TonyQ Big Year 2018 (The Third)

[TonyQ]

172.G162. Common Chiffchaff  Phylloscopus collybita                     

Kotu     13.01.2018

[TonyQ]

173.G163. Northern Puffback  Dryoscopus gambensis                     

Pirang Forest  15.01.2018

One very brief view

[TonyQ]

174.G164. Bronze-tailed Starling  Lamprotornis chalcurus               

Marakissa        17.01.2018

Some of the Glossy Starlings are very difficult. This has clear Ear coverts, tail is short and purple (a surprising feature of A Bronze-Tailed Starling!)

Similar looking Lesser Blue-Eared has  blue-green tail.

[TonyQ]

175.G165. Greater Blue-eared Starling  Lamprotornis chalybaeus               

Kairaba Hotel  13.01.2018

Tail a bit longer, clear mask, colours right.

Very difficult to tell difference from Lesser Blue-Eared Starling (song is supposed to be different). I will not be claiming one of each

[TonyQ]

176.G166. Gull-billed Tern  Sterna nilotica                

Mandina Lodge           21.01.2018

[TonyQ]

Back to the Alphabet....

177.G167. White-throated Bee-eater  Merops albicollis                    

Mandina Lodge           19.01.2018

Mandina Lodge           20.01.2018

Mandina Lodge           20.01.2018

[TonyQ]

178.G168. Wire-tailed Swallow  Hirundo smithii                    

Kotu     13.01.2018

Kotu     13.01.2018

[TonyQ]

179.G169. Wood Sandpiper  Tringa glareola            

Kartong           22.01.2018

[TonyQ]

180.G170. Woodland Kingfisher  Halcyon senegalensis                   

Marakissa        17.01.2018

[michael-ibk]

Great shots of the White-Throated Bee-Eater, still a species I´m missing.

[Dave Williams]

You just keep on getting different birds to me. The White-throated Bee-eater was the one and only I have seen in TG in about 8 or 9 visits and you get a flock of them!

 

I have a feeling I'm about to get overtaken too!

Edited February 26, 2018 by Dave Williams

[xelas]

4 hours ago, TonyQ said:

Distant, dreadful, but I think identifiable

 Those Big Red Eyes ...

 

You have had an excellent birding days in TG. Congratulations.

[TonyQ]

@michael-ibk @xelasThank you

@Dave Williams  You may get overtaken early in the year, but you will be well ahead of me at the end of the year!

 

[xelas]

@TonyQ you should join the race; pick your favourite animal to represent you .

[TonyQ]

A couple of mystery (to me anyway) birds.

Any help with identification welcome.

No.1 Marakissa, 17/01.2018  A Harrier of some sort? Doesn't look quite like a Marsh Harrier. Any ideas?

 

 

Pirag Forest 15.01.2018

Second photo to try to give an idea of the shape of the head.

In the first photo - bare legs, big "fingers", fairly small had - Possibly a Juvenile Harrier Hawk? What do you think?

[Peter Connan]

I think you're right on the second one, but no idea of the first.

[lmSA84]

21 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

You just keep on getting different birds to me. The White-throated Bee-eater was the one and only I have seen in TG in about 8 or 9 visits and you get a flock of them!

 

I have a feeling I'm about to get overtaken too!

 

@Dave Williams - I spoke to my guide about the white throated on my one / only TG trip and he thoughtthey were only reliably seen an at Mandina. I only visited Mandina for the boat trip  but when there saw several white throated 

 

@TonyQ - top notch photography as always 

[michael-ibk]

Must be Eurasian Marsh Harrier IMO, that wing pattern is very distinctive. And definitely juv. Gymnogene.

[Galana]

I agree with @michael-ibk!

I would make so bold as suggesting imm female Eurasian Marsh. The unbarred tail removes the African Marsh from the count although I was sorely tempted by the underwings.

The long dangly legs tell me #2 is a Gynogene.

Nice photos.

[TonyQ]

@lmSA84 Thank you

@michael-ibk @Peter Connan @Galana Thank you for your expertise!

And now to the final section for The Gambia....

[TonyQ]

181      G171   Exclamatory Paradise Whydah           Vidua interjecta                      

Kotu     13.01.2018

Face pattern fairly distinctive, though similarities with others. However it is the only one with pink legs in The Gambia!

[TonyQ]

182      G172   Yellow Wagtail  Motacilla flava

Kotu     13.01.2018

[TonyQ]

183      G173   Yellow-billed Shrike     Corvinella corvina                  

Taken from our balcony, Kairaba Hotel  13.01.2018

Kairaba Hotel  18.01.2018

Very common (not just in our hotel!)

[TonyQ]

184      G174   Yellow-billed Stork      Mycteria ibis               

Pirang Forest  15.01.2018

Very distant, heavy crop but luckily quite a distinctive bird.

[TonyQ]

185      G175   Yellow-breasted Apalis           Apalis flavida              

Mandina Lodge           22.01.2018