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.

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!

Muizen

Snap je dat nou? Ik niet! Hoe kan een mens nou bang zijn voor een muis? Ze zijn lief, maken geen lawaai en ruimen de overbodige voedselvoorraden keurig op.
Mooi, leg dat maar eens uit mijn vrouw, want ze is het niet met mee eens. Zal ze wel van d'r moeder hebben. Die hield als boerin de zwaarste koeien en stieren in bedwang, maar als ze een muis zag stond ze op tafel.
Tijdens een muizeninventarisatie in een natuurgebied hier om de hoek had ik samen met Michiel een aantal muizenvallen uitgezet. Doel was om de aanwezigheid van de waterspitsmuis aan te tonen! Daarbij heb je natuurlijk ook bijvangsten. Bosmuizen zitten (bijna) overal!

bosmuis

Ondertussen had ik ook een huismuis meegenomen van m'n werk en in m'n werkkamer gezet. Gewoon voor de lol. Laat dat beest de volgende morgen nou ontsnappen en direct onder de kast kruipen...
Hoe krijg je zo'n beest terug? Snel weer een paar livetraps teruggehaald uit het veld en in m'n kamer gezet. Met een dik stuk kaas heb ik ze dezelfde dag weer terug. Hoef ik verder niks te zeggen. Stel je voor dat dat beest in ons bed kruipt...
Precies voordat we koffie gaan drinken is het geregeld en staan er drie hongerige livetraps op mijn muisje te wachten. Probleem opgelost!

veldmuis in livetrap 

Nee dus! Bij de eerste slok koffie zegt ze: 'Theo, we moeten op jouw kamer die rommel maar eens opruimen. Vooral in de berging.' Ik probeer nog met een smoes er onderuit te komen, maar het helpt niet. 'Goed,' zegt ze, 'dan doe ik het wel alleen.' 'Ruim dan direct die muis onder de kast even op', zeg ik nog uit piëteit voor haar muizenfobie. Ze is de rest van de week niet meer op m'n kamer geweest... Probleem opgelost!
We hebben trouwens geen waterspitsmuizen gevangen. Wellicht moeten we het nog een keer proberen want de natuurbeherende organisatie wil toch graag weten of het dier er zit!

bosmuis

bosmuis

Een dwergmuis is een ander verhaal. Die zit bijna het hele jaar in het riet of het graan en komt alleen in de winter naar de grond. Knap lastig dus om die goed op de foto te zetten.

dwergmuis

De volgende morgen had ik het huismuisje terug. De kaas was op en het dier zat in de val met een dikke buik te wachten op nog een stuk. Hoe goed kun je het hebben als muis...

huismuis

huismuis

P.S. Als bioloog moet ik regelmatig muizen inventariseren. Het welzijn van de dieren staat daarbij bovenaan en daarom vang je ze uiteraard in livetraps. Daar komt wat lokvoer in (maden en wat hooi,  of appel en pindakaas, afhankelijk van wat je wilt vangen). Door regelmatig te controleren voorkom je sterfte. De term 'traphappiness' is hierbij ontstaan. Het kan nl. gebeuren dat wanneer je een muis uit de val hebt gehaald, hij bijna direct weer terugloopt; bij de controle van de volgende val een paar meter verder, hoor je het deurtje al weer dichtklappen...

Theo Douma

Tuinvogeltelling 2012

Dit jaar hebben we ook weer mee gedaan met de nationale tuinvogeltelling. Het verschil met vorig jaar is, dat we nu in Friesland wonen en niet meer in de Randstad. Grote vraag was natuurlijk, lang voordat we echt gingen verhuizen naar ons nieuwe huis, welke vogels gaan we daar in onze nieuwe tuin zien? Is het erg verschillend met de tuinvogels in Weesp? Eigenlijk is de basis wel gelijk aan die in Weesp.

Veel Huismussen, die heel voorzichtig en schuchter de weg naar onze tuin wisten te vinden. De Ringmus die hier, ten op zichte van Weesp in grotere getale aanwezig is. Kool en Pimpelmees, die zijn hier niet op een hand te tellen. Hadden we in Weesp ongeveer 10 Turkse tortels, hier hebben we er maar 2, die nu in de maand januari al zeer verlieft in de boom naast het huis zitten te flirten naar elkaar.

Ook de Merels zijn hier van de partij en zijn al druk met het innemen van een teratorium.
Het zal wel aan de zachte winter liggen, dat de vogels in januari al het voorjaar in de kop hebben.

Verder hebben we nog als vaste gast Roodborst, Heggenmus, Houtduif, Vink, Goudvink, grote en kleine bonte specht en spreeuw in de tuin. En ja, dan hebben we ook nog de Sperwer, die omdat we de vogels voeren in onze tuin indirect mee gevoerd wordt. Omdat we zoveel Huismussen hebben trekt dat Sperwers aan voor sommige misschien wat paradoxaal, voor de ander iets wat er gewoon bij hoort. Het is een lijstje soorten die je in iedere willekeurige tuin in Nederland kan zien, niets bijzonders dus. Waar zit dan het verschil met de soortenlijst in Weesp? Wel, hier hebben we dagelijks Geelgorzen in de tuin en in de schemer komt de kerkuil. Die aan de overkant van de weg in een stal zijn nestkast heeft. Iedere avond komt hij of zij even buurten bij ons in de tuin. Dit gaat vaak gepaard met luid geroep. En dan hebben we nog de soorten die we vanuit onze tuin kunnen zien, of die we vanaf 4 augustus wel eens gezien hebben. Op dat lijstje staat de Wielewaal, Raaf, Blauwe kiekendief, Grote zilverreiger, Purperreiger, Kraanvogel en Slangearend enz.

Wat hadden we nu met de telling van 2012 in onze tuin? De lijst zag er als volgt uit op de eerste plaats het Sijsje met 27 vogels op twee de plaats Pimpelmees 23 vogels, op drie de Koolmees 22 vogels, op vier de Ringmus met 16 vogels, in totaal hadden we 10 soorten.

Het is een goed initiatief van Vogelbescherming om de tuinvogels, door deze acties onder de aandacht te brengen bij de bevolking. Het is goed om de mensen meer bewust te maken van de natuur. Zeker met het huidige politieke klimaat in Nederland, kan de natuur wel een steuntje in de rug gebruiken.

Wil Leurs

Sparrow Special In A Winter Warbler Land

So far, this has been a good winter for Warblers. No offense to the Chiffchaff and the Willow Warbler, but those New World Warblers are a league of their own, even in winter plumage. In my previous post I already posted a picture of the beautiful Yellow-throated Warbler. In December another eastern vagrant was found on Pt Reyes, a Prairie Warbler.

Prairie Warbler, California, USA

'Audubon's' Yellow-rumped Warbler, California, USA

'Myrtle' Yellow-rumped Warbler, California, USA

Besides this rarity, it was very birdy at Pt Reyes. Big flocks of Warblers, Sparrows and other birds were around. Among these, two (sub-)species of Yellow-rumped Warbler, the western Audubons Warbler and the Myrtle Warbler from east America. Townsend Warblers bring some color to the Californian winters and I was lucky to get a Northern Flicker to pose for me.

Townsend's Warbler, California, USA

Northern Flicker, California, USA

Cascade Ranch is a historic ranch where Brussel sprouts are grown. At the end of each season the left over sprouts are piled up in the corners of the land to rot. This does not only produce a horrible smell, but it also attracts a lot of birds. Especially the New World Sparrows seem to like them. Annually, uncommon birds are found here and this year the star is a handsome Harris's Sparrow. This only endemic breeder to Canada usually winters on The Great Plains and is a rare visitor to the Californian coast. At least two White-throated Sparrows, uncommon visitors from east America were also present at the same site.

Harris's Sparrow, California, USA

White-throated Sparrow, California, USA

The stinking piles of rotting sprouts are a real attraction luring crowds of birders and photographers to the ranch. Some of them reported seeing 10 species of Sparrows in one day. I was able to get shots of 'only' seven species, five of which I would like to share with you in this post.

Lincoln's Sparrow, California, USA

Song Sparrow, California, USA

Fox Sparrow, California, USA

One of my most favorite North American birds is the Varied Thrush. These beautiful Thrushes have an almost Pitta like appearance. Varied Thrushes also like to dwell over forest floors in the dark vegetation and are easier to hear than to see, let alone to photograph.

Varied Thrush, California, USA

Varied Thrush, California, USA

In the same tiny little park in the center of the financial district of San Francisco where the Yellow-throated Warbler was hanging around last fall I was able to get up close and personal with a male and two females of these beautiful Thrushes. Although still in the shadow, these three birds were foraging right in the open, with some patience allowing me to get very close.

Dusky-capped Flycatcher, California, USA

Another bird magnet is Golden Gate Park. Every year, rare birds show up in the 'Central Park of San Francisco'. The Dusky-capped Flycatcher is a rare visitor of California and is currently wintering in Goldon Gate Park. Usually actively fly catching high up in the trees, obscured by branches and only found by its typical almost cat like sound it sometimes gets close enough for a decent picture. A little to close...

Good birding!

Martijn

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

Déjà vu

A week and a half ago we went out on a pelagic trip out of Bodega Bay to the Cordell Bank. Almost exactly a year ago we did the same with almost the same crew, which turned out to be a fantastic trip (link). The star of the show that time was a Short-tailed Albatross, a species that would be hard to beat.

Northern Fulmar, California USA

The marine weather forecast was great: 'Small craft advisory and hazardous seas'. It wouldn't be the first time a trip from Bodega Bay got cancelled after the two hour drive before the crack of dawn. However, the last minute forecast showed a window of opportunity that would last about half a day before the next storm would role in. At 7am we set course to the Cordell Bank, with the conditions being fairly good considering the forecast. Decent swells, but not too much wind and every now and then even some sunshine.

Black-footed Albatross, California USA

It wasn't long before the first pelagic species made an appearance. Northern Fulmars, Sooty and Short-tailed Shearwaters, Black-footed Albatrosses, Red Phalaropes and some Black-legged Kittiwakes. What was really impressive were the hundreds maybe even thousands of Cassin's Auklets that were around.

Black-legged Kittiwake, California USA

A little bit after noon the weather started to change. The sky got greyer and the wind started to pick up. These were exactly the conditions last year when the bird of the day showed up. Before I could finish that thought a massive pink bill with an Albatross behind it glided into view. Déjà vu.

Short-tailed Albatross, California USA

Short-tailed Albatross, California USA

Short-tailed Albatross, California USA

The first year Short-tailed Albatross circled the boat a few times giving us great views before it took off, leaving behind 5 very happy birders on a little boat. Time to head back to shore to beat the incoming storm.

Short-tailed (left) and Black-footed Albatross, California USA

Northern Fulmar, California USA

Last Sunday I visited a little park in San Francisco to chase the Lucy's Warbler that was found there. I managed to get on the bird, which meant a lifer! Also still hanging around in the same park was a beautiful Yellow-throated Warbler, which is now officially my favorite warbler.

Yellow-throated Warbler, California USA

Having finished this post it's time to get back to work and finish processing the images from our trip to Yellowstone. To be continued...

Martijn