TonyQ Big Year 2018 (The Third)

[TonyQ]

79.G69.Grey Heron  Ardea cinerea               

Kotu     16.01.2018

[TonyQ]

80.G70.Grey Kestrel  Falco ardosiaceus                   

Marakissa        17.01.2018

[Galana]

18 minutes ago, TonyQ said:

This is out of order because our list called it Green-backed and our book called it "Grey-backed".

List is wrong and book is correct.

My book has Green-backed confines to eastern coast of Africa. Kenya to the Cape.Brachyura.

Brevicaudata is more widely spread.

Call it "Bleating Bush Warbler". I do.

Very nice photos.

[Dave Williams]

Great stuff and more I didn't see, some of them would be lifers.

Give us a clue why you like the scientific name for the Greater Honeyguide

[Galana]

2 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

Give us a clue why you like the scientific name for the Greater Honeyguide

Cos he is a closet flasher?

[michael-ibk]

More great additions. And again, the two Blue-Bellied species are the showstealers.

[TonyQ]

@Galana  thank you (at least for the Bleating Bush Warbler!)

@Dave Williams  Indicator indicator just appeals to me as a name for a guide that shows the way. Indicator minor is a good name as well.

@michael-ibk  thank you. They are both beautiful birds.

[TonyQ]

81.G71. Grey Plover  Pluvialis squatarola                 

Kotu     16.01.2018

     

Mandina Lodge           20.01.2018

[TonyQ]

82.G72. Grey Woodpecker  Dendropicos goertae                 

Kairaba Hotel  19.01.2018 

  

Mandina Lodge           20.01.2018

This was the woodpecker we saw most frequently.

[TonyQ]

83.G73. Grey-headed Bristlebill  Bleda canicapillus              

Pirang Forest  15.01.2018

Pirang Forest  15.01.2018

 

Very dark, deep in the undergrowth - I put in 2 photos to show the front and the back of the bird.

[TonyQ]

84.G74. Hamerkop  Scopus umbretta            

With meal, Abuko Forest   14.01.2018

[TonyQ]

85.G75. Hooded Vulture  Necrosyrtes monachus                 

Senegambia Hotel      16.01.2018

Hooded Vultures are really common, and it is easy to stop looking at them. However they are fascinating birds

Senegambia Hotel      16.01.2018

Adult, Senegambia Hotel      16.01.2018

Juvenile, Senegambia Hotel      16.01.2018

In nest, Abuko Forest   14.01.2018

[TonyQ]

86.G76. (Eurasian) Hoopoe  Upupa epops                

Mandina Lodge           20.01.2018

Mandina Lodge           20.01.2018

with snack, Mandina Lodge           20.01.2018

 

It is always nice to see a Hoopoe, but I didn't realise that the classification was so complicated. In this part of Africa, it is a Eurasian Hoopoe. But you get 2 sub-species in The Gambia. One is resident Upupa epops senegalensis, and the other spends winter there - Upupa epops epops.

The first photo was taken on a walk some distance from the lodge, and could be Upupa epops epops. The second was taken in the lodge car park after a guide rushed over to us to tell us about it - I think it is Upupa epops senegalensis. I admit I am not sure about the first one, but they are the same species so I am not trying to claim 2 points

 

 

 

[TonyQ]

87.G77. House Sparrow  Passer domesticus indicus            

Outside Kairaba Hotel 18.01.2018 

A different sub-species to that found in the UK. This is the same as found in India. They think it was introduced.    

[TonyQ]

88.G78. Intermediate Egret  Egretta intermedia                    

Marakissa        17.01.2018     

[TonyQ]

89.G79. Klaas's Cuckoo  Chrysococcyx klaas                       

Pirang Forest  15.01.2018     

[TonyQ]

90.G80. Lanner Falcon  Falco biarmicus                   

Abuko Forest   14.01.2018

Abuko Forest   14.01.2018

Abuko Forest   14.01.2018

[Dave Williams]

On 13/02/2018 at 5:31 PM, Dave Williams said:

 

Give us a clue why you like the scientific name for the Greater Honeyguide

 

indicator, indicator........ give us a clue.  never mind!

 

Some great shots and another couple of birds I didn't see too.

 

If you google Hoopoe it seems they are now classed as three different species. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hoopoe

You can't keep up with all the name changes!

[TonyQ]

I said the Hoopoe is complicated!

I think the map shows Gambia has the Eurasian and Southern Africa has The African. So I might get that when we visit The Cape

[elefromoz]

@TonyQ, I agree, the Hooded Vulture is fascinating and great photos of them. I'm really enjoying this from both you and @Dave Williams, so much variety

[Galana]

Even more great photos.

Hoopoes. The species/sub species/races can only really be told apart in flight when the amount of white on the wings can be seen. There is said to be a small difference in the tips of the crest, seen when raised?

You do have two races there FWIW.

I am with @Dave Williams. Some of these 'splitting experts' would make train spotting difficult. For gawd's sake keep them away from Butterflies.

[TonyQ]

@Dave Williams @elefromoz @Galana

Thank you.

As "species" "sub-species" and "races" are just human constructs, a consequence of our desire to name and classify things, I will leave it to the experts

[TonyQ]

Correction

70.G60. Golden-tailed Woodpecker  Campethera abingoni              

Pirang Forest  15.01.2018

I think is more likely to be a:

 

70.G60 Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens

Pirang Forest  15.01.2018

Change of mind due to patch on forehead- spotted in female Golden-tailed,  brownish-black in female Cardinal. (This patch is clearer in this photo). Malar strip (a new one on me!) is much stronger in Golden-tailed than in female cardinal.

[TonyQ]

91.G81. Laughing Dove  Streptopelia senegalensis              

Kairaba Hotel  16.01.2018

Common - and it looks different to all of the others!

[TonyQ]

92.G82. Lavender Waxbill  Estrilda caerulescens                 

Abuko Forest   14.01.2018

Brufut  18.01.2018

 

A very striking little bird.