Jul 072024
I went back to India on 15th April 2024, flying out of London Heathrow to Delhi. A return trip for Tigers, as on my last trip some 20 years ago, I lost all my images due to X-Ray scanning. My good friend John Van-der-dol organised the trip through Asian Adventures, and during our 13 day stay, we visited Delhi, Little Rann of Kutch, Gir National Reserve, and Velavadar National Park, all in Gujarat State, then travelling to the Tiger Reserve at Bandhavgarh, in Madhya Pradesh for the last four days. My full album on the India trip can be viewed at https://www.flickr.com/photos/spinney_birder/albums/72177720317394470/
The Little Rann of Kutch is a desolate area of desert steppe and scrub, and is one of the last places that the endangered Asiatic Wild Ass exists in the wild. Highlights at Little Rann of Kutch were, the herds of the endangered Asiatic Wild Ass, Nilgai Antelope, 100’s of thousands of Rose-coloured Starlings going to roost, large flocks of Greater & Lesser Flamingo, Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, Red-necked Falcon, a brief sighting of a Desert Fox, large flocks of egrets, storks and herons, and a variety of waders and other birds.
From the 18th April we spent the next three days at the famous Asiatic Lion Reserve at Gir National Park. Also known as Sasan Gir, it is a forest national park and wild life sanctuary, established in 1965 to protect the rare and endangered Asiatic Lion. Outside of Africa, it is the only place in the world where you can see a lion in its natural habitat.
The Asiatic Lion has a bigger tail tassle, bushier elbow tufts and prominent belly folds, than the African Lion which has a much bigger mane. The entire forest area in the park is dry and deciduous, which is the perfect habitat for Asiatic Lions. Gir is also home to 40 species of mammal and over 400 species of bird. We had several superb encounters with the lions, including a mother with 3 baby cubs. Also several sightings of Leopard, and a single Jackal, which felt a little safer, very close to our Jeep, after almost walking right into the lion family that we were watching.
Indian Nightjar and Savanna Nightjar were discovered roosting and we also had Mottled Wood Owl, Brown Fish Owl, Indian Scops Owl and 4 Spotted Owlet. A wide variety of birds were seen during our time in the Gir Park.
The 21st & 22nd April were spent at the Velavadar Blackbuck National Park. in the Bhavnagar District of Gujarat State. A 34 squrae mile grassland reserve famous for the Blackbuck Antelope, Indian Wolf and Striped Hyena. There are around 1800 Blackbuck in the park, and we saw several adult males and herds of females and young males. A family party of Indian Wolf and a single Striped Hyena, as well as a brief sighting of a Jungle Cat and several parties of Nilgai Antelope.
The 23rd April was a travel day from Ahmadabad to Jabelpur and on to Bandhavgarh in Madhya Pradesh. We then spent 24th – 27th at this fabulous Tiger reserve. The National Park is spread across the Vindhya Hills, and has a core area of 105 sq km and a buffer zone area of 400 sq kms. The habitat varies from deciduous forest and steep ridges, to huge grassy meadows, and is famous for the Royal Bengal Tiger. We had a number of good Tiger sightings as well as seeing a large family party of Indian Elephant, a Sloth Bear, Wild Boar, Chital (Spotted Deer), Samba Deer, Barking Deer and Gaur or Indian Bison. Many species of bird including Jungle Fowl, Red-headed Vulture, White-backed and Indian Vulture, Peafowl, Malabar Hornbill, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Indian Roller, Black-rumped Flameback, Orange-headed Thrush, to name but a few.
I flew back to UK on 28th April from Delhi, after a quite remarkable and memory filled trip.
Feb 172024
RSPB Frampton Marsh, near Boston in Lincolnshire, is always worth a visit during the winter months. Even more so when a Lesser Yellowlegs is over-wintering, and looking rather smart after nearly completing its moult. Another spectacle was the thousands of Golden Plover and Lapwing, estimated at 10,000 each, being bombed by several Peregrines, so the sight of all these birds, along with thousands of ducks and hundreds of other waders, was simply fantastic to witness. With 2 Great White Egret, several Marsh Harrier, 6 Pintail and a few Goldeneye, it was a thoroughly enjoyable days birding, whilst managing to fit in a little photography on the way.
May 032023
Early May always produces a good selection of waders and yesterday, 2nd May, was no exception at Frampton. There has been an influx of Black-winged Stilts into Britain these past few weeks, and no doubt some will be settling down to breed. A pair were at Frampton but were just a little distant, nevertheless showed well. Three Wood Sandpiper, a summer plumaged Spotted Redshank, small numbers of Ruff, including a few smartly dressed males, Little Ringed Plover, Black-tailed Godwit, Avocet, Lapwing, Curlew and Redshank were all supporting casts.
Several Spoonbill on the main lagoons and a selection of migrant warblers, helped to produce around 50 species during the morning.
May 032023
The old oak woodlands of the Derbyshire Peak District hold a variety of special birds that are summer visitors to Britain. Sadly, they are becoming increasingly scarce, so these habitats are of vital importance.
The Pied Flycatcher and Common Redstart are two migrants that arrive in late April, followed by Tree Pipit, Wood Warbler and Spotted Flycatcher later in May. The Wood Warbler is now by far the most scarce of these woodland birds.
I paid a visit to one of the most popular areas in the Peak, for Pied Flycatcher, on 30th April, and at least 8 birds were back on territories, along with a pair of Common Redstarts. I’ll pay a further visit here later in the spring, in the hope that Wood Warbler will be singing in the valley.
Apr 262023
Since returning from Mull, birding the local patch at Staunton Harold Reservoir has been hard work. The 22nd April produced the first returning Common Tern, House Martin, and Common Whitethroat. On the 24th April there was a good fall of hirundines, the most I’ve seen this spring, with c20 Sand Martin, c 30 Swallow and c15 House Martin. On 26th April a real good bird for the site was 6 flyover Whimbrel, calling their diagnostic whistle as they flew south, also 2 Common Tern, 4 singing Whitethroat, 1 Willow Warbler and 6 Chiffchaff. Very little else and very few numbers of waterbirds on the reservoir.
There are some significant numbers of Cowslips across the site this year, a real picture. I also noticed a fare few rosettes of Southern Marsh Orchid appearing.
Apr 262023
16th – 21st April – During the week we covered most of the island in search of Eagles, Harriers, Owls and Otters. Both Eagles were seen well, as was Otter and Hen Harrier. Plenty of good views of several “Grey Male’ Hen Harriers but alas heat haze beat us, and birds remained distant, having been close to roadsides the previous week. Several Short-eared Owls were seen and again too far away.
Small numbers of Great Northern Divers were in full summer plumage, and I was surprised to see how many there were around the islands, on many sea lochs.
The first of the spring migrants had arrived and during the week we had the first Cuckoo, Common Sandpiper and Tree Pipit. Lots of Northern Wheatear and Willow Warbler. A number of large skeins of migrating Pink-footed Geese were seen on 18th April, all heading back north to their breeding grounds.
A pleasurable trip, stunning weather, in fact at times too good for photography, fantastic encounters with Otter and 88 species of bird seen during the week
Feb 132023
PART THREE – TRELEW, PORTO TOMBO & PENINSULAR VALDES – 30th October – 1st November
The final part of our trip covered The Lagoons and Salt Lakes around Trelew, Porto Tombo, the Patagonian Steppe and finally Peninsula Valdes. We encountered a pod of hunting Orcas at Peninsula Valdes, probably a once in a lifetime experience. Walt Disney were filing the event and we just happened to drop lucky at the site, which is famous for its Orcas. A great way to finish the trip.
Feb 132023
PART TWO – FOOTHILLS OF THE ANDES – 24th October – 29th October
Whilst travelling through the Andean Foothills, more superb birds were seen, including Spot-backed Puffbird, Blue-capped Puffleg, Blue-crowned Trogon, Moss-backed Sparrow, Plush-crested Jay, White-bellied Hummingbird, Yungas Manakin, Buff-breasted Earthcreeper, Wedge-tailed Hillstar (probably the rarest bird of the trip, Andean Gull and Andean Flamingo.
Feb 132023
PART ONE – CEIBAS RESERVE – 21st October – 23rd October
I had an amazing trip to Argentina during mid October to month end. Saw over 300 species, many of which were new birds for me. I visited several places for a second time, and spent a few days up in the foothills of the Andes.
So many highlights, and so many photographs, so I’m only putting a few on here and picking out a some of the very special birds and mammals that we saw during the trip. For a full album viewing, please click on this link – https://www.flickr.com/photos/spinney_birder/albums/72177720303530949
21st – 23rd Ceibas Reserve – Special birds were Multi-coloured Rush Tyrant, Rufous-crowned Pygmy Tyrant, Rufous-capped Antshrike, Glaucous-blue Grosbeak, Warbling Doradito, Fire-wood Gatherer, Curve-billed Reedhaunter, Sulphur-bearded Reedhaunter, Rusty-coloured Seedeater and many more.
