When we were in Trinidad I received a kind text from Andrew C about a Smew at Gimingham. Much to my surprise it seems it was still there as an update message came through on 18th. I managed to miss it that night but found it the next day along with a splendid drake Goosander, the first I'd seen on the deck locally. Smew was a great claw back though, particularly as I thought my best chance was one flying past at sea, difficult to connect with.
The 20th saw us chasing a pigeon in Oxfordshire but the following day I connected with the 3 Whooper Swans between Roughton and Hanworth, well outside my usual birding area but inside the 10K square by quite a margin. Desperate stuff but I haven't yet been able to catch up with either wild swan species flying through - memo to self: get out more! And take a camera - you've got enough of them!!
Thursday 24 February 2011
Wednesday 9 February 2011
Trinidad and Tobago
Just back at the weekend from 2 weeks in T & T, birding mostly. It was hot, sometimes very wet (even though the dry season has started) and hard work on the days with no guide - those guys earn every penny making sense of the chips, whistles etc coming from the wall of vegetation and then getting the target bird into view (most of the time - not with the Little Tinamou!).
20th Jan
Arrived on BA via St Lucia from Gatwick and managed Carib Grackle and Kiskadee while waiting for the cab to Pax
21st
With a limping Kenny for our guide we walked the road near Pax, notching up inter alia 4 sp of Hummer and 4 Tanagers, plus the locally rare Chestnut collared Swift in a passing mixed swift flock
22nd
Showery and warm most of the day, the first part of which was spent at a cattle station, good for birds including several Yank waders and brilliant for butterflies and dragonflies. Then, after lunch on the east coast we birded the Nariva swamp area, scoring Azure Gallinule, Pinnated Bittern, Pygmy Kingfisher and at last knockings, Red bellied Macaws, two birds being all that's left of a huge roost which moved on 4 or 5 years ago.
23rd
Showery and warm again and a little closer to home going past Asa Wright into the montane forest along the tba Road for a good selection of birds, notable among which were Black, Grey and White Hawks, Chestnut Woodpecker, Collared Trogon and Grey throated Leaf Tosser. In some ways best of all however was the Blue Morpho butterfly elegantly gliding along the road. Traffic was however a nightmare and nearly cost us Speckled Tanager, which when we saw it well was much nicer than the book. Back home to an excellent dinner and a Spectacled Owl calling from outside the guest-house.
24th
After heavy rain overnight our morning visit was to the Arena lowland forest. Stacks of dragons to photograph and some good bids including Squirrel and Little Cuckoo and Crimson crested Woodpecker. Long-billed Starthroat as well while Violaceous Trogon completed the Trinidad set.
After lunch at Pax and a photo session from the veranda we left at 4.00pm to go nightjarring but without a working flash! Nonetheless we did succeed in seeing bothe White-tailed Nightjar and Pauraque pretty well in the headlights as well as a stray Agouti
25th
First stop Pont-de Pierre Wildfowl Trust inside the refinery for plastic ducks, Great Cowbird and Streaked-headed Woodcreeper, after which we toured theWellington area for waders, Saffron Finch etc. Our last stop was the excellent Caroni Swamp where the main highlight was the roosting herons and Scarlet Ibis, a pretty impressive sight, even if the greatest spectacle was when they were flushed by a local boat going up the main channel behind them. Less so the Common Pottoo but it was still gratifying to see provided the rumours it's stuffed are unfounded!
26th
A clear up day when we decided (rightly) that with Asa Wright looming the Arena area of lowland forest represented our best chance of new birds. So it proved with 10 ticks plus Little Tinamou. heard, other highlights being 2 antbirds, Ruby Topaz, a pair of Bat Falcons and Crowned Ant-tanager After lunch in a bus shelter by the cattle fields (seats and a cool breeze) the fields themselves were quiet in the heat but the Striped Cuckoo of two nights back showed beautifully to remove one frustration.
27th
With no guide hired we pottered round near the guest-house with another couple (Steve and Jane) dodging heavy showers, not seeing much new but getting good views of Violaceous Trogon and Grey Hawk and a few photos both of pink and green dragons and also Blue-grey Tanager and stuff round the veranda feeders. Black Hawk over the valley was new from the veranda, while a sting from a single (fortunately) angry africanised honey bee was momenterily painful and sore. An early finish meant we scored tea and cake!
28th
Transfer day to Asa Wright but before we went a Greater Black Hawk near Pax was a bonus. We managed a short walk along the discovery trail before the rain started which overnight became torrential, no fun in tin roofed accommodation. Sitting on the veranda was productive with a few new species and some excellent photo opportunities.
29th
No let up in the torrential rain meant the oilbird cave visit as a bit tricky. We persevered though and had decent views of three birds – more were on view deeper in but the stream was swollen and neither of us fancied soaking feet crossing. The sun did eventually appear long enough to see Wattled Bellbirds after lunch, the excellent displaying White bearded Manikins and get caked in clay along one of the rather unkept trails. A real bonus was a Short-tailed Nighthawk flying up the valley last thing, as was the clearing weather which meant a better night's sleep.
30th
With nothing planned we strolled around, seeing both local woodcreepers again but not much else, while the night walk was also quiet, just a couple of tarantula species and a few creepies but no owls.
31st
Transfer day to Tobago meant sitting around the airport for 2 hours waiting for a 20 minute flight, then a long transfer along windy roads to Blue Waters, which was well worth it. Set in an idyllic bay with tropic birds and brown boobies flying past and green turtles swimming off the beach, the resort is pretty nice though the food was disappointing and expensive. Rufous-vented Chacalacas are fun if a little noisy. We met the famous Newton George in the evening to arrange our next day's birding.
1st February
Up and away at 6.00am for a good mornings birding along the Gilpin Trace, personal highlightys being Blue-backed Manakin and the endangered White-tailed Sabrewing. The best bird was however a pigeon found on the way back, Scaley-naped, still regarded as a vagrant on the islands though NG has seen them before. One odd thing, few butterflies and no dragonflies seen at all, so maybe the neatly strimmed verges are treated with insecticide to keep the reported mossie problem at bay.
2nd
The day started well with a breakfast tick, Red-footed Booby in the bay. After breakfast a walk through the nearest village, Speyside produced several Caribbean Martins, a couple of Yellow-crowned Night Herons and our first Tobago dragonflies, while a walk up the track above the resort after lunch produced several butterflies, a Ruby Topaz, Brown-crested Flycatcher and two of yesterday's ticks, White-streaked Antwren and Scrub Greenlet.
3rd
We took the bus into Scarborough, which was interesting but not birdy. We did manage Eared Dove in the botanical gardens as well as Red crowned Woodpecker while a flock of 50 or so Royal Terns on the harbour entrance was a bonus but little other reward for 1 ½ hours each way on a bus.
4th
Home day prefaced by a walk up behind the resort in windy conditions, as a result there were few birds and fewer butterflies. After that a long taxi ride and a BA flight which left early but waited the extra time on Antigua before the transatlantic flight home to a windy but dry and mild Gatwick.
 |
| Scarlet Ibises, Caroni Swamp |
Arrived on BA via St Lucia from Gatwick and managed Carib Grackle and Kiskadee while waiting for the cab to Pax
21st
With a limping Kenny for our guide we walked the road near Pax, notching up inter alia 4 sp of Hummer and 4 Tanagers, plus the locally rare Chestnut collared Swift in a passing mixed swift flock
 |
| Greater Kiskadee |
Showery and warm most of the day, the first part of which was spent at a cattle station, good for birds including several Yank waders and brilliant for butterflies and dragonflies. Then, after lunch on the east coast we birded the Nariva swamp area, scoring Azure Gallinule, Pinnated Bittern, Pygmy Kingfisher and at last knockings, Red bellied Macaws, two birds being all that's left of a huge roost which moved on 4 or 5 years ago.
 |
| Least Sandpiper, Agricultural station |
 |
| Flame tailed Dragon, Nariva Swamp |
Showery and warm again and a little closer to home going past Asa Wright into the montane forest along the tba Road for a good selection of birds, notable among which were Black, Grey and White Hawks, Chestnut Woodpecker, Collared Trogon and Grey throated Leaf Tosser. In some ways best of all however was the Blue Morpho butterfly elegantly gliding along the road. Traffic was however a nightmare and nearly cost us Speckled Tanager, which when we saw it well was much nicer than the book. Back home to an excellent dinner and a Spectacled Owl calling from outside the guest-house.
24th
After heavy rain overnight our morning visit was to the Arena lowland forest. Stacks of dragons to photograph and some good bids including Squirrel and Little Cuckoo and Crimson crested Woodpecker. Long-billed Starthroat as well while Violaceous Trogon completed the Trinidad set.
 |
| Violaceous Trogon |
 |
| Purple Honeycreeper |
 |
| Palm Tanager |
First stop Pont-de Pierre Wildfowl Trust inside the refinery for plastic ducks, Great Cowbird and Streaked-headed Woodcreeper, after which we toured theWellington area for waders, Saffron Finch etc. Our last stop was the excellent Caroni Swamp where the main highlight was the roosting herons and Scarlet Ibis, a pretty impressive sight, even if the greatest spectacle was when they were flushed by a local boat going up the main channel behind them. Less so the Common Pottoo but it was still gratifying to see provided the rumours it's stuffed are unfounded!
26th
A clear up day when we decided (rightly) that with Asa Wright looming the Arena area of lowland forest represented our best chance of new birds. So it proved with 10 ticks plus Little Tinamou. heard, other highlights being 2 antbirds, Ruby Topaz, a pair of Bat Falcons and Crowned Ant-tanager After lunch in a bus shelter by the cattle fields (seats and a cool breeze) the fields themselves were quiet in the heat but the Striped Cuckoo of two nights back showed beautifully to remove one frustration.
 |
| Smooth-billed Ani, Ag Station |
 |
| Yellow-hooded Blackbird, Ag Stn |
With no guide hired we pottered round near the guest-house with another couple (Steve and Jane) dodging heavy showers, not seeing much new but getting good views of Violaceous Trogon and Grey Hawk and a few photos both of pink and green dragons and also Blue-grey Tanager and stuff round the veranda feeders. Black Hawk over the valley was new from the veranda, while a sting from a single (fortunately) angry africanised honey bee was momenterily painful and sore. An early finish meant we scored tea and cake!
 |
| Pondhawk |
 |
| Carmine Skimmer |
Transfer day to Asa Wright but before we went a Greater Black Hawk near Pax was a bonus. We managed a short walk along the discovery trail before the rain started which overnight became torrential, no fun in tin roofed accommodation. Sitting on the veranda was productive with a few new species and some excellent photo opportunities.
 |
| White-lined tanager in rain |
 |
| White-necked Jacobin |
No let up in the torrential rain meant the oilbird cave visit as a bit tricky. We persevered though and had decent views of three birds – more were on view deeper in but the stream was swollen and neither of us fancied soaking feet crossing. The sun did eventually appear long enough to see Wattled Bellbirds after lunch, the excellent displaying White bearded Manikins and get caked in clay along one of the rather unkept trails. A real bonus was a Short-tailed Nighthawk flying up the valley last thing, as was the clearing weather which meant a better night's sleep.
 |
| Wattled Bellbird |
 |
| White bearded Manikin |
With nothing planned we strolled around, seeing both local woodcreepers again but not much else, while the night walk was also quiet, just a couple of tarantula species and a few creepies but no owls.
 |
| Tropical flowers, Asa Wright |
 |
| Damselfly, Asa Wright |
Transfer day to Tobago meant sitting around the airport for 2 hours waiting for a 20 minute flight, then a long transfer along windy roads to Blue Waters, which was well worth it. Set in an idyllic bay with tropic birds and brown boobies flying past and green turtles swimming off the beach, the resort is pretty nice though the food was disappointing and expensive. Rufous-vented Chacalacas are fun if a little noisy. We met the famous Newton George in the evening to arrange our next day's birding.
1st February
Up and away at 6.00am for a good mornings birding along the Gilpin Trace, personal highlightys being Blue-backed Manakin and the endangered White-tailed Sabrewing. The best bird was however a pigeon found on the way back, Scaley-naped, still regarded as a vagrant on the islands though NG has seen them before. One odd thing, few butterflies and no dragonflies seen at all, so maybe the neatly strimmed verges are treated with insecticide to keep the reported mossie problem at bay.
 |
| Rainforest, Gilpin Trace |
 |
| Blue-backed Manikin |
The day started well with a breakfast tick, Red-footed Booby in the bay. After breakfast a walk through the nearest village, Speyside produced several Caribbean Martins, a couple of Yellow-crowned Night Herons and our first Tobago dragonflies, while a walk up the track above the resort after lunch produced several butterflies, a Ruby Topaz, Brown-crested Flycatcher and two of yesterday's ticks, White-streaked Antwren and Scrub Greenlet.
 |
| Blue dragons, Speyside |
 |
| Yellow crowned Night Heron, Speyside |
We took the bus into Scarborough, which was interesting but not birdy. We did manage Eared Dove in the botanical gardens as well as Red crowned Woodpecker while a flock of 50 or so Royal Terns on the harbour entrance was a bonus but little other reward for 1 ½ hours each way on a bus.
4th
 |
| Early morning, Bluewaters |
Home day prefaced by a walk up behind the resort in windy conditions, as a result there were few birds and fewer butterflies. After that a long taxi ride and a BA flight which left early but waited the extra time on Antigua before the transatlantic flight home to a windy but dry and mild Gatwick.
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