Bristol to Kagu ? (1 Viewer)

[Larry Sweetland]

Well we've made it to St Petersburg, and boy am I glad to be here rather than in a Russian hospital or a Russian prison or even a Russian prison-hospital somewhere between Eastern Siberia and Moscow. Needless to say it's a very very long story for which Birdforum is not really the place. Events conspired to prevent much birding en route, but we did see a few bits and bobs in the mostly still too frozen wastelands.

The area around the Manchuria/Russia border was swarming with unidentifiable small larks but half a dozen Mongolian Larks were easily identifiable. Lapwings appear to be one of the few species to tolerate the frozen landscape. When we started to hit taiga, we encountered our first identifiable Rooks. Up until then we had only seen Oriental Carrion Crows so I was hoping that these might be Oriental Rooks. Immediately afterwards though the next crows we saw were Hooded Crows which totally replaced the Oriental Crows. So presumably we were back in the land of non-Oriental Rooks? Waxwings started appearing in good numbers and Bullfinches were a nice homely sight.

West of Lake Baikal when the forest became more sparse and birchy a few grouse, presumably Black Grouse were seen perched in trees. And the odd Raven and Fieldfare started to appear. House Sparrow and then Jackdaw were further signs of getting closer to home as we hit the Urals. Then Starling about 500km east of Moscow. Common and Black-headed Gulls started to appear and at the last station before Moscow, about 200km east of it, it was great to see alba White Wagtails and normal Great Tits. As we were pulling into Moscow station there was a Wheatear on a siding, which I think might be new for the trip.

So no luck with the hoped for Daurian Jackdaw or Azure Tit, which is a shame because after our experiences over the last week I very much doubt I'll be coming back to Russia if I can help it!

We should be arriving in Helsinki on Monday lunchtime, where I fully intend to snog the ground at the first opportunity.

1775 Wheatear

 

[Chlidonias]

Well we've made it to St Petersburg, and boy am I glad to be here rather than in a Russian hospital or a Russian prison or even a Russian prison-hospital somewhere between Eastern Siberia and Moscow. Needless to say it's a very very long story for which Birdforum is not really the place....

....after our experiences over the last week I very much doubt I'll be coming back to Russia if I can help it!

you can't leave it at that!!

 

[Allen S. Moore]

you can't leave it at that!!

Something for the book? Trying to take an ID photograph of small larks at a stretegic Siberian station?

Ale room lens

 

[halftwo]

Blody ell Larry, one minute you're in China, the next you're almost home!

Keep em coming - I leave for Thailand on wednesday.

PS 22 c in the garde today.

 

[Larry Sweetland]

St Petersburg

It was a lovely sunny spring day in delightful St Petersburg yesterday. Walking through the parks produced 3 of the most exciting birds of the trip so far. A singing Chaffinch and a singing Greenfinch were almost weepworthily beautiful, but the two were eclipsed by a fantastic Robin. There's only one species I'm more looking forward to seeing again than that little trio.

While we're on the subject of anagrams of Allen S Moore, we worked out that it must take an ale room lens to check out the lores on male to distinguish eel or salmon from a moon seller.

At least your name's not an anagram of dire wobbly yob though Allen, unlike someone on BF.

 

[halftwo]

It was a lovely sunny spring day in delightful St Petersburg yesterday. Walking through the parks produced 3 of the most exciting birds of the trip so far. A singing Chaffinch and a singing Greenfinch were almost weepworthily beautiful, but the two were eclipsed by a fantastic Robin. There's only one species I'm more looking forward to seeing again than that little trio.

While we're on the subject of anagrams of Allen S Moore, we worked out that it must take an ale room lens to check out the lores on male to distinguish eel or salmon from a moon seller.

At least your name's not an anagram of dire wobbly yob though Allen, unlike someone on BF.

Amazing what long train journeys do to the mind!

 

[Allen S. Moore]

It was a lovely sunny spring day in delightful St Petersburg yesterday. Walking through the parks produced 3 of the most exciting birds of the trip so far. A singing Chaffinch and a singing Greenfinch were almost weepworthily beautiful, but the two were eclipsed by a fantastic Robin. There's only one species I'm more looking forward to seeing again than that little trio.

While we're on the subject of anagrams of Allen S Moore, we worked out that it must take an ale room lens to check out the lores on male to distinguish eel or salmon from a moon seller.

At least your name's not an anagram of dire wobbly yob though Allen, unlike someone on BF.

Yesterday I was at St Johns, a village a few km from where I live and not a pre-Soviet capital, and heard my first blackcap and chiffchaff of the spring, both singing away. Nearer home I saw a chaffinch and was within a metre of a singing greenfinch. There was a robin singing nearby, too, and a chough flew past the house later on.

I've not sussed which species you are most looking forward to, Larry, but I have cracked the code for dire wobbly yob! I am off to Spain later in the spring, and I can see myself in Bilbao deliberating over whether to order eel or salmon.

It is good to see that you are still enjoying yourselves at this late stage in your trip. Halftwo's comment is a cracker!

Allen

 

[birdboybowley]

I like it!!!
How long til your back in Blighty guys - you probably won't recognise the place.....

 

[delia todd]

Aaaw Larry... this is the perfect place to recount that tale... we're all agog to know what happened8-P

I can't believe you're on your way back now with a return to 'normal' birds:-O:-C

D

 

[Larry Sweetland]

We're HOME! B :hi: Well home enough that the cheery Finnish border guards said "welcome home" and "welcome back" as we passed into Finland. Close enough to home that we've driven here before in a van from Bristol. And close enough to home to have finally seen the iconic bird I was most looking forward to seeing again. The totally mindblowing Blue Tit!

The first Blue Tits in nearly 2 and a half years were surely a candidate for bird of the trip, along with the likes of Scaly-sided Merganser, Sulawesi Woodcock, Palawan and Mountain Peacock Pheasants, Ground Parrot, Great Spotted Kiwi, Orange Dove, Kagu, Philippine Duck etc, and of course the murrelet. Well maybe.

With regards to events on the Trans-Siberian train, I think I better keep some things secret just in case I ever get round to trying to "write the book"

 

[Allen S. Moore]

We're HOME! B :hi: Well home enough that the cheery Finnish border guards said "welcome home" and "welcome back" as we passed into Finland. Close enough to home that we've driven here before in a van from Bristol. And close enough to home to have finally seen the iconic bird I was most looking forward to seeing again. The totally mindblowing Blue Tit!

The first Blue Tits in nearly 2 and a half years were surely a candidate for bird of the trip, along with the likes of Scaly-sided Merganser, Sulawesi Woodcock, Palawan and Mountain Peacock Pheasants, Ground Parrot, Great Spotted Kiwi, Orange Dove, Kagu, Philippine Duck etc, and of course the murrelet. Well maybe.

With regards to events on the Trans-Siberian train, I think I better keep some things secret just in case I ever get round to trying to "write the book"

Ah, so the Finnish border guards visit BirdForum, too?

Allen

 

[halftwo]

OK, I don't buy that Larry. You might be in the Euro zone but Brizzle's still a long way to go.
But well done on the Blue tit.8-P


B B B B

 

[Gretchen]

With regards to events on the Trans-Siberian train, I think I better keep some things secret just in case I ever get round to trying to "write the book"

Wow, what a way to drive up advanced sales before even having talked to the publisher! We'll be waiting!!!

(Actually, I should say, really sorry you had a tough time - you guys are amazing troopers and its tough to have hard stuff with home almost in sight. We are all just a bunch of voyeurs at times, but don't mean to make you feel worse.)

Here's to some more nice sightings like that of the blue tit!

 

[Larry Sweetland]

Thanks folks. Ok, I'll admit that Helsinki might be pushing the boundaries of the word Home a bit. But note it was just HOME, and that the lettering and colouring will get larger and brighter when we reach England, Bristol, and The Pub respectively.

We're sailing to Stockholm on the overnight ferry tonight. Unfortunately it's looking like our timing might be slightly out to hook up with our favourite Swedish birding pals. Our proposed route is to get to Holland via Denmark.

If anyone hears of any rarities that we shouldn't miss en route, then please drop us a message, cos we might overlook their presence and sail straight past them otherwise.

Oh, Nicky got some pics of the Blue Tit by the way, in case any of you are harbouring dark thoughts about stringy records from observers with no recent experience. Hope to upload one soon.

 

[halftwo]

So you'll be en route final leg as I fly out (26 hours to go).
But Mrs.H is taking her laptop - so will be able to share the last mile with you.

 

[Allen S. Moore]

If anyone hears of any rarities that we shouldn't miss en route, then please drop us a message, cos we might overlook their presence and sail straight past them otherwise.

Oh, Nicky got some pics of the Blue Tit by the way, in case any of you are harbouring dark thoughts about stringy records from observers with no recent experience. Hope to upload one soon.

No recent experience - good one! As for rarities, you've probably seen them already.

Allen

 

[Larry Sweetland]

So you'll be en route final leg as I fly out (26 hours to go).
But Mrs.H is taking her laptop - so will be able to share the last mile with you.

Wow H! Wish we had a laptop. Don't reckon we'll have internet on the ferry. Hope you'll get a chance to post up some of your trip as you go, and hope you both have a fabulous time too.

 

[kevbainbridge1]

Hi guys, great your nearly home!! Can't wait, Pints ready and waiting, also you've got some catching up to do i've already found common crane and black kite down at severn beach this spring, so make sure them bins of yours are all polished up and ready to go!

 

[halftwo]

Wow H! Wish we had a laptop. Don't reckon we'll have internet on the ferry. Hope you'll get a chance to post up some of your trip as you go, and hope you both have a fabulous time too.

Cheers - yes, maybe I'll be able to do some highlights.
Enjoy those pints!

 

[birdboybowley]

Hope you ain't flying into Bangkok H!!
Nearly home guys....blimey, it's been 3 yrs (eek) since I got back and still haben't settled down yet - god knows how long it'll take you two!! Have to get your butts down Sussex way for some drinks and birds!!