TonyQ Big Year 2018 (The Third)

[Dave Williams]

5 birds I didn't see already!

[TonyQ]

And you have a lot that we didn't see

[TonyQ]

31.G21. Beaudouin's Snake Eagle  Circaetus beaudouini                

Kartong           22.01.2018

Kartong           22.01.2018

[TonyQ]

32.G22. Beautiful Sunbird  Cinnyris pulchellus                      

Mandina Lodge           19.01.2018

     

Marakissa        17.01.2018 (I put this in just because I like it!)

 

The Beautiful Sunbird may be unimaginatively named, but it cannot be said to be innacurate. Probably the most frequemtly seen Sunbird.(by us anyway)

[TonyQ]

33.G23. Black Crake  Amaurornis flavirostris

Lamin Rice Fields       14.01.2018  (Dreadful photo against very strong, low sunshine)

 

Juvenile, Abuko Forest   14.01.2018

[TonyQ]

34.G24. Black Heron  Egretta ardesiaca 

Kartong           22.01.2018

Showing distinctive orange/yellow feet, Kartong           22.01.2018

 

We didn't see this bird very often, and missed out onits "umbrella" hunting.

[michael-ibk]

Very cool to see your Gambian birds, Tony. Beautiful shots. The Bearded Barbet must be one of the coolest-looking birds in the world.

[TonyQ]

35.G25. Black-billed Wood Dove  Turtur abyssinicus

Abuko Forest   14.01.2018

[TonyQ]

36.G26. Blackcap  Sylvia atricapilla

Pirang Forest  15.01.2018

 

Deep in shade at the Jungle bar. I was surprised to see this familiar bird in The Gambia

[TonyQ]

37.G27. Blackcap Babbler  Turdoides reinwardtii 

On the forest floor, Mandina Lodge           22.01.2018

Mandina Lodge           23.01.2018

Our book talks about a cream coloured eye ring, but it looks pale blue to me!

Edited February 9, 2018 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

38.G28. Black-crowned Tchagra  Tchagra senegalus 

Marakissa        17.01.2018

[TonyQ]

39.G29. Black-headed Heron   Ardea melanocephala

Lamin Rice Fields       14.01.2018

[TonyQ]

40.G30. Black-necked Weaver  Ploceus nigricollis 

Marakissa        17.01.2018

[Kitsafari]

That bearded barbet is beautiful and so are the yellow white-eye. 

[Galana]

2 hours ago, TonyQ said:

Black-necked Weaver  Ploceus nigricollis 

Er? Shurely a 'Black-necked Weaver' has a black neck or there would not be any point to it. Yours has a black bib or throat and as there is no 'Black-bibbed Weaver' perhaps the fancy Ray Bans are a clue?

 

Some great photos. Keep em coming.

[xelas]

30 minutes ago, Galana said:

perhaps the fancy Ray Bans are a clue?

 

Like in Ploceus ocularis?

[TonyQ]

Thank you @Galana  for looking carefully at the postings.

I have re-checked,and although it is called "Black-necked" it does indeed have a black bib or throat. Both Masked Weavers have a different pattern of black around their eyes, and the in Vitelline the black does not form a bib.

It does match the pictures in "The Birds of Senegal and The Gambia" - it is the West Africa sub-species Ploceus nigricollis brachypterus 

Here is a link to "Birdforum" which also shows pictures of them.

http://www.birdforum.net/opus/Black-necked_Weaver

and Africa Bird Club

https://africanbirdclub.org/afbid/search/birddetails/species/2213/25224

So in this case I still think it is a Black-necked Weaver

[Galana]

3 hours ago, TonyQ said:

So in this case I still think it is a Black-necked Weaver

And so it is.

@TonyQ I doff my cap and bow very low in obeisance.

@xelas and I both hinted at Spectacled without me checking the distribution.

In my defence all the Black-necks I have seen were of the Nigricollis in Uganda which have Black necks and Black backs.

Your Brachypterus is olive backed.

[TonyQ]

41.G30. Black-rumped Waxbill   Estrilda troglodytes

Pirang Forest  15.01.2018

 

A very pretty little bird

[TonyQ]

42.G32. Black-shouldered Kite  Elanus caeruleus

Kartong           22.01.2018

 

A very distant heavy crop EBC - but recognisable I think.

[TonyQ]

43.G33. Black-winged Stilt   Himantopus himantopus

Kotu     16.01.2018

[TonyQ]

44.G34. Blue-bellied Roller  Coracias cyanogaster

Mandina Lodge           21.01.2018

Mandina Lodge           21.01.2018

Mandina Lodge           21.01.2018

 

A really beautiful bird - the favourite of our guide, Mustapha.

[TonyQ]

45.G35. Blue-breasted Kingfisher  Halcyon malimbica   

Kairaba Hotel  19.01.2018

Hunting - Kairaba Hotel  19.01.2018

 

Our hotel grounds were very good for birding, and the birds were relatively comfortable with people.

[TonyQ]

46.G36. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater  Merops persicus  

Brufut  18.01.2018

     

Mandina Lodge           19.01.2018

[TonyQ]

47.G37. Blue-spotted Wood Dove  Turtur afer 

Mandina Lodge           19.01.2018