Mauritus endemics

[Kenbell]

Half a day in the Machabee Forest Trail area (SW Mauritius) saw 4 Mauritius Kestrels and 2 Echo Parakeets. Mauritius Grey White Eye and Mascarene Swiflet also seen as expected.

Very windy and rainy, so I guess the passerines stayed under cover, but nice to see these rarities in a natural setting! They seem to be making a comeback, from all accounts.

Off to see the Pink Pigeon tomorrow...!

Ken

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Hi Kenbell,

Some good stuff there. If you try the Savanne Trail you should find the Pink Pigeon release station a few hundred metres along it (at least that's where it was three years ago!). The pigeons are often gathered about the area. In the same area I also saw Mauritius Olive White-eye, Mauritius Bulbul and Mauritius Fody.

[Kenbell]

Andrew,

Thanks....where's the Savanne trail in relation to the main trail or the Le Petrin station please?

I'm going to Ile aux Aigrettes and might nip back along that way....

Sorry if I'm going off-topic :)

Ken

[Iben]

Hi Ken

If you're going to Ile aux Aigrettes, the staff there will be able to tell you where to go for the remaining endemics if you end up missing out on any of them. I spent nearly a year working for the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation during the breeding seasons of 2002/2003 and 2003/2004, and all members of staff are (or at least were) familiar with the good birding sites. It will also be easier to give you directions whilst looking at a map...

If you happen to visit the Bel Ombre or Pigeon Wood areas, please keep an eye out for colour banded passerines! I am particularly interested in any observations of Mauritius Grey White-eyes with rings on, as this was the species I was working on down there.

Thanks in advance & good birding.

Iben

[Andrew Whitehouse]

Andrew,

Thanks....where's the Savanne trail in relation to the main trail or the Le Petrin station please?

I'm going to Ile aux Aigrettes and might nip back along that way....

Sorry if I'm going off-topic :)

Ken

The Savanne Trail leads to the large hill 'Piton Savanne' and the trail starts roughly at the top of the hill above Bassin Blanc (on the left if you're going down the hill). I think it should be signposted to Savanne (possibly also a sign in French about no hunting?). It actually doesn't look a particularly good area because the forest is mostly of introduced conifers but it's probably one of the best sites for endemics. It's not mentioned in many trip reports but I was told about it by some of the conservation workers.

[Kenbell]

Iben, Andrew...thanks for the tips.

I did not see any ringed Grey White-Eyes, but there were large numbers of them! I'd estimate about 150 seen along the 4 km walk to the Machabee Viewpoint. I also saw another male Echo Parakeet, and for those who worry about ID'ing it, it is very easy to see the difference with the Ring-Necked. The tail is graduated and shortish, the call (harsh two-note call repeated (maybe the name Echo?) when flying) is distinctive, and the female's olive-green plumage are all easy markers even at a distance.......

I could not find the Savanne trail - there was a road, but was gated, at the top of the hill.

Apart from the Pink Pigeon, I also saw the Mauritius Fody on Ile aux Aigrettes. There are now 95 of them on the island...again great news!
The call is very different to the common Madagascar Fody (like a sucking-inward sound!!) and is the key differential in non-breeding season.
There are plans to start captive breeding for the highly endangered Olive White-eye near the end of 2006, which would probably save the species.
Other interesting news on rare species are plans to re-introduce the Pink Pigeon, Echo Parakeet and the Fody to the SE part of Mauritius (Lion Mountain area) in the near future.

Cheers,
Ken