Peter B's Second Big Year 2023

[BRACQUENE]

A few more I discovered recently , not always the best quality but I have seen worse  starting with these two : 

 

273° Amethyst Sunbird ( Chalcomitra amethystina - Amethisthoningzuiger ) Mara Naboisho Conservancy 11th of August 2023 : 

274° Northern Grey-headed Sparrow ( Passer griseus - Grijskopmus ) Mara Naboisho Conservancy 12th of August 2023 : 

[BRACQUENE]

Another unexpected one inspired by @TonyQ's latest 

275° Red-billed Oxpecker ( Buphagus erythrorhynchus - Roodsnavelossenpikker ) Mara North Conservancy Mara River 15th of August 2023 : 

[BRACQUENE]

276° Zitting Cisticola ( Cisticola juncidis - Graszanger ) Mara North Conservancy 15th of August 2023 : 

Small and often overlooked ...

 

[TonyQ]

Well done with the Cisticolas, and of course the Oxpeckers!

[BRACQUENE]

 

Starting to prepare my trip report and still finding new ones : 

277° Red-billed Firefinch ( Lagonosticta senegala - Vuurvinkje ) Laikipia Ol Pejeta Conservancy 7th of August 2023 : 

[pedro maia]

Wow, it took me a while to catch up here, you raced past 200 (congrats on that), lots of cool species, my favourites are the raptors, you have a nice set of those here, and probably the African Blue Flycatcher. beautiful.

[Dave Williams]

Looks like another triple centurion soon to be announced! Well done.

[BRACQUENE]

Even when you think you posted everything from Kenya ...

278° African Crowned Eagle ( Stephanoaetus coronatus - Kroonarend ) Mara North Conservancy 13th of August 2023 : 

279° Northern Crombec ( Sylvietta brachyura leucopsis - Senegalese Krombek ) Mara Naboisho Conservancy 10th of August 2023 

 

 

[BRACQUENE]

My Rwanda safari is steadily approaching and I honestly can't wait to go birding there because of late the atrocious weather ( like again today ) has kept me inside most of the time so I started to read that old Akagera trip report from Michael @michael-ibkand the birds he posted in his famous 2016 BY and amongst them a bird II will hopefully see closer and much clearer in Rwanda but anyway here is a picture taken from our tent in Mara North last August : 

 

280° Cinnamon-Chested Bee-eater ( Merops oreobates - Bergbijeneter ) Mara North Kicheche Camp 15th of August 2023 :

 

 

[PeterHG]

I can see why your Rwanda safari is a more and more tempting prospect!

[Galana]

Have a good one @BRACQUENE. One of the good points on Agakera NP is the Sensible Fee tariff.

1 night/day $100, 2 night/day $150 3 night/day $200 and after that nothing more to pay up to one week.

So one nighters get stung, 3 nights equals next door TZ in TOTAL and the long stayers get a bargain IF they stay within the Park.

[michael-ibk]

I'm sure you will love Akagera Peter, I certainly did. When are you leaving? 

[BRACQUENE]

Thanks a lot Fred for the info and I am leaving in 10 days on the 8th Michael going to Ruzizi first where you went and then to Magashi in the north of the Park

[Galana]

Welcome. I am booked into Ruzizi next year so expecting a full report.

[BRACQUENE]

Yesterday for the first time in more than two months I took my OM-1 with the 300 mm to get that feeling again and as the sun finally decided to come out I looked out of the window in the garden and saw initially  the usual suspects : 

 

But then a big surprise and even it was my number 54 in February seen in "Ten Bosch" Brussels  it is a first timer at home !

 

 

 

[Galana]

Good to see you keeping in practice. What a lovely Goldcrest.

[Kitsafari]

Ooooh Goldcrest! i love that tiny ball of feathers!

[BRACQUENE]

Ready to leave for Kigali and Akagera !

[Galana]

Have a good one.

[Peter Connan]

Hope you enjoy every minute!

[BRACQUENE]

Thanks @Zim Girland Fred and Peter for the reply ; sitting with Anne in the restaurant at Heaven Boutique Hotel for dinner outside by the pool  No birds spotted yet 

[PeterHG]

That looks amazing! Have a brilliant trip

[michael-ibk]

Safari njema!

[xelas]

Heavens will soon be filled with birds! Have a great trip with abundance of colorful birds.

[Kitsafari]

enjoy!