tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12977469455492428872024-03-06T01:45:00.814+00:00BIRDMADBirds and other thingsPhil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.comBlogger166125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-53822006225909156012022-10-05T18:16:00.096+01:002022-10-06T21:31:07.926+01:00Sojourn at Spurn<p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">At the end of August, Birdguides was reporting some migrant
birds in Spurn that I really wanted to see. David and I decided to go up for 3
days and stay at the Bird Observatory. The Observatory, the ‘Obs’ for short, is
on the spot and is very reasonably priced. Spurn is a long, narrow peninsula at the
mouth of the Humber river, East of Hull.</span><span style="font-family: arial; mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="font-family: arial;">We booked for 3 nights from Tuesday 30 August 2022.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIjFhIISbUxvtFlncGN9OI4E9NGInHCE_4tHN5BRi8bs1xQ3spFGALv532zCJdAVtxfwyTs419t0l7Zy7-HDSf4AoxuyjfIqfAUeTHdkOf-fn6m2be4uNfFYoR4Q5EOaITjnYRVuVPqGt-G4eiIt3B29tzhqOY8yiPlgJuK1CUKbzz10EKu1PFn4x/s2434/Spurn%20map%20T.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1576" data-original-width="2434" height="414" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGIjFhIISbUxvtFlncGN9OI4E9NGInHCE_4tHN5BRi8bs1xQ3spFGALv532zCJdAVtxfwyTs419t0l7Zy7-HDSf4AoxuyjfIqfAUeTHdkOf-fn6m2be4uNfFYoR4Q5EOaITjnYRVuVPqGt-G4eiIt3B29tzhqOY8yiPlgJuK1CUKbzz10EKu1PFn4x/w640-h414/Spurn%20map%20T.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Showing Hull and the Humber. Inset area below</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXLWGRR6-IlElUaR_o8-lZ07wxd0yCc9YgqW2eV70CLG2i656dW906Ycczt2OXedyEmGgYu5Q9ij7q2_zswAa-vaidoV4BPeywSQTjB2pkzTaXUBg-oygXEh9UTL8tJWetzrwkI2H1oaRVW11uqVzfg8GhZd0PwuR1D7OSFjSgetByylRofexMOTc/s1766/Spurn%20spit%20map.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1766" data-original-width="991" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBXLWGRR6-IlElUaR_o8-lZ07wxd0yCc9YgqW2eV70CLG2i656dW906Ycczt2OXedyEmGgYu5Q9ij7q2_zswAa-vaidoV4BPeywSQTjB2pkzTaXUBg-oygXEh9UTL8tJWetzrwkI2H1oaRVW11uqVzfg8GhZd0PwuR1D7OSFjSgetByylRofexMOTc/s16000/Spurn%20spit%20map.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The Spurn Peninsula.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Before getting to Spurn, we decided to go for the Greater Sand Plover which had been at Redcar for several days. The plover was mobile, and could be anywhere at various points on a long stretch of beach. Luckily, it had been relocated recently, and the large group of birders on the beach left no doubt we had found the right place. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">This small wader originally hails from the Middle East. It was fairly distant but no problem with a good telescope. We watched it for 25-30 minutes before heading South again to Spurn.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpCCGQcKoVNUExoYMy1lYxIb0qiImNnLcD1ARUPKlAHZC-frMr8mfgJdzCrQiHpDUpyjdL1RElpzRbY_EtaiTSzPVpQizjWPogYCVDKql0x3-FoekWfYG24KKdEijdecVpFEcbrhJENaAe-8J8Q22eQW9BCcJUuQytYn53aTB4-HxPudMg_wzK5hI/s1200/Plover%20-%20Greater%20Sand%20PJW_1253%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdpCCGQcKoVNUExoYMy1lYxIb0qiImNnLcD1ARUPKlAHZC-frMr8mfgJdzCrQiHpDUpyjdL1RElpzRbY_EtaiTSzPVpQizjWPogYCVDKql0x3-FoekWfYG24KKdEijdecVpFEcbrhJENaAe-8J8Q22eQW9BCcJUuQytYn53aTB4-HxPudMg_wzK5hI/w640-h454/Plover%20-%20Greater%20Sand%20PJW_1253%20crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">Greater Sand Plover - here with a Black-headed Gull</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">On the way to Spurn, we passed over the North Yorkshire Moors. The high terrain looked good for Red Grouse, which I needed for my year list. We stopped and, within a few minutes, heard the call. Shortly afterwards, David spotted the grouse some distance away.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Back in the car, we continued South to Spurn. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> A quick mini-supermarket
shop was all that was needed before arriving at the obs. late afternoon. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> W</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial; font-size: large;">e dropped everything off at the Obs., before heading down the road to where an Arctic Warbler had been seen.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Finding a small bird in the bushes is no easy task at the
best of times, and we arrived in failing light. Birds are creatures of habit. We
learned from those present that the Arctic Warbler came back to a particular
tree, devoid of leaves inside. We sat down nearby to wait for it. About 20
minutes later we were rewarded with very close views of this small, unassuming passerine. <o:p></o:p></span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: arial;">Superficially, it looks like a Chiffchaff, but notice the large eye stripe.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiFeJjgtRDG9aLUfVU9FIttetCnHRRenY1-IhLgg3dZMVtBrGeZIGXQZtBek0q_ki8xe9YZvitWFvaRKHiL_BZvaou-rNJU4kDDcLBCbkgrXzSOWa8axLhDcCb9Z1X6Cztke47O1n9Ms3hDK7I3UdMQ1Ybe7AazAv07pz-peSUufmiW28IifFSMXl/s1000/Warbler%20-%20Arctic%20PJW_1343%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpiFeJjgtRDG9aLUfVU9FIttetCnHRRenY1-IhLgg3dZMVtBrGeZIGXQZtBek0q_ki8xe9YZvitWFvaRKHiL_BZvaou-rNJU4kDDcLBCbkgrXzSOWa8axLhDcCb9Z1X6Cztke47O1n9Ms3hDK7I3UdMQ1Ybe7AazAv07pz-peSUufmiW28IifFSMXl/w640-h454/Warbler%20-%20Arctic%20PJW_1343%20crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Arctic Warbler</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">The following day, Wednesday 31st, with a strong Easterly
wind blowing seabirds towards us, we did some sea watching. Now, I am not very
experienced at sea watching, which involves looking out for distant seabirds and identifying them at long range. David is much more experienced at
this. The best bird was a Pomarine Skua, but we saw several Arctic Skuas, a
couple of Great Skuas, as well as more common birds such as Gannets, Kittiwakes
and Gulls.</span></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Photography of these birds is almost impossible. For that reason,
there are no pictures of them.</span><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">You'll just have to take my word for it! </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span> 😏</span><span><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Later, we went to the wetlands. We looked for two reported Red-necked
Phalaropes, but didn’t see them. There was, however, a Citrine Wagtail which,
amazingly, I managed to see, but David did not. He was looking the other way at the time!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">After lunch I went looking for a Red-backed Shrike nearby,
but David returned to look for the Citrine Wagtail.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">On arrival at the Shrike, I caught the merest glimpse of it
before it disappeared for the afternoon. Not very satisfying.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Returning to the wetlands, we caught up with the two Red-necked
Phalaropes.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8xeDnBEafJ0Xp3Cm3hbSFP0SJoMV4wzxlp0I_tfY5lWFZ2eYB_Wie6LO3Q3wray4WczLr_V4bHsOLpCC5vC0jScXZNRBECnpsycxx6KLuhcZeYRbxWUOYZ4H3Eg5Y3mv1wz3GJbX04gdJt9vqY8f4t7DeK6Qdbvn3WIRhUCRyX1I_EXJ6mP4wLW9/s1000/Phalarope%20-%20Red-necked%20%20PJW_1461%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA8xeDnBEafJ0Xp3Cm3hbSFP0SJoMV4wzxlp0I_tfY5lWFZ2eYB_Wie6LO3Q3wray4WczLr_V4bHsOLpCC5vC0jScXZNRBECnpsycxx6KLuhcZeYRbxWUOYZ4H3Eg5Y3mv1wz3GJbX04gdJt9vqY8f4t7DeK6Qdbvn3WIRhUCRyX1I_EXJ6mP4wLW9/w640-h454/Phalarope%20-%20Red-necked%20%20PJW_1461%20crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Red-necked Phalaropes</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">There was also an obligingly close Ruff in the water very
near us.</span>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbUY5WTGwUUCfYNcDUiZ3vyoPh3vtHGkGot0bh5Oz4wuqG6be8cingCdSUHM724YNcsY4e3unC9H5q4BAt_G_4rEc2UljjPCTRAsMjHQU_jk2Eb_PdfBtEqfdTh0ey6CchwNUliAeEcOTdXG-6_6STIRfjHen_rhadzWaJk2j_B_Gkd1tP0_ucV33/s1000/Ruff%20PJW_1451%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHbUY5WTGwUUCfYNcDUiZ3vyoPh3vtHGkGot0bh5Oz4wuqG6be8cingCdSUHM724YNcsY4e3unC9H5q4BAt_G_4rEc2UljjPCTRAsMjHQU_jk2Eb_PdfBtEqfdTh0ey6CchwNUliAeEcOTdXG-6_6STIRfjHen_rhadzWaJk2j_B_Gkd1tP0_ucV33/w640-h454/Ruff%20PJW_1451%20crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Ruff. Ruffs vary in size quite a bit. This one is quite large.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Later on, we caught up with the Citrine Wagtail, and
we also enjoyed reasonable views of a Wryneck. Wrynecks are, technically, a type
of woodpecker, and they can usually be seen for only a few weeks in the autumn while on
migration.</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSK2JNcmm0AZYjMTZshNNg_qQss8ibn1kE4Pj3MyOWIWoxUj6i3taioWh02Rsq803eNq1HaQnM7Psb7tAUBRsgsCTSLxSRo3W3ckMk5mPA0JLPBbXZxpyUQPwIENOJPHwC2XLBaRsch55NaeBSohxIp7-KPVn4p72dZ4sv0NG-XkhbhKqFScje8RLh/s1000/Wryneck%20PJW_1894%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSK2JNcmm0AZYjMTZshNNg_qQss8ibn1kE4Pj3MyOWIWoxUj6i3taioWh02Rsq803eNq1HaQnM7Psb7tAUBRsgsCTSLxSRo3W3ckMk5mPA0JLPBbXZxpyUQPwIENOJPHwC2XLBaRsch55NaeBSohxIp7-KPVn4p72dZ4sv0NG-XkhbhKqFScje8RLh/w640-h454/Wryneck%20PJW_1894%20crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Wryneck. So called, as they can apparently turn their heads through quite an angle.<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the afternoon, we returned to the Discovery Centre, where we
looked for the Red-backed Shrike for more than an hour, seeing it only briefly,
just as we were leaving!</span>
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The only pub on the peninsula is less than 100 metres from the
obs, and we enjoyed dinner there, me with a glass or two of Sauvignon Blanc!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">On Thursday, 1 September, we decided to walk to the end of
the long, narrow Spurn Peninsula. This is a round trip of over 8 miles, about a
quarter of it on sand, which is quite hard going. The other 75% is on various
bits of tarmac path. Here is a view of the start of the walk. You can just see the end of the spit above the red car beyond where the lighthouse is. You may just be able to see it in the photo. It's further than it looks!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFy8KvxXDze_hXtoKvlir-E_P4bN4rZLLtrSsWDZ0UJ0LV-2c6ZuIDsuWkev-aLa12AoG2W85s8FI9IQhapABMVbFV24gjWGFkV_rAIG1_2MTze_vZGqGBK6DZlysFKlwjPhS9K118PWuQWcgWiaAfqjaPIMSN1KjVwjoNKJOsIjTD0McBuJBMLWW/s1000/20220901_072135%20Text.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="442" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqFy8KvxXDze_hXtoKvlir-E_P4bN4rZLLtrSsWDZ0UJ0LV-2c6ZuIDsuWkev-aLa12AoG2W85s8FI9IQhapABMVbFV24gjWGFkV_rAIG1_2MTze_vZGqGBK6DZlysFKlwjPhS9K118PWuQWcgWiaAfqjaPIMSN1KjVwjoNKJOsIjTD0McBuJBMLWW/s16000/20220901_072135%20Text.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The Spurn Peninsula</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">There is not one continuous path because the sea has
eroded the spit in several places, causing the path to fall into the sea or
onto the beach. Probably, in a few years, it will not be possible to walk to
the end, as it will have been washed away.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">While we were crossing the sandy section, we came across
this young seal, which headed straight for the sea as we approached.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2-tgiZAJPuagfQzK4y6A7Efb2iOw2oIpzqP4qkfJDRSnW-rI0T5OTb9bZD2_JBM82I3cThpbHUs7xm9j4DsVP0--HMathftgw7AuMyLAMN3BwkJWtpZhW_Qoeklw6PsoDsctNDH49oIAHzWF2cqOJHJ5VTwu1rXhfIlYlfDAC6Tvn-lLMySM-OsU/s1000/Grey%20seal%20PJW_1546%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj2-tgiZAJPuagfQzK4y6A7Efb2iOw2oIpzqP4qkfJDRSnW-rI0T5OTb9bZD2_JBM82I3cThpbHUs7xm9j4DsVP0--HMathftgw7AuMyLAMN3BwkJWtpZhW_Qoeklw6PsoDsctNDH49oIAHzWF2cqOJHJ5VTwu1rXhfIlYlfDAC6Tvn-lLMySM-OsU/w640-h454/Grey%20seal%20PJW_1546%20crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Young seal - a Grey Seal I think.<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">At the end of the peninsula there is a very small
community. There is the RNLI lifeboat station, and also some communications
buildings which appear to be staffed by those living there. Some of the houses
are modern, and look very nice, but living there must be bleak indeed. It is just about possible to make the journey
in a 4-wheel drive, but only 1 or 2 authorised vehicles are allowed.</span>
</span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">At the very end, there is one of those mock signposts with the distances to various places, e.g. Sydney: 10,474 miles. Here I am, pointing aimlessly, and here is a selfie of David and me.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1d618zG-7M-Of4gKtn0r6IN33YRsO9yjiAhS_ZiyDdpwhOMPbflNG5ULMWaV8Z_Z-sb7ku3vbHm6OmsYJWcxc8FWOhHcq60Afv_4cy0w3wOYmD9evHq5RmSfLpGu6QuLrjeZuWn3EZ2gofhxDYJz9P6f2ryqVFwA8F7q1w1vCMlAzPFZk1oCJfr4/s1000/20220901_104816.jpg"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ1d618zG-7M-Of4gKtn0r6IN33YRsO9yjiAhS_ZiyDdpwhOMPbflNG5ULMWaV8Z_Z-sb7ku3vbHm6OmsYJWcxc8FWOhHcq60Afv_4cy0w3wOYmD9evHq5RmSfLpGu6QuLrjeZuWn3EZ2gofhxDYJz9P6f2ryqVFwA8F7q1w1vCMlAzPFZk1oCJfr4/w480-h640/20220901_104816.jpg" width="480" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrieyxQyG6kMeUrky2w4G-8L3MEBotCj60xAIjs4FBBCLcVaY3vOrcD50T8HrjgN5jQ8khBmstvAIZ470cn5kJ7sCV44uaYxpeY9z_2zHNSPIOsZTyCn8jBNCrj6gRC2jvd3af1qRCph7nZLzxj8b-nWdXlFZVE3twUgoLC_9Q-UBU8b9FwlXXLo1_/s1000/20220901_104908.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrieyxQyG6kMeUrky2w4G-8L3MEBotCj60xAIjs4FBBCLcVaY3vOrcD50T8HrjgN5jQ8khBmstvAIZ470cn5kJ7sCV44uaYxpeY9z_2zHNSPIOsZTyCn8jBNCrj6gRC2jvd3af1qRCph7nZLzxj8b-nWdXlFZVE3twUgoLC_9Q-UBU8b9FwlXXLo1_/w300-h400/20220901_104908.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">There were no especially rare bird sightings on this walk which was
just a pleasant stroll lasting all morning.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">On our return, we returned to the Wryneck for better views.
We also heard of a very showy Wood Warbler nearby. I wasn't prepared for quite
how obliging this bird was. It flitted around the tree, feeding, while 10 or 12
people stood very close nearby taking photos. Lovely!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIdHZbv6_5zL4SupgPIJDA_nr0NVUU-Qrdn4yp-UKPDdiKVtAhNf0KrCMIr_BbJIjtzGh577mkyq3w9ldCeg-LU9Y4JepVcEnRqxwUY6DKx5O9n7DEbO6C4n43ljaiFi_AStVCsVnmG8nfR1IW6P9xZP-IYxpxNLxmzbYtPI6RO_hT-I9SBBVRElB/s1000/Warbler%20-%20Wood%20PJW_1973%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifIdHZbv6_5zL4SupgPIJDA_nr0NVUU-Qrdn4yp-UKPDdiKVtAhNf0KrCMIr_BbJIjtzGh577mkyq3w9ldCeg-LU9Y4JepVcEnRqxwUY6DKx5O9n7DEbO6C4n43ljaiFi_AStVCsVnmG8nfR1IW6P9xZP-IYxpxNLxmzbYtPI6RO_hT-I9SBBVRElB/w640-h454/Warbler%20-%20Wood%20PJW_1973%20crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Wood Warbler<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Also nearby were several Whinchats. Here is one perched on
a teasel.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mt1JWQ-WUe7h9eJDNS4ZuxmC7Jzw-85Lt4jmOuCQ0oFYw1cIxEbz99zvC2sGyssPo16TMj2H1ZoUoWpe5PtR3sM1OXlO-M-x7CmoT3iH-NaDGnk4-Hcy-225dkGWd6TBOwV7mZaLYISmuZdYcnqXINbiITEsPi7s4RESBViv7NnwlPMvxLZynjh4/s1000/Whinchat%20PJW_1916%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="709" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4mt1JWQ-WUe7h9eJDNS4ZuxmC7Jzw-85Lt4jmOuCQ0oFYw1cIxEbz99zvC2sGyssPo16TMj2H1ZoUoWpe5PtR3sM1OXlO-M-x7CmoT3iH-NaDGnk4-Hcy-225dkGWd6TBOwV7mZaLYISmuZdYcnqXINbiITEsPi7s4RESBViv7NnwlPMvxLZynjh4/s16000/Whinchat%20PJW_1916%20crop.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Whinchat on a teasel</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The next day we headed home. All in all, a very enjoyable trip.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p></div></div>Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-1841175427950428512022-08-26T20:35:00.005+01:002022-08-26T20:39:10.409+01:00A Surfeit of Spotted Flycatchers<p><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial;">While out with David Campbell </span><span style="font-family: arial;">today </span><span style="font-family: arial;">looking for raptors (birds of prey), we came across at least a dozen Spotted Flycatchers. I saw four close together on the same fence. Good to see evidence of successful breeding this year.</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Also today, I saw a Small Copper butterfly. </span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5s8IeQnwJtzytgzx0-Ew2rA5oLc5-N9O5VhEQh3c_aNJXZbe0eHwuQ-NLyIoXJ1RZUkBj8Wyh57XMwXaqSi8CyHjUO2D94InKfo4hsYY4YqHss3lAF8g0AZMyqDxVR3JfOeXU__qNucdSqbwx86dxxkPjxUWc73LI60R3tqNhQO8H8qowFID8xXiq/s1500/Small%20Copper%20PJW_1200%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5s8IeQnwJtzytgzx0-Ew2rA5oLc5-N9O5VhEQh3c_aNJXZbe0eHwuQ-NLyIoXJ1RZUkBj8Wyh57XMwXaqSi8CyHjUO2D94InKfo4hsYY4YqHss3lAF8g0AZMyqDxVR3JfOeXU__qNucdSqbwx86dxxkPjxUWc73LI60R3tqNhQO8H8qowFID8xXiq/s16000/Small%20Copper%20PJW_1200%20crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Small Copper Butterfly</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsXRwEjwJH7j7ucuYVN22cFkmzLZspRlfoZfbBlKlHsQcFL33bpdR6k-z3AleuyFk1keatdbwkBhvMEejVcNjFcGry7oijiiQ6KKKu-4bVt8hSPweXF2-2Gbq_yZ4e-QH5k4TqHVRjwCAW40P2Max1s2_jwDdRuvKoITfi80Dcz9BZyvbkThf9LR2/s1500/Flycatcher%20-%20Spotted%20PJW_1222%20crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1064" data-original-width="1500" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsXRwEjwJH7j7ucuYVN22cFkmzLZspRlfoZfbBlKlHsQcFL33bpdR6k-z3AleuyFk1keatdbwkBhvMEejVcNjFcGry7oijiiQ6KKKu-4bVt8hSPweXF2-2Gbq_yZ4e-QH5k4TqHVRjwCAW40P2Max1s2_jwDdRuvKoITfi80Dcz9BZyvbkThf9LR2/s16000/Flycatcher%20-%20Spotted%20PJW_1222%20crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Spotted Flycatcher</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><p><br /></p>Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-19030618694586635462022-02-06T18:55:00.013+00:002022-02-06T19:03:51.227+00:00Two days in the West<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">How better to deal with winter blues than to spend a couple of days away in the Westcountry watching birds? I went with Magnus Andersson, @Magnusphotog. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Our main target was the very rare Baikal Teal, a vagrant from East Asia which was at Greylake RSPB, in Somerset. Arriving at lunchtime, we met several people who had been there since 9.30 and not seen it. We searched for 90 minutes without locating it. As we were leaving, we passed a gate and Magnus suggested one more scan. He found the teal sitting under a bush. Fantastic! It was misty and the light was awful, so forgive the poor photo.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEga11jAJiRjmuKYF2d6Zex5DJKSa2-xbkv1P9pNNJLuHeV_uLdCopjh2o4d1WqJjsf83ua6GCmONIdxhi9KeuiPRN3KG44CFRFNfiPiAvAojU87qMS-SNBDmm-ENu0btZjeoY1ezfsLypYhQa2TwJT-HLLPrPIBUaCEs35hwkWjuu8REIXFnXs9_Osu=s627" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="445" data-original-width="627" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEga11jAJiRjmuKYF2d6Zex5DJKSa2-xbkv1P9pNNJLuHeV_uLdCopjh2o4d1WqJjsf83ua6GCmONIdxhi9KeuiPRN3KG44CFRFNfiPiAvAojU87qMS-SNBDmm-ENu0btZjeoY1ezfsLypYhQa2TwJT-HLLPrPIBUaCEs35hwkWjuu8REIXFnXs9_Osu=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Baikal Teal - a rare vagrant duck from East Asia. Perhaps from Lake Baikal!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">According to (my) tradition, seeing a lifer (a bird you have never seen before) warrants a celebratory Tunnock's caramel wafer! Said reward was duly consumed.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Next up were all three types of egret - Great White Egret, Little Egret and Cattle Egret. </span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhW1-5OlWsZNEJkZbXRgCbNnNI1wtw1xgJffr7FLbe0qVjdGPknJ8AU4HJpk1fhQPzvnQaaN7aq3Jm5E1AWfKpjKQbDtVuBp0XHbZpE0gUW9bwT6dXpOzHPYisGrldkoAht1fOK_eTA1JO60I5W6kTAKfsy8_70UNUS8sOmOMBKB0xRQD112XqkFg84=s1000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhW1-5OlWsZNEJkZbXRgCbNnNI1wtw1xgJffr7FLbe0qVjdGPknJ8AU4HJpk1fhQPzvnQaaN7aq3Jm5E1AWfKpjKQbDtVuBp0XHbZpE0gUW9bwT6dXpOzHPYisGrldkoAht1fOK_eTA1JO60I5W6kTAKfsy8_70UNUS8sOmOMBKB0xRQD112XqkFg84=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Cattle Egret, left and Little Egret, right. Note, the Little has a thin black bill, whereas the Cattle Egret has a fatter, yellow bill.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizLTHp7VD5nIhpYDwfLX693rJabg44rysxWxiHoAJLQbDSGvjzX4h6X0QplGwTqf5_hmbeth5yHwkOT3iATAWRWdPPxK-RGGEuS_MnvP-QlS1VMcxHEXIT5EOszIjQwyGzsYlfc9780ls0q5zLrd0DwYQTOms-00PEhlTYFEvyOdtgzC191_atC1GO=s1000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEizLTHp7VD5nIhpYDwfLX693rJabg44rysxWxiHoAJLQbDSGvjzX4h6X0QplGwTqf5_hmbeth5yHwkOT3iATAWRWdPPxK-RGGEuS_MnvP-QlS1VMcxHEXIT5EOszIjQwyGzsYlfc9780ls0q5zLrd0DwYQTOms-00PEhlTYFEvyOdtgzC191_atC1GO=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Great White Egret. Much larger than the other two, with a longer neck, longer legs and a huge dagger-like bill. It was too close to get all of him in!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We then looked for a Tundra Bean Goose. We eventually found it with a flock of Canada Geese. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Our last target of the day was the long-staying Penduline Tit at Weston-Super-Mare. We arrived 10 minutes too late and they had gone to roost. However we did see a wonderful starling murmuration at dusk, at which point it was getting dark so we headed for the Travelodge.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We had planned to go to WWT Slimbridge early the next morning but the frost and mist was persistent. We did find some Russian White-fronted Geese outside, before deciding to go first to a reservoir near Port Talbot to see the long-staying Pacific Diver!</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhNEmU3eecsERoq-cqA1QI0maOlYvGW9EnRDDcN00BifLjxbRvqCgjOobk0_nlqW8ZhIfScVaSM-q-0TZS1XlRMu1NSjji51YrwFOjnE85jp2L9HRTjYotwKkUTqV7GgBfzFjym4XXnezKLRq49sHidN7BbBY8tz-bY_cXLluhBU4eW1HAPQGbyTYW=s1000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhhNEmU3eecsERoq-cqA1QI0maOlYvGW9EnRDDcN00BifLjxbRvqCgjOobk0_nlqW8ZhIfScVaSM-q-0TZS1XlRMu1NSjji51YrwFOjnE85jp2L9HRTjYotwKkUTqV7GgBfzFjym4XXnezKLRq49sHidN7BbBY8tz-bY_cXLluhBU4eW1HAPQGbyTYW=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">(Russian) White-fronted Goose. Looks something like a Greylag, but note the white rim surrounding the bill and the dark stripes on the Belly.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">At the Eglwys Nunydd Reservoir (don't ask me how to say that!) near Port Talbot, we managed to get onto the Pacific Diver. It looks a bit plain because it's not in breeding plumage, but it still looked majestic with its large bill and easy way of diving. </span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuPPUPSBqLxrXUKmgf3QDXjFvWgBOiUe0OpbXu9lpFBbCWDMpZuBsl0IkCjNrDOaBaOkEKQAONAwnXUnMmVCWb6vr2bW4gkZW81xhCKCp45NwOBiAua57cuqMbN-srYMyky7kskqh5TzC-p2YGFBm3iFaYdbjazJSRctn3TIQPztmeg9G00hxxv61g=s1000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiuPPUPSBqLxrXUKmgf3QDXjFvWgBOiUe0OpbXu9lpFBbCWDMpZuBsl0IkCjNrDOaBaOkEKQAONAwnXUnMmVCWb6vr2bW4gkZW81xhCKCp45NwOBiAua57cuqMbN-srYMyky7kskqh5TzC-p2YGFBm3iFaYdbjazJSRctn3TIQPztmeg9G00hxxv61g=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Pacific Diver</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We also saw a Slavonian Grebe, which was too distant to photograph, and some lovely Goldeneye in flight and displaying. I hadn't realised that the females had an orange tip to the bill until I started doing the photos.</span><p></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHENzNYKmFW78fjVj5KCHKGaKzII14M39XIojH0F4QxJqTWzTVprNzP-NmPbxjpDxVIB0VXjAuRl1a2-u2APOjeS0vFTV1jrduDfTS_mvWAYRSU-Dxl30UWnlUwgq7WN9MLLYGp1dQToFhV_a8O-ecAx_u4PgsNglQctRl-px0ih1Fwm9r3nvjgiHa=s1000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiHENzNYKmFW78fjVj5KCHKGaKzII14M39XIojH0F4QxJqTWzTVprNzP-NmPbxjpDxVIB0VXjAuRl1a2-u2APOjeS0vFTV1jrduDfTS_mvWAYRSU-Dxl30UWnlUwgq7WN9MLLYGp1dQToFhV_a8O-ecAx_u4PgsNglQctRl-px0ih1Fwm9r3nvjgiHa=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Male Goldeneye. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIeOBFjPxHd6Utz2c-nd7i1DKJUq2FhlgdnPpqpTeDdEvqkq1kuZU2hqNDTPiYHtb-sGWHkIe3qCuKa8Eg3PYRnraa_b4DtFUzeoMF3VmfaE5UGvM2U4C98b6IHA3jY_Y5zvyg8hXBsBt5KIFF3j_xua05l-yL4jo64oJUTX8Peyxcf87lsVFgi0pW=s1000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgIeOBFjPxHd6Utz2c-nd7i1DKJUq2FhlgdnPpqpTeDdEvqkq1kuZU2hqNDTPiYHtb-sGWHkIe3qCuKa8Eg3PYRnraa_b4DtFUzeoMF3VmfaE5UGvM2U4C98b6IHA3jY_Y5zvyg8hXBsBt5KIFF3j_xua05l-yL4jo64oJUTX8Peyxcf87lsVFgi0pW=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The male Goldeneye displays by throwing its head back over it's body. This male is displaying next to two Tufted Ducks!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDPqFsY4k7lYiGAC_nr9Sy_jpPbuH9KNix_KATl9khvxzdoegtiOnEb_bxZBLyfk3bPsxKTvMSPQOJx-CbcpJcJJaLFrvRAqljDMP_gANfO0fyVR1ClNIeRw1gg0I1EUFnecYx98h5VSEfCvNcXIV-c_ypm4xJsX7Uqg086v-bb_IkeC4UdXpEVObP=s1000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="709" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjDPqFsY4k7lYiGAC_nr9Sy_jpPbuH9KNix_KATl9khvxzdoegtiOnEb_bxZBLyfk3bPsxKTvMSPQOJx-CbcpJcJJaLFrvRAqljDMP_gANfO0fyVR1ClNIeRw1gg0I1EUFnecYx98h5VSEfCvNcXIV-c_ypm4xJsX7Uqg086v-bb_IkeC4UdXpEVObP=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A 'fly by' of two female Goldeneye. A beautiful sight.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">After walking round the reservoir and meeting on the way Rob Jones, @GlamBirder, the original finder of the diver, we headed back to Slimbridge. We arrived late, leaving us little time to go round. However, we did manage to see the Bewick's Swans. The locally reared Cranes, the Snow Geese and the Ross's Goose we saw were all of questionable provenance. I put them on my list but some purists might not!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We decided to stay another night and set off towards the Travelodge.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">The final day was very windy and cold. We didn't bother with the Penduline Tits, as we didn't think they would come out in such weather. We dipped (birdwatcher-speak meaning 'missed') the Kentish Plover at Burham-on-sea and the long-staying Ring Ouzel, but we did catch up with the Glossy Ibis at Catcott Lows Nature Reserve and then the Whooper Swans at Curry Moor. The photos are not good enough to show here (I have my standards!).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">To end, here are some distant shots of the Common Cranes at Slimbridge WWT.</span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpL3I6_oScQCJbIFdwBDxkOYipji9KCKhyj9342EaM224jE6Sk8qwoyYOKM8AHIkEztey3_yQUSZ3699KIA49iZX71jNXu7O1tYtflHzKRPj0BABi9mJHKWkRh7I7ApF0Fw2cvtjdzkb1u-9JzlB_x69WXIsYiRs73UmZOHHYjw-rV6ChetKdTCz0r=s1000" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgpL3I6_oScQCJbIFdwBDxkOYipji9KCKhyj9342EaM224jE6Sk8qwoyYOKM8AHIkEztey3_yQUSZ3699KIA49iZX71jNXu7O1tYtflHzKRPj0BABi9mJHKWkRh7I7ApF0Fw2cvtjdzkb1u-9JzlB_x69WXIsYiRs73UmZOHHYjw-rV6ChetKdTCz0r=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Common Cranes. These are very tall birds, much bigger than a Grey Heron!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">In the main, we had a very enjoyable break.</span><p></p><p><br /></p></div></div>Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-25632620981510812772022-01-26T16:19:00.001+00:002022-01-26T16:19:30.450+00:00Glossy Ibis at Arundel WWT<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> This Glossy Ibis was elusive at Arundel Wildlife and Wetlands Trust reserve on 24 January.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It was nowhere to be seen on my arrival, so I took some photos of a showy Water Rail.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYXSksK0IJidkMZ8Wr8NRmYz8EHVeffXMZdnVsqaOyaHTyXrU1DCtkzdBzztlmLhdGuARRqQvSBHMQoie_NoBQQ9hgeyHOUMGad-rzeR384T-IjQR6x_CrRUfz3E277m3SmI1Lw0iDJJ3q3RgRX5v9Qp5OOWZ6znGq6IIW3NqY3JOcIidzDx20eHZ2=s1200" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhYXSksK0IJidkMZ8Wr8NRmYz8EHVeffXMZdnVsqaOyaHTyXrU1DCtkzdBzztlmLhdGuARRqQvSBHMQoie_NoBQQ9hgeyHOUMGad-rzeR384T-IjQR6x_CrRUfz3E277m3SmI1Lw0iDJJ3q3RgRX5v9Qp5OOWZ6znGq6IIW3NqY3JOcIidzDx20eHZ2=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">A showy Water Rail at Arundel WWT</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I had a sandwich and was about to leave. I decided to go back, and I'm glad I did. The Ibis flew in to the wader scrape as the light was fading.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgE-8dCloFAwnviaIQQgU42LkI7FZ54YvU5N0KrKPqqj2CN2KdiU-U5Msq1T_Jij_najYcHOpcRO9x9t2-u2C5_ncH4gzlK1mWlgBQU7dTZxTvNXGi5Q5l8JNGKD5x9EXpSsUMbotE9Vx1CSZW-8TpX29b4ve7AqzjzoJSIExEbcnJJlBGoQoailVx1=s1200" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgE-8dCloFAwnviaIQQgU42LkI7FZ54YvU5N0KrKPqqj2CN2KdiU-U5Msq1T_Jij_najYcHOpcRO9x9t2-u2C5_ncH4gzlK1mWlgBQU7dTZxTvNXGi5Q5l8JNGKD5x9EXpSsUMbotE9Vx1CSZW-8TpX29b4ve7AqzjzoJSIExEbcnJJlBGoQoailVx1=s16000" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Glossy Ibis. Arundel WWT</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><br /></p>Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-81714665994346782112021-11-01T18:52:00.006+00:002021-11-20T17:01:15.050+00:00Scilly Isles - October 2021<span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">It's always a pleasure to go to the Scilly Isles and this year was no exception.
As an oasis of peace and tranquillity from the bustle of the Southeast, the
Isles of Scilly are ideal. The islands are quiet with very little traffic. (you
are not allowed to take your own car). Whilst it is true that small aircraft
come and go now and again, the general feel of the place is of peace and
relaxation. </span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">There is also very little light pollution so after dark it is easy
to see many more stars in the sky than in the South East of England. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">2021 is the
4th consecutive year that four of us have travelled for the autumn migration. We
go there because birds from other parts of the northern hemisphere sometimes
appear. There can be several reasons for this but generally it works like this: </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">1 In the autumn many birds migrate, generally from the North to the South. They
are on the move. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">2 Now if there happens to be a major storm, they may get blown
off course.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">3 They may be blown over the Atlantic. That's quite a long way,
they will probably be exhausted and they take every possible opportunity to
land. The Isles of Scilly are about 50 km West of Land's End. Just the sort of
land that some exhausted birds will be looking for. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Now, it follows that you
really need a big storm to blow all the birds around in order to find some
interesting vagrants. Unfortunately, there was no big storm prior to our visit
this year so the number of unusual birds was definitely down. Sigh! You can't
have everything. On the other hand, the weather was fabulous with sunshine every
day for the whole week. Anyway, here are some of the birds that we saw,
including some that are quite common and which most people will have seen or
heard of. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">WADERS </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">These are some of the waders we saw:</span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGEEwNbIg-p3aCjY_U3rXUwh2NVmvF0qnl4dAf2IgVCLV3KzPb9N4bC7o1q4PLq9wP84zZ9Z8pZVGKBEYQ2aK_5g7n9cWWcWpFiNGMCMhWhzWLAijlJjuqeZ-IMwyeQLZzqDvL9vgBuQ/s1000/Curlew+PJW_2345+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihGEEwNbIg-p3aCjY_U3rXUwh2NVmvF0qnl4dAf2IgVCLV3KzPb9N4bC7o1q4PLq9wP84zZ9Z8pZVGKBEYQ2aK_5g7n9cWWcWpFiNGMCMhWhzWLAijlJjuqeZ-IMwyeQLZzqDvL9vgBuQ/w640-h454/Curlew+PJW_2345+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Curlew - the wader with probably the longest bill of all. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKTQA6QHndIn-HOaXlB4a9WO_nHfzP2hqPFRmkldxYqYA3Ih0EDF3JGPlwkUrGjL8K6LjT1eqM8A-NnBa_wnu7Sxeoj8GRG1zAM6FOorJ8aSGEfQ4m4yXNMRTWVhicKYI931w9F5S2kg/s1000/Godwit+-+Bar-taailed+PJW_1187+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgKTQA6QHndIn-HOaXlB4a9WO_nHfzP2hqPFRmkldxYqYA3Ih0EDF3JGPlwkUrGjL8K6LjT1eqM8A-NnBa_wnu7Sxeoj8GRG1zAM6FOorJ8aSGEfQ4m4yXNMRTWVhicKYI931w9F5S2kg/w640-h454/Godwit+-+Bar-taailed+PJW_1187+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Bar-tailed Godwit - another wader with along bill.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pKyaHbLk7GJ7tCmHGg4f99zB1olcm4YonbN9phaihQybulQMR_YCp3ugJYGrum5qFUnPz6klm80lFnoRjQFyiXjBiIZPhOKroSZ3doEoR6jxYEvIhy0nAyTCfFqH2KXHjAZpERfokS8/s1000/Godwit+-+Black-tailed+PJW_2330+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-pKyaHbLk7GJ7tCmHGg4f99zB1olcm4YonbN9phaihQybulQMR_YCp3ugJYGrum5qFUnPz6klm80lFnoRjQFyiXjBiIZPhOKroSZ3doEoR6jxYEvIhy0nAyTCfFqH2KXHjAZpERfokS8/w640-h454/Godwit+-+Black-tailed+PJW_2330+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Black-tailed Godwit - similar to the Bar-tailed but the tail is black instead of barred. This is seen best when it is in flight and the tail is exposed.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXmjfFwDGYg1hfD1-H3umxtTU77nB75dQavqiSLJYxQnskQnkHlVOZ9OapPEPBz9pO4LvSOrPKLjfFjXPp_jN9KtYaCU6DSvyc9RoDsDHkkSELCezSy1T9hLX0QxN6Kvc3KQFayAd0uY/s1000/Rail+-+Water+PJW_1069+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLXmjfFwDGYg1hfD1-H3umxtTU77nB75dQavqiSLJYxQnskQnkHlVOZ9OapPEPBz9pO4LvSOrPKLjfFjXPp_jN9KtYaCU6DSvyc9RoDsDHkkSELCezSy1T9hLX0QxN6Kvc3KQFayAd0uY/w640-h454/Rail+-+Water+PJW_1069+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Water Rail - a very shy bird. It spends most of the time in the reeds out of sight.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnp80ijcrrAdfFFzTe-IGLMb3wfUqH-HMEZG5o2YVwGSlZ7HXWumJoZYItOttP7_oJ4WCXRPwLNeiUg0JNFXGfGXxKXlMnYil6A0V4S0IpjQfyK_lpxJxfcpbGPTP3zzugCC_OgwkqzKo/s1000/Sanderling+PJW_1856+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnp80ijcrrAdfFFzTe-IGLMb3wfUqH-HMEZG5o2YVwGSlZ7HXWumJoZYItOttP7_oJ4WCXRPwLNeiUg0JNFXGfGXxKXlMnYil6A0V4S0IpjQfyK_lpxJxfcpbGPTP3zzugCC_OgwkqzKo/w640-h454/Sanderling+PJW_1856+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Sanderling - a small wader that races along in the tideline probing the sand and mud for small creatures.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvF3NN_aimZxynzWPrN5hA3Hv1OSbDFmi4cHl1sMjW5HwFcy1RMGrbKqgB14JDNl4qxasfDggybNMf_9KZclHjuv28RCYqNxGZWaEBfjJ7mWgPAbjeMdo9OSMQjy74xAyA-eGAyCAGxA/s1000/Snipe+-+Common+PJW_2380+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKvF3NN_aimZxynzWPrN5hA3Hv1OSbDFmi4cHl1sMjW5HwFcy1RMGrbKqgB14JDNl4qxasfDggybNMf_9KZclHjuv28RCYqNxGZWaEBfjJ7mWgPAbjeMdo9OSMQjy74xAyA-eGAyCAGxA/w640-h454/Snipe+-+Common+PJW_2380+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Common Snipe - not as shy as the Water Rail, but so well camouflaged that it can easily be missed.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyGWgj0ulqfgGHi_L2tUZs6acTKHOXIUYm821rd236Ftl9jY4GhLD6kDU3ROhIg0k_V6O8pi_HJNWwln6MU7nAMg4GsRjfhv1gg2LNBErZJf5R8BA0D4Pl6jm10j5Q2DkihFIIUp73L8/s1000/Snipe+-+Jack+PJW_1320+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRyGWgj0ulqfgGHi_L2tUZs6acTKHOXIUYm821rd236Ftl9jY4GhLD6kDU3ROhIg0k_V6O8pi_HJNWwln6MU7nAMg4GsRjfhv1gg2LNBErZJf5R8BA0D4Pl6jm10j5Q2DkihFIIUp73L8/w640-h454/Snipe+-+Jack+PJW_1320+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Jack Snipe - smaller than the common Snipe and rarer. While feeding, it bobs up and down all the time.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">SMALL MIGRANTS</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">These are birds which migrate in Autumn, generally to Africa:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SohghV1ov3oKiP_TTadR74yUvVIirT_zQ2j70y8UxwhUX4ge6DhorvsjQG_7zIr4buwK9wuQWumNHabhCjFgQWv38kucbr0obi78Vh4iPWYLtueDPWIVgaASNwQ2pPPHix5wNNEZpHQ/s1000/Bunting+-+Snow+PJW_1682+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6SohghV1ov3oKiP_TTadR74yUvVIirT_zQ2j70y8UxwhUX4ge6DhorvsjQG_7zIr4buwK9wuQWumNHabhCjFgQWv38kucbr0obi78Vh4iPWYLtueDPWIVgaASNwQ2pPPHix5wNNEZpHQ/w640-h454/Bunting+-+Snow+PJW_1682+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Snow Bunting - actually a winter visitor here from Scandinavia. so not going to Africa.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXuWgznQVMsScnvJ5KMgFTKmFGaM2bq2hrbfCrUtjSg4Y08_ARbf2Be9XKdebl4ThrWbUrb9zD8-T0QtMoK6aVDR-l7NEE4d96jYy2uXLR75FN63ZXWIufcOlF2HmKdHaW5qnra7Sl-OU/s1000/Flycatcher+-+Pied+PJW_2562.jpg+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="678" data-original-width="1000" height="434" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXuWgznQVMsScnvJ5KMgFTKmFGaM2bq2hrbfCrUtjSg4Y08_ARbf2Be9XKdebl4ThrWbUrb9zD8-T0QtMoK6aVDR-l7NEE4d96jYy2uXLR75FN63ZXWIufcOlF2HmKdHaW5qnra7Sl-OU/w640-h434/Flycatcher+-+Pied+PJW_2562.jpg+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Pied Flycatcher - rather uncommon. Likes large dense forests to Breed.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNEpXpyhp48Tdd15ccj5i9FEJ-CPsxD9V-SjjJxF-LUK-LgniBjHP-sT4NheFtRdLOL0N5Ly1BHInc6zwsMy-caxI_2naaE799wxiFwuD_orGOztRieIhuHz1XhLYLkuuzW7CUuwjABqA/s1000/Redstart+-+Black+PJW_1874+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNEpXpyhp48Tdd15ccj5i9FEJ-CPsxD9V-SjjJxF-LUK-LgniBjHP-sT4NheFtRdLOL0N5Ly1BHInc6zwsMy-caxI_2naaE799wxiFwuD_orGOztRieIhuHz1XhLYLkuuzW7CUuwjABqA/w640-h454/Redstart+-+Black+PJW_1874+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Black Redstart - a lovely redstart which flicks its tail often while perched or on the ground.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7L0vQ6OvVr8G7eGpvxqENX249quvewDwFqQaLVDFiW2dxFJjr_Clszx5OYwlfhHU4-T474JR8a5CJP18rhGd5sK2fZJRWT0WWz0fpBFcSovuN4cNZPYrtToMnOMgnWKtT697wOb9eN0/s1000/Warbler+-+Willow+PJW_1270+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt7L0vQ6OvVr8G7eGpvxqENX249quvewDwFqQaLVDFiW2dxFJjr_Clszx5OYwlfhHU4-T474JR8a5CJP18rhGd5sK2fZJRWT0WWz0fpBFcSovuN4cNZPYrtToMnOMgnWKtT697wOb9eN0/w640-h454/Warbler+-+Willow+PJW_1270+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Willow Warbler - a summer visitor with a lovely descending song.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcFrc8JgQpOYPlLRB6dlnEAFZLzOVDOoEwhx0O9tCFTdYV0PVJQVmfX7TuCuB71KpN-201xRXit5Cv_Fdi1tKb7nGmAhc4F4RQ2QGNLB6uFG7kXPnhEGpybkXkJNAB-4s4q_OfSBW0Y8/s1000/Wheatear+PJW_0863+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQcFrc8JgQpOYPlLRB6dlnEAFZLzOVDOoEwhx0O9tCFTdYV0PVJQVmfX7TuCuB71KpN-201xRXit5Cv_Fdi1tKb7nGmAhc4F4RQ2QGNLB6uFG7kXPnhEGpybkXkJNAB-4s4q_OfSBW0Y8/w640-h454/Wheatear+PJW_0863+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Northern Wheatear - another summer visitor which breeds in high places in the North.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">COMMON BIRDS</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Some common and generally resident birds:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFOKjA-fZvzHTOJPteHJfw1uq6SU1yTcPGFWfb82-U3OvmuwJ-xkCawiWyzK9natNwk5TdJFoWKwyp1RxlZ1rRevqV-7gvk7C5UxbhL9E71ryWw3KIkUbwHTLus4VP1_PVe-XcX2AXQs/s1000/Blackbird+PJW_1887+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicFOKjA-fZvzHTOJPteHJfw1uq6SU1yTcPGFWfb82-U3OvmuwJ-xkCawiWyzK9natNwk5TdJFoWKwyp1RxlZ1rRevqV-7gvk7C5UxbhL9E71ryWw3KIkUbwHTLus4VP1_PVe-XcX2AXQs/w640-h454/Blackbird+PJW_1887+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Blackbird - a nice male on some Hawthorn berries</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPpuDWJHjF7fHqSIg-IpuxIz0KI5Zg9PkWeHur8FOZWvsSbeSjVlBv0zaAxi-yeVUvXIwncJTkNfw8jNGWUypgTesjqvPzJhVlvadpV7d-uW9fHH-_BEbbOnNw5mEsaJnxEYZtWJcAe4/s1000/Gull+-+Lesser+Black-backed+PJW_1776+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJPpuDWJHjF7fHqSIg-IpuxIz0KI5Zg9PkWeHur8FOZWvsSbeSjVlBv0zaAxi-yeVUvXIwncJTkNfw8jNGWUypgTesjqvPzJhVlvadpV7d-uW9fHH-_BEbbOnNw5mEsaJnxEYZtWJcAe4/w640-h454/Gull+-+Lesser+Black-backed+PJW_1776+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Lesser Black-backed Gull - the bright yellow legs and mid-grey back are the features to watch for. The head is pure white in summer.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUdTaPV6Oiexcih5Ks2Mfylz3bZLFtE3NwnF_2uOKILIjZpOPknhyPEAHRKmQrk4NH7owHoAIoVPmHuDqxcBvfERk_rLa8AKbPCMlRdgxFIZV9vTgrAVLTmI7x0vAALKEd32E-2Etsps/s1000/Moorhen+PJW_2046+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyUdTaPV6Oiexcih5Ks2Mfylz3bZLFtE3NwnF_2uOKILIjZpOPknhyPEAHRKmQrk4NH7owHoAIoVPmHuDqxcBvfERk_rLa8AKbPCMlRdgxFIZV9vTgrAVLTmI7x0vAALKEd32E-2Etsps/w640-h454/Moorhen+PJW_2046+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Moorhen - a common bird almost everywhere there is water. This is a juvenile. Adults have a lovely red and yellow bill.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwc4lNaZYlia2cyUJ3EJk_A2xVOASPRL81kBDbro9b2MyfN5QoK5JJjtvE31c5z3BzGxSx8gQb0KrkjIMJDnO7Tk1eBlGvZXkB3jzK5j79IuT9Gqydm_tRa4k6nfXqen-krQkxek9ez9E/s1000/Partridge+-+Red-legged+PJW_1459+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwc4lNaZYlia2cyUJ3EJk_A2xVOASPRL81kBDbro9b2MyfN5QoK5JJjtvE31c5z3BzGxSx8gQb0KrkjIMJDnO7Tk1eBlGvZXkB3jzK5j79IuT9Gqydm_tRa4k6nfXqen-krQkxek9ez9E/w640-h454/Partridge+-+Red-legged+PJW_1459+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Red-legged Partridge - an imported game bird but I like them.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yYBuE1C1TrhmBkjfDgwhxlwrxyJZak9085LvuZzuPxMoX9vWQnJ-L0D3lqP0IQ-n8_bCuYQB6HxpU10827y_nxVNw69q3BiuAEcp2pf5Q8C7T1akOf3BUNGEXajWHoPgwEFrsryhCig/s830/Pipipt+-+Meadow+PJW_1762+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="589" data-original-width="830" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5yYBuE1C1TrhmBkjfDgwhxlwrxyJZak9085LvuZzuPxMoX9vWQnJ-L0D3lqP0IQ-n8_bCuYQB6HxpU10827y_nxVNw69q3BiuAEcp2pf5Q8C7T1akOf3BUNGEXajWHoPgwEFrsryhCig/w640-h454/Pipipt+-+Meadow+PJW_1762+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Meadow Pipit - a common bird of meadows and here on the coast.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzqt9LV67mMYD_oQ1RTec24i6y6zaMYtkeykFNLiTn1H8aGRBrfWHdqRBuh973c4qsP4Onc4FZ1GTNdYkP8AcexIJpbFYUAyDb6LWzVgX8587xuYKybyDtbTwZqTDVozUPSdDo0UPzCg/s1000/Robin+PJW_1783+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLzqt9LV67mMYD_oQ1RTec24i6y6zaMYtkeykFNLiTn1H8aGRBrfWHdqRBuh973c4qsP4Onc4FZ1GTNdYkP8AcexIJpbFYUAyDb6LWzVgX8587xuYKybyDtbTwZqTDVozUPSdDo0UPzCg/w640-h454/Robin+PJW_1783+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Robin - needs no introduction. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JJBsRoVNVFgxWdQry_kRwQybV0aczL5pt5YqJ4RUWCTBFxhz8GSkzlyobxqxNQ85BzxVjTus2xTQMJvQd6E_H-wS-QMfqLZx-8jkr7Yp9feNIxjjIJwdV-ekgguNbm2vh_zij5njvfs/s1000/Siskin+PJW_1773+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1JJBsRoVNVFgxWdQry_kRwQybV0aczL5pt5YqJ4RUWCTBFxhz8GSkzlyobxqxNQ85BzxVjTus2xTQMJvQd6E_H-wS-QMfqLZx-8jkr7Yp9feNIxjjIJwdV-ekgguNbm2vh_zij5njvfs/w640-h454/Siskin+PJW_1773+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Siskin - an attractive finch with much lemon.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjnL8hdDsAUBvBmvhF6Vt1C50gq23wi0VDiVrmVTuQWSUSFeOvEGcYhquMRkLY10YFN7pfCskqD-MZrr9JDUSZ2G91aFq3T-sFtYct21ob08EAe3n_3iw5TYsaj1hz1eNLQs1rrTC1iM/s1000/Stonechat+PJW_2452+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWjnL8hdDsAUBvBmvhF6Vt1C50gq23wi0VDiVrmVTuQWSUSFeOvEGcYhquMRkLY10YFN7pfCskqD-MZrr9JDUSZ2G91aFq3T-sFtYct21ob08EAe3n_3iw5TYsaj1hz1eNLQs1rrTC1iM/w640-h454/Stonechat+PJW_2452+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Stonechat - a resident bird in most of the country. Likes to perch on the top of bushes and tall grasses.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">RAPTORS</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">One or two raptors which I managed to photograph:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YjgBtMBO0luRoSSAH_rbop_paCZwhlyRyBftVNeZwfsHZyYRKJe0qFEhkpa_7iTT_EKNh23pQ6xfKhgNj_nqrd3xsQoR0nMwRfiIrzJN6J1wroQC3h0SatvuRemSnCspDZIM7A0EIZo/s1000/Kestrel+PJW_1242+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6YjgBtMBO0luRoSSAH_rbop_paCZwhlyRyBftVNeZwfsHZyYRKJe0qFEhkpa_7iTT_EKNh23pQ6xfKhgNj_nqrd3xsQoR0nMwRfiIrzJN6J1wroQC3h0SatvuRemSnCspDZIM7A0EIZo/w640-h454/Kestrel+PJW_1242+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Sparrowhawk- likes to dive into gardens while smaller birds are on the feeders.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8t4da4fbL3kPhr6ssjKoywo11Q7dog6vMoggzrcZztOufAad8LXt_WNgQL81E76a8m_yDnvPM8ccKu9RQe1reyG8iO81Nf87UEQHjB92s0sDtwIR0V35cMY-3-ZyhpG2-RYlF-tAaiA/s1000/Merlin+PJW_2088+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg8t4da4fbL3kPhr6ssjKoywo11Q7dog6vMoggzrcZztOufAad8LXt_WNgQL81E76a8m_yDnvPM8ccKu9RQe1reyG8iO81Nf87UEQHjB92s0sDtwIR0V35cMY-3-ZyhpG2-RYlF-tAaiA/w640-h454/Merlin+PJW_2088+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Merlin - our smallest raptor, Not often seen. Very fast and manoeuvrable. Often chases swallows and other birds in flight.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">RARE BIRDS</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">We did see some rare vagrants as well. Here are the ones I photographed:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoreaiX49QVL8qQ4GDfHs2Kk3mX-IZ7wZbKW9ciag6uXzD3CedRwE48bSofmlq_uFryo2j1-7WP7IGEBXW_yVxwViPS8GXgk8x0lRkmvFIK4CluG2pym0vK4e-GDpVCMrQk5OlW90gdw0/s1000/Serin+PJW_1903+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoreaiX49QVL8qQ4GDfHs2Kk3mX-IZ7wZbKW9ciag6uXzD3CedRwE48bSofmlq_uFryo2j1-7WP7IGEBXW_yVxwViPS8GXgk8x0lRkmvFIK4CluG2pym0vK4e-GDpVCMrQk5OlW90gdw0/w640-h454/Serin+PJW_1903+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Serin - a small yellow finch. It really stood out from all the other small birds.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYORCf5GWj0z4v7JaAjRMfsjjL-tglH7X816Kmnp2TK6_l7BKAeuBv17-2rMBD41B9eLmlA9gCYICRAlt9pYYMoJmiyDZPJsFu2INapN861D6z5erP4waXHutO334Z7C71Eg7G61TxqBs/s651/Shrike+-+Red-backed+PJW_2586+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="462" data-original-width="651" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYORCf5GWj0z4v7JaAjRMfsjjL-tglH7X816Kmnp2TK6_l7BKAeuBv17-2rMBD41B9eLmlA9gCYICRAlt9pYYMoJmiyDZPJsFu2INapN861D6z5erP4waXHutO334Z7C71Eg7G61TxqBs/w640-h454/Shrike+-+Red-backed+PJW_2586+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-backed Shrike - Extinct as a breeding bird in the UK, but is often seen on migration. Catches insects and small mammals and stores them impaled on barbed wires.</td></tr></tbody></table><div><br /></div><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJ1GP6ITIkgQQyLuDeYbbGtGJ-r9IAc5EK65PSHx7cchJRhK9VchEB-MT5lxjbReYQyqrk4c0v-OaEU3BrLQOlgUJjfFtTyzHkk4jKSec8qUagHiCO6pkyQDdV8VJiF_Cz3K2Qs_TLTI/s1000/Swallow+-+Red-rumped+PJW_2424+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUJ1GP6ITIkgQQyLuDeYbbGtGJ-r9IAc5EK65PSHx7cchJRhK9VchEB-MT5lxjbReYQyqrk4c0v-OaEU3BrLQOlgUJjfFtTyzHkk4jKSec8qUagHiCO6pkyQDdV8VJiF_Cz3K2Qs_TLTI/w640-h454/Swallow+-+Red-rumped+PJW_2424+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Red-rumped Swallow - Generally found in Southern Europe but resident in tropical Africa and Asia. Doesn't have much of a red rump in this photo.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Now, the up side of the dearth of rare birds was the glorious weather. Here is a typical scene of a palm tree and blue sea!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTZntVCu16s-vQLbjGH6JZa_SvFTy27OG4ElJk3LwmDiCZH_xcGZAnX8tFfk7kxNO3E3tfR41EIYeCAs0Ll_dfpdHzQ_2HBE6jzzIc0iBfGbNMzzVtvA9aiKv_qSfOW_PpGglCqv8aWA/s1000/St+Marys+PJW_1231+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVTZntVCu16s-vQLbjGH6JZa_SvFTy27OG4ElJk3LwmDiCZH_xcGZAnX8tFfk7kxNO3E3tfR41EIYeCAs0Ll_dfpdHzQ_2HBE6jzzIc0iBfGbNMzzVtvA9aiKv_qSfOW_PpGglCqv8aWA/w426-h640/St+Marys+PJW_1231+crop.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">St Mary's in October looks like the Caribbean!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">One day, we hired a four-seater electric golf buggy to get around St Mary's. With a top speed of 15mph, it was great fun. We were able to move around sites quickly and looking very superior as we passed other birdwatchers! this is what we had:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubGZb8aca9QGxC-TBV81vbG38K1wi4bZViZDZAk1nUq7mSCcTnjd3Q7eOf5fhnhNpyXj5p8blgnrbQKSWM6hLvdE6OZR5UvAd6PsNr55wQbl8Dg-_xgow9ur8BWWxjtJeRJxzTP02xcs/s561/golf+cart.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="398" data-original-width="561" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgubGZb8aca9QGxC-TBV81vbG38K1wi4bZViZDZAk1nUq7mSCcTnjd3Q7eOf5fhnhNpyXj5p8blgnrbQKSWM6hLvdE6OZR5UvAd6PsNr55wQbl8Dg-_xgow9ur8BWWxjtJeRJxzTP02xcs/w640-h454/golf+cart.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Now, I wouldn't want you to think we did nothing but look for birds! No, we had coffee at the Star Castle Hotel, had meals out some evenings and indulged in three cream teas! Sometimes we played on a swing. The others said I just never grew up, I don't know why. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Warning! This video (by Magnus Andersson) contains scenes of unbridled fun!</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='665' height='552' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyLRBCjVBEEV50Z5-2DEbmBIZm84ABU7IjQKOZ5pZ1kU3ZkdBlInZG_dIHIgaCD_ePr0AaiomBnTFvMOIYyng' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">As the weather was so good, the ferry crossings on the Scillonian III were very calm too.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">My total bird count was about 99 for the week.</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><br /></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-41853177697860447542021-09-18T11:23:00.002+01:002021-09-18T11:24:18.966+01:00Glossy Ibis shines at Emsworth<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">While we were staying near Chichester, news came in of a Glossy Ibis that had been around for a few days. In 15 minutes I was there. Two other photographers were on the bird, which was slowly making its way up a water channel towards us.</span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fikHsf3uoe9y1BM7q0rWeoCP9wNY4RyLdSV4TBmwNh8wBXoRAocV8nXcIVsiCuaYKzSKzwIrHFxvkLQjl1zLgKjOQrAY3tU5Q3YJ7T6mC9y0SDfUD5aBCobMv94p_OHSnQ0v-FgIOic/s1000/Ibis+-+Glossy+PJW_0393+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-fikHsf3uoe9y1BM7q0rWeoCP9wNY4RyLdSV4TBmwNh8wBXoRAocV8nXcIVsiCuaYKzSKzwIrHFxvkLQjl1zLgKjOQrAY3tU5Q3YJ7T6mC9y0SDfUD5aBCobMv94p_OHSnQ0v-FgIOic/s16000/Ibis+-+Glossy+PJW_0393+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Glossy Ibis. The bird in the foreground is a Greenshank</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">There were a number of dogs off the lead and someone talking very loudly nearby. Shortly after I took this photo, it took fright and flew off. This photo shows the iridescent green in the wings.</span></p><p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydqHbV9l8tQShDVmPjCRAI-7VY_1MOunYSovyYEyblQ4ywGwSk_tD-JilVpmT_e1HR_C-vAM9KA7aXIkjroL4oFRsmyvD4tt9dIkBYKrqE8U1bhcgb7gTAzTohzKg7kBd5GcihbAqdOA/s1000/Ibis+-+Glossy+PJW_0429+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiydqHbV9l8tQShDVmPjCRAI-7VY_1MOunYSovyYEyblQ4ywGwSk_tD-JilVpmT_e1HR_C-vAM9KA7aXIkjroL4oFRsmyvD4tt9dIkBYKrqE8U1bhcgb7gTAzTohzKg7kBd5GcihbAqdOA/s16000/Ibis+-+Glossy+PJW_0429+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Showing the iridescence in the plumage</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">I was happy to get the photos I did.</span></p>Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-43239606076330429792021-09-01T21:20:00.047+01:002021-09-03T18:07:12.686+01:00Drama on Falmouth Pelagic<p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">I spent the bank holiday weekend away in Cornwall. I travelled
down with David, Magnus and Paul. We stopped in South Devon on the way to look
for Cirl Buntings and got lucky in Labrador Bay RSPB. Cirl Buntings breed only
in South Devon and they can normally be seen no-where else in the UK, though they have recently also been re-introduced into Cornwall.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYK30BFOf3Dlnrmz9UeN11nE35qXJafkaPeacflYTHeaa-DjZmJP8_PvGBzJuyD_esJSRRTOLRmgrrzTxGLSmbnUS8UIif6wd62mYrzPgjDyaqbSEs-PCzpaS6o82tlgdzy7q9IzLkxN0/s1200/Bunting+-+Cirl+PJW_8517+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYK30BFOf3Dlnrmz9UeN11nE35qXJafkaPeacflYTHeaa-DjZmJP8_PvGBzJuyD_esJSRRTOLRmgrrzTxGLSmbnUS8UIif6wd62mYrzPgjDyaqbSEs-PCzpaS6o82tlgdzy7q9IzLkxN0/w640-h454/Bunting+-+Cirl+PJW_8517+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Cirl Bunting</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">We continued on to Cornwall, watching a few more birds at
Stithians Reservoir, where the highlights were a Little Stint and a Wood
Sandpiper. A Little Stint is a tiny wader.</span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9YH9SYcEG0_lP2a6yFAGT_GHTZzKj4JS-HXqngBli6axbENhxAePH-PO6HQOtsK5DZVb6O99IiRsFsSdR4ie6sNtRMiX126sQrprqadqIA6nBr1Esl5fQVsXA-4iNohPS_P3Uwa9zWw/s1200/Stint+-+Little+and+Sandpiper+-+Wood+PJW_8609+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn9YH9SYcEG0_lP2a6yFAGT_GHTZzKj4JS-HXqngBli6axbENhxAePH-PO6HQOtsK5DZVb6O99IiRsFsSdR4ie6sNtRMiX126sQrprqadqIA6nBr1Esl5fQVsXA-4iNohPS_P3Uwa9zWw/w640-h454/Stint+-+Little+and+Sandpiper+-+Wood+PJW_8609+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Wood Sandpiper - L, and Little Stint - R</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">We stayed the night in Camborne. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">On Sunday after breakfast, we made our way to Falmouth
Marina for the <b>pelagic </b>with AK Wildlife Cruises. What’s a ‘pelagic’ I hear some
of you ask?</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span style="line-height: 107%;">Pelagic – </span></b><i><span style="line-height: 107%;">adjective,
</span></i><span style="line-height: 107%;">pəˈlædʒɪk,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>(<i>technology</i>) connected with, or living
in, the parts of the ocean that are far from land.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">So, for birdwatchers, a pelagic is a boat trip out to sea to find pelagic birds, i.e. those which spend all of their time at sea and never come ashore except to breed.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Now, the pelagic didn't start well. The skipper, Keith,
had forgotten the chum in his freezer. Chum is quite important on a pelagic.
It's a foul-smelling mixture of mashed up fish but is nectar to sea birds and
attracts them like bees round a honey pot. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Keith was very experienced, knew the waters
around Falmouth like the back of his hand, and assured us that the lack of chum
wouldn't stop us seeing the birds we wanted to see. He knew the signs, he
explained, of where the fish would be, based on the activity of gannets far off. Fish attract seabirds.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0cEV6vlzE0jaU1rFWdRIDceKZxbxYpGGme-ct1-5npUhH_P4CSP3alaMgjgv4Qe0Ee4_jRmRLU3K8WpLQqUPxiUE0YNC4azpVb9vgyjcE1u0uPLy8q0unfd93sNhkF7c87w8LTebxq0/s1200/20210829_133102.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0cEV6vlzE0jaU1rFWdRIDceKZxbxYpGGme-ct1-5npUhH_P4CSP3alaMgjgv4Qe0Ee4_jRmRLU3K8WpLQqUPxiUE0YNC4azpVb9vgyjcE1u0uPLy8q0unfd93sNhkF7c87w8LTebxq0/s16000/20210829_133102.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">On the boat of AK Wildlife Cruises</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2uOzN1UUWrzdSTFckJ3-DcdE4xoHXJH2rKgacI4tYsHts-wv4SiP3RLVyBS2eXxJn-SyVGVgZ_vCV9mcADtaLOqSps4K8d02od_J7C06GFH3DpfngGziR3qPVgRpDA43i_eprJ6-hpo/s1200/20210829_133118.jpg" style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU2uOzN1UUWrzdSTFckJ3-DcdE4xoHXJH2rKgacI4tYsHts-wv4SiP3RLVyBS2eXxJn-SyVGVgZ_vCV9mcADtaLOqSps4K8d02od_J7C06GFH3DpfngGziR3qPVgRpDA43i_eprJ6-hpo/s16000/20210829_133118.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Paul - L, and me on the bow of the boat.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">The section of water from the harbour to the open sea is
always a bit quiet. When we reached the open sea Keith, true to his word,
spotted the signs of a ‘build up’. We raced towards it and found a raft of
shearwaters and other birds sitting on the sea. Most were Manx Shearwater, a
common pelagic species, but there were also half a dozen Sooty Shearwaters which are
larger and not so common. A good start for Keith then!</span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOs7jpucaRWVaeTCr3RhstJTlWhhe5J1-aBThKjW1wCH05hz_MNbDV8N_T88KS2QNE0RyPrujoeG2CHaPfq0-yhprY4G-Ma-WuAtcwZ-GdysZQfi2qGXh_8IcsIz1gRc83hzoBaU0V8M/s1200/Shearwater+raft+PJW_8670+crop+A.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBOs7jpucaRWVaeTCr3RhstJTlWhhe5J1-aBThKjW1wCH05hz_MNbDV8N_T88KS2QNE0RyPrujoeG2CHaPfq0-yhprY4G-Ma-WuAtcwZ-GdysZQfi2qGXh_8IcsIz1gRc83hzoBaU0V8M/s16000/Shearwater+raft+PJW_8670+crop+A.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">All Manx Shearwaters except the one indicated.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLVRMdIQuWfccO-Mn4UuMEg4X0kiIybyeYRBlAaDujYTZeVrApnJMpPctqtmhBPnk8kRwSDiuudGd6R_dBblB_M97sM5TFIU8kuTBWmw3ygZDy6kINgLQImAQyjqIjq1Fg5cIg6H94v0/s1200/Shearwater+-+Sooty+PJW_8735+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLLVRMdIQuWfccO-Mn4UuMEg4X0kiIybyeYRBlAaDujYTZeVrApnJMpPctqtmhBPnk8kRwSDiuudGd6R_dBblB_M97sM5TFIU8kuTBWmw3ygZDy6kINgLQImAQyjqIjq1Fg5cIg6H94v0/s16000/Shearwater+-+Sooty+PJW_8735+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Manx Shearwater - L, Sooty Shearwater - R</span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc72MrnZk4ywt3HML5Me3wYv8drSAugxd_7w1SK6qz6omfB7ea7drw_9ksSHO-O-iIUuVP3wm8s8Prgb7QkXj1MVNmU-wf5CyYPJHcTPl3DOq_pBSNHjvKcLxs-T5TeYsWcNUMUfccXgU/s1200/Shearwater+-+Sooty+PJW_9303+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc72MrnZk4ywt3HML5Me3wYv8drSAugxd_7w1SK6qz6omfB7ea7drw_9ksSHO-O-iIUuVP3wm8s8Prgb7QkXj1MVNmU-wf5CyYPJHcTPl3DOq_pBSNHjvKcLxs-T5TeYsWcNUMUfccXgU/s16000/Shearwater+-+Sooty+PJW_9303+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Sooty Shearwater. Unusual and imposing!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br />There were also one or two Balearic Shearwaters. Also uncommon and shy!</span><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></div><div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL66xo3ct5j6gSNZnd0fL6QHD8jT6CisrkCaE8NH4tmjI1z2Ag9LMzcAXUz4aIoz453Bee0ZuG6bR_GsH7eNH2xYiZhhQ8ohmPZ6uwsSAJHUrgIJ4OkyXkYjitZ0Fq1aRom5-8-L46_iM/s1200/PJW_9558+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL66xo3ct5j6gSNZnd0fL6QHD8jT6CisrkCaE8NH4tmjI1z2Ag9LMzcAXUz4aIoz453Bee0ZuG6bR_GsH7eNH2xYiZhhQ8ohmPZ6uwsSAJHUrgIJ4OkyXkYjitZ0Fq1aRom5-8-L46_iM/s16000/PJW_9558+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Balearic Shearwater. Not that common so nice to see.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">The weather was mainly overcast but there was very little
wind. The sea was like a millpond. I was very happy about this as I had not
wanted to take a travel sickness pill. I don't normally get seasick but on
pelagics the boat is often left to drift. It tends to rock uncomfortably, even if the
sea is only a little rough.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">As the day progressed things got better and better. Keith
knew his onions as far as cetaceans were concerned and pointed out not only the
pod of local Common Dolphins but also a smaller pod of about a dozen Bottlenose Dolphins which had a couple of small calves with them.</span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhvF2q6mIwbQxVsQTMtGXtF44aZrpLgOaNFIwHoWfU7oq68G-UweslpC2cbtTOz7-awBCcfgY3AkVZEs82l4SviOuLVyd2aTtd3o51KhfHe46Kh7WihfrHoFgYYXMdnXnyNv4Z3HCK5E/s1200/Dolphin+-+Bottle-nose+PJW_8887+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkhvF2q6mIwbQxVsQTMtGXtF44aZrpLgOaNFIwHoWfU7oq68G-UweslpC2cbtTOz7-awBCcfgY3AkVZEs82l4SviOuLVyd2aTtd3o51KhfHe46Kh7WihfrHoFgYYXMdnXnyNv4Z3HCK5E/s16000/Dolphin+-+Bottle-nose+PJW_8887+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Bottlenose Dolphins with calves</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Keith invited us, three at a time, to watch from the bow. I
was lucky enough to be there when several dolphins delighted in swimming along
with us. We were under power and travelling along but the dolphins easily kept
pace with us, hardly needing to move a fin, as this video shows. Amazing!</span></p>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='667' height='556' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwSMRFLs2uo2A9aJHjv7g0TLkXZOkuTNKEqI7j6KhU-pyOfrsNjpFTaxHRRFOerc-h64n59AmqL4s0Nr22yIw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">As well as the dolphins, there were also Atlantic Bluefin Tuna present. These enormous fish sometimes jumped out of the water like
dolphins. They fed on anchovy fry near the surface and where the tuna were
feeding the shearwaters and other sea birds congregated to dive in and enjoy the
fish bounty.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1d5q5qg2X23RnIxn_Uuz_eMPLa3_22c93s7I37YSnyV0mVUI-tmBoRiYdEWPTCbPUxdp_duA0FRvQvW_94aLDaOqDvlH__EHN49BzwBKxZma5m_SoqBZzVcR_lnN3VXIfH559NQGnceE/s1200/Tuna+-+Atlantic+Bluefin+PJW_9027+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1d5q5qg2X23RnIxn_Uuz_eMPLa3_22c93s7I37YSnyV0mVUI-tmBoRiYdEWPTCbPUxdp_duA0FRvQvW_94aLDaOqDvlH__EHN49BzwBKxZma5m_SoqBZzVcR_lnN3VXIfH559NQGnceE/s16000/Tuna+-+Atlantic+Bluefin+PJW_9027+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Atlantic Bluefin Tuna jumping. These huge fish reach 220-250Kg!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">We also witnessed a disturbing incident which brought home
the ruthless nature of life in the wild. Skuas are a family of sea birds with a
reputation for being aggressive and piratical. They often harass smaller
seabirds who have caught fish and force them to drop their food. The Great Skua is a large
powerful bird. We came across one attacking a Herring Gull. Most of you will be
familiar with Herring Gulls and will know that they are not small birds. Here
is how the story progressed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BD9jbcLVGIILViEabVRlKmtWlomK4x_yxL5OGS7tapSrcqY7Pfc8OwkxTZ2JFIoasHao6VHIkDsalOsUsJzqnpNYUIMKynmyYftYAmUSxpFrrIxSuADQEen42gGxjAbAnAWiuAA0GG8/s1200/Skua+-+Great+1+PJW_8848.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9BD9jbcLVGIILViEabVRlKmtWlomK4x_yxL5OGS7tapSrcqY7Pfc8OwkxTZ2JFIoasHao6VHIkDsalOsUsJzqnpNYUIMKynmyYftYAmUSxpFrrIxSuADQEen42gGxjAbAnAWiuAA0GG8/s16000/Skua+-+Great+1+PJW_8848.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Great Skua, commonly known as a Bonxie</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tgp8knpwG3yJO6uhqWq1snXjFGQRISFn0RLV1WtYV6pNNZVnYS01lEwAjq-xFudvzP9u8oz5oPnSMGCoJqipyf88CvKLVMHDXiNq-8jXfAF2ovA67SNPlhP58JQVlJX55jcM1OMDi2s/s1200/Skua+-+Great+2+PJW_8824+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9tgp8knpwG3yJO6uhqWq1snXjFGQRISFn0RLV1WtYV6pNNZVnYS01lEwAjq-xFudvzP9u8oz5oPnSMGCoJqipyf88CvKLVMHDXiNq-8jXfAF2ovA67SNPlhP58JQVlJX55jcM1OMDi2s/s16000/Skua+-+Great+2+PJW_8824+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">When we approached, the Great Skua (AKA Bonxie) was attacking the Herring Gull and was clearly winning!</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6Ed5wYwoLOXbCdI5NBXX-TptDH6BlN3VFmM19yeuZuvRxGTkw1M5GcRM0MYDTSggxOtwphxDIg0f3_2XkdaMHQeIvLP7NjUG6_wlRs3JWEFTAZfe1uuT0pBoq-Ywuc7lYWhv5wGIf2o/s1200/Skua+-+Great+3+PJW_8957+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq6Ed5wYwoLOXbCdI5NBXX-TptDH6BlN3VFmM19yeuZuvRxGTkw1M5GcRM0MYDTSggxOtwphxDIg0f3_2XkdaMHQeIvLP7NjUG6_wlRs3JWEFTAZfe1uuT0pBoq-Ywuc7lYWhv5wGIf2o/s16000/Skua+-+Great+3+PJW_8957+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">At our approach the Bonxie flew off.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuvtRy-BdIMiSoTfbD00QbKjpgp6LpZypeRdrYspjSVCZLWew0MnfRChsv1spuSE6b4XxbOlV88ztwVo5F1Pv4S1fLpmrhdEAjHI8q1-R7lyXYYr0EzzzrSgf5qL78coOoUf7HoU_-RU/s1200/Skua+-+Great+4+PJW_8863+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeuvtRy-BdIMiSoTfbD00QbKjpgp6LpZypeRdrYspjSVCZLWew0MnfRChsv1spuSE6b4XxbOlV88ztwVo5F1Pv4S1fLpmrhdEAjHI8q1-R7lyXYYr0EzzzrSgf5qL78coOoUf7HoU_-RU/s16000/Skua+-+Great+4+PJW_8863+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; text-align: left;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The poor Herring Gull took the opportunity to make a run for it. However, it had been severely weakened in the attack.</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"></span></o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_abUwl97pHgjufzyGu2I3ORDlobBTkhsOsWqoMzktFNSNF97X1E2G6SJNuCgztUVvkXs2ib9JW7K-BgFpYR4lgnxLpItaiV6faXTbtixJ2JDgLezNGeP7F0l1zaqAR_UYWlZTgnK7Oi4/s1200/Skua+-+Great+5+PJW_8861+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_abUwl97pHgjufzyGu2I3ORDlobBTkhsOsWqoMzktFNSNF97X1E2G6SJNuCgztUVvkXs2ib9JW7K-BgFpYR4lgnxLpItaiV6faXTbtixJ2JDgLezNGeP7F0l1zaqAR_UYWlZTgnK7Oi4/s16000/Skua+-+Great+5+PJW_8861+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">When we were a safe distance away again, the Bonxie moved in for the kill! The gull looks terrified!</span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TrCDtUHRI7UL8mewEI-cQwtTdD0F8VGN3XNXYV_RNPbBhPzcLfdCJt-nc5XYCZiX1EUwrESgvtMOKSFiq8ijI-2lFFAnZb7Ofr6qFQ4k7R1ZQzqjy5qUsrmkMt4Fb1eBOaamE5vmPM0/s1200/Skua+-+Great+6+PJW_8931+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2TrCDtUHRI7UL8mewEI-cQwtTdD0F8VGN3XNXYV_RNPbBhPzcLfdCJt-nc5XYCZiX1EUwrESgvtMOKSFiq8ijI-2lFFAnZb7Ofr6qFQ4k7R1ZQzqjy5qUsrmkMt4Fb1eBOaamE5vmPM0/s16000/Skua+-+Great+6+PJW_8931+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large; text-align: left;">Shortly afterwards, the Herring Gull was dead!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Before witnessing this incident, I had never thought that a
Bonxie would attack such a large prey. We live and learn!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 107%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">As well as shearwaters, other pelagic birds include petrels,
mainly European Storm Petrels and Wilson’s Storm Petrels. Petrels are rarer
than Manx Shearwaters and/or are much harder to see on account of their small
size. They are really tiny. They are little bigger than a sparrow, weigh only 25-30g, yet they survive at sea in all conditions. </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"> </span><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">The first time one was spotted I just couldn’t
get on it (i.e. manage to see it, usually with binoculars). The same happened
with the second sighting, and the third. I was beginning to get desperate! Only
on the fourth sighting was I able to see it and take photos. Here is my rather
weak effort at a photo. Not only are they tiny
and hard to see, they are also difficult to photograph.</span></p>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAw8ReX7IGPGRbZ8GMohCGEGiNCxsB8SvOBXH_TZi-c1xcgmrihe7-yJSTkSLsCUt3i1xvUWVdj2hX4p33vcv1Tgb4hTWfe2YrggxncWifwILwQMJCJD3aTRIYa3Z84E71EVuhuhQ7f1c/s948/Petrel+-+Storm+PJW_9122+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="672" data-original-width="948" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAw8ReX7IGPGRbZ8GMohCGEGiNCxsB8SvOBXH_TZi-c1xcgmrihe7-yJSTkSLsCUt3i1xvUWVdj2hX4p33vcv1Tgb4hTWfe2YrggxncWifwILwQMJCJD3aTRIYa3Z84E71EVuhuhQ7f1c/s16000/Petrel+-+Storm+PJW_9122+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">European Storm Petrels</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-large;">In true Blue Peter fashion, here is one I prepared earlier,
from another pelagic from the Isles of Scilly in 2009.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgtXwL9mtpzX_SRs6Jurndf9v1KQZ_HbzY8WeNwyqt8yX3aCG60ww2EumYVNIvvsZqAWoyMgat3eP7bmgkMFyyXz-7sokcFqClyEE-XbzvR6kKK8kQWh9fSrp9uaU_Tpf7AY6DNk3aoo/s1200/Storm+petrel+off+Scillies+8690+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixgtXwL9mtpzX_SRs6Jurndf9v1KQZ_HbzY8WeNwyqt8yX3aCG60ww2EumYVNIvvsZqAWoyMgat3eP7bmgkMFyyXz-7sokcFqClyEE-XbzvR6kKK8kQWh9fSrp9uaU_Tpf7AY6DNk3aoo/s16000/Storm+petrel+off+Scillies+8690+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">European Storm Petrel</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Later, we came across a small number of European Storm
Petrels just sitting on the sea. I had not seen this behaviour before.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zQysiIfmaTp2H4TukizAej8Hlm3fr4VvRN87NMZEMSpFs_TscN_41m9NwLw38TnKNNhRDDG1yX8ooapQ7fJ2dcKvXMNjX7ULnkVwOrvV4jWp0hlQLVNCq53gBdkDG8xpduur_BgzVl8/s1200/Petrel+-+Storm+PJW_9370+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8zQysiIfmaTp2H4TukizAej8Hlm3fr4VvRN87NMZEMSpFs_TscN_41m9NwLw38TnKNNhRDDG1yX8ooapQ7fJ2dcKvXMNjX7ULnkVwOrvV4jWp0hlQLVNCq53gBdkDG8xpduur_BgzVl8/s16000/Petrel+-+Storm+PJW_9370+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">European Storm Petrels. Tiny, cute and weighing only 25-30g!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Later still, we came across two Arctic Skuas - yes, the pirates! Arctic Skuas come in two colours (or morphs). We had one of each. When we got too close, they flew off and attacked a small flock of Kittiwakes.</span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HUUJR_SI0OZMbMrkjdw0sR5iQZznT__34Xk6_v1bxqgvLYhRIjuEzWXpEcTpCzSmAqQ1g9JXf1-P0LtFf3Q2h6FkMMsxfJWrb8-C6yfQiOdC_735kg3U5S1Fpx7lDcO_P5Q_Pso3cNc/s1200/Skua+-+Arctic+PJW_9642+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5HUUJR_SI0OZMbMrkjdw0sR5iQZznT__34Xk6_v1bxqgvLYhRIjuEzWXpEcTpCzSmAqQ1g9JXf1-P0LtFf3Q2h6FkMMsxfJWrb8-C6yfQiOdC_735kg3U5S1Fpx7lDcO_P5Q_Pso3cNc/s16000/Skua+-+Arctic+PJW_9642+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Arctic Skuas. Dark morph is on the left and the pale morph on the right. They are robbers!!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqts7ANtElt603QAxPgSmoEMwtyD-vLjYWzcMnS2JvfZuvMTL5nd6FYQHFHWvtSxr8IYbo7e3Z9fXRX9SPHTsvEb_221sDf03SLO2cBRIRX5Z4syjEEIspGqFYO5Or3xZVzMPdLg7pj_8/s1200/Skua+-+Arctic+PJW_9687+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqts7ANtElt603QAxPgSmoEMwtyD-vLjYWzcMnS2JvfZuvMTL5nd6FYQHFHWvtSxr8IYbo7e3Z9fXRX9SPHTsvEb_221sDf03SLO2cBRIRX5Z4syjEEIspGqFYO5Or3xZVzMPdLg7pj_8/s16000/Skua+-+Arctic+PJW_9687+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">Arctic Skua - Dark morph</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">The missing chum may have brought the diminutive Petrels a
little closer to the boat if they had been tempted in by it. We may have seen them
closer, or we may have seen Wilson’s Storm Petrel too. Who knows? At all
events, it was a very enjoyable pelagic.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">The following day we came home via Kynance Cove on the
Lizard peninsula. Highlight of our walk was a Red-billed Chough. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTgAMXt-qwQYKZCg3SrIyMe7x_c_6-ZHEpYgQUJMWZ2s59EFFknsFGVkpwq_Q7g3BX7QNoHVCAat4dbYvCPy5-UHvoEh5sdIYOt4FaaKsXTlM3BxjqoWf7QupWVa6OSGeCXniBFmzBSw/s1200/Chough+PJW_9899+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizTgAMXt-qwQYKZCg3SrIyMe7x_c_6-ZHEpYgQUJMWZ2s59EFFknsFGVkpwq_Q7g3BX7QNoHVCAat4dbYvCPy5-UHvoEh5sdIYOt4FaaKsXTlM3BxjqoWf7QupWVa6OSGeCXniBFmzBSw/s16000/Chough+PJW_9899+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: x-large;">(Red-billed) Chough. Rare outside of the far West of Cornwall and some areas in the West of Wales!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: xx-large;">Before leaving for home, we also enjoyed a Cornish cream tea, jam first of course!</span></p><br /></div>Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-40624203244440451682021-07-31T16:09:00.117+01:002021-08-02T09:29:27.488+01:00Albatross at last<p><span style="font-size: large;">You have probably heard of an Albatross. You may not know
that they normally roam around the Antarctic and Southern oceans, a very
long way from the Northern Hemisphere. So, it was quite a surprise when, in
2017, a Black-browed Albatross with a wingspan of about 2.40m, was seen
off the cliffs at Bempton in East Yorkshire. It stayed for a couple of days and
then disappeared until 2020, when it returned for a few days.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">In 2021, Albert Ross, as it is affectionately known (and presumably the same bird) reappeared
on 28 June and has been seen almost every day since. Now, I have never seen an
albatross anywhere in the world on my travels, so I just had to go and see it.
He'd been seen every day for several
days, so I went up on 6 July with Magnus Andersson intending to stay two nights.
Magnus had already seen it!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">The Albatross had been seen that morning, but by the time
we arrived it had disappeared. It didn't reappear on 7 July, nor again on the
morning of 8 July when we had to return. My disappointment was somewhat
alleviated by seeing a magnificent Western Rufous Turtle Dove at Spurn, along with Spoonbills, Barn Owl and a few hundred Little Gulls. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyd74nAuJPd_Rqt9MppKv5dNb-GV_qKPUyDLN3VtMUtlTPB6HoIi8rQgxr12nMiohmsDq0vjRpPPkg21NSPMJ1Zg972vPypAG-Fk9VNl8MGtG-Nu8xs173LclTxg63AROVeHLjpjzxvY/s1200/Turtle-dove+-+Eastern+Rufous+PJW_5343+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAyd74nAuJPd_Rqt9MppKv5dNb-GV_qKPUyDLN3VtMUtlTPB6HoIi8rQgxr12nMiohmsDq0vjRpPPkg21NSPMJ1Zg972vPypAG-Fk9VNl8MGtG-Nu8xs173LclTxg63AROVeHLjpjzxvY/w640-h454/Turtle-dove+-+Eastern+Rufous+PJW_5343+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Western Rufous Turtle Dove. - Very nice, but not exactly an Albatross!!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wlta_qosYCEiIPrGq9PEi94y4SjQQXTFONhceML7H_uze2lcGe95cKCv25CoYqoagCZIFHbVZ6uGv1WGymzDluU_SE65uFKdpDjJ6fFEH6Z1f3NreTU0jWgC5QDvCyWFD48DQtGa5Yo/s1200/Spoonbill+PJW_5772+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-wlta_qosYCEiIPrGq9PEi94y4SjQQXTFONhceML7H_uze2lcGe95cKCv25CoYqoagCZIFHbVZ6uGv1WGymzDluU_SE65uFKdpDjJ6fFEH6Z1f3NreTU0jWgC5QDvCyWFD48DQtGa5Yo/s16000/Spoonbill+PJW_5772+crop.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Angry Spoonbill advances!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><br /></span></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yLGiihEV8L2g6Mik1GySpdciAPh4ZHa6mYk8LxTLCtOFKBAcd0Ah7Kq3DXiD3M4QYoPgCJAT-bRSV6tvDl4g_2scVwznG82skxjmX1yez82W69kJEtv4rb7VF6dwf_JwmWEV-6r22Dc/s1200/Spoonbill+PJW_5767+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8yLGiihEV8L2g6Mik1GySpdciAPh4ZHa6mYk8LxTLCtOFKBAcd0Ah7Kq3DXiD3M4QYoPgCJAT-bRSV6tvDl4g_2scVwznG82skxjmX1yez82W69kJEtv4rb7VF6dwf_JwmWEV-6r22Dc/s16000/Spoonbill+PJW_5767+crop.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Out of my way. I'm feeding here!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwLWMPO13R4sOUaHrF4QCNL2eIYuOPl4EUAjNEbE7za4GXMC7s8WQOppIh21YpsiNSTGlDRKkwg5maTDyqLoqLmhwXeNcYos0JbuJKbvNyLq-EwPTjDs25zOR4Ns76S7gWSfY1fbNhyphenhyphenA/s1200/Owl+-+Barn+PJW_5718+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiwLWMPO13R4sOUaHrF4QCNL2eIYuOPl4EUAjNEbE7za4GXMC7s8WQOppIh21YpsiNSTGlDRKkwg5maTDyqLoqLmhwXeNcYos0JbuJKbvNyLq-EwPTjDs25zOR4Ns76S7gWSfY1fbNhyphenhyphenA/s16000/Owl+-+Barn+PJW_5718+crop.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Barn Owl came out at dusk to hunt.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;">It was
frustrating that the Albatross returned the day after we got back but I
couldn't go again because we had booked a 10-day holiday in Cornwall and Devon. It was seen almost every day while I was away!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Eventually, I went up again on Friday 23 July. The Albatross disappeared again on that day and it was not seen on Saturday 31 July
either! <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I decided to stay one more night
just in case it turned up on Sunday morning. Luckily for me, it did! I was staying
10 minutes from Bempton. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When I arrived
at about 8:30, the Albatross was sitting on the sea about 300metres
off shore. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even with a telescope it
looked quite small and unimpressive. Nevertheless, the other birds were stupendous to watch.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNADLKXtzc4S_q2mtR-EhWyD8tyA45EoW71I5a-Cn4fbqEvv9bhxFAdOnAGdoWb01Hl_xCEBbUgxoMXGJ9I_U6_OxaG5zhbe61Qv0j1wK_stRMJVpWE5EkHRs2fYLaIM1lsyQJyZ7QzHg/s578/Skua+-+Great+PJW_6730+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="578" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNADLKXtzc4S_q2mtR-EhWyD8tyA45EoW71I5a-Cn4fbqEvv9bhxFAdOnAGdoWb01Hl_xCEBbUgxoMXGJ9I_U6_OxaG5zhbe61Qv0j1wK_stRMJVpWE5EkHRs2fYLaIM1lsyQJyZ7QzHg/s16000/Skua+-+Great+PJW_6730+crop.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Great Skua offshore</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEniZmlPnl2WFgpY-mnTlc0QlVbzHk56v9ns4_cz1r11hp9LcRdCNYK8UpRemAuE3NtemxGQBdjf959QB4zndKkMMImpn0su5gZeOAbI1xWVnGll0YkxORhtRdVs8yOvtfvEkFe6ZbU8/s1200/Puffin+PJW_6806+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYEniZmlPnl2WFgpY-mnTlc0QlVbzHk56v9ns4_cz1r11hp9LcRdCNYK8UpRemAuE3NtemxGQBdjf959QB4zndKkMMImpn0su5gZeOAbI1xWVnGll0YkxORhtRdVs8yOvtfvEkFe6ZbU8/s16000/Puffin+PJW_6806+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Puffin - everyone's favourite. The foreground bird is a Razorbill</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxjXfJ7cOJuE2-IVy7iQ0RWSlnwQwpMlnfz-E92-CWH7i4ysK2dFXbcoAsRm-G4a8K079TRAQCXmv-rhyphenhyphen9Vnls5FyIPlsS2F9cY5hsPCksnF5NhKo67rQA5S_ApDxzKW_qSR8f8KoJSA/s1200/Kittiwake+PJW_6753+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihxjXfJ7cOJuE2-IVy7iQ0RWSlnwQwpMlnfz-E92-CWH7i4ysK2dFXbcoAsRm-G4a8K079TRAQCXmv-rhyphenhyphen9Vnls5FyIPlsS2F9cY5hsPCksnF5NhKo67rQA5S_ApDxzKW_qSR8f8KoJSA/s16000/Kittiwake+PJW_6753+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Kittiwakes. The chicks have a black ring on their neck and other black markings. They are born and fledge from these narrow ledges!! The chick at the bottom is covered in guano from the birds above! </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbamkoR8OhU51lXApRnEZPsP0_hgHFPMgukjt9ALEZLMRuFCX8PxUmPACpscyvFZkcfNvVuUdbA_GVKfyT_ssYo73gFB1BOcbF3okObw0eDSoOYOlC615w59fh1Fa3OqU_FwbB-SpbXU/s1200/Guillemot+PJW_6798+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbamkoR8OhU51lXApRnEZPsP0_hgHFPMgukjt9ALEZLMRuFCX8PxUmPACpscyvFZkcfNvVuUdbA_GVKfyT_ssYo73gFB1BOcbF3okObw0eDSoOYOlC615w59fh1Fa3OqU_FwbB-SpbXU/s16000/Guillemot+PJW_6798+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Guillemot. They have small wings and have to flap them very quickly!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-Jlv0uoyo-xjvIFy6OxguyGV4245P1KCVCVtrZOd_eWdPxqKCH5Zl4KCH-XUjgwlqHKky2yVBqRFCbjDB_6ZujDAR6T1jkOWZOd4EXjgoLHNsVGt7vQYRcC4nYjkLyCdI5dyL92MW6o/s1200/Fulmar+PJW_6699+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgc-Jlv0uoyo-xjvIFy6OxguyGV4245P1KCVCVtrZOd_eWdPxqKCH5Zl4KCH-XUjgwlqHKky2yVBqRFCbjDB_6ZujDAR6T1jkOWZOd4EXjgoLHNsVGt7vQYRcC4nYjkLyCdI5dyL92MW6o/s16000/Fulmar+PJW_6699+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Fulmar - Not gull, but a bird that is quite pelagic (spends most of its time at sea).</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><br /></span><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFbidYrM1RMKtA1s_0Kl7iR1_qM6TorqR0LghJi_4N8zHQr1jQEFezuDdy59OGI3D4sC0LCAj1rOEgRZ6_w2Ai88w0E2GqUGEk9EICUx0HsqX0HIcI3losahfubuMUILjyxALlsmqGNM/s1200/Razorbill+PJW_5224+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWFbidYrM1RMKtA1s_0Kl7iR1_qM6TorqR0LghJi_4N8zHQr1jQEFezuDdy59OGI3D4sC0LCAj1rOEgRZ6_w2Ai88w0E2GqUGEk9EICUx0HsqX0HIcI3losahfubuMUILjyxALlsmqGNM/s16000/Razorbill+PJW_5224+crop.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Razorbills are one of my favourites. They are tiny next to the mighty Gannet.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><p class="MsoNormal"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAII4aURglJZBrLLSuPfRTUfgc432XdvwbxdVGQwC7BAUgCAdcY4sF4ULE_CH-dCkMYSLBBKQ0jdeCw1N2ionkf6aa8JDF47pugcv1Tp8JqqEkVkjIuKkO4IsuPOgaM6cf99_1HhS8bDI/s1186/Razorbill+PJW_5230+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="841" data-original-width="1186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAII4aURglJZBrLLSuPfRTUfgc432XdvwbxdVGQwC7BAUgCAdcY4sF4ULE_CH-dCkMYSLBBKQ0jdeCw1N2ionkf6aa8JDF47pugcv1Tp8JqqEkVkjIuKkO4IsuPOgaM6cf99_1HhS8bDI/s16000/Razorbill+PJW_5230+crop.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Razorbill - You can see they are a little dumpy and have tiny wings. It's a wonder they can fly!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWzFt1hp_R-XSCnR6892HnOBqefkNeXCpyRmy3CKZtgOAO3nGfUnGc_QcftZgQBxHeTOqY2m-l8kckhKSfMvHVkL8LumqaZzPrIvl30398Z-QAeATpoNeA4qYoTi3js9hzu_Yr5rTPZA/s1200/Razorbill+PJW_5284+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWzFt1hp_R-XSCnR6892HnOBqefkNeXCpyRmy3CKZtgOAO3nGfUnGc_QcftZgQBxHeTOqY2m-l8kckhKSfMvHVkL8LumqaZzPrIvl30398Z-QAeATpoNeA4qYoTi3js9hzu_Yr5rTPZA/s16000/Razorbill+PJW_5284+crop.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Razorbills - I love them!<br /><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJqIj73K-B7SCgA7g98NdMpdlk5v4exbIm9cJp9oep1qATWeSW64P83NM7I_FV2JtZVRR-EbxzguZSyCidVTRsI7LB-PkcZ7SarRVexAtP92sb4B3k-d5KTdkE_J7xfZA4LlBxCRcKBk/s1200/Gannet+PJW_6755+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPJqIj73K-B7SCgA7g98NdMpdlk5v4exbIm9cJp9oep1qATWeSW64P83NM7I_FV2JtZVRR-EbxzguZSyCidVTRsI7LB-PkcZ7SarRVexAtP92sb4B3k-d5KTdkE_J7xfZA4LlBxCRcKBk/s16000/Gannet+PJW_6755+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Gannet. Built for speed in diving. Plunging from great height into the sea to catch fish. </span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">FINALLY - the Albatross!</span></b></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size: large;"><span>Speaking with one of the volunteers at RSPB Bempton, I
learnt that the Albatross would probably come off the sea in a couple of hours and soar
around the cliffs for a while before settling. He advised me to go to
the next viewpoint, which I did. </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span>Sure
enough, just after 11.00 Albert Ross came into view, to the delight of everyone
present, and wheeled around for about 20 minutes before landing on the cliff
around the corner. I took some flight shots of this magnificent
bird.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbPLwh1-oTB8Wt0t4TMblBOl3UBHD0A0nCKtFWAtD813WdUFGnxqFY9zXT0xO3J870t5Ic3-M-IIIULae_Hwwysp1ofaFy601TAY44mCaqNDSxdoBGhiVCffdJ9SLjT-rzstCv3XvUHU/s1200/Albatross+-+Black-browed+PJW_7256+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLbPLwh1-oTB8Wt0t4TMblBOl3UBHD0A0nCKtFWAtD813WdUFGnxqFY9zXT0xO3J870t5Ic3-M-IIIULae_Hwwysp1ofaFy601TAY44mCaqNDSxdoBGhiVCffdJ9SLjT-rzstCv3XvUHU/s16000/Albatross+-+Black-browed+PJW_7256+crop.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Black-browed Albatross - the other bird is a Gannet, certainly not a small bird, larger than a gull!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjTy96m6feMPsJM6cYFpj_LtlcAMxpkRoUQt3M233VGRuhe6haMJXS88Ow6uTEnVWha3ZrKnpw4rOCGNN01yH4EXevwpAK5ZakS4G54F6lXgyTS9UvYvIU54O6jmjYzkNHDinEfPxK3E/s1200/Albatross+-+Black-browed+PJW_7314+crop3.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="851" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSjTy96m6feMPsJM6cYFpj_LtlcAMxpkRoUQt3M233VGRuhe6haMJXS88Ow6uTEnVWha3ZrKnpw4rOCGNN01yH4EXevwpAK5ZakS4G54F6lXgyTS9UvYvIU54O6jmjYzkNHDinEfPxK3E/s16000/Albatross+-+Black-browed+PJW_7314+crop3.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Black-browed Albatross - what a bird. A long distance flier - normally, it hardly has to flap its wings!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Mission accomplished, I started home, via Frampton Marshes RSPB
to see the Pacific Golden Plover and a few other birds that I hadn't seen this
year. These included Curlew Sandpiper, Wood Sandpiper and Spotted Redshank.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCW3NEHe-hJdU7_hJaxN6iiC6vEecdsuobfpT-o5Ya4hSFcJPOG-DCcATo00CmphglVcwIrqG1hvDVO_-1BTaS5zgqeG6JwQvQi9kn05xR8eBgDj6N5W_qXEDX5kEqHPsYpHevs8SGOjY/s1200/Wood+Sandpiper+PJW_7374+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCW3NEHe-hJdU7_hJaxN6iiC6vEecdsuobfpT-o5Ya4hSFcJPOG-DCcATo00CmphglVcwIrqG1hvDVO_-1BTaS5zgqeG6JwQvQi9kn05xR8eBgDj6N5W_qXEDX5kEqHPsYpHevs8SGOjY/s16000/Wood+Sandpiper+PJW_7374+crop.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Wood Sandpiper - passing through on migration</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvveWGqBo7Xqa2ZByWhBBWx0GCJnCWArncWJGmM_tGwFNiPreZDdz9RKo5EHFsrZQXx3oa1XSbHnudMWHdHIv_Mpqhj9j3bkLF_hCHme9UA8WmlU_QiEEBT2Ms9hy0p9FTo3WVk5SQ7bs/s1200/Snipe+PJW_6682+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvveWGqBo7Xqa2ZByWhBBWx0GCJnCWArncWJGmM_tGwFNiPreZDdz9RKo5EHFsrZQXx3oa1XSbHnudMWHdHIv_Mpqhj9j3bkLF_hCHme9UA8WmlU_QiEEBT2Ms9hy0p9FTo3WVk5SQ7bs/s16000/Snipe+PJW_6682+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Snipe - not uncommon, but hard to see owing to it's superb camouflage. This one is right out in the open.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFwaNecjINhCrv-q657-6kgRZTUw5rX_NZLy2k5RSnbnNUuQ8quXhJsgoP-ZYTmRIRUHnO0_cX8V5fsakxY9Hfz64jpTse5XPnK5mwbmujZMlfRgAvX_VGBR0tM084K361ewGbIZAKnk/s1200/Redshank+-+Spotted+PJW_7440+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLFwaNecjINhCrv-q657-6kgRZTUw5rX_NZLy2k5RSnbnNUuQ8quXhJsgoP-ZYTmRIRUHnO0_cX8V5fsakxY9Hfz64jpTse5XPnK5mwbmujZMlfRgAvX_VGBR0tM084K361ewGbIZAKnk/s16000/Redshank+-+Spotted+PJW_7440+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Spotted Redshank. Again, on migration. A much finer bill than the Common Redshank.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5degO0PT7N9s-hse9cx8TyJk25-cXnS2h8oj96a-v40PxBKpr2huVGU2U34M7ud22eiHaPPYkfhYWUYZiffTR12YpfPkwVdPO7FB8hA45wgGR9htPcRpJM5Dv9aQqSoceoWe_YrX9Vo4/s1200/Avocet+PJW_7561+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5degO0PT7N9s-hse9cx8TyJk25-cXnS2h8oj96a-v40PxBKpr2huVGU2U34M7ud22eiHaPPYkfhYWUYZiffTR12YpfPkwVdPO7FB8hA45wgGR9htPcRpJM5Dv9aQqSoceoWe_YrX9Vo4/s16000/Avocet+PJW_7561+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Avocet. This is a juvenile. Adults are black and white.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">My wife had arranged to go out with a friend of hers the
following day so I decided to go to Snettisham for the night ready to look for
the Western Sandpiper the following day. This very small American wader was best seen
either shortly before or shortly after high tide, which was at 08:30 next morning. I was
lucky to find a room in the Queen Victoria pub, Snettisham. I got down to the
beach in time, but the bird was not seen before high tide. As a large flock of Dunlin
and Sanderling roosted on the shore waiting for the water level to drop, we
scoured hundreds of small birds looking for the one that looked slightly
different. Someone did find it and called it out but just as I got my binoculars
on it, the whole flock flew off and landed in a position where it was impossible to see most of them. We waited for the water level to drop and the birds then
started moving onto the mud to feed. At that time, I was able to photograph
the Western Sandpiper, which looked remarkably similar to a
sanderling.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbq-7iO4yhxSLTqzd5uktRS15so0XpgMujgoTsDCsC6R4mwwTLgK1B4460uRd571hg-1zaAP8sE0lfMk5XaK7OLgWuIxQmKw0NOujpcpQnUX_MPTFr6m6_owJ1aaCTfquj8rls6L-6_Gg/s526/Sandpiper+-+Western+PJW_7510+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="373" data-original-width="526" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbq-7iO4yhxSLTqzd5uktRS15so0XpgMujgoTsDCsC6R4mwwTLgK1B4460uRd571hg-1zaAP8sE0lfMk5XaK7OLgWuIxQmKw0NOujpcpQnUX_MPTFr6m6_owJ1aaCTfquj8rls6L-6_Gg/s16000/Sandpiper+-+Western+PJW_7510+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Western Sandpiper - An American wader which is way off course!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ82Sl_hDzi0mGrrFifooUj1AO1RAbT1QaVQxIDyMS2pTnmsR1Toe1czj2IkMyCl2Arv12zg1jF-hGhuI4dhmFPbeEp5joypEGtUMO_uleqd7w9O27zqhbryIZH_hP4RjzdMm_D454M4k/s1200/Sandpiper+-+Western+PJW_7528+cropD.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ82Sl_hDzi0mGrrFifooUj1AO1RAbT1QaVQxIDyMS2pTnmsR1Toe1czj2IkMyCl2Arv12zg1jF-hGhuI4dhmFPbeEp5joypEGtUMO_uleqd7w9O27zqhbryIZH_hP4RjzdMm_D454M4k/s16000/Sandpiper+-+Western+PJW_7528+cropD.jpg" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Western Sandpiper - Arrowed!</span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_AZi-qjKM1R-O6GPCAvpA9a6e-MD_uPdSmP10a7pb4XVPp3KmnsqmC85OTKgHZyhf7ljPE7LMYqypMDV_XLH5hvFckOjVJf78PQkLOHsG1o4OOUC7uYUU4PrDnysevUfxbxuigbTlKk/s1200/Sanderling+PJW_6569+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd_AZi-qjKM1R-O6GPCAvpA9a6e-MD_uPdSmP10a7pb4XVPp3KmnsqmC85OTKgHZyhf7ljPE7LMYqypMDV_XLH5hvFckOjVJf78PQkLOHsG1o4OOUC7uYUU4PrDnysevUfxbxuigbTlKk/s16000/Sanderling+PJW_6569+crop.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sanderling. They look superficially like the others but are more scaly above and with no black belly.</span></td></tr></tbody></table></div></div><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">There was time for a brief stop at Titchwell Marsh RSPB,
where the highlight was a Great White Egret. While there, I got talking to a couple who had seen a Little Owl that
morning. I hadn't seen Little Owl this year. As it was on my way
home, I dropped in to Abbey Farm NR, a small reserve with a
single small hide. As I entered, the Little
Owl was sitting in front of me. A Marsh Harrier visited before </span><span style="font-size: large;">I made my way home to Sutton.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sAgSWaJezyyHrVj-TK8yCE9At_vQBLJ10WPoNnCK1jW4r6cAogW-h7ftorsG1ZKz7CgQUPdC25mysTzc_NAsa18WTKq29QBFpU5ClnegR8pyLd9_xkgPNbQXGe9iZeb6PMxeawcqpgY/s1200/Owl+-+Little+PJW_7595+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9sAgSWaJezyyHrVj-TK8yCE9At_vQBLJ10WPoNnCK1jW4r6cAogW-h7ftorsG1ZKz7CgQUPdC25mysTzc_NAsa18WTKq29QBFpU5ClnegR8pyLd9_xkgPNbQXGe9iZeb6PMxeawcqpgY/s16000/Owl+-+Little+PJW_7595+crop.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Little Owl</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"></span></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFAsOL7UHGeNkaiIkYfOFse_Rl_dc4MQZCTyKWcrfaqInyJvMCr6qhMqdc2e39Ij5XMPJl7bhfQSyfxwGzUjsEfH0OvbYj0_RZj_nhcLPhjauNEA8fxGQxjIeCA45fc9aMVsfts98Jbs/s1200/Harrier+-+Marsh+PJW_7647+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="851" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcFAsOL7UHGeNkaiIkYfOFse_Rl_dc4MQZCTyKWcrfaqInyJvMCr6qhMqdc2e39Ij5XMPJl7bhfQSyfxwGzUjsEfH0OvbYj0_RZj_nhcLPhjauNEA8fxGQxjIeCA45fc9aMVsfts98Jbs/s16000/Harrier+-+Marsh+PJW_7647+crop.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Marsh Harrier. This is a male.</span></td></tr></tbody></table><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;">Altogether a very enjoyable trip. I was so pleased to see
The Black-browed Albatross, a truly magnificent bird. </span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div>Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-46595999905646506672020-04-08T12:35:00.001+01:002020-04-08T13:51:35.644+01:00Telephoto lenses - Fitting a sling attachment.<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">This article shows how to use a telephoto lens on a sling. I like to carry my camera and lens on a sling so it is 'ever-ready'. Here's how to do it. </span><span style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">The pictures show a Nikon 500mm PF, but this technique applies to any lens with a removable tripod foot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Firstly, remove the Nikon tripod foot. This is rather flimsy anyway!</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSTKX31ByNRwDrj27mV3C7a5UfGxmjaW_yJTVeAIh423MHsGK03W8pyV0kwnNWsCZcOiL0jImVO7dm2bCAg7jzvVhZZgSPnP58gmd79LnTmQ_TILPgDy3dXyXuJr1Cl7AHqBSCmEINi0/s1600/20200408_102124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="978" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbSTKX31ByNRwDrj27mV3C7a5UfGxmjaW_yJTVeAIh423MHsGK03W8pyV0kwnNWsCZcOiL0jImVO7dm2bCAg7jzvVhZZgSPnP58gmd79LnTmQ_TILPgDy3dXyXuJr1Cl7AHqBSCmEINi0/s1600/20200408_102124.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Take off the tripod foot.</span></td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUBzm_DKFF1I0Sr2A0yjVbbBeVK992m43ChaagV9pQiB6ka6P7eZItcbBbLAabAtyxa0tUwBBmHkTsDvHGA9H1CkZiCIbsYNDfZHxf5oy0HsmsLzaeAbayrEwGontlMLMDg9F117p-_s/s1600/20200408_102438.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="535" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwUBzm_DKFF1I0Sr2A0yjVbbBeVK992m43ChaagV9pQiB6ka6P7eZItcbBbLAabAtyxa0tUwBBmHkTsDvHGA9H1CkZiCIbsYNDfZHxf5oy0HsmsLzaeAbayrEwGontlMLMDg9F117p-_s/s1600/20200408_102438.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Buy some tripod socket eyes/screws like the ones on the left. I got these from Amazon. They were called Camera Tripod Mount Screws. I also tried the ones on the right. I didn't find them suitable and I advise against them.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">I found the rubber washers that came with the screws to be too soft and too thin. I replaced them with harder thicker tap washers as shown below. The tripod eye is 20mm in diameter. The original washers are about 2.2mm thick. The replacements are 4mm thick.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaqNOgQcJXkNbMJB1WLhKicdsLjbEAi3UmR1qKKyU9gEXGC1cZ1arwmms2AQCTvq_I_HMRu6eu49XNarUOqfDKLbYC3IGP3xxGKDfBBBA8_89h4lSVxVvSk-bopztNA5lUsi5347fipg/s1600/20200408_102657.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="875" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwaqNOgQcJXkNbMJB1WLhKicdsLjbEAi3UmR1qKKyU9gEXGC1cZ1arwmms2AQCTvq_I_HMRu6eu49XNarUOqfDKLbYC3IGP3xxGKDfBBBA8_89h4lSVxVvSk-bopztNA5lUsi5347fipg/s1600/20200408_102657.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Original washers on the left. My replacements on the right.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I use an OpTech USA Utility Strap Sling. It's very reasonably priced, widely available, in a very flexible system and compatible with a wide range of other OpTech straps. It is also light, stuffs easily into a bag and has no metal parts to damage your equipment. The Utility Strap </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sling</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> comes with a set of webbing loops, but if you need more (perhaps to attach to another camera) you can buy other sets like this:</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInqunB2tGBnWmNMvgrxio7WIonNBKt9S2fo8-RyB4-s2Mp83GCXq-RzMofD4EgUV4WJVJw3cvyd1CavnP9-ZqlN_WAD0XNKS_fTMa6Acv80w2VTCgti0hX5iYx-VKxx8Mtg_ENbmGCLg/s1600/20200408_102812.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="663" data-original-width="1000" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiInqunB2tGBnWmNMvgrxio7WIonNBKt9S2fo8-RyB4-s2Mp83GCXq-RzMofD4EgUV4WJVJw3cvyd1CavnP9-ZqlN_WAD0XNKS_fTMa6Acv80w2VTCgti0hX5iYx-VKxx8Mtg_ENbmGCLg/s640/20200408_102812.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Extra Uni-loops to fit all OpTech straps are widely available.</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Attach the male loop to the tripod eye. That's if you wear the sling on your left shoulder, as I do. If you wear it on your right shoulder, use the female loop. This is so you can clip into the nearest clip on the sling.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9aYEttMHc3zXsfxl3Dp2TqMqrrl2-vj8GEz4ITdlu0QQDXiVD7A5asRZPAcYLdQ9cUZ0bAqQJpPcEzJQWgFfDlpRtt7Va0gg_tW_nyaVa2NWNpswQgft6MXrBC_H2MNM7-aoxNwPl678/s1600/20200408_103049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="416" data-original-width="1000" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9aYEttMHc3zXsfxl3Dp2TqMqrrl2-vj8GEz4ITdlu0QQDXiVD7A5asRZPAcYLdQ9cUZ0bAqQJpPcEzJQWgFfDlpRtt7Va0gg_tW_nyaVa2NWNpswQgft6MXrBC_H2MNM7-aoxNwPl678/s640/20200408_103049.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Screw the attachment into the tripod socket on the lens. With the thicker washer there should be 2.5 complete turns of the eye before it's tight. I've been using it like this for a year and it has never come loose.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2i5M4CfCJxJrKU9hyvIt_2xqBTpo0mtd9RRSilSvoyZGfpQIZDUlZhU9r7NmGYI95cCrUUe7ATinhLY4De3hkLqOaljCyH7hyphenhyphenPX1z1XM2sU1W-ZxM_JqGAScVvQITS7XKml8a0AFDMqQ/s1600/20200408_104736.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="799" data-original-width="1000" height="508" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2i5M4CfCJxJrKU9hyvIt_2xqBTpo0mtd9RRSilSvoyZGfpQIZDUlZhU9r7NmGYI95cCrUUe7ATinhLY4De3hkLqOaljCyH7hyphenhyphenPX1z1XM2sU1W-ZxM_JqGAScVvQITS7XKml8a0AFDMqQ/s640/20200408_104736.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Clip it onto the sling and you're ready.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqol_N7HYs6nuMW5onadp8N5eI4il_jQ49Dxhlh2WeF3Rpx99MpzTIqiyLt9_vzcJx4LUdKqkOPSebc_jp_kSjYthqO07JHeWhaR23QlPWloejg8sQL6shnt8PjODxBDbiypJMXsYzYlk/s1600/20200408_103254.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="745" data-original-width="1000" height="476" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqol_N7HYs6nuMW5onadp8N5eI4il_jQ49Dxhlh2WeF3Rpx99MpzTIqiyLt9_vzcJx4LUdKqkOPSebc_jp_kSjYthqO07JHeWhaR23QlPWloejg8sQL6shnt8PjODxBDbiypJMXsYzYlk/s640/20200408_103254.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sling attached.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFb0E58154ZGdc7k3imDgF267uzPT23DsDiRl8dxnt3BiI1jCvjp30lMMkevhK5WjfqBxwyVqv-NGKAecaFKjKnDQKYihx8oKVIp0vUoHflNbG3RW-71mi5d0Ie5QAntALO_EvZwJNWE/s1600/20200408_103447.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="827" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisFb0E58154ZGdc7k3imDgF267uzPT23DsDiRl8dxnt3BiI1jCvjp30lMMkevhK5WjfqBxwyVqv-NGKAecaFKjKnDQKYihx8oKVIp0vUoHflNbG3RW-71mi5d0Ie5QAntALO_EvZwJNWE/s640/20200408_103447.jpg" width="528" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">With the camera on the sling, it can be slid up into shooting position very quickly.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJsBHSQIltQEklwQ80tYANR0pdUkEDkYNF3erJ6igj1TDGjua60DBynwtPiAri3w_aiajv5mnljadpKIGjkm6P-qfk2mZVz0Pd-lhLkLn4_o-2GM71UB7oM-FKh-B4l3snX5qx_dg2C4/s1600/20200408_103751.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="677" data-original-width="1000" height="432" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJJsBHSQIltQEklwQ80tYANR0pdUkEDkYNF3erJ6igj1TDGjua60DBynwtPiAri3w_aiajv5mnljadpKIGjkm6P-qfk2mZVz0Pd-lhLkLn4_o-2GM71UB7oM-FKh-B4l3snX5qx_dg2C4/s640/20200408_103751.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sling in action. Note that the second clip is left behind when the camera is slid up and is somewhere under my right arm.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, if you're worried that holding your expensive camera and lens on a single plastic clip is too risky, let me re-assure you. From 2006 to 2012 I used a Canon 500mm f4 with various bodies (combined weight about 5.5 Kg). From 2012 to 2019 I used a Canon 500mm f4 Mk2 which, with the 7D2 gave a combined weight of about 4.5 Kg. I only ever used one clip normally! Just occasionally</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> I would attach a second clip</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">, e.g. when crossing remote rain-forest rope-walks 30m above the forest floor or while on a canoe ride in choppy rivers.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">The Nikon lens with D500 body weights only 2.5 Kg, so no problem at all for one clip.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Sometimes I use a tripod. Because I use an Arca Swiss ballhead, I bought a cheap replacement Arca Swiss compatible foot. It is actually more robust than the Nikon original. The tightening screw is very solid.</span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhMg3lpRPg4HX4QDY3tOp457293shZo-cLOUo-Ghukv7PQW1av9dORKJMtTjPTmifDm5QMBs8MKa44VLx1WomkrAmzqUzL0RdUDWfAhFd8X79xpiGMx4hkUklBKnVBrDBNB0kLE8O9SQ/s1600/20200408_103921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="813" data-original-width="1000" height="520" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZhMg3lpRPg4HX4QDY3tOp457293shZo-cLOUo-Ghukv7PQW1av9dORKJMtTjPTmifDm5QMBs8MKa44VLx1WomkrAmzqUzL0RdUDWfAhFd8X79xpiGMx4hkUklBKnVBrDBNB0kLE8O9SQ/s640/20200408_103921.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">With the OpTech loop attached I can still use it on the sling. When I need to use the tripod, I don't need to detach the loop to fit it in my (Markins) ballhead. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">I love the small size and low weight of this lens. Optically, it's no better than the Canon 500 f4, but it's just so much easier on my shoulder.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">All photos on my blog for Kenya, Scilly Isles and from April 2019 taken with this lens and D500 body.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span>Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-31211446581699357442020-04-05T08:53:00.002+01:002020-04-05T12:24:27.005+01:00Flaming Firecrest<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Spring is such a wonderful time. All the birds are singing. I'm so lucky I can still hear them all at my age! On our daily exercise walk </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">today on Banstead Downs (NB less than a mile from home)</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> saw a gorgeous Firecrest like I've never seen Firecrest before.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnjtMfk1rSMUKEQkGbWWRedBI7sPGndtBDkQq6Af3bm8WOttHKrCtz4fAnQjIx-GC45aWoGn5vDfyQrbtvR8niuOoxCmB8OYa4UsM4pZFdGoorGm24eBjr4xp0hSCEQ-Njlc-bU_RvB0/s1600/Firecrest+PJW_7112+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQnjtMfk1rSMUKEQkGbWWRedBI7sPGndtBDkQq6Af3bm8WOttHKrCtz4fAnQjIx-GC45aWoGn5vDfyQrbtvR8niuOoxCmB8OYa4UsM4pZFdGoorGm24eBjr4xp0hSCEQ-Njlc-bU_RvB0/s1600/Firecrest+PJW_7112+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Firecrest. I've often seen them like this. The crown stripe is attractive.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMznmeG2aql4QMfwtBtKfRi_khCTa7OZZs-JkXkoeC3W4RzETgPi5x83POCjLXR0Y9KrLIM3SVzfb-n0LrcbvQSCG8-3VswtvBV7WcgDooFvLcFyXc_6txEi4TjO4yKPWxDcicYItS30/s1600/Firecrest+PJW_7113+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsMznmeG2aql4QMfwtBtKfRi_khCTa7OZZs-JkXkoeC3W4RzETgPi5x83POCjLXR0Y9KrLIM3SVzfb-n0LrcbvQSCG8-3VswtvBV7WcgDooFvLcFyXc_6txEi4TjO4yKPWxDcicYItS30/s1600/Firecrest+PJW_7113+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Firecrest. When they turn their head, the crown stripe is very obvious.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjObCciksH4qZuVq3RUkCGRBPr9vuB56Vx2fyfQiri2Ve86VF9GFWKHTfY0ZWZfobguDZFw-3_V20ixHZqZ3Naxq2_mlXIrEGGSgUFZMM5zE7ttX7ArwNeQDUdKVmCe4r9WAmr1GT_Lw/s1600/Firecrest+PJW_7119+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXjObCciksH4qZuVq3RUkCGRBPr9vuB56Vx2fyfQiri2Ve86VF9GFWKHTfY0ZWZfobguDZFw-3_V20ixHZqZ3Naxq2_mlXIrEGGSgUFZMM5zE7ttX7ArwNeQDUdKVmCe4r9WAmr1GT_Lw/s1600/Firecrest+PJW_7119+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Firecrest. Sometimes you get a 'mohican' flash.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Ad9Fy_gs5YI0W841-ANyJMSo7T7Xc5v-ACdtMtScUF8cAtcuKxdqV-6knbDQvB101n3xdqpfoSBJylcuoz9tlvM1BRrZZp7MOiGB9GdP6wIC6zbhrTIwxRf2yuWeQPBgx7REj7mxRIc/s1600/Firecrest+PJW_7102+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Ad9Fy_gs5YI0W841-ANyJMSo7T7Xc5v-ACdtMtScUF8cAtcuKxdqV-6knbDQvB101n3xdqpfoSBJylcuoz9tlvM1BRrZZp7MOiGB9GdP6wIC6zbhrTIwxRf2yuWeQPBgx7REj7mxRIc/s1600/Firecrest+PJW_7102+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rarely do you get a 'brain surgery' display like this. Now I know why they're called <b>Fire</b>crest.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Firecrests are almost Britain's smallest bird. They weigh a mere 5-7 grams and are about 9cm long. Constantly moving, they are often difficult to see as they flit restlessly from branch to branch. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The last of the blossom makes a lovely background for this Goldfinch.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WjScEFKf9KbFwh4SwVE8yrn-TQQ6y9EcaJEP0PqkzJWqSDlGFWDITHLy3-m3lxvOifm-rEEVbwD7PnNH8g-fBpdOp8AlEE-WggWkAq2ID7D57sgdeOLieOK5Jee6YfPPwBfSwTn5Qqw/s1600/Goldfinch+PJW_7085+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-WjScEFKf9KbFwh4SwVE8yrn-TQQ6y9EcaJEP0PqkzJWqSDlGFWDITHLy3-m3lxvOifm-rEEVbwD7PnNH8g-fBpdOp8AlEE-WggWkAq2ID7D57sgdeOLieOK5Jee6YfPPwBfSwTn5Qqw/s1600/Goldfinch+PJW_7085+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Goldfinch.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And Britain's smallest bird? - Not the Wren. It's the Goldcrest, which is slightly smaller than, and a cousin of, the Firecrest.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-59392940580802876832020-03-31T21:05:00.000+01:002020-04-02T23:13:34.462+01:00Kenya 3-15 November 2019. Part 4 - Tsavo East and Watamu<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Other parts are here: </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2019/11/kenya-3-15-november-2019-amboseli-tsavo.html" target="_blank">Part 1 </a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/02/kenya-3-15-november-2019-amboseli-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/03/kenya-3-15-november-2019-tsavo-west.html" target="_blank">Part 3 </a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/03/kenya-3-15-november-2019-part-4-tsavo.html" target="_blank">Part 4</a></span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tsavo West and East together make up the largest national park in Kenya. The two halves are divided by the main road from Nairobi to Mombasa, and the two are different in terms of habitat and climate. East is drier with red earth. West is more wooded with acacia trees.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Despite being normally drier, Tsavo East had also had a lot of rain. Joseph, our driver, had never seen it so lush. The game tracks had much standing water, slowing progress. The approach to our lodge was very waterlogged. We spent three nights there; two full days.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The rain meant that we saw nothing in the way of big cats. Other large mammals were plentiful. Zebras, giraffes, many antelopes and, of course, birds. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The lodge, Sentrim Tsavo East, was again 'tented'. The tents were widely spaced and ours faced directly towards the waterhole. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The accommodation was dated, but certainly good enough. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The restaurant and bar were right next to the fence, and there was a raised viewing platform nearby. From there, a group of Black-headed Village Weavers were feeding. Here is the sequence:</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">The female Black-headed Village Weaver finds a juicy caterpillar. . .</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCmTan50S1IJH8IPXZwfj_Nc66XBRqgsj7wUU6cu3cRBfiNt-P3xFke4lSExNGtHnksKYDAtCGmV97BAkH5zkQb2vaznp-5-tJJGdRFFaxedNgJJY-QpgGK2ZXc5fhdWUwDDnrzNVUi0/s1600/Weaver+-+Black-headed+-+Village+F+PJW_3574+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWCmTan50S1IJH8IPXZwfj_Nc66XBRqgsj7wUU6cu3cRBfiNt-P3xFke4lSExNGtHnksKYDAtCGmV97BAkH5zkQb2vaznp-5-tJJGdRFFaxedNgJJY-QpgGK2ZXc5fhdWUwDDnrzNVUi0/s1600/Weaver+-+Black-headed+-+Village+F+PJW_3574+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">. . . I'll just give it a shake to get the juice out . . .</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5oVcREWCcy5oe17rh4eWN4bqb1aG2ZkOr5RdB_10uD28LqaV4XgdHJZQMD0wdSMlXV2nEX8NqcdoFq4yS8aC8xNcKN0uOogzHO1WkOjz87xyWJqb20lc9YGmy6KE9eTvOdcIYyHkitc/s1600/Weaver+-+Black-headed+-+Village+F+PJW_3576+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgO5oVcREWCcy5oe17rh4eWN4bqb1aG2ZkOr5RdB_10uD28LqaV4XgdHJZQMD0wdSMlXV2nEX8NqcdoFq4yS8aC8xNcKN0uOogzHO1WkOjz87xyWJqb20lc9YGmy6KE9eTvOdcIYyHkitc/s1600/Weaver+-+Black-headed+-+Village+F+PJW_3576+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">. . . . then the male tries to take it from her, without success!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I really love the sound of certain parts of Africa, and Tsavo East was particularly good. I mean that the 'silence' at certain times of the day was deafening. The insects and birds are so vocal. Here is the sound of the bush from the restaurant at dusk:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There aren't many owls to be seen in these parts, but on the way in, we stopped to see a roosting Verreaux's Eagle Owl. Owls always hide deep within a tree to roost, but here it is:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBHrgh26iM73uAKQp5SbujK40AieHcVybKbrX064d7d57iKd7u-ECCVB61bghL9faYJJMj2m2Sv_yJD3Zfa8AoFBNu3JalRRe07gynjGvvGrniK4HoH54AnLsIVMKqApbtX05eVpr5-U/s1600/Owl+-+Verreaux%2527s+Eagle-+PJW_3533+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="709" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipBHrgh26iM73uAKQp5SbujK40AieHcVybKbrX064d7d57iKd7u-ECCVB61bghL9faYJJMj2m2Sv_yJD3Zfa8AoFBNu3JalRRe07gynjGvvGrniK4HoH54AnLsIVMKqApbtX05eVpr5-U/s1600/Owl+-+Verreaux%2527s+Eagle-+PJW_3533+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Verreaux's Eagle Owl; the largest owl in Africa with a wingspan of up to 1.4m</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lynne really loved the mammals, and there were plenty. I've already posted lots of elephants so I won't repeat them here.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlm9Fy6Pd3e6eey7pQBqkZhxmsrCLstKk9Nn_5LQ70OjX-7a4rHADEui0SgE_2eNkCmgz8xXvK_SsUv0yPjlVjku74aBDaJrM1hNvphblx44TAtPvdflPWN9cwYtRwy3KG0Hk5MX9v2s/s1600/Oryx+and+Zebra+PJW_3737+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlm9Fy6Pd3e6eey7pQBqkZhxmsrCLstKk9Nn_5LQ70OjX-7a4rHADEui0SgE_2eNkCmgz8xXvK_SsUv0yPjlVjku74aBDaJrM1hNvphblx44TAtPvdflPWN9cwYtRwy3KG0Hk5MX9v2s/s1600/Oryx+and+Zebra+PJW_3737+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Oryx with the Zebras, and nearly as tall!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVgiRAmPxHQYcLDlgaUn9jMweWHofFnbFZ2vTmf5es7kBaPFZjYiVeJFkljN3MkRl3mW5lsV1z1aLnxfebSA7f2mL7FzW0uD7H3abuYGie9_U1-gDBn_oUSgKDM0HzmFi3ExTyZi_PSco/s1600/Waterbuck+-+Common+X62A9258+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVgiRAmPxHQYcLDlgaUn9jMweWHofFnbFZ2vTmf5es7kBaPFZjYiVeJFkljN3MkRl3mW5lsV1z1aLnxfebSA7f2mL7FzW0uD7H3abuYGie9_U1-gDBn_oUSgKDM0HzmFi3ExTyZi_PSco/s1600/Waterbuck+-+Common+X62A9258+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Waterbuck, a large antelope. Easy to recognise by the big white ring around it's bottom!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfl11gCDbpMIMpS9ZfukFCcqhrqxhCP3HJVsZ733vZO3d6gLPT6j_UuYuZIFDtrTtVpt5iwXwT0V29K3Jh5fjtmyJ9J0Vjh8CtCXV-XCBUsxG6NmqEMGplm0eyw7rBn0E5WeVdXeKQfKA/s1600/Giraffe+-+Masai+X62A9313+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfl11gCDbpMIMpS9ZfukFCcqhrqxhCP3HJVsZ733vZO3d6gLPT6j_UuYuZIFDtrTtVpt5iwXwT0V29K3Jh5fjtmyJ9J0Vjh8CtCXV-XCBUsxG6NmqEMGplm0eyw7rBn0E5WeVdXeKQfKA/s1600/Giraffe+-+Masai+X62A9313+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Giraffe with baby, which still has the umbilical cord attached so it's probably only ten days old. Newborn giraffes are 2 metres tall and weigh about 70Kg. Imagine giving birth to that!!</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many birds were drawn to the red earth tracks, especially coucals, sand grouse and guinea-fowl. Elephant dung attracts beetles and insects. Beetles and insects attract birds. Here are some:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EAbgliUyvKbTPSr3eCkraFiS0A1OrSWtukia9z1yFLR0lzoW4Fd7q7NAyxGBFI9lr7fih3Bg2GxyikXgYKgyDhZ0Mu3wElUQbkTw-RHb_eSdiif6k-yzvgo8zp0ZaPMEXbqgdXC8Icw/s1600/Sandgrouse+-+Black-faced+PJW_3881+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1EAbgliUyvKbTPSr3eCkraFiS0A1OrSWtukia9z1yFLR0lzoW4Fd7q7NAyxGBFI9lr7fih3Bg2GxyikXgYKgyDhZ0Mu3wElUQbkTw-RHb_eSdiif6k-yzvgo8zp0ZaPMEXbqgdXC8Icw/s1600/Sandgrouse+-+Black-faced+PJW_3881+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Black-faced Sandgrouse. This is the male. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NtFeanlDJxx_2-jGdoYm7AGqrk9F55LczusVWJOflULg8pFCps2QBQrRuAqZMau6P7vYzJ9Vw35HQEQLpYljlKEvGE5ig3Musey7c_MMA3z04tyu-egG_SJ60xneQA0DYxmjLmuNy1c/s1600/Plover+-+Black-headed+PJW_4028+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_NtFeanlDJxx_2-jGdoYm7AGqrk9F55LczusVWJOflULg8pFCps2QBQrRuAqZMau6P7vYzJ9Vw35HQEQLpYljlKEvGE5ig3Musey7c_MMA3z04tyu-egG_SJ60xneQA0DYxmjLmuNy1c/s1600/Plover+-+Black-headed+PJW_4028+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Black-headed plover - an elegant, long-legged wader.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_PeYW9y0E5BaivH88Qs93QWEJPfVH5928tCBCW_tKXoYyhixCVlq7o8Ks0BYHSNZ722-fmxMBlINIixRLj48dHpkCbD7uMKQah0YOI0OKjAnUxSDdvfSUxECasS4GMEHIqLclHiofqM/s1600/Hornbill+-+Red-billed+PJW_3625+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy_PeYW9y0E5BaivH88Qs93QWEJPfVH5928tCBCW_tKXoYyhixCVlq7o8Ks0BYHSNZ722-fmxMBlINIixRLj48dHpkCbD7uMKQah0YOI0OKjAnUxSDdvfSUxECasS4GMEHIqLclHiofqM/s1600/Hornbill+-+Red-billed+PJW_3625+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">A Red-billed Hornbill eating a large dung beetle. Mmmm! Crunchy!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19Jd8S8UczOaevxHr1yQXkno8GiCtd5gn8iz5wWiswnecgkAL1NapN2i8nyPeTx4-AC5XjNRC9Ga2HiBD3FF_3oZwVJUmLnGxS1HJH3Mb3_5LfMH3my_Ia5tRWEzsd_cL7Uq47BuvmUw/s1600/Guineafowl+-+Vulturine+PJW_4140+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi19Jd8S8UczOaevxHr1yQXkno8GiCtd5gn8iz5wWiswnecgkAL1NapN2i8nyPeTx4-AC5XjNRC9Ga2HiBD3FF_3oZwVJUmLnGxS1HJH3Mb3_5LfMH3my_Ia5tRWEzsd_cL7Uq47BuvmUw/s1600/Guineafowl+-+Vulturine+PJW_4140+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Vulturine Guinea-fowl. A large bird with, apparently, a very small brain.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6SK2krRI2aJW1x1OeuXQyuz_7QdbyIRr5AydJqBAUO95s9i6-mHZFoCCUfP8gkb97yNljq2QTJ96DgvKTf_6ynq9DyzpfoUT-YUBbR8YyO8euifgWve9MzcH1iR1MizLn9B51ilM5C8/s1600/Coucal+-+White-browed+PJW_3663+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS6SK2krRI2aJW1x1OeuXQyuz_7QdbyIRr5AydJqBAUO95s9i6-mHZFoCCUfP8gkb97yNljq2QTJ96DgvKTf_6ynq9DyzpfoUT-YUBbR8YyO8euifgWve9MzcH1iR1MizLn9B51ilM5C8/s1600/Coucal+-+White-browed+PJW_3663+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">White-browed Coucal. Coucals are quite common, but they can be very skulking and hard to see. Unusually, this one was out in the open on the road.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxlBdEIJ0CtoDkMTxOGi_hmpRvQJyT9jBjy5RnEvfOEo21vcaBLgKPa5-g_pMkx6QEx6sM77XheW5BTtODx1J7SZ0-htCxfDP4Ejz6YFjVA3s5H3f1kKcwjRiJtpgDyaF-zAgbUh0XwY/s1600/Eagle+-+Brown+Snake+PJW_3975+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoxlBdEIJ0CtoDkMTxOGi_hmpRvQJyT9jBjy5RnEvfOEo21vcaBLgKPa5-g_pMkx6QEx6sM77XheW5BTtODx1J7SZ0-htCxfDP4Ejz6YFjVA3s5H3f1kKcwjRiJtpgDyaF-zAgbUh0XwY/s1600/Eagle+-+Brown+Snake+PJW_3975+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Brown Snake Eagle. Actually quite common. Easy to spot with that round face and vivid amber eyes.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are more colourful birds around too. Here are some of the prettiest:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzs4m0zbgBzQ_HGEUTSywM80axscd0DOyO3zLZkFRBsBrFRICXxhIOfRQ6Sx_cDFdquswCrtlxdfcj6rHFofF0f_4mr34WEzvvYZNf22lhel9pdPUlvxTrV36dGSVU1uDBq5aCcEx1KWY/s1600/Starling+-+Golden-breasted+PJW_3658+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzs4m0zbgBzQ_HGEUTSywM80axscd0DOyO3zLZkFRBsBrFRICXxhIOfRQ6Sx_cDFdquswCrtlxdfcj6rHFofF0f_4mr34WEzvvYZNf22lhel9pdPUlvxTrV36dGSVU1uDBq5aCcEx1KWY/s1600/Starling+-+Golden-breasted+PJW_3658+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Golden-breasted Starling. They have a lot of different starlings in Kenya.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityNpFGGAGOHOenmlHkTR4DWd1YrTXX-0jje7Pv2JWltG0n0IWaE0LcfDpraeyvQyMPKIYWp_eI2YP7ABH4WdWCmQukBVOjfGA0i22n9MF_a9zY4vDEc7egEf0-8eUf-hUDFIZhtf_cGU/s1600/Bush-shrike+-+Rosy-patched+PJW_4414+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="709" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEityNpFGGAGOHOenmlHkTR4DWd1YrTXX-0jje7Pv2JWltG0n0IWaE0LcfDpraeyvQyMPKIYWp_eI2YP7ABH4WdWCmQukBVOjfGA0i22n9MF_a9zY4vDEc7egEf0-8eUf-hUDFIZhtf_cGU/s1600/Bush-shrike+-+Rosy-patched+PJW_4414+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Rosy-patched Bush-shrike. These two were singing at the side of the road.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFsemOGhyphenhyphenTNyAWp7DbL26yQVdk0kP4o2QUpYO8JRaoFK5rrofOO0_zcUqseSREWq-YdVpGnU4mkEzAV0V05XTxmrzV_gdFZ9PG3Tgfg7sHPe_QzdwoohgLEsQnBDh8o6q_7Mnmdc4RzQ/s1600/Kingfisher+-+Grey-headed+PJW_4080+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwFsemOGhyphenhyphenTNyAWp7DbL26yQVdk0kP4o2QUpYO8JRaoFK5rrofOO0_zcUqseSREWq-YdVpGnU4mkEzAV0V05XTxmrzV_gdFZ9PG3Tgfg7sHPe_QzdwoohgLEsQnBDh8o6q_7Mnmdc4RzQ/s1600/Kingfisher+-+Grey-headed+PJW_4080+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Grey-headed Kingfisher. One of those several species that doesn't (or rarely) eat fish.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Until recently, I used a Canon 500mm f4, a lovely lens with which all my previous photos were taken. After 14 years, I was finding it a little heavy at c. 4.5Kg with the camera body. My shoulders are not getting any younger.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Last year, another photographer friend of mine, Naveen, mentioned that Nikon had brought out a very small and light 500mm prime lens. For my non-photographer readers, 'prime' means a fixed focal length lens, not a zoom. I went to see it, and was convinced. The lens weighed only 1,450g (as against 3.2Kg) and was really quite small. Perfect for travel. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I decided to sell my lovely Canon lens and get the Nikon. I was on a steep learning curve, but I've never looked back. The new camera/lens is 2Kg lighter. It's much smaller, easily manoeuvrable in a vehicle, small enough to fit inside a compact rucksack fully assembled with hood, easy to carry all day, allows most shots to be handheld and, importantly, it doesn't look much, so it doesn't attract attention.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, o</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">ur guide, Lorenzo, was also a keen photographer.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> He had a gorgeous Canon 600mm f4 lens, with a professional camera and a large tripod. Wherever we went, everyone admired his camera. No-one said anything about mine, and I was happy!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whilst on the subject of gear, I had bought, to take mammals on this trip, a second-hand 70-200mm zoom lens from MPB in Brighton, for my Canon camera. When I used it for the first time, it didn't work. Lorenzo kindly lent me his 70-200mm so I could take mammals close-up. I am very grateful to him for that. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When I got back, MPB gave me a refund.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Back to the lodge, and more specifically, the bar! Even in remotest African lodges, a nightly gin and tonic is to be had, and we - had! Here we are at bar before dinner.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqKojqlh10E8-L1lX9J-lUZ17i4HSXM9lfTIiAlw9yW7Y9CrGpDRQ9gGnxVn_UXTHW_eg1X04xI-xRS391XdX46ytlgbMw8gTRjT6xbXAguvlTEQbwQB0aNb6mwFH6Wp0dwT39488fh0/s1600/Tsavo+East+Bar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqqKojqlh10E8-L1lX9J-lUZ17i4HSXM9lfTIiAlw9yW7Y9CrGpDRQ9gGnxVn_UXTHW_eg1X04xI-xRS391XdX46ytlgbMw8gTRjT6xbXAguvlTEQbwQB0aNb6mwFH6Wp0dwT39488fh0/s1600/Tsavo+East+Bar.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Enjoying a G&T at the bar. Our guide, Lorenzo, is to the right.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-9ZBfLxqhXzM3fD0FsVLRR03Qut1hrIB42wn4BMz-5A81u4WPndfZ2gFso2Mqr1_m04BnQ-5xwGaN8q7lp0EEbxDcmP0O9d2Uhg-yuXHUJ2LWT5Fhw_LernxJgqaiuxVMxISAVegVnY/s1600/Tsavo+East+Snail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU-9ZBfLxqhXzM3fD0FsVLRR03Qut1hrIB42wn4BMz-5A81u4WPndfZ2gFso2Mqr1_m04BnQ-5xwGaN8q7lp0EEbxDcmP0O9d2Uhg-yuXHUJ2LWT5Fhw_LernxJgqaiuxVMxISAVegVnY/s1600/Tsavo+East+Snail.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Huge snail on the path. Wonder how many get stepped on in the dark? Squelch!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We saw some other species of Starling in this park.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLVZj0-wP3VlRQ9xoiGWULc2P8B88O75ZDx8OWIUv8A1KtYzODuCoFPahZJ254KR_xB3wW195SucC_1vJSaV-x7hcARV6mBaSKLwggELsjNltyYjTdYib4xajmklHUWZ_uqq38e6UbEQ/s1600/Starling+-+Greater+Blue-eared+PJW_4206+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtLVZj0-wP3VlRQ9xoiGWULc2P8B88O75ZDx8OWIUv8A1KtYzODuCoFPahZJ254KR_xB3wW195SucC_1vJSaV-x7hcARV6mBaSKLwggELsjNltyYjTdYib4xajmklHUWZ_uqq38e6UbEQ/s1600/Starling+-+Greater+Blue-eared+PJW_4206+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Greater Blue-eared starling. This photo doesn't really do it justice. It was raining. The coat is iridescent in sunlight and those eyes are vivid orange.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPyw4umw_yTRWdlJ314HsX1NWdmDURn0g4UzSZMsxJr03a-g3RROrB0GvQN1UwRbu2L4js0h3H-TieRJ28GXpttHF9IMi92sHqAxDktH0_Be4lNzLM69To6C1B1Xn0AsdLeR61xUx7D4/s1600/Starling+-+Wattled+PJW_4187+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkPyw4umw_yTRWdlJ314HsX1NWdmDURn0g4UzSZMsxJr03a-g3RROrB0GvQN1UwRbu2L4js0h3H-TieRJ28GXpttHF9IMi92sHqAxDktH0_Be4lNzLM69To6C1B1Xn0AsdLeR61xUx7D4/s1600/Starling+-+Wattled+PJW_4187+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Wattled Starlings. Only the males have those hanging black wattles. The longer they are, the more attractive they are to females.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Soon it was time to leave Tsavo East. We had to leave the park by a certain time or they charged for another day. We had seen few bee-eaters up to this point, but on the way out of the park, the habitat became drier and we saw a few species. I love bee-eaters. They are rather like kingfishers, you can't get enough of them. The Blue-cheeked Bee-eater photo was too distant to show. They were all a little too far away, but these are record shots.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJzB9KaSDaWvB4sKYJGQi0tEA-EiYwMJQ-OS3gXRQc2ccxxuhEblJkdLn7SdvQvCENDYLg_Ov4DJDqimdmgL8OdHtR683pTOdaq2jR-JeUi0mnULbSY1Qk0Fg3hsBWQiEVDLeXRES_jY/s1600/Bee-eater+-+White-throated+PJW_4440+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPJzB9KaSDaWvB4sKYJGQi0tEA-EiYwMJQ-OS3gXRQc2ccxxuhEblJkdLn7SdvQvCENDYLg_Ov4DJDqimdmgL8OdHtR683pTOdaq2jR-JeUi0mnULbSY1Qk0Fg3hsBWQiEVDLeXRES_jY/s1600/Bee-eater+-+White-throated+PJW_4440+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">White-throated Bee-eater. A clean-looking bird.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxGqcfVGp1h5KA-NmP4bCVeCISjdbZ-82_VP1_ltCNWTAQOHxqwrr3yIGx9PluXF_rmseIJqqY1DJWFlk1v7Bm7Gq-iyWSwBaAT7ghT1jb4LGaSMJN3OKlwE5fllaxgf3tW7kUVBX8MQ/s1600/Bee-eater+-+Northern+Carmine+PJW_4424+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtxGqcfVGp1h5KA-NmP4bCVeCISjdbZ-82_VP1_ltCNWTAQOHxqwrr3yIGx9PluXF_rmseIJqqY1DJWFlk1v7Bm7Gq-iyWSwBaAT7ghT1jb4LGaSMJN3OKlwE5fllaxgf3tW7kUVBX8MQ/s1600/Bee-eater+-+Northern+Carmine+PJW_4424+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Northern Carmine Bee-eaters. Wonderful to see with their blue-green head and dee[ red underside.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The last bird we saw was a young Pallid Harrier.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizm-wAkORud3NCfklW32d0yfkbS01YcfLfZbnW9SOd4SBdiLFHiGIwBd1Q-kd53-rvZkrpio3aMtD4vuPwpvDhCTLcA0LOuedjZWVYCs1ePcOIY3NbilduSPt-w_q_BsaY1gaVuAmviPw/s1600/Harrier+-+Pallid+PJW_4454+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizm-wAkORud3NCfklW32d0yfkbS01YcfLfZbnW9SOd4SBdiLFHiGIwBd1Q-kd53-rvZkrpio3aMtD4vuPwpvDhCTLcA0LOuedjZWVYCs1ePcOIY3NbilduSPt-w_q_BsaY1gaVuAmviPw/s1600/Harrier+-+Pallid+PJW_4454+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pallid Harrier. Flew right over the road in front of us.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then we started the long drive to the coast, to Watamu. I was particularly looking forward to the day in the Arabuko Sokoke Forest, a closed reserve where there may be several birds I had not seen before, one or two of which are found only in this corner of Kenya.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On arrival, it was raining and the forecast for the next several days was not encouraging. We had a proper chalet this time, but quite a way from the restaurant. It was the Ocean Sports Resort, and was home to some keen deep water fishermen. You know, those hunter types who fight to reel in huge Marlin, Swordfish and </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">Tuna weighing many kilograms.</span> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The resort was owned/run by a charming Frenchman. As a consequence, the food was generally really good.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There was a pool, and Lynne took the plunge.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTXhiwUtRpNbQ7Mlkx6Lq-lC7c6soF5mIwP8Q_l39hDUoSeMCSc72j9MqJaVxLNilSKZtgelFPEsw7aoQ2gFuKZYCAXJsRONOETbeV4fCTMlRJe_rYXUuwTd4KtwCQ-DNDtO3DRXyabM/s1600/Watamu+Lynne+by+pool.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcTXhiwUtRpNbQ7Mlkx6Lq-lC7c6soF5mIwP8Q_l39hDUoSeMCSc72j9MqJaVxLNilSKZtgelFPEsw7aoQ2gFuKZYCAXJsRONOETbeV4fCTMlRJe_rYXUuwTd4KtwCQ-DNDtO3DRXyabM/s640/Watamu+Lynne+by+pool.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Lynne tries the pool. I wasn't man enough!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg522OLPHG_fjEtuMshR_HK8WKVpv79GHZ5fNQGh2TVdLGbygLYRV2hASuMA1lbXRwGtbQudLxGq7I2m-wYS-LC6tQvGstHWkqgqBRw0fAf6cOPRSqDjks5BMhFL11rQ2U6V_EH-U-NohQ/s1600/Watamu+cat+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg522OLPHG_fjEtuMshR_HK8WKVpv79GHZ5fNQGh2TVdLGbygLYRV2hASuMA1lbXRwGtbQudLxGq7I2m-wYS-LC6tQvGstHWkqgqBRw0fAf6cOPRSqDjks5BMhFL11rQ2U6V_EH-U-NohQ/s640/Watamu+cat+2.jpg" width="360" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Cats were welcome in the resort. We didn't touch though. Because of all the rain, the cushions from the outside seating was piled up inside. This was heaven for cats.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The first full day at Watamu was a washout. As a result, all we could do was visit a local hotel to have a drink and see the nesting weaver birds, right in the hotel courtyard. There were two species with confusing names: African Golden Weaver and Golden Palm Weaver.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-r2r3V2Wl0vNi6OJFORT_HOCSsnZHN0aHdXCP5GuAeOw9pHdDhSdiPY44_BQ2uwMdXS5UGoP2qyDxZWO0pNfYN6JPGuxUVBa66ma_3Dd0pymNGwnxoJQQ8nztALHg63GC5jrP-TXdOc/s1600/Weaver+-+African+Golden+PJW_4544+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-r2r3V2Wl0vNi6OJFORT_HOCSsnZHN0aHdXCP5GuAeOw9pHdDhSdiPY44_BQ2uwMdXS5UGoP2qyDxZWO0pNfYN6JPGuxUVBa66ma_3Dd0pymNGwnxoJQQ8nztALHg63GC5jrP-TXdOc/s1600/Weaver+-+African+Golden+PJW_4544+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">African Golden Weaver. This is a female.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhygGVjugVBMZeTc4sWE-kZkDK72Tuw9nXvyOpywIQiglblCmVKZYOwBrT-_d5o2Rsv0qLFg_EDUc-i55F771sRgEPJnNk7-hVCA__hFD7JZC4vRz9jnQuturAwfp_Rbr1b_kRtWG_FNg/s1600/Weaver+-+Golden+Palm+PJW_4516+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhygGVjugVBMZeTc4sWE-kZkDK72Tuw9nXvyOpywIQiglblCmVKZYOwBrT-_d5o2Rsv0qLFg_EDUc-i55F771sRgEPJnNk7-hVCA__hFD7JZC4vRz9jnQuturAwfp_Rbr1b_kRtWG_FNg/s1600/Weaver+-+Golden+Palm+PJW_4516+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Golden Palm Weaver. This is a male, and is therefore more attractive.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUWPPegcNlecU9IHajuwDw7ngyOFVSzXdIiIa8Dv60j2i9w6O5manYd52VIm_idv6KkuGUwkngIWiIDJH409ThakLc8ZYxFLDblvRJz2l9jfaGTr3Jq5qaAScuZzIigTrvb9ryAe-xuM/s1600/Watamu+hotel+grounds+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigUWPPegcNlecU9IHajuwDw7ngyOFVSzXdIiIa8Dv60j2i9w6O5manYd52VIm_idv6KkuGUwkngIWiIDJH409ThakLc8ZYxFLDblvRJz2l9jfaGTr3Jq5qaAScuZzIigTrvb9ryAe-xuM/s1600/Watamu+hotel+grounds+2.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Both species nested together in these bushes, just a few metres from the bar.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Returning to our resort, the fishermen had arrived with their catch of the day. The resort routinely bought the catch, and cooked it for the guests. We had fresh tuna steaks for lunch. They were delicious!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_P6bwEtN0QWdw9nM75eQ4UzG5QaTcYG7Q83jAiXto6DpUeulvl5RCAtM_T18I5u-uwpWc4T-l04E5zJgkA6LUJ6FOSnsXsR3eZ0QtiRSwlUEGfAFZusDcou_dbl-zPb8AuE-yFhFEJ1I/s1600/Watamu+hotel+fish+weighing.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_P6bwEtN0QWdw9nM75eQ4UzG5QaTcYG7Q83jAiXto6DpUeulvl5RCAtM_T18I5u-uwpWc4T-l04E5zJgkA6LUJ6FOSnsXsR3eZ0QtiRSwlUEGfAFZusDcou_dbl-zPb8AuE-yFhFEJ1I/s1600/Watamu+hotel+fish+weighing.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">The fish were weighed on the resort's own permanent scales before being taken to the kitchen.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We had a relaxing day, ready for the visit to the Arabuko Sokoke Forest next day. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Seasoned birdwatchers who have travelled will know that forest birdwatching is not easy. The vegetation is thick, the leaves get in the way, throwing off the auto-focus, and birds have a habit of flying away a split second before you're ready to take their photo. The birds are often small and green, the same colour as the background, so they are hard to see in the first place. Furthermore, they favour the top of the canopy, where they are distantly silhouetted against the bright sky. All in all, a photographer's nightmare!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Luckily for us (well, me really), our local guide, </span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">David Ngala, knew the forest like the back of his hand. As my camera was small and portable, I was able to follow him through the thick undergrowth and see many birds which I would never have seen. For obvious reasons, I did not manage to photograph half of them, contenting myself with observing them through my bins (binoculars).</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here are the ones I was lucky enough to photograph.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMf6LUyVpmxexfMvKuvQt-R2XGHS1-sL30NoeWoBZxCbSj6bAcj1baPcAqnCFVwtZG46YWAAOTuWyLD276xeAXC08_St2TGWCAdJ32ADBlfYtYOK5DeJko7nwnm39IGk891739tjhjec/s1600/Apalis+-+Black-headed+PJW_4618+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMf6LUyVpmxexfMvKuvQt-R2XGHS1-sL30NoeWoBZxCbSj6bAcj1baPcAqnCFVwtZG46YWAAOTuWyLD276xeAXC08_St2TGWCAdJ32ADBlfYtYOK5DeJko7nwnm39IGk891739tjhjec/s1600/Apalis+-+Black-headed+PJW_4618+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Black-headed Apalis. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUDy6Q_ENmiquIGEaH0POhiLKXlUBNMNjLmoyBMN_VzuIDeeKR5NkNoQmk1DnAp6r2-VRM55sUCGp_91VPEUgtU2VfaSnoBVzf81bFRCm2NWr78S8gQAB_z5dcmZjoyBmb52Aa8E1oeo/s1600/Batis+-+Forest+PJW_4570+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUDy6Q_ENmiquIGEaH0POhiLKXlUBNMNjLmoyBMN_VzuIDeeKR5NkNoQmk1DnAp6r2-VRM55sUCGp_91VPEUgtU2VfaSnoBVzf81bFRCm2NWr78S8gQAB_z5dcmZjoyBmb52Aa8E1oeo/s1600/Batis+-+Forest+PJW_4570+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Forest Batis</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSI50VC6X1G7xPb2WpZBkuFG1B4Uo4UfbNTGf9m9qgOl1GLqqONDz74rjV4O2XX62NrdwhHaXH3fqTKhQv3U7OPwr0J-JZGoYsR1S1lpW47FCqOQm9lHqH_SyD_yZqPoHdx7WGXJWUtT0/s1600/Helmet-shrike+-+Chestnut-fronted+PJW_4639+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSI50VC6X1G7xPb2WpZBkuFG1B4Uo4UfbNTGf9m9qgOl1GLqqONDz74rjV4O2XX62NrdwhHaXH3fqTKhQv3U7OPwr0J-JZGoYsR1S1lpW47FCqOQm9lHqH_SyD_yZqPoHdx7WGXJWUtT0/s1600/Helmet-shrike+-+Chestnut-fronted+PJW_4639+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Chestnut-fronted Helmet-shrike.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TnPA0uodXFJO_fuU8S0gu2Z_nXqitES_HYaKSOCd_s7HYATsgC26na-hEV-wHb2poCmLzoMEsb5jSoGD3UomJVsA-8xcoYRDnW8ecGlGs1zBpIlaA61AmNeqRGG_otHPM0CEfBH7ESI/s1600/Helmet-shrike+-+Retz%2527s++PJW_4666+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6TnPA0uodXFJO_fuU8S0gu2Z_nXqitES_HYaKSOCd_s7HYATsgC26na-hEV-wHb2poCmLzoMEsb5jSoGD3UomJVsA-8xcoYRDnW8ecGlGs1zBpIlaA61AmNeqRGG_otHPM0CEfBH7ESI/s1600/Helmet-shrike+-+Retz%2527s++PJW_4666+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Retz's Helmet-shrike.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7bXoJEC7mCLO-T_WlNAmp4_pJu6igVZiztI6KevUPayRCAJctAaA1X8WaSsUD3WK6QBGU1d2AFndZRqQ7Mc6xgtYOmY8iV58ilj89lWNQBaOXJcyzgHgtO8GBZYDgF2xTQ5mXO3wpDs/s1600/Scimitarbill+-+Common+PJW_4662+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl7bXoJEC7mCLO-T_WlNAmp4_pJu6igVZiztI6KevUPayRCAJctAaA1X8WaSsUD3WK6QBGU1d2AFndZRqQ7Mc6xgtYOmY8iV58ilj89lWNQBaOXJcyzgHgtO8GBZYDgF2xTQ5mXO3wpDs/s1600/Scimitarbill+-+Common+PJW_4662+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Common (not really) Scimitarbill. Named because its bill resembles a scimitar.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtRKSKI-6_7CGK0JbXT096CcVO4EBRRJVseJpjEjHUhnXkNuTFyxzo54WQwKYuQbOVfqnHTQ1KMI-L3n3r874q2Ha9sLWWd1OpvqGUGiLl4FPNC0Qc7t0VHjz2N4mTlQPTNS6todcdrY/s1600/Sunbird+-+Amani+PJW_4685+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="710" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFtRKSKI-6_7CGK0JbXT096CcVO4EBRRJVseJpjEjHUhnXkNuTFyxzo54WQwKYuQbOVfqnHTQ1KMI-L3n3r874q2Ha9sLWWd1OpvqGUGiLl4FPNC0Qc7t0VHjz2N4mTlQPTNS6todcdrY/s1600/Sunbird+-+Amani+PJW_4685+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Amani Sunbird, a rare endemic species.</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1hNm_BHDP0YZMuoMivmVzjEAOpoXUDRqTBJ2ssrwX37WbecGYAbavHkMd3R47m79QjEY6WuFJEa2K3OU4rLMQRMoWl72QY8jH1-Mu6TptfaQJ6h_sjlZfORcSwUKMRVEJz6sVHD9RNc/s1600/Sunbird+-+Plaine-backed+PJW_4592+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-1hNm_BHDP0YZMuoMivmVzjEAOpoXUDRqTBJ2ssrwX37WbecGYAbavHkMd3R47m79QjEY6WuFJEa2K3OU4rLMQRMoWl72QY8jH1-Mu6TptfaQJ6h_sjlZfORcSwUKMRVEJz6sVHD9RNc/s1600/Sunbird+-+Plaine-backed+PJW_4592+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Plain-backed Sunbird</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We also glimpsed the rare endemic Golden-rumped Elephant Shrew. This was not really shrew-sized, more like rabbit-sized!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The highlight of our tour of the forest was to be another rare bird. Our way was blocked, however, by a large tree, which had only fallen the previous night and had not yet been cleared. We agreed to leave the park, drive round to the other side by the main roads, and enter the park from there. It was worth the drive! David led us, one by one, into one of the thickest parts of the forest to see the Sokoke Scops Owls. How he found their roost, god only knows.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUNWtyM3KfPWQl70ASQvfamSRU7Ak4CXGXq9YZKFmWo20E41jvYVK4iolQq_vEWXoweCd5PVdiBIcrqmHvkZm-S23-xF-zi1OWxw1IvikBIxuVqm-H0I5UZdn6f9WhOjN9c3sBLat7uQ/s1600/Owl+-+Sokoke+Scops+PJW_4700+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirUNWtyM3KfPWQl70ASQvfamSRU7Ak4CXGXq9YZKFmWo20E41jvYVK4iolQq_vEWXoweCd5PVdiBIcrqmHvkZm-S23-xF-zi1OWxw1IvikBIxuVqm-H0I5UZdn6f9WhOjN9c3sBLat7uQ/s1600/Owl+-+Sokoke+Scops+PJW_4700+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sokoke Scops Owls. Are they cute or what?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mgd7K4IT9mtRqjADWV7t6BFO1QlXst7Zy37281k_lCtQVXOFyiy8XcylOoxdQEQA9j4OxzptKdsZidyJk1_GWPzH35FXb8SHhjY3SXELYjAccSugQ50ieT8gZaOP3u7NDiSBFy4c2tc/s1600/Owl+-+Sokoke+Scops+PJW_4708+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="709" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mgd7K4IT9mtRqjADWV7t6BFO1QlXst7Zy37281k_lCtQVXOFyiy8XcylOoxdQEQA9j4OxzptKdsZidyJk1_GWPzH35FXb8SHhjY3SXELYjAccSugQ50ieT8gZaOP3u7NDiSBFy4c2tc/s1600/Owl+-+Sokoke+Scops+PJW_4708+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sokoke Scops Owl. They never took their eyes off us.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Apart from the birds photographed above, I also saw Narina Trogon, Green Barbet, Eastern Olive Sunbird, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, East Coast Akalat, Tiny Greenbul and Black-bellied Starling, all 'Lifers' except the Trogon - 15 lifers in all for the forest. We celebrated with a well-earned G&T before dinner.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The planned river boat trip on the Mnarani Creek was badly organised. In fact, not organised. The last minute boat was arranged too late in the day (literally) and was a failure. By then, it was too hot, and it was too late for birds. Highlights were Sooty Gull and Woolly-necked Stork fly-overs.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxpGFRKMhEYZzm4hSRbWBFfynbNZ2kbXp-2fKdWpw9WMKKsvbS0huB2YCj2empSqqLOTm7x-mdSTAm0OoHmBqjgrOEe6fj4HlUuNO-mB-VFTjWIjbfDpjz4_OqiR4yH_uNmCshNuklts/s1600/Gull+-+Sooty+PJW_4724+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLxpGFRKMhEYZzm4hSRbWBFfynbNZ2kbXp-2fKdWpw9WMKKsvbS0huB2YCj2empSqqLOTm7x-mdSTAm0OoHmBqjgrOEe6fj4HlUuNO-mB-VFTjWIjbfDpjz4_OqiR4yH_uNmCshNuklts/s1600/Gull+-+Sooty+PJW_4724+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sooty Gull. Actually a lifer for me.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisbSTsns9z83Gkz5DR1dV0zTeo0X2kk72Z7_sJqsSgk6z_EAxRu2ZZcFF3f8pg_lwSI-vuUpO7RPr8UybW-deLdPFT7QbYYF6Mz11KSAtb4qovSrdIKWFAj_0jV6MbkTDm03MOw9ka-g/s1600/Stork+-+Woolly-necked+PJW_4845+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjisbSTsns9z83Gkz5DR1dV0zTeo0X2kk72Z7_sJqsSgk6z_EAxRu2ZZcFF3f8pg_lwSI-vuUpO7RPr8UybW-deLdPFT7QbYYF6Mz11KSAtb4qovSrdIKWFAj_0jV6MbkTDm03MOw9ka-g/s1600/Stork+-+Woolly-necked+PJW_4845+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Woolly-necked Stork. You can see the 'woolly' neck quite clearly.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We paid a visit to the local snake museum in the afternoon. The Bio-Ken Snake Park was actually very interesting. Our young guide was enthusiastic and knowledgeable. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the evening we enjoyed dinner and, later, the full moon.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekYGHzkKHjrpjU1ELHjqkSKuoQ1QZN3AexHcwzLgp3rVCDcK1I1pgkwPBq1GzHfCs9Rd98tZGGXCN2wwyBB70j7FMpzpm74F8BK984ea0-Bi4ZDPXL16LM8Kfw7oa9mTm3odmo3UOCpQ/s1600/Moon+full+PJW_4887+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhekYGHzkKHjrpjU1ELHjqkSKuoQ1QZN3AexHcwzLgp3rVCDcK1I1pgkwPBq1GzHfCs9Rd98tZGGXCN2wwyBB70j7FMpzpm74F8BK984ea0-Bi4ZDPXL16LM8Kfw7oa9mTm3odmo3UOCpQ/s1600/Moon+full+PJW_4887+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The moon, our nearest celestial body.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The final day was an early morning trip to nearby Mida Creek. Lynne decided to lie in while I went to the creek. We again had the services of a good, young local guide. We saw quite a few birds, including one or two lifers.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6l1_Pca_bDYnpU9eVEVyZSynYE7oR-pE6WjT2CjYQ76EWxe_ByMqdiSo095R0h44Dy7ANt0bFlrLRsiia76uybUYFVjx0xSQh9iqe2HOQbnsD_9vlmA_kOifx-qsPayFwO6nG6Wk_jnY/s1600/Longclaw+-+Yello-throated+PJW_4890+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6l1_Pca_bDYnpU9eVEVyZSynYE7oR-pE6WjT2CjYQ76EWxe_ByMqdiSo095R0h44Dy7ANt0bFlrLRsiia76uybUYFVjx0xSQh9iqe2HOQbnsD_9vlmA_kOifx-qsPayFwO6nG6Wk_jnY/s1600/Longclaw+-+Yello-throated+PJW_4890+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yellow-throated Longclaw. You'll have to take my word for it that it does have a long claw!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCvOS1laDaZZ_4m4HdTtbK4qSIdlo-XH6QowDahwKPb-sGjbJQ56hdhXBt8Q0RsCQVoLf_V43je_OMkPzHKyll1ly3IcjDtlWr1ZCQfh5Cz9IcOBS6RB-ILuux0DvWG7toKIb0fjDXxw/s1600/Greenbul+-+Sombre+PJW_4892+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNCvOS1laDaZZ_4m4HdTtbK4qSIdlo-XH6QowDahwKPb-sGjbJQ56hdhXBt8Q0RsCQVoLf_V43je_OMkPzHKyll1ly3IcjDtlWr1ZCQfh5Cz9IcOBS6RB-ILuux0DvWG7toKIb0fjDXxw/s1600/Greenbul+-+Sombre+PJW_4892+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sombre Greenbul. Why Sombre? I don't know!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBMJxvRA2lm-mQt2EBRWEB_bLYk2sG-qymiqana_KK5_zZSRP9uVOGcgTQ10ZwspvR4ZlyA-SS9DmEJOkHjNTdAZ8p5Leee__IfBCVklZ7oVzphB_iO1K28LPURZvRrWs9v8w4ycowW8/s1600/Kingfisher+-+Mangrove+PJW_4920+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiBMJxvRA2lm-mQt2EBRWEB_bLYk2sG-qymiqana_KK5_zZSRP9uVOGcgTQ10ZwspvR4ZlyA-SS9DmEJOkHjNTdAZ8p5Leee__IfBCVklZ7oVzphB_iO1K28LPURZvRrWs9v8w4ycowW8/s1600/Kingfisher+-+Mangrove+PJW_4920+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mangrove Kingfisher. A lifer. Looks initially like the Grey-headed Kingfisher, but it's not.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxqZKOT-KqYXjRxU0gtImvoTUemAAxc-8DjShcQOEO83OC8tpvauGqZQScEU2OsS9QJnwmOaV79d6tca4xHMVDDp7gb0Wp7T90h_YYsPyaLOpb5OBwgwPQtoNeedRPJRXfc5dfvo1S1o/s1600/Canary+-+Yellow-fronted+PJW_4939+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXxqZKOT-KqYXjRxU0gtImvoTUemAAxc-8DjShcQOEO83OC8tpvauGqZQScEU2OsS9QJnwmOaV79d6tca4xHMVDDp7gb0Wp7T90h_YYsPyaLOpb5OBwgwPQtoNeedRPJRXfc5dfvo1S1o/s1600/Canary+-+Yellow-fronted+PJW_4939+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yellow-fronted Canary. OK, yes, this is a common bird, especially in cages!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WEQeT29KJJKqlS_ycTbYI8dQd2RoAE7XtLvOeDFJ4pHVVI9wiQW9gYWVNyeO3kI7V77BL8RGGD3vrihYu_aPvLb4uQC1rToHPf4fo3u_d4VOdiQttnuVDhUlL7wvcGLW_R7hPv9ipU4/s1600/Dove+-+Red-eyed+PJW_4942+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7WEQeT29KJJKqlS_ycTbYI8dQd2RoAE7XtLvOeDFJ4pHVVI9wiQW9gYWVNyeO3kI7V77BL8RGGD3vrihYu_aPvLb4uQC1rToHPf4fo3u_d4VOdiQttnuVDhUlL7wvcGLW_R7hPv9ipU4/s1600/Dove+-+Red-eyed+PJW_4942+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Red-eyed Dove. Lynne's not so keen on 'Pigeons', but I love them.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIX88QxvhOBs3tHtXufOAxqMfcwM8mEmd3qzqRAdQ2pz2JFyxkplQH9z4oyygzhpvrqTTZKWJnMMl6e_RBF3Um5Nc7BshDwH2EoLXy1Zn-k96fCHImVR8y05gG4bpFHVqZkjZSvmy_mA4/s1600/Mousebird+-+Speckled+PJW_4954+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIX88QxvhOBs3tHtXufOAxqMfcwM8mEmd3qzqRAdQ2pz2JFyxkplQH9z4oyygzhpvrqTTZKWJnMMl6e_RBF3Um5Nc7BshDwH2EoLXy1Zn-k96fCHImVR8y05gG4bpFHVqZkjZSvmy_mA4/s1600/Mousebird+-+Speckled+PJW_4954+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Speckled Mousebird. It's called that, apparently, because it crawls around the bush like a mouse.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZwxM4yPSht_-RmaICoPLPdp4hkjLON-rGxHH-PvmreVTf_Zj6ZCSmbYybJKWLTtzbcTmyls0nB-qGqg4ZhEoTWQiakk7IgPpeAL5H2uvpnm6LWhkov8GbWu-FxS4nTy-FDzz5HQsMIw/s1600/Batis+-+Pale+F+PJW_4976+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQZwxM4yPSht_-RmaICoPLPdp4hkjLON-rGxHH-PvmreVTf_Zj6ZCSmbYybJKWLTtzbcTmyls0nB-qGqg4ZhEoTWQiakk7IgPpeAL5H2uvpnm6LWhkov8GbWu-FxS4nTy-FDzz5HQsMIw/s1600/Batis+-+Pale+F+PJW_4976+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pale Batis. Quite common, but pretty.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCEaqVgHHrShglUPTPcUpoL-fqO2XUn5_SicLVDX7mbSSxReh2PrMQr01qkycDUZUL12LTU4h_QBVHO8iUnNE80jaDqtwhfynCrVBpnck_6iN_sDM3b70TNP2ayZPbGQAE5tSTYAUs0w/s1600/Sunbird+-+Amethyst+PJW_5001+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgCEaqVgHHrShglUPTPcUpoL-fqO2XUn5_SicLVDX7mbSSxReh2PrMQr01qkycDUZUL12LTU4h_QBVHO8iUnNE80jaDqtwhfynCrVBpnck_6iN_sDM3b70TNP2ayZPbGQAE5tSTYAUs0w/s1600/Sunbird+-+Amethyst+PJW_5001+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Amethyst Sunbird. Beautiful if the sunlight catches the iridescent throat.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIuLEg7-92QjEconH34OQtpmdnOe8NOBIt48x1OjfttZce0DD6VZHqjxk7wqJkBBswIVzNj_AifSsM2QJpX-dnfVzBTL-uDiE3tI2MhCNvv98cI5Modvxcj99jTaHyj2r_3-kJCKKikw/s1600/Sunbird+-+Purple-banded+PJW_5134+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhIuLEg7-92QjEconH34OQtpmdnOe8NOBIt48x1OjfttZce0DD6VZHqjxk7wqJkBBswIVzNj_AifSsM2QJpX-dnfVzBTL-uDiE3tI2MhCNvv98cI5Modvxcj99jTaHyj2r_3-kJCKKikw/s1600/Sunbird+-+Purple-banded+PJW_5134+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Purple-banded Sunbird. Again, looks stunning in the sunlight.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSBoVASBXCBK7HpEOvINJmNHlnwhY_w7vnojj0nLISk4IZlQ6ENlFxvME7yVJeh5wiSefBwAIxjCy3ibcBhTsL0VFO-LJnFUb1hZK2xL_xL93scu6k2tK_XDTzry1c9YlmFwlDxjls5k/s1600/Sandplover+-+Lesser+PJW_5121+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXSBoVASBXCBK7HpEOvINJmNHlnwhY_w7vnojj0nLISk4IZlQ6ENlFxvME7yVJeh5wiSefBwAIxjCy3ibcBhTsL0VFO-LJnFUb1hZK2xL_xL93scu6k2tK_XDTzry1c9YlmFwlDxjls5k/s1600/Sandplover+-+Lesser+PJW_5121+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lesser Sandplover.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxfwL-CQL9eZQNBY-RmW0mqO3cHnGXXcLEv9xR7pylLoE_J1151hzSqblL-dZRfrVVX3r1de53i_3hWgXCM4ci1LTAg7XLMWZjxgFQA5vt0PvXc3RDXKu-4s9oEaGBwC8RC2bFREXhs8/s1600/Stork+-+Yello-billed++PJW_5141+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnxfwL-CQL9eZQNBY-RmW0mqO3cHnGXXcLEv9xR7pylLoE_J1151hzSqblL-dZRfrVVX3r1de53i_3hWgXCM4ci1LTAg7XLMWZjxgFQA5vt0PvXc3RDXKu-4s9oEaGBwC8RC2bFREXhs8/s1600/Stork+-+Yello-billed++PJW_5141+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yellow-billed Stork. A huge bird.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemTSZLgmr5j4haRFuMXVuKjmYbg_C3v5BgxDQBKsoJtaozQICOZ1S56J4HadsT2BB8h0Fv7bRx2zGR8bUCt7q7ZYGBPxsx6WSw6UtezRPnmkfALZrgzrxd_mzUZhnjwHOW-DfrUNKjTY/s1600/Egret+-+Dimorphic+PJW_5181+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgemTSZLgmr5j4haRFuMXVuKjmYbg_C3v5BgxDQBKsoJtaozQICOZ1S56J4HadsT2BB8h0Fv7bRx2zGR8bUCt7q7ZYGBPxsx6WSw6UtezRPnmkfALZrgzrxd_mzUZhnjwHOW-DfrUNKjTY/s1600/Egret+-+Dimorphic+PJW_5181+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dimorphic Egret. You know our own Little Egret, don't you? This is the dark morph, i.e. the dark version of the same bird.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KKoj2MfA9bCiFAvTOzl6Yi_lKnOGI9p31CXug7xZaIB1P_Ghjx_0WVacF8eqbZ1e85KAOR3vOobMtpqz7j-8sAsIyEur-idzs7AB8XtWGUNiiZAXMJr1QjM5ELjl9ek_tKdTdcSQNx8/s1600/Whyda+-+Pin-tailed+PJW_5202+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9KKoj2MfA9bCiFAvTOzl6Yi_lKnOGI9p31CXug7xZaIB1P_Ghjx_0WVacF8eqbZ1e85KAOR3vOobMtpqz7j-8sAsIyEur-idzs7AB8XtWGUNiiZAXMJr1QjM5ELjl9ek_tKdTdcSQNx8/s1600/Whyda+-+Pin-tailed+PJW_5202+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pin-tailed Whyda. Quite why his tail is that long is a mystery. It's surprisingly easy to miss in the field.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After the walk, we waited for the tide to come into the creek a bit, so there was enough water for a canoe trip. As the tide came in, more and more birds arrived. We had a visit from a small reptile.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1gNiL71D3NuIN1McN_W6fiNaiNVk7PxaI30tDlIvqPdDoHZ9hx57Ljq5D5yXzN9Hfc6i3SD5PyiJRcUmD5KHLWjFLth7mj1ITgtUt1MRgzDqvMnXIaY7WOXOG21ySoOeObV5eSrJvJvI/s1600/Skink+PJW_5228+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="709" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1gNiL71D3NuIN1McN_W6fiNaiNVk7PxaI30tDlIvqPdDoHZ9hx57Ljq5D5yXzN9Hfc6i3SD5PyiJRcUmD5KHLWjFLth7mj1ITgtUt1MRgzDqvMnXIaY7WOXOG21ySoOeObV5eSrJvJvI/s1600/Skink+PJW_5228+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Looks like a lizard. It is, in fact, a skink, but don't ask me which one.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9noKvhQkBq-Hu9PkAhJs38aqLsu_0A1YRUCX8hIi8ET2DoN6nODC29JdyCSG_bqod6AJ1bCU6WI26KpLLos9VWGlhcv94ZVl3NaWTTunPnNHMWxcBaQfjqDS1cEDNlKXxr55-LMp-JM/s1600/Sandplover+-+Greater+PJW_5251+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgL9noKvhQkBq-Hu9PkAhJs38aqLsu_0A1YRUCX8hIi8ET2DoN6nODC29JdyCSG_bqod6AJ1bCU6WI26KpLLos9VWGlhcv94ZVl3NaWTTunPnNHMWxcBaQfjqDS1cEDNlKXxr55-LMp-JM/s1600/Sandplover+-+Greater+PJW_5251+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Greater Sandplover. A lifer. Not the same as the Lesser above. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdYCdnwV4RIuVa5yy8pXYh3iPKPrAyIP7dgSsqmKktwaMyBAuKW-uaFdYaCUT4cV5yLHRpSb3r9SqoZzYAv56hFWHdETX2XPnd7B4390BzpGfkHqbVgv7HsKuRf18vmT7D89cK7PVMxI/s1600/Thick-knee+-+Water+PJW_4834+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdYCdnwV4RIuVa5yy8pXYh3iPKPrAyIP7dgSsqmKktwaMyBAuKW-uaFdYaCUT4cV5yLHRpSb3r9SqoZzYAv56hFWHdETX2XPnd7B4390BzpGfkHqbVgv7HsKuRf18vmT7D89cK7PVMxI/s1600/Thick-knee+-+Water+PJW_4834+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Water Thicknee. Very like our Stone Curlew.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU80ZoR0HacJzu7qiX1vD_FS5CANexYTsFe9k-1dACisKruWtsSHt8TWTHBU8Mw8mTPVZ3KxbmmQCHk5TLG37eDP0GKyvmCADOcYhUsKt1MTyJ5D0WJLYI8xR5C2A9_6RnqybwTyCT6Uk/s1600/Tern+-+Lesser-crested+PJW_5399+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU80ZoR0HacJzu7qiX1vD_FS5CANexYTsFe9k-1dACisKruWtsSHt8TWTHBU8Mw8mTPVZ3KxbmmQCHk5TLG37eDP0GKyvmCADOcYhUsKt1MTyJ5D0WJLYI8xR5C2A9_6RnqybwTyCT6Uk/s1600/Tern+-+Lesser-crested+PJW_5399+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lesser-crested Tern. Much bigger than our terns.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Finally, the star of the show appeared, the Crab Plover. This large bird had a massive bill so it could eat the crabs, which make up 70% of its diet. A final lifer of the trip.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uj_O2WVKT3-jG-b4bR90TBQyj2VH-CzkmWXJbgpOieKkNKwj9AT6_3tQufNSxQiwmZEyemwdeoRt3jSJFXdrrIAAzzEYq4YDzKb8Lt8dO0IEaLtCxHazxe-RBJqvsaNtO9AggnwOHWQ/s1600/Plover+-+Crab+PJW_5407+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_uj_O2WVKT3-jG-b4bR90TBQyj2VH-CzkmWXJbgpOieKkNKwj9AT6_3tQufNSxQiwmZEyemwdeoRt3jSJFXdrrIAAzzEYq4YDzKb8Lt8dO0IEaLtCxHazxe-RBJqvsaNtO9AggnwOHWQ/s1600/Plover+-+Crab+PJW_5407+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Crab Plover. Just look at that bill to strike fear into the heart of any crab!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWaFYRlTvo1RKdKXNSLbYFfRICtmBgDt7EoM91k1GQot0eUGUxAGes7EcQEShfy38lA85ssLTmAGTMTBdShaj76R6F_qNAUmGJnNHnKCGdYtymgfwKUX4oswYOOwlhrs178ItimNFtzY/s1600/Plover+-+Crab+PJW_5359+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguWaFYRlTvo1RKdKXNSLbYFfRICtmBgDt7EoM91k1GQot0eUGUxAGes7EcQEShfy38lA85ssLTmAGTMTBdShaj76R6F_qNAUmGJnNHnKCGdYtymgfwKUX4oswYOOwlhrs178ItimNFtzY/s1600/Plover+-+Crab+PJW_5359+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Crab Plovers in flight.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Joseph went to fetch Lynne while I was on the creek. We enjoyed lunch cooked on the spot for us by the local chef, and then returned to the resort to pack up. A short ride to Malindi Airport, a short internal flight to Nairobi and we were ready for our flight home to London. We had several hours to kill, as our flight home left a few minutes after midnight. Lorenzo, Lynne and I went to a new hotel in the airport and enjoyed our last dinner together.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43w_u02LcINy4sjOzTsPBTNgURupgWUp_jda_sktMoRTElL9YU2gU-1BNM3sOt1IWLNq8WyDl7z_JgJDUcTVX5Mpn4j-_Bhj3km1KAQiyLmXBR_D4vCf9IFYPN-Y00Ab-5w-pD-_MstM/s1600/Nairobi+Airport+dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43w_u02LcINy4sjOzTsPBTNgURupgWUp_jda_sktMoRTElL9YU2gU-1BNM3sOt1IWLNq8WyDl7z_JgJDUcTVX5Mpn4j-_Bhj3km1KAQiyLmXBR_D4vCf9IFYPN-Y00Ab-5w-pD-_MstM/s1600/Nairobi+Airport+dinner.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lynne before our flight home.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It had been a very interesting trip. I was forced to get to know my new camera by using it every day. We could stop whenever we wanted, in order to watch or photograph the big game or birds. The pace was ours. I did get a stomach bug on leaving Tsavo East, but it wan't too bad. Some Imodium helped.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I really like Africa. It is still relatively unspoilt in most countries. I can't wait to go again.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If you haven't read the other parts, they're here:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2019/11/kenya-3-15-november-2019-amboseli-tsavo.html" target="_blank">Part 1 </a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/02/kenya-3-15-november-2019-amboseli-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/03/kenya-3-15-november-2019-tsavo-west.html" target="_blank">Part 3 </a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/03/kenya-3-15-november-2019-part-4-tsavo.html" target="_blank">Part 4</a></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-77582037767182863082020-03-29T23:20:00.000+01:002020-03-31T21:45:58.415+01:00Kenya 3-15 November 2019. Part 3 - Tsavo West<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Other parts are here: </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2019/11/kenya-3-15-november-2019-amboseli-tsavo.html" target="_blank">Part 1 </a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/02/kenya-3-15-november-2019-amboseli-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/03/kenya-3-15-november-2019-tsavo-west.html" target="_blank">Part 3 </a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/03/kenya-3-15-november-2019-part-4-tsavo.html" target="_blank">Part 4</a></span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tsavo West is an open camp with no fences.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Before our visit, there had been quite a lot of rain. There was also quite a lot of rain while we were there. This rendered the landscape beautifully green. It also meant that water was plentiful. Animals which normally sought out the waterholes in the dry season had no reason to go there now. Most guides rely on finding animals at the watering holes. This explains why we didn't see many big cats - only one lion, but no cheetahs or leopards.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">On our journey to the camp we came across a Gerenuk, an antelope with a giraffe's long neck. Quite unusual.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgiE9l0ShE1UlYBCOceMG2hStazmwwZLVqDa3HSYu3wKnzqWQVbfW3z-cxt4I5P_BPQ48pAJLpphdsIG77JL52M0yPT3aosmkH2e6Tu6BUMg0buiZkwqC3Q5NPBcJv8_ySsNcvWu8Fxc/s1600/Gerenuk+PJW_3438+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXgiE9l0ShE1UlYBCOceMG2hStazmwwZLVqDa3HSYu3wKnzqWQVbfW3z-cxt4I5P_BPQ48pAJLpphdsIG77JL52M0yPT3aosmkH2e6Tu6BUMg0buiZkwqC3Q5NPBcJv8_ySsNcvWu8Fxc/s1600/Gerenuk+PJW_3438+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Gerenuk. With that neck it can reach the succulent leaves at the top of the bushes.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our accommodation in Tsavo West was 'tented' but not as we know them. They were tents, but inside there were brick walls to make the bathroom, a proper double bed, power sockets and lights. We had a mini veranda with chairs and table.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQoQgRdzbRWvAbM6JVgDp7cx4hC5fvbiEajN41znuSVOUNNTIRXRDSQi1V4RlQf9adLx-q-YIpZU9fV8u8hRn9I5l40YkTJDryzpsxu5OTMRYs83-Wm400s1_dw205HpvzAtuQnU1arY/s1600/Tsavo+West+camp+veranda+edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="563" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPQoQgRdzbRWvAbM6JVgDp7cx4hC5fvbiEajN41znuSVOUNNTIRXRDSQi1V4RlQf9adLx-q-YIpZU9fV8u8hRn9I5l40YkTJDryzpsxu5OTMRYs83-Wm400s1_dw205HpvzAtuQnU1arY/s1600/Tsavo+West+camp+veranda+edited.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Our veranda at Tsavo West</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">One of our first visitors was a Pale Flycatcher. A common and unassuming bird.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5360SDY328OW26a9QJQpLohMteruDVvOOVYNP0xK7zQ8ZNGaJ0ZdTyusDzeykWcQpivhGiIN-SttAA_Zsv-g94raEcpFre0s7eeaT6CIOuxO1S8FSoMwgtFxwshivkfoY79xr95Us_xk/s1600/Flycatcher+-+Pale+PJW_3211+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5360SDY328OW26a9QJQpLohMteruDVvOOVYNP0xK7zQ8ZNGaJ0ZdTyusDzeykWcQpivhGiIN-SttAA_Zsv-g94raEcpFre0s7eeaT6CIOuxO1S8FSoMwgtFxwshivkfoY79xr95Us_xk/s1600/Flycatcher+-+Pale+PJW_3211+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pale Flycatcher. A frequent visitor to our veranda.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We loved the way there are always so many trees and bushes in the camps. They attract birds, many of them very noisy! Of course, in nature, many creatures spend their days catching and eating other creatures. One such in the camp was a Grey-headed Bush-shrike. This one was very clever, It had a forked branch into which it would anchor its prey so it could tear the flesh off more easily. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxeq2UCddiazla_SSs6oQs_la92RZWRibhJLJQHiMEV86N9cnAc4jh2VsJjmid7kAjQLiIsZQvuIga1wuMvo7YB1ZOMSF0IZPhY9l_LJ4UOrOfUxBVpWA7a-6tNA98XSiP_U44f-h-Sc/s1600/Bush-shrike+-+Grey-headed+PJW_2411+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzxeq2UCddiazla_SSs6oQs_la92RZWRibhJLJQHiMEV86N9cnAc4jh2VsJjmid7kAjQLiIsZQvuIga1wuMvo7YB1ZOMSF0IZPhY9l_LJ4UOrOfUxBVpWA7a-6tNA98XSiP_U44f-h-Sc/s1600/Bush-shrike+-+Grey-headed+PJW_2411+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Grey-headed Bush-shrike. Such an intelligent hunter.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Here are some other visitors to the camp.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZ2CbeLMuKTA-k38aYxA_4ZS6x5wk1oWwH21BsdpZXg1oyoDOsk_rMCzWuFqv9_JlCH22UUZI8faaw_i2SziUutxExeakqqEHgdl6yd9Sse4T7VGiQOC8kKGwOxPKHgPGtvBChnhtxok/s1600/Cuckoo+-+Red-chested+PJW_2369+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFZ2CbeLMuKTA-k38aYxA_4ZS6x5wk1oWwH21BsdpZXg1oyoDOsk_rMCzWuFqv9_JlCH22UUZI8faaw_i2SziUutxExeakqqEHgdl6yd9Sse4T7VGiQOC8kKGwOxPKHgPGtvBChnhtxok/s1600/Cuckoo+-+Red-chested+PJW_2369+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Red-chested Cuckoo.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdcYrLPEV6d_KOFRa4Q8epUO-nJaBlxcd_pwSnMu5ec6vUdzyN4QT8MIXU1YGwltkE7WBj3TukIIsRS55nRsFyLBtP5pDDzHaAL1cIGY2dcWekBju1T3B1kE6uy71hl3r7Cjp6Yy3oe8/s1600/Sparrow-weaver+-+White-browed+PJW_3413+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="709" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFdcYrLPEV6d_KOFRa4Q8epUO-nJaBlxcd_pwSnMu5ec6vUdzyN4QT8MIXU1YGwltkE7WBj3TukIIsRS55nRsFyLBtP5pDDzHaAL1cIGY2dcWekBju1T3B1kE6uy71hl3r7Cjp6Yy3oe8/s1600/Sparrow-weaver+-+White-browed+PJW_3413+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">White-browed Sparrow-weaver.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JBFvFLQazOO5ZRRsAJN8mnFaxE8PUBOnP2o-Se_oBR8NKmRDzcDZ-kVC4qUKeLygTOhrcqEcZahVFoXMEC_7HQ8HgMNGrzDF4ePhKuGanyEq0FfnQdReF6HnnSeJTQPYeqpzGf-E2xw/s1600/Woodpecker+-+Nubian+PJW_2750+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_JBFvFLQazOO5ZRRsAJN8mnFaxE8PUBOnP2o-Se_oBR8NKmRDzcDZ-kVC4qUKeLygTOhrcqEcZahVFoXMEC_7HQ8HgMNGrzDF4ePhKuGanyEq0FfnQdReF6HnnSeJTQPYeqpzGf-E2xw/s1600/Woodpecker+-+Nubian+PJW_2750+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Nubian Woodpecker.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOTHEeYf1M9ApxyVUrGR5Skj7n4uFYTYquaLlnV_KT5z9A0kOBz0t1qgx4lrXuNPtoxfRVdp-90IBNlWHnfjUNg3MAWER3frg5zmjjxS2xeE3NZx_FBlwEJlSrnysNE0r53v5qAvK4Lo/s1600/Woodpecker+-+Cardinal+PJW_2474+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDOTHEeYf1M9ApxyVUrGR5Skj7n4uFYTYquaLlnV_KT5z9A0kOBz0t1qgx4lrXuNPtoxfRVdp-90IBNlWHnfjUNg3MAWER3frg5zmjjxS2xeE3NZx_FBlwEJlSrnysNE0r53v5qAvK4Lo/s1600/Woodpecker+-+Cardinal+PJW_2474+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Cardinal Woodpecker.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCibMMMIkpEHEHVJ6M5Kcaeae9fDUctMiYthdDCY1k_vfOHf4M31nibWghyphenhyphen4kBOFZRd6AIp83p2cZXI8Ywo9E489rHCIknlQirbCF-yWTbeph7dznrJWM2c0jedy26DAtqDGeAeLV_5GI/s1600/Woodpecker+-+Bearded+PJW_2654+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCibMMMIkpEHEHVJ6M5Kcaeae9fDUctMiYthdDCY1k_vfOHf4M31nibWghyphenhyphen4kBOFZRd6AIp83p2cZXI8Ywo9E489rHCIknlQirbCF-yWTbeph7dznrJWM2c0jedy26DAtqDGeAeLV_5GI/s1600/Woodpecker+-+Bearded+PJW_2654+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Bearded Woodpecker.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tpny69Tothl5Kz350p8JdwLRtnsLy4k6_UIxpXGyh9UW64m9XyHiD7fGsTutDQgmvRiydRg-YDTByOH6jWG4W32SeWBzYegl9Y7O71uJO4dEfq8peAF4zSea9L7XhPl8dMFTmfyoziY/s1600/Weaver+-+Lesser+Masked+F+PJW_2450+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4tpny69Tothl5Kz350p8JdwLRtnsLy4k6_UIxpXGyh9UW64m9XyHiD7fGsTutDQgmvRiydRg-YDTByOH6jWG4W32SeWBzYegl9Y7O71uJO4dEfq8peAF4zSea9L7XhPl8dMFTmfyoziY/s1600/Weaver+-+Lesser+Masked+F+PJW_2450+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Lesser Masked Weaver. They were actually nesting in the pond in the restaurant! This is the female.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Away from the camp there were fewer trees, but some were interesting, either because they were full of weavers' nests or were curiously shaped.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hkNHdNbnlS-1LLzsd24EidxX2Nup8H6uu8Koq-mtmSkE7ii2j3q8pkFIYjHIwmIGCHeDrhEts39tHb2ILYJs8JJ0G57skhMuf56Q7a9MWCwRyk_TUUsbQVohpWEycHSeELQPM1hx9-s/s1600/Cactus+tree+X62A9207+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7hkNHdNbnlS-1LLzsd24EidxX2Nup8H6uu8Koq-mtmSkE7ii2j3q8pkFIYjHIwmIGCHeDrhEts39tHb2ILYJs8JJ0G57skhMuf56Q7a9MWCwRyk_TUUsbQVohpWEycHSeELQPM1hx9-s/s1600/Cactus+tree+X62A9207+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Don't know what it is but love the shape!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5UJG34eKwLibGYAVEtn4rCyPWjsSSJboZbUxtUMXPMFTCAlPg4hXZSGp1n6CF_-w5OYey9U5nnnTOjdYSqeYPy0B3THdPilxNhVeuXbT2JnK4n0_7XJrb_Imag_Vy15Jny6qcGg2pf4g/s1600/Weaver+tree+X62A9223+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5UJG34eKwLibGYAVEtn4rCyPWjsSSJboZbUxtUMXPMFTCAlPg4hXZSGp1n6CF_-w5OYey9U5nnnTOjdYSqeYPy0B3THdPilxNhVeuXbT2JnK4n0_7XJrb_Imag_Vy15Jny6qcGg2pf4g/s1600/Weaver+tree+X62A9223+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">This solitary tree was full of weavers' nests.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We did see mammals at this park, but probably not as many as if it had been dry.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFuREDxIJTKflmER3ywRWugkt9N1piW0nJn__nnIZ8swUSxv6x7LlOHf5iypGfyvyYTl7rydyVjxbK2LHPqQZAcoJt3P1RM9kZl13936GJpt5s1llcioyBzY90kYxOPQD47J5Zntcy9Q/s1600/Eland+PJW_2789+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNFuREDxIJTKflmER3ywRWugkt9N1piW0nJn__nnIZ8swUSxv6x7LlOHf5iypGfyvyYTl7rydyVjxbK2LHPqQZAcoJt3P1RM9kZl13936GJpt5s1llcioyBzY90kYxOPQD47J5Zntcy9Q/s1600/Eland+PJW_2789+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Eland - One of the largest of the antelopes. </span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2AizvY0GLxgyu0iPLKSJ9NgNu-pXty9FBZ83PGXjaye3_IKw4Rqn5aUszZUSod5yFtqywykxjl_QpZi1j8aGEtAsXh5W7tA0i_KQUtY-b5peFPQoU3i__1R-miJN6xiQsBRbgyv2ZB0/s1600/Hartebeest+-+Coke%2527s+PJW_2895+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE2AizvY0GLxgyu0iPLKSJ9NgNu-pXty9FBZ83PGXjaye3_IKw4Rqn5aUszZUSod5yFtqywykxjl_QpZi1j8aGEtAsXh5W7tA0i_KQUtY-b5peFPQoU3i__1R-miJN6xiQsBRbgyv2ZB0/s1600/Hartebeest+-+Coke%2527s+PJW_2895+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Coke's Hartebeest - rather plain as antelopes go!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkgXfg2-MOaSZkdcIxUi-zwQmDSayYOMASvMTWb8LxnGHM7iifOgx6dghLYFHQbpFaWOXv3oDeBijsgD_u-VqXdc5H5GF_5zX0F7caHady5XFZhzgDLPrwFEGYEDeMRALTOUVw4HrRMk/s1600/Impala+X62A9144+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDkgXfg2-MOaSZkdcIxUi-zwQmDSayYOMASvMTWb8LxnGHM7iifOgx6dghLYFHQbpFaWOXv3oDeBijsgD_u-VqXdc5H5GF_5zX0F7caHady5XFZhzgDLPrwFEGYEDeMRALTOUVw4HrRMk/s1600/Impala+X62A9144+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Impala. I know you've seen them from Amboseli, but I wanted to show you again as they are such an attractive antelope!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGox5Zw7h_heUYr-Ngi992hyphenhyphenWUMKlGXZa8AokVWYIYtZ8JPJExvuMmibRJgbbr7JpMlhBOXAT_W0U3Lebetf183T1J6Mu41PgriRPRxZQClzIKBiSUsODGcUT-EHZNppavGjgk16aTZRs/s1600/Kudu+-+Lesser+PJW_2906+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGox5Zw7h_heUYr-Ngi992hyphenhyphenWUMKlGXZa8AokVWYIYtZ8JPJExvuMmibRJgbbr7JpMlhBOXAT_W0U3Lebetf183T1J6Mu41PgriRPRxZQClzIKBiSUsODGcUT-EHZNppavGjgk16aTZRs/s1600/Kudu+-+Lesser+PJW_2906+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lesser Kudu. Very uncommon, and this is a baby. Just look at the size of those ears!</span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWRozTQPxcsbmpL1MmrTIK-RGT4EfTKtVN422wXY71b-_7qzQ-7GR0rFUvh5N7ENBev9EcHdIiwdbdCtrMcsAHKvTkU27GX0rj2EQ31mLZVsmKNUm4kd01_sN9XhTW_9AtPIllgG_tCc/s1600/Zebra+X62A9171+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXWRozTQPxcsbmpL1MmrTIK-RGT4EfTKtVN422wXY71b-_7qzQ-7GR0rFUvh5N7ENBev9EcHdIiwdbdCtrMcsAHKvTkU27GX0rj2EQ31mLZVsmKNUm4kd01_sN9XhTW_9AtPIllgG_tCc/s1600/Zebra+X62A9171+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Zebras are common, but lovely to see at any time.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2N6vFNP-dcKt5vYWqwMb5ImxcDgmKb7grrkZBjpVUyo9L177XISyhNOHY8AGGrjY0bCrWzGptm59lv2NaiR4MhlRASqwgu2o-QlkCl6qKEICkTr2XyV5sF5LtsbtsRaDgC2lWH3KCjUo/s1600/Zebra+X62A9183+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2N6vFNP-dcKt5vYWqwMb5ImxcDgmKb7grrkZBjpVUyo9L177XISyhNOHY8AGGrjY0bCrWzGptm59lv2NaiR4MhlRASqwgu2o-QlkCl6qKEICkTr2XyV5sF5LtsbtsRaDgC2lWH3KCjUo/s1600/Zebra+X62A9183+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">. . . and another Zebra.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We took a trip one morning to Mzima Springs, a tranquil oasis, where the river and lagoon were surrounded by trees, providing shade from the heat. The river was home to Crocodiles and Hippos, which we saw. In the water, Crocs and Hippos are 95% submerged and I didn't think that distant photos of their protruding nostrils looked that interesting, so, no, there are no photos of them!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was, however, this very noisy fellow:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01h7tMpd5nnESiQ1k5Y3_WEpojdF6i5hW5foXgzWnHSO3BJLR5_cXm2frv4FY5RgasUFSPD4nBWZ6cqzteOAI1v5NxsMh69p3XSrrY0ls2WoyyKLelpL_EnUiX970qT3n0Sp19h_riG8/s1600/Hyrax+-+Rock+PJW_2614+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01h7tMpd5nnESiQ1k5Y3_WEpojdF6i5hW5foXgzWnHSO3BJLR5_cXm2frv4FY5RgasUFSPD4nBWZ6cqzteOAI1v5NxsMh69p3XSrrY0ls2WoyyKLelpL_EnUiX970qT3n0Sp19h_riG8/s1600/Hyrax+-+Rock+PJW_2614+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Rock Hyrax. A large and very noisy mammal, distantly related to the elephant!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">. . . and, of course, more birds:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasQ5Xut5oBmzk6LGfV_GUZcQTUT4got_SoI7myQ8Gi9iMW1KGrwuCfSrKUGsM_eEcI6XC-sV1aqnRxosKK186BeTV8-Vx20bBMnNeRdgJPKoAKoGZf7xj1brOlydYWMEMwAziUdOCKyE/s1600/Falcon+-+Pygmy+PJW_2972+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhasQ5Xut5oBmzk6LGfV_GUZcQTUT4got_SoI7myQ8Gi9iMW1KGrwuCfSrKUGsM_eEcI6XC-sV1aqnRxosKK186BeTV8-Vx20bBMnNeRdgJPKoAKoGZf7xj1brOlydYWMEMwAziUdOCKyE/s1600/Falcon+-+Pygmy+PJW_2972+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Pygmy Falcon. This tiny raptor is only about the size of a blackbird.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_eawKn0J0SQdR6xZNr_IYa-PEMD8kWWkLJjARNLOweAe7NN-R5IlJb9S0ZuzvcucQ12veO8bSaZzp7sNvkkxkaOaD20tP4gLxuh7jFFNSQxgYfthOndajt7or77x8GaeN4wSiiGLkdMM/s1600/Fiscal+-+Long-tailed+PJW_2951+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_eawKn0J0SQdR6xZNr_IYa-PEMD8kWWkLJjARNLOweAe7NN-R5IlJb9S0ZuzvcucQ12veO8bSaZzp7sNvkkxkaOaD20tP4gLxuh7jFFNSQxgYfthOndajt7or77x8GaeN4wSiiGLkdMM/s1600/Fiscal+-+Long-tailed+PJW_2951+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Long tailed fiscal. A shrike that eats insects and small lizards.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-j1gVwgDnD8UM9D0Z8v2F0gEa8eUcxq8_5ORPX0Oe3XGgSoXBzH7-FA7JaHDRc4X8wunCMv2_kC-p3RvRbxSZF-k6DXdmf37PLbLYECMjMUSX3HRaZaNQuOIHYldaV7QpdSxRdVCAw0/s1600/Heron+-+Striated+PJW_2593+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk-j1gVwgDnD8UM9D0Z8v2F0gEa8eUcxq8_5ORPX0Oe3XGgSoXBzH7-FA7JaHDRc4X8wunCMv2_kC-p3RvRbxSZF-k6DXdmf37PLbLYECMjMUSX3HRaZaNQuOIHYldaV7QpdSxRdVCAw0/s1600/Heron+-+Striated+PJW_2593+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Striated Heron on the edge of the river.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOt6JkDtfbmT2XbZ7I3jZTbgCTMzoBhUOsyXiFmCM4SksfLxcD5vUxyf8X1pH2a1S0DyFLiy4smEHS-krYI7D3pUw9754wMu_NrBBe1aNHciRRvoXOjCccNMbfCg83PYxerBjCTo3WNSU/s1600/Goshawk+-+Eastern+Pale+Chanting+PJW_3479+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOt6JkDtfbmT2XbZ7I3jZTbgCTMzoBhUOsyXiFmCM4SksfLxcD5vUxyf8X1pH2a1S0DyFLiy4smEHS-krYI7D3pUw9754wMu_NrBBe1aNHciRRvoXOjCccNMbfCg83PYxerBjCTo3WNSU/s1600/Goshawk+-+Eastern+Pale+Chanting+PJW_3479+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Eastern Pale Chanting Goshawk. A common but striking raptor.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKO6Nki1o-6hpdX-X0SVH7KGd5DopD7rKimFOwEd5LSIXRDqMuJGeogEck8xvFE8JcUFoFnjkA8fY83yqE810N9-8PATfXnRoo7tH11Ig7x_p9RhUWdGby-gogJq6Fm39-RXQI1l-y91E/s1600/Eagle+-+Martial+PJW_3000+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKO6Nki1o-6hpdX-X0SVH7KGd5DopD7rKimFOwEd5LSIXRDqMuJGeogEck8xvFE8JcUFoFnjkA8fY83yqE810N9-8PATfXnRoo7tH11Ig7x_p9RhUWdGby-gogJq6Fm39-RXQI1l-y91E/s1600/Eagle+-+Martial+PJW_3000+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Martial Eagle, a formidable raptor. One of the largest eagles in the world, eating a huge monitor lizard like this one. . . </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7-lhbxO4BuuWNZ0SN4rob9c0du5CM4i3OaC3o9LCpVD_jHTjU-wbWMGWlc3RmnlNcgrwJcxNQRI4rLERkDZvzfdD9JD8F5Beo4auUBQYKU_rQn5SOMcZEZrIMpgQs2F-yHXQp8OWWO0/s1600/Monitor+lizard+PJW_4358+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV7-lhbxO4BuuWNZ0SN4rob9c0du5CM4i3OaC3o9LCpVD_jHTjU-wbWMGWlc3RmnlNcgrwJcxNQRI4rLERkDZvzfdD9JD8F5Beo4auUBQYKU_rQn5SOMcZEZrIMpgQs2F-yHXQp8OWWO0/s1600/Monitor+lizard+PJW_4358+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Monitor Lizard. Well over a metre long. They sunbathe on termite hills like this one, hoping for food when they wriggle inside. Birds of prey know this, target termite mounds and pick off the lizards.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We also saw the magnificent Secretary bird again and a very special bird indeed, especially in splendid breeding plumage.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAi0ST4R9zHuiXoNoEZiU4i3G8ZnY79BbtxII28LQJxnLxY-5dp0AaquBWZmVbVCPi60psDSLmQxN_z0hCD_FK-24ICTiDT4y6NyI953eKbrwIwRU_S6rqxvfrEeYLsoJllPfUn0V0w0U/s1600/Secretary+Bird+PJW_3493+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAi0ST4R9zHuiXoNoEZiU4i3G8ZnY79BbtxII28LQJxnLxY-5dp0AaquBWZmVbVCPi60psDSLmQxN_z0hCD_FK-24ICTiDT4y6NyI953eKbrwIwRU_S6rqxvfrEeYLsoJllPfUn0V0w0U/s1600/Secretary+Bird+PJW_3493+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Secretary bird.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjWZ9NcSEMGFmczOllx_QXSRYs7zRAypkc1ySvYEtyYvVpDhUKqWxDS-EjPejbaLIacpg4vwBfe_wEi9snmUe9kBU0mMz33MjdWLUqmnCLffyBcFNhQjGI6rfzkq6ksx-oWnz7alkVsk/s1600/Whydah+-+Paradise+PJW_3056+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRjWZ9NcSEMGFmczOllx_QXSRYs7zRAypkc1ySvYEtyYvVpDhUKqWxDS-EjPejbaLIacpg4vwBfe_wEi9snmUe9kBU0mMz33MjdWLUqmnCLffyBcFNhQjGI6rfzkq6ksx-oWnz7alkVsk/s1600/Whydah+-+Paradise+PJW_3056+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Paradise Whydah. A small bird, the male carries this huge tail around. The females must love it. Quite rare, and a very lucky find.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Next stop: Tsavo East!</span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Other parts are here: </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2019/11/kenya-3-15-november-2019-amboseli-tsavo.html" target="_blank">Part 1 </a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/02/kenya-3-15-november-2019-amboseli-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/03/kenya-3-15-november-2019-tsavo-west.html" target="_blank">Part 3 </a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/03/kenya-3-15-november-2019-part-4-tsavo.html" target="_blank">Part 4</a></span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></div>
Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-688654552415101142020-02-23T14:41:00.001+00:002020-03-31T21:45:28.065+01:00Kenya 3-15 November 2019. Part 2 - Amboseli <div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Other parts are here: </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2019/11/kenya-3-15-november-2019-amboseli-tsavo.html" target="_blank">Part 1 </a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/02/kenya-3-15-november-2019-amboseli-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/03/kenya-3-15-november-2019-tsavo-west.html" target="_blank">Part 3 </a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/03/kenya-3-15-november-2019-part-4-tsavo.html" target="_blank">Part 4</a></span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We are still in Amboseli National Park. We ventured to different parts of of the park each day. One of the most productive days was the trip to the lake and the swamp. On the way we saw many mammals and large game. As these are all wild animals, naturally we had to stay in the safari van. Here are some of the animals:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uU2fL9tCHzTWLM0rqr0-4i50vkPaBTCCcWIZTpW9Ep1a9UPmSgUx6vpllucT6ZIPYGwAZ7-1FOoOosH6JVGSjnHx-wU1zV-MszvRpNSovR9Ai5kUXCDqc7ragIjpadbn5uX3K37Ozk0/s1600/Baboon+-+Yellow+X62A8690+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_uU2fL9tCHzTWLM0rqr0-4i50vkPaBTCCcWIZTpW9Ep1a9UPmSgUx6vpllucT6ZIPYGwAZ7-1FOoOosH6JVGSjnHx-wU1zV-MszvRpNSovR9Ai5kUXCDqc7ragIjpadbn5uX3K37Ozk0/s1600/Baboon+-+Yellow+X62A8690+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Baboon. Doesn't immediately look aggressive, but I wouldn't like to upset this male.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfK11VD8DaXBlC2LvocwKh2cWq9vwSfOxvkG9Jn-X4ir_M7CHi6CjaJom6yJSN0O_TdbfJ3zJqPGRexfYwsujCq9TA7VDAgkEwNUJHwfbTYfyy7JaT1Zhw-ZJAFFY9zf9559isO1dDPLg/s1600/Monkey+-+Black-faced+VervetX62A8688+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfK11VD8DaXBlC2LvocwKh2cWq9vwSfOxvkG9Jn-X4ir_M7CHi6CjaJom6yJSN0O_TdbfJ3zJqPGRexfYwsujCq9TA7VDAgkEwNUJHwfbTYfyy7JaT1Zhw-ZJAFFY9zf9559isO1dDPLg/s1600/Monkey+-+Black-faced+VervetX62A8688+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Black-faced Vervet monkeys. They're cute. They keep their distance.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxzKsnoIMrXWog0rwwcvcQ1ZVUPHbggJ83XXvEEQKjFEyCdSHWGUeJl7xOV6bFifjwPga0SwdigPbpeZVA6MUz00PMKhFEOWyroBiW7VYmqVE1wVyFXYwN4PqrPALc-zvTjKPN0auxhA/s1600/Warthog+-+Common+PJW_1235+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTxzKsnoIMrXWog0rwwcvcQ1ZVUPHbggJ83XXvEEQKjFEyCdSHWGUeJl7xOV6bFifjwPga0SwdigPbpeZVA6MUz00PMKhFEOWyroBiW7VYmqVE1wVyFXYwN4PqrPALc-zvTjKPN0auxhA/s1600/Warthog+-+Common+PJW_1235+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is Pumba. Not very approachable. Kept quite a long way away from us. Basically vegetarian, but it still has big tusks!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Then there are the grazing animals, who roam the plains in search of new grass. The gazelles are graceful and fast. The Gnu (Wildebeest) is iconic and so is the zebra.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kz7IR6MzYUCiAc2PLO4f4blAKqL2jUoDMiK447EwMQjWLAlKM4IigMQ62seLBw5QNM3su-ew0TQWcs9JWy2kQ3kkmkDvyhhQ1FVp67Aon6gPNe-SwKTjip3kLhqwsEK-uvLRsXveH7k/s1600/Gazelle+-+Grant%2527s+PJW_2117+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9kz7IR6MzYUCiAc2PLO4f4blAKqL2jUoDMiK447EwMQjWLAlKM4IigMQ62seLBw5QNM3su-ew0TQWcs9JWy2kQ3kkmkDvyhhQ1FVp67Aon6gPNe-SwKTjip3kLhqwsEK-uvLRsXveH7k/s1600/Gazelle+-+Grant%2527s+PJW_2117+crop.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Grant's Gazelle. Also named after a bloke. Much paler than the other gazelles.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggO9wv07ehy5a3vvkt3I1lcd899xAINhGV8_ksGHpDpTafn4KWKF6s2vQEoL3269prGi_1cSRLjkzzrj62rIv1pdTmIxJsQmwvSroQlqXTsHEl5SHA3-JZi2OKtQMrzdpsmr0m7R5Cif4/s1600/Impala+PJW_1817+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggO9wv07ehy5a3vvkt3I1lcd899xAINhGV8_ksGHpDpTafn4KWKF6s2vQEoL3269prGi_1cSRLjkzzrj62rIv1pdTmIxJsQmwvSroQlqXTsHEl5SHA3-JZi2OKtQMrzdpsmr0m7R5Cif4/s1600/Impala+PJW_1817+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Impala. Recognisable from their corkscrew antlers on the male. The female has none.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxcBNA3ZKCQ22HhtOMsuVp-Y8p8tmQwY4Fp_zbd2SLFKIkP9gPtbARQirMxdivl90z-WYNm53TiETzR4U55SIAQHo_30x0ehyphenhyphen6Nz4jsA8Gw6gG8-2ehEX4qUECqcwbMTQPGatD-os5d8/s1600/Gnu+-+White-bearded+-+Wildebeest+X62A8918+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKxcBNA3ZKCQ22HhtOMsuVp-Y8p8tmQwY4Fp_zbd2SLFKIkP9gPtbARQirMxdivl90z-WYNm53TiETzR4U55SIAQHo_30x0ehyphenhyphen6Nz4jsA8Gw6gG8-2ehEX4qUECqcwbMTQPGatD-os5d8/s1600/Gnu+-+White-bearded+-+Wildebeest+X62A8918+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Gnu or Wildebeest. The dewlap beard makes them all look like old men. </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhi2X7jkHbi0TO1Up9Z7cABEr2A9QpPXl8bkfoKp9eQ9rT-R7_Zc2DGQSPHxsuHtd9mV4MRG2fdXwoxTBH0aNbbP76-5K3G6gChfDllcH-A8CO4wrZPhym7vmOqqhsQ66G1JNW5glrCvY/s1600/Zebra+X62A9183+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhi2X7jkHbi0TO1Up9Z7cABEr2A9QpPXl8bkfoKp9eQ9rT-R7_Zc2DGQSPHxsuHtd9mV4MRG2fdXwoxTBH0aNbbP76-5K3G6gChfDllcH-A8CO4wrZPhym7vmOqqhsQ66G1JNW5glrCvY/s1600/Zebra+X62A9183+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The zebra is almost unique. There are however three species. This is Burchell's or plains zebra.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRbn_DwvQTjFtEW7ohAxlsRGopq2aUNLqGrO88Eqvuvm3hPr-1YePwluiRRaFHH7jtkRUeTpSZWBpIBbPdbbeIKTDEcrAsMirZQjCWxJVEF_-p6K9Y1tsmc0CotrhQdJ2sS8WALp24Bc/s1600/Buffalo+-+African+X62A8862+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTRbn_DwvQTjFtEW7ohAxlsRGopq2aUNLqGrO88Eqvuvm3hPr-1YePwluiRRaFHH7jtkRUeTpSZWBpIBbPdbbeIKTDEcrAsMirZQjCWxJVEF_-p6K9Y1tsmc0CotrhQdJ2sS8WALp24Bc/s1600/Buffalo+-+African+X62A8862+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Water Buffalo. This is a large male and it's quite dangerous. Note the cattle egrets nearby, waiting for the insects thrown up as this large animal moves through the grass.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCl98DeFPAjFAIqBjlGvR09wu3ghYd-ujlxgYeDFHpFu3hxHoPNqaNEuMjvOq5jC3VqMYuuE5GBSoFWOt_WAs0RLPtXkti77CaD9UwhFRP8_lOzp2h7ZWGXD2QcIKrgV369CeY3iJ5TQ/s1600/Hippopotamus+PJW_2017+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixCl98DeFPAjFAIqBjlGvR09wu3ghYd-ujlxgYeDFHpFu3hxHoPNqaNEuMjvOq5jC3VqMYuuE5GBSoFWOt_WAs0RLPtXkti77CaD9UwhFRP8_lOzp2h7ZWGXD2QcIKrgV369CeY3iJ5TQ/s1600/Hippopotamus+PJW_2017+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hippos are actually herbivorous. If you annoy him, he will kill you, but, don't worry, he won't eat you! Notice the large wound on his shoulder!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eiWO3dILJTF4XeTTEHOLjESxteCBWG5nf3PnMMRDIH_1QLkUdXnE96PJMwfZ7nqrwcpmk9m8Ta9QrqHIygUfLkz9S3ZDN8WRoQkM2_HcMVgKU5W5LQRjlEDtFT3amy65qPicTAbg6BM/s1600/Jackal+-+Black-backed+X62A8632+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2eiWO3dILJTF4XeTTEHOLjESxteCBWG5nf3PnMMRDIH_1QLkUdXnE96PJMwfZ7nqrwcpmk9m8Ta9QrqHIygUfLkz9S3ZDN8WRoQkM2_HcMVgKU5W5LQRjlEDtFT3amy65qPicTAbg6BM/s1600/Jackal+-+Black-backed+X62A8632+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Black-backed Jackal. A slim wild dog. Note the very large ears, to listen out for danger.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJLJPOzIC0fSxLXs-kOgyce5bL1N2Gj25LkYiPjKkQXC7tAqETyhFhokycrerniVe5fHUm6rwntHjPwXjpCY-ZOm2fe7Ts0zJrYM4i1sVUU-4af6AMpUKQpElZY3hPdgxefMPhidFcFg/s1600/Hyena+-+Spotted+PJW_1858+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJLJPOzIC0fSxLXs-kOgyce5bL1N2Gj25LkYiPjKkQXC7tAqETyhFhokycrerniVe5fHUm6rwntHjPwXjpCY-ZOm2fe7Ts0zJrYM4i1sVUU-4af6AMpUKQpElZY3hPdgxefMPhidFcFg/s1600/Hyena+-+Spotted+PJW_1858+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Spotted Hyena. Quite small ears. I imagine he has few natural predators to worry about.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6hcIQkUQc87tfpb-jGqpGl8EchOn2TpOGKJdxD9u8ysCcq1Vk6LzTMSSd8x2ObQZkAHd3BFIyH_q2PEEiDiv4mSz8KdJmNrj9l_EdnnckigqRcIQvoyEb6479ODzAN1rLjHpR2WtFo0/s1600/Fox-+Bat-eared+PJW_1489+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-6hcIQkUQc87tfpb-jGqpGl8EchOn2TpOGKJdxD9u8ysCcq1Vk6LzTMSSd8x2ObQZkAHd3BFIyH_q2PEEiDiv4mSz8KdJmNrj9l_EdnnckigqRcIQvoyEb6479ODzAN1rLjHpR2WtFo0/s1600/Fox-+Bat-eared+PJW_1489+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Bat-eared Foxes. Rare, but Joseph spotted them on our way back to the lodge at the end of the day. After photographing them, we really had to move to exit the park on time. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We also saw other birds on the road to the swamp. Here are some of them:</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOYa7EqpMbpY2QQwksnTccldoNCwAnHYvBPxj8cRa1_F4Lmj4NbNiCo4MWcWNZLOclZGlydRgnmlm5jwOlSed06tABYiquaMCAne_imOcAApzYJkKfxoYPa-yLoWcQUnNFTuiSZOf_qw/s1600/Canary+-+White-bellied+PJW_1782+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCOYa7EqpMbpY2QQwksnTccldoNCwAnHYvBPxj8cRa1_F4Lmj4NbNiCo4MWcWNZLOclZGlydRgnmlm5jwOlSed06tABYiquaMCAne_imOcAApzYJkKfxoYPa-yLoWcQUnNFTuiSZOf_qw/s1600/Canary+-+White-bellied+PJW_1782+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yellow-fronted Canary. Hard to think of this as a wild bird.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYDYy3YNgoy19VR727f6IkUdmAWL5T0jKuO7Oxi6vsCk28gKZcAnDs8rtW6RL8-AMldrutFCaV5UoNY8UChepbDTUIm0Yb7x0SUc5daDQ86DOjsUIVjwofjf56oG4TPlFP5k2F9oHCfQ/s1600/Bee-eater+-+Little+PJW_0549+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdYDYy3YNgoy19VR727f6IkUdmAWL5T0jKuO7Oxi6vsCk28gKZcAnDs8rtW6RL8-AMldrutFCaV5UoNY8UChepbDTUIm0Yb7x0SUc5daDQ86DOjsUIVjwofjf56oG4TPlFP5k2F9oHCfQ/s1600/Bee-eater+-+Little+PJW_0549+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Little Bee-eater. It has caught something, but I don't think it's a bee. They do eat them though.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoavWTP3V8xrCMd8NBRU1iw03mgsA2047EazzEKPEiU5ozPvXY17Dv6-oG4N4ZlZVM3yrE9-X9lMp0hTqcDtgtjHWP_IjVnbqCUzINplr7KIwHHxH2dHKgdT0iZtmBNzQ0Pzevuzch2Po/s1600/Crane+-+Grey-crowned+X62A8887+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoavWTP3V8xrCMd8NBRU1iw03mgsA2047EazzEKPEiU5ozPvXY17Dv6-oG4N4ZlZVM3yrE9-X9lMp0hTqcDtgtjHWP_IjVnbqCUzINplr7KIwHHxH2dHKgdT0iZtmBNzQ0Pzevuzch2Po/s1600/Crane+-+Grey-crowned+X62A8887+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Grey-crowned Crane. Such a handsome bird.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Coursers are, as their name suggests, runners. They rarely fly. They are very hard to see as they are well camouflaged. I was pleased that I spotted the following bird on the side of the road as we sped back to the lodge for lunch. Joseph, our driver stopped and backed up without flushing it so we could take photos.</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5eVA4KdgiaNkJ24PQp0ESCQSSj0hAkqnmPmleCPalxSDz2vEGeGr2pE1DzJ-1_5CsEzMYREAoMLLHz3pq8wofv26aZLYMVodhJzng_3fN44BzW-Zby6nEbioJ99zeBg5RsC3YHA9ZBDI/s1600/Courser+-+Two-banded+PJW_1267+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5eVA4KdgiaNkJ24PQp0ESCQSSj0hAkqnmPmleCPalxSDz2vEGeGr2pE1DzJ-1_5CsEzMYREAoMLLHz3pq8wofv26aZLYMVodhJzng_3fN44BzW-Zby6nEbioJ99zeBg5RsC3YHA9ZBDI/s1600/Courser+-+Two-banded+PJW_1267+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Two-banded Courser.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmW272sDmz1QQ5PQfHWjndOPLOQEQEAEONR8R6WtEc_GywTbBYM1LdainEDWybVBO77e2TgtYtRhVwuoODChgl9OpmjZ9cBx6Dyp0_cKzmsmFRu8ds8fZm2CtvLGM3KDD6rz0997FsNkI/s1600/Courser+-+Two-banded+PJW_1286+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmW272sDmz1QQ5PQfHWjndOPLOQEQEAEONR8R6WtEc_GywTbBYM1LdainEDWybVBO77e2TgtYtRhVwuoODChgl9OpmjZ9cBx6Dyp0_cKzmsmFRu8ds8fZm2CtvLGM3KDD6rz0997FsNkI/s1600/Courser+-+Two-banded+PJW_1286+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Two-banded Courser.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div dir="auto" style="background-color: white; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The swamp itself was home to very many water birds. Many of them are familiar, but we were able to see them very close. The safari van is a wonderful hide. Animals and birds hardly notice it at all. One or two of the birds I had not seen before.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireKxbNrsgTy_RgVVn-NImdtP-XKuOYg_iWSY68K46XO7Jy2_XyueN1-lAWhIJEF2HcBLjDdrNzFa1pu_A8bj3i5wvAPshaL0AE3APpQaby1J6wvn9SikWNriOtvVGItRM458bYnN_Sfk/s1600/Bustard+-+Black-bellied+PJW_2198+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="709" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEireKxbNrsgTy_RgVVn-NImdtP-XKuOYg_iWSY68K46XO7Jy2_XyueN1-lAWhIJEF2HcBLjDdrNzFa1pu_A8bj3i5wvAPshaL0AE3APpQaby1J6wvn9SikWNriOtvVGItRM458bYnN_Sfk/s1600/Bustard+-+Black-bellied+PJW_2198+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Black-bellied Bustard. One of several species of bustard found in the park.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ePWS8ZAM7v4lgMevhDXgAuYgKPsnZ4DRaYf8jT3bsyAyndUX9y8-TIPS4RenvTdzB7dUDwBZ69jmeU-jubzGi-pkNZMPF1HJD_wzHLDboW1CqjMZA1Tp99uVUpQ8cjIcd94ZdRGqrRg/s1600/Eagle+-+African+Fish+PJW_1890+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1ePWS8ZAM7v4lgMevhDXgAuYgKPsnZ4DRaYf8jT3bsyAyndUX9y8-TIPS4RenvTdzB7dUDwBZ69jmeU-jubzGi-pkNZMPF1HJD_wzHLDboW1CqjMZA1Tp99uVUpQ8cjIcd94ZdRGqrRg/s1600/Eagle+-+African+Fish+PJW_1890+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">African Fish Eagle. Quite a large eagle.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jJC5ezo2fpIa57EhHCVm3u5X6O_4Ad9vBd4lxftGvI3j6UYp_TBebnIUK534wmzB83NUo47yWFS3UyaLAeHp5iw3lVBors45TNrVb88NnqnZ15eiBjsdKhr2M99X7wpGgSwlAcadF7Q/s1600/Flamingo+-+Greater+PJW_1994+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_jJC5ezo2fpIa57EhHCVm3u5X6O_4Ad9vBd4lxftGvI3j6UYp_TBebnIUK534wmzB83NUo47yWFS3UyaLAeHp5iw3lVBors45TNrVb88NnqnZ15eiBjsdKhr2M99X7wpGgSwlAcadF7Q/s1600/Flamingo+-+Greater+PJW_1994+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Greater Flamingo. I like the reflection in this shot.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTY0Hx8LAWeZ_V0iP5YX640hLEs1wo-0LNwRB3sXevL2Nl92DhvUXJkissf_v8JPOqCNI8Khms4YcfPWm_gVZ2n0PJ6QG-AiS8D4ICeYgS2K_nUn1qPuNyM_jFtYF2yd0ZvtLM8phFjs/s1600/Plover+-+Kittlitz%2527s+PJW_2143+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTY0Hx8LAWeZ_V0iP5YX640hLEs1wo-0LNwRB3sXevL2Nl92DhvUXJkissf_v8JPOqCNI8Khms4YcfPWm_gVZ2n0PJ6QG-AiS8D4ICeYgS2K_nUn1qPuNyM_jFtYF2yd0ZvtLM8phFjs/s1600/Plover+-+Kittlitz%2527s+PJW_2143+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kittlitz's Plover. This was a bird I had not seen before. A handsome small wader and a 'lifer'.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM95hEZ4X7gOa4A312wzGYbegOrrxNSXxKJZbSxgkCCVeowp0aB1rDuvl9HzgRSpbpvTCL-xrGn8a4GSTXHrjvdwWiO8nlGh-TplgJAexNYUHVFk-5qoBrYitW2J2PpujuNRY_3DCLVko/s1600/Plover+-+Kittlitz%2527s+PJW_0799+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhM95hEZ4X7gOa4A312wzGYbegOrrxNSXxKJZbSxgkCCVeowp0aB1rDuvl9HzgRSpbpvTCL-xrGn8a4GSTXHrjvdwWiO8nlGh-TplgJAexNYUHVFk-5qoBrYitW2J2PpujuNRY_3DCLVko/s1600/Plover+-+Kittlitz%2527s+PJW_0799+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kittlitz's Plover.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When you look at fish in a river in strong sunlight, it's often hard to see them in the water. The reflection of the sunlight is too strong. There is a clever bird that has learned how to create some shade with its wings in order to see its prey in the water. I give you: the Black Heron.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBADQGFSbUfTr8QW4Rh5Ezt9dBrkz-wPfB-fcWtobeIxZ2rSoJIsEIkMIKekmVVn57EYxpM4ztoGVyOwsqIac7D_CKpp3pS86kqx-hFeHeALQHHwG9OjIR1SyFjMXEs7dGO1ov-sRWyCg/s1600/Heron+-+Black+PJW_1201+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBADQGFSbUfTr8QW4Rh5Ezt9dBrkz-wPfB-fcWtobeIxZ2rSoJIsEIkMIKekmVVn57EYxpM4ztoGVyOwsqIac7D_CKpp3pS86kqx-hFeHeALQHHwG9OjIR1SyFjMXEs7dGO1ov-sRWyCg/s1600/Heron+-+Black+PJW_1201+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Black Heron. The only bird I know that uses its wings to create shade.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwpL4g0G4g3ZbX1O9GLE_FyOS9tCOIbR4dO0rUivTz_LmmtUAthbkVZ964L3QRq7LtvqbdX1wDjtto3INEgYX7ZtIIR4-7AwAzzru468VjdAjuw4E0s5Am4rX5_bT5g_tJYbCxnU8Fik/s1600/Heron+-+Black+PJW_1192+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGwpL4g0G4g3ZbX1O9GLE_FyOS9tCOIbR4dO0rUivTz_LmmtUAthbkVZ964L3QRq7LtvqbdX1wDjtto3INEgYX7ZtIIR4-7AwAzzru468VjdAjuw4E0s5Am4rX5_bT5g_tJYbCxnU8Fik/s1600/Heron+-+Black+PJW_1192+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Black Heron. It spreads its wings to create an umbrella, shading its eyes so it can see its prey.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSNz4phmCx9sgMkTl0z0pwvSGxgayEDuzZrPI4OC0kZLL0oCH4GMbIMvhyphenhyphenmWMepQ4SUyrYricFDwB81lE3hwtzfDKnNav9tvQaYqKOva4djEJ25j874e9jnzL87agIkn8D6SStBhv1bM/s1600/Kingfisher+-+Pied+PJW_0880+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjSNz4phmCx9sgMkTl0z0pwvSGxgayEDuzZrPI4OC0kZLL0oCH4GMbIMvhyphenhyphenmWMepQ4SUyrYricFDwB81lE3hwtzfDKnNav9tvQaYqKOva4djEJ25j874e9jnzL87agIkn8D6SStBhv1bM/s1600/Kingfisher+-+Pied+PJW_0880+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Pied Kingfisher. It's very common, but attractive. This is a male, having a second thin black chest band below the thick black band. The female has only the thick chest band.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVJLsGnPEN-tsJ5cUjnYw26xUNGcqe1GZckkELcQmSB6124n2QRbimUtyNvDWZNYNFu8KpVzAug2GanynGDdD3jWnTdEvQCzptG9Oz7BBLQtxqdSiurQ7qt_lRcFLj5QVH1tKlkYjDKY/s1600/Plover+-+Three-banded+PJW_0933+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitVJLsGnPEN-tsJ5cUjnYw26xUNGcqe1GZckkELcQmSB6124n2QRbimUtyNvDWZNYNFu8KpVzAug2GanynGDdD3jWnTdEvQCzptG9Oz7BBLQtxqdSiurQ7qt_lRcFLj5QVH1tKlkYjDKY/s1600/Plover+-+Three-banded+PJW_0933+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Three-banded Plover ('plover' rhymes with 'lover', by the way). Another attractive small wader.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dDDA2wf7vgsdKKi2B0NzRRvqin6ySlvxFzxwct9PnSL9AZu6qmmd6V0oM5uI_bRjFzrhLU081DL4cRFe36vDTOm5-wYlUYb-Z_toLlgL2_Igwz5j2WSFQi6pNxyvlRf1vmhSk_21_XQ/s1600/Spoonbill+-+African+PJW_0917+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-dDDA2wf7vgsdKKi2B0NzRRvqin6ySlvxFzxwct9PnSL9AZu6qmmd6V0oM5uI_bRjFzrhLU081DL4cRFe36vDTOm5-wYlUYb-Z_toLlgL2_Igwz5j2WSFQi6pNxyvlRf1vmhSk_21_XQ/s1600/Spoonbill+-+African+PJW_0917+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">African Spoonbill. An iconic bird with a huge spatula bill, which it uses to filter its food out of the water.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our driver, Joseph, was very patient and experienced. He would stop the van when we wanted and reverse if we had gone past a bird or animal that we wanted to see. It was very nice to have our own vehicle so we could spend as long as we wanted in any place and stop whenever we wanted to.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">* * * * *</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Soon, it was time to move on to the next park, Tsavo West.<br /><br />The drive took us through terrain containing a large lava tube from Kilimanjaro. This is a huge streak of lava several kilometres long. Some of it is buried, but sometimes it is starkly exposed.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzouBFqmBHk0sIBtLV1gZdtJV8zIlh-R6t0OVMlvgMtXIne1mD1urXMeXXcM6cFJINK1_I1Z36SHOzyn65SHOH9k-LRx4F97Hh4p6i_2naWj1j0vr4CZAhnn6Emimzg19U5mrIjbdWd0/s1600/20191107_110255+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqzouBFqmBHk0sIBtLV1gZdtJV8zIlh-R6t0OVMlvgMtXIne1mD1urXMeXXcM6cFJINK1_I1Z36SHOzyn65SHOH9k-LRx4F97Hh4p6i_2naWj1j0vr4CZAhnn6Emimzg19U5mrIjbdWd0/s1600/20191107_110255+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lynne on the lava 'tube'</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Tsavo West is an open camp. There are no fences and we stayed in glorified tents. These are large tents with some walls for the bathroom, electricity sockets, etc. Animals roam freely through the camp, usually at night or early morning. After dark, we had to call for a guard to escort us to and from the restaurant / lounge areas.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Did we get eaten by a hyena? Find out in the next episode!!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Other parts are here: </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2019/11/kenya-3-15-november-2019-amboseli-tsavo.html" target="_blank">Part 1 </a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/02/kenya-3-15-november-2019-amboseli-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/03/kenya-3-15-november-2019-tsavo-west.html" target="_blank">Part 3 </a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/03/kenya-3-15-november-2019-part-4-tsavo.html" target="_blank">Part 4</a></span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span>Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-60268270396165088392019-11-23T06:18:00.002+00:002020-03-31T21:46:42.872+01:00Kenya 3-15 November 2019. Part 1 Amboseli.<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Other parts are here: </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2019/11/kenya-3-15-november-2019-amboseli-tsavo.html" target="_blank">Part 1 </a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/02/kenya-3-15-november-2019-amboseli-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/03/kenya-3-15-november-2019-tsavo-west.html" target="_blank">Part 3 </a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/03/kenya-3-15-november-2019-part-4-tsavo.html" target="_blank">Part 4</a></span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Elephants in Amboseli NP</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Enjoyed my third trip to Kenya earlier this month with Lynne. This was not a full-on birding trip, but a more paced photographic tour. I did a full-on birding trip in 2013 and saw about 600 species in 16 days. This trip was more about going at our own pace and stopping to take photographs.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Kenya really has everything going for it. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Climate-wise, much of the country is on a high plateau. Nairobi is at 1,600 metres. Even though Kenya straddles the equator, the climate is pleasant. Nairobi is often downright cool, especially in the evenings. I</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">t gradually gets hotter a</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">s you travel down towards the coast, which is hot and humid.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In terms of wildlife, Kenya has many National Parks and reserves, many of them very large. It is possible to see most or all of the large game and many other mammals without too much difficulty. Birds abound, with Kenya's total bird list at about 1,100 species.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Our route was Amboseli National
Park, Tsavo West National Park, Tsavo East National Park and finally, Watamu on
the coast, just south of Malindi - see map below.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Amboseli
is one of the smaller national parks although it is still quite large. There is
a lot to see and, with frequent stops, we often didn’t go too far on some
outings. Amboseli is known for its elephant population, and we certainly saw
very many of them. The elephants spend the night in the foothills of Mount
Kilimanjaro in Tanzania. Every day they walk to the swamp in Amboseli and
return to Kilimanjaro in the evening. That's quite a trek.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
big attraction of Kenya is that, as well as birds, it
also has big game and many other mammals. For this reason, my wife,
Lynne, agreed to come on the trip with me and she is glad she did!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">The
good thing about camps and lodges in places like Kenya, is that the grounds of
the lodges are often very attractive to birdlife. Many of the sightings were in
the grounds. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here
are a few birds seen in the grounds of the lodge (Sentrim Amboseli) :</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujcZTMK2TN1PE9I7CEavPGwGuH34JA_kTZVD9Rse4NxRODmQpqdWvQN9il4ULOctSmltf61_e1hK8uPg6jq3GIHfsmRpjrTpFzLVm_Q8zwQpYlFtBsa6-4r74-fHcy0ixT7png1yDRaI/s1600/PJW_0073_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgujcZTMK2TN1PE9I7CEavPGwGuH34JA_kTZVD9Rse4NxRODmQpqdWvQN9il4ULOctSmltf61_e1hK8uPg6jq3GIHfsmRpjrTpFzLVm_Q8zwQpYlFtBsa6-4r74-fHcy0ixT7png1yDRaI/s1600/PJW_0073_.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">White-bellied Go-away bird</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Spotted Morning Thrush</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Green-winged Pytilia</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Beautiful Sunbird</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Hunter's Sunbird</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">We
also saw some birds just on the way to the park entrance:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Yellow-collared Lovebird - a type of parrot</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivStezSmHvvn6JbgX9cfDkFDrVxxrWItr6KdWMZuh6QDr2_3c7s-jNB3-wmO9-RdmC-F8G7J6Ip34xcYBJG3Lx8FxgFWTT7upGZgXSRmBpncqkCqFgBo2yWn07Objfzs0YCIAEdlNUT3Q/s1600/PJW_2081_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1500" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivStezSmHvvn6JbgX9cfDkFDrVxxrWItr6KdWMZuh6QDr2_3c7s-jNB3-wmO9-RdmC-F8G7J6Ip34xcYBJG3Lx8FxgFWTT7upGZgXSRmBpncqkCqFgBo2yWn07Objfzs0YCIAEdlNUT3Q/s1600/PJW_2081_.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Lilac-breasted Roller. Common, but lovely!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In
the park there was a good selection of birds and mammals. We saw only one lion
on this trip and that was in Amboseli. If you want to see plenty of lions, you
need to go to the Masai Mara or to Samburu. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; text-align: start;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">Lion. He looks old and battle-scarred.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">There was so much to see, that we often spent much time just on the first 1-2 km of the main track. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qiiTlLHRPW9hT232EoRvi1yOOQTAgWTkZyb4aHj9Y66f3k06L9uZ84d8V0o7FIF0-RnxD6w32_7vZPWLXP8Yhc9bihidpwvhX-L7KOANAlXvRordL5Lp9uPB4-XuT0fTO6Ig7th9n-A/s1600/Bustard+-+Kori+PJW_4071+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5qiiTlLHRPW9hT232EoRvi1yOOQTAgWTkZyb4aHj9Y66f3k06L9uZ84d8V0o7FIF0-RnxD6w32_7vZPWLXP8Yhc9bihidpwvhX-L7KOANAlXvRordL5Lp9uPB4-XuT0fTO6Ig7th9n-A/s1600/Bustard+-+Kori+PJW_4071+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kori Bustard, the heaviest bird that can still fly!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oUInjKiFMidyI3aR8S9pOP3ebNrls17p_t-qdwvpt-sQPz-1SBeMuBo0B4lMT7BkmXCL1KZFiSDGtOlmHaodJO0gAN3zQnSWLKNW1ZmhX45mwgGixpHRcoURTwVWJ0HcpHCL7wVeUPA/s1600/Dikdik+X62A9123+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0oUInjKiFMidyI3aR8S9pOP3ebNrls17p_t-qdwvpt-sQPz-1SBeMuBo0B4lMT7BkmXCL1KZFiSDGtOlmHaodJO0gAN3zQnSWLKNW1ZmhX45mwgGixpHRcoURTwVWJ0HcpHCL7wVeUPA/s1600/Dikdik+X62A9123+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dik Dik. A really tiny antelope. Like a life-sized Bambi (OK, without the spots)</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Long-tailed Fiscal. A type of shrike. They all have a slightly hooked bill.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLXc-TJHbbEt7PQaSjrjcOXfk2neICqteWAb2DvDX94l5Dl_uYlyzecyRHWFLIQX3u6ug-4EhID4ZHl_sAuSWJT0zjHqwZ_td-jbaIZ3uF3nu_vWiN7ZTnPy70od427Td6ebAXyWiXTE/s1600/Elephant+-+Savannah+X62A8651+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqLXc-TJHbbEt7PQaSjrjcOXfk2neICqteWAb2DvDX94l5Dl_uYlyzecyRHWFLIQX3u6ug-4EhID4ZHl_sAuSWJT0zjHqwZ_td-jbaIZ3uF3nu_vWiN7ZTnPy70od427Td6ebAXyWiXTE/s1600/Elephant+-+Savannah+X62A8651+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Savanna Elephants with Mt. Kilimanjaro in the background. Every day, the elephants walk from the foothills of Kilimanjaro (in Tanzania) to the swamp in Amboseli. Every evening, they tramp back again to roost. It's a long way!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUlflELHlCOwR6TeGap7BaDwuZiOLVjEdJRrDCPQXNtZ9dHo9KKxE60Q4EMbJNy_58P7iDv4aNI5xcZ9XJkUXsaDZWGYbfH5a7aYr0ZLEfXKGj6GYW7Ycs8hYVLujN1FgxPU10KzIPms/s1600/Hoopoe+-+African+PJW_2292+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXUlflELHlCOwR6TeGap7BaDwuZiOLVjEdJRrDCPQXNtZ9dHo9KKxE60Q4EMbJNy_58P7iDv4aNI5xcZ9XJkUXsaDZWGYbfH5a7aYr0ZLEfXKGj6GYW7Ycs8hYVLujN1FgxPU10KzIPms/s1600/Hoopoe+-+African+PJW_2292+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">African Hoopoe (usually pronounced Hoopoo). It has a crest that it can raise when it wants to attract a female.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDla_XTFRd9EsjOiDh0aoTz_XO549Z1O0nLHs2rtc_QkoJpfJJiJiTyZLgOt3ZHxPNGgH5ti4PrL5JD6qITVZcQMIZ0RLhFEQcL21wtjRhAWIVNxPXfRoGVKa14pB9BtDbfxFUtUGZwWk/s1600/Plover+-+Crowned+PJW_0474+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDla_XTFRd9EsjOiDh0aoTz_XO549Z1O0nLHs2rtc_QkoJpfJJiJiTyZLgOt3ZHxPNGgH5ti4PrL5JD6qITVZcQMIZ0RLhFEQcL21wtjRhAWIVNxPXfRoGVKa14pB9BtDbfxFUtUGZwWk/s1600/Plover+-+Crowned+PJW_0474+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Crowned Plover</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7jws_YZybCfQuZshcB732AIlDRAk9BPpjJkcoilm2_hTm5l_Or1rs_DNIqEWvcSzap96Ty7djkcTw7bpuwQFtUuBcxtinmQfPuDkPMCorqaD4hyphenhyphenGYyHYbLuwmzKIqB-TiRqeMB3hcGU/s1600/Gazelle+-+Thomson%2527s+X62A8813+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhv7jws_YZybCfQuZshcB732AIlDRAk9BPpjJkcoilm2_hTm5l_Or1rs_DNIqEWvcSzap96Ty7djkcTw7bpuwQFtUuBcxtinmQfPuDkPMCorqaD4hyphenhyphenGYyHYbLuwmzKIqB-TiRqeMB3hcGU/s1600/Gazelle+-+Thomson%2527s+X62A8813+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Thompson's Gazelle. There are <br />several species all named after blokes. </span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocJ9SzTs2HzxMzaYJpNVewb_Yeb64YtBPFP8KjP-vDI0JbEBVkK5HBSrEMTfi71njpsYmezsvhusWJuQK1ECfPjUbqGbk-krhnyq2E93gwKm1ccCvBRH-Xt-r8nTWiCMeb8fTPx1S6xc/s1600/Spurfowl+-+Yellow-throated+PJW_3800+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgocJ9SzTs2HzxMzaYJpNVewb_Yeb64YtBPFP8KjP-vDI0JbEBVkK5HBSrEMTfi71njpsYmezsvhusWJuQK1ECfPjUbqGbk-krhnyq2E93gwKm1ccCvBRH-Xt-r8nTWiCMeb8fTPx1S6xc/s1600/Spurfowl+-+Yellow-throated+PJW_3800+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yellow-throated Francolin. A very noisy bird - I love noisy birds!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkxKTgWTiF6qVr-eNB_Gcno8p_FJpsAyHxxJczeOK4C2WBBRoSJFMCZYz7UPXJP-wZvFP6cf-dctvUfyw18BAzjHEHt1IyZ8Sxg1MxRNZuaIkHb9ePcB1Srd-Lx5zWB4GZ2e006du0UI/s1600/Vulture+-+African+White-backed+PJW_1806+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifkxKTgWTiF6qVr-eNB_Gcno8p_FJpsAyHxxJczeOK4C2WBBRoSJFMCZYz7UPXJP-wZvFP6cf-dctvUfyw18BAzjHEHt1IyZ8Sxg1MxRNZuaIkHb9ePcB1Srd-Lx5zWB4GZ2e006du0UI/s1600/Vulture+-+African+White-backed+PJW_1806+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">African White-backed Vultures. Don't you just love vultures?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Sometimes there was a little action to see. This young Tawny Eagle was happily sitting in the nest. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgge1MRMASZEOcLUgAciNVdVLx46TYGU8BVmqOxqEvlW2BgppAmupVWs9h5Cxzru4k5upBcYwHXJ1ESNOVJuE-nMl-vURQfkBvtPXsL34vKE6eUA-Q5YYH54nFB5e_bYwF7Ww5XP1EF6lQ/s1600/Eagle+-+Tawney+J+PJW_0224+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgge1MRMASZEOcLUgAciNVdVLx46TYGU8BVmqOxqEvlW2BgppAmupVWs9h5Cxzru4k5upBcYwHXJ1ESNOVJuE-nMl-vURQfkBvtPXsL34vKE6eUA-Q5YYH54nFB5e_bYwF7Ww5XP1EF6lQ/s1600/Eagle+-+Tawney+J+PJW_0224+crop.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Suddenly, an adult (presumably it's parent) flies in and throws him out. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznPaw9LM8UlJeebCQnaAL0JsIfhrmlefcULL-pYHmx0XM8ESOVjdIIn909x76AXeDs4J9eBM_W3DTS1nGC9SEdrHOrTMu9L4OjVVi55bOWH1vQdILjMccWwyMurRX5LEbnfyzUbnD4oQ/s1600/Eagle+-+Tawney+J+PJW_0235+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznPaw9LM8UlJeebCQnaAL0JsIfhrmlefcULL-pYHmx0XM8ESOVjdIIn909x76AXeDs4J9eBM_W3DTS1nGC9SEdrHOrTMu9L4OjVVi55bOWH1vQdILjMccWwyMurRX5LEbnfyzUbnD4oQ/s1600/Eagle+-+Tawney+J+PJW_0235+crop.jpg" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7k2fA34J4DwGzSUgcOAcCtTVbkQrTXmAqICJHV1jHBvVObdeEb14EMQHMG3E9H8gC1-g0MlgIfaegA7Bu077xIdjWjsqH2L9rDExyTs5-Ul_h2pzaSW-lW4zMG6RqDRFlCL_dJ68fRhk/s1600/Eagle+-+Tawney+J+PJW_0237+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7k2fA34J4DwGzSUgcOAcCtTVbkQrTXmAqICJHV1jHBvVObdeEb14EMQHMG3E9H8gC1-g0MlgIfaegA7Bu077xIdjWjsqH2L9rDExyTs5-Ul_h2pzaSW-lW4zMG6RqDRFlCL_dJ68fRhk/s1600/Eagle+-+Tawney+J+PJW_0237+crop.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The juvenile is thrown down from the nest. We lost him from sight temporarily.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkCMiAt3KcINrH_eozxgc5BXU6Ff18iWjlDoOS5U3TTtoQdCvDS7HpDungIDoHtpq1Rm-TOOuqbjytb3lJ3hYzT73jQ1DtBSUaOU1VJc44dEriMV_98ZCpQzAkuWxsqGqiwiSbwXZqLw/s1600/Eagle+-+Tawney+J+PJW_0239+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQkCMiAt3KcINrH_eozxgc5BXU6Ff18iWjlDoOS5U3TTtoQdCvDS7HpDungIDoHtpq1Rm-TOOuqbjytb3lJ3hYzT73jQ1DtBSUaOU1VJc44dEriMV_98ZCpQzAkuWxsqGqiwiSbwXZqLw/s1600/Eagle+-+Tawney+J+PJW_0239+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Down he goes!</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMHfhzLJ6KiUC6uJASZfdLnn6NbnPGPX9KrGjIYp6Q-aRGnTJPEDLl0m8B4X-8V_QyxAhU0bBYF0T-0PqsaS8k4W2NQt5KYYA_kxa1Y7bIR3wFou-XNSdROhTDWUJdHLhBfQgFm-rRvo/s1600/Eagle+-+Tawney+J+PJW_0265+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMHfhzLJ6KiUC6uJASZfdLnn6NbnPGPX9KrGjIYp6Q-aRGnTJPEDLl0m8B4X-8V_QyxAhU0bBYF0T-0PqsaS8k4W2NQt5KYYA_kxa1Y7bIR3wFou-XNSdROhTDWUJdHLhBfQgFm-rRvo/s1600/Eagle+-+Tawney+J+PJW_0265+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Later, we find him again on the ground, looking rather forlorn!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMHfhzLJ6KiUC6uJASZfdLnn6NbnPGPX9KrGjIYp6Q-aRGnTJPEDLl0m8B4X-8V_QyxAhU0bBYF0T-0PqsaS8k4W2NQt5KYYA_kxa1Y7bIR3wFou-XNSdROhTDWUJdHLhBfQgFm-rRvo/s1600/Eagle+-+Tawney+J+PJW_0265+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoMHfhzLJ6KiUC6uJASZfdLnn6NbnPGPX9KrGjIYp6Q-aRGnTJPEDLl0m8B4X-8V_QyxAhU0bBYF0T-0PqsaS8k4W2NQt5KYYA_kxa1Y7bIR3wFou-XNSdROhTDWUJdHLhBfQgFm-rRvo/s1600/Eagle+-+Tawney+J+PJW_0265+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He's homeless now.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiTksMcdfGhk-ZnEvdcRj_y-3n_yhwpjJUQaYA89nkspKhABQ_ZG4R-oKyNNFWNUf73OHWqD21dZvdrN5bPAgxuR3d8fupRmLaiX0LRRcYPmsUtKHRcb3SeKVZQtDRwi9f7HwrPIN05s/s1600/Elephant+-+Savannah+X62A9052+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeiTksMcdfGhk-ZnEvdcRj_y-3n_yhwpjJUQaYA89nkspKhABQ_ZG4R-oKyNNFWNUf73OHWqD21dZvdrN5bPAgxuR3d8fupRmLaiX0LRRcYPmsUtKHRcb3SeKVZQtDRwi9f7HwrPIN05s/s1600/Elephant+-+Savannah+X62A9052+crop.jpg" style="cursor: move;" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: left;">The evening march of the elephants is impressive. They stop at nothing and advance surprisingly quickly.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-zkkcP1EbBwpgRn9wVV3o_qatci_0Q6OhC7Xgm40tWjYWRwBxpqJf5kfbos4_Umwt0P63W44hP0_mks4UC1QqIPg3WvpwJwp7_2v4IwOX9A55fOIvqRkDLL5dHBgDEUNh57BauMjqc4/s1600/Elephant+-+Savannah+PJW_4200+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp-zkkcP1EbBwpgRn9wVV3o_qatci_0Q6OhC7Xgm40tWjYWRwBxpqJf5kfbos4_Umwt0P63W44hP0_mks4UC1QqIPg3WvpwJwp7_2v4IwOX9A55fOIvqRkDLL5dHBgDEUNh57BauMjqc4/s1600/Elephant+-+Savannah+PJW_4200+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Resting under a tree during heavy rain.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="text-align: center;">* * * * *</span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">More action from everyday life. This African Harrier Hawk is on a mission:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCxevoiEaOsM2JWooIFB6c7SiDCyPLeQg91FtDWZJDz5jDz4-8X35M5rUEuz1zoHrZGVNMYh-nFjh_WvQ55FXsw8E-a5SnqQK4nVgg7iK1ThIV08L2pZUw9mLUNIXm9XlGelzesMX_ZY/s1600/Hawk+-+African+Harrier+PJW_1720+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiCxevoiEaOsM2JWooIFB6c7SiDCyPLeQg91FtDWZJDz5jDz4-8X35M5rUEuz1zoHrZGVNMYh-nFjh_WvQ55FXsw8E-a5SnqQK4nVgg7iK1ThIV08L2pZUw9mLUNIXm9XlGelzesMX_ZY/s1600/Hawk+-+African+Harrier+PJW_1720+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I can see food.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVMhKNOCWH_X7hc3uG-oBjqpRvSGuB2lPO_BMwsIeybqC0VPN53-0jzASkQQciyWKqwVZIGbm4iq183cLpMW-2uDGSp4epoSJfIfLohuYkQxTealzaP9DePq1IVNUlC_nx_ueOnuf09s/s1600/Hawk+-+African+Harrier+PJW_1759+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihVMhKNOCWH_X7hc3uG-oBjqpRvSGuB2lPO_BMwsIeybqC0VPN53-0jzASkQQciyWKqwVZIGbm4iq183cLpMW-2uDGSp4epoSJfIfLohuYkQxTealzaP9DePq1IVNUlC_nx_ueOnuf09s/s1600/Hawk+-+African+Harrier+PJW_1759+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">He jumps up to the nest of a Red-billed Buffalo Weaver (quite a large Weaver) and attacks, hanging by his talons! The weaver flies off!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";">This was only the start of our adventure. 'Amboseli 2' follows shortly!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Other parts are here: </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2019/11/kenya-3-15-november-2019-amboseli-tsavo.html" target="_blank">Part 1 </a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/02/kenya-3-15-november-2019-amboseli-part-2.html" target="_blank">Part 2</a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/03/kenya-3-15-november-2019-tsavo-west.html" target="_blank">Part 3 </a> <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.com/2020/03/kenya-3-15-november-2019-part-4-tsavo.html" target="_blank">Part 4</a></span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span><br />
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Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-3996781058450817692019-11-01T19:40:00.000+00:002019-11-01T20:16:23.882+00:00Isles of Scilly,19-26 October 2019 <br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I spent a week on the Isles of
Scilly from 19-26 October 2019 with David Campbell, Ian Jones, Magnus Andersson
and Paul Goodman. We rented the same house high on a hill overlooking Hughtown
on St Mary's. From the house we had a good view of both sides of the isthmus
whatever the weather.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The Isles of Scilly are about 50km west of Lands End, here:</span></span></div>
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<img alt="79980cde57046efe7835ab8246faefe9f0cdb0f2 cornwall and the isles of scilly" src="https://d6bycdqursbhf.cloudfront.net/uploads/image_asset/file/5033/79980cde57046efe7835ab8246faefe9f0cdb0f2_cornwall-and-the-isles-of-scilly.png?v=1" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We were lucky enough to enjoy very
good weather until the Friday, when a severe storm set in. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9Y-_Ij1vtSciOGcr6Y-azMwEIT8IR6rmPV93Yv_mkXKJC9qSgsKB_ifYyoXRFN3xwJWfhVuEsjcyqmdcVBmg4xXmAQq2OLq01w9GAyyMXv7TYNtLXgzxHzYKs2ByLZEcCPhcdYGotTo/s1600/20191021_081050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiI9Y-_Ij1vtSciOGcr6Y-azMwEIT8IR6rmPV93Yv_mkXKJC9qSgsKB_ifYyoXRFN3xwJWfhVuEsjcyqmdcVBmg4xXmAQq2OLq01w9GAyyMXv7TYNtLXgzxHzYKs2ByLZEcCPhcdYGotTo/s640/20191021_081050.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Before Friday</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehRt6FHGAsnda3HBoihgba34XZ4xWBnev1D_7Ng3XyCfggfcpzfiqE7rhF5CPc7NRLXit8KEI5fyoopnNHp-eFmXuw1v1ztAbRvmm_BPVrqPtq1WSNNuCbU8QsN230V39o6xgSBfmP-0/s1600/20191026_084624.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="360" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiehRt6FHGAsnda3HBoihgba34XZ4xWBnev1D_7Ng3XyCfggfcpzfiqE7rhF5CPc7NRLXit8KEI5fyoopnNHp-eFmXuw1v1ztAbRvmm_BPVrqPtq1WSNNuCbU8QsN230V39o6xgSBfmP-0/s640/20191026_084624.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On Friday</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Until the storm, we were able to enjoy
the delights of St Mary's, St Agnes, Tresco and St. Martins. Being islands, travel
on foot is easy, as no island is more than four or five kilometres long.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Rarities.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">At this time of year, birds are
migrating. They stop off at the Isles of Scilly to rest, before continuing their
journey South. In addition, some migrating birds from further afield may get
blown a lot further than they bargained for. They end up way off course on the
Isles of Scilly.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are a few rarities which we saw:</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QunXkpNm2g3Es5KbHxSt1P7lBIscH4akRM34Brxw5KJXuiiEqOQ6OHkzuNevZYfIBSyiIxAEJ-40St0_vN3Jiav3d1YJOLfLO6f8XYj6IDEJRMwKPCp2QwULN01CaezSz_z4QfY8DsE/s1600/Bunting+-+Lapland+PJW_5365+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QunXkpNm2g3Es5KbHxSt1P7lBIscH4akRM34Brxw5KJXuiiEqOQ6OHkzuNevZYfIBSyiIxAEJ-40St0_vN3Jiav3d1YJOLfLO6f8XYj6IDEJRMwKPCp2QwULN01CaezSz_z4QfY8DsE/s1600/Bunting+-+Lapland+PJW_5365+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lapland Bunting in a field with cattle</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXWnz-RRRAiGFyBFyRq0aRi3agMr-3X5fcoMm8pOwngiCJjCH9RK3RR1ZQmm1SwlEpLdec4oOH8xpGAtM4Ac47nT34e08Hbxdneu6JugVHkqobHqEiOhORCFTmzQXpDtxrrwR6b9UH70/s1600/Crake+-+Spotted+PJW_5622+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXWnz-RRRAiGFyBFyRq0aRi3agMr-3X5fcoMm8pOwngiCJjCH9RK3RR1ZQmm1SwlEpLdec4oOH8xpGAtM4Ac47nT34e08Hbxdneu6JugVHkqobHqEiOhORCFTmzQXpDtxrrwR6b9UH70/s1600/Crake+-+Spotted+PJW_5622+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Spotted Crake - a normally elusive water bird. This one was quite confiding.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbNTY1-um4LybYR_l9VU_CUwYKjTxzeWWDSagQvzpYI-fQnZawp0t3Bmf2SjqrwplQLVFHo1fCXhi0s5lQnoKyy3hW5MZwd-n_QkqkEmPTPTGkXVgJjeb8vGdqrBGN9VIQv-WLYe8ujM/s1600/Diver+-+Red-Throated+PJW_4938+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFbNTY1-um4LybYR_l9VU_CUwYKjTxzeWWDSagQvzpYI-fQnZawp0t3Bmf2SjqrwplQLVFHo1fCXhi0s5lQnoKyy3hW5MZwd-n_QkqkEmPTPTGkXVgJjeb8vGdqrBGN9VIQv-WLYe8ujM/s1600/Diver+-+Red-Throated+PJW_4938+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Red-throated Diver. In Penzance Harbour.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTUo5YpbeIgrDhF5vH3wGbnXHe_J6ciR_VetA9ga5sLCXkZgeKfaCeXgtiOkOaxDzgy3bBLohnAGwOvl_S6ZP2uLer1PbpbxkJeG74UrKSyh-CjzhE0941IKaZ2qNessbzl3KJ55jpu0/s1600/Rock-thrush+-+Blue+PJW_5096+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrTUo5YpbeIgrDhF5vH3wGbnXHe_J6ciR_VetA9ga5sLCXkZgeKfaCeXgtiOkOaxDzgy3bBLohnAGwOvl_S6ZP2uLer1PbpbxkJeG74UrKSyh-CjzhE0941IKaZ2qNessbzl3KJ55jpu0/s1600/Rock-thrush+-+Blue+PJW_5096+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Blue Rock Thrush. I know it doesn't look blue in this photo.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43UXFFYcHwApVLtxRK7MOb5aX7TFkZGfbd0uc1nyKMEGNEnY0RE-3Lpwm3A6zJ6IGNbnBg4uuMiblD5UPXGhraS2ETeZqmqGhpkZ6F75pY6YS7C21fEzdODpsVMU_DHmjmpKveQ-rE9s/s1600/Sandpiper+-+Spotted+PJW_5251+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43UXFFYcHwApVLtxRK7MOb5aX7TFkZGfbd0uc1nyKMEGNEnY0RE-3Lpwm3A6zJ6IGNbnBg4uuMiblD5UPXGhraS2ETeZqmqGhpkZ6F75pY6YS7C21fEzdODpsVMU_DHmjmpKveQ-rE9s/s1600/Sandpiper+-+Spotted+PJW_5251+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Spotted Sandpiper - A vagrant from America.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4DPamUmNPacBZ-XpzfN1axN1BsMfzYItpGPQroH38Tw5VcP7adlkqUymZJm3TC7qIo8r1MhUsjVeMQAHEbknPgScEtJWEU6zyxLAcw8LFuugofkxvGaz4mrsavdKHPQ3tb-9Ba7WnIQ/s1600/Wagtail+-+Citrine+PJW_5638+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ4DPamUmNPacBZ-XpzfN1axN1BsMfzYItpGPQroH38Tw5VcP7adlkqUymZJm3TC7qIo8r1MhUsjVeMQAHEbknPgScEtJWEU6zyxLAcw8LFuugofkxvGaz4mrsavdKHPQ3tb-9Ba7WnIQ/s1600/Wagtail+-+Citrine+PJW_5638+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Citrine Wagtail - Also in a field with cattle. They rely on the livestock to disturb insects, which the birds then eat.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGI7ltkPMF08GcNwmM3-hGWrHm_BmeIXuZUxL-RBXCUR-KJL83RwiB1IJDtxnHtlE2a_5I6nXfivvoctg7ZktqwXG1et8EIkIhBbJGgaJU5KnX1Uk2InkwEv6PgXJTwFN0I338w2gml0s/s1600/Warbler+-+Subalpine+PJW_5178+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="999" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGI7ltkPMF08GcNwmM3-hGWrHm_BmeIXuZUxL-RBXCUR-KJL83RwiB1IJDtxnHtlE2a_5I6nXfivvoctg7ZktqwXG1et8EIkIhBbJGgaJU5KnX1Uk2InkwEv6PgXJTwFN0I338w2gml0s/s1600/Warbler+-+Subalpine+PJW_5178+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Subalpine Warbler. This one is a juvenile and looks quite like a Lesser Whitethroat!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqdWWgQlBisD60dpXJcxzWS2pqwdE25FJMhb0Tp4HJ2V1hETMykrM2BYjNEYLmhLNEKnKmNtlFnxaLm92heMGGEjKl8Lwwd46TSKnDolORx4td4h0JDRF89kWXTCMPSu5FQe0AWyYnw4/s1600/Warbler+-+Yellow-browed+PJW_5796+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtqdWWgQlBisD60dpXJcxzWS2pqwdE25FJMhb0Tp4HJ2V1hETMykrM2BYjNEYLmhLNEKnKmNtlFnxaLm92heMGGEjKl8Lwwd46TSKnDolORx4td4h0JDRF89kWXTCMPSu5FQe0AWyYnw4/s1600/Warbler+-+Yellow-browed+PJW_5796+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Yellow-browed Warbler. A vagrant from the Far East. At this time of year they are relatively common, with a few hundred records countrywide.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The migration attracts a good number of birdwatchers
and twitchers. For those of you unfamiliar with the difference: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A <b>birdwatcher</b> is someone who likes
birds and usually visits somewhere for an afternoon or a day to see which
birds are present, and what turns up during their stay.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A <b>twitcher</b> is a birdwatcher who usually
has a pager, and gets news of rare birds reported around the country. If one
appears that they have not seen before, they drop everything (if they can) and
travel to wherever the bird is. Sometimes, they see it and sometimes not.
If they see it, they can add it to their list. Twitchers aim to see as many
birds as they can in their own country.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Going to the Isles of Scilly is a
mixture of both birdwatching and twitching rare vagrants that happen to turn up
there. Most twitches are, however, only a boat ride and a </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">short</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> walk away!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The night sky and the lack of light pollution.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Isles of Scilly are quite isolated from the mainland. Light pollution is virtually non-existent. In consequence, on a clear night the stars are easily visible. The Milky Way, our galaxy, is visible to the naked eye. Through binoculars, literally thousands of stars are visible.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSR8PnFvY62UI-OGEaK_xWZkLUp_1mXM1lS6sEV_Pw6An16Edg7PIe6MsDiUYGAH07b2byCdA8gwokU2r3Xn_YHyOK80HudLCWVOo3F65AoJf8Yh0XnNDy4lVUb5MM666oiQgwtdD48s/s1600/Milky+Way+2018.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1066" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnSR8PnFvY62UI-OGEaK_xWZkLUp_1mXM1lS6sEV_Pw6An16Edg7PIe6MsDiUYGAH07b2byCdA8gwokU2r3Xn_YHyOK80HudLCWVOo3F65AoJf8Yh0XnNDy4lVUb5MM666oiQgwtdD48s/s1600/Milky+Way+2018.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Milky Way - taken last year on St. Mary's</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Other Birds.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As well as the rarities, there are also many other common birds on Scilly. Here are some. Many will be familiar to UK readers. This hen harrier was flying along when it saw a female pheasant. This is what happened:</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00NpVqfXEcyIBNPvVFEqMITZuDCkA_CwFHugPZ3Qwd-mpkxMrAMFXDv0a-KwQMLtD_QS_nKaCaD2j_OusPsNxzXQs-AlF4zBf1DcAYPIiRDsb7QGd33_WNCaKHHZaP1bINf9w2fg3AP4/s1600/Harrier+-+1+Hen+J+PJW_6081+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj00NpVqfXEcyIBNPvVFEqMITZuDCkA_CwFHugPZ3Qwd-mpkxMrAMFXDv0a-KwQMLtD_QS_nKaCaD2j_OusPsNxzXQs-AlF4zBf1DcAYPIiRDsb7QGd33_WNCaKHHZaP1bINf9w2fg3AP4/s1600/Harrier+-+1+Hen+J+PJW_6081+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Hen harrier - "Aye, aye, what have we here?"</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Heo5C156X61kHarvffmoHiQaMtDyx16uS3JwKuObBeIbd4KHj4-Bj27JuBqVASsIwq5r7_G1g12ZBgVfdOgQg_Ccw3h1ho-O6J0QNt5CK_Xl6QaEgIgaSpYYr6l1LPgOx-XaPOOqGYE/s1600/Harrier+-+2+Hen+J+PJW_6086+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Heo5C156X61kHarvffmoHiQaMtDyx16uS3JwKuObBeIbd4KHj4-Bj27JuBqVASsIwq5r7_G1g12ZBgVfdOgQg_Ccw3h1ho-O6J0QNt5CK_Xl6QaEgIgaSpYYr6l1LPgOx-XaPOOqGYE/s1600/Harrier+-+2+Hen+J+PJW_6086+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whatever it has seen, it makes straight for it!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDnsiklC4U5UKIddj5e_n3rlz3g4Z_eg3UlvEhzV_Oj1GdldcKnY6K43B728ARGnNkqdLuIjVlnQlPHm5dtpldq5mNSEXmq4oxdfq3zVJzdQRuOGAQEVXW6grlgRHbLAfH9sYndMmBw0/s1600/Harrier+-+3+Hen+J+PJW_6085+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglDnsiklC4U5UKIddj5e_n3rlz3g4Z_eg3UlvEhzV_Oj1GdldcKnY6K43B728ARGnNkqdLuIjVlnQlPHm5dtpldq5mNSEXmq4oxdfq3zVJzdQRuOGAQEVXW6grlgRHbLAfH9sYndMmBw0/s1600/Harrier+-+3+Hen+J+PJW_6085+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The pheasant realises it's in danger and makes a 'run' for it!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMlQb1GbTFL7krN_tubhii4L77VCl7P_Ad2Pg6YSLiy5exBH9goHJio4iJhJcpuvD4Als0RIq2gi3nkb5iDaIazoSZ2P65drfAdG-35otzuRWBk5OQhyj363ek7VvwlAc0zTnkdzpc98/s1600/Harrier+-+4+Hen+J+PJW_6083+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzMlQb1GbTFL7krN_tubhii4L77VCl7P_Ad2Pg6YSLiy5exBH9goHJio4iJhJcpuvD4Als0RIq2gi3nkb5iDaIazoSZ2P65drfAdG-35otzuRWBk5OQhyj363ek7VvwlAc0zTnkdzpc98/s1600/Harrier+-+4+Hen+J+PJW_6083+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Hen Harrier gives chase. He was ultimately unsuccessful. The pheasant got away!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwwtLn8ptDo0ZQQesX5HRWqDoGYWQICUD2w0SW5r3LHG3vC_A_LaHGnKAZe-uey_g5lemzkCakhoxL-DVVzdEqzal-Yfac8X92nK0kXDRX8vM02QJrWsvojtz8ybzLqrwlsaJq4ELit8/s1600/Harrier+-+Hen+J+PJW_6136+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglwwtLn8ptDo0ZQQesX5HRWqDoGYWQICUD2w0SW5r3LHG3vC_A_LaHGnKAZe-uey_g5lemzkCakhoxL-DVVzdEqzal-Yfac8X92nK0kXDRX8vM02QJrWsvojtz8ybzLqrwlsaJq4ELit8/s1600/Harrier+-+Hen+J+PJW_6136+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Shortly after, the Hen Harrier is worried by a Raven. There's no peace if you're a raptor!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There were one or two unusual birds this time. This Blackbird has a white head!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpkH2fVvhlZ91SntWvck8uTWbTe5IOn3GQY2UP8Lbtgj7cNY2T8EiN-JhqKTPOsUfn9Z0bah9Fikf6NVL0gFHa6ZeNc2e0GGv1eoXnL6yVeg4ezm-hznsaJGE-9KTLVBxmtrdwW4i7Pk/s1600/Balckbird+with+white+head+PJW_6005+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFpkH2fVvhlZ91SntWvck8uTWbTe5IOn3GQY2UP8Lbtgj7cNY2T8EiN-JhqKTPOsUfn9Z0bah9Fikf6NVL0gFHa6ZeNc2e0GGv1eoXnL6yVeg4ezm-hznsaJGE-9KTLVBxmtrdwW4i7Pk/s1600/Balckbird+with+white+head+PJW_6005+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Blackbird with white head</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLx8oNpqZRRjSfaricS5wF1LJX6KeNCYuHV14RzwoT2sI98ESdTDUKvTD8jAy6-IPJGpzF2TfLJO4bX7fIqS0sEl8MuTI605w7dbK3p3UdHnzfJOYld933yXFtISFk6TmKeofuW-6LoJM/s1600/Blackbird+-+Scandinavian+PJW_5491+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLx8oNpqZRRjSfaricS5wF1LJX6KeNCYuHV14RzwoT2sI98ESdTDUKvTD8jAy6-IPJGpzF2TfLJO4bX7fIqS0sEl8MuTI605w7dbK3p3UdHnzfJOYld933yXFtISFk6TmKeofuW-6LoJM/s1600/Blackbird+-+Scandinavian+PJW_5491+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The dark bill on this blackbird indicates that it is from Scandinavia. Normally, the bill of the male Blackbird is orange - see photo above.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Here are three our our smallest birds.</span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvY9Goy7N1EO6NNL3VTUWLfwgvTh-sW0rEpcpKtfm2doVGaQoeDgSomnw_4G_7eRdx6KsnCYZbgtN4_bD0f08Unlq2DlbKelF8Qwi-wEtzWJwX9pu42VSkd2W0yZoNvCd9nzDMJIhDEyY/s1600/Wren+PJW_5550+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="999" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvY9Goy7N1EO6NNL3VTUWLfwgvTh-sW0rEpcpKtfm2doVGaQoeDgSomnw_4G_7eRdx6KsnCYZbgtN4_bD0f08Unlq2DlbKelF8Qwi-wEtzWJwX9pu42VSkd2W0yZoNvCd9nzDMJIhDEyY/s1600/Wren+PJW_5550+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This Wren, one of our most common birds, is enjoying a juicy slug!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAPkvQk38dgcfAoIwOxIakxV9JvT9C5T9NbPPLYPm_IMoxoLCkJDXNkeF9l_-dHQr5rA6sOHr8qK6Xb55yh_TxfD7dWwA2art-00p5rWOip0m01Dm5uIEfkk3KxaTgHpEHBRdhEksuSE/s1600/Firecrest+PJW_5464+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidAPkvQk38dgcfAoIwOxIakxV9JvT9C5T9NbPPLYPm_IMoxoLCkJDXNkeF9l_-dHQr5rA6sOHr8qK6Xb55yh_TxfD7dWwA2art-00p5rWOip0m01Dm5uIEfkk3KxaTgHpEHBRdhEksuSE/s1600/Firecrest+PJW_5464+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Firecrest (with the Goldcrest, our smallest bird) prefers mixed woodland.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAs7YwsHvuGQuMzUjsD5D0Ps0ieyT8Wwmc_ND0-JGnqA6uFz5J4qeg_qtlWb2Df80xHzBxerswClkOwdKEOCkjbnubD4eO2GH_yBH5ITjxrR3R37XbUrWTcnqThU8QkwdmXWC47jcAns/s1600/Goldcrest+PJW_5907+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOAs7YwsHvuGQuMzUjsD5D0Ps0ieyT8Wwmc_ND0-JGnqA6uFz5J4qeg_qtlWb2Df80xHzBxerswClkOwdKEOCkjbnubD4eO2GH_yBH5ITjxrR3R37XbUrWTcnqThU8QkwdmXWC47jcAns/s1600/Goldcrest+PJW_5907+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Goldcrest, being so small, is rather flighty and difficult to photograph. It prefers conifers, but is here in deciduous woodland.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpIxzvsC-9UaPcmfjhvxbm5zLeu0Gr6aQJkxFSa9eR0QfABpwddj9xKDMyDyynklNtqPgv2UlNnGXx-uXOZ7gMagg3OX4cI7Cn5ZGybemej0TFxAU7sXyHCgg83BIVYfTn-25kBkMQgg/s1600/Wheatear+-+Northern+PJW_5334+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFpIxzvsC-9UaPcmfjhvxbm5zLeu0Gr6aQJkxFSa9eR0QfABpwddj9xKDMyDyynklNtqPgv2UlNnGXx-uXOZ7gMagg3OX4cI7Cn5ZGybemej0TFxAU7sXyHCgg83BIVYfTn-25kBkMQgg/s1600/Wheatear+-+Northern+PJW_5334+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Wheatears are fairly common on migration. They often sit on the top of rocks.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqsLVzIxZeCnV3FPtAq06cFCEGQnOvi_Gr-Y5BSLFiLEZC9j-MOmFsw6ffWF-TAl1mGbCxmvQ2_tmyemqDf3fzpwRWY1rNmSUpywknEzphVerBRmfhHf4qSPWY4cmVtv919uPKkDGCvs/s1600/Siskin+PJW_5775+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKqsLVzIxZeCnV3FPtAq06cFCEGQnOvi_Gr-Y5BSLFiLEZC9j-MOmFsw6ffWF-TAl1mGbCxmvQ2_tmyemqDf3fzpwRWY1rNmSUpywknEzphVerBRmfhHf4qSPWY4cmVtv919uPKkDGCvs/s1600/Siskin+PJW_5775+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Siskin. A lovely lemon bird. They sometimes come to bird feeders.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYoMrDIDrSewJDndO5g0Gcy48-cdFtx9-DupcMhkCLgF3l4kaoi6UC8mZE8aNg2-rLZJAIYOtUESgT8KbYxLSbkByjUdkgFvT16oLNfZvrUc4OcH8rquwCRbyycogbWFGUDToFoW53V4/s1600/Flycatcher+-+Spotted+PJW_5208+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZYoMrDIDrSewJDndO5g0Gcy48-cdFtx9-DupcMhkCLgF3l4kaoi6UC8mZE8aNg2-rLZJAIYOtUESgT8KbYxLSbkByjUdkgFvT16oLNfZvrUc4OcH8rquwCRbyycogbWFGUDToFoW53V4/s1600/Flycatcher+-+Spotted+PJW_5208+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This Spotted Flycatcher was hunting from the roof of the Parsonage.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKtofzW0f7h1eYD44T_q_RpxCyJuBfWiNec9t0QJPWLJDW9YFnSouJ5nNkjTLydkwGkuGPLE6XoFDU2RBh2W2-fBBt_X5LFE29WstqYud9KVfUHmhcmtw8w2QdVa6X6nI0dYld1tsj_g/s1600/Starling+PJW_5558+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyKtofzW0f7h1eYD44T_q_RpxCyJuBfWiNec9t0QJPWLJDW9YFnSouJ5nNkjTLydkwGkuGPLE6XoFDU2RBh2W2-fBBt_X5LFE29WstqYud9KVfUHmhcmtw8w2QdVa6X6nI0dYld1tsj_g/s1600/Starling+PJW_5558+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Starlings are underrated in my view. Close up, they are very attractive, with interesting markings.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kOdqW7UWr3qC-Y4h9ZlrWDp-Og59e8wYfMAGHBDIxZ4iZX-GGZmqKAEcQXADRuuujWYDCfUpK27-oLnqP64OwxYuGwzmCFZrf4hy610vycTYBzo07Ma7kLjlg8ClkfU4-_W5ZjZeQ8Y/s1600/Redstart+-+Black+PJW_6239+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6kOdqW7UWr3qC-Y4h9ZlrWDp-Og59e8wYfMAGHBDIxZ4iZX-GGZmqKAEcQXADRuuujWYDCfUpK27-oLnqP64OwxYuGwzmCFZrf4hy610vycTYBzo07Ma7kLjlg8ClkfU4-_W5ZjZeQ8Y/s1600/Redstart+-+Black+PJW_6239+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Black Redstarts can often be seen perching on rocks, fences or buildings. They whisk their tails often, displaying their red undertail.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is plenty of water in and around the Isles of Scilly. The shores, lakes and marshes are home to many aquatic species. Here are a few.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9iVjgcr1E4pXaXMKMncYZpH03QYuHPuHqOtzjiGntN402uH_VyOuB-BOq-vo0pPufvxi5ss_MYjEkDUUx-njN7Y14a5EDAfkeAYspK3xu0WyZ4HIg75YH4sqfe120VroRKIPceX-7VE/s1600/Oystercatcher+PJW_5330+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ9iVjgcr1E4pXaXMKMncYZpH03QYuHPuHqOtzjiGntN402uH_VyOuB-BOq-vo0pPufvxi5ss_MYjEkDUUx-njN7Y14a5EDAfkeAYspK3xu0WyZ4HIg75YH4sqfe120VroRKIPceX-7VE/s1600/Oystercatcher+PJW_5330+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oystercatcher. Who knows if they actually catch oysters. They are one of our most easily recognisable birds.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_-WwRWZyGfxLOlDCVmiK3_ktaPKLfNrr30aL9KSEsg7l-uFlZ80VJ163rcWwPeoHw_ZwhGSgaue5i4fC1i_azQQ_Iyt17T_acAEQbadSw7BfXlSl6XWA0PIMr4STkLyFj4NqvmyTOiE/s1600/Sanderling+PJW_5882+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_-WwRWZyGfxLOlDCVmiK3_ktaPKLfNrr30aL9KSEsg7l-uFlZ80VJ163rcWwPeoHw_ZwhGSgaue5i4fC1i_azQQ_Iyt17T_acAEQbadSw7BfXlSl6XWA0PIMr4STkLyFj4NqvmyTOiE/s1600/Sanderling+PJW_5882+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sanderling. A small wader, usually feeds by racing around in the surf as the water laps in and out. They are very active and mobile while feeding.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOtTwGt8OW-xYJxL8wlxQ3yAfdn4POhYFXV3qnDCviEOglfahlvGNmNSUiMwWpESb6YpIFGWI7UIn24IQ33jrR7-shgmoftc1rwJs8GzgbrkFPyXIxtS-J-jXr9NVqc-58xhjg10omV8/s1600/Snipe+PJW_6206+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfOtTwGt8OW-xYJxL8wlxQ3yAfdn4POhYFXV3qnDCviEOglfahlvGNmNSUiMwWpESb6YpIFGWI7UIn24IQ33jrR7-shgmoftc1rwJs8GzgbrkFPyXIxtS-J-jXr9NVqc-58xhjg10omV8/s1600/Snipe+PJW_6206+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Snipe. Often hard to see with their excellent camouflage. They probe for small creatures in soft mud. This bird was seen at dusk in very poor light.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoUTBf9OXkTgNYOHlk9kPE-uajPN9VLp5qLJhDpI83wH0HE9u2mhl50ckp2N5k2_QYxUcRjLJFVKc6zWnm-4L_CjzxZzf2hFXc1Tx7m0iR2FGoEPwfetEerfuHQeM2lU2eTm8rMC2ibQ/s1600/Rail+-+Water+PJW_6187+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJoUTBf9OXkTgNYOHlk9kPE-uajPN9VLp5qLJhDpI83wH0HE9u2mhl50ckp2N5k2_QYxUcRjLJFVKc6zWnm-4L_CjzxZzf2hFXc1Tx7m0iR2FGoEPwfetEerfuHQeM2lU2eTm8rMC2ibQ/s1600/Rail+-+Water+PJW_6187+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Water Rail. Even more skulking and elusive than the Snipe. This one also appeared well after sunset. Their call is like the squeal of a piglet.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tresco is probably the second most visited island outside St. Mary's. It is an interesting place, with large lakes, an Abbey and a well laid out garden. It is home to red squirrels. </span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3705Mrq9MfOUqJ8WEcQkoRMYwgwm0rgy2wdySlmGyb1n6Wb2Xo9XEJb_bCEMd4Qm5GEqjon5hmEpsCCAmjPUD4fjjq2IPCRDLanV9OcA6aD1mqdjtBjDv-i6zzcvFxOLiNeNMOCC5Dg/s1600/Squirrell+-+Red+PJW_5815+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_3705Mrq9MfOUqJ8WEcQkoRMYwgwm0rgy2wdySlmGyb1n6Wb2Xo9XEJb_bCEMd4Qm5GEqjon5hmEpsCCAmjPUD4fjjq2IPCRDLanV9OcA6aD1mqdjtBjDv-i6zzcvFxOLiNeNMOCC5Dg/s1600/Squirrell+-+Red+PJW_5815+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">After taking this photo, this red squirrel came so close that it was too near to photograph. I couldn't get my phone out quickly enough!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is one of our favourite birds. The ubiquitous Robin never fails to please. It's song is everywhere.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CeLREGwnczAKcu-9N3E31IEMiAMmRc7LTVtyucKGGOhraYVaO7i-IX-Dkg5DIFW09f-Wm24KaOumWQyIL435tsY1DLxNpXkmeI5XE_pzshm4lyOEFE5FOG7JDAiTp2eRuYSnPFun2DI/s1600/Robin+PJW_5446+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="699" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CeLREGwnczAKcu-9N3E31IEMiAMmRc7LTVtyucKGGOhraYVaO7i-IX-Dkg5DIFW09f-Wm24KaOumWQyIL435tsY1DLxNpXkmeI5XE_pzshm4lyOEFE5FOG7JDAiTp2eRuYSnPFun2DI/s1600/Robin+PJW_5446+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Robin - our national bird.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Unlike last year, when the ferry was delayed for two days because of the weather, we managed to leave on the right day! The storm on Friday delayed it's departure from 15.30 until 17.00 to give the wind a chance to die down. Even so, the crossing was 'interesting', with quite a high swell and some exciting pitches and rolls. It didn't seem too bad while you were sitting down. It was when you got up to go to the bar or walk to another deck that the rolling of the ship made it really difficult to move about.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We arrived in Penzance at about 20:00, collected the car and were back home in our beds by about 02:45 on Sunday morning. Luckily, the clocks went back that night, so we had an extra hour of sleep! Aah!</span><br />
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<br />Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-75334795157770621572019-04-09T16:04:00.000+01:002019-04-09T16:04:18.939+01:00Cuckmere Haven day trip<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">On Sunday, we returned to Cuckmere Haven to dull weather and rain in the afternoon. There were many fewer birds than last time, but we spent time with some common birds and getting reasonable photos. Here they are:</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTQwUPpHvcaxP_KgnT2au2_8FYYidrNqtuwpMI2itYnovE9JT42U_VHVGPeXcMR4gmpIh7SlrbFvdM_3gX-OqCft8ygluGOo4vJYLEYUQwmWO-nZRXMZzTkE-0HKlUBjBPIhjF82_kPI/s1600/Dunnock+3C3A6334+crop+V.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="709" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinTQwUPpHvcaxP_KgnT2au2_8FYYidrNqtuwpMI2itYnovE9JT42U_VHVGPeXcMR4gmpIh7SlrbFvdM_3gX-OqCft8ygluGOo4vJYLEYUQwmWO-nZRXMZzTkE-0HKlUBjBPIhjF82_kPI/s640/Dunnock+3C3A6334+crop+V.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Dunnock</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcf1V934TUBwoCDXYqlloEENGav_iam_6F4wMOjZUNinCpzC63QFWJLEfapN7Rj5t9T0_h2dSzLPOHRUsE41CJqY88C9tiKlt92QyxuM1ZrbXPMcC311jSAaYppVbTGL0zRbIXMcJ1w0/s1600/Egret+-+Little+3C3A6201+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="997" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtcf1V934TUBwoCDXYqlloEENGav_iam_6F4wMOjZUNinCpzC63QFWJLEfapN7Rj5t9T0_h2dSzLPOHRUsE41CJqY88C9tiKlt92QyxuM1ZrbXPMcC311jSAaYppVbTGL0zRbIXMcJ1w0/s640/Egret+-+Little+3C3A6201+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Little Egret</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dHNq4b5kaIepYqNtqu8QyBDP26DSXIw9PyXEpZRqZI5LGy33yAfLZQjSDgcKrrkXXQzVIdgtfC3uFr3YSbYUbL3UYcH8DUBAbt_JKguvYQoVNGuwKeLd-N6b4W2pn1Z01wp4aL1FWO8/s1600/Goose+-+Canada+3C3A5870+crop+M.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="997" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7dHNq4b5kaIepYqNtqu8QyBDP26DSXIw9PyXEpZRqZI5LGy33yAfLZQjSDgcKrrkXXQzVIdgtfC3uFr3YSbYUbL3UYcH8DUBAbt_JKguvYQoVNGuwKeLd-N6b4W2pn1Z01wp4aL1FWO8/s640/Goose+-+Canada+3C3A5870+crop+M.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Canada Geese strafe the sheep</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCxqn4zYKoAYhuqYV_ayoUv5PvfKKMUwroiZNmfddiIYtLeY6WLHyFqiYuM_1uj31saETdpAFVyxwv5RLUkZK1nM2qSADAFSGiDMdO1kTzzXXYsaKR7Et80XEJwZnxgAToPEt1l7xX6s/s1600/Oystercatcher+3C3A6058+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="997" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheCxqn4zYKoAYhuqYV_ayoUv5PvfKKMUwroiZNmfddiIYtLeY6WLHyFqiYuM_1uj31saETdpAFVyxwv5RLUkZK1nM2qSADAFSGiDMdO1kTzzXXYsaKR7Et80XEJwZnxgAToPEt1l7xX6s/s640/Oystercatcher+3C3A6058+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oystercatchers</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnVDKXQ_Q6LCSp84HfZ1wcZKOdgqR7NFtSmXVC6N3GpzPVUVWErjIBEJ2VUU0FjCliAuQBTIjCVz2DzGD1s5EHAijyQ6O_286gCPY-MlZ4AOl6DDDBwRhh_XGH4dc_c7RKULeUKq8w2Y/s1600/Skylark+3C3A5924+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="997" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmnVDKXQ_Q6LCSp84HfZ1wcZKOdgqR7NFtSmXVC6N3GpzPVUVWErjIBEJ2VUU0FjCliAuQBTIjCVz2DzGD1s5EHAijyQ6O_286gCPY-MlZ4AOl6DDDBwRhh_XGH4dc_c7RKULeUKq8w2Y/s640/Skylark+3C3A5924+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Skylark</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPlMbVjE5DmT9ZwxP_MZE9s3-8HP7KUAGf_7v4_vy3jE8OwuB4yhbDdDmB0hmexjLAWxq32frWz0xM9ggnqpjZOzGGvblJO9FEC7KVV01ACC_PhNdkCXHGz9g1TlF-9vq9BEuLCRVFt0/s1600/Stonechat+3C3A6412+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="997" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHPlMbVjE5DmT9ZwxP_MZE9s3-8HP7KUAGf_7v4_vy3jE8OwuB4yhbDdDmB0hmexjLAWxq32frWz0xM9ggnqpjZOzGGvblJO9FEC7KVV01ACC_PhNdkCXHGz9g1TlF-9vq9BEuLCRVFt0/s640/Stonechat+3C3A6412+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stonechat</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgPFc9hSOb83EpfBiDvyqMFB_WfHBsQ9066m81g3Jrs_-5tq62qPBn07MkwCZGebgHfOkxQS1RBQUW0dOwKwm7yHV7KxJBm4tqDBlbVvFRGV6vcAESW4rRu_Waw49lxxmhf1Bx3VjQek/s1600/Swan+-+Mute+3C3A6431+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="707" data-original-width="997" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgPFc9hSOb83EpfBiDvyqMFB_WfHBsQ9066m81g3Jrs_-5tq62qPBn07MkwCZGebgHfOkxQS1RBQUW0dOwKwm7yHV7KxJBm4tqDBlbVvFRGV6vcAESW4rRu_Waw49lxxmhf1Bx3VjQek/s640/Swan+-+Mute+3C3A6431+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mute Swans - both male by the looks of them</span></td></tr>
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<br />Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-60010516227227664212019-03-28T23:43:00.001+00:002019-03-28T23:45:28.059+00:00Kingfisher finally this year<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After several visits to Morden Hall Park, I finally met up with the kingfisher. He didn't just treat me to a flash of blue as he powered past me (though he did do that once or twice) but he sat nicely for a couple of minutes so I could get some photos. It's a shame about the branch in front, but, hey, you can't have everything!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoEz9XlDskxegIV0p6qCLJ7EQCWgnvz0oZ7ZKmzPwPsPqVg9mJqfl-oF4B9wYyx-9HRkUuNwXRGESGEU24_RV-nvgpcipg1d65ksGkxopbrigNr7HH0RKbEmOh4nKI3PhN-7yuQb_Qns/s1600/Kingfisher+3C3A5846+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1077" data-original-width="1519" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsoEz9XlDskxegIV0p6qCLJ7EQCWgnvz0oZ7ZKmzPwPsPqVg9mJqfl-oF4B9wYyx-9HRkUuNwXRGESGEU24_RV-nvgpcipg1d65ksGkxopbrigNr7HH0RKbEmOh4nKI3PhN-7yuQb_Qns/s640/Kingfisher+3C3A5846+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kingfisher - male. I only had my walkabout lens with me.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-38722052300364075602019-03-10T13:29:00.000+00:002019-03-10T18:19:05.018+00:00A day in Newhaven and Cuckmere Haven<br />
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down to the South coast yesterday to see Purple Sandpipers. I went with
Naveen, whom I met a few weeks ago, and who is a fellow birdwatcher and keen
photographer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We
went first to Newhaven East Pier to find Purple Sandpipers. They are passage
migrants, so they would be around for </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">only</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">a few weeks each year.</span></span></div>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;">On
arrival at the pier it was incredibly windy. We could see a group of birds
about halfway along. As we approached, it was a small flock of Purple
Sandpipers and Turnstones. The light was against us, so we needed to be on the other
side of them. As we tried to inch past, we flushed them and they flew to
the beach. Fortunately, a couple of walkers with a dog flushed them again and they came back to the pier. We were able to
take as many shots as we wanted as they were now comfortable with our
presence.</span><span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDZxgwc4d_9ctHg15h1zgCdeiUyk__-Z2z02sxOaRzUQzmZcbw1IaBL3nzNR2zG2wcz3_ELHw-5Am3CH6Swnp4TV4hnP5DAW1XflzIkKzG3PoWPC_IuwDhq1ne8hJh-CS4Q01T2CPinw/s1600/Sandpiper+-+Purple+3C3A4956+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="1600" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixDZxgwc4d_9ctHg15h1zgCdeiUyk__-Z2z02sxOaRzUQzmZcbw1IaBL3nzNR2zG2wcz3_ELHw-5Am3CH6Swnp4TV4hnP5DAW1XflzIkKzG3PoWPC_IuwDhq1ne8hJh-CS4Q01T2CPinw/s640/Sandpiper+-+Purple+3C3A4956+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Purple Sandpiper</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0XdQT-adEfNoa3clL_V12ZrMPEGbolUAWNiM1vS-qscOhTST_s33N9Nh9Zqjfa0HxYkemxgmVkbOJ4pcngtVbbAXjjIqWg4KyiqWaDFuyUFd9oMfDp3VeE1u2yBOW5zUu5_y3I800n8/s1600/Sandpiper+-+Purple+3C3A5020+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="1600" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix0XdQT-adEfNoa3clL_V12ZrMPEGbolUAWNiM1vS-qscOhTST_s33N9Nh9Zqjfa0HxYkemxgmVkbOJ4pcngtVbbAXjjIqWg4KyiqWaDFuyUFd9oMfDp3VeE1u2yBOW5zUu5_y3I800n8/s640/Sandpiper+-+Purple+3C3A5020+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Purple Sandpiper</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0SA_8lILl0Q0iJOulUi5vYZqwYIQ1yo5tN-4YazuKmX5IYPNCC_BDBJWEww5mSNaoExGRfC4cBjtlRzY7pZAka2jj6UMP-Tswi5VCtfmehfIHJEMiQrjFcIAU-lbYgf6VmdMPp140vc/s1600/Turnstone+3C3A5001+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="1600" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0SA_8lILl0Q0iJOulUi5vYZqwYIQ1yo5tN-4YazuKmX5IYPNCC_BDBJWEww5mSNaoExGRfC4cBjtlRzY7pZAka2jj6UMP-Tswi5VCtfmehfIHJEMiQrjFcIAU-lbYgf6VmdMPp140vc/s640/Turnstone+3C3A5001+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Turnstone</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhF3plqx8xw-PNlDt-_djBwRFfP1gvE2GlCar7-HnI56YMZhSpK02oADZQpeIhiD68yveRNDcBI7474MzVdjoAB2-OsfXdtoLCUltYis1dVTxGrRQefaCBK6iNOVfdcqxUD7jmDuvv88/s1600/20190309_124151+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1200" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRhF3plqx8xw-PNlDt-_djBwRFfP1gvE2GlCar7-HnI56YMZhSpK02oADZQpeIhiD68yveRNDcBI7474MzVdjoAB2-OsfXdtoLCUltYis1dVTxGrRQefaCBK6iNOVfdcqxUD7jmDuvv88/s640/20190309_124151+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Naveen getting down for the perfect shot!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">We
then moved on to Cuckmere Haven where I had heard there was a Glossy Ibis. As we parked, another birdwatcher told us where the ibis was and we found it
very easily. It was fairly distant but there were a few other interesting birds
around including a gorgeous Mediterranean Gull in full breeding plumage.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvWxO1sAgFGcZT9dcqhYwlOPOuv3x9OdsYtcYijXH1invlGITGc_DIssdjWW6eQSTIDycJJaxS6N5BCFL_JLF7Lr_j_MTZ_80oSNj-dIbURYB4PpSLcfzw-Q4qB0TSK-UCtc3qjoGtTU/s1600/Ibis+-+Glossy+3C3A5111+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="852" data-original-width="1200" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQvWxO1sAgFGcZT9dcqhYwlOPOuv3x9OdsYtcYijXH1invlGITGc_DIssdjWW6eQSTIDycJJaxS6N5BCFL_JLF7Lr_j_MTZ_80oSNj-dIbURYB4PpSLcfzw-Q4qB0TSK-UCtc3qjoGtTU/s640/Ibis+-+Glossy+3C3A5111+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Glossy Ibis</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzmv0K0Hm9u5DIJt-TzAiHpx-Gz3DTh1p013a-gKK9vqRAjmBtQWpha7LxH4XEqFtZrLuIX1TXOGpzHYjJdttke6LaM0URkC0ZhlxirIwKMW0Uq5K2jpR7yI_ip5DyZV08YuXqXJfRgA/s1600/Egret+-+Little+3C3A5148+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1136" data-original-width="1600" height="454" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghzmv0K0Hm9u5DIJt-TzAiHpx-Gz3DTh1p013a-gKK9vqRAjmBtQWpha7LxH4XEqFtZrLuIX1TXOGpzHYjJdttke6LaM0URkC0ZhlxirIwKMW0Uq5K2jpR7yI_ip5DyZV08YuXqXJfRgA/s640/Egret+-+Little+3C3A5148+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Little Egret</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoHIDvCWtwMXN2Vcn5Yww3-t-bFoS7OirrNB5Aec0nQyhttVMdb6cBGl8-bQBErSr5Okueethm209CEeLwJEIvfdrwWTRWPVd8Ol4iQlxxzQBML06p9rRIkENYblmgWdh4wBRN1opzoc/s1600/Gull+-+Common+3C3A5167+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="909" data-original-width="1282" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimoHIDvCWtwMXN2Vcn5Yww3-t-bFoS7OirrNB5Aec0nQyhttVMdb6cBGl8-bQBErSr5Okueethm209CEeLwJEIvfdrwWTRWPVd8Ol4iQlxxzQBML06p9rRIkENYblmgWdh4wBRN1opzoc/s640/Gull+-+Common+3C3A5167+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Common Gull - They're not that common!</span> </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1135" data-original-width="1600" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhYTUGad2qjfZsorS8cCeaO5in_fvJYpJ6EYvagkPy-7pYGqpGeQVIegylopd54WRhuQe1nJYdiNju9FOiM-2SztV3CTr3IVBX7ZXsoNJf1W5L8Gbx4HaenvfKoyIKUdM0TcOkpWqovc/s640/Gull+-+Mediterranean+3C3A5242+crop.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="640" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mediterranean Gull taking off</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhYTUGad2qjfZsorS8cCeaO5in_fvJYpJ6EYvagkPy-7pYGqpGeQVIegylopd54WRhuQe1nJYdiNju9FOiM-2SztV3CTr3IVBX7ZXsoNJf1W5L8Gbx4HaenvfKoyIKUdM0TcOkpWqovc/s1600/Gull+-+Mediterranean+3C3A5242+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br /></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixhYTUGad2qjfZsorS8cCeaO5in_fvJYpJ6EYvagkPy-7pYGqpGeQVIegylopd54WRhuQe1nJYdiNju9FOiM-2SztV3CTr3IVBX7ZXsoNJf1W5L8Gbx4HaenvfKoyIKUdM0TcOkpWqovc/s1600/Gull+-+Mediterranean+3C3A5242+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><br />
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<br />Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-35656279654958535482017-10-29T23:05:00.001+00:002017-10-30T09:58:18.639+00:00Madagascar 4 - Anakao, Tsimanampetsotsa, whale-watching, Antananarivo, home.<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;">Other parts:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part 1 -</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/madagascar-1-antananarivo-andasibe.html" target="_blank">Antananarivo - Andasibe - Perinet National Park - Antsirabe</a></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part 2 -</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/madagascar-2-antsirabe-ranomafana.html">Antsirabe - Ranomafana National Park - Chameleon centre</a></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;">Part 3 - </span><a href="https://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/madagascar-3-anja-national-park-isalo.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anja National Park – Ranohira – Isalo NP – Zombitze NP</span></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">Anakao</span></b><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">
is a popular beach area but there is no viable road to it. The quickest way to get from <b>Tulear</b> to Anakao is by speedboat. After
breakfast, we went to the speedboat terminal where the tide was out, revealing
a large expanse of mud (and probably worse. Nevertheless, this was no problem,
as we were taken to the speedboat by a, slow but secure, means of transport:
zebu cart! Our cart had two zebu with minds of their own. The driver had
constantly to encourage them with a stick or we would have been stuck in the
mud!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMcP8NQsev-auAyQECE1Sf2S67YkjTm9zxp3kkvWSkkOgqZe87csUVMJjHoMkDomNSTk_rZnGdZqTGuBygM-Uvyia7ONGxMCQCis6jwwcJEgBfLOI_bjxXyxO1nYOqiic8Ne0ogplXfQ/s1600/On+zebu+cart+IMG_0219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvMcP8NQsev-auAyQECE1Sf2S67YkjTm9zxp3kkvWSkkOgqZe87csUVMJjHoMkDomNSTk_rZnGdZqTGuBygM-Uvyia7ONGxMCQCis6jwwcJEgBfLOI_bjxXyxO1nYOqiic8Ne0ogplXfQ/s640/On+zebu+cart+IMG_0219.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In a zebu cart heading for the speedboat!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The speedboat was large,
and capable of taking 25 passengers with all their luggage. We were soon
skimming over the waves along the coast.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">On arrival, we paddled ashore
to the beachfront hotel with a ‘to-die-for’ view over the limpid sea. It faced West, an ideal direction to enjoy
perfect sunsets! </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpQPHzDzI3U5aLHG86R2gmNNV2XwmiGZcb9mCs9tb0zopQY5t5YU00vesyHcBkT9Ig0laRxvKGBYXT67ClC2YEIAyRHs3EqcAo154X0c3bwag-mWQbELNwsAR8W1HgtSvil_vt3Cnnik/s1600/Coming+ashore+at+Lalandaka+hotel+Anakao+IMG_0234.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhpQPHzDzI3U5aLHG86R2gmNNV2XwmiGZcb9mCs9tb0zopQY5t5YU00vesyHcBkT9Ig0laRxvKGBYXT67ClC2YEIAyRHs3EqcAo154X0c3bwag-mWQbELNwsAR8W1HgtSvil_vt3Cnnik/s640/Coming+ashore+at+Lalandaka+hotel+Anakao+IMG_0234.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">My case coming ashore on paradise beach.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">There were various chalets in the sand dunes scattered around the site. Fortunately, our chalet was the nearest to the dining room / bar.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">After settling in, we
spent the rest of the day relaxing, swimming and planning the next few days. Tomorrow we were due to go to Tsimanampetsotsa
National Park to the south. I spent some
of the afternoon looking for the local birds. There were one or two new ones including Sakalava
Weaver and Littoral rock thrush, a slightly different species from the Benson’s
rock thrush we had seen at Isalo.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8chGQmBO91knISLm6HedRMRjMAnkmA_vxXKwKv8rdiUEQ9vBWYVCBN1wko3OwzCotf0SxGUO-k4K0Hz9Bc9bqAs4yfzFYHJmcZYwEWDn2wnt_zKvR5kO2J4-2sNJtKt2cYCLyzuBGR8/s1600/Thrush+-+Littoral+Rock+918A9867+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH8chGQmBO91knISLm6HedRMRjMAnkmA_vxXKwKv8rdiUEQ9vBWYVCBN1wko3OwzCotf0SxGUO-k4K0Hz9Bc9bqAs4yfzFYHJmcZYwEWDn2wnt_zKvR5kO2J4-2sNJtKt2cYCLyzuBGR8/s640/Thrush+-+Littoral+Rock+918A9867+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Littoral Rock-thrush - Male</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnkaA3SJLVeHb5yvtAAmh0PcdKbI5iBJMHPwYAssqNI0rbzx59FNFSn0ENBN64lX0rCVegBqGmll4Oco33ZElSOVCDMdrOG8H6CtDSW3HHn9L797oQEMtJbNXBGRw8R0Pd02PVetCKJA/s1600/Thrush+-+Littoral+Rock+F+918A9815+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHnkaA3SJLVeHb5yvtAAmh0PcdKbI5iBJMHPwYAssqNI0rbzx59FNFSn0ENBN64lX0rCVegBqGmll4Oco33ZElSOVCDMdrOG8H6CtDSW3HHn9L797oQEMtJbNXBGRw8R0Pd02PVetCKJA/s640/Thrush+-+Littoral+Rock+F+918A9815+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Littoral Rock-thrush - Female</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The following day we
set off to Tsimanampetsotsa in three 4x4s. We stopped part-way there in a flat clearing,
where Rija explained about the unique plant ecosystem. Nic noticed nearby some
plover species but we were too far away to have a proper look. We carried on
towards the entrance to the park where we stopped for the guide to buy tickets.
It was already hot at about 9 a.m.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Our vehicle was the
last one in the convoy and was driving quite slowly. We quickly lost sight of the first two cars. On speaking to Rija about it, she explained that
the driver was trying to be extra careful because Norma (aged 89) was in our
car and he thought she looked rather fragile! Norma said he needn’t worry about
her.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">At Tsimanampetsotsa our
guides, Jacky and Julien took us first to a cave full of water containing fish
with no eyes. The cave was completely dark so they had no need of eyes. Here's one of them:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppJXvn8yAIGEo5C8-T-Q6qCH7rC9zp317uHTtxxN6clookxke12UJCp1l-pPIJoI-5c3gWDhS2iaWJMtcrLA2lslVOMVE5GF-E9LPoboUyI3Az3IwMJ966S6ssolB9WQi_-d3N-Mj4Pk/s1600/Blind+fish+in+cave+at+Tsimanampetsotsa+NP+IMG_0251.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjppJXvn8yAIGEo5C8-T-Q6qCH7rC9zp317uHTtxxN6clookxke12UJCp1l-pPIJoI-5c3gWDhS2iaWJMtcrLA2lslVOMVE5GF-E9LPoboUyI3Az3IwMJ966S6ssolB9WQi_-d3N-Mj4Pk/s640/Blind+fish+in+cave+at+Tsimanampetsotsa+NP+IMG_0251.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Blind fish in cave</span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">The ground and
vegetation in the park were unlike any other. The ground was hard slabs, which the guide
informed us was fossilised coral. Now, I'm sure all my readers know, therefore,
that the ground we were standing on was once at the bottom of the sea.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">This Park was also home
to some impressive baobab trees here are a couple of them:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJU_omRqex187x2Sf_eNRluZvYWJG7p_qsJZcmFuOKCvQKqaPGSUpXZcWHqQUgzqHbCB_IIT8Jq55wPvBlwl59AUoXpkgJuObjChkzpzkJeUGfLkZ199DV29ddNwobKgLU3G2qYfO91hc/s1600/Lynne+and+Baobab+tree+in+Zombitze+Nat+Park+IMG_0201.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJU_omRqex187x2Sf_eNRluZvYWJG7p_qsJZcmFuOKCvQKqaPGSUpXZcWHqQUgzqHbCB_IIT8Jq55wPvBlwl59AUoXpkgJuObjChkzpzkJeUGfLkZ199DV29ddNwobKgLU3G2qYfO91hc/s640/Lynne+and+Baobab+tree+in+Zombitze+Nat+Park+IMG_0201.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lynne by huge baobab tree</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfXxRedSaaVEpgQEee7gn2q12oUZj3B6H1VUi1C1WFmWJIlw40KU5oXMEbNIgk9BtwnMySNaIUFxSXUEoSxIzfV9IMtkDhSsJuX9Q_mOWPHvHlZqgQWFbOtPsWzAWa1ZQNZ4TFW37QLM/s1600/Baobab+tree+at+Tsimanampetsotsa+NP+IMG_0257.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWfXxRedSaaVEpgQEee7gn2q12oUZj3B6H1VUi1C1WFmWJIlw40KU5oXMEbNIgk9BtwnMySNaIUFxSXUEoSxIzfV9IMtkDhSsJuX9Q_mOWPHvHlZqgQWFbOtPsWzAWa1ZQNZ4TFW37QLM/s640/Baobab+tree+at+Tsimanampetsotsa+NP+IMG_0257.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Enormous parsnip? No. Baobab!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Not too far on was an
extremely impressive Banyan Tree with roots going deep down into another cave
which, apparently, linked up underground with the first cave we had been in. The
caverns are very popular with cavers or, as the guide quaintly insisted on calling
them, speleologists. The Banyan tree held a juvenile cuckoo-hawk.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-z34Wg8gBMZcEpqSk22hSSUbfs50TXLdlrbIdKJwh94qzfRQRRn5CZZ6kDy0x-_2CqYnM-FE2yHOEdKMYfgrSPv-NFaXlU3-MEVvObMgMm-4olG54Ans20kRvhbA16bYAufnXjVG60U/s1600/Guide+Jacky+and+banyan+tree+at+Tsimanampetsotsa+NP+IMG_0258.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM-z34Wg8gBMZcEpqSk22hSSUbfs50TXLdlrbIdKJwh94qzfRQRRn5CZZ6kDy0x-_2CqYnM-FE2yHOEdKMYfgrSPv-NFaXlU3-MEVvObMgMm-4olG54Ans20kRvhbA16bYAufnXjVG60U/s640/Guide+Jacky+and+banyan+tree+at+Tsimanampetsotsa+NP+IMG_0258.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Banyan tree</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichGWegYWbDbuAej50QmTkNE1K1knUSC_uUtNEPPtXMkF_8Nlq-UOm2_0jkTCnElpecWVmZzBpgicxODh-4ynNylPIEpMmvSIuww8HF1qVUMANxxCgJV-L8sFLT3gXfziFEXV_TwczzmI/s1600/Cuckoo-hawk+-+Madagascar+J+918A9972+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="709" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEichGWegYWbDbuAej50QmTkNE1K1knUSC_uUtNEPPtXMkF_8Nlq-UOm2_0jkTCnElpecWVmZzBpgicxODh-4ynNylPIEpMmvSIuww8HF1qVUMANxxCgJV-L8sFLT3gXfziFEXV_TwczzmI/s640/Cuckoo-hawk+-+Madagascar+J+918A9972+crop.jpg" width="452" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cuckoo-hawk - juvenile</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After the guided tour,
we moved on to the lake, where we saw some distant flamingos but none close by.
We also climbed the nearby hill. Here is
Lynne at the top with the lake behind.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3OfI7TSigCDZSeWdHceZmbCujn3IOJU_3XHscwGHEjGXc7Y_-XutEjvkgAhXwBJB6TJXq75-8KQa5xDk33xTkpR7VDPAIC51-EVA4sMhY3eqsIOX90JcYvtcj0AsBrSP7facgMNAcVjY/s1600/Lynne+at+Tsimanampetsotsa+NP+IMG_0270.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3OfI7TSigCDZSeWdHceZmbCujn3IOJU_3XHscwGHEjGXc7Y_-XutEjvkgAhXwBJB6TJXq75-8KQa5xDk33xTkpR7VDPAIC51-EVA4sMhY3eqsIOX90JcYvtcj0AsBrSP7facgMNAcVjY/s640/Lynne+at+Tsimanampetsotsa+NP+IMG_0270.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lynne by Tsimanampetsotsa Lake</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The return trip was slow
going on the soft, sandy tracks. I asked our driver if he would stop where we
had stopped on the way down. I
recognised it when we got there, and fortunately the plovers were still there.
I got out and took a few shots before they scuttled further away.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2adjwAE9aBWSZ9Hk4cDWyauwIlyHr61Jd6xHz9P5phqdwzlkJ5GhSfuwIwxSqBDJwqI7iFdaLHfMZKlL_njjDZUmMDLzwfa9CeeUy72gxwYdTLZ6H_hOfahrqHJ1aaA8Qq0srTvMqmnQ/s1600/Plover+-+Kittlitz%2527s+918A0061+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2adjwAE9aBWSZ9Hk4cDWyauwIlyHr61Jd6xHz9P5phqdwzlkJ5GhSfuwIwxSqBDJwqI7iFdaLHfMZKlL_njjDZUmMDLzwfa9CeeUy72gxwYdTLZ6H_hOfahrqHJ1aaA8Qq0srTvMqmnQ/s640/Plover+-+Kittlitz%2527s+918A0061+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Madagascar plover (I think)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">A little further ahead
our track was barred by the most overladen and bogged down taxi bus I had yet
seen in Madagascar. We stopped to take a picture of their miserable situation. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PedqRAhgQjh1NYJtvOdkDhc4D3I9hjkPsbUbsl50Wg6pF-wPx3yi8cxh6xioHdv6CRAIvjsMMuI-ACIDgTbfPVnhbO-9DP27-yLobBPbAzIq62-EQsN4ri2j-p5c8rS4FUlvqVkwCmg/s1600/Taxi-bus+stuck+in+the+sand+IMG_0275.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3PedqRAhgQjh1NYJtvOdkDhc4D3I9hjkPsbUbsl50Wg6pF-wPx3yi8cxh6xioHdv6CRAIvjsMMuI-ACIDgTbfPVnhbO-9DP27-yLobBPbAzIq62-EQsN4ri2j-p5c8rS4FUlvqVkwCmg/s1600/Taxi-bus+stuck+in+the+sand+IMG_0275.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Overladen taxi-bus stuck in the sand.<br />No idea how they got out.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It’s astonishing how many people are crammed
into this bus. In addition, you can see
the enormous amount of luggage on the roof and the several people who were
actually travelling on the top of that luggage. I have no idea how they managed to get free as
it had sunk quite a long way into the soft sand. Rija informed us that this was a long-distance
taxi bus that went to the north of the country about 1000 miles away and took
several days to get there.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">We got back to the
hotel late in the afternoon. It was
still light. I wandered around the
compound looking for a few birds before relaxing with a beer and waiting for
the sunset.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_YwJztgly8KwRIlKCjnrm3sAWrJ-aIgKS0W1ZfqaV8joGlLnNk4sDHMZKYjPlFmnf3vu0SxQiGf04r30xKDZts4btMQLzj_z88XzPmHbzdflCkql-OE7tZ2dGuM7v1gtKaF-G1oveas/s1600/Sunset+at+Lalandaka+hotel+Anakao+IMG_0248.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb_YwJztgly8KwRIlKCjnrm3sAWrJ-aIgKS0W1ZfqaV8joGlLnNk4sDHMZKYjPlFmnf3vu0SxQiGf04r30xKDZts4btMQLzj_z88XzPmHbzdflCkql-OE7tZ2dGuM7v1gtKaF-G1oveas/s640/Sunset+at+Lalandaka+hotel+Anakao+IMG_0248.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Sunset at Anakao</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The following day we
were due to visit one of the offshore islands, but most people wanted to go whale
watching. Rija arranged it, and a stop at the island was part of the whale
watching trip anyway, so everyone was happy</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Our hotel was in quite
an isolated position with no proper road communication with the rest of the island.
As a consequence, there was no shower and the toilet had to be flushed using a
bucket of sea water which was replenished periodically by the staff.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Hot water was brought
twice a day. We used this to wash standing up in front of the wash basin, which
had no waste pipe. The water just ran out of the bottom onto the floor and then
into a drain. These were small inconveniences
compared with our beautiful situation by the sea. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Next day (our final
full day here) our boat arrived to take us whale watching. It was actually a
large balsa canoe, complete with outrigger and outboard motor. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweCKBABHdeB1auT5XfL7EckRsLava6eVchE8bLlQ72P6PJ89nWoRW6scwbVl9AEOHhlgz24FHLvDjrxLzEN6bSjRFni7RiXj61i1-hKQOa7NzIxJiAY3raN2tvWwFwKWwBqqtio5TVR0/s1600/Anakau+for+whalewatching+IMG_0282.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgweCKBABHdeB1auT5XfL7EckRsLava6eVchE8bLlQ72P6PJ89nWoRW6scwbVl9AEOHhlgz24FHLvDjrxLzEN6bSjRFni7RiXj61i1-hKQOa7NzIxJiAY3raN2tvWwFwKWwBqqtio5TVR0/s640/Anakau+for+whalewatching+IMG_0282.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the balsa wood canoe, looking for whales.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">We all fitted in easily and motored away passing
the island where we would later stop for lunch. There were several other whale boats in the
area and it wasn't long before we caught sight of our first humpback whale. In the
next few hours we saw several humpbacks on the surface and diving showing their
flukes (the lobes of their tails) as they did so<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Apparently individual
whales can be recognised by the shape and pattern on their tail fins. I had thought that the tail fin of a whale was
quite smooth and featureless but this close-up of the fluke of a humpback whale
clearly shows the incredible patterning and the ragged edge of it. It also appears to have a large crab clinging
onto the end!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8FXSBAPy_wJa_oB2XXaDGXpeUdv1EmKMtkqEOL_UGCgZr5EFP-QlywKb5x2LQ-2IDkP2CjCXSJd97GJi62LRldo19TbTWryzLapp05az04_xZGJZOd8FkfNCG2fwTDGQoxS8uQz35Hs/s1600/Whale+-+Humpback+918A0188+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEik8FXSBAPy_wJa_oB2XXaDGXpeUdv1EmKMtkqEOL_UGCgZr5EFP-QlywKb5x2LQ-2IDkP2CjCXSJd97GJi62LRldo19TbTWryzLapp05az04_xZGJZOd8FkfNCG2fwTDGQoxS8uQz35Hs/s1600/Whale+-+Humpback+918A0188+crop.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Flukes of a humpback whale showing the<br />distinctive patterning by which they can be recognised.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">After the whale
watching we headed for the island. We pulled the boat up on the beach and waded
ashore. Our guides made a tarpaulin shelter for us while they cooked the fish
they had caught for our lunch. Nic, Sian
and I wandered off in search of wildlife and birds. There were a few small birds that proved
extremely elusive, but we also saw a grey plover another plover species and a
whole series of red-tailed tropicbirds which soared overhead as we approach the
far end of the island. We wandered into
their nesting area. Some of the tropicbirds
were sitting on eggs underneath bushes for protection.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjze3rTcjkXJ9QZuSzKH4nYQemFyz16YkU1CHOIqH2jsfnUwrzH3yqNw3EQGU6ZR6eHDkv9p8yhJw2y0leTgsRbpV9Z038W1EbBU7VjySCltWSEpSPC2kjJzqj_iJ2RGUGn7By12LiVvvI/s1600/Tropicbird+-+Red+tailed+918A0299+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjze3rTcjkXJ9QZuSzKH4nYQemFyz16YkU1CHOIqH2jsfnUwrzH3yqNw3EQGU6ZR6eHDkv9p8yhJw2y0leTgsRbpV9Z038W1EbBU7VjySCltWSEpSPC2kjJzqj_iJ2RGUGn7By12LiVvvI/s640/Tropicbird+-+Red+tailed+918A0299+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Red-tailed tropicbird</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Those of my readers in Europe
are probably familiar with the little egret, a small white bird of the heron family.
It was once quite rare in England, but they now breed here in large numbers and
inhabit most shallow stretches of water. Anyway, here is a little egret.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqwU7SS5UwUQwQIUd1-wr0rWJzcOy3ilTRvo84Ia0In3u-7RUquiwZ9iRqVA2CPQ1caQ1CoK95IgkAFst5S0bp8fcNjECwdsIU2OyticqIH1sTFrx1TQn7h7nSw7lkKIHLG8HOXy8xdY/s1600/Egret+-+Little+-+dark+morph+918A0376+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRqwU7SS5UwUQwQIUd1-wr0rWJzcOy3ilTRvo84Ia0In3u-7RUquiwZ9iRqVA2CPQ1caQ1CoK95IgkAFst5S0bp8fcNjECwdsIU2OyticqIH1sTFrx1TQn7h7nSw7lkKIHLG8HOXy8xdY/s640/Egret+-+Little+-+dark+morph+918A0376+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Little egret - dark morph</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Oh, yes, it is. This
dark morph is unknown in England but is quite common in Madagascar. Both varieties
were nesting in the same tree. Here is the little egret most of you know. It was just next to the dark morph above.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2XXWdkxHljoskCxiPVvMCp_7B5MgtQlSmED6T48hp_jQZoMtqBwBZbJftnEcO8VBKH5d2ljN9bS3tr9k7qnXQ-c5_Bt7CrGv5Mt3bnj35OvrM0nnK4U2GFQ-xq8OHUyb6GcvrZ6tfig/s1600/Egret+-+Little+918A0374+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt2XXWdkxHljoskCxiPVvMCp_7B5MgtQlSmED6T48hp_jQZoMtqBwBZbJftnEcO8VBKH5d2ljN9bS3tr9k7qnXQ-c5_Bt7CrGv5Mt3bnj35OvrM0nnK4U2GFQ-xq8OHUyb6GcvrZ6tfig/s640/Egret+-+Little+918A0374+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Little egret</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I also spotted a
whimbrel on the shore.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGl8TeubgylqBbQ3scHiQHzfZ8xQn4nb9H2EeI3aS5WsiWdeAD3wcZxeGiSDMyx6YZU_fsawRMOIgqMY7sK4onkFWzQOB8gqubJScReLZoQw5_OKW0VtwJzyiSCARZI7u04WkKBBdpadI/s1600/Whimbrel+918A0415+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGl8TeubgylqBbQ3scHiQHzfZ8xQn4nb9H2EeI3aS5WsiWdeAD3wcZxeGiSDMyx6YZU_fsawRMOIgqMY7sK4onkFWzQOB8gqubJScReLZoQw5_OKW0VtwJzyiSCARZI7u04WkKBBdpadI/s640/Whimbrel+918A0415+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Whimbrel</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We got back to camp in
time for lunch, after which it was back to our hotel.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">After dinner, we all sat
looking out to sea, enjoying a final drink. Nic had noticed a nightjar which
periodically swooped down into the lights to catch a moth or some other insect
and then disappeared again. I decided to
investigate. I got my camera and my head-torch and quickly located not one, but
two, nightjars in a tree, literally just outside the hotel and around the
corner. I tried to take a picture by shining my head-torch at the tree but, as
soon as I did that, they flew away. I therefore took a picture using the
ambient light to focus manually. This was quite tricky as it was almost pitch
dark. I focussed the camera looking at the top of the tree. I waited until I
knew the nightjars were there I then took a photo using the built-in flash on
my Canon 7D2. The flash wasn't strong enough even at maximum ISO, but when I
got home I was able to make adjustments in Photoshop. This is the resulting
photograph of the Madagascar nightjar. The flash is, of course, reflected from
the eye.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCES5j_66AcguVi01nQ-baMec4NvzaUGrfh6vLjv4erFFNVa1UdMPdba5szjUyYeTWNBSW6-acoQgBm3G0J4kHMx29L3dvz9Ze7dVh58Xp0K0Sby4iTzv2uoNXySaRfiBdiQklPmX__sM/s1600/Nightjar+-+Madagascar+918A0523+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCES5j_66AcguVi01nQ-baMec4NvzaUGrfh6vLjv4erFFNVa1UdMPdba5szjUyYeTWNBSW6-acoQgBm3G0J4kHMx29L3dvz9Ze7dVh58Xp0K0Sby4iTzv2uoNXySaRfiBdiQklPmX__sM/s640/Nightjar+-+Madagascar+918A0523+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Madagascar nightjar</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">The following day we boarded
the speedboat again and set off towards Tulear. Very quickly it became clear
that there was something wrong with the boat, as it was going very slowly. The
driver looked worried and Rija was also looking concerned. I'm not sure why
they didn't tell us immediately, but it was over an hour before they confirmed that there was something wrong with the engines. They called another
boat, which eventually came to meet us. This
was fortunate as we had a plane to catch. The replacement boat was the shuttle
boat of one of the other hotels, which very kindly took on board everyone and
sped off towards Tulear.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">The flight back to Antananarivo
was uneventful, and quick at just about an hour. We went back to the same
Belvedere Hotel that we had stayed at on the first night.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Our flight home
wasn't until the late evening of the following day (actually the very early
morning of the day after that) so we spent the next day on a tour of Antananarivo.
This included the king's palace on one of the highest hills in the area. The outside was fairly run down to be honest,
although the history was interesting, and there was some very interesting
furniture, photographs and other artefacts on the inside.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJMFAR_X4Dx4ygMEppk-aB-iro4B4kbt2yapXNNVWAhrZLwqIrYSF3fi3xNC2wb84MG5Moj4tKZ5HhzkbGMR7zuYR0SKkb6oHodwqwPdCOLFxLseE70KMTriGNSdttsf_UeX7fLiAXz8/s1600/Royal+Palace+Ambohimanga+IMG_0305.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCJMFAR_X4Dx4ygMEppk-aB-iro4B4kbt2yapXNNVWAhrZLwqIrYSF3fi3xNC2wb84MG5Moj4tKZ5HhzkbGMR7zuYR0SKkb6oHodwqwPdCOLFxLseE70KMTriGNSdttsf_UeX7fLiAXz8/s640/Royal+Palace+Ambohimanga+IMG_0305.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Grounds of the King's palace</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">We also visited a
balcony overlooking the capital from quite near the Queens Palace which had
been burnt out several years ago and never restored.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_6Bnq1vkRFxEDDhVL6GunJm0d1EIHSEWQAJb4mshIyNhT89TRyh-ZbOLH6MZtaYgzEYviPuzKH0_DxU3DuBZIpaaB6ouPDsyPw7rSJz2jAQQxhyphenhyphenHGpuX3awP1PFt4spirdls9iOpgGU/s1600/Lynne+at+Queen%2527s+Palace+Antananarivo+IMG_0333.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4_6Bnq1vkRFxEDDhVL6GunJm0d1EIHSEWQAJb4mshIyNhT89TRyh-ZbOLH6MZtaYgzEYviPuzKH0_DxU3DuBZIpaaB6ouPDsyPw7rSJz2jAQQxhyphenhyphenHGpuX3awP1PFt4spirdls9iOpgGU/s640/Lynne+at+Queen%2527s+Palace+Antananarivo+IMG_0333.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Near the Queen's palace overlooking Antananarivo.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">There followed lunch in
a very nice restaurant, and then a short shopping trip for souvenirs before we
went back to the hotel to pack for the last time. We had our final dinner
before leaving for the airport at about 23:00. Our flight was at 01:30 back to Nairobi, where
we arrived at about a 05:00. The stop-over this time was only about three and a
half hours before our flight back to London.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We really enjoyed our visit to Madagascar. The country is poor, and desperately in need of some infrastructure. We were impressed at the resilience and inventiveness of the people, who wasted nothing and lived with the barest minimum. We were acutely aware of how privileged we were to be able to visit this amazing country with its unique wildlife, beautiful countryside and national parks. The lemurs and birds were enchanting, and the scenery was breath-taking. </span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;">Other parts:</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part 1 -</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/madagascar-1-antananarivo-andasibe.html" target="_blank">Antananarivo - Andasibe - Perinet National Park - Antsirabe</a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part 2 -</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/madagascar-2-antsirabe-ranomafana.html">Antsirabe - Ranomafana National Park - Chameleon centre</a></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;">Part 3 - </span><a href="https://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/madagascar-3-anja-national-park-isalo.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anja National Park – Ranohira – Isalo NP – Zombitze NP</span></a></div>
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Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-90983889969880102992017-10-09T14:33:00.003+01:002017-10-30T07:18:46.529+00:00Madagascar 3 - Anja National Park – Isalo National Park – Zombitze National Park<div class="MsoNormal">
<h2>
<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;">Other parts:</span></div>
<div style="font-size: medium; font-weight: 400;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part 1 -</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/madagascar-1-antananarivo-andasibe.html" target="_blank">Antananarivo - Andasibe - Perinet National Park - Antsirabe</a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part 2 -</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/madagascar-2-antsirabe-ranomafana.html">Antsirabe - Ranomafana National Park - Chameleon centre</a></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Part 4 - </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"> <a href="https://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/madagascar-4-anakao-tsimanampetsotsa.html" target="_blank">Anakao, Tsimanampetsotsa, whale-watching, antananarivo, home</a>.</span></span></span></div>
</h2>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">After breakfast, we left for <b>4 - Ranohira</b>. Rija, our guide, again entertained us with more</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> interesting facts, this time about the tribes. There are 18 different tribes
in Madagascar. The Merina tribe is
centred on the capital, Antananarivo. To
the south, we had been in the territory of the Betsileo tribe. By now, we had left behind the Betsileo and we
were firmly in the territory of the Bara tribe. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Here, the family tombs were
different, the villages had smaller houses and the people looked
different. Customs are different in each
tribe. It must be a nightmare learning about all the differences. Here is a map of the tribal areas and the map of our travels to remind you of where we went.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtakS_nNT9-0ve2ERbl7_HAuC_C1_R09Cse3VoNKYj9hv8GrlNy2_35fenEhE8FwCJpjFwQUIF1XKIK-AQOMeVu4CatwaAQ3HL27YnaIJZMBZbQLkx1vWSjX5C0WygrTg6yTtN85oQ-GY/s1600/TRIBES.GIF" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="390" data-original-width="298" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtakS_nNT9-0ve2ERbl7_HAuC_C1_R09Cse3VoNKYj9hv8GrlNy2_35fenEhE8FwCJpjFwQUIF1XKIK-AQOMeVu4CatwaAQ3HL27YnaIJZMBZbQLkx1vWSjX5C0WygrTg6yTtN85oQ-GY/s400/TRIBES.GIF" width="305" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The areas of the 18 tribes of Madagascar</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEp-IzRDjdKaxoa3X0kuhEeqM2QT5fcXD-hUa0cTzcpd2NJExFC_lcaVOFxXOyrns-RHyeKi0-Oo6KXdfZnus7a3Aa2EaRxIySY_X29RcC1gXc8M8UUiXOL_BcADCZtCg6sCqQvw8XhU/s1600/madagascar-map+annotated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="656" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguEp-IzRDjdKaxoa3X0kuhEeqM2QT5fcXD-hUa0cTzcpd2NJExFC_lcaVOFxXOyrns-RHyeKi0-Oo6KXdfZnus7a3Aa2EaRxIySY_X29RcC1gXc8M8UUiXOL_BcADCZtCg6sCqQvw8XhU/s640/madagascar-map+annotated.jpg" width="450" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Map of our travels. Part 3 covers from 3 to 4 and what we did at 4-Ranohira (Isalo NP)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">With 18 different
tribes there are also 18 different languages in Madagascar! The language of the Merina tribe has been
adopted as the national language of “Malagasy” but not everyone speaks it. Rija occasionally had difficulties
understanding completely some of the people in different tribal areas.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">The long journey to Ranohira
was broken by a visit to the <b>Anja reserve</b>, a small park where several families
of ring-tailed lemurs could be seen in the wild. W</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">e stopped en route to buy a
packed lunch, which we enjoyed in the picnic area, before entering the park
itself with the local guide, Daniel.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">As we finished our
lunch a pair of yellow-billed kites flew over, very low. Here is one of them.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqrLT6hfMFWnZbx0iM43vZptwWg0SGj8C_HbzdcI90S0gB98ObulP4oyYNevhWmkbBoIipZIbtI_4YTGJxgZYEoWtRAkSEeCUJ97gyJWczv0BTn_ajNgj81XiWJ2vvFxsKcxB403sfLo/s1600/Kite+-+Yellow-billed+918A9054+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="709" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixqrLT6hfMFWnZbx0iM43vZptwWg0SGj8C_HbzdcI90S0gB98ObulP4oyYNevhWmkbBoIipZIbtI_4YTGJxgZYEoWtRAkSEeCUJ97gyJWczv0BTn_ajNgj81XiWJ2vvFxsKcxB403sfLo/s1600/Kite+-+Yellow-billed+918A9054+crop.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Yellow-billed kite</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">We then made our way
into the park and eventually arrived in the territory of one of the families of
ring-tailed lemurs. These are the
classic lemurs that everybody knows about, because of their distinctive
tail. They were very obliging, allowing us close views, but always keeping </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">just</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">at arm’s length. We spent some time
enjoying these photogenic animals and taking lots of photographs.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBwQ7UlvNU2-cls9wD-A1xq8Hzwdaj2zPhh146usX7pRxkefAannmAqOJ673-OppTl1Axdp8ga8nh1W8hEapauGLxMapJn22ct87KkpcGd3BP9IleMFKljmleP10CNlpnMx7fhfxTTM8/s1600/Lemur+-+Ring-tailed+918A9137.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKBwQ7UlvNU2-cls9wD-A1xq8Hzwdaj2zPhh146usX7pRxkefAannmAqOJ673-OppTl1Axdp8ga8nh1W8hEapauGLxMapJn22ct87KkpcGd3BP9IleMFKljmleP10CNlpnMx7fhfxTTM8/s640/Lemur+-+Ring-tailed+918A9137.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ring-tailed lemur. This is the one most people know.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5UDDo7TiT9Rj2KKrAd7eCppYsX91AJM1mQAWf3Z0_ghe5Q5Oo_TKlGisPvcjsVi08MiGXnYhjMqmIlKycgOvFx4OTNiFG9JjEdUVrnFVYcgr-VEFgqGF68-e7t0XZETOPr-4NI96EgaM/s1600/Lemur+-+Ring-tailed+918A9143.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5UDDo7TiT9Rj2KKrAd7eCppYsX91AJM1mQAWf3Z0_ghe5Q5Oo_TKlGisPvcjsVi08MiGXnYhjMqmIlKycgOvFx4OTNiFG9JjEdUVrnFVYcgr-VEFgqGF68-e7t0XZETOPr-4NI96EgaM/s1600/Lemur+-+Ring-tailed+918A9143.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ring-tailed lemur with suckling baby - Aah! So cute!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Whilst there, I heard
the sound of some birds in the distance. One of the assistant guides came with
me and we discovered a group of Madagascar bee-eaters, also known as olive bee-eaters.
After taking a few quick shots, I ran back to tell Nic about them.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRK9-_OZyg9XKwelfBuBnpTJs5PLDeGUZzJCnNx1PchAeGwMw0y2tWtmHiHoJp1V7zLob_VVhUsnNzFL08j5n3284LVY7cMwBI0qkL3fpBDlrlVfnWB-qsGQNmdpfVjq1ETfImpwcmqRo/s1600/Bee-eaters+-+Olive+918A9171+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRK9-_OZyg9XKwelfBuBnpTJs5PLDeGUZzJCnNx1PchAeGwMw0y2tWtmHiHoJp1V7zLob_VVhUsnNzFL08j5n3284LVY7cMwBI0qkL3fpBDlrlVfnWB-qsGQNmdpfVjq1ETfImpwcmqRo/s1600/Bee-eaters+-+Olive+918A9171+crop.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Olive Bee-eaters (aka Madagascar Bee-eaters).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We also found some
grey-headed lovebirds nearby.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IPM_HEOTm1vNeycDxQd0kg3Xvto2syd5-sYAQ4LxNgH8lcZI9tR4eKW8MkNTWsaH7N56DKj1dGjN9QrmBLtGfZjgWvO_7f4-miMMorRsHWnTSBEPm_fUmmHTCM9WvCSgFGioe44ZgdU/s1600/Lovebird+-+Grey-headed+918A9183.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="709" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9IPM_HEOTm1vNeycDxQd0kg3Xvto2syd5-sYAQ4LxNgH8lcZI9tR4eKW8MkNTWsaH7N56DKj1dGjN9QrmBLtGfZjgWvO_7f4-miMMorRsHWnTSBEPm_fUmmHTCM9WvCSgFGioe44ZgdU/s640/Lovebird+-+Grey-headed+918A9183.jpg" width="452" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Grey-headed Lovebird</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">We continued to our
journey. At one point, we arrived at the approach to <b>Ambalavao</b>, which looked
something like the Great Rift Valley of Africa.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHtHHdCpNmBuYAzY2uHKE50ctiBSdKrlEuwqDWn7CvbQ7IeHLqxwNticLfg1BiO-p5qql4G8Se6PF9r9vJxiJyCGu_ccW6gnEbd2-1NNirI9L3CTkx8UFA0wLYYcpT0NVbXHTS0eoOjU/s1600/Near+Ambalavao+IMG_0049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHtHHdCpNmBuYAzY2uHKE50ctiBSdKrlEuwqDWn7CvbQ7IeHLqxwNticLfg1BiO-p5qql4G8Se6PF9r9vJxiJyCGu_ccW6gnEbd2-1NNirI9L3CTkx8UFA0wLYYcpT0NVbXHTS0eoOjU/s1600/Near+Ambalavao+IMG_0049.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Approaching Ambalavao. Has something of the Great Rift Valley about it, no?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauPowAzz7CriG7rEa4vOed9_Jfz-UDJqx65N3adGFD0F-fFUtBR6wrGWlCvQj8tBfXTzohuJXLXJw6Y-63AseFPt-RMfzkuTc9UKLPmNPo7ciDMSkLtBxdlFi7Kbnh6Shv-Tddkc0fX0/s1600/Near+Ambalavao+IMG_0052.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauPowAzz7CriG7rEa4vOed9_Jfz-UDJqx65N3adGFD0F-fFUtBR6wrGWlCvQj8tBfXTzohuJXLXJw6Y-63AseFPt-RMfzkuTc9UKLPmNPo7ciDMSkLtBxdlFi7Kbnh6Shv-Tddkc0fX0/s640/Near+Ambalavao+IMG_0052.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lynne and me near Ambalavao.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Ambalavao is host to
the largest zebu market in the country. Zebu is the cattle they have there.
They are recognisable by the camel-like hump on their shoulders. All beef,
milk, etc is from zebu, which are more numerous than people. The population of
Madagascar is about 25 million. We passed Ambalavao on market day. Herders from
miles around were taking their purchases back along the road to their villages.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUzLw1QGc7yFqGrzR_phqEEvprClRbSltyOLMHr-uBx66gl8Jo4MFZObCq-hPbyUFuFl7MP35K_vDGDoVfokQgLZtTg0WMOJvCrXSTHWpMjStmiFn4L7plt_TGrrptO_lZfyw6pUDjHU/s1600/Zebu+from+market+in+Ambalavao+IMG_0055.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRUzLw1QGc7yFqGrzR_phqEEvprClRbSltyOLMHr-uBx66gl8Jo4MFZObCq-hPbyUFuFl7MP35K_vDGDoVfokQgLZtTg0WMOJvCrXSTHWpMjStmiFn4L7plt_TGrrptO_lZfyw6pUDjHU/s1600/Zebu+from+market+in+Ambalavao+IMG_0055.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Herders driving their zebu purchases back home. Near Ambalavao.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">The terrain changed as
we crossed a vast plateau. The land was flatter and composed of rather sparse
grassland. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We stopped at a Bara
village to have a look around. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kLWQFysnKHB-_xerRpEdMIOX8piYUsISKSfQvW5mz2tKYiIcqztGpyKmGmwaz2YIguApuH5SQt-_ZrwrFIsWJDiYSSAJnUjXSa_6mcDntS0HCuWXgiNic8k5qNoxyGA4A84GnbTJSkI/s1600/Bara+village+IMG_0132.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_kLWQFysnKHB-_xerRpEdMIOX8piYUsISKSfQvW5mz2tKYiIcqztGpyKmGmwaz2YIguApuH5SQt-_ZrwrFIsWJDiYSSAJnUjXSa_6mcDntS0HCuWXgiNic8k5qNoxyGA4A84GnbTJSkI/s640/Bara+village+IMG_0132.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">In a Bara village. Novel cactus fencing!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTq7x8c3uieipKl0BXzw84nQi6ZkwJyB4l8GdD8pvpx-dkDXYuSuSR11H3e6hJAdHXuHNG7lYuYvVEnwKCgD0X7hSpdITkI5fYZVrIuhuJgvaSrOpWMBc1KuGI3R-8dGJWr8ai3ia6f2A/s1600/Typical+village+IMG_0130.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTq7x8c3uieipKl0BXzw84nQi6ZkwJyB4l8GdD8pvpx-dkDXYuSuSR11H3e6hJAdHXuHNG7lYuYvVEnwKCgD0X7hSpdITkI5fYZVrIuhuJgvaSrOpWMBc1KuGI3R-8dGJWr8ai3ia6f2A/s640/Typical+village+IMG_0130.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Bara village. Houses are small,<br />but most will have a solar charger for mobiles!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvT0LZYfXOYb9cox37CyJm5_vnbOuu5MgTtgGmIEsbNstWL0ru7FjoEW6UH24nquej6S_iN275F3tiA82250LAdS7nVgFVgibXceFazQUAPoQn74ZULV-Ht6NEMhoALznKSGiyDEvmIk/s1600/Iron+in+use+IMG_0133.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIvT0LZYfXOYb9cox37CyJm5_vnbOuu5MgTtgGmIEsbNstWL0ru7FjoEW6UH24nquej6S_iN275F3tiA82250LAdS7nVgFVgibXceFazQUAPoQn74ZULV-Ht6NEMhoALznKSGiyDEvmIk/s640/Iron+in+use+IMG_0133.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This cinder iron was actually in use as we visited!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Further on the way, we
stopped at a petrol station. A circumcision parade passed us. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"></span></span><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"></span></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XYhRuzBV3ERkI4b7HvF_xFSj9U9nHncfvDoPLQ6j48kYNu8QSlR-SeYqhl2oL5MucgQZ7vhgRymeJrWqJCC7iw4pQtl5jldjYUO9UWqQmUbgW0bVncvGpRje0wiW2ZpAIohUfwvg6Oc/s1600/Circumcision+parade+IMG_0134.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5XYhRuzBV3ERkI4b7HvF_xFSj9U9nHncfvDoPLQ6j48kYNu8QSlR-SeYqhl2oL5MucgQZ7vhgRymeJrWqJCC7iw4pQtl5jldjYUO9UWqQmUbgW0bVncvGpRje0wiW2ZpAIohUfwvg6Oc/s640/Circumcision+parade+IMG_0134.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Circumcision parade. They dance as they march (see next video).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The idea is to
tire out the boy, about 5-6 years old, until late into the night so that he is
exhausted the following morning when they take him to the doctor. Rija says "it's very quick". The poor lad here does not realise what is about to happen! If you think that’s strange, the
grandfather then eats the foreskin that has been snipped! Here's the video, (No. Of the parade, silly!):</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyczx2vFBbzIWXicASXZDzXojEi99EmNgLQfY2mhtoh8xaF1zBDltsgjLXCL02YPxwmsvWcrrfO9ArldIbDxg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">As dusk approached, we stopped to take some photos of the sunset. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbPaAsBtHXUBnh5Xucyi0MKCFAmzqOtbSGgQjMQ7_iyeJitN3FfMp4SNu53t9Fio9HOsp5gFuSCtcRovokJnDyzf_n6CNQGZbgHjL7J3Hd_rR9B77FQ5lR0mK76MvUfjop3MZ_zeGdoE/s1600/Our+bus+and+the+group+IMG_0142.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwbPaAsBtHXUBnh5Xucyi0MKCFAmzqOtbSGgQjMQ7_iyeJitN3FfMp4SNu53t9Fio9HOsp5gFuSCtcRovokJnDyzf_n6CNQGZbgHjL7J3Hd_rR9B77FQ5lR0mK76MvUfjop3MZ_zeGdoE/s1600/Our+bus+and+the+group+IMG_0142.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A photo of the sunset. L to R - Steph, Mike, Chris, Sian, Al, Lynne (foreground) and Nic.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;">Meanwhile, I found a new bird nearby, a Madagascar Lark:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahvX6DlEV7wEaHLft7yBKSAV1RsOBQ1jPP7mUc5e4YuRMJkJqCFY6Z_YbwjEJhK36TfJqNOTuoqYxN179w21oTFMs3fNhNuIoB1cx3-O3oIU3P4_JPgcagJqBRGYhlLRk6GYvMylkwAI/s1600/Lark+-+Madagascar+918A9207+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahvX6DlEV7wEaHLft7yBKSAV1RsOBQ1jPP7mUc5e4YuRMJkJqCFY6Z_YbwjEJhK36TfJqNOTuoqYxN179w21oTFMs3fNhNuIoB1cx3-O3oIU3P4_JPgcagJqBRGYhlLRk6GYvMylkwAI/s640/Lark+-+Madagascar+918A9207+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Madagascar Lark</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">After another half hour
or so we finally arrived in <b>Ranohira</b>, at the Orchidee Hotel. Ranohira is very
close to the entrance to the <b>Isalo National Park</b>. We enjoyed dinner before
retiring to our relatively luxurious room. There was even a swimming pool, but
we did not use it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">The following morning, as we went to breakfast, I heard some birds of prey calling nearby. I
found a pair of kestrels in a tree just outside the hotel. The young kestrel
was begging to be fed and the adult obliged.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1mWxCi8mnv8S61Dv6CdXpCycnhRqUzdpJW3gV-xXB6_zuhh_RkemUbRO-WZI_pkbwhloU66MNpsSHBLgNTV2nianL9he2lUfvCl-3kymYJSsCWjroRQ3y8nYJbNP0nYbLTD3dinn6Tk/s1600/Kestrel+-+Madagascar+918A9228+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz1mWxCi8mnv8S61Dv6CdXpCycnhRqUzdpJW3gV-xXB6_zuhh_RkemUbRO-WZI_pkbwhloU66MNpsSHBLgNTV2nianL9he2lUfvCl-3kymYJSsCWjroRQ3y8nYJbNP0nYbLTD3dinn6Tk/s1600/Kestrel+-+Madagascar+918A9228+crop.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Feed me, Mummy! Yes, that mouse will do nicely!<br />Kestrels outside our hotel in Ranohira</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">After breakfast, we
were off to the park. Right at the entrance I heard the call of an unknown bird
and the guide took me to see it; a Madagascar Hoopoe. Our guides were Naina and
Andry.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Isalo National Park was
dramatic. The approach was through some
steep cliffs where Kestrels lived. The whole terrain is predominantly dry and hot, even in the rainy season.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozjBxFR-LY4Px1htoydRW4PdL3sORhFGqtDdQpExUV9QQwnNVuYX9j-ibrXXYpzzRt9uzk3sNzFkAit-QTSy6gV2wHfvaUBa4O54qw6qkJETS2JPURUVFWAHXZVq7nEKmccPDQj6cGLg/s1600/Isalo+rocks+IMG_0148.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgozjBxFR-LY4Px1htoydRW4PdL3sORhFGqtDdQpExUV9QQwnNVuYX9j-ibrXXYpzzRt9uzk3sNzFkAit-QTSy6gV2wHfvaUBa4O54qw6qkJETS2JPURUVFWAHXZVq7nEKmccPDQj6cGLg/s1600/Isalo+rocks+IMG_0148.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Approach to Isalo National Park</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">We climbed steeply onto the internal
plateau. Here's what it looks like:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dzFhl9g0Tf2YKMEeV8pPyzYtkXSG0DcRncxX-FcBYvtaWa3f3nSGsgdfh-KZ3336f4UIvRngCQrSb-4x55Xkg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">T</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">he guide pointed out some wildlife to us, including some weird creatures that look like white fluff. Look carefully or you'll miss them.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyI5h8V7ZArhFouM5oA2SuO7ZqrBxGcrtvYpQc09FP7TxvDAfb89VN0QwI1lc7SPexShhVMJi4e-XsQllKgCQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">. . .then, some stick insects . . . </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfopgW-4hsgxIM0NWfjoGfhRRlmPeI6DUKEUNlgPb0DeoPB5oqk9CTzSY2RzdOHqhqydB85NCqN4hVqwSgvfYaaBcKBSngKQLGAxHa8gBusmBdRVe2-_Z1DDyR0-cNQKJrKNO7WCClFMU/s1600/Stick+insect+918A9273.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfopgW-4hsgxIM0NWfjoGfhRRlmPeI6DUKEUNlgPb0DeoPB5oqk9CTzSY2RzdOHqhqydB85NCqN4hVqwSgvfYaaBcKBSngKQLGAxHa8gBusmBdRVe2-_Z1DDyR0-cNQKJrKNO7WCClFMU/s1600/Stick+insect+918A9273.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Find the stick insect</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">. . . a scorpion . . . </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Tw01s4JnDi8fIfvsvXx2aHeg8saONmS7DnnH-3lT5Oy1pll4h9hobT9d2kpwA9AKpqkAZ6i3S97GjM3KNek4mtQHC2yirZy4zkzg93TaaPm78j0R7CwBktpHNrMZvJZFz9Ox3JhthLc/s1600/Scorpion+918A9272.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6Tw01s4JnDi8fIfvsvXx2aHeg8saONmS7DnnH-3lT5Oy1pll4h9hobT9d2kpwA9AKpqkAZ6i3S97GjM3KNek4mtQHC2yirZy4zkzg93TaaPm78j0R7CwBktpHNrMZvJZFz9Ox3JhthLc/s640/Scorpion+918A9272.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Scorpion. Our guide turned over stones until this little creature came with the stone!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">. . . .and some birds. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwvVhDHUE4PhpfL6vAatUIf-hpbJzX61hT5GRWo1dJaHEmwKacvwbUIgfHb9w8UTlvMU_d3u92VaXKoGc7ROTps77JUMDPKkfAQuBfBi-mRzugeKbek2IUMZUoVmpx68QnPWVZViKXx8/s1600/Newtonia+-+Common+918A9265+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitwvVhDHUE4PhpfL6vAatUIf-hpbJzX61hT5GRWo1dJaHEmwKacvwbUIgfHb9w8UTlvMU_d3u92VaXKoGc7ROTps77JUMDPKkfAQuBfBi-mRzugeKbek2IUMZUoVmpx68QnPWVZViKXx8/s640/Newtonia+-+Common+918A9265+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Common Newtonia</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fV12Cm1VD52J934PXxO5vEDkBp3kzg_7vwSbpoSltJEcxBkIU_qpot5DkfqtaqyFMjrWw8L_hyphenhypheno8fAXSA5JxPZj5PrJqEPAtdZWo70x9Z-QW3oIz3F1nLu1sJIsuyhngF_Qf0mL2M1M/s1600/Dove+-+Namaqua+918A9297+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0fV12Cm1VD52J934PXxO5vEDkBp3kzg_7vwSbpoSltJEcxBkIU_qpot5DkfqtaqyFMjrWw8L_hyphenhypheno8fAXSA5JxPZj5PrJqEPAtdZWo70x9Z-QW3oIz3F1nLu1sJIsuyhngF_Qf0mL2M1M/s640/Dove+-+Namaqua+918A9297+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Namaqua Dove - a nice male</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Isalo is regarded as sacred by the local tribe, the Bara, who like to be buried there. We came across some permanent tombs and also some abandoned temporary coffins with nobody in - at least we hope none. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIw-2wg8KLhYqixo9yoAvp_sxDl1B1uAKoGJxri2GHsRuJGT3D-KkieLtRwASsAsDoUU5QEM1ycDZZGlqTs7AXrBj1Dj82x_he6FI_f9ZPi6ukqSSNzJoRVIjzIoIxazlcQjNvfXcYnA/s1600/Temporary+Bara+coffin+Isalo+IMG_0172.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCIw-2wg8KLhYqixo9yoAvp_sxDl1B1uAKoGJxri2GHsRuJGT3D-KkieLtRwASsAsDoUU5QEM1ycDZZGlqTs7AXrBj1Dj82x_he6FI_f9ZPi6ukqSSNzJoRVIjzIoIxazlcQjNvfXcYnA/s640/Temporary+Bara+coffin+Isalo+IMG_0172.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This colourful metal coffin is empty. It originally contained the body of a small person. The bones have been re-buried permanently. The coffin is about 90cm long.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTntnab6PmiP60SwgRYfs8_pOUA7Cvgxa6gh2GthlUuOucrBqhvtZZpBfU1aKwiWPNA29HTvStSJ06JOKLzfRLc4jUOu8Y-ywc8T9wrmCQfLdlgh1Gin1gWQCHEvF37BosbZ77LCy2Cw/s1600/Bara+tomb+in+Isalo+IMG_0149.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCTntnab6PmiP60SwgRYfs8_pOUA7Cvgxa6gh2GthlUuOucrBqhvtZZpBfU1aKwiWPNA29HTvStSJ06JOKLzfRLc4jUOu8Y-ywc8T9wrmCQfLdlgh1Gin1gWQCHEvF37BosbZ77LCy2Cw/s640/Bara+tomb+in+Isalo+IMG_0149.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is a permanent burial place.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">W</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">e crossed the plateau to a high point above the canyon. While not as
impressive as a certain canyon in America, the view was certainly dramatic. We
took photographs on the highest point. This video of the main canyon is from my phone:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dyZlrXGIXcXacvpX-GRGUj65_FfU3d8Ip17y8qxEgdT5c0d3KAGxVIwegFTQe-NywFLirMWrXzgZ6k5wb7y8Q' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWGq2spcXhAG-foxsMTq_fNMBJv7uxZqsr-KZC4pbL1o5bK9RQbbftbTVOKyEY3BFSFY2-vLkCM4B1wJbfEeKUTWkGT1bZqRvgLqJ005IYX1GvGpgNWLPvF1BgGIbFT1cnKRl3qttK7w/s1600/Mike+Sian+Lynne+Al+Steph+Norma+Chris+Phil+Nic+and+guide+Rija+IMG_0169.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOWGq2spcXhAG-foxsMTq_fNMBJv7uxZqsr-KZC4pbL1o5bK9RQbbftbTVOKyEY3BFSFY2-vLkCM4B1wJbfEeKUTWkGT1bZqRvgLqJ005IYX1GvGpgNWLPvF1BgGIbFT1cnKRl3qttK7w/s1600/Mike+Sian+Lynne+Al+Steph+Norma+Chris+Phil+Nic+and+guide+Rija+IMG_0169.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">All of us above the main canyon. L to R - Mike, Sian, Lynne, Al, Steph, Norma, Chris, me, Nic (behind) and Rija, our guide</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We descended into the canyon and crossed over to a water-hole. This was
an oasis, allowing us to cool off, paddle in the water and recover our energy ready for
the next stage, which was quite a trek up the length of the canyon itself. A couple of our party even stripped off and
swam in the cooling water!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieT0Ya00JmljRVblteHwEekuPd5eMaGe5SAYSNV_x6zDnhpQPDM9QxtTV1wA2Hwol7h0VrMglrQCWxOsJ5aSUE0_tCZO_-cc7SG7cyli1yGIWJ6X8EbQ1CzIXjMM2J2Lkwztn-ctTe_qY/s1600/Oasis+in+Isalo+IMG_0176.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieT0Ya00JmljRVblteHwEekuPd5eMaGe5SAYSNV_x6zDnhpQPDM9QxtTV1wA2Hwol7h0VrMglrQCWxOsJ5aSUE0_tCZO_-cc7SG7cyli1yGIWJ6X8EbQ1CzIXjMM2J2Lkwztn-ctTe_qY/s640/Oasis+in+Isalo+IMG_0176.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The oasis in Isalo - a place to cool off.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">In the waterhole, we
found the locally endemic Benson's Rock Thrush. They were very confiding and came very close.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTpCHHwNfHNGEuBxknNV2t6uqJcKV6jNENY0f4LZ-bHRvUwzKAiTo0f8QFA0GU5FU5pkmo74xgSTkV0-_0Qv7yz6EBNMRDXH0ct-h5pELT8w7oBGAxXX-6sWZ33wnTY8T8GUvT4Nor00/s1600/Thrush+-+Benson%2527s+Rock+918A9342+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTpCHHwNfHNGEuBxknNV2t6uqJcKV6jNENY0f4LZ-bHRvUwzKAiTo0f8QFA0GU5FU5pkmo74xgSTkV0-_0Qv7yz6EBNMRDXH0ct-h5pELT8w7oBGAxXX-6sWZ33wnTY8T8GUvT4Nor00/s640/Thrush+-+Benson%2527s+Rock+918A9342+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Benson's Rock Thrush - male, looks friendly</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZM8mMCKKs0TySCh5NLveFMPl7aJVJJjk7myAuUN55RJ2jq2yYeEp6FAavGK07sfGN2lduq1le2jY_ydNf9ksax2Znj63Z3H_n-K32cBUu-W0KAzU4mKq5K3p7EHXhuOSxOevgjeBRIPk/s1600/Thrush+-+Benson%2527s+Rock+F+918A9361+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZM8mMCKKs0TySCh5NLveFMPl7aJVJJjk7myAuUN55RJ2jq2yYeEp6FAavGK07sfGN2lduq1le2jY_ydNf9ksax2Znj63Z3H_n-K32cBUu-W0KAzU4mKq5K3p7EHXhuOSxOevgjeBRIPk/s640/Thrush+-+Benson%2527s+Rock+F+918A9361+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Benson's Rock Thrush - female, looks rather severe.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">After a rest, we
started our trek along the length of the canyon. The
guide soon led us to a nearby bush, which held a rainbow locust. This large
insect was impressive enough while it was perched in the bush. When he made it fly, it revealed a bright
crimson wing case, which amazed us all.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Gm8DT8RVHVRqOrM0Gn92rDrKWMnjBLdRSNiwLifNmI-uENmSFBJakVnli1xubBCGbCjxHNyqiIHE2TladOCdfEzYsb9bWaaKkpac__OoKCQfweLHn4bYKkciYJ2OnFRkfCgO9H0qzKA/s1600/Locust+-+Rainbow+918A9389+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7Gm8DT8RVHVRqOrM0Gn92rDrKWMnjBLdRSNiwLifNmI-uENmSFBJakVnli1xubBCGbCjxHNyqiIHE2TladOCdfEzYsb9bWaaKkpac__OoKCQfweLHn4bYKkciYJ2OnFRkfCgO9H0qzKA/s1600/Locust+-+Rainbow+918A9389+crop.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rainbow Locust</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">OK, OK! I know you want to see another hand, so here is one!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnYiaVKbMeFz_tjekwX6I3W7dtylNKUELklCxDuJBld20ULaMIQgBerVHEPbYBswoMMGmzehe_-rGj2FZyXPPqclZIzn4utFpmSrQ71KTGlKDyROzXTsvDHHmCNsc0GHZTNSKzo-Bv70/s1600/Locust+-+Rainbow+918A9398.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijnYiaVKbMeFz_tjekwX6I3W7dtylNKUELklCxDuJBld20ULaMIQgBerVHEPbYBswoMMGmzehe_-rGj2FZyXPPqclZIzn4utFpmSrQ71KTGlKDyROzXTsvDHHmCNsc0GHZTNSKzo-Bv70/s640/Locust+-+Rainbow+918A9398.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rainbow locust with hand.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">By this time, it was
approaching mid-day and the sun was very hot. Well, we thought it was hot, although the
guide observed drily that it was “only about 32-33</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: medium;">°</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">C"! In this hot dry place, special plants grew, such as Elephant's foot and an Aloe something. Sorry, I'm not too good on plants! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZcG1ciIwFss8Eo3mHwGNvstjSICRtt3yf46BHXTY9z93x7h5AKRdOYvcSV8GZ_DdzhKmE2ZZ9mxr2Q6lU1vna5FxjtH8OJHoP85qK7M437z02EVTjFEo_sUo-dWjuF6jgJ0wvaGHLUE/s1600/Elephant+foot+plant+Isalo+IMG_0157+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_ZcG1ciIwFss8Eo3mHwGNvstjSICRtt3yf46BHXTY9z93x7h5AKRdOYvcSV8GZ_DdzhKmE2ZZ9mxr2Q6lU1vna5FxjtH8OJHoP85qK7M437z02EVTjFEo_sUo-dWjuF6jgJ0wvaGHLUE/s640/Elephant+foot+plant+Isalo+IMG_0157+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Elephant's foot, or false baobab.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-Tbxeu-5Qe2sLFzZwYxsYXMdZeYLDMQKBwSo2uYU2gxnNMUNFSD3XG8cUlIKeNFBBGMfKw225tq7b7HqqmApfmx9gzYTjI2bX8wmkGJWvWNJwKAJqCqwXFqyexkCF8KgiuLGxeh0bOk/s1600/Aloe+plant+Isalo+IMG_0158+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjK-Tbxeu-5Qe2sLFzZwYxsYXMdZeYLDMQKBwSo2uYU2gxnNMUNFSD3XG8cUlIKeNFBBGMfKw225tq7b7HqqmApfmx9gzYTjI2bX8wmkGJWvWNJwKAJqCqwXFqyexkCF8KgiuLGxeh0bOk/s640/Aloe+plant+Isalo+IMG_0158+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Aloe species - not Aloe Vera</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was a relief to reach the
end of the canyon and go down into the valley again to a campsite in a shady stand
of trees where we were to have lunch. This area was home to a number of birds, including
Madagascar turtle dove, Madagascar buttonquail, Fody, Madagascar Hoopoe and Benson's
Rock Thrush.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEb8hDKLL8rEMhz8VwkyaBB9uHiVHySEd4Gk_jCI_5Uie5aeQNsHZRo2RTWNPorsvtT8P7l1052KFsb2sMFvyQyqWMuozOLvWidt-iH4u4NNgm8uGleqTAQjjX6No730Zy9Ql-dHXzGI/s1600/Turtle-dove+-+Madagascar+918A9500+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQEb8hDKLL8rEMhz8VwkyaBB9uHiVHySEd4Gk_jCI_5Uie5aeQNsHZRo2RTWNPorsvtT8P7l1052KFsb2sMFvyQyqWMuozOLvWidt-iH4u4NNgm8uGleqTAQjjX6No730Zy9Ql-dHXzGI/s640/Turtle-dove+-+Madagascar+918A9500+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Madagascar Turtle Dove</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTVruVhEfcFunuQ3d51-YRhoN-9NzoBbLKlRRKiG8bqrdACoAW1okSALmH9ejbAHSfzcZRVMHyhBfC-JcmeiOGoLqUMitZtOU5tfyaTHC2r-8cKXljQ1HlTHeKN3Y8k_8CQ0XNuowrZc/s1600/Buttonquail+-+Madagascar+918A9470+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDTVruVhEfcFunuQ3d51-YRhoN-9NzoBbLKlRRKiG8bqrdACoAW1okSALmH9ejbAHSfzcZRVMHyhBfC-JcmeiOGoLqUMitZtOU5tfyaTHC2r-8cKXljQ1HlTHeKN3Y8k_8CQ0XNuowrZc/s640/Buttonquail+-+Madagascar+918A9470+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Madagascar Buttonquail</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3G6XpWDQZRetSTqR73pe6uxNpSgQ10fYm_pcea7CV-0irxrGsIvV7p61tMol0C_99x4HOdzDA6BkVbHN4-gGfdJcb0vFi5anMF0LP8zzqy3d6q4yJBkIfBosZ2cciH7gy9ps2QU0KbzU/s1600/Hoopoe+-+Madagascar+918A9533+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3G6XpWDQZRetSTqR73pe6uxNpSgQ10fYm_pcea7CV-0irxrGsIvV7p61tMol0C_99x4HOdzDA6BkVbHN4-gGfdJcb0vFi5anMF0LP8zzqy3d6q4yJBkIfBosZ2cciH7gy9ps2QU0KbzU/s640/Hoopoe+-+Madagascar+918A9533+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Madagascar Hoopoe</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Some of the others went
on a further walk after lunch to some other pools. Lynne and I decided to relax
in camp while they did it! On their return,
we walked the final 1.5Km to the car park where our bus was waiting for us. We had
certainly earned our dinner that evening.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">The following morning,
we left Ranohira and the Bara tribe on the last leg of our journey southwest to <b>5 -Tulear</b>. Tulear is spelt "<b>Toliara" </b>on the map above. Rija explained that the road we were now travelling on was built a few
years ago by the Chinese for reasons which remain obscure.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">The journey was full of
interest and activity. Firstly, we
passed through <b>Ilakaka</b>, a sapphire town, which had grown up in the last 15 or 20 years after the discovery of sapphires in the area. What had been a small village has now
become a medium sized town, with people from all over the country, who come
to mine sapphires. The mining conditions
are, apparently, far from safe. Some workers die when the shafts they are
working in collapse, through lack of support. We did not stop at Ilakaka, but
drove on, through some fairly bleak terrain of termite hills and desert. We did
notice a very impressive family tomb in this area though.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcOJYeDOi4KbKljz8m54MRmXAJYOJZjejB4rRxd_96wRfxjnopvyQ_8senOoyYnPDdfHG5dkah3jU30ApsVi4RqrdhnyMWiML8J3J0GYyhyphenhyphenVo0TEDQRcCqZ_4h7OMa3OdBTRSvnezJfo/s1600/Family+tombe+near+Ranohira+IMG_0192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAcOJYeDOi4KbKljz8m54MRmXAJYOJZjejB4rRxd_96wRfxjnopvyQ_8senOoyYnPDdfHG5dkah3jU30ApsVi4RqrdhnyMWiML8J3J0GYyhyphenhyphenVo0TEDQRcCqZ_4h7OMa3OdBTRSvnezJfo/s640/Family+tombe+near+Ranohira+IMG_0192.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Not a country villa, but a large family tomb.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Later, we reached the
National Park of Zombitse. Our guides were Tiavo, Gold and Feline.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">This Park was home to a
couple of species of lemur, a very rare endemic bird, as well as some
impressive baobab trees. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6T6_-7R2Uo0xwGP0cLB9BcXz-uX5Xcn_TDqw1pLQOyzbAqp1a9N6bT325aGF9gYC3t5N5mWGEBbEWJ1mi_tYdRd-0TK4hprfT_LzbD5kGtFdyfnLXlCGWYaSNffXx4Bu7tCoys0w4-I/s1600/Tetraka+-+Appert%2527s+918A9663+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb6T6_-7R2Uo0xwGP0cLB9BcXz-uX5Xcn_TDqw1pLQOyzbAqp1a9N6bT325aGF9gYC3t5N5mWGEBbEWJ1mi_tYdRd-0TK4hprfT_LzbD5kGtFdyfnLXlCGWYaSNffXx4Bu7tCoys0w4-I/s640/Tetraka+-+Appert%2527s+918A9663+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Appert's Tetraka - a rare bird endemic to the Zombitse region</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJ5qKmr6_3sepal6DuELGhlS2QQXXq3EWN-ONF0vBJmilOkzuTrEnL_CurTbMqSuceFrtT8aDN2Unixg09SAhOrBNdhO7glJn71S_A7BLLOTGU-kktcT4BIecoAw87fUNtq0J_GMhaZ0/s1600/Tetraka+-+Long-billed+918A9759+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlJ5qKmr6_3sepal6DuELGhlS2QQXXq3EWN-ONF0vBJmilOkzuTrEnL_CurTbMqSuceFrtT8aDN2Unixg09SAhOrBNdhO7glJn71S_A7BLLOTGU-kktcT4BIecoAw87fUNtq0J_GMhaZ0/s640/Tetraka+-+Long-billed+918A9759+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A Long-billed Tetraka in Zombitse</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVONy08iwxTtXATK1IOadop3FLQn0vdONQU7mxYAjAYTFxK_yJ6cUgtyMhcPaF-52TfrHrNHg-g8zD_bXlIG13h_vMamKDwOs462kTh7CU59HXYjjl2YuR_f6rLDP1NborRwu8gHJhbWE/s1600/Baobab+tree+in+Zombitze+Nat+Park+IMG_0199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVONy08iwxTtXATK1IOadop3FLQn0vdONQU7mxYAjAYTFxK_yJ6cUgtyMhcPaF-52TfrHrNHg-g8zD_bXlIG13h_vMamKDwOs462kTh7CU59HXYjjl2YuR_f6rLDP1NborRwu8gHJhbWE/s1600/Baobab+tree+in+Zombitze+Nat+Park+IMG_0199.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A large Baobab tree - Zombitse</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51Clua1S-bOv4MO1Jb-T93UsMDp0RHgCxtxFuT8K7E5aeaSXHdOIRmWalb1AQkwDemfgoLHnhWGDEHE4iUmzzKPjrOmjEmNmRrDMB98vYKUvHadT_5rwTILcQpsaELrkBdJwdhucpXVc/s1600/Baobab+tree+in+Zombitze+Nat+Park+IMG_0204.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi51Clua1S-bOv4MO1Jb-T93UsMDp0RHgCxtxFuT8K7E5aeaSXHdOIRmWalb1AQkwDemfgoLHnhWGDEHE4iUmzzKPjrOmjEmNmRrDMB98vYKUvHadT_5rwTILcQpsaELrkBdJwdhucpXVc/s1600/Baobab+tree+in+Zombitze+Nat+Park+IMG_0204.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A large double Baobab tree - Zombitse</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"> I've kept the cuddly lemurs till last!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWP1CBASfSO3xvV7JwD7KSsMP82WH0bRdTfnX4Md0i7FGj8R1RZPeQu9KM0vlROtP8ZHg2QCxH_tIlyrMU4ev9kxsFYcb3OE-gV9-IbYPbhSFfIZpyYgMUtxXRYJK8TMPLrFjAxo7-d0/s1600/Sifaka+-+Verreaux%2527s+918A9686.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWP1CBASfSO3xvV7JwD7KSsMP82WH0bRdTfnX4Md0i7FGj8R1RZPeQu9KM0vlROtP8ZHg2QCxH_tIlyrMU4ev9kxsFYcb3OE-gV9-IbYPbhSFfIZpyYgMUtxXRYJK8TMPLrFjAxo7-d0/s640/Sifaka+-+Verreaux%2527s+918A9686.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Verreaux's Sifaka</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBZwGPLckmfLfEXpWSlDy2Po90kBLim6YTNRl3bC7v2EIJXE_EG2gy-9xdX7qbXUIHKvj6P2ld7VYWQ6iY7z_mGQUOnBJFGxLHB-NIFAnjg20xu-mHpLEFgVlN5cUayO08BBBM8DWSsE/s1600/Sifaka+-+Verreaux%2527s+918A9734.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmBZwGPLckmfLfEXpWSlDy2Po90kBLim6YTNRl3bC7v2EIJXE_EG2gy-9xdX7qbXUIHKvj6P2ld7VYWQ6iY7z_mGQUOnBJFGxLHB-NIFAnjg20xu-mHpLEFgVlN5cUayO08BBBM8DWSsE/s640/Sifaka+-+Verreaux%2527s+918A9734.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Verreaux's Sifaka</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MaM0rrUJ7w5rsI6eYk7M0BlG40b7FOlaf6_HjiTcnymB3EUYvIbt-O9IbGjiNFSilQzH3GHcoDd8E-VA1ZT2dPxMgwpzQvpWuEOI6-DZfqlBTPxoCHvv_L61m7yMRcG0nKbD6Jn0PN4/s1600/Lemur+-Zombitse+%2528Hubbard%2527s%2529+sportive+918A9650.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6MaM0rrUJ7w5rsI6eYk7M0BlG40b7FOlaf6_HjiTcnymB3EUYvIbt-O9IbGjiNFSilQzH3GHcoDd8E-VA1ZT2dPxMgwpzQvpWuEOI6-DZfqlBTPxoCHvv_L61m7yMRcG0nKbD6Jn0PN4/s640/Lemur+-Zombitse+%2528Hubbard%2527s%2529+sportive+918A9650.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Hubbard's sportive lemur, aka Zombitse sportive lemur. This is actually a nocturnal species.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This was quite a short visit, and we then pressed on
towards Tulear. We were running low on
cash at this point. Credit and debit cards are useless in most of Madagascar,
so we needed to go to the bank. The first bank we went to looked at my £20
notes and declared that they were not new enough, so they wouldn't change them! We went
to a different bank, where they did agree to change them. The clerk told us to
wait. We waited about 15 minutes before we were called to the counter, and then,
perhaps, another 10 - 15 minutes while they dealt with the formalities of
changing the money. I have a sneaking
suspicion that, even then, we had somehow jumped the queue of local people, which seemed to
remain the same all the while we were there.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">While I was in the
bank, Lynne had gone to the local supermarket with Steph. They had bought a
bottle of local gin and some tonic for us to drink during our stay at the beach.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Back at our hotel, the
Victory, we decided to have a swim before dinner. This was quite refreshing. In
fact, the water was quite cool, but it was the first swim that we had had. Our
stay in Tulear was brief. The next day
we were going to <b>Anakao, </b>for a beach holiday. Now, Anakao is quite
a short distance along the coast as the crow flies, but almost impossible to
reach by road. </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><b>How would we get there? Don't
miss the final thrilling instalment!</b><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;">Other parts:</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part 1 -</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/madagascar-1-antananarivo-andasibe.html" target="_blank">Antananarivo - Andasibe - Perinet National Park - Antsirabe</a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part 2 -</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/madagascar-2-antsirabe-ranomafana.html">Antsirabe - Ranomafana National Park - Chameleon centre</a></span></span></div>
</div>
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Part 4 - </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"> <a href="https://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/madagascar-4-anakao-tsimanampetsotsa.html" target="_blank">Anakao, Tsimanampetsotsa, whale-watching, antananarivo, home</a>.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-6260985905910869682017-10-02T11:28:00.002+01:002017-10-30T08:23:04.821+00:00Madagascar 2 - Antsirabe - Ranomafana National Park<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;">Other parts:</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part 1 -</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/madagascar-1-antananarivo-andasibe.html" target="_blank">Antananarivo - Andasibe - Perinet National Park - Antsirabe</a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;">Part 3 - </span><a href="https://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/madagascar-3-anja-national-park-isalo.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anja National Park – Ranohira – Isalo NP – Zombitze NP</span></a></div>
</div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Part 4 - </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"> <a href="https://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/madagascar-4-anakao-tsimanampetsotsa.html" target="_blank">Anakao, Tsimanampetsotsa, whale-watching, antananarivo, home</a>.</span></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">The next day we started
back towards Antananarivo, the start of a journey which effectively lasted 2
days until we reached <b>Ranomafana</b>. On the first day, the journey was punctuated
by a stop at a centre housing a good collection of chameleons, geckos, frogs
and butterflies. We were able to get really close to them. They were in large enclosures, and chameleons are
quite slow moving in any event. I'm afraid I haven't identified them yet.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9ZIOOQOUxVVtD3fFj0xdr_gu9SB1U_M7HZOk3DUKLxqv5xrj-9nW0T67cNuBKweQxiZecyW-g8KDuCn__Q5_eDhPaakK2tM868lHNIln4oM4KHDsitdVuxCseeNoKVv1zFtUe5hrfBk/s1600/Chameleon+IMG_0124.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEim9ZIOOQOUxVVtD3fFj0xdr_gu9SB1U_M7HZOk3DUKLxqv5xrj-9nW0T67cNuBKweQxiZecyW-g8KDuCn__Q5_eDhPaakK2tM868lHNIln4oM4KHDsitdVuxCseeNoKVv1zFtUe5hrfBk/s640/Chameleon+IMG_0124.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chameleon - unidentified as yet</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgD4j7V0hhGz01BSmJ9AjF3IsyejuksA13wG2A1FJ5Q0Mj0GXhOVt_MTQfHowX6B-dtZv4p_JwgGTu_fBlOe99QENHWhv0wxv8HlV1bju76XlP4rVIqtQ56xUEupcFlTJslLlHdg3Xv8/s1600/Chameleon+IMG_0129.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKgD4j7V0hhGz01BSmJ9AjF3IsyejuksA13wG2A1FJ5Q0Mj0GXhOVt_MTQfHowX6B-dtZv4p_JwgGTu_fBlOe99QENHWhv0wxv8HlV1bju76XlP4rVIqtQ56xUEupcFlTJslLlHdg3Xv8/s1600/Chameleon+IMG_0129.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chameleon - unidentified as yet</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAszkAFoxCS5Vk82bqLtoeC3HvwDJCY6T42DxfxZE1hNR47pSu2zmGq4KaZoalsfFhW5GLvDJjfnqs4ZMIVabtD5VY27OVbUpUeSQ-1Vm4YWlGXhbz1m-81P93zOWjLZeaMxTcCOiVDs/s1600/Chameleon+IMG_0135.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrAszkAFoxCS5Vk82bqLtoeC3HvwDJCY6T42DxfxZE1hNR47pSu2zmGq4KaZoalsfFhW5GLvDJjfnqs4ZMIVabtD5VY27OVbUpUeSQ-1Vm4YWlGXhbz1m-81P93zOWjLZeaMxTcCOiVDs/s640/Chameleon+IMG_0135.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chameleon - unidentified as yet</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDnldAh1t7xLPaUYgD4LAmedWsmF7DlrfYnnrlRFwaVh4TMWFp1Ty70lOM2iOgUCUpMxp7sgY5owTIQeEj7ireYxq_fsl9wI1AwWQXmhaIAKLK6RZGbZurXwkQ3At5byZR8npMFSyavc/s1600/Chameleon+IMG_0138.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRDnldAh1t7xLPaUYgD4LAmedWsmF7DlrfYnnrlRFwaVh4TMWFp1Ty70lOM2iOgUCUpMxp7sgY5owTIQeEj7ireYxq_fsl9wI1AwWQXmhaIAKLK6RZGbZurXwkQ3At5byZR8npMFSyavc/s640/Chameleon+IMG_0138.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chameleon - unidentified as yet</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSB1Mq3CDpdWuXSezQn4PceqSCLCRIJZA_dQc3N3TQqAlKj7Zjt5VsFG7Jk79BFieWNQKl1ncSpKoG-6uhEsfz-Nn2la_Ytcn0ceIpA9X5_8xBe5qQeiJ7MivW-9HA5CH6K2wh1R49dnM/s1600/Chameleon+IMG_0140.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSB1Mq3CDpdWuXSezQn4PceqSCLCRIJZA_dQc3N3TQqAlKj7Zjt5VsFG7Jk79BFieWNQKl1ncSpKoG-6uhEsfz-Nn2la_Ytcn0ceIpA9X5_8xBe5qQeiJ7MivW-9HA5CH6K2wh1R49dnM/s1600/Chameleon+IMG_0140.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chameleon - unidentified as yet</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We also saw some
amazing geckos, which also managed to camouflage themselves against their background
so as to be almost invisible.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirK1dFH_SV_iu42H_mvh4wBdGyUOnG8sCWyuQkCKSA83vYGWd-7ZLjaRLUm5vxEUuO16_rx4BGjcwvV4Zkzqc_g8sAS2STEOynW6nv9ANw64pJtujPIcUSuEdsZWQaprUd4pTuaOiitpo/s1600/Leaf-tailed+gecko+IMG_0152.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirK1dFH_SV_iu42H_mvh4wBdGyUOnG8sCWyuQkCKSA83vYGWd-7ZLjaRLUm5vxEUuO16_rx4BGjcwvV4Zkzqc_g8sAS2STEOynW6nv9ANw64pJtujPIcUSuEdsZWQaprUd4pTuaOiitpo/s640/Leaf-tailed+gecko+IMG_0152.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Leaf-tailed Gecko - about 25cm long</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5ZcVQA4axndhNAG81PiFlj827xPmgfyNQtTA_-JsW9cDOB8bKHnSkql68uvsNX-_IFphCtQw7VNsNG312xo-jf3-uVDnrEkfbev8LpYMwlx9LQHlNMd1KR2U1sc994TjPD7_rlZVprs/s1600/Leaf-tailed+gecko+IMG_0154.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG5ZcVQA4axndhNAG81PiFlj827xPmgfyNQtTA_-JsW9cDOB8bKHnSkql68uvsNX-_IFphCtQw7VNsNG312xo-jf3-uVDnrEkfbev8LpYMwlx9LQHlNMd1KR2U1sc994TjPD7_rlZVprs/s640/Leaf-tailed+gecko+IMG_0154.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Leaf-tailed Gecko - about 25cm long</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7JPPmmYNcZ-_O22DO6dj9nh6_KUeqnawXu5F68v9zbOYT75KCTfu6hqmb2WDUQKteGK6SpMFSK_xvRojTtYoA2GZbNLokTrVbAJJRaaUFQN9pp-16UMsq938GYPzTwQB8WdBtr54VE4/s1600/Leaf-tailed+gecko+IMG_0156.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie7JPPmmYNcZ-_O22DO6dj9nh6_KUeqnawXu5F68v9zbOYT75KCTfu6hqmb2WDUQKteGK6SpMFSK_xvRojTtYoA2GZbNLokTrVbAJJRaaUFQN9pp-16UMsq938GYPzTwQB8WdBtr54VE4/s640/Leaf-tailed+gecko+IMG_0156.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Leaf-tailed Gecko - the eyes have it!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnmO-KAsfQQGNeKFvIv6_BCdCHceg5Fbx5zwWB3ybFTcuO64kvRpBWvy20n14j2XjOI318m3Lg29fLRgeYb2HfMe2REjjxDT2wQg8ezekyKCWLUb-Z2sQlFVurvVKiq9Shc5Xtmbcc40/s1600/Leaf-tailed+gecko+IMG_0160.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgnmO-KAsfQQGNeKFvIv6_BCdCHceg5Fbx5zwWB3ybFTcuO64kvRpBWvy20n14j2XjOI318m3Lg29fLRgeYb2HfMe2REjjxDT2wQg8ezekyKCWLUb-Z2sQlFVurvVKiq9Shc5Xtmbcc40/s1600/Leaf-tailed+gecko+IMG_0160.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Where's Wally?? - the gecko is there somewhere.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZl5u-7uz418T7nv0fArQhjZL3aMpjgK2x21_lBvdiOIc6_ulzNRuKI-KPRcmKXCUfP0PO87T9FGiSJG-1S9CrmD8zDtNiSZZOww17WEbWLEnPJoOBUxhSra0fFzJSZaWAMbIdweSkzC0/s1600/Millepied+IMG_0145.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZl5u-7uz418T7nv0fArQhjZL3aMpjgK2x21_lBvdiOIc6_ulzNRuKI-KPRcmKXCUfP0PO87T9FGiSJG-1S9CrmD8zDtNiSZZOww17WEbWLEnPJoOBUxhSra0fFzJSZaWAMbIdweSkzC0/s1600/Millepied+IMG_0145.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Millepede making for a hand - not mine!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">One of the nice things about having a guide with us, was that on the long journeys Rija would, periodically, entertain and instruct us about the local tribes, customs, history and activities. There are 18 tribes in Madagascar, each with their own language. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The language of the tribe around the capital was officially adopted as the Malagasy language, but there are still some places where communication between Rija and the locals was not straightforward.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The majority of the population still lives and works in the countryside. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">More people in the city go to schools, but overall literacy is probably about 60%.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Most people understand some French.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">This was handy, as I could get by with my basic French.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We also got off the bus occasionally and walked around the villages. In this way we could see, close up, some aspects of their daily lives.</span></span><br />
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</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizakC-hIi8eAiQ5vYgCniaWSCHZBpFjSFAwXp_As74ZLuKjGt7HNNmZkDNeeUUJw6WkBBlCZNNBdWQZbybRsA9esWnsckqfs_DjdkegYf-kaSL891_AxgCf8yq2F00FCjPA7F7I8Gk6o/s1600/Village+market+IMG_0022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgizakC-hIi8eAiQ5vYgCniaWSCHZBpFjSFAwXp_As74ZLuKjGt7HNNmZkDNeeUUJw6WkBBlCZNNBdWQZbybRsA9esWnsckqfs_DjdkegYf-kaSL891_AxgCf8yq2F00FCjPA7F7I8Gk6o/s640/Village+market+IMG_0022.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Typical village street market</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1NHtQYFRaocVhpkbXHc2s71xj1MDdXpRO3z9FvfqDIfAr92H-tyYheUnPTTfOs8BsdoQjkeoCUTpe4V9aukwf6uMr6zu8HHH8V1mfBQlARC7hdhFhP1gaEcvs8v1bRuVDb1i5sO37kA/s1600/Village+market+IMG_0191.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI1NHtQYFRaocVhpkbXHc2s71xj1MDdXpRO3z9FvfqDIfAr92H-tyYheUnPTTfOs8BsdoQjkeoCUTpe4V9aukwf6uMr6zu8HHH8V1mfBQlARC7hdhFhP1gaEcvs8v1bRuVDb1i5sO37kA/s640/Village+market+IMG_0191.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Market in a larger village/town</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Getting around in Madagascar</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">With no railway and the hilly terrain, the only way to get around is by road. Walking is most common. Zebu carts are everywhere.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWFsD4ZzXASpK98mG1BFUHkpr8Vy2-8pCylFPvFOreelaBkn2bFbfBTiiKt3C_AA1MASa4-4VKBeg3OWh_WuuG_NrMnNXAsf4yn6C8oIWRQKE1GXS5WDiravNtL1GH3_xnfpPYZ6XIQc/s1600/Zebu+cart+IMG_0167.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMWFsD4ZzXASpK98mG1BFUHkpr8Vy2-8pCylFPvFOreelaBkn2bFbfBTiiKt3C_AA1MASa4-4VKBeg3OWh_WuuG_NrMnNXAsf4yn6C8oIWRQKE1GXS5WDiravNtL1GH3_xnfpPYZ6XIQc/s640/Zebu+cart+IMG_0167.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">The ubiquitous zebu cart</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">For long distances, there is the car, taxi or sometimes Italian-made tuk-tuks (motorised rickshaws). Then there is the taxi-bus. These overloaded buses ply the country, some long journeys taking several days. They didn't look too comfortable; hot and overcrowded. Here is a typical one:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeTIOJzcS-CzgyZudEf_fRxTJeaLjoCd63qVp1cc2zaMYDi-7JGzV2SN884RGGwmLw9l6mau2ZriSYqYytilRTtVCT6Z730ZHZbvSt2KCMIOYEzqwtNaZ7l3YLALSg-wbtixL9r-CU2g/s1600/Typical+taxi-bus+IMG_0136.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJeTIOJzcS-CzgyZudEf_fRxTJeaLjoCd63qVp1cc2zaMYDi-7JGzV2SN884RGGwmLw9l6mau2ZriSYqYytilRTtVCT6Z730ZHZbvSt2KCMIOYEzqwtNaZ7l3YLALSg-wbtixL9r-CU2g/s640/Typical+taxi-bus+IMG_0136.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Typical taxi-bus</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We ended the first
day's journey in </span><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Antsirabe</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">, staying
overnight at a nice, red-brick hotel called </span><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><i>Les Chambres du Voyager</i></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">.
We only really had time for dinner before going to bed, but I asked one of the
staff whether there were any birds around in the garden, which had a large pond
with a small accessible island. He said
the best time was from 05:30 to 06:30. Three
of us agreed to get up to see what was about at that time.</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">I rose early, dressed,
and by 05:30 I was in the garden, where I met Sian and Nic. What fools! It was
still dark for goodness sake! There were
indeed many birds that started to appear at first light, including common jery,
Madagascar Fody, a Madagascar Malachite kingfisher and Madagascar white-eye. A
hamerkop flew overhead, and there were a few other birds which it was too dark
to identify.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB66JCc8ccbw-p07EESkhKRfMQPg6q6W5l740P7YnO3Zq6y-KuVZARxMWBFK1U_PDuvlt8SqyV_ZJuvRvriXCBvpbF9uBnJSdzHgZJ-RLN5Q8MtiGuBH753NXNQrua7rzT8l_wnRgXTGE/s1600/Jery+-+Common+918A0465+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiB66JCc8ccbw-p07EESkhKRfMQPg6q6W5l740P7YnO3Zq6y-KuVZARxMWBFK1U_PDuvlt8SqyV_ZJuvRvriXCBvpbF9uBnJSdzHgZJ-RLN5Q8MtiGuBH753NXNQrua7rzT8l_wnRgXTGE/s640/Jery+-+Common+918A0465+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Common Jery</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSljUZ-j_7ZRk00EP483Y43cIrK27t0lXvQ-nCxX7mBLSubykJPEfykVvwO4EUNeOZ_c0y5c6idqRNYfcA5muq0hIoTBM5JWAo-WWIoRsaoNpNiRT8zBPBddGUDk-tox9uJbI1IhV0f2E/s1600/Fody+-+Madagascar+918A8304+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSljUZ-j_7ZRk00EP483Y43cIrK27t0lXvQ-nCxX7mBLSubykJPEfykVvwO4EUNeOZ_c0y5c6idqRNYfcA5muq0hIoTBM5JWAo-WWIoRsaoNpNiRT8zBPBddGUDk-tox9uJbI1IhV0f2E/s640/Fody+-+Madagascar+918A8304+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Madagascar Fody</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRDBPaqOpgLZnAtSXA8GQQX-t26ICy9I1DEEQLukIs72h0Cm8M72vDxC1VrB4C5nzSxcDdBgYGvIVuFLuBCC4DOFM7eytCmIdnZezsLK2F0v0zBLg3QAVUSLh09lrY5UFmtZJgS8HnZ0/s1600/White-eye+-+Madagascar+918A8314+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmRDBPaqOpgLZnAtSXA8GQQX-t26ICy9I1DEEQLukIs72h0Cm8M72vDxC1VrB4C5nzSxcDdBgYGvIVuFLuBCC4DOFM7eytCmIdnZezsLK2F0v0zBLg3QAVUSLh09lrY5UFmtZJgS8HnZ0/s640/White-eye+-+Madagascar+918A8314+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Madagascar White-eye</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">After breakfast we set
off towards Ranomafana. Thoughtfully, Exodus
had again arranged to break the journey with a stop in </span><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Ambositra</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">, the centre of Madagascar’s woodcarving industry. Most of
the wood carving is done in an area in the mountains a little way from our
route, so we went to an artisan paper making factory instead. There we also did
some shopping!</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtJuLE72b1DfI33tfVIcC8hs3w1pkO0DS69CMHYr2hP0VL3ufeFwdQ6XQsx7h1kax2Kw_QpBtReYHFa3IMd4lIYE6PQvBGrUchT8KP1YxuIv6PIQgjvGe_uQI7IOQwFVBP8dZihEQEFQ/s1600/Paper+making+Ambalavao+IMG_0059.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidtJuLE72b1DfI33tfVIcC8hs3w1pkO0DS69CMHYr2hP0VL3ufeFwdQ6XQsx7h1kax2Kw_QpBtReYHFa3IMd4lIYE6PQvBGrUchT8KP1YxuIv6PIQgjvGe_uQI7IOQwFVBP8dZihEQEFQ/s640/Paper+making+Ambalavao+IMG_0059.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Artisan paper making.<br />The wet sections are set to dry in the sun</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">After lunch, we pressed
on. The countryside is full of family tombs of different sizes. Typically, the body is buried or entombed temporarily to allow the body to decay. After about ten years, the body is exhumed and the bones are reburied permanently in a ceremony known as "the </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">turning</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> of the bones". Some of the family tombs look like small cottages and are in lovely positions. Here is a typical on</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">e:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WvFjDSMh_X1meKvO6fNhtH1HgZSaMqta7-bXtVwQUV2wcOiBfFy5gF11X9wTzIgwmoiV3Idqdnuh-KzXuNMUsPRgG-KThGVJiBgjVAth1WcnhEkMwq2mfAkmxEzu38AI17E2JlLHmfo/s1600/Family+tomb+IMG_0175.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8WvFjDSMh_X1meKvO6fNhtH1HgZSaMqta7-bXtVwQUV2wcOiBfFy5gF11X9wTzIgwmoiV3Idqdnuh-KzXuNMUsPRgG-KThGVJiBgjVAth1WcnhEkMwq2mfAkmxEzu38AI17E2JlLHmfo/s640/Family+tomb+IMG_0175.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A family tomb by the roadside</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">This is the beautiful valley that it overlooks:</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBKWLLB4i9QkSJU35FL3lbvQfVSYJRISlFjp7r3stbJouebFF_EN6a6I4YukkcCdlFWqC3r6wPZFdW-boJ0T8MX48zZOpTKtiMA8R7RgyEcZ5L22ZBojoTXKfEysX23hrfIGuz7_Fr-w/s1600/Rice+paddies+IMG_0177.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwBKWLLB4i9QkSJU35FL3lbvQfVSYJRISlFjp7r3stbJouebFF_EN6a6I4YukkcCdlFWqC3r6wPZFdW-boJ0T8MX48zZOpTKtiMA8R7RgyEcZ5L22ZBojoTXKfEysX23hrfIGuz7_Fr-w/s640/Rice+paddies+IMG_0177.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Rice paddies on the terraces above the river</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Finally we made our way to Ranomafana, arriving at our hotel, </span><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><i>Le Grenat</i></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">, in the late
afternoon. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">As we would be staying
at this hotel for two nights, we decided to have all our dirty clothes washed. They all came back nicely laundered at a
very reasonable price.</span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;">The next day we visited
the Ranomafana National Park. Again, we
had local guides, called Diamondra and Tsilavo. This visit was a great
adventure into the rainforest, home to the Golden bamboo lemurs, a species critically
endangered outside the North. The park was formed by the government after these
lemurs were discovered there in 1986 by an American anthropologist, Dr Patricia Wright</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">. We
had to make our way through quite dense undergrowth to where the lemurs were
feeding. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzQdBXo6fSoqsHZv9EbQL4aoP5VwAM8lHUZYQxHUDaplBaGktwg03R7swUbj5UeqroRRQdS_29s3eI-m4OVvhMlAKH7XgPd4bZ13cxDybDq_ANiLpta4IqY-qp7a2ThX7_55Lz3_uwic/s1600/Lemur+-+Golden+bamboo+918A8514.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinzQdBXo6fSoqsHZv9EbQL4aoP5VwAM8lHUZYQxHUDaplBaGktwg03R7swUbj5UeqroRRQdS_29s3eI-m4OVvhMlAKH7XgPd4bZ13cxDybDq_ANiLpta4IqY-qp7a2ThX7_55Lz3_uwic/s640/Lemur+-+Golden+bamboo+918A8514.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Golden Bamboo Lemur at Ranomafana National Park</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0GBrKQc7L2NGLeVG7WQNy42NADIoT87dTnmbPGjUq4wGp729KLnRYu5J2rXHLbEqzZEdmhr_eIdfQe0PhvybiJb838pTI_tHiEhzgCE1SSd1ypAoYfql6aKoqmzGfgwUqAifNO6rqlY/s1600/Lemur+-+Golden+bamboo+918A8538.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgW0GBrKQc7L2NGLeVG7WQNy42NADIoT87dTnmbPGjUq4wGp729KLnRYu5J2rXHLbEqzZEdmhr_eIdfQe0PhvybiJb838pTI_tHiEhzgCE1SSd1ypAoYfql6aKoqmzGfgwUqAifNO6rqlY/s640/Lemur+-+Golden+bamboo+918A8538.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Golden Bamboo Lemur at Ranomafana National Park</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">The guides could see
that I was interested in birds. I asked whether there might be a chance of
seeing a Madagascar pygmy kingfisher. Later
on in the visit, they took us to a place where there was indeed a pygmy
kingfisher. Fantastic! We had now seen
both the kingfisher species of Madagascar.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdskXxJTTCajVEAavCFBzuDn99xLrMF0e79vzPV70BuBXWogNLE68zWzJNGCPlrXBcUftskHjKjAVT2HWuv5MqDm70jOqt7V3yhwNUpCKnOlmVJH8WthytAGZpQAmSPLga6CBbFm5NSs/s1600/Kingfisher+-+Madagascar+pygmy+918A8638+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhdskXxJTTCajVEAavCFBzuDn99xLrMF0e79vzPV70BuBXWogNLE68zWzJNGCPlrXBcUftskHjKjAVT2HWuv5MqDm70jOqt7V3yhwNUpCKnOlmVJH8WthytAGZpQAmSPLga6CBbFm5NSs/s640/Kingfisher+-+Madagascar+pygmy+918A8638+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Madagascar Pygmy Kingfisher - a forest species that doesn't eat fish!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">As we were leaving the
National Park, I saw a Madagascar bulbul very close and in a nice position. It's a very common bird, but I decided to take
a careful photo of one. I often neglect
the most common birds in favour of the rarer ones. When I get home, I then
realise that I don't have a decent photo of some of the common birds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyI2CgXQqTkO3hAxQ8nb-qG1tS76RPLIVMPitCZVjrJLbA9-tfjrsvyXFcWbVwRsahmzR8qSDROrLjXpeK8CRIG8QtO_URGA6HIuSHfoS7TGlyMEmB6TQUBbheAeYbQTE2eYZsMZKKUpY/s1600/Bulbul+-+Madagascar+918A8718+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyI2CgXQqTkO3hAxQ8nb-qG1tS76RPLIVMPitCZVjrJLbA9-tfjrsvyXFcWbVwRsahmzR8qSDROrLjXpeK8CRIG8QtO_URGA6HIuSHfoS7TGlyMEmB6TQUBbheAeYbQTE2eYZsMZKKUpY/s640/Bulbul+-+Madagascar+918A8718+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Madagascar Bulbul</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For lunch, Rija had
booked us into a local restaurant. We were
on the terrace, in the shade and overlooking a valley. Perfect! In fact, we saw very few birds during lunch. Bird activity is low in the middle of the day.
However, walking back to the hotel we
saw a couple of kestrels. The Madagascar
kestrel comes in two morphs; dark and pale. The dark morph is similar to our common kestrel.
The pale morph is a very handsome bird indeed.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BKW8iZevqavlbruHqF78NsQt5tPF6r7dCkTW5UckDFA6KzbYQhp68lR6C2BvhHfbnZyGJaEUfq75pvLhi4XhuKoygRbbYMed-lyg86lugsXA1ExB39sHkYBi4HSIj9m7bIB0TCutSzY/s1600/Kestrel+-+Madagascar+-+dark+morph+918A8732+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1BKW8iZevqavlbruHqF78NsQt5tPF6r7dCkTW5UckDFA6KzbYQhp68lR6C2BvhHfbnZyGJaEUfq75pvLhi4XhuKoygRbbYMed-lyg86lugsXA1ExB39sHkYBi4HSIj9m7bIB0TCutSzY/s640/Kestrel+-+Madagascar+-+dark+morph+918A8732+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Madagascar Kestrel - dark morph</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbuVVL416EtAT_so4SI9ouE0LGFBtA-fxoC3NgnewjOCNRDdEJU35qV1dbrwhu7exk9ZIfYOGoYuFIZnvDyZolMenGHBBEhelqFM5LqDa48A_oW0OhriZ7oHYlXxiBDn84Jpccjr55Zk/s1600/Kestrel+-+Madagascar+-+pale+morph+918A8762+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZbuVVL416EtAT_so4SI9ouE0LGFBtA-fxoC3NgnewjOCNRDdEJU35qV1dbrwhu7exk9ZIfYOGoYuFIZnvDyZolMenGHBBEhelqFM5LqDa48A_oW0OhriZ7oHYlXxiBDn84Jpccjr55Zk/s640/Kestrel+-+Madagascar+-+pale+morph+918A8762+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Madagascar Kestrel - pale morph</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After lunch, some of us
decided to wander around the village and then look for the spa fed swimming
pool which was somewhere over the other side. We went to the local post office
and bought some stamps for postcards, had a wander up the main street, and then
ambled towards the swimming pool, asking directions in French.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">On the way, I took some
photos of some mascarene martins.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xMNyJ3SoO_dVANmew06PhGohLluZ5mqzmo5J5dHamh5vcx4bjy_86CRHXLHWRntBtxpt-JSc_FwLq7V3gGB0dxnCNV4q5XAiJN4dacBY82Q4ZPycwkiGnjlnOpta4iyq9SRWZjL6GNs/s1600/Martin+-+mascarene+918A9908+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-xMNyJ3SoO_dVANmew06PhGohLluZ5mqzmo5J5dHamh5vcx4bjy_86CRHXLHWRntBtxpt-JSc_FwLq7V3gGB0dxnCNV4q5XAiJN4dacBY82Q4ZPycwkiGnjlnOpta4iyq9SRWZjL6GNs/s640/Martin+-+mascarene+918A9908+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mascarene Martin</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">To get to the swimming
pool we had to cross the river. The original bridge, a substantial steel structure,
had been swept away at some point by higher-than-normal monsoon floods. This bridge had been replaced by a new one,
partially suspended from the superstructure of the old one by some simple
twisted steel wire. </span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBwbW0a0XRvF0teUxtz-KN9UtAz46-3u_ynhxNCPEKK5j_4U_z700RH82sJfR_Ylwlwo1lkSTBDns0278uRh0ZPkH1SsljUSEJpNmHT7MgTTfQH56g_tukAZMZ331CUrzmYIH41FlayU/s1600/Bridge+at+Ranomafana+IMG_0032.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNBwbW0a0XRvF0teUxtz-KN9UtAz46-3u_ynhxNCPEKK5j_4U_z700RH82sJfR_Ylwlwo1lkSTBDns0278uRh0ZPkH1SsljUSEJpNmHT7MgTTfQH56g_tukAZMZ331CUrzmYIH41FlayU/s1600/Bridge+at+Ranomafana+IMG_0032.jpg" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">New from old. New bridge suspended from old structure.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We found the swimming pool, but didn't go in. Lynne wanted
to paddle in the warm water of the hot springs nearby.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBorFzrJFuvoAncLYZuYEvAtxbiVRlMSgS71Xc7wcp-Vr20DUpUK-6wvzErbrXa3txIxoID6CJ0T5hu11EFxZBdjTPWLXMbOemGyr2w4XCEHytgAnwMh_68zjl_86qo36Oz7DR1BLUjcI/s1600/Lynne+in+hot+spring+at+Ranomafana+IMG_0035.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBorFzrJFuvoAncLYZuYEvAtxbiVRlMSgS71Xc7wcp-Vr20DUpUK-6wvzErbrXa3txIxoID6CJ0T5hu11EFxZBdjTPWLXMbOemGyr2w4XCEHytgAnwMh_68zjl_86qo36Oz7DR1BLUjcI/s640/Lynne+in+hot+spring+at+Ranomafana+IMG_0035.jpg" width="426" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Happiness! - Lynne paddling in hot spa water</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We wandered slowly back
to the hotel, passing a magnificent traveller's palm tree.</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMZESWurtJmsylPhBt1OVWa4SLDtP6h_olLqcFaP2x2IVcsHwdSfyCcu69-0X08v-vcq9Uf8663nz1hmd__AZc8D6IiObDUuZD6BvUHmAH27L_3oyGWo8H1Jn0HIpznrIVlMGJT69pis/s1600/Travellers+tree+at+Ranomafana+IMG_0042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRMZESWurtJmsylPhBt1OVWa4SLDtP6h_olLqcFaP2x2IVcsHwdSfyCcu69-0X08v-vcq9Uf8663nz1hmd__AZc8D6IiObDUuZD6BvUHmAH27L_3oyGWo8H1Jn0HIpznrIVlMGJT69pis/s640/Travellers+tree+at+Ranomafana+IMG_0042.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Ravenala or Traveller's tree at Ranomafana</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">At Le Grenat, we had a gin and tonic before
dinner. Chris reported that there was a large moth on the wall outside his room. We went to investigate. We found the largest and most impressive moth I have ever seen. I learned online that the comet moth only lives for a few days.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5jcMIwc0fL_cdzUYQ31YKIEGyGv32bMPeQRjkX2m01UYiISETYi0jM0eZHLzEPZku1bSLugsixpc9638A3q52fzqUYdoZjgyXF_Y66LwzW50KMDBlEIWN7ajIF1XhnkebOwiKaMl3dE/s1600/Moth+-+Comet+918A8803+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="538" data-original-width="759" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX5jcMIwc0fL_cdzUYQ31YKIEGyGv32bMPeQRjkX2m01UYiISETYi0jM0eZHLzEPZku1bSLugsixpc9638A3q52fzqUYdoZjgyXF_Y66LwzW50KMDBlEIWN7ajIF1XhnkebOwiKaMl3dE/s640/Moth+-+Comet+918A8803+crop.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Comet moth - huge! and lives for only a few days!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Rija gave us another briefing about our next long drive the following day, to </span><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Ranohira</b><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">. We would stay for 2 nights there, our base for our visit to</span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"> </span><b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;">Isalo National Park.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; font-family: arial; font-size: 13.2px; margin: 0px;">
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;">Other parts:</span></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part 1 -</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2017/09/madagascar-1-antananarivo-andasibe.html" target="_blank">Antananarivo - Andasibe - Perinet National Park - Antsirabe</a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;">Part 3 - </span><a href="https://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/madagascar-3-anja-national-park-isalo.html" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anja National Park – Ranohira – Isalo NP – Zombitze NP</span></a></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: medium;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Part 4 - </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"> <a href="https://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/madagascar-4-anakao-tsimanampetsotsa.html" target="_blank">Anakao, Tsimanampetsotsa, whale-watching, antananarivo, home</a>.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-54045532888829141402017-09-25T19:53:00.000+01:002017-10-30T07:15:20.337+00:00Madagascar 1 - Antananarivo, Andasibe, Antsirabe<div class="MsoNormal">
<br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;">I had
wanted to go to Madagascar ever since David Attenborough mentioned that 80% of
all the wildlife there is endemic. i.e. you can't see it anywhere else!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;">We went
there in August 2017 on a generally wildlife themed holiday run by Exodus. In
addition, I was hoping to see some birds, but I didn't really have much idea of
what I would see. If the holiday had been specifically for birds, then Lynne,
my wife, would not have gone!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;">The worst
part about the trip to Madagascar was getting there. We had an overnight flight
from Heathrow to Nairobi on Kenya Airways, arriving at about 0500. Our onward flight was six hours later,
although the plane was slightly delayed, so it was nearer 7 hours! Nairobi airport is not the most comfortable to
spend a long stopover, especially as I had not slept during the overnight
flight.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB">The flight
from Nairobi to Antananarivo had a woman pilot and co-pilot! How cool is that! We arrived in the capital, Antananarivo, mid afternoon, and were met by the Exodus rep, and our guide for the trip, Rija.
She advised us to change money at the airport. As there were two of us, I changed </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;">£</span><span lang="EN-GB">500, and was instantly </span>almost a
double millionaire! The banknotes are not as bad as the Gambian ones
but you do get a lot of them.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;">After 20
hours travelling we were glad to get to the hotel; the Belvedere in midtown
Antananarivo. We had a beer on the terrace overlooking the capital as the light
faded, and met up with most of the rest of the group for dinner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;">The
following morning the entire group of nine were united - Me (Phil) and Lynne, Chris and Al, Mike and Sian, Nic, Steph and Norma. I have to say that
it turned out to be a very friendly group. The ages ranged from 35 to 89! Yes,
you read that correctly: 89! Norma, an active Australian woman, was indeed 89,
but did everything that everybody else did, and more. Amazing!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">After
breakfast, we headed off by bus to Andasibe, to the East. It's near Moramanga, but isn't shown on this map. The arrow indicates approximately where it is. For reference, here is a map of our whole trip:</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iG5k1vowgdLbciqq8XDfRnO3Ati-sRQsLI7jU4dZphPLjX6GREaOfe_3S3miwRqN0edtt_IZZYb3G7lUf8LaVbS7y-FEbWeoqZYbpRJCr0e0nsPn3Sag7xQDRJgxGTv7djTpGvpvX1I/s1600/madagascar-map+annotated.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="931" data-original-width="656" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iG5k1vowgdLbciqq8XDfRnO3Ati-sRQsLI7jU4dZphPLjX6GREaOfe_3S3miwRqN0edtt_IZZYb3G7lUf8LaVbS7y-FEbWeoqZYbpRJCr0e0nsPn3Sag7xQDRJgxGTv7djTpGvpvX1I/s1600/madagascar-map+annotated.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Madagascar - part. Showing our journey.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB">Now, I
ought to tell you a few general things about Madagascar. The first is that 70%
of the country is Highlands. Antananarivo
is at nearly 1300 metres above sea level and Andasibe is nearly 1000
metres above sea level. It was fairly
cool when we arrived at the charming hotel where we stayed for two nights: the
Feon</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin;">’</span><span lang="EN-GB">ny Ala hotel. It was dusk on the balcony overlooking the small river. Nic had noticed a striated heron in the gloom:</span></span></div>
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</div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCR9TuTqbFN9ETtkuWAizXHwNegp2_1b3VJn9L0jJ0HiF7lBnFRlfLpLdfai7PjSbPpKf9ivEcgQ-qA2yzowexI2z6pY3Hc3LeD5S7qMNLcLrv-2pi8-fGoRBmjKUnMjZKj8u7PxEZYg/s1600/Heron%252C+Striated+918A7681+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="453" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieCR9TuTqbFN9ETtkuWAizXHwNegp2_1b3VJn9L0jJ0HiF7lBnFRlfLpLdfai7PjSbPpKf9ivEcgQ-qA2yzowexI2z6pY3Hc3LeD5S7qMNLcLrv-2pi8-fGoRBmjKUnMjZKj8u7PxEZYg/s640/Heron%252C+Striated+918A7681+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Striated heron at dusk</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB">The communal areas of </span><span lang="EN-GB">the Feon</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">’</span><span lang="EN-GB">ny Ala hotel </span><span lang="EN-GB">were very pleasant, and our
room was too. The only problem was that
the running water, apparently from tanks, had a very unpleasant smell to it. Our bed had mosquito nets,
but we probably weren</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">’</span><span lang="EN-GB">t at any great
risk at this time of year, as it was still the end of winter and not the rainy
season. Nevertheless, we used them!</span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQbe1X_8NaYrFkbm_03RLh64Eu7lz0rf6_G-07oBqEbZ0JsQDWaYffPn4CnUaZV3UDgikj7w_owYKsL5Tp8Wq_UOYWain_AaEF3ZUzF_q_I88fRpAXLg5qSluKMI3zMkqTXII9TK9Gjs/s1600/Feon%25E2%2580%2599ny+Ala+hotel+Andasibe+IMG_0106.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQbe1X_8NaYrFkbm_03RLh64Eu7lz0rf6_G-07oBqEbZ0JsQDWaYffPn4CnUaZV3UDgikj7w_owYKsL5Tp8Wq_UOYWain_AaEF3ZUzF_q_I88fRpAXLg5qSluKMI3zMkqTXII9TK9Gjs/s640/Feon%25E2%2580%2599ny+Ala+hotel+Andasibe+IMG_0106.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Typical hut at <span lang="EN-GB" style="text-align: start;">the Feon</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif; text-align: start;">’</span><span lang="EN-GB" style="text-align: start;">ny Ala hotel </span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB">The tour was for bed and breakfast accommodation only. We had to buy our own lunches and dinners. The price
of meals in Madagascar was very reasonable, even in the tourist hotels where we stayed. A bottle of beer of 650 ml was about </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">£</span><span lang="EN-GB">1.50. A main course was </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">£</span><span lang="EN-GB">5 or </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">£</span><span lang="EN-GB">6 and a dessert might be </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">£</span><span lang="EN-GB">1 or </span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "times new roman" , serif;">£</span><span lang="EN-GB">1.50. Coffee or tea was perhaps 50
or 70 pence.</span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: large;">Our first
activity was a night walk on the road outside the nearby Perinet National Park to find
nocturnal lemurs, chameleons and geckos. Guide was Saholy. We had all brought our head torches
and our guide skilfully found mouse lemurs, geckos and chameleons of various
sizes. Here are some of them:</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcFOOScP_f7wp5lRZLmATifiYUcOkQF01roauica0fV5pV00gQiNB-m6TjF8M6Z-KZBFtm_ZJUPMdRU2Epn3_rjlENQSpwMKUttvhcBjRbLoYqO41EYJhYS-76_4ZO4LJX3ga6rbreoo/s1600/Lemur+-+Goodmans+mouse+918A7628.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDcFOOScP_f7wp5lRZLmATifiYUcOkQF01roauica0fV5pV00gQiNB-m6TjF8M6Z-KZBFtm_ZJUPMdRU2Epn3_rjlENQSpwMKUttvhcBjRbLoYqO41EYJhYS-76_4ZO4LJX3ga6rbreoo/s640/Lemur+-+Goodmans+mouse+918A7628.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Goodman's mouse lemur</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0cLuY0jH0z0AXbqdewLIZKX5uhWGTg6hI57seyVjxiiVLdRD-fiFtEFELFa0Vn3WpKo8O6AbP10QnyWdjOayk4IPhW0rvDh91nG4KiUi8xBsShKQlsDnjt3qgRwd0EAtVtttMl1SDV9E/s1600/Spider+-+Unknown+918A7637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0cLuY0jH0z0AXbqdewLIZKX5uhWGTg6hI57seyVjxiiVLdRD-fiFtEFELFa0Vn3WpKo8O6AbP10QnyWdjOayk4IPhW0rvDh91nG4KiUi8xBsShKQlsDnjt3qgRwd0EAtVtttMl1SDV9E/s640/Spider+-+Unknown+918A7637.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Spider</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphxL0WfmQv1baUvsjl4IBYkQe9UWS-3V_On7Ykk6A7WXjqRVHY3yKk9BUXRyncOc6L7cAnPTAsLPgadMobpDaqDUOs06uZsnuojNrDwvot1EtWPiNXNeNdHQFIqbSyKRqjkMVsMoj3mk/s1600/Chameleon+-+OShaughnessys+918A8818.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgphxL0WfmQv1baUvsjl4IBYkQe9UWS-3V_On7Ykk6A7WXjqRVHY3yKk9BUXRyncOc6L7cAnPTAsLPgadMobpDaqDUOs06uZsnuojNrDwvot1EtWPiNXNeNdHQFIqbSyKRqjkMVsMoj3mk/s640/Chameleon+-+OShaughnessys+918A8818.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">A chameleon roosting</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XviYVm3jRsSyLBMaEWFkW0eHoC_9gk0pc2QRHD38sNsYpcvobAhyIn-nF_8mQOc4Umh7xC3KgmSkZaFbK1Xmpt1ICBdLfWlokTW_1kOF0EBoN56qJ-P9fNEZLsDZByy7RUn8I9c_BHU/s1600/Chameleon+-+OShaughnessys+918A8838.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9XviYVm3jRsSyLBMaEWFkW0eHoC_9gk0pc2QRHD38sNsYpcvobAhyIn-nF_8mQOc4Umh7xC3KgmSkZaFbK1Xmpt1ICBdLfWlokTW_1kOF0EBoN56qJ-P9fNEZLsDZByy7RUn8I9c_BHU/s640/Chameleon+-+OShaughnessys+918A8838.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Short-nosed chameleon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVq9_KUXSZxw95DA6mE_w_vwmde29eGgkC4U28o091KUIM2xyeWYtrXBndb-PpZlalq1ALzai3GvFUte0gso0v3H4wtmInA_ahSCjpuJTiLojqXgOPx32z63Z3BxIUSmP5okqUyUnDRRk/s1600/Frog+-+Unknown+918A7611.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVq9_KUXSZxw95DA6mE_w_vwmde29eGgkC4U28o091KUIM2xyeWYtrXBndb-PpZlalq1ALzai3GvFUte0gso0v3H4wtmInA_ahSCjpuJTiLojqXgOPx32z63Z3BxIUSmP5okqUyUnDRRk/s640/Frog+-+Unknown+918A7611.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Frog - Heterixalus?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAaU2XQShm0MjyOyaftxz7Wh_y10Ek0JjDrKwtVVikOvnNAAVLzsd6u5qW81V3yUpS80V99tkbpUhIpqLlEzW7NNh7J5lb1OsW_-838PRWSa8a6jJTQ1VhuSskw4n6QrJMcENOyz9U1g/s1600/Frog+-+Boophis+918A7601.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdAaU2XQShm0MjyOyaftxz7Wh_y10Ek0JjDrKwtVVikOvnNAAVLzsd6u5qW81V3yUpS80V99tkbpUhIpqLlEzW7NNh7J5lb1OsW_-838PRWSa8a6jJTQ1VhuSskw4n6QrJMcENOyz9U1g/s640/Frog+-+Boophis+918A7601.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Frog - Boophis?</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><b>29 August 2017 - Andasibe/Perinet National Park </b>- Guides Saholy and Flore</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">The following day, after an early breakfast, we made our way to the Perinet National Park. We had a quick look around the entrance area while the guide was buying our tickets, and found a few birds.</span></span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMWtkwpYBZj_kEw9tAilo__xvRGmPyR1nbhPRKNutUv0osJs1GiuFXTIYlGVU0AHjRLO6nk3Pne2XfV5cmsNG0Qy_Gyjbj8tQO9jrngsmJFLWLVHWvjTKXmtIF_xLbydHMl9fkHAirn4/s1600/Drongo+-+crested+918A7696+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="709" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjMWtkwpYBZj_kEw9tAilo__xvRGmPyR1nbhPRKNutUv0osJs1GiuFXTIYlGVU0AHjRLO6nk3Pne2XfV5cmsNG0Qy_Gyjbj8tQO9jrngsmJFLWLVHWvjTKXmtIF_xLbydHMl9fkHAirn4/s640/Drongo+-+crested+918A7696+crop.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Crested drongo</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscBk8mHBpPd9_KpwYGvB1gvEfqUg-L2_MajRuHR2GjYIqpE8ac52bos77On8UMqqrBfrOK1aZSY9C4IqJ-sP-yoUCailkTrOergx9O7Z5ybd-2oc2xty2NcVfnLoIN-A876cSGWtTg3E/s1600/Vanga+-+red-tailed+918A7746+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgscBk8mHBpPd9_KpwYGvB1gvEfqUg-L2_MajRuHR2GjYIqpE8ac52bos77On8UMqqrBfrOK1aZSY9C4IqJ-sP-yoUCailkTrOergx9O7Z5ybd-2oc2xty2NcVfnLoIN-A876cSGWtTg3E/s1600/Vanga+-+red-tailed+918A7746+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Red-tailed vanga</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijb17mAWa4NWKAurwr3eoKPx-SwjrsoPTX1jDCSiGstiu7s7_195gMgyO7Bo1jzZI5pN5JZHx9z_5KvWY2TZS9zAooEbn3K_69gX-ByBlJa2skS_r2ji6njNt5vFBXXEudY3KAYZVrjuQ/s1600/Wagtail+-+Madagascar+918A7719+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijb17mAWa4NWKAurwr3eoKPx-SwjrsoPTX1jDCSiGstiu7s7_195gMgyO7Bo1jzZI5pN5JZHx9z_5KvWY2TZS9zAooEbn3K_69gX-ByBlJa2skS_r2ji6njNt5vFBXXEudY3KAYZVrjuQ/s640/Wagtail+-+Madagascar+918A7719+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Madagascar wagtail</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 107%;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We set off in search of
lemurs and other wildlife. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Our guides were
very knowledgeable, not only about the mammals, but also the plants. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">We learnt about the Travellers tree which is widely
used to make houses and thatch the roofs, the palm tree that was used to make
blow pipes, and the toilet paper plant!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We saw Eastern grey bamboo lemurs, common brown lemur, a sleeping weasel sportive lemur as well as Eastern woolly lemurs.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XdR43XZFFwx7cXfRkJVTnwPCgh0mEg-StsIiXDnR9crceDbrXzm5SX2dOfmdfRalIpMVk1WaIkrnOn8Mx68ufkAr4lBtwS2uV-CfDxeRR9COqcqnoh2vVwlOBWFpSH6_Kx1jAyw9rco/s1600/Lemur+-+Eastern+woolly+918A7804.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-XdR43XZFFwx7cXfRkJVTnwPCgh0mEg-StsIiXDnR9crceDbrXzm5SX2dOfmdfRalIpMVk1WaIkrnOn8Mx68ufkAr4lBtwS2uV-CfDxeRR9COqcqnoh2vVwlOBWFpSH6_Kx1jAyw9rco/s640/Lemur+-+Eastern+woolly+918A7804.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Eastern Woolly Lemur</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlZbT4ruq1ig_NODReR1xRLrcQtr1VRJx3rrqC5f-OwPWweEG2ALBT0Wg3c5al6WH126gX-tZsB7P6W8Py-SeF_vt2QTR06OnNu-keOM24XC5uLEbH3pvVkNaQxNwOg4Cg8JOTUUoAds/s1600/Lemur+-+Weasel+sportive+918A7762.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMlZbT4ruq1ig_NODReR1xRLrcQtr1VRJx3rrqC5f-OwPWweEG2ALBT0Wg3c5al6WH126gX-tZsB7P6W8Py-SeF_vt2QTR06OnNu-keOM24XC5uLEbH3pvVkNaQxNwOg4Cg8JOTUUoAds/s640/Lemur+-+Weasel+sportive+918A7762.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Weasel sportive lemur</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Finally, we met the most
impressive lemur, the Indri.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Indri are
the largest of the lemurs and the ones with the loudest and most impressive
song. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> Here is the Indri:</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXndt1uAw2kYaffAcs8U8_d1UuNt4aHStTx7_2aeQSBqfE0DBzR8Nta_li_U3QZrUX1a0qz2hgpKLY0RMNnnsZCM86RIAFWyI_NMSk2o8cXMmnaojsvB8VKZxiRXKL5WH0JO00pniuqw/s1600/Indri+918A7778.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpXndt1uAw2kYaffAcs8U8_d1UuNt4aHStTx7_2aeQSBqfE0DBzR8Nta_li_U3QZrUX1a0qz2hgpKLY0RMNnnsZCM86RIAFWyI_NMSk2o8cXMmnaojsvB8VKZxiRXKL5WH0JO00pniuqw/s640/Indri+918A7778.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Indri - largest of the 100 odd species in Madagascar</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplAWPAuavcCb4W24cQNm0ifse2aS8V9TjMp0BDRIfboxssGgXwJvTdxoUGcxCzErkKzNhUZAaqu78WM4sa_MgoHaOVH_DcQy2o0o8MfW4FZ-YIXjwpBx5AzFQ7UZthjvD7JViLkoIxvo/s1600/Indri+918A7771.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiplAWPAuavcCb4W24cQNm0ifse2aS8V9TjMp0BDRIfboxssGgXwJvTdxoUGcxCzErkKzNhUZAaqu78WM4sa_MgoHaOVH_DcQy2o0o8MfW4FZ-YIXjwpBx5AzFQ7UZthjvD7JViLkoIxvo/s640/Indri+918A7771.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Indri singing</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">And here is 20sec of the song:</span></div>
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dxOfcV0UJYPrwe6m1IbR6CxsK_txuisqQmdtZxUnnLOBJbV6eP3QSVK-H5WKanIySj3iyHdNlevYCNY6LJ6Rw' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">This recording was made
quite close to the Indri. Heard from
further away, the song tends to echo through the forest, and takes on an eerie
quality. It reminds me of whale song, or an out of tune oboe!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">During our wandering through the rain-forest, we discovered two groups of Indri. Finally, our guide led us to a group of diademed sifaka lemurs, which many believe are the most attractive. See what you think.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVMLRMAekJG21bYc0IgYmeh6jNREyQ7koMRzR2ocnC9tfmKHkw_YzRxCfcYnZCYAyX2gdsj4PTVM-g03bXToEoL61Xr1b7Ca4Dl6FbBU8MWn-O4k0fhJHzXdRSto5xzeGU_MS2FXfJxk/s1600/Sifaka+-+diademed+918A7861.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="667" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBVMLRMAekJG21bYc0IgYmeh6jNREyQ7koMRzR2ocnC9tfmKHkw_YzRxCfcYnZCYAyX2gdsj4PTVM-g03bXToEoL61Xr1b7Ca4Dl6FbBU8MWn-O4k0fhJHzXdRSto5xzeGU_MS2FXfJxk/s640/Sifaka+-+diademed+918A7861.jpg" width="426" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Diademed Sifaka</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1inoWNZojFn5bRE1PqhaNidmkjVKDIT7FQs4rwufVV8iCjDEW4ZhWKv-SGM016BqiZCagGQwi9VwhBIqiM2k6_tqlrJJzuwumCnYVbv5x5dLVRn0jxoo3jy665h1yBm9wihwXaeuYnsk/s1600/Sifaka+-+diademed+918A7870.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1inoWNZojFn5bRE1PqhaNidmkjVKDIT7FQs4rwufVV8iCjDEW4ZhWKv-SGM016BqiZCagGQwi9VwhBIqiM2k6_tqlrJJzuwumCnYVbv5x5dLVRn0jxoo3jy665h1yBm9wihwXaeuYnsk/s640/Sifaka+-+diademed+918A7870.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Diademed Sifaka</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We saw several other
species of bird in the rainforest. Photos
of some of them appear below.</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKg0NJSmFlV2cLIysUdoj4SS2DCUm67hBbL92LJCBesTjXHPh3WcaI5xwMaXRSO7upAYu_4Ai7WtxacAifwYDqsE0nPWD07T7TPr6ZfKO1PHCCbUrczqdCjTdomUfVZ2cTChJJWo7570s/s1600/Cucko-Roller+918A8658+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKg0NJSmFlV2cLIysUdoj4SS2DCUm67hBbL92LJCBesTjXHPh3WcaI5xwMaXRSO7upAYu_4Ai7WtxacAifwYDqsE0nPWD07T7TPr6ZfKO1PHCCbUrczqdCjTdomUfVZ2cTChJJWo7570s/s640/Cucko-Roller+918A8658+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Cuckoo-roller</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEK-FXtBBGddwnyRqLDrVdRiUbPe6JlE__Q6hA-fpLbb9iP69WbjQQ8wFdiZhfCytDs4sust-8Kd93o_gLonaFYzZy_6sEURCv8kgJ6_hnd57MXtss3V7BFEvv24Ir1tlAS13mmlvtwCU/s1600/Pigeon+-+Madagascar+blue+918A8664+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEK-FXtBBGddwnyRqLDrVdRiUbPe6JlE__Q6hA-fpLbb9iP69WbjQQ8wFdiZhfCytDs4sust-8Kd93o_gLonaFYzZy_6sEURCv8kgJ6_hnd57MXtss3V7BFEvv24Ir1tlAS13mmlvtwCU/s640/Pigeon+-+Madagascar+blue+918A8664+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Madagascar Blue pigeon</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We returned to the
hotel for lunch. From the terrace
overlooking the river, we saw several other birds.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTvdctMmlikZvaGAeao9EpOt0T6fkG29DLY9plObgTsQI22xMNgJs0sE6W78QllPW_dPmCyA0Hni5Lm10nI4yTp-wkv-mqqDmRQa4R2B_ToLVVjSc_hY42oZfvdN4jg_jOm2ZGTkuCWg/s1600/Martin+-+mascarene+918A9908+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaTvdctMmlikZvaGAeao9EpOt0T6fkG29DLY9plObgTsQI22xMNgJs0sE6W78QllPW_dPmCyA0Hni5Lm10nI4yTp-wkv-mqqDmRQa4R2B_ToLVVjSc_hY42oZfvdN4jg_jOm2ZGTkuCWg/s640/Martin+-+mascarene+918A9908+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Mascarene Martin</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCPDLo35smwlpGSbhoabcAuWveqLkpJrfLpY-k0_AlN65UCIwphtiIg6CbkaoVceBde5oOch_ykOZjd0HhyYyNBv41T4FDsxYXSaH377-glU6wRPp8N60ZgGY7GgWeP2Pp50aeI5AYNM/s1600/Buzzard+-+Madagascar+918A8062+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwCPDLo35smwlpGSbhoabcAuWveqLkpJrfLpY-k0_AlN65UCIwphtiIg6CbkaoVceBde5oOch_ykOZjd0HhyYyNBv41T4FDsxYXSaH377-glU6wRPp8N60ZgGY7GgWeP2Pp50aeI5AYNM/s640/Buzzard+-+Madagascar+918A8062+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Madagascar Buzzard</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11NTTWjAiNcA2AfF6Rhl95w-6E8UNBiyeQOsfNOf5V8d69jICCjVNjySW5MEherZ_tEubC-gfvi4lmzQaHgb1jXRu0P-5CzxHVIFoFxcZ4i9Z70Qw0XKlg-mYnKq9ndwR6VuMN6PRjuM/s1600/Coucal+-+Madagascar+918A8121+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1000" data-original-width="709" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj11NTTWjAiNcA2AfF6Rhl95w-6E8UNBiyeQOsfNOf5V8d69jICCjVNjySW5MEherZ_tEubC-gfvi4lmzQaHgb1jXRu0P-5CzxHVIFoFxcZ4i9Z70Qw0XKlg-mYnKq9ndwR6VuMN6PRjuM/s640/Coucal+-+Madagascar+918A8121+crop.jpg" width="452" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Madagascar Coucal</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4sz_Z5nhS_Lj0en5Is6SjCDpYzjJJYy2L34eHh2wOwTdAyqhO7zWXE7iBF7sqQvFhf7DGVDQRkUG-5YQUVJcexZMbHwODSSvz_WvAWjpLSydMJCSt_RKD2g3jnG47ida9uBlhDwz-y0/s1600/Sunbird+-+Madagascar+Green+918A8087+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY4sz_Z5nhS_Lj0en5Is6SjCDpYzjJJYy2L34eHh2wOwTdAyqhO7zWXE7iBF7sqQvFhf7DGVDQRkUG-5YQUVJcexZMbHwODSSvz_WvAWjpLSydMJCSt_RKD2g3jnG47ida9uBlhDwz-y0/s640/Sunbird+-+Madagascar+Green+918A8087+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Madagascar Green Sunbird</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Here is a green day
gecko on the nearby travellers tree:</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_45DWF1uGRauAXYNAdRweIlyVw8B2vuqZdyGyY9Qpr50SUm5NGmFomWa-tw8VhNV-ZcY5gETJZTiWFtfqKZNtkgcQX-ruP72Mjh4dc56w-Itw2TdJPvqA4wsuAEQgWMG4Uv_WD2w35xQ/s1600/Gecko+-+green+day+918A7961.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_45DWF1uGRauAXYNAdRweIlyVw8B2vuqZdyGyY9Qpr50SUm5NGmFomWa-tw8VhNV-ZcY5gETJZTiWFtfqKZNtkgcQX-ruP72Mjh4dc56w-Itw2TdJPvqA4wsuAEQgWMG4Uv_WD2w35xQ/s640/Gecko+-+green+day+918A7961.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Green Day Gecko</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Up to now, we had only
seen lemurs in the wild. After lunch we
visited <b>Lemur Island</b>, where some species of lemur are held. They are free to roam
without being in cages, but they are restricted to the island. They were quite
used to visitors and eagerly came forward. They were not troublesome as some monkeys are
in some countries. They could, with
banana, be coaxed to sit on your shoulder. Only the common brown lemur and the black and
white ruffed lemur would sit on your shoulder. Other species kept their distance.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxgCVJtn5NhrfPB74B65xqQ_a5eq3pdOrkhvke8DOjzTHOAfvTZG2x4hEHCfH5AtWilBPxV1nW5qMh-OaLAF5VPYvosrb04QxrYYW8fX5PdJbgHRcRHcvdLmCEzWgECSOWXhm8D3Cn_4/s1600/Phil+with+black+and+white+ruffed+lemur+IMG_0063.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSxgCVJtn5NhrfPB74B65xqQ_a5eq3pdOrkhvke8DOjzTHOAfvTZG2x4hEHCfH5AtWilBPxV1nW5qMh-OaLAF5VPYvosrb04QxrYYW8fX5PdJbgHRcRHcvdLmCEzWgECSOWXhm8D3Cn_4/s640/Phil+with+black+and+white+ruffed+lemur+IMG_0063.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Phil with Black and White Ruffed lemur</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-w3jTzjn98cBwmAOQQ632yEUOE1HV_XG4EOrC0YLDofGiyPYXWrqiHyKiDj5o8LNkjf4IJ28uZqPpIgqPMHlFHGt93hJkU4THkppQVoqu9VykRGAtE8CX5vPrPTsfwrED4NBnZxRua5c/s1600/Lynne+with+brown+lemur+IMG_0088.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-w3jTzjn98cBwmAOQQ632yEUOE1HV_XG4EOrC0YLDofGiyPYXWrqiHyKiDj5o8LNkjf4IJ28uZqPpIgqPMHlFHGt93hJkU4THkppQVoqu9VykRGAtE8CX5vPrPTsfwrED4NBnZxRua5c/s640/Lynne+with+brown+lemur+IMG_0088.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Lynne with Common brown lemur (and Nic over her shoulder)</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIc22ndWg-9V3pYBO4UnO2xczatg8UAU37kRv6bGYkZpz-H-Wemdj_GyaXkuK-U89Wd2m55GMfQIOBGTFialkXLya1yEATlZi4ZHFv3Xp9Sz9a9ASLu1T6Pr67w7fA42s2ET_ziDdqc4E/s1600/Norma+with+brown+lemur+IMG_0061.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIc22ndWg-9V3pYBO4UnO2xczatg8UAU37kRv6bGYkZpz-H-Wemdj_GyaXkuK-U89Wd2m55GMfQIOBGTFialkXLya1yEATlZi4ZHFv3Xp9Sz9a9ASLu1T6Pr67w7fA42s2ET_ziDdqc4E/s640/Norma+with+brown+lemur+IMG_0061.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Norma with Common brown lemur</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzafn1HGeX3w_YMHDyIYDqjMVK8G5bAciuS9VT_WwEkfuFf3FDjdb_x3aRCAQ8e8uR7bhFwcWNB2tAHKY_-1sXvGJvNyiYZlF6bUzT-VJKdvvTPZ_ZqPmixg7HeBDSE_FGelRTUUeknPk/s1600/Steph+with+black+and+white+ruffed+lemur+IMG_0078.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzafn1HGeX3w_YMHDyIYDqjMVK8G5bAciuS9VT_WwEkfuFf3FDjdb_x3aRCAQ8e8uR7bhFwcWNB2tAHKY_-1sXvGJvNyiYZlF6bUzT-VJKdvvTPZ_ZqPmixg7HeBDSE_FGelRTUUeknPk/s640/Steph+with+black+and+white+ruffed+lemur+IMG_0078.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Steph with Black and White Ruffed lemur</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I also saw a Madagascar swamp warbler on the island:</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45JNEzo4hyphenhyphen7oP44tADUgSvp6MnmzwKySC8tOTr1IBZcWy094KUiIrePywWFHnKDHJ2JBIHcMnGUESRP-z8gFpLJ5DhcPLNNx-LxkhxkjuSYvXmdHMs2YWPufQyNBVvAbSv-1vDVoZUVU/s1600/Warbler+-+Madagascar+swamp+918A8151+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="709" data-original-width="1000" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg45JNEzo4hyphenhyphen7oP44tADUgSvp6MnmzwKySC8tOTr1IBZcWy094KUiIrePywWFHnKDHJ2JBIHcMnGUESRP-z8gFpLJ5DhcPLNNx-LxkhxkjuSYvXmdHMs2YWPufQyNBVvAbSv-1vDVoZUVU/s640/Warbler+-+Madagascar+swamp+918A8151+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Madagascar swamp warbler</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This visit was quite
fun, in the sense that we got close to one or two species. When they sat on your shoulder and touched your
skin they had no claws. Their fingers
were actually very soft.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We had a very long canoe ride to get to the island, in boats like this!</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMu-wVPvdr_1brlYtKUZ2cka8P2QIXw7e8oh_0dZqBx0dlBO0ENoHkpOQn6JwUI2u5s1r_jrHSdFqL7QWp9FC64cRMHjD5IKxu4_XSF2unEO5mM3o0TMly1t0BNcXkD3GVkMH1EhCVtg8/s1600/Canoe+from+island+IMG_0099+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="667" data-original-width="1000" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMu-wVPvdr_1brlYtKUZ2cka8P2QIXw7e8oh_0dZqBx0dlBO0ENoHkpOQn6JwUI2u5s1r_jrHSdFqL7QWp9FC64cRMHjD5IKxu4_XSF2unEO5mM3o0TMly1t0BNcXkD3GVkMH1EhCVtg8/s640/Canoe+from+island+IMG_0099+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: large;">Chris and Rija in canoe</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On our way back to the hotel,
we went through the village of Andasibe. It had a railway station, but the limited railway
no longer functions much in Madagascar. There are only two unconnected networks, originally
built by the French. The track has not been maintained. There are some goods trains that run infrequently. A passenger service runs from Fianarantsoa to the East Coast. This is all quite surprising in a country that is so big (over
1500 km long and nearly 600 km wide). </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">Getting around takes time
as there are only a few major roads. There
are no motorways or dual carriageways. The
main roads through the hills are winding. Journeys take a long time.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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</span><br />
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;">That evening we enjoyed
some drinks and dinner in the hotel before getting an early night. We had quite a long drive ahead of us in the
morning – to Antsirabe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;">Other parts:</span><br />
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part 2 -</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/madagascar-2-antsirabe-ranomafana.html">Antsirabe - Ranomafana National Park - Chameleon centre</a></span></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;">Part 3 - </span><a href="https://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/madagascar-3-anja-national-park-isalo.html" style="background-color: white; font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Anja National Park – Ranohira – Isalo NP – Zombitze NP</span></a></div>
<span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span><span lang="EN-GB" style="font-size: large;"><span lang="EN-GB" style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; line-height: 17.12px;"><span style="font-family: "arial";">Part 4 - </span></span><span style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="font-family: "arial"; font-size: x-small;"> <a href="https://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2017/10/madagascar-4-anakao-tsimanampetsotsa.html" target="_blank">Anakao, Tsimanampetsotsa, whale-watching, antananarivo, home</a>.</span></span></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-50076643802053148302016-04-15T17:34:00.001+01:002016-11-21T23:32:47.417+00:00Sri Lanka 2016 - 4<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sri Lanka bird trip 7-21 February 2016. Part 4 - Kandy - Sigiriya - Negombo</span></b><br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>In Part 4:</b> British t<span style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">ea factory machines over 100 years old. The most expensive Lion beer in Sri Lanka? More nature photographs</span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">For other parts</span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part 1 - <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-1.html">Kitulgala and Sinharaja</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2px;">(Is this the longest tail of any flycatcher?)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2px;">Part 2 - <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-2.html">Embilipitiya and Tissamaharama</a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25.2px;">(</span></span>Kingfishers fall out. What's the wingspan of a fruit bat?)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Part 3 - <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-3_12.html">Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(</span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">How do the Sri Lankans drive?)</span></span></b></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></b>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Kandy<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">(no. 11 on the <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-1.html#slmap" target="_blank">map</a>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On Thursday 18 February we descended from the lofty heights of
Nuwara Eliya to Kandy, a major city to the North West. On the way, we visited a
tea factory. The usual visit to a local production facility with its own
tourist shop is something of a cliché. I enjoyed the visit. I was amazed that
most of the machines were over 100 years old, often belt driven, and probably
made in a Sheffield or Bradford engineering factory!<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeWVR-4WeOM3qHdr8ecocqHyACK-hGv1tUL2kn1K1yQ-OSqq3CYf8FcwBhagyabvZiYD2IxWopZLzGyPjTnsO-orwyhmgyfGlnmqL4nTNuE1zeuKnJofimRcWD0OXWC4bPEuuBwHKo4c/s1600/Blue+Field+tea+factory+IMG_9057.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPeWVR-4WeOM3qHdr8ecocqHyACK-hGv1tUL2kn1K1yQ-OSqq3CYf8FcwBhagyabvZiYD2IxWopZLzGyPjTnsO-orwyhmgyfGlnmqL4nTNuE1zeuKnJofimRcWD0OXWC4bPEuuBwHKo4c/s1600/Blue+Field+tea+factory+IMG_9057.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tea separating machine. At least 100 years old and still going strong!<br />Only the stuff that comes off the front is 'tea'.<br />The four spouts at the side are all for 'waste'.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrUvq_HTMztFpeyeOQAKkHoACL66qsrGZOMwvisTP-5rU3YeGNnFs6IlpueF5GjJVlvEMxoUxJeAPqcHw46xNnMSp_uymnQfBizxVWKaHYDdWEd9skDrPLMTHgGHP4odGnqOa8jGz0oQ/s1600/Tea+pickers+IMG_9053.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJrUvq_HTMztFpeyeOQAKkHoACL66qsrGZOMwvisTP-5rU3YeGNnFs6IlpueF5GjJVlvEMxoUxJeAPqcHw46xNnMSp_uymnQfBizxVWKaHYDdWEd9skDrPLMTHgGHP4odGnqOa8jGz0oQ/s1600/Tea+pickers+IMG_9053.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Tamil tea pickers. They posed for us. Tamils originally came from<br />India to work on the tea plantations.<br />The Sri Lankans didn't want to do this hard work.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXLyTOvWLZ2-LI4ee6HtQxFt_8HFlkw1tTp_Mds5UURkaCNgqlQyYydAW5-FVq5iesZuB6gxw6EjgDWR_zHFJlU1uMzD9T4_6p761LYT7Zgl5mPZ0bc8v9AxknYdczR5xDFSoYRRBOJg/s1600/Blue+Field+tea+factory+IMG_9065.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiXLyTOvWLZ2-LI4ee6HtQxFt_8HFlkw1tTp_Mds5UURkaCNgqlQyYydAW5-FVq5iesZuB6gxw6EjgDWR_zHFJlU1uMzD9T4_6p761LYT7Zgl5mPZ0bc8v9AxknYdczR5xDFSoYRRBOJg/s1600/Blue+Field+tea+factory+IMG_9065.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After the factory tour, it was de rigueur to stay for tea!<br />The beautifully packaged tea of the shop was very expensive.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDt3QBnjUGGp3Hv_Q50OTI_aFdgjT2nQn68r6hmhgUTxpxLNt9Vvzyh0elxEhudeuGF1sJz9jU7TlTblgYBwZ8vyESjp7GkVz52ACsAXb7YuAdN6EVTie9EgggkzMKYmT2TNUcRcSv5iM/s1600/Blue+Field+tea+factory+IMG_9064.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDt3QBnjUGGp3Hv_Q50OTI_aFdgjT2nQn68r6hmhgUTxpxLNt9Vvzyh0elxEhudeuGF1sJz9jU7TlTblgYBwZ8vyESjp7GkVz52ACsAXb7YuAdN6EVTie9EgggkzMKYmT2TNUcRcSv5iM/s1600/Blue+Field+tea+factory+IMG_9064.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">View from the tea room.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In Kandy, we were supposed to stay at the Hotel Suisse. This is a
charming old colonial style hotel overlooking the lake. The view would have been something like this:</span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPWbkGrNyAPhkzxV7eEUalPjxOdMsganjSbI2t1uDQWUQA0-ghF3r81pVa_x4_EdCGyjmm0plX8H6U88oaMNN_5d2K31Z7rBcND19yDE28wL49ac6v3GpLXo9BLFwPvxNcJLMSu3QPY8/s1600/Kandy+IMG_9103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAPWbkGrNyAPhkzxV7eEUalPjxOdMsganjSbI2t1uDQWUQA0-ghF3r81pVa_x4_EdCGyjmm0plX8H6U88oaMNN_5d2K31Z7rBcND19yDE28wL49ac6v3GpLXo9BLFwPvxNcJLMSu3QPY8/s1600/Kandy+IMG_9103.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The lake in Kandy</span></td></tr>
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On arrival, the manager
explained that there had been a water leak on our floor. He had arranged for us
to stay at the modern OZO hotel, which overlooked the Hotel Suisse. Now,
personally, I didn’t mind. As we were in a big city anyway, I preferred a room
with modern facilities to the Victorian plumbing of the Hotel Suisse. We got
the best of both worlds in the end. We enjoyed lunch in the grandiose dining
room of the Hotel Suisse, but stayed at the OZO.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBoSQRxPPNv2y2eOn7KDfctFCu12K4GYigZRz8eVsunEFO0wIFBOCEZn92l2_YD_KX3GBReDWcknrf8bNQU9SrL1lkQgdPLtV_jMLp0htgM_OfYIKMeaoTLhGHYSCp9wOQyvhBWlavHQ/s1600/Hotel+Suisse+Kandy+20160218_130241.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLBoSQRxPPNv2y2eOn7KDfctFCu12K4GYigZRz8eVsunEFO0wIFBOCEZn92l2_YD_KX3GBReDWcknrf8bNQU9SrL1lkQgdPLtV_jMLp0htgM_OfYIKMeaoTLhGHYSCp9wOQyvhBWlavHQ/s1600/Hotel+Suisse+Kandy+20160218_130241.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lunch in the majestic dining room of the Hotel Suisse. This photo shows the whole party.<br />From Left: Tharanga, David, Phil, Anne, Alan, Sasha, Tony, Greta, Gary, Henry</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After lunch, we headed to the nearby Peradeniya Botanical Gardens,
home to a host of trees, plants and birds. This was quite a busy place, with
tourists from all over, including Sri Lanka.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXsTmsUdRM44NTnrgR9RS9oF5LUz2hWwdGVmUIxOy_NqprTeysurRNR40EJlSdNZlpkTilqPdW0WzEei74v-waDAoJWuSDPJfKaWS4OgirY_7yMOS6H3aSsB5EU9-mg3xK02h5vXGbmX0/s1600/Peradeniya+Botanical+Gardens+IMG_9112.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXsTmsUdRM44NTnrgR9RS9oF5LUz2hWwdGVmUIxOy_NqprTeysurRNR40EJlSdNZlpkTilqPdW0WzEei74v-waDAoJWuSDPJfKaWS4OgirY_7yMOS6H3aSsB5EU9-mg3xK02h5vXGbmX0/s1600/Peradeniya+Botanical+Gardens+IMG_9112.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, Kandy. The main fountain.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwn5elvtDA_ales5d68V0u7_YD0K9VVvni8F6ownxP-ry96w2uzG-OWPYC5b03KkrT2OUKunyH39-L4DYnzcd0zcx0OHIYSVfJeoKjJcLJdRKDxNWK2a10b6KOVxr_jiyHhmslG1UCNkA/s1600/Peradeniya+Botanical+Gardens+IMG_9111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwn5elvtDA_ales5d68V0u7_YD0K9VVvni8F6ownxP-ry96w2uzG-OWPYC5b03KkrT2OUKunyH39-L4DYnzcd0zcx0OHIYSVfJeoKjJcLJdRKDxNWK2a10b6KOVxr_jiyHhmslG1UCNkA/s1600/Peradeniya+Botanical+Gardens+IMG_9111.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Peradeniya Botanical Gardens, Kandy.<br />The gardens were well tended. Shame the weather was a bit drizzly.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihT_rt4JYiFbdkWQuKlaI2UsDFrUvTWKk5tzyUzGIz0i690vZy441YtZGDwUk29sGjnqHtlvn7Pz3_v45R-0y1yJy6tWe9s0dBy1fvwlP3ai8Pr9cT37JLQ5Rqfgco9SZvBYSr9uPEH74/s1600/Canon+ball+tree+IMG_9115.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihT_rt4JYiFbdkWQuKlaI2UsDFrUvTWKk5tzyUzGIz0i690vZy441YtZGDwUk29sGjnqHtlvn7Pz3_v45R-0y1yJy6tWe9s0dBy1fvwlP3ai8Pr9cT37JLQ5Rqfgco9SZvBYSr9uPEH74/s1600/Canon+ball+tree+IMG_9115.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is a cannon-ball tree. Truly. Wouldn't like to be underneath when they drop!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYS3hAWTyi_WaxwLNH4BcjHJ1DRJqZCnMV24m2tyBLiQp9WmbvKWbtqKUnZ9hd1OVJhXhSFtypY7CIHmzOZQR2YfZT8iolecp0M7amUeZSZJ10ekbEmuhSiTqubNlHaY6su2zFM11eqw/s1600/Tornado+tree+IMG_9120.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmYS3hAWTyi_WaxwLNH4BcjHJ1DRJqZCnMV24m2tyBLiQp9WmbvKWbtqKUnZ9hd1OVJhXhSFtypY7CIHmzOZQR2YfZT8iolecp0M7amUeZSZJ10ekbEmuhSiTqubNlHaY6su2zFM11eqw/s1600/Tornado+tree+IMG_9120.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I called this the 'tornado tree'.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0cutN0zD5qtaSuvSKb27wy2biLhAp9qhw16CLtGhNgm5eVC0nCQwKMLteLDMguszwcmGDXpUSGLzBCCnToXqt3sszLuEB8wQWBjLXV9Rj6Q_RJuMu_aZd9UzrcJHRDK8zWbPemZtzvE/s1600/Myna+-+Lesser+hill+918A2200+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw0cutN0zD5qtaSuvSKb27wy2biLhAp9qhw16CLtGhNgm5eVC0nCQwKMLteLDMguszwcmGDXpUSGLzBCCnToXqt3sszLuEB8wQWBjLXV9Rj6Q_RJuMu_aZd9UzrcJHRDK8zWbPemZtzvE/s1600/Myna+-+Lesser+hill+918A2200+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Lesser Hill Myna.</b> Last of the three mynas.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzBrTLyQM0_C_lPJ3M9f7OnII8uuuVh9d75fPmR0ZLYj0IBsm3c3tG-tw5v2JCiACMvMjunchSsyMmEDIblnIoEwFSiSPRfiqTFU59hCop7C1Kct_DL_yKKUokD7ecsn7g96iaos84is/s1600/Flameback+-+Black-rumped+918A2291+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuzBrTLyQM0_C_lPJ3M9f7OnII8uuuVh9d75fPmR0ZLYj0IBsm3c3tG-tw5v2JCiACMvMjunchSsyMmEDIblnIoEwFSiSPRfiqTFU59hCop7C1Kct_DL_yKKUokD7ecsn7g96iaos84is/s1600/Flameback+-+Black-rumped+918A2291+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Black-rumped flameback.</b> One of a family of woodpeckers.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The next morning it was another early start to beat the traffic.
Our destination wasn't far away, but the traffic in the city was heavy from
quite early on. The Udawatta Kele Royal Forest, Kandy is a mature forest on a
hill near the city. We found several new birds there, although the number of
new birds had, of course, slowed considerably as we approached the end of the
tour. For me, as a photographer, this meant that I could concentrate on getting
better photos of birds we had already seen.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5QdD-ZQPlYh1wQgjZLaRXrPYN9UiZunDFiZ1B_Jf6d7cL_SAPc9xlqP3gqwyDzW6jG9tcXwZuT0y0M6xhrzoix4VyWo4CdnqhxETZUAurwO7wjTT5OH0bk9lpYff8fFTbOqqEgsS4qw/s1600/Udawattakele+sign+IMG_9123.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB5QdD-ZQPlYh1wQgjZLaRXrPYN9UiZunDFiZ1B_Jf6d7cL_SAPc9xlqP3gqwyDzW6jG9tcXwZuT0y0M6xhrzoix4VyWo4CdnqhxETZUAurwO7wjTT5OH0bk9lpYff8fFTbOqqEgsS4qw/s1600/Udawattakele+sign+IMG_9123.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large; text-align: start;">Udawatta Kele Royal Forest, Kandy</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuZg52hx8Fwy1aYs6DXMgC_Of_ulqX-5_YIGa39gZ4J6XrTSngrF8QuMCMAv7vkW1PNFwApYvByeCv_OIrMdcM2ZlwCB8JdSjh2PrzGRfJagNaLKPGS28VgQGfPHK8Qcg1V9pe9kfePA/s1600/Babbler+-+Brown-capped+918A2353+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTuZg52hx8Fwy1aYs6DXMgC_Of_ulqX-5_YIGa39gZ4J6XrTSngrF8QuMCMAv7vkW1PNFwApYvByeCv_OIrMdcM2ZlwCB8JdSjh2PrzGRfJagNaLKPGS28VgQGfPHK8Qcg1V9pe9kfePA/s1600/Babbler+-+Brown-capped+918A2353+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Brown-capped babbler.</b> A very underwhelming bird, almost lost in the dimness.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidf-kB-FUhvBl5ksV8T-AAhNgEzJNhe0t0zdoq3fIbAn7CFvub-YHgZOaxknBF_kGPAirTB7cKQ82EYjUu2vqR4P_BJmD5d3Zp2-Wu3T3kLytoUFSRaFqtXBMmy0IKb0hnvWeuChTv3zU/s1600/Sharma+-+White-rumped+918A2398+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidf-kB-FUhvBl5ksV8T-AAhNgEzJNhe0t0zdoq3fIbAn7CFvub-YHgZOaxknBF_kGPAirTB7cKQ82EYjUu2vqR4P_BJmD5d3Zp2-Wu3T3kLytoUFSRaFqtXBMmy0IKb0hnvWeuChTv3zU/s1600/Sharma+-+White-rumped+918A2398+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>White-rumped sharma.</b> Here is the white rump.<br />It's quite pretty, and trogon-like. It didn't call much.<br />You just noticed it on a branch.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXuR5fpLe5CCqNdLOsrdwQueJSI7x4vQ3is-56li-yEeQZngrSkf5_SCNI4gXmiiTJwIj_nVXFvzJvVH_AHJy_HznCRToaWBeqss-frk6cOKws-bryYhSYtBasQDY_Fg3V95XLNyDjrQ/s1600/Sharma+-+White-rumped+918A2427+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifXuR5fpLe5CCqNdLOsrdwQueJSI7x4vQ3is-56li-yEeQZngrSkf5_SCNI4gXmiiTJwIj_nVXFvzJvVH_AHJy_HznCRToaWBeqss-frk6cOKws-bryYhSYtBasQDY_Fg3V95XLNyDjrQ/s1600/Sharma+-+White-rumped+918A2427+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">White-rumped sharma. </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I managed to get quite close to this individual.<br />It didn't seem to mind. Eventually I left it after photographing it for 7-8 minutes.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Sigiriya</span></b><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">(no. 12 on the <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-1.html#slmap" target="_blank">map</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our last overnight stop was at Sigiriya. The hotel was quite a
large complex. It was nicely planned with many chalets, a swimming pool and
open sided dining area. In all other hotels we had visited, the price of a
large Lion beer was fairly standard. Typically 350-450 rupees, even in the best
hotels. At Hotel Sigiriya it was 875 rupees! All other drinks were similarly overpriced.
Hmm! Is that just profiteering?<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The dining-room was open at the sides, with nets to stop monkeys and giant squirrels from coming in. David had trouble adjusting to Sri Lankan food. When the hotels offered Western food, he made the most of it. At Sigiriya, he ate a record fourteen pancakes with syrup at one sitting! That was after the main course. But, hey! Who's counting?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The area around the moat at Sigiriya Fort was a magnet for all
sorts of birds. We had a great time there. The white-naped woodpecker eluded us
on this trip. We looked hard at Sigiriya but to no avail. I didn’t mind. I was
very happy with what I saw and photographed. Here are some of them:<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcbhEaO6C05rf70dckfGdyC_3zTVw2j7gaoJ-sn7tQtq7Q3IOCbBKNZ3hHU6KWCSBbBETU3EgoOgke-SL31nv8_xvIrGpaJDQEc1S04EiNgynft-btnbFa9uNSO9geZWTH2JGGVIQrlk/s1600/Robin+-+Indian+918A2548+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigcbhEaO6C05rf70dckfGdyC_3zTVw2j7gaoJ-sn7tQtq7Q3IOCbBKNZ3hHU6KWCSBbBETU3EgoOgke-SL31nv8_xvIrGpaJDQEc1S04EiNgynft-btnbFa9uNSO9geZWTH2JGGVIQrlk/s1600/Robin+-+Indian+918A2548+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indian robin.</b> The red is on the tail instead of the breast! <br />Not like our robin at all.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uIrCe5wayujGmkZwSXrYXanBntWBullXgByDDC9UXUVut962uPwD-8rJNTsSnb-rKCFDX-xhWzey2Xps8zdg6ilH9MUBYyGb-6r0XHzL45JnuUuF_wLxju599eFwwv7KQrKVaXeJSFs/s1600/Robin+-+Indian+F+918A2556+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0uIrCe5wayujGmkZwSXrYXanBntWBullXgByDDC9UXUVut962uPwD-8rJNTsSnb-rKCFDX-xhWzey2Xps8zdg6ilH9MUBYyGb-6r0XHzL45JnuUuF_wLxju599eFwwv7KQrKVaXeJSFs/s1600/Robin+-+Indian+F+918A2556+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indian robin - female.</b> The same as the male but brown.<br />Male and female European robins are indistinguishable.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1SqV0Qp27SPOP2Jj785c97NzjLhQOhg-AY4UVZUd4kCm7boOgOupls5IKOrfyWjjmHTjiapWcCE4fOTrjnbW3uGn66OpIfoIGQN-smThLgITokGqvPyNCyiOfev34e9O-_t_ZF4y-xs/s1600/Flycatcher+-+Asian+paradise+918A2580+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT1SqV0Qp27SPOP2Jj785c97NzjLhQOhg-AY4UVZUd4kCm7boOgOupls5IKOrfyWjjmHTjiapWcCE4fOTrjnbW3uGn66OpIfoIGQN-smThLgITokGqvPyNCyiOfev34e9O-_t_ZF4y-xs/s1600/Flycatcher+-+Asian+paradise+918A2580+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Asian paradise flycatcher</b>. This is the brown version of the white one in Part 1.<br />The tail is short here, so it's either a female or a juvenile. A beautiful bird.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7X8O3nhOl34dg_oz3TCGpxm351S4EDJAWBbgYmmnJxkXBwX2H6D0gclmdYsCi2vyfNZVJTipTNHeSEsRKJ-RLpRZSY6U_-nai0mT9BpzgPPjQe5qaaX8Kn1J7Qth3Gn1Hfg2jGpOMVk/s1600/Bulbul+-+White-browed+918A2758+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij7X8O3nhOl34dg_oz3TCGpxm351S4EDJAWBbgYmmnJxkXBwX2H6D0gclmdYsCi2vyfNZVJTipTNHeSEsRKJ-RLpRZSY6U_-nai0mT9BpzgPPjQe5qaaX8Kn1J7Qth3Gn1Hfg2jGpOMVk/s1600/Bulbul+-+White-browed+918A2758+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>White-browed Bulbul</b> - a plain member of the bulbul family.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJw-8jppaYIcOJvTM4a9X7lG9P-wQSr3zmnyQlQjFc_TUQCBkbSf2mASp6aG_OiaVEFDXjGJr1Ac_Iq-saS8JhQ_Gj0MD0TJmTx2Dkg_eoITXVl3hG55mTr3p3xBt5r4xHGwug-3Ozw5E/s1600/Cuckoo+-+Grey-bellied+918A2661+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJw-8jppaYIcOJvTM4a9X7lG9P-wQSr3zmnyQlQjFc_TUQCBkbSf2mASp6aG_OiaVEFDXjGJr1Ac_Iq-saS8JhQ_Gj0MD0TJmTx2Dkg_eoITXVl3hG55mTr3p3xBt5r4xHGwug-3Ozw5E/s1600/Cuckoo+-+Grey-bellied+918A2661+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Grey-bellied cuckoo.</b> Well, it's grey. What more can I say?</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVw2YD0zPwoarIg8zN2OpFDmMQwzUCUv0Lx0VtaGhy8EHdxtst4mgmcR1eiaeVsPlhUvJ8wjslIGmjPhYvLR8vtMP7wn0ikyN-5xW-s3Zz4IsZH_wSVBI_g1QHq-mpIddsv0LRjsiGOu4/s1600/Bushlark+-+Jerdons+918A2703+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVw2YD0zPwoarIg8zN2OpFDmMQwzUCUv0Lx0VtaGhy8EHdxtst4mgmcR1eiaeVsPlhUvJ8wjslIGmjPhYvLR8vtMP7wn0ikyN-5xW-s3Zz4IsZH_wSVBI_g1QHq-mpIddsv0LRjsiGOu4/s640/Bushlark+-+Jerdons+918A2703+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Jerdon's bushlark.</b> Looks like a pipit but the bill is huge. Wonder who Jerdon was?</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3W9dsh2EMYi81gcBbB0AU4jDB9XzuL5z8LRDsWQChQsuPlUjj6P-Zgg_HQh0Qi_TdClv4zPTX3md89Qm9wxbFjMqZDSAaspO3mXOJNq3KSwNyH71x9j4-WrxGP9FR6fHqvezOBYRa1o/s1600/Magpie-robin+-+Oriental+918A2710+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC3W9dsh2EMYi81gcBbB0AU4jDB9XzuL5z8LRDsWQChQsuPlUjj6P-Zgg_HQh0Qi_TdClv4zPTX3md89Qm9wxbFjMqZDSAaspO3mXOJNq3KSwNyH71x9j4-WrxGP9FR6fHqvezOBYRa1o/s1600/Magpie-robin+-+Oriental+918A2710+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Oriental magpie-robin</b>. Size of a robin, looks of a magpie. Very common.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxmvhFQxg6XAIZ_AlCpM4WNubKoCWDEBBR2C4s-hvGU7HspXqyZu3xUfDt86hO_7dVml2MEuzWMBL46QSEFG7EJZXTOA-Jt0ye9S-37Li6PBxgQZ6WCyat1KhpLihJVblpUB7HmF0DGo/s1600/Barbet+-+Coppersmith+918A2737+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqxmvhFQxg6XAIZ_AlCpM4WNubKoCWDEBBR2C4s-hvGU7HspXqyZu3xUfDt86hO_7dVml2MEuzWMBL46QSEFG7EJZXTOA-Jt0ye9S-37Li6PBxgQZ6WCyat1KhpLihJVblpUB7HmF0DGo/s1600/Barbet+-+Coppersmith+918A2737+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Coppersmith barbet.</b> This one was looking for a home.<br />He found it in the photo below.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21k4bPsx8XuDYrkkYZt77FHwTeb78K6UR-57tcjLuPsyd_s7x1scbLqmgoghdTiBwKGgTX9Qw0k6axmpPHgW25msYa1OH4xxmkMLr0gEs3ezeSDFg36sWaD9zipXQa59OfUaRmI03qMc/s1600/Barbet+-+Coppersmith+918A2744+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21k4bPsx8XuDYrkkYZt77FHwTeb78K6UR-57tcjLuPsyd_s7x1scbLqmgoghdTiBwKGgTX9Qw0k6axmpPHgW25msYa1OH4xxmkMLr0gEs3ezeSDFg36sWaD9zipXQa59OfUaRmI03qMc/s1600/Barbet+-+Coppersmith+918A2744+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Coppersmith barbet. </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It got right inside the hole.<br />The branch must be very weak at his point.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdH_KxFBEfDHxocd4Uxrn-oOAV0ldbECz6wzw03MtxPJe4clQ0IafKSk_fDWGlra9a0hsK-TrFGXEAw7y6ty92QuoowzeB1k5M-m4J68xg-9SZETawbXqWOm743x8Txt_ftN7bI5ejFg/s1600/Leafbird+-+Golden-fronted+918A2777+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVdH_KxFBEfDHxocd4Uxrn-oOAV0ldbECz6wzw03MtxPJe4clQ0IafKSk_fDWGlra9a0hsK-TrFGXEAw7y6ty92QuoowzeB1k5M-m4J68xg-9SZETawbXqWOm743x8Txt_ftN7bI5ejFg/s1600/Leafbird+-+Golden-fronted+918A2777+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Golden-fronted leafbird</b>. Looks similar to a barbet but no relation.</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oZBL6we3VBLvykmqg8YtAHdfT2C9IklMQIsX14-9PVjhqKQJmJQVEI6oOoWQFX4MUsxL_gz4IJiZmrPQP2aXvdVxiFpuiHoPvmQYwBHZGvcJRuUBBjHYvLr5ihr9FUL0bpjiDC4N6p0/s1600/Flycatcher+-+Asian+paradise+918A2846+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-oZBL6we3VBLvykmqg8YtAHdfT2C9IklMQIsX14-9PVjhqKQJmJQVEI6oOoWQFX4MUsxL_gz4IJiZmrPQP2aXvdVxiFpuiHoPvmQYwBHZGvcJRuUBBjHYvLr5ihr9FUL0bpjiDC4N6p0/s1600/Flycatcher+-+Asian+paradise+918A2846+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Asian paradise flycatcher</b> - brown morph.<br />The same huge tail as the white model in Part 1.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGjwBXvvYsFz6QdZQPIobNLWG_MFQ5z7_pr8ztpRCE9MqcF1mFwvHixziOAQhnqXFdKjSVbBu9CXDQIqxCuEvcFiYOgXRMOOZNN74E36pvsk7Sy8Ryok7UDpdeh8mB7E_ht1jHCDO1P0/s1600/Cuckoo+-+Indian+918A2850+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxGjwBXvvYsFz6QdZQPIobNLWG_MFQ5z7_pr8ztpRCE9MqcF1mFwvHixziOAQhnqXFdKjSVbBu9CXDQIqxCuEvcFiYOgXRMOOZNN74E36pvsk7Sy8Ryok7UDpdeh8mB7E_ht1jHCDO1P0/s1600/Cuckoo+-+Indian+918A2850+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indian cuckoo.</b> In a tree above the foyer of the hotel (the one with the expensive beer -<br />maybe seeing rare birds on the doorstep is factored into the cost of beer!).</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaAnygpRMXk4KLlYihQqiXJ9mZk4sW5pD2fR6kgC7OdvfORe9BNrp8xRxArpJPWSVdu8vp053DlzIdSwXE9iAPg89axZqwzgRKBdSIWGWNkycN901tJikQPW0BiFN5kD4UwcTu96XEC0/s1600/Thrush+-+Orange-headed+918A2857+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMaAnygpRMXk4KLlYihQqiXJ9mZk4sW5pD2fR6kgC7OdvfORe9BNrp8xRxArpJPWSVdu8vp053DlzIdSwXE9iAPg89axZqwzgRKBdSIWGWNkycN901tJikQPW0BiFN5kD4UwcTu96XEC0/s1600/Thrush+-+Orange-headed+918A2857+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Orange-headed thrush.</b> Also seen in the grounds of the hotel.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKazbUpWRZraIBsGTsjzXOMUCqlnBXWQg3ImtqGQzNz1o80MWipH8dV4ras-HC2Xn3zOgj0W7Eexw9hFCRVeJxSo6JvXN85rwjdY-g0ndGXj-xjAeMzDKnjQZdmWIKJ_0ild2kwrXwsQ/s1600/Pigeon+-+Sri+Lanka+green+918A2885+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzKazbUpWRZraIBsGTsjzXOMUCqlnBXWQg3ImtqGQzNz1o80MWipH8dV4ras-HC2Xn3zOgj0W7Eexw9hFCRVeJxSo6JvXN85rwjdY-g0ndGXj-xjAeMzDKnjQZdmWIKJ_0ild2kwrXwsQ/s1600/Pigeon+-+Sri+Lanka+green+918A2885+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Sri Lanka green pigeon</b>. A lovely pigeon. This is the male. An endemic species.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFk0LsXqgqSXQ31Hj63qrzwLi_vz5zFbi6tg5Ckvrr83On8OEfNzvpIhEwnaUgXyKC-nKywjAKQ54gIQ0VWBfjSLBf7c-fpNDCgZf0I_ZcSA_IyN22VaDvkWixZWaReDfRWQPDhzl-xUc/s1600/Pigeon+-+Sri+Lanka+green+F+918A2893+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFk0LsXqgqSXQ31Hj63qrzwLi_vz5zFbi6tg5Ckvrr83On8OEfNzvpIhEwnaUgXyKC-nKywjAKQ54gIQ0VWBfjSLBf7c-fpNDCgZf0I_ZcSA_IyN22VaDvkWixZWaReDfRWQPDhzl-xUc/s1600/Pigeon+-+Sri+Lanka+green+F+918A2893+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Sri Lanka green pigeon.</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> This is the female.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Negombo</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Bandaranaika International Airport, Colombo, is actually to
the North of the city. For our last night we stayed at Negombo, which is also North
of Colombo and just 15-20 minutes from the airport. Virtually no chance we would
miss our flight! After Sigiriya, the whole of the next day was taken up with
the long journey South to Negombo. Traffic was bad, there were frequent road
works and we arrived just in time for dinner.<o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">On the way we stopped for tea at a roadside cafe. Nearby, we heard giggles from a woman enjoying a massage.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEU4xiVHte1FSiNgtxKr-1kzWq5eYjv_Ems5AsG1LDses8C3gut6qSD54HN7t1n3BdP5saTHKF_Ghg6zRfnGQj_p-wUPqC-l420QyCwsGSujhqaApP0ojsgefumNaIa7-mtDOyRoc2SO8/s1600/David+Tony+Hotel+Sigiriya+20160220_132458.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEU4xiVHte1FSiNgtxKr-1kzWq5eYjv_Ems5AsG1LDses8C3gut6qSD54HN7t1n3BdP5saTHKF_Ghg6zRfnGQj_p-wUPqC-l420QyCwsGSujhqaApP0ojsgefumNaIa7-mtDOyRoc2SO8/s1600/David+Tony+Hotel+Sigiriya+20160220_132458.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">David at Hotel Sigiriya on his 14th pancake!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QFedIvwiIIIcHe6FjqaDN-c7SgZRE2yorcPS_E3NcIoAeV8uGGdRS4OBAzrKgxplFvYKo3wjbramNt4Mk1wI4lfAPyELR8jQflPVruhbfW8GxgnnLIaR3fEEjvaxM15-CyeNTpvCpp8/s1600/Local+woman+gets+massage+20160219_132641.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QFedIvwiIIIcHe6FjqaDN-c7SgZRE2yorcPS_E3NcIoAeV8uGGdRS4OBAzrKgxplFvYKo3wjbramNt4Mk1wI4lfAPyELR8jQflPVruhbfW8GxgnnLIaR3fEEjvaxM15-CyeNTpvCpp8/s1600/Local+woman+gets+massage+20160219_132641.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Roadside massage parlour</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The following morning we had time to explore the hotel grounds for
birds before leaving. The grounds were surprisingly productive. No new species,
but closer to birds we had already seen. Lovely! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75kE1P7k2OIT4NSoelsHgF4TfHS9EEheZd9zU_PkSNRGQenql1BsXylMKt-7iUIx9ulU3h_9x18RvZdtXWE_4Ht7SXYBs2xr11PCY6dK16Bco6K6qPKVdrz0gAmmfVlu11eE3n5_kcjk/s1600/Drongo+-+White-bellied+918A2941+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj75kE1P7k2OIT4NSoelsHgF4TfHS9EEheZd9zU_PkSNRGQenql1BsXylMKt-7iUIx9ulU3h_9x18RvZdtXWE_4Ht7SXYBs2xr11PCY6dK16Bco6K6qPKVdrz0gAmmfVlu11eE3n5_kcjk/s1600/Drongo+-+White-bellied+918A2941+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>White-bellied drongo.</b> A large flycatcher and very common.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mT0cDnIFrcSJ50fSN32rYFvirQXP1TS5oB61MiQ-uO0wM_abI8oAUIXZP91OhoBMqZ_gqNb8MnDTt5-Ys7jGzzKmbj-5jAYSbFy4-jSQNzy8ahID1ntN-6hOTw8RBMZIHLhAN7KWzE4/s1600/Oriole+-+Black-hooded+918A2953+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5mT0cDnIFrcSJ50fSN32rYFvirQXP1TS5oB61MiQ-uO0wM_abI8oAUIXZP91OhoBMqZ_gqNb8MnDTt5-Ys7jGzzKmbj-5jAYSbFy4-jSQNzy8ahID1ntN-6hOTw8RBMZIHLhAN7KWzE4/s1600/Oriole+-+Black-hooded+918A2953+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Black-hooded oriole.</b> Has a rich flutey song. </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcAnh0JURT1hyMWMr9ucYFGBy1I9meraOFVT2CPdfeLB1lOO1Knc96S3NdkD9Rmh1TCcd477QswxRWRzEVT_6eGKoJ1sg3BVXL5G_cfSvq26sWLs10tr_GfE8LcYrSiX-VOcHRUrmXaA/s1600/Koel+-+Asian+918A2967+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOcAnh0JURT1hyMWMr9ucYFGBy1I9meraOFVT2CPdfeLB1lOO1Knc96S3NdkD9Rmh1TCcd477QswxRWRzEVT_6eGKoJ1sg3BVXL5G_cfSvq26sWLs10tr_GfE8LcYrSiX-VOcHRUrmXaA/s1600/Koel+-+Asian+918A2967+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Asian Koel.</b> This is the male. The female is actually much prettier. Common, but not easily seen. The song, however, always gives away the presence of these birds.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The hotel gave me the
key to the ‘business centre’ so I could print some crosswords for David and me
to do on the plane home.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Home at last.</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">And suddenly, it was all over. Check-in, shopping, boarding,
flight home, landing, passport control, baggage reclaim, customs, home, bed. My
own bed! How wonderful to sleep in your own bed again after a spell away. Even
after a very good trip, well planned and executed. Thank you Gary, Tharanga and Limosa Holidays.</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">You have just read Part 4 of 4.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">For other parts:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part 1 - <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-1.html">Kitulgala and Sinharaja</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2px;">(Is this the longest tail of any flycatcher?)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2px;">Part 2 - <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-2.html">Embilipitiya and Tissamaharama</a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25.2px;">(</span></span>Kingfishers fall out. What's the wingspan of a fruit bat?)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Part 3 - <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-3_12.html">Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(</span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">How do the Sri Lankans drive?)</span></span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-66761770492034136802016-04-12T08:21:00.000+01:002016-05-13T07:45:57.558+01:00Sri Lanka 2016 - 3<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sri Lanka bird trip 7-21 February 2016. </span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part 3 - Nuwara-Eliya and Horton Plains</span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In Part 3: <span style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">How do the Sri Lankans drive? and many more nature photographs</span></span></b><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><br /></span></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">For other parts:</span></span></b><br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part 1 - <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-1.html">Kitulgala and Sinharaja</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2px;">(Is this the longest tail of any flycatcher?)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2px;">Part 2 - <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-2.html">Embilipitiya and Tissamaharama</a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25.2px;">(</span></span>Kingfishers fall out. What's the wingspan of a fruit bat?)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Part 4 - <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-4.html">Kandy - Sigiriya - Negombo</a></span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 25.2px;">(British t</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ea factory machines over 100 years old. The most expensive Lion beer in Sri Lanka?)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Nuwara Eliya<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">(no. 9 on the <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-1.html#slmap" target="_blank">map</a>).<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Tuesday 16 February 2016 was a long travelling day to Nuwara
Eliya. At this point driving style comes to the fore. </span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Driving style in Sri Lanka.</b></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The style of driving in Sri Lanka is notable. The roads are all single carriageways, with just one lane in either direction. Dual carriageways and motorways are almost unheard of. There is a small stretch of motorway from Colombo to the South coast, but we never saw it. Traffic drives on the left, as in England.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Roads are generally quite winding. Overtaking is risky. Nevertheless, virtually all drivers will overtake, even on left-hand bends, where they can't see what's coming. If they are caught out by oncoming traffic while overtaking, they may brake and pull back in. Otherwise, they may carry on and the oncoming traffic must brake to avoid a collision. This is all done with no apparent road rage.</span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">A lot depends on the relative size of the vehicles. Before we start, here is a tuk tuk:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorasDhgou380a8LsA26UBQHFl_mKgJMlfoeKNzQ40cZTytlS5V5b4pYhvkUP-akgw_iHtNEBoJXFS4EEyJA9KtTn409OXwuFJp9MSNkq_7T7EqsbIN8X-8mfhroWmmVC6Mk2RR1srYcc/s1600/Tut+tut.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorasDhgou380a8LsA26UBQHFl_mKgJMlfoeKNzQ40cZTytlS5V5b4pYhvkUP-akgw_iHtNEBoJXFS4EEyJA9KtTn409OXwuFJp9MSNkq_7T7EqsbIN8X-8mfhroWmmVC6Mk2RR1srYcc/s320/Tut+tut.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Here is a bus:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1jplPVicuV36lU0eLGCHvreeBN6Jig-8a-ncfQ3camkOqAvR40npEBR8CRsbcpQwH2AgH4m4JMLsrV4RwJCMiSPBFAjUVbi98Nce-3PUjO11Y6BVbLPrtqkOGWUidI2npfNEFFs567o/s1600/Blue+Field+tea+factory+IMG_9060.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn1jplPVicuV36lU0eLGCHvreeBN6Jig-8a-ncfQ3camkOqAvR40npEBR8CRsbcpQwH2AgH4m4JMLsrV4RwJCMiSPBFAjUVbi98Nce-3PUjO11Y6BVbLPrtqkOGWUidI2npfNEFFs567o/s640/Blue+Field+tea+factory+IMG_9060.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">And here is a lorry:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMK3Qz-5sa-Yss_RzL-BAY_duuaOM5tVFviG1hp8TrKkJn3rVfxUrbZ0btYd0K_lbcJ92jFRNtC_4O18yH0b9KhOIvk_y4-1AJOn9ii56R2QdsX1tVKvXY_P6PMxi_he3F2XPvH3IkTs/s1600/lorry.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMK3Qz-5sa-Yss_RzL-BAY_duuaOM5tVFviG1hp8TrKkJn3rVfxUrbZ0btYd0K_lbcJ92jFRNtC_4O18yH0b9KhOIvk_y4-1AJOn9ii56R2QdsX1tVKvXY_P6PMxi_he3F2XPvH3IkTs/s640/lorry.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Now, suppose you are driving a bus that is overtaking a lorry and you meet a tuk tuk. What do you do? Apparently, you just carry on! The poor tuk tuk must brake hard and keep over to the far side of the road!</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Conversely, what if you are driving a bus overtaking a tuk tuk and you meet a lorry? Well, you still just carry on, but you slowly pull over to the left, almost ignoring the tuk tuk, which is </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">forced</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">off the road, braking hard! </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The truism in the photo below was written on quite a few tuk tuks:</span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5attORQT2HeJPjDroETIxpG2bx0mPz_TKC4e8ji8izxl7zbG7_5paEhGTKyJag-lLjRRJNYIPqYdbTj7dwuE8qNJaW2zeYyYYbEyJhQrCnHXJKEW8wnbqUfoY2xKF4_7Nn7G54HZS0jw/s1600/Brake+for+your+life+IMG_9050.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5attORQT2HeJPjDroETIxpG2bx0mPz_TKC4e8ji8izxl7zbG7_5paEhGTKyJag-lLjRRJNYIPqYdbTj7dwuE8qNJaW2zeYyYYbEyJhQrCnHXJKEW8wnbqUfoY2xKF4_7Nn7G54HZS0jw/s1600/Brake+for+your+life+IMG_9050.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">"BRAKE FOR YOUR LIFE".<br />This is particularly true for tuk tuk drivers!!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After a while, I got quite good at predicting how it would go, based on the situation and the relative size of the vehicles involved. Almost always, the poor tuk tuk came off worst.</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Mostly, drivers seem to accept the situation. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The average speed of traffic isn't that great. </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This could explain why we didn't see any accidents while we were there. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We travelled in a comfortable tour bus. There were plenty of seats to spread out on.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonHtJNBh_RdW1j7qm9tSb-4QroWUakaVGu1C7_WKJa8rQGPwumdzgtBkL0rmqwM_zV7zxSNMj0Xw__PNAh4AvEFPwJqNax3mRz2c34cHSohOGyRohZa0UROAd9jchc1bOMC8PtSk_vh8/s1600/Tour+bus+20160214_114931.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhonHtJNBh_RdW1j7qm9tSb-4QroWUakaVGu1C7_WKJa8rQGPwumdzgtBkL0rmqwM_zV7zxSNMj0Xw__PNAh4AvEFPwJqNax3mRz2c34cHSohOGyRohZa0UROAd9jchc1bOMC8PtSk_vh8/s1600/Tour+bus+20160214_114931.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Our tour bus. Comfortable and air conditioned.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvepX_kQzw8OrFml6mN_DLiwP056Y4koSTZOS_xFJTu3fS98YSSyy7qc8x_yDHPQIwxp5s23jwsII05eC8KymzIEEF-HwnmOwwDevSOxHLTgHSUD4pIhml6cABP_mFEU0BYITO912GnQc/s1600/David+on+bus+20160212_145643.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvepX_kQzw8OrFml6mN_DLiwP056Y4koSTZOS_xFJTu3fS98YSSyy7qc8x_yDHPQIwxp5s23jwsII05eC8KymzIEEF-HwnmOwwDevSOxHLTgHSUD4pIhml6cABP_mFEU0BYITO912GnQc/s1600/David+on+bus+20160212_145643.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">David enjoying the comfortable air-conditioning!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">On the way to Nuwara-Eliya we stopped at Rawana Falls roadside cafe.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76AuC_a0lPnNXe1qu4bJurNC0J5mdR1B8PGsfUrxT7fJbFetIAj9xkx4o-H4vmi8m8DPSNgJJXw4mhVtS9vguteKcD-6Blmh1oAfWGO39A_V5QjeHDDgJG3LpMg9vabsj4QJNAsVcpkQ/s1600/Rawana+Falls+IMG_9045.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj76AuC_a0lPnNXe1qu4bJurNC0J5mdR1B8PGsfUrxT7fJbFetIAj9xkx4o-H4vmi8m8DPSNgJJXw4mhVtS9vguteKcD-6Blmh1oAfWGO39A_V5QjeHDDgJG3LpMg9vabsj4QJNAsVcpkQ/s1600/Rawana+Falls+IMG_9045.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rawana Falls restaurant.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The view while we had our tea was impressive:</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzVKKoYxySNPHMDEjppb3BSSyYuODeCQQMgctpLXlFOmlzRmyVLALKbU4gnfTZJ7P174UKr6oPx-kvTZrp5lxU7PRFeokOKiywqV1zF18VzGrmIUYwLm3sJ9Q944DDuQts_EAFE_oy9M/s1600/Rawana+Falls+IMG_9042.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpzVKKoYxySNPHMDEjppb3BSSyYuODeCQQMgctpLXlFOmlzRmyVLALKbU4gnfTZJ7P174UKr6oPx-kvTZrp5lxU7PRFeokOKiywqV1zF18VzGrmIUYwLm3sJ9Q944DDuQts_EAFE_oy9M/s1600/Rawana+Falls+IMG_9042.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">View from Rawana Falls.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXzWBTWZhOqwZgcslSUmBfLKVul0LQZgFvSNliZiKWtQw2Y9seyTjgll_1_h4aFVdlXaNXxRAUKHrZjkbWmkZfAFdlFdfW3V3CUCznO-UQ4voJyrEQ4g1tEoPiMw7qabDvmLEftGnKqk/s1600/Rawana+Falls+IMG_9043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXzWBTWZhOqwZgcslSUmBfLKVul0LQZgFvSNliZiKWtQw2Y9seyTjgll_1_h4aFVdlXaNXxRAUKHrZjkbWmkZfAFdlFdfW3V3CUCznO-UQ4voJyrEQ4g1tEoPiMw7qabDvmLEftGnKqk/s1600/Rawana+Falls+IMG_9043.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Rawana Falls themselves.</span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxXzWBTWZhOqwZgcslSUmBfLKVul0LQZgFvSNliZiKWtQw2Y9seyTjgll_1_h4aFVdlXaNXxRAUKHrZjkbWmkZfAFdlFdfW3V3CUCznO-UQ4voJyrEQ4g1tEoPiMw7qabDvmLEftGnKqk/s1600/Rawana+Falls+IMG_9043.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsV1BLK4mnhKOzdw5grSMVqNsOqHoXWi2JKOZVUPZjBEEwKCYVBMFoGnKpEazuYdeWvCY4___2PJdWBqZSeFJl6mn88udU9rnEj7PwRrGzJdsG5MJavDQUxzl6U9NC4rpxOuV5JT_Qjbs/s1600/David+Phil+at+Nuwara+Eliya+IMG_9049.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjsV1BLK4mnhKOzdw5grSMVqNsOqHoXWi2JKOZVUPZjBEEwKCYVBMFoGnKpEazuYdeWvCY4___2PJdWBqZSeFJl6mn88udU9rnEj7PwRrGzJdsG5MJavDQUxzl6U9NC4rpxOuV5JT_Qjbs/s1600/David+Phil+at+Nuwara+Eliya+IMG_9049.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Ginger tea at the hotel for David and me. Lovely!</span></td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Nuwara-Eliya</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In Nuwara-Eliya we stayed at the Leisure Village hotel (no. 9 on the </span><a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-1.html#slmap" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;" target="_blank">map</a><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">). At 1,900 metres, it was about 20°C cooler than lower down. At night, it was close to zero. We had to ask for extra blankets as we shivered the first night.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">At the hotel, we were met with hot ginger tea. </span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After checking in, we set off for Victoria Park.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Nuwara Eliya was much loved by the British in colonial times as the climate was close to that back home. The whole place looks very old British colonial, and Victoria Park is very nicely laid out.</span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKIeofJSVCTUVA4vCS1N2P-Yc6vGoyA5Z-RkHFv6OskAMgkobGBsZYmGBZhSsRRWYP_dzX1fe4fiqzz2jyNeIJB62GWyLMbSt-sKyS07PqEFXItJBXZFJrTqs_aCgdPz1MSjIvQzA_H4/s1600/Victoria+Park+Nuwara-Eliya+20160217_175316.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCKIeofJSVCTUVA4vCS1N2P-Yc6vGoyA5Z-RkHFv6OskAMgkobGBsZYmGBZhSsRRWYP_dzX1fe4fiqzz2jyNeIJB62GWyLMbSt-sKyS07PqEFXItJBXZFJrTqs_aCgdPz1MSjIvQzA_H4/s1600/Victoria+Park+Nuwara-Eliya+20160217_175316.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Victoria Park, Nuwara-Eliya. A reminder of colonial times.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Here are some of the birds we saw in Nuwara-Eliya:<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0tDfcwolXl94EGGAE96GuKNpiuvDKi-_6RDAOzf1JCYG1c4cbPtW6YMuDCdpCymP1oVSoGis-P_QsoW5l_6zqNbLgOd5DT3DSVukkG-JDPgzld9-onF6aomsVNCTGIFMRZHK1jMhv5w/s1600/White-eye+-+Sri+Lanka+918A1826+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0tDfcwolXl94EGGAE96GuKNpiuvDKi-_6RDAOzf1JCYG1c4cbPtW6YMuDCdpCymP1oVSoGis-P_QsoW5l_6zqNbLgOd5DT3DSVukkG-JDPgzld9-onF6aomsVNCTGIFMRZHK1jMhv5w/s1600/White-eye+-+Sri+Lanka+918A1826+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Sri Lanka white-eye</b>. There are many species of 'white-eye' in the world.<br />Superficially, they all look the same!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIxyKqn2RdSvRoVHxODqXl0axKh8iSHj075m9wKMPTK68IefoYSwWBo8McMclO-96WPJU63qVoGezStHZASPTqoonpw-pAqFIgXN4vnp1RsL5cv0GU9fmBAuURFzsPVUWBsvyOPb8Hk0/s1600/Sparrow+-+House+918A1858+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKIxyKqn2RdSvRoVHxODqXl0axKh8iSHj075m9wKMPTK68IefoYSwWBo8McMclO-96WPJU63qVoGezStHZASPTqoonpw-pAqFIgXN4vnp1RsL5cv0GU9fmBAuURFzsPVUWBsvyOPb8Hk0/s1600/Sparrow+-+House+918A1858+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>House sparrow.</b> This is the one you have in your garden.<br />Well, you might have them in your garden.<br />I've lived in the same suburban house for 25 years and never had a house sparrow!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmgFuHO1YYJhY44AifZZfwsPaNcbvf7jhGZ0Kp5FltrzisxAT1yO1nHIaPtYugrIlz2g6YxLpp_t0vSzZTs4zQsHYRWwzd4LlhFlTMfmnNYpwNbiq8fnnhnCbfVys0OLAZULVgP2WwW8/s1600/Munia+-+Scaly-breasted+918A1869+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsmgFuHO1YYJhY44AifZZfwsPaNcbvf7jhGZ0Kp5FltrzisxAT1yO1nHIaPtYugrIlz2g6YxLpp_t0vSzZTs4zQsHYRWwzd4LlhFlTMfmnNYpwNbiq8fnnhnCbfVys0OLAZULVgP2WwW8/s1600/Munia+-+Scaly-breasted+918A1869+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Scaly-breasted munia. </b>Another of the munia family.<br />That massive bill enables it to crack the hardest seeds.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tugrW-6-D1skdZR4OKfkV9tpNR7VAxLxa-BIhQaQHmgzGTfwsCAoxVoweyMR2J3lBG6xQVwwqbKUBsLKQigIygnamHg8WTIgP5aAM9xncIN-umqhGOjeaISusRlG9_XqgdTRPtvZx-A/s1600/Cormorant+-+Little+918A1910+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4tugrW-6-D1skdZR4OKfkV9tpNR7VAxLxa-BIhQaQHmgzGTfwsCAoxVoweyMR2J3lBG6xQVwwqbKUBsLKQigIygnamHg8WTIgP5aAM9xncIN-umqhGOjeaISusRlG9_XqgdTRPtvZx-A/s1600/Cormorant+-+Little+918A1910+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Little cormorant.</b> Smaller and daintier than ours. Cormorants have no natural oil in their feathers. That's why they have hold their wings out to dry them.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6R0uV9KGgXWikjiKN_xgwhXbtFmpVPuhH19tfrPPQ8vnzXwvFLjwYfkFBWXnaWmcTicexitVCX8Iz1QGQBCCPFbxJdC39aH9jgX4Ei6DiDqOCj5qMTG57G7L2tX2stlkmqRukNcDgBJc/s1600/Wagtail+-+Forest+918A1975+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6R0uV9KGgXWikjiKN_xgwhXbtFmpVPuhH19tfrPPQ8vnzXwvFLjwYfkFBWXnaWmcTicexitVCX8Iz1QGQBCCPFbxJdC39aH9jgX4Ei6DiDqOCj5qMTG57G7L2tX2stlkmqRukNcDgBJc/s1600/Wagtail+-+Forest+918A1975+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Forest wagtail</b>. Aptly named. It generally skulks around in<br />the undergrowth near the river.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnakCSotNxTdrZRr6mpz6mf4EX9esBr3oMIe47crW8W7jZgOQIZkyqKNz9kOsKo6ON8I-pCrD26tLtTAAX9ut-wicYHQYHPKzCK2XfZRABZClEkHk7bjcud9Z0dDdbD9Q_NRwx1qroPE/s1600/Pitta+-+Indian+918A2002+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYnakCSotNxTdrZRr6mpz6mf4EX9esBr3oMIe47crW8W7jZgOQIZkyqKNz9kOsKo6ON8I-pCrD26tLtTAAX9ut-wicYHQYHPKzCK2XfZRABZClEkHk7bjcud9Z0dDdbD9Q_NRwx1qroPE/s1600/Pitta+-+Indian+918A2002+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indian pitta.</b> A colourful bird that loves the dark shady areas where there is hardly any light.<br />If you're a photographer, this photograph shows the value of using a tripod. It was taken at 1/15th sec. with a 700mm lens (500mm + 1.4x converter)!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjwAgjidyp1tssBRTEZk6Kfiyu-g_1S6p98dwKav1DLirWw5rlfZRxaT6rRQxYOT7oFvZn2iokjlh_VCsYEtmEBYM2Vnx5bmj6-bwOXjj5aXjNRkYbnmXWzpHdZfjHOrm_pRwvKlXORw/s1600/Thrush+-+Pied+918A2165+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjjwAgjidyp1tssBRTEZk6Kfiyu-g_1S6p98dwKav1DLirWw5rlfZRxaT6rRQxYOT7oFvZn2iokjlh_VCsYEtmEBYM2Vnx5bmj6-bwOXjj5aXjNRkYbnmXWzpHdZfjHOrm_pRwvKlXORw/s1600/Thrush+-+Pied+918A2165+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Pied thrush.</b> This bird was always in the deep middle of any bush.<br />Almost impossible to see clearly. This is my best shot!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Horton Plains – World’s End<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">(no. 10 on the <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-1.html#slmap" target="_blank">map</a>)<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">The following day, we had to get up at an hour I didn’t think
existed, despite this being my 7<sup>th</sup><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>or
8<sup>th</sup><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>birdwatching
holiday! We went by taxi to Horton Plains, at about 2,400 metres. We
arrived just as it was getting light. The mist was impenetrable, the drizzle
was cold as well as wet! </span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_v44PmylnvtlH5_OudXYbk1H6Pg3FOCkO6YrNWtv4b4NTxK0YXKatXmVGAQ6xuJY2rtRmxYztbcnEsmnWfSqQ2YCke_EGQtMK4mtBkJ0NqC605meXHayC5g1ODLY4sUuVLvKe-jDPiY/s1600/David++Horton+Plains+20160217_111532.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha_v44PmylnvtlH5_OudXYbk1H6Pg3FOCkO6YrNWtv4b4NTxK0YXKatXmVGAQ6xuJY2rtRmxYztbcnEsmnWfSqQ2YCke_EGQtMK4mtBkJ0NqC605meXHayC5g1ODLY4sUuVLvKe-jDPiY/s1600/David++Horton+Plains+20160217_111532.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Horton Plains</b> in the cold drizzle of the early morning. Despite this, some people were<br />still in sunglasses. But I'm not naming any names!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It was so cold that the endemic birds we were looking for were scarce. Our local guide, Tharanga, did a sterling job of finding them. I missed
one, the Sri Lanka whistling thrush, through my own ineptitude. I was expecting
it to appear on the ground. It </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">actually</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">appeared briefly in a bush that was nearer me but which I failed to see. Most birdwatchers will know: - sometimes
you see the bird straight away; sometimes you just don’t see it, however hard
you look!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We saw a few other endemics in the mist but I was glad to get
off the plain. Perhaps I would have felt differently had the weather been
better.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FzGVOw5TlvKJTnZbYBcAxTOzqCDUR_vVIG2mm8qW-2pdFt9Ev-teo1YehebSbaDXMRzrJ81tSlQjPEywXkSN5DNYA2CEujlwwLLhqBm3RbgTqm9GctWDV_YEw6Gy2AUaSKAO_fi6eNY/s1600/Flycatcher+-+Dull+blue+918A2020+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3FzGVOw5TlvKJTnZbYBcAxTOzqCDUR_vVIG2mm8qW-2pdFt9Ev-teo1YehebSbaDXMRzrJ81tSlQjPEywXkSN5DNYA2CEujlwwLLhqBm3RbgTqm9GctWDV_YEw6Gy2AUaSKAO_fi6eNY/s1600/Flycatcher+-+Dull+blue+918A2020+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Dull-blue flycatcher.</b> Fancy naming a bird that?<br />I wonder if there's a 'dreary yellow' canary or a 'drab pink' parrot?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8utc3KTljz5qz3WAyH0juG4412ZLbN0Nqc121EcPIFheRX3GYolrg0F_7k-S7SzpHFwmWhFdB-qfiLd4eJYP6sWl4APueKqHc-aLIBFrxCCo-ENdI6IO3hQch2y5zO2Q2BOfloSSDucE/s1600/Snipe+-+Pintail+918A2072+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8utc3KTljz5qz3WAyH0juG4412ZLbN0Nqc121EcPIFheRX3GYolrg0F_7k-S7SzpHFwmWhFdB-qfiLd4eJYP6sWl4APueKqHc-aLIBFrxCCo-ENdI6IO3hQch2y5zO2Q2BOfloSSDucE/s1600/Snipe+-+Pintail+918A2072+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Pintail snipe</b> in the mist. Yes, in the mist.<br />I Photo-shopped the mist out, and the image has suffered.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Again, for the photographers amongst you, here is the original shot.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4X6KgiAXQy1FJFWktLC6UWZrQWGmLxnWCn7O9up8YD2akqL3T93lbMf1XN0vXR-Fpsy-z468FSQXi4WG9wFsAUCAFoIZSiD2hwBA0i_uHBPBR1nj7TMlUHrotQIjTGHsWfJqljRg7edE/s1600/Snipe+-+Pintail+918A2072+crop+1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4X6KgiAXQy1FJFWktLC6UWZrQWGmLxnWCn7O9up8YD2akqL3T93lbMf1XN0vXR-Fpsy-z468FSQXi4WG9wFsAUCAFoIZSiD2hwBA0i_uHBPBR1nj7TMlUHrotQIjTGHsWfJqljRg7edE/s1600/Snipe+-+Pintail+918A2072+crop+1.jpg" /></a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The photo above was taken a couple of minutes before the one below. This mist cleared briefly, but the birds had taken cover from us.</span></div>
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</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzojWr0X6SaFWvoXqrbpLrY01bsZGOBnfV59ELr12D3cpD9osamqGi1vFB-8DCkLSUHvg-TDObEKNKuO640Vv_Bt85Ab9aWme6FhFTH-nYMkh2tsK3qG8SWV_lraSiF0BQoQDk5890Qg/s1600/Snipe+-+Pintail+918A2076+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTzojWr0X6SaFWvoXqrbpLrY01bsZGOBnfV59ELr12D3cpD9osamqGi1vFB-8DCkLSUHvg-TDObEKNKuO640Vv_Bt85Ab9aWme6FhFTH-nYMkh2tsK3qG8SWV_lraSiF0BQoQDk5890Qg/s1600/Snipe+-+Pintail+918A2076+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Pintail snipe</b> not in the mist. Possibly the same bird as in the photo above!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEw2_w2EDLlzjMPJb0UZ92ZW3MQU66vZR-2a6kGpLGAm3GDTtVAhFwQ8mjZB5_nkNCGUwCW2Wlie9WzDj5khmH1L8AUVqtRnT8ECVAmWzaBZh9tyjJfJUom87DvoLdqS-8UmDUXadv_KU/s1600/White-eye+-+Sri+Lanka+J+918A2086+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEw2_w2EDLlzjMPJb0UZ92ZW3MQU66vZR-2a6kGpLGAm3GDTtVAhFwQ8mjZB5_nkNCGUwCW2Wlie9WzDj5khmH1L8AUVqtRnT8ECVAmWzaBZh9tyjJfJUom87DvoLdqS-8UmDUXadv_KU/s1600/White-eye+-+Sri+Lanka+J+918A2086+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Sri Lanka white-eye</b> - juvenile. Like many birds, the salient feature<br />(the white eye in this case) is missing on the juvenile.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRZnpcVJhcVtWHhR8r4RvkqSAFwBeng9NHnGp6MpUPA57HwXOTt_pDdcSTs6j_U6Q8hefBfvOEfpJw-lFszzvMsaQQKsph7lG3_6eQgJNEUFTW3iUOcLKZYcOorv-FB5MybCwJ7S05RI/s1600/Bulbul+-+Yellow-eared+918A2091+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDRZnpcVJhcVtWHhR8r4RvkqSAFwBeng9NHnGp6MpUPA57HwXOTt_pDdcSTs6j_U6Q8hefBfvOEfpJw-lFszzvMsaQQKsph7lG3_6eQgJNEUFTW3iUOcLKZYcOorv-FB5MybCwJ7S05RI/s1600/Bulbul+-+Yellow-eared+918A2091+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Yellow-eared bulbul</b>. This one taken during another brief break in the mist.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAowReh9chZOqWsSzkj1IFlVTHV8EQKd-Y9Ill-mAOMnSxyThwggwyfWtoBnsNOPITuAus4MGAXuvshFVcgHYClhNmhnxFGCN-c8JRokwXR5o-ruFGeOkEnL5Y5gXtny5Xor6gwxkuq5E/s1600/Tit+-+Cinereous+918A2126+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAowReh9chZOqWsSzkj1IFlVTHV8EQKd-Y9Ill-mAOMnSxyThwggwyfWtoBnsNOPITuAus4MGAXuvshFVcgHYClhNmhnxFGCN-c8JRokwXR5o-ruFGeOkEnL5Y5gXtny5Xor6gwxkuq5E/s1600/Tit+-+Cinereous+918A2126+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Cinereous tit.</b> Previously known as a great tit. Closely resembles ours<br />but with an off-white breast (yellow on ours) and a huge vertical breast stripe.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It hasn't got a green tongue. It's eating a grub.</span></td></tr>
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<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">After lunch, it was back to Victoria Park. I got a much better
shot of the pied thrush than the previous day. I like returning to places a
second time. It’s always more relaxing.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">At dusk we returned to the hotel. Unusually, the wi-fi signal in this hotel was strong enough to permit calls home on one of my phone apps. I spoke to my wife and David was able to wish his mother a happy birthday.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">We were now on the home stretch. Tomorrow we were off to Kandy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">You have just read part 3 of 4.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;">For other parts:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part 1 - <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-1.html">Kitulgala and Sinharaja</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2px;">(Is this the longest tail of any flycatcher?)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2px;">Part 2 - <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-2.html">Embilipitiya and Tissamaharama</a></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="color: #222222;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 25.2px;">(</span></span>Kingfishers fall out. What's the wingspan of a fruit bat?)</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Part 4 - <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-4.html">Kandy - Sigiriya - Negombo</a></span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 25.2px;">(British t</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ea factory machines over 100 years old. The most expensive Lion beer in Sri Lanka?)</span></span><br />
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></b>Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1297746945549242887.post-36368462361719107352016-04-11T06:33:00.000+01:002016-05-13T07:47:04.473+01:00Sri Lanka 2016 - 2<div style="margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Sri Lanka bird trip 7-21 February 2016. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Part 2 - Embilipitiya and Tissamaharama</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In Part 2: Kingfishers fall out. What's the wingspan of a fruit bat? and many more nature photographs</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For other parts</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part 1 - <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-1.html">Kitulgala and Sinharaja</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2px;">(Is this the longest tail of any flycatcher?)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Part 3 - <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-3_12.html">Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(</span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">How do the Sri Lankans drive?)</span></span></b></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Part 4 - <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-4.html">Kandy - Sigiriya - Negombo</a></span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 25.2px;">(British t</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ea factory machines over 100 years old. The most expensive Lion beer in Sri Lanka?)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Embilipitiya</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">After Blue Magpie Lodge we headed south. First stop was Kalametiya Bird Reserve (no. 4 on the map) full of waders and other water birds. (</span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Click for the <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-1.html#slmap" target="_blank">map</a>. It will open in a new window).</span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsk6Bb6pn7F45DyZpCy2e8Uaw0mXn-j43BQsBMszs_rwqOg9UIlerqTNQZLDh3LXS9FwSXooUdVhdRcR2s1q3jWGKjapOsukA-swVdNEwPBYJxQEBe3Cv30wG-N7FuvZPkEVH84AJyC4/s1600/Peafowl+-+Indian+918A9487+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPsk6Bb6pn7F45DyZpCy2e8Uaw0mXn-j43BQsBMszs_rwqOg9UIlerqTNQZLDh3LXS9FwSXooUdVhdRcR2s1q3jWGKjapOsukA-swVdNEwPBYJxQEBe3Cv30wG-N7FuvZPkEVH84AJyC4/s640/Peafowl+-+Indian+918A9487+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indian peafowl</b> (a peacock). This one is truly wild.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAwX4skTBUoTdE0-G6XB5QXJySHTJFsHAkPlIKCSjwVHMyGlRmt1008T54ppWzfyBPNMZ92AwpTpz1LV5KxFGpQFIYpwk-lSj6kgMTgNqNjOQHBO-RKWw-2Woo3RlkI78pi8uVqveRQY/s1600/Tern+-+Caspian+918A9532+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="452" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjAwX4skTBUoTdE0-G6XB5QXJySHTJFsHAkPlIKCSjwVHMyGlRmt1008T54ppWzfyBPNMZ92AwpTpz1LV5KxFGpQFIYpwk-lSj6kgMTgNqNjOQHBO-RKWw-2Woo3RlkI78pi8uVqveRQY/s640/Tern+-+Caspian+918A9532+crop.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Gull-billed tern, </b>L and centre, <b>Caspian tern</b>, R</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUEgtSjehEtvKT2vlIwF_cR_UrIlo9mK1pHkGwLe-8bwaaGC3wjS_GlhY32v_X33eFABLsVE2AxLU5_fReJxAoL9XEBqslWmOBaCn63Lqdt2ly7nO_X8_FYku34AAl6-MTSzBmk53drs/s1600/Stint+-+Little+918A9537+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSUEgtSjehEtvKT2vlIwF_cR_UrIlo9mK1pHkGwLe-8bwaaGC3wjS_GlhY32v_X33eFABLsVE2AxLU5_fReJxAoL9XEBqslWmOBaCn63Lqdt2ly7nO_X8_FYku34AAl6-MTSzBmk53drs/s1600/Stint+-+Little+918A9537+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Little stint.</b> A very small wader.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKrRojwragujoVVvxpMQ8waZI8NQxKaIra6WSi2OE5yXTR7yaJAwvodOj19rRNXiqCGK3UGVBNA_J3-eWFlDIN4ct0eMvCnlyuDAvKwwf8-G3KIjcrlgSAJPa7k4B6oT4VEQjQRuESS0/s1600/Garganey+918A9565+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAKrRojwragujoVVvxpMQ8waZI8NQxKaIra6WSi2OE5yXTR7yaJAwvodOj19rRNXiqCGK3UGVBNA_J3-eWFlDIN4ct0eMvCnlyuDAvKwwf8-G3KIjcrlgSAJPa7k4B6oT4VEQjQRuESS0/s1600/Garganey+918A9565+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Garganey</b>. Male on left with huge eye-stripe, female on right.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPPGw45549S1ynkwHQPeP2ABIaUALRsTeZ7OAxoyfVcHB3LQkv3C7kxgEqqyomoDlB1g9yhhzPC9NFmrRMYYVEp2ZX3EUPi7mHPW_NfDHl2W-F7WhAi2SPs2CYthcgd6epQ1-wcMYGnQ/s1600/Godwit+-+Black-tailed+918A9567+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixPPGw45549S1ynkwHQPeP2ABIaUALRsTeZ7OAxoyfVcHB3LQkv3C7kxgEqqyomoDlB1g9yhhzPC9NFmrRMYYVEp2ZX3EUPi7mHPW_NfDHl2W-F7WhAi2SPs2CYthcgd6epQ1-wcMYGnQ/s1600/Godwit+-+Black-tailed+918A9567+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A single <b>Black-tailed godwit </b>with <b>Black-winged stilts</b>.<br />Common in England, but unusual in Sri Lanka</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgWrhLPNm5D4GSikkARXa7UpToOdPVjbJ-0PoglhlmxT6nCkwjOjvaVGKKd3nyjnsRBIHq1DzV9tRtBX4-F9MxJxJ0dwqsDwI8WSSg7PYLnJNaVKNZs90Bift7hMYrYos9_lko3xFKww/s1600/Lapwing+-+Yellow-wattled+918A9621+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZgWrhLPNm5D4GSikkARXa7UpToOdPVjbJ-0PoglhlmxT6nCkwjOjvaVGKKd3nyjnsRBIHq1DzV9tRtBX4-F9MxJxJ0dwqsDwI8WSSg7PYLnJNaVKNZs90Bift7hMYrYos9_lko3xFKww/s1600/Lapwing+-+Yellow-wattled+918A9621+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Yellow-wattled lapwing</b>. A smart wader.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGC9ClbNeBJt1JBlBG0NbjQJkwoSyTaeSIvbyezlaEt73a1tkoEUNcoDm54Vk3dCcX59y4FJDBsqJWEChjpJ87ACxR5eKBwVWVVCTRms__HZz3XuxSRQPxYstJzcEvExQVnyRmrRdO1bA/s1600/Pipit+-+Paddyfield+918A9644+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGC9ClbNeBJt1JBlBG0NbjQJkwoSyTaeSIvbyezlaEt73a1tkoEUNcoDm54Vk3dCcX59y4FJDBsqJWEChjpJ87ACxR5eKBwVWVVCTRms__HZz3XuxSRQPxYstJzcEvExQVnyRmrRdO1bA/s1600/Pipit+-+Paddyfield+918A9644+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Paddyfield pipit.</b> A large smart pipit.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTL5tagEMz3NkzIDpmdKR6OkDs5i0O4eZacA9zjOxjB9WzP4fHiQiLrNPJUwtS2uAnVKNUvXwDCfVkD6xxWrorTGu9PcenD0h2OvC8JpFt-j9lsW9AVvb2CPrnSjOiwQ3_m3nv4nakak0/s1600/Pipit+-+Blyths+918A9695+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTL5tagEMz3NkzIDpmdKR6OkDs5i0O4eZacA9zjOxjB9WzP4fHiQiLrNPJUwtS2uAnVKNUvXwDCfVkD6xxWrorTGu9PcenD0h2OvC8JpFt-j9lsW9AVvb2CPrnSjOiwQ3_m3nv4nakak0/s1600/Pipit+-+Blyths+918A9695+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Blyth's pipit.</b> Could be mistaken for the paddyfield pipit,</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">but identifiable by the all white lores<br />(the areas between the eye and the base of the bill).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58nGlE7KHOh0yjO8hclrIkLEvlQoJBZo8p6DZ8yvmSlwrsjsMNfy4tfup7SQmvnrd1Q2mRfX_GZiNs4KAuKrD4_gGEbE6JKtex6S8sRvKaV4K0tkiNH7uFIRA0Cw3qa1g-Hd2TPWr6nk/s1600/Sparrowlark+-+Ashy-crowned+918A9706+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj58nGlE7KHOh0yjO8hclrIkLEvlQoJBZo8p6DZ8yvmSlwrsjsMNfy4tfup7SQmvnrd1Q2mRfX_GZiNs4KAuKrD4_gGEbE6JKtex6S8sRvKaV4K0tkiNH7uFIRA0Cw3qa1g-Hd2TPWr6nk/s1600/Sparrowlark+-+Ashy-crowned+918A9706+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Ashy-crowned sparrowlark.</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKy00OY8aDd6RwfIGSu2qjPL7iKpwI7007DzMeqmrnMqbHdhTdUf8skdyGtrJB1S2eKKTPDujEzHhk84FocX5iX8Qn64i4AiXTkXD-vwGHegYjWHZiQixDZkWhAGt2HSxsZv1JgV7d0cw/s1600/Tern+-+Little+918A9770+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKy00OY8aDd6RwfIGSu2qjPL7iKpwI7007DzMeqmrnMqbHdhTdUf8skdyGtrJB1S2eKKTPDujEzHhk84FocX5iX8Qn64i4AiXTkXD-vwGHegYjWHZiQixDZkWhAGt2HSxsZv1JgV7d0cw/s1600/Tern+-+Little+918A9770+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Little tern</b> - over the shores of the Indian Ocean</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvim5CRQGuVtyGLkXxwPF6cVTi0yTymuQHnjLUzDr0POzOg2o6aJOuZIkui5l0d_4ENQOzRqeye9UhmrHcG94DzTi1rHBYASHT1rNUy4D73RdQaXTw5-I1-v2uUmXfyjBb_MatUKgK9A0/s1600/Heron+-+Striated+918A9829+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvim5CRQGuVtyGLkXxwPF6cVTi0yTymuQHnjLUzDr0POzOg2o6aJOuZIkui5l0d_4ENQOzRqeye9UhmrHcG94DzTi1rHBYASHT1rNUy4D73RdQaXTw5-I1-v2uUmXfyjBb_MatUKgK9A0/s1600/Heron+-+Striated+918A9829+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Striated (also Green) heron</b> at dusk.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We wandered around until the sun set, then heading back to the hotel, the relatively luxurious Centauria (no. 3 on the <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-1.html#slmap" target="_blank">map</a>), with air-conditioning! These Indian scops-owls were in a tree in the hotel car-park.</span></span><br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdj6iuSek8OJpifAl3nlDUrblgBsHAyV9RpP7J3ImTD862gVUddgcFbiCsgMjYqX6hf3vSU54yPdTZlE5AHKUbGr6aMlTgNDLWZJJlUKAmMhh12s2a-fzmzRiKK9kWEN9x0kJLsVJ3-pg/s1600/Scops-owl+-+Indian+918A9478+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdj6iuSek8OJpifAl3nlDUrblgBsHAyV9RpP7J3ImTD862gVUddgcFbiCsgMjYqX6hf3vSU54yPdTZlE5AHKUbGr6aMlTgNDLWZJJlUKAmMhh12s2a-fzmzRiKK9kWEN9x0kJLsVJ3-pg/s1600/Scops-owl+-+Indian+918A9478+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indian scops-owls</b> roosting in a tree in the hotel car-park.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">I found a bemused pigeon hiding in the artistic lights of the first floor.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTP-pdHyMxOt000VVw437fRbcvUKC1STEwQ1PpD0PC_NK-EJ_NjVlM3AvS8NlVBYoAHwX4d7pZ6kcsEWd-o5Xri5bOhio_gGPR8_Y2C6YHDxmAzFcl1L0h4KQFksV3wMWo2qi3D37RiQ/s1600/Pigeon+in+posh+hotel+light+IMG_8957.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisTP-pdHyMxOt000VVw437fRbcvUKC1STEwQ1PpD0PC_NK-EJ_NjVlM3AvS8NlVBYoAHwX4d7pZ6kcsEWd-o5Xri5bOhio_gGPR8_Y2C6YHDxmAzFcl1L0h4KQFksV3wMWo2qi3D37RiQ/s1600/Pigeon+in+posh+hotel+light+IMG_8957.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A <b>feral pigeon</b> with good taste in accommodation!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv94f2oDxtsI6nj_hT0jRBi24-GW-eIgQsxYjKJmFecZxH-I63ClDthnZCQF2KOj3wagWqpRjSQ7tJ-8mC4nWpcE5bJvVugk5sEpRp9-QBpueb13uQirYfQtp4_n5ynicnA_DSUotUzK0/s1600/Pigeon+in+posh+hotel+light+IMG_8958.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgv94f2oDxtsI6nj_hT0jRBi24-GW-eIgQsxYjKJmFecZxH-I63ClDthnZCQF2KOj3wagWqpRjSQ7tJ-8mC4nWpcE5bJvVugk5sEpRp9-QBpueb13uQirYfQtp4_n5ynicnA_DSUotUzK0/s640/Pigeon+in+posh+hotel+light+IMG_8958.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We were up early for a bird safari in Udawalawa National Park (no. 6 on the <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-1.html#slmap" target="_blank">map</a>). </span></span><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfgu_WyiUzb7wGszi3Yerd5A0M5vs1xPuRK5v-ooC9Aox2lPKaGJ7NvQ9zJq0jGal1CF4VjmSbj1jUbycOcmfKChyphenhyphenwDxRVIMkIMwBzcJf1ev1zhdjy2ImgBfY18eUmdtrP-UAkBEzk1c/s1600/Udawalawa+sign+IMG_8965.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCfgu_WyiUzb7wGszi3Yerd5A0M5vs1xPuRK5v-ooC9Aox2lPKaGJ7NvQ9zJq0jGal1CF4VjmSbj1jUbycOcmfKChyphenhyphenwDxRVIMkIMwBzcJf1ev1zhdjy2ImgBfY18eUmdtrP-UAkBEzk1c/s640/Udawalawa+sign+IMG_8965.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><br /></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyaZsFUzaFYXldhR3gm6CPz1mtmDMS60ITbnnHZ8yGuwNbh5fn7BwJi5JPeSnFKoQGkSxQa88aa8SaSunZ7odjEO9KkHsOG650UQ__Chc8uyn1ExWOSeTIlcLc-BujKmkuU2CmucqHvI/s1600/Sri+Lankan+writing+IMG_8901.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVyaZsFUzaFYXldhR3gm6CPz1mtmDMS60ITbnnHZ8yGuwNbh5fn7BwJi5JPeSnFKoQGkSxQa88aa8SaSunZ7odjEO9KkHsOG650UQ__Chc8uyn1ExWOSeTIlcLc-BujKmkuU2CmucqHvI/s1600/Sri+Lankan+writing+IMG_8901.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Sri Lankan writing is really curvy and loopy as seen above.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Udawalawa was really enjoyable and we were able to see many species close at hand. We also saw elephants, monkeys and mongeese. Unlike in some countries (eg. Kenya) the monkeys in Sri Lanka kept a respectable distance between you and them. They were not a nuisance at all.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguEx2c03emE5RBVtWam8sLKd9xo64770GkflCDsQ70wIJsDOzLDIcsZJZ1vWLGQaMujZWXPdWfZ4lmDm8gyK0FLl6iZ0beKRZYGa_MN3BivrmzCt1MdzAe0e3jNKApnLEyjJ99PhvBx0/s1600/Asian+elephant+IMG_8977.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiguEx2c03emE5RBVtWam8sLKd9xo64770GkflCDsQ70wIJsDOzLDIcsZJZ1vWLGQaMujZWXPdWfZ4lmDm8gyK0FLl6iZ0beKRZYGa_MN3BivrmzCt1MdzAe0e3jNKApnLEyjJ99PhvBx0/s1600/Asian+elephant+IMG_8977.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Asian elephant</b>. Although it looks like it has a lump<br />on its front leg, it seemed fine when it moved.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEQURbODNA67jHmmHCs7QgxWBUVb6ucYg-zkz_dYOSdzUCCq7Kc4nL1HpHYCXcOXucDvP5IBYl6Go2V_V2BUuL6iNT6rtX124J2q5d3MtMgpXXrB_ECnDOkdoKfCTmqGi2b6DDbiiFe0/s1600/Kite+-+Black-winged+918A9861+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLEQURbODNA67jHmmHCs7QgxWBUVb6ucYg-zkz_dYOSdzUCCq7Kc4nL1HpHYCXcOXucDvP5IBYl6Go2V_V2BUuL6iNT6rtX124J2q5d3MtMgpXXrB_ECnDOkdoKfCTmqGi2b6DDbiiFe0/s1600/Kite+-+Black-winged+918A9861+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Black shouldered kite</b>. Those red staring eyes are eerie!</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4g2swud_aFdYSWQiI2bBCrZfxYxPODY4YUUDHTt0PabzwvGKJgDMd9Z4U0nh89c94IasmqASyf0V5HqXU82VG1dgxIM0AKmqUebPimZHQ98MhXthOpOJ85Qy9dqB81qqi0nvo8mr1Wk/s1600/Prinia+-+Ashy+918A9876+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4g2swud_aFdYSWQiI2bBCrZfxYxPODY4YUUDHTt0PabzwvGKJgDMd9Z4U0nh89c94IasmqASyf0V5HqXU82VG1dgxIM0AKmqUebPimZHQ98MhXthOpOJ85Qy9dqB81qqi0nvo8mr1Wk/s1600/Prinia+-+Ashy+918A9876+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Ashy prinia</b> in the early morning glow.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0FYwsgzTSUoGpKMKK1vULHDIlmRpphdfqfvnZLtvho_5-oiSJ7eUcLUDVdHG2N-m8S3399YoeI8B64BAgAjAcc6We-7Qc-Y2Qg1e9CB0F_INpt-h0WEM6dpAJ1pa4ZlAviTS3YsTKIc/s1600/Bee-eater+-+Blu-tailed+918A9906+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp0FYwsgzTSUoGpKMKK1vULHDIlmRpphdfqfvnZLtvho_5-oiSJ7eUcLUDVdHG2N-m8S3399YoeI8B64BAgAjAcc6We-7Qc-Y2Qg1e9CB0F_INpt-h0WEM6dpAJ1pa4ZlAviTS3YsTKIc/s1600/Bee-eater+-+Blu-tailed+918A9906+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Blue-tailed bee-eater.</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOeuua4vnGjFviNq0iN4HPuKVBHDecdul7CwsnWovWlQmvLnfbCpzudXMhdD8pYvzRrFpmlVSBFK6oQLvXiOm-A1w1jAabgaf0rT-SYaQ1ImUk88M0ef_ZNczEb-fFJioTsjV9Gwhfzc/s1600/Babbler+-+Yellow-eyed+918A9928+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrOeuua4vnGjFviNq0iN4HPuKVBHDecdul7CwsnWovWlQmvLnfbCpzudXMhdD8pYvzRrFpmlVSBFK6oQLvXiOm-A1w1jAabgaf0rT-SYaQ1ImUk88M0ef_ZNczEb-fFJioTsjV9Gwhfzc/s1600/Babbler+-+Yellow-eyed+918A9928+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Yellow-eyed babbler.</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_LVKoCT-tBwPm96hIAl7dCPmvWgFv-CGt2Xcs1noNTZ6c03nBNW3x5PPJRKiNwAJoXumP8hFBGS57hpg6g5gz0uZkRFlk8izbtFyTKX-XPqdDLgmv3pxJDpGiZwt_ttaE0hnbG5nDLs/s1600/Parakeet+-+Rose-ringed+918A9939+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho_LVKoCT-tBwPm96hIAl7dCPmvWgFv-CGt2Xcs1noNTZ6c03nBNW3x5PPJRKiNwAJoXumP8hFBGS57hpg6g5gz0uZkRFlk8izbtFyTKX-XPqdDLgmv3pxJDpGiZwt_ttaE0hnbG5nDLs/s1600/Parakeet+-+Rose-ringed+918A9939+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Rose-ringed parakeet</b>. Yes, the same species we have in the South East.<br />Compare with <b>Alexandrine parakeet</b> below.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZpvWMmJF2VORRYDtLIhRc8Y86EhwOK4YXkqMpQJewirYSPnSRgUHInXMvSBKp3MZntMWm2hxCUiBzmJPKfbvQsub1NvzZuXNUPXV1q-5tDYlK4rY3Zf7WK7rvI54XZYszD4vm6bdkQk/s1600/Parakeet+-+Alexandrine+918A0243+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxZpvWMmJF2VORRYDtLIhRc8Y86EhwOK4YXkqMpQJewirYSPnSRgUHInXMvSBKp3MZntMWm2hxCUiBzmJPKfbvQsub1NvzZuXNUPXV1q-5tDYlK4rY3Zf7WK7rvI54XZYszD4vm6bdkQk/s1600/Parakeet+-+Alexandrine+918A0243+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Alexandrine parakeet</b>. Note the pink shoulder patch (absent on Rose-ringed).</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLB03WbluGig3jWg654rvlbYzU3nNysmZDil4VsmYDihgSkVepKxe4jkK90ShuCXJn1xjwX2YdeEAE_h7y9dhMNCBMhhSJ7oE0Kv90w-qcV8JHimX8yMNurMGLPRWKBseATlx3HmoS3o/s1600/Bee-eater+-+Green+918A9983+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYLB03WbluGig3jWg654rvlbYzU3nNysmZDil4VsmYDihgSkVepKxe4jkK90ShuCXJn1xjwX2YdeEAE_h7y9dhMNCBMhhSJ7oE0Kv90w-qcV8JHimX8yMNurMGLPRWKBseATlx3HmoS3o/s1600/Bee-eater+-+Green+918A9983+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Green bee-eater.</b> Also known as the little green bee-eater.<br />You just can't have too many photos of bee-eaters.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxz4HS86bEW1pUwGPMrsuHMnprgnMP899e-le8xzyv1J4lk4iAfICNQIky8025z74kpgFSxnDnTHA_TjQzR8FsL3SlpuCtZi2t5nLj_65SkIQ7psBJeUabPT_yK9m6y0saG7mKDnYwbU/s1600/Hawk-eagle+-+Crested+918A0042+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTxz4HS86bEW1pUwGPMrsuHMnprgnMP899e-le8xzyv1J4lk4iAfICNQIky8025z74kpgFSxnDnTHA_TjQzR8FsL3SlpuCtZi2t5nLj_65SkIQ7psBJeUabPT_yK9m6y0saG7mKDnYwbU/s1600/Hawk-eagle+-+Crested+918A0042+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Crested Hawk-eagle</b> (aka Changeable Hawk-eagle).<br />This is the pale morph (pale version).</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjMr0AG0RO7_68LsRc8ghU6bXrF99mZQ752y7WkHDn68L0hoCzPIPHQTo3c5Jmsz-JjHqQOZtUVLdk-X6R_8bn5VzQzk2U2sdShNiJR7JWVz9VpI52RGl74ueGwweNY6LL524VW-lxmE/s1600/Iora+-+Marshalls+918A0060+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTjMr0AG0RO7_68LsRc8ghU6bXrF99mZQ752y7WkHDn68L0hoCzPIPHQTo3c5Jmsz-JjHqQOZtUVLdk-X6R_8bn5VzQzk2U2sdShNiJR7JWVz9VpI52RGl74ueGwweNY6LL524VW-lxmE/s1600/Iora+-+Marshalls+918A0060+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Marshall's iora. </b></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDE_GxX_pRyfwv3JDUKNAEKO124YFbbuO1jvtO7udRjoxE5jywPgBZuW8dUW-bdloIAWiHMYAZya8CDcAmGYbrGTFmWtRy_V6hFQ2jrVYp0ZG-Vs-JVUDGjwajvAtUNLqO3DnKlAn4Ho/s1600/Malkoha+-+Blue-faced+918A0071+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEDE_GxX_pRyfwv3JDUKNAEKO124YFbbuO1jvtO7udRjoxE5jywPgBZuW8dUW-bdloIAWiHMYAZya8CDcAmGYbrGTFmWtRy_V6hFQ2jrVYp0ZG-Vs-JVUDGjwajvAtUNLqO3DnKlAn4Ho/s1600/Malkoha+-+Blue-faced+918A0071+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Blue-faced malkoha</b>. Rather distant I'm afraid, and we saw it only once.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09hT1X8ZZ6RU1AQt-wDzyYZEhsrFMCD-aI0h1bSU3pAy5Si0Euyi_8uDED9T-tAoOpZT_B88ZrfopvWwq2GiBbcAJV0GLiDkc5yeP23aa7dnupldsnKJeaQwndSHauSZaT0tqFyjXn_M/s1600/Pigeon+-+Orange-breasted+918A0081+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj09hT1X8ZZ6RU1AQt-wDzyYZEhsrFMCD-aI0h1bSU3pAy5Si0Euyi_8uDED9T-tAoOpZT_B88ZrfopvWwq2GiBbcAJV0GLiDkc5yeP23aa7dnupldsnKJeaQwndSHauSZaT0tqFyjXn_M/s1600/Pigeon+-+Orange-breasted+918A0081+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Orange-breasted pigeon</b>. Did I tell you I quite like pigeons?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoxbgh19WOcllnvaAqBTk3Loa780_XlrkzMLdXnHEEt6DLQkvO888iSdaF6SgYs3QikM0VXRl7VQXP-RI96qSS0MJUOZQ3AXGNWDs7UiyvVSvRdZLKaT1JC2mlcvB7EuVsEdOY2G2EpE/s1600/Hornbill+-+Malabar+pied+918A0126+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWoxbgh19WOcllnvaAqBTk3Loa780_XlrkzMLdXnHEEt6DLQkvO888iSdaF6SgYs3QikM0VXRl7VQXP-RI96qSS0MJUOZQ3AXGNWDs7UiyvVSvRdZLKaT1JC2mlcvB7EuVsEdOY2G2EpE/s1600/Hornbill+-+Malabar+pied+918A0126+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Malabar pied hornbills.</b></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HR28bsfyMt8QXwKO6qqTHv4ZpF8EBchzJUPp2_b355BUi28PCdpBOtoowJ2IFVgUUohRngvR1viNe4G4LiVNDz3vHL9uA_dORw5DAnIdac-EpS47HcYGSOWeCNpl0AoWA1ZuK-4VdeY/s1600/Hawk-eagle+-+Crested+918A0163+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1HR28bsfyMt8QXwKO6qqTHv4ZpF8EBchzJUPp2_b355BUi28PCdpBOtoowJ2IFVgUUohRngvR1viNe4G4LiVNDz3vHL9uA_dORw5DAnIdac-EpS47HcYGSOWeCNpl0AoWA1ZuK-4VdeY/s1600/Hawk-eagle+-+Crested+918A0163+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Crested Hawk-eagle</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> (aka Changeable Hawk-eagle).</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the dark morph.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgDaJyfpQW854mS24tvLkyEHFlk1s9t27JbJig9EVPKbXVtlh3HcvUI9iFXTFEfYAaK6FzrAgQX7LepIJDw9_gSi0wyzkMitM4MQ9B4BD8TuSmRldao2f42r7P8Jr99umXlZSYAJ0QZg/s1600/Heron+-+Grey+918A0199+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCgDaJyfpQW854mS24tvLkyEHFlk1s9t27JbJig9EVPKbXVtlh3HcvUI9iFXTFEfYAaK6FzrAgQX7LepIJDw9_gSi0wyzkMitM4MQ9B4BD8TuSmRldao2f42r7P8Jr99umXlZSYAJ0QZg/s1600/Heron+-+Grey+918A0199+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Grey heron</b>. Our only native heron. They get all over the world.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrCerI0iXefbKS3PZABEhcKHS7MnSCKufNYz6jwaMsF67tmzoOdqk5WMqJ8ISPULtwQqidaZWcFH7TWo-a6038HggofVJxf2RYGLDXTwndxH2xYa1uWGLSQpW20n3ZxVQl9QiDkols6M/s1600/Darter+-+Oriental+918A0215+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgsrCerI0iXefbKS3PZABEhcKHS7MnSCKufNYz6jwaMsF67tmzoOdqk5WMqJ8ISPULtwQqidaZWcFH7TWo-a6038HggofVJxf2RYGLDXTwndxH2xYa1uWGLSQpW20n3ZxVQl9QiDkols6M/s1600/Darter+-+Oriental+918A0215+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Oriental darter.</b><br />This is the oriental equivalent of the Anhinga in the Americas.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4m0UGuaMPzmfzjESs3Bzkqrhbk7BySPb7PunH0Jl8jj92_XSKaQ-LA1WGecLy74F9sO1Vnb2WQXE1PvY7270uvDTU0FEEKlWKLOeyIlRswMWoGBEHCmqiFzZxJtLJ3K74aaViNtErj2g/s1600/Adjutant+-+Lesser+918A0223+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4m0UGuaMPzmfzjESs3Bzkqrhbk7BySPb7PunH0Jl8jj92_XSKaQ-LA1WGecLy74F9sO1Vnb2WQXE1PvY7270uvDTU0FEEKlWKLOeyIlRswMWoGBEHCmqiFzZxJtLJ3K74aaViNtErj2g/s1600/Adjutant+-+Lesser+918A0223+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Lesser adjutant.</b> A kind of stork. I agree, it's ugly! His mother loves him.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV76EYduwlopfdMzz3XWk0gDPewvTWzQUCiq0gDSLO-RwPdkrkB1xXqam7XxLqFQCKmfA16sMVPoJ-o_RPTop7pYTUUB-ywtlh56kWZfM-DuBxL3jXyOXj5ifHBsog4kYGZtlcNH55KRQ/s1600/Crow+-+Indian+918A0270+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV76EYduwlopfdMzz3XWk0gDPewvTWzQUCiq0gDSLO-RwPdkrkB1xXqam7XxLqFQCKmfA16sMVPoJ-o_RPTop7pYTUUB-ywtlh56kWZfM-DuBxL3jXyOXj5ifHBsog4kYGZtlcNH55KRQ/s1600/Crow+-+Indian+918A0270+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indian crow.</b> Is it just a crow you ask?<br />Well, it does have a very large bill. Larger than our European crow.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCap_tTdjPGW_c1wYaVxNYT9yh7-AFV6FJarjjnO3ZcniVY7LKm749TAAgfeyVZJKM0C7-isY4BibF0Gh5mX96LWKLJaYcrwFv-Xba7TncU8ippWL6i2eZ0LBAJIgySOrIMhQ0QY9lW6c/s1600/Kingfisher+-+Common+918A0278+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCap_tTdjPGW_c1wYaVxNYT9yh7-AFV6FJarjjnO3ZcniVY7LKm749TAAgfeyVZJKM0C7-isY4BibF0Gh5mX96LWKLJaYcrwFv-Xba7TncU8ippWL6i2eZ0LBAJIgySOrIMhQ0QY9lW6c/s1600/Kingfisher+-+Common+918A0278+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Common kingfishers.</b> They won't hurt each other.<br />It's just posturing. Probably bickering over a woman.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1HdbhTdk_BeaN98gSLv-Krv3IoBNl5at33ee0H8yRnUSKS9PuwLRWxHdsvVxH4A47apLtFrH3445pj_JjiGNEBxfKhd1EFwG6uwK24w6ZT37dZ_b37MJo1PLwkx-Ozi14hzioCc_-co/s1600/Sandpiper+-+Marsh+918A0305+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgg1HdbhTdk_BeaN98gSLv-Krv3IoBNl5at33ee0H8yRnUSKS9PuwLRWxHdsvVxH4A47apLtFrH3445pj_JjiGNEBxfKhd1EFwG6uwK24w6ZT37dZ_b37MJo1PLwkx-Ozi14hzioCc_-co/s1600/Sandpiper+-+Marsh+918A0305+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Marsh sandpiper</b>, left, and <b>Indian pond-heron</b>, right.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Vyl9czNp_6xpg3bYky78jNkyD-O4Rsg9chq71HfBFRJNJZifz_SC7evOL0OSpy3OXDaE42YmOI1rtfnS1FZgHUooSRNo9DD8H5UHoxvJnPBZZ9b5Xx-u8pOvb_qivVUmQXS0RbbJD-k/s1600/Eagle+-+Booted+pale+morph+918A0396+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1Vyl9czNp_6xpg3bYky78jNkyD-O4Rsg9chq71HfBFRJNJZifz_SC7evOL0OSpy3OXDaE42YmOI1rtfnS1FZgHUooSRNo9DD8H5UHoxvJnPBZZ9b5Xx-u8pOvb_qivVUmQXS0RbbJD-k/s1600/Eagle+-+Booted+pale+morph+918A0396+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Booted eagle</b> - pale morph.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4I1xlDxTqr8HLezq4kk0_5hcKLJVwdwGpDVLcxkO6FsPwuO4XymtZ0UmVI2htXHueioA0r-muxtEi-UHbI49meltzudpvKyl-15iMdKNU8yuLaOmWk2Q18qOJ2yd4z0_2Mj34_b3_5bs/s1600/Roller+-+Indian+918A0429+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4I1xlDxTqr8HLezq4kk0_5hcKLJVwdwGpDVLcxkO6FsPwuO4XymtZ0UmVI2htXHueioA0r-muxtEi-UHbI49meltzudpvKyl-15iMdKNU8yuLaOmWk2Q18qOJ2yd4z0_2Mj34_b3_5bs/s1600/Roller+-+Indian+918A0429+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indian roller.</b> This bird is even more handsome in flight.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbrsMvjWoXt7zwmDkSgjPsrZBnVJ3hmdENV_DIYYIbucP6actEnI6ddkrApb8qrnG_LmXxoNiVEjOG3f6C5rQxyX4Ve6Psjpxht15lhZPnoCaGqDdntsnfG5aUicfWfD7CD4BT7XWHSI/s1600/Serpent-eagle+-+Crested+918A0504+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbrsMvjWoXt7zwmDkSgjPsrZBnVJ3hmdENV_DIYYIbucP6actEnI6ddkrApb8qrnG_LmXxoNiVEjOG3f6C5rQxyX4Ve6Psjpxht15lhZPnoCaGqDdntsnfG5aUicfWfD7CD4BT7XWHSI/s1600/Serpent-eagle+-+Crested+918A0504+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Crested serpent-eagle.</b></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6rMy5YcPvNpEdv4BIswms29A0nrK9uZtOEHtBs1lnKT0Wprhpf-xjONFanXMBxbyEXqVq4D9WHApAbhpLn69FNayHqg0DJJFAdoBvMunaLt_sTi5kkkzYsuu6TpbUCX60PBzRtErM_8/s1600/Snipe+-+Painted+918A0553+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhI6rMy5YcPvNpEdv4BIswms29A0nrK9uZtOEHtBs1lnKT0Wprhpf-xjONFanXMBxbyEXqVq4D9WHApAbhpLn69FNayHqg0DJJFAdoBvMunaLt_sTi5kkkzYsuu6TpbUCX60PBzRtErM_8/s1600/Snipe+-+Painted+918A0553+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Painted snipe.</b> Distant, but nice to see.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd36Vi0LmEesvCE8FxQoX3o5xTTscj8aosBANtQytFpkVbipyHTK-5W6lMGar6cb5Eb4STJCDsygf_5WujwOVcIDD5MhwEWkTyJ6NOlq_WsVlDPAm53VL8SoAB2qR_Po0pBOuwM2vk9-Q/s1600/Lapwing+-+Red-wattled+918A0587+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgd36Vi0LmEesvCE8FxQoX3o5xTTscj8aosBANtQytFpkVbipyHTK-5W6lMGar6cb5Eb4STJCDsygf_5WujwOVcIDD5MhwEWkTyJ6NOlq_WsVlDPAm53VL8SoAB2qR_Po0pBOuwM2vk9-Q/s1600/Lapwing+-+Red-wattled+918A0587+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Red-wattled lapwing</b>. Compare with the <b>Yellow-wattled lapwing</b> above.</span></td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBBP3zCzG4P9lM5P0dtQXax9IIBavUWua44R49fMD-QVZlYcToNvd8NeUvT2QRd6h3Y40APymMpfNkstfqx2kL3Ifv3flTL7xUL-4obl04g-B_BkImGCs55NoUBxiRkMDRTdxqeYOWd0/s1600/Tharanga+David+Alan+Henry+Anne+IMG_8962.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGBBP3zCzG4P9lM5P0dtQXax9IIBavUWua44R49fMD-QVZlYcToNvd8NeUvT2QRd6h3Y40APymMpfNkstfqx2kL3Ifv3flTL7xUL-4obl04g-B_BkImGCs55NoUBxiRkMDRTdxqeYOWd0/s1600/Tharanga+David+Alan+Henry+Anne+IMG_8962.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Typical safari vehicle for the national parks.<br />In it are Tharanga, David, Alan, henry and Anne.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;">Tissamaharama</span></b><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">After lunch, we travelled to our next hotel, the Priyankara, in Tissamaharama (No. 5 on the <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-1.html#slmap" target="_blank">map</a>), where we stayed for 3 nights. There was time to have some clothes washed and ironed, and time to relax in the pool in the heat of the day when bird activity was low. On the fence near the pool we could still see white-breasted kingfishers, blue-tailed bee-eaters, green bee-eaters, white-breasted waterhens, etc. whilst relaxing in the soothing water.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekBJdlATfx-v4PukFJZn86SRvWf01CYvRYWyI1uBtVlfbtVT1I_HEwfJWNXgOTWEoWoMTxB9fQgu-46EnvWH53IVQfOcKeFTcAFjUcIzLhx551PKT0ofOJ9iLGC_hpVfHHU50OkMpbJs/s1600/Phil+swimming+IMG_8979.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjekBJdlATfx-v4PukFJZn86SRvWf01CYvRYWyI1uBtVlfbtVT1I_HEwfJWNXgOTWEoWoMTxB9fQgu-46EnvWH53IVQfOcKeFTcAFjUcIzLhx551PKT0ofOJ9iLGC_hpVfHHU50OkMpbJs/s640/Phil+swimming+IMG_8979.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the pool at the <span style="text-align: start;">Priyankara hotel.</span></span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">From this base, we enjoyed two more bird safaris, to Bundala (no. 7 on the map) and Yala (no. 8 on the <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-1.html#slmap" target="_blank">map</a>) National Parks. I felt sorry for those tourists who raced around the park, interested only in looking for leopards. Such sightings are rare as the parks are huge and there are enormous areas that are not accessible to the public anyway. The leopards probably hang out mainly in those areas.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We, on the other hand, took our time and saw so much more. We stopped for lunch by a huge lake under the shade of a tree and enjoyed the sight of hundreds of birds.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">As it happened, some of our group did see a leopard as it dashed across the track at dusk just as we were leaving. I didn’t!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkllGA1cii5LVEfpsnjBgm4rRBPAI49E0-Xj7dcbxqqAinSzWFhdMAyOdSHLcYSYwnJ816eYykOChKqsqPAS3y83i335lRV8W5UCWCnZfulTAsYsffSsldKKVsT0b1XJjzcKTIzjhKJo/s1600/Peacock+in+tree+IMG_8995.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIkllGA1cii5LVEfpsnjBgm4rRBPAI49E0-Xj7dcbxqqAinSzWFhdMAyOdSHLcYSYwnJ816eYykOChKqsqPAS3y83i335lRV8W5UCWCnZfulTAsYsffSsldKKVsT0b1XJjzcKTIzjhKJo/s1600/Peacock+in+tree+IMG_8995.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indian peafowl.</b> You see, peacocks can actually fly, at least the wild ones.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigETMeZPSbhAaiiwBaiL2XZYcPoP05eQO4wriGVqMQnl-tD7gFUt4lM40kNdrEp7lDZvdbfeVhfj3BkR-ScoKi4GU-RA4BGo6_nvAMYhcLLRTDbI8X1YOeBGUuZ_tGhxjLrz983jZYLpI/s1600/Peacock+displaying+IMG_8999.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigETMeZPSbhAaiiwBaiL2XZYcPoP05eQO4wriGVqMQnl-tD7gFUt4lM40kNdrEp7lDZvdbfeVhfj3BkR-ScoKi4GU-RA4BGo6_nvAMYhcLLRTDbI8X1YOeBGUuZ_tGhxjLrz983jZYLpI/s1600/Peacock+displaying+IMG_8999.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Peacock</b> displaying. He's not showing off to a pea-hen though.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Instead, it's for the white-breasted waterhen in the foreground, right.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some males will go for anything in a skirt!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvZy3-Wn4wtIitziluBLypWXQPs16l1kR-4mb2suF8ZY30xfnbD-g8CEUcRK_QUMWVM5ai16bmMbKHugJPDnkbSQc21sz3fKReKYlG7Y6qPDECvhBAW2KIE8PzsgOFJZTQm-y32Tl0HQ/s1600/Yala+by+Indian+ocean+IMG_9030.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAvZy3-Wn4wtIitziluBLypWXQPs16l1kR-4mb2suF8ZY30xfnbD-g8CEUcRK_QUMWVM5ai16bmMbKHugJPDnkbSQc21sz3fKReKYlG7Y6qPDECvhBAW2KIE8PzsgOFJZTQm-y32Tl0HQ/s1600/Yala+by+Indian+ocean+IMG_9030.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Indian Ocean from Yala National Park.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_y9dEGqT1Rg8gHzCOGvkcs-3iXdZvk5Yrh1bUGoQXGSPTRsf4LH3_X3e7xaHLklv0ZFMLVVckzVoOHBXZrNLhlWwCSQWeTZ1XnS6YmpIsiGnDOY-OQV33MX7Uvkm5yuhiYiFT4uxvt1w/s1600/Kingfisher+-+White-breasted+918A0622+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_y9dEGqT1Rg8gHzCOGvkcs-3iXdZvk5Yrh1bUGoQXGSPTRsf4LH3_X3e7xaHLklv0ZFMLVVckzVoOHBXZrNLhlWwCSQWeTZ1XnS6YmpIsiGnDOY-OQV33MX7Uvkm5yuhiYiFT4uxvt1w/s1600/Kingfisher+-+White-breasted+918A0622+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>White-breasted kingfisher.</b> This one was on the fence by the pool.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtQQGaCq7TWY1NvqHpSI-JLNSYD2AODTXEnyqAorsGEcfvmM99tRg4zjbEdbgDXephrzfiIdW5N774l09pPLewXsLZU14MXulA78SKSnYmm7RopmWtruAJoMbbwIx3TCjly4WVKApsq0/s1600/Egret+-+Cattle+918A0776+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtQQGaCq7TWY1NvqHpSI-JLNSYD2AODTXEnyqAorsGEcfvmM99tRg4zjbEdbgDXephrzfiIdW5N774l09pPLewXsLZU14MXulA78SKSnYmm7RopmWtruAJoMbbwIx3TCjly4WVKApsq0/s1600/Egret+-+Cattle+918A0776+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Cattle egrets</b> aren't called that for nothing! As the cow moves through the grass<br />it disturbs insects and other creatures that the egrets eat.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqC5wSUmjXeXPrmjVLx6T6FMAy_uvLPj2ABapZLAGmxNgpXLG7_5NyvoAhPzUlht2T2QIFWJ_CLdbMRgaI4rZFlS7o9eyptB2u8sn8b6-UWf4b05jIO-GQKL4N3Gt1_sDY9vRWumBCPLw/s1600/Kite+-+Brahminy+918A0832A+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqC5wSUmjXeXPrmjVLx6T6FMAy_uvLPj2ABapZLAGmxNgpXLG7_5NyvoAhPzUlht2T2QIFWJ_CLdbMRgaI4rZFlS7o9eyptB2u8sn8b6-UWf4b05jIO-GQKL4N3Gt1_sDY9vRWumBCPLw/s1600/Kite+-+Brahminy+918A0832A+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Brahminy kite</b>. Easy to identify with its rufous colour and white breast.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0MEXna_LO-UUKEVWeZcnY4NFP3NedH6Lj49APemKsQTpr5rVffHIRbistceoZOU0dVXiOcRCXA_H1a8_mqeKccHTtjiovqI3ivdt3PiiJJ7hp-Ubtrjz7t55H91K0ohuJFkiu5IeclY/s1600/Heron+-+Purple+918A0880+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhU0MEXna_LO-UUKEVWeZcnY4NFP3NedH6Lj49APemKsQTpr5rVffHIRbistceoZOU0dVXiOcRCXA_H1a8_mqeKccHTtjiovqI3ivdt3PiiJJ7hp-Ubtrjz7t55H91K0ohuJFkiu5IeclY/s1600/Heron+-+Purple+918A0880+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Purple heron</b>. Larger than our grey heron.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsWbrw6Edqs3I5rH8C1OmV1ZdqdKiVXFJGLP0BlIsUL-FZFLTOUkA3uqedflFxlenTxbG_PKMEDRULp3ZJ9CvkjbxCjNW6ILuxwZPOHvVduZ2MbwZVJemr4oSGua9kzgDN_OcAdYJI1s/s1600/Swamphen+-+Grey-headed+918A0965+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimsWbrw6Edqs3I5rH8C1OmV1ZdqdKiVXFJGLP0BlIsUL-FZFLTOUkA3uqedflFxlenTxbG_PKMEDRULp3ZJ9CvkjbxCjNW6ILuxwZPOHvVduZ2MbwZVJemr4oSGua9kzgDN_OcAdYJI1s/s1600/Swamphen+-+Grey-headed+918A0965+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Grey-headed swamphen</b>. OK, not the most attractive water bird on the planet!</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjab7N0oX66DVrvwIjkOKiZO1ivwW9itPDbdEP-9eoGsHPw07E7Vrif7TKjB1YSYyFZi9PxvrIwgdmNffkFLdeLRLdZTlqPJ6B2q5jWu80GwgKcmN-iG7d5DuhGKa5ts8sWlzoLujb2yeI/s1600/Woodpecker+-+Yellow-crowned+918A1105+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjab7N0oX66DVrvwIjkOKiZO1ivwW9itPDbdEP-9eoGsHPw07E7Vrif7TKjB1YSYyFZi9PxvrIwgdmNffkFLdeLRLdZTlqPJ6B2q5jWu80GwgKcmN-iG7d5DuhGKa5ts8sWlzoLujb2yeI/s1600/Woodpecker+-+Yellow-crowned+918A1105+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Yellow-crowned woodpeckers.</b> Female, left. Male, right.</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoslJb9a1o9OPKPDCNFYBlTp_Shyphenhyphen3ujPkGKtl4jNUDdAcnrdOA7oVDUMRSppCyFBjiABpz_bwC_kJA9wBc-DR8ETMv17lUwqvT8JvUaZFaqQBVV0G0nOpAObeHTLipWq8ZLwG8Uf4wDl0/s1600/Gull+-+Grey-headed+918A1142+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoslJb9a1o9OPKPDCNFYBlTp_Shyphenhyphen3ujPkGKtl4jNUDdAcnrdOA7oVDUMRSppCyFBjiABpz_bwC_kJA9wBc-DR8ETMv17lUwqvT8JvUaZFaqQBVV0G0nOpAObeHTLipWq8ZLwG8Uf4wDl0/s1600/Gull+-+Grey-headed+918A1142+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Brown-headed gull</b>. Very like our black-headed gull.<br />The only obvious difference is that this one has a pale eye (dark on the black-headed).</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMfaOj4-oA4cmi_KYdnxwuUtly8MsZjvHS9iR0feMANAsead08gW9FxYfGLa16wsvFqbM8CmZq561xZbwWnJYcrTvU3qcowZaWLvRBHU6qYtZR2PyxRiBsDx3QnwlFZHePC1cbI_3bHw/s1600/Prinia+-+Plain+918A1148+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhMfaOj4-oA4cmi_KYdnxwuUtly8MsZjvHS9iR0feMANAsead08gW9FxYfGLa16wsvFqbM8CmZq561xZbwWnJYcrTvU3qcowZaWLvRBHU6qYtZR2PyxRiBsDx3QnwlFZHePC1cbI_3bHw/s1600/Prinia+-+Plain+918A1148+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Plain prinia.</b> This small, active bird was always catching spiders and insects.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xcjIn4sPPgI9OGntJMwMDLxywD4L1z5aRG8tfIE2MuPUMeuwZAoSe9VWXIKBGj0kt2kj44L4lB_TEM5KcyDvyWSwW7zFmvQG6ad3uZBPiHjSx6_Qhbw9yHfS_8le2PhTwb_fsVAq75I/s1600/Kingfisher+-+Pied+918A1155+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_xcjIn4sPPgI9OGntJMwMDLxywD4L1z5aRG8tfIE2MuPUMeuwZAoSe9VWXIKBGj0kt2kj44L4lB_TEM5KcyDvyWSwW7zFmvQG6ad3uZBPiHjSx6_Qhbw9yHfS_8le2PhTwb_fsVAq75I/s1600/Kingfisher+-+Pied+918A1155+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Pied kingfisher</b>. Spread in many continents of the world. A very successful bird.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9NaZdQr5_FL-HOEBnD_JF2yW3WOkmdmUjt0Q3nAZtKNP-4PcakWCEOo98GCvuzT4CNHp3ds81_Ua19hBu2DjZ4C6dysh427iNol7MdOgtoq_Sq-L_DeZHwmydnyz48wpOJ6ch-Er9y4/s1600/Tern+-+Gull-billed+918A1167+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX9NaZdQr5_FL-HOEBnD_JF2yW3WOkmdmUjt0Q3nAZtKNP-4PcakWCEOo98GCvuzT4CNHp3ds81_Ua19hBu2DjZ4C6dysh427iNol7MdOgtoq_Sq-L_DeZHwmydnyz48wpOJ6ch-Er9y4/s1600/Tern+-+Gull-billed+918A1167+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Gull-billed tern.</b> Note the rather fat bill. Most other terns have finer bills.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXjhXJtqxTo5KomdFLhB3JYvJx6WkzN9O-YV8AuW4sBtWcidJsvJiwX2JigB-81Or9MZ7d3lG1WKF_WLq-9LaEHWMeX7wfOvFPefhBSU7LVNv4CJtKTaCtCS7qtRaS1GIV-FuDdr7zRc/s1600/Redshank+-+Common+918A1187+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPXjhXJtqxTo5KomdFLhB3JYvJx6WkzN9O-YV8AuW4sBtWcidJsvJiwX2JigB-81Or9MZ7d3lG1WKF_WLq-9LaEHWMeX7wfOvFPefhBSU7LVNv4CJtKTaCtCS7qtRaS1GIV-FuDdr7zRc/s1600/Redshank+-+Common+918A1187+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Redshank.</b> This </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">wader</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> is </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">common on marshes in Britain.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExEwvDADpImbGekPtIGbPWbwKwz3qqTzzzX5XeVFPNbXurqC9nL5YvhchvSqh-LAqtptJjZcR4Jab_L-VHrscPSwDw4oIqih1mg_yhIMSL7MWHPUCtDLHRExD1BkZIcOH0pGymOMkzeQ/s1600/Sand-plover+-+Lesser+918A9588+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExEwvDADpImbGekPtIGbPWbwKwz3qqTzzzX5XeVFPNbXurqC9nL5YvhchvSqh-LAqtptJjZcR4Jab_L-VHrscPSwDw4oIqih1mg_yhIMSL7MWHPUCtDLHRExD1BkZIcOH0pGymOMkzeQ/s1600/Sand-plover+-+Lesser+918A9588+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Lesser sand-plover.</b><br />Very like <b>Kentish plover</b> below but note there is no white collar here.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvWThyEd9JwrfwTzUmYnuV5bZXaQf7aaIp6cACt4QQQPRpXJKey_MHfzMSEQEpWYipI9Ca_HpYzURYPvRJUBjn_KzJ0dbi-M-WKu5-4Kl1LdkomcxN9MFkMxLqg0_HC1MKCrgMfiT4O8/s1600/Plover+-+Kentish+918A1209+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHvWThyEd9JwrfwTzUmYnuV5bZXaQf7aaIp6cACt4QQQPRpXJKey_MHfzMSEQEpWYipI9Ca_HpYzURYPvRJUBjn_KzJ0dbi-M-WKu5-4Kl1LdkomcxN9MFkMxLqg0_HC1MKCrgMfiT4O8/s1600/Plover+-+Kentish+918A1209+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Kentish plover.</b> Compare with the Lesser sand plover above<br />but note that here the white collar goes all the way round.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPruPeMptMrW-hkPLcElSdywHvoiWtrQhbl7T9xDTeI-O9yioYSbrAWG5oDqLab04WZX_ittJpDRGdw5ad_0VWSbYWD-Rp6toZlebT8AY2LtSLQyf2eQC7TDV29Qdw_78I83US_MzUoE/s1600/Pratincole+-+Small+918A1251+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBPruPeMptMrW-hkPLcElSdywHvoiWtrQhbl7T9xDTeI-O9yioYSbrAWG5oDqLab04WZX_ittJpDRGdw5ad_0VWSbYWD-Rp6toZlebT8AY2LtSLQyf2eQC7TDV29Qdw_78I83US_MzUoE/s1600/Pratincole+-+Small+918A1251+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A <b>Small pratincole </b>peeks out over the sand.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPViDShWjdiLtMqn6iQNrjqcib1D-p6gWdDnwgM_kV3GSD9rBrjofY_pl-5swa4tiV9Ss8VvHfBvW9OKiQSoVH6KsGFxSG2knmTN8DpQpB3kRFl-XN0OSCn20kYXhcw3aAcQkuUOOsGBQ/s1600/Pelican+-+Spot-billed+918A1265+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPViDShWjdiLtMqn6iQNrjqcib1D-p6gWdDnwgM_kV3GSD9rBrjofY_pl-5swa4tiV9Ss8VvHfBvW9OKiQSoVH6KsGFxSG2knmTN8DpQpB3kRFl-XN0OSCn20kYXhcw3aAcQkuUOOsGBQ/s1600/Pelican+-+Spot-billed+918A1265+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Spot-billed pelican.</b></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy39a2VQmioeVRclBdcHvhG2XMvl9_IcVOCChqqeceP5QzHrseHeW5MC4D0GacwZHwvOWrOiLk9PHH5LjcQpqjgoEKNcmpIhHirRwlCI8RiQJY1GmpOC9LKVjtG26hBW8p4HncyUtuHiE/s1600/Spoonbill+-+Eurasian+918A1300+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjy39a2VQmioeVRclBdcHvhG2XMvl9_IcVOCChqqeceP5QzHrseHeW5MC4D0GacwZHwvOWrOiLk9PHH5LjcQpqjgoEKNcmpIhHirRwlCI8RiQJY1GmpOC9LKVjtG26hBW8p4HncyUtuHiE/s1600/Spoonbill+-+Eurasian+918A1300+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Eurasian spoonbill.</b> We get the occasional visitor in England.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RQFk5PN9URg9Q_cBf9HUxhdkG8Nn7UUwU5VNWbQxmXfJSi6Y_9SeF_ANxARF72Q-Y_gFplVe_V6GqCDgwQhAr6tXQ50uQTLli5Z1uGnHXYouuTN7O-QXKWKJZnLZ-a4Xgn-sxK_f8O8/s1600/Fish-eagle+-+Grey-headed+918A1341+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3RQFk5PN9URg9Q_cBf9HUxhdkG8Nn7UUwU5VNWbQxmXfJSi6Y_9SeF_ANxARF72Q-Y_gFplVe_V6GqCDgwQhAr6tXQ50uQTLli5Z1uGnHXYouuTN7O-QXKWKJZnLZ-a4Xgn-sxK_f8O8/s1600/Fish-eagle+-+Grey-headed+918A1341+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Grey-headed fish eagle.</b> Have you noticed how many birds start with 'grey-headed'?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuNx4uPfy-D2uRHT0OFsWbFzS135BfYQp79rA8mmmHulkRsXoOqYzEYCnjeqUkozYMREx3qJKdZsXjAuHdDPmCh2lBnZkQnmiRZzBdoNE4mYnmcJcorMJmGt64O5h06LslMQ5BnYW6vw/s1600/Shikra+918A1357+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyuNx4uPfy-D2uRHT0OFsWbFzS135BfYQp79rA8mmmHulkRsXoOqYzEYCnjeqUkozYMREx3qJKdZsXjAuHdDPmCh2lBnZkQnmiRZzBdoNE4mYnmcJcorMJmGt64O5h06LslMQ5BnYW6vw/s1600/Shikra+918A1357+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Shikra. Rather like our sparrowhawk, or the sharp-shinned hawk in the USA.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wi3bpJ0uaoiGWszplGDEjFRxGZX4yLzayMxKaaair78joYrqMjEe_HQi6mR5dT-z23CFwsVauZFROYKun9MJYFtEHL9e7l7njiD4MkXNy6lK4Uta3EYhabtoAIMgQwmB5omr4Zq7lwY/s1600/Swallow+-+Barn+918A1362+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3wi3bpJ0uaoiGWszplGDEjFRxGZX4yLzayMxKaaair78joYrqMjEe_HQi6mR5dT-z23CFwsVauZFROYKun9MJYFtEHL9e7l7njiD4MkXNy6lK4Uta3EYhabtoAIMgQwmB5omr4Zq7lwY/s1600/Swallow+-+Barn+918A1362+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Barn swallows.</b> OK guys, let's see how many of us can squeeze onto this wire!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7TygSKWZjhxedu1Xt9TELiNX-3xrF58WgTMOu5vSufqQqP0OcU56cHVN1ZslD-F4TFBsxk_rKYzkK9Ri4IXphtc0eLaHh8r9F7JdyY2_87dX2B3TKtD1ilxmMNU2cAElgQEafVoMZIY/s1600/Ibis+-+Black-headed+918A1414+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-large; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf7TygSKWZjhxedu1Xt9TELiNX-3xrF58WgTMOu5vSufqQqP0OcU56cHVN1ZslD-F4TFBsxk_rKYzkK9Ri4IXphtc0eLaHh8r9F7JdyY2_87dX2B3TKtD1ilxmMNU2cAElgQEafVoMZIY/s1600/Ibis+-+Black-headed+918A1414+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Black-headed ibis.</b></span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggrhhDqmPcmjrG6QP13i45eJkREMsrLk5STsGKqo0gCsa4sdHAwMLe3hkSWMVvbwQuEp0P5w1UwwpoxZy7Cw_lUtbSnLL4_Is0oz_68mdxi-eIiZ4eBLWAHugAZsw8mKUOkUB34fJr0k/s1600/Thick-knee+-+Great+918A1721+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjggrhhDqmPcmjrG6QP13i45eJkREMsrLk5STsGKqo0gCsa4sdHAwMLe3hkSWMVvbwQuEp0P5w1UwwpoxZy7Cw_lUtbSnLL4_Is0oz_68mdxi-eIiZ4eBLWAHugAZsw8mKUOkUB34fJr0k/s1600/Thick-knee+-+Great+918A1721+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Great thick-knee</b> with crocodile. Thick-knees are very like our stone curlews.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkfoBuV1aQXlgSyEaF1xB3ZXRPjO1bRGKtoEVxfol1OwKdedqS_lGpwKCcmfsxR_DQzLjXxMv8otHhQDMOWyoM13h9si5udthqUAXzo7HKxsy_lC6UXH1BoOYEc4U8FVNYGPF-XQX-M8/s1600/Treeswift+-+Crested+918A1748+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPkfoBuV1aQXlgSyEaF1xB3ZXRPjO1bRGKtoEVxfol1OwKdedqS_lGpwKCcmfsxR_DQzLjXxMv8otHhQDMOWyoM13h9si5udthqUAXzo7HKxsy_lC6UXH1BoOYEc4U8FVNYGPF-XQX-M8/s1600/Treeswift+-+Crested+918A1748+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Crested treeswift.</b> A large swift. We didn't see it in any trees though.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfaxYdzzUGafFH5cx6rNVD9G9pr_K4VHhjovHFuKoURxwdNpGkxDav-jNOii53tknkbnpGR2FrWPh1FEQDGjb3xFWRRKbQffqj4y_KOQrUu9C1m8TESoCIOQNqGX9ABOEsIZwofkFAmE/s1600/Fish-owl+-+Brown+918A1757+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqfaxYdzzUGafFH5cx6rNVD9G9pr_K4VHhjovHFuKoURxwdNpGkxDav-jNOii53tknkbnpGR2FrWPh1FEQDGjb3xFWRRKbQffqj4y_KOQrUu9C1m8TESoCIOQNqGX9ABOEsIZwofkFAmE/s1600/Fish-owl+-+Brown+918A1757+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Brown fish-owl</b> at roost.<br />They hunt fish and crabs at night by gliding over the surface of the water.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijn8UAzMUnMzC5iRWwjXydGc78ByMObVM8iEwU64g5LvkE2o1Ow01NDN7E9uwLDhgJMgEFY9QaBkZhUAjHv8QrDvOPcmwRsOVFo6brb3abtqRXND-8hHp5tGnoxtiZ4VBY5tagUoT7ihM/s1600/Stork+-+Painted+918A1776+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijn8UAzMUnMzC5iRWwjXydGc78ByMObVM8iEwU64g5LvkE2o1Ow01NDN7E9uwLDhgJMgEFY9QaBkZhUAjHv8QrDvOPcmwRsOVFo6brb3abtqRXND-8hHp5tGnoxtiZ4VBY5tagUoT7ihM/s1600/Stork+-+Painted+918A1776+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Painted stork.</b> Quite attractive colouring, especially in flight,<br />but why do all storks have ugly faces?</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57ll8ABZKEf8-ztVwc_ZygtgBN1bRNYH96PAouxbAh5DToOx3z5HztS0k_0E-SwKH795ci9df79U6v_ZnykM7mqs1xfQiSzNFh_rUEQL0jsOKZabc21jKqhMkbHYaXj-gLQB20gt9ipg/s1600/Openbill+-+Asian+918A1783+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi57ll8ABZKEf8-ztVwc_ZygtgBN1bRNYH96PAouxbAh5DToOx3z5HztS0k_0E-SwKH795ci9df79U6v_ZnykM7mqs1xfQiSzNFh_rUEQL0jsOKZabc21jKqhMkbHYaXj-gLQB20gt9ipg/s1600/Openbill+-+Asian+918A1783+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Asian openbill.</b> Another stork, but smaller than the painted.<br />Gets its name from the fact that the two halves of its bill don't meet. Look carefully.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiupT-SKPxUoTBnr4snQP0YQzQXGDlwcXQicsC_wtOYEpTbIJaNwkvk_Vo8BvHPMJVg129Kg3u9sxiZS_CvSkjq3p92lLz1MZeUoXB7PSEkjIQlasMpWe8ErxVexNLtGZIzaRMkMacug/s1600/Starling+-+Brahminy+918A1813+crop.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXiupT-SKPxUoTBnr4snQP0YQzQXGDlwcXQicsC_wtOYEpTbIJaNwkvk_Vo8BvHPMJVg129Kg3u9sxiZS_CvSkjq3p92lLz1MZeUoXB7PSEkjIQlasMpWe8ErxVexNLtGZIzaRMkMacug/s1600/Starling+-+Brahminy+918A1813+crop.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Brahminy starlings.</b> Female, left. Male, right.</span> </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">In the afternoons we visited the nearby lakes or reservoirs known locally as ‘tanks’. At one of these there was an enormous roost of Indian flying foxes, also known as greater Indian fruit bats. Apparently, they are not really bats at all. One thing that cannot be denied is that they are enormous, with a wingspan of up to 1.5 metres!<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7t4lY7Z0VYvb9aaQNQ1iLoD7kEON_NV9rDq0eq7UAnIFGxH_fc_WnuUnziXUunNbf-K2xtbekSHi1eTqRcWFmX04QlO7q7bB5ZPaTj5LN2akWwHrfEixnTehkX_noUwWAJKFlNjnwtcU/s1600/Flying+fox+roost+918A0637.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7t4lY7Z0VYvb9aaQNQ1iLoD7kEON_NV9rDq0eq7UAnIFGxH_fc_WnuUnziXUunNbf-K2xtbekSHi1eTqRcWFmX04QlO7q7bB5ZPaTj5LN2akWwHrfEixnTehkX_noUwWAJKFlNjnwtcU/s1600/Flying+fox+roost+918A0637.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Small part of the <b>Indian flying fox</b> roost. They are quite big next to a grey heron.<br />They really look very fox-like with the furry canine head.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCDq9J4lU2IWikNpHmwgMksgMdzt1_DcTg9Xu-it5PSeZToqCsW7WwvNDFr1MeV7ftwMdDTeTBbYQZLWuGDJKRepY8D8iLhYUDPDIQZ5CWAeIvQ0oEBgpaQWR39OViqBbUMyEqQFOnhM/s1600/Flying+fox+918A0700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJCDq9J4lU2IWikNpHmwgMksgMdzt1_DcTg9Xu-it5PSeZToqCsW7WwvNDFr1MeV7ftwMdDTeTBbYQZLWuGDJKRepY8D8iLhYUDPDIQZ5CWAeIvQ0oEBgpaQWR39OViqBbUMyEqQFOnhM/s1600/Flying+fox+918A0700.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indian flying fox</b>. In flight, they are impressive, with a wingspan of up to 1.5 metres!!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">David and I counted at least 12 large trees where these creatures were roosting. We estimated that each tree contained about 3,000-3,500 ‘bats’. That means a total of perhaps 30-40,000 flying foxes.<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-CLXyeKHFYJKEl5MraaD7Z2lcvcImoQx2pQGfH9tRvlPIYtqTE-D7M2czbBkvPCOmZ1yFBhhAZgvNOz15pcZS4HSbgOKJHGKcyE-MiPXuIAzbjVM_2_gBlD-sLyG3WVPyTJBU3X4EIA/s1600/Roost+of+flying-foxes+IMG_8990.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhL-CLXyeKHFYJKEl5MraaD7Z2lcvcImoQx2pQGfH9tRvlPIYtqTE-D7M2czbBkvPCOmZ1yFBhhAZgvNOz15pcZS4HSbgOKJHGKcyE-MiPXuIAzbjVM_2_gBlD-sLyG3WVPyTJBU3X4EIA/s1600/Roost+of+flying-foxes+IMG_8990.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Just one tree full of <b>Indian flying foxes</b>. There were about 12 such trees.<br />You could do the maths and check my figures. Even this photo doesn't show the whole tree.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">At dusk, they all set off for the night. It was impressive to see the constant stream of these giants leave in search of – well, fruit! Wonder where they find it all?<o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Dogs.</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Roaming dogs are literally everywhere in Sri Lanka. Even so, someone in our party said there were fewer dogs than when they last visited! Generally they were not troublesome. They kept away from us.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Many of the dogs were thin, diseased or with a limb missing. This was probably due to their habit of lying, literally, in the main roads, and they didn't usually move if a car or lorry came. We had to swerve many times to avoid them. At night, drivers wouldn't be able to avoid them so easily. I imagine many must get run over.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">We saw other mammals on our safaris:</span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTriDdSJMz8OnXnAYTamB0PywdIUu4CMWptLpqQx-udRZUKncreoHPcdBKGUob4Q1gcpzJFDou8NQKkr5Je8tcNJUPXUrUmlw-aLlg1byZ2LZga4tcobfldgjMMhOfxFFcupRu1HBEgI/s1600/Indian+grey+mongoose+IMG_8996.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZTriDdSJMz8OnXnAYTamB0PywdIUu4CMWptLpqQx-udRZUKncreoHPcdBKGUob4Q1gcpzJFDou8NQKkr5Je8tcNJUPXUrUmlw-aLlg1byZ2LZga4tcobfldgjMMhOfxFFcupRu1HBEgI/s1600/Indian+grey+mongoose+IMG_8996.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Indian grey mongoose</b>. One of four species in Sri Lanka.<br />These are fast enough to outwit a striking snake.<br />Funnily enough, you don't see many cats around! Hmm!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDdbCoaM_GR8JdlsRcdZOArw4_eBCQqrhdMtHTiN4S7ZCFx0b0IzAbkCbFwV-nFkK3QvjE0GPnObPIBJndwWrYPlph6yOaAbZLEudTjeI-f_gtdNTEB7yrcvIbtrcp7dIkKjFf85omVM/s1600/Tufted+grey+langur+IMG_9005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzDdbCoaM_GR8JdlsRcdZOArw4_eBCQqrhdMtHTiN4S7ZCFx0b0IzAbkCbFwV-nFkK3QvjE0GPnObPIBJndwWrYPlph6yOaAbZLEudTjeI-f_gtdNTEB7yrcvIbtrcp7dIkKjFf85omVM/s1600/Tufted+grey+langur+IMG_9005.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Tufted grey langur.</b> Unlike in some countries, monkeys in Sri Lanka<br />do not usually bother humans. Thank goodness.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgnmzhmtMZMrOuvniDkFBb-mAzsUcIY3Lu2a_ECBRemLJR3AxjxLuplA_udpprM2yLUuaOznMoT-2QT-Efz7eFVXti4ULJbo89i0binlzpbFtQpfLc4vba_KB5XxMF9BZ9StV34lXCHc/s1600/Tufted+grey+langur+IMG_9007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxgnmzhmtMZMrOuvniDkFBb-mAzsUcIY3Lu2a_ECBRemLJR3AxjxLuplA_udpprM2yLUuaOznMoT-2QT-Efz7eFVXti4ULJbo89i0binlzpbFtQpfLc4vba_KB5XxMF9BZ9StV34lXCHc/s1600/Tufted+grey+langur+IMG_9007.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">Tufted grey langur. </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part of a large family troupe.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuAhmgc67jT_LuskllOLRjYuQGxyWntHUYGjZr-q2mOMIYcmO6SnsekMz5B0ue77xFpltoc5bf1C0hseFfXKoFnhOfMUIZhXDCNvj77CPVJMoAmZNKmvBpA5BamOb8BCHJCb4C3xcrHE/s1600/Wild+boar+IMG_9026.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGuAhmgc67jT_LuskllOLRjYuQGxyWntHUYGjZr-q2mOMIYcmO6SnsekMz5B0ue77xFpltoc5bf1C0hseFfXKoFnhOfMUIZhXDCNvj77CPVJMoAmZNKmvBpA5BamOb8BCHJCb4C3xcrHE/s1600/Wild+boar+IMG_9026.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Wild boar </b>relaxing in the muddy waters of the park.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahMi5g2KmZ1xjhI9AAg8OMC-Q5W0CQ8M5GDQrsIqfZo1IB5DTDPVwzXKUPbkyeZMfabhkN4EoCpuevieRhxwCXDw795wjxAPP1g3QqMa7Bcryen360qO7Rx-vSKLtAEJB8wfsbYM47j4/s1600/Water+monitor+IMG_9022.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjahMi5g2KmZ1xjhI9AAg8OMC-Q5W0CQ8M5GDQrsIqfZo1IB5DTDPVwzXKUPbkyeZMfabhkN4EoCpuevieRhxwCXDw795wjxAPP1g3QqMa7Bcryen360qO7Rx-vSKLtAEJB8wfsbYM47j4/s1600/Water+monitor+IMG_9022.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Water monitor</b> lizard. Some of them are huge but also fast on their feet.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzlKjxqfkBgKkCqOYqVnntY7sq9r8-R-XtjRbuI_7KUMLsJyu4b-rxOO9X-3NSVDxIhDU7K69r03z1liXgQJZsjPVJBXCqL8rKKvfkm_SFKHAOcn9u5ipZPcDnd_kaBkneGY7mbLKLg0/s1600/Sambar+deer+918A1767.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirzlKjxqfkBgKkCqOYqVnntY7sq9r8-R-XtjRbuI_7KUMLsJyu4b-rxOO9X-3NSVDxIhDU7K69r03z1liXgQJZsjPVJBXCqL8rKKvfkm_SFKHAOcn9u5ipZPcDnd_kaBkneGY7mbLKLg0/s1600/Sambar+deer+918A1767.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Sambar deer.</b> About the size of a red deer.<br />Cattle egrets hoping the deer will throw something up for them.</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriyJ2NUEN8j-7t9qJvXvdtXBL3omEgJiZlKmyWByusNWgOFXirjrws3tK57_5oW4dIqPnsXSV88bUcApIHbyoVwXWtyePoaOKCD6k58QcylFGJUt19PsEWIp5KcwRrBJTMTLDVKTY9Io/s1600/Spotted+deer+918A1768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhriyJ2NUEN8j-7t9qJvXvdtXBL3omEgJiZlKmyWByusNWgOFXirjrws3tK57_5oW4dIqPnsXSV88bUcApIHbyoVwXWtyePoaOKCD6k58QcylFGJUt19PsEWIp5KcwRrBJTMTLDVKTY9Io/s1600/Spotted+deer+918A1768.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 12.8px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Spotted deer</b> with cattle egrets.</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After the safari parks, we left the heat of the lowlands so far and headed for the cool of the hills. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">You have just read part 2 of 4</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: small;">For other parts:</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Part 1 - <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-1.html">Kitulgala and Sinharaja</a></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2px;">(Is this the longest tail of any flycatcher?)</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-size: large; line-height: 25.2px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Part 3 - <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-3_12.html">Nuwara Eliya and Horton Plains</a></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(</span><b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">How do the Sri Lankans drive?)</span></span></b></span><br />
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></b>
<b style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; line-height: 25.2px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">Part 4 - <a href="http://birdsnap.blogspot.co.uk/2016/04/sri-lanka-2016-4.html">Kandy - Sigiriya - Negombo</a></span></span></span></b><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; line-height: 25.2px;">(British t</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ea factory machines over 100 years old. The most expensive Lion beer in Sri Lanka?)</span></span><br />
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Phil Wallacehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18330719035764731004noreply@blogger.com2