Dave Williams's 2018 Big(Photo)Year!

[Dave Williams]

200) House Crow

One less lifer for the trip , means I only have one now but thanks for breaking the news gently @Galana. Birding is hard work in Goa as it get's too hot very quickly. 

House Crow.    Corvus splendens by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Peter Connan]

Once again, congratulations for reaching 200 in fine style Dave!

 

[Tdgraves]

Well done on 200

[Galana]

@Dave Williams

Congratulations 200 up after all. Sorry for the bad news but the silver lining is you can now have another celebratory Kingfisher.

[TonyQ]

Well done on reaching 200!

[lmSA84]

Congrats on 200

[Dave Williams]

201) Ashy Prinia

Ashy Prinia   Prinia socialis by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

202) Ashy Woodswallow

Ashy Woodswallow  Artamus fuscus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

Cleary a case of EBC. If anyone can confirm what I think it is, I'll take it!

Flitting around in the bushes, my thoughts were Asian Brown Flycatcher which is common in Goa ( this was the only one I saw) but that grey looking head isn't quite right.

[Dave Williams]

203) Asian Palm Swift

Yes I have no shame! @Galana will love this one

[Tdgraves]

Love the swallows lined up on the telegraph wire

[Dave Williams]

204) Black-rumped Flameback

If you think my Asian Palm Swift is bad, you nearly got this one!

Fortunately on the very last evening I went out with the camera I finally got a quick glimpse of one out in the open.

[Dave Williams]

205) Ashy Drongo

There were lots of Drongos flitting around and I wrongly assumed they were all Black Drongo whereas the only ones I have clear shots of are actually Ashy Drongos. The Black Drongo has a white rictal spot on it's cheek.

Ashy Drongo  Dicrurus leucophaeus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

I probably missed a trick..and a tick not paying more attention.

Ashy Drongo  Dicrurus leucophaeus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

206)Black Kite

Common around Goa as there is so much rubbish to scavenge.

Black Kite  Milvus migrant by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

207) Black-crowned Night Heron

Seen flying away some stance off but quite clearly identifiable.

[Galana]

3 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

@Galana will love this one

Very true! Welcome to the club. The BC Night Heron does not come close!

3 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

but that grey looking head isn't quite right.

I agree. Neither is the lack of white eye-ring. There is also what appears to be a small nape crest.

But a trawl through my only Indian book fails to throw up a suspect.

 

Good call on the Drongos and you may well have missed a  t(r)ick.

[TonyQ]

Great additions, the Wood Swallows are lovely.

[Dave Williams]

208) Black-headed Ibis

I found one remaining muddy pool that attracted a couple of these along with some Storks and Egrets but the minute they saw you, even at distance, they were off.

Black-headed Ibis   Threskiornis melanocephalus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

 

[Dave Williams]

I have already counted this one from The Gambia but here I had my best ever encounter with the species even if it kept it's distance. With vivid memories of 16 fruitless hours locked in a hide in Spain still very fresh you can't imagine how delighted I was to get this one off view in Goa. My only regret was that this was on the very first evening and I assumed I would see another which sadly I didn't, had I known I would have spent a good deal longer with the bird.

Black-winged Kite  Elanus caeruleus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

Most shots were taken in flight at around 100m away and with the sun in the wrong direction but I was still very pleased with the result. 

Black-winged Kite  Elanus caeruleus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

209) Green Bee-eater

 

By far the most common Bee-eater I saw, possibly the most common bird even! They are everywhere but not always easy to get close to.

Green Bee-eater  Merops orientalis by Dave Williams, on Flickr

They hunt from both man made perches and overhead wires as well as from shrubs, trees and the ground.

Green Bee-eater  Merops orientalis by Dave Williams, on Flickr

 

[Dave Williams]

210) Blue -tailed Bee-eater.

Much larger than the Green Bee-eater as seen side by side here.

Blue-tailed  Bee-eater Merops philippinus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

and not too numerous either but they did appear ,more confiding, well to a point.

Blue-tailed  Bee-eater Merops philippinus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

This one had me confused as it has the attributes of both Green and Blue-tailed !

Green Bee-eater  Merops orientalis by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

211) Bramhiny Kite

There were many Brahminy Kites around, more plentiful than the Black Kites probably. 

Brahminy Kite   Haliastur indus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

They are one of the most easily identified birds of prey 

Brahminy Kite   Haliastur indus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

but only in adulthood. As juveniles , particularly in flight you can think you are seeing a different species.

Brahminy Kite   Haliastur indus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

This one was sat on the beach , no doubt looking for dead fish washed up with the tide.

Brahminy Kite   Haliastur indus by Dave Williams, on Flickr

[Dave Williams]

212) Bramhiny Starling

Sizeable numbers and usually at the very tops of these flowering trees.

Brahminy Starling  Sturnia pagodarum by Dave Williams, on Flickr

 

Edited March 15, 2018 by Dave Williams

[xelas]

14 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

Yes I have no shame!

 

Khmmm ..... but your other photos more then out weights this one!

Edited March 15, 2018 by xelas

[Dave Williams]

5 minutes ago, xelas said:

 

Khmmm ..... but your other photos more then out weighs this one!

 

@xelas Thanks Alex, but EBC this year! I found Goa to be a bit frustrating to be honest and I'll explain why in a brief trip report later.