TonyQ's Big Year: Number 4

[TonyQ]

@michael-ibk  pole position will be temporary. I am confident that @PeterHG will blast past me after his trip to Colombia - it looks like an amazing place for birding

And as others have said, it is the fun of taking part

[xelas]

31 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

There goes my Pole Position!

Being a champion is being on everyone's crosshair! Yet champions are also bringing the best out of the rest of the competitors.

[xelas]

@TonyQ congratulations on taking the lead in the BY2019 race! And you have achieved it with minimal (if any) EBC.

[PeterHG]

Congratulations on your pole position and with loads of beautiful photos! And remember lots of things may still happen to keep you there:

- I may only see 32 new species due to persistent bad weather and incompetence of our guide.

- I may break or lose my camera ( I don't have a spare body)

- I may fall ill ( I don't have a spare body)

- The KLM pilots may go on an extended strike

- The plane may be hijacked,  taking us to a deserted airfield in Mongolia ( still some new BY additions possible, of course)

- I may accidentally delete all the photos, while post-processing them.

- I may not be able to do any post-processing at all, because my daughter suddenly announces she is planning to get married in December ( this may be truer than you think ;))

So nothing is certain yet. Enjoy the lead and keep on posting, so I can keep on enjoying them ! 

 

[Galana]

Congratulations on current Pole. I sense the pace hotting up so the choice of Tyres may play a bigger role than normal. Agree with @xelas noting like a tight race to bring out the best in folks.

And @PeterHG is too pessimistic by far. Fake News! And he is too optimistic about Outer Mongolia. Last time I was there they would not even permit photos of Trains. Airfields? No chance!

Of course if Daughter makes the announcement he may have to sell all his kit to pay for the wedding. but as he knows, a simple mobile is good for Barn Owls and Pittas so there may  be a late challenge.

 

Keep em coming Tony. Still looking for W-Z.

[Dave Williams]

Well done Tony, it's not over yet!!

[pedro maia]

That’s an impressive number and it’s not over, congrats on the lead.

[Kitsafari]

Woohoo a new leader in early November. Still an open race which will prob go down to the wire in February. Perhaps we should motivate @PeterHGto post his count early by end January so not to prolong the suspense! (Just kidding).

 

19 hours ago, Galana said:

 

Of course if Daughter makes the announcement he may have to sell all his kit to pay for the wedding. but as he knows, a simple mobile is good for Barn Owls and Pittas so there may  be a late challenge

 

Absolutely- you know Samsung mobile is among the best (ditch that iphone) for c photos. 🤣🤣

[TonyQ]

@Kitsafari @pedro maia @Dave Williams @Galana @PeterHG @xelas  thank you

 

531.K190. Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl  Bubo lacteus   

Already seen in India (No it wasn't! thank you @Galana) Number adjusted.

Selenkay Conservancy           05.09.2019

Edited November 5, 2019 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

521.K191. Violet-Backed Starling  Cinnyricinclus leucogaster verreauxi       

Mara Naboisho Conservancy  14.09.2019    

And an EBC for @xelas  Interesting that this is named after Verreaux as well. 

[TonyQ]

522.K192. Vitelline Masked Weaver  Ploceus velatus uluensis         

Kicheche Mara Camp (Mara North)    11.09.2019

[TonyQ]

523.K193. Von Der Decken’s Hornbill  Tockus deckeni        

Selenkay Conservancy           05.09.2019

Mara Naboisho Conservancy  13.09.2019

[TonyQ]

524.K194. Wattled Starling  Creatophora cinerea     

Selenkay Conservancy           07.09.2019

Hundreds came to the waterhole, Selenkay Conservancy           07.09.2019

[TonyQ]

525.K195. Western Cattle Egret  Bubulcus ibis ibis   

Amboseli National Park           06.09.2019

Amboseli National Park           06.09.2019

[TonyQ]

526.K196. White Browed Coucal  Centropus superciliosus superciliosus     

Mara North Conservancy        11.09.2019

We struggled for a while to get a picture of it in a tree, against the light. It then very cooperatively flew to the ground at the side of the jeep.

[TonyQ]

527.K197. White-Bellied Bustard  Eupodotis senegalensis canicollis

(F) Selenkay Conservancy           06.09.2019

(M) Mara Naboisho Conservancy  13.09.2019

[TonyQ]

528.K198. White-Bellied Canary  Serinus dorsostriatus        

Mara Naboisho Conservancy  14.09.2019

I hadn't realised that "our" serin was so closely related to canaries.

[TonyQ]

529.K199. White-Bellied Go-Away Bird  Corythaixoides leucogaster

3 males, 1 female (yellow bill) Porini Amboseli camp 07.09.2019

Porini Amboseli camp 07.09.2019

Both of these were taken just in front of the dining area. The water was obviously very welcome as Selenkay was very dry.

Edited November 5, 2019 by TonyQ

[TonyQ]

530.K200. White-browed Robin-chat  Cossypha heuglini      

Kicheche Mara Camp (Mara North)    09.09.2019

Very common, and confiding, around the camp. We didn't see them anywhere else. Number 200 for Kenya.

[Dave Williams]

200 for the trip..so far. Very impressive!

[Peter Connan]

Very impressive indeed, and some really lovely shots!

[Galana]

Ah, we have got to the Whites. Very nice and well done for Kenya 200.

Love the male and female Von der Deckens.

Two things trouble me. Both begin with V.

I take your word on Vitteline Masked Weaver but to be frank it could be anything with a red eye and yellow belly.

The other V.  Where did you see Verreaux's Eagle Owl in India? How long  a lens did you use?

Not that you need it but have another point!

[xelas]

Collecting 200 birds per trip is great achievement, @TonyQ! That EBC is only an EBC because you have decided not to crop the shot . 

[TonyQ]

@Galana, you are of course right! That was a Dusky Eagle Owl.

Getting sloppy  Thank you. I have adjusted the number so it is 531.

 

@xelas  it is a massive crop already  thanks for the comment!

@Dave Williams @Peter Connan Thank you

[PeterHG]

Another bunch of excellent Kenya additions, @TonyQ !