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  1. K

    Week near Quito in August

    Just back from nearly 3 months based at Tandayapa - any questions, feel free to shoot me a message. A quick idea for now... Tandayapa is easy to bird the entire area from - we use a local taxi driver who knows all the birding sites and is truly very helpful. Daily rate runs around the $70 mark...
  2. K

    Staying near Oudtshoorn in Feb

    I stayed at Red Stone Hills near Oudtshoorn a couple of years ago while doing some EIA surveys in the area. I didn't have much time for dedicated birding, but there was a good representation of the classic commoner Karoo bits in the area. Cape Eagle Owl calling at night from the surrounding...
  3. K

    ID.. Western Cape

    The raptor is certainly a Steppe Buzzard. The unclear buzzards of the Cape are entirely uniform brown or rufous, to the point that some of the red birds seem to almost glow. Though, the identity of those birds should soon be resolved.
  4. K

    Norway & Spitsbergen June/July 2013 - with a marine mammal twist.

    Hi Jo, thanks! As I understand it, the surveys on the Saga ships are slowing down now to just a couple each year, and Svalbard was a one off destination - I can send you some info on getting involved and possibly getting on one of next year's cruises though if you want - though getting on the...
  5. K

    Norway & Spitsbergen June/July 2013 - with a marine mammal twist.

    Thanks folks! Larry, we finally made it, though it was touch & go with seemingly every other ship in the fleet breaking down and being stuck in Norway and not making it to Spitsbergen. Hope all's well!
  6. K

    Norway & Spitsbergen June/July 2013 - with a marine mammal twist.

    Thanks. I think I could easily spend most of a year up there exploring - so much still to be found - especially offshore. I've seen at least a couple of reports that have been inside PKF, so perhaps it's not the norm but do-able if the ships small enough and/or tides are right. I suspect...
  7. K

    Norway & Spitsbergen June/July 2013 - with a marine mammal twist.

    Hi all, Back in June/July I was lucky enough to form part of a team undertaking a marine mammal survey of the Norwegian coast and the west coast of Spitsbergen on a Saga cruise ship. Before I left, I searched and searched for any accounts, info or trip reports from ‘normal’ cruises visiting...
  8. K

    RFI Biscay crossings

    As one of the ORCA guides, and a Biscay veteran, I can perhaps give a little insight. August and September are traditionally the better months for cetacean sightings, and seabird numbers increase into September, so you should be on to a winner. Recent trips have been having decent numbers...
  9. K

    Raptor ID - Little Karro SA

    The shape of this bird doesn't feel right for Black Harrier to me, and as Niels says it should be paler in the primaries if adult. Given the location, grey upperbody (rather than black/chocolate brown), lack of extensively pale primaries and general feel of the bird, I'd be more inclined to say...
  10. K

    Norway / Svalbard – in the Realm of the Polar Bear (8th-21st July 2013)

    These are also Harp - lack of black face being due to young age. Excellent photo showing their typical behaviour too - swimming on their back, and 'bottling' right out above the surface. Cracking trip report, and some brilliant photos. I've just returned from Svalbard, though as part of a...
  11. K

    Humpback's in the North Sea

    Just one Humpback from the North Sea ORCA surveys, the report must have mixed numbers and species. We did have 40+ Humpbacks between Tromso (Norway) and Spitsbergen on a recent ORCA survey though - a much higher number than I'd expected for those waters! Lisle
  12. K

    ID help needed - Western Cape South Africa

    First bird seems to have barring on the breast? Doesn't have the more uniform upperpart or thigh I'd expect on trizonatus (Forest), so vulpinus (Steppe). The other two are juv. vulpinus, at that age trizonatus would show much whiter underparts, typically with a more blunt-winged and...
  13. K

    Jo'burg to......

    Sorry Larry, been slack & busy with the write-up - info for all but Pel's coming your way imminently. On a quick brief skim, you're not nuts with the GBT, there's been one knocking around that area for quite some time, could be the same individual. Cheers, and good luck! L Edit: That email...
  14. K

    Moth Trapping in South Africa?

    I'm just back from 2 years in the Western Cape, and did a fair bit of trapping whilst out there. There don't appear to be any restrictions, aside from obviously in the National Parks, and on private land. The bible is definitely Pinhey, but it is rare and expensive, from my searches anyway...
  15. K

    Jo'burg to......

    Thanks MK! Patience and perseverance ;) another attached, not quite as focussed or sharp but shows why they're called Flufftails!
  16. K

    Jo'burg to......

    Woops - forgot the photo!
  17. K

    Jo'burg to......

    No worries folks! Was great to meet you, and to be able to help you get one of the best looking birds in the region - in my view anyway ;) I couldn't resist going back for another look at the Fluffy after my meeting yesterday afternoon. It even did a couple of runs down that felled tree -...
  18. K

    Have You Seen Any of These Mammals?

    I've had Med Monk Seal, Sei Whale (Southern & Northern), Sowerby's, True's & poss. Gervais' on the Mesoplodon front.
  19. K

    Seals in Lambert's Bay, South Africa

    Yep, Cape Fur Seal are the 'standard' pinniped here. We get Subantarctic Fur, Southern Elephant, Leopard, Crabeater etc., but only rarely. Hope you enjoyed the Cape!
  20. K

    SA in November

    Agreed re: Knysna Warblers - hunker down, sit in some vegetation and wait for it to come close! De Hel produced nicely a couple of weeks ago with one singing down to 50cm ;)
  21. K

    SA in November

    Hi Raphaël, All sounds OK to me. Damara Tern is still get-able at De Mond. Protea Canary I'm not 100% on but from what I'm told Mountain Mist is a sure-thing. Personally I'd spend a whole morning there as Cape Siskin & Ground Woodpecker apparently show themselves off well. Check the...
  22. K

    some unidentified from South africa

    2 looks to be Lemon Breasted Canary. Whereabouts in Kruger was it taken? 5 looks to be a female Pin-tailed Wydah.
  23. K

    some unidentified from South africa 2

    Marsh Harrier indeed, it would seem. Young African judging by the white chest band.
  24. K

    South African raptor

    Wahlberg's - definitely not a Buteo, though some of our birds are uniform.
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