Sidestepping Covid-19... Part 6 - India

Today's image is from India, and yes - I could have picked from a number of gaudy options. Alas, as my two favourite birding families in the world are Antpittas and Larks, you can expect to be blown away by browns and beiges. Indeed, my main reason for this specific image isn't just that it is a lark, but that it was also my first lifer of 2020 (only 5 in total so far). Since it appears unlikely I am going to get many, if any more lifers this year - the significance is somewhat greater.

Sykes's Lark, Dholpur, Rajasthan. 2020.

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

Sidestepping Covid-19... Part 5 - Puerto Rico

Continuing with the Caribbean thread - I have been to the Caribbean a number of times, visiting Cuba, Jamaica and the Dominican Republic on at least three occasions. I had seen all the available extant endemics and near endemics (ie: Cuban Kite and Zapata Rail don't make the list as they are either very rare and isolated, or a complete enigma). However, I had failed to visit Puerto Rico - and consequently my Greater Antillean puzzle was a piece short. I had been scheduled to lead a tour to the island in 2015, but limited client interest meant that if I was to go - I would have to do so myself.

I spent all of 6 days in Puerto Rico, racing about twitching every island endemic - spending most nights sleeping in the back of the car. The bird I wanted the most was Puerto Rican Tody. The Tody's are a small family of 5 species endemic to the Caribbean. These tiny colourful jewels - related to kingfishers can be surprisingly confiding when you find them (in Old World terms, they behave somewhat similarly to Batises). Near enough the very first bird I saw on the island was indeed my last Tody, alongside a hatful of other endemics at Camberlache State Forest.

Puerto Rican Today, Camberlache, Puerto Rico. 2015.

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

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.