We packed the car for the day as we had decided to stay here for the last day, and set off round the Mahonie Loop. This took a lot of the day but did give lots of sightings. We spent quite a bit of time at a small pool with a flock of small birds, including several Cinnamon-breasted buntings and Yellow-throated Petronia plus a group of female Whydahs, with a small group of butterflies. We also passed a large tree that had been split and knocked over by an angry elephant, we later learnt.
As we had an evening drive aty 5.00pm we decided we didn't have time to go far but we drove back along the H13-2 to the S60 to look specifically for Arnot's Chat. As we drove slowly along, the Big Day lads came along. We stopped for a quick chat and they gave us insrtuctions for the Chat, along the next road so we turned round and returned to the H13-1, turned left and drove a short way up to a trackway in the bush. We stopped here and listened out, using a tape but no results. Luckily, the boys drove up behind us and said 'Right place, wrong side' so we turned round and parked behind them. They put a tape on and in a very short time there were several Arnot's Chats in the bushes, not very easy to see but with a bit of perseverance we all got good views before dashing back to camp for our Evening drive out.
We met up with Minnie again and climbed up into the truck. The decision was made to try for the Pennant-winged Nightjars, even though they hadn't been seen for a few days and there was a message on the blackboard to say so. We set off and realised we were going roiund the Mahonie trail again. We stopped for a few birds, one of which was called as a ***, but not so sure. We then took a side trail, through some bumpy tracks and round a stream bed before stopping on the trail and getting out to wait and see how lucky we would be. Minnie stood guard with her rifle in the event of any trouble.
We weren't very hopeful but suddenly a Nightjar appeared with long, trailing wings, looking like a child's kite. Then another and another appeared, in all we had 5 males and one or two females flying round in the gathering gloom. Magic!
We then retraced out steps to the trail again and continued round, stopping at the busted tree to disentangle a largish branch which had got caught in the steps at the back. The steps were rather bent but we managed to get down at the end of the evening. We had lovely views of nightjars on the road and an owl which flew to a dead tree and sat on top giving good views through the binoculars.
After we got back to the tar we went a little way down until we found Square-tailed Nightjars on the road. We then returned to camp and went to the restaurant for our meal, which we had ordered earlier in the day. There was a bit of a delay but we got our pizzas and drinks and went back to the room to eat it sitting outside at the table.
