Macau; Sydney 20-29 Nov 2007

Macau

Opposite the Venetian hotel is a lake which is getting a bit shabby. Egrets gathered to roost there: certainly Little Egrets and a larger one which was probably Cattle rather than Great accordibh to the book - though it does say there are lots of Greats in winter....There were also some smaller brown herons. Also White Wagtails.At Hong Kong airport Crested Myna were fluttering amongst the planes.Arrived in Sydney and went for a run round the Opera House and then the Botanic Gardens. Saw Little Pied Cormorant, Aus White Ibis, Aus Wood Duck, Masked Lapwing, Aus Magpie, Silver Gull, Noisy Miner, Common Myna' Aus Magpie, Rainbow Lorikeet, and of course the giant bats -Grey-Headed Flying Foxes to be precise.(

Great Cormorant, Aus Pelican, Noisy Miner, Superb Blue Wren, Magpie Lark, Willy Wagtail, Aus Raven, Crested Pigeon, Red Wattlebird, Pied Currawong, Purple Swamphen, Pied Butcherbird, Silvereye, Black Winged Stilt, Red Necked Avocet, White Faced Heron, Chestnut Teal, Australsisn Grey Teal, Coot, Dusky Moorhen, Royal Spoonbill, Pacific Black Duck, Aus Wood Duck, Aus White Ibis, Black Swan, Red Whiskered Bulbul, Brown Honeyeater, Aus (clamorous) Reed Warbler,

Macau, Sydney

Macau

Opposite the Venetian hotel is a lake which is getting a bit shabby. Egrets gathered to roost there: certainly Little Egrets and a larger one which was probably Cattle rather than Great according to the book - though it does say there are lots of Greats in winter....There were also some smaller brown herons. Also White Wagtails.

At Hong Kong airport Crested Myna were fluttering amongst the planes.

Arrived in Sydney and went for a run round the Opera House and then the Botanic Gardens. Saw Little Pied Cormorant, Aus White Ibis, Aus Wood Duck, Masked Lapwing, Aus Magpie, Silver Gull, Noisy Miner, Common Myna' Aus Magpie, Rainbow Lorikeet, and of course the giant bats - Grey-Headed Flying Foxes to be precise. Great description of the charms of the Bot G on 10,000 Birds http://10000birds.com/bonzer-birding-in-downtown-sydney.htm.

On Saturday I had a free day in Sydney. Googling the options suggested that the 1-day bird highlight is a National Park, but it needs a car to get there. The interesting alternative I found was the Olympic Park, which is a large area at the start of of the Parramatta River which has been redeveloped from an old military base and half of it given over to the stadia for the Olympics, but the rest as walking/cycling parkland. See report from 10000 birds http://10000birds.com/olympic-park-sydney.htm .The ferry ride from Circular Quay is a pleasure in itself (Great Cormaorant, Australian Pelican), and then I spent 6 excellent hours walking round the variety of habitats. Started walking along the river and found my first SUPERB BLUE WREN (pictured). There are loads of them there. Extraordinary bird.

Noisy Miner, Magpie Lark, Willy Wagtail, Aus Raven too. CRESTED PIGEON is a great sight too. Red Wattlebird, Pied Currawong (pictured), Purple Swamphen, Pied Butcherbird (loads of them at the Olympic Archery venue). Then on to the mangrove/mudflat area for Silvereye, Black Winged Stilt (pictured), Red Necked Avocet, White Faced Heron (pictured), Chestnut Teal, Australian Grey Teal, Coot, Dusky Moorhen. In the Bicentennial Park, in a mongst the wedding parties and Jacaranda groves, ROYAL SPOONBILL, Pacific Black Duck, Aus Wood Duck, Aus White Ibis. In a gravel pit near the stadia they have a circular raised walkway from whcih I saw Black Swan. Red Whiskered Bulbul, Brown Honeyeater, Aus (clamorous) Reed Warbler.

Jordan 20-27 Oct 2007

At the Roman city of Jerash, LONG TAILED PIPIT, Hooded crow, Great tit (famously at its Easternmost extreme) , Crested Lark and House sparrow.
At Mount Nebo (Moses' tomb): Goldfinches, 2 LONG LEGGED BUZZARDS circling overhead and the first closeup of the ubiquitous Common (Yellow Vented) Bulbul.
The visitor centre at Wadi Rum gave our first WHITE CROWNED BLACK WHEATEAR and when we explored around our campsite the next morning we found (appropriately enough) DESERT LARK, DESERT WARBLER, PALE CRAG MARTIN AND BROWN NECKED RAVEN. Our first TRISTAMS GRACKLES were sitting on the camels that came for us!
On to Petra, where we found a RED BACKED SHRIKE in the trees opposite the hotel. On the way through the siq (the narrow rock cleft leading to the tombs) we saw a couple of SHORT TAILED EAGLES floating overhead. The rest of the day there was disappointing (only a Black Redstart in the village)) until we climbed up to the Monastery ( seeing FAN TAILED RAVENS on the way up). On the ledges to the left of the facade we saw MOURNING WHEATEAR and finally SINIAI ROSEFINCH (pictured). At about 4pm the ravine to the left of the coffee shop became full of birds....one of those special spots.
At Dana nature reserve the lodge we stayed at had a balcony with a stunning view over the valley and from there we saw numerous CHUKAR PARTRIDGES on the hillside below, SYRIAN SERINS in the bushes, Kestrels patrolling and then the magnificent sight of a SOOTY FALCON running through its full range of attack manouvres. In the orchards we saw Blackbirds. On our hike we saw a MASKED SHRIKE as well as a Chameleon and Nubian Ibexes. On an early morning patrol we found a BLUE ROCK THRUSH. the aeas where Lesser Kestrels, Verraux Eagles and Vultures were to be found were pointed out from a distance.
At the Dead Sea, no eponymous sparrows but a WHITE WAGTAIL, PALESTINE SUNBIRDS and what must have been a migrant Whinchat.

Helsinki 11/12 Oct 2007

Overnight trip to Helsinki.
Whatever the collective noun is for a small flock of Waxwings, we got good views of several as they took berries from the laden trees. A particularly good view in fact from the restaurant of the Raddison 'Seaside' hotel ('Shipyard-side' I suppose would be less enticing even if rather more accurate).
Also Hooded Crows and Magpies in a park.

Thailand 27 Jul - 11 Aug 2007

In Bangkok, and indeed everywhere else, are Tree Sparrows, Rock Pigeons, Common and White-Vented Myna's.

Zooming round the canals near BK I saw Oriental Magpie Robin, GREATER RACKET TAILED DRONGO and what appeared to be a domesticated Swan Goose (also seen outside Chiang Mai).

On the minibus ride to Kanchanaburi we saw Little and Cattle Egrets, Black Capped and White Throated Kingfishers, Spotted Dove, RED WHISKERED BULBUL and a group of BLACK HEADED IBIS.

Around KB, LINEATED BARBET and Scarlet Backed Flowerpecker.

At the River Kwai Bridge, ZEBRA DOVE (pictured) and OLIVE BACKED SUNBIRD.

On the river island Koh Kasem, where we stayed nearby, WHITE BREASTED WATERHEN, SOOTY HEADED BULBUL and superb BLUE TAILED BEE EATER. And Flat Tailed Geckos (pictured) in abundance.

At the Erewan Falls, BLACK CRESTED BULBUL and BLACK NAPED MONARCH.

Then up to Chiang Mai and a rather frustrating (in bird terms) couple of days in rural / jungle areas. I generally found it very difficult to find birds in the jungle. Puzzled as to why that should be.

On the way back we floated down the Mai Peng river and had great views of Weaver nests, and identified the STREAKED WEAVER.

From the hotel room GREATER COUCAL and MOUNTAIN BULBUL.

The Doi Suthep temple proved a good vantage point with a VELVET FRONTED NUTHATCH , but a half day of jungle solitude at the Falls yielded just a possible White Crowned Forktail.

Final period was on Koh Samed where we saw a couple of WHITE WINGED TERNS on a stormy day, a 1 ft Agama Lizard and a 2 ft Water Monitor Lizard (pictured).

Thailand 27 Jul - 11 Aug 2007

In Bangkok, and indeed everywhere else, are Tree Sparrows, Rock Pigeons, Common and White-Vented Myna's.

Zooming round the canals near BK I saw Oriental Magpie Robin, GREATER RACKET TAILED DRONGO and what appeared to be a domesticated Swan Goose (also seen outside Chiang Mai).

On the minibus ride to Kanchanaburi we saw Little and Cattle Egrets, Black Capped and White Throated Kingfishers, Spotted Dove, RED WHISKERED BULBUL and a group of BLACK HEADED IBIS.Around KB, LINEATED BARBET and Scarlet Backed Flowerpecker.

At the River Kwai Bridge, ZEBRA DOVE (pictured) and OLIVE BACKED SUNBIRD.

On the river island Koh Kasem, where we stayed nearby, WHITE BREASTED WATERHEN, SOOTY HEADED BULBUL and superb BLUE TAILED BEE EATER. And Flat Tailed Geckos (pictured) in abundance.

At the Erewan Falls, BLACK CRESTED BULBUL and BLACK NAPED MONARCH.Then up to Chiang Mai and a rather frustrating (in bird terms) couple of days in rural / jungle areas. I generally found it very difficult to find birds in the jungle. Puzzled as to why that should be.

On the way back we floated down the Mai Peng river and had great views of Weaver nests, and identified the STREAKED WEAVER.

From the hotel room: GREATER COUCAL and MOUNTAIN BULBUL.

The Doi Suthep temple proved a good vantage point with a VELVET FRONTED NUTHATCH, but a half day of jungle solitude at the Falls yielded just a possible White Crowned Forktail.

Final period was on Koh Samed where we saw a couple of White Winged Terns on a stormy day, a 1 ft Agama Lizard and a 2 ft Water Monitor Lizard (pictured).

Central Park NY 16 Jun 2007

A recovery day. Jamaica Bay sounds like the best spot within reach, but the website has more insect warnings than bird details so I decided to stick to Central Park.

First widely recommended area is the Ramble just beyond the BoatHouse. The trees are tall so to avoid 'jungle neck' finding a high exposed rock seemed a good plan. American Robins everywhere, plus cOmmon Grackles, Starlings and Sparrows, Red Winged Blackbird. After waiting ages I began to see other things. An all-red bird went past: SUMMER TANAGER? Plus a silver grey silent leaf-exploring bird nyi. And high up up yellow tailed bird glimpsed. Walking on I found a woodpecker the size of a sparrow...DOWNY WOODPECKER. A large woodpecker glimpsed too.

On the Western Edge around 73rd street lots of screeching alerted me to a tree housing a family of BLUE JAYS teaching their young to fly.

Walked on to Harlem Pond. Gadwall and a BLACK CROWNED NIGHT HERON.

Egyptian Goose

Having returned from Boston on the Red Eye (7 hours horizontal and eyes closed but no sleep) I got a couple of hours sleep before taking the kids to karate. I decided to go for my usual run, which in fact proved a very successful way of overcoming the jet lag.
Anyhow, I was amazed to see an Egyptian Goose by the water's edge near Corney Reach. I mentioned it excitedly to some people with binoculars further along and they were disappointingly un-excited, saying that a few years ago there had been a pair breeding on Chiswick Eyot.

Milwaukee

Milwaukee 15-17 May 2007

On arrival I had a short get-sunlight walk and saw Common Grackle and CARDINAL. An early morning run the next day added American Robin and Red-Winged Blackbird (pic), plus others frustratingly glimpsed around the lake in Veterans/Juneau Park.

On our last day I grabbed an hour to go back to the lake properly equipped. Dozens of RWB and Grackles. Also WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (which, i only read later, would have popped to the top of its bush if I had 'squeaked'). I vow to return and try that.....

Thrush by the water, that would be a NORTHERN WATERTHRUSH then.

Also a largish yellow bird and a warbler, which i havent identified yet.

Tenerife April 2007

Staying in Los Cristianos. On the balcony Spanish Sparrow and Barbary Dove.

Around the town, Feral Pigeon, Rock Dove.In Adeje, in the tree outside St Ursula's, Blackcap, Canary Island Chiffchaff and BlackbirdAt the beach, Turnstone

All over the place, Plain Swift and Kestrel.

On the way up to Mount Tiede, the celebrated ZR Las Lajas lived up to its reputation: abundant BLUE CHAFFINCH (even one in a rubbish bin - pictured), BERTHOLETS PIPIT (pic), CANARY, CANARY ISLAND KINGLET (=Firecrest), Greater Spotted Woodpecker, Blue Tit, Great Tit.At Los Gigantes, confirmed that all the gulls are Yellow Legged.

On a whale/dolphin spotting trip we saw loads of CORY'S SHEARWATERS. There is apparently a white-tailed eagle nesting in the eponymous cliffs but we didnt see it.

At Las Galletas, walking round to the headland, TAWNY PIPIT and WHITETHROAT. in the scrub behind the beach a Great Grey Shrike.

Barranco del Infierno (has to be booked in advance) is a story of 3 warblers: ChiffChaff, Sardinian and Blackcap all prominent and voluble. Plain Swift, Kestrel and Raven above. BARBARY PARTRIDGE (pic) along the path. Grey Wagtail up at the waterfall. Blackbird, Bluetit and Robin also.

El Medano: Whimbrel and Grey Wagtail only on the rocks off the town. Then we went round to Monte Roja nature reserve. A beautiful area with a proper unspoilt beach. But only Bertholet's Pipit and Whimbrel again.

On the last morning, a Hoopoe by the cliffs in Los Chr.

Kestrel Nest at Leg o' Mutton

I'm now running on Saturday mornings rather than doing Karate due to my falling-over-a-Xmas-tree shoulder injury. Last week at LoM I found a chap photographing a Kestrel pair. The male was proud on a tall tree stump and the female in the entrance to a nesting hole in a nearby large tree (apparently these are White Poplars, the tallest species in ....London? UK? Europe?). He had been photographing them mating and commented that they had done so 3 times in a short period, which he considered more like human than animal/bird behaviour.
This week I noticed that the nest hole has an entrance at the other side of the tree too, so the female snuck in without being seen by the watchful male.

ICELAND

Reykjavik Feb 20-22nd 2007

There arent many birds around! On the Golden Circle tour we saw Crows (everywhere) and glimpsed a couple of PTARMIGANS still white and thats all. On day 2, we found redwings in suburban gardens, Whooper Swans, Greylag Geese, Tufted Duck and Mallard on the central lake, then from the steam of the Blue Lagoon I saw a 'snowflake' of SNOW BUNTINGS. Day 3 we drove up to Snaefellness, stopping for some time at Bogardnes. At Bogardnes i saw a distant diving duck with white head and black body. Book says it must be King Eider...but see below. Along the coast are many Eider, occasional Red Breasted Merganser. Late afternoon we went out to the lighthouse at Grotta where i saw Redshank, Cormorants and more of those mystery ducks. Finally I glimpsed a long tail as they dived, and then i saw them swimming along with the tail erect - LONG TAILED DUCK. Magnificent.

Feb 2007: Norfolk, Suffolk

Minsmere (54): Magpie, crow, 25,000 starlings!, jackdaw, woodpigeon, blackbird, pheasant, blue tit, great tit, long tailed tit, coal tit, MARSH TIT, siskin, REDPOLL, dunnock, chaffinch, goldfinch, bullfinch, greater spotted woodpecker, green woodpecker, jay, whooper swan, mute swan, greylag goose, snipe, JACK SNIPE, WATER PIPIT, mallard, tufted duck, goldeneye, gadwall, pochard, moorhen, dabchick, coot, marsh harrier, dunnock, black headed gull, robin, greater black backed gull, herring gull, lapwing, redshank, dunlin, ruff, avocet, turnstone, pintail, smew, shoveler, shelduck, teal, wigeon, black tailed godwit
Hen Reed Beds: barn owl, BITTERN

CLEY Pied wagtail, GLAUCOUS GULL, SNOW BUNTING, golden plover, dark bellied brent goose, PALE BELLIED BRENT GOOSE, black headed, greater black backed juvenile, herring & common gull, black tailed godwit,bar tailed godwit, redshank, tunstone, pintail, mallard, wigeon, shelduck, shoveler, oystercatcher, curlew, mute swan, redstart, teal, moorhen, coot, common scoter, dunlin, greylag goose, crow, jackdaw,lapwing, common snipe,little grebe

Titchwell

Robin, woodpigeon, dunnock, housesparrow, chaffinch, greenfinch, marsh harrier, redshank, spotted redshank, dunlin, bar-tailed godwit, black-tailed godwit, sanderling, common scoter, red breasted mergnaser, goosander, goldeneye, brent goose, pintail, teal, brent goose, curlew, little egret, shelduck, shoveler, skylark, coot, great tit, blue tit, black headed gull, herring gull, starling, oystercatcher, turnstone, great crested grebe, avocet, magpie, LITTLE GULL, golden plover, common gull, wigeon,lapwing,knot, egyptian goose, canada goose

Singapore & Australia Jan 2007

Singapore jan 2007

at the botanic gardens: yellow-vented bulbul, cattle egret, lesser treeduck, white-breasted water-hen, common kingfisher, scarlet-backed flowerpecker, black-naped oriole.We also travelled out to Sengei Buloh, which is a nature reserve based around mangrove swamps on the north coast facing Malaysia (one can hear the mosque across the strait). In the pouring rain we saw whimbrel, pacific golden plovers, little egret, redshank, greenshank, grey heron all very familiar from uk. But we also saw 3 enormous Monitor lizards, the biggest about 5 feet long! New birds were stork-billed and white-collared kingfisher.

Australia on our first day in Sydney we travelled out to the blue mountains and saw a black widow spider, masked lapwing, common bronzewing, eastern & crimson rosella, laughing kookaburra. We also heard a Lyre Bird and were played a recording of it imitating a variety of birds including a Kookaburra. A trip round the sydney botanic gardens yielded a tree full of ginormous flying foxes, australian white ibis, australian wood-duck, pacific black duck, dusky moorhen, silver gull, sulphur-crested cockatoo On to Melbourne: the botanic gardens/yarra river: Australasian Grebe, White-Faced Heron, black swan, little pied cormorant, purple swamp hen, black-faced cuckoo-shrike, grey & willy wagtail, brush wattlebird, bell miner, silvereye, common starling

Autumn 2006

Dorset in October
Highlight was a trip to Arne where we saw a Dartford Warbler on the heath, plus a superb view of a Peregrine attacking. Loads of little egrets and curlews.At Studland we watched Red Breasted Merganser out in Poole Harbour, Redshank on the mud and Stonechat on the Heath.

Dec 9/10 at Staines
Great Northern Diver and Black Necked Grebe, plus Goldeneye.

Dec 17 at Oare
Leo glimpsed Long Billed Dowitcher. Also Little Stint.Dec 21 at Barnes. I saw the Bittern which Leo had been watching all week. Also an avocet, pintail and a sparrowhawk in a bush right outside Peacock hide.