What will almost certainly be a quiet little year - Soukous 2019

[Soukous]

53 minutes ago, xelas said:

Obviously the rest of your trip was not plagued by same atmospheric disaster as the starting one: great colors, excellent contrast. 

 

The weather didn't improve much, but I got a bit cleverer and tried to get close to the subjects to reduce the haze & noise.

[Soukous]

Ooh Ooh! I managed to unearth another one..

 

# 290 - Jungle Babbler - Turdoides striata

Keoladeo Ghana / Bharatpur, India. Nov 2019

 

 

 

[Soukous]

and another one. I was sure I'd posted this from somewhere else, but it appears not.

 

# 291 - Common Sandpiper - Actitis hypoleucos

Chambal river, India. Nov 2019

 

 

[Galana]

"What will almost certainly be a quiet little year."

I recall commenting on the choice of title before.

Some lovely photos there. I love Coppersmith Barbets.

 

Edit. And I typed this before the Sandpiper was seen.

Edited November 25, 2019 by Galana
Additional updated comment.

[Dave Williams]

Excellent images, each and every one. Painful viewing for me though as I should have been in India right now but for Thomas Cook going belly up!

[Peter Connan]

Wow, what a rush of fascinating birds and beautiful photos Martin!

[TonyQ]

Excellent additions, and very close to 300. I have really enjoyed seeing these Indian birds

Chambal River and the area generally provided a lot of birds. 

How long were you there, and where did you stay?

[Soukous]

16 hours ago, TonyQ said:

How long were you there, and where did you stay?

 

I was there 16 nights in all, trying to show an Australian colleague a good cross section of what India has to offer.

 

1. Delhi - doesn't really count as I arrived at 01:30 and left the hotel at 04:30
2 & 3 - Bharatpur
4 & 5 - Chambal Safari Lodge - this place would have been better a few weeks later as water levels were still too high for India Skimmers
6 & 7 - Jungle Resort, Kuno
8, 9 & 10 - Ranthambhore Kothi
11 & 12 - Shahpura Bagh
13 & 14 - Bera Safari Lodge - great leopard sightings, but in about a month, when temperatures have dropped, they would be our sunning themselves in early morning
15 & 16 - Jagat Niwas Palace - Udaipur

Edited November 26, 2019 by Soukous

[Soukous]

17 hours ago, Galana said:

What will almost certainly be a quiet little year."

I recall commenting on the choice of title before.

 

You did indeed. Perhaps not as quiet as I expected but there are a couple of people who have managed almost twice as many as I. How the hell do they find the time?

[Galana]

15 minutes ago, Soukous said:

How the hell do they find the time?

Indeed. But whilst they can they will!

[TonyQ]

@Soukous  being old and retired has some advantages 

[Galana]

4 hours ago, TonyQ said:

being old

Trust me. That is NO advantage. They find it harder to rise on a morning, tire easily and often take a nap after lunch. Or so those old folk I know tell me.

[xelas]

2 hours ago, Galana said:

Trust me. That is NO advantage. They find it harder to rise on a morning, tire easily and often take a nap after lunch. Or so those old folk I know tell me.

But they have time to travel, so visiting popular birding spots frequently is what they do  (p.s. looking forward to join them next year ).

[Galana]

1 hour ago, xelas said:

so visiting popular birding spots frequently is what they do 

You misunderstand. They go there because they forget their way home from the shops!

[Soukous]

On 11/26/2019 at 7:37 PM, Galana said:

You misunderstand. They go there because they forget their way home from the shops!

 

And voila, the home delivery service has a growing list of customers. 

Edited December 14, 2019 by Soukous

[Zim Girl]

Really enjoyed your Indian birds @Soukous  The yellow-footed green pigeon is indeed a very pretty bird.

[Soukous]

I should not be surprised that certain people (no names) have been posting like crazy while I was away. The leaders are now even further in the distance than they were 2 weeks ago.

 

A recent travel conference in Kasane gave me some opportunity to boost my tally, but the majority of the birds I saw have already been posted. I should be able to move my score over the 300 line though.

The rains had well & truly commenced in Botswana and therefore the game was well dispersed. Birds too seemed to have moved away from their usual haunts. 

 

After the conference, I was asked by a colleague to act as second driver on a short agents trip. Of course I was delighted to help out as driving in the bush is one of my favourite pastimes. Of course I hoped it would give me the chance to grab some photos along the way - and it did - but driving with a camera on your lap is not ideal and then trying to grab the camera and get it pointed out of the window in time to photograph the birds before they fly away is easier said than done.

It was great fun though.

[Soukous]

#292 - Goliath Heron - Ardea goliath 

Chobe River, Botswana. Dec 2019

 

 

 

Edited December 15, 2019 by Soukous

[Soukous]

#293 - Collared Palm Thrush - Cichladusa arquata

Kasane, Botswana. Dec 2019

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#294 - White-browed Robin Chat - Cossypha heuglini

Kasane, Botswana. Dec 2019

 

 

and another one from Maun

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#295 - Southern Masked Weaver - Ploceus velatus

Kasane, Botswana. Dec 2019

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#296 - Southern Brown-throated Weaver - Ploceus xanthopeterus

Kasane, Botswana. Dec 2019

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#297 - African Marsh Harrier - Circus ranivorus

Chobe River, Botswana. Dec 2019

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#298 - Long-toed Lapwing - Vanellus crassirostris

Chobe River, Botswana. Dec 2019

 

 

 

[Soukous]

#299 White-winged Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus

Chobe River, Botswana. Dec 2019