1 October 2009
Rockjumper Country II: Swartberg-Pass, South Africa
More pictures of a dramatic setting where Cape Rockjumpers and Ground Woodpeckers ply their trade.
1 October 2009
Rockjumper Country: Swartberg Pass, South Africa
The dramatic gorges and rocky canyons around Swartberg Pass not only provides a spectacular backdrop to a birding venue, but is also a genuinely great birding site. We picked up Victorin's Scrub-warbler as we climbed up towards the pass, along with a Protea Seedeater,and several Cape Rock-thrushes. Once we had reached the pass, and cracked open a bag of ostrich biltong, we eyed a Cape Rockjumper standing peering down at us from a high rocky perch, and a short walk around a bluff bought us our first Ground Woodpeckers, that dwell here in this craggy, treeless terrain.
2 October 2009
Karoo NP (South Africa)
The Karoo is arid and gives an impression of a desert like place, hinting at a low number of animals and birds. However, this impression is all wrong. The birding and wildlife here is superb, and the area is also floristically very diverse too. We enjoyed several days watching Cape Mountain Zebras prowling the "plains", flash lighting an Ardwolf on a night drive, and checking out some really special birds, like an Africa Rock Pipit crawling through the shrubbery, a Short-toed Rock-thrush standing guard, the distinctly unbunting-like Lark-like Bunting, and a sprightly Cinnamon-breasted Warbler hopping along the burnt orange rocks near the pass.
14 October 2009
Drakensberg Mountains (South Africa)
These impressive mountains are home to some real avian treats, namely the Orange-breasted (or Drakensberg) Rockjumper, Drakensberg Siskin, Barratt's Warbler, Buff-streaked Chat, Verreaux's Eagle, the mighty Lammergeier or Bearded Vulture, and the amazing Gurney's Sugarbird, the other half of this two-species, endemic African family.
14 October 2009
Sani Pass, Lesotho
Having driven up through the dramatic craggy valley from South Africa flanked by the spectacular Drakensberg Mountains we arrived at the infamous Sani Pass, site of the highest pub in all of Africa. Not only a great tourist attraction but a top birding venue in its own right. While we supped local Maluti beer on the balcony of the highest pub, we watched a pair of Drakensberg Rockjumpers hopping around the boulders behind the pub, and Drakensberg Siskins came and sung from the rocks beside us. Also in attendance were a couple of Cape Buntings, Sentinel Rock-thrush, and the bizarre Sloggett's Ice Rat. A little further into Lesotho we came upon a displaying Mountain Pipit, and Southern Grey Tit before we descended dramatically back into South Africa once more, enjoying Gurney's Sugarbirds feeding in the flowering proteas, and a Barratt's warbler singing from the brush, on this return leg.
13 September 2009
Volcan Antisana (seen from Papallacta) Ecuador
This was photographed from Papallacta from where you can see Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe, Ecuadorian Hillstar, and Andean Condor to name just a few of the special paramo birds at this high Andean site.
March 2009
Border Rapids (Chiapas, Mexico)
This was a river we just chanced upon while traveling between Lagos de Montebello to Las Guacamayos reserve in eastern Chiapas. After a morning watching ridiculous male Resplendent Quetzals flaunting their considerable tails at us, a Highland Guan displaying over the top of us, and racking up a sweet triplet of jays, (Azure-hooded, Black-throated and Unicolored) at Montebello, we headed to the "Scarlet Macaw" place, Los Guacamayos. Once we got there, (stopping for the odd White Hawk and Fork-tailed Flycatcher along the way), we swigged down a few chilled dark Bohemia beers while these giant red macaws sailed over the river, that we could handily see from the bar terrace. Great day.
This is the Río Ixcán viewed from Mexico's Federal Highway 307 on the S edge of the Montes Azules Biosphere Reserve. As the river bridge where I took the photo from is slap bang on the border, most of what you see here is on the Guatemalan side.
August 2008
Gardens of Paradise (Papua New Guinea)
The Tari Valley in the highlands of Papua New Guinea is unquestionably one of the World's premier birding spots, and this garden on the Ambua Lodge grounds lies in the heart of this bird rich setting. The Tari valley has gained world fame as it is one of the best places anywhere to catch up with arguably the most extraordinary bird family on Earth, the Birds-of-paradise. While the valley as a whole abounds with these near-mythical creatures, a visit to Ambua's garden when there are trees in fruit can be mind boggling. I visited this lodge twice during 2008 and racked up quite a garden list. This included the seductive Blue Bird-of-paradise, a scintillating male Princess Stephanie's Astrapia, Lawe's Parotia, Superb BOP, Loria's BOP, and the strange Short-tailed Paradigalla. Aside from that the lawn can also be one of the better places to observe the bizarre dawn display of the Black Sicklebill, at one point during a post dawn vigil we scanned the treetops from the lawn to find three separate males in the full throws of their weird "spaceship" display. Aside from this star-studded cast there is a lot more on offer in the area, and I got my lifer Spotted Jewel-babbler right on the lodge grounds too, a true wraith of the forest understorey. Elsewhere in the valley such prizewinners as Wattled Ploughbill, Crested Berrypecker, Forbes's Forest-Rail, Mountain Kingfisher, and Northern Logrunner lurk. A dizzying array of astounding Papuan birds. A must-visit destination, if you have the cash!
December 2008
Birding the Mughal Empire (India)
OK so the Taj Mahal is not exactly a birding site, although for the fascinating historical and cultural significance of this exquisite building we do visit this awe-inspiring place on our bird tours, and yes we do see the odd bird. Black Kites regularly wheel and turn in the skies above the minarets, Hoopoes feed on the lush green lawns of the gardens within the grounds, while River Lapwings and other shorebirds line the Yamuna River just below the shimmering white marble temple. Indian Chats can also sometimes be found hopping about the surrounding buildings, and along the burnt red outer walls of the Taj itself.
June 2008
"Whitehead's Mountain" (Malaysia)
This impressive granite massif is Gunung or Mount Kinabalu, in the northernmost Malaysian state of Sabah on Borneo. The distinctive peaks at the top can often be seen looming large in the distance from Sabah's small capital, Kota Kinabalu. It is the highest mountain between New Guinea and the Himalayas. Gunung Kinabalu is a diverse mountain holding a rich variety of plants, animals and birds. As well as being diverse it is also a major centre of endemism for both plants and birds. The flagship plants that are found there are the rafflesias, that produce the largest blooms of any flower on Earth (and can be seen regularly close to Poring Hot Springs, a major tourist site in the area). A photo of one of these impressive flowers is in the wildlife gallery on this PBase site. The cloudforest that cloaks this vast mountain holds some truly gorgeous endemic birds, and it is the famous Whitehead's trio that most people come seeking and are usually top of their hit lists - the strikingly patterned Whitehead's Spiderhunter, the vivid green Whitehead's Broadbill, and the vermillion Whitehead's Trogon. On the more common side other endemics include the Bornean Whistling-thrush that likes to hop around on the roads at dawn, roaming flocks of Chestnut-crested Yuhinas are hard to avoid feeding on the forested roadsides, alongside Bornean Whistlers and others.
May 2008
The Portal to the Chiricahuas (Arizona, USA)
This shot was taken just outside the tiny village of Portal, and is of part of the staggeringly scenic Cave Creek Canyon in the Chiricahua Mountains of southeastern Arizona. This area is a Mecca for birding in the US, holding a dizzying variety of desert species in addition to woodland birds that take advantage of the "sky island" oases in the "sea" of desert that abounds there. Just a few of the magical birds that can regularly be found there include the showstopping Elegant Trogon, Flammulated and Elf Owls, Painted Redstarts and Red-faced Warblers all in the woods; while Bendire's Thrashers emerge onto the yucca tops in the early morning sun; and Greater Roadrunners make mad dashes across the desert-lined highways.
28 November 2007
Mountains of Pheasants (India)
This is the staggering view from the road leading up from Pangot up to Vinayak , near to Naini Tal in the foothills of the Himalayas in India. The fabled Cheer Pheasant hides on the grassy slopes in these high Himalayan pastures, and is the biggest avian prize in the area. More regularly seen are the Koklass Pheasants that roam the dark shadowy pine woods on the steep slopes, and flocks of Himalayan Accentors swirl and wheel in the wind, often dropping down onto the craggy outcrops on the hillsides, while huge Himalayan Griffons soar majestically on the thermals above. A magical Indian experience.