stork</b> (almost daily in the Kalloni Bay area), <b>Isabelline Wheatear</b> (Ipsilou Monastery), <b>Golden Oriole</b> (a young male by the Lower Tsiknias river), <b>Bee-eater</b>, <b>Woodchat Shrike</b>, <b>Alpine Swift</b>, <b>Red-rumped Swallow</b>,<b> Goshawk </b>and<b> Nightjar </b>(churring at dawn at </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faneromeni). One thing that sticks in my mind is the number of <b>hirundines </b>and <b>Swifts </b></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">present in places. A brief stop in Mandamados for bread one morning had me stood staring skywards, as 100s upon 100s of <b>Swifts </b>chased each other around in huge screaming flocks - incredible! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rYEc1M0yVnrt0VRwL5FCwPZZygEJDIeJBKURM0Uymy_-azxL_MZ-2mwAVTUtBc1rJyQPdHjThRi0EOxR0oLduKjlJpSJi0_FjbZe2nJ4pQNCYgBURQA1jjU5UVTvjp8YdYSVmbkPJKh1/s1600/IMG_2289-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4rYEc1M0yVnrt0VRwL5FCwPZZygEJDIeJBKURM0Uymy_-azxL_MZ-2mwAVTUtBc1rJyQPdHjThRi0EOxR0oLduKjlJpSJi0_FjbZe2nJ4pQNCYgBURQA1jjU5UVTvjp8YdYSVmbkPJKh1/s320/IMG_2289-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Black-winged Stilt</span></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/AVvXsEhw1yhL3LM0Jfa4wCt3V7h5uFJ6Wu2XHYeGL0rkhaJBseAVtL1BAN4n5eY-sbotyS0nJ6xi4ryvGoeDZEPjv3117f_E522b4e91i-SL3BJgcxdqUZa3DOWSTFokmrBeGiPCCkoLq6Zs1YuS/s1600/IMG_2371-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1yhL3LM0Jfa4wCt3V7h5uFJ6Wu2XHYeGL0rkhaJBseAVtL1BAN4n5eY-sbotyS0nJ6xi4ryvGoeDZEPjv3117f_E522b4e91i-SL3BJgcxdqUZa3DOWSTFokmrBeGiPCCkoLq6Zs1YuS/s400/IMG_2371-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Black Stork</span></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/AVvXsEiqxhoodo4Ss0O7yyx55kUBDwDMD9BLdW57MNzR0r8rt6WspV2ywuxdLqSrFuzSTWYARJ7POC6DnDJG2NucxDZ4986G4AJK2-6cKxCCmOtX9OzCgi67rNafJFYyQm6hQ3pBraEgLk-EpDYb/s1600/DSC03721.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxhoodo4Ss0O7yyx55kUBDwDMD9BLdW57MNzR0r8rt6WspV2ywuxdLqSrFuzSTWYARJ7POC6DnDJG2NucxDZ4986G4AJK2-6cKxCCmOtX9OzCgi67rNafJFYyQm6hQ3pBraEgLk-EpDYb/s400/DSC03721.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kalloni saltpans</span></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/AVvXsEjDm4Qt7ZnbQNwKvAFPJ9McbD7viadJTGU8CnLX5LUoJmx7RWQjN8SXiGhWaZ4PXoM7JaoJb4ck_WvNdVI9POVdDIfUzPxHnKvedEKK1qi3IIeykKB8MjMbFMvAJzQaSB5PQ6jad3HbhbW-/s1600/IMG_2305.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDm4Qt7ZnbQNwKvAFPJ9McbD7viadJTGU8CnLX5LUoJmx7RWQjN8SXiGhWaZ4PXoM7JaoJb4ck_WvNdVI9POVdDIfUzPxHnKvedEKK1qi3IIeykKB8MjMbFMvAJzQaSB5PQ6jad3HbhbW-/s400/IMG_2305.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Greater Flamingos</span></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/AVvXsEjComOWVfVC4Ckq3khNu46f9XnwLbM5ycN2dwUSU8HPW1EjBvDVFmBiHAS6Lw8nBghdFtR0I6F6jyTD_s9PksUcrxdo_tALUWQRXQseq8wiQCk_l1QP-VQZZneCCyElZBnpiKE3o7aoATbe/s1600/IMG_2788.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/AVvXsEjComOWVfVC4Ckq3khNu46f9XnwLbM5ycN2dwUSU8HPW1EjBvDVFmBiHAS6Lw8nBghdFtR0I6F6jyTD_s9PksUcrxdo_tALUWQRXQseq8wiQCk_l1QP-VQZZneCCyElZBnpiKE3o7aoATbe/s400/IMG_2788.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lower Tsiknias river</span></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/AVvXsEiXcy8Lj18dql5tJIdXPsUqMN6cQRWa1X5W1gtm5MHTHmqQNeR5LxWQjjD7v9W5zmeQvk7huxeTZZtFOO24iorLAAA0KNlZRiqmsR8VWKDyj4Wy8fkyQCJFhZBWmUamHMAiJYBWmJQzSWQH/s1600/IMG_2790.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/AVvXsEiXcy8Lj18dql5tJIdXPsUqMN6cQRWa1X5W1gtm5MHTHmqQNeR5LxWQjjD7v9W5zmeQvk7huxeTZZtFOO24iorLAAA0KNlZRiqmsR8VWKDyj4Wy8fkyQCJFhZBWmUamHMAiJYBWmJQzSWQH/s400/IMG_2790.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lower Tsiknias river</span></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/AVvXsEhyepZj07D88hnUw6kqVI0lGjnn_4ZeGE16GdTc3HNYF3MZjxpm9YTsj37XHU88D6shwEobe8L7OwnGR8B3u2nnselU1m0LkDtKGP0LJEE3TDcMyFR4mNe1SgjwKC9H78taDK3I5istHR_a/s1600/IMG_2793.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/AVvXsEhyepZj07D88hnUw6kqVI0lGjnn_4ZeGE16GdTc3HNYF3MZjxpm9YTsj37XHU88D6shwEobe8L7OwnGR8B3u2nnselU1m0LkDtKGP0LJEE3TDcMyFR4mNe1SgjwKC9H78taDK3I5istHR_a/s400/IMG_2793.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lower Tsiknias river</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Species I missed or didn't make a concerted effort to see included Chukar, Rock Sparrow and Eleanora's Falcon. More time in the field would no doubt have rectified this. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Other wildlife</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I had two mammal ticks. The first was Eastern Hedgehog, with first a couple of squashed ones and then several alive, including three together on the road from Sigri to </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faneromeni before dawn. The second was Persian Squirrel - animals were encountered on the Platania track, in the groves at </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Faneromeni and at Ipsilou Monastery. A couple of Red Foxes, a roadkill Beech Marten, and two distant dolphin sp. offshore at Kavaki completed things on the mammal front. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<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/AVvXsEiX-kK9ZEhATNrmaGNHagWkzk2sVz6bnnngBun4oNBSdeciBUUDlDevmeo427piYetiwZsmAgRfg33DjJsqqev6Ln9VKMqo_1Cpx0Z_ZW4IxFU9qo_LhPybcvNc4C2YXQCrox4hPOJVI922/s1600/IMG_1766-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-kK9ZEhATNrmaGNHagWkzk2sVz6bnnngBun4oNBSdeciBUUDlDevmeo427piYetiwZsmAgRfg33DjJsqqev6Ln9VKMqo_1Cpx0Z_ZW4IxFU9qo_LhPybcvNc4C2YXQCrox4hPOJVI922/s400/IMG_1766-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Persian Squirrel</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Herpetofauna included European Tree Frogs in the hotel grounds, Levant Marsh Frog (various places), Spur-thighed Totroise (one on the Platania track and one being helped across the road by some tourists near Kalloni), BalkanTerrapins (various places), Balkan Green Lizard and Starred Agama.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<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/AVvXsEjlOTSY5YGsNdBbfznkUAt6keXXogkh-WxY4DmwMoM0oFV7nywzLuZtvOa6A-uNzphokAYKgF7cs8sQgH-wUbWgtyu4BstijfSwUhQkFyb7tTt3YRhyphenhyphenSFvz-CkPM4yLL0fO2VdXq5nho3p-/s1600/IMG_2502.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/AVvXsEjlOTSY5YGsNdBbfznkUAt6keXXogkh-WxY4DmwMoM0oFV7nywzLuZtvOa6A-uNzphokAYKgF7cs8sQgH-wUbWgtyu4BstijfSwUhQkFyb7tTt3YRhyphenhyphenSFvz-CkPM4yLL0fO2VdXq5nho3p-/s400/IMG_2502.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Spur-thighed Tortoise</span></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/AVvXsEgy1y3ZLc0VIz8M2ecFfmS6WcFaBZ3MHaSysDEGZ4uTYj1WRQ5w5CNbI7x20heSjDZtOObU-sotXgluhWUIpl3V5WLEYzzJV3XMGzcDiGRrYnOEpj1_pZNdfGbNPGnDMasfubJOFeiS_Fvu/s1600/IMG_2590.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/AVvXsEgy1y3ZLc0VIz8M2ecFfmS6WcFaBZ3MHaSysDEGZ4uTYj1WRQ5w5CNbI7x20heSjDZtOObU-sotXgluhWUIpl3V5WLEYzzJV3XMGzcDiGRrYnOEpj1_pZNdfGbNPGnDMasfubJOFeiS_Fvu/s400/IMG_2590.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">European Tree Frog</span></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/AVvXsEgJC_VqxMZ8H4XwSVF7UCXdcmn08tRWG30se9DWdQSf7ZKTn_Z7cVmzVy-pXIM69GbGQsXHPvbefVSn44R-d1srnmphuTm7iJl47PRhQLI5vFurHdJy85Ogh0p8N5LBnLV8pBgt6U5JfpSJ/s1600/IMG_1675-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJC_VqxMZ8H4XwSVF7UCXdcmn08tRWG30se9DWdQSf7ZKTn_Z7cVmzVy-pXIM69GbGQsXHPvbefVSn44R-d1srnmphuTm7iJl47PRhQLI5vFurHdJy85Ogh0p8N5LBnLV8pBgt6U5JfpSJ/s400/IMG_1675-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Levant Marsh Frog</span></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/AVvXsEhkGPOXeUAKFvPRpNeqFK5sC5-Ub0vb9aJ1zgA4i2TucJ3AJj9Kz6q1Jve-UDN11ogoMK2ZOtBopBT1eHzoWOl1-gvZgq13pH0sqKpXZGw5eoOSkFVN13-6Op6hjdlVwKFmHjkMdJm0-eI4/s1600/IMG_1727-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkGPOXeUAKFvPRpNeqFK5sC5-Ub0vb9aJ1zgA4i2TucJ3AJj9Kz6q1Jve-UDN11ogoMK2ZOtBopBT1eHzoWOl1-gvZgq13pH0sqKpXZGw5eoOSkFVN13-6Op6hjdlVwKFmHjkMdJm0-eI4/s400/IMG_1727-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Balkan Terrapin</span></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/AVvXsEh_JhWCtgLjUmQdYnPJzD7eJR30jUvz8Zb0kv4DNgjBFXFh9UuUtAJToHeRIufoWh9qNjZaa30ltVNjYk_by0fm3bFocSg0lhQMYF6kIe0J7aLoccPbNhpxZmiTeYhkDlvdd5WblgjMxCD9/s1600/IMG_1770-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_JhWCtgLjUmQdYnPJzD7eJR30jUvz8Zb0kv4DNgjBFXFh9UuUtAJToHeRIufoWh9qNjZaa30ltVNjYk_by0fm3bFocSg0lhQMYF6kIe0J7aLoccPbNhpxZmiTeYhkDlvdd5WblgjMxCD9/s400/IMG_1770-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Starred Agama</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also notched up 23 species of butterfly, including Cleopatra, Scarce Swallowtail, Spotted Fritillary, Lesser Spotted Fritillary, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cardinal, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Southern White Admiral, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Great Banded Grayling,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grecian (Southern) Grayling,</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Freyer's Grayling, Samos Grayling, Levantine Skipper, Turkish Meadow Brown, Lattice Brown, Levantine Skipper, Balkan Marbled White and Lang's Short-tailed Blue.</span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<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/AVvXsEhoXo89awWAV_YuGHYg6_nS0OdE6D4N5H7pP8iHjs5k5bJqyEmYUSidJmr1abFlKZi7UKKhY_9xiLEzzVZwquW6DGOXAU4y6AFg829hn_poekmRFOuovyKosZJm4jEbStCc3RdfOAl5CCFg/s1600/IMG_1035-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoXo89awWAV_YuGHYg6_nS0OdE6D4N5H7pP8iHjs5k5bJqyEmYUSidJmr1abFlKZi7UKKhY_9xiLEzzVZwquW6DGOXAU4y6AFg829hn_poekmRFOuovyKosZJm4jEbStCc3RdfOAl5CCFg/s400/IMG_1035-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Great Banded Grayling</span></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/AVvXsEiTJuscCjtCTc_ahjiKp5RX5dY-0EiuPnkwJBriCE7eBbyypVLi1eqC3xnjYiKeo0Yf_cqUY01NFUzke2vxfUGKK72BAcnQXjUaS4jHInLbnnAmo2AWGWPgw6Aiu8in0kcuptu08yHuoSgy/s1600/IMG_1043-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTJuscCjtCTc_ahjiKp5RX5dY-0EiuPnkwJBriCE7eBbyypVLi1eqC3xnjYiKeo0Yf_cqUY01NFUzke2vxfUGKK72BAcnQXjUaS4jHInLbnnAmo2AWGWPgw6Aiu8in0kcuptu08yHuoSgy/s400/IMG_1043-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Grecian (Southern) Grayling</span></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/AVvXsEjwj5vcrEq5sT1yXDZfejv-9CniwOjt14C877YYJtDx7He_Pd7Jy15RPfTapMPOB7njLJe2Sr7lz4pjJmB5uVzAMjOg4yTKuDnn9ywogppyY8naOgLzQP1znO2ZGiAIWAsd30eNgIv-lAgP/s1600/IMG_1257-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwj5vcrEq5sT1yXDZfejv-9CniwOjt14C877YYJtDx7He_Pd7Jy15RPfTapMPOB7njLJe2Sr7lz4pjJmB5uVzAMjOg4yTKuDnn9ywogppyY8naOgLzQP1znO2ZGiAIWAsd30eNgIv-lAgP/s400/IMG_1257-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Freyer's Grayling</span></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/AVvXsEi86Tj3d-_KjxKgNv23DUOwDOcvOrEgmFWpc79I4mr6jLVrp4IkNwxZD1PSWlhHxxi_eGrJtn9Ft2KJwQTvP_qG1z6oyDA4cvtVeYSBkEtmpvu6BtHtcBl3uAMZKMPrF_Dq0fuKm_NCJJsJ/s1600/IMG_2188-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi86Tj3d-_KjxKgNv23DUOwDOcvOrEgmFWpc79I4mr6jLVrp4IkNwxZD1PSWlhHxxi_eGrJtn9Ft2KJwQTvP_qG1z6oyDA4cvtVeYSBkEtmpvu6BtHtcBl3uAMZKMPrF_Dq0fuKm_NCJJsJ/s400/IMG_2188-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Presumably a Samos Grayling, although the under hindwing pattern is a bit odd...</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8iIQt-aWca5LqcKS9gCnCt9zugruGCz8iXSmd9vOgTT5hUmz0rmetgWBIJncgXUsUj3IvHlCR-DIlixfQx5S5cRq2qvfZPfz7crgY2bToiSEWKUgXAyQ2zeJQprLKjbEgHcmJzvlWDun/s1600/IMG_1775-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt8iIQt-aWca5LqcKS9gCnCt9zugruGCz8iXSmd9vOgTT5hUmz0rmetgWBIJncgXUsUj3IvHlCR-DIlixfQx5S5cRq2qvfZPfz7crgY2bToiSEWKUgXAyQ2zeJQprLKjbEgHcmJzvlWDun/s400/IMG_1775-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Lattice Brown</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOcxeHPoS3Hrg3VPDZ0VOukrf3kQ109mPSPCYS8s6YfMY7KJaJ-WGZPRpr0zVub0rPY7rQ487Ms5JRhtiFvm4Hdkl5y7ExlCBhBgTeiAelnLEO1IKhICQVjdJLD3otK9StA4bwRcD7HUp/s1600/IMG_2242-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVOcxeHPoS3Hrg3VPDZ0VOukrf3kQ109mPSPCYS8s6YfMY7KJaJ-WGZPRpr0zVub0rPY7rQ487Ms5JRhtiFvm4Hdkl5y7ExlCBhBgTeiAelnLEO1IKhICQVjdJLD3otK9StA4bwRcD7HUp/s400/IMG_2242-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Turkish (?) Meadow Brown</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKHLFK99_-YIoGa-NAbaVifzzbRiwWtaSXiXPnNX83wI9TpSl-Z30bIdjANABlJLZOaHK9t0-AwGCkkQeyEC3P1Ci_l-v27EF0D3fr-OUAxyN4neKpmfY_XGf1FfZ2sDtMOzClwuwHYIw/s1600/IMG_2228-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXKHLFK99_-YIoGa-NAbaVifzzbRiwWtaSXiXPnNX83wI9TpSl-Z30bIdjANABlJLZOaHK9t0-AwGCkkQeyEC3P1Ci_l-v27EF0D3fr-OUAxyN4neKpmfY_XGf1FfZ2sDtMOzClwuwHYIw/s400/IMG_2228-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Cardinal</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So would I go to Lesvos in June again? Absolutely. Would I go in May instead of June if I had the choice? Very probably... I'd like to see migration here in full swing!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5jPkdgI38-GuVYiK7RHQQ4YXIXe0ZJlik1QHFdTJP9-0i_mDVOO3gPodCGB6gMmzEYLq1QkOLTgSNiS9OOggf28rI9DHGgpNjCTzxwC-rYp4RDc8Sl9SqSlxoMZk2OaQujYbfWkehAWCq/s1600/IMG_2950.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/AVvXsEj5jPkdgI38-GuVYiK7RHQQ4YXIXe0ZJlik1QHFdTJP9-0i_mDVOO3gPodCGB6gMmzEYLq1QkOLTgSNiS9OOggf28rI9DHGgpNjCTzxwC-rYp4RDc8Sl9SqSlxoMZk2OaQujYbfWkehAWCq/s400/IMG_2950.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A pushchair is very useful for carrying gear around in...</span></td></tr>
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Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-49082572898649837002018-05-28T13:31:00.001-07:002018-05-28T13:31:21.775-07:00Waders come good<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm convinced that Langford Lowfields has been intercepting all the decent waders heading north up the Trent Valley this spring. Although to be fair, Mark Dawson has been camped out at Langford and putting in the hours, and reaping the rewards (e.g. Glossy Ibis, Arctic Skua...). By contrast, my visits to Collingham and Besthorpe have been short, and often with an over-excited 6-month old strapped to my front or in a buggy. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I was pleased to get a <b>Sanderling </b>at Mons Pool on Friday, with a <b>Dunlin </b>and 8 <b>Ringed Plovers</b> (I'd finally got my first <b>Ringo </b>of the spring on the 19th). However, this contrasts with 17 Sanderling recorded over Friday, Saturday and Sunday at Langford, with a turnover of birds showing that stuff was dropping in and moving on during the day(s). </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim8x_WlsTCqt0WSYVg9muLDSa0vjhXT9cLc2MXGFbtMomj58iMcszTUHvA6sLRn59w7hocYDnqg_uBGVsc3-VQXSZtp7qILYC0VfXdUwDfp5kJ0fYuWsAUUAxWq320s7u8a4qGWZwrIWba/s1600/FullSizeRender+%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/AVvXsEim8x_WlsTCqt0WSYVg9muLDSa0vjhXT9cLc2MXGFbtMomj58iMcszTUHvA6sLRn59w7hocYDnqg_uBGVsc3-VQXSZtp7qILYC0VfXdUwDfp5kJ0fYuWsAUUAxWq320s7u8a4qGWZwrIWba/s400/FullSizeRender+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sanderling with a Dunlin</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Saturday was unspectacular, with 1 </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ringo </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">on Mons (and another 4 which flew over north without stopping), and nothing at all on Sunday. However, it all came together today, with a veritable swarm of waders on Mons - 2 </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turnstone</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, 2 </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grey Plover</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, 2 </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Dunlin</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">, and 18 </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ringos </b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- with another 7 of the latter in the bare potato field to the south of Ferry Lane Lake - plus a drake </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Garganey</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. Worth waiting for!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV-SU7Mg6bxCDlODM8b3j6Fq-Ur86ti1RXdrvzYRF2roBmWKAzf2UNoEuMQ-ppXxYxdZzzt02Y15V8aY3zutualmEACnwoHPfP1HcZB80ei6uM3IyUeQpR1AuG1bVyiVQLzu2rzjJ-5fVZ/s1600/IMG_2331.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/AVvXsEgV-SU7Mg6bxCDlODM8b3j6Fq-Ur86ti1RXdrvzYRF2roBmWKAzf2UNoEuMQ-ppXxYxdZzzt02Y15V8aY3zutualmEACnwoHPfP1HcZB80ei6uM3IyUeQpR1AuG1bVyiVQLzu2rzjJ-5fVZ/s400/IMG_2331.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Grey Plover, Ringed Plover and Dunlin</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0UC7LCfOoTTdT-F8mnoeWViqZkbF65pO0m8DdHjs66t4NqkaXB2mknUqgTF9YOBXqu15WiQ55Mufs3Ta3f8ts1-1QL4aQnKNXUGSIbOm76_Gq791fkqKYH_wT7h1eig1uuWv0JKHU8ZQ/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1202" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0UC7LCfOoTTdT-F8mnoeWViqZkbF65pO0m8DdHjs66t4NqkaXB2mknUqgTF9YOBXqu15WiQ55Mufs3Ta3f8ts1-1QL4aQnKNXUGSIbOm76_Gq791fkqKYH_wT7h1eig1uuWv0JKHU8ZQ/s400/FullSizeRender+%25285%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Turnstone</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdVaiFCK2PozzmOaySbtN90a05Y18bwB3vWJ_XEqRJ67tAAGRiME45pPoRm0ZbxyfFA9mn2QOiK3LGcTuCdN5T5v38_UwkQmiDu1d0G5Uz53_QukeggaQuBXKfpWdI5WFqU1IroipgijJq/s1600/FullSizeRender+%25284%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/AVvXsEjdVaiFCK2PozzmOaySbtN90a05Y18bwB3vWJ_XEqRJ67tAAGRiME45pPoRm0ZbxyfFA9mn2QOiK3LGcTuCdN5T5v38_UwkQmiDu1d0G5Uz53_QukeggaQuBXKfpWdI5WFqU1IroipgijJq/s400/FullSizeRender+%25284%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Garganey</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHK6H14zeH3Y-9ks31SuOUmoVHU5uwRRcgbJNDOXtkqm1qL2jr0qzJnwsmdBcxzJpXluvLDs-4lLKSU2f6M9qL56kC9Aqmnf3vCQUKand5llH6QUX24AUIkjhknUsOrudPxQlD4p3FVBwH/s1600/IMG_2336.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/AVvXsEjHK6H14zeH3Y-9ks31SuOUmoVHU5uwRRcgbJNDOXtkqm1qL2jr0qzJnwsmdBcxzJpXluvLDs-4lLKSU2f6M9qL56kC9Aqmnf3vCQUKand5llH6QUX24AUIkjhknUsOrudPxQlD4p3FVBwH/s400/IMG_2336.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mud, mud, glorious mud... Mons looking in top shape</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">The only other birds of note in the last week have been 4 </span><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Black Terns</b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> on Ferry Lane Lake on the evening of Monday 21st - I'd had a message from Mark D to say he'd got 4 Black Terns at Langford, so decided to bomb up to Collingham on the off chance; and there they were, having relocated from Langford. They were present for c.5 minutes before flying high and heading north. </span>Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-39242475967873705672018-05-12T12:40:00.000-07:002018-05-12T12:55:27.298-07:00Patching mid March to mid May<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not that anyone will be bothered, but it's been nearly two months since I last blogged... during that time Spring has arrived </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">on the patch</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, albeit somewhat belatedly, along with the migrants that come with it. The first singing <b>Chiffchaffs </b>were along Northcroft Lane on the 25 March - a day when I dipped a Kittiwake, and when four <b>Smew </b>were still present. An <b>LRP </b>was on Mons Pool on 29 March, and the month ended on a high point with two adult <b>Little Gulls </b>on Ferry Lane Lake on 31st, when the first two <b>Avocets </b>of the year were on the Silt Lagoon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Into April, and my first two <b>Sand Martins </b>of the year were over Ferry Lane Lake on 2nd; my first <b>Swallows </b>(2) and <b>House Martins</b> (2) followed on the 5th, along with the first <b>Willow Warbler</b> - with the drake <b>Smew </b>still present (but not recorded subsequently). A singing <b>Blackcap </b>was at Meering on the 7th, and a <b>Sedge Warbler</b> was singing from the Silt Lagoon the following day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mid month, I finally got a patch <b>Yellow Wagtail</b> (in fact, four) on the 14th, having seen birds at Girton and Kilvington previously. <b>Lesser Whitethroats</b> appeared on the 17th, and <b>Common Whitethroats</b> the day after. T</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">he first <b>Reed Warblers</b> and a reeling </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Grasshopper Warbler </b>came on the 21st, when the highlight of the month made an appearance - a smart male <b>Bearded Tit</b> in the reedy fringe along the northern edge of Mons Pool - a long anticipated patch tick! I then saw a second bird drop into the Silt Lagoon from the south, although I couldn't relocate it. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the 22nd a moderately noteworthy wader in the form of a <b>Greenshank </b>was on the Silt Lagoon. A few days later, on the 25th, a <b>Wheatear </b>was in the bare field south of Ferry Lane Lake (often a favoured spot), and the first sizeable gathering of hirundines was present (50), along with two <b>Swifts</b>, two <b>Cuckoos</b>, four <b>Common Sands</b>, a second <b>Gropper</b>, and a calling<b> Little Owl </b>(a species which had eluded me thus far in 2018). The 28th produced an <b>Arctic Tern</b> and two <b>Common Terns</b> first thing, plus another big mixed group of hirundines (180), another <b>Wheatear</b>, and another <b>Cuckoo</b>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">May began with a <b>Garden Warbler</b> in one of their favoured spots on the 1st, but visits on the 2nd and 3rd failed to add anything new for the year; we were then away for a week in Northumberland. However, today produced something unexpected - a purring <b>Turtle Dove</b>. After failing to turn up last year, I assumed I would never record another on the patch, so I was pretty delighted with this. However, it only sang briefly, and not in one of the locations previously occupied by this species, so I wonder if it was just passing through... time will tell. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And what for the rest of the spring? I have failed to find a Redstart or Whinchat,, but I might still be hopeful for a Spotted Fly (I've yet to miss the latter). Bagging a Hobby is only a matter of time, and hopefully a Black Tern or two will make an appearance. A spring Garganey would also be appreciated! Waders, however, I am less confident about. High water levels for much of April have receded and Mons is actually looking quite good at the moment, but Phase 3 at Langford seems to be intercepting all the waders, with just a single <b>Common Sand </b>and only my second patch <b>LRP </b>of the year there today - I've still not had a Ringed Plover! And as for a Whimbrel, Wood Sand or Sanderling... here's hoping. </span><br />
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<br />Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-47225164449066365522018-03-15T15:52:00.003-07:002018-03-15T15:52:39.464-07:00An owl from the past<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Back in mid April 2005, I located a <b>Long-eared Owl</b> nest on some land south of Newark. It was in the top of an old pear tree, and the give-away was a head poking out of the top, with two ear tufts... Back then I did a bit of ringing with Jim Lennon from South Notts Ringing Group, so we headed out one evening in mid June with a triple ladder to ring the chicks - four in all. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiylAXN5OUmDMjxWZPfumJhr30JCgcSAAVUdMBprDWRSlijiuuxwrMUZdARsvQx8aL_wf0Bb0mcFcBfbPeg2NbZwm-XS_ENQp0uOoC-wq-Bbica0H-SQKGlNcxc0JWJkqp9a0oZQsfHT6m0/s1600/LEO3.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/AVvXsEiylAXN5OUmDMjxWZPfumJhr30JCgcSAAVUdMBprDWRSlijiuuxwrMUZdARsvQx8aL_wf0Bb0mcFcBfbPeg2NbZwm-XS_ENQp0uOoC-wq-Bbica0H-SQKGlNcxc0JWJkqp9a0oZQsfHT6m0/s400/LEO3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">One of these birds was found with a broken wing earlier this month, by the A1 at Long Bennington - just 6-7km away from the ringing location Unfortunately it was sufficiently badly injured that it had to be put down; and at 4677 days since ringing, it was just 23 days short of the BTOs longevity record (held by a bird from Aberdeenshire). What a shame.</span>Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-59465809424737803682018-03-12T13:47:00.000-07:002018-03-14T04:34:02.109-07:00Bucket list bird<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Who doesn't want to see a Snowy Owl? Ever since not seeing the Felixstowe bird back when ever that was, I've wanted to see one, although I've never been tempted to drive far, figuring one will turn up within striking distance eventually. Eventually was this Friday; of course I couldn't go then, what with work. However, with my parents up for the weekend, my suggestions of a family trip to Norfolk on Saturday were not taken seriously (they had, after all, just driven up from Suffolk). We did have a quick outing to Collingham on Saturday, though, where I finally caught up with some <b>Smew </b>for the year - two drakes and three redheads.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sunday was Mothering Sunday, and we had both sets of family around. Everyone departed just before 4, and having shown Amy yet another picture of the Snowy Owl, she suggested I just go and see it, presumably so she'd get some peace and quiet. So I did. My worry was running out of daylight, althugh the A17 was relatively painless, so after parking up at the Snettisham RSPB carpark and yomping south I had the bird in my sights at quarter to 6. <b>Snowy Owl</b>! Phew. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XO2zAND1S4wPiGj_uDHLndGO8WhWKLlfhR74SKao1Qi-B5MEdr6UxQp57D03u60afNIVvUxAnOtMZuRGZMn_IDxOr3YArYAM7OESFCzr7Dlg4mPUMvpjJuouqgZzARiBT557UgIFVYPE/s1600/DSC03052-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-XO2zAND1S4wPiGj_uDHLndGO8WhWKLlfhR74SKao1Qi-B5MEdr6UxQp57D03u60afNIVvUxAnOtMZuRGZMn_IDxOr3YArYAM7OESFCzr7Dlg4mPUMvpjJuouqgZzARiBT557UgIFVYPE/s400/DSC03052-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Snowy Owl</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It showed nicely for the next 35 minutes or so, sat on the inner floodbank. It started to get a bit more animated as dusk fell, stretching its neck and head bobbing, then taking flight and dropping down behind the bank, before reappearing, which it did once more; it then flew past those few of us who were still lingering, swerving in flight at a rabbit, and then powering southwest along the floodbank on its huge wings. What. A. Bird. The consensus seems to be it is a first-winter female, based on the extent of dark barring, but I'm not going to pretend I know anything </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">beyond the basics </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">about ageing or sexing this species. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgVmHg0uf29CPBHwJa8rguQa1dyrAirftF9DNkMSplbTcz49FGKR8T2kCme0fk1g-hmZVkDqvQEtwsm29r-hB9r4F92TThgozw0XqaZsLZp6UgyvuVvqcW4iYuV3FT9m_rMvhlABK_NrZ/s1600/DSC03061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1067" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPgVmHg0uf29CPBHwJa8rguQa1dyrAirftF9DNkMSplbTcz49FGKR8T2kCme0fk1g-hmZVkDqvQEtwsm29r-hB9r4F92TThgozw0XqaZsLZp6UgyvuVvqcW4iYuV3FT9m_rMvhlABK_NrZ/s400/DSC03061.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Wash at dusk</span></td></tr>
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Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2425624966681320758.post-17322528921454459482018-02-25T12:47:00.000-08:002018-03-14T04:33:50.112-07:00More Kumlien's action<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A fairly uneventful patch visit (and belated WeBS count at Girton) yesterday produced two new species for Patchwork Challenge, <b>Peregrine</b> and <b>Cetti's Warbler</b> - the latter very noticeable before Christmas, but absent since, until today. Across Collingham and Girton there were a total of 29 <b>Shelduck</b> and 5 <b>Oystercatchers</b>. Spring is on its way (ish).</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My lack of a gull fix at Cotham Landfill this week meant I decided this morning to spend some time at Kilvington Lakes, mainly to try and catch up with the Kumlien's Gull again. There were no big gulls on West Lake initially, but around 9am a few <b>Herring Gulls</b> turned up, with the <b>Kumlien's</b> flying in around 9.20 - there were no more than 25 big gulls present by then. It showed well until my toes froze off and I went home to warm up. </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kumlien's Gull</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kumlien's Gull</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kumlien's Gull</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU272F882Q-y8_NOUZIDjpUnXODj7KwyAPGMAmptVXxfYX5YjmL2VNASh5ry-l0MQn3uOoU_ofDb5E4nqxmOt8r6oMUsmT9Pan8PCicm0xl7Z0j7MVRi3CW5XicldA_WQi_bAz0opy_XkD/s1600/DSC02903-edit.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1068" data-original-width="1600" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiU272F882Q-y8_NOUZIDjpUnXODj7KwyAPGMAmptVXxfYX5YjmL2VNASh5ry-l0MQn3uOoU_ofDb5E4nqxmOt8r6oMUsmT9Pan8PCicm0xl7Z0j7MVRi3CW5XicldA_WQi_bAz0opy_XkD/s400/DSC02903-edit.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kumlien's Gull</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kumlien's Gull</span></td></tr>
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Nick Crouchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09740909402819586250noreply@blogger.com0