Galana's Seventh. Lucky numbers.

[TonyQ]

A very productive trip @Galanaand a pleasure to follow.

[PeterHG]

So many excellent photos and sightings from your trip! Owl, Eagles, Martens, Divers, all wonderful!

[Galana]

Thanks everyone. The BY continues but I wonder if a Trip Report is worth doing in view of the coverage given here?

[Kitsafari]

13 hours ago, Galana said:

Thanks everyone. The BY continues but I wonder if a Trip Report is worth doing in view of the coverage given here?

 

it would be a read most entertaining, coming from you.  

[Galana]

On 6/24/2023 at 2:26 AM, Kitsafari said:

it would be a read most entertaining, coming from you.  

Flatterer.

https://www.safaritalk.net/topic/22514-more-highland-and-island-hopping-spring-2023/#comment-360927

 

[Galana]

Got home as the weather was turning and was quite 'birded out for a while.

However I was/am conscious of the season moving on so had a brief run north to catch the Arctic Terns before they leave for the other end of the world.

Having been absent I am not sure if they have been and gone, unlikely, or whether numbers are well down this year.

But I did manage a pair worth a try.

284. (IOM54) Arctic Tern. Point of Ayre. IOM.

 

And am now concerned that time is running out for the Little Terns too.

So lucky I did get a pair back in May before I left for Scotland that I was holding in reserve hoping for better things..

285. (IOM055) Little Tern. Smeale Beach. IOM So glad I did that walk for them now. Too far to read the leg rings though.

Might have to buck my ideas up a bit. The IOM list is lagging.

 

[Zim Girl]

Great set of birds from the Scottish trip.  Very impressed with all the SE Owl and Diver sightings.

[Galana]

On 6/30/2023 at 3:37 PM, Galana said:

Might have to buck my ideas up a bit. The IOM list is lagging.

 

Still a bit hot for the birds to be active and a few too many people around disturbing matters.

However I was tempted away from Domestics last evening to take a look. I was also motivated to see if I could bag a Shearwater for the Manx list.

I improved on the Arctic Terns. There were a few more around than last visit and hopeful signs of nesting (or just the females scrounging a free meal.)

There was a 'ringed pair' but no details yet. The female DU puts her at about four - six years so she has at least two trips to the Antarctic behind her.

Not much of an 'improvement' but it adds a point to IOM list. Now '56'.

 

I MUST get out more.

[Dave Williams]

I know what you mean Fred perhaps we spoil ourselves with more exotic trips? I had a short outing yesterday for the first time locally in a good few months but ended up not taking a single shot. The Anglesey and N Wales Tern colonies have all but disappeared from what I can gather. The were  moderately successful having been badly hit by avian flu. I think I need a Manxie for my BY's.

[Galana]

2 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

I think I need a Manxie for my BY's.

Plenty here at the moment so they must be at a Headland near you..

 

It's not so much the exotic holidays (Hebrides?) Just that coming home after 4 weeks of what Lady G refers to as 'intensive birding' (she has led a sheltered life) I do tend to ease back into what passes as  'normal life' for a while and of course it is high summer, birds are quiet and non birders less so. Not to mention the attractions of a nice cold bottle of something with lunch.

Edited July 20, 2023 by Galana

[Soukous]

6 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

The Anglesey and N Wales Tern colonies have all but disappeared from what I can gather.

 

Same on our side.

Little Tern colonies at Kessingland and Winterton-on-sea have both failed this year. Not sure if it is avian flu or the unseasonably strong winds and cold weather we had when they should have been sorting out their nesting sites. 

Luckily Eccles-on-sea seems to have a thriving colony.

[Dave Williams]

22 minutes ago, Soukous said:

 

Same on our side.

Little Tern colonies at Kessingland and Winterton-on-sea have both failed this year. Not sure if it is avian flu or the unseasonably strong winds and cold weather we had when they should have been sorting out their nesting sites. 

Luckily Eccles-on-sea seems to have a thriving colony.

 

Martin, What I should have made clear is that they had fledged ( as in disappeared) but numbers are seriously down on the past .

[Galana]

News on the female Tern 'DU'.

She was metal ringed as a chick in July 2013 north of the Winkie, Point of Ayre.   She has been recorded in 2016 when the colour ring was added, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and 2023 always north of the Winkie**, Point of Ayre. 

 

The Arctics settled and laid eggs during TT Practice week (end of May) and within days they were predated by rats.  The colony then abandoned until last week when they came back.  "No idea where they have been, we've had no reports of colour rings and I'm guessing they tried to nest somewhere else".  

 

  **Winkie" is the small auxiliary light that was built when the gravel banks extended seawards leaving the original Light house too far inland.

[Galana]

Met our Ranger this afternoon and there as good news on the Little Terns. One of the better years with about 20 fledged and flying. Sadly the Arctics tried a second time but again predation took out the eggs very quickly.

 

And on my way home I was able to find a new BY 'tick' for IOM.

Through the windscreen but not too bad.

258/IOM 057. Blackcap. Ballakesh. IOM

[Galana]

The time has come, The birding is still in the doldrums here and some summer visitors are thinking of heading south.

What a wise little bird. He will take about 10 days so with luck I should be there waiting for him as I am on the early red eye tomorrow.

Here is my route...

Well that is the theory. Basically fulfilling a pre Covid promise to friends with a side trip, not shown, up north in Tsavo East from Kibwezi but I could not convince google earth that there were roads where I planned to go. Even my Traks4Afrika showed a marked reluctance to get me back to Samburu (town) just where the 90 deg bend appears east of Voi to avoid Mombasa where we are certainly not going.

Priorities are a decent Ellie fix and a few red headed birds in Amani and elsewhere although I will make  a point to get Dodson's Bulbul in Tsavo and a few more as we go. Having picked up 180 birds already in TZ this year there will be some overlap but I think there will be some left for me to count the further west we go.

One lifer will be my first ever trip to Masai Mara as I have never been particularly attracted there but it was on the way home to Nairobi so why not? I am told there may be a few Wildebeeste to see at this time of the year. If Wiffy permits I may get a few chances to update my BY on the fly. If not then it will be all the more to keep me busy when I get back in September.

Edited August 7, 2023 by Galana
added text.

[xelas]

Have a safe travel, Fred!

[TonyQ]

What a great itinerary. Have a wonderful trip and I look forward to your photos on your return (if not earlier)

[Kitsafari]

Have a great trip, and more birds to the count!

Edited August 9, 2023 by Kitsafari

[michael-ibk]

Very cool itinerary! Have a great trip Fred. 😎

[PeterHG]

A great itinerary! Enjoy and I’m looking forward to your sightings along the way.

[Galana]

Brief update.

Mainly  for @xelasbut all may share #300.

 

All well as at today.

Yesterday was World Elephant Day. Guess who came to dinner?

Edited August 13, 2023 by Galana

[xelas]

Thank you, @Galana!

[Galana]

Out of Wiffy for weeks. Now in Karatu and it has rained.

Birding is good. List growing.

Trying to keep up my reputation for 'quality' so hard work.

Here are a couple of 'improvements' from my early list.

Collared Sunbird and White eye (not)

Home in a week or so. This interweb is fast so may get movng.

[Galana]

Where was I?

Seems like weeks and probbly is.

So b ack at the start at Hunter's Lodge on the Mombasa road on our first night in Kenya, we took a little look at the gardens and found the list started..

286. Reed or Longtailed Cormorant. Kenya.

 

287 Red-cheeked Cordon-bleu. Hunter's Lodge.

 

288. African Golden Weaver. Hunter's Lodge.

 

289. Retz'sHelmet Shrike. Hunter's Lodge.

 

290. Eastern Chantiing Goshawk. Somewhere north of Kibwezi, Tsavo region.

 

I will stop there for now. Just letting you know I was not forgetting my manners and am now on the shores of Lake Victoria at the lovely Speke Bay Lodge prior to heading for Kenya again in the morning. 30th August 2023.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

Good to hear from you Fred, trust you are enjoying your safari?