Galana's Seventh. Lucky numbers.

[Dave Williams]

I can't keep up at the pace you are adding them  Fred. Some cracking birds in amongst that haul. Nice that you can still add lifers too. Always a thrill!

[Galana]

2 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

Nice that you can still add lifers too. Always a thrill!

One more to come.

Found a great place for Claire and you. Ticks all the boxes including a pool and cold beer.

[Galana]

The final five (or two) for now.

I am ahead with two duplicates( 086 and 397) and (041- 437) plus a missed ID for Marsh Sandpiper.

I will use my existing file numbers for now as it would be too laborious to adjust physically, but simply not count the next three new ones. There WILL be more than three new ones to come be assured.) OK?

Here we go then.

 

441. Common Waxbill. Masai Mara. Surely one of these is recognisable?

 

442. Croaking Cisticola. Maasai Mara.

 

Roll drums..

443. Cuckoo Finch. Masai Mara. My final lifer of the trip.

 

444. Wahlberg's Eagle. Masai Mara. Seated at breakfast under an Acacia CT mentioned that we had yet to score a Wahlberg's. Bang on cue this flew into a nearby tree. "well we bloody well have now. Look over there.'

Even showing the small nape crest.

 

Finally..For now..

445. Red-capped Lark. Masai Mara.

 

446 will be along in few weeks unless I get lucky locally. First I need 445a, 445b and 445c. to correct my score.

 

[Galana]

On 9/19/2023 at 2:54 PM, Galana said:

446 will be along in few weeks unless I get lucky locally.

Still needing some local luck.

A mix of Bird fatigue and poor weather is not helping.

BUT I am still alive with a pulse.

So ventured out to check my local patch.

The resident Robins were enjoying some sunshine and

 

There were lots of Red Admiral's sipping the ripening blackberries.

Neither of which counts.

[michael-ibk]

Congrats on finishing your African birds, and even more so for your lifer - would be one for me as well although I´d prefer to see a proper yellow one. Great collection, really enjoyed them. Next big batch will be Ecuador, no?

[Galana]

1 hour ago, michael-ibk said:

Next big batch will be Ecuador, no?

I hope so. As you know we are not engaged in a large tour trying to see it all but simply reliving a promise to return to San Isidro from a short visit last time. Inspired in no little measure from your report and Jo's with a few days down the Napo at an eco lodge that caught my eye.

A 'big' bird score is second to finding some mammals.

[michael-ibk]

Well, I think it would be difficult NOT to score big bird-wise in Ecuador. 😁

[Galana]

Might forget to remove the lens cap!

[Dave Williams]

Enviable trip coming up Fred...mind you any trip is enviable!

[PeterHG]

A very good Africa collection and another worthwhile trip coming up! Looking forward to photos from Ecuador.

[Galana]

Thanks @PeterHG

Flying by AMS so will do a wing waggle as we pass by.

 

@everybody.

Just had confirmation, as if needed, that my Karamoja Apalis was correct. Evidently the small TZ population have expanded northwards and are now even in the Masai Mara. I might have to return to get a better photo.

[Kitsafari]

desperately trying to catch up so I may have missed a few numbers. Still, belated congrats on the 400. love that zebra waxbill! did you mention what your score was for the African trip? apologies if  i missed it somewhere. 

 

[Galana]

Good to see you are with us again and looking forward to retirement.

I was pleased with that Zebra Waxbill too. More so as it is not shown as being where we saw it.

I have not given a total species for the trip as it is WIP and I run country lists so whilst I know the totals for both countries (454) there are of course many overlaps. That is species seen not those photographed for BY.

 

Next and final part of Trip report due shortly when I shall try to make some sense of the lists if possible.

 

[Galana]

No decent additions for some time although the Divers, all three, are arriving.

Our weather is about right for the Equinox with stronger than normal winds and whilst the mornings start bright it clouds up by noon and the light starts to fail as does my enthusiasm.

 

Packing is now being put out on the spare bed and batteries charged up ready for leaving on Saturday. As stated this trip is not a mad rush around numerous Eco zones but a more leisurely trip down the eastern Andes to Amazonia and back. Whilst as @michael-ibksuggests it will be hard not to see many birds unless blindfold

(My check list from 2011 shows 444) my targets are more mammal orientated although a better photo of San Isidro's "Mystery Owl" would be nice.

Inspired by Michael's and Jo's @kittykat23ukreports last Autumn I got to thinking about how nice it would be to re-visit San Isidro which we had only briefly visited last trip and liked a lot. So a brief contact with owner Carmen warmed us to the idea and  as often happens the seed of the idea took root and grew into a longer stay . Well it does not make sense to fly all that way for just a week or so. So it is now 21 days. Back 3rd November. Fewer but longer stops.

Pallacta, Guango and San Isidro I know. Then east down to Coca followed by a 4 hour boat ride down the Napo to Yasuni NP for five nights in a community owned Eco Lodge before return by air from Coca to Quito and a final night at Hacienda Las Cuavas before the long trip home.

Better stop now as this is not a trip report.

Hot news. Email just in asking for Boot sizes for the Eco Lodge. Should we be worried?

[TonyQ]

@Galanathat sounds wonderful. Have a great trip!

[xelas]

20 hours ago, Galana said:

Should we be worried?

You?! Never !

 

Have an excellent trip with many mammal sightings. 

[PeterHG]

Have a great trip. It certainly has all the ingredients!

[Galana]

7 hours ago, xelas said:

You?! Never !

Depends if the baggage handlers do their usual job.

 

Thanks everyone.

For the first time I have prepared a mammal list.

[BRACQUENE]

Have a fantastic trip Fred!

[michael-ibk]

I'm sure that will be awesome, particularly interested in what you will find in the East, would love to go there myself. Have a great one Fred! 

[pedro maia]

I´m yet to go through most of you African TR and you´re already packing for Ecuador, have a nice trip!

[lmSA84]

What a trip! Have a great time! 

[Kitsafari]

have a great mammalistic and birdie trip!

[Galana]

Thanks everyone for the good wishes.

The flights were gruelling but Ecuador was so pleased to see me that we offloaded at 15.00, Immigration was so efficient, blnk and go, Luggage down the belt in the first 100 and our driver was waiting to whisk us the 30 mins drive to our night stop. Checked in at 16.00. Almost unbelievable.

Now at Hacienda las Cuevas. Lovely place for two nights. More in the Trip report but first some 'house keeping' with my score. I was on 445 but with three wrong uns. So to deal with them  without bugg**ing up the sequence.

I thought about 445 A-D but nah.

So here goes.

Delete and renumber the duplicates 041, 086 and 427 which morph from Yellow-throated Longclaw, Grey-capped Social Weaver and a misnamed Marsh Sandpiper into the following:-

Giant Thrush  041

 

086. Rufous-naped Brush-Finch,

 

427. Rufous-collared Sparrow..

How is that?

 

And a couple more to moe the list...

446. White-winged Brush Finch,

 

447. Blue and Yellow Tanager.

All in the grounds of Hacinda las Cuevas.

 

The count has restarted.

Today we left Hacienda las Cuavas for Papallacta by a very roundabout route and my guide driver was the same man as drove for us in 2011. I could not be happier.

[TonyQ]

@Galanaa great start to your trip. You are just so efficient!