Thursday, 24 March 2016

Runners up 4

Some more fine Entries from the N B C photographic Competition.

Firstly from Dave Jackson, our overall Winner.

Spoonbill

Greenshank

Darter

Skylark

Starling

Tipula paludosa (Daddy Long Legs)

Hadley the Wood Mouse

And a force to be reckoned with in the future 14 year old Jacob Spinks...

Cirl Bunting

Gannet

Green Sandpiper

Mute Swan

And some Gripping stuff from Jeff Blincow.

Crested Lark

Diadem Sandpiper Plover

PUMA

Chilean Magnificent Beetle

Green Tortoise Beetle

Starred Agama

Orchis Troodii



Wednesday, 23 March 2016

BTO House Martin Survey

Hello

Ben Reeve has recently come on-board to assist the British Trust for Ornithology Northants representative Barrie Galpin, and one of his first tasks is to publicise the 2016 BTO House Martin Survey. This follows on from the preliminary work completed by volunteers last year, and again volunteers are sought to complete work within this fair county of ours.

http://www.bto.org/volunteer-surveys/house-martin-survey

Ben can be contacted by email - benreeve@outlook.com - should you be able to assist...

Regards

Neil M


House Martin

Tuesday, 22 March 2016

DIVERSE AFRICA pt 2 The MAMMALS

This list compiled by Bob Bullock of the Top five favourite Mammals voted by the participants on the recent N B Club Trip to South Africa.

01 YELLOW MONGOOSE...............................................................................................29 VOTES


Robin Gossage

02 GEMSBOK.....................................................................................................................27 VOTES


Barry Boswell
03 LION................................................................................................................................24 VOTES




Bob Gill



Robin Gossage
04 LITTLE SPOTTED GENET.........................................................................................15 VOTES




05 BAT EARED FOX..........................................................................................................11 VOTES

06 CAPE FOX......................................................................................................................11 VOTES


Dave Jackson
07 LEOPARD.......................................................................................................................10 VOTES 

08 GIRAFFE........................................................................................................................05 VOTES


Barry Boswell
09 BLUE WILDEBEAST...................................................................................................05 VOTES






Barry Boswell

Robin Gossage
10 SPOTTED HYENA........................................................................................................04 VOTES


Bob Gill

11 GROUND SQUIRREL..................................................................................................04 VOTES




Bob Gill


Dave Jackson
12 BROWN HYENA...........................................................................................................03 VOTES

13 SPRINGBOK................................................................................................................. 03 VOTES






Bob Gill


Stotting  Robin Gossage
14 BRYDES WHALE..........................................................................................................02 VOTES


Bob Bullock

15 MOUNTAIN ZEBRA.....................................................................................................01 VOTES

16 SPRING HARE..............................................................................................................01 VOTES

17 BLACK BACKED JACKAL........................................................................................01 VOTES


Robin Gossage

Thank you Bob, for compiling these lists.

Thanks to all on the trip for you companionship and camaraderie .

Tour participants,

Barry Boswell, Bob Gill, Bob Bullock, David Arden, Dave Jackson, Dave Thomas, Julie Thomas,  John Price-Stephens, Ken Scales, Phill Horsenail, Tricia Woods, Wendy Gossage, Robin Gossage.

And what could have been

Aardvark pug print.





Sunday, 20 March 2016

NBC Car Trip to Gloucestershire


Hello

Five of us migrated down to Gloucestershire today on the monthly car trip, starting with a brief stop to catch some views of the two Penduline Tits on the outskirts of Gloucester. Moving on to the Forest of Dean we encountered some Hawfinches at Parkend, three displaying Goshawks at New Fancy View and small numbers of Mandarin Ducks at Cannop Ponds. We drove to the nearby Symonds Yat Rock and watched plenty of Common Buzzards, Ravens and a Peregrine enjoying the weak sunshine and breeze.

We finished the day at Crabtree Hill back in the forest where we watched a Great Grey Shrike predating newts, a couple of pairs of Stonechat, a Goosander and several Crossbills.

Regards

Neil M




Penduline Tits

Hawfinch

Common Buzzard.

Displaying Raven.


Mandarin Ducks

DIVERSE AFRICA the BIRDS

On return from the S A Bird Club Trip, Bob B asked participants to give their opinions on what they considered to be the Top Five BEST Birds and Mammals of the trip.
Bob has now collated the findings and passed them on to me.

This list, as Bob says depends on several factors.These include the views that were gained,what each
participant was hoping or expecting to see or simply something that was just exciting.

Before I reveal the total list, I Would like to give THANKS, mine, Wendy's  and all of those who  travelled on the tour.
These Thanks from everyone go to Dave and Dave, (there were three Daves,two Bobs and a Rob,a
recipe for confusion to say the least) .
Of course I'm talking about Dave Thomas and Dave Hyslop .Special THANKS to Dave Hyslop who's tireless efforts of driving (our vehicle), sorting, helping and being a genuinely really nice guy. Even his choice of music played on the long hauls wasn't bad either .Dave and his company    
DIVERSE AFRICA  deserve nothing but praise.
This is in to no way undermine all the sterling efforts of our very own Dave Thomas, who's taste in music is Questionable. But who's photography............

THANK you guys for everything.

Anyways to the list, I would like to augment this with some  images so come on you guys send me some pix.

BIRDS.

01 KORI BUSTARD.............................................................................................28 VOTES


Barry Boswell
02 NORTHERN BLACK KORHAN..................................................................24 VOTES

Barry Boswell
03 SECRETARYBIRD.........................................................................................17 VOTES


Barry Boswell
04 INDIAN YELLOW NOSED ALBATROSS..................................................17 VOTES






Bob Gill

Dave Jackson
05 SPECTACLED PETREL..............................................................................15 VOTES



Dave Jackson
Bob Bullock
06 SOUTHERN RED BISHOP..........................................................................10 VOTES


Barry Boswell
07 SOUTHERN BLACK KORHAN.................................................................10 VOTES



Bob Gill


Barry Boswell
08 CRIMSON BREASTED SHRIKE...............................................................09 VOTES


Robin Gossage
09 CAPE ROCKJUMPER................................................................................09 VOTES


Barry Boswell
10 AFRICAN PENQUIN..................................................................................09 VOTES

Robin Gossage
11 PIGMY FALCON..........................................................................................07 VOTES

Robin Gossage
12 GIANT PETREL.................................................................................................07 VOTES



Bob Gill


Barry Boswell
13 LUDWIGS BUSTARD.......................................................................................06 VOTES


Robin Gossage
14 BLUE CRANE....................................................................................................05 VOTES

Barry Boswell
15 BLACK HARRIER............................................................................................05 VOTES

16 VERRAUX'S EAGLE OWL.............................................................................05 VOTES

Barry Boswell
17 CHESNUT VENTED TIT BABBLER.............................................................05 VOTES


Barry Boswell
18 SHAFT TAILED WHYDAH.............................................................................05 VOTES


Barry Boswell
19 SPOTTED EAGLE OWL..................................................................................04 VOTES
Robin Gossage


Barry Boswell
20 PALE CHANTING GOSHAWK.......................................................................04 VOTES

Barry Boswell
21 GREAT SHEARWATER....................................................................................04 VOTES





Bob Gill



Bob Bullock

Bob Bullock
23 RED HEADED FINCH......................................................................................04 VOTES


Robin Gossage
24 SHY ALBATROSS.............................................................................................04 VOTES


Bob Bullock

Bob Bullock
25 FAIRY FLYCATCHER.....................................................................................04 VOTES


Barry Boswell
26 CORY'S SHEARWATER..................................................................................04 VOTES





Bob bullock

Bob Bullock


Bob Gill


27 ORANGE BREASTED SUNBIRD..................................................................03 VOTES


Barry Boswell
28 CAPE SUGARBIRD.........................................................................................02 VOTES



Bob Gill


29 RED NECKED FALCON ................................................................................02 VOTES


Robin Gossage
30 SPOTTED THICKNEE....................................................................................02 VOTES

Dave Jackson
31 SCALY FEATHERED FINCH...........................................................................02 VOTES

Robin Gossage
32 WHITE BROWED SPARROW WEAVER........................................................01 VOTES



Robin Gossage



33 CINNAMON BREASTED WARBLER..............................................................01 VOTES


Robin Gossage


34 GREATER FLAMINGO......................................................................................01 VOTES

A beautiful shot by Barry Boswell

35 AFRICAN BLACK OYSTERCATCHER..........................................................01 VOTES


Bob Bullock
36 LARKS...................................................................................................................01 VOTES





Robin Gossage


Cant help but think that the similarity between Northern and Southern Black Korhan if added together would result in  a chart topping 34 votes?

I'm hoping to receive some images from other photographers on the trip and will add when I can.

The Top five Mammals will have to wait as it takes a while to compose so please send me images of them also.

To close I'd like to include this fantastic image from Dave Thomas,




A not so fantastic image from myself.but with the EAGLES blaring away you had to be there

Life in the fast lane
DIVERSE AFRICA
cell +27 83 626 0444
dave@diverse africa.co.za  www.diverse africa.co.za