Zim Girl's (very tiny) Big Year 2018

[Zim Girl]

106.  Madagascan Wood rail  (Canirallus kioloides)   Madagascar Endemic

Another rain forest endemic.  Our guide found this in the Andasibe area.  We spent ages waiting for it to come out of the undergrowth, one of a pair.

 

 

 

 

[Zim Girl]

107.  Madagascar Magpie-robin  (Copsychus albospecularis)  Madagascar Endemic

Eastern endemic but easily seen. They have varying amounts of black and white colouring.

 

 

 

 

 

[Zim Girl]

108.  Amber Mountain Rock Thrush  (Monticola erythronotus)  Madagascar Endemic.  Listed as Endangered.

Very local endemic, only found in Amber Mountain NP.  However, very easily seen in the Park and very confiding.

 

Female

Male

 

 

[Zim Girl]

109.  Cuckoo Roller  (Leptosomus discolor)  Endemic to Madagascar and the Comoros.

Apart from the Rock Thrush and the Pygmy Kingfisher, this was the only other bird I managed to photograph in Amber Mountain.

 

 

 

[Zim Girl]

110.  Souimanga sunbird  (Cinnyris sovimanga)   Endemic to Madagascar and the Seychelles

Got this one in Ankarana but we saw them everywhere, just very small and quick!

 

 

 

[Zim Girl]

111.  Madagascar Blue Vanga   (Cyanolanius madagascarinus)  Endemic to Madagascar and the Comoros

This is my favourite bird picture.  Madagascar has some really beautiful blue birds and I really wanted a picture of a blue bird (just a thing!!)

Anyway, we saw these a lot in the rain forests but too high and too dark and then we found this one in Ankarana pretty much out in the open.

 

 

 

 

[Zim Girl]

112.  Greater Vasa Parrot  (Coracopsis vasa)   Endemic to Madagascar and the Comoros

 

 

 

[Zim Girl]

113.  Madagascar Cuckoo-shrike  (Ceblepyris cinereus)   Madagascar Endemic

 

 

 

[Zim Girl]

114.  Madagascar Scops-owl   (Otus rutilus)   Madagascar Endemic

Always nice to find an owl. Saw these in both Andasibe and Ankarana.

 

 

 

 

 

[Zim Girl]

115.  Crested Coua  (Coua cristata)   Madagascar Endemic

One of the arboreal species of Coua.

 

 

 

 

[Zim Girl]

116.  Madagascar Nightjar   (Caprimulgus madagascariensis)   Endemic to Madagascar and the Seychelles

Saw this on a nocturnal walk at our final lodge in Ankarana.  It didn't move an inch as we walked past it.

 

 

 

[Zim Girl]

117.  Madagascar Turtle-dove   (Nesoenas picturatus)  Non Endemic

Foraging around outside our room in Ankarana.

 

 

 

 

[Zim Girl]

Finally the last one to finish my very short and sweet introduction to the birds of Madagascar.

Who doesn't love a Bee eater?

 

118.  Olive Bee eater  (Merops superciliosus)   Non Endemic

 

 

 

So, not as many as I had hoped but still happy with what I got.  For all things furry and scaly you will have to wait for the trip report.

 

UK bird service will be resumed soon, as we got an exciting lifer (for us anyway) at Leighton Moss this weekend.

 

[Tdgraves]

congrats on 100

[Peter Connan]

You really saw and photographed some magnificent birds in Madagascar, and congrats on the 100!

[TonyQ]

Some great birds from Madagascar and some beautiful photos.

The Blue Vanga is stunning, as is the Pygmy Kingfisher. Congratulations on the 100.

(When we went to Madagascar, a long time ago, I don't remember seeing any birds)

[lmSA84]

Fascinating birds and great photos! Madagascar is definitely a bucket list item and this list only confirms it more. I had never heard of a Cuckoo Roller before, so looked up it’s Wiki entry and it says that other then the Hoatzin, this bird is one only one whose family / lineage is unclear 

[michael-ibk]

Congratulations on #100' Madagascar seems to be a dream dstination for endemics, I'm surprised there is so little overlap with African birds - just the Red-billed Teal, right? Great photos, particularly love the Pygmy Kingfisher and the Vanga. And I'm looking forward to the furry stuff in your report.

[Galana]

Welcome home.

More congratulations on the 100 and what a terrific bird to get there. I love Kingfishers and this one is really special.

To finish with a Madagascar Bee-Eater was also a nice touch for the trip.

The breath is bated for your Leighton Moss lifer too.

Edited October 8, 2018 by Galana
additional text.

[Zim Girl]

Thanks @Tdgraves, @Peter Connan, @TonyQ, @lmSA84, @michael-ibk and @Galana

Yes, really pleased with the Pygmy Kingfisher sighting, can't believe how long it sat there with me slipping my way down this steep slope to get to it.

My next target is to reach 100 UK birds.

 

15 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

Congratulations on #100' Madagascar seems to be a dream dstination for endemics, I'm surprised there is so little overlap with African birds - just the Red-billed Teal, right? Great photos, particularly love the Pygmy Kingfisher and the Vanga. And I'm looking forward to the furry stuff in your report.

Also the Olive Bee eater which has a range over a lot of East Africa, but yes plenty of endemics.  Apparently 107 endemic species which includes 5 endemic families.

 

16 hours ago, lmSA84 said:

Fascinating birds and great photos! Madagascar is definitely a bucket list item and this list only confirms it more. I had never heard of a Cuckoo Roller before, so looked up it’s Wiki entry and it says that other then the Hoatzin, this bird is one only one whose family / lineage is unclear 

Yes, I read that also. My picture doesn't make it that clear but it is quite unusual looking with well set back eyes and also beautiful green iridescent wings.

[Zim Girl]

Popped into Leighton Moss for a quick visit last Saturday morning. Only spent an hour there and got 3 new birds for the BY

 

I have been seeing lots of Little Egrets there all year, but infuriatingly never managed a good picture and also just lately a group of Great White Egrets have been seen regularly.  I saw 6 on a previous visit, but very far away.

 

Then as luck would have it, we walked into the first hide and they were both there together and fairly close too.

 

119. (UK 90)  Little Egret

 

 

Leighton Moss RSPB  -  06/10/18

 

Edited October 11, 2018 by Zim Girl

[Zim Girl]

120. (UK 91)  Great White Egret

 

Leighton Moss RSPB  -  06/10/18

 

 

Edited October 11, 2018 by Zim Girl

[Zim Girl]

And just to show the size difference, both together.

 

[Zim Girl]

But the bird I have wanted to see for a long while, even as a non-birder, made an appearance for us next.  I probably should have saved this for my UK 100 but I couldn't wait

 

121. (UK 92)   Bearded Tit (Reedling)

 

 

Leighton Moss is one of the few places in the UK to see these gorgeous little round birds.  They have 26 ringed individuals and around 30 pairs.  Autumn mornings are the best time to try to see them and the Reserve has put up grit trays for them near one of the trails. There is still a lot of luck involved as they are not seen there every day and we were very excited to find a male and female.  Others could just be seen flying around the nearby bushes.

 

[Ratdcoops]

Back onboard @Zim Girl congrats on the hundred. That Blue Vanga is indeed a cool bird. Also a big fan of the Bearded Tits.

Edited October 11, 2018 by Ratdcoops