Trip reports : back to 1998!

December 2009
Ecuador

Three hectic (and sometimes wet!) weeks in the Andes, rainforests and Galapagos Islands - the usual Neotropical overload, but particular highlights had to be 45+ species of Hummingbirds, including Tourmaline Sunangel, Velvet-purple Coronet, Empress Brilliant, Great Sapphirewing and Ecuadorean Hillstar. Galapagos highlights were numerous - Galapagos Petrel, bustling seabird colonies, Galapagos Penguins, Darwin's Finches and more besides.

June/July 2009
Papua New Guinea

An unbelievable 4 week jaunt around the fabled island of New Guinea - 354 species (94% of them lifers!), including 21 Birds of Paradise, 29 pigeons (including Southern Crowned & Nicobar), 25 parrots (including Vulturine and Eclectus), Palm Cockatoo, 15 kingfishers (including 2 Kookaburras and 4 Paradise-kingfishers), both Painted-berrypeckers, over half of New Guinea's (and thus the world's) Berrypeckers, Wattled Ploughbill, Papuan Treecreeper, four bowerbirds and Black Sittella. Truly extraordinary....

May 2009
Scotland

A short break in the Highlands of Scotland - star species included Otter, Pine Marten, Capercaillie, Black Grouse, Scottish Crossbill, White-tailed Eagle, Corncrake and stacks of seabirds - amongst others!

Mar/Apr 2009
South Africa

A follow-up to last year's India school trip - this time we took 14 boys from our school NHS to see Southern Right Whale, Great White Shark, Cape Rockjumper (and many, many more endemic birds), plus the "Big Five" and loads more in Kruger NP. Ably led by our friend Rainer Summers of Rockjumper Birding Tours, we saw a total of 350 bird species!

October 2008
The Isles of Scilly

Well, it's sort of overseas.... A fab rarity-packed week on the magical Isles of Scilly - the top highlight was undoubtedly a highly unexpected Snowy Owl, ably backed up by Red-flanked Bluetail, two Grey-cheeked Thrushes, White-rumped Sandpiper and a good few other scarce bits and pieces.

July 2008
Uganda and Rwanda

A comprehensive three-week Rockjumper trip around western Uganda, with a side-trip to Rwanda in search of the mythical Mountain Gorilla. Over 500 species of birds recorded, including 19 Albertine Rift endemics, and such megas as Shoebill, African Finfoot, Great Blue Turaco, Uganda Woodland Warbler, White-spotted Flufftail and Ituri Batis.

April 2008
Southern Morocco - leading for Naturetrek

A brisk 10 day tour of the mountains and deserts of southern Morocco, with a couple of days on our own at the end. Highlights included Levaillant's Woodpecker, Red-necked Nightjar, Bald Ibis, Seebohm's Wheatear, Moussier's Redstart, Desert Sparrow, Hoopoe Lark, Pharaoh Eagle Owl, Lanner at the nest and many more.

February 2008
Northern India - school trip!

A great 10-day trip to Delhi, Bandhavgarh and Agra with 14 keen and excited Winchester College students. Megas included 8 Bengal Tigers, Blue-bearded Bee-eater, White-capped Bunting, Ultramarine Flycatcher, Blue-capped Rock Thrush and 190+ others.

December 2007
Ethiopia

A quick-fire visit to this wonderful country in the Horn of Africa - several Abyssinian endemics, including Wattled Ibis, Banded Barbet, White-collared Pigeon and Ethiopian Forest Oriole, plus an excellent range of east African savannah, mountain and lake birds. And mammals too - Lesser Kudu, Beisa Oryx and the regionally endemic Soemmerring's Gazelle.

October 2007
Madagascar

An absolutely awesome visit to the "eighth continent" - we found ourselves overwhelmed by 120+ endemic birds (including at least five endemic familes: couas, ground-rollers, cuckoo-roller, mesites and asities!), and heaven knows how many endemic plants, insects, and chameleons - and don't forget the lemurs, too!

October 2007
Mauritius

The mythical island of the Dodo (RIP) and the Pink Pigeon (OOL - on our lists!) was a very pleasant stopover on our way to and from Madagascar (see above). Most endemics nailed including the stunning Olive White-eye, Cuckoo-shrike and Bulbul, plus megas such as Mascarene Swiftlet and White-tailed Tropicbird, the latter completing our world list of these pelagic aeromeisters.

September 2007
UAE & Oman

Simon only once again (more sniff) - 17 lifers including such megas as Crab Plover, Great Knot, Sooty Falcon, Sooty Gull, Jouanin's Petrel, Menetrie's Warbler, Bridled, White-cheeked and Saunders's Little Terns and Desert Whitethroat. Cool - except it was extremely hot....

September 2007
Gambia

Simon only (sniff) on a week's return trip to West Africa - lots of colourful, eas African birds, including two Turacos, six Kingfishers, White-shouldered Black Tit, Northern Crombec, Senegal Batis, and best of all a Hudsonian Whimbrel!

July 2007
Peninsular Malaysia

Our first trip to SE Asia, and a hill- and forest-birding spectacular, with stacks of amazing birds, from trogons and broadbills, to Crested Fireback, Bat Hawk, Malaysian Whistling-thrush, Malaysian Partridge, Great Slaty Woodpecker, Blyth's Hawk-eagle and Slaty-backed Forktail.

May 2007
Poland: Biebrza Marshes

A stunning five-day break - highlight unquestionably Great Snipe for a life tick, but also Aquatic Warbler, White-winged Black Terns in abundance, Savi's, Icterine, Marsh and Barred Warblers, Red-backed Shrike, Montagu's Harrier, White-tailed Eagle, Crane, Whiskered Tern, Great White Egret, Red-breasted Flycatcher and Black Stork, plus Red Deer, Elk and Beaver - and Eastern Hedgehog!

March/April 2006
Trinidad & Tobago

Absurdly easy and luxurious Neotropical birding, with stacks of superb birds - Red-billed Tropicbird, Masked Booby, Scarlet Ibis, Pinnated Bittern, Striped Owl, White-tailed Sabrewing, Oilbird, Bearded Bellbird, White-throated Spadebill, Grey-throated Leaftosser, Moriche Oriole - and a self-found first for T&T: Dark-backed (=Lesser) Goldfinch.

December 2005/6
The Canaries

A great little endemic-fest - Fuerteventura Chat, Bolle's and Laurel Pigeons, Blue Chaffinch, Tenerife Robin, Canary Islands Chiffchaff and Goldcrest, Canary, Plain Swift, Berthelot's Pipit, African Blue Tit, Houbara Bustard, Cream-coloured Courser and Black-bellied Sandgrouse - plus a Blue-winged Teal!

December 04-January 05
Sri Lanka

An amazing island endemic special - highlights included Red-billed Blue Magpie, Sri Lanka Whistling Thrush, Sri Lanka Wood Pigeon, Green-billed Coucal, White-faced Starling, Blue-faced Malkoha, Kashmir Flycatcher, Sri Lanka Frogmouth and Pied Ground Thrush. The whole trip, however, was overshadowed by the tragedy of the tsunami on our day of arrival.

July 2004
Poland / Slovakia / Hungary

A fantastic and highly successful journey in central and eastern Europe - 202 species in July!?! White-backed, Three-toed and all the other European woodpeckers, Saker Falcon, Long-legged Buzzard, Eastern Imperial Eagle, Nutcracker, Pygmy Owl, Great Bustard, Greenish, Aquatic, Moustached and River Warblers, Red-breasted Flycatcher, Rock Thrush, Alpine Accentor and Lesser Grey Shrike, plus Wild Boar, Elk, Alpine Marmot and European Bison!

April 2004
Lesvos

An 'easy' Mediterranean trip, nevertheless producing 3 lifers for Simon and 8 for Julia : highlights were Krüper's and Western Rock Nuthatches, Sombre Tit, Rüppell's Warbler, Cinereous and Cretzschmar's Buntings, Middle Spotted Woodpecker, Pallid Harrier & Red-footed Falcon.

July / August 2003
Peru

More mega-diversity in the Neotropics - 533 species seen. Pelagic, desert, Andes, Amazon. Big highlights included Humboldt Penguin, Andean Condor, Inca Tern, Andean Cock-of-the-Rock, Sword-billed and Giant Hummingbirds, Pavonine Quetzal, Lyre-tailed Nightjar, Giant Conebill and White-bellied Cinclodes.

April 2003
Spain

A near rerun of our 1999 trip, but this time focusing on just two areas - Extremadura and the Coto Donana. Add in the Sierra de Gredos as an extra, and distinctly variable weather, and the differences were striking! Star birds : Crested Coot, Marbled Duck, Spanish Imperial Eagle, Western Orphean & Bonelli's Warblers, Western Reef Egret and the best-looking raptor of all time!

August 2002
Brasil

The ultimate birding trip? A simply incredible three weeker to the SE Atlantic rainforests (a.k.a. Endemic City), the Pantanal, Chapada dos Guimaraes, Alta Floresta and Serra das Araras. Birds? Only 630 species, including cripplers like Hyacinth Macaw, 11 Toucans, 28 Hummers, 6 Trogons, 17 Woodcreepers, 16 Antshrikes, 29 Antbirds/wrens, 11 Manakins, 9 Owls, 11 Nightjars, Black-and gold Cotinga, Buff-throated Purpletuft, Zigzag Heron, and an undescribed species of Forest-falcon. 47 endemics too....

December 2001-January 2002
Northern India

A superb two weeks in the northern hot spots of one of our favourite countries. The Ranthabore / Bharatpur / Nainital / Corbett loop produced stunning species like Ibisbill, Wallcreeper, Great Thick-knee, Spotted Forktail, Great Hornbill, Siberian White Crane, Tickell's Thrush, Brown Fish and Dusky Eagle Owls, Red-billed Blue and Green Magpies, White-tailed Rubythroat, Chestnut-headed Tesia, Scaly-breasted Wren Babbler, White-crested Laughing Thrush, and three high altitude Accentor species.

July-August 2001
Arizona & California

A fantastic two centre trip to the Nearctic realm - the searing deserts of Arizona contrasting with the cool offshore waters of northern California. Some real stunners in Arizona, such as 9 species of Hummingbird, including Berylline, Green Kingfisher, Mexican Chickadee, Olive and Red-faced Warblers, Elegant Trogon, Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher, Roadrunner, Least Bittern and Five-striped Sparrow. California was just as good, with Wandering Tattler, Surfbird, Yellow-billed Magpie, Laysan and Black-footed Albatross, Xantus's Murrelet, South Polar Skua, Tricolored Blackbird, Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, and an all-time California Long-tailed Skua day count. All that before mentioning Gray, Blue and Humpback Whales!

April 2001
Sweden

A short Euro-break to the (very) frozen north for a few much-needed WP birds. Considerable success - Eagle, Ural and Pygmy Owls, White-tailed Eagle, Black and Grey-headed Woodpeckers and Capercaillie.

December 2000
Gambia

A return to Africa after Kenya 1997. A near clear-up of the classic West African package destination - including megas like White-crested Tiger-heron, African Crake, Little Gull, Yellowbill, Vermiculated Eagle Owl, Green-headed Sunbird and Sudan Golden Sparrow.

December 2000
Jamaica Bay, New York

Simon's first and probably only overseas business trip - he's a teacher! A very brief day spare in New York produced several goodies, such as Hooded Merganser, Tricolored Heron, Tree Swallow and American Woodcock.

May/June 2000
Finland and Scandinavia

A long dreamt-of trip to the boreal forest and the Arctic north. Particular highlights included Great Grey, Ural, Tengmalm's and Hawk Owls, Siberian Jay, Siberian Tit, White-billed Diver, King and Steller's Eiders, Gyr Falcon, Brunnich's Guillemot, Hazel Grouse, Long-tailed Skua, masses of breeding waders, plus summertime Arctic Redpoll, Waxwing, Little, Rustic, Lapland and Snow Buntings, and many more. Unreal.

April 2000
Corsica

Just a week on 'Endemic Island' - enough to see Corsican Finch and Corsican Nuthatch, plus Levantine Shearwater, Marmora's (not Balearic!) Warbler, 'Italian' Sparrow and endemic forms of Dartford Warbler and various others, plus excellent plants.

April 1999
Southern Spain

An excellent 10-day 'clear-up' of southern and south-central Spain. Spanish Imperial Eagle, Eagle Owl, Spectacled Warbler, Great and Little Bustards, Lesser Kestrel, Black Vulture and Black-shouldered Kite were the star birds seen.

December 1998
Goa, India

A great trip to this 'easy' Oriental hot-spot, along with Chris Mills and Jacky Harris. Highlights included 3 days at the (then) newly-established Backwoods camp, with Indian Pitta around the tents, Greater Racket-tailed Drongo, Orange-headed Ground-thrush, Grey-necked Bunting, Jungle Owlet, White-bellied Sea-eagle, Banded Bay Cuckoo and Blue-faced Malkoha.