tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-47082586832942698632024-03-19T13:48:47.183+10:00sunshinecoastbirdsA natural history blog by Greg Roberts, Sunshine Coast, AustraliaGreg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.comBlogger595125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-31650041554261902942024-02-15T13:59:00.010+10:002024-02-21T11:45:52.642+10:00Night Parrot: Death by Barbed Wire <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCD4aWPvfox2IrVkiqYgP2Ea4J1k7GO2RpO75vwwXwiRoZv5EZW5m52EF3FKD6sg2I9N7NbnhQDQtWGD7UKXgyGLND4TMoT4sY7pcq9zCJV964usOxr8EbWC26k-8t2YxQxLNkDfFvlS9t3gw4eJ2WOxe5_jnPkkm7iMXCfskViPMjYLlTeqEq1I-u8Wk/s320/dead%20night%20parrot.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="201" data-original-width="320" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCD4aWPvfox2IrVkiqYgP2Ea4J1k7GO2RpO75vwwXwiRoZv5EZW5m52EF3FKD6sg2I9N7NbnhQDQtWGD7UKXgyGLND4TMoT4sY7pcq9zCJV964usOxr8EbWC26k-8t2YxQxLNkDfFvlS9t3gw4eJ2WOxe5_jnPkkm7iMXCfskViPMjYLlTeqEq1I-u8Wk/s1600/dead%20night%20parrot.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Night Parrot found by Shorty Cupitt</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>Robert (“Shorty”) Cupitt remembers well the warm September day in 2006 when he was doing maintenance work around stock routes and fences in the vicinity of Diamantina National Park in western Queensland. He found a small dead parrot on the ground that looked unfamiliar. It turned out to be a Night Parrot - just the second confirmed record of this enigmatic species recorded over the previous century.
The parrot was below a barbed wire fence. “There were feathers from the bird stuck on the top strand of barbed wire,” Cupitt tells me. “It was decapitated, killed by flying and hitting the fence.”<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOwTlKvcdoOvdsfVEf4dDxycTgu38KXIGb4YKewZ8YcFYfkcIjGH_x6vjkpeOBGNXBjQfl3JO8oVqWyWzK8H055OoywLmqWeB9x16s6xWQUqAj2wpG60ucdifKB01QLdZr_xQkr6y86K-gH8-Er5776mQq2WFZVdpWX2WlmnOglAcTGuYr94hITcDCag/s403/night%20parrot.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="403" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNOwTlKvcdoOvdsfVEf4dDxycTgu38KXIGb4YKewZ8YcFYfkcIjGH_x6vjkpeOBGNXBjQfl3JO8oVqWyWzK8H055OoywLmqWeB9x16s6xWQUqAj2wpG60ucdifKB01QLdZr_xQkr6y86K-gH8-Er5776mQq2WFZVdpWX2WlmnOglAcTGuYr94hITcDCag/s320/night%20parrot.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night Parrot</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div>In a 2008 paper in Australian Field Ornithology that published the historic finding, Cupitt issued a clear warning: “It highlights the danger posed to birds, including rare or threatened species, by the many kilometres of barbed wire traversing the landscape.”
Cupitt’s find led to the bird being photographed for the first time by John Young in 2013, and the creation of the 56,000ha Pullen Pullen Reserve encompassing critical Night Parrot habitat by Bush Heritage Australia in 2016. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5za6L6MmitPW7rnDoK8i5G7WdqGikW3lu5J_gpAnaumHDzOCelKrPt6oQfXqxgRmGjoux3U8fJ-A-cedkGW6a_MgPbAKAjh7AkugEErJ5NVY13LiX60YNiDb4u5t6CTGqTTvpUkIHs-CMavOBKZtSVYK0wQeomFMFVx2SmciYnEk3XsXHAxu_qRzKxg/s1617/diamantina1.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1617" height="158" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgN5za6L6MmitPW7rnDoK8i5G7WdqGikW3lu5J_gpAnaumHDzOCelKrPt6oQfXqxgRmGjoux3U8fJ-A-cedkGW6a_MgPbAKAjh7AkugEErJ5NVY13LiX60YNiDb4u5t6CTGqTTvpUkIHs-CMavOBKZtSVYK0wQeomFMFVx2SmciYnEk3XsXHAxu_qRzKxg/s320/diamantina1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pullen Pullen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>As I noted in an article <a href="https://sunshinecoastbirds.blogspot.com/2024/02/notes-on-outlook-for-coxens-fig-parrot.html">in the latest edition of The Weekend Australian,</a> another Night Parrot was killed after striking a barbed wire boundary fence on Pullen Pullen in 2019. With the region’s parrot population estimated at a total of 10-20 birds, that is a significant loss. Says Cupitt: “It’s barbed wire all the way along some of those boundary fences, including the top strand.”
A barbed wire fence separates the 3-4 known roosting Night Parrot sites of the Pullen Pullen parrot population from each other and from feeding grounds they fly to each night. Until this week, BHA had little to say about the fatality (more on that later).</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncfe9D5ib3pWpTsSDptJZUoQHxd7PaB9-UGU7O1SUKT9gl3jl1zYAKpTVM91Sq6NuIItma9vvuSk64uxns4Zgfa9TfaF_9YTGtvo_6-enDU1NcRt9opguc6pJSGFZ8yQijaxIk-AXFbggSn_l-v8aYADujbVIOl5IMp11j8kg6M_wPOUhxMqHYYfgOSI/s1512/pullen%20pullen%20fence.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="1512" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncfe9D5ib3pWpTsSDptJZUoQHxd7PaB9-UGU7O1SUKT9gl3jl1zYAKpTVM91Sq6NuIItma9vvuSk64uxns4Zgfa9TfaF_9YTGtvo_6-enDU1NcRt9opguc6pJSGFZ8yQijaxIk-AXFbggSn_l-v8aYADujbVIOl5IMp11j8kg6M_wPOUhxMqHYYfgOSI/s320/pullen%20pullen%20fence.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pullen Pullen boundary fence</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Outside Pullen Pullen, small numbers of parrots have been located in Western Australia. Last year, a Night Parrot was retrieved by traditional owners after being found injured, hanging by its wing from a barbed wire fence; it died soon after. The Night Parrot is critically endangered: we now know of three individuals killed by barbed wire fences, and the death toll is certain to be higher. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ67OzLGqf-iX-rf340eCzULflybewaVn4fpBJIYI8GjY4xnGQbzcSQTApMqOAEbSmOFm6I5kIahJVuDeQ34xoQW6Z3-c3DbLE9EqzeLQ57QDJ-AegIkfRZPQT1-EP5E6AK_0mrMcsthG3yeWNlgGLeGHyeOVuiwqGh_DhvSsemc05jFoqHqMkeoLUVjI/s704/2.%20Night%20Parrot%20(c)%20Western%20Australian%20Museum_0.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="396" data-original-width="704" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ67OzLGqf-iX-rf340eCzULflybewaVn4fpBJIYI8GjY4xnGQbzcSQTApMqOAEbSmOFm6I5kIahJVuDeQ34xoQW6Z3-c3DbLE9EqzeLQ57QDJ-AegIkfRZPQT1-EP5E6AK_0mrMcsthG3yeWNlgGLeGHyeOVuiwqGh_DhvSsemc05jFoqHqMkeoLUVjI/s320/2.%20Night%20Parrot%20(c)%20Western%20Australian%20Museum_0.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prepared specimen of recently killed Night Parrot in WA: WA Museum</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>In 2016, then Night Parrot Recovery Team Allan Burbidge head warned of the consequences of a plan by the Australian Wildlife Conservancy to build a predator-proof fenced enclosure in Diamantina National Park, more than 20km from Pullen Pullen. Said Burbidge: “It seems likely that a predator-proof fence within night parrot habitat might pose a threat to a bird that flies 15 km or so each night. For a population with perilously low numbers, the effect could be highly significant.” The plan was scuttled. Yet the recovery team has had nothing to say about the Pullen Pullen fencing.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqB7SCW5KmjJRz_fyglS7IYwxll8KS1WUUctN5OkOavAg8FeDZ3iBYU57hw9u8_Sv_OLploy8mYaD_fhXt9spt2ELDuCI1P-W3awXk3dt15pCJkY-E12V8WrliKvNKzlZoe4wybYP47DWVxeDA7cxVPV2pcxnTz_ujPW01L0neRAF9wa-g5uEroi_rFZc/s1632/diamantina.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="911" data-original-width="1632" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqB7SCW5KmjJRz_fyglS7IYwxll8KS1WUUctN5OkOavAg8FeDZ3iBYU57hw9u8_Sv_OLploy8mYaD_fhXt9spt2ELDuCI1P-W3awXk3dt15pCJkY-E12V8WrliKvNKzlZoe4wybYP47DWVxeDA7cxVPV2pcxnTz_ujPW01L0neRAF9wa-g5uEroi_rFZc/s320/diamantina.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diamantina National Park</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>BHA has run white electric tape along the top of some fences in a bid to deter parrots from striking them. In a statement published on the BHA website this week - following The Weekend Australian story - Pullen Pullen ecologist Nick Leseberg offers further details about the 2019 victim. Says Leseberg: “This section of the fence hadn’t been flagged, as we didn’t think it was an area where the Night Parrots would be traversing. By this time we’d removed tens of kilometres of unnecessary fence, including the entire southern boundary with Diamantina National Park, but this really brought home the risk these fences pose. We’d love to remove all of them, but the reality is this is pastoral country and we need fences to keep cattle out of Pullen Pullen.” </div><div><br /></div><div>Leseberg and his colleagues have done some fine research work on Pullen Pullen. They are not helped by the peculiar perspective that BHA has of public relations. The organisation has taken a leaf out of the Donald Trump playbook by ignoring journalists it doesn’t fancy - like me. BHA told me bluntly it would not be responding to anything I put to them. BHA’s silence becoming part of the story in the national broadsheet newspaper speaks volumes.</div><div><br /></div><br /><div>It also speaks to a cultural problem that has been evident since BHA’s acquisition of Pullen Pullen. The wider birding community is often regarded with a degree of contempt. Twitchers are collectively considered a potential threat to the species. Those outside BHA’s inner sanctum of scientists are unwelcome. BHA said this in a revealing statement last October: “In 2013, in the remote corners of western Queensland on Maiawali Country where spinifex grows in abundance – the perfect habitat for the bird – the Night Parrot was rediscovered by scientists.” It was in fact rediscovered in 2006 by Shorty Cupitt, and photographed in 2013 by John Young; neither are scientists. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPs88P-HPOQNhZV16JgQq9POyqVtBiqVbMXsDkH5N75M8daaTralniddEAzcw_HhwCKp-dX2CJ9_FyLUe5RNRBl64J2J_ZCoLeynOa4Dd1E_m1hYdN_01XIcg575SLWKmJfzDD2lvtbkwxOrNfchU0JNHY1MY9WhCc12dYbC3_bxd90xYotp3n_PuCurU/s1000/cat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="1000" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPs88P-HPOQNhZV16JgQq9POyqVtBiqVbMXsDkH5N75M8daaTralniddEAzcw_HhwCKp-dX2CJ9_FyLUe5RNRBl64J2J_ZCoLeynOa4Dd1E_m1hYdN_01XIcg575SLWKmJfzDD2lvtbkwxOrNfchU0JNHY1MY9WhCc12dYbC3_bxd90xYotp3n_PuCurU/s320/cat.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Feral cat</td></tr></tbody></table><div>BHA refused to respond to questions I put to them about current population estimates; the consequences for the population of successive years of good summer rains; and the impacts of population booms of feral cats and long-haired rats in the area. Those issues are to some extent now belatedly addressed in this week’s statement.
Leseberg confirms that the bountiful years of wet weather were a plus: “The floodplains were really benefiting from the exclusion of cattle and there were as many Night Parrots on Pullen Pullen and (neighbouring property) Mt Windsor as I had ever seen. There were four known sites with birds, and potentially two others where we heard birds on a couple of occasions. I think there could have been as many as twelve or fourteen birds across the two properties.” </div><div><br /></div><div>The good times led to a big increase in cat numbers. BHA tripled the number of planned cat control trips. Trips would typically be for two weeks, with each trip removing 50 cats by mid-2023. Says Leseberg: “It wasn’t all bad news though. The stomachs of the cats were examined to determine what they were eating, and we were only finding rats, nothing else.” By the end of 2023, rat numbers were dwindling and although cat numbers remained high, there was evidence they were losing condition with fewer pregnant females. Referring to the bird’s present status, he adds: “We’re still detecting them across three to four sites, but at some of those sites the detections are not as regular. We don’t know if these mean there are fewer birds, or if they are moving around more.”</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguV_D3eekNH7C35R4tqImlw5UMAx7ute5kxu-Mqu_oznz9PWbjQ5dW_lbZweHzso0XNvzXABXtduTX0keXQfNusWN0Z3tAF8tg_ThjvryyrGQ-dqTd-bL2TfmPxzO0TQ11qMaS4leDDIROFc-btK-1KWKYzzXIHzkHtHexNMmur9ks8HNv_dgHggVIHD4/s3281/long-haired%20rat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3281" data-original-width="2898" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguV_D3eekNH7C35R4tqImlw5UMAx7ute5kxu-Mqu_oznz9PWbjQ5dW_lbZweHzso0XNvzXABXtduTX0keXQfNusWN0Z3tAF8tg_ThjvryyrGQ-dqTd-bL2TfmPxzO0TQ11qMaS4leDDIROFc-btK-1KWKYzzXIHzkHtHexNMmur9ks8HNv_dgHggVIHD4/s320/long-haired%20rat.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-haired Rat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>It would be interesting to know if the long-haired rat plague had its own impacts, although that issue is not addressed in this week’s statement. Rats are voracious predators of eggs and nesting birds. Might that be a factor in the latest population shift that Leseberg refers to? Instead of regarding questions like that as threatening or inappropriate or whatever, BHA could be doing the bird a service with a little more inclusiveness and dialogue.</div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2stZVdPEcKOmlE_5U7gdlr-XmhgwQD5sKjZw73LpadvaRlzdY0N3Lgzs7FjKeEM9eZwodw3steHK5G_q0tq-onAtCcwJFhp7Y7oigayO9zjH1LNQQt0n9oS-heZ41xVIopeJHq0V2wd5vm-zuJNMRGjlMPE1YMO4BKA6tqlM4zgUBYeZzEyr0yJp7TY/s2016/pullen%20pullen%20gate.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN2stZVdPEcKOmlE_5U7gdlr-XmhgwQD5sKjZw73LpadvaRlzdY0N3Lgzs7FjKeEM9eZwodw3steHK5G_q0tq-onAtCcwJFhp7Y7oigayO9zjH1LNQQt0n9oS-heZ41xVIopeJHq0V2wd5vm-zuJNMRGjlMPE1YMO4BKA6tqlM4zgUBYeZzEyr0yJp7TY/s320/pullen%20pullen%20gate.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pullen Pullen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /></div>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-66500516853098377092024-02-12T13:07:00.004+10:002024-02-16T07:55:37.283+10:00Southport Seamounts Pelagic, February 2024 <p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEDU2CIN9YEpUDie0qq-96bCK9IvZZG5fhTMhKCopBRpqklJ8LO7_bQiKU4aJktTgjyehfQZBZJ7NqXYVrT3XZOqWJKWy5n4TuqBXNTccjlVK_5TktVl-gnszO9r3VQU8PXzmkdZcSApX7nnfWoxW6V0R1VElv0wu9m2HxudhLyIa-0YaWM3pS0SJhp4/s2894/band-rumped%20storm-petrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2602" data-original-width="2894" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglEDU2CIN9YEpUDie0qq-96bCK9IvZZG5fhTMhKCopBRpqklJ8LO7_bQiKU4aJktTgjyehfQZBZJ7NqXYVrT3XZOqWJKWy5n4TuqBXNTccjlVK_5TktVl-gnszO9r3VQU8PXzmkdZcSApX7nnfWoxW6V0R1VElv0wu9m2HxudhLyIa-0YaWM3pS0SJhp4/s320/band-rumped%20storm-petrel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Band-rumped Storm-Petrel</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p style="font-weight: normal;"></p><p style="font-weight: normal;">Highlights of the 3-night, 2-day Southport Seamounts trip organised
by Paul Walbridge from February 9-12 included Band-rumped
Storm-Petrel; a Collared Petrel; good numbers of Gould’s Petrel,
Black-winged Petrel and White-necked Petrel; and huge numbers of
Grey-faced Petrel. After leaving early Friday evening aboard the cosy Grinner II we
ended up mid-morning at 27.3735S, 155.0996E, 100 nautical miles
offshore in 228 fathoms on the Queensland Seamount - roughly in a
line east of Pt Lookout, North Stradbroke Island. We remained in this
general area over the weekend, with some time spent motoring back
from drifting. Conditions varied little over our time out wide:
strong winds 18-25 knots SE gusting to 30 knots with a 2.5m swell and
choppy seas. A tad uncomfortable but good conditions for seabirds.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsfctboVcnqBKUE6qSxE6Nypf7GuIw3_QYqfGH-EBKxI5GT4mLSQ9vlhst8ONBwRqTe_D5pDrblFZVa6CiVANDTF0VLUNzRLgki5ZBb5mcUS7k1lr-pGJZZOM2kOP2oWv5qHLbgKpi5_IoTIjxFpFQTEUYvSsfrjQgDPRbnAEvoiRez4gLVAJhyphenhyphen_PUWY/s1717/boat%20feeding%20frenzy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1106" data-original-width="1717" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHsfctboVcnqBKUE6qSxE6Nypf7GuIw3_QYqfGH-EBKxI5GT4mLSQ9vlhst8ONBwRqTe_D5pDrblFZVa6CiVANDTF0VLUNzRLgki5ZBb5mcUS7k1lr-pGJZZOM2kOP2oWv5qHLbgKpi5_IoTIjxFpFQTEUYvSsfrjQgDPRbnAEvoiRez4gLVAJhyphenhyphen_PUWY/s320/boat%20feeding%20frenzy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey-faced Petrel feeding frenzy</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal;">Paul’s full report is forthcoming.
Suffice here to sum up some highlights. A Band-rumped Storm-Petrel flew in early afternoon on Saturday and appeared to be much attracted
to toy floating storm-petrels that Jacob Crisp had put together. It
showed well, hanging around the back of the boat for 20 minutes or
so.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pXbMvYT8-_-km9_rBbEz7AsZbJQymN40_ZrWASSMjI3ELNNEcF6qJ7dwrh6Pdqc0q46hClHFmg2VoWkU5oVqRdS27xx-2Um-50ISO_cQjq3g13hVadZALiDq9qiGQeOEneXhZw2Kd1io2GrwAVWageNOweigRtZjw8Mc_guhNKxb_Qoh_awFQjRDU2M/s3561/band-rumped2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2217" data-original-width="3561" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9pXbMvYT8-_-km9_rBbEz7AsZbJQymN40_ZrWASSMjI3ELNNEcF6qJ7dwrh6Pdqc0q46hClHFmg2VoWkU5oVqRdS27xx-2Um-50ISO_cQjq3g13hVadZALiDq9qiGQeOEneXhZw2Kd1io2GrwAVWageNOweigRtZjw8Mc_guhNKxb_Qoh_awFQjRDU2M/s320/band-rumped2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Band-rumped Storm-Petrel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4O73G5yulvm9dAxAyr_qBOUjBXfbX0Vh4XP0aZwEQ4m-k0LeFjvFHNsVwyJ3fBbqKlmqfbVYXhe3fSVXDEXXoy2JdnYe2LfOFm5qVVQv5_wCWp-mu3_1btYnkW6a9UILbYs975kKD6_fQq2RllffNAZTvSPM3HYrTAAyF2WgcbNeEAsRaStr5ZVt-q3Q/s3695/band-rumped3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1954" data-original-width="3695" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4O73G5yulvm9dAxAyr_qBOUjBXfbX0Vh4XP0aZwEQ4m-k0LeFjvFHNsVwyJ3fBbqKlmqfbVYXhe3fSVXDEXXoy2JdnYe2LfOFm5qVVQv5_wCWp-mu3_1btYnkW6a9UILbYs975kKD6_fQq2RllffNAZTvSPM3HYrTAAyF2WgcbNeEAsRaStr5ZVt-q3Q/s320/band-rumped3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Band-rumped Storm-Petrel</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal;">Jacob got onto a decent pale phase
Collared Petrel which I saw briefly but his were the only images, and
nobody else saw the bird unfortunately. I had seen the species
previously in the eastern Coral Sea. It's a rarely encountered taxa with a few records in south-east Queensland. A couple of dark Gould’s-type
petrels also looked like contenders for a while. Gould’s Petrels
were frequently about the boat and it was a delight to see so many.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5f4CLdtMJxVztBesheZtd1H72wK1PCrnjV6Yis8MfopeZ076wXrXC2eJB14fn9otRzNrUuvFGoSpk9jT9wZ6g8_TJRwpi_QMQDivn_7cXQ9IFiu2dyx9o5zFsaYuqyOesnFdB-v8AoBDudHovBnMHrIx5Qyqg2rgnX6cu1qveNoKJpYhwOpMnU0O1Ss/s1581/gould's3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1299" data-original-width="1581" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ5f4CLdtMJxVztBesheZtd1H72wK1PCrnjV6Yis8MfopeZ076wXrXC2eJB14fn9otRzNrUuvFGoSpk9jT9wZ6g8_TJRwpi_QMQDivn_7cXQ9IFiu2dyx9o5zFsaYuqyOesnFdB-v8AoBDudHovBnMHrIx5Qyqg2rgnX6cu1qveNoKJpYhwOpMnU0O1Ss/s320/gould's3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gould's Petrel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCv3-FV3YlGlfqblUq8Q8jCc_17fTHLQd1M_CRt0SM_NeQ1d0tm6jWnVicJhOT4pMD1ipt1_voPBO-txXH5TjU5Nyi3Kt0-ZY-VcI0mfKtFktLd-50kDL9RdSDrAn0K0p9VF7AWOMy-SNZyPGcZ0jimTGH7kzl9DEg4K4wtmaBMQ_E0M0hi1F0jIZetyg/s2460/gould's%20petrel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1938" data-original-width="2460" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCv3-FV3YlGlfqblUq8Q8jCc_17fTHLQd1M_CRt0SM_NeQ1d0tm6jWnVicJhOT4pMD1ipt1_voPBO-txXH5TjU5Nyi3Kt0-ZY-VcI0mfKtFktLd-50kDL9RdSDrAn0K0p9VF7AWOMy-SNZyPGcZ0jimTGH7kzl9DEg4K4wtmaBMQ_E0M0hi1F0jIZetyg/s320/gould's%20petrel1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gould's Petrel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtZP_Nyzus8ovOJ6hcCRuvrLS0AhOwrlcr6HB1p6UtlXnnwfGiDUNOw2YSXzwyELrrBLcJg5eWe63oRlowHYOu3WBcF09yV9SRQuBQnKkw7Xvs12FRFtWFH_Qo3As1G_gj5EayDahGKysONgBvJhSnaOf3AK6WO6leU8A43blEcIQAxjHiEeSX6ttTck/s3033/gould's%20petrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2872" data-original-width="3033" height="303" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWtZP_Nyzus8ovOJ6hcCRuvrLS0AhOwrlcr6HB1p6UtlXnnwfGiDUNOw2YSXzwyELrrBLcJg5eWe63oRlowHYOu3WBcF09yV9SRQuBQnKkw7Xvs12FRFtWFH_Qo3As1G_gj5EayDahGKysONgBvJhSnaOf3AK6WO6leU8A43blEcIQAxjHiEeSX6ttTck/s320/gould's%20petrel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gould's Petrel</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal;">Black-winged Petrels were in fewer
number than Gould’s but more inclined to offer nice, close fly-bys.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5FUz2aozuyKPIDrZSMbv8uOMkuAbNDIYsaVegb52OMcaRceSgSalKuJEWltmZJfZxHuQEhTpdA6DD36kB94cWyDXVzxKuqpcGQRMtU6SzGbVazn8HK-exoz-3BNYkB-mkzWJ2d99dpzrWag8pFxH448nZ4bSMvYUP0KdRVcO-4KBFtcgoKggvdpd8Jmk/s1489/black-winged%20petrel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1489" data-original-width="1152" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5FUz2aozuyKPIDrZSMbv8uOMkuAbNDIYsaVegb52OMcaRceSgSalKuJEWltmZJfZxHuQEhTpdA6DD36kB94cWyDXVzxKuqpcGQRMtU6SzGbVazn8HK-exoz-3BNYkB-mkzWJ2d99dpzrWag8pFxH448nZ4bSMvYUP0KdRVcO-4KBFtcgoKggvdpd8Jmk/s320/black-winged%20petrel1.jpg" width="248" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-winged Petrel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFlLpUdjS2GmTwddCSZi0pB0GEyy3mEwMKZS8IFjziV_BHBj48lPsG9c0QZexzwUAGtR8h2rd0pBluHzcTeecqTQcwiaw4B6q_bD06eq0QsVj1xGOebn5AMJlfyNcCgp7mnRSdmKM77zXi14N9fJPiV2pEPUXpoKzc5IteI2JpVAxjvRZeSpnmeh_jTo/s1534/black-winged%20petrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1534" data-original-width="1487" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMFlLpUdjS2GmTwddCSZi0pB0GEyy3mEwMKZS8IFjziV_BHBj48lPsG9c0QZexzwUAGtR8h2rd0pBluHzcTeecqTQcwiaw4B6q_bD06eq0QsVj1xGOebn5AMJlfyNcCgp7mnRSdmKM77zXi14N9fJPiV2pEPUXpoKzc5IteI2JpVAxjvRZeSpnmeh_jTo/s320/black-winged%20petrel.jpg" width="310" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-winged Petrel<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0l4WmuGnF2Sg6fSE1tacEaKKg0GYug_Vx9yDq_WTsoE5ZzZtFppGmoKmBYoQnKAcEHsGnfJMM5n058WKcJFO9SZQjhQJU2RtNPk_9FQiFg6CER8Pj8mj_Q_xv8r-ZxOjRjNLYDoD-zwP9PVpQojUwMGOOJ_YHo2HuKmVF9SeT57JZp88nXT-_Gdg4B0/s1215/black-winged2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1215" data-original-width="1122" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG0l4WmuGnF2Sg6fSE1tacEaKKg0GYug_Vx9yDq_WTsoE5ZzZtFppGmoKmBYoQnKAcEHsGnfJMM5n058WKcJFO9SZQjhQJU2RtNPk_9FQiFg6CER8Pj8mj_Q_xv8r-ZxOjRjNLYDoD-zwP9PVpQojUwMGOOJ_YHo2HuKmVF9SeT57JZp88nXT-_Gdg4B0/s320/black-winged2.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-winged Petrel</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal;">Like most seabirds over the weekend,
there was a substantial appetite for the berley. Grey-faced Petrels
were particularly voracious. This was the most common species by far,
with over 50-100 birds often in the vicinity of the boat. Large
numbers continued to be about even after sunset.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeGl79_1dRkkrRexLrgHlBhlm-ueqM0rV6mQpGSmgQYcV6PeJ95RCpCUFNJRp__EcPwVMPJSzaj3G78zJR68Y93yqXTwHMs7JnxMxBEkbxJ7re4-gU6oeaMUVh17uTKV5wEvIaxCz5DsBTPyo_6kaDI_H5GEBJ4BRea8nG1yq7Ig9QBX1O9JpYvp-7-4/s4563/grey-faced3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2311" data-original-width="4563" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpeGl79_1dRkkrRexLrgHlBhlm-ueqM0rV6mQpGSmgQYcV6PeJ95RCpCUFNJRp__EcPwVMPJSzaj3G78zJR68Y93yqXTwHMs7JnxMxBEkbxJ7re4-gU6oeaMUVh17uTKV5wEvIaxCz5DsBTPyo_6kaDI_H5GEBJ4BRea8nG1yq7Ig9QBX1O9JpYvp-7-4/s320/grey-faced3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey-faced Petrel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbS1VpwTzHQzECH5D5ErfgN-h1hjPRkm9rH0K_3T8s-NCBhmcwkx3VJA0TuDfnnywgtBN2AEZS08sm2-ZikpfV8cQVofI_TRE4BaR9atxe-n20MYOLGzNc7BH86VUbWBWSOCQbdXk8sBFTOBbWhfs54nAQiBpotcViENF2fog3rsIhCmNB2yCLIxqWg4/s1889/grey-faced%20petrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1621" data-original-width="1889" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFbS1VpwTzHQzECH5D5ErfgN-h1hjPRkm9rH0K_3T8s-NCBhmcwkx3VJA0TuDfnnywgtBN2AEZS08sm2-ZikpfV8cQVofI_TRE4BaR9atxe-n20MYOLGzNc7BH86VUbWBWSOCQbdXk8sBFTOBbWhfs54nAQiBpotcViENF2fog3rsIhCmNB2yCLIxqWg4/s320/grey-faced%20petrel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey-faced Petrel</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyWZo2xph7Iv6BPecxOcnZjJsjnF5TtROAqNWtDFfCLbOKN0ZItnsoDHI_lE_LgCoNfUQ2m3d9qxg6seWA6DrgYI_BZUSVmkxSinIK52_4e35gCtpwHlA8rOUFlZW5LbSf2xOS0pi7IErp_ZlgMiHjQsc898WN7jsaFJOH3ZVIteMfbJ2nhsB-C_O5mk/s4347/grey-faced4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3916" data-original-width="4347" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnyWZo2xph7Iv6BPecxOcnZjJsjnF5TtROAqNWtDFfCLbOKN0ZItnsoDHI_lE_LgCoNfUQ2m3d9qxg6seWA6DrgYI_BZUSVmkxSinIK52_4e35gCtpwHlA8rOUFlZW5LbSf2xOS0pi7IErp_ZlgMiHjQsc898WN7jsaFJOH3ZVIteMfbJ2nhsB-C_O5mk/s320/grey-faced4.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey-faced Petrel</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal;">White-necked Petrel performed
beautifully, with at least 8 birds logged including 2 together. This
is a cracker of a seabird that never disappoints.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUibBK37RWcrg0cjWDBZxMcHbsr3-HtdcZkKg09Q32LbtUIQBfp5MkF8fgDqzSb00vYVGQ4iRd3v2LOjYV-zZk4VGkQMvn9EWjxuV237lP_GGFSOlEtrobPUEFgZim4pKdj6U6WlrzMmraBCUFSncPRiPnw7ElG5gCvvjLOJtfWfMBJ34CEBI8usFgeYY/s3817/white-necked5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1971" data-original-width="3817" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUibBK37RWcrg0cjWDBZxMcHbsr3-HtdcZkKg09Q32LbtUIQBfp5MkF8fgDqzSb00vYVGQ4iRd3v2LOjYV-zZk4VGkQMvn9EWjxuV237lP_GGFSOlEtrobPUEFgZim4pKdj6U6WlrzMmraBCUFSncPRiPnw7ElG5gCvvjLOJtfWfMBJ34CEBI8usFgeYY/s320/white-necked5.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-necked Petrel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5nIgZMbTt3AHZ9bjPLvaecC9ZfnK5eMmnN3C4mQGZKwnYJknrw1_LX7Q_XjMcQYvfksTsyDHTKAHvpXtIYPs-alo5-8-cTa26mbhA0TblOrrcNVNPCenTXIgF4ZfxnJNSjJ4yHefu5T5vpEiYkHePnXs2lw4Z75kSXpHpzOUGfdUXZYuP_RZ4IWbc0E/s2655/white-necked%20petrel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2222" data-original-width="2655" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis5nIgZMbTt3AHZ9bjPLvaecC9ZfnK5eMmnN3C4mQGZKwnYJknrw1_LX7Q_XjMcQYvfksTsyDHTKAHvpXtIYPs-alo5-8-cTa26mbhA0TblOrrcNVNPCenTXIgF4ZfxnJNSjJ4yHefu5T5vpEiYkHePnXs2lw4Z75kSXpHpzOUGfdUXZYuP_RZ4IWbc0E/s320/white-necked%20petrel1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-necked Petrel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOZW8bNXcE_pc7k15gwJ-0rA3yzprLhWkkUy0sj400beRc8Qvn51iVb-5cEMAe6lSdHY0ONzeIbSNZJOgL0pNWjFDOWUq03ahkVG6jrNnY99ZwJZr9FsRU80OuB9nnd84zh4_BWcgFGPjcQQjizB4jl7XbkhnRUikIV9EYRWWvSouyevsZZQVG0ZLNyE/s2105/white-necked%20petrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1903" data-original-width="2105" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqOZW8bNXcE_pc7k15gwJ-0rA3yzprLhWkkUy0sj400beRc8Qvn51iVb-5cEMAe6lSdHY0ONzeIbSNZJOgL0pNWjFDOWUq03ahkVG6jrNnY99ZwJZr9FsRU80OuB9nnd84zh4_BWcgFGPjcQQjizB4jl7XbkhnRUikIV9EYRWWvSouyevsZZQVG0ZLNyE/s320/white-necked%20petrel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-necked Petrel</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal;">Kermadec Petrel was in reasonable
numbers with dark, pale and intermediate phases on show.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-QGn1-vhyKDXHSh_rlGgk5aJKWkJc5hcKyCVmnb5B0YiuRfztqoDgGUDbW69eX7XHHYS0jWkyeJw8FmPKjqvQcBIC9MxqRYoVgVW7x80ptcaKiY-fEQT2S5fuTXAj8ifD9e-ww3kFKYnKfiBBayELvY1rh_Qx4uukqIUgm4Un3qgtgvoslWRRrnboV4/s2300/kermadec1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2300" data-original-width="2240" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-QGn1-vhyKDXHSh_rlGgk5aJKWkJc5hcKyCVmnb5B0YiuRfztqoDgGUDbW69eX7XHHYS0jWkyeJw8FmPKjqvQcBIC9MxqRYoVgVW7x80ptcaKiY-fEQT2S5fuTXAj8ifD9e-ww3kFKYnKfiBBayELvY1rh_Qx4uukqIUgm4Un3qgtgvoslWRRrnboV4/s320/kermadec1.jpg" width="312" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kermadec Petrel (dark phase)l</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27UR70h7ihvghXjtRZY_w6P1jLXhHA5BZ1ccfq6ig8VwVRWz2e2TguiIuPPXjn1ySAGlFrZUaoky0r-jzdFyFXz7n4jDX13CK6Mtf3M11Ms79BIjwO5P2gn7LRSjE7Vci1hzWIu5dXINL5uo7yrqe-odiOX_buizmvaCxbOo_6eJZMJ96u3pv9z1aSJE/s1890/kermadec2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1890" data-original-width="1757" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg27UR70h7ihvghXjtRZY_w6P1jLXhHA5BZ1ccfq6ig8VwVRWz2e2TguiIuPPXjn1ySAGlFrZUaoky0r-jzdFyFXz7n4jDX13CK6Mtf3M11Ms79BIjwO5P2gn7LRSjE7Vci1hzWIu5dXINL5uo7yrqe-odiOX_buizmvaCxbOo_6eJZMJ96u3pv9z1aSJE/s320/kermadec2.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kermadec Petrel (light phase)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq04V23CZ-H-GcZ-6dwNUvceo6FhrKwVm10n7hlEu-vICV6jJPqG3KU2sHhyphenhyphenc1CnaQKK9ESVyju7qVp71JmQaSW0sqICc2ooQrWXQejacafUGzEoyONbulNeL45CsI2Gipf6QhyphenhyphenPAyG4RhpwW8WLmd2glV-8HKHnyjdroYfZMHp9Cze7ejr-3a5k2NOGQ/s2854/kermadec%20petrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2854" data-original-width="2129" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq04V23CZ-H-GcZ-6dwNUvceo6FhrKwVm10n7hlEu-vICV6jJPqG3KU2sHhyphenhyphenc1CnaQKK9ESVyju7qVp71JmQaSW0sqICc2ooQrWXQejacafUGzEoyONbulNeL45CsI2Gipf6QhyphenhyphenPAyG4RhpwW8WLmd2glV-8HKHnyjdroYfZMHp9Cze7ejr-3a5k2NOGQ/s320/kermadec%20petrel.jpg" width="239" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kermadec Petrel (intermediate phase)</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal;">Tahiti Petrel was the second most
common species, with small numbers of birds about the boat throughout
the weekend.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9nKKQe_d1zytG88rZro_V5PXufe-DpWjAhBUPOe_R-QfH4Ab__-oqwu-m8S_fUdLy0IkuDg41aiQtASXjTjAlQqscr219-CYG5-sg2sSGLxqD-j1uZMpyP_MYxoDCTl_f0e-DJbtExJhn8qmCW15QqzIz1vv47Ri6jDwUKzh6yfAdubplO5e9vu0qCA/s2119/tahiti%20petrel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1474" data-original-width="2119" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv9nKKQe_d1zytG88rZro_V5PXufe-DpWjAhBUPOe_R-QfH4Ab__-oqwu-m8S_fUdLy0IkuDg41aiQtASXjTjAlQqscr219-CYG5-sg2sSGLxqD-j1uZMpyP_MYxoDCTl_f0e-DJbtExJhn8qmCW15QqzIz1vv47Ri6jDwUKzh6yfAdubplO5e9vu0qCA/s320/tahiti%20petrel1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tahiti Petrel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rNum_HuE5jwTtHXFGpQZHQgRRoEX6UyCKbtlX0editBKY_tSYTe8y_eowZFeEYjPAAu7ZFvx96gm7PFDzOXofyuqKCffaUygqp_l0DwUtL_eQkixP0kTeqEviK5DmHsGxLw9fV4KkiG-ro6Fzu5PQZo-jaFmxN9E4WFSR1yzZxm3BjugQQanDuZ7oWs/s4224/tahiti%20petrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3449" data-original-width="4224" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8rNum_HuE5jwTtHXFGpQZHQgRRoEX6UyCKbtlX0editBKY_tSYTe8y_eowZFeEYjPAAu7ZFvx96gm7PFDzOXofyuqKCffaUygqp_l0DwUtL_eQkixP0kTeqEviK5DmHsGxLw9fV4KkiG-ro6Fzu5PQZo-jaFmxN9E4WFSR1yzZxm3BjugQQanDuZ7oWs/s320/tahiti%20petrel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tahiti Petrel</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal;">White-bellied Storm-Petrel put in a
brief appearance on a few occasions, but there was no sign of the
hoped-for New Caledonian Storm-Petrel.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmtaEU6Q-zdpyAqv5jBpuqJ29nch2bEMGmwEpdYjsTTZtk3Ob-nudhWodjI8wxK6cepKzUMq5-s6WxdPtMuq8IxVOOtivTd17CM1KMJdu7qS3T1sqQgKKk0BMrv3kRFG9pNRZt75b3hm7wFQVSYy8ZxRUyYlrFdJBSKqUGQUoCJlsvdlTcTrjhE58Urw/s2146/white-bellied%20s-p1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2125" data-original-width="2146" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYmtaEU6Q-zdpyAqv5jBpuqJ29nch2bEMGmwEpdYjsTTZtk3Ob-nudhWodjI8wxK6cepKzUMq5-s6WxdPtMuq8IxVOOtivTd17CM1KMJdu7qS3T1sqQgKKk0BMrv3kRFG9pNRZt75b3hm7wFQVSYy8ZxRUyYlrFdJBSKqUGQUoCJlsvdlTcTrjhE58Urw/s320/white-bellied%20s-p1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-bellied Storm-Petrel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUaNpgT-08j-ctF0AWOwJ2fA4-7OEbtYMasWC2ynkWl9vrC4aQZW7Omm1syDzyeB01tVxU17Oq0DAbPsOfxaUubpNDVoK-F6b9Rhbk9SQJbJZYPW3a9WUi214yVnTXl62ZiEK5OYj3MGBnRAfYbmy2nmaY3LGo4squkF-Q3Mf-xStxhSC4iU8vWYVT50/s1519/white-bellied%20storm-petrel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1341" data-original-width="1519" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzUaNpgT-08j-ctF0AWOwJ2fA4-7OEbtYMasWC2ynkWl9vrC4aQZW7Omm1syDzyeB01tVxU17Oq0DAbPsOfxaUubpNDVoK-F6b9Rhbk9SQJbJZYPW3a9WUi214yVnTXl62ZiEK5OYj3MGBnRAfYbmy2nmaY3LGo4squkF-Q3Mf-xStxhSC4iU8vWYVT50/s320/white-bellied%20storm-petrel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-bellied Storm-Petrel</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal;">Wedge-tailed Shearwater was relatively
common but just a handful of Flesh-footed Shearwaters appeared.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoQPLF2txQ4n02LjLgBcsLowrgDQYPZ9PwuNsDUJZzX56SZeCTMQQkj1DjbXRhKukH0c6WrbGNCPpWlsB4wrJBJT8gJebHhKjAZP6y34Gil9jDfGBIUqSfFdC6FThlFW9aeBE_FNI2IGnP0QUUCTaCoXofaUIxF6-lXTRPV5bxQ57muZ6siBFogRxI08/s2039/flesh-footed%20shearwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1402" data-original-width="2039" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyoQPLF2txQ4n02LjLgBcsLowrgDQYPZ9PwuNsDUJZzX56SZeCTMQQkj1DjbXRhKukH0c6WrbGNCPpWlsB4wrJBJT8gJebHhKjAZP6y34Gil9jDfGBIUqSfFdC6FThlFW9aeBE_FNI2IGnP0QUUCTaCoXofaUIxF6-lXTRPV5bxQ57muZ6siBFogRxI08/s320/flesh-footed%20shearwater.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flesh-footed Shearwater</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal;">White-tailed Tropicbird was seen twice
flying high. A single Red-tailed Tropicbird was near the boat at
dusk.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_09aCWQBTHKqLK02xwtBrDRpn0hJg4Q9MWlGOXE5gg1T00cncQnvYPS8dPz6QXDDXJGLZWXi8UxVoBFrFNqAE7V0xyQFm2IYFjBYRxtNR9doB9N25Y1GJjUXXX5iSIzte5R2gRz7zddr-xlIDpv3mBvNN32WHJfGmekQ4cHzbDKW3ZGRgyD_5tPleHqM/s2268/white-tailed%20tropicbird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1564" data-original-width="2268" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_09aCWQBTHKqLK02xwtBrDRpn0hJg4Q9MWlGOXE5gg1T00cncQnvYPS8dPz6QXDDXJGLZWXi8UxVoBFrFNqAE7V0xyQFm2IYFjBYRxtNR9doB9N25Y1GJjUXXX5iSIzte5R2gRz7zddr-xlIDpv3mBvNN32WHJfGmekQ4cHzbDKW3ZGRgyD_5tPleHqM/s320/white-tailed%20tropicbird.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-tailed Tropicbird</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal;">A Red-footed Booby roosted on the boat
on Saturday night and joined by a second bird in the morning.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN50zEF9OOXCYMu87eSLfwwa6AoOrb7ZrndBp2yf_PzhmoWyzbOQ6Daojo1F-POon6-gkCiFNCMK8o-xiUOFy6Cd7kW14GjEzHfTiFLWyYHLbs1RW77_rMeJY9FfF4Dna0umiKInH0xKS9fhbZDs4OGpE-BaLvWN4mMfjIw7TUMvcSf5SCsrp-t1LqRbI/s2734/red-footed%20booby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1964" data-original-width="2734" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN50zEF9OOXCYMu87eSLfwwa6AoOrb7ZrndBp2yf_PzhmoWyzbOQ6Daojo1F-POon6-gkCiFNCMK8o-xiUOFy6Cd7kW14GjEzHfTiFLWyYHLbs1RW77_rMeJY9FfF4Dna0umiKInH0xKS9fhbZDs4OGpE-BaLvWN4mMfjIw7TUMvcSf5SCsrp-t1LqRbI/s320/red-footed%20booby.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-footed Booby</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal;">Adult and immature Sooty Terns were
frequent visitors to the berley trail.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnS6HweiGJuDMwoP-pQv4jlhblFzEIV6PpL0SNgxdxAkvWMsL8pbETo-i3Cjtrdl9GvmiXXgvZI_Um05uw6ZeGc21YwcaP4G7uKJtRSk100yp82Gl6WGAZc-CBJ9yrN6AsRqwlzzDrBCONr6ud_iAWnrd3ftgtDbCZBkLkXsHOXuAtK2oQPbUSJ4emC3U/s4239/sooty%20tern.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2785" data-original-width="4239" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnS6HweiGJuDMwoP-pQv4jlhblFzEIV6PpL0SNgxdxAkvWMsL8pbETo-i3Cjtrdl9GvmiXXgvZI_Um05uw6ZeGc21YwcaP4G7uKJtRSk100yp82Gl6WGAZc-CBJ9yrN6AsRqwlzzDrBCONr6ud_iAWnrd3ftgtDbCZBkLkXsHOXuAtK2oQPbUSJ4emC3U/s320/sooty%20tern.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sooty Tern</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal;">A few Brown Noddies were seen along
with a single Black Noddy.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xAHINXQh0UeQOjNvFfRjKcvUoJWqplAv2haafK2515nHXvFzVejnGyvesSHag6Xy-tUMHtrz_tQ4oOowadRdvNjheptRJUFO8-yxP9I7gI-fjXHMdAc7aiWS9T8AYwmaXPvjorsuGzjS8-H_OkIQ5CfhkZZryAIF_6OGoM0WcUqUcpmlenkVVt55-Ig/s2403/brown%20noddy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1817" data-original-width="2403" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6xAHINXQh0UeQOjNvFfRjKcvUoJWqplAv2haafK2515nHXvFzVejnGyvesSHag6Xy-tUMHtrz_tQ4oOowadRdvNjheptRJUFO8-yxP9I7gI-fjXHMdAc7aiWS9T8AYwmaXPvjorsuGzjS8-H_OkIQ5CfhkZZryAIF_6OGoM0WcUqUcpmlenkVVt55-Ig/s320/brown%20noddy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Noddy</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal;">SPECIES LIST: Tahiti Petrel,
Grey-faced Petrel, Kermadec Petrel, White-necked Petrel, Collared
Petrel, Gould’s Petrel, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Flesh-footed
Shearwater, White-bellied Storm-Petrel, Band-rumped Storm-Petrel,
Red-tailed Tropicbird, White-tailed Tropicbird, Red-footed Booby.
Brown Noddy, Black Noody, Sooty Tern. 16 species</p><br /><p></p>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-41535562595913987322024-02-12T00:53:00.003+10:002024-02-21T10:54:43.810+10:00Notes on the outlook for Coxen’s Fig-Parrot, Night Parrot & Buff-breasted Buttonquail: links between their fate and the “Blue-browed Fig-Parrot” fiasco <p> </p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The following is the transcript of my news feature in The Weekend
Australian of 10-11 February, 2024.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwmCXBNJe3ynDtAvLJ5MxYEyphVI8nkXQATIFJHOwpou4P6YHoGutYN1_k0QceDQnrAOgDWqBRKU2-8-_PaRgZdMTXw7ve-0INdiVp6gjSsS2Fx9azLgZqJLOzKeFXvIw0nCdJEWOX92T6hjEC_Eglb9H-si7wrW_xRboxAeu2iZZjVjNYz-rPNxbYjw/s718/Coxens%20Fig-Parrot%20-%20illustrated%20by%20Sally%20Elmer.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="718" data-original-width="674" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvwmCXBNJe3ynDtAvLJ5MxYEyphVI8nkXQATIFJHOwpou4P6YHoGutYN1_k0QceDQnrAOgDWqBRKU2-8-_PaRgZdMTXw7ve-0INdiVp6gjSsS2Fx9azLgZqJLOzKeFXvIw0nCdJEWOX92T6hjEC_Eglb9H-si7wrW_xRboxAeu2iZZjVjNYz-rPNxbYjw/s320/Coxens%20Fig-Parrot%20-%20illustrated%20by%20Sally%20Elmer.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coxen's Fig-Parrot</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">A 17-year-old
mystery surrounding the identity of a tiny parrot is having
unforeseen consequences for the welfare of endangered Australian
wildlife. Self-promotion by high profile individuals and poor
decision-making by Queensland Government authorities have combined to
threaten rare and mysterious species, and deep divisions within the
natural history community are laid bare.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Just one variety of
bird, the paradise parrot, is confirmed as having become extinct on
the Australian mainland since European settlement; it was last seen
in the 1930s in south-east Queensland. Now, the fate of three more
birds – the Coxen’s fig-parrot, night parrot and buff-breasted
buttonquail - hangs in the balance. Two of the three are possibly
extinct, contrary to confused government advice, with the third
teetering precariously on the brink.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeub2YaOa_4iChHlBGStHMLwWfzfB32ClE-YqSo-qEY8R_Mx2kk-ryX3c9IVPSyaM7C1pzX9mLsAN40X5ok5xwNW2rx53S5zBLLgVo6A3tdsfa-hepCfDobFxS7WVfT0xxXSnP3SXnR7LS_NzOwGaaXteaA-ONiYkNS5wvGNdffa5xBDdehQn9_1Z5UIY/s246/buff-breasted%20buttonquail%20illustration%20-%20unknown%20source.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="246" data-original-width="205" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeub2YaOa_4iChHlBGStHMLwWfzfB32ClE-YqSo-qEY8R_Mx2kk-ryX3c9IVPSyaM7C1pzX9mLsAN40X5ok5xwNW2rx53S5zBLLgVo6A3tdsfa-hepCfDobFxS7WVfT0xxXSnP3SXnR7LS_NzOwGaaXteaA-ONiYkNS5wvGNdffa5xBDdehQn9_1Z5UIY/s1600/buff-breasted%20buttonquail%20illustration%20-%20unknown%20source.jpg" width="205" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Buff-breasted Buttonquail</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">The celebrated
naturalist Steve Irwin died in September 2006 when he was struck in
the heart by a stingray barb on the Great Barrier Reef. Soon after,
as a journalist working for The Australian, I was phoned by Tom
Biggs, a Brisbane medical specialist who was providing commercial
advice to controversial north Queensland naturalist John Young and
his company, John Young Enterprises. Biggs asked if I was interested
in breaking a “really big” story for this masthead concerning
Young and a parrot; no further details were offered.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Biggs and Young were
aware I had publicly suggested the Coxen’s fig-parrot might be
extinct. The brightly coloured parrot once frequented the
rainforests of south-east Queensland and north-east New South Wales
but there had been no confirmed records of the bird for three decades
at the time. Young claimed in the 1990s to have photographed the
fig-parrot in NSW but did not produce convincing images. Young also
asserted in the 1970s that he found a population of paradise parrots
in north Queensland, but no evidence was forthcoming. Assuming Young
was again claiming to have rediscovered the Coxen’s fig-parrot or
paradise parrot, I politely declined Biggs’s offer.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio29jnaNfusS6jd90GC3ZMnGyFabCSdWObtoJp-9_KJ6xiOfl2nHB09nMV3iowcgcT_pa0iAN7yOZUvaYQ_8eS5WqU-ro90LNg091ypTBY3nZDJErMrextJSW9QdXhiz4w05E9ADOOOuRYwodUXD9p3r-bL4TPj5xeh5UbURNMLwE9TbAZ_QWnx_1cIqU/s403/night%20parrot.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="211" data-original-width="403" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio29jnaNfusS6jd90GC3ZMnGyFabCSdWObtoJp-9_KJ6xiOfl2nHB09nMV3iowcgcT_pa0iAN7yOZUvaYQ_8eS5WqU-ro90LNg091ypTBY3nZDJErMrextJSW9QdXhiz4w05E9ADOOOuRYwodUXD9p3r-bL4TPj5xeh5UbURNMLwE9TbAZ_QWnx_1cIqU/s320/night%20parrot.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night Parrot</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">A few days later, in
November 2006, Brisbane’s The Courier Mail newspaper splashed the
story across its front and inside pages. It was not about those two
birds but something more eye-catching: Young had supposedly
discovered a species of parrot unknown to science - the blue-browed
fig-parrot. The “discovery” was announced amid much fanfare at a
function at O’Reillys Guesthouse in the Gold Coast hinterland by
Queensland Environment Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr. Scientists from
the state government’s threatened species unit hailed the discovery
as ground-breaking and pledged to work with Young on publishing
scientific papers.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">But it wasn’t
true. Investigations by The Australian, aided by Melbourne
ornithologists Jeff Davies and Andrew Isles, indicated that Young’s
image was an altered photograph of a much more common species – the
double-eyed fig-parrot from north Queensland. Gale Spring, a
leading forensic photographic expert, concluded there was little
doubt the image was altered. Ornithological experts from a range of
disciplines were unanimous in dismissing the claim. The Queensland
Government withdrew its support for Young.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJW0VsXtsOqXAolbavQPWrrrqe8u2FwfF-zh4l_8f6fdl8ZGy26KdYYWvZdHlg8u3DzGwuZ7Xf5MI6Rt688kbJL6Eq5JFg3orsmjBtZ3KuxjwVH7V0VRQiKKt2fBfU9PPsStjvS2CD7Cfr9-HKABvRnEBcDAIl1nHAoEpHeJ_inmu4ErYSlwB040E5q2M/s4221/john%20young.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3155" data-original-width="4221" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJW0VsXtsOqXAolbavQPWrrrqe8u2FwfF-zh4l_8f6fdl8ZGy26KdYYWvZdHlg8u3DzGwuZ7Xf5MI6Rt688kbJL6Eq5JFg3orsmjBtZ3KuxjwVH7V0VRQiKKt2fBfU9PPsStjvS2CD7Cfr9-HKABvRnEBcDAIl1nHAoEpHeJ_inmu4ErYSlwB040E5q2M/s320/john%20young.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Young</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Young’s large
number of supporters in the wider natural history community were
furious. Fellow North Queensland naturalist and author Lloyd Nielsen
declared on the online platform birding-aus that articles in The
Australian were “despicable”, insisting Young’s claim was
genuine: “This special bird really does exist as depicted in the
published photograph.”</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Now it is possible
to throw further light on the matter. Nielsen relates how the day
after the O’Reilly’s announcement, he and others were led by
Young on a long hike through Lamington National Park to be shown a
“blue-browed fig-parrot nest”. Young pointed to a small hole at
the top of a tall tree and said it was the nest entrance. When no
birds appeared after a short time, the group headed back. Nobody saw
the bird, including government scientists who had endorsed Young’s
claims.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Young pledged on his
website in February 2007 to produce a "body of evidence,
including photographs of multiple birds, recordings and biological
material together with a nest site" at some future date. The
evidence has failed to materialise 17 years on, but many nature
enthusiasts continue to believe Young’s new parrot is out there.
The big unanswered question: “Why would a claim like this be
manufactured?”</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iKVXs67wMcqVpqXZ26_g9x0ASpYsdoMzDNmSnZxDDjsvFncdaF7orPrXluVJSuM1jS55KOm2rKLFr8SsJ1sCmpchSWD37J9gmWWke0Ea_TVGZIH7utyfjbs1FWwIpINNTGYfSYOw88rWHAnWhVksb72vSg_I7V3qfnu5Lj5FnEL5gineqa9pt0J0Bcc/s2016/lloyd%20nielsen.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0iKVXs67wMcqVpqXZ26_g9x0ASpYsdoMzDNmSnZxDDjsvFncdaF7orPrXluVJSuM1jS55KOm2rKLFr8SsJ1sCmpchSWD37J9gmWWke0Ea_TVGZIH7utyfjbs1FWwIpINNTGYfSYOw88rWHAnWhVksb72vSg_I7V3qfnu5Lj5FnEL5gineqa9pt0J0Bcc/s320/lloyd%20nielsen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lloyd Nielsen</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Young has told me
and others in recent years that the bird he photographed was in fact
a Coxen’s fig-parrot. He admitted that his claims of a new species
were bogus. Young showed me a photograph of a dead bird in a nest
hollow that resembled a Coxen’s fig-parrot - a species that has
never been photographed. Nielsen told me he was also aware the new
species claim was false, even when he was publicly asserting the
opposite. Nielsen remains unsure if Young photographed a Coxen’s
fig-parrot or if he “coloured in” a double-eyed fig-parrot image.
Colours aside, parrot experts point to descriptive features, such as
the bill shape in the pictured bird, indicating a double-eyed
fig-parrot.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Young and Nielsen
say Young succumbed to pressure to make his false claim. There were
discussions about him emerging as the “new Steve Irwin” after the
naturalist’s death and that a natural history discovery of epic
proportions was needed to boost his profile. Something sexier than a
Coxen’s fig-parrot. Young told me his “commercial backers”
hatched the idea that he discovered a new species. Nielsen agrees,
insisting he and Young did not want to go along with the ruse.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mZoSbzLUxeMtj6lTqjCF4M8Scx2ZMQPZ-dsdNWjvs0e56eA7jF-FdhpAYNCa4_Dbr2yU9Xe79lVg5ZMnTP-MHt4ymjOFSsEvuPLONFkUofRdbwKR8Pe6gF9lKLwb9KM8cT6z0bQQPbUZEf13WXRZhZOE1HQPa12QU06QpA1NRdJN7XIW-o3Ijn16L88/s2048/coxen's%20fig-parrot%20specimen%20pic%20Noel%20Hart%20(from%20American%20Museum%20of%20Natural%20History).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4mZoSbzLUxeMtj6lTqjCF4M8Scx2ZMQPZ-dsdNWjvs0e56eA7jF-FdhpAYNCa4_Dbr2yU9Xe79lVg5ZMnTP-MHt4ymjOFSsEvuPLONFkUofRdbwKR8Pe6gF9lKLwb9KM8cT6z0bQQPbUZEf13WXRZhZOE1HQPa12QU06QpA1NRdJN7XIW-o3Ijn16L88/s320/coxen's%20fig-parrot%20specimen%20pic%20Noel%20Hart%20(from%20American%20Museum%20of%20Natural%20History).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Coxedn's Fig-Parrot specimens (Neil Hart)</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Tom Biggs rejects
the suggestion that he urged Young to manufacture the parrot claim.
Biggs tells Inquirer: “I am far from an expert. I don’t have
100th the experience that John has, and I am disinclined to think it
was my suggestion. I have no recollection of suggesting it was a new
species. I doubt that I would have suggested that on the basis of
John’s claim, based on a photograph, that it was a different
species from Coxen’s.” Biggs adds: “To the extent that he
photo-shopped or deliberately manipulated colours, I wouldn’t know.
It’s easily done these days.”</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Young and Nielsen
are among many naturalists who insist the Coxen’s fig-parrot is
doing well in the wild. That view resounds with officialdom:
Queensland Government threatened species experts – the same ones
who believed in Young’s blue-browed fig-parrot - insist there are
scores of reliable records of the species in recent decades. In 2018,
the state took the extraordinary step of downgrading the status of
the fig-parrot from Critically Endangered on the basis that its
estimated population of between 50 and 250 had not changed for many
years. The estimate was and remains misguided; not one of the reports
has been confirmed by a photograph, sound recording or other
evidence. The downgrading was executed at a time when many experts
believe Coxen’s fig-parrot was likely to be extinct.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Young’s focus of
attention shifted soon after the blue-browed fig-parrot debacle when
The Australian revealed in February 2007 that a dead night parrot was
found in Diamantina National Park in north-west Queensland by Robert
“Shorty” Cupitt, a bulldozer operator. The bird was decapitated
by flying into a barbed wire fence. Other than another dead bird
found in 1990, also in north-west Queensland, the night parrot had
not been reliably recorded for a century. At the time, it was
considered more rare and mysterious that the Coxen’s fig-parrot.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzeSdI0m2MV8gTmyNN6N6C-tOBzEM-sBhusuTk2GlZlaXWttVNbKAYYVbXU1QfEJhtVrALwAlk06GDx5ODH0VLRCEbaAUqAbPQfajvgJkmI80UZXgOXcr96bJx1SkQHXlzVm3Mq9J9LY3tliaj_PYPPv7aiyob6fBOoyuuEnIwFBiotN0fULcX9hk7Zw/s1211/John%20Young%20where%20he%20first%20photographed%20the%20night%20parrot%20at%20pullen%20pullen.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="1211" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjzeSdI0m2MV8gTmyNN6N6C-tOBzEM-sBhusuTk2GlZlaXWttVNbKAYYVbXU1QfEJhtVrALwAlk06GDx5ODH0VLRCEbaAUqAbPQfajvgJkmI80UZXgOXcr96bJx1SkQHXlzVm3Mq9J9LY3tliaj_PYPPv7aiyob6fBOoyuuEnIwFBiotN0fULcX9hk7Zw/s320/John%20Young%20where%20he%20first%20photographed%20the%20night%20parrot%20at%20pullen%20pullen.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">John Young at the site where he photographed the Night Parrot in 2013</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">The Queensland
Government had suppressed news of this remarkable discovery for
several months, and would have continued to do so indefinitely, while
failing to make meaningful efforts to find and protect populations of
birds in the wake of Cupitt’s find.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">The discovery was
potentially a golden opportunity for Young to restore his bruised
reputation by tracking down this enigmatic species - one of just two
nocturnal parrots in the world and apart from Coxen’s fig-parrot,
the only parrot never to be photographed. Young located parrots by
call in the Diamantina area and eventually photographed a night
parrot in 2013 - a remarkable feat that attracted international
recognition. The site where the parrots live was acquired by Bush
Heritage Australia and called the Pullen Pullen Reserve. BHA and the
Australian Wildlife Conservancy are Australia’s two big
organisations devoted to acquiring properties for wildlife
conservation.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Young’s initial
close working relationship with BHA was short-lived and he was hired
by AWC to search for night parrots. Young quit the AWC in 2018 when
an inquiry commissioned by the organisation expressed doubts about
photographs he claimed to be of night parrot nests and eggs. The
inquiry doubted Young’s claims to have discovered the parrot in
South Australia. The AWC ditched two years’ worth of material that
Young had gathered. Nielsen again came to his defence, saying at the
time: “It's shameful that all that work was discarded.” Young
continues to claim new night parrot records: in a blog post last
April, he said he had discovered birds at 11 additional sites in
outback Queensland since his 2013 photographs.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9VQjPV_y6_-0mGnlIQy0Ut4HDjTWvVXnvoPVDhHbyqih_vRveUTBaDuO6tJv12tMBABlvSHi4ouOb6epkJZJ9GuYySixtCsERYluhbJrjilBqj8Zq0FQ0K8nErccGClezVU-3SYdCk5b2XPQd2RJ7ISXhBVAAt6sJIQ7lxerQpL4rPoAdjrQYGAp3WYE/s1512/fence%20at%20pullen%20pullen%20where%20a%20night%20parrot%20was%20killed%20in%202019.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="894" data-original-width="1512" height="189" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9VQjPV_y6_-0mGnlIQy0Ut4HDjTWvVXnvoPVDhHbyqih_vRveUTBaDuO6tJv12tMBABlvSHi4ouOb6epkJZJ9GuYySixtCsERYluhbJrjilBqj8Zq0FQ0K8nErccGClezVU-3SYdCk5b2XPQd2RJ7ISXhBVAAt6sJIQ7lxerQpL4rPoAdjrQYGAp3WYE/s320/fence%20at%20pullen%20pullen%20where%20a%20night%20parrot%20was%20killed%20in%202019.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fence at Pullen Pullen where a Night Parrot was killed</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Parrot experts
believe Young and his backers have set back the cause of night parrot
conservation with unsubstantiated claims of finding them at multiple
sites. “Young’s data was being used to inform decisions about
funding and planning for night parrot conservation,” Australian
National University researcher Penny Olsen told the ANU Reporter last
March. “The bird might feel mythical but it lives in the real
world, and the consequences of misrepresenting its population size
and distribution are serious.” Young and Nielsen declined to
respond to requests to comment.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">At Pullen Pullen,
the outlook is bleak: the total parrot population was estimated in
2022 to be between 10 and 20. Numbers have not increased since the
2013 photographs, and surveys have failed to locate additional
populations in Queensland. BHA refuses to say what the population is
now, or to comment on whether a recent explosion of feral cat numbers
on and around Pullen Pullen has had adverse consequences for the tiny
population.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">In 2019, another
night parrot was killed after flying into a barbed wire fence on
Pullen Pullen; the fatality may have constituted between 10 and 20
percent of the population. Barbed wire fences on the property
separate night parrot roosts from each other and from surrounding
feeding grounds. Fences are located within a few hundred metres of
parrot roosts. BHA built a new barbed wire fence along Pullen
Pullen’s western boundary in 2017.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRUs-VXwpG0TJKIjFekWnDuitPvPrMHFStw-qF7fHVY-ThRTq8v9W7KOsjWzvRPdsui3kTrfTF709CysRHJIJhNA5mfq_thwqIqZIlhnVqDkG8u6c6bqVYKphrmWilzihgvvMg3knzg2I8bmcT9H9vpG7_bmAV3P4nvLr6Xp_ST9xf4lu2YAuV_5mC4M/s2016/pullen%20pullen%20gate.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijRUs-VXwpG0TJKIjFekWnDuitPvPrMHFStw-qF7fHVY-ThRTq8v9W7KOsjWzvRPdsui3kTrfTF709CysRHJIJhNA5mfq_thwqIqZIlhnVqDkG8u6c6bqVYKphrmWilzihgvvMg3knzg2I8bmcT9H9vpG7_bmAV3P4nvLr6Xp_ST9xf4lu2YAuV_5mC4M/s320/pullen%20pullen%20gate.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Entrance to Pullen Pullen</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Useful data was
provided when researches in the reserve put transmitters on two night
parrots which were tracked, one in 2015 and one in 2016. That work
revealed parrots fly long distances at night from day roosts to
feeding grounds. Pullen Pullen researchers travelled to Western
Australia to do the same with a third bird at a newly discovered site
in 2018. As lead researcher Nick Leseberg told podcast host Thomas
Doerig in 2022: “We went over there, put the tag on it and never
saw it again. It flew away and disappeared.” Extensive searches
failed to find the bird and it was not heard calling again at its
roost.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">BHA has now thrown a
veil of secrecy over its Pullen Pullen operations. The organisation
will not say if other parrots have died on barbed wire fences or been
lost after being fitted with transmitters. “Unfortunately none of
our staff are available to help with this story,” said BHA spokeswoman Coco McGrath. BHA has in the past declared
that its operations are “utterly transparent”, but the secrecy
surrounding the night parrot that kicked off with Cupitt’s find
continues. BHA has the back of the Queensland Government, which
introduced a <em><span style="font-style: normal;">$353,400</span></em>
fine or two-year jail
sentence for entering
the 56,000ha Pullen Pullen Reserve without permission.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXBANbQhBcg1AwuTr8jSxnUBokTj8RsBbJiOuFcXt0Imm1ixVB8BJ-0ktqF9PJAs0Q9HaNNpmbr7QtNHqCWX94OcTebvJUh5DP2GSxp7b7JnKLl45bv5RQOET0Y62AD-dNJMnUV27AmWsda4VEuOXBdvBbMzUxQOM9nc3ybDR_KNRuLlzO1utqfNjzr4/s2615/double-eyed%20fig-parrot.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2615" data-original-width="2388" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidXBANbQhBcg1AwuTr8jSxnUBokTj8RsBbJiOuFcXt0Imm1ixVB8BJ-0ktqF9PJAs0Q9HaNNpmbr7QtNHqCWX94OcTebvJUh5DP2GSxp7b7JnKLl45bv5RQOET0Y62AD-dNJMnUV27AmWsda4VEuOXBdvBbMzUxQOM9nc3ybDR_KNRuLlzO1utqfNjzr4/s320/double-eyed%20fig-parrot.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double-eyed Fig-Parrot</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">John Young had been
through the windmill with the Coxen’s fig-parrot and night parrot
controversies. Next he set his sights on the third critically
endangered species in this saga – the buff-breasted buttonquail.
Young and Nielsen claimed to have had multiple encounters with the
small ground bird since the early-1990s in a large area of woodland
north of the Atherton Tableland in north Queensland. Those reports
set the birding world on fire. Hundreds of bird enthusiasts from
around the world claimed to have spotted the buttonquail after
travelling to the area.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">It was seemingly a
mirage. Again, not a single record was supported by a photograph or
other evidence. University of Queensland researcher Patrick Webster
undertook extensive surveys of the area and found no evidence of the
bird’s presence, instead repeatedly seeing a closely related and
much more common species - the painted buttonquail. Webster and his
colleagues conclude that none of the reports are likely to be
genuine.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGA_zQupzSZcawUerC6hqYAzMTxXqTP-ldI8SDozeqpqnv_UX-pSnqvrUjk_tLU_GNF5Cg13pUVkDrtbtdk-5FFVNMI3BEOgBpjSHonQhoarlt67vi8W2lnx1WlmqpPvY1m8KJWF5n7q0Pn12lD7Q99yheK27qe8FmdBaMBue8ffo-6gt-GV9K7sZ4qo/s3835/painted%20buttonquail.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3340" data-original-width="3835" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDGA_zQupzSZcawUerC6hqYAzMTxXqTP-ldI8SDozeqpqnv_UX-pSnqvrUjk_tLU_GNF5Cg13pUVkDrtbtdk-5FFVNMI3BEOgBpjSHonQhoarlt67vi8W2lnx1WlmqpPvY1m8KJWF5n7q0Pn12lD7Q99yheK27qe8FmdBaMBue8ffo-6gt-GV9K7sZ4qo/s320/painted%20buttonquail.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Painted Buttonquail</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">This made no
difference to Queensland Government authorities which, largely on the
basis of records from Young and Nielsen, refused over many years to
upgrade the status of the species to Critically Endangered. The last
confirmed record of the bird was in 1922, when specimens were
collected near Coen on Cape York. The government’s faith in the
integrity of claims by the two naturalists was unaffected by the
fig-parrot and night parrot rows.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">In the face of
Webster’s research, Young and Nielsen doubled down on their
buttonquail records. Like the night parrot until 2013 and the Coxen’s
fig-parrot, the buttonquail had never been photographed. But Young
said he had photographs of the nest and eggs of a buff-breasted
buttonquail as well as multiple images of the bird itself, which he
shared with Nielsen. <span style="font-size: 12pt;">In July
2022 Inquirer called into question a published image of what Young
described as a buff-breasted buttonquail </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">nest
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt;">that proved to be the
nest of a painted buttonquail.</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWxyp7z9jYd_vFLsU3LEMsfdko_vwLq28Z1lhSmZba9xXJU-1ozBGDzlN0rQjgaWT6AjhBorF_rz1ASVUzIU3Ez1PQG-OhgO3RF1nAvOjtNqQCQgx8r2ZGUU0N_tmP6OjbCCGyH7w0lOHdNQzXjfpaMYVBoLJTauuUIFt5kQZveyM6LaiPsPxOiREBuo/s534/john%20nest%20AWC.png" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="397" data-original-width="534" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiWxyp7z9jYd_vFLsU3LEMsfdko_vwLq28Z1lhSmZba9xXJU-1ozBGDzlN0rQjgaWT6AjhBorF_rz1ASVUzIU3Ez1PQG-OhgO3RF1nAvOjtNqQCQgx8r2ZGUU0N_tmP6OjbCCGyH7w0lOHdNQzXjfpaMYVBoLJTauuUIFt5kQZveyM6LaiPsPxOiREBuo/s320/john%20nest%20AWC.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The nest that John Young claims to be that of a Buff-breasted Buttonquail</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">I later published
one of his images of the bird on my blog, sunshinecoastbirds. Experts
agreed it was likely a painted buttonquail. Nielsen again responding
angrily, saying on Facebook he was “thoroughly disgusted” at what
he described as “gutter journalism”. However, following these
revelations, the Queensland Government was finally motivated to
intervene and upgrade the status of the buff-breasted buttonquail to
Critically Endangered, in November 2022. At the same time, it
reversed its 2018 decision to downgrade the status of Coxen’s
fig-parrot, restoring it to Critically Endangered. It may be too
late, however, for all three special birds.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijl91jrRXwT2Yxz_leFnICj86588aXT18rLLpFs5hfbtbV2eO5GUbnJWZoXQagDXtfSBmSsjb1LEHlCn6Qf17bpouMY8LeTDvhAHrZ7JSaj-94JuwaDHfmmNj8pMeJlxtGKa2hFW2sdCEBf-A05xFFq4XAsf1_fTeav4YyEZfCaEGzDzGx6i5abpYlZ7E/s1920/Screenshot%20(172).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1920" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijl91jrRXwT2Yxz_leFnICj86588aXT18rLLpFs5hfbtbV2eO5GUbnJWZoXQagDXtfSBmSsjb1LEHlCn6Qf17bpouMY8LeTDvhAHrZ7JSaj-94JuwaDHfmmNj8pMeJlxtGKa2hFW2sdCEBf-A05xFFq4XAsf1_fTeav4YyEZfCaEGzDzGx6i5abpYlZ7E/s320/Screenshot%20(172).png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-70167557682786850782024-01-23T13:15:00.000+10:002024-03-03T10:55:01.477+10:00More wetland protected on the Sunshine Coast <p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxBVQ8cDq-ZM42BiLNzdLKh_zVhhHFfby-jXgCXqlP0jM4Xw1smapTuAm-AyWHkIAnibozkhsfBauhoualjWmOTPCeT8q7pqzCMzwK-oT0dMDGrn_41cqkpduFP5YtSeSh1yOPDYaygOFiT2-lBSGOugZMlU15iwOGmvhkTiqA8XpscbC5oRNxF_ZJuI/s2016/west%20coolum%20wt%201-24a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="972" data-original-width="2016" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxBVQ8cDq-ZM42BiLNzdLKh_zVhhHFfby-jXgCXqlP0jM4Xw1smapTuAm-AyWHkIAnibozkhsfBauhoualjWmOTPCeT8q7pqzCMzwK-oT0dMDGrn_41cqkpduFP5YtSeSh1yOPDYaygOFiT2-lBSGOugZMlU15iwOGmvhkTiqA8XpscbC5oRNxF_ZJuI/s320/west%20coolum%20wt%201-24a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West Coolum Wetland</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p>In a
new win for the environment on the Sunshine Coast, an additional
120ha of wetland and grassland has been acquired by the Sunshine
Coast Council for protection as environmental reserve. This brings
the total area of wetland and associated habitats in the heart of
Australia’s tenth largest city to be protected to 1,700ha.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwml0lNSecbBcgEWfWY_zUPbQTS5gik9By_5RkdczBp11uuCS9W2PBLn-Kyh_gzmYAQUCk2S0pz8I8rHp7ykK_Dg-G3Ngo7A1NnAZGIPrTJ3nZhCZ5jDxDv8n2Pjj0JCw3WWkBuXXBCrI8G_i1uE-2BJI3EtYH7Vx3aT_H5mIdZr8DS7AZvbQVx2TDxqY/s800/new%20wetland.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="530" data-original-width="800" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwml0lNSecbBcgEWfWY_zUPbQTS5gik9By_5RkdczBp11uuCS9W2PBLn-Kyh_gzmYAQUCk2S0pz8I8rHp7ykK_Dg-G3Ngo7A1NnAZGIPrTJ3nZhCZ5jDxDv8n2Pjj0JCw3WWkBuXXBCrI8G_i1uE-2BJI3EtYH7Vx3aT_H5mIdZr8DS7AZvbQVx2TDxqY/s320/new%20wetland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West Coolum Wetland (foreground) with newly acquired area above (Sunshine Coast Council pic)</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The new area adjoins the Sunshine Coast Motorway behind Coolum and
as with other acquisitions in recent years, it is former sugar cane
land. The wetlands were created by the inundated of tidal waters
following the collapse of floodgates after much of the region’s
cane farming ended with the closure of the Nambour sugar mill two
decades ago. Although human-modified, the wetlands are not dissimilar
to those which occurred naturally around the Maroochy River
floodplain prior to the development of cane farms a century ago.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5v-w0C1q5wj2OaD3HyYOJJAKoN8i5dWE-SvTM81mdhYjdh8X-t24YLEfP1WdkEBeKsUEg7MJYe77pnvV1WK8BMtTmDJwiqrF9TaJEXk6FiONwCxGhR-4kP1ysz9KNOV-tAc9Lq-5lIzvb211miEINEtHLH69K6BW4wYIYyVDs9CmC-UR3xyaD9opTeKE/s2016/west%20coolum%20wt%201-24b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1041" data-original-width="2016" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5v-w0C1q5wj2OaD3HyYOJJAKoN8i5dWE-SvTM81mdhYjdh8X-t24YLEfP1WdkEBeKsUEg7MJYe77pnvV1WK8BMtTmDJwiqrF9TaJEXk6FiONwCxGhR-4kP1ysz9KNOV-tAc9Lq-5lIzvb211miEINEtHLH69K6BW4wYIYyVDs9CmC-UR3xyaD9opTeKE/s320/west%20coolum%20wt%201-24b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West Coolum Wetland </td></tr></tbody></table><p>The latest acquisition more than doubles the size of what I have
dubbed the <a href="https://sunshinecoastbirds.blogspot.com/2020/02/west-coolum-wetland-to-be-protected.html">West
Coolum Wetland</a>, a 90ha site acquired by the council in 2011 but
not made a reserve until 2020. These acquisitions effectively expand
the 190ha Yandina Creek Wetland, purchased by Unitywater in 2016 as
part of the corporation's nutrient offsets program following a
lengthy campaign to save the area from development. These and other
acquisitions, along with the Coolum Creek Environment Reserve, are
the backbone of the Blue Heart project - a joint endeavour by the
council, the Queensland Government and Unitywater to protect and
restore Maroochy River floodplain wetlands.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRU2jh5cjmz_A_oFkQV0XiMvEh2613r3E65uOHI3h1iHMivuMLEK9jSpjtMpILNrMVzJLr6HGZIdt6bqxUMOKBLunfEIauQVkOnYLxuMbOY5bnkypFhBTEgjUS0yjXrm1KHNNUbEXYXysGcTsylGNw7Jj90wgYhtTglEOyF31BJF8AsZckT8X6MM1XygA/s1394/royal%20sp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="1394" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRU2jh5cjmz_A_oFkQV0XiMvEh2613r3E65uOHI3h1iHMivuMLEK9jSpjtMpILNrMVzJLr6HGZIdt6bqxUMOKBLunfEIauQVkOnYLxuMbOY5bnkypFhBTEgjUS0yjXrm1KHNNUbEXYXysGcTsylGNw7Jj90wgYhtTglEOyF31BJF8AsZckT8X6MM1XygA/s320/royal%20sp.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Royal Spoonbill</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Sunshine Coast councillor Maria Suarez said of the latest land
purchase: “This is another example of what’s exciting about Blue
Heart: benefits for biodiversity; creating nature-based recreation
opportunities; and increasing opportunities for Council’s ongoing
Blue Carbon investigations and trials.” The $6 million land
purchase was secured through the SEQ City Deal, a long-term
partnership between the Australian Government, Queensland Government
and Council of Mayors (SEQ) that allocated $35.3 million to Blue
Heart.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Mwr7F0ed0F3uX1uDG4v9yYK9giRS5e4-47uXyQ79NMOO6lOnCe8aZPuRBHUYz1Le1lbk-4DqeLrvDNjo8rISg96KNYl81IoxeL_mKf4cp2mBK0z5HOIrUw1Mv_-XSLhwa6_YTmuEoTN99hJF2z-wDIk6yYMJvxJrL6se-WATxuHaIpDkvRf55lUy4x0/s2016/wet%20coolum%20wt%201-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1111" data-original-width="2016" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5Mwr7F0ed0F3uX1uDG4v9yYK9giRS5e4-47uXyQ79NMOO6lOnCe8aZPuRBHUYz1Le1lbk-4DqeLrvDNjo8rISg96KNYl81IoxeL_mKf4cp2mBK0z5HOIrUw1Mv_-XSLhwa6_YTmuEoTN99hJF2z-wDIk6yYMJvxJrL6se-WATxuHaIpDkvRf55lUy4x0/s320/wet%20coolum%20wt%201-24.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West Coolum Wetland</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The West Coolum Wetland provides habitat for a range of wetland
and grassland wildlife species. During a brief visit this week I
found good numbers of Little Grassbird and Spotless Crake, both
relatively uncommon in South-East Queensland. Egrets, cormorants,
spoonbills and herons were among the waterbirds present. Dollarbirds
and an Australian Hobby perched on nearby overhead wires.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfg7Xe3aA0OmPoz93-kgwtjAb7r_K_gMxHtw3YldxTVDW9yi7hnEB_YLLluziOZdrbedLdg2VNCLov3a5MfPdxA0tX6kdL4zdBgDz1cvtlWg_LsJmv5uTdFmwdGa3QvfHB_TfezufseMixPWYmu_1GpFrFMGU8URBW3LtHXZuxx92orrSo9SRAfEryi0/s2290/dollar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2290" data-original-width="1814" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjfg7Xe3aA0OmPoz93-kgwtjAb7r_K_gMxHtw3YldxTVDW9yi7hnEB_YLLluziOZdrbedLdg2VNCLov3a5MfPdxA0tX6kdL4zdBgDz1cvtlWg_LsJmv5uTdFmwdGa3QvfHB_TfezufseMixPWYmu_1GpFrFMGU8URBW3LtHXZuxx92orrSo9SRAfEryi0/s320/dollar.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dollarbird</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZRSwi14gqQKveboBe0UxhKXNHbBg08NzQD8ZKt3q33DfS3QPDG0j4Vi3GBqcHx2DYqrTMy9WE-mUH8SNEfFrJulQrcYmRTN5TIdVWGyOb9McSDiWgWmGO8c1zjHdf6poh5Zr2nWvRJOtqHED2dHTIlIPLblS5giOVaPhLAwkm9RxLyH7l9ROpwmctwc/s1450/hobby.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1150" data-original-width="1450" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRZRSwi14gqQKveboBe0UxhKXNHbBg08NzQD8ZKt3q33DfS3QPDG0j4Vi3GBqcHx2DYqrTMy9WE-mUH8SNEfFrJulQrcYmRTN5TIdVWGyOb9McSDiWgWmGO8c1zjHdf6poh5Zr2nWvRJOtqHED2dHTIlIPLblS5giOVaPhLAwkm9RxLyH7l9ROpwmctwc/s320/hobby.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Hobby</td></tr></tbody></table><p>The news is not all good, however. The council has given property
development giant Stockland preliminary approval to build a 450-lot
housing estate on the Maroochy River floodplain at Twin Waters. The
development will result in the destruction of a fine swathe of
grassland and a much-needed green space in the midst of a rapidly
expanding urban footprint in the area. To say nothing of yet more
housing developments in flood-prone sites. It says something that
Stockland is required to provide an evacuation centre for residents
to escape to in the event of flooding.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPv5LoBWJnIKz06saoy9Z3W5LMdxhytZB4OVsz15mFjJGhZeni2RsBJ2x10WtEFsajfwn__ZQmH_ZBCTXMYV84JJjRJ_G94nAwuaPXj9_uD_CpOCJHWXeUiOfA2kUMP3uqiQSQ9fBpR5Qb0pL5wmmrLwct2YXOfXKPyTPGPmWnADHLSjFX9S6TC-WuzL4/s2125/spotless%20crake.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1826" data-original-width="2125" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPv5LoBWJnIKz06saoy9Z3W5LMdxhytZB4OVsz15mFjJGhZeni2RsBJ2x10WtEFsajfwn__ZQmH_ZBCTXMYV84JJjRJ_G94nAwuaPXj9_uD_CpOCJHWXeUiOfA2kUMP3uqiQSQ9fBpR5Qb0pL5wmmrLwct2YXOfXKPyTPGPmWnADHLSjFX9S6TC-WuzL4/s320/spotless%20crake.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotless Crake</td></tr></tbody></table><p>Across the motorway from Stockland’s project on Godfreys Road is
the council’s next important test. Another area of excellent
grassland there provides habitat for several rare species including
the Eastern Grass Owl. <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-10-13/eastern-grass-owl-protection-wetlands-housing-sunshine-coast/101508324">(More
on the owls here.)</a> The council is presently determining whether
to convert the grassland to sporting facilities or protect it as a
reserve.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-YCFQljA7fCvY536tE4tU5Pj9mGXfSIFHViroVG2XHIKxFYR84Y6bLxBFDL8MXXxJoNxmGYB5NUnaz_RAgOrEchQvFlFNOvC6jWW_Bugw2pK6ESAOiPkLlfDMxyrn-U-LX_46TYeJNCl49yabDMKv1VV7p4rQYeYkfFakaeixvvlk2zJVBOqQuNOgxY/s3579/eastern%20grass%20owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2904" data-original-width="3579" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3-YCFQljA7fCvY536tE4tU5Pj9mGXfSIFHViroVG2XHIKxFYR84Y6bLxBFDL8MXXxJoNxmGYB5NUnaz_RAgOrEchQvFlFNOvC6jWW_Bugw2pK6ESAOiPkLlfDMxyrn-U-LX_46TYeJNCl49yabDMKv1VV7p4rQYeYkfFakaeixvvlk2zJVBOqQuNOgxY/s320/eastern%20grass%20owl.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Grass Owl</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-60597269475615447562023-12-31T14:31:00.004+10:002024-01-01T11:02:15.615+10:00Turquoise Parrot and 2023 South-East Queensland critter highlights <div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAPdCXe2UumOhlNtrTYhEPW1DLfHyLYqjLbEPodoQeF4oLve2Y1lZTUNwmMB_udEINqVADt70WUV-3bFsKWho5yO2-E6t9v9GK8Wzs-DK_OCJL0ZmoARpk74i1wjYnnLAVcMASL_Lu0n65UB6tESczLg-U4UI1XdR6grX8w8CNXBgv4r6D0kV9Qu7EcA/s1709/turquoise%20parrot%2012-23%20peregian.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1709" data-original-width="1671" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkAPdCXe2UumOhlNtrTYhEPW1DLfHyLYqjLbEPodoQeF4oLve2Y1lZTUNwmMB_udEINqVADt70WUV-3bFsKWho5yO2-E6t9v9GK8Wzs-DK_OCJL0ZmoARpk74i1wjYnnLAVcMASL_Lu0n65UB6tESczLg-U4UI1XdR6grX8w8CNXBgv4r6D0kV9Qu7EcA/s320/turquoise%20parrot%2012-23%20peregian.jpg" /></a></div>
The year 2023 ended on a high note with a male Turquoise Parrot seen this morning at Peregian Beach on the Sunshine Coast, in the Emu Swamp (southern) section of Noosa National Park. The bird was discovered on December 23 by local birder Janet Parsons about half-way along the extension of Woodland Drive westwards that forms a walking track across the wallum heath.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FaJYke-o-N4Rg1tIFYctDk0cj7YODGxu7vL6-SAxunaoN0_qinH7NTTWv6kGZXI8LhAeZFEjXI0FmQYqSaHkSVQlXgkI-TA99BCKU6DTYhKWGWrRPS7z-OCF2r0kiwU591PMNuVTae9lRT73X08YSUolV_jcMumOG8BfJ1BThVPaRlysYrDaGTDB5po/s1423/turquoise%20parrot1.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1423" data-original-width="1341" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3FaJYke-o-N4Rg1tIFYctDk0cj7YODGxu7vL6-SAxunaoN0_qinH7NTTWv6kGZXI8LhAeZFEjXI0FmQYqSaHkSVQlXgkI-TA99BCKU6DTYhKWGWrRPS7z-OCF2r0kiwU591PMNuVTae9lRT73X08YSUolV_jcMumOG8BfJ1BThVPaRlysYrDaGTDB5po/s320/turquoise%20parrot1.jpg" /></a></div>
The parrot has been seen on multiple occasions since, feeding on grass seeds on both sides of the track as well as on seeding plants in the heath. It tolerates a reasonably close approach but is quick to move off-track into woodland if sufficiently disturbed. The parrot has been recorded anywhere along the track from shortly after its beginning near the bitumen end of Woodland Drive – where vehicles are parked – to a seat on the track about 700m to the west. Over the past couple of mornings it has been near the start of the track. Sometimes it perches for short periods on overhead wires.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBtmOrWkk3Tr7HPE1DS5vARcg-XXhjX90BAHi00MkxqsXO2NNilZ2A9JT0wTPCnlZjoteJ3bde-Iu08X_gAXFJTcgjvzMUqlZqsfK80PKW92-4uPf5EA02x3ckgr7H3KV0uUoxEsjmWqsO9jbVbK4bmUM2E26hRpLY_Pm8jdv88eoHofA8qdfOYxR-2o/s1630/turquoise%20parrot3.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1611" data-original-width="1630" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicBtmOrWkk3Tr7HPE1DS5vARcg-XXhjX90BAHi00MkxqsXO2NNilZ2A9JT0wTPCnlZjoteJ3bde-Iu08X_gAXFJTcgjvzMUqlZqsfK80PKW92-4uPf5EA02x3ckgr7H3KV0uUoxEsjmWqsO9jbVbK4bmUM2E26hRpLY_Pm8jdv88eoHofA8qdfOYxR-2o/s320/turquoise%20parrot3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
There has been some discussion about whether the bird might be an aviary escapee. This appears in my view to be unlikely. The bird’s behaviour is similar to that of many wild Turquoise Parrots I have seen elsewhere (and of parrots of the Neophema genus generally). It is not overly tame and is not banded; not all aviary birds are banded but a male Turquoise Parrot in fine form could expect to be. The habitat is similar to wallum heath at Cooloola where Turquoise Parrot has been seen in the past. The species is also recorded in the Sunshine Coast region from Jimna and Monsidale, and in several other sites outside its core range in the Granite Belt. This is the first record of the species from the Sunshine Coast and Noosa council areas. Neophema parrots not infrequently stray well outside their core range: witness for instance Blue-winged Parrots in south-west Queensland, or Scarlet-chested Parrots in Victoria and eastern South Australia. <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXDPov88a6XsgNsWJYKMOz6ih0skvTiary-RLCauGxRWY_uTtCYrVYWodXVTW1ofsy2E8RWHpvjpSn3qhQYu8dgZ_NZrqyb6CdJh9T59NpZYVM5Xo2yRT4XB8FJrK1C-gFTJkAV9bihFIla4SQZ7sKqlhDgtGCVFDgsULSU5-HMtHbT99uVXbREe9zdo/s1125/turquise%20parrot2.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1125" data-original-width="954" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXDPov88a6XsgNsWJYKMOz6ih0skvTiary-RLCauGxRWY_uTtCYrVYWodXVTW1ofsy2E8RWHpvjpSn3qhQYu8dgZ_NZrqyb6CdJh9T59NpZYVM5Xo2yRT4XB8FJrK1C-gFTJkAV9bihFIla4SQZ7sKqlhDgtGCVFDgsULSU5-HMtHbT99uVXbREe9zdo/s320/turquise%20parrot2.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"></td></tr></tbody></table>
Also in the wallum today were loads of Red-browed Finches and White-cheeked Honeyeaters.
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVqo4AY5pLwZwNHlh5gp456mA1dLEEwYjgmsLKWmSV4hAEAm9co80VEXJHxN7AJgXeYnDTGHsyHd-gNDxALMfNRECrUwhidM-gHeqp8fZ5lbHy3cxqUb48jmQqO9IukYXsWsJLlgJpnWFchgGqfWhCeM7AbyJGOmgUG62EB5GMKtGRwGOLrhOI8qaUw0/s1974/red-browed%20finch%2012-23.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1463" data-original-width="1974" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvVqo4AY5pLwZwNHlh5gp456mA1dLEEwYjgmsLKWmSV4hAEAm9co80VEXJHxN7AJgXeYnDTGHsyHd-gNDxALMfNRECrUwhidM-gHeqp8fZ5lbHy3cxqUb48jmQqO9IukYXsWsJLlgJpnWFchgGqfWhCeM7AbyJGOmgUG62EB5GMKtGRwGOLrhOI8qaUw0/s320/red-browed%20finch%2012-23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcHbcaHv98m5C9jYSMX-geEGNrWCeuGF-Yo10WXAFBrAk4oCSFTTYmYxKEQbmx6NSQ-2JxsOnKKBP4YAt85astQSrahJ2iXYBbVfwlz4gWCwt2dIEIZhV1FN0zgWiiG_LB_IS2Gm3n6lW54xNS2r3-LthEwC_Judlu2RFz9maaDPTVFmggTiHABEmXbw/s2272/white-cheeked%20honeyeater%2012-23.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2272" data-original-width="1461" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzcHbcaHv98m5C9jYSMX-geEGNrWCeuGF-Yo10WXAFBrAk4oCSFTTYmYxKEQbmx6NSQ-2JxsOnKKBP4YAt85astQSrahJ2iXYBbVfwlz4gWCwt2dIEIZhV1FN0zgWiiG_LB_IS2Gm3n6lW54xNS2r3-LthEwC_Judlu2RFz9maaDPTVFmggTiHABEmXbw/s320/white-cheeked%20honeyeater%2012-23.jpg" /></a></div>
Now for a quick round-up of other birding highlights in south-east Queensland over the past 12 months. The year kicked off nicely with male and female Shining Flycatcher in mangroves along the Maroochy River near Finland Road. At the same spot was a nest of the rare Water Mouse.
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjPqrQBWD9c5Azl1wBOw8_e_mQksMmC2rs5G5xboHjtdNqdlPNcFRcl_ANx9Kdh-qo2DjDw8xlIiPu1mnSv97b5lzG9AkYVubNTZO9wLRB_-g60ufDwB7aD1ezR6-lU42tS1aP31kwR1KBT0og2qgWpeWAF_CnopHJO4FaZ1UReDtZVisTnmr-P1uP-M/s2230/shining%20flycatcher%20f%2012-20%20finland%20rd.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2197" data-original-width="2230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnjPqrQBWD9c5Azl1wBOw8_e_mQksMmC2rs5G5xboHjtdNqdlPNcFRcl_ANx9Kdh-qo2DjDw8xlIiPu1mnSv97b5lzG9AkYVubNTZO9wLRB_-g60ufDwB7aD1ezR6-lU42tS1aP31kwR1KBT0og2qgWpeWAF_CnopHJO4FaZ1UReDtZVisTnmr-P1uP-M/s320/shining%20flycatcher%20f%2012-20%20finland%20rd.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shining Flycatcher female</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GBNYLeYvYPVNiVSqWwrxxOnW3P2UUn5xzZEnGkcGwdrZwcKBRlxAP1LiXg7RTzQAzhQnsKoiYvin7rJLw7pj6AhUTZzUWGnP88kBa-yjSxKMkLiTu3_CUMRn1Jq4_c2Q0sP_H1UKCfgLvBHtWQyoIDb5Lv1vg0_Sv31T6htY9Pr2onyaoNK2BEKzrag/s2868/shining%20flyccatcher%20m%2012-2-%20finland%20rd.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="2868" data-original-width="2368" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9GBNYLeYvYPVNiVSqWwrxxOnW3P2UUn5xzZEnGkcGwdrZwcKBRlxAP1LiXg7RTzQAzhQnsKoiYvin7rJLw7pj6AhUTZzUWGnP88kBa-yjSxKMkLiTu3_CUMRn1Jq4_c2Q0sP_H1UKCfgLvBHtWQyoIDb5Lv1vg0_Sv31T6htY9Pr2onyaoNK2BEKzrag/s320/shining%20flyccatcher%20m%2012-2-%20finland%20rd.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shining Flycatcher male</td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNJp3Tks9aDZJnpUiNOS1a2Igr5-8ISlfFwGJ2FHyW98-AlgD9lDkhQwyemK9UDFBAbElGyy6xL9ej9d7THN97qqM9SfXde5khyml2cKW2AvIit9mPx86akC_yjZA6qC6qX1ZltIQE9a5jAmiS518f_0bmVcLLi52CQtF2oPfoonK54iLKi4IHAsTew0/s2016/water%20mouse%20nest,%20maroochy%20river%2012-22.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCNJp3Tks9aDZJnpUiNOS1a2Igr5-8ISlfFwGJ2FHyW98-AlgD9lDkhQwyemK9UDFBAbElGyy6xL9ej9d7THN97qqM9SfXde5khyml2cKW2AvIit9mPx86akC_yjZA6qC6qX1ZltIQE9a5jAmiS518f_0bmVcLLi52CQtF2oPfoonK54iLKi4IHAsTew0/s320/water%20mouse%20nest,%20maroochy%20river%2012-22.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Water Mouse nest<br /><br /></td></tr></tbody></table>
A Brush Cuckoo at Noosaville put on a show.<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4j-vUITOAGGEdkY07I1IoxMnpinvFxaeC_0kc0YkXK-tCphLXCihIJDCkKmkkW4iRmpcb-Gzz1qSd9Di0u_alP6v9CKLHUXIjRvU4FPzbtWoyEw0EYrJMMuGd5K4WRKa_9GyYjcEdMNGtGHBe_WbG8KswoA4pi3CyKr8_H1MNNaugigwGIPK3YNuH8Bo/s2169/brush%20cuckoo,%20noosaville%2012-22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2169" data-original-width="1958" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4j-vUITOAGGEdkY07I1IoxMnpinvFxaeC_0kc0YkXK-tCphLXCihIJDCkKmkkW4iRmpcb-Gzz1qSd9Di0u_alP6v9CKLHUXIjRvU4FPzbtWoyEw0EYrJMMuGd5K4WRKa_9GyYjcEdMNGtGHBe_WbG8KswoA4pi3CyKr8_H1MNNaugigwGIPK3YNuH8Bo/s320/brush%20cuckoo,%20noosaville%2012-22.jpg" width="289" /></a></div><br /><div> A Marbled Frogmouth disturbed at its day roost in Mapleton National Park did not appear to be thrilled to see me. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdk8WKIlLIPkhylC_gkP9wKOuqbIMMOdR_NnywtyRd2uWDUk5YCkLiVntEJKYmj4ZidkbaVfxXMp32RnS3p_qaCKJyOyp_05xr39Jy0BypEqsbTLON66gjMq5BabjTOBcCrB1b12ADXeNDc9vZWGCerswdd6EfPCelifbivBHMHfjJz68imVl6q1oOPGE/s1773/marbled%20frogmouth%2012-22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1212" data-original-width="1773" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdk8WKIlLIPkhylC_gkP9wKOuqbIMMOdR_NnywtyRd2uWDUk5YCkLiVntEJKYmj4ZidkbaVfxXMp32RnS3p_qaCKJyOyp_05xr39Jy0BypEqsbTLON66gjMq5BabjTOBcCrB1b12ADXeNDc9vZWGCerswdd6EfPCelifbivBHMHfjJz68imVl6q1oOPGE/s320/marbled%20frogmouth%2012-22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div> Also in Mapleton National Park, a lovely male Superb Fruit-Dove was about for a while in February.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zKAe4KuA8NFOPNAYmYj4ckXUQzBgN9SRXYBgImQodXGaf5WsPpYypX-uPd6b4i4CMJpCh99BTiVuHfTKpO9uRF5lsJ759e9lDoJe_Xe8m7JOFMcam0i-vActPBT3jY9hYasZpa7TrERHP2JseoRqGnSFqflmKfRL2kw4cjteynlpoGvdJwOoVfedrxs/s1963/superb%20fruit-dove%202-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="1963" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4zKAe4KuA8NFOPNAYmYj4ckXUQzBgN9SRXYBgImQodXGaf5WsPpYypX-uPd6b4i4CMJpCh99BTiVuHfTKpO9uRF5lsJ759e9lDoJe_Xe8m7JOFMcam0i-vActPBT3jY9hYasZpa7TrERHP2JseoRqGnSFqflmKfRL2kw4cjteynlpoGvdJwOoVfedrxs/s320/superb%20fruit-dove%202-23.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div> King Quail was finally photographed, along Burtons Road, Bli Bli: the last land bird in south-east Queensland that I needed a snap of. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCO5O9WflsUWV9xDXQFp8Al5USQ9VNnkKZKdgscNHyrMKva3_WHxVP5e9YcRPIqGRccBMAXfOJgJp6pr17q1Oq7TBRYV2_v-fp4Qv56Ty-GnW-rnbwYE4X7rlD7QJ0dPTeFG5sISs8PufSN89rLgk62Ljf5K-ibDvY-5Dw4lHqtCZuSexlsT5h6W7xCZI/s1158/king%20quail.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="758" data-original-width="1158" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCO5O9WflsUWV9xDXQFp8Al5USQ9VNnkKZKdgscNHyrMKva3_WHxVP5e9YcRPIqGRccBMAXfOJgJp6pr17q1Oq7TBRYV2_v-fp4Qv56Ty-GnW-rnbwYE4X7rlD7QJ0dPTeFG5sISs8PufSN89rLgk62Ljf5K-ibDvY-5Dw4lHqtCZuSexlsT5h6W7xCZI/s320/king%20quail.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div> On the same day, some nice flight shots of Latham’s Snipe at Finland Road. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGPEXWiOJjT-g8oTmkYD0oD78CITznYa45d2GV1IEZjLNrckO2ks1Q8ZwIj1ob0ttpw4xHDATG4Te4wYG6VI3nK3U9-rND5nFLaRva_FKBEBPstPyhwSmgBPT16xbC_z09Ms-SlfH8Y0kbW6pOcEV5aQyKPmNI1KKzbqWeeNSFcu38e_77wbSL3E4y3o/s841/latham's%20snipe,%20finland%20rd%2012-22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="537" data-original-width="841" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVGPEXWiOJjT-g8oTmkYD0oD78CITznYa45d2GV1IEZjLNrckO2ks1Q8ZwIj1ob0ttpw4xHDATG4Te4wYG6VI3nK3U9-rND5nFLaRva_FKBEBPstPyhwSmgBPT16xbC_z09Ms-SlfH8Y0kbW6pOcEV5aQyKPmNI1KKzbqWeeNSFcu38e_77wbSL3E4y3o/s320/latham's%20snipe,%20finland%20rd%2012-22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div> A visit to Hervey Bay in March turned up a showy Black Bittern at Akarra Lagoon. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GCmzI7aSrMDIS4Mm6eMIKGram2en7wfaUdhce6vJu3IrLOR9gZfa4ysSxOUKyz9ljBlm2c1ekbWSZ0qDrIK3YbR1wEzlYi_XkxpFIGLo9LzU_D1DMHlKzyU35Jwc3jn4dBTPEgOEL6F34Civgj8XpIUQ5pKKWrDsdK5Rq7LcNdy0dJPdytrn5Xl_HCY/s1488/black%20bittern%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1488" data-original-width="1273" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4GCmzI7aSrMDIS4Mm6eMIKGram2en7wfaUdhce6vJu3IrLOR9gZfa4ysSxOUKyz9ljBlm2c1ekbWSZ0qDrIK3YbR1wEzlYi_XkxpFIGLo9LzU_D1DMHlKzyU35Jwc3jn4dBTPEgOEL6F34Civgj8XpIUQ5pKKWrDsdK5Rq7LcNdy0dJPdytrn5Xl_HCY/s320/black%20bittern%20.jpg" width="274" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div> At Maaroom high tide roost soon after, an affinis Gull-billed Tern was spotted among the numerous Australian Terns. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zqF4RZuimcYi0NELk19SBmUMB-GlfrcJesO9mJ84NW3cz-6DyvIPDLy_r_NUYYDQMgNDHj5k4cejOc48kHsnp59zZm3xppycHbM4qJxkT3-9Z6Td7MsFNPJwBqtkANHH9LXPP7285RgAqtcpKdHnfjDGmJzaqGq4ugyZK1ya93cU29kingyVU1TNlJ4/s1407/gull-billed%20tern.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1311" data-original-width="1407" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2zqF4RZuimcYi0NELk19SBmUMB-GlfrcJesO9mJ84NW3cz-6DyvIPDLy_r_NUYYDQMgNDHj5k4cejOc48kHsnp59zZm3xppycHbM4qJxkT3-9Z6Td7MsFNPJwBqtkANHH9LXPP7285RgAqtcpKdHnfjDGmJzaqGq4ugyZK1ya93cU29kingyVU1TNlJ4/s320/gull-billed%20tern.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div> Radjah Shelduck continued to appear regularly throughout the year at the Maroochydore sewerage treatment works, with one pair hatching five ducklings. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DFfakkiNu8IZtIfNG6PbnT-EsBhXYMDowsxDB4VWOHD1Rjm-4yxnQJvQns9YZCIJHuSF-K-HRVoTBtLWft2foyYRB3_QAbrHPg_tMMgz8N2qj6xjxgDHzI47RX8SkBG1T8mouogvuPo11xunKPnGQvLbD1HOd9gd0e2dIhoyLzZR5P9_wcHRgmNpB-c/s3648/radjah%20shelduck%20family%2012-2-.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1889" data-original-width="3648" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_DFfakkiNu8IZtIfNG6PbnT-EsBhXYMDowsxDB4VWOHD1Rjm-4yxnQJvQns9YZCIJHuSF-K-HRVoTBtLWft2foyYRB3_QAbrHPg_tMMgz8N2qj6xjxgDHzI47RX8SkBG1T8mouogvuPo11xunKPnGQvLbD1HOd9gd0e2dIhoyLzZR5P9_wcHRgmNpB-c/s320/radjah%20shelduck%20family%2012-2-.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div> Black-chinned Honeyeater was among the species found in the Miva-Gunalda area north of Gympie. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHO07www4EhqyhJWQ0Ut-8YQorT4sSPSOUGqMAoVj6EfoDlu2tf_hQj_QdVwIWwSUduyOehR0IfnAdfI5ZK-YmEi85yXluh2-T00Qf-q_JUJaDIqOzUSDectPS1tGygnfdZ8c-GvLv2G7OkTy9wPLHNQQ9W3EEOBeo9E23G40lSj3HtiMnezbPPVM2DfY/s2048/black%20chin.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1779" data-original-width="2048" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHO07www4EhqyhJWQ0Ut-8YQorT4sSPSOUGqMAoVj6EfoDlu2tf_hQj_QdVwIWwSUduyOehR0IfnAdfI5ZK-YmEi85yXluh2-T00Qf-q_JUJaDIqOzUSDectPS1tGygnfdZ8c-GvLv2G7OkTy9wPLHNQQ9W3EEOBeo9E23G40lSj3HtiMnezbPPVM2DfY/s320/black%20chin.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>A fine pair of Eastern Grass Owls were unexpectedly flushed from grassland at Yandina Creek Wetland.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsCJnBKymfCOElIfDMuR-kTuMWHCDnqHhA7iiZ86lgj3CQZfwZGOk0BsL3e4StBn7BXLR9VKj4ezIcYouYWAOYjASOSa3X8nFb_ew7l8YlV2zUixb6snLCy7BWUSSR5pQNt9qwMff9Cdw3b5eYibrMJBBS1xcaoafesp8FxODVCHkbOLeoDUPtDVcaJM/s1064/grass.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="1064" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDsCJnBKymfCOElIfDMuR-kTuMWHCDnqHhA7iiZ86lgj3CQZfwZGOk0BsL3e4StBn7BXLR9VKj4ezIcYouYWAOYjASOSa3X8nFb_ew7l8YlV2zUixb6snLCy7BWUSSR5pQNt9qwMff9Cdw3b5eYibrMJBBS1xcaoafesp8FxODVCHkbOLeoDUPtDVcaJM/s320/grass.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div> As the year drew towards its end the birding picked up, with a female Australian Painted-Snipe (found by Chris Attewell) in residence for several weeks at Lake MacDonald.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQk7fHlIpgI7iJw-p6jG-CpiAMiTIWpyBCaShPR-oeZt2YwKjI3Pxvl3-exC_zpMOPEF9fZ4wucrAxAa0F60Jdi75h6QDy22M9cFSSTEifHZc0nTrKTonfYOnEQWbg9EA2Z1fF9pvZkQhWBxgYF89mWcFuPe3kXRHcutG2V1UXLwF_nmrryt07fpBab8/s1155/australian%20painted-snipe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="910" data-original-width="1155" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVQk7fHlIpgI7iJw-p6jG-CpiAMiTIWpyBCaShPR-oeZt2YwKjI3Pxvl3-exC_zpMOPEF9fZ4wucrAxAa0F60Jdi75h6QDy22M9cFSSTEifHZc0nTrKTonfYOnEQWbg9EA2Z1fF9pvZkQhWBxgYF89mWcFuPe3kXRHcutG2V1UXLwF_nmrryt07fpBab8/s320/australian%20painted-snipe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div> Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove and Barred Cuckoo-shrike showed nicely at Noosa Botanic Gardens at Cooroy. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBUsP5PBxTBpv5lrpQD5U26JWqbqjfMFa8DhZ5gONjiMBJsNWzuEMSHSg_F-F2Sj7Nr9SdQDg1DwhZ94tUWNwhqrSwxZgeOgYVmt3WorPNiRJKco5xLpURL9tAfMIJogB0KiDn5dTS_pV5MWf1w-S9shgLDPwfE1X6S098f-kJ4mK1b3HFhsvQWzqbms/s2773/barred%20cuckooshrike%2012-23.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2773" data-original-width="2087" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPBUsP5PBxTBpv5lrpQD5U26JWqbqjfMFa8DhZ5gONjiMBJsNWzuEMSHSg_F-F2Sj7Nr9SdQDg1DwhZ94tUWNwhqrSwxZgeOgYVmt3WorPNiRJKco5xLpURL9tAfMIJogB0KiDn5dTS_pV5MWf1w-S9shgLDPwfE1X6S098f-kJ4mK1b3HFhsvQWzqbms/s320/barred%20cuckooshrike%2012-23.jpg" width="241" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barred Cuckoo-shrike</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qImr5s30qvPn8e34qG21AFClS1SkWczrxlWDZVscMHKyuO_fX8WZ6c9fF71O8-KkhLSFkbKM8dg81JCBYrMaN4y7dmNKTxvcK1CBfVn8vVKn1IJESgakVVc9_QbM9o6CIlzAQJDD2JBo37wZBsbBV2XI8oYrRxwqPc4izA37yQR750mp61yAq21WP70/s1907/rose-crowed%20fdove%2012-23.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1899" data-original-width="1907" height="319" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0qImr5s30qvPn8e34qG21AFClS1SkWczrxlWDZVscMHKyuO_fX8WZ6c9fF71O8-KkhLSFkbKM8dg81JCBYrMaN4y7dmNKTxvcK1CBfVn8vVKn1IJESgakVVc9_QbM9o6CIlzAQJDD2JBo37wZBsbBV2XI8oYrRxwqPc4izA37yQR750mp61yAq21WP70/s320/rose-crowed%20fdove%2012-23.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose-crowned Fruit-Dove</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div> Also at Cooroy, Spotless Crake and Baillon’s Crake were side-by-side in good numbers at the sewerage treatment works. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloTfPwoX2-wGOwZvGMgaMdVaAjwRsrF_fQNPMXwIdwPKRcvvDecmrKY6LEdBe9REA8pzakme2mmwoZFmXxq29afJzDFX5PkxCO3AMwsj4xSoOmcW9iEAKDaT-_0icbP9-nNVZ89ogdBRcfrir5gducJV3Jg6J24sj1vXzOPE09fzhTKeek6qVMkvzKus/s2537/baillon's%20crake%2012-23%20cooroy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1713" data-original-width="2537" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjloTfPwoX2-wGOwZvGMgaMdVaAjwRsrF_fQNPMXwIdwPKRcvvDecmrKY6LEdBe9REA8pzakme2mmwoZFmXxq29afJzDFX5PkxCO3AMwsj4xSoOmcW9iEAKDaT-_0icbP9-nNVZ89ogdBRcfrir5gducJV3Jg6J24sj1vXzOPE09fzhTKeek6qVMkvzKus/s320/baillon's%20crake%2012-23%20cooroy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baillon's Crake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaa6CNZWMh7yqkgZkczS1cWltLyxsx8xwdMqViqC0HnAwcS7UJIvXuKm6a63jgNlRbbb8UsQvfMActEz-gJVSQrLVXA3igZRPr-EDFuCtANih4BihLGd-TYL70iKHj4Z9ui5pUMPKU8DSvFIRMguIXJAO5fJ27T93PV3xg9wQXL14g8IKX-eJ0ScjHwbI/s2600/spotless%20crake%2012-23%20cooroy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1620" data-original-width="2600" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaa6CNZWMh7yqkgZkczS1cWltLyxsx8xwdMqViqC0HnAwcS7UJIvXuKm6a63jgNlRbbb8UsQvfMActEz-gJVSQrLVXA3igZRPr-EDFuCtANih4BihLGd-TYL70iKHj4Z9ui5pUMPKU8DSvFIRMguIXJAO5fJ27T93PV3xg9wQXL14g8IKX-eJ0ScjHwbI/s320/spotless%20crake%2012-23%20cooroy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotless Crake</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div> While at Wappa Dam, Lewin’s Rail and Pale-vented Bush-hen were similarly happy to share the same spot.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOxi7YMuGgLB6cP2jP8-ipHckkC1sFuVZhGFd6xOWdEffDZnwhnjHG2gZxjJDwwI106jEGyGeq5FDLAhYYn40IBqOMtzNLfpcIy9-MNzKDFe3mRmmphm5VsC8srmY160nn-Jqu9prshKRkZSuzCnUNx42GjwolRcu4xAa9sDmsw4KrIdMZfIA6G9-BCo/s5176/lewins%20rail%2012-23%20wappa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3161" data-original-width="5176" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOxi7YMuGgLB6cP2jP8-ipHckkC1sFuVZhGFd6xOWdEffDZnwhnjHG2gZxjJDwwI106jEGyGeq5FDLAhYYn40IBqOMtzNLfpcIy9-MNzKDFe3mRmmphm5VsC8srmY160nn-Jqu9prshKRkZSuzCnUNx42GjwolRcu4xAa9sDmsw4KrIdMZfIA6G9-BCo/s320/lewins%20rail%2012-23%20wappa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lewin's Rail</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmQgCp-mICbOEWPS2hb9xQCVE_V6M18MEHWz7-e-0mA37MwOQlxVl4MZhAAYGLShTm05cYAH7UIYkXohw3qgNDzt8lLebVWg9Mrob_fJEl1mxhy3bJuhn7ZhpC0Du5AjJ4UquaTvK9cDgB-JIVeab8GMNgjQipaKD7t2KGdtSJNJ9txaYif_0bZWPv1I/s2048/pale%20vent.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="2030" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCmQgCp-mICbOEWPS2hb9xQCVE_V6M18MEHWz7-e-0mA37MwOQlxVl4MZhAAYGLShTm05cYAH7UIYkXohw3qgNDzt8lLebVWg9Mrob_fJEl1mxhy3bJuhn7ZhpC0Du5AjJ4UquaTvK9cDgB-JIVeab8GMNgjQipaKD7t2KGdtSJNJ9txaYif_0bZWPv1I/s320/pale%20vent.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pale-vented Bush-hen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div> A Sooty Owl was tracked down in the Conondale Range above Booloumba Creek. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMC9n29kvyX7UpDA7jibltgT_0HcZbJn7x0aSqZQx2Pu25JMhm7pzAwcMHqOcOaOFU9G90arxbmVzjqVRl-5iXmX3HjKWNbmY8IE3pPXJrNqy7RphzMeru982rHZZiS-x7Iqez0B46Ocs3tFrdyhvIPAlHpecmTQEAiYxJQ1CYCZJ4i744VgR4BJuKnM/s1874/sooty%20owl%20conondales%2011-23.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1874" data-original-width="1863" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqMC9n29kvyX7UpDA7jibltgT_0HcZbJn7x0aSqZQx2Pu25JMhm7pzAwcMHqOcOaOFU9G90arxbmVzjqVRl-5iXmX3HjKWNbmY8IE3pPXJrNqy7RphzMeru982rHZZiS-x7Iqez0B46Ocs3tFrdyhvIPAlHpecmTQEAiYxJQ1CYCZJ4i744VgR4BJuKnM/s320/sooty%20owl%20conondales%2011-23.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div> Also at Booloumba Creek were a Bush-Rat and an Eastern Horse-shoe Bat. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpS3nXuloNaYEHPnECX6owtxaX18YHVcvarVE4m2qdSGNXnMw8vZzVKwVQ4PS9nDEJf9k5Ji8YNN5PXNEyMLRYB2dNPZZUikYZ4190JJlR5UycltzH9v4UVIvM3bbHOQCekfaSzMTJkdbhDidqueNW5YG1ZOPmiitKIplaVfAa7joCeT9pYL2kopEpCBo/s4840/bush%20rat%20conondales%2011-23.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3359" data-original-width="4840" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpS3nXuloNaYEHPnECX6owtxaX18YHVcvarVE4m2qdSGNXnMw8vZzVKwVQ4PS9nDEJf9k5Ji8YNN5PXNEyMLRYB2dNPZZUikYZ4190JJlR5UycltzH9v4UVIvM3bbHOQCekfaSzMTJkdbhDidqueNW5YG1ZOPmiitKIplaVfAa7joCeT9pYL2kopEpCBo/s320/bush%20rat%20conondales%2011-23.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bush Rat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8W82fOBzggl0F7NN9qwrlTkNTHzuKtHuM31qCv-MOECFLaL1gIh9An54AV8GjNnEXmw3xYImrUYfp-rcIjsb3nppSYv0obfC5iu8xyH_KO9IthslsK3Ir2APTqjXvtkyWqnPKfL9CS6Toa5BLfDpv1zTKyUawGoJLBy3d6YTfuWF2DcsD-it47976Lw/s1995/eastern%20horseshoe%20bat%20booloumba%20ck%2011-23%20.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1995" data-original-width="1850" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiP8W82fOBzggl0F7NN9qwrlTkNTHzuKtHuM31qCv-MOECFLaL1gIh9An54AV8GjNnEXmw3xYImrUYfp-rcIjsb3nppSYv0obfC5iu8xyH_KO9IthslsK3Ir2APTqjXvtkyWqnPKfL9CS6Toa5BLfDpv1zTKyUawGoJLBy3d6YTfuWF2DcsD-it47976Lw/s320/eastern%20horseshoe%20bat%20booloumba%20ck%2011-23%20.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Horseshoe Bat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div> On the home front, the frequent appearance of a friendly Wonga Pigeon in our Nambour garden continues to be a treat.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oR6yTC_p46tAJNgEf2m8p0EydUroK9L9L9ugWBN3BYp19o1J78dd3SDZMoHJXlNTL5UmeyS9vH3t3ce_pQjx66Z2S4Yby3qXYi-P0TQqbgXKYNnm4vpcArY2sHDpKJUQZp7D1QTev4lXUqlFBXwZRITGsxCobozMdZAaXvy-eJU9gcqjr2F7ts2gYmE/s4922/wonga%20pigeon%2012-22.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3526" data-original-width="4922" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0oR6yTC_p46tAJNgEf2m8p0EydUroK9L9L9ugWBN3BYp19o1J78dd3SDZMoHJXlNTL5UmeyS9vH3t3ce_pQjx66Z2S4Yby3qXYi-P0TQqbgXKYNnm4vpcArY2sHDpKJUQZp7D1QTev4lXUqlFBXwZRITGsxCobozMdZAaXvy-eJU9gcqjr2F7ts2gYmE/s320/wonga%20pigeon%2012-22.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-59813742382865179542023-12-03T15:52:00.009+10:002024-01-08T07:45:26.704+10:00Semi-palmated Plover in Bundaberg <p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfOJ7L9V5wyLLFTVnUVUBYasOTVL92hM3cG1vXETpM1xYVULH5hws-rF6BfrsHmUituZvjtPyS9WdGZv8FRFcDEB8nk3htrKmsh9wbX5jQH3dwate8ETi8q_GYz1Z0-QJj9cXVufkmhDFPrgXRJXqfTmQoNeCl4JcKvwjcyMNb1XiJFFOZ7avRoIZAs4/s586/plover.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="466" data-original-width="586" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZfOJ7L9V5wyLLFTVnUVUBYasOTVL92hM3cG1vXETpM1xYVULH5hws-rF6BfrsHmUituZvjtPyS9WdGZv8FRFcDEB8nk3htrKmsh9wbX5jQH3dwate8ETi8q_GYz1Z0-QJj9cXVufkmhDFPrgXRJXqfTmQoNeCl4JcKvwjcyMNb1XiJFFOZ7avRoIZAs4/s320/plover.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Semi-palmated Plover</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Birder
Scott Fox did well to spot a small plover on the far side of a
rapidly shrinking freshwater pool midway between Bundaberg and
Bargara in south-east Queensland on November 24, 2023. Observations by
Scott and other observers left little doubt at the time that this was a Common
Ringed Plover (<i>Charadrius hiaticula</i>) and not the similar
Semipalmated Plover (<i>C. semipalmatus</i>). Both species are known
from a handful of records in Australia scattered across various
states. </span></span></span>
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4QiqW2F0YD6nZ7fwCcg_gXJuzNBJLHGm7YCEtfsOJfxm2nyffSTavVEf1euo2T0Czq26dvYhPOHqYuGwgLWx0veVV1XsqZdEM2K2Vdk8YocoenlZOW72Rd260zSD8yBMQ9Ed6Qh3LzOaE9SUV5FuHxxcqAgsgXGj0X0IO3SKaSRuV1y4fL4ppok28Sw/s735/plover1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="657" data-original-width="735" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb4QiqW2F0YD6nZ7fwCcg_gXJuzNBJLHGm7YCEtfsOJfxm2nyffSTavVEf1euo2T0Czq26dvYhPOHqYuGwgLWx0veVV1XsqZdEM2K2Vdk8YocoenlZOW72Rd260zSD8yBMQ9Ed6Qh3LzOaE9SUV5FuHxxcqAgsgXGj0X0IO3SKaSRuV1y4fL4ppok28Sw/s320/plover1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ringed Plover</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">I
turned up at the pool late in the afternoon of November 30. A tightly
bunched flock of Sharp-tailed Sandpipers, evidently spooked by a
raptor, were flying around the pool, and with them was a small plover
with an obvious white wing bar (a feature which rules out Little
Ringed Plover <i>C. dubius</i>). Others noted that although the bird
had been seen late in the late afternoon, it was much more regular
early in the morning, especially the first hour of daylight, after
which it evidently flew away to unknown sites, returning later to the
pool.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDwCGXSOWv8KJFTwtuV20V7K0PvDtTjSVItC8FgDGjoj40Q3FUNM2sjynAaDpFXODWuQcbbzDWs7nqrOWHz2dmj9x6eZgz7eWTAcP9u4DN0yKK_khcAf5WvCEiliQFVbVQj6IDKrlW604ti50H425PCQdOCcQTlnhNYCbGi7AjfCFCGFAqdTWed2BxnE/s610/plover2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="575" data-original-width="610" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPDwCGXSOWv8KJFTwtuV20V7K0PvDtTjSVItC8FgDGjoj40Q3FUNM2sjynAaDpFXODWuQcbbzDWs7nqrOWHz2dmj9x6eZgz7eWTAcP9u4DN0yKK_khcAf5WvCEiliQFVbVQj6IDKrlW604ti50H425PCQdOCcQTlnhNYCbGi7AjfCFCGFAqdTWed2BxnE/s320/plover2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Early
on the morning of December 1, I met up with Chris Barnes, Andy Jensen
and Jane Hall at the site. Andy picked up the plover on the far
shore. This is not an easy bird to log. Lighting conditions were
dreadful. It stuck to the opposite bank - too far for decent images.
Usually it fed in the interface between dying hyacinth and living
hyacinth and was difficult to spot; if resting or its back was
turned, it was not visible. However, observers agreed that features favoured its identification as Common Ringed Plover: a more
pointed, longer bill; a conspicuously broad breast band that is
broken; an equally conspicuous supercilium; no white extending above
the gape; no indication of an eye ring; no evidence of webbing between the toes noted in the field
or in sharper shots that Chris managed in better light conditions (though this feature requires
confirmation). I’ve included a couple of Chris’s images in this
post. At the time of writing (December 3) the bird has been seen
daily since November 24, although it was not seen this morning,
possibly due to heavy rain overnight, it was seen in the afternoon. The bird was generally feeding alone, although associating loosely with Sharp-tailed Sandpipers and Black-fronted Dotterels.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7c38k3SZjYuwTjNGpBdJCt44iZ49LX6egbzOcuHfOq_OOvefCXc0Bf08NJGNMAOpwwNLILGzGOno9adEOmVvECJIb3WvXDmvdrPGfa4KyqBaVA3uVc-u8RGEYxL4iUUk7VRw8nBWWs6rxrwoKakUH2WH2jHSrnNqDAWKzHx_5VcyGedO0XQvcCdp3ik/s824/chris%20ringed.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="566" data-original-width="824" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg7c38k3SZjYuwTjNGpBdJCt44iZ49LX6egbzOcuHfOq_OOvefCXc0Bf08NJGNMAOpwwNLILGzGOno9adEOmVvECJIb3WvXDmvdrPGfa4KyqBaVA3uVc-u8RGEYxL4iUUk7VRw8nBWWs6rxrwoKakUH2WH2jHSrnNqDAWKzHx_5VcyGedO0XQvcCdp3ik/s320/chris%20ringed.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ringed Plover (Chris Barnes)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9CUP5kMU2rgPn53mZVL89edyp2k-c3kkRVRkm1EQJ9T2BdeJaJJ7Tu8O8DZsBU4HCqcT7TsP0zfQY6cICZSlF2ikicjsGKcQKl6gmHSeYUXRl1wdQHQuI5GIVqSE9C_fb2yB-8pYzY8fqufvDNGfc1IX-hwvFF9IBweyWB2pYBZfNSc9vqZPTmIDmAc/s764/chris%20ringed1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="764" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr9CUP5kMU2rgPn53mZVL89edyp2k-c3kkRVRkm1EQJ9T2BdeJaJJ7Tu8O8DZsBU4HCqcT7TsP0zfQY6cICZSlF2ikicjsGKcQKl6gmHSeYUXRl1wdQHQuI5GIVqSE9C_fb2yB-8pYzY8fqufvDNGfc1IX-hwvFF9IBweyWB2pYBZfNSc9vqZPTmIDmAc/s320/chris%20ringed1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ringed Plover with Sharp-tailed Sandpiper (Chris Barnes)</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">This was a previous record of Ringed Plover for Queensland: at Boonooroo in 1983; that bird frequented a tidal
shorebird roost. There are two records also of Semipalmated Plover
from Queensland: 1 bird has been present the last two summers at
Geoff Skinner Reserve near Brisbane; the other was spotted by Chris
Barnes near Bundaberg in 2012. </span></span></span>
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigwMYzEC-wZYY9gaPrFXNjb1Of2CuL9ez5iGrkaNb8w8_usLorv6IDOx5HXCndWvcLZjg5YCQeC02petLZnqRdo6NiF9Z9wosB_5Sj2p8KTTXUmG_BWrVk7oQ_te8DL898GSrsH_6IFlJkY1plE6DOvrqPvNT_s8AYlE3wAHvaQQhoetcChOCs8bz2pc/s1959/semipalmated%20plover%20.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1306" data-original-width="1959" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigwMYzEC-wZYY9gaPrFXNjb1Of2CuL9ez5iGrkaNb8w8_usLorv6IDOx5HXCndWvcLZjg5YCQeC02petLZnqRdo6NiF9Z9wosB_5Sj2p8KTTXUmG_BWrVk7oQ_te8DL898GSrsH_6IFlJkY1plE6DOvrqPvNT_s8AYlE3wAHvaQQhoetcChOCs8bz2pc/s320/semipalmated%20plover%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Semipalmated Plover at Geoff Skinner Reserve</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">POSTSCRIPT 8/1/2024</span></span></span></p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">The plover appeaed to have have vacated the Rubyanna Road swamp and was being seen regularly in recent days on sandflats at nearby Burnett Heads. Here it was much more approachable and observers were getting clearer views and images. Angus Daly noted that he detected a faint yellow eye ring and raised questions about the supposed lack of webbing between the toes. Fresh images by Chris Barnes did indeed show more extensive webbing, clinching the identification of this bird as a Semi-palmated Plover.</span></span></span></p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Back at the Bundaberg pond in January, an adult female Black-necked
Stork accompanied by an immature bird were seen. </span></span></span>
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVakuDXPyVy0M2VhtkvwPNN8zIesKYdCiCtGxFbxHhkhHUlj731yKMZL_0m7htcaO4wwkDwZV4JqWWL2CrGq9gaDL1NT-J7spLhaUF5KvKBUuRwfC8JgYKKIjg6E52WNad7nBKiTarh7o_B8x__BdpbMOO-wZkpvuI6Lu1pYOOmTlZGOXixPPz6e6uRQ/s2492/black-necked%20stork.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2492" data-original-width="2060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVakuDXPyVy0M2VhtkvwPNN8zIesKYdCiCtGxFbxHhkhHUlj731yKMZL_0m7htcaO4wwkDwZV4JqWWL2CrGq9gaDL1NT-J7spLhaUF5KvKBUuRwfC8JgYKKIjg6E52WNad7nBKiTarh7o_B8x__BdpbMOO-wZkpvuI6Lu1pYOOmTlZGOXixPPz6e6uRQ/s320/black-necked%20stork.jpg" width="265" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-necked Stork</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">I was pleased to catch up with an Oriental Cuckoo in
woodland along a walking track behind Bargara Caravan Park, where we
were staying. </span></span></span>
</p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
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</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVkz9BOU7tO14poQZGBXndVrZo2N9-hJx8ThhtokKKFFrhlUND-paSQmiLeuJDwufLmFwTesMIwnEYcfW0TdpItYYRbnZ0PxRjdw4BE1LAThflPRJsy-ltRcDU3kJmJ7Y_TGJVsbXK8V827rlTBuqmrR_schwtbb92BC-OKPc6t5fK3otFcYgQXljge4/s1647/oriental%20cuckoo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1647" data-original-width="1505" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyVkz9BOU7tO14poQZGBXndVrZo2N9-hJx8ThhtokKKFFrhlUND-paSQmiLeuJDwufLmFwTesMIwnEYcfW0TdpItYYRbnZ0PxRjdw4BE1LAThflPRJsy-ltRcDU3kJmJ7Y_TGJVsbXK8V827rlTBuqmrR_schwtbb92BC-OKPc6t5fK3otFcYgQXljge4/s320/oriental%20cuckoo.jpg" width="292" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Oriental Cuckoo</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oEWO-DcKP8SJnjt7fElPE7QmFm3VSaw11gMG_pmhPQQrK5BvW8pDXkypcBjASeNf3X37Y_I3SBErRXKro6P7YXYOCFfV1IZPebkhuvkSFeQbeSzKPUBUDR_vv_ODJbU9B_KsM1Wwz-8tC3RQYmegkIdtLN9Cf9G76nu279fMQyQvHl2bTGtSNcWfi3Y/s1934/oriental%20cuckoo1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1562" data-original-width="1934" height="258" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4oEWO-DcKP8SJnjt7fElPE7QmFm3VSaw11gMG_pmhPQQrK5BvW8pDXkypcBjASeNf3X37Y_I3SBErRXKro6P7YXYOCFfV1IZPebkhuvkSFeQbeSzKPUBUDR_vv_ODJbU9B_KsM1Wwz-8tC3RQYmegkIdtLN9Cf9G76nu279fMQyQvHl2bTGtSNcWfi3Y/s320/oriental%20cuckoo1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Strong
south-easterly winds offshore brought large flocks of terns inshore:
they were mostly noddies, both Black Noddy and Brown Noddy in what
looked to be about equal numbers (though birds were distant) in mixed
flocks. Among them were 20+ Bridled Terns, which were even further
out to sea.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagBgTKxdK_oo6jMWy6JVDrINbkm97AipYBzDM5-qalu8kBUdCM2oGA5Q8p3sGp7gnBPqVKexWDehpzfIRdTCC3xNPwZNg6qy15GvozN00oEFDDfzlDvGKZV3xRsND5ZsHEs59HyOW8ffL19X1uSpXSdgMtLQZtn4_YKSofuhPK6yknSCqlFEZurr5GIY/s1909/black%20&%20brown%20noddy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1082" data-original-width="1909" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhagBgTKxdK_oo6jMWy6JVDrINbkm97AipYBzDM5-qalu8kBUdCM2oGA5Q8p3sGp7gnBPqVKexWDehpzfIRdTCC3xNPwZNg6qy15GvozN00oEFDDfzlDvGKZV3xRsND5ZsHEs59HyOW8ffL19X1uSpXSdgMtLQZtn4_YKSofuhPK6yknSCqlFEZurr5GIY/s320/black%20&%20brown%20noddy.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Noddy & Brown Noddy offshore (distant)</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">In
the camping ground, a fine Frill-necked Lizard entertained us for a
couple of days, feeding on the short grass until well after sunset,
when it appeared to be catching numerous ground insects at dusk.</span></span></span></p>
<p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOBWhrVPnHJSwJalZ0R_jA64i9xAg_F5gwAI6o1-h-piBVcb7nbkBILy0SAy_OA9LjV8lkQwD7pGEZ-CPWr10YNjzPnfZA7xE2Mddwo63HXGldkBUezrTBuTMZ9-AFKENRKWH0pFLwFA6x_BApIzM0jD1Km2MBZNxeAG7Cyux9U6EuaEY7a2OWRmh1Io/s2016/frill-necked%20lizard.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTOBWhrVPnHJSwJalZ0R_jA64i9xAg_F5gwAI6o1-h-piBVcb7nbkBILy0SAy_OA9LjV8lkQwD7pGEZ-CPWr10YNjzPnfZA7xE2Mddwo63HXGldkBUezrTBuTMZ9-AFKENRKWH0pFLwFA6x_BApIzM0jD1Km2MBZNxeAG7Cyux9U6EuaEY7a2OWRmh1Io/s320/frill-necked%20lizard.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Frill-necked Lizard</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIb9vMmQxt3VQfJ2GX2ejii1t1zaQsRTFOsuYGPKF1f9oc4lGzB1ESwxQeo6VBVEDoRpIWGVdLOP-qJS0zqGaHq5fYjAH-WHDrY15KV73BD5tVpLXkyAqj3LTyL-kMczpg6doCQvyyMWk2GnaJpxiPy9ct7UQuvejASanNgRPS-3J-E1ySRZzgjmjpyY/s2116/frill-necked%20lizard1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1945" data-original-width="2116" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwIb9vMmQxt3VQfJ2GX2ejii1t1zaQsRTFOsuYGPKF1f9oc4lGzB1ESwxQeo6VBVEDoRpIWGVdLOP-qJS0zqGaHq5fYjAH-WHDrY15KV73BD5tVpLXkyAqj3LTyL-kMczpg6doCQvyyMWk2GnaJpxiPy9ct7UQuvejASanNgRPS-3J-E1ySRZzgjmjpyY/s320/frill-necked%20lizard1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">A
pair of Radjah Shelduck were spotted flying over the camping ground
and located later in a nearby tidal creek. This species is becoming
increasingly regular in south-east Queensland in recent years. </span></span></span>
</p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"></span></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxr5CzEhODQNWT7TtjIvLbW2Fq8eh5dAMkVfrVY_gZQzIab0Kc3SXqmivm6zUsCfGoza448fN_8_k3uySaaKKtn3lgFAnxGdUO1VO0zqI5nyZOGCcAu862obI5PiyePqwljPDfBaBNQ_1usZZe1vP7eOcLx0NUdZZh1R8PR43n5Y-XewoBMRQ4fhIfmQ/s5473/radjah%20shelduck.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3336" data-original-width="5473" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpxr5CzEhODQNWT7TtjIvLbW2Fq8eh5dAMkVfrVY_gZQzIab0Kc3SXqmivm6zUsCfGoza448fN_8_k3uySaaKKtn3lgFAnxGdUO1VO0zqI5nyZOGCcAu862obI5PiyePqwljPDfBaBNQ_1usZZe1vP7eOcLx0NUdZZh1R8PR43n5Y-XewoBMRQ4fhIfmQ/s320/radjah%20shelduck.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Radjah Shelduck</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="color: #222222;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqH_n6_91YpOMZENXK3-DRHFjLj7STGbnhJtvHjZVUX-hRqg4kNDx-gTA-W2h-9U6b4z4xYiksRw5Z2Lsgy_6fIC_6DMPOAXDY3j_QmYs51wKg1paBqnzKhRLMieryQQIqFh-9xYv1Ev5cZ_BZmWcdxq4k_6gIctMSNwdPqsEdBOJFWomyKrhSn0M9vc/s2006/red-backed%20fairywren.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2006" data-original-width="1800" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrqH_n6_91YpOMZENXK3-DRHFjLj7STGbnhJtvHjZVUX-hRqg4kNDx-gTA-W2h-9U6b4z4xYiksRw5Z2Lsgy_6fIC_6DMPOAXDY3j_QmYs51wKg1paBqnzKhRLMieryQQIqFh-9xYv1Ev5cZ_BZmWcdxq4k_6gIctMSNwdPqsEdBOJFWomyKrhSn0M9vc/s320/red-backed%20fairywren.jpg" width="287" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-backed Fairywren</td></tr></tbody></table></span></span><p></p><p style="font-style: normal; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; letter-spacing: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span face="Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif"><span style="font-size: small;">Eastern
Koel and Red-backed Fairywren were among the more common fare on
offer. </span></span></span>
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-L_ayZXZosveBeqDSLO3AOL0y_Z7VYlcO-Iu9LrjrfWUBPrB5al8UQmuc82izDAI0ZPLV5eaAgweYTSD-vIiV61D8wb-0MOh4eTgEdcH_Z1pgKOjvqdPjNem1ZyxWK-fQ16S9iEV_6VLeQ662aSj-E65vX6fn01AdFLUWT-dXGws4xguAetjPie67PKk/s1682/eastern%20koel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1682" data-original-width="1676" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-L_ayZXZosveBeqDSLO3AOL0y_Z7VYlcO-Iu9LrjrfWUBPrB5al8UQmuc82izDAI0ZPLV5eaAgweYTSD-vIiV61D8wb-0MOh4eTgEdcH_Z1pgKOjvqdPjNem1ZyxWK-fQ16S9iEV_6VLeQ662aSj-E65vX6fn01AdFLUWT-dXGws4xguAetjPie67PKk/s320/eastern%20koel.jpg" width="319" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eastern Koel</td></tr></tbody></table>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-70472651175434439592023-11-10T09:40:00.003+10:002023-11-13T06:50:19.221+10:00Birding Oman: Sociable Lapwing steals the show<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rMQ3AD6fqiW8b_-QxQBWOYppzZGAGSu40x_TI8ESwcDgT7DGVBE4tmMhl0Kgx56FhODmitLiSWOGoryF-XJnQJ0T3XOmFq2Brmv_EA2bvRwT5LB9KagrgVzy1Me7zKC2S_X9D9RRxre8L6H_1zlCiHS2E24gNymSiZvowIPQWDJPMacN_taZknVrD-s/s2232/sociable%20lapwing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1869" data-original-width="2232" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0rMQ3AD6fqiW8b_-QxQBWOYppzZGAGSu40x_TI8ESwcDgT7DGVBE4tmMhl0Kgx56FhODmitLiSWOGoryF-XJnQJ0T3XOmFq2Brmv_EA2bvRwT5LB9KagrgVzy1Me7zKC2S_X9D9RRxre8L6H_1zlCiHS2E24gNymSiZvowIPQWDJPMacN_taZknVrD-s/s320/sociable%20lapwing.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sociable Lapwing</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">After a lengthy tour of five European countries (Italy, Finland,
United Kingdom, Portugal and Spain: see following posts) we had a few
days in Muscat, Oman, on our way home. Our hotel was close to a beach
used by local fishing boats so we checked it out just as a boat was
offloading a catch.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0nq_OScW5qwKo24RVCbe93w8biz4kBhRIDbAbH2Fdw-eWIDD25ECuggCu8zMljbI9p2HDFLOSNzxYpQDH6RF8P9SozHdToKo0NNFP8j2B1z7D2T0o7oSLexVcEzXUk4FGhqeZbbQLhPKRYDETwouBzW0bwrzA3467H-3nqczMOX88IxjreJd1jd0NOg/s1990/caspian%20gull.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1990" data-original-width="1842" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0nq_OScW5qwKo24RVCbe93w8biz4kBhRIDbAbH2Fdw-eWIDD25ECuggCu8zMljbI9p2HDFLOSNzxYpQDH6RF8P9SozHdToKo0NNFP8j2B1z7D2T0o7oSLexVcEzXUk4FGhqeZbbQLhPKRYDETwouBzW0bwrzA3467H-3nqczMOX88IxjreJd1jd0NOg/s320/caspian%20gull.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Caspian Gull</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Large numbers of gulls
were present including Caspian, Common, Slender-billed, Lesser
Black-backed (<i>fuscus fusc</i><i>u</i><i>s </i>Baltic) and Sooty. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG60CBV5NEP1TuB2Li1KfwUa4smC3cBBTtKLYsGJwRYprzLTCfagyY2p-wLBhcA2Jr6X49kGIWCMKlt0gdWgUOUnKiL-c5TDLGdVQ-iUJF8wBP23Xu6ntXebu8K9T3vkN6MTB6TsNr_DOt2SUnW4rH69bLECboQN13rcMrbqNH_mIrX9lyy5mG2rbn-YU/s2317/slender-billed%20gull.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1195" data-original-width="2317" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG60CBV5NEP1TuB2Li1KfwUa4smC3cBBTtKLYsGJwRYprzLTCfagyY2p-wLBhcA2Jr6X49kGIWCMKlt0gdWgUOUnKiL-c5TDLGdVQ-iUJF8wBP23Xu6ntXebu8K9T3vkN6MTB6TsNr_DOt2SUnW4rH69bLECboQN13rcMrbqNH_mIrX9lyy5mG2rbn-YU/s320/slender-billed%20gull.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Slender-billed Gull</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRXxZkwZJRaKK1sgPmzAAIGnwoXf5kRz1EgTQuwTArcxUuTtc1_n6zriNLAQ5GjvA3qSrrkefWswRow05CsfVK2F6ULFr_o1QuiU3wi5OUnOvX2DBL3pWQD-j1JQfUZB8F8pyenkDLpoEf9RVxoxYkv36FQptdNUOl5gGTwgNkCOG5PSF6q8Hkrfp65s/s4426/sooty%20gull.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4001" data-original-width="4426" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVRXxZkwZJRaKK1sgPmzAAIGnwoXf5kRz1EgTQuwTArcxUuTtc1_n6zriNLAQ5GjvA3qSrrkefWswRow05CsfVK2F6ULFr_o1QuiU3wi5OUnOvX2DBL3pWQD-j1JQfUZB8F8pyenkDLpoEf9RVxoxYkv36FQptdNUOl5gGTwgNkCOG5PSF6q8Hkrfp65s/s320/sooty%20gull.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sooty Gull</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Offshore were a few
Common Terns and large flocks of Red-necked Phalaropes.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5Q-Er5xVgKe-3Lu_UfWFS53f7DJ2tD2jmkOEJ41bYhbEhaoYxo2TRSCvnU0363N40_5ZGJWMuroV71mcnxgI_u7fxk9K0Fwqb7neccq8N9spmpAH-5WfoIOGGUvk-cBzlESGSKv_PRs8bok_CgdpAkrOYuiJgRu7tU7pw6voYpT29JNdeBjANCw1PU4/s1483/wilson's%20phalarope1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="704" data-original-width="1483" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht5Q-Er5xVgKe-3Lu_UfWFS53f7DJ2tD2jmkOEJ41bYhbEhaoYxo2TRSCvnU0363N40_5ZGJWMuroV71mcnxgI_u7fxk9K0Fwqb7neccq8N9spmpAH-5WfoIOGGUvk-cBzlESGSKv_PRs8bok_CgdpAkrOYuiJgRu7tU7pw6voYpT29JNdeBjANCw1PU4/s320/wilson's%20phalarope1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-necked Phalaropes</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Crested Tern and Lesser
Crested Tern (the latter scarce in Oman) were present on the beach
with the gulls.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MQgNbJsQwuZYc48AEhi5XInX3uLFaIK7mjzsYbRBqn6EAxyogWLvNDCn9L4AbDxquXC2beGJf63rvoADGS8azxOnC5p-1S-c1OXRewQd3g4H_iZMqkJ3UCMLe5xCLWWdwe9PpYpfaNgeUQUgtrLD17i1lHPtYsRh0eccdp6vHsf8q6jJah-PxSIFShU/s2202/lesser%20crested%20&%20crested%20tern%20.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="682" data-original-width="2202" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8MQgNbJsQwuZYc48AEhi5XInX3uLFaIK7mjzsYbRBqn6EAxyogWLvNDCn9L4AbDxquXC2beGJf63rvoADGS8azxOnC5p-1S-c1OXRewQd3g4H_iZMqkJ3UCMLe5xCLWWdwe9PpYpfaNgeUQUgtrLD17i1lHPtYsRh0eccdp6vHsf8q6jJah-PxSIFShU/s320/lesser%20crested%20&%20crested%20tern%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crested Tern (middle) & Lesser Crested Terns</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">The following day I had
hired a local driver, Nabeel, to pick me up at the hotel at 5.30am
for a day in the field. We drove just over an hour to reach a wadi
near Nakhal where Arabian Partridge had been reported.<br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLy3J7maVKqJzPk4o99oCAUZ4hiqdOOPnX3ia6zxv0hX-v5TYqlQ1HWtm6cMaeLxxdeza-_tvEheGQaEtUJFNrVFQulxfeCsU86bfqZASKNctqrICXiiW_ndl13Gx3yi4ErxAeUVFFRLBUxTaKLJzELUwKviZZVcFlhnUSuGcLK_t7qkvCzyXbDSEfx8/s1535/oman,%20nakhal%20wadi,%20nabeel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1263" data-original-width="1535" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzLy3J7maVKqJzPk4o99oCAUZ4hiqdOOPnX3ia6zxv0hX-v5TYqlQ1HWtm6cMaeLxxdeza-_tvEheGQaEtUJFNrVFQulxfeCsU86bfqZASKNctqrICXiiW_ndl13Gx3yi4ErxAeUVFFRLBUxTaKLJzELUwKviZZVcFlhnUSuGcLK_t7qkvCzyXbDSEfx8/s320/oman,%20nakhal%20wadi,%20nabeel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nakhal wadi & Nabeel</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">We found none but the
scenery was superb and a few birds were about including Indian
Silverbill, Green Sandpiper and Pale Crag-Martin. Then a bird showed which puzzled me until I worked out after I got home that it had to be a Pale Rockfinch.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xjGq9-yGJuvLSZF7YVBqIlVirc1nohuzYQ4iCj2so02GX6MtW4tOEoY4trg237OAqFvmG4gfSGZgNOsn9VIFwHDmLI-McYFZCpY6c786RTrnHSuJynQyu9MtvDiFDeANcmNBK1AqorO0pKuQghRDJhvLX6gvUgAf6X6EOFwEw51EJr2Kf8zvC5U3mYM/s2073/green%20sandpiper.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1493" data-original-width="2073" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1xjGq9-yGJuvLSZF7YVBqIlVirc1nohuzYQ4iCj2so02GX6MtW4tOEoY4trg237OAqFvmG4gfSGZgNOsn9VIFwHDmLI-McYFZCpY6c786RTrnHSuJynQyu9MtvDiFDeANcmNBK1AqorO0pKuQghRDJhvLX6gvUgAf6X6EOFwEw51EJr2Kf8zvC5U3mYM/s320/green%20sandpiper.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Sandpiper</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTBI4cmgUIKNOx1IhAcvGuVJTsptcTps4kWt9TfB2gJicRiZO4_i6SG-oGfDdSo4UCm37vsMrgtiWV8Cq77L4g252hDpnfBDJ7H7VPutAa3bqsTf_T7lS7PkyTuLMiYYrs5EVdJ8JNzhkBBDXmGPtpf5wFRvcZFqI2cIq1w_6BkxK4lFvgOljWiQ2u_w/s938/indian%20silverbill.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="938" data-original-width="933" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYTBI4cmgUIKNOx1IhAcvGuVJTsptcTps4kWt9TfB2gJicRiZO4_i6SG-oGfDdSo4UCm37vsMrgtiWV8Cq77L4g252hDpnfBDJ7H7VPutAa3bqsTf_T7lS7PkyTuLMiYYrs5EVdJ8JNzhkBBDXmGPtpf5wFRvcZFqI2cIq1w_6BkxK4lFvgOljWiQ2u_w/s320/indian%20silverbill.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Indian Silverbill</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">We then headed north-west
to Sawadi Beach where I had arranged to hire a young man to take us
out to the delightful Daymaniyat Islands (below) offshore.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7r0ga-9Ed1T-KwP32ttKzgRJDfW2JNXYydDYcYVL51zzEj1yIvmMkvA2XlaQ6P3ffQ_EgFj8NAgzYq5A3uZZOLcZ8VvyWpmjH1ihTu2m2n3wEHhUciEqN09gutsXk9c_09VocYmw7qeVkQylxZnkyEwSCj9cmQyIa0bdtUXgsJ4_vVwGEc5zjJkXfElc/s2016/oman,%20damaniyat%20islands.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="2016" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7r0ga-9Ed1T-KwP32ttKzgRJDfW2JNXYydDYcYVL51zzEj1yIvmMkvA2XlaQ6P3ffQ_EgFj8NAgzYq5A3uZZOLcZ8VvyWpmjH1ihTu2m2n3wEHhUciEqN09gutsXk9c_09VocYmw7qeVkQylxZnkyEwSCj9cmQyIa0bdtUXgsJ4_vVwGEc5zjJkXfElc/s320/oman,%20damaniyat%20islands.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLqPtY8X0_NgFKbLGPS3npngNRK5kne2tbsUUOsFmAZrF3yusBU4kNhgzaYvlAHEeLBiptTPv1Ls3SxwJIiQ2ubgHRrWU2-rbceB8zDe2JbbLeozduVPlyVI79pT3r-HFjX6OZSSI7-hbUUJRUHGVpNJXdSRvPR8sPJQaySCaSMtKzfKXwhxxjJNeqpc/s2016/oman,%20jasirat%20jabal%20al%20awd%20island%20off%20sawadi.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="773" data-original-width="2016" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBLqPtY8X0_NgFKbLGPS3npngNRK5kne2tbsUUOsFmAZrF3yusBU4kNhgzaYvlAHEeLBiptTPv1Ls3SxwJIiQ2ubgHRrWU2-rbceB8zDe2JbbLeozduVPlyVI79pT3r-HFjX6OZSSI7-hbUUJRUHGVpNJXdSRvPR8sPJQaySCaSMtKzfKXwhxxjJNeqpc/s320/oman,%20jasirat%20jabal%20al%20awd%20island%20off%20sawadi.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">We circled several
islands, enjoying fabulously close views of Socrota Cormorant (3 on
one island and 1 on a second island), a species I’d seen just once
previously, and then poorly, in the neighbouring United Arab
Emirates. Great Cormorants and Western Reef-Egrets were present.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxChgpoahdaWf3MF3knkGCzhIiw1oigzFRo7s_a7QlbvN2Biupz2bFQVlQ53XPALXm19VN-pnh4oDhIGkIeJZ9PkWLEiK6Z6CoownbyTa_loUV6DJtQ3SiVK6pw_b1xo5stbLyCpAzNHeqN8WsmgDbwXGbs9bP169EwvEINEsqki6CQVe8pDxdfJKbys/s3262/socrota%20cormorant.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2966" data-original-width="3262" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXxChgpoahdaWf3MF3knkGCzhIiw1oigzFRo7s_a7QlbvN2Biupz2bFQVlQ53XPALXm19VN-pnh4oDhIGkIeJZ9PkWLEiK6Z6CoownbyTa_loUV6DJtQ3SiVK6pw_b1xo5stbLyCpAzNHeqN8WsmgDbwXGbs9bP169EwvEINEsqki6CQVe8pDxdfJKbys/s320/socrota%20cormorant.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Socrota Cormorant</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Around the outermost
islands we found a nice flock of Persian Shearwaters (below) a lifer for me,
offering similarly close views.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGY5_SSitJJpzCCzvGp9y4PWIVmnevwWPfdmgv54AJlmJ_2qzbClVZEGOVqt9AJE1YWgKRnMKfrCHWaEbU20l7-70DGgQEwwRZMtSSamC9jaUxv0XmtF1iuwfry8NX1keBJbu9KvS3ra56UqMCIM5fyAlNJSPslLRg3qeNBL1WU1fcmYdNFec437MyoaY/s3383/persian%20shearwater1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2874" data-original-width="3383" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGY5_SSitJJpzCCzvGp9y4PWIVmnevwWPfdmgv54AJlmJ_2qzbClVZEGOVqt9AJE1YWgKRnMKfrCHWaEbU20l7-70DGgQEwwRZMtSSamC9jaUxv0XmtF1iuwfry8NX1keBJbu9KvS3ra56UqMCIM5fyAlNJSPslLRg3qeNBL1WU1fcmYdNFec437MyoaY/s320/persian%20shearwater1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnC0X5JqC_UFm7dc_wGEsv2rx-1hv0t6WXdttMKdKkjWLPSrjBgnIc2O_KzVolJm4lxqr4MDrtb_fq1n9w5ykiKTpgMbiQBwxP92BRaAHDveCHmqA08VPxFl5_bz2Sb84mBS-PK8y2XC06QmdOAhc5Kn-qX2p4dbjwJ88OVaFvymus7dJC_nnZwe0l6wE/s2948/persian%20shearwater.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1861" data-original-width="2948" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnC0X5JqC_UFm7dc_wGEsv2rx-1hv0t6WXdttMKdKkjWLPSrjBgnIc2O_KzVolJm4lxqr4MDrtb_fq1n9w5ykiKTpgMbiQBwxP92BRaAHDveCHmqA08VPxFl5_bz2Sb84mBS-PK8y2XC06QmdOAhc5Kn-qX2p4dbjwJ88OVaFvymus7dJC_nnZwe0l6wE/s320/persian%20shearwater.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">With them was a single
Red-necked Phalarope (below).</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKq_5P_XFGnN5A6_gvYw7YApgjbsZlcLN6hmcCooORpYt54pmro26eUW_w5vuqEnuzBSQuN1jEA1pzQ5fp_hpZwIJQ1uk-cq75AreiGPtLmBFOMwgPuYymyBTFIPjOmrZT14jpn-8X6ssA_8-HAg6b_8k5wcN5xrQ3PqNWAiQUq6PtcyvmUHWJi8k7K8/s2153/red-necked%20phalarope.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2153" data-original-width="2064" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvKq_5P_XFGnN5A6_gvYw7YApgjbsZlcLN6hmcCooORpYt54pmro26eUW_w5vuqEnuzBSQuN1jEA1pzQ5fp_hpZwIJQ1uk-cq75AreiGPtLmBFOMwgPuYymyBTFIPjOmrZT14jpn-8X6ssA_8-HAg6b_8k5wcN5xrQ3PqNWAiQUq6PtcyvmUHWJi8k7K8/s320/red-necked%20phalarope.jpg" width="307" /></a></div><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Circling one island we
had an immature Sooty Falcon (below) fly overhead.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqG-sYA-Aq5xp8V7ChmSNahZYO9HgId9uv6OZWGuVZR8vWt_tLlT89BWtylt8lvt4x6AI44hLRsYYHBCca15DKklXH0RDVDw1mMkRRluCmG1M8eNs_55ygsquvd8FcLZM_5uOxGwZahiKjqeXmtUWScStsVs9X9QztimcWSWItWyibgL-iBKIObypM3k/s1934/sooty%20falcon.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1171" data-original-width="1934" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqG-sYA-Aq5xp8V7ChmSNahZYO9HgId9uv6OZWGuVZR8vWt_tLlT89BWtylt8lvt4x6AI44hLRsYYHBCca15DKklXH0RDVDw1mMkRRluCmG1M8eNs_55ygsquvd8FcLZM_5uOxGwZahiKjqeXmtUWScStsVs9X9QztimcWSWItWyibgL-iBKIObypM3k/s320/sooty%20falcon.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">We landed on the main
island, Jazirat Jabal, and did the steep climb to an ancient lookout
post at the summit. Others had reported Egyptian Nightjar roosting
here but we failed to score. A few passerines present included Black
Redstart (below) and Red-tailed (Persian) Wheatear.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QeYiz3nqCt2fZ2c3PYdistA3DGpSb8F_J8c2tsUV2in0LnQPdN4IQwWia_3vgXn4FNjeg5f1mpnVK8WXz1aKMQXOMoZW2z0FyCio1ot9OG-22lguTe4u8t2qBbAWHxD3-htlYdf7zeP3UWWPJ_fVVZbsqNCLXZYEjbn1SkFiuJ6B4eMuwLGgucw3rJo/s2362/black%20redstart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2362" data-original-width="2185" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4QeYiz3nqCt2fZ2c3PYdistA3DGpSb8F_J8c2tsUV2in0LnQPdN4IQwWia_3vgXn4FNjeg5f1mpnVK8WXz1aKMQXOMoZW2z0FyCio1ot9OG-22lguTe4u8t2qBbAWHxD3-htlYdf7zeP3UWWPJ_fVVZbsqNCLXZYEjbn1SkFiuJ6B4eMuwLGgucw3rJo/s320/black%20redstart.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Our next stop was
eastwards to the fields and cultivated flatlands of the Barka area.
There were several reports of Sociable Lapwing from this area last
year and records in recent years suggested this may be an important
wintering ground for this endangered shorebird, which had long been
high on my target list. We searched sites where
birds were seen most recently and were about to give up when we
decided to give one area near the Al Nahda Resort a final lookover.
This was fortuitous because I spotted two lapwings in a field that
we’d overlooked earlier. Further searching found 11 more: 13 in
all. This was a trip highlight and I’m thankful to Dr S.S. Suresh
for guidance with both this site and the Daymaniyat Islands.<br /><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PLUP7XIKDhip-V-fr8ef3CPi1PbYFq54mzUUgKv2nOaEu07SStHkUMmTldyxsKyBhUXIJtN0IiNxdYv-jsMNaQhBDPqEhDHYFysxGPYFLSvoMZCtd4hlY-6l8rOC4FLpuAMywrtxmGVHT3KtFJn5UnkJaMK6tAPQSjlxtd6hDvNNuHdjW6k3Zwu6vgs/s1935/sociaable%20lapwing1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1472" data-original-width="1935" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6PLUP7XIKDhip-V-fr8ef3CPi1PbYFq54mzUUgKv2nOaEu07SStHkUMmTldyxsKyBhUXIJtN0IiNxdYv-jsMNaQhBDPqEhDHYFysxGPYFLSvoMZCtd4hlY-6l8rOC4FLpuAMywrtxmGVHT3KtFJn5UnkJaMK6tAPQSjlxtd6hDvNNuHdjW6k3Zwu6vgs/s320/sociaable%20lapwing1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgziKpZUASBjIedP9Z_ORPAu8fZlaONQKLpSyiQotxcrYq5EHZFGOSLJA9ckCrFjYIO7HAKruRLPkFFbIzwQt3sD7m2OU0sf_Hi-OdznMNO-LDp_gjP7sBCR6rSw0iX7X-NYL-QePqzqIh4GEH4WPWUL5VohJBPsNFU-A0EascDgXNwZa3_dwCqF9R_9pI/s1621/sociable%20lapwing2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1603" data-original-width="1621" height="316" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgziKpZUASBjIedP9Z_ORPAu8fZlaONQKLpSyiQotxcrYq5EHZFGOSLJA9ckCrFjYIO7HAKruRLPkFFbIzwQt3sD7m2OU0sf_Hi-OdznMNO-LDp_gjP7sBCR6rSw0iX7X-NYL-QePqzqIh4GEH4WPWUL5VohJBPsNFU-A0EascDgXNwZa3_dwCqF9R_9pI/s320/sociable%20lapwing2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Of surprise was a large
flock of about 80 mixed Pin-tailed and Common Snipe (some in the image below) roosting under
bushes on a dry paddock with no water in site.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLTUtpJNlmC4yjjC9auJG00zyWxZAI5o_KiRSzoP3rmsE70UpRchI9x1EZQQLUUqkcR36cv-qf_TU-_JGbN03BkKpjHBTm58wITjFPO-wDeDofJcRhfIk8Zt9TNpmr-2HZ8_lDWpOnSrgrMqpdXhMnOzp-7W4ywv89GPVDfjJpTVdFGotdbfNYu6iqek/s4572/common%20&%20pin-tailed%20snipe.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2170" data-original-width="4572" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitLTUtpJNlmC4yjjC9auJG00zyWxZAI5o_KiRSzoP3rmsE70UpRchI9x1EZQQLUUqkcR36cv-qf_TU-_JGbN03BkKpjHBTm58wITjFPO-wDeDofJcRhfIk8Zt9TNpmr-2HZ8_lDWpOnSrgrMqpdXhMnOzp-7W4ywv89GPVDfjJpTVdFGotdbfNYu6iqek/s320/common%20&%20pin-tailed%20snipe.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Arabian Green Bee-eaters
added a colourful touch to the landscape.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrlWXqc5AnRwT9AX9nUghBZE_xSxQma-JSKCLxCvi2zP73Y4WHYcMGc_b66mDUuwQ8zycY-_lZC9wLifWUn_A5XiRxxL1jZ8jPHbK5yfFQIwJachtz-I1O51g8F45T7tZu6thHvXvr87DKpsMaA3nmpwLV6lWGLoWmafygEuccPeN6at4P-bbJM9zcRQ/s2783/arabian%20green%20bee-eater.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2694" data-original-width="2783" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCrlWXqc5AnRwT9AX9nUghBZE_xSxQma-JSKCLxCvi2zP73Y4WHYcMGc_b66mDUuwQ8zycY-_lZC9wLifWUn_A5XiRxxL1jZ8jPHbK5yfFQIwJachtz-I1O51g8F45T7tZu6thHvXvr87DKpsMaA3nmpwLV6lWGLoWmafygEuccPeN6at4P-bbJM9zcRQ/s320/arabian%20green%20bee-eater.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></p>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-91630934437650898302023-11-08T12:17:00.003+10:002023-11-08T12:17:36.346+10:00Europe 2023 Part 3 Birding Portugal and Spain<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSv2Et05UrKM9O5JZfhu_Jy9T9bxiiqmCVX8r-eds8yY7foX1rKXBarttxKcdsF8KhSBoqkMaiRAlle-1oq3P3rpz_EIUSOY8U4oSzdNCw6YlJBgyVVNbTPjVyBk5KO8aoyVdgUB-VjbRyZ1ctW3GZwlDeOI1EKpoCPKLovewDXni0F_qV8Ev60ERJbrs/s1511/white-headed%20duck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1016" data-original-width="1511" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSv2Et05UrKM9O5JZfhu_Jy9T9bxiiqmCVX8r-eds8yY7foX1rKXBarttxKcdsF8KhSBoqkMaiRAlle-1oq3P3rpz_EIUSOY8U4oSzdNCw6YlJBgyVVNbTPjVyBk5KO8aoyVdgUB-VjbRyZ1ctW3GZwlDeOI1EKpoCPKLovewDXni0F_qV8Ev60ERJbrs/s320/white-headed%20duck.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-headed Duck</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Following our visit to Scotland (following post) we checked out the
English town of Liverpool before flying to Porto in Portugal. A few
days sight-seeing here before hopping on to the train to Lisbon. One
bird on my wishlist was Iberian Chiffchaff but I thought with the
time of our visit (early October) the birds would have headed south
on migration. This was a particularly warm autumn, however, so plenty
of migrants were still about. I found an Iberian Chiffchaff recorded
on ebird while I was in Lisbon at a city park, Jardin do Cobeca, a
known hotspot for the species. I went there and eventually located a
dark-legged bird giving the characteristic call of the species among
a tumble of Willow Warblers. I believe but am not entirely sure that
this is the bird in the image below. Later I located another calling
Iberian Chiffchaff in another Lisbon park, Jardin Afonse de
Albuquerque.
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvAC-aQUHsKWk2yMKmHUVcmXlljI_gtxcxVRTTwHs723bhzFNhCFYtuoSYN_canZmnlBGSQLbsx1641P8mlYuPdge8WE5ixxDoY8pjgOtP1PH5nEqnMpwg1N-XCuMRDHcHM1CovVxPSsw_zqrhCSz30gZ5OY2tbwNAr6fYgOlT5aUl37LB9EPxpUjSX8/s2327/iberian%20chiffchaff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1793" data-original-width="2327" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWvAC-aQUHsKWk2yMKmHUVcmXlljI_gtxcxVRTTwHs723bhzFNhCFYtuoSYN_canZmnlBGSQLbsx1641P8mlYuPdge8WE5ixxDoY8pjgOtP1PH5nEqnMpwg1N-XCuMRDHcHM1CovVxPSsw_zqrhCSz30gZ5OY2tbwNAr6fYgOlT5aUl37LB9EPxpUjSX8/s320/iberian%20chiffchaff.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iberian Chiffchaff</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">In these parks and
elsewhere, plenty of migratory passerines were gathering for an
expected exodus southward, possible awaiting a cool change in the
still hot weather. These included European Pied and Spotted
flycatchers and numerous warblers of various species.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCO4YfQpZrSEuLXws-YrruYWdo5O-YoCvalFT2mSSwkJ7634aRXiXyov2NfxlIJ_IZxLNbOqQAE8Cn9-PHj7EYRvPOJERwdlPZR0cD4zq5Hic3OFwDZzG2dDbSLxcgaRs3FiAKWdhnd69ao6uI8UNkwL7XiyEzoVBdcsYFfkO0Ar91X9mxSrPO-IJE7Q/s1175/european%20pied%20flycatcher.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="1175" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbCO4YfQpZrSEuLXws-YrruYWdo5O-YoCvalFT2mSSwkJ7634aRXiXyov2NfxlIJ_IZxLNbOqQAE8Cn9-PHj7EYRvPOJERwdlPZR0cD4zq5Hic3OFwDZzG2dDbSLxcgaRs3FiAKWdhnd69ao6uI8UNkwL7XiyEzoVBdcsYFfkO0Ar91X9mxSrPO-IJE7Q/s320/european%20pied%20flycatcher.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">European Pied Flycatcher</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">We picked up a car hire
and headed through southern Portugal, spending a few days in the
pleasant village of Redondo and surrounding towns before crossing the
border into Spain and a spell of sight-seeing in Seville. We
continued south to connect with a much-wanted White-headed Duck, a
bird I had repeatedly dipped on. A single female was present in
Laguna de Camino and another female in the adjoining Laguna de
Bonanza.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblIkRouysZVYt6Nhyphenhyphend2SLsD3iqwDf8D1W-inZcV9yneZCAL8S9Cw0mIArGMb4ZVddTGbXYaIV13iAZQQpdb8N3_9T1noNKvUzBONiI33hqvuDfJfRSzqeODoaXAnb8eyE6NWjD6ci5T9zzJDHPzaYgyJUnh_Nhm8UhA-Qpus_8iV7I7xVjL1HnSfsCaE/s1351/white-headed%20duck%20f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1351" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjblIkRouysZVYt6Nhyphenhyphend2SLsD3iqwDf8D1W-inZcV9yneZCAL8S9Cw0mIArGMb4ZVddTGbXYaIV13iAZQQpdb8N3_9T1noNKvUzBONiI33hqvuDfJfRSzqeODoaXAnb8eyE6NWjD6ci5T9zzJDHPzaYgyJUnh_Nhm8UhA-Qpus_8iV7I7xVjL1HnSfsCaE/s320/white-headed%20duck%20f.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-headed Duck female</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Small numbers of Marbled
Teal were in the lagoons.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85JrUKTGyvpVI122_BemXwwbmM4K8d1Q7R7hvr61nEVzWlkytAX_LmyAunhr3wuPNGrokUnEycW6r5rZOhzQgisgAjWvWZv60t1-EJu6SksmLU2vIHUb41CcOtglFKX1gRZ45EzePn_NR8Mzv99p6DgzGA12GkqRSsCpXW0QAUMNtlgsOhjyG6bpPYwM/s1465/mottled%20duck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1403" data-original-width="1465" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85JrUKTGyvpVI122_BemXwwbmM4K8d1Q7R7hvr61nEVzWlkytAX_LmyAunhr3wuPNGrokUnEycW6r5rZOhzQgisgAjWvWZv60t1-EJu6SksmLU2vIHUb41CcOtglFKX1gRZ45EzePn_NR8Mzv99p6DgzGA12GkqRSsCpXW0QAUMNtlgsOhjyG6bpPYwM/s320/mottled%20duck.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marbled Teal</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Continuing south, I saw
small numbers of Scopoli’s Shearwaters in the Strait of Gibralter
from several points on the southern Spanish coast, all heading
westwards in migration. One bird showed very well at close quarters
at Tarifa. Later I saw more Scopoli’s Shearwaters further east off
the coast near Malaga. The British outpost of
Gibralter was visited, where a dark phase Eleanora’s Falcon and
Barbary Macaque showed well.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xA2fndowIAQrNSqzmUw7KzG20TZIZDFA_r7VIMWZAqW4x87Whr8e546wUTDAAHvFHp6sEVn_Kw6C__rOiADALHql16Iu6p4URbXEg-6BEDh1W9QUV-RKXpoTKSi7Ehx9Swc4aWpe_iyCGMtcHIPnuzv7b6QOuhwntbb5K3IOhsnraZpbjh3-_nifpXs/s2016/spain%20uk%20gibralter%20,%20barbary%20macaque.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5xA2fndowIAQrNSqzmUw7KzG20TZIZDFA_r7VIMWZAqW4x87Whr8e546wUTDAAHvFHp6sEVn_Kw6C__rOiADALHql16Iu6p4URbXEg-6BEDh1W9QUV-RKXpoTKSi7Ehx9Swc4aWpe_iyCGMtcHIPnuzv7b6QOuhwntbb5K3IOhsnraZpbjh3-_nifpXs/s320/spain%20uk%20gibralter%20,%20barbary%20macaque.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Barbary Macaque</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Good numbers of Greater
Flamingo were present at Malaga’s Parque del Guadalhorce. Spotless Starling was
common here.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6tDXTlzU0H46KX6wqUilYBgBkFy_tduER0ZCYTny1t2dmnYKFQBo-cwZgOsE5yBajYBS9vvWEELYXQjIfjny48w94FV6dmaXKZl9YdBGZj7qO764jik9flJ_DAvqIXz1g8OBjcR411jzrynl4JWSOBzxJFZe-vjzP5ctUU-W9DxRF-bJ6BGVVTl9cZU/s2656/greater%20flamingo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2115" data-original-width="2656" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit6tDXTlzU0H46KX6wqUilYBgBkFy_tduER0ZCYTny1t2dmnYKFQBo-cwZgOsE5yBajYBS9vvWEELYXQjIfjny48w94FV6dmaXKZl9YdBGZj7qO764jik9flJ_DAvqIXz1g8OBjcR411jzrynl4JWSOBzxJFZe-vjzP5ctUU-W9DxRF-bJ6BGVVTl9cZU/s320/greater%20flamingo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greater Flamingo</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisR1pEN7lN1sKw3y81Lg8Yn7GI1RnWP9fJGj59dfekxaJcdJZVnOhJzQzZphy0QfpNqG8AEcIy26HbAyd64GZAlEw37DsUEZUewPATLia_MHqZESfszX_5-xUB87nmwyQhDrAMaWD4LhWH95MaLh9T08p8FxyN_sBbq3OrGtgtZZEYQ9XdXikQtOnCvmU/s1754/spotless%20starling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1483" data-original-width="1754" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisR1pEN7lN1sKw3y81Lg8Yn7GI1RnWP9fJGj59dfekxaJcdJZVnOhJzQzZphy0QfpNqG8AEcIy26HbAyd64GZAlEw37DsUEZUewPATLia_MHqZESfszX_5-xUB87nmwyQhDrAMaWD4LhWH95MaLh9T08p8FxyN_sBbq3OrGtgtZZEYQ9XdXikQtOnCvmU/s320/spotless%20starling.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotless Starling</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">We had several days in
the extensive forest reserves of Sierra de Andujar, staying at Villa
Matilde which I’m afraid to say seems to have gone downhill
somewhat and may not be the best accommodation option. This was the
place I expected to see Iberian Lynx but searching over five days
failed to come up with the goods. Over that time I was regularly in
touch with local and overseas wildlife enthusiasts in the area; none
of us saw a lynx, though collectively we learned of a total of 4
sightings by others. Visitor numbers to the area have risen greatly,
in part because of the lynx’s fame, and observers fear this is
impacting the animal’s presence in areas which had been reliable
for sightings. Compensation in some form came with the splendid scenery.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfE2GX7NFmyPCiBNB_BULOMu8h96PtkGcBTcDR6mwomJErAy9tcD1QQSDLZ9ro1mLpr6lzuZcGfSCokLgeGSwKmqMs9PP2MeW2k8CvyOA0N1h3qL82LCgCtnmZi7zXtO_4PLu2MuaeWjk647d2f5bOwYm3nc20_Lhk6uAqwNKx8nnj4C62vJwJBmV9CeA/s2016/spain%20sierra%20de%20andujar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfE2GX7NFmyPCiBNB_BULOMu8h96PtkGcBTcDR6mwomJErAy9tcD1QQSDLZ9ro1mLpr6lzuZcGfSCokLgeGSwKmqMs9PP2MeW2k8CvyOA0N1h3qL82LCgCtnmZi7zXtO_4PLu2MuaeWjk647d2f5bOwYm3nc20_Lhk6uAqwNKx8nnj4C62vJwJBmV9CeA/s320/spain%20sierra%20de%20andujar.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">And raptors. Spanish
Eagle was on my wishlist and several were seen, mostly on the first
day in windy and wet conditions. The only one to offer a picture was
a bedraggled three or four-year-old bird that passed reasonably
close.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNrGkRORhPRARmmZwFfZ9l8L41vVxvnNw8PGFFeFJ7W1DaqNcvcDUe-7oB48E_-Lry9PuNs-ggOyW74d0K6V8kJTc1Yeqki-AL28u0fxTflI4M6iWoEuRtLUNQzMF3ckYBR2GDtjmcynrY5KhoiXdSkh3yeOlGpbFSspY9n6lShxmd4ztoKO09L5xCyM/s1025/spanish%20eagle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="901" data-original-width="1025" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyNrGkRORhPRARmmZwFfZ9l8L41vVxvnNw8PGFFeFJ7W1DaqNcvcDUe-7oB48E_-Lry9PuNs-ggOyW74d0K6V8kJTc1Yeqki-AL28u0fxTflI4M6iWoEuRtLUNQzMF3ckYBR2GDtjmcynrY5KhoiXdSkh3yeOlGpbFSspY9n6lShxmd4ztoKO09L5xCyM/s320/spanish%20eagle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spanish Eagle</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Griffon and Black
(Cinereous) Vultures were common.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHXiFDMeOnlBZRZdL-js0_QZE2zvWtpp3BkZw0jN071UD5k1f2GbIffx5A4TeVenSBfycU8ms3qteW-WOxMgI-Twl_0vvnytlA0nIF1G5yQ62ggJ-YukmPMvSkiKRWBMNz3WknCS6ie8Fk7cJdKb8CfpDpVkIJI34xFM6QAoQP9R7pUFvOGw2ppT6PtY/s1228/black%20vulture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="798" data-original-width="1228" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinHXiFDMeOnlBZRZdL-js0_QZE2zvWtpp3BkZw0jN071UD5k1f2GbIffx5A4TeVenSBfycU8ms3qteW-WOxMgI-Twl_0vvnytlA0nIF1G5yQ62ggJ-YukmPMvSkiKRWBMNz3WknCS6ie8Fk7cJdKb8CfpDpVkIJI34xFM6QAoQP9R7pUFvOGw2ppT6PtY/s320/black%20vulture.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Vulture</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNywy6RVSaw2hxi26dFS7VQsCnRMY0uaJrlbwIOalpStXtvoFc66Ybl4-fe5baEW2xM2qQhcqrxV7211LrbmULZ1_lkuzp2jiVPpkuSEO5FGcCoP8cjZSVJ511YgHGLm74aAKZyGbvRRfBefLgl1VZLwW5aM5IRhcAaEsMdht9IHHASqeWdg5lgYqkZ8/s2685/griffon%20vulture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1426" data-original-width="2685" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVNywy6RVSaw2hxi26dFS7VQsCnRMY0uaJrlbwIOalpStXtvoFc66Ybl4-fe5baEW2xM2qQhcqrxV7211LrbmULZ1_lkuzp2jiVPpkuSEO5FGcCoP8cjZSVJ511YgHGLm74aAKZyGbvRRfBefLgl1VZLwW5aM5IRhcAaEsMdht9IHHASqeWdg5lgYqkZ8/s320/griffon%20vulture.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Griffon Vulture</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Iberian Green Woodpecker
was another on the target list and several obliged, with none
offering a photographic opportunity. Azure-winged Magpie and
Red-legged Partridge were more obliging.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2GhJHJEZiYVjhBM1AmzRP8XVL0peIFK8DB-IPsG3t4kO1MSkGE-qpoBY-ZtgHCOBGPFCLoqw5O63gtU2qY1ZQnDkeIMfYirbezX1QvB4zZu2KxmmBahXFiWO6tlGoF1t3cUo14wMQXun6Z4jmqnAK2K-1Df7aA_htFP7tfJ4pkBoIR7BTWNLXz2uSIs/s2614/azure-winged%20magpie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2614" data-original-width="1918" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE2GhJHJEZiYVjhBM1AmzRP8XVL0peIFK8DB-IPsG3t4kO1MSkGE-qpoBY-ZtgHCOBGPFCLoqw5O63gtU2qY1ZQnDkeIMfYirbezX1QvB4zZu2KxmmBahXFiWO6tlGoF1t3cUo14wMQXun6Z4jmqnAK2K-1Df7aA_htFP7tfJ4pkBoIR7BTWNLXz2uSIs/s320/azure-winged%20magpie.jpg" width="235" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Azure-winged Magpie</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirtW0AlM2JQtQ1efVZ66TNjFWLLXWt8eUI4gbPDLf89B4hhjXvUK2LA6Qkg_W8OOVDu3ILXLts8urN9-AFL4BVl1O3reb6FCFdrRLII5RsUNVWpJ65KPIsT3O3AIVKo_ISzvzGOEJDGVKvK408DQJqPc9KoJZpPnny-SBm8KRuM2T7u4imgUvJHbEZa7s/s2295/red-legged%20partridge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2295" data-original-width="2189" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirtW0AlM2JQtQ1efVZ66TNjFWLLXWt8eUI4gbPDLf89B4hhjXvUK2LA6Qkg_W8OOVDu3ILXLts8urN9-AFL4BVl1O3reb6FCFdrRLII5RsUNVWpJ65KPIsT3O3AIVKo_ISzvzGOEJDGVKvK408DQJqPc9KoJZpPnny-SBm8KRuM2T7u4imgUvJHbEZa7s/s320/red-legged%20partridge.jpg" width="305" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-leggedPartridge</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Other mammals performed a
little better. Red and Fallow Deer were common.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJc96y0cEohVs3KcPUAfwsMs28BKaW709r9u9aTEPvtcoRQxLVFMehaGJksQY2MUtKr_dWLNVtr-Y2sQRflDXEhZeCY7Gwb0RnsATEjUdoe47m_dPRi-Y-UhWKSR9lxi6Oc-U8-0IJmMgQ9-4JEwFc653ofXs5ndMKKjD9DkwQ4JY30oCv1I71pJwRj1o/s3833/red%20deer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3497" data-original-width="3833" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJc96y0cEohVs3KcPUAfwsMs28BKaW709r9u9aTEPvtcoRQxLVFMehaGJksQY2MUtKr_dWLNVtr-Y2sQRflDXEhZeCY7Gwb0RnsATEjUdoe47m_dPRi-Y-UhWKSR9lxi6Oc-U8-0IJmMgQ9-4JEwFc653ofXs5ndMKKjD9DkwQ4JY30oCv1I71pJwRj1o/s320/red%20deer.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Deer</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">A single Mouflon was
seen along with a distant male Iberian Ibex.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvyDu3B_eaco4g-G2xjxBQ1QRkeB7mNIjzml_3JQ1h0pH1le_PbtWlknczXEda18ZMb9gqXMzUHe_19cOuH57VFTAu0nqM7vD1RwRTfR3dHOmosBsTDom8djdVLfkvv6kpup6j0EBBSE4DoycMl1-xwFXSZ7XxCnqaa-3ob_Hc-t7EQeOPpXZeM7jzeo/s1200/iberian%20ibex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="921" data-original-width="1200" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWvyDu3B_eaco4g-G2xjxBQ1QRkeB7mNIjzml_3JQ1h0pH1le_PbtWlknczXEda18ZMb9gqXMzUHe_19cOuH57VFTAu0nqM7vD1RwRTfR3dHOmosBsTDom8djdVLfkvv6kpup6j0EBBSE4DoycMl1-xwFXSZ7XxCnqaa-3ob_Hc-t7EQeOPpXZeM7jzeo/s320/iberian%20ibex.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Iberian Ibex</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">In the tunnel at Jindula
Dam I found three species of bat – Myotis daubentonii (Daubenton’s
Bat), Myotis myotis (Greater Mouse-eared Bat) and Miniopterus
schreibersii (Schreiber’s Bat).</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JyLXYxI8q-ISw0xfZpZJW4mC5RDRo8pCcQ7oo4aM1QiMhncXor8bLkOxAFCpKJmY_sYkUj1jtC5W7ebPY9mzgponMMcDlWDtfOwxKngk13nXYfLVWAavKLlYnWIOS8s42QYEXcCHgVbnEbASL3YmFehisg2N-kmu617MpO_udQt1V5KiNqwRJ7z0n7Y/s844/bat%20daubenton's%20Myotis%20daubentonii,%20jindula,%20sierra%20de%20andujar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="689" data-original-width="844" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4JyLXYxI8q-ISw0xfZpZJW4mC5RDRo8pCcQ7oo4aM1QiMhncXor8bLkOxAFCpKJmY_sYkUj1jtC5W7ebPY9mzgponMMcDlWDtfOwxKngk13nXYfLVWAavKLlYnWIOS8s42QYEXcCHgVbnEbASL3YmFehisg2N-kmu617MpO_udQt1V5KiNqwRJ7z0n7Y/s320/bat%20daubenton's%20Myotis%20daubentonii,%20jindula,%20sierra%20de%20andujar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Daubenton's Bat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsefe4eQC53RSB-MIIyldpvj3_SoEMQYp2KqxuIY23YmYTkozjAZTt8dgfgSK_a_Rwotet9-dpp3JFDVGsO1VEkv-AN0ZiVPhY14RaRruyvLvEs8_d7KnrcMj8CXtmFLDkJG7T0pagjpoN8e3XEhrTi6L5E2lhgxciKECOgUHjiwjtCIrL-TKzuPFvPYo/s2608/bat%20greater%20myotis,%20myotis%20myotis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2419" data-original-width="2608" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsefe4eQC53RSB-MIIyldpvj3_SoEMQYp2KqxuIY23YmYTkozjAZTt8dgfgSK_a_Rwotet9-dpp3JFDVGsO1VEkv-AN0ZiVPhY14RaRruyvLvEs8_d7KnrcMj8CXtmFLDkJG7T0pagjpoN8e3XEhrTi6L5E2lhgxciKECOgUHjiwjtCIrL-TKzuPFvPYo/s320/bat%20greater%20myotis,%20myotis%20myotis.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greater Mouse-eared Bat</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">We overnighted in Alcazar
de San Juan, visiting the splendid wetland of Laguna de Veguilla.
About 25 White-headed Duck were present including several lovely
males.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAqE3g5l2XTx3CICJLTjgmwrso0d-40uC7tYChV3Xx1RZfd2cJhTw_wzUK8bmmTkhHbrK2Hxa2juliUTBl8y2Bpo4W_imHqZSHSJoVthmR0n4am2btLtQyqFOIREYGzL9DOFd8EzucVs8OXak5BPR87baHywnusr8oMvXy2aZkQbrVwqnVwKscmL6voc/s1175/white-headed%20duck%20m1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="730" data-original-width="1175" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwAqE3g5l2XTx3CICJLTjgmwrso0d-40uC7tYChV3Xx1RZfd2cJhTw_wzUK8bmmTkhHbrK2Hxa2juliUTBl8y2Bpo4W_imHqZSHSJoVthmR0n4am2btLtQyqFOIREYGzL9DOFd8EzucVs8OXak5BPR87baHywnusr8oMvXy2aZkQbrVwqnVwKscmL6voc/s320/white-headed%20duck%20m1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">We moved on to the town
of Cascante, north-east of Madrid, to look for larks in the Ablitas
area around the Ebro Valley. This a go-to site for Dupont’s Lark,
another species high on my wishlist that I missed in Morroco and on a
previous visit to Spain. Although it’s a bad time of year to see
this cryptic species, thanks to help from Dani Lopez and Jose Ardaiz,
I managed to see a Dupont’s Lark at close quarters and heard a
total of 4-5 giving their characteristic call before sunrise.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbVgkBZD-qH5ykFo4VQb48-jEbgyYYyW6fYpSihyMvOlQ5xP6mqKG3KuIKS1hPZp4znCpo__OkFRvriYYGUyCbq0qnpIR2Pw82c5-6OouUe8ZWgSpfA0yAfttF6b_Nv6aKLGqBta5JzN9zmeRfdglDiY71iwqNE7H7Yj99b7Pd0Xw8qDrH4O669mNrnk/s2016/spain%20ablitas.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGbVgkBZD-qH5ykFo4VQb48-jEbgyYYyW6fYpSihyMvOlQ5xP6mqKG3KuIKS1hPZp4znCpo__OkFRvriYYGUyCbq0qnpIR2Pw82c5-6OouUe8ZWgSpfA0yAfttF6b_Nv6aKLGqBta5JzN9zmeRfdglDiY71iwqNE7H7Yj99b7Pd0Xw8qDrH4O669mNrnk/s320/spain%20ablitas.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ebro Valley - Dupont's Lark site</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Also of interest was a
Eurasian Eagle-Owl calling outside our hotel in Cascante before dawn.
Three more owls were seen later in the morning in flight. The
Dupont’s could not be photographed so I settled for an image of a
singing Greater Short-toed Lark. Our trip ended with a few days of
sight-seeing in the pleasant Spanish capital of Madrid.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtR0NBWSYHrSb5MwNCGnKI54LN9SkF4WxSeYgtfA8ws8aWpV4TrIZNpfWZeorJbW-qU3E6qKmiTyWe6U6hJjiTnmltvQkbwJfDHxT5PPVfKAmNRDGqVKka4xgtUSkSYgxdzjxG5RPy_JQnMNyRvFUGTi2ottsqHhcjOntFtaMvfiVzptS18eXFcn4allw/s1805/greater%20short-toed%20lark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="1805" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtR0NBWSYHrSb5MwNCGnKI54LN9SkF4WxSeYgtfA8ws8aWpV4TrIZNpfWZeorJbW-qU3E6qKmiTyWe6U6hJjiTnmltvQkbwJfDHxT5PPVfKAmNRDGqVKka4xgtUSkSYgxdzjxG5RPy_JQnMNyRvFUGTi2ottsqHhcjOntFtaMvfiVzptS18eXFcn4allw/s320/greater%20short-toed%20lark.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greater Short-toed Lark</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></p>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-65240393946471915622023-11-07T07:25:00.006+10:002023-11-08T18:11:55.979+10:00Europe 2023 Part 2 Birding Finland & Scotland <p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5XxXBmP131wKV_DBeVF2mirTkaudoHGJ4I1I9mqVbrBtZOJYgTxmT6Pqg8RgVI9L53av5t3YKHLk14PeoBO9TFL6DcmSsamXAQ_vQ5AVYWZEfh534gXJ_qmtcWIAK-xpxGriSW_cD5AU0hjNOd3UBEw0FQetn5CKrI5HPVWhNdrycDzEnVvQDXX1IXo/s1876/hazel%20grouse.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1617" data-original-width="1876" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5XxXBmP131wKV_DBeVF2mirTkaudoHGJ4I1I9mqVbrBtZOJYgTxmT6Pqg8RgVI9L53av5t3YKHLk14PeoBO9TFL6DcmSsamXAQ_vQ5AVYWZEfh534gXJ_qmtcWIAK-xpxGriSW_cD5AU0hjNOd3UBEw0FQetn5CKrI5HPVWhNdrycDzEnVvQDXX1IXo/s320/hazel%20grouse.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hazel Grouse</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Our trip to Europe was more about culture and aesthetics than chasing
critters, as there aren’t too many in Europe that I’ve not seen.
A few though remained sought after, with Wolverine and Ural Owl
welcome additions to my lists (see following post). Another add-on
was Taiga Bean Goose, a flock of which was spotted in fields from the
train en route to Joensuu in central Finland. Finnish birders have
established that this species and the recently split Tundra Bean
Goose have different and well-defined migration routes across the
country. Whooper Swan and Black-throated Diver were about but not as
common as I expected.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqr0sIYngtDFcXgdpFvlTGCOD2lKx8agwcpRdJRD5fE1adr1gemlOvYGewVmNE1aZhluXsONHuyvsYJx0ZEWNxEW3GW9J5YHxnvltCJ-MHkrMpBORuTF32VaocTWzswSh-axfDG-MzYCdzZKZUKvjVND3mhwCD4TMUc4cQg0mz6gBI5IPEdMH5AetbhQ/s1480/whooper%20swan.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1178" data-original-width="1480" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivqr0sIYngtDFcXgdpFvlTGCOD2lKx8agwcpRdJRD5fE1adr1gemlOvYGewVmNE1aZhluXsONHuyvsYJx0ZEWNxEW3GW9J5YHxnvltCJ-MHkrMpBORuTF32VaocTWzswSh-axfDG-MzYCdzZKZUKvjVND3mhwCD4TMUc4cQg0mz6gBI5IPEdMH5AetbhQ/s320/whooper%20swan.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whooper Swan</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">We visited the delightful
Patvinshon National Park (below) en route to the wolverine hides. </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUP2quNSp5-4kOsSgSTmB98-5K9NvqYH2rkjxWPPTCCOxH7bwb8jaNGMzByBNZaA0w0Ro8eUqLS0TxJ3pgsnBoHzVz_OPKVQ4BoBK02wUL7PsxNc67VyBTnnOf2o3LUz7k3z6YZy5703KtiXw_DZvKWKwTk6l_6T0bImIfJEjMRxdQkG6n4VL_hnOw5aE/s4390/great%20spotted%20woodpecker,%20finland.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3679" data-original-width="4390" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUP2quNSp5-4kOsSgSTmB98-5K9NvqYH2rkjxWPPTCCOxH7bwb8jaNGMzByBNZaA0w0Ro8eUqLS0TxJ3pgsnBoHzVz_OPKVQ4BoBK02wUL7PsxNc67VyBTnnOf2o3LUz7k3z6YZy5703KtiXw_DZvKWKwTk6l_6T0bImIfJEjMRxdQkG6n4VL_hnOw5aE/s320/great%20spotted%20woodpecker,%20finland.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Apart from
usual fare such as Great Spotted Woodpecker (above) a female Black Grouse
was seen here.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WHZ2R-M8avqRuLh85pBY-IhO0f3kc0ygEFMvrtjV5BjiVsGx22QiSa3xWEjrntjlEs1kGVI0oMNcjhZ1HQK2GFvPYU1SdFqhFax-hHjblW1Ntkr8nHF1Z8512GL6fB7txOnKKESIY5iN4NY7G_tIVypFASMlQw8NZk_swOiHwsDnWtjrOCJczZOdvtc/s2016/finland%20patvinsuon%20np1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6WHZ2R-M8avqRuLh85pBY-IhO0f3kc0ygEFMvrtjV5BjiVsGx22QiSa3xWEjrntjlEs1kGVI0oMNcjhZ1HQK2GFvPYU1SdFqhFax-hHjblW1Ntkr8nHF1Z8512GL6fB7txOnKKESIY5iN4NY7G_tIVypFASMlQw8NZk_swOiHwsDnWtjrOCJczZOdvtc/s320/finland%20patvinsuon%20np1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1zTI25dlxjbIw-pLuh7AS5XfRtqkGFhtdggK-WXK5KcelJFm55dpeWCxXn6Y1NO4IPA6ixHZR3UDNG3nDmSNtubxNrwyZfsXKYjv_8zBwtLxEnMEXfbp-AR9xTcY2m0c1R5OyBj2abi-qsQfWb4LLcq2DQT2en94xV1c40h7JRMR9OU0AvPRVpEH7Lc/s2016/finland%20patvinsuon%20np.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy1zTI25dlxjbIw-pLuh7AS5XfRtqkGFhtdggK-WXK5KcelJFm55dpeWCxXn6Y1NO4IPA6ixHZR3UDNG3nDmSNtubxNrwyZfsXKYjv_8zBwtLxEnMEXfbp-AR9xTcY2m0c1R5OyBj2abi-qsQfWb4LLcq2DQT2en94xV1c40h7JRMR9OU0AvPRVpEH7Lc/s320/finland%20patvinsuon%20np.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;"> After visiting the hides and heading north later, I
came across a lek of about 8 male Black Grouse displaying in dense
vegetation, but none offered a photograph.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkVLiN5wuSkZVuS8VvQ7Plgq7u_4H0lhZskUOekbVL1HgHqIElb95AbFRO_JVnNfamC9lKDzU0NahY_WemOpTJNeWX7tlrjgEx-ibF3HWeZxP-ZJPSZ_Kt7zSkOV6FctdKBi34a7TCDvvNRJT9vidatN8V7-XKTRd2oD6j5m-g99c7CKjoFeBl61yIa4/s2016/finland%20jongunjaki%20lodge.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQkVLiN5wuSkZVuS8VvQ7Plgq7u_4H0lhZskUOekbVL1HgHqIElb95AbFRO_JVnNfamC9lKDzU0NahY_WemOpTJNeWX7tlrjgEx-ibF3HWeZxP-ZJPSZ_Kt7zSkOV6FctdKBi34a7TCDvvNRJT9vidatN8V7-XKTRd2oD6j5m-g99c7CKjoFeBl61yIa4/s320/finland%20jongunjaki%20lodge.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">We had three delightful
days at a beautifully positioned lodge, Jongunjoen Matkailu Oy (above) overlooking a lake. Fieldfare, Redwing, Common Chiffchaff and
Bluethroat were among birds that were active in scrub around the
lodge. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGoKjM1oVCMgMEoRmnkHrtG6O6W6A-l0dZrhNAdlF7B1B53Q4vsLvWDz10r0aoPFqHJP6cf-m30wVooPBXyFtWUITgYYrmXuA4A1GZ5V1j18_KrM-Zj-xlP8K4h27OUlqmmLFYRYzbfopN67J3uA2pgNmCxFwV731DH3jXWxlM3vOibmoyTrytdp7X0nY/s2241/common%20chiffchaff.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1785" data-original-width="2241" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGoKjM1oVCMgMEoRmnkHrtG6O6W6A-l0dZrhNAdlF7B1B53Q4vsLvWDz10r0aoPFqHJP6cf-m30wVooPBXyFtWUITgYYrmXuA4A1GZ5V1j18_KrM-Zj-xlP8K4h27OUlqmmLFYRYzbfopN67J3uA2pgNmCxFwV731DH3jXWxlM3vOibmoyTrytdp7X0nY/s320/common%20chiffchaff.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Chiffchaff</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMHCjixx4t8r0f0N4Sf4xN6Iv3E_1wG8QMW9zWE0Dw4U62r8emxVNi6a1dZZbUtXRAd-9X3xawgr7vbHFuKF6CsIRQhkzsD5NpbJH077-mAAWnnTKk3WJOi7v5pb6O0ejm9jjKEEBMAeSaaNzJluxzWCytmY7ok2G2qCGLUak6HWoTrnTmO5ql1ZU4TQ/s2271/fieldfare.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1864" data-original-width="2271" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguMHCjixx4t8r0f0N4Sf4xN6Iv3E_1wG8QMW9zWE0Dw4U62r8emxVNi6a1dZZbUtXRAd-9X3xawgr7vbHFuKF6CsIRQhkzsD5NpbJH077-mAAWnnTKk3WJOi7v5pb6O0ejm9jjKEEBMAeSaaNzJluxzWCytmY7ok2G2qCGLUak6HWoTrnTmO5ql1ZU4TQ/s320/fieldfare.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fieldfare</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">I hoped that numerous bushes choked with red berries offered
a chance for Bohemian Waxwing, and this came good on the last day
with a flock of 20 waxwings appearing (below), followed an hour later by a
second flock of 55 birds. Clearly they were on a migration run.
Conditions generally were relatively warm still in mid-September so
most palearctic migrants had yet to head south.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLG9QNO4zFo1vsTaNicUoxKDO-QD0Aoomwagia6ZpY7G4lfw8HpbR34MupUA9WWemEmzCTNuy81zB0vfLWVKt-vyMItLxcrbNPWUAC4jIoeq8efRr51ezQCbwbfzypnlMiUnv7Dh0Mdzasdu9rQC72d6u757v9Mb8T5wVRslivIDMNZGurGi8xFPthCrI/s1210/bohemian%20waxwing1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="988" data-original-width="1210" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLG9QNO4zFo1vsTaNicUoxKDO-QD0Aoomwagia6ZpY7G4lfw8HpbR34MupUA9WWemEmzCTNuy81zB0vfLWVKt-vyMItLxcrbNPWUAC4jIoeq8efRr51ezQCbwbfzypnlMiUnv7Dh0Mdzasdu9rQC72d6u757v9Mb8T5wVRslivIDMNZGurGi8xFPthCrI/s320/bohemian%20waxwing1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojmbuk3OenJHhkhQbMpQ_kpzxJdUtYEbimk7Csw8e4Cby5N2oRJLrpb06_FoPGbKok2-f-6T64zdTsvinyGkeU5r3a7cmM-tXMQxUWnjStjq63ZXCMP8QM25NQAvP4zxulBsNjWWOrJStvsVSP5huOmdcDZPNlZEWtYGSpfk7is5j0Vma2-WY4yG_-r4/s2267/bohemian%20waxwing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2105" data-original-width="2267" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjojmbuk3OenJHhkhQbMpQ_kpzxJdUtYEbimk7Csw8e4Cby5N2oRJLrpb06_FoPGbKok2-f-6T64zdTsvinyGkeU5r3a7cmM-tXMQxUWnjStjq63ZXCMP8QM25NQAvP4zxulBsNjWWOrJStvsVSP5huOmdcDZPNlZEWtYGSpfk7is5j0Vma2-WY4yG_-r4/s320/bohemian%20waxwing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">After returning to
Helsinki, local birder David Radnell (with me below) kindly offered to take me
birding in the Espoo area, west of the capital.. David picked out a
female Smew at the Matalajarvi wetland on the far shore; a pair had
been present there for several weeks. This small migratory duck had
long been on my wishlist.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxpNHTORblX5k3Ym6YFQdeVUZfRgBUfTA1CrCp5MQ3BZnw-lrgNytWN48m2k7N3X5fB38NICtuhpxizxzJsVzQSnumRb2kD8h5eH0wMw46sp2GJl_C4ihZctCLEy-uT2Y3ijoTYVze53xcPBUE1tgGPlJydXvGJAUtf3vxJQjIEHPgib8hFCa6Aup6uY/s1512/finland%20espoo%20david%20radnell%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1350" data-original-width="1512" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixxpNHTORblX5k3Ym6YFQdeVUZfRgBUfTA1CrCp5MQ3BZnw-lrgNytWN48m2k7N3X5fB38NICtuhpxizxzJsVzQSnumRb2kD8h5eH0wMw46sp2GJl_C4ihZctCLEy-uT2Y3ijoTYVze53xcPBUE1tgGPlJydXvGJAUtf3vxJQjIEHPgib8hFCa6Aup6uY/s320/finland%20espoo%20david%20radnell%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Large flocks of migratory
Barnacle Goose were about along with good numbers of local waterfowl
including Eurasian Teal, Goldeneye and Common Pochard.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBo2o3QEf7NJpkw7JPI_8Ix9vL3hLiiK289xQEDrp0kJWH3bwzwaf5WN9YCUskS5yvZ4Nka0yVcmAMtfkC3-_QsVYJKm7Ao-g3sk79p2b0wx8oQX7fF5ibVYXkwmGYeLi5pH6GtW285bOAL4QY2lxUIvB_b6PVO4wlaLFVmnxjZkQFx2UsgQtbnqogyrQ/s2076/barnacle%20goose.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1130" data-original-width="2076" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBo2o3QEf7NJpkw7JPI_8Ix9vL3hLiiK289xQEDrp0kJWH3bwzwaf5WN9YCUskS5yvZ4Nka0yVcmAMtfkC3-_QsVYJKm7Ao-g3sk79p2b0wx8oQX7fF5ibVYXkwmGYeLi5pH6GtW285bOAL4QY2lxUIvB_b6PVO4wlaLFVmnxjZkQFx2UsgQtbnqogyrQ/s320/barnacle%20goose.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">David had been tipped off
that Hazel Grouse were seen recently in Espoo Central Park. I’d
looked hard for this species in central Finland without success so
hopes were not high as we entered the forest. It was very pleasing to
spot a grouse within a few minutes of us getting to the park and a
male bird subsequently performed nicely. Later at the University
Aalto wetland, birds included Western Marsh Harrier and decent
numbers of Ruff and Dunlin.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCVXoIWic2UNWEuHgHvgZVRvHXkOhW76RFpOC4WmYQw6iGAuA-HygLNZ-KASk_ukc0Tohb8d7ZTMpngdun6sAQ277liNrny8Mg7eYDsSCXj-rIubYeLe_jt6uwIKkMT5mSaJwadPmPQ9wUNvW4Ue8XRoudM453_llab7DGZrf3R9WwEo97jFZtKnyz5s/s2783/hazel%20grouse1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2405" data-original-width="2783" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipCVXoIWic2UNWEuHgHvgZVRvHXkOhW76RFpOC4WmYQw6iGAuA-HygLNZ-KASk_ukc0Tohb8d7ZTMpngdun6sAQ277liNrny8Mg7eYDsSCXj-rIubYeLe_jt6uwIKkMT5mSaJwadPmPQ9wUNvW4Ue8XRoudM453_llab7DGZrf3R9WwEo97jFZtKnyz5s/s320/hazel%20grouse1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hazel Grouse</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></p><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">We also scored a Common (European) Toad.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheDt571pVhdnpnTQ0ciCi83zPnLOMETzkZTskG1kErlIAIlJNfZYUYitJnfe_eied9GaHEs_9NRFFpZMyIl5dP93YwIGGiZNeKPuvSwlH7DumwdVmx0LCKRF3flBMjd0bfFHXDZi4ixkwJXsu4YBQEQXTubyzSmloP1AxMHRHRnIS4vd3hsMQX7n5a98/s1029/finland%20-%20european%20toad%20bufo%20bufo%20jongunjaki.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1001" data-original-width="1029" height="311" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjheDt571pVhdnpnTQ0ciCi83zPnLOMETzkZTskG1kErlIAIlJNfZYUYitJnfe_eied9GaHEs_9NRFFpZMyIl5dP93YwIGGiZNeKPuvSwlH7DumwdVmx0LCKRF3flBMjd0bfFHXDZi4ixkwJXsu4YBQEQXTubyzSmloP1AxMHRHRnIS4vd3hsMQX7n5a98/s320/finland%20-%20european%20toad%20bufo%20bufo%20jongunjaki.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">From Finland it was on to
Scotland and after a pleasant few days in Edinburgh, to the village
of Boat of Garten in the Scottish Highlands in the Strathspey region.
We stayed in the pleasantly positioned Fraoch Lodge, where the
proprietor was unfortunately as unhelpful as she was financially
dodgy. Plenty of nice birds were
about in the Caledonian Forests, including large numbers coming in to
feeders. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxrPhUf159f0CelznTEwHOtcumyHUfv4hyphenhyphen7lymE_qfHqoDAwPo2Yl4AXA5qqAOAMEQ2TOHCOwigsXeYMLBD23us7HtVPd4K_rvptELyEoR0ivqHij-7EcdHQ1x6EU1POdewuTlt_G0TwREEhpjss-o_JRV0cmEHIRR96Cm6kALmUahVvK128X3zO4530/s3892/chaffinch%20&%20eurasian%20blue%20tit.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3892" data-original-width="3241" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqxrPhUf159f0CelznTEwHOtcumyHUfv4hyphenhyphen7lymE_qfHqoDAwPo2Yl4AXA5qqAOAMEQ2TOHCOwigsXeYMLBD23us7HtVPd4K_rvptELyEoR0ivqHij-7EcdHQ1x6EU1POdewuTlt_G0TwREEhpjss-o_JRV0cmEHIRR96Cm6kALmUahVvK128X3zO4530/s320/chaffinch%20&%20eurasian%20blue%20tit.jpg" width="266" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chaffinch & Eurasian Blue Tit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ciQRd2TRUTkvBpzv3ZHv9avsUWuQ5y0uwGRrSw5ND9dqs5asR90MNySVbhtFrGBimmU-r4b5o2CDzOGoKjqJkEN75fWkfoRzOq9CKOTK4BH5KfreZJ0jLmyak0ngihmY6ksvE4bHk_7jYoylTOEWyuc2PcsYDQ2nZNTOK8M9FyNZR4Nx2mPPDwXLAmY/s3035/european%20robin.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3035" data-original-width="2508" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ciQRd2TRUTkvBpzv3ZHv9avsUWuQ5y0uwGRrSw5ND9dqs5asR90MNySVbhtFrGBimmU-r4b5o2CDzOGoKjqJkEN75fWkfoRzOq9CKOTK4BH5KfreZJ0jLmyak0ngihmY6ksvE4bHk_7jYoylTOEWyuc2PcsYDQ2nZNTOK8M9FyNZR4Nx2mPPDwXLAmY/s320/european%20robin.jpg" width="264" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">European Robin</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">The target though was Scottish Crossbill, endemic to these
forests and the only bird species restricted to the United Kingdom. I
spotted a likely candidate in the garden of Fraoch Lodge before
encountering several small flocks in the nearby forest reserve.
Common Crossbill was also present and easily distinguished by voice.
A bigger identification challenge is posed by the Parrot Crossbill,
with a call more like that of a Scottish Crossbill. After checking my
recordings of alarm and other calls, it seemed to be the case that
Scottish Crossbill was the most common species in the forest area I
explored. However, the future taxonomic status of this bird is surely
under a cloud.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8z1mXue90DHUgZR4jZYFpA-CbWPtCzvVetQehQoexAAfBkCyvqzMoOVxaZ7UQ_mGlSTIvUJhtEiRjrowYKUSaLZQY1tUUcPevEI_nG2fhdbPfUIs3GFaJoD5KLvNLyPSMlQBzlYlPubGGGl2oTQlQmhm5LTPQTAnH9lKCGrFtRIa5OFRMFkGaid7n8A/s1337/scottish%20crossbill.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1161" data-original-width="1337" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK8z1mXue90DHUgZR4jZYFpA-CbWPtCzvVetQehQoexAAfBkCyvqzMoOVxaZ7UQ_mGlSTIvUJhtEiRjrowYKUSaLZQY1tUUcPevEI_nG2fhdbPfUIs3GFaJoD5KLvNLyPSMlQBzlYlPubGGGl2oTQlQmhm5LTPQTAnH9lKCGrFtRIa5OFRMFkGaid7n8A/s320/scottish%20crossbill.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scottish Crossbill</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">We moved on to the Isle
of Skye and the fabulous scenery of north-west coastal Scotland,
hiring a “tiny house” in the hamlet of Flodigarry. From the house
it was possible to watch seabirds close to the coastal cliffs below.
While in bed I scored another tick as a Great Skua sailed past.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzwBkm0jQytWkN6-T6JBrfuWLrENR_8p75LJQbAMbxs7KZaXvj895UIIT3eyGxxu8H0tffUMyw9v40Qt5W5OkZ0BJx6h32Whickm3XGorAXuGfeZI60soRWloDoF2qrzUqGkfhw9or4jgRehtPo2UQdQsaeoWJd1TawuGDIFRprsMJROf5MidocWxm3A/s2016/uk%20scotland%20flodigarry.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUzwBkm0jQytWkN6-T6JBrfuWLrENR_8p75LJQbAMbxs7KZaXvj895UIIT3eyGxxu8H0tffUMyw9v40Qt5W5OkZ0BJx6h32Whickm3XGorAXuGfeZI60soRWloDoF2qrzUqGkfhw9or4jgRehtPo2UQdQsaeoWJd1TawuGDIFRprsMJROf5MidocWxm3A/s320/uk%20scotland%20flodigarry.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">The following day we took
a return ferry from the town of Uig to Lockmaddy. European
Storm-Petrel was one of only two species of bird that I had seen dead
(this one in Ireland) but not alive. That needed to be fixed. I saw
about eight storm-petrels without difficulty on the return leg. I
also had better views of another Great Skua.</p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4szw6qkU59XXy4qa-jYPhwQ6PJX6rDqKL1oysjpEWqloPXTzDZg35bz6bJDlHkOyw1E41Gajc7BGb2j2aVyVYKjReC1BFcZNLcTg2L1i3Crj-TkNWe5_eOqo667bFv6DbQSOoK6WPzwrS1M3KKw_bfTj40ZXeqXBbPjACKV45kF5Dq1FcYufRbcD9KpA/s792/great%20skua.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="686" data-original-width="792" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4szw6qkU59XXy4qa-jYPhwQ6PJX6rDqKL1oysjpEWqloPXTzDZg35bz6bJDlHkOyw1E41Gajc7BGb2j2aVyVYKjReC1BFcZNLcTg2L1i3Crj-TkNWe5_eOqo667bFv6DbQSOoK6WPzwrS1M3KKw_bfTj40ZXeqXBbPjACKV45kF5Dq1FcYufRbcD9KpA/s320/great%20skua.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Skua</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Birds that were common
included Northern Gannet, Manx Shearwater, Common Murre and
Black-legged Kittiwake. A couple of Northern Fulmars were spotted. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOhFCos6Q90YYT9hm5azV0TuHxqbIal6wsKiVIqp_pUlxjUmh0YA3J6VXr0SMkEKZAENkqxWF0kQrFxNzWzFeAuiI9GHW1vbEMA1iFVTeztRdwUzEQXP5ivBhObI6khPbiMWR2DQtjc74ft7sfp947BRWi8aA1ymRY6OCA9dmN1wbMQ6sXcDPSq6Nrlo/s2446/common%20murre.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1779" data-original-width="2446" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOhFCos6Q90YYT9hm5azV0TuHxqbIal6wsKiVIqp_pUlxjUmh0YA3J6VXr0SMkEKZAENkqxWF0kQrFxNzWzFeAuiI9GHW1vbEMA1iFVTeztRdwUzEQXP5ivBhObI6khPbiMWR2DQtjc74ft7sfp947BRWi8aA1ymRY6OCA9dmN1wbMQ6sXcDPSq6Nrlo/s320/common%20murre.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Murre</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyEWPp72ho9gGBsYtcHbDlL5SHphtxNNiKVOrPCLEzmo196ULYlnNe_-P4W-5MNxfttu9cRkeWS9cprb7ml68Wqw22hJtRkdx3FpgMKLRAhD_uBnmyVjYn_lZI92Kv_zalb-Re3k800y96C3GB6WvdhicUZJsN0C32PFa3Y6q-6zxt5t0Ow9xVsFZBuY/s1733/northern%20gannet.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1464" data-original-width="1733" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqyEWPp72ho9gGBsYtcHbDlL5SHphtxNNiKVOrPCLEzmo196ULYlnNe_-P4W-5MNxfttu9cRkeWS9cprb7ml68Wqw22hJtRkdx3FpgMKLRAhD_uBnmyVjYn_lZI92Kv_zalb-Re3k800y96C3GB6WvdhicUZJsN0C32PFa3Y6q-6zxt5t0Ow9xVsFZBuY/s320/northern%20gannet.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Gannet</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Mammals put on a good show with Harbour Porpoise, Grey Seal and Long-finned Pilot-Whale all offering decent views.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfACOVZeTs0hAAtqrlhztF1NiAMGNw7y8AyzTmOujaMGZYRtzLKCUvZvu-m0BZ3qhapHjOFy5-vhiR1j9mDsE836BRuCbL7pAdU21pI5FkJZ6t4Tb6Bt_YkxLHIxj9fM0No4QGswPCeKKo1_4Q4JoZuQlTpDxZQN93QXNcHFVkdIXiQrHl8Glk2vwY5WM/s1152/grey%20seal.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="1152" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfACOVZeTs0hAAtqrlhztF1NiAMGNw7y8AyzTmOujaMGZYRtzLKCUvZvu-m0BZ3qhapHjOFy5-vhiR1j9mDsE836BRuCbL7pAdU21pI5FkJZ6t4Tb6Bt_YkxLHIxj9fM0No4QGswPCeKKo1_4Q4JoZuQlTpDxZQN93QXNcHFVkdIXiQrHl8Glk2vwY5WM/s320/grey%20seal.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Seal</td></tr></tbody></table><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;">Golden Eagle was seen a couple of times while driving around the beautiful Isle of Skye.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2xEc5hlWXN9-svtB0whK2yClsHFsy3teEixkf_LFNRgGOActRH_gSYTdc-OGMHnZBJnUj6iHgiFIaPIGQVXneuEq9GQplV1Y9wI_Z3Mc5pTY9iz73kwCMl09Cd4nfBGP2cpo2ZeLJb4EsHEc9RDx-U2nQIp19tGQqxbTbZeuslgY5RELlbDvqt-ylTo/s2016/uk%20scotland%20isle%20of%20skye1.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEic2xEc5hlWXN9-svtB0whK2yClsHFsy3teEixkf_LFNRgGOActRH_gSYTdc-OGMHnZBJnUj6iHgiFIaPIGQVXneuEq9GQplV1Y9wI_Z3Mc5pTY9iz73kwCMl09Cd4nfBGP2cpo2ZeLJb4EsHEc9RDx-U2nQIp19tGQqxbTbZeuslgY5RELlbDvqt-ylTo/s320/uk%20scotland%20isle%20of%20skye1.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p lang="en-GB" style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></p>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-9677096933399663762023-11-06T06:15:00.005+10:002023-11-07T04:36:48.484+10:00Europe 2023 Part 1 Wolverine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlgHvWKZRz9SrqhyzFLmRX4DgHH4_d_fePZDEP3tVkR_ZoGDtwVn8bUkIuqpf4bOIKfipyk53Vav2rLh7jA1WUw7hwgJrWDkosPAwY8OAwTfwRzHaJLytGX5QwqCQ2QmedXJxJw-nac73Bn2lbAcOL9qDYGk-OMtvfvV-ODZqOzgDX2FALePjiPds2Pc/s3271/wolverine.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2529" data-original-width="3271" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIlgHvWKZRz9SrqhyzFLmRX4DgHH4_d_fePZDEP3tVkR_ZoGDtwVn8bUkIuqpf4bOIKfipyk53Vav2rLh7jA1WUw7hwgJrWDkosPAwY8OAwTfwRzHaJLytGX5QwqCQ2QmedXJxJw-nac73Bn2lbAcOL9qDYGk-OMtvfvV-ODZqOzgDX2FALePjiPds2Pc/s320/wolverine.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>
Wolverine had long been around the top of my must-see list of the world’s mammals. This hulking, shaggy, loping, secretive denizen of far-flung corners of the Palearctic is mesmerising. It’s the stuff of movies: ask Hugh Jackman. In 2011,<div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WScyPKE0PcMkyVRFpRcCQUQOZMZWRoirBheYSX-6zSEdG-4dTIuptgFBNYPH-3TzdUOr2yEaJpRQ6EosN-EsXvbIQu-N2tJG-4UzIHO0Lp28MNpG1kC906wbonbGb9jR7BT9eQPmYOF0bKcfl2aKXrnpS06zA1aoL4MbCMsYPrisV583x0RqaMSHcF4/s3273/wolverine1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2434" data-original-width="3273" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1WScyPKE0PcMkyVRFpRcCQUQOZMZWRoirBheYSX-6zSEdG-4dTIuptgFBNYPH-3TzdUOr2yEaJpRQ6EosN-EsXvbIQu-N2tJG-4UzIHO0Lp28MNpG1kC906wbonbGb9jR7BT9eQPmYOF0bKcfl2aKXrnpS06zA1aoL4MbCMsYPrisV583x0RqaMSHcF4/s320/wolverine1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div> I was on an expedition to the Russian Arctic that split into two groups for an onshore day trip. The group I wasn’t in saw a pair of Wolverines. I was severely wounded by the dip of the decade and determined to right the wrong one day.
So when we decided to embark on a 9-week+ tour of Europe from the beginning of September this year, the beast wove its way into the plans.</div><div><br /></div><div>We flew to the Finnish capital of Helsinki and took a pleasant four-hour train journey to the regional centre of Joensuu in central Finland. We picked up a hire care and headed north-east towards the Russian border. A drive of about 1.5 hours (we took much longer to look at things along the way) brought us to Keljianpuro Lodge, the base for the famed Era-Eero wildlife hides of Kontiovaara; beware, the route is not straightforward and it takes a bit of research to get one’s head around how to get there.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPyWu327tdTawQPtQJQw_WHld5ql4kAQoZyaHVuL7ghFGpqipzjzXneLWzKdRDmfyv9V5hu7g1hqAGJ3xeEim-2_f0NUwMI_-d7XoxzYyvPAYMkvs3h10GTL-b2rWDVJnDlY9JZGWR4JGNJKKKSNVcsVm8xOaqvnclXeyaYiecLfdWNL8B3fD6kx8tMM/s2016/finland%20era%20aero%20sign.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPyWu327tdTawQPtQJQw_WHld5ql4kAQoZyaHVuL7ghFGpqipzjzXneLWzKdRDmfyv9V5hu7g1hqAGJ3xeEim-2_f0NUwMI_-d7XoxzYyvPAYMkvs3h10GTL-b2rWDVJnDlY9JZGWR4JGNJKKKSNVcsVm8xOaqvnclXeyaYiecLfdWNL8B3fD6kx8tMM/s320/finland%20era%20aero%20sign.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div> Here is Wolverine Wonderland, with little doubt the best place in the world to see a Wolverine in the wild. Indeed, half an hour into an introductory talk by our hosts,, a Wolverine bounded past the window in full view and disappeared into the surrounding taiga forest. We were assured this was extremely unusual. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OMm3Sxe970dHr0zwd0-5XKbIkAC03t8sZhGoqHii-QEKeHv-ab97Exc74Aaoi3dLSnwb4wXyHENjd3KiXzfBTW3vPoULkm2qcI0kr7CiTmFqceCk_lz4I_0zz3yPEeVs9WxIzd5m5SdZEC79iH0UEWE0Gy3wwZhGMjPMwkq8a_NlulTfBrWEXJ6PIkw/s4115/eurasian%20red%20squirrel,%20finland.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3294" data-original-width="4115" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-OMm3Sxe970dHr0zwd0-5XKbIkAC03t8sZhGoqHii-QEKeHv-ab97Exc74Aaoi3dLSnwb4wXyHENjd3KiXzfBTW3vPoULkm2qcI0kr7CiTmFqceCk_lz4I_0zz3yPEeVs9WxIzd5m5SdZEC79iH0UEWE0Gy3wwZhGMjPMwkq8a_NlulTfBrWEXJ6PIkw/s320/eurasian%20red%20squirrel,%20finland.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Other visitors to feeders outside the window included Eurasian Red Squirrel (above), andWillow Tit and Crested Tit. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mri0hIb1m-t2KWi3Yhnw_90q06rPIKzgbAsS6joYTozEhqN45s_xPxKmwES4V02vnEjx3-aXFuVR-7iT6Dya-mknQoKcuzgwNm9gKyx2qpNTCcxO9BPvtag02yswKS-thK6BMzeIVL6yozkyddKk29PBMMgk2FMMjnPeWVyjorBjbYl-LSN0qBDbeSw/s1573/crested%20tit,%20finland.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1286" data-original-width="1573" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7mri0hIb1m-t2KWi3Yhnw_90q06rPIKzgbAsS6joYTozEhqN45s_xPxKmwES4V02vnEjx3-aXFuVR-7iT6Dya-mknQoKcuzgwNm9gKyx2qpNTCcxO9BPvtag02yswKS-thK6BMzeIVL6yozkyddKk29PBMMgk2FMMjnPeWVyjorBjbYl-LSN0qBDbeSw/s320/crested%20tit,%20finland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crested Tit</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtltUQPnoG6XFnEmH4yCk7gqCAWiNIwaZATVAr_oRXsSTaDjBrRm8PbygEVcUMNidz0S_l3_miiiYjXb0Y2tuesL5JyAIYDshcdrEvvTeoB_co43wBlO2vUZHuMzh9uLqylEW6N35MHaI-Wmt1gaveNAD1TEkA-I0QCarvOoJcTjVxqhzL3V_lbu8mUk/s3297/marsh%20tit,%20finland.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2183" data-original-width="3297" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDtltUQPnoG6XFnEmH4yCk7gqCAWiNIwaZATVAr_oRXsSTaDjBrRm8PbygEVcUMNidz0S_l3_miiiYjXb0Y2tuesL5JyAIYDshcdrEvvTeoB_co43wBlO2vUZHuMzh9uLqylEW6N35MHaI-Wmt1gaveNAD1TEkA-I0QCarvOoJcTjVxqhzL3V_lbu8mUk/s320/marsh%20tit,%20finland.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marsh Tit</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>We were driven by our hosts, Eero Kortelainen and Sini Hyvärinen, 5km through the forest to a series of hide-huts overlooking a grassy wetland glade in the taiga. This is one of three similar hide areas on properties accessed by Era-Eero. You enter the hides about 3pm and are asked not to leave until 8am the next morning; the idea is not to scare off any animals coming into the glade. Wolverine is the star attraction, but other visitors include Brown Bear, Wolf and occasionally Eurasian Lynx.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfn-hgpK3wh-MnjR6mP7oxi3s3xh_29Wm17jmkbF_yONNlCxLGBj0QCy1RV1anbWDCqX2GKI8FSe2Uih9aFe4NBhS7RT1rLMdY8tD2jJlApM1Cm6DAdU4MF1EEFmSKiPWrolzBft1ZtkTOcv3V3yBRCXNlhX14CP94ymE5NuIz7PecGrBYv9yE1g7PHeg/s1709/finland%20era%20aero1%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1175" data-original-width="1709" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfn-hgpK3wh-MnjR6mP7oxi3s3xh_29Wm17jmkbF_yONNlCxLGBj0QCy1RV1anbWDCqX2GKI8FSe2Uih9aFe4NBhS7RT1rLMdY8tD2jJlApM1Cm6DAdU4MF1EEFmSKiPWrolzBft1ZtkTOcv3V3yBRCXNlhX14CP94ymE5NuIz7PecGrBYv9yE1g7PHeg/s320/finland%20era%20aero1%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>Eero then strategically placed pieces of meat in hiding places scattered around the glade (above). Then the hosts left and we were left to sit it out. The hides are rustic: inside pit toilets, basic beds and bedding, carefully arranged seating. You are given a small quantity of food to tie you over to morning. There is the option of two kinds of huts: larger glassed huts are more roomy and comfortable, offering elevated views over the glade. But they are glassed in, limiting photographic opportunities. The “photography hides” (below) are smaller and dingier but are at ground level, putting you close to animals. They have a series of well-structured holes from which camera lenses may protrude. These hides are a good deal more expensive than the more opulent glassed ones for reasons that are not entirely clear.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspWXJk6b-xeHjigUc2BM-EWW05l2EIHLMSd99vsXddB24x8saIWJWahTGWzysAKtVok8yN-ajw4oVkETDNjdrN8bNk0qCqRXwGhQe7o9SebRNajAobT18rFUyJFvspgAnNwkTvJk9hCAxonxWLQLvzvxp_BwrnPewDbvcuhxkMhKY4zoqiIfp9cNYTRA/s2016/finland%20era%20aero.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspWXJk6b-xeHjigUc2BM-EWW05l2EIHLMSd99vsXddB24x8saIWJWahTGWzysAKtVok8yN-ajw4oVkETDNjdrN8bNk0qCqRXwGhQe7o9SebRNajAobT18rFUyJFvspgAnNwkTvJk9hCAxonxWLQLvzvxp_BwrnPewDbvcuhxkMhKY4zoqiIfp9cNYTRA/s320/finland%20era%20aero.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><div> Finland hosts similar hide-huts elsewhere but Era-Eero has the best strike rate for Wolverine. Bears are easier at other lodges because those locally – once regular visitors at Era-Eero - have been decimated by Finalnd’s annual bear hunting season. Nonetheless, wolverines here are not guaranteed and while unusual, sometimes they fail to show.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXRWinkJejH1Tztxz6H3u3LyOWImJFU5gx1FrrWKVY6f_gg2vv8pR0iXuzdU-3P3SrvHlByhe2ruofxtC4HA4JtQN8OmKFu-p9MS0AySfatc2Cqu-Bl34QN3m5UrrU23vmWR858LIffLtGFseLL0FW985Hl1Ixz-wsSfiCJQJnSKFXg0MNuREG_k6gDU/s1015/eurasian%20jay%20finland.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1015" data-original-width="942" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWXRWinkJejH1Tztxz6H3u3LyOWImJFU5gx1FrrWKVY6f_gg2vv8pR0iXuzdU-3P3SrvHlByhe2ruofxtC4HA4JtQN8OmKFu-p9MS0AySfatc2Cqu-Bl34QN3m5UrrU23vmWR858LIffLtGFseLL0FW985Hl1Ixz-wsSfiCJQJnSKFXg0MNuREG_k6gDU/s320/eurasian%20jay%20finland.jpg" width="297" /></a></div><br /><div> It’s a magical place in the heart of the taiga. Few birds are about. The occasional Eurasian Jay (above) and Northern Raven make an appearance, looking for the hidden meat. At one point a Northern Raven is pursued by a Northern Goshawk (below).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7h0X1csxtmH6qQNw2HJg6KCztZNu0774XUwWmQ0RgPqPc6MXAmQ4yj4MY1kxydInLaQ6SJAAwP6CGgYyBAP_sYCCS9gSJJsbJ8dZFJPdRWzvHL0ts3TTqz0iAgP1Y9p50JHb_DV4XL4Jx8Y8gc10Q-XTV3yGCoKwJgfPIfuZuPQN-jiG5FAiw5AwWINE/s2089/northern%20goshawk%20chases%20northern%20raven,%20finalnd.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1470" data-original-width="2089" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7h0X1csxtmH6qQNw2HJg6KCztZNu0774XUwWmQ0RgPqPc6MXAmQ4yj4MY1kxydInLaQ6SJAAwP6CGgYyBAP_sYCCS9gSJJsbJ8dZFJPdRWzvHL0ts3TTqz0iAgP1Y9p50JHb_DV4XL4Jx8Y8gc10Q-XTV3yGCoKwJgfPIfuZuPQN-jiG5FAiw5AwWINE/s320/northern%20goshawk%20chases%20northern%20raven,%20finalnd.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div> After about 40 minutes of waiting, the first Wolverine appears, uphill from the photograhy hides and right in front of the glassed hide, which is occupied by a single guest who enjoys spectacularly close views. The animal methodically searches out potential meat hiding spots: overturning rocks, climbing trees, burying under tussocks. There is debate about the ethics of “baiting” wild carnivores. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmLQjq5pL21vy-3g9MTx874xzHv7UHnyRtv7jzWACL8bEQR5PI54_80KJ0eGOuWH7bYKBn4WzSK2GmaBb_9nnAKhBgdNZxg6lh-kVziLScSKOQDV4jc0jknkMtc7dI1hx3OTwpBkfAJ56rPhvYxwO1jc-0darkthnbS2OjT8Bsf0RVgBkmw37m6cJ7W0/s4057/wolverine2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4057" data-original-width="3168" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXmLQjq5pL21vy-3g9MTx874xzHv7UHnyRtv7jzWACL8bEQR5PI54_80KJ0eGOuWH7bYKBn4WzSK2GmaBb_9nnAKhBgdNZxg6lh-kVziLScSKOQDV4jc0jknkMtc7dI1hx3OTwpBkfAJ56rPhvYxwO1jc-0darkthnbS2OjT8Bsf0RVgBkmw37m6cJ7W0/s320/wolverine2.jpg" width="250" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHtbDtgVPFjQTCHbTBBAmwtr5H99MjQcyue22amrbzdvgGytQiWAfIA0rzQIkvag3309cFM0Gh_mBg1_6WZtt8aPQeVKuZLREvkfs20P9GVeBmpdiTaZAR31iYSgOfmWL0dTt0qKvCl840PTKTaYBQXDsj12z2RwSvdbu_6EnG0pxdLG7luIf17eIEXk/s3002/wolverine3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2544" data-original-width="3002" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCHtbDtgVPFjQTCHbTBBAmwtr5H99MjQcyue22amrbzdvgGytQiWAfIA0rzQIkvag3309cFM0Gh_mBg1_6WZtt8aPQeVKuZLREvkfs20P9GVeBmpdiTaZAR31iYSgOfmWL0dTt0qKvCl840PTKTaYBQXDsj12z2RwSvdbu_6EnG0pxdLG7luIf17eIEXk/s320/wolverine3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div>My view is if an animal as scarce as a Wolverine benefits from limited supplementary feeding, that is no bad thing.
Later two more wolverines appear – probably an adult female and a well-developed cub – to join the search for meat scraps.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yVVklNhpCRe2uGYgF__0dCAKWOEyZX-BZwE1IpVg01LJKux3uDKumWDX6-VZkc7seiswh-NC4fYSTg5BZqN2q2eYhqF60i4zSMR78Yt4hvIgmS6bkd0rCznghGcUB7jmkNPhzdj3S1w6aAPke2wvUoogpivJcB1vKk4CMoLCs4CvKJds8RATzIc2P7I/s2883/wolverine4.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2883" data-original-width="2309" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6yVVklNhpCRe2uGYgF__0dCAKWOEyZX-BZwE1IpVg01LJKux3uDKumWDX6-VZkc7seiswh-NC4fYSTg5BZqN2q2eYhqF60i4zSMR78Yt4hvIgmS6bkd0rCznghGcUB7jmkNPhzdj3S1w6aAPke2wvUoogpivJcB1vKk4CMoLCs4CvKJds8RATzIc2P7I/s320/wolverine4.jpg" width="256" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvWWGXxwL_CcbwFbinLhbpLfL_jE2ncO4aMogCRhcCbR806n0ntpvyOdFq6cq8FUPY7Kd1ScJK2Be9t0kgFmh_fZ2k_Poq2_8YxUt03loIAM2uvu0Mvkf4X7Jw0C6nBYJljp8sff2gsiHaDE5wROMjS5Dxt4gtTfUohbYOii6Dvk4cOeCrWJ2wQ2UkTQ/s2790/wolverine5.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2265" data-original-width="2790" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOvWWGXxwL_CcbwFbinLhbpLfL_jE2ncO4aMogCRhcCbR806n0ntpvyOdFq6cq8FUPY7Kd1ScJK2Be9t0kgFmh_fZ2k_Poq2_8YxUt03loIAM2uvu0Mvkf4X7Jw0C6nBYJljp8sff2gsiHaDE5wROMjS5Dxt4gtTfUohbYOii6Dvk4cOeCrWJ2wQ2UkTQ/s320/wolverine5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div> Later still, shortly before the sun finally fades, another animal turns up. They are formidable beasts: the
largest member of the weasel family, weighing up to 28kg. At first light the following morning, I am greeted by the face of a wolverine a couple of metres outside the hide; so close that I’m unable to focus the camera. Altogether, including the animal at the base lodge, we saw a total of 4 or 5 Wolverines. That’s a good haul. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvVk2t7SohA7QAiHcfYdvkg1kN5LXJ0gimTIMYFs89UietpTIa6ZulePfzZVHULHaJb0EarpUfNSUF7hGMEa15ycHpaQzByad0Phmq8fdhyphenhyphenxrlK_VhTEBfbF27cGFI_kdkbjBP6YO0CtI-aZX1mQGa203XLscg5NWkYEOdMA1vaaD50I4rd-OpT8goKc/s2410/wolverine6.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1817" data-original-width="2410" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlvVk2t7SohA7QAiHcfYdvkg1kN5LXJ0gimTIMYFs89UietpTIa6ZulePfzZVHULHaJb0EarpUfNSUF7hGMEa15ycHpaQzByad0Phmq8fdhyphenhyphenxrlK_VhTEBfbF27cGFI_kdkbjBP6YO0CtI-aZX1mQGa203XLscg5NWkYEOdMA1vaaD50I4rd-OpT8goKc/s320/wolverine6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx7miobLagYqbUpDj_UvI2StBj4JIv497TsauPbHUVHk3AoiQ5vSYHTZaOdROdwR_fyKK-Q27A5OGjonMmaQ2uR3hR9cqJaT-oU2GFzDh9NzYevnlcB0WJKjspjR5YjkUXxeqh8iquio07PWv2xGVRF64MNCZTo1q3EaiDhRI2CfPUgr9n5_6sAbVZBw/s3302/wolverine7.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2323" data-original-width="3302" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvx7miobLagYqbUpDj_UvI2StBj4JIv497TsauPbHUVHk3AoiQ5vSYHTZaOdROdwR_fyKK-Q27A5OGjonMmaQ2uR3hR9cqJaT-oU2GFzDh9NzYevnlcB0WJKjspjR5YjkUXxeqh8iquio07PWv2xGVRF64MNCZTo1q3EaiDhRI2CfPUgr9n5_6sAbVZBw/s320/wolverine7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div> For me, the cream on the pie came later in the night when I heard a Ural Owl calling from the road above the hide. It was dark so there was no prospect of seeing or disturbing animals in the glade, so I quietly broke the rules and left the hide to call in a fabulous Ural Owl (below) – a species I had long wanted to spot - at close quarters. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAprSbtvQmRZ9stbV4F8bxAe4ardwvp_SwBDcrFKs9xQTHTPEoPy6CQw8DhVePqHTj1MoUMA3YaMVYzLxvSA7N6iRFbE_9oO_2ISE-E3qdqKhNM0_dVfSWYsbYuxv8zKUFR_BHhwgRP5vgZcjV9tPvO8uYrdni2KpDQCVv6ep9BrWm5TRNbXJkldCMsw/s4636/ural%20owl1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3984" data-original-width="4636" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinAprSbtvQmRZ9stbV4F8bxAe4ardwvp_SwBDcrFKs9xQTHTPEoPy6CQw8DhVePqHTj1MoUMA3YaMVYzLxvSA7N6iRFbE_9oO_2ISE-E3qdqKhNM0_dVfSWYsbYuxv8zKUFR_BHhwgRP5vgZcjV9tPvO8uYrdni2KpDQCVv6ep9BrWm5TRNbXJkldCMsw/s320/ural%20owl1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUN-lZdoyjoTJtvrgscZcWa3I8YN31zGS9o2woUSFz990OhUEl9RsfB6XM54mtl7BvbO8MmLg9xQSY4vPBfdxzIdqyYAjGPbbetl4RjrntBG2AQiAXqPcMukS1nOhIx-GV-ncTVeYRWFqWUc8w1WQEyHUyQCkNma0WtalSdc_G1bkEKfgzgb-YfuLxHzQ/s4502/ural%20owl.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4502" data-original-width="3920" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUN-lZdoyjoTJtvrgscZcWa3I8YN31zGS9o2woUSFz990OhUEl9RsfB6XM54mtl7BvbO8MmLg9xQSY4vPBfdxzIdqyYAjGPbbetl4RjrntBG2AQiAXqPcMukS1nOhIx-GV-ncTVeYRWFqWUc8w1WQEyHUyQCkNma0WtalSdc_G1bkEKfgzgb-YfuLxHzQ/s320/ural%20owl.jpg" width="279" /></a></div><br /><div>My intrusion was immediately detected by camera trap but the next morning there were no hard feelings about this transgression. In summer, when potential viewing hours occupy most of the night, it would not have been possible; we were there in early September, the beginning of the northern autumn, when days are not so long.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zZEYuugWB6dpL-6807iyxUFOfkCtFf13KmXFe2LZbgaDwqm26zk1QpdD1JYpZtir9SBaiIzlxHCIIqbOME6y_-68TlRkJTKIs-620H2zk5fyb6vUH5zgH8G7pB-ySgTUyMWuCq41o7mAdSDnHRh7XXvd_CicfvkkxTre_RZcj6dtukLRZw6d1BIg_TY/s3357/wolverine8.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2280" data-original-width="3357" height="217" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9zZEYuugWB6dpL-6807iyxUFOfkCtFf13KmXFe2LZbgaDwqm26zk1QpdD1JYpZtir9SBaiIzlxHCIIqbOME6y_-68TlRkJTKIs-620H2zk5fyb6vUH5zgH8G7pB-ySgTUyMWuCq41o7mAdSDnHRh7XXvd_CicfvkkxTre_RZcj6dtukLRZw6d1BIg_TY/s320/wolverine8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-9463802600892270872023-07-11T11:12:00.006+10:002023-07-31T07:23:32.878+10:00Western Queensland Winter 2023 Part 2 -Boulia to Cuttaburra Crossing <p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRb4IDUUQRGJqP9N-gd8BAuf1xU33HAazshHwg04XFB09_xmFUeEL7Hyu3JKVrmZUsdS26OvAhUrGRAnoOUKBSy2OAWYpkhlImPh92vGwSkAvShWlvvdy8VGhrGAqXnxCo9_dRg8UnGWMlxleTqxbemrH3PTkLbb2a1jvA25PCO40_ATo6qeKtt6r4fUM/s1798/letter-winged%20kite.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1798" data-original-width="1652" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRb4IDUUQRGJqP9N-gd8BAuf1xU33HAazshHwg04XFB09_xmFUeEL7Hyu3JKVrmZUsdS26OvAhUrGRAnoOUKBSy2OAWYpkhlImPh92vGwSkAvShWlvvdy8VGhrGAqXnxCo9_dRg8UnGWMlxleTqxbemrH3PTkLbb2a1jvA25PCO40_ATo6qeKtt6r4fUM/s320/letter-winged%20kite.jpg" width="294" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Letter-winged Kite</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Following our travels through Longreach, Winton and Mt Isa (following
post) we headed south from Mt Isa to Boulia, with rain dashing hopes
for further stops for Kalkadoon Grasswren. It had eased by the time
we got to Boulia. Continuing south to Bedourie, the Mitchell grass
and gibber plains were a sight to behold: a glorious mosaic of
wildflowers, vivid greenery, extensive pools of water and lush
vegetation in every direction. The bothersome rains that were
reshaping our travel plans had a silver lining.</p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWr1qWEAtIDNDkyqMxECm5eCFjK_14LzUrNNZdqdDTTnLg8ACOSI_VYBrmamnFrOOCyGJkoacH3OW-pwdGoaRBJF9eQMVRiBPBMlUFZw_bLfgpWzK4dvd_OgPD-7TtBK0aaOFJKPmtll5oqlW3gxFthkM67EYG8dkdsZJUBSZh9KAoDneNPlfju-ISh0/s1794/cuttaburra.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="840" data-original-width="1794" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHWr1qWEAtIDNDkyqMxECm5eCFjK_14LzUrNNZdqdDTTnLg8ACOSI_VYBrmamnFrOOCyGJkoacH3OW-pwdGoaRBJF9eQMVRiBPBMlUFZw_bLfgpWzK4dvd_OgPD-7TtBK0aaOFJKPmtll5oqlW3gxFthkM67EYG8dkdsZJUBSZh9KAoDneNPlfju-ISh0/s320/cuttaburra.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Not far south of Boulia we located a Letter-winged Kite colony that
had been reported earlier. These rare birds, under threat from feral
cats, are pure pleasure. We had about 12 adults and immatures soaring
high and sometimes low above us, mixing with Black Kites and other
raptors. In a line of trees along a small watercourse, a pair of
Letter-winged Kites held vigil over a nest containing two
well-fledged youngsters. Several nests were present in other trees.</p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Swam7ynJ5KPuVoG0W7doT2QBurqlrARzZfxeim6dLti19JcmgP1RgvgVFN-6dIB0v6u_sILbLuRSpXSFxQqWQ4FB3K5d5X-o_sWap-k7mFbPLKn6yKVFJzw-L0abbLjwZnq0iUGtiFkvhylUS2GNYSc372IAiAO4CIv0iLuM2ibJiedSkSgpPVBIHSQ/s1745/letter-winged%20kite%20chick%20in%20nest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1205" data-original-width="1745" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5Swam7ynJ5KPuVoG0W7doT2QBurqlrARzZfxeim6dLti19JcmgP1RgvgVFN-6dIB0v6u_sILbLuRSpXSFxQqWQ4FB3K5d5X-o_sWap-k7mFbPLKn6yKVFJzw-L0abbLjwZnq0iUGtiFkvhylUS2GNYSc372IAiAO4CIv0iLuM2ibJiedSkSgpPVBIHSQ/s320/letter-winged%20kite%20chick%20in%20nest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOHib6ru98OSQyC-O8Mf4V_xlSu34EarFpZNm7lPWKJQ1ee82mNn-UkZZpkQ-eSpnrhgXXXmd2LvkglTWC6UTm1HBnh5_lpAOxzXMIV9tiHurczPSEQsL5aEsbcWFNCb0a-2NtR5jz4mQH0C5PrLh-vnGaP3L7N2vuNPzHEICOJjdptBsExNVNohqmlo/s1234/letter-winged%20kite%20brighton%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1234" data-original-width="1196" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmOHib6ru98OSQyC-O8Mf4V_xlSu34EarFpZNm7lPWKJQ1ee82mNn-UkZZpkQ-eSpnrhgXXXmd2LvkglTWC6UTm1HBnh5_lpAOxzXMIV9tiHurczPSEQsL5aEsbcWFNCb0a-2NtR5jz4mQH0C5PrLh-vnGaP3L7N2vuNPzHEICOJjdptBsExNVNohqmlo/s320/letter-winged%20kite%20brighton%20.jpg" width="310" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTT3YDy6elmNMem0QpuQ3pPgoAMhEmwgd0DXBzRUAVcthjSjT3ZBtz5aBRcFqLtILHX46s8rxhWJbnxvRMnfzhMKVMRWay7r1Qy8QjjtAeKYBlVG-ksH1OA2MiYeewxFXS8zwrzC1gTJMSlK_bI5uOSabOmMVBIAMEm7TMbQo0IewfNULAihG4EkLTVo/s1940/letter-winged%20kite2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1625" data-original-width="1940" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCTT3YDy6elmNMem0QpuQ3pPgoAMhEmwgd0DXBzRUAVcthjSjT3ZBtz5aBRcFqLtILHX46s8rxhWJbnxvRMnfzhMKVMRWay7r1Qy8QjjtAeKYBlVG-ksH1OA2MiYeewxFXS8zwrzC1gTJMSlK_bI5uOSabOmMVBIAMEm7TMbQo0IewfNULAihG4EkLTVo/s320/letter-winged%20kite2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhligKlcWO-yrz6QjoKMoYKoqk-LBMz6NL2l-35oY8caGrotFs-mafniFuXagOal2U6H3VM-3QwE9cNFLcsZZgkVo965mPn_lSK2EOcokL0k1oR1OHn4EmMaoeBq5P3X_nNpJt11WmygW_kkND74DXRsdfZIvRl2KETuh-CQLrdBZZXbOUnEXAmuAtUKH4/s1362/letter-winged%20kite1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="1362" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhligKlcWO-yrz6QjoKMoYKoqk-LBMz6NL2l-35oY8caGrotFs-mafniFuXagOal2U6H3VM-3QwE9cNFLcsZZgkVo965mPn_lSK2EOcokL0k1oR1OHn4EmMaoeBq5P3X_nNpJt11WmygW_kkND74DXRsdfZIvRl2KETuh-CQLrdBZZXbOUnEXAmuAtUKH4/s320/letter-winged%20kite1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">A little further south we had a good-sized grouping of Flock
Bronzewings (below) feeding by the roadside. We had encountered this species
in singles, pairs and smaller flocks on several occasions earlier - a
much higher score rate than is usual in these parts. We were to see
quite a few more further south and on our return home.
</p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GDbLM4Kh0SRM8mJn7eeiqFdvTaNHcE_PxGJZE99GsJ2677l7xj8hLUOiUKG6RJEBiXzj0aRGHJLYkvh4bdF2e72MFwH5G2NIfUigw2xiyquWpkyapUfFwo_AIp0_TBlJA5fCanZLqZHvyisWhcqgOdbX2-Nhqo4k20niI94ZLQd9xlRAH-JyWjhw4RA/s2320/flock%20bronzewing%20.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="2320" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6GDbLM4Kh0SRM8mJn7eeiqFdvTaNHcE_PxGJZE99GsJ2677l7xj8hLUOiUKG6RJEBiXzj0aRGHJLYkvh4bdF2e72MFwH5G2NIfUigw2xiyquWpkyapUfFwo_AIp0_TBlJA5fCanZLqZHvyisWhcqgOdbX2-Nhqo4k20niI94ZLQd9xlRAH-JyWjhw4RA/s320/flock%20bronzewing%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsMM6dVTMqETUbF6j_Jz5KE9F6_9I3uekF9ZBg7QghJ94fV26zjSeP86COv4Bm2KTMcfblk-9DrfGztjPVtzJTPvW7HgWNK_GprQDMxRsneY5SKTzQUuqV2PZseXeHbGG5Dkb42JC8D64VEmE8iA_ilsIELstaVKlhMMmdOPVln5V1pv3oJtQtBFEaHc/s2853/flock%20bronzewing1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="2853" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsMM6dVTMqETUbF6j_Jz5KE9F6_9I3uekF9ZBg7QghJ94fV26zjSeP86COv4Bm2KTMcfblk-9DrfGztjPVtzJTPvW7HgWNK_GprQDMxRsneY5SKTzQUuqV2PZseXeHbGG5Dkb42JC8D64VEmE8iA_ilsIELstaVKlhMMmdOPVln5V1pv3oJtQtBFEaHc/s320/flock%20bronzewing1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
As we drove south, Australian Pratincoles were everywhere, often
sitting on the road. Again, we had seen fair numbers earlier and
sightings overall were well above the norm for this species. A few
Banded Lapwings were about.</p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oSjgjO-VU7Hk-tD6uvfRx7A5XqljFpiukrqddlDn-drKiS7r2GEouSieH2npSV_QRxWN9Ktndtg3ggcYfppfx_w-2v_TR_HD44U5XVjYsHOz4H_tmqmkcfGpENBsELsRVehFf0s14UW3zyS-btN_X3J5RxaJYmj2uqUi27sekVFpeF-Y0J-W6MPWHHI/s1325/banded%20lapwing.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1325" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3oSjgjO-VU7Hk-tD6uvfRx7A5XqljFpiukrqddlDn-drKiS7r2GEouSieH2npSV_QRxWN9Ktndtg3ggcYfppfx_w-2v_TR_HD44U5XVjYsHOz4H_tmqmkcfGpENBsELsRVehFf0s14UW3zyS-btN_X3J5RxaJYmj2uqUi27sekVFpeF-Y0J-W6MPWHHI/s320/banded%20lapwing.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Banded Lapwing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZghtyEEX22cRAoL_xQr0Fd5oJylIx3VieH7kpeLLn6voFoUcsz8b-Mi74a24nOfX37PGysVdW2P9Ce45aEu-v_OHnOxXsDddP4apQKuJhGk2YPN3MCWBmpixPCNA6sGfxGnlkbsYiWvXzMcYDJbM1A1v1w9oKEi3-7BtVzBW6psK1IxGSnseKjoz4KU0/s1162/australian%20pratincole%20flight.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="890" data-original-width="1162" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZghtyEEX22cRAoL_xQr0Fd5oJylIx3VieH7kpeLLn6voFoUcsz8b-Mi74a24nOfX37PGysVdW2P9Ce45aEu-v_OHnOxXsDddP4apQKuJhGk2YPN3MCWBmpixPCNA6sGfxGnlkbsYiWvXzMcYDJbM1A1v1w9oKEi3-7BtVzBW6psK1IxGSnseKjoz4KU0/s320/australian%20pratincole%20flight.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Pratincole</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38-lNnPoRvrqlZnmgryjbTq0MvtPtqeSN5V52ZaRJjPpgGyG0fG3TsuIxW0bo3gV6ga6t4VE30dw5ck87qORVz-dcTLwIGLf7Jx4EwBrvPkXcINUmz1sKdoKaKffnhd4KtuG_A38eMhosa2FFYTPg2rGlDBON14rDAybgB22du0Uk81_qhxr3JOYcJ-0/s1917/australian%20pratincole1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1917" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi38-lNnPoRvrqlZnmgryjbTq0MvtPtqeSN5V52ZaRJjPpgGyG0fG3TsuIxW0bo3gV6ga6t4VE30dw5ck87qORVz-dcTLwIGLf7Jx4EwBrvPkXcINUmz1sKdoKaKffnhd4KtuG_A38eMhosa2FFYTPg2rGlDBON14rDAybgB22du0Uk81_qhxr3JOYcJ-0/s320/australian%20pratincole1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Pratincole</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Brolga and Australian Bustard were also in good numbers.</p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPuiPDrTZvF_HYQAE-qss0FwLRv4fLlLKm0s_9ZBKPnw5Ak49AdQfkWAXAgTMytZGQ9VrW3njDIsjq6F2eWF_i9YC7eoi58QPhYbVfHMyPEe8t6FzBobiMKYcDokL1Nf5sutMP99ytjxAp9Ldig9NPwyvoHL80J4iir5b8H8uw2_fZPuLp6uwIJ_QImc/s2779/brolga.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2188" data-original-width="2779" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXPuiPDrTZvF_HYQAE-qss0FwLRv4fLlLKm0s_9ZBKPnw5Ak49AdQfkWAXAgTMytZGQ9VrW3njDIsjq6F2eWF_i9YC7eoi58QPhYbVfHMyPEe8t6FzBobiMKYcDokL1Nf5sutMP99ytjxAp9Ldig9NPwyvoHL80J4iir5b8H8uw2_fZPuLp6uwIJ_QImc/s320/brolga.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkPLg9QIcbMpURlsUlWhOxYMUApSJNhFhW1JixnoexcBDdnu1twp85BUu0fDbSRy67LrcVEPSYnbmNvPZlYMfSwggi-9U9ebBE1QslRx8qbb4Oe7LFC1Ht0QSBnCgfGtshvFNyMlHseflAqdcuJmcGqzw9mTB_H9D1QU-frrE8uNKl0qe27nQkh28HXc/s2964/australian%20bustard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2964" data-original-width="1950" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNkPLg9QIcbMpURlsUlWhOxYMUApSJNhFhW1JixnoexcBDdnu1twp85BUu0fDbSRy67LrcVEPSYnbmNvPZlYMfSwggi-9U9ebBE1QslRx8qbb4Oe7LFC1Ht0QSBnCgfGtshvFNyMlHseflAqdcuJmcGqzw9mTB_H9D1QU-frrE8uNKl0qe27nQkh28HXc/s320/australian%20bustard.jpg" width="211" /></a></div><br />
<p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
We headed south from Bedourie after an overnight stay to Cuttaburra
Crossing. We searched the extensive areas of lignum here for Grey
Grasswren, locating at least 6 birds. Although everyone managed a
glimpse, no images were captured. The going was tough, with water and
mud in abundance through the lignum.
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpjLvvJdcNcM6nzkzqTh7Q8TBov2QbUAnTI1HJrt79K7MNkfUrrEZM5SsMUHG0WLXMUqJdCfy0_oN7MJ1J3T1cciVQqiUo-loteh4ZZGTedWV9qd17VXJTEFy9p1YDR0y4JfzA0pKr2zM3_-0PEAwbkiwkraSnpWviTN5GbKj161c8Br_6LKrfJlTUbU/s2016/cuttaburra%20luke.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="878" data-original-width="2016" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRpjLvvJdcNcM6nzkzqTh7Q8TBov2QbUAnTI1HJrt79K7MNkfUrrEZM5SsMUHG0WLXMUqJdCfy0_oN7MJ1J3T1cciVQqiUo-loteh4ZZGTedWV9qd17VXJTEFy9p1YDR0y4JfzA0pKr2zM3_-0PEAwbkiwkraSnpWviTN5GbKj161c8Br_6LKrfJlTUbU/s320/cuttaburra%20luke.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Australian Spotted Crake and Black-tailed Native-hen were common in
the lignum, and several Long-haired Rats were scurrying about in
broad daylight.</p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivG0o2CTi0e7XqePbN7Eq90UhRWCbLE9k0PnACFwePFwfGZGJvKErZ9KoN3VapUUBr-dgDo3C-Z9SNTRDUbMWjat-wRSD0KtWGvOcem-31rGYzD1eiRkAdx5mE_59LVNA54_FDgvCECIZiH_EG3of8W12K5NjdOZ38X1OjfmfwMclpTnDzgHwXIjaJG74/s1457/black-tailed%20native-hen.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1302" data-original-width="1457" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivG0o2CTi0e7XqePbN7Eq90UhRWCbLE9k0PnACFwePFwfGZGJvKErZ9KoN3VapUUBr-dgDo3C-Z9SNTRDUbMWjat-wRSD0KtWGvOcem-31rGYzD1eiRkAdx5mE_59LVNA54_FDgvCECIZiH_EG3of8W12K5NjdOZ38X1OjfmfwMclpTnDzgHwXIjaJG74/s320/black-tailed%20native-hen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-tailed Native-hen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrV-gvFxsU0r6GKaEGrX7g0TEMfzkwcfFXL1Uqb5uDdAZ-7NSSdnicFDsh3u9s8Pt0xv6VPCLgaTnteoJgJql84DziI3IjlGR81BaGnx1PttxAf0vnGxud5iujUtFgFotiLdUKul-cWo2-roZQqn3-9YxIm8S-dgtRQON5WY0bHlwLoA9e5Sfa_Cy0bo/s1779/australian%20spotted%20crake.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1497" data-original-width="1779" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfrV-gvFxsU0r6GKaEGrX7g0TEMfzkwcfFXL1Uqb5uDdAZ-7NSSdnicFDsh3u9s8Pt0xv6VPCLgaTnteoJgJql84DziI3IjlGR81BaGnx1PttxAf0vnGxud5iujUtFgFotiLdUKul-cWo2-roZQqn3-9YxIm8S-dgtRQON5WY0bHlwLoA9e5Sfa_Cy0bo/s320/australian%20spotted%20crake.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Spotted Crake</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">The number of waterbirds overall was staggering. At a river crossing
not far south of Bedourie, about 300 Nankeen Night-Herons (below) were
feeding and roosting. An estimated 90 per cent were immatures. None
of us had seen the species in anywhere near those numbers previously.</p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuPTJv1VWupZSsq2hJHyf6XCvqQBXsX3FvpHs0q_xjg5uhnNnRJSwlAwBsozS19eQDQ8OTQfh8yPkvoFPZ-AvDO57JF5J-0P7tpaB-wQvpjNRxW8n4lmOWjv-EbwNF2nlZta_ujUGt8jzbwtsgagot-CPFci8zIx4g9WAsAR7rXqcVH54NaR46SZnEGI/s2231/nankeen%20night%20heron.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2188" data-original-width="2231" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkuPTJv1VWupZSsq2hJHyf6XCvqQBXsX3FvpHs0q_xjg5uhnNnRJSwlAwBsozS19eQDQ8OTQfh8yPkvoFPZ-AvDO57JF5J-0P7tpaB-wQvpjNRxW8n4lmOWjv-EbwNF2nlZta_ujUGt8jzbwtsgagot-CPFci8zIx4g9WAsAR7rXqcVH54NaR46SZnEGI/s320/nankeen%20night%20heron.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
At Cuttaburra Crossing, waterbirds were in large numbers all over the
place. A very rough estimate of 2500 Whiskered Terns in various
plumage stages was a sight to behold. </p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrZUlNIol76uhUbx_1T62Xkfjg5b9UuUEKl3E6cLAbxzmNPeNebrk9BUX_7gRBYt-rrYbRUvQgolNXoUTsdWuFf_fXliYSuWDIl7i4GS8xazIrqeFNVJ4yEcobxBDKL2DTo8BcojYIDAbLv2Q4VTAtnnEQ7MqOWsmOyJf7fMJOpGEcRz-NlW9pC8qNwo/s4899/waterbirds%20whiskered%20tern.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2330" data-original-width="4899" height="152" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRrZUlNIol76uhUbx_1T62Xkfjg5b9UuUEKl3E6cLAbxzmNPeNebrk9BUX_7gRBYt-rrYbRUvQgolNXoUTsdWuFf_fXliYSuWDIl7i4GS8xazIrqeFNVJ4yEcobxBDKL2DTo8BcojYIDAbLv2Q4VTAtnnEQ7MqOWsmOyJf7fMJOpGEcRz-NlW9pC8qNwo/s320/waterbirds%20whiskered%20tern.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whiskered Tern</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Australian (Gull-billed) Terns,
Glossy Ibis and Grey Teal were among the species that were present in
their hundreds or thousands. Strangely absent were Pink-eared and
Freckled Ducks.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGUnHCWQAvbzMuuBRtzO2nIDvrzkik2oxbbZyobiWZIGHvxML2pdKkdiXNkwRC5VWfhFQhGnR6m6IzeGlJp0pNNBkw6fbGxARseF8PlNW3tugLLvKt8IlXHBYMtmSzOzSxrTBSdF5KnvnQnb_OsBO8b-VDPGJXsLfrjCptHVecy9wYb8JQUN9_Okjoe4/s4772/glossy%20ibis.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3131" data-original-width="4772" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZGUnHCWQAvbzMuuBRtzO2nIDvrzkik2oxbbZyobiWZIGHvxML2pdKkdiXNkwRC5VWfhFQhGnR6m6IzeGlJp0pNNBkw6fbGxARseF8PlNW3tugLLvKt8IlXHBYMtmSzOzSxrTBSdF5KnvnQnb_OsBO8b-VDPGJXsLfrjCptHVecy9wYb8JQUN9_Okjoe4/s320/glossy%20ibis.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glossy Ibis</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ve2tZHYBSKRMUQs8vVDZz75kDS7YaxYtOjjv84PslI2YJ-n30mdWBJc5cm2jwSZI_DlnUIVnvajVjYaxnRCVmn0-cQmPoKQnpzcCBuFYuFtEzq-P3TN2rp_d7i4KfgCioGsriRhtZ0Y-pENWnzzFr9f43fYTOksczYjNiXAkqLkVAd8ylA96GGjD934/s5926/waterbirds1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1950" data-original-width="5926" height="105" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3Ve2tZHYBSKRMUQs8vVDZz75kDS7YaxYtOjjv84PslI2YJ-n30mdWBJc5cm2jwSZI_DlnUIVnvajVjYaxnRCVmn0-cQmPoKQnpzcCBuFYuFtEzq-P3TN2rp_d7i4KfgCioGsriRhtZ0Y-pENWnzzFr9f43fYTOksczYjNiXAkqLkVAd8ylA96GGjD934/s320/waterbirds1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgks6JwMqrwM_3AyTOGTaNJkAlYJUebUwLgHxceHqBcXtW83lJBTSk2SsncxiEP0xLGhMC_dzD5yJR59iN1zKOkom8DflC3cRgkog3nts06hCiC7ujveTP8D9yDeoIkG8paOJFwEstYaUeF8B5DUPcfjUQeMy-Ifnw-Qi4_tfMqAAHHSV2c2fVWu_Z4c7A/s6314/waterbirds.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3045" data-original-width="6314" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgks6JwMqrwM_3AyTOGTaNJkAlYJUebUwLgHxceHqBcXtW83lJBTSk2SsncxiEP0xLGhMC_dzD5yJR59iN1zKOkom8DflC3cRgkog3nts06hCiC7ujveTP8D9yDeoIkG8paOJFwEstYaUeF8B5DUPcfjUQeMy-Ifnw-Qi4_tfMqAAHHSV2c2fVWu_Z4c7A/s320/waterbirds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYRZLMlXgTG6FoB5EKgW5JbJUBuFQeM1dyhIX1dadveEDZfjJdAqVFSIWekrEb0IVoa8VzEkvsE0Qx-bvp8wAU95KDk8XISY1YEk2wolkodBcL6ZTEDTlZPggNhg-TAtJybiFBgI7PQ7M-DBNHTxGfAiSbE3sWLVlSNP-FJJ22XxjQT9iD9LbgJ5BcGM/s2101/yellow-billed%20spoonbill.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2101" data-original-width="1894" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSYRZLMlXgTG6FoB5EKgW5JbJUBuFQeM1dyhIX1dadveEDZfjJdAqVFSIWekrEb0IVoa8VzEkvsE0Qx-bvp8wAU95KDk8XISY1YEk2wolkodBcL6ZTEDTlZPggNhg-TAtJybiFBgI7PQ7M-DBNHTxGfAiSbE3sWLVlSNP-FJJ22XxjQT9iD9LbgJ5BcGM/s320/yellow-billed%20spoonbill.jpg" width="288" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-billed Spoonbill</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcyrl4HQURT_SM48PwCZlKQii5qm5al_cA7jz1pM_5JAJEzjqf2nJBJJAlGfU_RR7RZyFq1-E8Eeyh0fsKN8IkX54YkgV5mh1owxJLTfO3cmvOZY6_M6pKmWlB0jVkbpsrDG_JUsNdWOFFpJJMvd4x5EbE4GX4fffG5XE4S3Pw1YqRMYTeRUmYTsgBzg/s6744/waterbirds2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3653" data-original-width="6744" height="173" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLcyrl4HQURT_SM48PwCZlKQii5qm5al_cA7jz1pM_5JAJEzjqf2nJBJJAlGfU_RR7RZyFq1-E8Eeyh0fsKN8IkX54YkgV5mh1owxJLTfO3cmvOZY6_M6pKmWlB0jVkbpsrDG_JUsNdWOFFpJJMvd4x5EbE4GX4fffG5XE4S3Pw1YqRMYTeRUmYTsgBzg/s320/waterbirds2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">One odd-looking bird had us wondering if we were watching a
White-faced Heron-Little Egret hybrid (bird on the right below) but most likely it was a
leucistic juvenile White-faced Heron.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6KEJ5cva7DqITT2xJbHucBM8qPvG1bOF1_QyiFvuDA7yHEzT4fVEql7mOEJulDJXNqz7yt-3yi69JMW89f9_AiNspv85ClqUaC3YdLBcI6EZty1pVOTzE1om5KcByY_DQLpIBEYG0sxJEHRhMrZb5pfIEdfVn_qB2Ht4yU9ixUvyU23073sSFBpCMJk/s4502/egret.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4502" data-original-width="4477" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv6KEJ5cva7DqITT2xJbHucBM8qPvG1bOF1_QyiFvuDA7yHEzT4fVEql7mOEJulDJXNqz7yt-3yi69JMW89f9_AiNspv85ClqUaC3YdLBcI6EZty1pVOTzE1om5KcByY_DQLpIBEYG0sxJEHRhMrZb5pfIEdfVn_qB2Ht4yU9ixUvyU23073sSFBpCMJk/s320/egret.jpg" width="318" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
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</p>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-61831436211595182872023-07-09T14:42:00.006+10:002023-07-15T17:12:09.448+10:00Western Queensland - Winter 2023 Part 1: Longreach to Mt Isa <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCaMm_r7nhR6AGy9AuTy9q4zL54XnrHqGCGtOQj_vJck3P0Q79L0a9ZFYpChuCah0iCdQ7Vk4VN1RHKyA0FX-WuMSoxBICb51UVcwWfm3KkhlIpCy-UaRNL5R4V0eFVFAvEhOnEmFxjd-jqbSFGtKIG3xyY7OxJff__4PE1QxJk22j9EZFPstHiywmfg/s1489/chestnut-breasted%20quail-thrush%20%20.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="1489" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqCaMm_r7nhR6AGy9AuTy9q4zL54XnrHqGCGtOQj_vJck3P0Q79L0a9ZFYpChuCah0iCdQ7Vk4VN1RHKyA0FX-WuMSoxBICb51UVcwWfm3KkhlIpCy-UaRNL5R4V0eFVFAvEhOnEmFxjd-jqbSFGtKIG3xyY7OxJff__4PE1QxJk22j9EZFPstHiywmfg/s320/chestnut-breasted%20quail-thrush%20%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>We set out with much anticipation for a string of bird, mammal and other wildlife targets in far western Queensland. Unseasonal rain prevented access to some planned sites and restricted time at others. Still, it was a productive trip. We opted to travel via Mitchell and Longreach, then south-west to the Winton-Jundah Road before proceeding north. We had planned to head from there to Diamantina National Park and the Coorabulka area but rain put paid to that, so instead it was north to Cloncurry and then Mt Isa in search of grasswrens and other goodies. From there it was south to Boulia and beyond (second post to follow for the final leg). </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgB7qppnBMU0R1W87C1PEalxke87s51uN9nW8LXQK3B54_WnJb3026LjPatw2aIcSQBxujel16-og5Em-FR5h9TxQzuQXrThd0nWLjjFB9o7Q_mXP308woGLGWvXD-TkuavnYyxx9xR0sArKVNrq1QH6yif2vZCxLgmRKd9JH1eljEJoWz9GSTetnn2E/s1274/black-breasted%20buzzard.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1142" data-original-width="1274" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivgB7qppnBMU0R1W87C1PEalxke87s51uN9nW8LXQK3B54_WnJb3026LjPatw2aIcSQBxujel16-og5Em-FR5h9TxQzuQXrThd0nWLjjFB9o7Q_mXP308woGLGWvXD-TkuavnYyxx9xR0sArKVNrq1QH6yif2vZCxLgmRKd9JH1eljEJoWz9GSTetnn2E/s320/black-breasted%20buzzard.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-breasted Buzzard</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrAifqEagQFtTrkala6G6bWpPHrmnD_E98is7zYLK-HeWnfzuuAlJ4tFweyHTELDVk4MZwC50aNCYu_tMZF1-g5LJm2QbgoGsTtbvqSYA7wUcActMR7hcnOv0142hFbNtO7uzQvh8ICu_A9nqGRrSLZ_AMjX3bpKpRIXEN5scH5ZMz8rhe9dFh9iFxeY/s1200/red-browed%20pardalote.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="1200" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrAifqEagQFtTrkala6G6bWpPHrmnD_E98is7zYLK-HeWnfzuuAlJ4tFweyHTELDVk4MZwC50aNCYu_tMZF1-g5LJm2QbgoGsTtbvqSYA7wUcActMR7hcnOv0142hFbNtO7uzQvh8ICu_A9nqGRrSLZ_AMjX3bpKpRIXEN5scH5ZMz8rhe9dFh9iFxeY/s320/red-browed%20pardalote.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-browed Pardalote</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The Winton-Jundah road and the road connecting it to Longreach were as productive as always. Black-breasted Buzzard and Red-browed Pardalote were scored in Lochern National Park. </div><div><br /></div><div>Black Falcon showed nicely at it flew overhead.
Camp at a waterhole near the road turned up several Mud Adder snakes. A Curl Snake was found during another stop. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtKX7b7P-Y6nzLd_M4QyZPyGKBUTIfP8jW_l-maQ-tF67mAK3WTl_mYiZcihTcZ3KXxPCfB2nik69E6KdYAX57j0e6NRxY-RRvy5qILphit5cKgjdi6hxzL-4B0rf5rg3RlltlAgBWkaOZPtuo_DG15cRF-39m1qKbMm9jmdeTHsp5WtJaAQAU0-5QJk/s2840/black%20falcon.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2233" data-original-width="2840" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHtKX7b7P-Y6nzLd_M4QyZPyGKBUTIfP8jW_l-maQ-tF67mAK3WTl_mYiZcihTcZ3KXxPCfB2nik69E6KdYAX57j0e6NRxY-RRvy5qILphit5cKgjdi6hxzL-4B0rf5rg3RlltlAgBWkaOZPtuo_DG15cRF-39m1qKbMm9jmdeTHsp5WtJaAQAU0-5QJk/s320/black%20falcon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Falcon</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-Q4XupsQlQzoz-zjVCLEuyY8YBxT_ZyCaEtBb7P9c4bgwnXWzZmk-fOsYwlfGM4aqLX1qjCdbSHKsC62Oxy8fSOoHe-eE9ITD3bfOzeSzMKfOpYwY5YPNc0u2kjwf5XOozfYdwwI5OhKyMVkr-PJI80JG_Nkd9MV2dnXaLVc30IylPtC20jAKDF_cjo/s5461/snake%20-%20curl%20snake.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2668" data-original-width="5461" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM-Q4XupsQlQzoz-zjVCLEuyY8YBxT_ZyCaEtBb7P9c4bgwnXWzZmk-fOsYwlfGM4aqLX1qjCdbSHKsC62Oxy8fSOoHe-eE9ITD3bfOzeSzMKfOpYwY5YPNc0u2kjwf5XOozfYdwwI5OhKyMVkr-PJI80JG_Nkd9MV2dnXaLVc30IylPtC20jAKDF_cjo/s320/snake%20-%20curl%20snake.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Curl Snake</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0ZjwitlgMAjjNEdic18oUEssxGG-ni8Ed4DxVUlv5N2wD3IFMrl0Ln8_Mgj64rD3YqSvIpqQzJhFhC13wi0PxwCDMBlySe-yNcvATM1EvMX4MIMSDpDRH6YcU08vvhfaX3ZcJ0r5yuIUCD-_MUbdgBLXv0RWAAven88kZ0OVQq__F6gpde4hGNozD7I/s6230/snake%20-%20mud%20adder%20.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="6230" height="155" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ0ZjwitlgMAjjNEdic18oUEssxGG-ni8Ed4DxVUlv5N2wD3IFMrl0Ln8_Mgj64rD3YqSvIpqQzJhFhC13wi0PxwCDMBlySe-yNcvATM1EvMX4MIMSDpDRH6YcU08vvhfaX3ZcJ0r5yuIUCD-_MUbdgBLXv0RWAAven88kZ0OVQq__F6gpde4hGNozD7I/s320/snake%20-%20mud%20adder%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mud Adder</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJnmSmtPuM70ODR8sgOM34bCsHL7G3wFvn-XHkLGhqyw2yTQjZPc6eU6W9stXrRC-dzTMGQx1IcZ7mFlAJgJ414cSRAdpzQLsMC-O8Q8CJSz3Qb2lzaaufcON4fvO2WuZ5DPQXNmNQh7C_PPXCivKYLHRlKXussDG9Fn1tyFRL3pmVJZ7_UAPmBgnNXg/s1888/mt%20windsor%20sunset.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1244" data-original-width="1888" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXJnmSmtPuM70ODR8sgOM34bCsHL7G3wFvn-XHkLGhqyw2yTQjZPc6eU6W9stXrRC-dzTMGQx1IcZ7mFlAJgJ414cSRAdpzQLsMC-O8Q8CJSz3Qb2lzaaufcON4fvO2WuZ5DPQXNmNQh7C_PPXCivKYLHRlKXussDG9Fn1tyFRL3pmVJZ7_UAPmBgnNXg/s320/mt%20windsor%20sunset.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset on the Jundah-Winton Road</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Three Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush were seen in broken limestone ridge country, as were plenty of Grey-headed Honeyeaters. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVl2JkQCl123YElnIQ9sWbtwvBpG3zgCW7Yh9pSReHdNPGqxk2jkbygakYz7FO37MmlG6_Pg-yhs2udqBh8h7VIzrI8bgFysDbxyM9lSzAg9q-yIp_DwJQUJO359_Ob5xXh_VQQJEB8a08U-6QciNu_p_E3ErHzdt0rTuy1Aj4K98yoeLcGlAljbDK-M/s1397/chestnut-breasted%20quail-thrush%20m.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="1397" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoVl2JkQCl123YElnIQ9sWbtwvBpG3zgCW7Yh9pSReHdNPGqxk2jkbygakYz7FO37MmlG6_Pg-yhs2udqBh8h7VIzrI8bgFysDbxyM9lSzAg9q-yIp_DwJQUJO359_Ob5xXh_VQQJEB8a08U-6QciNu_p_E3ErHzdt0rTuy1Aj4K98yoeLcGlAljbDK-M/s320/chestnut-breasted%20quail-thrush%20m.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chestnut-breasted Quail-thrush</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiUMfk9uPn7z64Zu_l2KbbsdRcM1U7gDreNgGSuNbiJHkpezHM46fNtSIoWrL7uTCJPUK0zFJd5r52qPRu-rC-JPMKQ-T0sJN-idUxENYaWGBIrDgR0HDqxdGjKX_ZXVPbnHW_ohxhoH6UukgmcEF_2ibcTCDgMZIa5fB-fj5lcXDdQl52oy_RlZ2gws/s1707/grey-headed%20honeyeater.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1707" data-original-width="1641" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGiUMfk9uPn7z64Zu_l2KbbsdRcM1U7gDreNgGSuNbiJHkpezHM46fNtSIoWrL7uTCJPUK0zFJd5r52qPRu-rC-JPMKQ-T0sJN-idUxENYaWGBIrDgR0HDqxdGjKX_ZXVPbnHW_ohxhoH6UukgmcEF_2ibcTCDgMZIa5fB-fj5lcXDdQl52oy_RlZ2gws/s320/grey-headed%20honeyeater.jpg" width="308" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey-headed Honeyeater</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Parrots in good numbers following three successive La Nina wet years included Budgerigar and Cockatiel. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlR-14y6gW4F7tXCM8_c1VHFv3jYgvLV-5GNrNduzM27dZkLRj2zgE9rjL0ZBfDxUpQiAJ0z3b9dWZzS1kpXAoariwrX6rawXc2vm6w882Ki3XB3W-3Ronjf4q5GrreMBWMttSbCboDHsUOKRCGyGZE9k3mthLjn4UD2EAXo7BB4CQSQwymbC_TNTFBs/s1114/budgerigar.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="845" data-original-width="1114" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjlR-14y6gW4F7tXCM8_c1VHFv3jYgvLV-5GNrNduzM27dZkLRj2zgE9rjL0ZBfDxUpQiAJ0z3b9dWZzS1kpXAoariwrX6rawXc2vm6w882Ki3XB3W-3Ronjf4q5GrreMBWMttSbCboDHsUOKRCGyGZE9k3mthLjn4UD2EAXo7BB4CQSQwymbC_TNTFBs/s320/budgerigar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Budgerigar</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_nJhtuvb5WN3PeHx4Y9Bi3kHfGBmV9h3uYfzhdt5kCGNjT1msj42cYH3Tw1CJ0a1lDKTNPeiyNY65y150iiPnG1dVNtlhe975FyCpUQbwCrOOsgh2SR8IM6oLMeeKDHDoENdSg8qugYnHtWgPwKZ-Eo9FZ_c9vMEKq93zIS4m-ytc9oSmsZIcGMyoKY/s2222/cockatiel.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2063" data-original-width="2222" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh_nJhtuvb5WN3PeHx4Y9Bi3kHfGBmV9h3uYfzhdt5kCGNjT1msj42cYH3Tw1CJ0a1lDKTNPeiyNY65y150iiPnG1dVNtlhe975FyCpUQbwCrOOsgh2SR8IM6oLMeeKDHDoENdSg8qugYnHtWgPwKZ-Eo9FZ_c9vMEKq93zIS4m-ytc9oSmsZIcGMyoKY/s320/cockatiel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cockatiel</td></tr></tbody></table><div>Crimson Chats were common. Hooded Robin pairs were spotted in several places. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXmHEwPHjPu_U5k_GJkkTtlJf2C-geZfc-HwVBQf1WsU4hfcbVU9Uv67FeZfgC5GKRJKGgByPfn_evPnoPR-12iRAyOIfsysLfuEMM7i254YAArOepShAcPyzecqlep-s5HlXwylgUOkascRDjZMmp7mcIpT1xDE3pBuNlKJ8gLPyCqIRRS3FjBM-dIM/s1153/crimson%20chat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1153" data-original-width="1132" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihXmHEwPHjPu_U5k_GJkkTtlJf2C-geZfc-HwVBQf1WsU4hfcbVU9Uv67FeZfgC5GKRJKGgByPfn_evPnoPR-12iRAyOIfsysLfuEMM7i254YAArOepShAcPyzecqlep-s5HlXwylgUOkascRDjZMmp7mcIpT1xDE3pBuNlKJ8gLPyCqIRRS3FjBM-dIM/s320/crimson%20chat.jpg" width="314" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crimson Chat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeG1mJz-1b6hyhO5p9DDAXIufGRjUl1_3qTidLgnCupRis7PprJmXJUR5Zs_X31G-syw9H-TsT6u_OiI02RuboSl5-XZmgL130m1PGW5UR6zEQUgNATHopAVm8w3SZ8fNlfSRki-mQaSlXnw2jBiKV7x_HxTyjnjkhoDAB0O-Qf8c4JQEE1kvvB5V7Is/s1803/hooded%20robin.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1692" data-original-width="1803" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDeG1mJz-1b6hyhO5p9DDAXIufGRjUl1_3qTidLgnCupRis7PprJmXJUR5Zs_X31G-syw9H-TsT6u_OiI02RuboSl5-XZmgL130m1PGW5UR6zEQUgNATHopAVm8w3SZ8fNlfSRki-mQaSlXnw2jBiKV7x_HxTyjnjkhoDAB0O-Qf8c4JQEE1kvvB5V7Is/s320/hooded%20robin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooded Robin</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>A nocturnal foray turned up a much-wanted Stripe-faced Dunnart. Long-haired Rat was encountered frequently at various sites, including <a href="http://sunshinecoastbirds.blogspot.com/2023/07/western-queensland-winter-2023-part-2.html">during the day</a> towards the end of the trip.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLm8Ey3DtRp4NvUaPojlsinioWCc5w6ve8mhxvASIHgwNuWU3ExnjAqPki4wUseBnbwEOegOP7UjUgk4Aq1txMwwz47AOonytNL_1_s3fp7LhEKbmbhhYqrv6nwo7X0FhjMVKtY_guA8Z26fFDmX75kW4t5js9xIG8sKzO92yQQccjncjJddB0AlrP1Jo/s3281/long-haired%20rat.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3281" data-original-width="2898" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLm8Ey3DtRp4NvUaPojlsinioWCc5w6ve8mhxvASIHgwNuWU3ExnjAqPki4wUseBnbwEOegOP7UjUgk4Aq1txMwwz47AOonytNL_1_s3fp7LhEKbmbhhYqrv6nwo7X0FhjMVKtY_guA8Z26fFDmX75kW4t5js9xIG8sKzO92yQQccjncjJddB0AlrP1Jo/s320/long-haired%20rat.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-haired Rat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoqsDyrf1Ug-n5eT1BcTU8RUL1TRVN3hB83ms2EyYIZOwXIRj6gT8XTGUPfBC3dBpZ45jvWfsWOzIEejKPM4tKJJkwIos9rr-gF82jNJh3BUwpAP23aGaftGi9gFh9_6L7T6Po_AWINivNcTQ3MiDd98INVe3_PBMxa2cBE9I7LpYEgVdaKMsL9jx02E/s3899/stripe-faced%20dunnart.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2654" data-original-width="3899" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghoqsDyrf1Ug-n5eT1BcTU8RUL1TRVN3hB83ms2EyYIZOwXIRj6gT8XTGUPfBC3dBpZ45jvWfsWOzIEejKPM4tKJJkwIos9rr-gF82jNJh3BUwpAP23aGaftGi9gFh9_6L7T6Po_AWINivNcTQ3MiDd98INVe3_PBMxa2cBE9I7LpYEgVdaKMsL9jx02E/s320/stripe-faced%20dunnart.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stripe-faced Dunnart</td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> A stop at Lark Quarry was brief due to looming rain but Rufous-crowned Emu-wren obliged (though not offering a clear image) along with Purple-backed Fairy-wren. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUO84LvpFRjs-A3X7Fs0f10aXJLO8DEfP86i9Q94iOfr2xUtSuRdzZ6OBF6JmS-Ox1Yz8G0zHtar-TXpJtvOXNYx1TSRZ3FwrAPgVQQcvuoqGcXrU065ZzyWo-EYZ9jmvE7u3c9JFASkWlLtx7b0w4jZJZHQYbTqtmDUzRKa2DZ0_8d_RObikkgFOA5TM/s1773/purple-backed%20fairywren.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1519" data-original-width="1773" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUO84LvpFRjs-A3X7Fs0f10aXJLO8DEfP86i9Q94iOfr2xUtSuRdzZ6OBF6JmS-Ox1Yz8G0zHtar-TXpJtvOXNYx1TSRZ3FwrAPgVQQcvuoqGcXrU065ZzyWo-EYZ9jmvE7u3c9JFASkWlLtx7b0w4jZJZHQYbTqtmDUzRKa2DZ0_8d_RObikkgFOA5TM/s320/purple-backed%20fairywren.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple-backed Fairywren</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdYwJIZzD6kRObqAEay6CML4t06DxT5iwdTl6zTEYivKU11lqPpAqcof4xocNCSmHR-gySkJXZdZa2OOlpuo4UMkkoXiSDdzhjxmVAeuYWYPsUwiGoaatPkd7cpxH5-RSeRQKtBoHDABZf0e9wcuZp6Tan8w3qnCsxwQna0WNIzsxI3cAV-MVZBqQaQg/s1162/rufous-crowned%20emuwren.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1162" data-original-width="1146" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJdYwJIZzD6kRObqAEay6CML4t06DxT5iwdTl6zTEYivKU11lqPpAqcof4xocNCSmHR-gySkJXZdZa2OOlpuo4UMkkoXiSDdzhjxmVAeuYWYPsUwiGoaatPkd7cpxH5-RSeRQKtBoHDABZf0e9wcuZp6Tan8w3qnCsxwQna0WNIzsxI3cAV-MVZBqQaQg/s320/rufous-crowned%20emuwren.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rufous-crowned Emu-wren</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Spinifex Pigeon was quite common along the road.
We negotiated plenty of Red Kangaroos as we continued on to Winton. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MRa8ijEj3IyzDtuy2-ygyxdsKKrkSwVFMiXZiIry6bsWq1GlL8Z0xWxNf4ELJB9tqd4yJTdipFAA3P7UEqPZmKSJ-Ah3bY_OmGZoKcMFy9QBZkb_1cUcnm0VVXZDFpLzMY3ZOFqDU4RQ_ySy5lEWNNfPoph8SvGZBkjDWMmEMwOxboGV3BbwIPHGfTI/s2229/red%20kangaroo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2004" data-original-width="2229" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MRa8ijEj3IyzDtuy2-ygyxdsKKrkSwVFMiXZiIry6bsWq1GlL8Z0xWxNf4ELJB9tqd4yJTdipFAA3P7UEqPZmKSJ-Ah3bY_OmGZoKcMFy9QBZkb_1cUcnm0VVXZDFpLzMY3ZOFqDU4RQ_ySy5lEWNNfPoph8SvGZBkjDWMmEMwOxboGV3BbwIPHGfTI/s320/red%20kangaroo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red Kangaroo</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfUgbbYozj4jSdfBhqXptVTcD-q9hkfRWAAifBMbEAENkCaB9iSQX_3irVbChyMBnh1Jq6OWkX1iLdQVkKOf6AjijMPf2rR4xIGMZlTH0F9znqNvvRbm0KtZAdYpKVy6y3UdGqflmDmedSQi--_F4ruwl-Qvl76z5QgmExjcQ0Tf9l3ClNoBi1xFkaEU/s2199/spinifex%20pigeon.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2199" data-original-width="1466" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEfUgbbYozj4jSdfBhqXptVTcD-q9hkfRWAAifBMbEAENkCaB9iSQX_3irVbChyMBnh1Jq6OWkX1iLdQVkKOf6AjijMPf2rR4xIGMZlTH0F9znqNvvRbm0KtZAdYpKVy6y3UdGqflmDmedSQi--_F4ruwl-Qvl76z5QgmExjcQ0Tf9l3ClNoBi1xFkaEU/s320/spinifex%20pigeon.jpg" width="213" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spinifex Pigeon</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;">Moving further north we stopped at Chinaman Creek Dam outside Cloncurry, where Paperbark Flycatcher showed well. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrWJ80BXQI5Go8FwBSBiOYjQh8XSWg-vDzg997HLPrfKXKxYz17-RCAx_aMiUrEPGFuNLwkaEW1hEvYvvAD1Ui0gGQD0v8wNkmhlQKGTAWAgdNDpy4XuEUBGj4cmKoi2JL3PnnGmxzrv_jUY4n1N2MRd9-0thaKKCw15VFoTyNINKCWnH7jpPAfmg1Vw/s4222/paperbark%20flycatcher.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2312" data-original-width="4222" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOrWJ80BXQI5Go8FwBSBiOYjQh8XSWg-vDzg997HLPrfKXKxYz17-RCAx_aMiUrEPGFuNLwkaEW1hEvYvvAD1Ui0gGQD0v8wNkmhlQKGTAWAgdNDpy4XuEUBGj4cmKoi2JL3PnnGmxzrv_jUY4n1N2MRd9-0thaKKCw15VFoTyNINKCWnH7jpPAfmg1Vw/s320/paperbark%20flycatcher.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paperbark Flycatcher</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> We had a late afternoon stop for Kalkadoon Grasswren outside Mt Isa at Telstra Hill, where most of us had brief views. The next day we headed north to search various sites for Carpentarian Grasswren; some of the group scored decent views, but sadly no photographs. Grey-fronted Honeyeater and Red-backed Kingfisher were among the birds present. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeJ610gZEmiIkeZE_x8xrWeB2b123dvqndOdEAN5kBUpAZjxQwY92gedUrHO_nf3Z4IaZfqziKj6yng-d1O9fZrbKdvI6tOGp6bNJ1PtXIHtQkumVFKSxsBBduRaEiKH7FN8nJfy3D6p4xPAqb9qbhRGL1yldn-hpGn_TP4OnTV4lfdhU0-9jf06hq2A/s1886/grey-fronted%20honeyeater.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1886" data-original-width="1807" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCeJ610gZEmiIkeZE_x8xrWeB2b123dvqndOdEAN5kBUpAZjxQwY92gedUrHO_nf3Z4IaZfqziKj6yng-d1O9fZrbKdvI6tOGp6bNJ1PtXIHtQkumVFKSxsBBduRaEiKH7FN8nJfy3D6p4xPAqb9qbhRGL1yldn-hpGn_TP4OnTV4lfdhU0-9jf06hq2A/s320/grey-fronted%20honeyeater.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey-fronted Honeyeater</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VEAZNJlKMLbuCXlf0soQXgJ3QLApNgJYJPlHFRCbDkj1imL2xMxhLd7WjArzSkPSYTJqbiR7QjfsoVGiMERyJw3DI0W_ZvwatcMmN9eRXOPUeOLavqVsYNxa5xKzxDiVNfUUlucaax9n-iOam52R5TPNUfy3djDMzfujDBeifN6LKUIHrqYnvIgvDkw/s1672/red-backed%20kingfisher.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="1672" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6VEAZNJlKMLbuCXlf0soQXgJ3QLApNgJYJPlHFRCbDkj1imL2xMxhLd7WjArzSkPSYTJqbiR7QjfsoVGiMERyJw3DI0W_ZvwatcMmN9eRXOPUeOLavqVsYNxa5xKzxDiVNfUUlucaax9n-iOam52R5TPNUfy3djDMzfujDBeifN6LKUIHrqYnvIgvDkw/s320/red-backed%20kingfisher.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-backed Kingfisher</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> Three species of woodswallow – Black-faced, Masked and White-browed – were in good numbers and a Pied Honeyeater was spotted perched among them. Black-tailed Treecreeper was common. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7ZktIQWeVlw_aDdhbZ-9v8R6iBJ3-Nm2avoLs0Q_FRenuHsiqviFhqJ9hQ-sqqtDCyCM4gE977B1hu0l4BYe3TsQLFMnBMzTiQLMTosKpN_YPe7UNQjM4boncTxuuohgRusKnV0P83SyQrXxLnzkUw_6-7a94-2xd84Dkq-OpLDu1_1FkrHDcw_Ozus/s1548/black-tailed%20treecreeper%20.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1548" data-original-width="1421" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg7ZktIQWeVlw_aDdhbZ-9v8R6iBJ3-Nm2avoLs0Q_FRenuHsiqviFhqJ9hQ-sqqtDCyCM4gE977B1hu0l4BYe3TsQLFMnBMzTiQLMTosKpN_YPe7UNQjM4boncTxuuohgRusKnV0P83SyQrXxLnzkUw_6-7a94-2xd84Dkq-OpLDu1_1FkrHDcw_Ozus/s320/black-tailed%20treecreeper%20.jpg" width="294" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-tailed Treecreeper</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPx5G41wWRndDJq5WfCq7asDVAqjo6-jd8VrKm1wUfNXWKVJ0KbDsnklo5OY7NMWOuuULh4ss4C6wKHzT_zRZyPzCfiYA7Lo-asfZgsoDsoE9U28QcP4d5ytrAuYX-hdJyqmmOvMZNCexNSz1v1nx_APV85Z4Krn1uvPqfDSDIZHM4q1p_lBOjScuEuE/s1582/white-browed%20woodswallow.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1582" data-original-width="1421" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPx5G41wWRndDJq5WfCq7asDVAqjo6-jd8VrKm1wUfNXWKVJ0KbDsnklo5OY7NMWOuuULh4ss4C6wKHzT_zRZyPzCfiYA7Lo-asfZgsoDsoE9U28QcP4d5ytrAuYX-hdJyqmmOvMZNCexNSz1v1nx_APV85Z4Krn1uvPqfDSDIZHM4q1p_lBOjScuEuE/s320/white-browed%20woodswallow.jpg" width="287" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-browed Woodswallow</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"> Another late afternoon stop had us again looking for Kalkadoon Grasswren, this time at the Pamela Street tanks in Mt Isa, with better views but no photograph for me. </span><span style="text-align: left;">A distant Purple-necked Rock-Wallaby was present along with some
smart Varied Lorikeets.</span><span style="text-align: left;"> Plans for another look the next morning were aborted by the heaviest July rainfall for Mt Isa on record.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinC2Pzh5xMN3_GsKO53_49HhatlVVAzBXgqSRsan2JK9XvNzLG5me_zY-gzWQdE82VV-IOzJ_RHBcw-WkzSaF_rZRKyUafDBC4tpmi_0qKyxywvmJdcoEuFllw59goAJxejapV8yoRBHWlGZQvz5n0ovk-xVd4zGYT-sRf9XEtwU6rwzikuLbMr8gp8IA/s1073/purple-necked%20rock-wallaby%20.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1073" data-original-width="1060" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinC2Pzh5xMN3_GsKO53_49HhatlVVAzBXgqSRsan2JK9XvNzLG5me_zY-gzWQdE82VV-IOzJ_RHBcw-WkzSaF_rZRKyUafDBC4tpmi_0qKyxywvmJdcoEuFllw59goAJxejapV8yoRBHWlGZQvz5n0ovk-xVd4zGYT-sRf9XEtwU6rwzikuLbMr8gp8IA/s320/purple-necked%20rock-wallaby%20.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple-necked Rock-Wallaby</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEmr1gB1NTU45GLXQcw4tVVdp8vPgm3OEtr7LUXxuIezAUEpF5pDLZZAR1_eBC5jZl-AjeZXsogG6rYJGUEWS_J2lDLVfHZC_4YHkfhwhxuhgXklV447Fw-qnIaMIcq1ASMW1t7BC7eTKqO370AKauaPHVuNGNnoVbtRWRiww4qkMY8MSytdLZtbbJkE/s2157/varied%20lorikeet.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1117" data-original-width="2157" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTEmr1gB1NTU45GLXQcw4tVVdp8vPgm3OEtr7LUXxuIezAUEpF5pDLZZAR1_eBC5jZl-AjeZXsogG6rYJGUEWS_J2lDLVfHZC_4YHkfhwhxuhgXklV447Fw-qnIaMIcq1ASMW1t7BC7eTKqO370AKauaPHVuNGNnoVbtRWRiww4qkMY8MSytdLZtbbJkE/s320/varied%20lorikeet.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Varied Lorikeet</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></div>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-81339013239809653942023-06-17T11:11:00.007+10:002023-06-18T07:31:49.243+10:00Platypus are flourishing around the Sunshine Coast, but for how long?<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHDfj9hrPJ0xtj4XN_jQ2B72ieX2Cf0Vfy-qzkHcaclNZm3IlZNEO_kM96Pmrb4gfgpCFoqvj3kd7XCu-jcUQ2shxQYrjYiX_vQ21JrBA0g24QxhisHqgsjBg7F_-TKP0ztIfzvPTP8wPkUVERTnGggrUd5kJD7sELqfoZN0tlJ1J35CFKKqJqX5-/s3483/platypus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2164" data-original-width="3483" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiHDfj9hrPJ0xtj4XN_jQ2B72ieX2Cf0Vfy-qzkHcaclNZm3IlZNEO_kM96Pmrb4gfgpCFoqvj3kd7XCu-jcUQ2shxQYrjYiX_vQ21JrBA0g24QxhisHqgsjBg7F_-TKP0ztIfzvPTP8wPkUVERTnGggrUd5kJD7sELqfoZN0tlJ1J35CFKKqJqX5-/s320/platypus.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Platypus in Petrie Creek</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">The Platypus is enjoying something of a population boom around
Queensland’s Sunshine Coast following three years of above-average
rainfall. However, the Queensland Government is under pressure to
follow the rest of the country by banning a type of yabby trap that
is needlessly slaughtering Platypus and other aquatic wildlife,
posing a local extinction threat in times ahead.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWFBFOTMBj98XaRvwXSHH_Ibjscm7yKbE5HaJNSsjiIFoP3rC4ejffKdHQtUFXRWzRO2jvGfBXsl8CKvUxYvT-Z7EzzNxsJbfSvMSZKkqCkBkdAufNyvNgEfdOoWtrDC-a9Jb1UXqAaEJBP_DRBPrhyK0Yqji0wamN_K1s9FtEi_auHgZ-We1-Dz3/s4759/platypus%20a.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2368" data-original-width="4759" height="159" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBWFBFOTMBj98XaRvwXSHH_Ibjscm7yKbE5HaJNSsjiIFoP3rC4ejffKdHQtUFXRWzRO2jvGfBXsl8CKvUxYvT-Z7EzzNxsJbfSvMSZKkqCkBkdAufNyvNgEfdOoWtrDC-a9Jb1UXqAaEJBP_DRBPrhyK0Yqji0wamN_K1s9FtEi_auHgZ-We1-Dz3/s320/platypus%20a.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Patypus in Petrie Creek</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">During drought
conditions the monotreme population drops sharply, with survivors
sometimes being confined to isolated pools – for instance in
Booloumba and Little Yabba creeks - or making hazardous journeys
overland in search of better habitat. Right now, however, the animals
are being seen locally in watercourses where they’ve long been
infrequent or absent;</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrE6e42JDDD_-uXK9lPtCTz4MWAKo26oa9KHtHegXJYLGIDYqcAPeTnk9ENYZUQZmqKBLOtZw9qzAjU0bdakK_dEO-g5JBEYFI3s_lhPs2X-d6-zCUxHtmcugljmUUJ3icOno-axJjJhF1Ul74OVfTieiYYdRiRXmowEaQ1jnAj0ucBHlOqckb5hrX/s4955/water%20ra%207-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3418" data-original-width="4955" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrE6e42JDDD_-uXK9lPtCTz4MWAKo26oa9KHtHegXJYLGIDYqcAPeTnk9ENYZUQZmqKBLOtZw9qzAjU0bdakK_dEO-g5JBEYFI3s_lhPs2X-d6-zCUxHtmcugljmUUJ3icOno-axJjJhF1Ul74OVfTieiYYdRiRXmowEaQ1jnAj0ucBHlOqckb5hrX/s320/water%20ra%207-21.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rakali (Water Rat)</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">This is likely to be the case
elsewhere within the east Australian range of the species. Those Sunshine Coast
sites include Petrie Creek in Nambour, a short way down the road from
my home, where upwards of eight Platypus have been recorded over a
couple of kilometres close to the bustling Central Business District.
The animal photographed here is frequently seen right next to a
bridge over busy Arundell Avenue. The species has long been known to
frequent Petrie Creek but the current frequency of sightings is
pretty much unprecedented.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLor-6boTV_QVTSv4wObIaWYxH-qa0N78LG9qZ1otfKQcPbVClrhxup_ALiFmRuuN_keeCBYejJP8afZWE4NacYz66dc-GYTOUdg-4_6bPVqsJAvP9-bbFoyTrOBIJqzok05WQCsnQtNT1Blov3w2zEhV9g-oHm_G2jVC3wxrfYmWji0flI9C8BFn/s2016/petrie%20creek.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="2016" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLor-6boTV_QVTSv4wObIaWYxH-qa0N78LG9qZ1otfKQcPbVClrhxup_ALiFmRuuN_keeCBYejJP8afZWE4NacYz66dc-GYTOUdg-4_6bPVqsJAvP9-bbFoyTrOBIJqzok05WQCsnQtNT1Blov3w2zEhV9g-oHm_G2jVC3wxrfYmWji0flI9C8BFn/s320/petrie%20creek.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Petrie Creek</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">A Facebook page,
Platypus and Echidna Watch Friends Sunshine Coast, is showcasing
almost daily photographs and videos of Platypus from Petrie Creek and
across many sites on the coast and in the hinterland. The species was
found for the first time recently in the South Maroochy River. Also
doing well are other aquatic animals including the Water Dragon,
various turtles, and the Rakali (Water Rat). The regional
Platypus population has stared down threats to its survival in the
past. I recall that as a journalist in 2005, I covered protests
against plans to construct a Woolworths supermarket adjacent to
Platypus habitat in Obi Obi Creek in Maleny. Protesters sobbed and
declared that all the Platypus were doomed. Luckily they weren’t.
They are often seen in the creek below the supermarket these days and
Maleny is one of the region’s top Platypus-watching hotspots.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobyZF0l6haYygYp77XN3RydKdhC5YUySLzFOv6cd8_2ryJ6APe8w_H6l1sb1xRjWE9-4BiadZt7B6BtZx0VOHj3dpJlLkBK0YEi9YZnCbjisrcza3fhNXH78J4awkrW3JzEysq3Sl4fwiZNUt0ADuvN8GTTT4_xomqylB-uj1mNogRZdzowlwlrTu/s1076/yabby%20trap%20opera%20style.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="806" data-original-width="1076" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhobyZF0l6haYygYp77XN3RydKdhC5YUySLzFOv6cd8_2ryJ6APe8w_H6l1sb1xRjWE9-4BiadZt7B6BtZx0VOHj3dpJlLkBK0YEi9YZnCbjisrcza3fhNXH78J4awkrW3JzEysq3Sl4fwiZNUt0ADuvN8GTTT4_xomqylB-uj1mNogRZdzowlwlrTu/s320/yabby%20trap%20opera%20style.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yabby Opera House Trap advertised online</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Nonetheless,
Platypus and other aquatic wildlife face a grave threat in the form
of the so-called Yabby Opera House Trap, which traps and kills the
animals. Enticed by captured yabbies, a favoured food item, they
enter the trap and cannot escape, drowning in a few minutes. More
environmentally friendly alternative traps are available.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGCGUblE5BkMEX3XfMBT__n9Q0wzsTdIIbNVvHOzWCanl6mayEAbmb7Fnd41-R0Ujz5oo0oPKWe-t_UJy3EyyaTiYCWywgxstRBw-i4264uvWccsO3DFAYpPYpIClyCbcFAZ8Qak2OlN6645BE60kFYxu19Bk5QLP5Dkft0D3ooMKchw4HCQO_ame/s700/nets%20vic%207%20dead%20in%201%20trap%20werribee%20river.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="467" data-original-width="700" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGGCGUblE5BkMEX3XfMBT__n9Q0wzsTdIIbNVvHOzWCanl6mayEAbmb7Fnd41-R0Ujz5oo0oPKWe-t_UJy3EyyaTiYCWywgxstRBw-i4264uvWccsO3DFAYpPYpIClyCbcFAZ8Qak2OlN6645BE60kFYxu19Bk5QLP5Dkft0D3ooMKchw4HCQO_ame/s320/nets%20vic%207%20dead%20in%201%20trap%20werribee%20river.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seven platypus found dead in yabby trap in Victoria's Werribee River </td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Maleny wildlife
enthusiast Neil Andison recently wrote to the Queensland Premier and
government MPs, pointing out that the traps have been banned in other
states and the ACT. However, they remain easily accessible online,
where no warnings are displayed about their impact or the ban in most
states. A single trap has been known to kill as many as eight
Platypus.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsjFnBQY-jpt_MwXp0SrUl-Kma6e-Q0mQ46WCSL3mHf3h0z8tJkR2n9C_3pPyo1rQ7yfDDnPPVf4vdILFfyhRFl0aCNt6CGzEDSRfcdgOYBhXRpLc1Efy0AZvsQIC9herRSD7OiPtiQfwdKPoe0e5c_bBOnB_xBzupSD3f3d05ppHj2ZGRLMbfG8_/s758/traps%201%20of%205%20found%20in%202%20traps%20vic.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="451" data-original-width="758" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggsjFnBQY-jpt_MwXp0SrUl-Kma6e-Q0mQ46WCSL3mHf3h0z8tJkR2n9C_3pPyo1rQ7yfDDnPPVf4vdILFfyhRFl0aCNt6CGzEDSRfcdgOYBhXRpLc1Efy0AZvsQIC9herRSD7OiPtiQfwdKPoe0e5c_bBOnB_xBzupSD3f3d05ppHj2ZGRLMbfG8_/s320/traps%201%20of%205%20found%20in%202%20traps%20vic.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of five platypus drowned in a yabby trap</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">When dry conditions
inevitably return, and Platypus numbers again plummet, the traps will
pose a threat to the survival of regional populations.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXVPII3Sv4uphZJtPVW9Kv3LPo8D0_W71VemsmZcWGECdJHekGYqUBFzilGvh5uLI-InXxuXKKeoHTzOlLGj6hjg_ryHAbQDGVGtmBjkLM1bKaVEz7OL5S0UEOpCpebw8aQiutqdjddWN27vL1SiO4-xMjbDVGAoUxJqrZK4rr5-_DOzRPZzAE5j7/s650/trap%201%20of%20pair%20Springbrook%20seq.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="366" data-original-width="650" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXVPII3Sv4uphZJtPVW9Kv3LPo8D0_W71VemsmZcWGECdJHekGYqUBFzilGvh5uLI-InXxuXKKeoHTzOlLGj6hjg_ryHAbQDGVGtmBjkLM1bKaVEz7OL5S0UEOpCpebw8aQiutqdjddWN27vL1SiO4-xMjbDVGAoUxJqrZK4rr5-_DOzRPZzAE5j7/s320/trap%201%20of%20pair%20Springbrook%20seq.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A pair of platypus drowned in the Gold Coast hinterland.</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">In his letter,
Neil refers to Queensland’s “disgraceful” refusal to ban the
traps, which are responsible for the “needless death of all manner
of air-breathing creatures that call our creeks and rivers home”. </p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4eIQJ4LK2MDwTX13wewmDEkkUr4z3NcKaJ8GbpHfkvOnyQ17hNTQJuiehJwuL77zoZxylcv7ao-I0-dvRLsrFZpoZnheFcVl4vf5k6evPbTqQY38Ji1fvlFO75x9IWtiyywWi7ugpJdtlulG8JsJ11fPF_twIji0-wonzLmJN6sD0nGQzfQODtCR/s275/rikali%20dead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="183" data-original-width="275" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq4eIQJ4LK2MDwTX13wewmDEkkUr4z3NcKaJ8GbpHfkvOnyQ17hNTQJuiehJwuL77zoZxylcv7ao-I0-dvRLsrFZpoZnheFcVl4vf5k6evPbTqQY38Ji1fvlFO75x9IWtiyywWi7ugpJdtlulG8JsJ11fPF_twIji0-wonzLmJN6sD0nGQzfQODtCR/s1600/rikali%20dead.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two rikalis (water rats) drowned in a Queensland trap</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">The Platypus is regarded as one of the most remarkable mammals in the
world. We can do better.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNipgwETaWCn2fvIWiYc49He-HOUbvK8zZM3sT7URl_sjimqrFhG6PG-_7TLBI2thkOOXritTocmQA6W-tlEG6LM3V2_giUZbTX-fO3ra0OgR9oy2uoeUgDcDHGEb14o7VmiWD-t0fNlJo0ootLXhehEW0FSlZOEYd8eIxaYFEv2oIvTLYc20vcUX/s3352/platypus%20amamoor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2319" data-original-width="3352" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglNipgwETaWCn2fvIWiYc49He-HOUbvK8zZM3sT7URl_sjimqrFhG6PG-_7TLBI2thkOOXritTocmQA6W-tlEG6LM3V2_giUZbTX-fO3ra0OgR9oy2uoeUgDcDHGEb14o7VmiWD-t0fNlJo0ootLXhehEW0FSlZOEYd8eIxaYFEv2oIvTLYc20vcUX/s320/platypus%20amamoor.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Platypus at Amamoor, Sunshine Coast hinterland</td></tr></tbody></table><br />Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-39739172811733330622023-05-31T16:31:00.000+10:002023-05-31T16:31:25.979+10:00North-East New South Wales: May, 2023<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9ibUetNE-THxFcvyQ2aMfhkS6Bmz7EbLnpxo-_2e3Ar5LwVQMYlJYxF5ZSglbRMh8X58sh0hGsh9QG-o3E9L5r2ytmGvcIeXEJjxrEHYcUI5wBkbhiGq0CCeSNWKHaNal4SQIOmdM5VN-7n63np09qmYib6yqNtAABKovi4xO35Ti8-2KePKxNz1/s3483/masked%20owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2468" data-original-width="3483" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9ibUetNE-THxFcvyQ2aMfhkS6Bmz7EbLnpxo-_2e3Ar5LwVQMYlJYxF5ZSglbRMh8X58sh0hGsh9QG-o3E9L5r2ytmGvcIeXEJjxrEHYcUI5wBkbhiGq0CCeSNWKHaNal4SQIOmdM5VN-7n63np09qmYib6yqNtAABKovi4xO35Ti8-2KePKxNz1/s320/masked%20owl.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masked Owl</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">We spent a couple of weeks visiting four national parks in north-east
NSW for three nights each that we’d missed in the past. First off
was the Cypress Pine Campground in Boonoo Boonoo National Park (below), just
across the Queensland border. The park adjoins Queensland’s
Girraween National Park.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTzHkWPnSDcaQjYXNnZAdAjUKzdRLBCVGfS4Pr17-_Hk8BYDa_xl77K06lRWtx_pqS4QlORV8AECDB7jBImzdaXzL0OrbhJiaNay09MCeQliTp9pkUNZm3pAhJN2UEUxNTW5Q7LxGIHW7t50GswDx9Wa7JPorqo6TM_tKSSH95K7V2bqasV9oI5cs/s2016/a%20boonoo%20boonoo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKTzHkWPnSDcaQjYXNnZAdAjUKzdRLBCVGfS4Pr17-_Hk8BYDa_xl77K06lRWtx_pqS4QlORV8AECDB7jBImzdaXzL0OrbhJiaNay09MCeQliTp9pkUNZm3pAhJN2UEUxNTW5Q7LxGIHW7t50GswDx9Wa7JPorqo6TM_tKSSH95K7V2bqasV9oI5cs/s320/a%20boonoo%20boonoo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Much better facilities here (generally the
case with NSW versus Queensland parks) and nice big camp sites.
Platypus was seen frequently in the creek below the camp but the only
image was the poor effort below of one swimming past a Little Pied Cormorant.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsPD_UJftzNU4t0--vxZ_-q-F_40ahjfLaMtlO_P33bv2hh_6e8XC0A5aTKmtBAmtOoCDGg8NIUU4cZRgfcQ02j2_NkPqCGAMsn1yVQwxXj5a0Ri6kc78r5mg3zC_gE8e6xjnkAhpxBB8nFf1KmFs_j611NRtTdMz-BdFXL6tuR_tGcVKQOVhPRPJ/s1851/platypus%20&%20little%20pied%20corm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="1851" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKsPD_UJftzNU4t0--vxZ_-q-F_40ahjfLaMtlO_P33bv2hh_6e8XC0A5aTKmtBAmtOoCDGg8NIUU4cZRgfcQ02j2_NkPqCGAMsn1yVQwxXj5a0Ri6kc78r5mg3zC_gE8e6xjnkAhpxBB8nFf1KmFs_j611NRtTdMz-BdFXL6tuR_tGcVKQOVhPRPJ/s320/platypus%20&%20little%20pied%20corm.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">We had lousy weather here with a couple of days of rain. A pair of
Scarlet Robins (below) around the camp lifted spirits.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9o9yeV5Bq1L910uRLQlNzkjPuWTygPkkeqdBgE5lIU3UIDHfXur2EiuLIu_mC4W2xj-7gQyBhK2H3bdUW8S5J9Sq6ik-NJGVtLxuKGWv8Sw_EME5Px1uFAyctVEgpIu-miTzGfRfdlWua3heCgw_oix9Tz9QPI3BIXszKBSbrWHHC8ailjsVGh_0H/s3051/scarlet%20robin%20f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2451" data-original-width="3051" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9o9yeV5Bq1L910uRLQlNzkjPuWTygPkkeqdBgE5lIU3UIDHfXur2EiuLIu_mC4W2xj-7gQyBhK2H3bdUW8S5J9Sq6ik-NJGVtLxuKGWv8Sw_EME5Px1uFAyctVEgpIu-miTzGfRfdlWua3heCgw_oix9Tz9QPI3BIXszKBSbrWHHC8ailjsVGh_0H/s320/scarlet%20robin%20f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0lS4TTZgXO4q5TGdLidYgxR3qNhxcdRhyk27TFgD92j1E_gW1s0jIcR6M4FY3mlxroVm8d9VvdKqktHHXFqVLPckFkrbnSJ38OScmG6jD9NlUaVsf5NcCucSpsC3ebdvgKiLX6kdQB-C3jFJZ0AJ_ed_Dj6hvlQe2GnZFWGz44hlIYBJblXzEtDt/s1629/scarlet%20robin%20m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1553" data-original-width="1629" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif0lS4TTZgXO4q5TGdLidYgxR3qNhxcdRhyk27TFgD92j1E_gW1s0jIcR6M4FY3mlxroVm8d9VvdKqktHHXFqVLPckFkrbnSJ38OScmG6jD9NlUaVsf5NcCucSpsC3ebdvgKiLX6kdQB-C3jFJZ0AJ_ed_Dj6hvlQe2GnZFWGz44hlIYBJblXzEtDt/s320/scarlet%20robin%20m.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">We also had large numbers of big moths coming into our lights at
night, notwithstanding the appalling weather. We wondered if they
might be the celebrated Bogong Moths on their return migration from
further south.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvrTGzjxYvovKr4clU3R4FLsPYEOvlIIQk-tbXfjsU45rdiEuadNU8fcyg2RP0qmr4JkQlRW1lexWVWtZuzp844S5P8ur-bvBAWHrg002Ftfoqs04_0XTPJoLbIV86cR7CoOrnABpf4VeHR9AZTJXXMVHJhQEPb8afzAmTtI6JI5dMNC_CqeSBkvw/s2016/a%20moth1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrvrTGzjxYvovKr4clU3R4FLsPYEOvlIIQk-tbXfjsU45rdiEuadNU8fcyg2RP0qmr4JkQlRW1lexWVWtZuzp844S5P8ur-bvBAWHrg002Ftfoqs04_0XTPJoLbIV86cR7CoOrnABpf4VeHR9AZTJXXMVHJhQEPb8afzAmTtI6JI5dMNC_CqeSBkvw/s320/a%20moth1.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">We did a day trip to the nearby Basket Swamp National Park and found
3 Spotted Quail-thrush – a pair (below) and a single male – in different
spots. We visited the hideout of the famous bushranger Captain
Thunderbolt during a quick visit to Tenterfield.</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZAnHZdU_osZURMFIzw2Vjs-nFv1wIwpqGQGe4-4MU6wb12i7fdbADyYywRyJG69mZZDcd4dxELehCvvNWXU4-1d7NWJ5wXCy-edZH48uip6FcoDUn4g_N9z4emy3FBILDyF_t_WUd93vU5QxuW0IGFT5vwNVP7bx_N3UO12owhQbSMw1nF9KNTtH/s3131/spotted%20quail-thrush%20f.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2150" data-original-width="3131" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkZAnHZdU_osZURMFIzw2Vjs-nFv1wIwpqGQGe4-4MU6wb12i7fdbADyYywRyJG69mZZDcd4dxELehCvvNWXU4-1d7NWJ5wXCy-edZH48uip6FcoDUn4g_N9z4emy3FBILDyF_t_WUd93vU5QxuW0IGFT5vwNVP7bx_N3UO12owhQbSMw1nF9KNTtH/s320/spotted%20quail-thrush%20f.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oik7-tX0dXVC96uql3sh1SfLW5yRoxH12bttow-zGmZYzvztfXWVz6WkLd5ZtToW8yJd37XGrhCy5Klw1L6ly7jgBKLW6TV5O3Nd_syOOBXVltudEzX_QeNLEIfgwRV20OSfnSkJ_tkhYGuCH_qb3CMk84esGZOEu2g1xFF2JhBil85HKh-05G6D/s2950/spotted%20quail-thrush%20m.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2066" data-original-width="2950" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7oik7-tX0dXVC96uql3sh1SfLW5yRoxH12bttow-zGmZYzvztfXWVz6WkLd5ZtToW8yJd37XGrhCy5Klw1L6ly7jgBKLW6TV5O3Nd_syOOBXVltudEzX_QeNLEIfgwRV20OSfnSkJ_tkhYGuCH_qb3CMk84esGZOEu2g1xFF2JhBil85HKh-05G6D/s320/spotted%20quail-thrush%20m.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">We moved on to Cathedral Rock National Park where the Native Dog
Campground was our home for 3 freezing nights: at 1250m the
temperature dropped to -5. Nice scenery, but this was one of many
areas hit badly by the 2019-20 bushfires. It was disturbing not to
find any mammals despite some serious looking with the thermal
imager; not even a Common Brushtail about the camp. Just a single
Superb Lyrebird was heard when they should have been calling all over
the place.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDOoP8bEf6zeXitjolP5cuNR_WzGwaOnSZEdSAcPxHCdxw-DGn1auqkEy8xHJWRvnUvC1iqOK_SqrzcIFIxLNRP_EXi1H-FasVA07_F1i7JZc3uD8xExX_jX6yHITBzFRqrl6i0fD03Xh2sIXqLXrQIZJBIQJMiYW5DJj4S58rfDlEcGQU1N5Zh41/s640/a%20cathedral%20rock2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpDOoP8bEf6zeXitjolP5cuNR_WzGwaOnSZEdSAcPxHCdxw-DGn1auqkEy8xHJWRvnUvC1iqOK_SqrzcIFIxLNRP_EXi1H-FasVA07_F1i7JZc3uD8xExX_jX6yHITBzFRqrl6i0fD03Xh2sIXqLXrQIZJBIQJMiYW5DJj4S58rfDlEcGQU1N5Zh41/s320/a%20cathedral%20rock2.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqdjs0zEpW6Dh-cyWBTEfIkkAXlfU9_lRi0E59-cZRPFU-j_IFU0x3Zu3oommcHthRZMoEDhj5j0b0UZq7EixlqXa0lWKKbemdeRkb3h7VW5gxJupIeqHgj93N6G1roPglxuuQGg3vhYISq7gkAQzU4DNg5nokY9LeNSnLawXaChHH0tY8DpnrNvz/s2016/a%20cathedral%20rock%20fire%20aftermath.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWqdjs0zEpW6Dh-cyWBTEfIkkAXlfU9_lRi0E59-cZRPFU-j_IFU0x3Zu3oommcHthRZMoEDhj5j0b0UZq7EixlqXa0lWKKbemdeRkb3h7VW5gxJupIeqHgj93N6G1roPglxuuQGg3vhYISq7gkAQzU4DNg5nokY9LeNSnLawXaChHH0tY8DpnrNvz/s320/a%20cathedral%20rock%20fire%20aftermath.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Birds were making a comeback, however. Honeyeaters were in good
numbers, with White-eared and Brown-headed showing nicely.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMgIDsjebz4cm5aFf5EN3A-uqUMhYAMIG8wwXFt0QX_YeyrgsMQIqd6A_p9NqOeImpcRMsCu4yqlH0nZxO_B9XaCG4-yeShQwtbuKbZzwaTsIuVK9UdkTiwQG6ByDOY4Q6CVKZ83msfgZaKdb4PF90Vv0K2BJ3uSZXq3KyjKnaic1rXk894Iyxhvc/s2051/brown-headed%20honeyeater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2051" data-original-width="2012" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbMgIDsjebz4cm5aFf5EN3A-uqUMhYAMIG8wwXFt0QX_YeyrgsMQIqd6A_p9NqOeImpcRMsCu4yqlH0nZxO_B9XaCG4-yeShQwtbuKbZzwaTsIuVK9UdkTiwQG6ByDOY4Q6CVKZ83msfgZaKdb4PF90Vv0K2BJ3uSZXq3KyjKnaic1rXk894Iyxhvc/s320/brown-headed%20honeyeater.jpg" width="314" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown-headed Honeyeater</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCu8nh_7AVyjAobUbu3rlRbMFDGAA0H_rYBKBHccs3Z8GWoqja-xXPe89lm759pwekFfzPtagasm4OZWVlzrbhkyI3pCcg5a46M6wVcWCl_aNSfAIT3eTFU0zakm_Oo686AwTSsbB7T-Cuq3oWBT1q1KPQvfgaia5SbpsfuCB8HPLo6VsVBSa0RzK/s2828/white-eared%20honeyeater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2828" data-original-width="2709" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCu8nh_7AVyjAobUbu3rlRbMFDGAA0H_rYBKBHccs3Z8GWoqja-xXPe89lm759pwekFfzPtagasm4OZWVlzrbhkyI3pCcg5a46M6wVcWCl_aNSfAIT3eTFU0zakm_Oo686AwTSsbB7T-Cuq3oWBT1q1KPQvfgaia5SbpsfuCB8HPLo6VsVBSa0RzK/s320/white-eared%20honeyeater.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-eared Honeyeater</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Red-browed Treecreeper (below) appeared to be surprisingly common and was
found feeding with White-throated Treecreeper in a couple of spots.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3tplQORkcpMf5RnshK2snbrtQTl-sQMKk_eclGXyjW2DGIJR80REe69nERTFEMC0wLxl_zs3yExffZ6_JnXIwNEph90p4i3fEq_H2TLFgRcOzbcX1yojdp4KcjA5YyhbiA4XG7GQGw3eNzd31RZ8zLZCYS2F7iZH8D4lcwH2UzA-PeIt3-AokEzN/s1419/red-browed%20treecreeper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1314" data-original-width="1419" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq3tplQORkcpMf5RnshK2snbrtQTl-sQMKk_eclGXyjW2DGIJR80REe69nERTFEMC0wLxl_zs3yExffZ6_JnXIwNEph90p4i3fEq_H2TLFgRcOzbcX1yojdp4KcjA5YyhbiA4XG7GQGw3eNzd31RZ8zLZCYS2F7iZH8D4lcwH2UzA-PeIt3-AokEzN/s320/red-browed%20treecreeper.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Other showy offerings included Striated Thornbill and Crimson
Rosella.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhpQE9Tcr6hyL3Xcuyi1i7Fiy3cFxHb6f41OwmgRzZ_dsk4pugT9tc7yjisczg3if_MVdOBVRYlXWjih8sKAZN8nbo1rdns3cww0Z_AT1LKk3XbwDFwRz3Cr66c4C7rjHovpTUi5Yb0m8F-M-m0_OOansMuMZ7Ztr6cfYuZ4nNH2gLfblti5tCbHg/s4013/crimson%20rosella.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2924" data-original-width="4013" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivhpQE9Tcr6hyL3Xcuyi1i7Fiy3cFxHb6f41OwmgRzZ_dsk4pugT9tc7yjisczg3if_MVdOBVRYlXWjih8sKAZN8nbo1rdns3cww0Z_AT1LKk3XbwDFwRz3Cr66c4C7rjHovpTUi5Yb0m8F-M-m0_OOansMuMZ7Ztr6cfYuZ4nNH2gLfblti5tCbHg/s320/crimson%20rosella.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crimson Rosella</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieZtxenqe8AesBPdUEAaJDZq36K4o5deZXq9MagcanDqzC6XLYqzJdzyvDPy0UnTpAtXhqoaa0BzpcsQm_gXbeHngYunJbjoQoFRxwdd5LPqpqRwx_DxRlOd9DriK6krJheGie7vYOoqrweqpplKF2LchBRrj4spw_kDuQK3P_omUuoW2u0YlpgX7/s1817/striated%20thornbill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1817" data-original-width="1725" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhieZtxenqe8AesBPdUEAaJDZq36K4o5deZXq9MagcanDqzC6XLYqzJdzyvDPy0UnTpAtXhqoaa0BzpcsQm_gXbeHngYunJbjoQoFRxwdd5LPqpqRwx_DxRlOd9DriK6krJheGie7vYOoqrweqpplKF2LchBRrj4spw_kDuQK3P_omUuoW2u0YlpgX7/s320/striated%20thornbill.jpg" width="304" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Striated Thornbill</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Forest Raven and Bassian Thrush were present in good numbers.</p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRnH564phQ_eTyFb0-bdb42kHtpbFPJG22iBtQTerlmNfqENltfpA6Ntznpe8DXSM2KwtC8SE-D5-0uo9KUMZzSCr861WcC9UvsDj8O6IuEAMBoSNxUL4XIVdcNvO5AcR0whWeDrKcLpYT18DKeCEYpkGs6K9jhMMe-D0J31VrmCDCHCDqb_X7i5v/s2097/forest%20raven.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1863" data-original-width="2097" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfRnH564phQ_eTyFb0-bdb42kHtpbFPJG22iBtQTerlmNfqENltfpA6Ntznpe8DXSM2KwtC8SE-D5-0uo9KUMZzSCr861WcC9UvsDj8O6IuEAMBoSNxUL4XIVdcNvO5AcR0whWeDrKcLpYT18DKeCEYpkGs6K9jhMMe-D0J31VrmCDCHCDqb_X7i5v/s320/forest%20raven.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forest Raven</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilamFDr0W2TfntJpqs9fyGlSDyqmZaA1zLoj6LVP902GSZAYlTj9sB4hgnnqunRzZCcmHWCfBc88bPHJX8-H-MCU3mOCv3R1k4XOuBDD69gXMpzLFhSiTW-kP1FWGYAe7ZzJb0KD9oTzVG3UBE65XlSdGt0sTxuBg29sLhbxfJrZDQQrv9UkCf9Doo/s3119/bassian%20thrush.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2194" data-original-width="3119" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilamFDr0W2TfntJpqs9fyGlSDyqmZaA1zLoj6LVP902GSZAYlTj9sB4hgnnqunRzZCcmHWCfBc88bPHJX8-H-MCU3mOCv3R1k4XOuBDD69gXMpzLFhSiTW-kP1FWGYAe7ZzJb0KD9oTzVG3UBE65XlSdGt0sTxuBg29sLhbxfJrZDQQrv9UkCf9Doo/s320/bassian%20thrush.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bassian Thrush</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Next stop was Nymboi-Binderay National Park near Dorrigo where we
camped at Platypus Flat campground (below). A beautiful spot overlooking the
river, handicapped somewhat by the absence of walking tracks.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53fyyMVVGcmFFaKA35Mj7hfza5JWtw0elNLUNhpM-JViQqcfT30kOijWzVZqhv5gyf6AZwoTZHmsCmGBN9vlicFDjYIvaMd8NMZNKgI9byZ4wAwigA1A2s4w47dZyakC_iGnXawpoArcNLReUbbGdQ1g_ceCE0ZjH2vqe1xVBpyasuANpyLOVaxz4/s2016/a%20platypus%20flat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj53fyyMVVGcmFFaKA35Mj7hfza5JWtw0elNLUNhpM-JViQqcfT30kOijWzVZqhv5gyf6AZwoTZHmsCmGBN9vlicFDjYIvaMd8NMZNKgI9byZ4wAwigA1A2s4w47dZyakC_iGnXawpoArcNLReUbbGdQ1g_ceCE0ZjH2vqe1xVBpyasuANpyLOVaxz4/s320/a%20platypus%20flat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">A male Masked Owl feeding in the picnic ground was the stand-out
here.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9J5PnEcGbtB8rpgE7OZfIlZLEagS-Mc9Sp1T_WA_Ob183ENOsrFJgSNYRd3a_qJFs3jadoRIy1Ss-2Em_E4SeSG2UckqnzseGZVuqxO-er7yszd2I0irqTWR1_NBOe-ZMIV0SVPf52r3el8J3Ha9LKS8-FoltpgNwp7Wy9rMZyYS_sBbv7pCCPNfv/s3748/masked%20owl1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2556" data-original-width="3748" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9J5PnEcGbtB8rpgE7OZfIlZLEagS-Mc9Sp1T_WA_Ob183ENOsrFJgSNYRd3a_qJFs3jadoRIy1Ss-2Em_E4SeSG2UckqnzseGZVuqxO-er7yszd2I0irqTWR1_NBOe-ZMIV0SVPf52r3el8J3Ha9LKS8-FoltpgNwp7Wy9rMZyYS_sBbv7pCCPNfv/s320/masked%20owl1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">It had plenty to feed on. Bush Rat (below) was abundant, both in the scrub
and open campground areas. Although this area was hit by the fires,
they were limited to about 4m above ground so large trees were
largely unscathed, and pockets of ground cover appeared to have
escaped the flames.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAj7Iduv5nCj3mgwO007cq5RxosnS5QmlqTZDB58F0wqsbnU6fiOm2Y9vmfT51er9fXI42aX2XejBno056J6NRkxNAYrxLZLnCI0Tc4pPHvQVN4CbECcFjeAQvxWSGGQszJ5hVjGLFddO-_idPx63E6y8ou8c2S96M7FMnzgfZ2JCMirFUloIi4MwV/s3959/bush%20rat.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2478" data-original-width="3959" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAj7Iduv5nCj3mgwO007cq5RxosnS5QmlqTZDB58F0wqsbnU6fiOm2Y9vmfT51er9fXI42aX2XejBno056J6NRkxNAYrxLZLnCI0Tc4pPHvQVN4CbECcFjeAQvxWSGGQszJ5hVjGLFddO-_idPx63E6y8ou8c2S96M7FMnzgfZ2JCMirFUloIi4MwV/s320/bush%20rat.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">I was surprised to find both Northern Short-nosed and Southern
Long-nosed Bandicoots feeding in the campground.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmtzfuEiLNdtVmB2Qwh9Plgv1a3k2SZEDttj8UknGMFW95vvWUWLt9eqCSQ5Bs-FsvFP3Twq5eHgzK3GkLF3PdKF86Di4rJabp_FaFqsfXP14-FLpHRCTOTdwOQcepdrm8vK1ENzbzMeiYuLnyRLf3rB73zRGK79nBqHTq0ByunOY918JhCG05XUA/s3530/long-nosed%20bandicootited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2754" data-original-width="3530" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKmtzfuEiLNdtVmB2Qwh9Plgv1a3k2SZEDttj8UknGMFW95vvWUWLt9eqCSQ5Bs-FsvFP3Twq5eHgzK3GkLF3PdKF86Di4rJabp_FaFqsfXP14-FLpHRCTOTdwOQcepdrm8vK1ENzbzMeiYuLnyRLf3rB73zRGK79nBqHTq0ByunOY918JhCG05XUA/s320/long-nosed%20bandicootited.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Long-nosed Bandicoot</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZpow9ccWJNrhp0HznrP5LZwrGJcVvBVt9tXuqCxpLk0DKi1OfAp7HM1_fRi1z6xpkQeWxBP21i7CQq1I-qSMYt3qV7c1aAWbZMq9Yy5Eb9PsK1Gc8tsfLZBXnXrLM5HG1m6_rreMkZNf2dGi-zZw7_cATBl-ATCa2H2T2MUpt1743ELeN4IxazSA/s4947/northern%20short-nosed%20bandicoot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3265" data-original-width="4947" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZZpow9ccWJNrhp0HznrP5LZwrGJcVvBVt9tXuqCxpLk0DKi1OfAp7HM1_fRi1z6xpkQeWxBP21i7CQq1I-qSMYt3qV7c1aAWbZMq9Yy5Eb9PsK1Gc8tsfLZBXnXrLM5HG1m6_rreMkZNf2dGi-zZw7_cATBl-ATCa2H2T2MUpt1743ELeN4IxazSA/s320/northern%20short-nosed%20bandicoot.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Northern Short-nosed Bandicoot</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Paradise Riflebird and Red-bellied Black Snake were among other
critters about.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MynalysAvBFrbEXeMpeVNrjdFCzjSPIGrLBBIxkCEm6oxKgqzSMvDDJCkdKkwtYKfxxaRnn3sNuPPY5qP6bNlQd4E902UUNU-KSYBmxoNL1FLm3kBQicJ3QdpmREtdARuBjzw6f6EzHkJoRcI4pcvTD0pF2vFgjTOWEHnXsnztwS7dYRDGKMsnhC/s2010/paradise%20riflebird.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1582" data-original-width="2010" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_MynalysAvBFrbEXeMpeVNrjdFCzjSPIGrLBBIxkCEm6oxKgqzSMvDDJCkdKkwtYKfxxaRnn3sNuPPY5qP6bNlQd4E902UUNU-KSYBmxoNL1FLm3kBQicJ3QdpmREtdARuBjzw6f6EzHkJoRcI4pcvTD0pF2vFgjTOWEHnXsnztwS7dYRDGKMsnhC/s320/paradise%20riflebird.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paradise Riflebird</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZnLZqRqoP3yrmJNaLkMetRw-9H-3oPn61ut-nVYwywAtC5JacF515g3z1wZiSqAIUK3Aq1WHaPaeEW_lp4XpjLzoaGcgo0lk6Mr3zxPGDj3OB740rASwseT_xHZVudis9pX4p9I8fFG191htoRK_Nyj-HuEqKSQQ5Fru1e3ElL_ZJdaVKOy8KhD4/s5578/red-bellied%20black.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2905" data-original-width="5578" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzZnLZqRqoP3yrmJNaLkMetRw-9H-3oPn61ut-nVYwywAtC5JacF515g3z1wZiSqAIUK3Aq1WHaPaeEW_lp4XpjLzoaGcgo0lk6Mr3zxPGDj3OB740rASwseT_xHZVudis9pX4p9I8fFG191htoRK_Nyj-HuEqKSQQ5Fru1e3ElL_ZJdaVKOy8KhD4/s320/red-bellied%20black.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-bellied Black Snake</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">We moved on to Moonee Beach for a couple of days at one of our
favourite coastal destinations. Of interest here was a pair of Beach
Stone-Curlews (below). A few days later I saw another pair of Beach
Stone-Curlews flying around at dusk further north at Pottsville. The
following day I found 3 Beach Stone-Curlews 4km away at Hastings
Point on Cudgera Creek: 3 sightings at 3 sites of this supposedly
rare species in NSW within a few days.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJESqGPcDNtA4nsO2qm27h1RVeh9S-n3f-7rx5E7lZnShnTrHCmb0SXo9SiuT0PDDa-ZOYKNUIRys2wDOU6rYJ6x3vrXvIO6Hva8ZuFxjfxcnd1V-mHX9JTQ4gs6aS6fZXbCVMOzLBHv4udDpA0Yoj2jc2k2ZBk7qGQS4BaCGvfpCLOTQayRpt-Fg/s4352/beach%20stone%20curlew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3433" data-original-width="4352" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJESqGPcDNtA4nsO2qm27h1RVeh9S-n3f-7rx5E7lZnShnTrHCmb0SXo9SiuT0PDDa-ZOYKNUIRys2wDOU6rYJ6x3vrXvIO6Hva8ZuFxjfxcnd1V-mHX9JTQ4gs6aS6fZXbCVMOzLBHv4udDpA0Yoj2jc2k2ZBk7qGQS4BaCGvfpCLOTQayRpt-Fg/s320/beach%20stone%20curlew.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Our final national park was Rummery Park Campground in Whian Whian
State Conservation Area (below). Here our high expectations of NSW national
parks suffered a setback: it was horribly overcrowded on the Saturday
night we were there, though okay on other nights.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCINM6620oAyKWJBrscqecJzP-P226L5Na-PI1QcJ1CykcMPjojWBtXC9hm5BAemP6tBouPXCkvtKRTR0ghzt_uy4B7nqfNFyUBIOf-SlnG7LsCQI-cboia6NAVc63RoqptTTtLoGM3ZZ6JRxevELeBxT83voTXfC5LpbqQPnLgxVkmw6_0pDd27O3/s2016/a%20rummery%20park%20whian%20whian.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCINM6620oAyKWJBrscqecJzP-P226L5Na-PI1QcJ1CykcMPjojWBtXC9hm5BAemP6tBouPXCkvtKRTR0ghzt_uy4B7nqfNFyUBIOf-SlnG7LsCQI-cboia6NAVc63RoqptTTtLoGM3ZZ6JRxevELeBxT83voTXfC5LpbqQPnLgxVkmw6_0pDd27O3/s320/a%20rummery%20park%20whian%20whian.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"> A pair of Marbled
Frogmouths were near the camp, while up the road were a couple of
Tawny Frogmouths, including a brown phase bird.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTowg44WtkTXwrJaamMbElgqB4sBRQSoe5l1o7Z_MK5M1PJYSB0Yj9bifEModAPa9bM4Dd72Lj4CRMAOWII5yDSRuP44IU4YyuOHypicEm2JpoGGAJrdhnCXnjCK8A8aQU91l7oG8_dQcaW-J1B7qvrp-CsHB67EYvndVmr5dft9xBOjBGfRVbRSb1/s4502/marbled%20frogmouth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4502" data-original-width="3264" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTowg44WtkTXwrJaamMbElgqB4sBRQSoe5l1o7Z_MK5M1PJYSB0Yj9bifEModAPa9bM4Dd72Lj4CRMAOWII5yDSRuP44IU4YyuOHypicEm2JpoGGAJrdhnCXnjCK8A8aQU91l7oG8_dQcaW-J1B7qvrp-CsHB67EYvndVmr5dft9xBOjBGfRVbRSb1/s320/marbled%20frogmouth.jpg" width="232" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marbled Frogmouth</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0m_oWStcrTOJwKbjrg64id-dQTCLgKXEd24b7AZac3oaHN4sGrD92bdXCjaGr9QF17ULU_WLVp2BvLoJKek0HjkbHCNbrahTxE69BZftKcUujBh_-hYBSh2_WKlIfEEQfFdfv7m9RyEWLQaydgi0xS3mgrxiUJQNAUpht-q0ZPToe1gHUynQCp3v/s1871/tawny%20fmouth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1871" data-original-width="1858" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0m_oWStcrTOJwKbjrg64id-dQTCLgKXEd24b7AZac3oaHN4sGrD92bdXCjaGr9QF17ULU_WLVp2BvLoJKek0HjkbHCNbrahTxE69BZftKcUujBh_-hYBSh2_WKlIfEEQfFdfv7m9RyEWLQaydgi0xS3mgrxiUJQNAUpht-q0ZPToe1gHUynQCp3v/s320/tawny%20fmouth.jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tawny Frogmouth</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Pale-yellow Robin was a constant present around our caravan. Three
Albert’s Lyrebirds were heard at different spots. An Australian
Logrunner was found at its night roost.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfH11Ox1Ad0IZU_jENjOT3HWRAkPjA_TCTx42ryMwzx56kHT7YWGU5FgSCWCYT3OYYjecaOo8N9TGCxbttgdYzD6VTWVw3YiChdphmAxkiehlgeR1xa_X1r8BdC600yhLMkGOHK60EXkVDH3cB79QIETirpedtP1rN_AvxNIM-P_hxGD2pljbYO_wh/s2995/australian%20logrunner%20roost.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2821" data-original-width="2995" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfH11Ox1Ad0IZU_jENjOT3HWRAkPjA_TCTx42ryMwzx56kHT7YWGU5FgSCWCYT3OYYjecaOo8N9TGCxbttgdYzD6VTWVw3YiChdphmAxkiehlgeR1xa_X1r8BdC600yhLMkGOHK60EXkVDH3cB79QIETirpedtP1rN_AvxNIM-P_hxGD2pljbYO_wh/s320/australian%20logrunner%20roost.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Australian Logrunner</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7sJBgnXS1ER825fslDw4uQ62czVZjqKydYyVAL-tElLf_gypOxr0foRvLic85U8hnaQHszfyV6vRF5d1zFMQLRNhbsMo17NN4U93MT-Kh-w4wizj4acnI1gSTQhMS7GdTIuZpiEH2SrysCu9fwpSZxtXfozl2qxHJrHsuo2ta0RBHo3Sju-NnzuU/s2446/pale%20yellow%20robin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2446" data-original-width="2396" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp7sJBgnXS1ER825fslDw4uQ62czVZjqKydYyVAL-tElLf_gypOxr0foRvLic85U8hnaQHszfyV6vRF5d1zFMQLRNhbsMo17NN4U93MT-Kh-w4wizj4acnI1gSTQhMS7GdTIuZpiEH2SrysCu9fwpSZxtXfozl2qxHJrHsuo2ta0RBHo3Sju-NnzuU/s320/pale%20yellow%20robin.jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pale-yellow Robin</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">We finished up with a couple of nights at Pottsville. Other than the
above-mentioned Beach Stone-Curlews, Bush Stone-Curlew (below) appeared to
be all over the place, which was something of a surprise.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yk-R0VVg0-npGYxM7Ed_reqScZ0uY600SyepTy_aIW_0aaMOZrzooz2OUIXEWIyUNHf33L2TvI7wTfdR47wPl4X992GQzeW-rtC63EacPp1xMUEymqA3twsx9t3jCMG-HYQEZRRy_VcDiiUtTM5hF6LEdDm5j_e5iMrE4TQzVFp3si8IEqfLzRps/s4502/bush%20stone-curlew.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4502" data-original-width="3233" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yk-R0VVg0-npGYxM7Ed_reqScZ0uY600SyepTy_aIW_0aaMOZrzooz2OUIXEWIyUNHf33L2TvI7wTfdR47wPl4X992GQzeW-rtC63EacPp1xMUEymqA3twsx9t3jCMG-HYQEZRRy_VcDiiUtTM5hF6LEdDm5j_e5iMrE4TQzVFp3si8IEqfLzRps/s320/bush%20stone-curlew.jpg" width="230" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
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</p>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-51578037025855950852023-05-05T16:31:00.006+10:002023-05-09T16:45:31.909+10:00United Arab Emirates: Arabian Oryx & other desert gems <p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxP7lgk8nbMtWhsOgR0RI8rRuuxQqPbaUrEMZNM77pVw4pELX-_5xAdoYZH_LIg8n_5dx3-SHkgWFlkb_N6jpf1VsjlIswZO2WQWxOMqJSw8PQvwtS9Kf9bF-btWAZ1Q-Jo4wjxnOPRHgUKAIYCvGzdhxWSoig5ECaeP0cjnFhF3NjdTZn9LwYU4eo/s3528/arabian%20oryx.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3408" data-original-width="3528" height="309" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxP7lgk8nbMtWhsOgR0RI8rRuuxQqPbaUrEMZNM77pVw4pELX-_5xAdoYZH_LIg8n_5dx3-SHkgWFlkb_N6jpf1VsjlIswZO2WQWxOMqJSw8PQvwtS9Kf9bF-btWAZ1Q-Jo4wjxnOPRHgUKAIYCvGzdhxWSoig5ECaeP0cjnFhF3NjdTZn9LwYU4eo/s320/arabian%20oryx.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arabian Oryx</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Following a visit to Ghana (the next six posts on this blog), Bill
Watson and I had two days in the United Arab Emirates to break the
journey home – 23-24 April, 2023. We stayed in the Ibis One Central
Hotel in Dubai. On the first day I headed south to Kite Beach and Al
Sufouh Beaches to look unsuccessfully for Socrota Cormorant, but had
to make do with some interesting sights as an introduction to the
UAE.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0czjAB1kms5Y_v218iQBuA3guN7ryLSF9kdEStKvoDpiPHFegbnLWoD6b_dPx6A7HvbSj_WZ81Wr39zDy6Cu-jZUQIm2840Hd3q9Co8LHtWi_Q4UHiZE0U4owYDdu3laKy4PgUnlU4IUWfFYD9LJVDXQH_5udDJM28wfJeg-efqD9Jd89kpugl1wA/s1391/a%20dubai%20mosque.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="980" data-original-width="1391" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0czjAB1kms5Y_v218iQBuA3guN7ryLSF9kdEStKvoDpiPHFegbnLWoD6b_dPx6A7HvbSj_WZ81Wr39zDy6Cu-jZUQIm2840Hd3q9Co8LHtWi_Q4UHiZE0U4owYDdu3laKy4PgUnlU4IUWfFYD9LJVDXQH_5udDJM28wfJeg-efqD9Jd89kpugl1wA/s320/a%20dubai%20mosque.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUzxaD9RzXlg0nNWSLM_rwHF8dX6T0wID20dnZWRq6OMtWY8iNLQnybHoVEglX8Wjy8M7FiCGF1x9ajv3Vlf9PyCtSCTCHNkecCtE2Uh3g-ZWDcs_gvQljunvWdfjzzNCNcZq410FmQjanZGPciti4LVE_KRsXdafa9AfxXVp0FuJeb4YOREOs0FO/s2587/a%20modern%20Dubai.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2002" data-original-width="2587" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCUzxaD9RzXlg0nNWSLM_rwHF8dX6T0wID20dnZWRq6OMtWY8iNLQnybHoVEglX8Wjy8M7FiCGF1x9ajv3Vlf9PyCtSCTCHNkecCtE2Uh3g-ZWDcs_gvQljunvWdfjzzNCNcZq410FmQjanZGPciti4LVE_KRsXdafa9AfxXVp0FuJeb4YOREOs0FO/s320/a%20modern%20Dubai.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">We hired South
African-born local businessman and wildlife enthusiast Gary Burns for
a full-on outing for our second day, crossing the country twice in
search of a handful of target birds and mammals, and to see more of
the UAE. We highly recommend Gary’s services for anyone considering
something similar in this country: <a href="https://www.desertwildlife.me/">contact him here.</a></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0k3cjGzAl4Lip_4UsyL5Um_SSGlCPlXawBgO6km-BUGgwl6fC0UoiTeeDfE8xXmnWZxvDqWgPw5ngsn3pTnt_Ob5EE8G3iWUPYj33ykstKRswSi3gUTqoAF-Ql0-CTPxEvvPHQoXVFzBZcTnULLN_ocK5W1V_Kdq1PxiQh2UHZ5ROKOEGebAyPHqy/s402/a%20gary%20burns.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="282" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0k3cjGzAl4Lip_4UsyL5Um_SSGlCPlXawBgO6km-BUGgwl6fC0UoiTeeDfE8xXmnWZxvDqWgPw5ngsn3pTnt_Ob5EE8G3iWUPYj33ykstKRswSi3gUTqoAF-Ql0-CTPxEvvPHQoXVFzBZcTnULLN_ocK5W1V_Kdq1PxiQh2UHZ5ROKOEGebAyPHqy/s320/a%20gary%20burns.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gary Burns</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">We left early in the
morning, heading east from Dubai on the road to Kalba, driving about
1.5 hours to reach our first destination, Wadi Alrawasi. This is a
classic desert wadi, a kind of low sandy area, much of it dry creek
bed, wedged between rocky crags. One of the first birds we saw was
Arabian Babbler, a flock of 4 and one of the targets. Another target,
the recently split Arabian Green Bee-eater, put in an appearance. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIV19U9lBa0JB0dDNKF3sm1lvuQDhMuvp4MM8Q72K4_yJFALJdBm2s9fCKJEoa2cAoNZoKMsDAQoClfFPfPmaVTQOEP_e4MhW3xWao8vJbFYUvNoCZx3gNVVns1vLQebVnxit12-vhlzVGT5mmNcWlFjt0hevUs8m229kpyjjYGtTYUKjQyEqqOGJ/s3698/arabian%20babbler.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2109" data-original-width="3698" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQIV19U9lBa0JB0dDNKF3sm1lvuQDhMuvp4MM8Q72K4_yJFALJdBm2s9fCKJEoa2cAoNZoKMsDAQoClfFPfPmaVTQOEP_e4MhW3xWao8vJbFYUvNoCZx3gNVVns1vLQebVnxit12-vhlzVGT5mmNcWlFjt0hevUs8m229kpyjjYGtTYUKjQyEqqOGJ/s320/arabian%20babbler.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arabian Babbler</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Desert Larks were common.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gAzFb2Eu13yoB1X1UuqZkRL4co0Z5ZOtEH8qPwPXvXOoxWzEWjjFCuVseKMoN4U5LQUcdJ-lR-EJuc--qUb2a9kFStxyP9ASZXQn3wedc5ZhCT1X4nxNBapti3hpzrFkJkPj1D_ah-TPiiki7Iv0zE9UqaKe5jcsWATtEI1pmyi5YYl4fPBjelkQ/s800/desert%20lark.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="614" data-original-width="800" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5gAzFb2Eu13yoB1X1UuqZkRL4co0Z5ZOtEH8qPwPXvXOoxWzEWjjFCuVseKMoN4U5LQUcdJ-lR-EJuc--qUb2a9kFStxyP9ASZXQn3wedc5ZhCT1X4nxNBapti3hpzrFkJkPj1D_ah-TPiiki7Iv0zE9UqaKe5jcsWATtEI1pmyi5YYl4fPBjelkQ/s320/desert%20lark.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Soon after I spotted
a Sand Partridge racing up a scree and two birds flushed. We were
impressed with how Gary’s formidable 4WD, specially fitted out to
accommodate the tough desert conditions, negotiated the rugged
terrain in the wadi. </p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWonc8NY9i2fsuuNyLkAGOVSPFs7tMbU9B_eJTcV1g23So8O6My0p7hlxGm5Oqw24ZVQ1L0X-Qlloui4NF8Y6TOsV2_cQF0DIRC84vBvYI5Sjq3ViUCoI0HUOMM1kWGkYlbz-wMg-YPEF-cR6dMZfm4BuL0hBx4zmNs-KXTl3MIcUiynOBt9Nt_Mi/s1732/a%20greg%20&%20bill.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1317" data-original-width="1732" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkWonc8NY9i2fsuuNyLkAGOVSPFs7tMbU9B_eJTcV1g23So8O6My0p7hlxGm5Oqw24ZVQ1L0X-Qlloui4NF8Y6TOsV2_cQF0DIRC84vBvYI5Sjq3ViUCoI0HUOMM1kWGkYlbz-wMg-YPEF-cR6dMZfm4BuL0hBx4zmNs-KXTl3MIcUiynOBt9Nt_Mi/s320/a%20greg%20&%20bill.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bill & Greg</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSo4joI64wn0bSYFiO5ySgVwoAkKRkxc0OJEnxjhNPjfusT4Nf_IrrhiHdIXnI4OG1_MRGXaHA2hc4I-fSbUpTD895jRMTvLLvZqQEpzBkjgJJ19vbmWM1XvqSZYVUQM644A-caltv75IRHntU6OH21Dl6xKTeGpFwm7BtEWEVFuph8BV2XLnoTHU5/s2016/a%20Wadi%20Alrawasi.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSo4joI64wn0bSYFiO5ySgVwoAkKRkxc0OJEnxjhNPjfusT4Nf_IrrhiHdIXnI4OG1_MRGXaHA2hc4I-fSbUpTD895jRMTvLLvZqQEpzBkjgJJ19vbmWM1XvqSZYVUQM644A-caltv75IRHntU6OH21Dl6xKTeGpFwm7BtEWEVFuph8BV2XLnoTHU5/s320/a%20Wadi%20Alrawasi.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wadi Alrawasi</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Other birds showed nicely including the
tail-wagging Eastern Olivaceous Wartbler and Rufous-tailed
Scrub-Robin.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDdvjnJsfXF6eYznhxVrC9pxMCirbbuPZRWp9AcYD2rNAlRtn2gznKcs48XMEEbyGi5LxZlHx2J_ViTG5Ur1xjSIoImAf7e007iMI2yN0nstlKA2q71WzPBqXNBaQjjJOOrD23wPJE9sUWw93bLq2LPl4eWZHFHuSNXNHd0Q1_6iDsIdprFdxM4w3/s1685/rufous-tailed%20scrub-robin.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1469" data-original-width="1685" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheDdvjnJsfXF6eYznhxVrC9pxMCirbbuPZRWp9AcYD2rNAlRtn2gznKcs48XMEEbyGi5LxZlHx2J_ViTG5Ur1xjSIoImAf7e007iMI2yN0nstlKA2q71WzPBqXNBaQjjJOOrD23wPJE9sUWw93bLq2LPl4eWZHFHuSNXNHd0Q1_6iDsIdprFdxM4w3/s320/rufous-tailed%20scrub-robin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rufous-tailed Scrub-Robin</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">We moved on to a
nearby second wadi, Wadi Tuwa. where we located a small covey of Sand
Patridges that offered better views. </p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUI9qDkNewpQgyfAu0FHuT03mPayZsmKK_YLvNSq2W6e_RReyVGzOd-tdAggvQtdyn5_gHgI5CjAEqaNDgkO2UE6Jfc0PK5grU8d2NUtjD0X9Yo3i3VIc25g9d3u6RRbLoYeixz6DGb-nvE_R5y2LdhmcgOYLgoeYvyCSSYf0NoFFf7PfFIAnEsE_/s1340/sand%20partridge.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="814" data-original-width="1340" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwUI9qDkNewpQgyfAu0FHuT03mPayZsmKK_YLvNSq2W6e_RReyVGzOd-tdAggvQtdyn5_gHgI5CjAEqaNDgkO2UE6Jfc0PK5grU8d2NUtjD0X9Yo3i3VIc25g9d3u6RRbLoYeixz6DGb-nvE_R5y2LdhmcgOYLgoeYvyCSSYf0NoFFf7PfFIAnEsE_/s320/sand%20partridge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sand Partridge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Distractions included an Indian
Roller eating a substantial lizard and a dazzling Purple Sunbird.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1H3EN7THZr65dYL-M7nPZZsm-FBC1BrZ9B1kGrARTwMWp0d8zAmlLIPEcj_KIZlwY3rmytydfjLGBWYZkdpG7v0DA6W9NaIukUyuROJScc45iWudU4UhYTeOKNdnWUTA7CYeUE_AbHDVcT4F0bgOrVu93XCA42JYKIMdrmlmPyncSkN3DAgN_mcv/s1471/purple%20sunbird.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1225" data-original-width="1471" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ1H3EN7THZr65dYL-M7nPZZsm-FBC1BrZ9B1kGrARTwMWp0d8zAmlLIPEcj_KIZlwY3rmytydfjLGBWYZkdpG7v0DA6W9NaIukUyuROJScc45iWudU4UhYTeOKNdnWUTA7CYeUE_AbHDVcT4F0bgOrVu93XCA42JYKIMdrmlmPyncSkN3DAgN_mcv/s320/purple%20sunbird.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple Sunbird</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">We located another
target, Humes’s Wheatear, on the scree slopes, and found two more
wheatears on roadside wires as we left the wadi. Scrub Warbler and
Rufous-tailed Rock-thrush were among the birds here.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Y_N9achCb814N3-7y8vBxqT_PVx-_8mIAU4EKDy6cymat36stTlLsMbZw5y1bzvF_m6aK-R1b4D8i7mXUz1qYvHe2VUCG4lf-0pta-4UOLmG7NOS5l78wc6Sz8E44xnl1sDL7HNXTY2apB12ANgM2MRiOE8tpQPEgckDLcAKs20-RK6xr1j5AKKr/s1159/humes's%20wheatear.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="919" data-original-width="1159" height="254" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6Y_N9achCb814N3-7y8vBxqT_PVx-_8mIAU4EKDy6cymat36stTlLsMbZw5y1bzvF_m6aK-R1b4D8i7mXUz1qYvHe2VUCG4lf-0pta-4UOLmG7NOS5l78wc6Sz8E44xnl1sDL7HNXTY2apB12ANgM2MRiOE8tpQPEgckDLcAKs20-RK6xr1j5AKKr/s320/humes's%20wheatear.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Humes's Wheatear</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">We continued
eastwards to the Indian Ocean at the port of Dibba on the border with
Oman, having crossed the country. Here we scrutinised various inlets
and bays in search of Socrota Cormorant, finally connecting with a
sub-adult on rocks at the entrance to the fishing harbour.
Unfortunately the bird was in a military zone and we were not allowed
to photograph it.<br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhSlByR9rK2pIKpyEhcLYVIWae_JN8Ph0wTt2jZQ5SnLJ6p2ozPwktx-W5sJOXQU87JvV4cQGteAqVVUgwEvd35X-FXlu4zSiRQMgphECVnO3F89v7grgiz_nuiUa2KTOGQMWwMUE7ZLgn5PVPQ1qEQ53Yvxuj0DVsVJz61npU7QxiKmqY6rcqOXN/s1876/a%20dibba%20portside.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1222" data-original-width="1876" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrhSlByR9rK2pIKpyEhcLYVIWae_JN8Ph0wTt2jZQ5SnLJ6p2ozPwktx-W5sJOXQU87JvV4cQGteAqVVUgwEvd35X-FXlu4zSiRQMgphECVnO3F89v7grgiz_nuiUa2KTOGQMWwMUE7ZLgn5PVPQ1qEQ53Yvxuj0DVsVJz61npU7QxiKmqY6rcqOXN/s320/a%20dibba%20portside.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dibba</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">We drove west and
then south to the Al Marmoon Reserve in the Al Qudra Desert. Soon
another target showed in the form Black-crowned Sparrowlark, of which
there were plenty among the white sand dunes. <br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhux_7cM8qVyzOlM75fQOF-Qb6N9DO7bhcW8ekWbTzvFYYwLEMReLVUkMuaSZEJiGHfjtoKY5B3ladq9XVUTAi5r1VuHCBD3XEyWzESALdsHKjBcLNINARtiIk5SBDsdTVnFl6qbhU2I-PdB3a1nYtAPePTxs_SQjRLVrVPIYB7Qx8bS8lkAe3C5Ffn/s2086/black-crowned%20sparrowlark%20f.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1575" data-original-width="2086" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhux_7cM8qVyzOlM75fQOF-Qb6N9DO7bhcW8ekWbTzvFYYwLEMReLVUkMuaSZEJiGHfjtoKY5B3ladq9XVUTAi5r1VuHCBD3XEyWzESALdsHKjBcLNINARtiIk5SBDsdTVnFl6qbhU2I-PdB3a1nYtAPePTxs_SQjRLVrVPIYB7Qx8bS8lkAe3C5Ffn/s320/black-crowned%20sparrowlark%20f.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-crowned Sparrowlawk (f)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZI6Bf80RijSTuOtLKlyFhC0Ls7HVYpaiGQSMV5tZinGkzvMIVtCIpNpCvDDQoZMCzyz7x18ykmGC1Ixq2qisNLj2Oe0_2ar3soz9IO0TihgxzJfHjd4Q-gE_iaiIfIDOiJZnJb0I3WYo_1P7bB7748Txu3QzWIQoa3bOSYsVC4l354ocmQHiUXEm/s1261/black-crowned%20sparrowlark.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1019" data-original-width="1261" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUZI6Bf80RijSTuOtLKlyFhC0Ls7HVYpaiGQSMV5tZinGkzvMIVtCIpNpCvDDQoZMCzyz7x18ykmGC1Ixq2qisNLj2Oe0_2ar3soz9IO0TihgxzJfHjd4Q-gE_iaiIfIDOiJZnJb0I3WYo_1P7bB7748Txu3QzWIQoa3bOSYsVC4l354ocmQHiUXEm/s320/black-crowned%20sparrowlark.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-crowned Sparrowlark (m)</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">We went for quite a
wild and spectacular drive through the dunes, assured that
Gary knew what he was doing.<br /><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnhrPKTfJLJ43oZUYRv_-5nJJqL_eO_AvzYuydtyqBoehmwGePHqguAcdsw0-uCuXE9y5dDY9N4VbLd2IkEgGG0YrZ4-FIYk87Zela2VDj_nkbNjyDnfemmCeBwKYUJRzkd_Myb2kAqviGPO6VA6zEIL8yZ1L7J6sBsnS88_ZV0dRPa5NZjeXHVSd/s1375/a%20al%20qudra%20desert.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="819" data-original-width="1375" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqnhrPKTfJLJ43oZUYRv_-5nJJqL_eO_AvzYuydtyqBoehmwGePHqguAcdsw0-uCuXE9y5dDY9N4VbLd2IkEgGG0YrZ4-FIYk87Zela2VDj_nkbNjyDnfemmCeBwKYUJRzkd_Myb2kAqviGPO6VA6zEIL8yZ1L7J6sBsnS88_ZV0dRPa5NZjeXHVSd/s320/a%20al%20qudra%20desert.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Al Qudra</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">We found a gorgeous
Pharoah’s Eagle-Owl, a bird I’d seen previously in Morocco and
one of the more impressive owl species. </p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBEoMHQMN_fNqnUq19hVxdIKD-jDOeK23G8e4gCAXboxTNTHnunG59R1FeRUPLSZ0qR8zh6SE_FS90BNk-r2-XKbWSwxAx8hOVrm6UWJi6c6sBQ2xlhb1xZaXD6H9o93qVrTV0nBShe_sslf0C30RyLjnGXHVighevWmJJg7B64u3UjwDZ_yT5VQO/s1092/pharoah's%20eagle-owl.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="1092" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOBEoMHQMN_fNqnUq19hVxdIKD-jDOeK23G8e4gCAXboxTNTHnunG59R1FeRUPLSZ0qR8zh6SE_FS90BNk-r2-XKbWSwxAx8hOVrm6UWJi6c6sBQ2xlhb1xZaXD6H9o93qVrTV0nBShe_sslf0C30RyLjnGXHVighevWmJJg7B64u3UjwDZ_yT5VQO/s320/pharoah's%20eagle-owl.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pharoah's Eagle-Owl_</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">We also saw our first Sand
Gazelles and Arabian Desert Gazelles, along with the impressive
Egyptian Spine-tailed Lizard (below).</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEY6QcFSnpJVP7YPd3UOKajIQJHe2WITwAyqM3b9NLsffvaMIkzIuBaUHiDk-G5kCh4EOXoQtiCHnEk3_K1lLaPEwe9OluyqGbF7LD7C0FGrOIdQWh74wzKbG0betn1iMLXsC_O6Bb6B_YkWBIY_m9p-VQ9YJuF3Y2Jz0y8Wtilop4_fEAbSuM2Hm/s5717/egyptian%20spiny-tailed%20lizard.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2897" data-original-width="5717" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoEY6QcFSnpJVP7YPd3UOKajIQJHe2WITwAyqM3b9NLsffvaMIkzIuBaUHiDk-G5kCh4EOXoQtiCHnEk3_K1lLaPEwe9OluyqGbF7LD7C0FGrOIdQWh74wzKbG0betn1iMLXsC_O6Bb6B_YkWBIY_m9p-VQ9YJuF3Y2Jz0y8Wtilop4_fEAbSuM2Hm/s320/egyptian%20spiny-tailed%20lizard.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">We moved to another
section of the desert as the afternoon wore on, this time in an area
where red sand dunes prevailed. An artificial wetland had a few
waterbirds including good numbers of Greater Flamingo. </p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpYhc9tz1ERGaDcyeLR09Ir8qeygz6s9rKdoDohr6PBAAz3-5AArsIj25FGQEq6G8iwHwjXjLVOb1kSmxbEN8YHbfRZBE8bBK43_EQ8xgPsDRl7bW91d_U3WeHHEqgm1GqIipbXOc6Yo_z3hO30Eks3rofoiGlO8a3ukzO7ez0JFCp_MJHLloLQTD/s2436/greater%20flamingo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1476" data-original-width="2436" height="194" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXpYhc9tz1ERGaDcyeLR09Ir8qeygz6s9rKdoDohr6PBAAz3-5AArsIj25FGQEq6G8iwHwjXjLVOb1kSmxbEN8YHbfRZBE8bBK43_EQ8xgPsDRl7bW91d_U3WeHHEqgm1GqIipbXOc6Yo_z3hO30Eks3rofoiGlO8a3ukzO7ez0JFCp_MJHLloLQTD/s320/greater%20flamingo.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greater Flamingo</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Greater
Hoopoe-Lark (below) was looking good here.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfYULOUPnmXUC7CefxAP1Xm9OpeBFqZoOnXurYGlOV_n0Gn3gsD0ZKPxV0mBeLe4gaaBTuCap-5Xz4pePmXCTystsRWoVcxoSN6lCnK1HX4X9OwXJedolUHOizxCO_ZnrRxnl2YSxE06GUSLTmOJQKnk2V3JA_nxfnssx_mr3IgKhaZQeNmi4u_hQ/s1700/greater%20hoopoe-lark.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1166" data-original-width="1700" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmfYULOUPnmXUC7CefxAP1Xm9OpeBFqZoOnXurYGlOV_n0Gn3gsD0ZKPxV0mBeLe4gaaBTuCap-5Xz4pePmXCTystsRWoVcxoSN6lCnK1HX4X9OwXJedolUHOizxCO_ZnrRxnl2YSxE06GUSLTmOJQKnk2V3JA_nxfnssx_mr3IgKhaZQeNmi4u_hQ/s320/greater%20hoopoe-lark.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">We headed further
into the Al Qudra, getting much better view of both Sand Gazelle and
Arabian Desert Gazelle, which were about in good numbers. </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMN-8X36ZCRxxX_CLOHDhQ637wyLnSdhCQiDCiA_6oZ4l7zeJmx_yUZo_ratcfSVxF4xmalPiAvMmBHpHR6yTr3yvgJbnfd8C8yiBNy-65buvpOEhMEjsnuj7xYx38UAbGxq8OVu7svtr3L8LvlrJx-j6Rc3qCEfuN5HRCgKH5Go8NQw2IqC2-ptIJ/s3886/arabian%20desert%20gazelle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2077" data-original-width="3886" height="171" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMN-8X36ZCRxxX_CLOHDhQ637wyLnSdhCQiDCiA_6oZ4l7zeJmx_yUZo_ratcfSVxF4xmalPiAvMmBHpHR6yTr3yvgJbnfd8C8yiBNy-65buvpOEhMEjsnuj7xYx38UAbGxq8OVu7svtr3L8LvlrJx-j6Rc3qCEfuN5HRCgKH5Go8NQw2IqC2-ptIJ/s320/arabian%20desert%20gazelle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arabian Desert Gazelle</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMMphXwGD3v7p2_5RDlkIRrS42YqaktHLiAqipsiOWMKbeyVCh5SBph89qKoJzs5bAs3sQyq1kaGaf315PK7qdyEMjxnr_rmjkOHPVXcBgO3uuxsvZ27337T2bD_-6Qn9pZ2tyEmEqBTDfROi4xsHxXLM_qlBWCGyIoTLe6MYlzWWE5b7rEVTanzQ/s3441/sand%20gazelle.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1589" data-original-width="3441" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpMMphXwGD3v7p2_5RDlkIRrS42YqaktHLiAqipsiOWMKbeyVCh5SBph89qKoJzs5bAs3sQyq1kaGaf315PK7qdyEMjxnr_rmjkOHPVXcBgO3uuxsvZ27337T2bD_-6Qn9pZ2tyEmEqBTDfROi4xsHxXLM_qlBWCGyIoTLe6MYlzWWE5b7rEVTanzQ/s320/sand%20gazelle.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sand Gazelle</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">We then
enountered a single Arabian Oryx, by any standard an impressive
beast, and later watched a small herd of these endangered animals. The species was once declared extinct in the wild but it has been successfully reintroduced to some of its former strongholds , including the Qudra Desert.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1xoMKehCM5J62v0TACaAWWmOrjCWU5fkIOzApwjNP-pWmZr9ShLUAKFHI99DNQzdRbPPf8-jFLPm3dnLTMt9ZPh9AGD5lMFOxcvrGeb2moNmPqs2mFi48j0sqsTBz9_rUevcKgYFrIIYJNjJLqrrtgypWQDXKLsUwKUiZPh7NX6GsmTf9qMFom7S/s3648/arabian%20oryx1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2458" data-original-width="3648" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhP1xoMKehCM5J62v0TACaAWWmOrjCWU5fkIOzApwjNP-pWmZr9ShLUAKFHI99DNQzdRbPPf8-jFLPm3dnLTMt9ZPh9AGD5lMFOxcvrGeb2moNmPqs2mFi48j0sqsTBz9_rUevcKgYFrIIYJNjJLqrrtgypWQDXKLsUwKUiZPh7NX6GsmTf9qMFom7S/s320/arabian%20oryx1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arabian Oryx</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Less spectacular
but still cute was the distinctive <i>arabicus</i> race of the Cape
Hare (below). </p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoAzHdyiXAEVCqxsiRXbYqRSxXxG7byB6EbJRonTH8GbctxVA-lVeM6x1fb6qbP5uY_EMkXiDv7ry9o5kn899RC1ba_RmXJCV5m3DdMJ9z8RDuMmfwY2x0NBmHgugEvQFzRpH0mNXgeVW3Uk-yROKerWvdITE90mtwYx6vrvBnEMKDZa3sH-QtBzJ/s2042/cape%20hare.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1895" data-original-width="2042" height="297" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJoAzHdyiXAEVCqxsiRXbYqRSxXxG7byB6EbJRonTH8GbctxVA-lVeM6x1fb6qbP5uY_EMkXiDv7ry9o5kn899RC1ba_RmXJCV5m3DdMJ9z8RDuMmfwY2x0NBmHgugEvQFzRpH0mNXgeVW3Uk-yROKerWvdITE90mtwYx6vrvBnEMKDZa3sH-QtBzJ/s320/cape%20hare.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">We returned to our hotel in the late afternoon, where we
celebrated by downing a few horrendously expensive beers in this
alcohol-adverse country. It was a great day out!</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_G2t0KZozMebPnjI-_ukJ-5yHzG2dfbzXqCQmY5WwQL-EWRTe6Kk3roCU0e1Oc78fCWKbyM1mLpbS-zgzX7VK5XTJcaE3-AyiD9FXpHGxz0kxb1k7JFxbGB8Bqtj-DNnS4eHwFKjFTL2mTxULtE1seqAbC6dDYC3BiRiBwBbUif5GJosmOihWhUn/s1518/a%20al%20qudra%20desert1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="541" data-original-width="1518" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA_G2t0KZozMebPnjI-_ukJ-5yHzG2dfbzXqCQmY5WwQL-EWRTe6Kk3roCU0e1Oc78fCWKbyM1mLpbS-zgzX7VK5XTJcaE3-AyiD9FXpHGxz0kxb1k7JFxbGB8Bqtj-DNnS4eHwFKjFTL2mTxULtE1seqAbC6dDYC3BiRiBwBbUif5GJosmOihWhUn/s320/a%20al%20qudra%20desert1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-72902167310875072842023-05-02T10:01:00.007+10:002023-05-03T06:23:39.666+10:00Ghana April 2023 Part 6: Homeward bound: Daboya to Accra<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeIXrSTLklSDHD34Pq36ktkHzwveDFIvEOtlM5bfI3AR4TlA_mt0DFq3gp_kiOU2W7QiIp8bFJ7AWdNy9aL-pAeECj8LDH6HVJxZ2yhg7ncWuXWDB_dkIxRFppuo2ntIT5i2g5IJRmP1Dh4uxLyoPuDU9lnZIE2ZP84FiT-SDNfj_yXXQDFF520yM/s1798/egyptian%20plover%20daboya.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1482" data-original-width="1798" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqeIXrSTLklSDHD34Pq36ktkHzwveDFIvEOtlM5bfI3AR4TlA_mt0DFq3gp_kiOU2W7QiIp8bFJ7AWdNy9aL-pAeECj8LDH6HVJxZ2yhg7ncWuXWDB_dkIxRFppuo2ntIT5i2g5IJRmP1Dh4uxLyoPuDU9lnZIE2ZP84FiT-SDNfj_yXXQDFF520yM/s320/egyptian%20plover%20daboya.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Egyptian Plover</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Following our visit to Mole National Park in northern Ghana
(following post) we headed north, passing many traditional villages,
before reaching the town of Daboya on the White Volta River.
</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzgwDtB0xmz5bVg_KZnCFQCiqepyg2bNOU4Rm9w3U6rBNT5jF93v7HL8Wgf-ABXikf3lHtIUX1pebkejNeyIAQ5kJVdzq3mIRzHohkBWXNWaeRnpCYv77pIzzdnMnEC7FAT5HJr6w3cX4jxGef13SoYdIfPw9uX3PEGfjIu2WzT4ShJZedYwe9s01/s1743/a%20village%20en%20route%20to%20daboya.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1020" data-original-width="1743" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdzgwDtB0xmz5bVg_KZnCFQCiqepyg2bNOU4Rm9w3U6rBNT5jF93v7HL8Wgf-ABXikf3lHtIUX1pebkejNeyIAQ5kJVdzq3mIRzHohkBWXNWaeRnpCYv77pIzzdnMnEC7FAT5HJr6w3cX4jxGef13SoYdIfPw9uX3PEGfjIu2WzT4ShJZedYwe9s01/s320/a%20village%20en%20route%20to%20daboya.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">A Western Banded Snake-Eagle (below) was seen along the way.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVp6IH2iSKJ1OtUuIgZie-5Jtnavk5y7aIy_r6mYK6Tr7jBQccEFntoHJ7LN_bjd1p3rNepZT4d1AorQQb9OKMtf5UdWYX5T1qq962bw7RvAdHKWBz0lPgTwzhs2CmEdKpRBaavPUccyqsyyaQYO8FPkWSrhVWDTqUv6dnvIV5Y0174BdmAPdUNX_P/s1083/western%20banded%20snake%20eagle,%20daboya.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1083" data-original-width="1082" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVp6IH2iSKJ1OtUuIgZie-5Jtnavk5y7aIy_r6mYK6Tr7jBQccEFntoHJ7LN_bjd1p3rNepZT4d1AorQQb9OKMtf5UdWYX5T1qq962bw7RvAdHKWBz0lPgTwzhs2CmEdKpRBaavPUccyqsyyaQYO8FPkWSrhVWDTqUv6dnvIV5Y0174BdmAPdUNX_P/s320/western%20banded%20snake%20eagle,%20daboya.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Daboya is a known site for Egyptian Plover and it wasn’t long
before two birds showed. Previously it was necessary to travel
further north to the Burkino Faso border area for this one but Daboya
is a good deal more convenient. I’d seen the bird before in
Cameroon and Ethiopia but it’s difficult to tire of this stunner.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_zqu8km9mr8cmEQWLF8MTt4NEAKuB_oV_kqS16Pd4BjISWln3jH9H2BvUNm-Wke9qCoCzl6EnSqfvDrxHqkEEBkqJmnH2mtXWsmdJIByAfYy7zak8GM3Ipi7CzICLnsJSv8iL_jsNbZ1WLjZmEG4_ARU8PF9eD3SI6Rm28DZu2yHtQKYDg-xQaXO/s1179/egyptian%20plover%201,%20daboya.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="933" data-original-width="1179" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_zqu8km9mr8cmEQWLF8MTt4NEAKuB_oV_kqS16Pd4BjISWln3jH9H2BvUNm-Wke9qCoCzl6EnSqfvDrxHqkEEBkqJmnH2mtXWsmdJIByAfYy7zak8GM3Ipi7CzICLnsJSv8iL_jsNbZ1WLjZmEG4_ARU8PF9eD3SI6Rm28DZu2yHtQKYDg-xQaXO/w320-h253/egyptian%20plover%201,%20daboya.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Egyptian Plover</td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Less expected was a group of African Quailfinch flushed in short
grass by the river. Small numbers of Black-backed Cisticola, a
species that’s widespread but difficult to nail in Africa, showed
well. We saw Pied-winged Swallows again here after seeing them in
Mole.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoGL7U5d547YEPvu4ZFZ-XKx_b0Yk4UdLNfkncNS5AleT_C2Rsx9hHYpNdzJ-k0Ndpgfgw4cBFbVFQ8He0KNe39v_SwMf1plwa77fdehtbKW5thYxEEna9DdGSekciBGcAHrEza2CzHdpjpgIGw-Vx6w2RuqF0SHvHY2LeprfDYCGSpMueJICKOk0/s1171/black-backed%20cisticola,%20daboya.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1003" data-original-width="1171" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKoGL7U5d547YEPvu4ZFZ-XKx_b0Yk4UdLNfkncNS5AleT_C2Rsx9hHYpNdzJ-k0Ndpgfgw4cBFbVFQ8He0KNe39v_SwMf1plwa77fdehtbKW5thYxEEna9DdGSekciBGcAHrEza2CzHdpjpgIGw-Vx6w2RuqF0SHvHY2LeprfDYCGSpMueJICKOk0/s320/black-backed%20cisticola,%20daboya.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-backed Cisticola</td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Heading back south we stopped at the roadside Fufulsa-Damongo dam
where African Painted-Snipe was an unexpected addition to the list.
Black-rumped Waxbill was seen. Further south, Beaudouin’s
Snake-Eagle perched atop a powerline tower by the road was another
welcome addition to the list. We continued on for another overnight
stay in Kumasi, visiting Bobiri Butterfly Sanctuary again the next
morning.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwzS_78o8V9I8BOl80JCQ14IoMm5trwYsrMzkgtjpzG1f4fLstUTsm5RkE68olJe4ru1ORD2H4ag23IgGpIJDqKoMPgy5bediG3payUXV82MMDHKV0JBg1JDGrj8L8G0dgMk2qqMkC_x7lDi5mTZn9osDF189USM4gTU5cesDnOLwh5BMY191ctL2/s1736/a%20bobiri%20birding.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="934" data-original-width="1736" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxwzS_78o8V9I8BOl80JCQ14IoMm5trwYsrMzkgtjpzG1f4fLstUTsm5RkE68olJe4ru1ORD2H4ag23IgGpIJDqKoMPgy5bediG3payUXV82MMDHKV0JBg1JDGrj8L8G0dgMk2qqMkC_x7lDi5mTZn9osDF189USM4gTU5cesDnOLwh5BMY191ctL2/s320/a%20bobiri%20birding.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The group birding Bolbiri</td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Olive-bellied, Little Green and other sunbirds were active
in the gardens around the sanctuary headquarters, while Dwarf Black
Hornbill and Rufous-thighed Sparrowhawk were seen.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVcOJ6-CFSAlBFQfA_3Gsjqe8z8CxHbfsyCtwqy2PHcXoOXjHnjvKl3VwU1nhpiWsBvdgHd8GkHo-cfU7cHNIhkESNtHlrQt9qphU-vJxgG64xSXrONIV8Os12EuM9p_ml2bmrITIlxrg8k7euUZDRq_2OUoIJqh2bbjk6D36FA6-DpAZFipF5btg/s740/olive-bellied%20sunbird,%20bolbiri.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="740" data-original-width="587" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEVcOJ6-CFSAlBFQfA_3Gsjqe8z8CxHbfsyCtwqy2PHcXoOXjHnjvKl3VwU1nhpiWsBvdgHd8GkHo-cfU7cHNIhkESNtHlrQt9qphU-vJxgG64xSXrONIV8Os12EuM9p_ml2bmrITIlxrg8k7euUZDRq_2OUoIJqh2bbjk6D36FA6-DpAZFipF5btg/s320/olive-bellied%20sunbird,%20bolbiri.jpg" width="254" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olive-bellied Sunbird</td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">We then headed to the town of New Tafo for a two-night stay, staying
at the Nelshan Palace Hotel. The morning of Day 19 of our tour saw us
hiking the steep road up the Atewa Range, where Little Green
Woodpecker was a welcome addition to the list.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3PCmqMaDE93Qp_DIiATDBI345hSnSPjgGuN2mCQU9Q1kcuSQ7gz4o8wyrnfu7MgFruFSVaaRo9JNfWN7rcT2HGC_B2mDaSWfbJ79Xh64gP5LQjXyFPZ5XZRflkkbimjA_unAKNNaDXBVR_SdYtF1AhlzRy2ayXY_1gorWPCSfI-Vf-WxEFz0KknO/s1129/little%20green%20woodpecker,%20atewa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1129" data-original-width="1037" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK3PCmqMaDE93Qp_DIiATDBI345hSnSPjgGuN2mCQU9Q1kcuSQ7gz4o8wyrnfu7MgFruFSVaaRo9JNfWN7rcT2HGC_B2mDaSWfbJ79Xh64gP5LQjXyFPZ5XZRflkkbimjA_unAKNNaDXBVR_SdYtF1AhlzRy2ayXY_1gorWPCSfI-Vf-WxEFz0KknO/s320/little%20green%20woodpecker,%20atewa.jpg" width="294" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Green Woodpecker</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Much of the day was spent on the track along the Atewa ridge where
unfortunately we heard but did not see the range-restricted Nimba
Flycatcher. Crowned Eagle and Ayres's Hawk-Eagle were among the raptors to show.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiS4pLEkfYjKNrzikUsNgsUKM5RXNQ7HWip_4m-6KcRTuESwauKd3OZA8WtmAKc-j7Qmu2AnJ5PpQl--z7ctoAsHDKpVU4Jih2jg4n56a49MPJ3ZGA80YS-xzAXyKOmigqBlfk1zT5824M9VZ5NPojMWTx0emgFwP8gcRlL_PjG0iFhKnm2qsD4bZ/s1888/crowned%20eagle,%20atewa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1519" data-original-width="1888" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidiS4pLEkfYjKNrzikUsNgsUKM5RXNQ7HWip_4m-6KcRTuESwauKd3OZA8WtmAKc-j7Qmu2AnJ5PpQl--z7ctoAsHDKpVU4Jih2jg4n56a49MPJ3ZGA80YS-xzAXyKOmigqBlfk1zT5824M9VZ5NPojMWTx0emgFwP8gcRlL_PjG0iFhKnm2qsD4bZ/s320/crowned%20eagle,%20atewa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ayres's Hawk-Eagle</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Other birds seen
and heard on the track up and along the ridge included Kemp’s
Longbill, Sharpe’s Apalis, White-tailed Alethe, Ussher’s
Flycatcher, Forest Robin and Melancholy Woodpecker.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi000IbAB9RHjccDTXq3vGDv7-NkyAniN8c2bN-20IGfKsOfTZkaPKyAw9qfHzIjwWU6HXVdyhVAsfyuozt8lDbCiZQCrBtZ4XA24DeRSz-Nz7sb49rDnpQQeDLw9jAZB8Rub58n2vWn5vGhpDfv8LqL-eoqpJxwukCxsYGsEC0lwjpa0wu2mlLKbr-/s1026/ussher's%20flycatcher,%20atewa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="832" data-original-width="1026" height="259" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi000IbAB9RHjccDTXq3vGDv7-NkyAniN8c2bN-20IGfKsOfTZkaPKyAw9qfHzIjwWU6HXVdyhVAsfyuozt8lDbCiZQCrBtZ4XA24DeRSz-Nz7sb49rDnpQQeDLw9jAZB8Rub58n2vWn5vGhpDfv8LqL-eoqpJxwukCxsYGsEC0lwjpa0wu2mlLKbr-/s320/ussher's%20flycatcher,%20atewa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ussher's Flycatcher</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">The following morning we were in farmbush in the Atewa area, seeing
Black-belled Seedcracker, Black-winged Bishop in breeding plumage and
Vanga (Black-and-white) Flycatcher, before returning to the start of
the road to the ridge, where Puvel’s Illadopsis and Finsch’s
Flycatcher-Thrush were vocal.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzb_mNmdLX3jXzBm19PeAeS80pu0Jbg1abgliqrk1yI-Eg2x1p4XhPNCuc9QGpnjJFw_gCiJzlcWl0nPHZB5qmZnlXsVTjAZeo8jPDCTjd-rnnDhjcAhLZylHCFHbIEdULjU77sQ_7sRMCspXSPBJChZ4DOPc9m7tL0fC-WMvx8JtIHM9aEN8JqOD/s1318/black-winged%20bishop,%20atewa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1133" data-original-width="1318" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzb_mNmdLX3jXzBm19PeAeS80pu0Jbg1abgliqrk1yI-Eg2x1p4XhPNCuc9QGpnjJFw_gCiJzlcWl0nPHZB5qmZnlXsVTjAZeo8jPDCTjd-rnnDhjcAhLZylHCFHbIEdULjU77sQ_7sRMCspXSPBJChZ4DOPc9m7tL0fC-WMvx8JtIHM9aEN8JqOD/s320/black-winged%20bishop,%20atewa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-winged Bishop</td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">We continued south, descending the Askwepin Range and enjoying the
sweeping views of the southern Ghanaian plains (below).</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnzFLjo4CHOeRhI4a4_bkIbdVZpyhbSm5Cv9e4jd0wZYs3gZvBGwcaxpkuUue6dz75BgsvrCg7uNKhuC0iR3xB0lfD73RzTGwyL8ipoVWhPbvqkCdw9kUv1n-VY_mss4pPYS_sve4X2c8Jd1o7lPx8oh0hhrJNmVH7rLPVjgfqWOB-fS2PUMejxDd/s2016/a%20Akwepin%20Range%20looking%20to%20south%20Ghana.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdnzFLjo4CHOeRhI4a4_bkIbdVZpyhbSm5Cv9e4jd0wZYs3gZvBGwcaxpkuUue6dz75BgsvrCg7uNKhuC0iR3xB0lfD73RzTGwyL8ipoVWhPbvqkCdw9kUv1n-VY_mss4pPYS_sve4X2c8Jd1o7lPx8oh0hhrJNmVH7rLPVjgfqWOB-fS2PUMejxDd/s320/a%20Akwepin%20Range%20looking%20to%20south%20Ghana.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Shai Hills Reserve was our next destination. Here we saw
White-crowned Cliff-Chat and heard the distinctive race of African
Barred Owlet (etchecopari, or Chestnut Owlet). We had excellent views
of a Dwarf Bittern while leaving the reserve.</p>
<p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2b_jEVZaWyqg9mdjxhVnVcNl7eqxSHs5ny6mYsV--MqwEKj0CZ8G4xejudwwflu0kNrNqF6bFrwD1RRD7F7SauACd7nMnIF2ilxX-Ubwh6qLM_4PV4B6z-bK3LLeyHVVYjyQ6WCrn0Z_gqofcZhascjGtNv4zAmR2v0eGx7wQ4P18LRuMN0Jxtkmh/s1384/dwarf%20bittern,%20shai%20hills.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1384" data-original-width="1360" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2b_jEVZaWyqg9mdjxhVnVcNl7eqxSHs5ny6mYsV--MqwEKj0CZ8G4xejudwwflu0kNrNqF6bFrwD1RRD7F7SauACd7nMnIF2ilxX-Ubwh6qLM_4PV4B6z-bK3LLeyHVVYjyQ6WCrn0Z_gqofcZhascjGtNv4zAmR2v0eGx7wQ4P18LRuMN0Jxtkmh/s320/dwarf%20bittern,%20shai%20hills.jpg" width="314" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dwarf Bittern</td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Purple Glossy Starling (below) was common.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tZ3EMO0rIM7C5NfOU5cb_nc6iB664GtWnSu3wpl-PrVoOdY1-cNLlYngrqk_t6ljL0_BpzlEuaFPSV66YGzXB7fIJZgXPKhe6KOWBsnfFw0qsD4Yfqkn28KmGGp_nAPlBzjq-DbWrmcCOGahIzYrVboLzpKqR1VsKwaYgy5BdykafN8QJioBeQbs/s2724/purple%20glossy%20starling,%20shai%20hills.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1887" data-original-width="2724" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7tZ3EMO0rIM7C5NfOU5cb_nc6iB664GtWnSu3wpl-PrVoOdY1-cNLlYngrqk_t6ljL0_BpzlEuaFPSV66YGzXB7fIJZgXPKhe6KOWBsnfFw0qsD4Yfqkn28KmGGp_nAPlBzjq-DbWrmcCOGahIzYrVboLzpKqR1VsKwaYgy5BdykafN8QJioBeQbs/s320/purple%20glossy%20starling,%20shai%20hills.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">We visited Sakamona Lagoon on the final morning of our tour. Brief
sightings of Black Coucal and Little Bittern for some were highlights. Collared Pratincoles and
quite a few shorebirds were present. We were chased from the wetland
by a group of aggressive men in robes having some kind of ceremony –
our only unpleasant encounter with local people during our 21-day
tour of Ghana. The silver lining to that cloud were several West
African Crested Terns that we saw from the railway line above the
beach after fleeing the robed ones. </p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchQmFzrp_aHvRurM-REGiPPZjObRjpleSKnkE0K8g02N1nMOCl28NkTx30XESHf95U4-YLjB3vRFwHCpJV7f624KvPDo06CcIJC8s00q9CyEgd2dv98Y_CfNDDUzgyiaYA7Hr-tzJo0Vadt6BF4vgMqb6wEmVdZpZcOnMBR3IMz9NMfElHy2Je5XL/s1545/double-toothed%20barbet,%20sakamona.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="1545" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhchQmFzrp_aHvRurM-REGiPPZjObRjpleSKnkE0K8g02N1nMOCl28NkTx30XESHf95U4-YLjB3vRFwHCpJV7f624KvPDo06CcIJC8s00q9CyEgd2dv98Y_CfNDDUzgyiaYA7Hr-tzJo0Vadt6BF4vgMqb6wEmVdZpZcOnMBR3IMz9NMfElHy2Je5XL/s320/double-toothed%20barbet,%20sakamona.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">We drove around to the western
side of the lagoon, where Double-toothed Barbet (above) and Green Wood-hoopoe (below) showed nicely.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dQ-oRkVxOUpnCxM3nJsRHpcCSwyY1D5zDHWbK96Kdk58kA2zbgAEFrjgwkBLolsR9O857xiK_QzYab8H5CUYwUfIEiDPqbMdzaQ9tP35CRKcAwX5yuafD-PAxzQUl9TVS3mr9fHsD35Id-hYrCjMXRXm0Dzhy-08hReRmAS0eDW05_pgubuQOayQ/s2363/green%20wood-hoopoe,%20sakamona.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1380" data-original-width="2363" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4dQ-oRkVxOUpnCxM3nJsRHpcCSwyY1D5zDHWbK96Kdk58kA2zbgAEFrjgwkBLolsR9O857xiK_QzYab8H5CUYwUfIEiDPqbMdzaQ9tP35CRKcAwX5yuafD-PAxzQUl9TVS3mr9fHsD35Id-hYrCjMXRXm0Dzhy-08hReRmAS0eDW05_pgubuQOayQ/s320/green%20wood-hoopoe,%20sakamona.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Our final get together at the Erata Hotel in Accra was a fun night.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJNxH1RMHCo6k2ad56Qpgk8tYN58q3-8sW-BaUFm7MYSfdZSOEmjZbF2i3ltBSM2hUkNTUJnKXlgrwOdklbu2yzDj_FpVpu4tGlsyQOSMDQFk1g0kRvatd9lSPyM4rGDgD-v8LW2kpSykRcjHSmMHxvAVjpqewsYMaPK1engCyctmmJFx_W2b-qOf/s1620/a%20accra%20last%20night.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1330" data-original-width="1620" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJNxH1RMHCo6k2ad56Qpgk8tYN58q3-8sW-BaUFm7MYSfdZSOEmjZbF2i3ltBSM2hUkNTUJnKXlgrwOdklbu2yzDj_FpVpu4tGlsyQOSMDQFk1g0kRvatd9lSPyM4rGDgD-v8LW2kpSykRcjHSmMHxvAVjpqewsYMaPK1engCyctmmJFx_W2b-qOf/s320/a%20accra%20last%20night.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p>
<p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</p>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-75086682378052968432023-05-01T09:16:00.001+10:002023-05-02T09:41:23.548+10:00Ghana April 2023 Part 5: Mole National Park<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-tOxFoEiG87HqJ87OFFRKCgADgQdEv4zdq52zgaPRmJXevzYaq8pPRpfR_alcIf5iq2MI5OolDH4BpkvBAvBC5V133fxnsKVStnTq4nTerdIEVOYCqQHn6o3nlolCi7H_CU9rWNAUJyW1B9r1KsyL4RT0Q61TIQymtE55-vG8W2Cw9UZ7F4fyuV5/s1270/forbes's%20plover.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="719" data-original-width="1270" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs-tOxFoEiG87HqJ87OFFRKCgADgQdEv4zdq52zgaPRmJXevzYaq8pPRpfR_alcIf5iq2MI5OolDH4BpkvBAvBC5V133fxnsKVStnTq4nTerdIEVOYCqQHn6o3nlolCi7H_CU9rWNAUJyW1B9r1KsyL4RT0Q61TIQymtE55-vG8W2Cw9UZ7F4fyuV5/s320/forbes's%20plover.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forbes's Plover</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">We arrived at Mole Motel in Mole National Park in the northern
savanna belt of Ghana late in the afternoon of Day 13 of our tour of
the country for a four-night stay. Our rooms overlooked the
surrounding savanna and a large waterhole. The first bird I saw from
my room was an Abyssinian Ground Hornbill near the waterhole. Our
first full day at Mole saw us in the morning along the Brugbani Road
in sparse woodland that had not long been burned.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tiyHfPTkNxpgbkL1bbrmxwBW2hhCziEDRHzOJmXeqoj75DPmOKDuFugYpJIGWCSwdcKoX_9qOmHgGmZEjCLzfawf475L-jHBTLbQHzar0P6-_Y7L0bSS5p7fDUmnApE0fnSRBkVrdU_aeGTgJUi2Bugm3gjihJqufPwgqqiT4mYG_8uJfv7dwNhX/s2016/a%20mole%20lodge.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3tiyHfPTkNxpgbkL1bbrmxwBW2hhCziEDRHzOJmXeqoj75DPmOKDuFugYpJIGWCSwdcKoX_9qOmHgGmZEjCLzfawf475L-jHBTLbQHzar0P6-_Y7L0bSS5p7fDUmnApE0fnSRBkVrdU_aeGTgJUi2Bugm3gjihJqufPwgqqiT4mYG_8uJfv7dwNhX/s320/a%20mole%20lodge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mole Motel</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvX9GQzUkf1jdSM5C4ISeuD8rzMZhjJfpvoPd7L_-nZe75t2J9cYzIWJsKnsfMWYJyNk2jE77ejWx_8hlTW9puz3uutucs-V8rLUXx8yXoZ4G1Y9sLWT92zA8VpvTmkiKMI87JZp2kVtzzRo8NadRsQD5ydxG2XtZkgeBXbJAYk0Tc2wXxMzTPsCT8/s1967/a%20mole%20np%20from%20lodge.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1183" data-original-width="1967" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvX9GQzUkf1jdSM5C4ISeuD8rzMZhjJfpvoPd7L_-nZe75t2J9cYzIWJsKnsfMWYJyNk2jE77ejWx_8hlTW9puz3uutucs-V8rLUXx8yXoZ4G1Y9sLWT92zA8VpvTmkiKMI87JZp2kVtzzRo8NadRsQD5ydxG2XtZkgeBXbJAYk0Tc2wXxMzTPsCT8/s320/a%20mole%20np%20from%20lodge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the room</td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">On the way we encountered a party of Patas Monkeys, a Striped
Ground-Squirrel and a sole bull African Elephant feeding.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroDjuArjigFJdi6_5AGD-E_YsqzgNsAePEbyCfeJpUbdHC4sCJsDsPlTi0uq7jk6_4i6QlZL0MUTlsI56ZXx4VdnADF3JjXPVv6gGtPeYt4IMBvpGMPThfPn8QG445R5ope5w6hsXCtnd9BlNSslK5_2HhJwUf-YcCnkjL2orIlEmDOMg51rwpOU5/s6744/striped%20ground-squirrel,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3744" data-original-width="6744" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiroDjuArjigFJdi6_5AGD-E_YsqzgNsAePEbyCfeJpUbdHC4sCJsDsPlTi0uq7jk6_4i6QlZL0MUTlsI56ZXx4VdnADF3JjXPVv6gGtPeYt4IMBvpGMPThfPn8QG445R5ope5w6hsXCtnd9BlNSslK5_2HhJwUf-YcCnkjL2orIlEmDOMg51rwpOU5/s320/striped%20ground-squirrel,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Strriped Ground-Squirrel</td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">One of the
star birds of trip was encountered in the woodlands early in the day
in the form of a group of 4 Forbes’s Plovers (below).</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoKr6y3WNXBtSAzPQBL0Vp8E6s8VqikaHpnRzWniFxmCgCwVtSw8g91-U86xsNCjMLkJo1IzGXYIfo9hqJjVak7MmamaGPmomsjk2c59tMHLhcL8Rd9Pnp_F4_XObPNVdWIgjuFSmRp9QGnfMsSDP94sSWujO5ak5XdgedLGE2Ujx2tjLSqZau8f-/s2196/forbes's%20plover,mole.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="965" data-original-width="2196" height="141" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnoKr6y3WNXBtSAzPQBL0Vp8E6s8VqikaHpnRzWniFxmCgCwVtSw8g91-U86xsNCjMLkJo1IzGXYIfo9hqJjVak7MmamaGPmomsjk2c59tMHLhcL8Rd9Pnp_F4_XObPNVdWIgjuFSmRp9QGnfMsSDP94sSWujO5ak5XdgedLGE2Ujx2tjLSqZau8f-/s320/forbes's%20plover,mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">A few other sometimes difficult specialties followed soon after.
Rufous-rumped Lark(below) is an unpredictable migrant but a single bird showed
well. Sun Larks were seen soon after.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Gb00CDeSfYHciXXdBGYb8LJNCH47K0RfDCQC-rfgrizbtclORK7O5LqXfKw9OeoDKSoV3Um247pyc1osVtg7OExRLYF2KcymX0AVbuNI23kM_vB-1-LPYqHBWhHYxuF0bc2CX_Ltnm-vZfMp-9BmEDbcuyeimJBx--3N1oZQq_96qiPFHzdmZS0n/s894/rufous-rumped%20lark,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="770" data-original-width="894" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Gb00CDeSfYHciXXdBGYb8LJNCH47K0RfDCQC-rfgrizbtclORK7O5LqXfKw9OeoDKSoV3Um247pyc1osVtg7OExRLYF2KcymX0AVbuNI23kM_vB-1-LPYqHBWhHYxuF0bc2CX_Ltnm-vZfMp-9BmEDbcuyeimJBx--3N1oZQq_96qiPFHzdmZS0n/s320/rufous-rumped%20lark,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">A few White-fronted Black Chats perched atop stunted trees. Gambaga
Flycatcher and Denham’s Bustard were welcome additions to the list.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQHviIQ18D-TeEkHPgzDWZW4pEcKxkUg4M76HH0g5RPZGU_R6JCsfe08Y-flKSDAfDkw4UyGgbeGe6Ou3iuYvN-oXMyip0yCdAMlUaZaAAFhGyToaKK3y7DcOyhw1QIgx-pc0sfV-JFlW67TVwVbtoj3sGHka8ZDISyyHutsaunx-mWvMMcsjtXfH/s1232/denham's%20bustard,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1089" data-original-width="1232" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjQHviIQ18D-TeEkHPgzDWZW4pEcKxkUg4M76HH0g5RPZGU_R6JCsfe08Y-flKSDAfDkw4UyGgbeGe6Ou3iuYvN-oXMyip0yCdAMlUaZaAAFhGyToaKK3y7DcOyhw1QIgx-pc0sfV-JFlW67TVwVbtoj3sGHka8ZDISyyHutsaunx-mWvMMcsjtXfH/s320/denham's%20bustard,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Denham's Bustard</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ozvyGrKdmC-dutA_L_qcJp0__nL36Se-XAqdH7ACCiavK5vRm10gzy6nqhzwT4z2BJZ13az2f0Qpkh-WiIlFjHWL1KGox_XlzPSZttruCOg66oIQEnoC-1vb8VgzIVpAIoyTtsuH0zt3-IR_8ah0_3iwNNyV4E6Xk1SUq6lFtQx-OWb8x1y5PTQF/s931/white-fronted%20black%20chat,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="842" data-original-width="931" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_ozvyGrKdmC-dutA_L_qcJp0__nL36Se-XAqdH7ACCiavK5vRm10gzy6nqhzwT4z2BJZ13az2f0Qpkh-WiIlFjHWL1KGox_XlzPSZttruCOg66oIQEnoC-1vb8VgzIVpAIoyTtsuH0zt3-IR_8ah0_3iwNNyV4E6Xk1SUq6lFtQx-OWb8x1y5PTQF/s320/white-fronted%20black%20chat,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-fronted Black Chat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">We returned to the lodge for the heat of the day to find a family
group of African Elephants in the pool below the motel. They spent
several hours in the water, the younger animals clearly enjoying
themselves. The elephants were back in the water the next day.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPVdgnyrOQC4BUPuyQK1rFMsHOGfnvMPhaYlw8aDhy06kRKlp9ey4vKOmKzYMO8NCP3B8kzyxRj5cfplLSR8o_duU2kyEtpiWKWP2Q9oTEyAh5I5rGBfAqvmvMiaIuCXEWxF6GxS-Q31aRGpKg67gebgHKaqaje6BWpyGadRKrVnAcpe6Jdmc80bu/s5051/african%20elephant,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1561" data-original-width="5051" height="99" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPVdgnyrOQC4BUPuyQK1rFMsHOGfnvMPhaYlw8aDhy06kRKlp9ey4vKOmKzYMO8NCP3B8kzyxRj5cfplLSR8o_duU2kyEtpiWKWP2Q9oTEyAh5I5rGBfAqvmvMiaIuCXEWxF6GxS-Q31aRGpKg67gebgHKaqaje6BWpyGadRKrVnAcpe6Jdmc80bu/s320/african%20elephant,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Sk-TpC-cgQ8FEkjxv5z23qIDebHdxEz5UJPt-Y12U-Yyu0p3oKgv620hF_BQ_BuEGZ1Vu_PPNoC8gVi_Bbp2yT7Ec1UZienlFVRwfIcUbS9n329Cgx-PfdU-LJ5GgMI7JvlxcFwMYC505hQbEkmy7qYTBRFu-iLyUAzCLFHOaugb3gkw2IYgXg7D/s2691/african%20elephant1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1757" data-original-width="2691" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1Sk-TpC-cgQ8FEkjxv5z23qIDebHdxEz5UJPt-Y12U-Yyu0p3oKgv620hF_BQ_BuEGZ1Vu_PPNoC8gVi_Bbp2yT7Ec1UZienlFVRwfIcUbS9n329Cgx-PfdU-LJ5GgMI7JvlxcFwMYC505hQbEkmy7qYTBRFu-iLyUAzCLFHOaugb3gkw2IYgXg7D/s320/african%20elephant1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">White-faced Whistling Ducks were abundant around this and other pools
in the park. We were surprised to find a pair of Pied-winged Swallows
feeding below the rooms with Wire-tailed Swallows.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ROEq41M12Goq-KgMF34OJxXUA4gGL2W3DRvJFK8d7zHy5040u5s5_HNh55kfkreViFzov4Q90KrMcjfvrrU0ru5eyDSmsYT0oIUo5V7yP61TEWMQvkpabqMCYwmxYdkoJwfeu4dQL4947TuIuMuuweT53O9KU8D5yVVfRguys04td7nboUzvEp0K/s2055/white-faced%20whistling-duck,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1506" data-original-width="2055" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0ROEq41M12Goq-KgMF34OJxXUA4gGL2W3DRvJFK8d7zHy5040u5s5_HNh55kfkreViFzov4Q90KrMcjfvrrU0ru5eyDSmsYT0oIUo5V7yP61TEWMQvkpabqMCYwmxYdkoJwfeu4dQL4947TuIuMuuweT53O9KU8D5yVVfRguys04td7nboUzvEp0K/s320/white-faced%20whistling-duck,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whire-faced Whistling-Duck</td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">In the afternoon we visited pools and woodland below Zina Lodge. Here
we had good looks at a pair of Stone Partridges. Senegal and Spotted
Thick-knees were in close proximity to each other. Bruce’s Green
Pigeon was common. As dusk fell, African Scops-Owl was tracked down
and Red-necked (which should be way out of range here) and
Long-tailed Nightjars both showed. </p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EMq0_efjqsq5AUvAhMAtQM1-84KYlZDpJt_FBXSE0kgbgOzi-39hrmV-lhkFndOUG-Mb82Ma0uZSJYUydCQb53lqBApZ4JE5M81JG1cRB1pa09D7GuSytGFkMi2oCHch7P091pjczV8l7EmIk4oS7MdncoFWvgeK84ThTXBX2UUSVLu82dp5g5xL/s2303/stone%20partridge,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1379" data-original-width="2303" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6EMq0_efjqsq5AUvAhMAtQM1-84KYlZDpJt_FBXSE0kgbgOzi-39hrmV-lhkFndOUG-Mb82Ma0uZSJYUydCQb53lqBApZ4JE5M81JG1cRB1pa09D7GuSytGFkMi2oCHch7P091pjczV8l7EmIk4oS7MdncoFWvgeK84ThTXBX2UUSVLu82dp5g5xL/s320/stone%20partridge,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stone Partridge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">A Spotted Hyena silently watched
us distantly from the road; we encountered this species on two other occasions
in the park. On the way back we saw the first of many Greyish
Eagle-Owls to be encountered in the park.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WVDmXLGhrIm5DoMTPdNtt_c3ZA_SeVPUZZOyztq-9hdVpc5g7fYEUsJo8cKYmDZjqi5fCs6j3MUabk8BF-paPeoGIXnoRqQawPS_5_6u5u52j1JICV_8cOngzuqNFS7LGFOoi9KPL-YMRJdBFd3fVcAIAWhQg2wTphA_J6GI2H2Exie--GArYUrP/s2533/spotted%20hyena,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2124" data-original-width="2533" height="268" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WVDmXLGhrIm5DoMTPdNtt_c3ZA_SeVPUZZOyztq-9hdVpc5g7fYEUsJo8cKYmDZjqi5fCs6j3MUabk8BF-paPeoGIXnoRqQawPS_5_6u5u52j1JICV_8cOngzuqNFS7LGFOoi9KPL-YMRJdBFd3fVcAIAWhQg2wTphA_J6GI2H2Exie--GArYUrP/s320/spotted%20hyena,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted Hyaena</td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Throughout our stay, raptors were much in evidence and included
Bataleur, African White-backed and White-headed Vultures, Wahlberg’s
and African Hawk Eagle, Gabar Goshawk and Grasshopper Buzzard.</p>
<p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwXZ2iZ4R27wytlU1bMl14FnFGanwmzwikDKHKs5K7Pk4NwrvSyiEzRSSZY-Hv3kksW4Ry1aH4pX96NAEDR2gcAErny-yCP62_6-C1vtQQ4jXLyn7r4RszPejEvqFnLTtcQZntTHBSd50gAOrJJy5pUSm6SGXvDKnsmCuS3YJJoccy5nm0e7W2Wwq/s1662/bataleur,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1371" data-original-width="1662" height="264" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMwXZ2iZ4R27wytlU1bMl14FnFGanwmzwikDKHKs5K7Pk4NwrvSyiEzRSSZY-Hv3kksW4Ry1aH4pX96NAEDR2gcAErny-yCP62_6-C1vtQQ4jXLyn7r4RszPejEvqFnLTtcQZntTHBSd50gAOrJJy5pUSm6SGXvDKnsmCuS3YJJoccy5nm0e7W2Wwq/s320/bataleur,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bataleur</td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Other birds seen during this and following days included
Rose-throated and Swallow-tailed Bee-eaters, Beautiful and Western
Violet-backed Sunbirds, Greater Honeyguide, African Grey Woodpecker,
Abyssinian Roller, African Blue Flycatcher, Lesser Honeyguide,
Senegal Batis, Northern Black Flycatcher, Violet Turaco, Red-chested
Cuckoo, Blackcap Babbler, Little Weaver and Yellow-crowned Gonolek
(we had seen the gonolek several times during the trip but it showed
particularly well here). Black-faced and Black-bellied Firefinches
were among the seedeaters seen but these were relatively sparse due
to an abundance of water in the park from recent rains.
</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapHMvWl0-bCXCPr7-qhW291_iiAhIfofHfpEc6raQgIeJ6qJjdk8Vf2YXAkcZLe3oxkobdVvBm5H6RprygpDIzzWJa1GoUjmoDX7ecDPPGHv6JiJR8e_8FiBV3meUaBHCgDATv5xdRLHfyehmnRAMxXGHRIsvhJTbomEz75pXnW63mHJnBszfjHys/s2107/abyssinian%20roller,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2039" data-original-width="2107" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjapHMvWl0-bCXCPr7-qhW291_iiAhIfofHfpEc6raQgIeJ6qJjdk8Vf2YXAkcZLe3oxkobdVvBm5H6RprygpDIzzWJa1GoUjmoDX7ecDPPGHv6JiJR8e_8FiBV3meUaBHCgDATv5xdRLHfyehmnRAMxXGHRIsvhJTbomEz75pXnW63mHJnBszfjHys/s320/abyssinian%20roller,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Abyssinian Roller</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszPBb4OHuE8Muv19O4Cc2EwreTyhnxL-FJMoL4GNviVDRFkERZZKfB76vjeRntTuovK3Dd_URH_sz_q6k9zF0RuQwzQUoYCLNmao6rP3di-2kpDx_mtA2RvoWucd7-nGxZGrmFq8zO8dnWjgosBT0ejmwg5hEGNX0vpBLfjTTcTFIdNd6JV8weI_g/s1577/beautiful%20sunbird,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1143" data-original-width="1577" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgszPBb4OHuE8Muv19O4Cc2EwreTyhnxL-FJMoL4GNviVDRFkERZZKfB76vjeRntTuovK3Dd_URH_sz_q6k9zF0RuQwzQUoYCLNmao6rP3di-2kpDx_mtA2RvoWucd7-nGxZGrmFq8zO8dnWjgosBT0ejmwg5hEGNX0vpBLfjTTcTFIdNd6JV8weI_g/s320/beautiful%20sunbird,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beautiful Sunbird</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9FIp7wQuG0tQZk1KphP7DlHY7uHxjK-_NN0Lqm756ozsd-I4jGjhIeWsX5L3A-ul7fEfwH2GfzyYHhD9SqkrIonqypsAVxN9JSIwXdb_LgpJARFzSZmGmdGwqv9G2XpEazQvyisix3GLSqTJIprtmhV1q9Q0qku6M1CMba1fJVC3t1iLGqLmN7nE/s1439/brown-backed%20woodpecker,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1439" data-original-width="1175" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs9FIp7wQuG0tQZk1KphP7DlHY7uHxjK-_NN0Lqm756ozsd-I4jGjhIeWsX5L3A-ul7fEfwH2GfzyYHhD9SqkrIonqypsAVxN9JSIwXdb_LgpJARFzSZmGmdGwqv9G2XpEazQvyisix3GLSqTJIprtmhV1q9Q0qku6M1CMba1fJVC3t1iLGqLmN7nE/s320/brown-backed%20woodpecker,%20mole.jpg" width="261" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Grey Woodpecker</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfCy96LoYt0XN5Ozx3olPwp0NrGPYjFYr8DjADqCeW8s7UInLCozmnJpVrdFFRjQCk2zUzDllEmOqWjn6qoy7ZfTA2P9olrEdbeGSFvP1MuiYetIroW9N51VYcn_rRQKhiqVmzsVBQieUHW6APjzuRxzu-XaPtDkmJIFdx8I_ApNxoYW6gKFc5Tt_/s1860/little%20weaver,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1731" data-original-width="1860" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdfCy96LoYt0XN5Ozx3olPwp0NrGPYjFYr8DjADqCeW8s7UInLCozmnJpVrdFFRjQCk2zUzDllEmOqWjn6qoy7ZfTA2P9olrEdbeGSFvP1MuiYetIroW9N51VYcn_rRQKhiqVmzsVBQieUHW6APjzuRxzu-XaPtDkmJIFdx8I_ApNxoYW6gKFc5Tt_/s320/little%20weaver,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Weaver</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhveck4V1AmvAO4afqH5GtqCMgOBvbjUmVjSSdidLrOgXRuUpxa5kXniil5NdouUgav09MNwU8eD8Noe1Ys8WtsTeX1oP6ZwUyr-QrGAuY3PI0zJ9RDJjlQQVJyWP0iSK-CryDZuvN_uLWDGRElPTJBFR74aC2Ktm_r7Hpe1dcqgZVbqCynbqWQDn_y/s783/red-chested%20cuckoo,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="766" data-original-width="783" height="313" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhveck4V1AmvAO4afqH5GtqCMgOBvbjUmVjSSdidLrOgXRuUpxa5kXniil5NdouUgav09MNwU8eD8Noe1Ys8WtsTeX1oP6ZwUyr-QrGAuY3PI0zJ9RDJjlQQVJyWP0iSK-CryDZuvN_uLWDGRElPTJBFR74aC2Ktm_r7Hpe1dcqgZVbqCynbqWQDn_y/s320/red-chested%20cuckoo,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-chested Cuckoo</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkD3JqgUWuO3YACH3arqx3qASueFkLTbDjr4ldLPD4uszLhVzsPgTnNouJpd5D3Uvo6HeUky8_9ADS9rPNGfzDJqqSLXNN-3dgZEJpzxC7bRwMp2DX-4TEFRi6dfDFC12CHTdaNAEE6rcYZx_-vzWNckFXuUR6_ndySPraxa0YWoNIK1ohdvn70Gr/s1061/red-throated%20bee-eater.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1061" data-original-width="923" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjkD3JqgUWuO3YACH3arqx3qASueFkLTbDjr4ldLPD4uszLhVzsPgTnNouJpd5D3Uvo6HeUky8_9ADS9rPNGfzDJqqSLXNN-3dgZEJpzxC7bRwMp2DX-4TEFRi6dfDFC12CHTdaNAEE6rcYZx_-vzWNckFXuUR6_ndySPraxa0YWoNIK1ohdvn70Gr/s320/red-throated%20bee-eater.jpg" width="278" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rose-throated Bee-eater</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUWESl-80V8bFssMK8wwep8NuCIkOFUFaFbNOvRPpVfLNzQCJl8BZfIN0eq2UDLSuXrXNw3mLmqkrd-Jetb-_QCSInGk0Esr7BvcLsum69J7gz5DcM5-3YPVDW0fU51xRFdWK7jsHyRiDeTAvWSxcnssXapsyrpm-fsalNXkUEe1ymXBZw8Qsv-iC/s975/senegal%20batis,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="825" data-original-width="975" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQUWESl-80V8bFssMK8wwep8NuCIkOFUFaFbNOvRPpVfLNzQCJl8BZfIN0eq2UDLSuXrXNw3mLmqkrd-Jetb-_QCSInGk0Esr7BvcLsum69J7gz5DcM5-3YPVDW0fU51xRFdWK7jsHyRiDeTAvWSxcnssXapsyrpm-fsalNXkUEe1ymXBZw8Qsv-iC/s320/senegal%20batis,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Senegal Batis</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuibR05u2d2SZXt4EDHP1eKOgKvUNvUVZj_7yttz3BpNw2znRTYMlH_M8hM2hAomhhzWKoaKA_TXABMJSVCKkrMsjNNotPMj7hL8UH2IUidnx3BXOAtcEpRdsmLJLz1jrCYu-2ce4bHgvZMQlyN1AB5lzJ59llgkv1U-l85Ym94AAJ1YCDw5La5Zt/s1896/yellow-crowned%20gonolek,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1701" data-original-width="1896" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSuibR05u2d2SZXt4EDHP1eKOgKvUNvUVZj_7yttz3BpNw2znRTYMlH_M8hM2hAomhhzWKoaKA_TXABMJSVCKkrMsjNNotPMj7hL8UH2IUidnx3BXOAtcEpRdsmLJLz1jrCYu-2ce4bHgvZMQlyN1AB5lzJ59llgkv1U-l85Ym94AAJ1YCDw5La5Zt/s320/yellow-crowned%20gonolek,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-crowned Gonolek</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">The morning of our second day in Mole had us in scrub by the Magnori
River in the morning. Western Square-tailed Drongo was a key target
here and the bird obliged. An eclipse plumage paradise-wydah was
likely an Exclamatory Paradise-Wydah but birds in this plumage can
not be distinguished from Togo Paradise-Wydah. Other more common dry
country birds included Sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike, Pearl-spotted
Owlet, Brubru and Yellow-breasted Apalis. We heard Thick-billed
Cuckoo.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2qJNsV7gC5rbYYM9KUy30tsp86XNxo2Ye9LCsx1lrDmy2i-d1SHLGlkYradAHVnNaWw0FxRTxn5sqybFXCwTynEqZN8ILxrLBFyk9LueMyABvWEIOvbmo58gFWetSMLRfsz-DhwX4ISIgFa9kAKlzEXV34mxaELrFfNey9N617mLsv3hL7MI1ZPE/s1609/a%20birding%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="942" data-original-width="1609" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid2qJNsV7gC5rbYYM9KUy30tsp86XNxo2Ye9LCsx1lrDmy2i-d1SHLGlkYradAHVnNaWw0FxRTxn5sqybFXCwTynEqZN8ILxrLBFyk9LueMyABvWEIOvbmo58gFWetSMLRfsz-DhwX4ISIgFa9kAKlzEXV34mxaELrFfNey9N617mLsv3hL7MI1ZPE/s320/a%20birding%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birding the savanna in Mole</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2vH-7SgoXSiS50BAuX4K1QNVjKn5COwXaAFVT6lZRMC5YRxfgBzS3c3T9f8Dpfowj3fW6MawtEtxWcHWYDl4gKAEJiFcpJoPfEcg47y58vvD4Bln0LtclmdecIxMB-A1ypcKdT3pf686QLSKn7nI5OyJB-XBJhJLtpqCScAyNqmWLQrXHdHqWiye/s1089/pearl-spotted%20owlet,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1029" data-original-width="1089" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhf2vH-7SgoXSiS50BAuX4K1QNVjKn5COwXaAFVT6lZRMC5YRxfgBzS3c3T9f8Dpfowj3fW6MawtEtxWcHWYDl4gKAEJiFcpJoPfEcg47y58vvD4Bln0LtclmdecIxMB-A1ypcKdT3pf686QLSKn7nI5OyJB-XBJhJLtpqCScAyNqmWLQrXHdHqWiye/s320/pearl-spotted%20owlet,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pearl-spotted Owlet</td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">He had good looks at a roosting Long-tailed Nightjar and less
satisfactory views of a flushed Plain Nightjar.</p>
<p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LN_lL4R4BRdY8nJSx7QxvebKGuMQ8br-V22HWK-0QUgfvDjR9j5brEDSJbNAmA4DtT0H69jFPd1AIpyJpR92qYep8QQt05W6XSayDMJLrV3u8xvSeO90hxo412oeNaFdPFF7NdPuCXNkIki6hs2OvAEelftOEGazxiOnnKEpAIxLWPX6xrNSojwb/s1714/long-tailed%20nightjar,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1186" data-original-width="1714" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1LN_lL4R4BRdY8nJSx7QxvebKGuMQ8br-V22HWK-0QUgfvDjR9j5brEDSJbNAmA4DtT0H69jFPd1AIpyJpR92qYep8QQt05W6XSayDMJLrV3u8xvSeO90hxo412oeNaFdPFF7NdPuCXNkIki6hs2OvAEelftOEGazxiOnnKEpAIxLWPX6xrNSojwb/s320/long-tailed%20nightjar,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long-tailed Nightjar</td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">In the late afternoon we scoured the grasslands near the airstrip
where we tracked down a sometimes tricky cisticola pair: Rufous
Cisticola and Dorst’s Cisticola. A pair of White-throated
Francolins were unusually visible as sunset approached.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizG6r8EpD4tywTjKwk2bcuw8fSWyVcDi_A9ZlMGNlQ_B3cAQMJt0sX3uHy9baojmwNBxieoXdi9L3wbfBF8Y-w0nDX0SD10Scnom8MWXtUkBF7XeXy6tH1ERKF4cWShnlDMWq37bPCa-IT2hxH2lYkb7v6vLqb4FzQIMmCrUBjDfAEyHuxfdgSA9Sd/s1673/white-throated%20francolin,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1428" data-original-width="1673" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizG6r8EpD4tywTjKwk2bcuw8fSWyVcDi_A9ZlMGNlQ_B3cAQMJt0sX3uHy9baojmwNBxieoXdi9L3wbfBF8Y-w0nDX0SD10Scnom8MWXtUkBF7XeXy6tH1ERKF4cWShnlDMWq37bPCa-IT2hxH2lYkb7v6vLqb4FzQIMmCrUBjDfAEyHuxfdgSA9Sd/s320/white-throated%20francolin,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-throated Francolin</td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">With the fall of darkness came the finding of a superb male
Standard-winged Nightjar in full plumage on the now disused airstrip
that once serviced the park. A female Standard-winged Nightjar was
found road-killed nearby.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJr-M1bYLMbwHbi6mkwQMLsGzXCsFfWoSIKovp_LDThPiu7Ou8Nr9bIs-jau1C2YT5DFSMUN77Wl2Prpqy7cXtFIQ6FningQ6eT9_kyJCf9QAQMwYGIUja2DrfCq4jffb8V0fwAm_I867HNk7RrI0rCMBqav0HI0cd7nTUn_2-b_OV0tE9Xb2spIQC/s5833/standard-winged%20nightjar,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3297" data-original-width="5833" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJr-M1bYLMbwHbi6mkwQMLsGzXCsFfWoSIKovp_LDThPiu7Ou8Nr9bIs-jau1C2YT5DFSMUN77Wl2Prpqy7cXtFIQ6FningQ6eT9_kyJCf9QAQMwYGIUja2DrfCq4jffb8V0fwAm_I867HNk7RrI0rCMBqav0HI0cd7nTUn_2-b_OV0tE9Xb2spIQC/s320/standard-winged%20nightjar,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Standard-winged Nightjar</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Our third day in Mole National Park took us to the Samole Loop and
fine looks at a family of two adult and two well-fledged Four-banded
Sandgrouse, another much-wanted target. Late in the afternoon we were
back below Zina Lodge, where Rock-loving Cisticola and Violet-backed
Starling were among the birds that showed nicely.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyv9i9WSyZBpk_6ZmFC9B08PAPtAohLv76LneYF8u2EHzTWZq7kpPCXACgdUzTLIVrvie3HuEsoF1BsHxCo3JOI73kyMnU30Icn8UhCKix9nCL4B3msxHJ-kyjMi1I9UAnRis-YcNO3W-jYVYxe0WDGaCKo6q1XqYGDb8QH1bMgMP6Xf0oWD0GqPy/s1748/four-banded%20sandgrouse,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1149" data-original-width="1748" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTyv9i9WSyZBpk_6ZmFC9B08PAPtAohLv76LneYF8u2EHzTWZq7kpPCXACgdUzTLIVrvie3HuEsoF1BsHxCo3JOI73kyMnU30Icn8UhCKix9nCL4B3msxHJ-kyjMi1I9UAnRis-YcNO3W-jYVYxe0WDGaCKo6q1XqYGDb8QH1bMgMP6Xf0oWD0GqPy/s320/four-banded%20sandgrouse,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Four-banded Sandgrouse</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Other mammals in the park included Olive Baboon, Patas and Green Monkeys,
Kintampo Rope Squirrel, Common Warthog, Oribi, Central Bushbuck,
Buffon’s (Western) Kob and Western Hartebeest.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4rzmKJcv4AIEItNKTw-pYnQByDKgs9FLFGmUmI0rAS6bUUIMFLO2HU5boNuD58MGs7ymF5Vd91XRgvkk4_mX2zKDdrcAg61kfTcNCnOXkRQXwmgtC7asn4cV10gPsVFuR59VoDsdkyyWe5qzC8w2xOVUzz02Mr41soYsglBq7kz6xAaWMibRtV-y/s3490/bushbuck,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2567" data-original-width="3490" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg4rzmKJcv4AIEItNKTw-pYnQByDKgs9FLFGmUmI0rAS6bUUIMFLO2HU5boNuD58MGs7ymF5Vd91XRgvkk4_mX2zKDdrcAg61kfTcNCnOXkRQXwmgtC7asn4cV10gPsVFuR59VoDsdkyyWe5qzC8w2xOVUzz02Mr41soYsglBq7kz6xAaWMibRtV-y/s320/bushbuck,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Central Bushbuck</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0H-0LtWlcuwXoYGLullYQ-AczGfv8LBoMX9oEiSwUUpNb-ykqX_iS_gxtnPK4NoNq-b457QIUIggIV-yOOXNPMXxE075D9b-nXFw5vGVFw0YdR1Y7dMuF9AoikC91DCdfjYJLUD7F6CkB6ADqbJEt0auHKjfogQl83cbekG583YtwdTYFMfw6XENq/s2896/kob,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2070" data-original-width="2896" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0H-0LtWlcuwXoYGLullYQ-AczGfv8LBoMX9oEiSwUUpNb-ykqX_iS_gxtnPK4NoNq-b457QIUIggIV-yOOXNPMXxE075D9b-nXFw5vGVFw0YdR1Y7dMuF9AoikC91DCdfjYJLUD7F6CkB6ADqbJEt0auHKjfogQl83cbekG583YtwdTYFMfw6XENq/s320/kob,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Western Kob</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduB8fLoJI4Sly7ZQIHiz2nzvObKxWmu1yZEUYmu4Drc1nzbEzBwQUcQYRjGqqgX2XJo1Ce4D7YvfBY6Il6GJS_UvspXUkr-UNEQDodM95OdjC2g29n81YCWjzlbt8FcUrb2sQzB2YmhbI6Ls1oPealBp0Wz0df-ocLmWHChGY6QiEQ7g9E7GQ3HjY/s3380/obiri,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2464" data-original-width="3380" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhduB8fLoJI4Sly7ZQIHiz2nzvObKxWmu1yZEUYmu4Drc1nzbEzBwQUcQYRjGqqgX2XJo1Ce4D7YvfBY6Il6GJS_UvspXUkr-UNEQDodM95OdjC2g29n81YCWjzlbt8FcUrb2sQzB2YmhbI6Ls1oPealBp0Wz0df-ocLmWHChGY6QiEQ7g9E7GQ3HjY/s320/obiri,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Western Obiri</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYspMSPBJ1V48UWsfmuks7d_zSCJ5pep6cch0hiKGhnFa9_WJhWby7mtbnmOqrQ13MQw5qdrhFNYnlscoEc0Jsbd9GCKEBKEcg1x7Wk-nRAKZl8rLgE5kjS_nHmevENqOUKHC2dFbieggtRxpUqf0zWoRomW9Jft6A5QwovtXnhc-D-QZjg72FJtNG/s3441/olive%20baboon,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3377" data-original-width="3441" height="314" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYspMSPBJ1V48UWsfmuks7d_zSCJ5pep6cch0hiKGhnFa9_WJhWby7mtbnmOqrQ13MQw5qdrhFNYnlscoEc0Jsbd9GCKEBKEcg1x7Wk-nRAKZl8rLgE5kjS_nHmevENqOUKHC2dFbieggtRxpUqf0zWoRomW9Jft6A5QwovtXnhc-D-QZjg72FJtNG/s320/olive%20baboon,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olive Baboon</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95fvkhvLEIZn0nPHSH3qf_Bky0_lW-goSbFpnHiLMs0KpTRts1rAuJtDpniHIDwYDtMLt28qklyFBNWDO44ESzP_n0Y7wVuBxyOb8LJeY9NAPdlKUGAr5H6N56OJBluSlGH6J6DxOdDUk34DDMXyOC04v5GX1XI53imY6tE5C0dmKQx0ThhvAXrTs/s4115/warthog,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2121" data-original-width="4115" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg95fvkhvLEIZn0nPHSH3qf_Bky0_lW-goSbFpnHiLMs0KpTRts1rAuJtDpniHIDwYDtMLt28qklyFBNWDO44ESzP_n0Y7wVuBxyOb8LJeY9NAPdlKUGAr5H6N56OJBluSlGH6J6DxOdDUk34DDMXyOC04v5GX1XI53imY6tE5C0dmKQx0ThhvAXrTs/s320/warthog,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Warthog</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Yellow-winged Bats and and smaller bats, probably Gambian Slit-faced
Bat, were roosting in creekside thickets.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcetqieYJ_-4eO1GYXXQDM9mKU27X1Sy-DgDYZJS-Lptvn3uB3OTBlOaIJSROfuZB8y-H82nvPxayfOiWyzbkCiqmKj7wZm_3MgY3iXEVXqCSRgLR1Rnb7ttDWED8pd1dmGtB0o7Jj-kDwhrWlAkm0m4fbYnxeOcp2NgAMCkaW--0e1pKHZ0MSCGna/s2086/bat,%20mole.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2032" data-original-width="2086" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcetqieYJ_-4eO1GYXXQDM9mKU27X1Sy-DgDYZJS-Lptvn3uB3OTBlOaIJSROfuZB8y-H82nvPxayfOiWyzbkCiqmKj7wZm_3MgY3iXEVXqCSRgLR1Rnb7ttDWED8pd1dmGtB0o7Jj-kDwhrWlAkm0m4fbYnxeOcp2NgAMCkaW--0e1pKHZ0MSCGna/s320/bat,%20mole.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Probably Gambian Slit-faced Bat</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p>
<p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</p>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-82259243883601119562023-04-30T13:22:00.000+10:002023-04-30T13:22:30.368+10:00Ghana April 2023 PART 4: In search of a pangolin<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGAGxNN5DHMM0aRJrUJBFlMnp2S_8sBUG3MkCCI8zoVt-E5lYtnVAetbVvdCeKh1kf0SuxhFM2m9IfpLx3pxDakNCkJtzNVhxAik3MWMXMxg5aeA5TqrC1jmS5P40me4ElKwkSouEY2uQUkAxszXlAIfVSz1hFANrthvvzx-1-IR1bjBVfup3qKcU/s2871/pangolin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2359" data-original-width="2871" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWGAGxNN5DHMM0aRJrUJBFlMnp2S_8sBUG3MkCCI8zoVt-E5lYtnVAetbVvdCeKh1kf0SuxhFM2m9IfpLx3pxDakNCkJtzNVhxAik3MWMXMxg5aeA5TqrC1jmS5P40me4ElKwkSouEY2uQUkAxszXlAIfVSz1hFANrthvvzx-1-IR1bjBVfup3qKcU/s320/pangolin.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-bellied Pangolin</td></tr></tbody></table></p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Following our successful encounter with the White-necked Picathartes
(following post) our minds turned to another creature well-known from
rainforests in the vicinity of<span style="font-size: small;">
B</span><span style="font-size: small;">onkro</span><span style="font-size: small;">
in central Ghana: </span><span style="font-size: small;">the
White-bellied Pangolin.</span><span style="font-size: small;">
</span>Pangolin sits high on the wishlists of many critter lovers.
The only mammal to be wholly covered in scales, the survival of
several species is in the balance as pangolins are slaughtered in
their tens of thousands. Pangolin scales are considered to have
considerable value as traditional medicines in east Asia, especially
China and Vietnam, but there is no evidence supporting this. Shy and
harmless, the pangolin is believed to be the world’s most heavily
trafficked mammal. As pangolin populations in Asia disappear, the
trade increasingly has shifted to Africa, where the four pangolin
species are now absent or rare throughout their ranges.</p>
<p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Before our tour, the group agreed with my suggestion for a $US50
reward for anyone in the villages around Bonkro who found us a
pangolin, the stipulation being that we had to be taken to the
pangolin and not the other way around. A man with tracking experience
came forward and one of our Ashanti guides, Ibrahim Entsie, also had
past form in finding pangolins. With these two guys, our group set
out at sunset on Day 11 of our trip to find a pangolin. This was not going to be easy. We followed the trackers up and down
ridges, along creeks, through regrowth and primary rainforest - often
in rough terrain with no paths.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUypIJyLsKIXijnpTHOEg4QLvcAarWH0ZzrIQNiymaOfRypOBcOlukd1uAqrpA5KzOTC_d01cKUN3h4VNroVJlZnW7mQG5t_bfBshC_dS5Ql9qWNQnnmRlPhxJmHsrUfYdtVTZDKZsC38RdNgIpZNVMGKyuTroVi5qBm2CzYGkDmm3RM7ut2nQ9b95/s2016/a%20bonkro%20pangolin%20hunt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUypIJyLsKIXijnpTHOEg4QLvcAarWH0ZzrIQNiymaOfRypOBcOlukd1uAqrpA5KzOTC_d01cKUN3h4VNroVJlZnW7mQG5t_bfBshC_dS5Ql9qWNQnnmRlPhxJmHsrUfYdtVTZDKZsC38RdNgIpZNVMGKyuTroVi5qBm2CzYGkDmm3RM7ut2nQ9b95/s320/a%20bonkro%20pangolin%20hunt.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Following the trackers</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">We spotlighted a sleeping African
Pygmy Kingfisher and located a delightful Beecroft’s Anomalure, a
kind of flying squirrel.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpPtDTr8-SrqZeBiPPg3zk9i0OkMHFhAsXERC7WfeuRJPuM0RfLt3RoZJIhSkdnVtIpixXDm4zLA-qXRbV-rsyIyBA4lPwHFFZyekd8UEYH36OEfectbFRydkkyHZ6wKJdff7ptSZ-fzrHyOur7LRqVdX_cNcZiKhBj9TM-GBXWMvXvBZTAZcVbcm/s2468/african%20pygmy%20kingfisher,%20bonkro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1985" data-original-width="2468" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZpPtDTr8-SrqZeBiPPg3zk9i0OkMHFhAsXERC7WfeuRJPuM0RfLt3RoZJIhSkdnVtIpixXDm4zLA-qXRbV-rsyIyBA4lPwHFFZyekd8UEYH36OEfectbFRydkkyHZ6wKJdff7ptSZ-fzrHyOur7LRqVdX_cNcZiKhBj9TM-GBXWMvXvBZTAZcVbcm/s320/african%20pygmy%20kingfisher,%20bonkro.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Pygmy Kingfisher</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMN3DwSsJpa5uCciDXKtcz-pc2Z-vh2I8YEzAq58NPYP7ampWbK3ROa7hK43ZhMkUtvXZgeY_GoStqssHgiANtIOyRVWu9g40X-fqgNhLHuVI1lgrrQb6As71CqZajPH-szLffAA3Wd4dEU03FBY1vSeLEpXbu4UnFZphNTBCZcDzzcCiQQhectA1C/s3023/beecroft's%20anomalurus%20,%20bonkro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2141" data-original-width="3023" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMN3DwSsJpa5uCciDXKtcz-pc2Z-vh2I8YEzAq58NPYP7ampWbK3ROa7hK43ZhMkUtvXZgeY_GoStqssHgiANtIOyRVWu9g40X-fqgNhLHuVI1lgrrQb6As71CqZajPH-szLffAA3Wd4dEU03FBY1vSeLEpXbu4UnFZphNTBCZcDzzcCiQQhectA1C/s320/beecroft's%20anomalurus%20,%20bonkro.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beecroft's Anomalure</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Three hours later, the trackers froze when they detected a rustling
in the undergrowth: a pangolin feeding on the ground. As soon as the
animal realised we were on to it, it rapidly climbed a densely
foliaged tree. The pangolin was hard to keep track of as it crashed
through the branches but we all managed good looks, although the
foliage and its constant movements made photography challenging, as
these images demonstrate. The first image in this post is of an
animal jumping between branches. In the second image below, it is
clinging to the side of the tree, its head visible.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmIJh0CzSofRDKzYNf7neQ0-tE-wFvl8jztyD2OLa342UgFv-T1N-faypSPO36-jqj-ciYd-umZcmKYiHAY63LuaxSqrVf0pOk0YXjU6jw1FWQCKX8EP04lUznZn3qAlCUrXKxVRRJ3Sgo0CXq8Yvnz5Ctispj4Vvt82Jjg6jTQ7BmwE_TbCXmovE/s3714/pangolin1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2587" data-original-width="3714" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhmIJh0CzSofRDKzYNf7neQ0-tE-wFvl8jztyD2OLa342UgFv-T1N-faypSPO36-jqj-ciYd-umZcmKYiHAY63LuaxSqrVf0pOk0YXjU6jw1FWQCKX8EP04lUznZn3qAlCUrXKxVRRJ3Sgo0CXq8Yvnz5Ctispj4Vvt82Jjg6jTQ7BmwE_TbCXmovE/s320/pangolin1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBDzYtRoTWkD80TWYw_YddItA6a4RGVa3RwPN6jaQM7X4DmR3AhXLqOmLNV2jgyzXVTSd3_-9Qz26BYwAxA2gpoY_vAuc2iPqfPsTJwOhyKrjsDxg8RsQm_pw1vZkiekn-VqcCLm9K6ei8TffziheBYE_2CVmdWlGRudcNU53egKQo4o6K1BvGz3W/s3085/pangolin%20head.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2164" data-original-width="3085" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLBDzYtRoTWkD80TWYw_YddItA6a4RGVa3RwPN6jaQM7X4DmR3AhXLqOmLNV2jgyzXVTSd3_-9Qz26BYwAxA2gpoY_vAuc2iPqfPsTJwOhyKrjsDxg8RsQm_pw1vZkiekn-VqcCLm9K6ei8TffziheBYE_2CVmdWlGRudcNU53egKQo4o6K1BvGz3W/s320/pangolin%20head.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Jeff Skevington had more success with his images below.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcryxnVlQMfhKfCYZUriaNMMc8MLAt6E1cBabnJOuysVJhxbwcg6jaMg6PrftCocDppW_bQuwg_YOTOEKcRfjBpVadeopq2SYI58eV5zdlNSmu_7Ivxfg8KAjUyqOb04XqkFPnHKlx0pgJAOODn-o8aIQMvmY5jvuvwonrRenog9aCBpmz3amL7kc/s2048/pangolin%20jeff1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1154" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlcryxnVlQMfhKfCYZUriaNMMc8MLAt6E1cBabnJOuysVJhxbwcg6jaMg6PrftCocDppW_bQuwg_YOTOEKcRfjBpVadeopq2SYI58eV5zdlNSmu_7Ivxfg8KAjUyqOb04XqkFPnHKlx0pgJAOODn-o8aIQMvmY5jvuvwonrRenog9aCBpmz3amL7kc/s320/pangolin%20jeff1.jpg" width="180" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrN0GYSiO0PLHAkB-45vzGiUntOAn9XM8mHwyRofisXbimOtpZ4O_Bb2jhzIeypmNi3NsUO5RAnSXozHDyeWhuEU5ulRUX71SD57ncvjv_R9-Ie84t-j3fQklEw354ytVudIsDNzDD5rTkV398xsRVztLEJ_50JoMYtxd2dvNTMP-OlMvdqsxJI3GG/s2048/pangolin%20jeff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1854" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrN0GYSiO0PLHAkB-45vzGiUntOAn9XM8mHwyRofisXbimOtpZ4O_Bb2jhzIeypmNi3NsUO5RAnSXozHDyeWhuEU5ulRUX71SD57ncvjv_R9-Ie84t-j3fQklEw354ytVudIsDNzDD5rTkV398xsRVztLEJ_50JoMYtxd2dvNTMP-OlMvdqsxJI3GG/s320/pangolin%20jeff.jpg" width="290" /></a></div><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">We were one very contented group following this encounter.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvfgbHwR7qrN4zSerIaIHtVu7rKGPij9p5HvSPbQVJ9eh-3W0lZ_ryCLvKwHVZ4_hGJUqKEXLc2lyTMS-DbuZwuNYiEvdxO0bucEF0JoH5ow_6DCbnHaZFemvzJ4n5oh8uWcjlQvmvrVowmWpS6A7cHyYHioV7NQGkJf7M3CWUnNn32JGQCpwqg6g/s2016/a%20bonkro%20pangolin%20hunt1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggvfgbHwR7qrN4zSerIaIHtVu7rKGPij9p5HvSPbQVJ9eh-3W0lZ_ryCLvKwHVZ4_hGJUqKEXLc2lyTMS-DbuZwuNYiEvdxO0bucEF0JoH5ow_6DCbnHaZFemvzJ4n5oh8uWcjlQvmvrVowmWpS6A7cHyYHioV7NQGkJf7M3CWUnNn32JGQCpwqg6g/s320/a%20bonkro%20pangolin%20hunt1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Later, Ibrahim Entsie explained his personal history with pangolins.
His family lived in an impoverished village near the city of Cape
Coast, eking out a living from farming palm nuts. He hunted pangolins
and other game for bushmeat to sell for several years to raise money
to help him finish his school education. The meat was much sought
after and the scales were disposed of. Today, a dead pangolin fetches
about $US20 on the black market, he says: “It is the Chinese
traders who are buying them now for the scales and they might become
extinct if it keeps going on.”</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBc7YKVIsrQZJxEZlgTAa2gDKjGB4cwuO05lX9ARwA88PTkjhHHnl2WzFEYm1cEXOevCAvdEwp2vxeo1D8Ra0zFLpir4wryb9UKva7U5cT0fG5c3ven8i2RoyRKXBSXxcVvr7QkWPRdeLp1j9J7QliR8g-BiECDhIuEikMzSkZ5so6TM6FpGrkrcB9/s1437/a%20Ibrahim%20Entsie.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1437" data-original-width="1236" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBc7YKVIsrQZJxEZlgTAa2gDKjGB4cwuO05lX9ARwA88PTkjhHHnl2WzFEYm1cEXOevCAvdEwp2vxeo1D8Ra0zFLpir4wryb9UKva7U5cT0fG5c3ven8i2RoyRKXBSXxcVvr7QkWPRdeLp1j9J7QliR8g-BiECDhIuEikMzSkZ5so6TM6FpGrkrcB9/s320/a%20Ibrahim%20Entsie.jpg" width="275" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ibrahim Entsie</td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">The pangolin was not the last of the goodies at Bonkro. We had two
nights at Ashanti’s new lodge. In and around the picathartes forest
we found two wanted specialties: Tessmann’s Flycatcher and
Yellow-throated Cuckoo.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciQflDG5nvL9FXhE3iq8aILcjB_0ovLiuD344w9FjDznCmaBV7tibi2I9fPCtl554pKBXeKLfJP6Ah_9d0wVZHG4mGb8eII5PedBnGAxdUGKjzW5WbPhYrI9bDY9-30-ZAybJc_XfeWAe2MG8VGnqOsazeOmk3Mk5SkhfbncxiEyJBwCbFjpwzl4r/s1420/tessmann's%20flycatcher,%20bonkro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1420" data-original-width="1183" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgciQflDG5nvL9FXhE3iq8aILcjB_0ovLiuD344w9FjDznCmaBV7tibi2I9fPCtl554pKBXeKLfJP6Ah_9d0wVZHG4mGb8eII5PedBnGAxdUGKjzW5WbPhYrI9bDY9-30-ZAybJc_XfeWAe2MG8VGnqOsazeOmk3Mk5SkhfbncxiEyJBwCbFjpwzl4r/s320/tessmann's%20flycatcher,%20bonkro.jpg" width="267" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tessmann's Flycatcher</td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">Other birds included a White-crested Hornbill (below) showing nicely in the
early morning light.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mvzXSJnJwr0D8IE0HKlwTqgyensfAMLNcgbhNwdw6DQYg_XmgnIDhAPmm9Ce8e_OYT8L24f9ulFXuYF3-kJKAsFr5mwm2-SqOua2t0hpJWTJSZwUOMzHDCOSdQrp7hqD3tHDRGzX7QuQxp9ut_XNCYIcHhUeoDTfnUMH7PETBoVSGfhHI30UqlTm/s1254/white-crested%20hornbill,%20bonkro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1254" data-original-width="1106" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4mvzXSJnJwr0D8IE0HKlwTqgyensfAMLNcgbhNwdw6DQYg_XmgnIDhAPmm9Ce8e_OYT8L24f9ulFXuYF3-kJKAsFr5mwm2-SqOua2t0hpJWTJSZwUOMzHDCOSdQrp7hqD3tHDRGzX7QuQxp9ut_XNCYIcHhUeoDTfnUMH7PETBoVSGfhHI30UqlTm/s320/white-crested%20hornbill,%20bonkro.jpg" width="282" /></a></div><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">In the afternoon we visited a logging road in the nearby Kwebene Sam
Forest. Here we saw Red-headed Malimbe, Western Bronze-naped Pigeon,
Tiny Sunbird, Cassin’s Honeybird and Red-shouldered Cuckoo-shrike.
We were back at the logging road the next morning, seeing the
distinctive western race of Yellow-billed Barbet, more Red-billed
Helmetshrikes, Western Nicator, Violet-backed Hyliota and large
numbers of Red-fronted Parrots.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbG7wFu9iKvIhJtw6LyAnO-fupP9A9GUDf1xIi7ljJR9KlThBbKuRo2hF0oSQkh1TQZR5wKj7vup-eE-Sie_omFKPAL_j4j4meDs8B9ti-uJDv-pbpxiEeSH7aAJClauk7FbjeSmDsuf-hIxCWygJLm4V9g6JyhMO5CWA3CrxoLIZDNIK6L4qlVgv/s1152/red-headed%20mullimbe,%20bonkro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1152" data-original-width="1150" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUbG7wFu9iKvIhJtw6LyAnO-fupP9A9GUDf1xIi7ljJR9KlThBbKuRo2hF0oSQkh1TQZR5wKj7vup-eE-Sie_omFKPAL_j4j4meDs8B9ti-uJDv-pbpxiEeSH7aAJClauk7FbjeSmDsuf-hIxCWygJLm4V9g6JyhMO5CWA3CrxoLIZDNIK6L4qlVgv/s320/red-headed%20mullimbe,%20bonkro.jpg" width="319" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-headed Malimbe</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">After checking into Royal Basin Hotel in Kusami, Ghana’s second
biggest city, we visited the nearby Bobiri Butterfly Sanctuary in the
late afternoon. The highlight here was a Black Dwarf Hornbill feeding
its young at the nest.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DyegN2fXtMV8mAPCAUoaACTD03xd9w0yyfAYyu5GgvUWwi6rRcwPZ08WWjp_GxT-EQaL6VcgBFdJoQrstXtHq-VChDpp7NRL900z8aWge5GVyRy8AWCSKwRxCxLC0vJNiZShMMfSivRgYEAxNtLslbqPCjQpnH0V14NjvyBJJ0dZ6jnZveeQaNPe/s1135/black%20dwarf%20hornbill,%20bobiri.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="896" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_DyegN2fXtMV8mAPCAUoaACTD03xd9w0yyfAYyu5GgvUWwi6rRcwPZ08WWjp_GxT-EQaL6VcgBFdJoQrstXtHq-VChDpp7NRL900z8aWge5GVyRy8AWCSKwRxCxLC0vJNiZShMMfSivRgYEAxNtLslbqPCjQpnH0V14NjvyBJJ0dZ6jnZveeQaNPe/s320/black%20dwarf%20hornbill,%20bobiri.jpg" width="253" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Dwarf Hornbill</td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">The next morning – Day 13 of our tour - saw us depart Kumasi to
head north on the highway that extends from the coast in southern
Ghana north to the Burkino Faso border. Two hours north of Kumasi we
stopped at a forest remnant called Opra, a key site for the scarce
Fiery-breasted Bush-shrike. Some of the group managed brief views of
the elusive bird. Other birds included Brown-crowned Tchagra,
Red-cheeked Wattle-eye, Grey Tit-Flycatcher and Bearded Barbet.</p>
<p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3gVj08pqGTUPc_yxh_HftSphr7RRQDQWo5gLxtDHFE2PVBEV0VGzfHJfKUtJv7mEwUeqiZDhqt7_hPG03q57NtkoL5ihbK189uFw3OWc_nfS0ilhr2GzBbsX-4qFADQlhFyUor0rI3t5FYXoP0Tvr2yhfPHW-c5DhjkazzBWQZw5z-a519bH7crw/s1412/brown-crowned%20tchagra,%20opra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1353" data-original-width="1412" height="307" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhF3gVj08pqGTUPc_yxh_HftSphr7RRQDQWo5gLxtDHFE2PVBEV0VGzfHJfKUtJv7mEwUeqiZDhqt7_hPG03q57NtkoL5ihbK189uFw3OWc_nfS0ilhr2GzBbsX-4qFADQlhFyUor0rI3t5FYXoP0Tvr2yhfPHW-c5DhjkazzBWQZw5z-a519bH7crw/s320/brown-crowned%20tchagra,%20opra.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown-crowned Tchagra</td></tr></tbody></table><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">We arrived at our next destination, Mole National Park, in the late
afternoon after stopping to rescue a Graceful Chameleon (below) by removing
it from the busy highway.</p><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtPTWmh-R7pOFez0c_pTyCX7fdsCLmfNjyhnYQQEBsG2s88lcwq0rEfgylE7Yp8lUtRN1Mc5p0bBaNTFaisEboqwqm1RAsld3FdcSAosfqUw4aAF72FGlgYulzouMe3888aLlKcAD5ZQAZQqM__jI2onrq-G2oBFfYaduwyGMq3zSnWZiosfgB4GH/s1280/a%20mole%20graceful%20chameleon,%20road%20to.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1138" data-original-width="1280" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtPTWmh-R7pOFez0c_pTyCX7fdsCLmfNjyhnYQQEBsG2s88lcwq0rEfgylE7Yp8lUtRN1Mc5p0bBaNTFaisEboqwqm1RAsld3FdcSAosfqUw4aAF72FGlgYulzouMe3888aLlKcAD5ZQAZQqM__jI2onrq-G2oBFfYaduwyGMq3zSnWZiosfgB4GH/s320/a%20mole%20graceful%20chameleon,%20road%20to.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;"><br /></p>
<p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
<br />
</p>
<p align="left" style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; orphans: 2; widows: 2;">
</p>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-87851468440771743702023-04-29T16:10:00.004+10:002023-04-30T05:37:06.357+10:00Ghana April 2023 Part 3: A tale of hope, angst and joy: The fabulous Picathartes<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4Va6rreEfGR4mubQ1iI8nDUe10gjOCIX-iU-o6UWm-JkvJxgHKh6-2_0etLJ1dijRyjmDMERjE40puFeW98dCHuBBnhHkP9Nocs8JTEYcfqLGhMv8ETNqwW9GtnaTlUohPm13pYD5zviegs-t1z5ny-T2z6pvzlJiYWbP-bhivJFo8eEMCqUfspM/s6048/picathartes.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4502" data-original-width="6048" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy4Va6rreEfGR4mubQ1iI8nDUe10gjOCIX-iU-o6UWm-JkvJxgHKh6-2_0etLJ1dijRyjmDMERjE40puFeW98dCHuBBnhHkP9Nocs8JTEYcfqLGhMv8ETNqwW9GtnaTlUohPm13pYD5zviegs-t1z5ny-T2z6pvzlJiYWbP-bhivJFo8eEMCqUfspM/s320/picathartes.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: small;">Our group huddled beneath the
sandstone rock ledge of a cave deep in the rainforest, hoping to
indulge one of nature’s great ornithological experiences: viewing
the pre-dusk arrival of the beautiful White-necked (or Yellow-headed
as it was formerly called) Picathartes, also known as Rockfowl. This
remarkable bird, its bright yellow head bare of feathers, returns to
the cave where it builds mud nests late each afternoon to roost. Its
humped back and long legs and neck add to its bizarre appearance. We
had walked 30 minutes from the nearby village of
Bonkro in central Ghana through the Nyamebe Bepo Forest Reserve to
reach the cave. It was Day 10 of our 21-day Ghana tour.</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wkt0E_csC3w4fdQDtVdo16uZgyv6ZwHBuUQfQX5orE1LfqXb3y8DN0tb1AEHGiSFHLj9ugxKKaNIVL1VpE8swGf7RLfMVrgvvLpj_XrO6A8itdIJceEzVgU-viS4rPyxV7PGlvo24CIr6Qhx_sEZ76ZIzt0Mpa3k6W3HyefUdjohnWukNZB2ApVk/s1950/picathartes%20cave.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1090" data-original-width="1950" height="179" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wkt0E_csC3w4fdQDtVdo16uZgyv6ZwHBuUQfQX5orE1LfqXb3y8DN0tb1AEHGiSFHLj9ugxKKaNIVL1VpE8swGf7RLfMVrgvvLpj_XrO6A8itdIJceEzVgU-viS4rPyxV7PGlvo24CIr6Qhx_sEZ76ZIzt0Mpa3k6W3HyefUdjohnWukNZB2ApVk/s320/picathartes%20cave.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The picathartes cave</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>I’d
had the “rockfowl experience” before: in Cameroon in 2007, with
the only other species in this family - the Grey-necked Picathartes,
But our Ghana encounter was to be no less memorable. We had waited an
hour, full of anticipation, when the first birds were spotted,
feeding on the ground in rainforest below the cave.<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxow31SomladeYAKDpU84hvtM3AH18NM_nm7h4Oj-ysL4YpobHt3Wv_s2OhGVFrZCTxld9GGyO_g5_UBswF5oN6KCgGtckbpYXsd3JHYFLUmTHzlPW3n-7x9-m37VeRW6rPqzfAAHv5sWWKXddNj-v9TGvvJ3cqP3PbGVkl0UexAkz5aCgfP9PR4G4/s3283/picathartes1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2164" data-original-width="3283" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxow31SomladeYAKDpU84hvtM3AH18NM_nm7h4Oj-ysL4YpobHt3Wv_s2OhGVFrZCTxld9GGyO_g5_UBswF5oN6KCgGtckbpYXsd3JHYFLUmTHzlPW3n-7x9-m37VeRW6rPqzfAAHv5sWWKXddNj-v9TGvvJ3cqP3PbGVkl0UexAkz5aCgfP9PR4G4/s320/picathartes1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Then three or
four picathartes came from all directions to the cave. Within metres
of us, they were hopping from branch to rock, bouncing off cave
walls, sometimes pausing to check us out. </p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDdP5qqlRBzDSAYyEcV-HdcXi2GvDAMaWQKQDO1NB6KpGE1R4g5w9paRzZVdA2DdikmZLeIORfwIBUf6uOwNZlrxHfkcDgL1FDhygCR0nMF1Gmn2WM686pdxzyUrumSkL0mcY9bTIvSoLiCJzwlLHj7v8VbifRcMRsRGdNSj8P1VZZAAyvmoG4S89V/s3489/picathartes2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3133" data-original-width="3489" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDdP5qqlRBzDSAYyEcV-HdcXi2GvDAMaWQKQDO1NB6KpGE1R4g5w9paRzZVdA2DdikmZLeIORfwIBUf6uOwNZlrxHfkcDgL1FDhygCR0nMF1Gmn2WM686pdxzyUrumSkL0mcY9bTIvSoLiCJzwlLHj7v8VbifRcMRsRGdNSj8P1VZZAAyvmoG4S89V/s320/picathartes2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mPBebJaHuNNXlKZuIP9Wg1KuuQOOPseBE_vpwqR6dIjRn2ycA-Rk3sXYuWHoTNt9y9ApdTdWc4RycUyvG0E6g9-lc26mQygI78A8Vti4FE368-N0xDN4pxhh_qRvzKZGDdPU5uYeT9_vSHKYAENfUPmUbbS7PNJVtcWzewhkNPUs1k6EX-bPJq7G/s3617/picathartes3.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3009" data-original-width="3617" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5mPBebJaHuNNXlKZuIP9Wg1KuuQOOPseBE_vpwqR6dIjRn2ycA-Rk3sXYuWHoTNt9y9ApdTdWc4RycUyvG0E6g9-lc26mQygI78A8Vti4FE368-N0xDN4pxhh_qRvzKZGDdPU5uYeT9_vSHKYAENfUPmUbbS7PNJVtcWzewhkNPUs1k6EX-bPJq7G/s320/picathartes3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">When we left 30 minutes
later, two birds were ensconced in their mud nests for the night. It
was an encounter to remember.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_G0EDqxSeohMi7zwKDEgWxAR9Tg2LTaxHuYMm5PZJ5x8dHZPLNszutCu1MHzOuAzJpCWAUQ_Uh1TUezboCzEdM_1uwDceaKj-K8YXrV0Hnxk60gGOpSfLoDc6cZPmgf7pv8KprsSXXShE1MHBoh-e8bGipp-H0A9jcCSxsmgpgNZy96QnUtuRfTiv/s3776/picathartes%20nest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2024" data-original-width="3776" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_G0EDqxSeohMi7zwKDEgWxAR9Tg2LTaxHuYMm5PZJ5x8dHZPLNszutCu1MHzOuAzJpCWAUQ_Uh1TUezboCzEdM_1uwDceaKj-K8YXrV0Hnxk60gGOpSfLoDc6cZPmgf7pv8KprsSXXShE1MHBoh-e8bGipp-H0A9jcCSxsmgpgNZy96QnUtuRfTiv/s320/picathartes%20nest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eCSY0hBFlfiWby3FzDH3Q28Rd1mwbZW_Qy4txuvXOTPd4_uMH3sbMNGgmgFGL8KUdnlEzOcYdQdySxeodnWEXAcg2sqBg8jCuvTecTO9wkXEWwwA2HVC_jK3crmHtVv2p93sFGHRI2elL3aH6w4_W0Yp7NvTzTyZ8Pgg9mLrQuoLPZsHWhSMAk3i/s3536/picathartes%20nest1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2604" data-original-width="3536" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_eCSY0hBFlfiWby3FzDH3Q28Rd1mwbZW_Qy4txuvXOTPd4_uMH3sbMNGgmgFGL8KUdnlEzOcYdQdySxeodnWEXAcg2sqBg8jCuvTecTO9wkXEWwwA2HVC_jK3crmHtVv2p93sFGHRI2elL3aH6w4_W0Yp7NvTzTyZ8Pgg9mLrQuoLPZsHWhSMAk3i/s320/picathartes%20nest1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The
White-necked Picathartes is regarded now as a centrepiece of Ghana’s
fast-growing ecotourism industry. Tourists flock to Bonkro for the
picathartes experience, and many are not birders, although the
species is top of the wishlists of the many birding tours to Ghana. </p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECKZxeIFe4IP_nyGcunYp3ZRcex0smC4MCHVQBVqnkXzhbRmDrSo3GHqfZPOrOzND_zljQyWs1cropbaBFYtgcWMDJHri50M1KSUoTXdOA5jqp3swmnaHXE_bAy4e1lH1Xg5a9rfqvgncxSpNddPmtPgVQbLKniGjBneNqaRTm4I8E_y5mg9Q3oZG/s2016/a%20victor%20at%20bonkro.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiECKZxeIFe4IP_nyGcunYp3ZRcex0smC4MCHVQBVqnkXzhbRmDrSo3GHqfZPOrOzND_zljQyWs1cropbaBFYtgcWMDJHri50M1KSUoTXdOA5jqp3swmnaHXE_bAy4e1lH1Xg5a9rfqvgncxSpNddPmtPgVQbLKniGjBneNqaRTm4I8E_y5mg9Q3oZG/s320/a%20victor%20at%20bonkro.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our guide Victor Owusu at the entrance to the Bonkfro forest</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
The highly regarded Ghanaian tour company Ashanti African Tours
uses the proceeds of visits to the forest to fund its Picathartes
Education & Conservation for Knowledge (PECK) project to boost
living standards in local villages. Guides are employed from the
local population; 24 community forest committee members are
sponsored; and an eight-classroom kindergarten and primary school has
been built, providing education to more than 300 local children.
Ashanti has provided chalets for a new lodge and a restaurant is
planned. A local NGO, Rainforest Rescue Ghana, has been established
to manage these plans.</p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8zz59gebl2JuXMh-ZdZPxjrqL7tA1ys6wuIzTnuDAkt3n34VNNvWLh4rfMf2SdQnhJuQVA7Olhye5a1X-4mcW1m7OHtM-SYyvu1PIcjWNunCcZOsbOLmtORGOdpf2CtsV4-TtiAZIFmzlJpsTzncJ4IXBin29k7YTuWJEfqEmzMPYhfyvWHwciJ-/s1775/a%20bonkro%20children.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1775" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp8zz59gebl2JuXMh-ZdZPxjrqL7tA1ys6wuIzTnuDAkt3n34VNNvWLh4rfMf2SdQnhJuQVA7Olhye5a1X-4mcW1m7OHtM-SYyvu1PIcjWNunCcZOsbOLmtORGOdpf2CtsV4-TtiAZIFmzlJpsTzncJ4IXBin29k7YTuWJEfqEmzMPYhfyvWHwciJ-/s320/a%20bonkro%20children.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children at the village school</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Yet
a cloud hangs over all of this. In recent years, according to a
submission by Ashanti to the Forestry Commission of Ghana last
January, illegal chainsaw operations have been stopped in the reserve as a result of intervention by the forest
committee members and the local community. However, legal logging
concessions remain over the reserve. During our visit, seemingly
every large tree had a number engraved at its base, signalling the
intention of concession holders to log the trees. </p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAA1f5siUJ6MabirOEJ_KDBTRreKmJ2htNkrqocxaRDNpCU4PxRAbfNzVMvgWERXYiYpoR0jtG2-wcHXa2ibRqxJ1p-tC-CPqCNV9hqPJjlNWReNUpEGNUfu9xHAIk_WxD-9oWDHVzti-GvsCrmmjGzeL5nq6SMw9njXHtODISoCUNDuzHn1JjbX8n/s2016/a%20bonkro%20tree%20number.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAA1f5siUJ6MabirOEJ_KDBTRreKmJ2htNkrqocxaRDNpCU4PxRAbfNzVMvgWERXYiYpoR0jtG2-wcHXa2ibRqxJ1p-tC-CPqCNV9hqPJjlNWReNUpEGNUfu9xHAIk_WxD-9oWDHVzti-GvsCrmmjGzeL5nq6SMw9njXHtODISoCUNDuzHn1JjbX8n/s320/a%20bonkro%20tree%20number.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tree marked for removal</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">This would destroy
the forest and the picathartes population. As a result of
intervention by Ashanti and its founder Mark Williams, the Ghana
Forestry Commission ordered a halt to the tree removal plan and
cancelled timber concessions in parts of the forest last February,
just before logging was to begin. However, concessions remain over
other parts of the bird’s restricted habitat, and the threat of
illegal logging is ever present.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45_AptXWWXZ-ckGuY0cjOKtSPC0qDWEeirby6pWLCAR0PmB2lviInMxos_gY-VMHSGMql67dWIXl0nhpZK45W1dERp6TyccHJ6Rp3KvfMS9yV_6HOAiN5rIFCuuM9EuA6pvxuwmg0pwSRfduu8CXg0qIFURxaj7KhFayp0_Iwume3b8ZTROHOBISw/s1855/a%20bonkro%20village%20home.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="1855" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh45_AptXWWXZ-ckGuY0cjOKtSPC0qDWEeirby6pWLCAR0PmB2lviInMxos_gY-VMHSGMql67dWIXl0nhpZK45W1dERp6TyccHJ6Rp3KvfMS9yV_6HOAiN5rIFCuuM9EuA6pvxuwmg0pwSRfduu8CXg0qIFURxaj7KhFayp0_Iwume3b8ZTROHOBISw/s320/a%20bonkro%20village%20home.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Bonkro village home</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">The Bonkro area is the last stronghold for the species, which has
been wiped out of its former haunts elsewhere in Ghana by illegal
logging, legal timber concessions, and mining. As Ashanti says in its
submission: “The presence of ecotourism attracted by the
White-necked Picathartes is proving of great benefit for the local
economy and community, providing a shining example of sustainable
development. The profile of this bird is such that it is ensuring
ongoing high-value tourism to Ghana, making it West Africa’s
principal ecotourism destination. These benefits can only be maintained and developed with the protection of the closed canopy
forest that is required by the White-necked Picathartes and a host of other
wildlife.” Anyone wishing to assist Ashanti financially with its
conservation and community assistance programs is invited to <a href="https://ashantiafricantours.com/">contactthe organisation</a>.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4vNhuQzs1q94UwWpVAP7UX3Hki1XJvSpyDrqPPTH5afiII06TGne0VRBsWNqLJQ4laD0gD2MQrZl1lqWH7HXq5zvG2WkagSwrVsAgWl7jJzHQ_NliRsyAVFnlpEGhLVI8KGcYCVJx2As_lpvh6Qj5c4RXfz-OpccJdD2NGvL521x95TbU32rlgbr/s640/a%20bonkro%20lodge.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="280" data-original-width="640" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj4vNhuQzs1q94UwWpVAP7UX3Hki1XJvSpyDrqPPTH5afiII06TGne0VRBsWNqLJQ4laD0gD2MQrZl1lqWH7HXq5zvG2WkagSwrVsAgWl7jJzHQ_NliRsyAVFnlpEGhLVI8KGcYCVJx2As_lpvh6Qj5c4RXfz-OpccJdD2NGvL521x95TbU32rlgbr/s320/a%20bonkro%20lodge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Bonkro lodge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p></div>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-21646069485672060282023-04-28T10:02:00.002+10:002023-05-02T08:55:19.957+10:00Ghana April 2023 Part 2: Rainforests of Ankasa Reserve<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEa49RakHPRysDKbfmGlSWRm1TMssnIej0j71ULpY9j0dra32tghhPrq6aPeMiJqtGnloembg0fo8JUwvPgp-DoXsO92_E7d_Beby7NCavTdKbSSRD0zm9FysdfhjWxQQIMjvchPOgRiRlh-JkS4B-gjHRE9-juVopzPkDkZCvCfL08TdsIZe6Ehlo/s4502/nkulengu%20rai,%20ankasa.jpg" style="display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="4502" data-original-width="3785" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEa49RakHPRysDKbfmGlSWRm1TMssnIej0j71ULpY9j0dra32tghhPrq6aPeMiJqtGnloembg0fo8JUwvPgp-DoXsO92_E7d_Beby7NCavTdKbSSRD0zm9FysdfhjWxQQIMjvchPOgRiRlh-JkS4B-gjHRE9-juVopzPkDkZCvCfL08TdsIZe6Ehlo/s320/nkulengu%20rai,%20ankasa.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nkulengu Rail </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>
The next stage of our 21-day tour of Ghana (see following blog post) was a four-night stay at Ashanti’s new lodge at the edge of the Ankasa Conservation Area, a 50,000ha rainforest reserve on the Ivory Coast boarder in the country’s south-west. We had two jeeps with drivers at our disposal here to negotiate the muddy and heavily rutted roads to reach birding sites, the first of which were a couple of pools deep in the forest. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr43a1xicXkCMR8TOXn-V_Tu_QskQ7eXRIBwP0vbcHp83mYh2tiJKRLPyvnfNnN7q363CCAFDyKfMjp_-l2D_Drp-FD9b8aCWtlPh8IviTraM3xL5p9FRNWqnkjlg-cPfJpkjTudyv9xAWBBIpCfNI0761JUJJz_xtKTG6J2cLGAmViTo3ZDZqEQFg/s2016/a%20ankasa%20forest.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1271" data-original-width="2016" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr43a1xicXkCMR8TOXn-V_Tu_QskQ7eXRIBwP0vbcHp83mYh2tiJKRLPyvnfNnN7q363CCAFDyKfMjp_-l2D_Drp-FD9b8aCWtlPh8IviTraM3xL5p9FRNWqnkjlg-cPfJpkjTudyv9xAWBBIpCfNI0761JUJJz_xtKTG6J2cLGAmViTo3ZDZqEQFg/s320/a%20ankasa%20forest.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYt4FC7hD4jhYyzwX5FQaqdI10HPSg_qg1Pghe4IA4RJYpGkIt1Yurt2223Z81lOJEE5JuaDbwErn7h184zePx3UYHAA4Y5qmN1nfg88ARgeDfFC0DzyhcFMjlLsOCSor5yQIsXaUcSSfIIWPRqj-hGgIA0LPMuZcPZSNJV1hwrHDN-d2AobC5ECW/s1921/a%20ankasa%20lodge.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1088" data-original-width="1921" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRYt4FC7hD4jhYyzwX5FQaqdI10HPSg_qg1Pghe4IA4RJYpGkIt1Yurt2223Z81lOJEE5JuaDbwErn7h184zePx3UYHAA4Y5qmN1nfg88ARgeDfFC0DzyhcFMjlLsOCSor5yQIsXaUcSSfIIWPRqj-hGgIA0LPMuZcPZSNJV1hwrHDN-d2AobC5ECW/s320/a%20ankasa%20lodge.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashanti's new Ankasa Lodge</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>The hoped-for White-crested Tiger-Heron did not materialise at the pools on our first day at Ankasa but a lovely pair of Red-fronted Antpeckers – a difficult target – on their nest did. So did a Hartlaub’s Duck unexpectedly, along with White-bellied Kingfisher.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5sVFHavHCVe4wEJkXdsrvBiDSzfpaeOfMAVFPlU8CezZ8jeHFnosg1dQRzpwLIOcBKudRVWl71_PQYcvp5a1_ih4hps972FOPzssim_ia0yL9SHxnr5iEQNXraZ81QzNz7UT7VCyn4_67UncwnN9E0QLVf1BH995EV72KAjuaCmzuORZSa0mdG2F/s1143/white-bellied%20kingfisher%20(ankasa).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1036" data-original-width="1143" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiG5sVFHavHCVe4wEJkXdsrvBiDSzfpaeOfMAVFPlU8CezZ8jeHFnosg1dQRzpwLIOcBKudRVWl71_PQYcvp5a1_ih4hps972FOPzssim_ia0yL9SHxnr5iEQNXraZ81QzNz7UT7VCyn4_67UncwnN9E0QLVf1BH995EV72KAjuaCmzuORZSa0mdG2F/s320/white-bellied%20kingfisher%20(ankasa).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-bellied Kingfisher</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div> Other birds during the day included Blue-headed Wood-Dove, the first of many Yellow-billed Turacos, Great Blue Turaco, Thick-billed Honeyguide and Western Bearded and Yellow-bearded Greenbuls. Grey-throated Tit-Flycatcher was a welcome addition for some. A pair of Red-billed Dwarf Hornbills provided excitement when they were attacked by an immature Black Sparrowhawk.
At a late afternoon stop on a ridge overlooking a forest clearing in the afternoon, Congo Serpent-Eagle showed for some, as did a mixed flock of Yellow-casqued and Black-casqued Hornbills. Mixed flocks of Black, Cassin’s and Sabine’s Spinetails were about, joined by a couple of Bates’s Swifts. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8SQ0ZmXmF-inGgQGJYo3AhHwNPwepCX1Pp6WSC2Ah8A9lq3Raa2I--cWseWJp4kF7KDMnaH663GVYeZHFpUXLNiZTocf7LbhPKyBthya98ifaa4r7OnrZBdeji_cyH8gYmHhLGAuSzh4UzO-tHiPgMzh79N6eoLYB2KRdkme5kq67Ie7gFTkb1EKa/s640/a%20ankasa%20pond.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="640" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8SQ0ZmXmF-inGgQGJYo3AhHwNPwepCX1Pp6WSC2Ah8A9lq3Raa2I--cWseWJp4kF7KDMnaH663GVYeZHFpUXLNiZTocf7LbhPKyBthya98ifaa4r7OnrZBdeji_cyH8gYmHhLGAuSzh4UzO-tHiPgMzh79N6eoLYB2KRdkme5kq67Ie7gFTkb1EKa/s320/a%20ankasa%20pond.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ankasa Forest Pond</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cJuri3VQSwZaK-xmD2ljlHhJ-Aj5ePsgdpXKnRbouG-ej4MtJHkssRpBOIjWE9ciGvDOKlG3lnCF4YOxUKrk6GWOn6KIImTyPFcqzQmlMwB8CwJ-AwsKyAyrbmRXwKwxkvEO-msiXLhOa5VSeaLb5FZf5NXFpwDPnHwHMDyK0bKMxqDv_UMlO3wg/s1745/a%20ankasa%20the%20group.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="824" data-original-width="1745" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4cJuri3VQSwZaK-xmD2ljlHhJ-Aj5ePsgdpXKnRbouG-ej4MtJHkssRpBOIjWE9ciGvDOKlG3lnCF4YOxUKrk6GWOn6KIImTyPFcqzQmlMwB8CwJ-AwsKyAyrbmRXwKwxkvEO-msiXLhOa5VSeaLb5FZf5NXFpwDPnHwHMDyK0bKMxqDv_UMlO3wg/s320/a%20ankasa%20the%20group.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><div> Nightfall on our first day at Ankasa was to provide a highlight of the trip. Nkulengu Rail was once an especially difficult species to nail but Ashanti’s team have worked out how to find the birds at their nocturnal roosts through playback of their spectacular call, so these days they are pretty much guaranteed. Our drivers and guides tracked down four birds at their roost (below and first image) which showed gloriously in the spotlight as they were buzzed by hordes of tiny insects. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkK61EtaCLQ7SmAoKEmv66IdRG9HxZc-9S6KcCY2YoE4h9vm_JREojsAR7jXKGnO5YM7s0p6C25Zz60aH6rrQBx64JcxIz7Kl7gHS6uC5TTIH8SGvQyBKsInIYXyFhCU6R3tjChAeHsspqtLIVo5HHoaoSMDKUdkzmo1U5BCXSXpDNy-HaU7cqS05/s4502/nkulengu%20rail%201,%20ankasa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4502" data-original-width="4043" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLkK61EtaCLQ7SmAoKEmv66IdRG9HxZc-9S6KcCY2YoE4h9vm_JREojsAR7jXKGnO5YM7s0p6C25Zz60aH6rrQBx64JcxIz7Kl7gHS6uC5TTIH8SGvQyBKsInIYXyFhCU6R3tjChAeHsspqtLIVo5HHoaoSMDKUdkzmo1U5BCXSXpDNy-HaU7cqS05/s320/nkulengu%20rail%201,%20ankasa.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div> A West African Potto spotlighted in the canopy soon after was another welcome find. Red-chested Owlet was heard here and in many other places in the Ankasa and Kakum forests. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikU-dVk76gIqz9UjS1_5MyFPPO3jVtIrYBEY-MfwszfNOtoooJo8SSEfjuKGARdxbg6hR2UqgTAJfgsEvMP5Bs-biYAPJRTfKda2_LYy4LKxwStMWPN-0iSqUlw_zP_jTucrG0doWQDko-5FpBSyW1dgcyU2rhQo_XC6Ucdv9rtz1_mQIuSfmCFjd/s2447/potto%20(ankasa).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1994" data-original-width="2447" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgikU-dVk76gIqz9UjS1_5MyFPPO3jVtIrYBEY-MfwszfNOtoooJo8SSEfjuKGARdxbg6hR2UqgTAJfgsEvMP5Bs-biYAPJRTfKda2_LYy4LKxwStMWPN-0iSqUlw_zP_jTucrG0doWQDko-5FpBSyW1dgcyU2rhQo_XC6Ucdv9rtz1_mQIuSfmCFjd/s320/potto%20(ankasa).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West African Potto</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div> Around the lodge, Black Bee-eaters were common and nesting in a sand mound by the restaurant. Cassin’s Flycatcher was also plentiful in the lodge grounds while Finsch’s Flycatcher Thrush (now called Finsch’s Rufous Thrush) appeared on the forest edge below the cabins and was calling fairly commonly elsewhere in the forest. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFOUHc_Dsgr4hbsFJ-uiBbIsnG09f3tNLdco9jsog_-yO_u9tNlqSS5dREZd4TWmK5o3c2qBpxp487RQqFFbp9ptkrMKtD4_sP4tbbBkOOy0soUr4E7TeClFZRND0sXGPo49DjrZ-0HtaTuGFNHCP7PN9xiRI8OaPbf8n7iHZ7o_dkbcdhTD7lp1X/s2586/black%20bee-eater,%20ankasa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2586" data-original-width="1618" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXFOUHc_Dsgr4hbsFJ-uiBbIsnG09f3tNLdco9jsog_-yO_u9tNlqSS5dREZd4TWmK5o3c2qBpxp487RQqFFbp9ptkrMKtD4_sP4tbbBkOOy0soUr4E7TeClFZRND0sXGPo49DjrZ-0HtaTuGFNHCP7PN9xiRI8OaPbf8n7iHZ7o_dkbcdhTD7lp1X/s320/black%20bee-eater,%20ankasa.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Bee-eater</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3h_V7VFfopk7EcW4tdr8tnW0B9-3gPq80T9CG8sNjRPaHmd-hHwnZrwSoQ31HeQkeTAFhM9OHECu_Imo7SZTCr1SRggLQKQEsrUqwC5-6rB0oyQ--edoDvQoR8ILOS97X765cR6kq9QXbu2zVi1CZFEhDZ9Gzs_w0YmCfDMcOvMOD8XuK7wT99L1/s2154/cassin's%20flycatcher,%20ankasa%20.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1380" data-original-width="2154" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiF3h_V7VFfopk7EcW4tdr8tnW0B9-3gPq80T9CG8sNjRPaHmd-hHwnZrwSoQ31HeQkeTAFhM9OHECu_Imo7SZTCr1SRggLQKQEsrUqwC5-6rB0oyQ--edoDvQoR8ILOS97X765cR6kq9QXbu2zVi1CZFEhDZ9Gzs_w0YmCfDMcOvMOD8XuK7wT99L1/w400-h256/cassin's%20flycatcher,%20ankasa%20.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cassin's Flycatcher</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Our second day in the forest focused on small trails in search of skulkers. Olive Long-tailed Cuckoo showed after a chase while West African Wattle-eye was easier to spot. Rufous-winged Illadopsis took a while to nail, while Forest Robin was more co-operative. Elsewhere birds included Brown-eared Woodpecker, Shining-blue Kingfisher and White-tailed Alethe.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIez7r0hB5BWkhS0ALlo-bjkTra2ObQf0t3LVjbV3wVvFreuMMA80YcXN_IyBmyo32bN0YMy9kloYN9ltQLZk-nHh_QE4EpMAbW49mi5BX8LaitSTn3tj_HXnviwMCRcYyTb8ti1qiL7ycYHtOiRTAR53z0IwA1nDo-SDz03aJ2-HqydB3fzCo_sA/s2630/rufous-winged%20illadopsis,%20ankasa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1724" data-original-width="2630" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJIez7r0hB5BWkhS0ALlo-bjkTra2ObQf0t3LVjbV3wVvFreuMMA80YcXN_IyBmyo32bN0YMy9kloYN9ltQLZk-nHh_QE4EpMAbW49mi5BX8LaitSTn3tj_HXnviwMCRcYyTb8ti1qiL7ycYHtOiRTAR53z0IwA1nDo-SDz03aJ2-HqydB3fzCo_sA/s320/rufous-winged%20illadopsis,%20ankasa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rufous-winged Illadopsis</td></tr></tbody></table><div> A Nile Monitor (below) appeared on the road. </div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jLRjKwZxNOv0dGJy2CiSp91rZUEtfm4zwp2Iqmob1bzN3dpeiIpDGknfoFfKc6bhkD07q_9ntivybIR8aSqF-j0WBNTJUlXfxSJr-_CrmQZKJfxG-aGp3pvAjXuTAi_JETqrRIULHi1sMz5rsIUnS4YrFO1LCZAkZndoPDgLo6k10RtmSbko_3a5/s4807/nile%20monitor,%20ankasa.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4199" data-original-width="4807" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-jLRjKwZxNOv0dGJy2CiSp91rZUEtfm4zwp2Iqmob1bzN3dpeiIpDGknfoFfKc6bhkD07q_9ntivybIR8aSqF-j0WBNTJUlXfxSJr-_CrmQZKJfxG-aGp3pvAjXuTAi_JETqrRIULHi1sMz5rsIUnS4YrFO1LCZAkZndoPDgLo6k10RtmSbko_3a5/s320/nile%20monitor,%20ankasa.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div> That evening at the lodge I found a magnificant Fraser’s Eagle-Owl perched on a low-hanging branch at the forest edge below the cabins. Others in our group had views of the bird here and elsewhere on the trip but not everyone connected with the species. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgica8fINpNuZwWwRV5EaKVxvPT74rJG8Gd6UeOqbCE1pKCb6nvAz5m68XjDcIFEs0my1Vv5X3wgWtcicGIgZMnkMcwx2z5yBiyFjecX29RQYzOC0BHBHcxIvwv8xl8DMV6j9eTdp-2R9qSinVfJnM7Ek0AYrm1blJ1UyUk-cqkvGtXLPcXLfqW_lfz/s3377/fraser's%20eagle-ow%20ankasa_edited.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3347" data-original-width="3377" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgica8fINpNuZwWwRV5EaKVxvPT74rJG8Gd6UeOqbCE1pKCb6nvAz5m68XjDcIFEs0my1Vv5X3wgWtcicGIgZMnkMcwx2z5yBiyFjecX29RQYzOC0BHBHcxIvwv8xl8DMV6j9eTdp-2R9qSinVfJnM7Ek0AYrm1blJ1UyUk-cqkvGtXLPcXLfqW_lfz/s320/fraser's%20eagle-ow%20ankasa_edited.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fraser's Eagle-Owl</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div> Our third day at Ankasa saw us back at the ponds, checking out a large colony of bats under a road culvert (they were an Old World Roundleaf bat, Hipposideros spp; several possible species here so ID not possible). </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyE6CUSwf-tQ-0O20GrOqYz_sB6KsiGfjlbRDBdnN0usAY8EK5bqt6xBGqUakDj69GudC7RwbKl3geKoPU-8NQ38bhtqHtPHNggBNt_Gze7RWJAzBZ5j8TQdNemFceSG-HktrkimaRNEtPQvxX7w_QOmNF0oKMRVFoyd7TPK6nWVrRAalDPX2WCMb/s3223/bats%20ankasa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1545" data-original-width="3223" height="153" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJyE6CUSwf-tQ-0O20GrOqYz_sB6KsiGfjlbRDBdnN0usAY8EK5bqt6xBGqUakDj69GudC7RwbKl3geKoPU-8NQ38bhtqHtPHNggBNt_Gze7RWJAzBZ5j8TQdNemFceSG-HktrkimaRNEtPQvxX7w_QOmNF0oKMRVFoyd7TPK6nWVrRAalDPX2WCMb/s320/bats%20ankasa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bat - Hipposideros spp</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>A Dwarf Bittern flushed from a pond but not much else. Along the road and tracks, birds included Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher and a trio of bristlebirds: Grey-headed, Red-tailed and Green-tailed, the latter a difficult Upper Guinea endemic to nail. Pale-breasted Illadopsis and Brown Illadopsis were seen. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2FA4DwgFqPAL5lGLlel9OV_-gne_HEJJWO1_bjL3sYpW17WxicPk_y3ANAWpPO_jXs_Cw4lsgVH82vMTULiHa25ZHhIT7nO35GfZqkSJHChpW7utTR401jY3ygCXiV6Y7sU6SSDDMyOiy24DaeknRTyOK6MJH2eqBCNykBcPdNxIwaiPZzZYIQCX/s874/west%20african%20batis,%20ankasa.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="735" data-original-width="874" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiT2FA4DwgFqPAL5lGLlel9OV_-gne_HEJJWO1_bjL3sYpW17WxicPk_y3ANAWpPO_jXs_Cw4lsgVH82vMTULiHa25ZHhIT7nO35GfZqkSJHChpW7utTR401jY3ygCXiV6Y7sU6SSDDMyOiy24DaeknRTyOK6MJH2eqBCNykBcPdNxIwaiPZzZYIQCX/s320/west%20african%20batis,%20ankasa.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">West African Batis</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div> Our last morning at Ankasa – Day Nine of the trip - gave us our first Copper-tailed Starlings. We then returned eastwards, our next destination being Brenu Akyinim, a much drier area of open woodland and shrubland near the coast. Here we had our first encounters with common dry country birds like Double-spurred Francolin, Vinaceous Dove, Double-toothed Barbet, Oriole Warbler, Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat and Marsh Tchagra. The highly localised Baumann’s Greenbul was neither seen nor heard; in its scrubby habitat we made do with Simple Leaflove and Black-bellied Seedcracker.
In the evening we returned to the Rainforest Lodge in Jukwa for the night.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8ynNqKNPqeFihCm5qZzyNSboDeQ0jtAumzXsl50IXheUg-3ooJOg_cKJhP6bLRkF8qg-utjRdgrt0XibxgaVl2tF-ICIHHQlM6VWWOiYgEwXUp-ywL3xeNoFOVdEFM5eL5LAYIihuWVKlhP8s5sMEb-0WeBnI_s-ohh_YAhZd-UQkQxwAcGw89TG/s2016/a%20bremu%20beach.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG8ynNqKNPqeFihCm5qZzyNSboDeQ0jtAumzXsl50IXheUg-3ooJOg_cKJhP6bLRkF8qg-utjRdgrt0XibxgaVl2tF-ICIHHQlM6VWWOiYgEwXUp-ywL3xeNoFOVdEFM5eL5LAYIihuWVKlhP8s5sMEb-0WeBnI_s-ohh_YAhZd-UQkQxwAcGw89TG/s320/a%20bremu%20beach.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Beach at Brenu Akyinim</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>The morning of Day 10 had us back in the Abrafo Forest for a while, adding the smart Red-billed Helmetshrike to the list at last, while Blue Cuckoo-shrike showed well. Sunbirds included Little Green, Johanna’s and Buff-throated. We headed north a bit to the Pra River, where Rock Pratincoles perched on rocks in the fast-running stream. A large nesting colony of Preuss’s Cliff Swallow here could not be located due to extensive roadworks but we had encountered plenty of the birds in the Kakum area.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQs8DkL9ucsJptdX6lOZOEKzdLX-d3xMdbrAHMv-hXcVFNqqe4zOrkhQ_fdQQqvXsqMo5fx_ZaG3gZP9WMKph-1RkB9qnk4Xbx5WoM7wANPzAyVpGBXMmkMbTiLdzqLuLYxGaBwNw63RpvEgx3XZNlY4oPHQ7kTe5BE8BhXcjTTy3FLoJCFDclNOf/s1292/rock%20pratincole,%20pra%20river.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="1292" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnQs8DkL9ucsJptdX6lOZOEKzdLX-d3xMdbrAHMv-hXcVFNqqe4zOrkhQ_fdQQqvXsqMo5fx_ZaG3gZP9WMKph-1RkB9qnk4Xbx5WoM7wANPzAyVpGBXMmkMbTiLdzqLuLYxGaBwNw63RpvEgx3XZNlY4oPHQ7kTe5BE8BhXcjTTy3FLoJCFDclNOf/s320/rock%20pratincole,%20pra%20river.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rock Pratincoles</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div> Locals in a small village by the river showed us how they processed palm oil from surrounding plantations (below).</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCjy4B3Rza7yO5xrQSXJ9fiX75FWoBXg9ZgKVel_3bjpmqO7KQpXQLG415_lQ57_gi3ZZCvu1hd2ZqG7Q-Yum-VrGlm3gj5d-IDcK23RfS0joc0unVhauq-g-Tp4MHyhaE1ecssyjohpcvjqH5iLvetQvstX7R34DpzaX-BgAhSJjVhCtQNABdEtP/s2016/a%20pra%20river%20oil%20palm%20processing.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBCjy4B3Rza7yO5xrQSXJ9fiX75FWoBXg9ZgKVel_3bjpmqO7KQpXQLG415_lQ57_gi3ZZCvu1hd2ZqG7Q-Yum-VrGlm3gj5d-IDcK23RfS0joc0unVhauq-g-Tp4MHyhaE1ecssyjohpcvjqH5iLvetQvstX7R34DpzaX-BgAhSJjVhCtQNABdEtP/s320/a%20pra%20river%20oil%20palm%20processing.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-14117638528143887982023-04-27T11:39:00.008+10:002023-04-30T05:38:02.196+10:00Ghana April 2023 Part 1: Accra to Kakum <p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1725" data-original-width="1896" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlHbmEC7dZaM11jHbBPKkdSZ4gNcAznSTr2pGFoK5pFc3lNVczHfR56W1jSBkb7WFpk5M055K79e_MWVaEdbzdqmXsQmHzWPdw-gbV95RhA4FuD360wnqlGAcwFA9KQCtDybPiTl_bmoWKkGRfED83WDEuNUr6VORUanARqQNlItfNO21aVxXSwVHX/w320-h291/rufous-sided%20broadbill%20(kakum%20canopy).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="320" /></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rufous-sided Broadbill</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Four years ago, I began
planning a 21-day private tour of Ghana in West Africa in association
with Ashanti, a <a href="https://ashantiafricantours.com/?doing_wp_cron=1682557137.9640400409698486328125">highly regarded tour company</a> based in the Ghanaian
city of Cape Coast, to be held in April 2020.Then Covid-19
intervened. The trip finally happened from April 1 to April 21,
2023. We were ably assisted throughout the trip by our excellent
guide Victor Owusu, his highly capable assistant guide Ibrahim
Entsie, and our formidable driver Christian. A full trip report
listing all participants, species lists and the like is to follow
a series of blog posts.of which this is the first. </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">En
route to Ghana I spent a couple of days in Singapore, where I
indulged the shenanigans of a group of Smooth-coated Otters that have
become used to people in Bishan Park.</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7XajcyzZpQtPE0-dg4iETXiJ5-Efk7m5f4kcgtXX6WhKcvmRNFf0D3ZIe5JrUzX-1HKEtFPAx7y4IlUFSq4e2FWwnykZ0IJ_qAhS7L3t_sqL9p3DTLxYKEkb_lQqjrutqz-bA6pkBU_BQCWTU3a4Fj7cZUu8pgcwJc15j2p-2txu9-5PT2OB6FZ5/s3908/singapore%20smooth-coated%20otter.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3516" data-original-width="3908" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS7XajcyzZpQtPE0-dg4iETXiJ5-Efk7m5f4kcgtXX6WhKcvmRNFf0D3ZIe5JrUzX-1HKEtFPAx7y4IlUFSq4e2FWwnykZ0IJ_qAhS7L3t_sqL9p3DTLxYKEkb_lQqjrutqz-bA6pkBU_BQCWTU3a4Fj7cZUu8pgcwJc15j2p-2txu9-5PT2OB6FZ5/s320/singapore%20smooth-coated%20otter.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smooth-coated Otter in Singapore</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Some
of us arrived in the Ghanaian capital, Accra, a day early, so we
opted for an exploratory morning session in the Accra (Legono)
Botanic Gardens. A good start was the recently split Olive-naped
Weaver by the pool at the hotel.</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUOPzHopZ1A0WP-ei7W_4S5o__rwiwBgd8sLsh7kJCPTEVAiylWD5iT-rH3TqR_s3VRfAQYfJBDiPPxSw45DtCIgzAEDv8PLbPJMpiylqywf5MwcJ-a3Q3z7NITUkZmmdNz6pHLLfwz5ITBlPT_htR_FcXuLujFe3kb-bd5kchixRAfqGBkSOHbwP/s1587/olive-naped%20weaver%20(jukwa).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1423" data-original-width="1587" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbUOPzHopZ1A0WP-ei7W_4S5o__rwiwBgd8sLsh7kJCPTEVAiylWD5iT-rH3TqR_s3VRfAQYfJBDiPPxSw45DtCIgzAEDv8PLbPJMpiylqywf5MwcJ-a3Q3z7NITUkZmmdNz6pHLLfwz5ITBlPT_htR_FcXuLujFe3kb-bd5kchixRAfqGBkSOHbwP/s320/olive-naped%20weaver%20(jukwa).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olive-naped Weaver</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The gardens were alive with birds,
among them our first Senegal Thick-knee, Wattled Lapwing, Guinea
Turaco, Western Plantain-eater, Woodland Kingfisher, Brown Babbler
and Green Wood-Hoopoe. An African Cuckoo, a Grey-headed Bush-shrike
and Northern Red-billed Hornbill were unexpected. </span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0jNhS4IMxOUA9S5aHxbZ_gRgM-UjL2D6NTmlksqK6a4EbDLV0fwwqcFu_sWsoT7Vdm9XJih0OpS5m6riaHms8w3q7s6Gi-I2rRxbPFFAyvL9CwYjlPKvePEmj-tFHnNmbwnrc9s6zQEEawWHK8RJgF-qcz4YnD-caKeZgMNwVdYRctytMoxiYghU/s2615/guinea%20turaco.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2615" data-original-width="1827" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG0jNhS4IMxOUA9S5aHxbZ_gRgM-UjL2D6NTmlksqK6a4EbDLV0fwwqcFu_sWsoT7Vdm9XJih0OpS5m6riaHms8w3q7s6Gi-I2rRxbPFFAyvL9CwYjlPKvePEmj-tFHnNmbwnrc9s6zQEEawWHK8RJgF-qcz4YnD-caKeZgMNwVdYRctytMoxiYghU/s320/guinea%20turaco.jpg" width="224" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guinea Turaco</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4tfgGaYB8mp_mcNn9ojYcSNsHZvP9D5DKc_DrKW1UxG_OxMv-A8YukBt2aI5lf4v2o2va2ZaATdu3clqhGktMipTgTtUhHNlamB_GGZPlkwjx7dEGgt_rGBW-wrb9VlmuvJV3s3iPTfPzuQ0_vl1HulXhZqbdGI1HbFKHnSoxZS-ucRlY000lUhP/s2941/senegal%20thick-knee.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2683" data-original-width="2941" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik4tfgGaYB8mp_mcNn9ojYcSNsHZvP9D5DKc_DrKW1UxG_OxMv-A8YukBt2aI5lf4v2o2va2ZaATdu3clqhGktMipTgTtUhHNlamB_GGZPlkwjx7dEGgt_rGBW-wrb9VlmuvJV3s3iPTfPzuQ0_vl1HulXhZqbdGI1HbFKHnSoxZS-ucRlY000lUhP/s320/senegal%20thick-knee.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Senegal Thick-knee</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWhlMvfevEyH-2lphTgO32eOadg_BxfPOttdgA2UzPfFcqNAJxqK3QAfVO0YOs-pJMxt0RL6nA0UQmc9Yga__Y7wzrNu5MBK0p5I0bG1LmL9IrAm0zCMPKaa_I9EFGbJ7mVWRA3peW1QONijo_LrHccS1FcNBbkrVa5pqxXKX-nGzCjQstsodATWR/s1613/woodland%20kingfisher.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1443" data-original-width="1613" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPWhlMvfevEyH-2lphTgO32eOadg_BxfPOttdgA2UzPfFcqNAJxqK3QAfVO0YOs-pJMxt0RL6nA0UQmc9Yga__Y7wzrNu5MBK0p5I0bG1LmL9IrAm0zCMPKaa_I9EFGbJ7mVWRA3peW1QONijo_LrHccS1FcNBbkrVa5pqxXKX-nGzCjQstsodATWR/s320/woodland%20kingfisher.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woodland Kingfisher</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">A group of Lesser Spot-nosed
Monkeys was seen.</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxrp3IcJ0XvRITjj4xGtejKdXlMdnVFGJ5MjbV-vN0UUTk8upOJonOBQKv57PTj2elN-hJt6jNh17DMjqq2eJ-O01MIp1uU3Ye4MoCNUH7hkBWkEuXvqQ7Mfqmohe1tTr50m5CSItT6T4V_mGoilaqul_vXkZMdLkvF_S82QGdcDqnymOUQyVSagh/s4204/monkey,%20lesser%20spot-nosed,%20Accra%20Bot%20gardens.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4204" data-original-width="3894" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGxrp3IcJ0XvRITjj4xGtejKdXlMdnVFGJ5MjbV-vN0UUTk8upOJonOBQKv57PTj2elN-hJt6jNh17DMjqq2eJ-O01MIp1uU3Ye4MoCNUH7hkBWkEuXvqQ7Mfqmohe1tTr50m5CSItT6T4V_mGoilaqul_vXkZMdLkvF_S82QGdcDqnymOUQyVSagh/s320/monkey,%20lesser%20spot-nosed,%20Accra%20Bot%20gardens.jpg" width="296" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lesser Spot-nosed Monkey</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">The
first morning of the tour saw us at Winneba Lagoon west of Accra. A
Brown (Mangrove) Sunbird showed well - potentially a tricky target.
Good numbers of Black Herons were doing their oddball thing, using
wings as canopies while fishing. Western Reef-Heron was common and
muddy pools hosted a smattering of shorebirds including Kittlitz’s
and Grey Plover.</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDef4k5ceHPbYRFCS2kq9fbV-phTaGu5e0lXgdLOq5wvQE-pmhsivpSJoTyISvHdc9xX4Cej2WSStXcQHH5IyDg5MAReT8A9Tn_s-IP8mNQqxAwaXNpuYEVh7pPK8FuUpGH9J6fu1XWlQnatQ5qoU2juIY_0d8XT8utyM_LKi6qP-R_naIxbsn3T3/s3117/black%20heron,%20(winneba).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1322" data-original-width="3117" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsDef4k5ceHPbYRFCS2kq9fbV-phTaGu5e0lXgdLOq5wvQE-pmhsivpSJoTyISvHdc9xX4Cej2WSStXcQHH5IyDg5MAReT8A9Tn_s-IP8mNQqxAwaXNpuYEVh7pPK8FuUpGH9J6fu1XWlQnatQ5qoU2juIY_0d8XT8utyM_LKi6qP-R_naIxbsn3T3/s320/black%20heron,%20(winneba).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Herons fishing</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbrOOGKWA8T0jdGpl2R2SLw5hCJhiJmsiFOHQRYUClPEs5QR6ecDtoOvEQkiLmJlPGp_Uid3FqnKj-ZYLbFKf2bNc_moQjZ-Q10NzJJfk-NjOxPqKpBbOKkAZy3yhHLbijQaYT8uUVArTO11HdncEw7Spuyo6oyGxsb988DwRLYx5jTDgzAr2hMah/s1409/brown%20(mangrove)%20sunbird%20(winneba).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1409" data-original-width="1378" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtbrOOGKWA8T0jdGpl2R2SLw5hCJhiJmsiFOHQRYUClPEs5QR6ecDtoOvEQkiLmJlPGp_Uid3FqnKj-ZYLbFKf2bNc_moQjZ-Q10NzJJfk-NjOxPqKpBbOKkAZy3yhHLbijQaYT8uUVArTO11HdncEw7Spuyo6oyGxsb988DwRLYx5jTDgzAr2hMah/s320/brown%20(mangrove)%20sunbird%20(winneba).jpg" width="313" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Sunbird</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">We
headed north to the Rainforest Lodge in Jukwa, our home for the next
three nights. In the afternoon we had our first foray in the
rainforests of southern Ghana, the haunt of numerous West African and Upper
Guinea bird specialties. We visited a relatively new logging road in
Abrafo Forest near Kakum National Park. One of our first birds was
Yellow-footed Honeyguide, a much-wanted and difficult target.</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_r9ozZg3BzYxaEw5l4SWF2R9gq_qqlx7IaE8Odq3j8hxk1wfI1JHiLR9Bp-lKb9UkmcD3PJMlQjMY-G2b2NkVQigNdTulHMy1ZmE9XXApkb0m-62axu04K5zsRA5NxN-8ILn0TXlOInrqRUHpLf_ihqiFy001ndrOJfUUCNgCBYSRcnqtaNzPlOYL/s734/yellow-footed%20honeyguide,abrafo.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="734" data-original-width="648" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_r9ozZg3BzYxaEw5l4SWF2R9gq_qqlx7IaE8Odq3j8hxk1wfI1JHiLR9Bp-lKb9UkmcD3PJMlQjMY-G2b2NkVQigNdTulHMy1ZmE9XXApkb0m-62axu04K5zsRA5NxN-8ILn0TXlOInrqRUHpLf_ihqiFy001ndrOJfUUCNgCBYSRcnqtaNzPlOYL/s320/yellow-footed%20honeyguide,abrafo.jpg" width="283" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-footed Honeyguide</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOl90ffwe4e_Hwr8dtF-HJT6F2wUxYrTvEVLHxC-A7jrwjMRQLsh01OdFF65lS7Yu6YLc-dguCj37pMke1I9Zombw0EjOjm9oVvVu8RbDTkfE06NRnzg2alToLI8FduJ0f9A_qgCD6TnoPysjxppTp4aiVURGf6cTAgSsH6XCiFo4warF0hCByyV4u/s1698/a%20abrafo%20the%20group.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="904" data-original-width="1698" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOl90ffwe4e_Hwr8dtF-HJT6F2wUxYrTvEVLHxC-A7jrwjMRQLsh01OdFF65lS7Yu6YLc-dguCj37pMke1I9Zombw0EjOjm9oVvVu8RbDTkfE06NRnzg2alToLI8FduJ0f9A_qgCD6TnoPysjxppTp4aiVURGf6cTAgSsH6XCiFo4warF0hCByyV4u/s320/a%20abrafo%20the%20group.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The group in Abrafo Forest</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Others
to follow as we walked the road included Yellow-billed Turaco, Black
Spinetail, African Pied Hornbill, Brown-cheeked Hornbill, Fanti
Drongo, White-tailed Alethe and Yellow-spotted and Hairy-chested
Barbets. An absolute stonker was a Long-tailed Hawk that showed
nicely as it passed overhead.</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycESCcL8diykgMFTXEocG9hMoy-F2FDxjavZ1kFt8yyTch_hMp2eGyvHoN6dxEDBmWiRa8YObxPrewaRHia19-8xXMLpbUY1lR6kbeZSGGYF8KWdz4FYol4NBGGVXW62Nrhb-ivJdMAfUeqqUcijssot6EhTBEkYF_T8x_dKZ2YpJ3DSbQZMwHdx-/s1500/african%20pied%20hornbill%20(abrafo).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1142" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgycESCcL8diykgMFTXEocG9hMoy-F2FDxjavZ1kFt8yyTch_hMp2eGyvHoN6dxEDBmWiRa8YObxPrewaRHia19-8xXMLpbUY1lR6kbeZSGGYF8KWdz4FYol4NBGGVXW62Nrhb-ivJdMAfUeqqUcijssot6EhTBEkYF_T8x_dKZ2YpJ3DSbQZMwHdx-/s320/african%20pied%20hornbill%20(abrafo).jpg" width="244" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Pied Hornbill</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our
second day was occupied by the famous canopy walk in Kakum National
Park. We were there at first light and spent the morning on platforms
above the rainforest canopy.</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheH7FbyHx46o_mXddin-B66dWaqB9G_meKSqsQDzXvLAOuq3ABDEHwPdBURXr40-2v_Fuc3fTkBAmbwHc9ZvhmbL4NypX-PzbH_Y3cKm-lymqk51GqoOy7H7JtPMFGRMCoKQVcmE7KCF2ik2uNnmmEN8X9hq5Gg9sh_QzcDD7DRbIKeZaHIxWJR3LP/s2016/a%20kakum%20canopy.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheH7FbyHx46o_mXddin-B66dWaqB9G_meKSqsQDzXvLAOuq3ABDEHwPdBURXr40-2v_Fuc3fTkBAmbwHc9ZvhmbL4NypX-PzbH_Y3cKm-lymqk51GqoOy7H7JtPMFGRMCoKQVcmE7KCF2ik2uNnmmEN8X9hq5Gg9sh_QzcDD7DRbIKeZaHIxWJR3LP/s320/a%20kakum%20canopy.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victor on the canopy walkway</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmaaALjrx8h41OFqwL0DQAJC4qY98poPx_wX0yEbxHpZp9t1-Y9DKUwEPcYoIHxrd5fTUk4B5IZpJLA0tAo3NJVr69PkOrmrIW7ld4YUZ8JBa5Eqk3zstsoXr8_Ja5acq4oMb-MqO941QxzyOdgbPjXEyA8wbXUeWjtyDjj4Y5lI8YBVvRWcu--LY/s2016/a%20kakum%20forest.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAmaaALjrx8h41OFqwL0DQAJC4qY98poPx_wX0yEbxHpZp9t1-Y9DKUwEPcYoIHxrd5fTUk4B5IZpJLA0tAo3NJVr69PkOrmrIW7ld4YUZ8JBa5Eqk3zstsoXr8_Ja5acq4oMb-MqO941QxzyOdgbPjXEyA8wbXUeWjtyDjj4Y5lI8YBVvRWcu--LY/s320/a%20kakum%20forest.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rainforest in Kakum National Park</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> A Willcocks’s Honeyguide put on a show
as it landed above our heads catching what appeared to be bees from a
small hive. Sunbirds included Yellow-chinned (recently split from
Green), Blue-throated Brown and Olive. Other birds included
Tit-Hylia, Ussher’s Flycatcher, Rufous-crowned Eremomela, West
African Wattle-eye, Fanti Sawing, Sharpe’s Apalis, and Melancholy
and Fire-bellied Woodpeckers.</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDlqeUmCA6UaXisKDM7hfc_6MpS78InYByz0BPJIy7B9lb5wBHthYnmyog357hUVRQps6jgiBJcrvwlHm9tu4cHTAxd6VlcVxtCONEpxbXVTX6CXXdeEae8F9dFG_dLDBmrkxnNgjyHhGLW4Wgzi-cvU0IkxMSZL1RVEZ_h4oFQFuEUpsDVFY7UWJ/s2014/willcocks's%20honeyguide%20(kakum%20canopy).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1916" data-original-width="2014" height="304" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgDlqeUmCA6UaXisKDM7hfc_6MpS78InYByz0BPJIy7B9lb5wBHthYnmyog357hUVRQps6jgiBJcrvwlHm9tu4cHTAxd6VlcVxtCONEpxbXVTX6CXXdeEae8F9dFG_dLDBmrkxnNgjyHhGLW4Wgzi-cvU0IkxMSZL1RVEZ_h4oFQFuEUpsDVFY7UWJ/s320/willcocks's%20honeyguide%20(kakum%20canopy).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Willcocks's Honeyguide</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> Small Sun Squirrels were fairly
common.</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibS39cTcpwKX-oxI6qobfhPL-sng1qqvIjLPE-qafA2li_zKx3T213-OSSR3PvqCIwCKh4SqQaxiZrEq_gXmofOKKPf8Z6SqGweq8Cc_YEiQoAx-yVxkRDrMNZPnXjpnr28cZ-A04lfLm7F3WGkgzxLVy49VXrNRKo6mBPRzI8uNS6EtE3Afwuj4MC/s2736/slender-tailed%20squirrel%20(kakum%20canopy).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2736" data-original-width="1996" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibS39cTcpwKX-oxI6qobfhPL-sng1qqvIjLPE-qafA2li_zKx3T213-OSSR3PvqCIwCKh4SqQaxiZrEq_gXmofOKKPf8Z6SqGweq8Cc_YEiQoAx-yVxkRDrMNZPnXjpnr28cZ-A04lfLm7F3WGkgzxLVy49VXrNRKo6mBPRzI8uNS6EtE3Afwuj4MC/s320/slender-tailed%20squirrel%20(kakum%20canopy).jpg" width="233" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Small Sun Squirrel</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">We
then walked a small track, finding a stunning Rufous-sided Broadbill (first image in this post).
A late afternoon visit to the canopy walkway offered little more
although Palmnut Vultures passed close by. </span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xQgfQYA0LCPsL4hv6HceXaPCgaRrua4cv055MP8DnwS18aWC8nBjOptUnFxe7JvFWi9OuNOJN0lD_63aXgZRcOjsA7i4ZHLrcDiZVmZxIsSmrFKnR9XX-7_58tTqGp008_Sn4x4Cv2jzDvvNKXJXgT0Yesd4lURGNV3JZ0FTXhC37uQq3f5Z6gC7/s2375/palmnut%20vulture%20(kakum%20canopy).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1346" data-original-width="2375" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8xQgfQYA0LCPsL4hv6HceXaPCgaRrua4cv055MP8DnwS18aWC8nBjOptUnFxe7JvFWi9OuNOJN0lD_63aXgZRcOjsA7i4ZHLrcDiZVmZxIsSmrFKnR9XX-7_58tTqGp008_Sn4x4Cv2jzDvvNKXJXgT0Yesd4lURGNV3JZ0FTXhC37uQq3f5Z6gC7/w320-h181/palmnut%20vulture%20(kakum%20canopy).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Palmnut Vulture</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;">As dusk fell we heard
Brown Nightjar and saw a superb mammal – Pel’s Anomalure ()below).</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXaHK2dbaruHqe7R4dxUnLDh3FmOTL8jTMKqF05hJHMdTCl-DBZ5IVBNoAjV4g6ADcNjZFy1uP6yIZflmVcjJMnZZ8p2gkXtDvLP-1Tt1l88Rda4mzTdPSELZPTg00kWfKMrMDFgF9b-u6gTQKezognpclgodzVdNBsRh4Ay4OXexVAf8NjRTJfml/s2462/pel's%20anomalure%20(kakum%20canopy).jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2462" data-original-width="2181" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEXaHK2dbaruHqe7R4dxUnLDh3FmOTL8jTMKqF05hJHMdTCl-DBZ5IVBNoAjV4g6ADcNjZFy1uP6yIZflmVcjJMnZZ8p2gkXtDvLP-1Tt1l88Rda4mzTdPSELZPTg00kWfKMrMDFgF9b-u6gTQKezognpclgodzVdNBsRh4Ay4OXexVAf8NjRTJfml/s320/pel's%20anomalure%20(kakum%20canopy).jpg" width="283" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">The
next morning saw us in farm bush and secondary growth in the Antikwaa
area. White-spotted Flufftail was seen at a couple of sites.
Red-cheeked Wattle-eye, Puvel’s Illadopsis and Kemp’s Longbills
were among the specialties that showed for most of the group although
a few failed to get on to these skulkers. A large flock of Rosy
Bee-eaters was more co-operative. </span>
</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWlt3nGVB_vT1tG9KFX6Cz5rdkyh-WoAZ0P0OpgTJAguI3LLbwS3dpbs0LSFepjIv8CbLBLtz4pdWxqjpXY2_vcYdjSRITJjwYfq6ft2rM0tBGDTTbu-Js4_vJ4LeAzreh7arvP6L1clq9-fTs0Qr65BAINqjHpVQIfCr9u9ryUf5MIW94vDJlsQH/s1403/rosy%20bee-eater%20(antwikwaa).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1403" data-original-width="1343" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxWlt3nGVB_vT1tG9KFX6Cz5rdkyh-WoAZ0P0OpgTJAguI3LLbwS3dpbs0LSFepjIv8CbLBLtz4pdWxqjpXY2_vcYdjSRITJjwYfq6ft2rM0tBGDTTbu-Js4_vJ4LeAzreh7arvP6L1clq9-fTs0Qr65BAINqjHpVQIfCr9u9ryUf5MIW94vDJlsQH/s320/rosy%20bee-eater%20(antwikwaa).jpg" width="306" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rosy Bee-eaters</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In
the heat of the day some of us ventured to the Cape Coast Castle, an
historic site 30 minutes south of Jukwa. Built by the British in the
17<sup>th</sup> Century, an estimated 3 million slaves passed through
this horrendous prison, torn from their homes in shackles to be
shipped as slave labour to the Americas. Half died before getting
there. As many as 1000 men would be held in a cell area (image below) barely 150m
long with a trough in the middle serving as a urinall they slept in
their own waste. Dissidents were locked in airless cells
to die of starvation. </span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Bk9ge0RotJE8njBkgcS4WSvpIAzU0MAlmkQRhYLkDspFKhT0GzUHThgsbqQZCcyp8GBihii7SmlJRcPtor5ww6qx8wUhenYB5TcjVEebL6Qv1nT1sdH25on-K7HptxUl1PDqcQLF1-KxJm3tfV-7z9lSRRPMZaGeMDLV9aLzI7bZjes6xhysWa2X/s2016/a%20cape%20castle.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2016" data-original-width="1512" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6Bk9ge0RotJE8njBkgcS4WSvpIAzU0MAlmkQRhYLkDspFKhT0GzUHThgsbqQZCcyp8GBihii7SmlJRcPtor5ww6qx8wUhenYB5TcjVEebL6Qv1nT1sdH25on-K7HptxUl1PDqcQLF1-KxJm3tfV-7z9lSRRPMZaGeMDLV9aLzI7bZjes6xhysWa2X/s320/a%20cape%20castle.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">This barbaric practice continued for centuries,
the ships departing from what is today a scenic harbour (below) adjacent to
the fort. Visiting this place was a sobering experience; these things should never be forgotten. </span>
</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MhKeJ-EtTEP4hv6OwgByeOUx6tue-UstDwEpvMwHkUnlwiWlEooXT1LjC3nLThtY-xpQ4A1F7nOYJpbkZ8ToJI4hMbtxYWVf0OF4BweEuWIkwJ_WXRujANI8QipELM-TrNp-XN_sn2IPpFsb3rVkefqPyjBfdvYiahTpXo8iE8XVOs5DuId0cvlU/s1589/a%20cape%20coast%20harbour.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="908" data-original-width="1589" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0MhKeJ-EtTEP4hv6OwgByeOUx6tue-UstDwEpvMwHkUnlwiWlEooXT1LjC3nLThtY-xpQ4A1F7nOYJpbkZ8ToJI4hMbtxYWVf0OF4BweEuWIkwJ_WXRujANI8QipELM-TrNp-XN_sn2IPpFsb3rVkefqPyjBfdvYiahTpXo8iE8XVOs5DuId0cvlU/s320/a%20cape%20coast%20harbour.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p></p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">In
the afternoon we returned to the logging road we visited two days
earlier. Birds included Chocolate-backed Kingfisher, Purple-throated
Cuckoo-shrike, White-tailed Alethe and Black-and-white
Shrike-flycatcher. Mixed greenbul flocks included Yellow-bearded and
Western Bearded. We chased key nocturnal targets after sunset. The first
to fall was Brown Nightjar, always a diffcult bird, which flew in and
showed well enough, although somewhat distant. Next was an Akun
Eagle-Owl which perched high in a tree, offering everyone a look if
again not as close as we would have liked. Finally, a Fraser’s Eagle-Owl showed
briefly for a few of a group. All three night birds were in the same
area. </span>
</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Iq0Vxwt2L1jQX0JBIIOgEp-5z1GDExIwX3iibA_gWrBibV5Y7KEKckivELo_mKKwcXOqoXp4PJK7cMbTlXojF3pViSm4kiLRNZIJJOBg6m2PnY54jalLHHuhfIetWj78uZ2M7AEAwY3kpD3jkNpf_aXds_wC8S9Vu5DW9ftyMhnjOf2QeNCZ6Ks8/s2386/akun%20eagle-owl%20(abrafo).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2221" data-original-width="2386" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Iq0Vxwt2L1jQX0JBIIOgEp-5z1GDExIwX3iibA_gWrBibV5Y7KEKckivELo_mKKwcXOqoXp4PJK7cMbTlXojF3pViSm4kiLRNZIJJOBg6m2PnY54jalLHHuhfIetWj78uZ2M7AEAwY3kpD3jkNpf_aXds_wC8S9Vu5DW9ftyMhnjOf2QeNCZ6Ks8/s320/akun%20eagle-owl%20(abrafo).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Akun Eagle-Owl</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGW7MVIigE29dHY4XDwr15Z08R2BQnU0RR2XQZXBa6sdTjvZOTPf--vO_EqFSg9wm3JH5lTND_QNmw_-Op0Z0OFDOQ_Gh_HXLdJ_MhT3AC8CqQ6N3krr6K5zH6aUDq1qD9RGodyQf3cIxcGpoJVM_hinqMIKy4CEZX5w0HInTFEVzxUIAhLyF0uHb/s2855/brown%20nightjar%20(abrafo).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2782" data-original-width="2855" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJGW7MVIigE29dHY4XDwr15Z08R2BQnU0RR2XQZXBa6sdTjvZOTPf--vO_EqFSg9wm3JH5lTND_QNmw_-Op0Z0OFDOQ_Gh_HXLdJ_MhT3AC8CqQ6N3krr6K5zH6aUDq1qD9RGodyQf3cIxcGpoJVM_hinqMIKy4CEZX5w0HInTFEVzxUIAhLyF0uHb/s320/brown%20nightjar%20(abrafo).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Nightjar</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">Our
last morning in the Kakum area – Day Five of the trip – found us
back in the Abrafo Forest. We saw Red-thighed Sparrowhawk,
Buff-throated Sunbird, Blue-spooted Wood-Dove, Sabine’s Puffback,
Dusky-blue Flycatcher, Blue-throated Roller and Black Casqued
Hornbill. African Piculet was a delightful addition to the list (second image below).</span></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDhMKGcHoWNxXrxMeJ6UQxs-ftUbA6SYawBXQj_R-T4wUVEHxpKMdVriDfFmd7Slcq_GF5e-V3naoKukMZon2wff4bGaMFhcwcTV75lRzAJHGXl-TjZDd-IRBROxKdnxJMir--h-pv5LkNjJexIUYxTT1F5A2j4Y06qyzoeqSsneH8wdl1P5XjIUG/s1136/black%20casqued%20hornbill%20(abrafo).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="748" data-original-width="1136" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDhMKGcHoWNxXrxMeJ6UQxs-ftUbA6SYawBXQj_R-T4wUVEHxpKMdVriDfFmd7Slcq_GF5e-V3naoKukMZon2wff4bGaMFhcwcTV75lRzAJHGXl-TjZDd-IRBROxKdnxJMir--h-pv5LkNjJexIUYxTT1F5A2j4Y06qyzoeqSsneH8wdl1P5XjIUG/s320/black%20casqued%20hornbill%20(abrafo).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Casqued Hornbill</td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br />
</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both;"><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHtdp1ww50NxrDuOpIXlsSDJf8Kle5wjmbgvF36YSqvSUSumNvHmNiReDtijHYnsYD2KqdbrtiTtKu9zVSXHbUK3gisrvalXVFSyDceu6uvEECxhnBWvYo-6aFbi6dSrLfGO8duyB27OcJj6dtIPy6aTRTFeb1HqTU6_AqeyhXITbDkGgaawaWnqy/s1257/african%20piculet,%20abrafo.jpg" style="display: block; padding: 1em 0px; text-align: center;"><img alt="" border="0" data-original-height="952" data-original-width="1257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSHtdp1ww50NxrDuOpIXlsSDJf8Kle5wjmbgvF36YSqvSUSumNvHmNiReDtijHYnsYD2KqdbrtiTtKu9zVSXHbUK3gisrvalXVFSyDceu6uvEECxhnBWvYo-6aFbi6dSrLfGO8duyB27OcJj6dtIPy6aTRTFeb1HqTU6_AqeyhXITbDkGgaawaWnqy/s320/african%20piculet,%20abrafo.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: 14pt;">
We then headed east to the famed Ankasa Forest, stopping along the way to check out, among other things, African Pygmy Goose, Allen’s
Gallinule and White-browed Forest Flycatcher.
</span><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYbI372Bt3NMiNsj7fE8IPig74PxyqNxEcvzExHfkTO4m0ZfeJJ5nu0yb-zPTfrMxJpDOn2exdRGBEUzymEdhdbVGbE9zYrMal8araZX07-dIwL1EuUkfY3fel_VViT6MR8WKsf5VFp0a7PbybHSix-FK6OSt4kP1H2rw3mnACX1JIa_Vat09BgJE/s905/african%20pygmy%20goose.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="843" data-original-width="905" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaYbI372Bt3NMiNsj7fE8IPig74PxyqNxEcvzExHfkTO4m0ZfeJJ5nu0yb-zPTfrMxJpDOn2exdRGBEUzymEdhdbVGbE9zYrMal8araZX07-dIwL1EuUkfY3fel_VViT6MR8WKsf5VFp0a7PbybHSix-FK6OSt4kP1H2rw3mnACX1JIa_Vat09BgJE/s320/african%20pygmy%20goose.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Pygmy-Goose</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;">As
everywhere with Ghana, sights along the road provided plenty of
entertainment. </span>
</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQlZzmxd4uQgrv9aLfjHfNxlGPfhfOgmhk1VdQRdV105GZEIcEgE_XJTmcpXWb5_isI87G2qyukpXhLpYMUQpo-_DAz6tjmV4Kb-kqrrsjN7jyU1cMsqtPxTboYYWZi1kugqiOGfcVdQqtWCEKQipHQll-zK1NyCWpEoVEYgE-g3Elsp4mlaYiFvE/s1509/a%20ghana%20road1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1509" data-original-width="1440" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzQlZzmxd4uQgrv9aLfjHfNxlGPfhfOgmhk1VdQRdV105GZEIcEgE_XJTmcpXWb5_isI87G2qyukpXhLpYMUQpo-_DAz6tjmV4Kb-kqrrsjN7jyU1cMsqtPxTboYYWZi1kugqiOGfcVdQqtWCEKQipHQll-zK1NyCWpEoVEYgE-g3Elsp4mlaYiFvE/s320/a%20ghana%20road1.jpg" width="305" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXzhnAbaEz5AsSOEAxqobyALS_BAXCHwGNtAkCo-z7Lshpvl2K-1i2RZ4UBH1xQ-xRUCEX_1gxggxHdeMtqLMmSC4Baaetw7s7ltlYw7-zJy2lx4mCS9hXfDvxDGCpEdV8PxVuxv9lLWlT2fXqjv51h8vADLAjsezBxpinGyOiALMNR0dBOzQ1PEv/s1487/a%20ghana%20road.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1487" data-original-width="1067" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWXzhnAbaEz5AsSOEAxqobyALS_BAXCHwGNtAkCo-z7Lshpvl2K-1i2RZ4UBH1xQ-xRUCEX_1gxggxHdeMtqLMmSC4Baaetw7s7ltlYw7-zJy2lx4mCS9hXfDvxDGCpEdV8PxVuxv9lLWlT2fXqjv51h8vADLAjsezBxpinGyOiALMNR0dBOzQ1PEv/s320/a%20ghana%20road.jpg" width="230" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-84000436595530399492023-02-11T13:18:00.002+10:002023-02-11T13:35:25.557+10:00Papua New Guinea Cruise Part 3 – The Conflict Islands<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKDm1NzmiCcteAfAf7O82werOyzVtiW2S01F9tZZ0mUcdNKyboAg54Bv-pGoPI09BjvYathEIJhA5CnX84czXDFYuxqyvdqaq-J4jCjDGON3e729AYdjlr57fhzFXtflPz28fUhzWEFsafao1CIQkKHX_P-k8kJiqN4WEmc3UG1CBAgP_kbOzsxeF/s2484/louisiade%20white-eye.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1909" data-original-width="2484" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUKDm1NzmiCcteAfAf7O82werOyzVtiW2S01F9tZZ0mUcdNKyboAg54Bv-pGoPI09BjvYathEIJhA5CnX84czXDFYuxqyvdqaq-J4jCjDGON3e729AYdjlr57fhzFXtflPz28fUhzWEFsafao1CIQkKHX_P-k8kJiqN4WEmc3UG1CBAgP_kbOzsxeF/s320/louisiade%20white-eye.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Louisiade White-eye</td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">On the return leg of our<a href="https://sunshinecoastbirds.blogspot.com/2023/02/papua-new-guinea-cruise-part-1-all-at.html"> cruise to Papua New Guinea</a> we stopped for
the day on February 3 in the Conflict Islands, a chain of small
islands that are part of the Louisiade Archipelego. The Louisiades
extend from the south-eastern end of PNG where the Coral Sea meets
the Solomon Sea. </p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4jjwnkAuUr_7_pxxmOyvAJuoPXABIry_Vv_O1YeB0QogECjsSlqgyOYwr8t-4MSGrzpLuWhQwU-TFZTakBH2b-SRyJJGUMx7msTzQtQnjVuTrZ0JgjdDP5VVEHAyJAtiuUlHRmX7gFxMKWYMVR1jD2YoaBzBnO4sRwZF43L1IaDjpcVUls22Ij0H/s2016/a%20conflict%20islands%20(panasesa).jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1095" data-original-width="2016" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho4jjwnkAuUr_7_pxxmOyvAJuoPXABIry_Vv_O1YeB0QogECjsSlqgyOYwr8t-4MSGrzpLuWhQwU-TFZTakBH2b-SRyJJGUMx7msTzQtQnjVuTrZ0JgjdDP5VVEHAyJAtiuUlHRmX7gFxMKWYMVR1jD2YoaBzBnO4sRwZF43L1IaDjpcVUls22Ij0H/s320/a%20conflict%20islands%20(panasesa).jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">They have several endemic bird species and four of
these (plus two future splits) occur in the Conflict Islands. We were
moored off Panasesa, the largest of the Conflict group, and
transferred by tender boat from the Coral Princess to an island
wharf. A path from the jetty crosses the island, passing through rainforest. </p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhym2hC_3Mz9674rdmSIK989oiZRS6O7Elt74w6IQjl6Hrpr--pIpi6qra-agop6Yet0homDghDIm8RMmYmx8kqAz2N9L8rhnxgDzVqMWqspBcmYHlh0a4JnCwislcfqqf95UsTjuOO5nb3cpA8gS5AJzYYgGie7hlGd5ujNwl4Ezs4Uvqy6iL1oGTz/s2016/a%20conflict%20islands.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="948" data-original-width="2016" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhym2hC_3Mz9674rdmSIK989oiZRS6O7Elt74w6IQjl6Hrpr--pIpi6qra-agop6Yet0homDghDIm8RMmYmx8kqAz2N9L8rhnxgDzVqMWqspBcmYHlh0a4JnCwislcfqqf95UsTjuOO5nb3cpA8gS5AJzYYgGie7hlGd5ujNwl4Ezs4Uvqy6iL1oGTz/s320/a%20conflict%20islands.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">The Conflict Islands
are privately owned by an Australian businessman, which seems an
incongruous state of affairs for such a scenically spectacular
destination. It appears that nobody is resident here and that people
are brought in when a cruise ship is berthed. Native artefacts were
absurdly expensive, and many passengers had been denied the
opportunity to acquire much cheaper souvenirs a day earlier on
Kiriwina Island to the north when the captain decided not to land
there. </p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqIZKGjDxu0-WoNKjwrywoff1Zt4rEmgLB5LppZziEA0QBz8Mjcx8KDp2Pys5N84SHPJA8f8xLEAk1xhGJn0KiH9phbLkOpLO8PnvNq6WDr5FyBJBnp3Wmm5LJsrqTllgemq4767FCNYz3SEnUeTC1APzhcsFOw3-AxY_iI5gbf0DlBcJbXrxYHNU/s2016/a%20conflict%20islands%20forest.jpeg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="2016" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVqIZKGjDxu0-WoNKjwrywoff1Zt4rEmgLB5LppZziEA0QBz8Mjcx8KDp2Pys5N84SHPJA8f8xLEAk1xhGJn0KiH9phbLkOpLO8PnvNq6WDr5FyBJBnp3Wmm5LJsrqTllgemq4767FCNYz3SEnUeTC1APzhcsFOw3-AxY_iI5gbf0DlBcJbXrxYHNU/s320/a%20conflict%20islands%20forest.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Panasesa may be the
largest in the group, but the island can be walked around and across
within a couple of hours. I spent an enjoyable and productive morning
here in lush rainforest and along beautiful beaches, scoring all 6
specialties. I had not left the jetty upon arrival when I saw my
first White-chinned Myzomela (below) endemic to the Louisiades, and there
were plenty of these rather drab honeyeaters about.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgla4X6ct88b7nvacl2eF8vwVgbnLmCKxnuVWZ3UDyyLLUc4KRsIQ7Oc6WmoOHwXfZ7AWt9QjGop91MGXfwOVmjXPJ2N7aOBx_RjRyJvUGkB1rW9CBDHYhmcLkBZ6r-eiOBxCGhbEsX5VzKiHxgRpml7C2JHuJyFTk26m4AYOfop7G_2SmDIvVa91YO/s1932/white-chinned%20myzomela1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1484" data-original-width="1932" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgla4X6ct88b7nvacl2eF8vwVgbnLmCKxnuVWZ3UDyyLLUc4KRsIQ7Oc6WmoOHwXfZ7AWt9QjGop91MGXfwOVmjXPJ2N7aOBx_RjRyJvUGkB1rW9CBDHYhmcLkBZ6r-eiOBxCGhbEsX5VzKiHxgRpml7C2JHuJyFTk26m4AYOfop7G_2SmDIvVa91YO/s320/white-chinned%20myzomela1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiZbIe1ggYyoFFwlTT-gK65G08MT0SoCqMlIAQBAnvHVEqg3sXnhhXcKCVaflIILbsl7dTyS0x7pIsNm1c74xnTJ6CFrRMpWePqdS-3bwPSuw1QRHYHfEU7JWy1x2ynM-o1hF5fGD_PK3XFLJ_DO2DOgRQvlUFQo6kw6m-cvKFGbpZeXl8I4_lcgn/s2523/white-chinned%20myzomela.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2523" data-original-width="2266" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYiZbIe1ggYyoFFwlTT-gK65G08MT0SoCqMlIAQBAnvHVEqg3sXnhhXcKCVaflIILbsl7dTyS0x7pIsNm1c74xnTJ6CFrRMpWePqdS-3bwPSuw1QRHYHfEU7JWy1x2ynM-o1hF5fGD_PK3XFLJ_DO2DOgRQvlUFQo6kw6m-cvKFGbpZeXl8I4_lcgn/s320/white-chinned%20myzomela.jpg" width="287" /></a></div><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Next off the list
was Louisiade White-eye (below) the commonest bird on the island and all
over the place in noisy little flocks, often associating with the
myzomelas. </p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCoWwPhBTYwYlMse8_KJkDYYoMM6Pl5S1wEPey-pLK3EUNtyUwNSIi6T8TRq0nkMNzknaxkkSluujNR2Gc5LoQ3j___R72Y9s75TMceMFrDK2FogFdNglF6insWvj3hv3q3BLynZAB57dDxCh8XENv1ZgtKTP8g1GX3xhoG28NMKpzdkn4nmoPzQpj/s1591/louisiade%20white-eye1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1591" data-original-width="1578" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCoWwPhBTYwYlMse8_KJkDYYoMM6Pl5S1wEPey-pLK3EUNtyUwNSIi6T8TRq0nkMNzknaxkkSluujNR2Gc5LoQ3j___R72Y9s75TMceMFrDK2FogFdNglF6insWvj3hv3q3BLynZAB57dDxCh8XENv1ZgtKTP8g1GX3xhoG28NMKpzdkn4nmoPzQpj/s320/louisiade%20white-eye1.jpg" width="317" /></a></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrHrqh_hr-4WWUfCO0G--_OAdHOJa69ZzbEyLeSqHj2_yupfdr21H-2hpusxOfyV53FNBeml8UFxxDj3bdXcQJ5xiaJMYooZZ4XY9GREbw9e9mtoHFkfc3zqx5ttPpLEkWlKgv7lIhfaQ2guxOH9oCa0Aa1UCdOLnYSIqo_M_j-YVUlHobgkMF1Gz/s1767/louisiade%20white-eye2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1516" data-original-width="1767" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirrHrqh_hr-4WWUfCO0G--_OAdHOJa69ZzbEyLeSqHj2_yupfdr21H-2hpusxOfyV53FNBeml8UFxxDj3bdXcQJ5xiaJMYooZZ4XY9GREbw9e9mtoHFkfc3zqx5ttPpLEkWlKgv7lIhfaQ2guxOH9oCa0Aa1UCdOLnYSIqo_M_j-YVUlHobgkMF1Gz/s320/louisiade%20white-eye2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div><br /></div><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">The recently split Islet Kingfisher (below) with its distinctive
call could be heard easily enough but it took some tracking to
eventually locate a pair.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aD58OAkNLCSlYddMGNJj20g5qduadZUxJVEDTMXulMbSKKSF2iQkbAFSPbnE_hMyZ5qFhRsz3mtQPRUknJ2zSKzcTiBCF7WYfmyENneVyPyjMGBSbkr-yKnE5H5fSyoDFSQroB67_HXNODRXu7BaXVQrtSqxM6TbLvCbe2lBqx4ijQEmMT92P6_v/s1602/islet%20kingfisher.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1602" data-original-width="1402" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5aD58OAkNLCSlYddMGNJj20g5qduadZUxJVEDTMXulMbSKKSF2iQkbAFSPbnE_hMyZ5qFhRsz3mtQPRUknJ2zSKzcTiBCF7WYfmyENneVyPyjMGBSbkr-yKnE5H5fSyoDFSQroB67_HXNODRXu7BaXVQrtSqxM6TbLvCbe2lBqx4ijQEmMT92P6_v/s320/islet%20kingfisher.jpg" width="280" /></a></div><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Last of the endemics
was a Louisiade Whistler, with a male showing well but briefly, with
one poor image having to do. </p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqrF-3ZsEHPp3vt4x6UgqfGiFZJWrruG2Uvfx-PkPd6IQG8LTsbq5wvAfcFA12roz26ZlsyoBiiwLuibJp5-QWkHs-dCnOj0j9x41_Cwb00DlCYQr8AKHh0ariofuYDuRmvd7_ZzkMmSUwcBy-6ApQ8o8ApLy_Q_wztmmtfjIj9qaaz4Td1hjmBqS/s1908/louisiade%20whistler.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1621" data-original-width="1908" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpqrF-3ZsEHPp3vt4x6UgqfGiFZJWrruG2Uvfx-PkPd6IQG8LTsbq5wvAfcFA12roz26ZlsyoBiiwLuibJp5-QWkHs-dCnOj0j9x41_Cwb00DlCYQr8AKHh0ariofuYDuRmvd7_ZzkMmSUwcBy-6ApQ8o8ApLy_Q_wztmmtfjIj9qaaz4Td1hjmBqS/s320/louisiade%20whistler.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">The distinctive subspecies of
Spectacled Monarch and White-bibbed Fruit-Doves also showed nicely. </p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZvKhclhtcccdjAcFuVR4mWFkQRyHIhxYjnqi8TPQk35HrUyWjcn2inkiz2eWCWedzpECg-w5wTP6CmKpZtiDxoF8271PsHS5bAIDuJq6laRU6_J3mGuONvHOQpvN44cWTiYyIaA7GecqhnZ2-uIjfHIX1C0FswH09foQNbaB4R3X8MVzfQiL_cId/s2629/spectacled%20monarch%20(melanopterus).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1817" data-original-width="2629" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ZvKhclhtcccdjAcFuVR4mWFkQRyHIhxYjnqi8TPQk35HrUyWjcn2inkiz2eWCWedzpECg-w5wTP6CmKpZtiDxoF8271PsHS5bAIDuJq6laRU6_J3mGuONvHOQpvN44cWTiYyIaA7GecqhnZ2-uIjfHIX1C0FswH09foQNbaB4R3X8MVzfQiL_cId/s320/spectacled%20monarch%20(melanopterus).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spectacled Monarch</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhc3XrnAl-bgXHJGXZtrW4tDmblJXHuh_5-S1DoDYbLDt2UtoyvEIeQqWkPcTJtYrchuv0zSf9wla6ZWz1v0BVP2BrYDmHI6MD12UowGxrNk3fXBmCzkvpORssw7UndcF7fNETlPrusu_brlfMv4-fFQbyS-zOhMGdiz5ipW1G0Fi69B_sbClBbz1/s2055/white-bibbed%20fruit-dove%20(strophium).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2055" data-original-width="2043" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZhc3XrnAl-bgXHJGXZtrW4tDmblJXHuh_5-S1DoDYbLDt2UtoyvEIeQqWkPcTJtYrchuv0zSf9wla6ZWz1v0BVP2BrYDmHI6MD12UowGxrNk3fXBmCzkvpORssw7UndcF7fNETlPrusu_brlfMv4-fFQbyS-zOhMGdiz5ipW1G0Fi69B_sbClBbz1/s320/white-bibbed%20fruit-dove%20(strophium).jpg" width="318" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-bibbed Fruit-Dove</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Other nice birds included numbers of Island (Floury) Imperial-Pigeons.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-g7sdc5eJmXUiGW63qmXk8Y6uvNxn12gZcDstFk98qcMEzRAnpk2sveuSSdszzcXJDO2VlxVWlsbTsvCbiw98LK1DqngxloFdrDhUeJwlaIRfHXC4Dnc3Qoc6jpkhIYT17_QkBQ8gU3d8yMnrUmqeoJiqeOuTk_Xiqb49JlIXMutj1JQcIZB3IEAz/s1416/island%20imperial-pigeon.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1056" data-original-width="1416" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-g7sdc5eJmXUiGW63qmXk8Y6uvNxn12gZcDstFk98qcMEzRAnpk2sveuSSdszzcXJDO2VlxVWlsbTsvCbiw98LK1DqngxloFdrDhUeJwlaIRfHXC4Dnc3Qoc6jpkhIYT17_QkBQ8gU3d8yMnrUmqeoJiqeOuTk_Xiqb49JlIXMutj1JQcIZB3IEAz/s320/island%20imperial-pigeon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Island Imperial-Pigeon</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">SPECIES (* denotes
lifer):</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Black-naped Tern,
Brown Noddy, Crested Tern, Ruddy Turnstone, Grey Plover (the last
two species I didn’t see but they were photographed by Colin
Palethorpe),
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Lesser Frigatebird,
Great Frigatebird,</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Eastern Reef Heron,
White-bellied Sea-Eagle, White-bibbed Fruit-Dove (subsp strophium),</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Island (Floury)
Imperial-Pigeon, *Islet Kingfisher,</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Singing Starling,
Spectacled Monarch (2 subsp melanopterus), Willie Wagtail,
*Louisiade Whistler, *Louisiade White-eye, *White-chinned Myzomela.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Total 18 species (4
lifers)</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><a href="https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S128035762">Ebird list here.</a></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUy3gkAL5p_R9YysWFbYy9bX5NkjqrOcBvnr6Sj-YvacRW-gSdNaiLkuES8z7-_vFdYUdV_q2YkGC1BDuOfVnriz4l6zzmqG4gcBgBXGKNSEV8OEHKXUkFXCIK4wKCbKZYvm5K5G_G73Q7nnVht8baMwMiFp3UB6_tmIR5SEchtEtuHok255oJG06j/s914/black-naped%20tern.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="584" data-original-width="914" height="204" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUy3gkAL5p_R9YysWFbYy9bX5NkjqrOcBvnr6Sj-YvacRW-gSdNaiLkuES8z7-_vFdYUdV_q2YkGC1BDuOfVnriz4l6zzmqG4gcBgBXGKNSEV8OEHKXUkFXCIK4wKCbKZYvm5K5G_G73Q7nnVht8baMwMiFp3UB6_tmIR5SEchtEtuHok255oJG06j/s320/black-naped%20tern.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-naped Tern</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-90221547340237426672023-02-10T15:12:00.015+10:002023-02-11T03:53:16.535+10:00Papua New Guinea Cruise Part 2 : Birding the rainforest of New Britain near Rabaul <p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGwGcnpQoUYSMa_MCeud-A8QJwAbveI8HQMnej-4okG7CU2GS_VDK7lai4rFt1zTTZAd0brt29njDxLBCdTF5WWseXDyuIJc5R9fTPu6AKVcfqqmLj2s2iPybiNXgKFyPnuv5sLLNmGCC72xSlScuheKJ4mviphza6txGwlDtZIl_MWhppV0H59pl/s1127/black-capped%20paradise-kingfisher.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1127" data-original-width="963" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfGwGcnpQoUYSMa_MCeud-A8QJwAbveI8HQMnej-4okG7CU2GS_VDK7lai4rFt1zTTZAd0brt29njDxLBCdTF5WWseXDyuIJc5R9fTPu6AKVcfqqmLj2s2iPybiNXgKFyPnuv5sLLNmGCC72xSlScuheKJ4mviphza6txGwlDtZIl_MWhppV0H59pl/s320/black-capped%20paradise-kingfisher.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-capped Paradise-Kingfisher</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">During our <a href="http://sunshinecoastbirds.blogspot.com/2023/02/papua-new-guinea-cruise-part-2-birding.html">cruise from Brisbane to Papua New Guinea</a>, we had an
overnight port stop in Rabaul in east New Britain. This allowed an
opportunity for a morning of rainforest birding on February 1. I’ve visited
Rabaul previously while working as a journalist and had limited
opportunity to bird forest patches far from town. Most birders visit
west New Britain and little is known ornithologically of the island’s
eastern half. I was able to organise a highly recommended tour with
the Rabaul-based company Pauvu Tours (contact Tulipa Paivu
<a href="mailto:tpaivu40@gmail.com">tpaivu40@gmail.com</a>) or find
them on Facebook.
</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKzBLS4kC46UrgkI8oWNlARfP9EbBuIY1zukJ4K67daOhQVlowYTdsNhv84BHDHoqsR_7wqTqTGHYvU0Hj4I8daD3a7-sfvzEj4mdhTL50AbqBalmgT1hkY0rHSXyRCSFILK9W-yKSqcod1vh0KwfRoSIk3RSx4LfBu1cEs2ocs1BYY942XYMpbRZ/s1512/rabaul%20rachael.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1512" data-original-width="1053" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKzBLS4kC46UrgkI8oWNlARfP9EbBuIY1zukJ4K67daOhQVlowYTdsNhv84BHDHoqsR_7wqTqTGHYvU0Hj4I8daD3a7-sfvzEj4mdhTL50AbqBalmgT1hkY0rHSXyRCSFILK9W-yKSqcod1vh0KwfRoSIk3RSx4LfBu1cEs2ocs1BYY942XYMpbRZ/s320/rabaul%20rachael.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rachael from Pauvu Tours</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">A fellow cruise passenger, Colin Palethorpe, joined me. We were
allowed off the ship early and were picked up at 5am in a 4-wheel
drive. With driver Mare and guide Rachael, we drove 65km south-east
of Rabaul into the hills to a patch of rainforest near Rachael’s
village, Delroy, in the Warangoi area. I knew there was little good
habitat close to Rabaul, 30km in a straight line to this site near
the Warangoi Powerhouse. The often bad roads (the drive took us 1.5 hours,
arriving about 6.30am) was through a depressing sea of coconut, Chinese-owned oil
palm and other plantations with even secondary regrowth confined to
scraps in gullies.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZeJ6LHrGEbg90QONLrKGSP8MXi8831Z-QugtgpZd-cd7e3ITG_hyB1ZeM_lMhf4_ZW-Mf_POU1j1Yn8HZgxYxX6tREItsseKvL-E8uGp5NHepw1YHNYOVbFf5g4YTJm6_PHktc5CKp9bGFkFysxI6beL36HWdDeVmKjqSrtV4nioARRBcilN4cxv/s2106/bismarck%20crow.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1687" data-original-width="2106" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcZeJ6LHrGEbg90QONLrKGSP8MXi8831Z-QugtgpZd-cd7e3ITG_hyB1ZeM_lMhf4_ZW-Mf_POU1j1Yn8HZgxYxX6tREItsseKvL-E8uGp5NHepw1YHNYOVbFf5g4YTJm6_PHktc5CKp9bGFkFysxI6beL36HWdDeVmKjqSrtV4nioARRBcilN4cxv/s320/bismarck%20crow.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bismarck Crow</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">The site at 170 metres above sea level was a fine
stand of rainforest overflowing with birds but it was small and
shrinking – essentially flanking a 500m stretch of road - with
extensive areas of forest around it having burned recently.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJDOvwbqMZRBQKChVV0Gauqa4oNI-JWr-hwMcl1dD9ZX61jGWQQfSNkj5QRpxyh_nViXwsFGAY4HPRTxLBmbG7VkLdjY_lTCKi5TMSEfhNAiIHA7sVVPG-J_l1pN8wZqcIyX7M6lgmHVbNnKeyid-xllDEe2g8q8Ujp7KPv1LSI5AeJ3jChneMdaa/s1249/yellowish%20imperial-pigeon.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1014" data-original-width="1249" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNJDOvwbqMZRBQKChVV0Gauqa4oNI-JWr-hwMcl1dD9ZX61jGWQQfSNkj5QRpxyh_nViXwsFGAY4HPRTxLBmbG7VkLdjY_lTCKi5TMSEfhNAiIHA7sVVPG-J_l1pN8wZqcIyX7M6lgmHVbNnKeyid-xllDEe2g8q8Ujp7KPv1LSI5AeJ3jChneMdaa/s320/yellowish%20imperial-pigeon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellowish Imperial-Pigeon</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Nonetheless it gave us a good sampling of New Britain and Bismarck
specialties in quick succession. Yellowish Imperial-Pigeon and
Red-knobbed Imperial-Pigeon were quite common, perching openly in
the early morning sun; there was no sign of Finsch’s
Imperial-Pigeon. Superb Fruit-Doves were common. </p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwLCW_oUaTbIFQKeTCRQL05_U3wMTF_NXB8ok0n17jqOyEQ42G80TGZBVsY5oK8c-1zStB0OX0J8Wq7mHIe0ZgOO2e9Mpq2ghalY1fledyTd1-bnTb3bHpUWWWvyorCNIK_OrmfwylALjjNMDLQPiE4f2FRz3I6nYLBn2eTCKTzqjbCYbolXtC1BZ/s668/red-knobbed%20imperial-pigeon.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="505" data-original-width="668" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTwLCW_oUaTbIFQKeTCRQL05_U3wMTF_NXB8ok0n17jqOyEQ42G80TGZBVsY5oK8c-1zStB0OX0J8Wq7mHIe0ZgOO2e9Mpq2ghalY1fledyTd1-bnTb3bHpUWWWvyorCNIK_OrmfwylALjjNMDLQPiE4f2FRz3I6nYLBn2eTCKTzqjbCYbolXtC1BZ/s320/red-knobbed%20imperial-pigeon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-knobbed Imperial-Pigeon</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh625wM3cL_ZdsKoN8GOB01z1IagZ1MK_6oBMjYUYgSvp-qrWt9uo9ZzeIWy9WUg1iTgLd5xzjYqK3H7zVIauCqgxC3DVzC1fMw7fpHMcWeNEFbidGbfAWxMRzcO73P2DaU9VFmwybJlb7_qIDWFuN6tmFVicKOT_q7A7-x1BKFGOwlEhjlUVIyEbgG/s1233/superb%20fruit-dove.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1233" data-original-width="1223" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh625wM3cL_ZdsKoN8GOB01z1IagZ1MK_6oBMjYUYgSvp-qrWt9uo9ZzeIWy9WUg1iTgLd5xzjYqK3H7zVIauCqgxC3DVzC1fMw7fpHMcWeNEFbidGbfAWxMRzcO73P2DaU9VFmwybJlb7_qIDWFuN6tmFVicKOT_q7A7-x1BKFGOwlEhjlUVIyEbgG/s320/superb%20fruit-dove.jpg" width="317" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Superb Fruit-Dove</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Several Great
Flying-Fox were seen perched and flying.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbFyRdsPYO_MHZ7AktnLuB720gC888dxRYYwdJmbFWfhBEHD_JX64jqEvF0nuChvld0FJ94UK0M1Q0XnJ5xc6qXCA8XJ-WA_PCgD7sI0yJ8P2aU-BADv0GR7O22b3VQFI2USVBQqiZMNAUl8-nKDiUVKheiwInpzvC7iJRD13J0eeTSRgygFvTgwN/s1278/flying-fox%20-%20great%20(Pteropus%20neohibernicus).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1116" data-original-width="1278" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbFyRdsPYO_MHZ7AktnLuB720gC888dxRYYwdJmbFWfhBEHD_JX64jqEvF0nuChvld0FJ94UK0M1Q0XnJ5xc6qXCA8XJ-WA_PCgD7sI0yJ8P2aU-BADv0GR7O22b3VQFI2USVBQqiZMNAUl8-nKDiUVKheiwInpzvC7iJRD13J0eeTSRgygFvTgwN/s320/flying-fox%20-%20great%20(Pteropus%20neohibernicus).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Flying-Fox</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">A pair of stub-tailed Bismarck Hanging-Parrots flying up the road was
a welcome sight, while Blue-eyed Cockatoos noisily joined the morning
chorus. Eclectus Parrots were common, flying overheading and feeding
in a fruiting tree. </p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjlBwApRPN9fRGwTFlrNKj2SoaNti1QuIX2Zhn9fin2Oode72jHD5PaWHHX7L1RQ_oZiTFR_kn0gUMBZaIFULltOvdj7DHJuUF7PdP_jYmfSg1ZTHLZYDNgeKd9a1LjHXX7BWGjN1_J2NgUxpqnI_L3f23Vxi9kjQgx8-VRkaSmseg1WAyiPg9axD/s957/eclectus%20parrot1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="957" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNjlBwApRPN9fRGwTFlrNKj2SoaNti1QuIX2Zhn9fin2Oode72jHD5PaWHHX7L1RQ_oZiTFR_kn0gUMBZaIFULltOvdj7DHJuUF7PdP_jYmfSg1ZTHLZYDNgeKd9a1LjHXX7BWGjN1_J2NgUxpqnI_L3f23Vxi9kjQgx8-VRkaSmseg1WAyiPg9axD/s320/eclectus%20parrot1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Eclectus Parrot female (above and below)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhp842fskL2AE-ETGsSDhjxE0JM2AnjiP7zb_WaDynlsGF02h-3rDlZ-yeKgsabYhJ-qi7b0tZNLmJAb_zn0Xcxk6or4BNFXe6DeEGpde-K52FsL9gNNl-47lBlIzG8t8EpuDFtCc5vs6ax9CdR7qh6jiQ0s3u6dyLvyUEzvsknBhyiNNiDykrffO/s2012/eclectus%20parrot.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1677" data-original-width="2012" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEhp842fskL2AE-ETGsSDhjxE0JM2AnjiP7zb_WaDynlsGF02h-3rDlZ-yeKgsabYhJ-qi7b0tZNLmJAb_zn0Xcxk6or4BNFXe6DeEGpde-K52FsL9gNNl-47lBlIzG8t8EpuDFtCc5vs6ax9CdR7qh6jiQ0s3u6dyLvyUEzvsknBhyiNNiDykrffO/s320/eclectus%20parrot.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">Moutached Tree-Swifts sat atop tall trees.
White-mantled Kingfishers called from inside the forest but only
brief flight views were had.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvS88o854KffGpcTGD6YKEnp8q4ZvLwVXFcm0vFFkfzgsM3hfaofTgK4Yc-_ZrI2vs_ct9Cs_UbSVPiWvI0RZkzVwYv2cvvKLWD3Cc5qhAAwJS_bAq7lGocRmfODzi9mokpe7o0Ft65kuzFjrCrmAG-shTHAYLz1sfVy67svRN2L_yZKRh54jt3fSC/s1212/moustached%20tree-swift.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="899" data-original-width="1212" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvS88o854KffGpcTGD6YKEnp8q4ZvLwVXFcm0vFFkfzgsM3hfaofTgK4Yc-_ZrI2vs_ct9Cs_UbSVPiWvI0RZkzVwYv2cvvKLWD3Cc5qhAAwJS_bAq7lGocRmfODzi9mokpe7o0Ft65kuzFjrCrmAG-shTHAYLz1sfVy67svRN2L_yZKRh54jt3fSC/s320/moustached%20tree-swift.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moustached Tree-Swift</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">More co-operative was a pair of
Black-capped Paradise-Kingfishers, with both birds showing nicely.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JT3oIkEUE2tUvGOOO6pF8jzBYWNdy38QcRJ5CodawpJ0fwfk4emD9OouD6itDnkfp_lzKIbI9Lwo30Q4eZ3KOT9YOpYb9d_hO-bcla1ty13i7_TIbjduPxu23fraMPE2bbqwwRPIBIm7iEG7dwsQUkd49MucNUsB5ub5cjf7lUdj275wrga-QkOW/s1623/black-capped%20paradise-kingfisher1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1098" data-original-width="1623" height="216" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3JT3oIkEUE2tUvGOOO6pF8jzBYWNdy38QcRJ5CodawpJ0fwfk4emD9OouD6itDnkfp_lzKIbI9Lwo30Q4eZ3KOT9YOpYb9d_hO-bcla1ty13i7_TIbjduPxu23fraMPE2bbqwwRPIBIm7iEG7dwsQUkd49MucNUsB5ub5cjf7lUdj275wrga-QkOW/s320/black-capped%20paradise-kingfisher1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-capped Paradise-Kinfisher (above and below)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSifXNi1bPIyaewRRmp06EGltFAuyIDzzDzpZuoXI5yzPzAHdnRag9yQx10urg2zzy7VNc4lpRgacuHoDiqelAn6xGrTjIabwqFbSGGGZYqzsbnmBAFj_lWTeZ0CRYFzATN43vwY4A9WFPkFs8IkciIv585WbiafbMDbKSbZQF1UKo-EqWyOSJ34LR/s1216/black-capped%20paradise-kingfisher2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="706" data-original-width="1216" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSifXNi1bPIyaewRRmp06EGltFAuyIDzzDzpZuoXI5yzPzAHdnRag9yQx10urg2zzy7VNc4lpRgacuHoDiqelAn6xGrTjIabwqFbSGGGZYqzsbnmBAFj_lWTeZ0CRYFzATN43vwY4A9WFPkFs8IkciIv585WbiafbMDbKSbZQF1UKo-EqWyOSJ34LR/s320/black-capped%20paradise-kingfisher2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">As
we left the area we saw a couple of Melanesian (Collared) Kingfishers
in more open habitat. A Bismarck Pitta teased at it called at close quarters, allowing a decent if brief flight view. </p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDheULrj0R4TWjSUokJpl4QZRDSNGvYjqviC6q-3O8PXNUlCudTP2mW5lnBZrTGHYOMMkX-fhYiZkft60NFEXIcPBWjblcLoR-wUNehvO8SCLlpJUvKfG5b89nuXxo6oHzx5hJf6_jJTTVBJ0YmcliwtGc_hP7lYROk9HwxwQRRPz4JAef_uJPYZFZ/s1486/bismarck%20(collared)%20kingfisher%20.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1440" data-original-width="1486" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDheULrj0R4TWjSUokJpl4QZRDSNGvYjqviC6q-3O8PXNUlCudTP2mW5lnBZrTGHYOMMkX-fhYiZkft60NFEXIcPBWjblcLoR-wUNehvO8SCLlpJUvKfG5b89nuXxo6oHzx5hJf6_jJTTVBJ0YmcliwtGc_hP7lYROk9HwxwQRRPz4JAef_uJPYZFZ/w320-h310/bismarck%20(collared)%20kingfisher%20.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melanesian Kingfisher</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">New Britain Friarbird was very
common. A pair of Bismarck Fantails were heard and then seen
furtively making their way through the undergrowth; the species is
scarce at this low altitude. Others included Bismarck Crow, Black
Sunbird and Ashy Myzomela. We left the area late morning and were
back at the ship by 1pm, so it’s an easy trip for cruising birders
to undertake during a Rabaul stopover.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWHPqrIo0S2FscV9lWQ2nn_PM_IcPgGSNunyneGsaVi-uQu88d5wbwiJl6M04-VFq6dQbkT6_ycO-1Ac3JzjBJ6phMIkDPr6BItcEGXpF5V5-9x8Qxe3hZ7FLHHGjYQd3vCNINFZky_yXubA46qRyRtLcnRqwx_MF2lvwl62SPL1XNtJfDQr1mLh7/s1179/new%20britain%20friarbird.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1034" data-original-width="1179" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLWHPqrIo0S2FscV9lWQ2nn_PM_IcPgGSNunyneGsaVi-uQu88d5wbwiJl6M04-VFq6dQbkT6_ycO-1Ac3JzjBJ6phMIkDPr6BItcEGXpF5V5-9x8Qxe3hZ7FLHHGjYQd3vCNINFZky_yXubA46qRyRtLcnRqwx_MF2lvwl62SPL1XNtJfDQr1mLh7/s320/new%20britain%20friarbird.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Britain Friarbird</td></tr></tbody></table><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><b>SPECIES</b> (*lifer): Great Flying-Fox*.</p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Buff-banded Rail, Brahminy Kite, Pacific Baza, Amboyna
Cuckoo-shrike,</p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
Red-knobbed Imperial-Pigeon, Yellowish Imperial-Pigeon*, Superb
Fruit-Dove, Blue-eyed Cockatoo, Eclectus Parrot, Coconut Lorikeet,
*Bismarck Hanging-Parrot, Brush Cuckoo, Channel-billed Cuckoo,
Uniform Swiftlet, Glossy Swiftlet, Moustached Tree-Swift,</p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
*White-mantled (New Britain) Kingfisher, *Black-capped Paradise-Kingfisher,
Melanesian (Collared) Kingfisher, *Bismarck Pitta, Pacific Swallow,
Varied Triller, Barred Cuckoo-Shrike (subsp sublineata), Black
Sunbird, New Britain Friarbird, Ashy Myzomela, Red-banded
Flowerpecker (subsp lagardorum), *Bismarck Fantail, Black-tailed Monarch, Velvet
Flycatcher, Spangled Drongo (subsp laemostictus), Bismarck Crow,
Singing Starling, Hooded Mannikin. 33 species (6 lifers). <a href="https://ebird.org/australia/checklist/S127977330">Elist
here</a>.</p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwTXSuUH-mJUbLmK-0_H3an5tTVgNuWtccw5Z0pwVylyh-DcDioVsJzyi5WvOQelBNX3C-qQ54YThxEVdz_OqxttUI3RtsB_RICksXBYkPyASBQXz9cN7RAIBidO6U--bdxLRtnpVrsvhxRnXSbvu2KZPP08OaDR3NcmqPIT9GITY4b8DieK1h3dN/s1792/black%20sunbird.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1308" data-original-width="1792" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOwTXSuUH-mJUbLmK-0_H3an5tTVgNuWtccw5Z0pwVylyh-DcDioVsJzyi5WvOQelBNX3C-qQ54YThxEVdz_OqxttUI3RtsB_RICksXBYkPyASBQXz9cN7RAIBidO6U--bdxLRtnpVrsvhxRnXSbvu2KZPP08OaDR3NcmqPIT9GITY4b8DieK1h3dN/s320/black%20sunbird.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black Sunbird female</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p><p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><br /></p>
<p style="font-weight: normal; line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
</p><br /><p></p>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-87265454898651233682023-02-09T13:56:00.003+10:002023-02-09T18:45:54.271+10:00Papua New Guinea Cruise Part 1: All at Sea <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJl2XjN36tSylnK7C-67-AD3-AalR_1rhskd54YvA4cIcCQLRoAAsQkyGkJhZbcU1acJo0qj9qit5oIlQoZr-ALMQZBDuIlGNGxrmtrOotugrDnlvFxZZdhFficiTYcZ-vHGCHgyBV-Qxh-ET8TqYKZIleMyy9FKSojUYdcvRt4X4_jV1VGYOA_flU/s3929/red-footed%20booby.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2117" data-original-width="3929" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJl2XjN36tSylnK7C-67-AD3-AalR_1rhskd54YvA4cIcCQLRoAAsQkyGkJhZbcU1acJo0qj9qit5oIlQoZr-ALMQZBDuIlGNGxrmtrOotugrDnlvFxZZdhFficiTYcZ-vHGCHgyBV-Qxh-ET8TqYKZIleMyy9FKSojUYdcvRt4X4_jV1VGYOA_flU/s320/red-footed%20booby.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-footed Booby</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div>
We’ve just returned from a 12-day cruise from Brisbane to Papua New Guinea aboard the Coral Princess from January 26 to February 6. I’ll post separately about productive birding experiences near Rabaul and in the Conflict Islands. This post is to give an idea of what to expect on a cruise of this nature and to outline what happened with seabirds along the way. It’s important to note that seabirding from large cruise ships is difficult; you’re a long way up from the water and birds are usually distant.<div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPux7FwrsBeqS9JxRnnGFjM_gUSOUvcbunRWczT9_aQAgoSI2GyuWKa6SPAZUiHKBYI8r_giId7doxEiL78H5jAE9DBTUeCXKz0oDGWn6LpY6I6cahmUBAtgLTEZvkTwBtac9qUz-_3O_143r4TmmX-Hl8jSGXtoO3HuI_gLH8VY-vbHzeBjbnSoup/s2048/wedge-tailed%20shearwater.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1488" data-original-width="2048" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPux7FwrsBeqS9JxRnnGFjM_gUSOUvcbunRWczT9_aQAgoSI2GyuWKa6SPAZUiHKBYI8r_giId7doxEiL78H5jAE9DBTUeCXKz0oDGWn6LpY6I6cahmUBAtgLTEZvkTwBtac9qUz-_3O_143r4TmmX-Hl8jSGXtoO3HuI_gLH8VY-vbHzeBjbnSoup/s320/wedge-tailed%20shearwater.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wedge-tailed Shearwater</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><div>First birds of interest were a surprisingly good number (about 10) of Brown Booby perched with Pied Cormorants on pylons as we left Moreton Bay late-afternoon on Day One. At 6am the next day (January 27) we were at 23.79020S, 153.47622E, well north of Fraser Island, heading north at 17 knots an hour, a speed maintained for most of the cruise. Several hundred Wedge-tailed Shearwaters were seen as the morning progressed, most heading north. By 9am we had crossed the Tropic of Capricorn about 170km east of Rockhampton (23.48139S, 153.42456E) and it wasn’t until then that the first and last Tahiti Petrels for the trip were seen – 3 distant birds. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXyMARBvt9WvQIzGcbmIcsqfbTNLhk6dTkR3h0Bayz2konuja8BWUd71hEUPidXcBjHiAJXOsBAfNUT1hFUjzloLwg1pCcXZ11rpEvj5nZ23Fb9QPwe0WxuU0r6_SWfVyrF3AMmzPkPx5f-DGb4bFFTakW5s7AZOVKjnUGhMeYLriXuAhzVtyuhJA/s3467/masked%20booby2.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2917" data-original-width="3467" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAXyMARBvt9WvQIzGcbmIcsqfbTNLhk6dTkR3h0Bayz2konuja8BWUd71hEUPidXcBjHiAJXOsBAfNUT1hFUjzloLwg1pCcXZ11rpEvj5nZ23Fb9QPwe0WxuU0r6_SWfVyrF3AMmzPkPx5f-DGb4bFFTakW5s7AZOVKjnUGhMeYLriXuAhzVtyuhJA/s320/masked%20booby2.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masked Booby</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div> An hour later we were skirting the southern end of the Great Barrier Reef (22.82514S, 153.31802E) about 300km east of Rockhampton and bird numbers picked up. I saw in quick succession Masked Booby, Red-footed Booby, Red-tailed Tropicbird (1 single and 1 pair), White-tailed Tropicbird (1 pair) and a female Lesser Frigatebird. Wedge-tailed Shearwaters remained abundant but mostly as singles and small groups flying north.
By 2.30pm we were about 350km east of Mackay (21.40460S, 153.08650E) having notched up several more Masked Boobies, another White-tailed Tropicbird and a few Sooty Terns. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSNMcDs6lS_0k5yyAK3UtElKmek0INoJSOrBphf23psMtMSCQJyuFpvnDDnPuKo3VurXxxpfSRcr3x9_vM-sKn3mYvCsDVLUMsP42y6fkHywNBzj9KCRA0cpdwPmzE1LwDa_WWgrkD8LUbyaIl4WRD6e8L_l2_OkS0snD-GI3IeeLc4nm7Z2ZpmGY/s898/white-tailed%20tropicbird.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="860" data-original-width="898" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmSNMcDs6lS_0k5yyAK3UtElKmek0INoJSOrBphf23psMtMSCQJyuFpvnDDnPuKo3VurXxxpfSRcr3x9_vM-sKn3mYvCsDVLUMsP42y6fkHywNBzj9KCRA0cpdwPmzE1LwDa_WWgrkD8LUbyaIl4WRD6e8L_l2_OkS0snD-GI3IeeLc4nm7Z2ZpmGY/s320/white-tailed%20tropicbird.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-tailed Tropicbird</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>By this time, the shearwaters began dropping off markedly in numbers.
At 6am on 28 January, with the phone GPS no longer working, we were about 500km east of Cairns in the Coral Sea Islands Territory. Several Masked Boobies were regularly following the ship, attempting to catch flying fish disturbed in its wake. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLq6rNxvvhkU2NKiZaP-XSpYt1M3lXD_6NIzXNI_D3nnNctIpByawoyRDNTKmVkofLrrnZYUyHHmuUF5yQdPBjqQwQvU-EH89pBLHTz6WLut6VAmUpVrpVMcFis9iupHTOMZzr7g5pE66H29lclvdLdwni5RcedX35Xh3AOkuhU-ADCzT_jn_LR733/s805/flying%20fish.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="727" data-original-width="805" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLq6rNxvvhkU2NKiZaP-XSpYt1M3lXD_6NIzXNI_D3nnNctIpByawoyRDNTKmVkofLrrnZYUyHHmuUF5yQdPBjqQwQvU-EH89pBLHTz6WLut6VAmUpVrpVMcFis9iupHTOMZzr7g5pE66H29lclvdLdwni5RcedX35Xh3AOkuhU-ADCzT_jn_LR733/s320/flying%20fish.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flying Fish</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Another White-tailed Tropicbird was seen. Wedge-tailed Shearwater by now was scarce. At 9.30am, 500km east of Cape Flattery, a couple of Red-footed Boobies joined the Masked Boobies following the ship, with both species maintaining a presence for the rest of the day. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7f9sV4vLTLez6CRWxRRYXRu8iFAng8ftspGoTfQGRvqIpw8Nl5HSjfkxI1SyBDmPuyL0BonoSzXQ7CCOo7sMKnRKHYPp52gFPZRmlfTsHBOZmB52hg_5Ce-QZWwiJXtvjQyJrm2j8KFqhJIFoQXD6WWT2z1KgDQeAQPtCb6tybriNNgiRcdZOKQxh/s3370/red-footed%20booby1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3370" data-original-width="3195" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7f9sV4vLTLez6CRWxRRYXRu8iFAng8ftspGoTfQGRvqIpw8Nl5HSjfkxI1SyBDmPuyL0BonoSzXQ7CCOo7sMKnRKHYPp52gFPZRmlfTsHBOZmB52hg_5Ce-QZWwiJXtvjQyJrm2j8KFqhJIFoQXD6WWT2z1KgDQeAQPtCb6tybriNNgiRcdZOKQxh/s320/red-footed%20booby1.jpg" width="303" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-footed Booby (above and below)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HuLr1AJsMzUp7SWFAB0ZryZ9IxH2zhUufdcJo_UQSVVmY8s5wYNCqtT7ca6ro6jL2sRkzWkWS7qLab5g-9NjdbTdbhuotVEt535ncPqbyChPW5jgzEhjIndZLkK9cxjOkCb3uwSVYY4kFLwEXzOsQIOzPGaHLHMm5iGDNywNI_0EUQPgdJnnN2fs/s6526/red-footed%20booby2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3038" data-original-width="6526" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6HuLr1AJsMzUp7SWFAB0ZryZ9IxH2zhUufdcJo_UQSVVmY8s5wYNCqtT7ca6ro6jL2sRkzWkWS7qLab5g-9NjdbTdbhuotVEt535ncPqbyChPW5jgzEhjIndZLkK9cxjOkCb3uwSVYY4kFLwEXzOsQIOzPGaHLHMm5iGDNywNI_0EUQPgdJnnN2fs/s320/red-footed%20booby2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>Small flocks of Sooty Tern were about. A distant bird that was very likely a Herald Petrel was seen briefly.
We were in the PNG port of Alotai on 29 January for a land visit.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJ6xHO9k9RYSgZZn9xKPqA_WtGMLu1wFkTjZTfLYOfhakf8TMbgu84bFv7rQE2LM-sr1dLM4W98jjrK8udOaCgXmn0FC60_ufZIZwDd-Hq4P8QrGyE1Rp68JK6h8MTcYNLTSxt6tdDapW_WajYYpakQ40f4UwALCQpiZHgP3NrDjOGj27SEFy2sjz/s1748/a%20alatou%20&%20coral%20princess.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1004" data-original-width="1748" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfJ6xHO9k9RYSgZZn9xKPqA_WtGMLu1wFkTjZTfLYOfhakf8TMbgu84bFv7rQE2LM-sr1dLM4W98jjrK8udOaCgXmn0FC60_ufZIZwDd-Hq4P8QrGyE1Rp68JK6h8MTcYNLTSxt6tdDapW_WajYYpakQ40f4UwALCQpiZHgP3NrDjOGj27SEFy2sjz/s320/a%20alatou%20&%20coral%20princess.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Coral Princess berthed in Alatou</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Unfortunately my attempts at organising a birding trip had failed so I was reduced to looking at Pacific Swallows and Singing Starlings along the foreshore of this somewhat bedraggled town.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoZfshnteRrpHRPQF-ta2f42pgb6fSmnY8cYgN9xQHUkl7o7okeTGMh8NnC1PSUjNiILL7MW6X-0aKFdVij-ep1cXeRgLgp9mnYceelOVFLYyMvh-iJsECwlUhh0p9oUBHJKUXPKvC5_WW8WlcpfLzYEfm5dmhtSBy7ynNZnQuU2LySfc3XxVXK7h/s1837/pacific%20swallow.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1697" data-original-width="1837" height="296" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxoZfshnteRrpHRPQF-ta2f42pgb6fSmnY8cYgN9xQHUkl7o7okeTGMh8NnC1PSUjNiILL7MW6X-0aKFdVij-ep1cXeRgLgp9mnYceelOVFLYyMvh-iJsECwlUhh0p9oUBHJKUXPKvC5_WW8WlcpfLzYEfm5dmhtSBy7ynNZnQuU2LySfc3XxVXK7h/s320/pacific%20swallow.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pacific Swallow</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnv_u1M-ul9l6T7UXdlY7M6R_Tra0q6q1KMhM5p3-XoL4T1r5H0u195c35OkHQON87PeNg8BKHOtxw-SI8zvShIaOmIDATLv-v-UlLWBw4FSDpqZgjPZiVD-XD4b8n1KbXWTQ68Y_STVuc_dyxKZkGqYgaNz0ECwFblgIG3DuJZ73rMyVYL3SmaSOe/s3173/singing%20starling.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2318" data-original-width="3173" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnv_u1M-ul9l6T7UXdlY7M6R_Tra0q6q1KMhM5p3-XoL4T1r5H0u195c35OkHQON87PeNg8BKHOtxw-SI8zvShIaOmIDATLv-v-UlLWBw4FSDpqZgjPZiVD-XD4b8n1KbXWTQ68Y_STVuc_dyxKZkGqYgaNz0ECwFblgIG3DuJZ73rMyVYL3SmaSOe/s320/singing%20starling.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Singing Starling</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div> Boys charged $5 to be photographed with a captive Blyth’s Hornbill (this image was not paid for!). </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1K5kidG3VBm8ZpoO7r61yAWStVucH3pcj4FYBR1sqJIxHJ7k5ncOHpS9ZfNX6qvXopH6C62UyLuPq-gaGDNsEyXv2NLgo87cnrVQGshxge1DTVISIfg41acN8K5v7PC-aUOz6JG13v9afl7hp-vMRVzP6_jJqluQ7Bp5PLcE1TVEsAIzdmKBcpJhx/s2952/blyth's%20hornbill%20alatou.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2636" data-original-width="2952" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1K5kidG3VBm8ZpoO7r61yAWStVucH3pcj4FYBR1sqJIxHJ7k5ncOHpS9ZfNX6qvXopH6C62UyLuPq-gaGDNsEyXv2NLgo87cnrVQGshxge1DTVISIfg41acN8K5v7PC-aUOz6JG13v9afl7hp-vMRVzP6_jJqluQ7Bp5PLcE1TVEsAIzdmKBcpJhx/s320/blyth's%20hornbill%20alatou.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Captive Blyth's Hornbill</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>Other birds around town were Willie Wagtail, Torresian Crow, White-breasted Woodswallow, Chestnut-breasted Mannikin, Torresian Imperial-Pigeon and Varied Honeyeater. In the late afternoon we departed, enjoying the scenic Milne Bay as we headed east through PNG waters. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWdAP4kOdM7rI_TfoIcCxvR7xJgSac2VWT2UzLRONcMMlsD2vZI5pRGGyxuiOQH6pokQPDlod2MCZg8G777K3TbUkCov4OvGRvtZaGRHQ8qOqa2r7kQpwVM78YfqjoVBia3jt4DN8p_QihUrhWq8K7qfF5HC-7rAjIOM14ZjBIckkdiI68M27NpD9/s2016/a%20milne%20bay.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="929" data-original-width="2016" height="147" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWdAP4kOdM7rI_TfoIcCxvR7xJgSac2VWT2UzLRONcMMlsD2vZI5pRGGyxuiOQH6pokQPDlod2MCZg8G777K3TbUkCov4OvGRvtZaGRHQ8qOqa2r7kQpwVM78YfqjoVBia3jt4DN8p_QihUrhWq8K7qfF5HC-7rAjIOM14ZjBIckkdiI68M27NpD9/w320-h147/a%20milne%20bay.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Milne Bay</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div> January 30 was another day at sea, having now left the Coral Sea which had been with us for most of the trip and crossing the Solomon Sea. At 6am we were about 80km north-east of Fergusson Island (9.15418S, 151.40258E). Not much was seen other than a few Brown Boobies early morning. Around this time I saw another Red-tailed Tropicbird, a couple more Red-footed Boobies (although boobies had by now stopped following the ship) and some Sooty Terns.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgntNI5qCDV5AlnoZNzc1cqyoLlDo_ozwLrvVfxmFfZ0ZgcM4YoHoE_CATayjrgOvTISfMPfkVlWFkHrOGIbk4QQvw2n6OHk7kFhGxv8dEKRvYl4K6ZaYS2OA_QMM0Fx3leDXdihCpVnFw1PmhRV8fsOWXbDnuRd3u1vIRJpxLYbfyBrUOzPSTajc/s594/sooty%20tern.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="474" data-original-width="594" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqgntNI5qCDV5AlnoZNzc1cqyoLlDo_ozwLrvVfxmFfZ0ZgcM4YoHoE_CATayjrgOvTISfMPfkVlWFkHrOGIbk4QQvw2n6OHk7kFhGxv8dEKRvYl4K6ZaYS2OA_QMM0Fx3leDXdihCpVnFw1PmhRV8fsOWXbDnuRd3u1vIRJpxLYbfyBrUOzPSTajc/s320/sooty%20tern.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sooty Tern</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>In the afternoon I saw a pod of Long-flippered Pilot Whales (7.54995S, 151.72454E) and more Red-footed Boobies.
At 6am on January 31 we were 10km east of Cape Gazelle at the eastern end of New Britain (4.46433S, 152.46290E) and 40km west of New Ireland. This was the kind of area we needed to be in for the rare and highly localised Beck’s Petrel, but no petrels of any kind showed. Even Wedge-tailed Shearwaters had not shown for a few days now. What we did find unexpectedly was a Uniform Swiftlet (of the New Britain endemic subsp pallens) alive on the deck.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh14XtVljYtK7_EBSM-u4K7XIs9PGU2BBnerhXxl_c7ffuerWUP0IFoZRzQabLw-627q7S9bQVvaubzu8XgtsoImkydlr2mTImCa33tTpT6vMoY7mi_S49JR8y3u8t83Q4n8zIscSXmkI10oOp8sc8pWtLk2G2IbVN9uwvrpDeHctrHoQMHxcPdPKO/s1512/unform%20swiftlet.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1394" data-original-width="1512" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh14XtVljYtK7_EBSM-u4K7XIs9PGU2BBnerhXxl_c7ffuerWUP0IFoZRzQabLw-627q7S9bQVvaubzu8XgtsoImkydlr2mTImCa33tTpT6vMoY7mi_S49JR8y3u8t83Q4n8zIscSXmkI10oOp8sc8pWtLk2G2IbVN9uwvrpDeHctrHoQMHxcPdPKO/s320/unform%20swiftlet.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uniform Swiftlet</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div><br /> A few Lesser Frigatebirds and Black-naped Terns were about and a nice pod of Gray’s Spinner Dolphins put on a show close to the ship. </div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1JY2vFiIsJ1UcjHUAZzVddb1ajCNf4ToOeY1X9hykLAJrv290Er0fpah08tl-Bk8l0iqBaC57YAVDHmfVgk2f34SaXf406TJWvdagEou-SEMhAW6dazprri8VB1TmT4tQvTgfdLQz6FJnxC0huQ5szyD-HfA88gWmnCuo9C8X0_X3eeiuUPMl9tC/s2904/grey's%20spinner%20dolphin1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1922" data-original-width="2904" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw1JY2vFiIsJ1UcjHUAZzVddb1ajCNf4ToOeY1X9hykLAJrv290Er0fpah08tl-Bk8l0iqBaC57YAVDHmfVgk2f34SaXf406TJWvdagEou-SEMhAW6dazprri8VB1TmT4tQvTgfdLQz6FJnxC0huQ5szyD-HfA88gWmnCuo9C8X0_X3eeiuUPMl9tC/s320/grey's%20spinner%20dolphin1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Gray's Spinner Dolphin (above and below)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1ovGwQeIw9pwoE-AcG3afBsIcRL3OtMmcFJwVsIxjs0Mpys3UJo_QFL0_vj5SbCMbWHLOALhbR-YZAbRvB2jPT09UUn8iSE8Z-WOlwM66Ag7QpUQwdil_wOEHI5IJWkeIAgvwlealEpgKiWPlYKNOuqPVAYLHT558w28kNnDX9oT2lnBNvlztOxU/s4697/grey's%20spinner%20dolphin%20rabaul.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3269" data-original-width="4697" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk1ovGwQeIw9pwoE-AcG3afBsIcRL3OtMmcFJwVsIxjs0Mpys3UJo_QFL0_vj5SbCMbWHLOALhbR-YZAbRvB2jPT09UUn8iSE8Z-WOlwM66Ag7QpUQwdil_wOEHI5IJWkeIAgvwlealEpgKiWPlYKNOuqPVAYLHT558w28kNnDX9oT2lnBNvlztOxU/s320/grey's%20spinner%20dolphin%20rabaul.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div>We had a two-day stop in Rabaul. Day one was partly occupied with a cultural tour of World War II relics around town and the wastelands that emerged after the city was buried by volcanic ash in 1994. Birds included Singing Starling, Glossy Swiftlet, Golden-headed Cisticola, Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Willie Wagtail, King Quail, Hooded Mannikin and Willie Wagtail. Day two was a productive visit to forest away from town; the subject of the next blog post. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPGpOKRKLmKLOi4xzx-WnAC1VImOhONJKW6UWCeba-2a82ZbfsEnugJZRBli8HhxuaevTLGv0asN7kbRhHUN5p2hSKXV7T8R6fMZBZbs9B18iVK4ETkGYFfgbRaMOB0_5OWbhWMs-cZhRFZmzTSRsWfdzrBj0u71ThDk7Hb97E8DcNxwm5FO2fZGj/s1760/a%20rabaul%20kids.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="990" data-original-width="1760" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwPGpOKRKLmKLOi4xzx-WnAC1VImOhONJKW6UWCeba-2a82ZbfsEnugJZRBli8HhxuaevTLGv0asN7kbRhHUN5p2hSKXV7T8R6fMZBZbs9B18iVK4ETkGYFfgbRaMOB0_5OWbhWMs-cZhRFZmzTSRsWfdzrBj0u71ThDk7Hb97E8DcNxwm5FO2fZGj/s320/a%20rabaul%20kids.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Children at Rabaul</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvLt6ka320QUvtcV_g033OHtTZ4sQBbAbKnNQsXN7b3S5IZbyMKR98vvKJbqYgbSfdudoWS7rIDkDxItIbY6V2ohuDYatNQR4GrXPKauYnQ5HQXWnqxLRbd2CXczbs3bG0R3l9VgrUPlE9BiHz-hDke3odHLsb2RLHmTmboSX6r8xY7jmRgrR1i9Q/s1979/a%20rabaul%20volcano.jpeg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1048" data-original-width="1979" height="169" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvLt6ka320QUvtcV_g033OHtTZ4sQBbAbKnNQsXN7b3S5IZbyMKR98vvKJbqYgbSfdudoWS7rIDkDxItIbY6V2ohuDYatNQR4GrXPKauYnQ5HQXWnqxLRbd2CXczbs3bG0R3l9VgrUPlE9BiHz-hDke3odHLsb2RLHmTmboSX6r8xY7jmRgrR1i9Q/s320/a%20rabaul%20volcano.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rabaul's still active volcano</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>We left Rabaul late in the afternoon of February 1, seeing a mixed flock of Great and Lesser Frigatebirds, and a flock of Island Imperial-Pigeons flying to a small offshore island.
February 2 was when we supposed to visit Kiriwina Island in the famed Trobriand group. I was looking forward to this, especially the chance for the coveted Curl-crested Manucode. A rain squall prevented us from landing with tenders and the captain turned the ship around and headed south at 10am, eight hours before we were scheduled to leave the island. We learned later that the weather cleared up with an hour and it remains a mystery why the captain did not elect to wait a little longer to see if the weather improved.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2heIYCUHpf61Y6So712r3DMfNSh37Zj8OSFFScmGsmiKNFADwwAraUzExxyPzCi2kl3VLywC75fxgMCFmPE4j8JUOFeu_9zHJt__ZE120p1_0Ku1Qu1DqsFU4NFiFvSVZ-66mDD5Ou7oi2LiPQEcTPglcB-P1hGUy-OL_QB51umSnWpuYGDq2wWE/s1386/lesser%20frigatebird.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="721" data-original-width="1386" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio2heIYCUHpf61Y6So712r3DMfNSh37Zj8OSFFScmGsmiKNFADwwAraUzExxyPzCi2kl3VLywC75fxgMCFmPE4j8JUOFeu_9zHJt__ZE120p1_0Ku1Qu1DqsFU4NFiFvSVZ-66mDD5Ou7oi2LiPQEcTPglcB-P1hGUy-OL_QB51umSnWpuYGDq2wWE/s320/lesser%20frigatebird.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lesser Frigatebird</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div> We continued south at a painfully slow speed (with much time to kill before our next destination) but saw nothing other than a few Brown Boobies and Crested Terns. Things thankfully improved on January 3 when we were able to land on the Conflict Islands, the subject of another post.
At 6am on February 4 we were 650km east of Cape Melville. Boobies were all about the ship diving for flying fish, with 6 Masked, 4 Brown and 10 Red-footed making the line-up at one point. A Great Frigatebird and another Red-tailed tropicbird showed. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7UXl14sg9c0Mobbc7diTrU78-C7MeGMcXSXfPdS9oHTVXIo4oL68IWt-RCxsQ7czEGOZH0f8OxTvOShVnKbwhEnb_99GzCHdP7gMtrKduUKM3aNUmpThzy-C6DFKmhmBOtGbHZvtf1esoe4DxPy014ZDUDyRjAbKRQf5aenah2rMSqDCgZixxQXwb/s1322/red-tailed%20tropicbird.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="865" data-original-width="1322" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7UXl14sg9c0Mobbc7diTrU78-C7MeGMcXSXfPdS9oHTVXIo4oL68IWt-RCxsQ7czEGOZH0f8OxTvOShVnKbwhEnb_99GzCHdP7gMtrKduUKM3aNUmpThzy-C6DFKmhmBOtGbHZvtf1esoe4DxPy014ZDUDyRjAbKRQf5aenah2rMSqDCgZixxQXwb/s320/red-tailed%20tropicbird.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-tailed Tropicbird</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>At 9am, about 500km east of Cape Flattery (14.90885S, 152.47574E), I saw an interesting petrel/shearwater but this poor image (below) is the only I managed; it looked markedly smaller than the many Wedge-taileds I’d seen earlier on the cruise and was flying erratically close to the water in the company of Sooty Terns. It may have been a Christmas Shearwater but the image does not rule out Wedge-tailed.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgeM09BGNhP3ZMY95I8qGYYLX8zZkpV0i8nGnsQotnLppZkz09OWsmKqXtkKyWOYjwL-ZH7VpiE5VLcccRo1bt2kJbxwBJEnHQzhJudXHZeFDAZE1-LlOB1jIG7_rr2FFXFMaFkRcWZezdMe49SI9wKqOJTf7C7KNLI3_JoR21ubsErA4VrzKKfHy/s548/mystery%20shearwater.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="548" data-original-width="541" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihgeM09BGNhP3ZMY95I8qGYYLX8zZkpV0i8nGnsQotnLppZkz09OWsmKqXtkKyWOYjwL-ZH7VpiE5VLcccRo1bt2kJbxwBJEnHQzhJudXHZeFDAZE1-LlOB1jIG7_rr2FFXFMaFkRcWZezdMe49SI9wKqOJTf7C7KNLI3_JoR21ubsErA4VrzKKfHy/s320/mystery%20shearwater.jpg" width="316" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mystery Shearwater</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Around lunchtime I saw a Flesh-footed Shearwater, which is pretty much unknown in waters this tropical. At that point, Wedge-tailed Shearwaters had not been seen for several days.</div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzrR4CKdBaqRLXvanis-DYEGkbKbWLok-8dXuY0VxBcydNLiqsbG6M8aM-vJol4lKeDInuGfZKoDJ3__-CJlmbrGYKoRjkYAYBAx648Pwdo6zWRbxT-PzzIXF-am3kiZe0tMSRhwlAMF5mGvZBn46SCE0irKRZ0wHrtkKfvahXF8rgkrdJ67ObRke/s534/flesh-footed%20shearwater.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="402" data-original-width="534" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlzrR4CKdBaqRLXvanis-DYEGkbKbWLok-8dXuY0VxBcydNLiqsbG6M8aM-vJol4lKeDInuGfZKoDJ3__-CJlmbrGYKoRjkYAYBAx648Pwdo6zWRbxT-PzzIXF-am3kiZe0tMSRhwlAMF5mGvZBn46SCE0irKRZ0wHrtkKfvahXF8rgkrdJ67ObRke/w320-h241/flesh-footed%20shearwater.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flesh-footed Shearwater</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>Around mid-afternoon, 450km east of Cairns (16.37149S, 152.64106E), Wedge-tailed Shearwaters again began to show in small numbers. The large number of boobies following the ship (24 at one point, more than half of them Red-footed) began to drop off, with Brown Booby becoming the more common species as we headed south. Sooty Tern continued to show occasionally. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuV2OB5ckCd1c0Rot47_zWmdad2PPoX_tvFqh4h2Y56bd5neSlMANRuKG9kHN7rgBti8jHGrhgk9nbWTHlz7eS9TWCXBIXPuKeqjB_VdpIzOICNGL-YQSGIpK8jUgeoXK51ZkY8qxRhRQKc-TBnnLPu2kT79aBNM19S69VY1f9_czzz_KJL_tkP32I/s5471/masked%20booby.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3345" data-original-width="5471" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuV2OB5ckCd1c0Rot47_zWmdad2PPoX_tvFqh4h2Y56bd5neSlMANRuKG9kHN7rgBti8jHGrhgk9nbWTHlz7eS9TWCXBIXPuKeqjB_VdpIzOICNGL-YQSGIpK8jUgeoXK51ZkY8qxRhRQKc-TBnnLPu2kT79aBNM19S69VY1f9_czzz_KJL_tkP32I/s320/masked%20booby.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Masked Booby (above and below)</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9QlSVQwh4XQ_fiScRjvRCcChfZgb-eoNUNnFz3s_lAbb0Un1suIgDy_V-tmPFoe9pQFttz9yy92hryDFR_KmUUV5I-iSzxt_ZQtM1DdVELrwFla9ejFNm9E31K_56Z3CLHi6pMkZn_y-eW80Kq4kD7tZRC3FwUWltwRyds3IwzQjHQ17XaqZjv2Z/s4292/masked%20booby1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3325" data-original-width="4292" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV9QlSVQwh4XQ_fiScRjvRCcChfZgb-eoNUNnFz3s_lAbb0Un1suIgDy_V-tmPFoe9pQFttz9yy92hryDFR_KmUUV5I-iSzxt_ZQtM1DdVELrwFla9ejFNm9E31K_56Z3CLHi6pMkZn_y-eW80Kq4kD7tZRC3FwUWltwRyds3IwzQjHQ17XaqZjv2Z/s320/masked%20booby1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div> January 5 was the last full day of the cruise: another day traversing the Coral Sea. At 6.30am we were 320km east of Mackay (21.20436S, 153.19432E). Common Bottle-nose Dolphin was a long way from shore here. </div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdhrLrHRWUI1XkaMCvnApDfuOJgujrBTwCWeQC7pe7fFOp4LKNDfodVPIz48IUCBSmPtt8bZNT8vggOP95MSsA3sb3fVu9wF2_xjJ1ko3Ewomhvfo3F3MOHDGnwLu1SbEAjPSHmEeAvaG9Tw0xeQefdh6_LwzNT7oHiuv70WffN2XUSlAFvTJkmOD/s3430/dolphin%20-%20common%20bottle-nosed%20(Tursiops%20truncatus).jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2066" data-original-width="3430" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAdhrLrHRWUI1XkaMCvnApDfuOJgujrBTwCWeQC7pe7fFOp4LKNDfodVPIz48IUCBSmPtt8bZNT8vggOP95MSsA3sb3fVu9wF2_xjJ1ko3Ewomhvfo3F3MOHDGnwLu1SbEAjPSHmEeAvaG9Tw0xeQefdh6_LwzNT7oHiuv70WffN2XUSlAFvTJkmOD/s320/dolphin%20-%20common%20bottle-nosed%20(Tursiops%20truncatus).jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Bottle-nosed Dolphin</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><div>The first Streaked Shearwaters (2) of the trip put in an appearance among mixed flocks feeding on bait fish of Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Brown Booby, the occasional Masked Booby and Sooty Tern. Wedge-tailed Shearwaters were common throughout the day. </div></div><div><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61MgKBBdQx5XSuGTWQQu4hxyttyUZ7hn89mm6SUCq72Ams4h_sE69mDSCGgRPMkUu0WlUO2Jr7MFtAUYTAbk6jCNJP1FW0-pRALesTxL9Uyu9vZT6fIzBhY-nNhOrOjfRAhX7MSSCGVoI_KHuP8Pk6u8u2DaSu_kMApTDVYT9epj71-gKRiF57ExR/s1200/streaked%20shearwater%20with%20wedge-taileds.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="848" data-original-width="1200" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh61MgKBBdQx5XSuGTWQQu4hxyttyUZ7hn89mm6SUCq72Ams4h_sE69mDSCGgRPMkUu0WlUO2Jr7MFtAUYTAbk6jCNJP1FW0-pRALesTxL9Uyu9vZT6fIzBhY-nNhOrOjfRAhX7MSSCGVoI_KHuP8Pk6u8u2DaSu_kMApTDVYT9epj71-gKRiF57ExR/s320/streaked%20shearwater%20with%20wedge-taileds.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Streaked Shearwater with Wedge-tailed Shearwaters</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div>At 3pm we were 100km north of Fraser Island when we were joined by 3 Red-footed Boobies, which remained with the ship until 5.30pm, by which time we were 40km north-east of Sandy Cape. We disembarked in Brisbane on the morning of January 6.</div><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_Kd9i-iSdLFtCLpJpTmdbGlTMrUvarYOg4zHXyakK9pBAIt4grYt2LznUtyTufjcQ5FUu2Ww1nh9yhQAchH_E-yOxyUaV0CVHcl6gKm5gxc9k9T83d6LxlD7nUkSbx9rHkTQEhyNxY25aVI3z4hsX06dzJITyZiH9SpoB7drCVekiR-XO9WYVg0_/s2016/coral%20sea%20sunset.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="985" data-original-width="2016" height="156" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX_Kd9i-iSdLFtCLpJpTmdbGlTMrUvarYOg4zHXyakK9pBAIt4grYt2LznUtyTufjcQ5FUu2Ww1nh9yhQAchH_E-yOxyUaV0CVHcl6gKm5gxc9k9T83d6LxlD7nUkSbx9rHkTQEhyNxY25aVI3z4hsX06dzJITyZiH9SpoB7drCVekiR-XO9WYVg0_/s320/coral%20sea%20sunset.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br /><div><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br />Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4708258683294269863.post-68971352887370377832023-01-14T14:20:00.026+10:002023-01-15T10:26:33.252+10:00A cautionary and spooky tale of travel drama in West Africa with a twist of Night Parrot <p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vXcKwtdVU01YsBYk6wOUuKHsqGsAoTXQPzaKOdpZa0GCKLU4jXcQyTEJ29F_WZOuG5xMbKFPZ3Tp10d_45oxy0-f2jaouolkzKE-ghjDBtwlhcZ-WksVAsOTYuCa7G-A3kumdEi2zYLY61z-hzvgru0ottQspc1rmQ74AEW1BiUJ_kroydDPOMYJ/s400/21271129_1403126819752526_643076348551743877_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-vXcKwtdVU01YsBYk6wOUuKHsqGsAoTXQPzaKOdpZa0GCKLU4jXcQyTEJ29F_WZOuG5xMbKFPZ3Tp10d_45oxy0-f2jaouolkzKE-ghjDBtwlhcZ-WksVAsOTYuCa7G-A3kumdEi2zYLY61z-hzvgru0ottQspc1rmQ74AEW1BiUJ_kroydDPOMYJ/s320/21271129_1403126819752526_643076348551743877_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Rockjumper company logo</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;">
Some people are impressed by the fact that I’ve seen 8000+ of the
world’s 10,000+ species of birds, but if you've got the time
and money to pay big bird tour companies for guided trips, it’s not
difficult to amass totals of that order. I’ve preferred to organise
my own overseas trips undertaken solo; with my partner and/or a
small group of friends; or with groups I organise as leader and/or
guide in co-operation with local birding guides.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;">That’s not to say it’s not sensible to sign up with the big tour
operators. If you have the money it may indeed make sense; it’s an
easier option that those mentioned above. Also more safe and
stress-free, supposedly. I’ve only once participated in a tour
organised by one of the big operators – a three-week trip to
Cameroon in West Africa in 2006 run by South Africa’s Rockjumper. It was a long
time ago but I’ve been intending since then to tell a precautionary
if hair-raising tale about that trip. I’m now belatedly doing so.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUuTLe2vB7wLf3GA20qYhaVKsAZTVckdKsaADvuw25tOkwM1X7Tzb8HaPM7O_ZsrX2xLp4C_YgHZOHWwKJAu4-_lJ6FfKujiIzYY37dkZfwePFL9OlAfWEKEFyLtbciPhYcKt1BswUVe3wVM_F_zrW3blfNjrua8yeDm5q7nNsDzzBanpiQdItKBl/s1540/cam-rom-morroco%20048.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1066" data-original-width="1540" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivUuTLe2vB7wLf3GA20qYhaVKsAZTVckdKsaADvuw25tOkwM1X7Tzb8HaPM7O_ZsrX2xLp4C_YgHZOHWwKJAu4-_lJ6FfKujiIzYY37dkZfwePFL9OlAfWEKEFyLtbciPhYcKt1BswUVe3wVM_F_zrW3blfNjrua8yeDm5q7nNsDzzBanpiQdItKBl/s320/cam-rom-morroco%20048.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our Rockjumper tour of Cameroon</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;">The 10 participants were flying at different times from different
parts of the world to Cameroon’s economic capital - the city of
Douala. Unbeknown to me, two other participants, Ketil Knudsen from
Norway and Niels Poul Dryer from Denmark, were on my flight from
Paris. I was one of the first to disembark in Douala but my luggage
was last off the plane. I cleared Customs, expecting to find a
Rockjumper representative waiting with a placard displaying my name,
in accordance with company arrangements. I learned later that by this
time, the representative had met Niels and Ketil and whisked them off
to a roadside kerb some distance from the terminal gates, where they
waited for me. My fellow tour participants asked Rockjumpe's man how I was expected
to know where to find them. He offered no explanation
other than that he was confident I would. He did not return to the terminal to look for me.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;"><br /></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-g5Q6uNDwgH6o4fg98pFLjwNJb4TmALomSp7mBiZNYbdrGCmcpVCMcN6TGdJ68vt57LWYy5lCnYiJnF6Arqg9edADb4AalqKjQGYcA5gqpNiMl-T7e2W8ZAYqa_IYU0xPO0c3GyAZ-heZIjiBs7-2NqMWHgkvmG5ko47HVOYS7YK-GW9raa9R-p6D/s319/rockjumper.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="107" data-original-width="319" height="107" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-g5Q6uNDwgH6o4fg98pFLjwNJb4TmALomSp7mBiZNYbdrGCmcpVCMcN6TGdJ68vt57LWYy5lCnYiJnF6Arqg9edADb4AalqKjQGYcA5gqpNiMl-T7e2W8ZAYqa_IYU0xPO0c3GyAZ-heZIjiBs7-2NqMWHgkvmG5ko47HVOYS7YK-GW9raa9R-p6D/s1600/rockjumper.png" width="319" /></a></div><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;">So when I emerged from Customs, there was no Rockjumper representative. Instead,
an excitable and vocal group of about 100 young African men were
vying vigorously and loudly for my attention. I was certain
Rockjumper had to be there somewhere. I told the crowd I was being
met by Rockjumper. Somebody called out, asking for my surname. I told
them. Soon after, a placard appeared: ROBERTS it read in bold black
capitals. Phew, with a sigh of relief I made my way to the guy with
the sign and we headed off. I was exhausted after the long flight
from Brisbane and not thinking clearly. It simply did not occur to me
that the sign had just been composed.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;">We headed not to the airport exit gates but through an underground
carpark to a cafe, where he told me to wait for a few minutes while
he went and got some supplies for the trip. The only other person in
the cafe was a young woman who watched me intently, saying nothing.
As I sat there, it dawned on me that this man was unlikely to be the
real deal. I realised that I was extremely vulnerable, with a heavily
laden luggage trolley in tow. I got up and quickly made my way back
to the airport terminal entrance area, a distance of about 500 metres. The
woman said nothing.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU490ogBt53R7teragEvIAaiMEN5qBoHSaM3JWTOdSMnw04pt0Jv3QSQQRtQRrXgEZ-3_ENoGqaXmikVgzE675OHq-gFz2wghKxnloUC2TFok6xN9JasKObXh4bs2bMNAbj0ko7-3M-fqEY498A5v9atuHDDVoRjK3u5-eCmcRrFFwdHlWl0za02F9/s1600/cam-rom-morroco%20063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU490ogBt53R7teragEvIAaiMEN5qBoHSaM3JWTOdSMnw04pt0Jv3QSQQRtQRrXgEZ-3_ENoGqaXmikVgzE675OHq-gFz2wghKxnloUC2TFok6xN9JasKObXh4bs2bMNAbj0ko7-3M-fqEY498A5v9atuHDDVoRjK3u5-eCmcRrFFwdHlWl0za02F9/s320/cam-rom-morroco%20063.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From L to R: Me on the Cameroon tour with Niels, local guides and Ketil </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;">I emerged from the terminal and there was still no Rockjumper
representative: I gather that by then he had left the airport with the other two
guests. Rockjumper had given us two numbers to call in case of an
emergency. Both numbers repeatedly went to voicemail, although it was
well-known to the company that guests were arriving at the airport at
around that time. I knew the name of our hotel in Douala, the Ibis,
and called it. The receptionist told me the hotel had no bookings for
Rockjumper or for me, and they couldn’t put me through to anybody
from the company (which turned out to be untrue). There were a couple
of taxis at the airport and one driver was insistent that I get in,
but I had read enough about crime-ridden Douala to know to avoid
taxis. Douala’s crime problems are chronic: just last month
authorities tightened security in the city in a bid to contain
escalating levels of gang violence, with one newspaper reporting the
community was “gripped with fear”.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;">I had no idea what to do next. Usually I have arrangements in place
to facilitate departure from airports in foreign destinations but I
was in the hands of Rockjumper. I looked around for police or airport ataff but there were none. It was then that I was tapped by a
well-dressed African man who told me that I needed to follow him
immediately. I wasn’t impressed with that idea after what had
happened, but he said he’d been watching and talking to an airport
informant. He gave me the startling news that a group of well-known
gangsters was on my trail!</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyn657x3lcsQTCFIre7N7EguD5ZvRRt_HyIj2taN6oQFloAvEIoQpJvo376EnZLj7adbMVkJqI23g849Qvs7VZtPaSL5avyZBCrDg3T1o3JpZ_Kr-CKf2sCLaaakZ7kyZLL1pa8Jg6cudTQE5oR9rpqTC0OK6pNtif6Ow3owoqB6RMzpJ4a6EeqkVM/s641/19123495_NGJ9gHgHoYCmErat0on0vu-U-Wba1ZcOWNn3KXHe1DM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="481" data-original-width="641" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyn657x3lcsQTCFIre7N7EguD5ZvRRt_HyIj2taN6oQFloAvEIoQpJvo376EnZLj7adbMVkJqI23g849Qvs7VZtPaSL5avyZBCrDg3T1o3JpZ_Kr-CKf2sCLaaakZ7kyZLL1pa8Jg6cudTQE5oR9rpqTC0OK6pNtif6Ow3owoqB6RMzpJ4a6EeqkVM/s320/19123495_NGJ9gHgHoYCmErat0on0vu-U-Wba1ZcOWNn3KXHe1DM.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Inside Douala International Airport terminal</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;">The group, including the man with the sign, turned up at the cafe just after I’d left and then
disappeared. But they were now regrouping and heading my way with the
intent evidently of abducting or robbing me. The well-dressed man
showed me his ID indicating he worked for one of the city’s
prestigious hotels and said we had to leave quickly in his vehicle.
He was quite frantic and distressed so I believed him; by then there
were very few other people about. We ran (as best you can when
pushing a heavy trolley) to his vehicle in the carpark and as we got
in, a group of four young men came running towards us shouting; two
wielded weapons that appeared to be machetes.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;">My benefactor put his foot to the floor and accelerated just as the
mob was about to reach us. He was demonstrably shaken, as was I. He
told me these men belonged to a gang which had robbed people at the
airport, taken part in carjackings, and were believed responsible for
the murders of people in the city. Whether the men chasing us were
connected to the taxi-driver who insisted I get in his cab is
unknown, but travellers to Cameroon are warned to avoid taxis as cab drivers often work in co-operation with gangs. My rescuer drove me to the Ibis, where I confirmed that the
hotel was indeed expecting me. I offered money to this wonderful man
who doubtlessly spared me a great deal of grief and possibly my life,
but he refused to accept it.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKfZFGPwr6PlS_OK2rAvrwSUBSdsXGG4cJIfCoSoz3_zOqCVcmR92ekLmuW2nvXjgwfeuzmeqmuIsPuyHKRY32ka_SZaqXorxhrWaYiRbXRXt1W0fv4eZPXV3E3JKOmYLEmQ8IFjPN6KmUMPj8atYSKqtakRmGxNyGlPplsDJYBant3jwoGb78Cgc/s250/david%20hoddintott.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="250" data-original-width="250" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoKfZFGPwr6PlS_OK2rAvrwSUBSdsXGG4cJIfCoSoz3_zOqCVcmR92ekLmuW2nvXjgwfeuzmeqmuIsPuyHKRY32ka_SZaqXorxhrWaYiRbXRXt1W0fv4eZPXV3E3JKOmYLEmQ8IFjPN6KmUMPj8atYSKqtakRmGxNyGlPplsDJYBant3jwoGb78Cgc/s1600/david%20hoddintott.jpg" width="250" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">David Hottintott</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;">I decided at once that I needed to put the incident out of mind if I
was to enjoy the tour; that it must be the consequence of unfortunate
mishaps. It was not until later, especially after talking to Ketil
and Niels, that the magnitude of Rockjumper’s failures became
clear. Half way through the tour, we flew to Douala on a domestic
flight from Garoug in northern Cameroon. At the airport we ran into
the Rockjumper man who was supposed to meet me upon arrival in the
country. I demanded to his face to know why he put my welfare in
danger. This brought an unexpected intervention from tour leader
David<span style="font-size: 9pt;"> </span>Hoddintott – an
otherwise affable and extremely capable birding guide – who tore
into me, insisting the man had been there with a welcoming sign and I
must have walked past him, and that I was blowing the incident up out
of proportion. Luckily Ketil and Niels overheard this; they told
David in no uncertain terms the truth of what transpired.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yG96kV32ALmRyHHAbrmVKz8ZnHxNbXeqxWNNfqZZmoK0tOAXTn6-x4eZMEts8a6jxZQm0ffSeHyi_UumLdoSnjLWG1AN8GfpFNL6VHCWIgsm5f0aifRbwJF63D6NCr09y0a-9uJIsxLnjbtwQ5SBcaz64vl85BdMLMKTpZknZ38NhCdfFFOgZMSD/s480/grey-necked%20rockfowl%20-%20Matthew%20Matthiessen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="342" data-original-width="480" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2yG96kV32ALmRyHHAbrmVKz8ZnHxNbXeqxWNNfqZZmoK0tOAXTn6-x4eZMEts8a6jxZQm0ffSeHyi_UumLdoSnjLWG1AN8GfpFNL6VHCWIgsm5f0aifRbwJF63D6NCr09y0a-9uJIsxLnjbtwQ5SBcaz64vl85BdMLMKTpZknZ38NhCdfFFOgZMSD/s320/grey-necked%20rockfowl%20-%20Matthew%20Matthiessen.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey-necked Rockfowl: pic by Matthew Matthiessen</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;">I raised the matter with Rockjumper owner Adam Riley after returning
home. I was offered an apology and a credit ($400 from memory)
towards the cost of a future Rockjumper trip. The company would
ensure that in future, all guests arriving on tours would be met. It
had been my intention to write a travel feature on the trip for my
employer at the time, The Australian newspaper, but I was not in a
mood to do so after these events. To be sure, the trip was an
outstanding success birdwise and we saw some wonderful species
including Grey-necked Rockfowl. The guiding was of a high standard
and the organisation generally sound. No doubt the great majority of
tours don’t encounter these issues.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGBBmvsgrz4HVGfDrkBszfLEViQuLsDgbMh7P4f9EiN2o7nBBGWFph-E_-9mW7nz5YHaxxcgJM-QuTQfqrgtsjh9rwh6x1Woxc2rrMKw6zCzpSQ9h-5piT-Z20LBYRaX44iHAnHP1yRyKvboZssoWdZgAT75MdCPfTZoYX3jMj0-MsVbr1jMypNvb/s445/adam%20riley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="445" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXGBBmvsgrz4HVGfDrkBszfLEViQuLsDgbMh7P4f9EiN2o7nBBGWFph-E_-9mW7nz5YHaxxcgJM-QuTQfqrgtsjh9rwh6x1Woxc2rrMKw6zCzpSQ9h-5piT-Z20LBYRaX44iHAnHP1yRyKvboZssoWdZgAT75MdCPfTZoYX3jMj0-MsVbr1jMypNvb/s320/adam%20riley.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adam Riley</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;">But over the years, the experience has quietly and surprisingly
gnawed away at me. I’ve had a few near misses with danger on
birding forays over the years, but signing up with one of the world’s
most respected bird tour companies was supposed to be… safe. Above
all, safe. The matter came to the fore again in 2017 when <a href="http://sunshinecoastbirds.blogspot.com.au/2017/03/night-parrot-south-african-connection.html">I reported
in the pages of The Australian and on my blog</a> that Adam Riley was
sounding out a potential participant for “glamping” trips to
Pullen Pullen Reserve in western Queensland, where the Night Parrot
had been rediscovered.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;">The idea, which Adam outlined in an email (below) was for clients to pay
$25,000 a head – most of it as a donation to Pullen Pullen owners
Bush Heritage Australia – in return for the opportunity “to see”
a Night Parrot. The species is regarded as one of the rarest and most
mysterious birds in the world. The trips were organised under the
auspices of BirdLife International, the email said, although BirdLife
denied involvement.</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;">
<br />
</p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoPCob86NDttA6F3Af5MW7QcFz1dEX9Oe2bYqvv4-kUtVzZKo0tbrR-52AjqG5NrmSvqKtmUF2nauC-hZA8hqzBgaeETColIYKaBsYCXXFkddDdfn2sedoO1-PneKl0XMtB8BQPeTHa0dj5NaiDsUpi7T59nlshKi7GNj9bhrNXTF1UTGD6nvdjOU/s1600/riley%20email.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="873" data-original-width="1600" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcoPCob86NDttA6F3Af5MW7QcFz1dEX9Oe2bYqvv4-kUtVzZKo0tbrR-52AjqG5NrmSvqKtmUF2nauC-hZA8hqzBgaeETColIYKaBsYCXXFkddDdfn2sedoO1-PneKl0XMtB8BQPeTHa0dj5NaiDsUpi7T59nlshKi7GNj9bhrNXTF1UTGD6nvdjOU/s320/riley%20email.png" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;">
Adam told me it was not difficult to make the link between my
“expose” about the glamping trips and what he dismissed as my
“gripe” – dictionary definitions of gripe include “minor
complaint” and “complain about something in a persistent,
irritating way” - about the Cameroon experience. He thought the
matter had been settled “amicably” years ago (news to me),
adding: “I still do not feel that Rockjumper was in any way
negligent….”
</p>
<p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;">So Rockjumper was echoing David Hoddintott’s view expressed at the
airport that everything the company did was appropriate. Adam’s
comments made a mockery of the apology offered previously. The Rockjumper view?
Nobody from the company greeting me upon arrival? Yes there was. Emergency
phone numbers going to voicemail? No matter. Hotel not having a
record for the group or me? Not our fault. Chased through an airport
carpark by a group of thugs with evil on their mind? Either made up or dramatised, and nothing to do with us anyway. In sum:
nothing to see here. Not then, not now.</p><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;"><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfckyySSQ-rylLIE-FwwMAD1F0dSDDhvtc5q0XpWLlh8qfvDe_d4ds__2TeXeI2w1bvZQAubJrbch7i9mvz8VF5QsJP8g7oKsc3CPL08lyHO3vn4hzVhqCNs-hTE5x1mYR8ObBG-J_Y5W6bMmnaTsxRGEzsB5wRxjppH5xDwIgi_OKyjsPRLSOCCx6/s1153/young%20night%20parrot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="764" data-original-width="1153" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfckyySSQ-rylLIE-FwwMAD1F0dSDDhvtc5q0XpWLlh8qfvDe_d4ds__2TeXeI2w1bvZQAubJrbch7i9mvz8VF5QsJP8g7oKsc3CPL08lyHO3vn4hzVhqCNs-hTE5x1mYR8ObBG-J_Y5W6bMmnaTsxRGEzsB5wRxjppH5xDwIgi_OKyjsPRLSOCCx6/s320/young%20night%20parrot.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Night Parrot </td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p style="line-height: 100%; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 0.75cm; margin-right: 2.5cm;"><br /></p>Greg Robertshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17128471435023525995noreply@blogger.com4