Army Birding

Anthony, in my opinion you have two options - both great. Either the North Norfolk coast starting at Hunstanton Cliffs and moving Eastwards through Titchwell, Holkham and onto Cley. You should be able to do all three locations if you start early (and stop off at various locations on the way). Second...

Between 1730 - 1830hrs I sat at the doorway of my room with a large cup of coffee and recorded the birds seen. A respectable 23 species were seen with an additional 2 species either side of the hour. The following species were noted (in order of appearance): Streaky Seedeater , Augur Buzzard , Bagla...

Woke up this morning to a pair of dueting Tropical Boubou outside my room. If you have the capability, google them on the internet and listen to them singing. This sound is haunting and extremely beautiful.

Richard

Kenya has been a revelation. I came here last year on the recce and clocked up 100+ lifers and I now find myself in a country rich in avifauna where, despite the large numbers seen last year, I still get to see new birds. This missive is to summarize what I have seen since arriving over three weeks ...

Sweetwaters Game Reserve lies some 20 minutes West of Nanyuki, directlly, on the Equator and within the Ol Pejata Conservancy. It is a haven for African Mammals, contains the Big 5 and during the last couple of visits I have managed to see Burchell’s Zebra , Grevy’s Zebra , Gemsbok , Hartebeest , Gr...

A cracking week with the main body and a large number of species arriving in the camp. Trips to various locations continue with one or two new species each day. Highlights recently were Montane White-eye and Sooty Flycatcher at the Trout Tree Restaurant just outside Nanyuki. This is a must for anyon...

Nanyuki Showground Camp (NSG) is the British Army’s camp at the base of Mount Kenya and has been the home for thousands of soldiers over the years whilst they took part in the many infantry, engineer and medical exercises. I am here as part of 4 Medical Regiment’s participation in Exercise SHARP POI...

BBC Radio 4 are commissioning a programme entitled Birding and the Battlefield which will look at the relationship between soldiers in action and the birds they have watched/heard. I am in contact with the lady producing the programme and have also mentioned a couple of names who I think might fulfi...

A longer than expected delay in Kandahar proved useful and a short birding trip to the settling pond near the RSOI accommodation was a great respite from the excessive coffee drinking in Tim Hortons and the Green Bean Cafe! A Little Grebe dived continuously around the margins which contained five Bl...

As you read this I will be out of theatre and will not return for the time being. The last week has been excellent with a further two lifers and a couple of new additions to the Bastion avi-fauna. As I type my replacement is in my seat and looking at this blog with a bemused look on his face. Monday...

Tim,

don't know how you survived on Tim Hortens for two weeks; one day's worth of doughnuts and strong coffee is more than a man can take!

However I'll sit in one next week whilst watching Blue-cheeked Bee-Eater!

Rich

23 Sep 07 Welcome to birdline Camp Bastion, the penultimate weekly update. :D The week, as the title suggests was tipified by a drop in both temperatues and the number of birds. Overhead movement almost ground to a halt but the passage continued with birds present daily. No lifers were seen althoug...

16 Sep 07 This week has been something akin to a week in October on Blakeney Point. Two lifers tipified the week and made life interesting. Migration has continued with a vengance with flocks of Sparrows , mainly Tree and House but with the occasional Pale Rock . The House Sparrows are of the migra...

9 Sep 07 This week has been productive with two lifers, one expected and one not. Large flocks of Sparrows and Finches have been flying South East, toward the Helmand Rover all week with peak times at lunchtime and last light. Most have proved to be Trumpeter Finch , partucularly at the beginning o...

02 Sep 07 Week 21 was a week where Warbler numbers tailed off but large flocks of various passerines made an inpact of birding in Bastion. Monday saw another Eastern Olivaceous Warbler at the bottling plant along with several Crested Larks and the first returning Spotted Flycatcher which remained u...