Lesser White-fronted Goose and Chinese Water Deer

Went to Buckenham Marshes with the family after leaving my parents to see the Lesser White-fronted Goose that had been present for a few days. Took a bit of finding but eventually had good but distant views amongst Tundra Bean Geese and a few Greater White-fronted Geese. A Peregrine also performed quite nicely and the other birding highlight was a Jack Snipe in flight. Cetti’s Warblers were heard and Wigeon were seen surprisingly closely, though unfortunately the light was pretty poor for decent photography – see below!

By far the best sighting of the day wasn’t a bird. When talking to Tom regarding some distant Swans (they turned out to be Mute Swans), Tom flippantly mentioned a Muntjac when describing their location. I couldn’t see it, so but after scanning, realised immediately that it was in fact a Chinese Water Deer in the foreground. A new mammal for all of us!

Buckenham Marshes
30 December 2011 13:12 - 20:51
Patchy cloud 6C 9W
Mute Swan, Bean Goose, White-fronted Goose, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Barnacle Goose, Egyptian Goose, Wigeon, Teal, Mallard, Shoveler, Pheasant - heard only, Cormorant, Grey Heron, Peregrine, Moorhen, Golden Plover, Lapwing, Ruff, Jack Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Rock Dove / Feral Pigeon, Woodpigeon, Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Cetti's Warbler - heard only, Wren, Starling, Song Thrush, Pied Wagtail

Minsmere

Christmas visit to the parents, the afternoon of which I went by my self to Minsmere. First Bittern of the year at dusk (awful shot in no light below) was an obvious highlight, as well as a female Red-crested Pochard, and two Whooper Swans. Distant Red-throated Divers were moving through at several a minute during a brief sea-watch. Rest of birding in strong wind and occasional rain was difficult to say the least.

Minsmere
29 December 2011 12:25 - 16:04
Overcast with squally showers 8C 19W
Mute Swan, Whooper Swan, White-fronted Goose, Greylag Goose, Canada Goose, Barnacle Goose, Shelduck, Wigeon, Gadwall, Teal, Mallard, Pintail, Shoveler, Red-crested Pochard, Tufted Duck, Pheasant, Red-throated Diver, Cormorant, Bittern, Great Crested Grebe, Marsh Harrier, Sparrowhawk, Moorhen, Avocet, Lapwing, Bar-tailed Godwit, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Herring Gull, Great Black-backed Gull, Woodpigeon, Magpie, Jay, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Cetti's Warbler, Treecreeper, Wren , Starling, Blackbird, Robin, Chaffinch, Goldfinch

Short-eared Owl at Fowlmere

Spent the whole afternoon at Fowlmere. Very dull until last thing. Gave up waiting for the Hen Harrier to come in to roost (it didn’t) so went to see if there were any Barn Owls by the Paddock (there wasn’t, but one was seen by the Shep). Instead, I managed to flush a Short-eared Owl that was sitting on a fence post. Just about the first good self-found bird there for me.

I also began trailing Bird Journal to record sightings. Works very well. Results below…

Fowlmere
28 December 2011 13:09 - 16:35
Overcast 10C 14SW
Teal, Mallard, Pheasant, Grey Heron, Sparrowhawk, Kestrel, Water Rail (heard), Moorhen, Black-headed Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Stock Dove, Woodpigeon, Collared Dove, Barn Owl, Short-eared Owl, Green Woodpecker, Great Spotted Woodpecker (heard), Magpie, Jay (heard), Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Goldcrest, Blue Tit, Great Tit, Long-tailed Tit, Wren, Starling, Blackbird, Mistle Thrush, Robin (heard), Dunnock (heard), Pied Wagtail, Chaffinch (heard), Greenfinch, Goldfinch, Bullfinch (heard), Reed Bunting, Corn Bunting

Hayley Wood

Went to Hayley (Gamlingay) Wood with the boys, primarily to look for Nuthatch and Marsh Tit, neither of which I had seen this year. Got them both and had a nice walk to boot.

Fowlmere at dusk held little, though the Hen Harrier was apparently roosting.

Fowlmere

 

Fowlmere with Tom mid-afternoon. Not a lot apart from the Hen  Harrier. Took a couple of poor shots in worse light. It’s a female (2nd calendar year at least) with two generations of secondaries visible.

Hen Harrier at Fowlmere

Spent from lunchtime on at Fowlmere. Virtually nothing (just a flock of twenty or so Mistle Thrushes were the only birds of note) until a Ring-tail Hen Harrier flew in at dusk. It hawked around the reedbed for five minutes or so before roosting on the reserve.

Hen Harriers and a Otter

Three ringtail Hen Harriers in the air together along the Icknield Way, by Grey’s Farm, south of Royston. Also three Red Kites, four Buzzards, two Kestrels, and eight Grey Partridges. There were a  good number of small bird like Linnets and Corn Buntings that the raptors were obviously using as a food source.

Late afternoon at Fowlmere, an Otter was seen very briefly

Foxton Snipe

A Common Snipe flew across farmland south of the village towards Fowlmere bird reserve. New for the village.

Blackcap and Little Owl

A Blackcap (heard only) in a large Tit flock (Long-tailed Tit, Blue Tit, and Great Tit) in the Botanic Gardens, Cambridge.

In the evening, a Little Owl Little Owl was seen whilst driving between Fowlmere and Thriplow.

Golden Plovers

About three hundred Golden Plovers went over south whilst I was watching Sam play football in Duxford. Nearby, about fifteen Grey Partridges were seen on the journey home.

Fowlmere held very little. Just a fly-over Redpoll and ten Teal.

November Moth

A November Moth in the house to start December!

Fowlmere

Very quiet in the lunchtime sun: Just a Buzzard.

Geese, Swans, and Owls

A Tundra Bean Goose at Tyttenhanger mid-morning had me travelling into Herts. Not present when I first arrived but I managed to relocate it with two White-fronted Geese and five Greylags.

This photo of the Bean Goose and the White-fronted Geese was taken by Alan Reynolds as I was standing next to him…

A Red Kite was seen on the way around Welwyn.

I then made my way to a very quiet Amwell, where three Snipe and a Buzzard was about the long and short of it before heading for home to collect the kids and head towards Burwell Fen for where Short-eared Owls had been seen in good numbers recently. We drove around for a couple of hours but didn’t locate any until I found one at dusk, which in the end showed very nicely. Whilst searching though, we did manage to find seven Whooper Swans, a Peregrine, and a flock of about twenty White-fronted Geese. There were also a few Sika Deer seen.

All in all, a very good day!

Fowlmere

A quick walk first thing on a the first frosty morning for some time. A Cetti's was heard, and three drake Teal, three Siskins, and a Redpoll was seen.

Fowlmere and Fen Drayton

A very brief visit to Fowlmere late morning produced very little in the way of birds. A Common Darter enjoyed the winter sunshine, often perching on my jumper, and a Buzzard was seen.

In the Fen Drayton area at dusk, so despite the now thick fog, decided to visit the reserve. A Skeen of about thirty geese flew over which I’m certain were White-fronted, but in the fog I couldn’t be sure. So just heard only records of Tawny Owl and Cetti’s Warbler before I left in a pea soup at nightfall.

Greater Yellowlegs

Dawn with Daryl, James, and Tony for the Greater Yellowlegs at Hauxley Nature Reserve in Northumberland, where it had roosted last night. It  was heard and seen by a few lucky observers but we missed it, seeing only four Bar-tailed Godwits, and a number of Curlews and Redshanks.
We were about to check other sites where it had been seen when we heard news that it had been relocated at one of them, Druridge Bay, anyway.
A five minutes drive down the road and there it was, a juvenile Greater Yellowlegs. Standing on my own, away from the crowd, the bird decided to fly along the bank to within about five meters from where I was standing! It was way to close to photograph (I only had digiscoping equipment to hand), so I just enjoyed it on my own and then took a brief video...

Greater Yellowlegs

Also seen were three Scaup (one male), four Red-breasted Merganser (one male), and about two-hundred White-fronted Geese.
We then checked near by East Chevington for a recent Green-winged Teal, seeing only about one-hundred Teal before the long journey home. Although we did not see it, the Yellowlegs turned up on site whilst we were there.

Fowlmere

Beautiful day. Very quiet. Six Teal, Cetti’s Warbler heard, a Red Admiral, and three Common Darters.

Wembley Peregrines

Three Peregrines seen at dusk at Wembley stadium just before the England – Spain game. Obviously captive birds used to scare the Pigeons.

Mandarin at Fowlmere

Fowlmere at dawn in an as expected futile attempt to connect with yesterday’s Smew. Seven Teal were the highlight until a drake Mandarin flew in with Mallards. A Fowlmere tick, though not the one I was expecting.

Minsmere

A few hours from lunchtime until about an hour before dusk on my own whilst visiting my parents:

Marsh Harrier x 4
Pink-footed Goose
Brent Goose x 2 over the sea
Little Egret x 4
Goldcrest – probably a migrant in the sluice bushes
Fieldfare – best sighting of the day. In-off the sea whilst I was sea-watching and landed right by me. A Greater Black-backed Gull then briefly attacked it and but being so close to me soon gave up and after a few minutes rest the Fieldfare headed into cover.
Snow Bunting x 8
Bearded Tit x 3 (heard)
Cetti’s Warbler x 3 (heard)

Great Grey Shrike

A Great Grey Shrike at Kelshall mid afternoon. Also 29 Grey Partridges (two coveys of 12 and 17) and 7 Red-legged Partridges. Fowlmere later held little.

Weasel

One ran across the A505 south of Fowlmere, dodging the morning rush hour traffic to successfully make it to the other side!

Grey Wagtails & Skylarks

Two Grey Wagtails on the Cam at Great Chesterford. Best birds I've seen since I began working here! At dusk five Skylarks flew over the house.

Fowlmere

An hour mid-morning: Cetti's Warbler (heard), one, maybe two Siskins, and a Snipe.

Fowlmere

Nice sky; few birds. Snipe, Teal x 8. Cetti’s Warbler and two Tawny Owls heard.

Fowlmere

Two Cetti’s Warblers heard this evening. That’s it.

Fowlmere

Very brief visit to the hide at dusk were there were just a couple of Teal on the mere. A few hundred Starlings put in a nice display though.

Fowlmere & Amwell

Spent the morning at Fowlmere in the sun. Best sighting was of about thirty House Sparrows near the farm. Also seen were two Snipe and six Teal. A butterfly was also noted (almost certainly Red Admiral) and a Common Darter. Fowlmere is looking good after the recent work. Just need some birds!

Mid-afternoon I went to Amwell and stayed until dusk. Very quiet, best I could find were three Little Egrets and an adult Yellow-legged Gull.

Fowlmere

Just nine Teal this evening in very windy conditions.

Cornwall (Day 2)

Walked the coastal path west out of Mousehole before the others were awake. Some good habitat but no birds. Possible Firecrest heard but not seen and I’m not confident enough to separate them on call.

After breakfast and a walk around Mousehole we all went to Porthcurno and parked at the Manick Theatre from where we walked down to St. Levan. No birders present and not many bird: A Chiffchaff, a Peregrine, and two Swallows (like yesterday, heading towards the sea.)

 

We then drove around to Porthgwara and, after whilst the others had a coffee, I worked the bushes: Just a Chiffchaff heard and a Peregrine over. We then all went for a walk around the coastal path and then inland towards the towards the scrubby area. Not a lot. A couple more Rock Pipits and then a nice view of a Merlin.

A rather birdless weekend, but enjoyable all the same.

Cornwall (Day 1)

A weekend at Land’s End with the family. Drove down the previous afternoon, staying here. Dropped Michelle and Sam at Penzance so they could get a bus to St. Ives, and at St. Levan with Tom at about 8am for the very elusive Scarlet Tanager. No sign! One turned up on Scilly whilst we were waiting. We contemplated going over but could not get a flight anyway. Gave up about midday and went for a walk in nearby fields before taking the coastal path to Porthgwara. Not a lot of birds, just two or three Peregrines,a Swallow, a Red Admiral, and four Peacocks. Still, good fun trying and did have a nice pastie from the small shop!

The walk back produced little, apart from a Raven, and so after a cursory check at St. Levan (where just about everyone else had left), we headed for Nanquidno. Quite a few birders were there (fellow dippers) but no birds! Just a whole load of Red Admirals (well, eight). Did take quite a nice photo of a Pied Wagtail whist there…

So on to the Cot Valley and more birders, and more Red Admirals, and just a Chiffchaff and a couple of Rock Pipits.

So on to Kenidjack. More Red Admirals despite it getting late and cold, and nearly the find of the day: A Yellow-browed Warbler heard but unfortunately not seen despite searching (it was later found by someone else.) Oh well. Collected Michelle from Penzance and on to the Ship Inn at Mousehole.

Fowlmere

A stroll around in sunny but windy conditions last thing. Just a Redpoll really, and a picture of a Wood Pigeon in silhouette that I quite like.

Fowlmere

Just a couple of Snipe in a strong westerly wind.

Local failures!

Fowlmere, Therfield Heath, and Shepreth L-moor. Not much, several Red Admirals everywhere, and at Fowlmere, a Barn Owl roosting, a Snipe, and a Cetti’s Warbler heard.

Dips and failures

Started pre-dawn at Warham for the (as expected) departed Rufous-tailed Robin. Walked the track for an hour or so, before it became obvious that it had gone so decided to walk towards Stiffkey to see if I could find any migrants. Apart from a couple of Crossbills off the sea, a Chiffchaff, and some Red Admirals, I didn’t. It was a beautiful dawn however, made all the better by the sight and sound of Brent Geese and Pink-footed Geese and the occasional Marsh Harrier.

By the time I had returned, it was apparent that everyone had given up and headed to Holme for a Red-flanked Blue-tail that had been found. I decided however to go the other way to Stiffkey Fen where a Bluethroat was present. Except it wasn’t, not for me at least. I did manage a couple of Curlew Sandpipers but also failed to find a Yellow-browed that had been present. More Brent Geese, Pink-feet, Marsh Harriers, and Red Admirals were about all I could manage in a couple of hours.

So I retired to the Victoria at Holkham for a pint and some food (hadn’t eaten and been up since 4:30am) as well as to plan my next move. Decided I’d had enough of twitches and as there were loads of Yellow-broweds being reported, thought I’d go and find my own in Holkham Pines. I didn’t; just Goldcrests, Chiffchaffs, Redpolls, and more Red Admirals.

So, feeling rather tired and dejected I abandoned Norfolk and headed for home to watch the football.

Fowlmere

A bat (Pipistrelle sp.?) was about as exciting as it got!

Knot at Amwell

Took a bit of searching and assumed I’d dipped, but after everyone else on site had left, I found the Knot at dusk on the same spot where it had apparently been yesterday. Heard it call first, and as I’d checked just about every spot I could could, so I assume it had just flown in. A juvenile apparently but appeared to an adult winter to my eyes, though light was poor.

Also a Common Sandpiper a “textbook” adult Yellow-legged Gull (probably male by large size) and a heard-only Cetti’s Warbler.

Fowlmere

Quiet evening visit…

Corn Buntings x c.30
Pied Wagtail x 7 drinking on mere
Cetti’s Warbler (heard)
Migrant Hakwer

Amwell, Fowlmere, and around

Drove to Amwell late morning with the family. A dozen Redwings were seen in Fowlmere village along the way; the first of the winter. Amwell was very quiet. So quiet that I counted the large number of Coots: 377. A 1S/2w Yellow-legged Gull provided pretty much the only interest. A Cetti’s Warbler was heard and a single Buzzard noted, as well as a Migrant Hawker and four Common Darters.

Shepreth L-moor late afternoon held nothing of note, so on to Fowlmere which wasn’t a whole lot mote exciting. A Cetti’s Warbler was heard and a flyover Redwing was about it, though a late Bat sp. was seen whilst I was leaving at dusk.

In the evening, two Foxes were seen, one along Fowlmere Road, and one in the village, the first I’ve seen actually in the village since moving.

Titchwell

Norfolk with the family during the heatwave (nearly 30ºC). Went to Titchwell for a couple of hours before lunch and recorded the following…

Egyption Goose x 30
Barnacle Goose x 4
Little Stint x 2
Knot – adult winter
Black-tailed Godwit x c.20
Peregrine
Pintail x c.20
Wigeon x c.20
Ruff x c.100
Bearded Tit – male
Cetti’s Warbler – several heard
Small Copper

At Holkham later it seemed most odd to see and hear Pink-footed Geese whilst in shorts and T-shirt and paddling in the sea!

Sandhill Crane

Long overnight drive (mostly done by Mick Illet!) to the Loch of Strathbeg. Got the Sandhill Crane first thing and watched it with Pink-footed Geese for an hour or so as the light improved.

Stopped of at Blackdog on the way back for an hour’s see-watch, mainly to try and find Black Scoter which Daryl Bryant needed (we failed, though it was there later). Recorded the following…

Arctic Skua x 6 dark phase, moving south
Long-tailed Skua x 2 dark phase, moving south
Red-throated Diver x 2
Eider x c.300
Common Scoter x c.30
Gannet x 3
Sandwich Tern x 12

Polecat

One found dead in Fowlmere village looked to me to be a very pure individual. I saw a Polecat-like creature whilst driving near the village only yesterday. Not claiming it, but makes me wonder!

Collared Dove released

Released the  Collared Dove in the morning and it flew to the top of the Apple Tree where it actively fed, picking off insects. It was on its own now as there was no way to reach it. It seemed perfectly fine though and had gone when I looked later. A happy ending!

Collared Dove still here

Collared Dove still with us. Released it late afternoon but it was still struggling to fly, so rested it overnight again.

Collared Dove

Arrived at Fowlmere to find a Collared Dove that had been left by the hut in a cardboard box with a blanket around it. It couldn’t fly, but I could see no visible damage. I took it home and put it in the cage. Seemed to be fine by dusk but thought I’d leave it overnight.

No birds of any note, but both a Stoat and a Weasel.

Fowlmere

Couldn’t sleep so arrived at dawn and spent two hours looking for migrants. Recorded two large flocks of Hirrundines moving straight through south, the first containing about 50 Swallows, the second about 30 House Martins.

Also, four Teal, the Cetti’s was heard, and a Southern Hawker.

Fowlmere

Lesser Whitethroat and a Chiffchaff. That’s it.

Partridges

Near Thriplow: Grey Partridge x 16 and a single Red-legged Partridge.

Sabine’s Gull and Grey Phalaropes

Great visit with Tom to Grafham water to see an adult Sabine’s Gull and two juvenile/1st winter Grey Phalaropes. Hoping Tom will do a picture at some point! Also saw 4 (1 juvenile) Yellow Wagtails.

Shepreth L-moor

First visit for ages. Went with Sam. A single Buzzard and 31 Lapwings were seen.

Fowlmere

A couple of Red Admirals and a Turtle Dove was a about it.

Wind was impressive though; c.25mph, SW; Hurricane Katia.

Tree Sparrow

A Tree Sparrow in Foxton along Fowlmere road with around thirty House Sparrows was a village tick.

Pec’ Sand’

A Pectoral Sandpiper at Wilstone. First for many years and a county tick. Mad drive, making it just before nightfall. A couple of Dunlin and six Ringed Plover also noted.

Fowlmere

First visit to Fowlmere since arriving home. No Cheetahs, or Lions, or Turacos. An incredibly strong Westerly wind though, the aftermath of Hurricane Irene.

Swallow x c.50
House Martin x c.50
Kinfisher x 2

Wood Pigeon

Landed at Norwich airport. First bird back in the country was a Woodpigeon. Probably not the same one we saw as the last bird before leaving.

Tarangire

The last day. As usual we were out before dawn, but this time on a long drive (just under two hours) to Tarangire. A lovely park, visited mainly for birds, though this didn’t stop us seeing the usual array of mammals including, surprisingly, another Leopard and more Lions. The non-birders also managed to add a Leopard Tortoise and a Monitor Lizard to their lists. We didn’t really target anything, just drove around in our usual manner, seeing what there was to be seen.

  

The park was very birdy, and a good number of new birds were added to the trip-list, including a few new ones for me…

Great White Pelican
Intermediate Egret
Hamerkop
African Openbill
Saddle-billed Stork
Brown Snake-Eagle
Namaqua Dove
Yellow-collared Lovebird
Mottled Spinetail
Malachite Kingfisher
D'Arnaud's Barbet
Mosque Swallow
African Penduline-Tit
Grey-crested Helmetshrike
Ashy Starling
Steel-blue Whydah
Pin-tailed Whydah

 
 
 

Later than we should have been we made a made dash to the airport for our evening flight. We seemed to hit the Arusha rush-hour which delayed us more and then came very close to a having crash which Abdul very skilfully avoided. With time running out, and the light fading fast, we made a stop for our last tick; something that we'd obviously missed on our night-time arrival: Kilimanjaro. A fitting end to a wonderful trip.

Edit (17/11/2011): Monitor Lizard was Nile Monitor Lizard.

Serengeti to Manyara

Started the day as yesterday: Out before dawn for a few hours before returning for breakfast and to pack. Not as exciting as yesterday but clear skies led to a beautiful sunrise. As well as the usual mammals, we also saw a Golden Jackal. We then saw the first Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse of the trip before we found several hundred Sandgrouse drinking at a pool. It consisting mainly of Yellow-throated Sandgrouse, but a few Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse as well.

After breakfast, whist the car was being loaded, Sam managed a quick swim, and Tom found a Red-fronted Tinkerbird (which I missed). We then took a slow drive eastwards out of the Serengeti, seeing more mammals (including Lions with cubs), before stopping for lunch at the gates as on our way in. A Spotted Thick-knee was found in the plans, making it the last new bird for the Serengeti.

We then made our way back to the Ngorongoro crater, again admiring the views. I also made a few stops there to try and call in Grey-capped Warbler (which I’d fully expecting to see) but failed. Then out of Ngorongoro and back to the Twiga, where we arrived at dusk. It was then just a case of packing for the plane and a day bag for our last day. All a bit sad really, as we didn’t want to leave, but we’d had an amazing few days in the Serengeti.

Edit (16/11/2011): This is an Agama species, probably a female Mwanza Flat-headed Agama…

Serengeti (Day 4)

Our last full day in the Serengeti so we all thought it best to take the option of a pre-dawn start, returning to the lodge for breakfast, and collecting a picnic lunch. This proved to be a good choice as the three hours before breakfast were full of action! A Slender-tailed Nightjar was calling (but unfortunately couldn’t be lured in); a Lion posed in beautiful light; some young Spotted Hyenas investigated the jeep; a lone Cheetah was found exceptionally close; a herd of Elephants were seen in great light and then charged a nearby jeep; a Cheetah family was seen; and finally a pack of Hyenas were seen with a freshly dead Thompson’s Gazelle. Amazing stuff.

The rest of the day continued in a similar way as previous days: Just driving around seeing what we could find. Geat fun! Trip Leopard counts reached double figures(!) but the mammal highlight (until the evening – see below) was undoubtedly two female Lions stalking a family of Warthogs. The final chase led to much loud squealing, but with no kill.

I had one main target species – Red-throated Tit – that I especially wanted to see. I’d glimpsed one earlier in the lodge gardens but hadn’t had a proper view. Fortunately we found two of these as well as other good birds including Southern Ground-Hornbill and, in particular, Pangani Longclaw. Other new birds included Red-billed Duck, Black-breasted Snake-Eagle, Wahlberg's Eagle, White-bellied Go-away-bird, Nyanza Swift, Plain-backed Pipit, Banded Warbler, Golden-breasted Bunting, and Swaheli Sparrow, the last being a new bird for me also.

The day’s highlight came last thing: We were driving back to the lodge a little bit earlier than usual for several reason (we’d been up before dawn; Sam wanted a swim; I was happy to check out birds in the gardens whilst having a beer). However, on the way back I yelled stop as, very close to the road, a Cheetah had just killed a Thomson’s Gazelle! It took it into cover and then rested in full view for several minutes, exhausted. We guessed it was a female and hopped it may have cubs nearby. Sure enough, after it had recovered it started calling them in. With no response it went to find them whilst we manoeuvred the jeep in prime position for their return. The female walked quite some distance and out of view, but after a while we spotted her returning and then a few minutes later noticed two cubs some distance behind. They then slowly made there way to the carcass, walking a short distance and then hiding in cover, repeating the process many times. Each time they stopped and hid, the mother would raise her head and look around for several minutes before walking slowly closer. Eventually, after about an hour, they arrived at the carcass where they devoured it, with the female waiting until the cubs had had their fill. Fascinating to watch something that may seem rather run-of-the-mill when watching on a television documentary, but to witness it first hand is something else. With the light gone, and the show over, we headed back to the lodge in the dark. Sam wasn’t fussed about the swimming!