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.