Helmet Vanga - Madagascar 2024

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Wednesday 25 September 2024

Gabon - September 2024

I've soon returned from an adventurous tour to Gabon, along with seven Naturetrek clients. There were many highlights throughout; top of the list for me were watching for over an hour, a 15-strong family of Western Lowland Gorillas at Loango National Park. Other amazing bits were finding a troop of Mandrill, watching a sand-digging African River Martin, getting within mere metres from a Vermiculated Fishing Owl, plus a whole suite of primates.

The tour visited Lope National Park, the various waterways around Lambarene and finished at the wildlife haven that is Loango. It was however not without its issues, as ground transportation in these regions are hardly up to date or reliable, but there were very few hiccups, as long as journey times and bumps aren't included. 

Other good birds were Pel's Fishing Owl, a beautiful mixed flock of Cassin's and Sabine's Spinetails, a Chestnut-flanked Sparrowhawk, lots of Damara Terns, two African Cuckoo Hawks, an African Dwarf Kingfisher, stacks of Rosy Bee-eaters, Carmelite Sunbirds, a few Loango Weavers, amongst others. Only 22 new birds for me though, not helped by not visiting the eastern regions and having visited Angola recently.

Visiting the national parks in the eastern part of the country would be up there if I was to ever make it back to Gabon, so looks like a tour to the DR Congo is next... not really!




Western Lowland Gorillas


African River Martin - approximately 20 seen

Grey Pratincole

Hartlaub's Duck

Red-chested Cuckoo

Square-tailed Nightjar

Crowned Guenon

Grey-cheeked Mangabey

Mandrill

Putty-nosed Monkey

African Grey Parrots

Black-bellied Seedcracker

Forest Elephant

Long-snouted Crocodile

Wednesday 4 September 2024

Seaford Head 4th September 2024

This morning was my first and last visit on the old patch this autumn and I had relatively high hopes of digging out a Wryneck, this despite there not being too many along the south coast currently. However, luck was on my side and whilst walking the western edge of Hope Bottom, the unmistakable sound of a flushing Wryneck alerted me to one just ahead as I watched it disappear over the bushes. Thankfully it had landed in a cleared area and I quickly re-found the bird as it sat sunning itself... a wonderful moment and a bird I will never tire of seeing, let alone finding. 

It was good to see Terry and Alan bird ringing this morning and they showed me some of their catch, but in general it was a quiet morning with 10 Tree Pipits, seven Grey Wagtails, 20 Yellow Wagtails, two Whinchats and the usual warblers on show. 

On Friday I head to Gabon for a few weeks leading, then one final week at work before travelling extensively with Emily to Madagascar, Philippines and Borneo, and then... we both flee for a new adventure/life in Scotland!

phone-scoped pic of the Wryneck

Blackcap

Chiffchaff (left) and Willow Warbler