Posts tonen met het label Marc Guyt. Alle posts tonen
Posts tonen met het label Marc Guyt. Alle posts tonen

dinsdag 18 maart 2014

The magic of migration

Dunes of Katwijk, Netherlands. Marc Guyt / www.agami.nl


The magic of migration has always attracted me. Living at a coastal migration hotspot in the Netherlands, I spend my birding childhood glued to a small hill just north of Katwijk. This small hill overlooked beautiful dunes and this was our theater in autumn – the site for 100,000’s of migrating birds to pass through, heading south each year. Memories of massive migration of Meadow Pipits just flying inches over your head, or thrush and starling migration in numbers beyond comprehansion. Where did they come from? And where do they go? Questions in your head when you watched in awe looking at the birds flying to unknown destinations. And there was always the chance of something odd or something rare between the big numbers of migrants. An extra dimension in an already exceptional phenomenon. A diamont in a jar of pearls.

When I grew older I spread my wings as well. I wanted to see where those birds breed, I wanted to see where the spent their winter and who they meet in their wintering quarters. I wanted to see where our rare migrants came from and see their migration in real life over there. I wanted to see and experience it all!

Siberian Flycatcher, Happy Island, China. Marc Guyt / www.agami.nl
Memories etched in my mind include massive falls of eastern warblers on Happy Island off the east coast of China. Numbers beyond comprehension of species that are extreme rarities in Europe. A bird covered Eilat with migrants at every green patch. Or the unexpected migation of 10.000’s of Pacific Swifts over Taman Negara in Malaysia. A darkend sky by swifts, flying low over pristine lowland rainforest. It couldn’t get any better.

 


But as you grow older, and when you spread your own wings, you see and hear also the dangers these beautiful birds face. Both natural and unnatural. Life as a free living bird is not without dangers. Some they have to face because they are a fact of live but other dangers, the unnatural ones, are just so unfair. Millions of birds are ilegally killed each year for food, or even worse, fun. Lime sticks in Spain or France, mist-nests for migrants at the coast in Egypt, or waders in Bangladesh, millions of hunters in Europe alone waiting for a tired migrant to come into range. And for what? Because it is tradition? Because there is demand for it? Because they happen to be there in huge numbers?
A few examples of what the birds face during their migration can be seen here or here. It is heartbreaking.

That is why I partipate in the Champions of the Flyway in Eilat (Israel). To celibrate the magic of migration, instead of shooting at it. On April 1st this year more then 15 international teams will be looking at birds competitively, and raise awareness and money for protecting the migrating birds in the process. I am in one of those teams; the Spinters. Please help our cause by donating TODAY! You can do this via this link. Every Euro counts!

Thanks for your help!
Marc Guyt


Information about Champions of the Flyway:
Champions of the Flyway is a major new international bird race taking place in Eilat, Israel - one of the world’s most spectacular migration hot spots and rewarding birding destinations.
Competing teams from around the world will try to find, identify and log as many species as possible – as they go head to head in an intense 24 hour contest to win the coveted title “Champions of the Flyway”.

The birders taking part are of many different nationalities and represent a huge variety of businesses, conservation organisations and bird clubs. On April 1st 2014, all will line up together in Eilat with a common purpose – to celebrate the miracle of migration in this spectacular part of the Great Rift Valley and to help protect its future throughout the Africa Eurasia Flyway.

The race teams will initially meet in Eilat on March 28th and then spend three days familiarizing themselves with the course and birds, in preparation for race day. Champions of the Flyway is a focal event during the famous annual Eilat Bird Festival.

The Champions of the Flyway bird race is being staged by The Society for the Protection of Nature in Israel (BirdLife’s national Partner in Israel) and is a BirdLife International Migratory Birds & Flyways Programme initiative.

“While the race will be fun, the goal is serious – to raise conservation funding that will help BirdLife International tackle the illegal killing of birds in Southern and Eastern Europe.”



A few images of the migrants that face these threats and that we hope to see in Israel. More images on www.agami.nl.



Cretzschmar's Bunting, Eilat, Israel. Marc Guyt / www.agami.nl

Egyptian Nightjar, Israel. Marc Guyt / www.agami.nl 

Black Stork, Lesvos, Greece. Marc Guyt / www.agami.nl

Whiskered Tern, Lesvos, Greece. Marc Guyt / www.agami.nl


zondag 11 augustus 2013

Ultima Frontiera



This June I went on a recce trip to an area I always wanted to visit: the Donau Delta in Romenia. A vast river delta, made by a great European river entering the Black Sea, the Donau Delta for me, as from a early age, was all about Pelicans. One that I hoped to see with my own eyes.

On inventation by SKUA / Ultima Frontiera, I visited this superb birding area for a week on behalf of BirdingBreaks, Dutch leading Birdwatching holiday company. Ultima Frontiera is based near the Ukraine border, and a two hour fast boat ride is necessary to visit the area. Once arrived the Pelicans were flying above the disembarking area – a promising start!
The whole area was superb for birds and wildlife and we saw goodies like Dalmatian Pelican, Paddyfield warbler, Moustached Warbler, Red-footed falcon, Pygmy Cormorant but also several Golden Jackal and even Wild Cats during our nightly outings. Awesome!

On the private land SKUA has build several photographing hides and some time was spend inside them. As this was the end of the breeding season and with lots of water due to high level of the water, the activity was a bit low but some good shots could be made. A visit earlier in the season is necessary to get the most out of this place. A boatride out into the vast Donau Delta, surrounded by Pelicans was an experience not to be missed! This is what Donau delta is all about; wild open place with loads of birds.
White Stork - Marc Guyt / www.agami.nl

Great White Pelican - Marc Guyt / www.agami.nl

European Roller - Marc Guyt / www.agami.nl

Collared Pratincole - Marc Guyt / www.agami.nl

Little Owl - Marc Guyt / www.agami.nl

Lesser Emperor - Marc Guyt / www.agami.nl

Dalmatian Pelican - Marc Guyt / www.agami.nl

Little Owl - Marc Guyt / www.agami.nl

Great White Pelican - Marc Guyt / www.agami.nl


Common Tern - Marc Guyt / www.agami.nl


Here some more images taken on this short trip.

Marc Guyt


vrijdag 30 maart 2012

First for Israël


Vittata Pied Wheatear

On our last full day in Israël Arjan van Egmond and I decided to check the palmtrees around KM20, north of Eilat, for Dead Sea Sparrow. A species we hadn't find so far during our week stay. On arrival we split up and I checked all the rows in the plantage if there were sparrows feeding on the ground.
Not a single bird until I came across a Wheatear species standing 100+ meters inside the plantage, facing forward. It striked me as odd right away as it was all pale at it underparts, no black throath and breast, but it didn't look good for the usual suspect Black-eared Wheatear, as it had a black line connected with its black wings.

At that point it turned and, facing the other way and showing its upperparts, I was looking a 100% (Cyprus) Pied Wheatear.... But that species had a black throath and breast... It turned again and there was my prove that i was not hallucinating - its underparts where all pale. Remembering that there was a 'morph' called vittata that was suposed to have these features i looked around to find out where Arjan was. Where is he when you need him? (and his telescope!).

Arjan was standing 150 meters away, waving his hand - he had found Dead Sea Sparrow... darn. A quick run to the place where he was standing revealed a empty bush, the sparrows where gone.

I updated Arjan what I had seen and we rushed back, with the telescope, to the place where I had left the Wheatear alone. Gone of course, so we split up again checking the rows for the bird. After a few minuted Arjan relocated the bird and could be seen in the same few as a 'normal' Pied type Wheatear. This looked good!

As we had now idea how rare this bird was, we decided to call back-up. I called some Dutch Birders around and Arjan called a local birder, Yoav Perlman whom we met during a Nubian Nightjar excursion. His words coming through the phone where quite clear: "Marc is not allowed to leave the area until he has photographed the bird, it is a first for Israël!"
According to Hadoram Shirihai the Vittata Pied Wheatear is at least a subspieces and not a mere morph.

I needed no further encouragement, despite the wire fence, and I went in where the bird performed very well in the end.


Vittata Pied Wheatear

A new bird for Israël on our last day - a perfect ending to a perfect birding week! More about the birds of Eilat soon.

zondag 4 maart 2012

Finland in winter

A shot for seeing Northern light saw me and my dad arriving last week at Oulu airport. We had decided just 10 days earlier and soon we were off for a long weekend Northern Finland. Besides the Northern light there we more treasures hidden in the snow covered Taiga forest: Owls, Grouses, Golden Eagles, Jays, Tits & Dippers.


A White-throated Dipper in the dark


Arrangements where made through the company Finnature (www.finnature.fi), owned by AGAMI photographer Jari Peltomaki, and he had lined up some good memories.

First morning saw us outside a resort checking the trees around the building. A huge male Capercaillie had taken residence as well in the spa and used the trees around the resort as his diner table. Soon we had found the bird and waited untill it flew down to the ground where it perfomed subperb and amazingly unconcerened by all the attention. Despite the dull weather we had a great time and was able to get some shots worth keeping from the encounter.


Capercailie


Capercailie


Capercailie

Next morning we woke up in all white Kuusamo, a smallish city next to the Russian border surrounded by prestine Taiga forest, fairytail like due to the exteme snow conditions. What a beautiful place!

Here we ware taken in the hands of Olli, and soon we were off for our Owl quest. A majastic drive followed with snow/frost covered forest in all directions. Black Grouse, three Capercaillies and 25 Pine Grosbeaks where nice finds but one of our targets didn't gave in. Untill we received a phonecall that a bird was found and that is was cooperative! A 45 minute tense drive followed, we stopped and soon the bird was spotted it a tree trop. The mouse went out and within 1 minute a superb Hawk Owl grabbed the mouse just meters in front of us. A perfomance he repeated 6-7 more times. A superb bird in a superb setting!


Hunting Northern Hawk Owl


Last full day was Eagle day. We drove to a hill north of Kuusamo where we went up on a Snowscooter. After a while we came upon a small clearing where some hides where dugged in. In front of hides two places had bait for Golden Eagle and besides, on the feeders just in front of the hide birds as Woodpeckers, Jays and Tits performed well.


Siberian Jay

The plan for the day is simple: get in the hide, dress yourself warm (including sleeping bags covering your legs), put your lens outside the hide through a small pane, turn up the heather, photograph the woodpeckers, Jays and Tits untill a shadow appears. Then freeze, slowly select one of the baits and wait till the shadow drops on the ground. Wait a while then slowly start shooting, after 5 minutes the eagle is not weary anymore and you can do everything what you want again.

After an hour the female appears and then you have to be carefull again untill she has landed. Very simpel and a very humbling experience to be in such close quarters withe thea eagles for such a long period. And that includes the setting of the snow covered Taiga!


Golden Eagle


Golden Eagle

And the Northern light? Alas, we did not see it. Sun was not active at the moment we had clear skies. The evening we left Jari did photograph a nice display above Oulu area - we could have seen it from our Hotel balcony. Next time! I'll be back!

zondag 4 december 2011

Me and my Tiger

I was absolutely sure: there were NO Tigers in Bandhavgarh. Despite being one of the most hailed Tiger reserves in India and promoted with quotes for the National park like “you are unlucky to see a Tiger in Bandhavgarh”, I was certain: it was a hoax! A tourist trap.

I had taken 8 safari’s already in the park without seeing a sniff. Of course I had seen pugmarks on the road, but I also saw forest guards walking with sticks in the park. As far as I could see the Tiger pugmarks were made by the forest guards, just to give tourists an idea that Tigers were around. All the other guest who were staying at the fabulous Monsoon Forest lodge had seen Tigers of course, but I was convinced that they had seen plastic dummy’s that were mobile steered on remote control devices that were also controlled by the same forest guards. The photo’s the tourists showed me were previously taken in a zoo of course. One time I had heard 4 young Tigers cubs in a Bamboo patch but as far I could tell that was tape playing for pre-recorded cub sounds; just for passing vehicles, to give them hope.

Bandhavgarh consists of a five zones, three that are accessible for vistiting cq paying tourists who were also buying the hoax: Tala, the main Tiger zone; Magdhi, in both I had seen zero Tigers; and Kitouli, an area where nobody went because there was nothing to see.

The ninth safari didn’t start too well; the driver was half hour late; we had to pick up two other tourists, and before we could get the tickets there was some confusion about payments for the park fee that costed some precious time. If you wake up at 4.30 you want to be in the park when it opens, otherwise there is no point to get up so early! Finally we were off, well after opening hours, and it turned out that we were also going to Kitouli instead of the two core zones - the area where no ones goes because there are so very few Tiger sightings.

I had given up the idea that I was going to see Tigers that morning and actually was looking forward to visit the Kitouli area because I could dream Magdhi by now and a fresh surrounding is always good. There is always some surprise and I wanted to see how the landscape look liked compared to the other zones. Besides, there were only 2 cars going in this area (instead of the 44 that tour around Magdhi) so we had the whole area for ourselves - which I prefer.

The safari started promising with an alarm call from a Spotted Deer that usually means a Tiger is around, and some Muntjacs in the forest, a small deer species that I hadn’t seen before in the other zones. We just took a road into the forest which looked great, looking for signs of Tigers. We came along a small guard post, because this area is divided by the ‘main’ road, and both sides were blocked by bars which had to be opened. We crossed the road and drove on and still no sign of Tiger, eg pugmarks on the road of alarm calls of Deers or Monkeys.

It was all very quiet in the forest and after driving through a scenic river we moved on through a bamboo desert - thick vegetation with no decent views of the forest undergrowth so mostly crossed fast by car - because there is nothing to see.

I was standing in the back of the - open and small - jeep, enjoying the moment, taken in all the smells and sounds of the jungle when suddenly all the people in the jeep where brutally taken back to reality when a deafening roar came for the left side and, as if appeared from nothing, a huge orange cat with black stripes was standing next to the car. A big female Tiger had charged the car whilst driving past! So overwhelming was the experience that I had fallen back to my seat looking straight in the eyes of a Tigress just two meters away! Wow!

The car stopped a few meters further on and the Tiger gave another roar and stepped back into the jungle. Before I could say anything he driver reversed and drove straight back to the place were she went back in. I considered this not a good idea given the charge that she made. We stopped and saw the female lying looking straight back at us. What an animal! I had the feeling that she was going to charge us again so I sat on the bench as far away as possible, grabbed my camera and started shooting. The Tigress was not at ease and she gave a few deafening growls and a good look at her teeth. Which are big at just five-six meters away. And then she had it, with a load roar she leaped out of the bamboo and charged the car again, the driver was just in time to drive off with spinning wheels which stopped the Tiger.

Stopping 50 meters further, the Tiger stepped onto the road, looked at us and decided to walk on the road away from us, occasionally looking back over her shoulder if we drove a little closer. She did some littering at the base of a tree, looked up and she disappeared from sight when the road made a corner.

Slowly we drove closer to the bend, expecting here to see walking on the road, but she was gone! Puzzled we stopped in the bend. Something made me look to the right and hidden in the bamboo I saw an orange shape ready to leap! I hid the car yelling ‘GO! GO!GO!’. The driver spun off with the Tiger jumping on the road, roaring, where we just stood, and this time chasing the car!

After 50 meters she gave up and some 100 meters further we stopped. All in the car gasping and all visibly shaken! This was no ordinary encounter! The Tigress started walking slowly towards the car. That was better. The driver turned off the vehicle to avoid shaking to make better photo’s. That was for some reason an ignition for the Tiger to make another charge. At full speed and full power she made a run for the Jeep, this time with no holding back! The car came at life and again with spinning wheels we drove of with the Tiger in pursuit for some 100’s of meters until we made a huge gap.

The Tigress stopped and if nothing happened the strolled back into the bamboo.
We never saw here again and made sure that we didn’t by driving straight back to the guard post where we all had to sit and relax and contemplate about the extraordinary wildlife encounter we had witnessed. A once in a lifetime experience!

So there were Tigers in Bandhavgarh!


The Tiger, just a nano second before she charged the vehicle again





maandag 31 oktober 2011

Langstaartklauwier in Den Helder



Het gebeurt niet meer zo vaak dat ik echt alles, maar dan ook echt alles, laat vallen voor een zeldzame vogel in Nederland. Vaak heb ik de soort al eerder gezien waar dan ok ter wereld of te druk (denk ik)op mijn werk of privé; afspraken die er zijn en wat voor smoesjes nog meer om maar jezelf te overtuigen dat het eigenlijk niet uitkomt.

De laatste keer dat ik alles wilde laten vallen, voor een Groene Bijeneter, werd ik op hetzelfde moment gebeld door mijn bovenbuurman in Amsterdam; er was een ruit in mijn appartement in Amsterdam gesneuveld. Dat is op zich niet zo erg behalve dat het een benedenverdieping is en dat proletaisch winkelen 'in' is in Amsterdam. Spoedreparatie geregeld waar ik bij aanwezig moest zijn en toen ik eindelijk kon gaan was de vogel gevlogen... dat was niet zo'n leuke avond.

Maar vandaag was niet zo'n dag... De melding kwam binnen op mijn telefoon en binnen 3minuten zat ik in de auto. Een Langstaartklauwier bij Den Helder. Eerste geval voor Nederland en niet iets wat snel terugkomt. Sterker nog, bij de verwachte massale toeloop kan de soort nog wel eens verdwijnen en dat ging ik niet afwachten.
De vogel was nog niet als zeker opgegeven maar er was geen greintje twijfel, alleen actie! Wat een mooie hobby! En wat een mooie vogel.

(en morgen beginnen we gewoon wat vroeger, hoe moeilijk kan het zijn om vrij te nemen :-))

maandag 27 juni 2011

Old Gimmers Disco party

Een uitnodiging voor de 60e verjaardag van Tim Cleeves - een reisgenoot van de Atlantic Odyssee - of ik zin had in zijn 'Old Gimmmers Disco Party' in Newcastle. De uitnodiging ging gepaard met een foto van Tim met een aap op zijn hoofd, ongeveer even serieus als je de beste man ooit zal meemaken - dit wilde ik voor geen goud missen. Natuurlijk was ik erbij!

Mijn oude reismaat van deze trip, Sander Lagerveld, was ook van de partij net als enkele andere oud-opvarenden. Garant voor een mooie avond met veel oude herinneringen en de volgende ochtend weer een ervaring rijker.

Aangezien het feest in Newcastle was kon een bezoek aan de Farne Islands niet ontbreken, het was alweer veel te lang geleden dat ik hier was geweest. Vanwege tijdgebrek alleen een middagtoer kunnen nemen maar de beleving was weer fenomenaal. De eilandengroep staat bekend om zijn vele 10.000-den Papegaaiduikers en die lieten het niet afweten, net als de vele Noordse Sterns die je het leven zuur maakt als je door de kolonie loopt. Tot bloedens toe kunnen je ze verwonden als je niet uitkijkt en dat is meestal als je met een camera voor je gezicht loopt.

Alvast twee kleine sfeerimpressies. Kan niet wachten om weer een keer terug te gaan en dan echt weer de tijd te hebben om alles te fotograferen.

Papegaaiduiker


Noordse Stern

maandag 25 april 2011

4000 friends

Blue-bellied Roller, flying on the list.

14 April 2011, the Gambia. Stepping out of Bijilo forest next to Kololi i walked along the golfcourse when i noticed in the corner of my eye a bright blue flash flying towards the ground. Yes! I knew it was the one that i was looking for. Peering through the fench I saw bird species number 4000 sitting on the ground, a dreambird of mine ever i bought the birdbook of the Gambia all those years ago: the stunning Blue-bellied Roller. Ever more stunning when it takes a flight, beautiful as Rollers do.

I finaly made it, my selfset ‘target’ of seeing 4000 bird species before i turned forty (i’ve beaten it by more then 4 years thank you very much :-)). Lately the lure of list was lower because of trips to countries with less new birds but with more photographic opportunities but a trip to Gambia was all it took to break the barrier.

As birds go some are more appealing than others (i don’t fancy most Geese and South-american Ani’s) and along my most beautiful birds i’ve seen include an ultra-rare Pitta; the Guerney’s Pitta. Not is it extremely beautiful (as Pitta’s are) but i worked very, very hard to get to see one. It took me 7 days of full (dawn to dusk) birding to find a female. As I was travelling for an extra month in Thailand i decided to come back later to find me a male. As it was it took me another 6 days of NOT seeing any. On the last morning, in the last hour I succeeded. I heard one, crept in and finaly the male bounced towards me and revealed all its beauty. What a stunner! I crept out, took of my binoculairs, went back to the lodge, packed, took a taxi and i have never used my binoculairs again in Thailand. I was done. I cracked but I took the victory out of the mouth of defeat. I was walking on air.

As always, the journey towards is the best part and i count myself blessed with all what i have seen and experienced during the years ever since i went with my good friend Arjan van Egmond to Java and Bali back in 1995. Some of the more profound memories I have are sitting quietly on the ancient Maya tempels of Tikal overlooking virgin rainforest as far as you can see; waking up before first light because of the extreme cold (we forgot sleeping bags) and drinking a cup of hot coffee overlooking the virgin cloud forests of the higher Manu road, Peru where we camped; the landing on Inaccesible island and Tristan da Cunha where even descendants of Pieter Groen of my hometown are living (I even went to college that was called after Pieter Groen – that must have been a sure sign back then!); the gamedrives in the mighty Masai Mara together with Andre and Ellen; cage diving with Great White Sharks; snowed in for two days in South-Africa of all places (Drakensbergen); visiting the Puffings on Farne Island; whalewatching from the Pride of Bilbao in the Bay of Biscay with the most amazing sunsets ever; walking on a working Vulcano in Guatemala where the ground was so hot my boots were melting if I were standing too long; Steller’s Sea-eagle’s on the driftice of Hokkaido, Japan; our selfmade pelagic with a chartered speedboat of Paracas Peru, the one and only time i thought i was going to die - those waves were monstereous! and many many more.

During the years birding i’ve lost friends but made countless others and even refound old friends, found love and lost it again. Don’t know what life will bring me but the memories of the travels stay and new memories are bound to be made. There are still 6000 other friends out there!

Arjan van Egmond birding the superb Manu Road, Peru. The birdiest place on the planet. Over 1000 species have been seen in the National park.

Tikal. Etched in memory. Could have stayed up on the tempels forever.

Stunning sunset from the Pride of Bilbao after a day full of Whales and Shearwaters. My addiction to seabirds and cetaceans started here!

The local cafe on the remotest island in the world, Tristan da Cunha. Even it was only 11.00 I had to buy a round of beer!

zaterdag 9 oktober 2010

California: bootje varen

Monterey bay / Martijn Verdoes

Aangezien Martijn er toch tijdelijk woont, dan kan je er natuurlijk gewoon het beste even langs gaan. En als je er dan toch bent, dan kan je eigenlijk de volledige tijd de paden op, de lanen uit om vogels te kijken en te fotograferen. En als je dan toch bezig bent dan kan je het allerbeste een boottochtje maken op zee, en als je dat erg leuk vindt, zoals wij, dan het liefst meerdere. Het is namelijk verslavend!

Drijvende schuilhut op zee / Martijn Verdoes

Boottochtjes vanuit, vooral, Monterey zijn al vele jaren een begrip. Vlak voor de kust liggen namelijk enkele diepe zee canyons die zeer voedselrijk zijn, zowel voor zeevogels als zeezoogdieren. Op de drie lange (>10 uur) boottochten hadden we bijvoorbeeld meer dan 100 walvissen van drie soorten inclusief de allergrootste; de blauwe vinvis. Tevens 5 soorten dolfijnen, 4 soorten storm-vogeltjes, 2 soorten Albatrossen, 4 soorten Pijlstormvogels, 4 soorten jagers, 1000-den Franjepoten, Blauwe Haaien en Zonnevissen zo groot als een flinke middeklasser.

Sierlijke Stern / Martijn Verdoes

Grey-faced Petrel (derde waarneming voor Noord-Amerika) / Martijn Verdoes

Laysan Albatros / Martijn Verdoes

Laysan Albatros en Zwartvoetalbatros / Marc Guyt

Grauwe Pijlstormvogel / Marc Guyt

Absoluut hoogtepunt was de waarneming van een familie Orka's pal naast de boot. Het gevoel als een mannetje Orka uit het niets op enkele meters uit het water oprijst en met veel geweld zijn adem uitstoot is met geen pen te beschrijven. Bootje varen, het blijft leuk!

Orka / Marc Guyt

Pacifische Witflankdolfijn / Marc Guyt

Bultrug / Martijn Verdoes

Marc & Martijn