Really the only big trip was to Tanzania for a second time - the mighty Ruaha National Park - it would be a shame not to include at least one bird from there as there were some delightful moments. To recap On my Ipod I used to have my 5 star songs. Its a game I played on long journeys - and there can be only 10. There were 20 4 Star Songs, 50 3 Star Songs and then everything else was 2 or 1 star. Its really hard to have just 10 top songs - even another 30 is limiting. Thats the general idea - yes a silly boys list and it has to be hard ! Ten from 300. Agh !!
There is no order to this. Big Hint - Click the Picture - some are quite nice.
Chestnut Headed Bee-Eater (Remains in the Top 10 for its Third Retrospective !)
Why ? A beer at the end of a game drive next to a Sri Lankan river in the Yala NP - Post 1 A Bee-eater has to make the top 10 in life and to date this is the most magical one. Its going to take a lot to shift this out of the top 10. Something to do with the end of a long day, a beer, a tent porch. Distilled happiness. There was even a coffee table book called "Leopard" to look through. My first proper posh piece of grown up safari camping.
Pink Pigeon (A Worthy Bird that Remains Top 10 just for the Pain)
Why ? I walked 9 miles for this bird in Mauritius with an 8 and 6 year old in tow - post 16 Sore feet to end all sore feet. Leg muscles screaming in pain and it was sat next to the car park after 9 miles. Not the point I guess. As a family we are proud of this pigeon.
Collared Pratincole (Stays in for Its Second Retrospective)
A star from the Pivot Fields in Dubai. One of my first greatest shots with the new Bird Canon. Also just got the urge to bird and there they were - perfect - no idea what can turn up on passage in glorious Dubai. Post 103.
Pin-Tailed Sandgrouse (First Time in Knocking out the Robin Shot !)
Post 256 Its a great shock but this desert beauty means more to me than my Robin which is as I have said before a Google shot !!! More people have clicked through my robin and got to this site than through any other means. This is almost the point at which I consider a top 15 but really this moment was perfect and she (here - click the link to see the male as well) is a top ten birding super model. So here out in the desert at my new secret birding spot - actually not a secret but rarely visited and a haven for deer, sandgrouse, coursers, ducks - yes ducks !
Yellow-throated Bulbul (Staying in for Its Second Retrospective - a Beautiful Rarity - a Sad Tale - a walk with Dillon)
Sums up a lovely weekend trip to Karnataka - flew into Bangalore. Met a couple of Indian birds guides and learnt to take pictures properly. Post 122
Tickel's Blue Flycatcher (The Mighty Tickel - I upgrade the picture for its Third Retrospective)
Why ? This is what overseas birding is all about. I went for a walk down a "country lane" in Sri Lanka - I found a bird I had not even heard of - what a great name and what a great bird - post 5 . The point of this bird - you can find stuff for yourself. Exotic stuff. This shot was the Tickel returns - this time in Karnataka. It is now a bird that I feel grafted to in my soul. This guy knew I was a Tickel lover - he posed just 4 yards from me as I was being bitten to sh*t by bighty flying stuff while dripping with sweat in a stand of bamboo in India - thank you for making it all worthwhile. Oh Mr Tickel I feel I will stay faithful for ever at this point.....
African Scops Owl (Deservedly straight in for its first appearance - Krackin Shot !!)
You just have to read the story - I will probably never get within 3 feet of a wild owl again. Post 280. Awesome !
Gannet (First time in)
Every so often it just all comes together for a shot - Gannets are big - Gannets are beautiful and this is Bempton Cliffs. It was all about this bird and wheeling my 89 year mother-in-law down to the cliffs and taking this shot. Post 267. I had not enjoyed a bird so much in ages - the colours and the place. Look into my eyes !!
Kori's Bustard (stays in for being big I guess - is that a good reason)
Its hard to sum up Tanzania (or indeed India) with a single bird. If I have to pick another for safari the world's heaviest and biggest flying bird will have to do. Post 179. The Ngorogoro crater - a great day out !
Finally for now (and it wasn't too hard).
Corncake (Has to stay in for its second Retro ! Bonkers Place to find it ! Bonkers Bird !)
In a children's maze in a Dubai park. Go figure !! Post 110. If you have ever tried to see one of these in the Western Isles for hours on end in fields then you know exactly why I went delirious over this beauty. What are you doing in Safa park on migration in the middle of the day next to mums with prams who havent got a clue who you are. Corncrake I point - mad fool they look at me - No its a corncrake - you are mad they think - its a brown bird - but its a Corncrake !!! You get the idea. Many time sin my life people think I am an idiot. If you are in the know you know I am not.
Phew....
This is getting more and more difficult - At 400 its going to a top 15 and perhaps a few can bounce back in.
Ten birds from the first 300 that I know I salivate over and feel proud to have got the shot. Magic moments from the last couple of years. Place or shot - Moment - Light or just memories. I think I will never regret time I have spent wandering around chasing these beautiful creatures.
Neil, Homo Sapiens
Al Barsha Compound, Dubai
20 January 2013
