WP Trips 2022 - Mauretania (Apr); Urals (Jun); Turkey (Jul), Batumi (Sep), C.Verde (Nov) (1 Viewer)

[Benedict Macdonald]

Evening all,

After several years of non-event overseas birding I am keen to up the ante in 2022 with some WP trips. The last major pioneering trip I did was in 2017, to Azerbaijan, where I refound caspian tit, and in February this year will be joining a group of Dutch birders to try and see the Siberian Crane as it passes through here. From then on, I'm keen to target Mauretania, Ural Russia, Georgia (Batumi) and Cape Verde this year if logistically possible. For anyone who has read my previous reports, I tend to research these trips fairly methodically to ensure everything is seen well, and like to plan them in good time. Of course, CV-19 is around but it's also here to stay, and current indications are that fit-to-fly rather than no-fly will be the pattern from April to October this year. Anyway, I am currently keen on participants for the following trips:

Ben Macdonald

Bird Study

Our countryside is increasingly hostile to species which choose to nest in, or excavate, cavities, whether the starling on your house or the willow tit seeking for rotten branches. Redressing this...

www.ben-macdonald.co.uk

MAURETANIA - 15-23 APRIL (Hiring driver throughout)
Personal targets:

White-breasted Cormorant

Reed Cormorant

Grey-headed Gull

Royal Tern

Kelp Gull

Golden Nightjar

African Dunn's Lark

Cricket Warbler

Sudan Golden Sparrow

African collared dove

Blue-naped Mousebird

African Grey Woodpecker

URAL RUSSIA - c. 14-25 JUNE (Hiring driver/translator throughout - early planning required)
Personal targets:

Steppe Gull

Great Snipe

Oriental Turtle Dove

Oriental Cuckoo

Black-throated Accentor

Siberian Rubythroat

White's Thrush

Blyth's Reed Warbler

Booted Warbler

Lanceolated Warbler

Long-tailed Rosefinch

Yellow-breasted Bunting

Azure Tit

Red-flanked Bluetail

Paddyfield Warbler

Asian Nuthatch

SHORT TURKEY - c. 10-16 JULY
Personal targets:

Brown Fish Owl

Yelkouan Shearwater

Kurdish Wheatear

Iraq Babbler

Yellow-throated Petronia

GEORGIA - BATUMI INC NEARBY MTNS - C.9-18 SEPTEMBER
Personal targets:

Levant Sparrowhawk

Crested Honey buzzard

Yelkouan Shearwater

Grey-headed Swamphen

Lilford's Woodpecker

Baillon's Crake

Great Rosefinch

CAPE VERDE - TBC NOVEMBER 10 DAYS

Fea's Petrel

Boyd's Shearwater

Cape Verde Storm Petrel

Cape Verde Shearwater

Red-footed Booby

Red-billed Tropicbird

Yellow-billed Egret

Black Heron

Cape Verde Buzzard

Helmeted Guineafowl

Cape Verde Swift

Grey-headed Kingfisher

Raso Lark

Cape Verde Warbler

Iago Sparrow

Black-crowned Sparrow Lark

(Bourne's Heron)

(Alexander's Kestrel)

(Neglected Kestrel)

(Cape Verde Peregrine)

(Cape Verde Barn Owl)

 

[Andy Adcock]

Hi Ben,
what exactly are you including as 'Asian' Nuthatch?

 

[Maffong]

Sounds awesome! I'm guessing Asian Nuthatch is actually Eurasian Nuthatch ssp. asiatica.
I'm really hoping you can find any of the species you've put in parentheses on Cape Verde. I was under the impression that apart from the Peregrine, all were still somewhat gettable. I'm also especially interested whether you'll find any African Collared-doves and how Brown Fish-Owl is doing after the devastating fires this summer

 

[Steve Lister]

Sounds awesome! I'm guessing Asian Nuthatch is actually Eurasian Nuthatch ssp. asiatica.
I'm really hoping you can find any of the species you've put in parentheses on Cape Verde. I was under the impression that apart from the Peregrine, all were still somewhat gettable. I'm also especially interested whether you'll find any African Collared-doves and how Brown Fish-Owl is doing after the devastating fires this summer

I think the parentheses show subspecies rather than long-shots.
But Lilford's Woodpecker and Asian Nuthatch are surely in that category too?
One other little comment - Grey-headed Swamphen should be easy enough in southern Turkey (in between the fish owl and Iraq Babbler pop into the Goksu delta).

 

[DMW]

Sounds awesome! I'm guessing Asian Nuthatch is actually Eurasian Nuthatch ssp. asiatica.
I'm really hoping you can find any of the species you've put in parentheses on Cape Verde. I was under the impression that apart from the Peregrine, all were still somewhat gettable. I'm also especially interested whether you'll find any African Collared-doves and how Brown Fish-Owl is doing after the devastating fires this summer

I've heard that the Fish-Owls weren't directly affected by the fires, but that lack of rain affected the fish population in the lake and the owls have not been so reliable at the regular site.

 

[Mike Hunter]

Hi Ben - Cape Verde is of significant interest, not sure if November is possible at this stage because of carry forwards of trips from previous years. Please keep me posted.

The key question about birding Cape Verde in autumn is about the seabirds - do you think all are possible? Boyd's & Cape Verde Shearwaters will likely be much reduced in numbers through post-breeding dispersal in November, but there's so little gen out there for this time of year that I don't know if they are still likely to be seen. On the other hand, as a winter season breeder, Cape Verde Storm-petrel (a much tougher bird) will be more abundant.

Thanks

Mike

 

[Paul Chapman]

Hi Ben - Cape Verde is of significant interest, not sure if November is possible at this stage because of carry forwards of trips from previous years. Please keep me posted.

The key question about birding Cape Verde in autumn is about the seabirds - do you think all are possible? Boyd's & Cape Verde Shearwaters will likely be much reduced in numbers through post-breeding dispersal in November, but there's so little gen out there for this time of year that I don't know if they are still likely to be seen. On the other hand, as a winter season breeder, Cape Verde Storm-petrel (a much tougher bird) will be more abundant.

Thanks

Mike

Common enough I would have thought not to be missed. Sadly only Red-footed Booby on that list for me.

Ben - the Mauretania trip is very tempting. 8 on that list. I'll drop you a DM with my email address.

All the best

Paul

 

[Mike Hunter]

Thanks Paul on Cape Verde tubenoses - reassuring to know.

Mike

 

[Gladiator96]

Can't wait for the trip reports. Yours are probably the best out there.

I managed to see Great Rosefinch on Mt Tetnuldi Svaneti, closer than Kazbegi to Batumi, on the second attempt in an early October trip, but views weren't that great. Also saw the rest of the 'Caucasus Big 5' here except Guldenstadt's Redstart.