Atlanta Stopover

Landed at around 5.30 am, checked in for the home flight and rested in the airport until the sun came up - sorted out a taxi to take us to Chattahoochee River Recreation Area - mega dollars for the fare!
A lovely few hours walking along the river and through some woodland with lots of birds and very friendly people who stopped to chat. A couple of ladies, Marjorie and * wanted to take us home, get our luggage and take us to a concert! One lady spends 6 months every year on a narrow boat in Northampton and a gentleman spent 2 years in Mildenhall in the US airforce.
We were very lucky to have a Bald Eagle fly over our heads along with Cooper’s Hawk, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Red-headed Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpecker, White-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, Tufted titmouse, Caroline Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Caroline Wren, Eastern Bluebird, Hermit Thrush, Northern Mockingbird, Brown Thrasher, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Northern Cardinal, Eastern Towhee, White-throated Sparrows, Song Sparrow, Common Grackle, Purple Finch and American Goldfinch.

Our taxi retrieved us and returned us to the airport for a pretty hassle free trip through security before we boarded the plane for the long, overnight flight home.  

Day 12 - Back to Quito

Day 12 Back to Quito.

28^th November

The first couple of hours we spent around the Wildsumaco Lodge, the lower hummingbird feeder and along the access road before heading for Quito. We made several fairly uneventful stops en route until we reached Papallacta.

Around the Lodge we saw two Black-mandibled Toucan, Lefrayneses Piculet, Violet-headed Hummingbird and Gorgeted Woodstar. The lower feeders were almost empty but a hoped for Ecuadorian Pied-tail made a couple of visits along with a male Black-throated Brilliant and a male Napo Sabrewing. Also seen here were a male Red-headed Barbet, two Masked Tityra, a Lined Ant-shrike, Golden-faced Tyrannulet, Blue-browed Tanager and Paradise Tanager.

Walking along the road we saw two four Chestnut-fronted Macaws and Long-tailed tyrants,

We were lucky to have very clear views of Volcano Antisana and Sumaco and a Graell’s Tamarin.

A brief stop at a large lake above the town produced Yellow-billed Pintail, Blue-winged Teal and Neotropic Cormorant. However, the trip ended with a superb couple of hours spent in high paramo/polylepis forest at the pass where we were lucky enough to see three Variable Hawks, two Rainbow-bearded Thornbill, two Blue-mantled Thornbills, a possible Viridian Metaltail, Andean Tit-spinetail, Whte-chinned Thistletail, several Many-streaked Canasteros, Stout-billed Cinclodes, Paramo ground-tyrant, a Red-crested Cotinga, two Giant Conebills and Plumbeous Seedeaters.

Day 11 - Wild Sumaco 2

 Day 11 - Wild Sumaco

Heavy rain in the morning and then extremely humid conditions made for an exhausting birding session which finished earlier than normal.

The first event was the feeding of two Plain-backed Antpittas.

We went spent over an hour at the lower feeders which produced Green Hermit, Black-throated Mango, Gould’s Jewelfront, Napo Sabrewing, Black-throated Brilliant, two Many-banded Aracari, a Lineated Woodpecker and Spotted Tanager. A Swallow-tailed Kite flew over.

We spent more time around the lodge feeders although not seeing a great deal in the way of new birds but two Graells Tamarins gave excellent views from the balcony.

The afternoon was spent between the lodge and the F.A.C.E trail where we saw 15 Chestnut-fronted Macaws, three Mealy Parrots, two Chestnut-tipped Toucanets, two Golden-coloured Toucanets, White-crowned Manakin.

Late in the garden we saw Black-mandibled Toucan and a small colony of Crested Oropendula.

10 - Wild Sumaco

Day 10- Wild Sumaco

Drive to Wild Sumaco with stops on the way.
Jorge buys a 9-banded long-nosed armadillo
Settled into Wild Sumaco - Brilliant views, feeders - walk for owls, no joy.

The first hour or so was spent around the lodge then we drove south to Wildsumaco stopping at the Guayacamos Ridge and at a couple of sites along the Loreta Road. We arrived at Wildsumaco at 1400 and birded the entrance road till 1600 when we checked in. Thereafter on the lodge balcony in pouring rain and fog.

 San Isidro

Similar birds to yesterday morning but with superb views of Masked Trogon and Crested Quetzal and the addition of Long-tailed Antbird and Rufous-crowned Tody-flycatcher.

We stopped en route at the Guayacamos Ridge and walked the trail for about 2kms. Two Powerful Woodpeckers, a brief Green-fronted Lancebill, an Ocellated Tapaculo gave fantastic views as it displayed above us, a Sepia-brown Wren, Rufous-breasted Flycatcher, Streak-necked Flycatcher, Green and Black Fruiteater, Chestnut-bellied Thrush, Grass-green Tanager and Black-headed Hemispingus were all seen.

Loreta Road

Short-tailed Swift, Golden-collared Toucanet. Long-billed Starthroat, Cliff Flycatcher, Golden-eared Tanager, Silver-beaked Tanager, Swallow Tanager, Olivaceous Siskin.

Nine-banded Armadillo,

 Wildsumaco

Scaled Pigeon, Chestnut-fronted Macaw, Maroon-tailed Parakeet, Green Hermit, Brown Violet-ear, Wire-crested Thorntail, Booted Racket-tail (orange boots), Gorgeted Woodstar, Fork-tailed Wood-nymph, Many-spotted Hummingbird, Golden-tailed sapphire, Gilded Barbet, Yellow-tufted Woodpecker, Plain Xenops, Olive-backed Woodcreeper, Variegated Bristle-tyrant, Eaastern Wood-pewee, White-necked Thrush, Magpie Tanager, Purple Honeycreeper, Black and White seedeater, Chestnut-bellied Seedeater, Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Day 9 - San Isidro 2

Day 9 San Isidro

All day spent around the San Isidro area including a couple of pitta feeding sessions, a drive through cloud forest along the Sierrazul road, a dusk trip out for Andean Potoo and a post dinner walk for San Isidro Owl. The first hour or so around the lodge lights was excellent and as usual the hummingbird feeders provided plenty of entertainment at various times during the day. Heavy rain during the mid afternoon period.

Birds seen included three Sickle-winged Guans, a Broad-winged Hawk, 14 Southern Lapwings, several flocks of White-capped Parrot (but not seen well), an adult Black-banded Owl with a presumed juvenile calling nearby, an Andean Potoo, two Green Violet-ears, lots of Sparkling Violet-ears, Speckled Hummingbirds, Long-tailed Sylphs, Bronzy and Collared Incas, ten Chestnut-breasted Coronets and Fawn-breasted Brilliants, Golden-headed and Crested Quetzals, a Masked Trogon, two Emerald Toucanets, a Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, five Pearled Treerunners, a Montane Foliage-gleaner, two Olive-backed and six Montane Woodcreepers, two Chestnut-crowned and one White-bellied Pittas, one Blackish Tapaculo, a Torrent Tyrannulet, a Streak-necked Flycatcher, three Rufous-crowned Tody-flycatchers, ten Cinnamon Flycatchers, a Fork-tailed Flycatcher, ten Pale-edged Flycatchers, two Andean Solitaires, two Glossy Black Thrush, Black-eared Hemispingus, Saffron-crowned and Flame-faced Tanagers, two Bluish Honeycreepers, a Black-and-white Warbler, five Canada Warblers, three Black-crested Warbler and Russet-backed Oropendulas.

Day 8 - San Isidro

Day 8 - Guango Lodge and environs.

The morning began with a pre-breakfast stroll down to the river, along to the road and back to the Lodge. A session watching the feeders was then followed by a longer walk along the river and the oilpipe track. Another short session watching the feeders before leaving at 1510 for San Isidro.

The Torrent Ducks took some finding but eventually two were found just below the lodge where they should have been. The feeders produced loads of Tourmaline Sunangels and White-bellied Woodstars, a few Long-tailed Sylphs, four Sword-billed Hummingbirds, two Mountain Avocetbills, 12 or so Chestnut-breasted Coronets, three Mountain Velvet-breasts (with another on the river) with smaller numbers of Collared Inca, Buff-winged Starfrontlet, Tyrian Metaltails, Speckled hummingbird and a Buff-tailed Coronet.

Birds seen along the river included a Spotted Sandpiper, two Masked Trogons, four Torrent Tyrannulets, five White-capped Dippers, two Slaty-backed Chat-Tyrants, a Lacrimose Mountain-tanager, lots of Hooded Mountain-tanagers, a couple of Gray-hooded Bush-tanager and Black-eared Hemispingus, five Pearled Treerunners, Mountain Wren, Turquoise Jay, Canada Warbler, a Chestnut-capped and two Pale-naped Brush-finch and Northern Mountain Cacique.

 

A short diversion just north of San Isidro into some good cloud forest proved very productive with Golden-headed and Crested Trogons, Emerald Toucanet, Powerful Woodpecker, Shining Sunbeam, Long-tailed Sylph, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Inca Jay and Subtropical Casique.

 

An evening patrol of the San Isidro lodge produced a juvenile San Isidro Owl.

Day 7 - To Guango

Day7 Quito to Guango

A more leisurely start to the day saw us being picked up at 6.30 and heading out of quito towards Antisano. We stopped at a site to look for condor and within a few minutes we were watching an adult and a juvenile on a rock on the other side of the valley. Eventually the adult flew off and we looked around for other birds.
On the wires above our head a Tainbearer flaunted its tail, a Shining Sunbeam was flitting round a bush and Variable Hawk sailed over the hills.

On and up through the entrance barrier and our first stop was to watch a Roadside Hawk on a fencepost near a river bridge with a female ecudorian hillstar. We also saw Broad-winged and
Stout-billed Cincloides, Plumbeous Sierra-finch, as well as Many-striped Canestero.

As we carried on uphill we stopped at a ‘forest’ of ***  We walked through the bushes and were about to give up when a male Ecuadorian Hillstar popped up on the top of a bush giving very short but close views. There were a few flowers growing among the grasses between the bushes.

Further up we drove across the grassy paramo where we found many Carrunculated Caracara, Black-faced Ibis and another condor flying away towards the Antisana Volcano. There was a flock of Andean gulls, the only gulls we saw. Onto Lake Micah where we walked along the lake side with Silvery Grebe, Andean Ruddy Duck and coot. On the shore we found Andean Lapwing, and sandpiper.

We returned the way we had come, stopping at a picnic site near the condor rocks and had a picnic lunch watching the Condors gliding round the rock face.

We then went on to Pappallacta Pass, driving up to the radio masts through the fog. On the way up we saw a white-tailed deer grazing At the top we got out and walked slowly and carefully up through the mist. Edwin, the driver found an Andean Fox curled up and we spent some time watching it until it got up and walked away. While we were there 2 seedsnipe flew around the summit, calling and Edwin and Jorge watched until they settled, we then clinmbed further up to the masts themselves where we found the seedsnipe on the grass. We stood on the summit watching them and as the mist cleared the birds were in the sun and the view was spectacular.

Eventually we made our way down to Guango Lodge.

Day 6 - Yanacocha

Day 6 Yanococha to Quito

A reasonably early start with a quick look at the feeders saw the expected hummers but also Purple-bibbed White-tip and Western Emerald along with a Striped Treehunter and a very close Masked Trogon. We drove over the old Quito road to Yanococha reserve, where the warden had been feeding Rufous Antpittas and we had to be there for 9.30. The weather was grey and murky but it stayed dry.

We made a couple of stops en route to Yanococha. The first stop on the R.Alambi where we found our first pair of White-capped Dipper and the second high in the mountains was excellent with Sword-billed Hummingbird, Rufous-breasted Chat-tyrant, Barred Fruit-eater, Scarlet-bellied Mountain Tanager and Red-crested Cotinga.

 

Arriving at the entrance our guide sorted out our entry and then we set off for a 2km walk along the old Inca trail path towards the feeding area.  

Yanococha was eventually spoilt by the heavy cloud/light rain but some of the birding was excellent. Greater Sapphirewing and Buff-fronted Starfrontlet were seen at the entrance gate. We then walked the flat Inca Trail at about 3700m seeing Andean Guan, a White-browed Spinetail, two Spectacled Redstarts, Glossy Flowerpiercers and Blue-capped Conebills on the way. We then waited for a few seconds for two Rufous Pittas to come to the “venga, venga” call of the warden which then showed down to a few feet for five minutes, We walked up to the feeders where we saw at least three Sword-billed Hummingbirds, several Tyrian Metaltails, Golden-breasted and Sapphire-vented Pufflegs, a couple more Greater Sapphirewings and lots more Buff-winged Starfrontlets. Glossy and Masked Flowerpiercers were also visiting the feeders and at the higher station two Yellow-breasted Brush-finches feasted on the feeders.

The walk back to the entrance was delayed by an excellent mixed flock which included a Bar-bellied Woodpecker, a Red-headed Barbet, four Rufous Wrens, two Streaked Tuftedcheeks, Whte-throated Tyrannulet, more conebills, lots of Black-chested, Hooded and Scarlet-bellied Mountain-tanagers, Blue and black Tanagers, Superciliaried Hemispingus, two stunning Golden-crowned Tanagers and a Stripe-headed Brush-finch.

We returned to the entrance for a second antpitta session, this time with Tawny Antpitta, but the man had locked up and gone – Jorge went up the track and called 'venga, venga' and a tawny antpitta duly showed up giving excellent views, even walking round the area and then climbing into a tree to call defiance to another Tawny Antpitta on the other side of the valley.

The drive back to Quito was generally quiet (due in part to the weather) but we did see a pair of Black-breasted Buzzard-eagles, a Black-tailed Train-bearer, Brown-bellied Swallows, a GrassWren and a Plain-coloured Seedeater. Three Brazilian Rabbits were also seen by the others.

 We returned to our hotel in Quito where a look from the balcony produced another new species in the form of Blue and Yellow Tanager and also three Sparkling Violet-ears.

Dinner in the hotel

Day 5 Bellavista

Day 5  Bellavista.

An early morning breakfast had us out and on our way by 6.00am and looking for lyre-tailed nightjar on the road above tandayapa village, with no luck. So we were soon on our way up to Bellavista at about 2100m and beyond. Our first stop before Bellavista produced Beautiful Jay but our main targets were above the Lodge. We arrived on site at 0620 and very quickly found a Tanager Finch and a Pale-billed Mountain Toucan along with Hooded Mountain-tanager and Rufous-headed Pigmy Tyrant. We then returned down the hill to the Lodge and spent a couple of hours around the garden. The feeders produced Gorgetted Sunangel, Collared Inca and Speckled Hummingbirds whilst other birds seen included Masked Trogon, Strong-billed Woodcreeper, Cinnamon Flycatcher, Glossy Black Thrush, Masked and White-line Flowerpiercers, Rufous-breasted Tanager, Blue-capped Tanager, and Turquoise Jay.

We then walked the F and H trails to the research station road which gave good views of Red-billed Parrot, Toucan Barbet, more Plate billed Mountain Toucans, a superb Common Potoo, Crimson-mantled Woodpecker, Spillman’s Tapaculo, Streaked Tufted-cheek, Striped Treerunner, Spotted Barbtail, Smoke-coloured Pewee, Green and Black Fruiteater, and Capped Conebill. At the top of the trail, Black and White Becard, Grass-green Tanager, Blue and Black Tanager and a real surprise in the form of a White-faced Nunbird. Time for a Jorge jig.

Back at Bellavista we saw Flame-faced Tanagers on the roof of some of the accommodation and more hummers on the feeders.We had our lunch at the lodge where we added Fawn-breasted Tanager, Azara’s Spinetail, White-winged Brush-finch and a ridiculously tame Masked Trogon.

The return down the mountain produced Plumbeous Pigeon, White-tailed Tyrannulet and ended along the river again where we were joined by a group of other birders. As the skies  darkened a bird flew our above our heads looking more like a giant bat, then another bird was found settled on the road in front of us, a slow and careful walk forward with the bird in the torchlight gave us good views. The bird flew off but circled round and settled back on the road between us and the cars. A great end to a good day. We returned to Tandayapa where we spent some time after dinner checking out the moths on the walls under the lights which included a smart Hawkmoth.

Day 4 - On To Tandayapa

Day4 Milpe – Tandayapa

A quick look around the lodge after another early morning startbreakfast produced a Wedge-billed Hummingbird, displaying Scrub Blackbird and Lesser Greenlet before we set off on the short drive to the Milpe Forestreserve. Weather conditions were not great with constant heavy rain but we still saw plenty of birds and the feeders at the information centre provided plenty of entertainment. We then went round to the milpe garden entrance for another trail before returning to Sachatamia for lunch.

 

White-necked Jacobin, White-whiskered Hermit, lots of Green Thorntails, Violet-tailed Sylphs, Brown Inca, Velvet-purple Coronets, a couple of Empress Brilliants and Purple-throated Woodstars were amongst the hummingbirds at the feeders and a Purple-crowned Fairy was seen on the trail where we also saw Rufous Motmot, Barred Puffbird, Red-headed Barbet, Toucan Barbet, Scaly-throated and Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaners, Plain-brown, Wedge-billed and Spotted Woodcreepers, Rufous-browed Tyrannulet, Pacific Flatbill, White-bearded Manakin, Spotted Nightingale-thrush, Rufous-throated Tanager, Bay-headed Tanager, White-sided Flowerpiercer, Orange-billed Sparrow, Tri-coloured Brush-finch, Yellow-throated Bush-Tanager, Ochre-breasted Tanager and Choco Warbler.

 

After lunch we spent some time watching the feeder before making our way to a trail which was owned by a family friend of our guide, Jorge. Unfortunately they were doing some road works so we abandoned that idea and we headed for Tandayapa, at 1750m in Humid ChocoForest, via the old road above Nanagalito making a couple of stops en route, one of which gave us Russet-crowned Warbler.. We arrived at the lodge and, following a 100mt climb, settled in. We checked out the feeders and walked down to where a cock-of-the-rock pair had nested on a windowsill and were raising one young.

We spent some time after dinner checking out the lights for some amazing moths.

Day 2 - Angel Paz Day 3 - Silanche Reserve

Angel Paz and his Antpittas.
A very early call had us up and on the road by 5.00am heading for Angel Paz Reserve where there is an almost guaranteed Cock-of-the-Rock Lek and 4 species of Antpitta which Angel calls in with handfulls of worms. The road up to the reserve is challenging but we arrived in one piece and set off down the hillside to arrive at the hide with about a dozen others. We stood looking down through the jungle to be rewarded by 2 or three birds although most views were through the vegetation.
After about an hour it was time to move on so we filed out and started our way back up. There were several stops for Giant, Moustached, very shy, and Ochre-breasted Antpittas and a family party of dark-backed Wood-quail all called out by Angel.

There were times I really questioned the sanity of birders who are willing to get up in the middle of the night, trek up and down vertiginous hillsides all for the enjoyment of watching a few birds. Would I have missed it? Not in a million years.
We spent some time walking round the trails looking for Quetzals, not lucky, and any flocks of tanagers and finches that passed by. We managed good views of another male Cock-of -the-Rock and heard lots of unidentified (by us) sounds. We were provided with a late breakfast which was delicious, consisting of traditional plantain dishes and tea or coffee. There was a lovely view from the balcony which included a tract of forest that belonged to our guide Jorge's grandfather.
We returned to the Lodge for lunch and then went for a walk round one of the trails - very difficult looking up through the jungle canopy, but we did manage to see a trogon through the bushes. 

After lunch a few birds were seen around the lodge including Red-faced Spinetail and Dusky Bush-tanager.

In the afternoon we walked a circular trail around the lodge grounds. There were very few birds to be seen but a couple of spots provided some new birds including Lineated and Buff-fronted Foliage-gleaners, Uniform and Strong-billed Woodcreepers, White-tailed Tyrannulet, Ornate Flycatcher, Flavescent Flycatcher, Gray-breasted Wood-wren, Chestnut-capped Brush-finch, Tri-coloured Brush-finch and lots of Three-striped Warblers.

On return to the lodge just before dark David found a Masked Water-tyrant feeding on the football pitch.

Day 3 - Silanche

An early start for what turned out to be a full day at Silanche at around 300-350m, We started with a session around the reception area then spent the morning on the Canopy Tower. Lunch was had in the car park with more new birds appearing even here. The afternoon was spent walking the trails and finishing with a short session back at the tower.

On the way in we saw a Laughing Falcon,

Highlights of the Reserve were Dusky Pigeon, Blue-headed and Bronze-winged Parrots, Green Thorntail, Blue-chested, Purple-chested and violet-bellied Hummingbirds, Choco and White-tailed Trogons, Red-headed Barbet, Chestnut-mandibled Toucan, Choco Toucan, Crimson-rumped Toucanet, Pale-mandibled Aracari, Black-cheeked Woodpecker, Golden-olive Woodpecker, Cinnamon Woodpecker, Lineated and Guayaquil Woodpeckers, Western Woodhaunter, Plain, Wedge-billed and Spotted Woodcreepers, Dot-winged Ant-wren, Sooty-headed Tyrannulet, Choco Tyrannulet, Olive-striped Flycatcher, Ochre-bellied Flycatcher, Scale-crested Pygmy-tyrant, Black-headed Tody-Flycatcher, Rusty-margined Flycatcher, Social Flycatcher, White-ringed Flycatcher, Streaked Flycatcher, Boat-billed Flycatcher, Snowy-throated Flycatcher, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Purple-throated Fruit-crow, White-bearded Manakin, Masked Tityra,

We made a couple of stops along the road out of Silanche with the first producing a Buff-rumped Warbler. The second stop around an area of small dwellings was very productive with two Pacific Parrotlet, Smooth-billed Ani, ten Pacific Horneros and lots of Variable Seedeaters.

 

 

Ecuador

Ecuador 2012.
After a long seeming 24 hours travelling we arrived in Quito and fell into bed. We were up at 6 o'clock to meet our Guide, Jorge and our driver, ready to begin our adventure.
Our first stop saw us walking slowly through some scrub just outside Quito, where we saw Tropical Mocking bird, Black-tailed Trainbearer, Plumbeous Sierra-finch among others.
We moved down the valley to Alambi Lodge which was Hummingbird heaven.

This was a real baptism of fire as hummingbirds zipped round the feeders in front of the verandah, including Purple-throated Woodstars, White-necked Jacobin, White-whiskered Hermit, Brown and Sparkling Violetear, Green-crowned brilliant and Rufous-tailed Hummingbird. We walked down to the river where new birds kept coming. Montane woodcreeper was a real star.

After lunch we carried on down to the old Mindo road, which was in use up to 20 years ago! More Tanagers and Club-winged Manakin were highlights.

We worked our way down the road and then headed for our Lodge at Sachatamia - more hummingbirds wizzed by. We settled in and enjoyed a very nice dinner of chicken with mustard sauce. Early start tomorrow as we head to AngelPaz for Cock-of-the Rock and Antpittas.

Quick trip north

For various family reasons we were heading north to Edinburgh. We decided to take a couple of extra days and visit Arnside Knott and Holy Island in search of butterflies and helleborines.
We left around 6 am on friday and headed up towards Cumbria via the M40, M6 toll and M6. We saw around 15 red kites, including 2 over the service area which was our breakfast stop. We reached the area of Arnside by about 1.00 so we decided to explore Gate Barrows. It was not the easiest place to find but eventually we noticed a sign and a gate, which we went through to a car park. Putting our permit in the window we set off. After a short walk we found a sign for the Limestone path so we turned left and followed the white markers. In a clearing near the entrance we suddenly saw a golden butterfly, but was it a High Brown?  We managed to get a few pictures but identification as they buzzed about was very difficult, however I am pretty confident that we managed to see 2/3 .
Carrying on round the trail we were amused to see big signs for Lady's Slipper orchid. These are plants propogated from the one last native plant and re-introduced into some areas where it used to grow. Something to think about next year. We met one of the volunteer wardens who confirmed that the butterflies were High Browns and also showed us the track to follow. We turned right and came out on a lovely limestone pavement with grikes full of ferns, small trees and several Dark Red Helleborines spread around.


The next day we spent most of the day on Arnside Knott, chasing Dark Green Fritillaries, but no sign of any High Browns. We also saw several Grayling whihc was a nice extra.
Eventually we went back down tothe car park for a late lunch and then set off across to Berwick-on-Tweed.
Following a nice breakfast in the local supermarket we set off to Lindisfarne to look for Holy Island Helleborine. We crossed the causeway soon after the tide receded and parked in what we hoped was the right carpark. It was very wet and the path towards the slack was flooded so we did a bit of a detour. The slack otself was about 6 inches deep in water but covered in Marsh Orchids and Marsh Helleborines, but, despite a 3 hour search we couldn't find the Helleborines, although subsequent enquiries found that htere had been about 12 this year.

A quick trip into the village for 'souvenirs' and we heading back across the causeway and on to Edinburgh before the tide came creeping back in.

Bulgaria in May

Another very early start saw us heading for Gatwick on our way to Sofia for a weeks birding in Bulgaria. The landing, entry and car collection were the quickest and smoothest ever.
The weather was warm and sunny as we headed towards Bourgas with several stops on the way, making a good start to the trip list with Eastern Imperial Eagle, Long-legged Buzzard, White and Back Storks, Black-headed Bunting, Red-backed Shrike and Great Reed warbler some of the highlights, along with Eastern Festoon and Large Copper Butterflies. We managed to find Hotel Lazurien Briag, booked in and were soon enjoying a drink and a meal.

Click here for the trip from Sofia to Bourgas

The next morning we set off south to explore the area around the Ropotoma Natural Reserve. The trip down was on a new dual carriageway which made it difficult to cross. We found the carpark which was a lot busier than it had been when we visited in the winter 2007 but a scan round soon found our target, semi-collared flycatcher. It soon disappeared so we walked down to the river.

Spring Break in Spain

Feeling in need of some spring sunshine we headed off to Spain for another chance to see Lynx and Otter as well as some really nice birds. An early morning flight from Stanstead meant we landed in Madrid around mid day and once we had sorted out the car (free extra driver!) we set off to negotiate the ring road system out of Madrid heading south. We took a break after about an hour and drove around the 'triangle' looking for bustards, without much hope aws we had been unseccessful in september. However, luck was with us as 4 birds flew over the road and into the fields. Scanning from the roadside revealed a large flock feeding in the fields so we took a track that went in the right direction and found around 60 birds, mainly male. They eventually took off in ones and twos and joined more birds in a distant field.
                                  

While we were watching these birds another flock, this time of little bustards, flew over the fields on the other side of the road so we retraced our footsteps and drove down a fainter track where we managed to find several male birds but not the big flock we had seen.