Poland - May 2007

This is an account of a short birdwatching trip to Central Poland at the end of May 2007. The area visited is about 100km West of Warsaw (Warszawa), and 30km South of the nearest town, Włocławek (pronounced: vwots-warvek).

The landscape is a mixture of farmland (mainly Rye, Maize and Potatoes) and woodland (conifers and mixed). The farmland fields are generally in narrow strips with grassy borders. Many cornflowers, daisies and poppies grow at the edges of the fields and within the crops.





The house was adjacent to the village school and within the school grounds. Birds seen here were Golden Oriole (wilga), Black Redstart (kopciuszek), Red-Backed Shrike (gąsiorek), House Sparrow (wróbel) and Fieldfare (kwiczoł).

A fieldfare (kwiczoł) had a nest in an apple tree and the black redstarts (kopciuszek) were nesting in an old out-building. Nightingales (słowik rdzawy) could be heard from the garden. A short walk away, a pair of White Storks (Bocian Biały) were nesting on a platform close to some farm buildings.


Details of a day’s walk:
On leaving the school-yard the lane was a sandy track, passed a few houses and then between fields. On the track in front were a couple of Blue-Headed Wagtails (pliszka żółta). Dozens of Skylarks (skowronek) were signing from or above the Rye fields.

A single Corn Bunting (potrzeszcz) was signing from a small bush and a White Wagtail (pliszka siwa) was also seen.



A Corn bunting was seen here

As I approached the woods a Black Kite (kania czarna) and a Common Buzzard (myszołów) were seen over the treetops. There is a rubbish dump within the woods, it’s possible that the Kite had been feeding there.

In the first conifer woods Golden Orioles (wilga), Hawfinches (grubodziόb zwyczajny) and Nuthatches (kowalik) were seen. On the downside the place was swarming with mosquitoes. I wished that I had brought some Jungle Formula. I’ve never been bitten so much in all my life. The weather was hot and I was wearing shorts. Jumping around slapping my legs like an Austrian lederhosen-wearing yodeller was ideal for birdwatching, so I decided to keep to the edges of woods as much as possible. Here the mosquitoes were not so bad.

Coming out of the woods the I reached a sandy path which was bordered by farmland a few farm houses, more woodland and recently felled woodland. Here a nightingale (słowik rdzawy) was heard signing (it was still quite early on the day).

Along the track was a woodlark (kalandra szara) at the edge of a recently felled woodland. Here there was also a Great Spotted Woodpecker (dzięcioł duży). All along the track there were Red-Backed Shrikes (gąsiorek), a very common bird in this area.

After a short walk along the track I ventured into a small area of deciduous woodland where I saw a pair of Willow Tits (czarnogłówka) and a male Redstart (pleszka). On the other side of the track in some long grass I disturbed a grass snake, which quickly slid off into cover.

Over the woodland all around Common Buzzards (myszołów) were regularly seen.

The track then opened out into a clear area with farmland on both sides. The fields here were uncultivated. Several hirundines were flying around, Swallows (dymówka), House Martins (oknówka) and Sand Martins (brzegówka) were noted as well as Swifts.

On a telegraph wire there was a Tawny Pipit (świergotek polny). A Turtle Dove (turkawka) flew along the track.

2 White Storks (bocian biały) flew over and landed in a nearby field.

I then arrived at a farmhouse with a small pond opposite. In the reeds around the pond were a couple of Reed Warblers (trzcinniczek). I was alerted by an alarm call and witnessed a female Blackcap (kapturka) being chased by a Red-Backed Shrike (gąsiorek). The blackcap (kapturka) got away. In the trees around the pond were some Tree Sparrows (mazurek).

Just beyond the house was a woodland of Birch trees. Here a Tree Pipit (świergotek drzewny) was singing, and a Wood Warbler (świstunka leśna) was also seen.


Tree Pipit

Further on the track passed through coniferous woods again. A spotted flycatcher (muchołówka szara) was flying to and from its perch catching flies.

I took a path through the woods on the right-hand side of the track. The trees were not too dense and a few deciduous trees were also growing in amongst the conifers. A Greenish Warbler was feeding amongst the leaves and another male Redstart (pleszka) was seen. A buzzard (myszołów) flew silently through the conifers.

When the path came to an intersection, I noticed the buzzard (myszołów) sitting on a nest in the tree tops. When it flew off I could see at least 2 fairly large chicks. I later saw a Buzzard (myszołów) heading towards this nest carrying some food (a small rodent).

The right hand branch of the intersection soon led out to the edge of the wood. Here in the middle of a large grassy field there was a cluster of trees. A Great Grey Shrike (srokosz) was seen perched on some dead branches.

I returned back in to the wood and took the left-hand branch. This soon opened out into a small clearing. Along the edge a Tree Pipit (świergotek polny) was seen repeatedly doing its display flight, signing as it flies up into the air to return to the same perch.

Above the woods a Buzzard (myszołów) was flying over. This was then mobbed by a Goshawk (jastrząb).

I retraced my steps back to the main track and sat on the verge opposite a clearing to half some lunch (Kiełbasa sandwiches and Czarlotka). Whilst having lunch I noticed 2 Honey Buzzards (trzmielojad) over the woods in front.

I had almost finished lunch when 2 Hoopoes (Dudek) flew out of the woods behind me and across to the other side of the clearing. I quickly put the remains of my lunch away and set off in pursuit. I caught up with the Hoopoes (Dudek) and got some very good views before they continued flying off through the wood.

2 White Storks (bocian biały) flew over. On some bushes in the clearing was an Ortolan Bunting (Ortolan).

I walked around the edge of the wood until another track was reached. Here I saw another Goshawk (jastrząb) over the tops of the trees. Beyond the wood was a large uncultivated area, here Meadow Pipits (świergotek łąkowy) were seen.

As I made my way back round to the end of the track, where it became a tarmac road there was a male Hen Harrier (błotniak zbożowy) gliding over a field of rye.

Where the tarmac road re-joined the track there was a female Pied Flycatcher (muchołówka żałobna) in the hedgerow and yet another Red-Backed Shrike (gąsiorek).

On the way back, passing the farmhouse (with the pond opposite) a Hobby (kobuz) flew past. Just beyond this a pair of Golden Orioles (wilga) flew across the track into the trees at the side. Several more Buzzards (myszołów) and Red-Backed Shrikes (gąsiorek) were seen.


At the end of the track, just beyond the first coniferous woodland there was a small lake. Unfortunately there were no birds to be seen here, however as I left a Hooded Crow (wrona siwa) flew over.




The small lake

Upper Newport Bay - California USA - September 2006

In September 2006 I was fortunate enough to visit Irvine/Newport Beach in California on business. I stayed at the Marriott Bayview Hotel which was situated right at the edge of the Upper Newport Bay wildlife reserve. Unfortunately I had not been expecting this, so I came totally unprepared with no camera, binoculars or bird book.

Having completed my assignment my mid-afternoon on the last day I was able to walk around the Bay for a couple of hours or so.

I had already seen a couple of Turkey Vultures low over some waste ground at the edge of the freeway and there were many more around the Bay.

At the upper end of the bay where it meets Jamboree Rd there were a large number of waders. I was able to identify Snowy Egrets, Lesser Yellow-Legs, Marbled Godwits, Long-billed Curlews, Willet and Long-billed Dowitchers. There were also Double-crested Cormorants.

In the bushes here were Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and Common Yellowthroats. I sat at the water's edge for a while watching the waders and the Turkey Vultures overhead (which were often extremely close). I then spotted 2 Belted Kingfishers fly past and watched as they perched in a nearby tree and dived for fish.

In the reedbeds there was a Great Egret and a few Great Blue Herons.

At one point there were many raptors in the sky together. The Turkey Vultures being joined by Red-Tailed Hawks and Swainson's Hawks. I walked up the hill alongside the back gardens of some very expensive looking houses for a better view. Here I saw a Rufous Hummingbird sipping nectar from flowers.

As I turned back to the Bay I spotted a hovering White-tailed Kite and saw a ringtail Northern Harrier (UK - Hen Harrier) gliding over the reedbeds.

Just before reaching the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center the path crossed a stream where there were American Coots, Pied-billed Grebes and Western Grebes.

Around the visitor centre there were many Common Ground-Doves and the only mammals that I saw, Ground Squirrels. The squirrels had burrows on the opposite bank and here I saw them being chased on foot by Goshawks. Rock Pigeons and a pair of Ravens were flying around the cliffs.

Shortly after this I got my first views of 2 ospreys right over my head. As they moved around the bay I got many more good views. I learnt from the ranger at the visitor centre that this was the first year that they had bred in the Bay.

As I reluctantly returned to the hotel late in the afternoon several Black Skimmers were on a sandbank in the middle of the bay. From time to time they would take off to fly around the Bay skimming the water with their large bright orange beaks. Least Terns were hovering over the water and diving for fish.

Other birds seen in the area included, American Crow, Brewer's Blackbird, Common Grackle, European Starling, Western Kingbird and Black Phoebe.

Mauritius - March 2008

After the activities of South Africa and Zambia our stay in Mauritius was geared more to the beach and relaxation than to wildlife watching.



There were however a number of birds around the hotel. The same species were usually seen on a daily basis.

House Sparrows, Barred-Ground Doves and Common Myna were regular visitors to the restaurant area. The Doves were also searching for scraps on the beach.


Common Myna

Madgascar (or Red-Cardinal) Fody and Red-Whiskered Bulbul were regularly seen around the hotel gardens. Village Weavers and Scaly-Breasted Munia were also seen.


Red-Cardinal Fody




Red-Whiskered Bulbul


Scaly-Breasted Munia

On the rocks at the beach Green-Backed Herons, and Whimbrel were often seen.




Green-Backed Heron


Whimbrel

On a trip around the Island, the birds seen were much the same as around the hotel. We did get a couple of fairly distant views of Tropic Birds at the Black River Gorge and the Chamarel Waterfall (where these record shots were taken).

White-Tailed Tropic Bird

The only mammals seen on the island were these Macaque Monkeys at the statue of Shiva and the Holy Lake.

Macaque Monkeys




The clear blue waters of the Indian Ocean - looking out towards the coral reef


Sunset over the Indian Ocean

Victoria Falls, Zambia - March 2008

For our stay in Zambia we stayed at the Zambezi Sun Hotel in Livingstone. The hotel is within the Mosi-Oa-Tunya National Park and is a stone's throw from the falls.

Within the hotel grounds we saw Impala, Zebra, Vervet Monkeys and Baboons.

The Monkeys and Baboons were either on the lawns in the trees or climbing on the roofs of the buildings. The restaurant staff were frequently having to chase the monkeys away from the dining area.






Vervet Monkeys

Zebras were seen grazing the lawns on a daily basis. Unlike the zebras at Kruger, these ones did not have the characteristic shadowing of the stripes common in many Burchell's Zebra.


Burchell's Zebra on the lawn in one evening


Burchell's Zebra from our balcony one morning

Also seen on our balcony one evening was this spider.



African pied wagtails were often around the swimming pool area.

When we visted the Falls these Rock Hyrax were seen.




Rock Hyrax

The spray from the falls could easily be seen and heard from the hotel. At this time of the year, towards the end of the wet season, the Zambezi is in full flood. A visit to falls results in a thorough drenching.

Canoeing along the Zambezi River - Zimbabwe/Zambia - March 2008

The trip started with a drive through the Mosi-Oa-Tunya game reserve. Baboons and Giraffe were seen along with Batteleur's Eagles and a Black Kite.



After a safety briefing we were ready to go.



Joanna and I went in separate canoes with the 2 guides, which meant that we could see and photograph more of the wildlife without having to concentrate on paddling all the time (although we both did our fair share).



We started out paddling straight across the river to the other side, and then headed downstream on the Zimbabwe side of the river.

As we crossed, a number of White-Backed Vultures could be seen circling over the far bank.




White-Backed Vulture

The bird-life along the river was plentiful, particularly Bee-Eaters.




White-Fronted Bee-Eaters


Little Bee-Eater

Many Red Bishops, (sparrow-sixed bright red and black birds) and some Fork-Tailed Drongos were spotted. A Spotted Flycatcher was perched on a branch watching for flies. There were 2 types of Kingfisher - the large Pied Kingfisher and the small and extremely colourful Malachite Kingfisher.


Pied Kingfisher




Malachite Kingfisher


This African Darter (or Snake Bird) was watching for fish from its lookout post.



African Darter

We passed this colony of Cattle Egrets


Cattle Egrets

Much of the time the water was calm like this:


Occassionly we paddled through rapids:



Along the banks there were several Water Thick-Knees and White-Crowned Plovers




White-Crowned Plover

We also managed to see 2 Fish Eagles, one of which was tearing away at a fish in a tree.




Fish Eagle


In the middle of the river there was a large cluster of Masked Weavers' nests.


Male Mopani Trees are different to female ones. The male tree shown here has a darker bark.



Sausage trees were also growing along the edge of the river.

The large fruits are used for medicinal purposes. They are also eaten by animals - like this Baboon.


Chacma Baboon

After a getting a thorough drenching from paddling through a set of rapids, we crossed back to the Zambian side of the river for a lunch break - a welcome chance to dry off in the sun.



Continuing along the Zambian side of the river, there were less birds to see. We did however see more animals. Several good sightings of Hippos, a herd of impala, a couple of giraffe and right at the end of the journey a large crocodile.


Hippos


Impala



Giraffe

The giraffes in Zambia were a lot paler than those seen earlier in the Kruger National Park, South Africa.




The Zambezi River