Window to Wildlife

We met early again this morning at 5.45 for another walk around the grounds before breakfast, our last morning at this lodge, reconnecting with many species that had already become familiar to us around the gardens. We noted a flock of  Baywing were somewhat Dunnock-like in their behaviour and colouration. Dave spotted an Epaulette Oriole flitting amongst the branches of a small tree, with the tiny epaulettes, very difficult to spot, but just visible in certain poses. In a small tree a Green-barred Woodpecker clung tenaciously to a trunk, tapping in search of food. But probably the highlight of the morning, was the spectacle of thousands of egrets passing over the reserve, wave after wave of flocks flying low over the fields as they left their overnight roosting sites.  Green-barred Woodpecker We departed from our accommodation after breakfast, but there was more birding to be had from the entrance track, where a field with many termite mounds proved very productive. A Grassla...

We were up and out before light, for a pre-breakfast safari ride around the lodge grounds, setting off along some open tracks before reaching a more wooded area. In the semi darkness a Savannah Hawk flew over, and a Great Potoo was found lurking cryptically against a branch, barely visible to the uninformed eye. In a tall tree we found a pair of Orange-winged Parrots with yellow faces, and both Toco Toucan and Crested Oropendula flew past. A Bat Falcon pair close to the track were a great find, giving decent views despite the poor Iight, and in a nearby dead tree a Black crowned Tityra perched high at the top. Buff-necked Ibis passed overhead, sounding like geese as they called noisily to each other. Then we found a group of four Chestnut Guans - according to our guide, the presence of this species being a healthy bio indicator. White-throated Piping Guan and Capuchin monkeys were also seen in the trees here and a lone Cocoi Heron roosting high in a bush. On the ground we encountered W...

We started with a whimper, our first bird out of the airport being a feral pigeon! However, things quickly picked up, with a Great Kiskadee and a Chalk-browed Mockingbird both posing on a lamppost as our suitcases were put in black sacks, in preparation for the dusty panteneria highway ahead. Having arrived early in the morning, we went straight to the Amazon Hotel for breakfast. Unexpectedly, a Cattle Tyrant was sat on a wire outside the hotel, which seemed rather strange for such an urban environment. After eating, several of us gathered behind the hotel, where after some debate we called the circling swifts as Neotropical (or Fork-tailed) Swifts, then we also found and identified Grey-breasted Martins soaring over the hotel rooftop. Moving along the path we enjoyed a flurry of activity, when a pair of Short-crested Flycatchers flew into a leafy acacia, a Rufous- bellied Thrush hopped along the ground and a Southern Rough-winged Swallow flew over. A Peach-fronted Parakeet, House Spar...

 We had planned a trip to Ashdown Forest today in search of some heathland birds, but when news of a Red-necked Phalarope came through at Cuckmere Haven, we decided that had to trump our other targets, as this rare passage migrant was unlikely to hang around. We arrived to news that the bird had flown just before we got there, which was very frustrating. However, the opinion was it hadn’t gone far, and sure enough, around half an hour later the bird was relocated at the first meander of the river.  The most striking observation of the bird was its diminutive size. It was unfortunately at some distance, and looked tiny, but we were able to get decent views through the scope, and it is a very attractive and colourful bird. Although they are renowned for their habit of spinning in circles to disturb insects on the water, we did not observe such behaviour. We did however see it purposefully dipping its head and bobbing its tail in a distinctive fashion.  This was my fourth si...