Sidestepping Covid-19... Part 4 - Jamaica

In the last quarter of 2014, I headed off for a long stretch of tours to the Americas - nearly 6 months in all. Part of this time was spent in the Caribbean, visiting the 4 major Greater Antillean islands of Cuba, Hispaniola (Dominican Republic), Puerto Rico and Jamaica. All these islands have at least one endemic species of Hummingbird, some of which are rather significant due to their size - the Bee Hummingbird of Cuba being the smallest bird in the world, whilst the Vervain Hummingbird of Jamaica and Hispaniola being the second smallest bird in the world. Both are aptly described as cute, but aside from the male Bee Hummingbird - they don't really tick the attractive box. In a family of almost 360 species, many of whom are exquisitely coloured - differentiation is difficult! I have always been drawn to the small number of species that possess long, or adorned tails. In Jamaica - you need only travel a few miles to see two! What the locals call the 'Doctor Bird' - we know as Red-billed and Black-billed Streamertails.

One day Meg...

Black-billed Streamertail, Port Antonio, Jamaica. 2015.

Red-billed Streamertail, Blue Mountains, Jamaica. 2014.

Sidestepping Covid-19... Part 3 - Morocco

To date, the 2017 winter tour of Morocco is the last Rockjumper tour that I worked on as a Tour Leader (I co-led with Mark Beevers). Since then, I have remained firmly ensconced behind a desk - a mostly self-inflicted predicament. Poor Meg and Kai only got a vicarious look at this fascinating, culturally rich country that abounds with cool larks, the critical endangered Northern Bald Ibis and large flocks of various sandgrouse.

I spent a night pre-tour in the High Atlas enjoying the falling snow, only to come seriously close to getting stuck in Oukaimeden in my little rental and missing the start of the tour... As it happened, Mark and I spent 11 days hoovering up nearly every possible bird special, nailing stunning views of Aoudad (Barbary Sheep) and consuming a good deal of Tagine and Couscous.

Sorry my lovely ladies - I'll take you both to Morocco one day...

Greater Hoopoe-Lark, Merzouga, Morocco. 2017.

A high resolution version of this image is available on my Shutterstock page.

Sidestepping Covid-19... Part 2 - Paraguay

Having skipped Paraguay and the grand chaco traverse into Bolivia during my cycling tour of South America - I had always been very keen to head back and tick the 'other' landlocked country of the continent. A few weeks before setting off, I had become acquainted with Rockjumper's newest recruit (Meg). To say that Meg was a birding neophyte at the time would have been an understatement, but she entertained my bird focused ramblings - even though I neglected to consider the time zone differences. Chaco Owl kept me awake for a number of nights, with only the odd road side flushed sighting. After yet another night without much luck, I arrived at the lodge late with all the intention of some sleep - only to have that thought dashed with the distinctive sound of a Chaco Owl calling nearby. A very accommodating individual gave me prolonged views and numerous photo opportunities, something I was very keen to share with Meg - who had also waited up late to share in a vicarious sighting.

Chaco Owl. Filadelfia, Paraguay. 2014.

Sidestepping Covid-19... Part 1 - Hong Kong

I work in travel, specifically global birding. This profession requires a few things - people with a desire to see birds, a team of professionals to ensure good logistics, tour leaders to find the birds and show off the attributes of each destination and a team of agents, local guides and drivers. We're awfully good at doing all this, and yet we're all stuck at home because the one thing that allows for this global synergy - the capacity to travel freely, is nigh near locked down by the latest coronavirus epidemic. At the moment, Meg and I do nothing else but deal with the effect of COVID-19 on our company, our guests and our amazing team every day, sometimes we even consider the impact it may have on our own family, but mostly we cannot wait for global pandemic to dissipate quickly enough. Not only would we prefer the world not to suffer too much more, but we'd also like to regain the freedom that has been lost. Unlike many of our guests, friends and family, we don't have a holiday in jeopardy, our flights haven't been cancelled, our visa applications denied - nor are we suddenly going to jet off anywhere when this is done - but just knowing that it were possible is enough.

Thinking about this one thing for so many hours every day is draining, so we are making a conscious effort to ignore the 'news and updates', even if only for a few hours a day. Rather we shall reminisce about the great travels we have had - some to the remoter corners of the globe, some in our own neck of the woods. In so doing, we hope to create a few spaces for 'other stories' on our social media streams, aside from the continuous scroll of doom, gloom and make believe - we encourage you to do the same!

Today's image is from Hong Kong, China. I am quite keen on waders - they aren't on the same level as my two favourite birding families - Antpittas and Larks, but they share some of the same attractive features. They require patience, careful study, an understanding of habitat and lots of perseverance.

I've been trying to find Black-faced Spoonbill for quite a while now, but have never been to one of its core wintering sites on my trips through southeast Asia. With Meg and Kaily keen to maximise their flight mileage en route to India on our last trip - I was quite happy to divert via Hong Hong and give us the best chance of finding this scarce species. Indeed, aside from finally seeing this bogey bird, it was also my most recent lifer of 2020. 

Black-faced Spoonbill - Nam Sang Wai, Hong Kong. January 2020

A high resolution version of a similar image is available on my Shutterstock page.