TonyQ Big Year 2018 (The Third)

[Galana]

As the others. The Malachite stands out IMO.

[michael-ibk]

Congratulations on reaching #100 already, the Bee-Eater is a very worthy specimen to honour that landmark. Great Malachite and Osprey shots!

[TonyQ]

@Dave Williams thank you. I do use back button focus, but it was no good with all of that long grass - just wouldn't focus so had to switch to manual focus (clearly not very accurately )

@xelas @lmSA84 @Galana @michael-ibk

thank you!

Edited February 19, 2018 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

111.G101. Northern Red Bishop  Euplectes franciscanus                 

Brufut  18.01.2018

Non-breeding so difficult to identify, unlike some of the spectacular breeding plumage.    

[TonyQ]

112.G102. Palm-nut Vulture  Gypohierax angolensis            

Juvenile, Pirang Forest  15.01.2018

Adult, Kartong           22.01.2018

[TonyQ]

113.G103. Piapiac  Ptilostomus afer              

Juvenile, Kairaba Hotel  16.01.2018

Kairaba Hotel  14.01.2018

Very common. I think they have very striking eyes.

[TonyQ]

114.G104. Pied Crow  Corvus albus              

Kotu     13.01.2018

   

Kairaba Hotel  17.01.2018

Again very common, but an interesting bird to watch an quite handsome.

[TonyQ]

115.G105. Pied Kingfisher  Ceryle rudis                    

Kotu     13.01.2018

Kotu     16.01.2018

Kotu is a great place to watch them hover and dive.

Success!, Kotu     16.01.2018

[TonyQ]

116.G106. Pink-backed Pelican  Pelecanus rufescens                     

Brufut  18.01.2018

[TonyQ]

117.G107. Pin-tailed Whydah  Vidua macroura                     

Mandina Lodge           20.01.2018

Juvenile just developing adult plumage, Mandina Lodge           20.01.2018

Another bird that has spectacular (male)plumage in the breeding season, but still quite pretty in the non-breeding plumage.

[TonyQ]

118.G108. Purple Heron  Ardea purpurea                 

Abuko Forest   14.01.2018

[TonyQ]

119.G109. Purple Glossy Starling  Lamprotornis purpureus             

Marakissa        17.01.2018

The colours of glossy starlings are really amazing (in the right light)

[TonyQ]

120.G110. Purple Swamphen  Porphyrio porphyrio madagascariensis  or Porphyrio madagascariensis 

Kartong           22.01.2018 

Another disputed classification - a species in its own right, or a sub-species? I don't suppose it cares!     

[elefromoz]

@TonyQ, the Long-crested Eagle is a beautiful, fearless looking creature, awesome IF photo. 

[Dave Williams]

Envious of the Swamphen! Nice images added all round.

[Peter Connan]

More beautiful birds, and magnificent photos!

[TonyQ]

@elefromoz @Dave Williams@Peter Connan

Thank you.

[TonyQ]

121.G111. Red-bellied Paradise-Flycatcher  Terpsiphone rufiventer

(M)Pirang Forest15.01.2018

(F) Brufut  18.01.2018

So I will start this block with a tricky couple of birds. This is "Red-bellied" - it has a "clean" red breast and belly. The males' black head is clearly marked compared to the chest. Tail plumes are quite long. The female has no white on the wings, chest/belly clearly red.

Sounds simple......

[TonyQ]

122.G112. African Paradise-Flycatcher  Terpsiphone viridis             

Mandina Lodge           23.01.2018

Black comes down from the head onto the chest. Tail plumes very long. So I think it is the "African".

 

We saw one or the other on a number of days - always deep in branches, very dark, lots of jumping about (by them!)

Edited February 20, 2018 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

123.G113. Red-billed Firefinch  Lagonosticta senegala                    

Juvenile, Kotu     13.01.2018

(F) Kotu.    16.01.2018

(M) Mandina Lodge           19.01.2018

Very common, and appear very characterful.

Edited February 20, 2018 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

124.G114. Red-billed Hornbill  Tockus erythrorhynchus                   

Kairaba Hotel  19.01.2018

(M+F) Kairaba Hotel  13.01.2018

[TonyQ]

125.G115. Red-billed Quelea  Quelea quelea

Pirang Forest  15.01.2018

Edited February 20, 2018 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

126.G116. Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu  Uraeginthus bengalus                      

(F) Marakissa        17.01.2018

(M) Mandina Lodge           21.01.2018

Very common, but always a pleasure to see them.

[TonyQ]

127.G117. Red-chested Swallow  Hirundo lucida                  

Kairaba Hotel  18.01.2018

Kartong           22.01.2018

Both pretty distant. Identification/naming is confused by a fairly loose useof the words"chested", "throated" ,"breasted"and "bellied".

I would expect this to be "throated" (no such in The Gambia) but it is indeed "red-chested". Book says "rufous extends into upper breast" and "white underparts"

[TonyQ]

128.G118. Red-eyed Dove  Streptopelia semitorquata                     

Kairaba Hotel  17.01.2018