Where 2 go in september 2007? (1 Viewer)

[Steve B]

Next September is a special birthday and I'd like to make it very special by going somewhere new and seeing a few birds that I've never seen before. I've done most of UK, a lot but not all of Europe, some of the US & Canada, some of Africa and Australasia. There are two other prerequisites - no malaria and a relatively safe environment...........any suggestions?

 

[Farnboro John]

How about the Falklands, depending on whether you saw albatrosses etc in Australasia? Several species of Penguins, ditto Alberts, lots of assorted petrel spp, one of the world's rarer birds in Striated Caracara, tussockbirds walking up your leg, plus Southern Elephant Seals, Commerson's Dolphins surfing, Southern Sea Lion and so on.

Also the best, freshest calamari in the world!

John

 

[Jos Stratford]

If you haven't been to Namibia, I'd vote for that - a very 'different' Africa and it's got everything, safe, good services, the weather, the birds, mammals, scenery. No malaria (unless you go into the Caprivi).

 

[The Barn Owl]

What about Galapagos?

Surely the trip of a lifetime, though perhaps a touch on the expensive side from what I can tell.

Not sure about malaria on the islands, although something makes me think it's non-existent. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Sam

 

[JRE]

Welcome to BF, by the way.
Enjoy your trip, wherever you go.
Jyothi

 

[JRE]

Try south Spain (Mediterranean coast, could be incredible).

 

[Steve B]

How about the Falklands, depending on whether you saw albatrosses etc in Australasia? Several species of Penguins, ditto Alberts, lots of assorted petrel spp, one of the world's rarer birds in Striated Caracara, tussockbirds walking up your leg, plus Southern Elephant Seals, Commerson's Dolphins surfing, Southern Sea Lion and so on.

Also the best, freshest calamari in the world!

John

Birds sound particularly fab - but maybe outside my budget even for a special birthday.

 

[Steve B]

If you haven't been to Namibia, I'd vote for that - a very 'different' Africa and it's got everything, safe, good services, the weather, the birds, mammals, scenery. No malaria (unless you go into the Caprivi).

Jos

This got me quite excited until I read the British Foreign Office advice on medicines to take before going. My wife can't do anti-malarial, so Namibia appears to be out.

 

[Steve B]

What about Galapagos?

Surely the trip of a lifetime, though perhaps a touch on the expensive side from what I can tell.

Not sure about malaria on the islands, although something makes me think it's non-existent. Please someone correct me if I'm wrong.

Sam

I fear the Galapagos fall into the same category as the Falklands - too expensive - but I'll investigate both and see what I find.

 

[John Butler]

Next September is a special birthday and I'd like to make it very special by going somewhere new and seeing a few birds that I've never seen before. I've done most of UK, a lot but not all of Europe, some of the US & Canada, some of Africa and Australasia. There are two other prerequisites - no malaria and a relatively safe environment...........any suggestions?

Hi Steve.

Try Tarifa and the strait of Gibraltar for the autumn migration of Booted and Short-toed Eagles, Griffon and Egyptian Vultures, Black Kites, Honey Buzzards, Montagu's Harriers, Lesser Kestrels, Sparrowhawks, White and Black Storks, Rollers, Bee-eaters, Hoopoes, shrikes and hundreds of thousands of other passerines, gulls, terns and waders.

Doñana for all of the above, plus hundreds of thousands of Glossy Ibis, Great White Egrets, Pin-tailed Sandgrouse, Hen Harriers, Black-shouldered Kites and other egrets and herons, plus migrating passerines.

Extremadura or Portugal for many of the above, plus Great and Little Bustards, Black-bellied Sandgrouse, Red-billed Choughs, Calandra and Thekla Larks, Blue Roch Thrushes, Black Wheatears, Rock Buntings, Rock Sparrows, etc. etc.

All none malarial, all safe and all fairly cheap, with sensible air fare prices.

 

[Didier Godreau]

Jos

This got me quite excited until I read the British Foreign Office advice on medicines to take before going. My wife can't do anti-malarial, so Namibia appears to be out.

Hello!
as said Jos, except Caprivi strip that you don't need to visit (although it is really excellent for birding!), all the other areas are fabulous and no malaria! This country is very dry and september is very good for camping and birding!
The coast is a great place to bird!


=> Otherwise, you may visit Venezuela, especially llanos area where birds are so many!!!


Didier

 

[Xenospiza]

North Venezuela has no malaria, but I'm not sure about the llanos, and september is still rainy season (llanos would be OK from november I guess)!

 

[mfachada]

Portugal

Next September is a special birthday and I'd like to make it very special by going somewhere new and seeing a few birds that I've never seen before. I've done most of UK, a lot but not all of Europe, some of the US & Canada, some of Africa and Australasia. There are two other prerequisites - no malaria and a relatively safe environment...........any suggestions?

And why not Portugal?
Sunny, good food, nice people, no malaria around, lots os birds.
Yes, visit Portugal, specially the North.

 

[JTF]

Costa Rica.

 

[watcher]

Bulgaria :t:

Not so many fingers to count the reasons...

 

[Steve B]

And why not Portugal?
Sunny, good food, nice people, no malaria around, lots os birds.
Yes, visit Portugal, specially the North.

Spain and Portugal seem very popular recommendations. We have already done some birding in Gibraltar, Majorca and the Algarve but suggestions around Catalonia, Donana, Extremadura and north Portugal all look interesting. I will investigate further. Thanks to mfachada, John Butler, jyothi etc.

 

[Steve B]

North Venezuela has no malaria, but I'm not sure about the llanos, and september is still rainy season (llanos would be OK from november I guess)!

Thanks Didier and Xenospiza. I've checked on Venezuala and there's no malaria in the north. My only reservation is that it's pretty close to Trinidad and Tobago where we have done our most serious Caribbean birding in the past - we've been to Trinidad twice and Tobago once. But I've not ruled it out altogether.

 

[Steve B]

Costa Rica.

This falls into the difficult malaria territory like Namibia. Both countries seem to have many areas that are relatively high risk and a few that carry a much lower or no risk. Do you have any personal knowledge of Costa Rica?

 

[Jos Stratford]

Jos

This got me quite excited until I read the British Foreign Office advice on medicines to take before going. My wife can't do anti-malarial, so Namibia appears to be out.

The F.O. is perhaps not providing enough information - only the Caprivi Strip would require anti-malarials (and perhaps in the height of the raining season, there is also a small chance of malaria at Etosha). Not in September though - outside the Caprivi, Namibia is malaria free. Do consider it, it really is an ace destination.

PS the Caprivi is the little finger of land that sticks out the north-east corner of the country, it is rich in rivers and relatively wet, hence the chance of malaria. The rest of Namibia is hot, dry and largely devoid of watercourses - I have never taken anti-malarials in the country (and have spent over nine months there)

 

[Hannes]

Namibia is defenitely not malaria free outside of the Caprivi Strip, this disease is widespread in whole northern Namibia and it has been reported from the central and south in recent years as well.

I caught it myself during a visit in Windhoek (central Namibia).