Saturday, January 21, 2012

Ospreys - Linking Communities Worldwide!




Osprey Migration Foundation

Ospreys are one of the most charismatic and cosmopolitan of all bird species. The species’ global distribution and migratory habits lend it to collaborative projects. As Yossi Leshem has demonstrated through his work in the Middle East, migrating birds like Ospreys cross national, cultural and religious boundaries and have great potential to link communities separated by hundreds if not thousands of miles. We believe Ospreys provide us with a truly unique opportunity to engage and link communities across the world.
For further information please contact us HERE





Osprey Migration

Most northern European Ospreys winter in sub-Saharan Africa. Recent advances in satellite tracking have enhanced our understanding of their migration greatly. GPS transmitters give hourly fixes for tracked birds, providing data on location, altitude, speed and orientation. This has allowed researchers to follow the journey of migratory Ospreys in unprecedented detail. 
The work has shown that Ospreys from Western Europe – UK, Germany, France and Sweden – follow a westerly migration route taking them into Spain and across the Mediterranean into Morocco. They then skirt around the Atlas Mountains before crossing the western part of the Sahara. Satellite tracked birds have then wintered at various points along the West Africa coast - from Mauritania south to Guinea. The map below shows a typical migration from England to Senegal. 

Birds nesting further east – in Finland and Estonia for example – use a more easterly route. They fly south through Eastern Europe and into the Middle East. From there they head into North Africa across the eastern part of the Sahara before wintering in countries such as Sudan and Cameroon. Others continue further south, with one Finnish-tracked bird wintering on the southern coast of South Africa – a record-breaking migration of 12,500 kilometres. 

Linking Schools and Communities 

The Osprey Migration Foundation (OMF) has been set-up in order to link schools along Osprey migration flyways. Using satellite-tracked birds as a guide, the OMF has already initiated links between primary schools in England and The Gambia. Children at the schools have exchanged letters and videos diaries. With Ospreys as the common link, this provides them with a unique way to learn about other cultures, religions and languages. It will also greatly enhance their knowledge of bird migration. 
The OMF now plan to expand the project to include schools along other major flyways. In Europe this will include both the western and eastern flyways as follows: 

Western flyway 
Sweden-Scotland-England-France- Spain-Morocco-Senegal-Gambia

Eastern Flyway 
Finland-Eastern Europe-Israel-Egypt- Cameroon

Along each flyway we plan to link each school with two others, thereby creating groups of three. The three schools will be from different cultural backgrounds. A link on the western flyway could include various combinations, for example:

Sweden-England-Gambia

Scotland-Spain-Gambia

France-Morocco-Senegal

The link lends itself to children of all ages. The initial links between English and Gambian schools involve seven/eight year olds and thirteen/fourteen year olds.

Schools close to key Osprey breeding/migration sites will be approached by associate partners of OMF who will then visit the school in order to talk about the project and initiate the links.

The OMF will develop educational packs for each school involved in the link. This will provide teachers with sufficient background information on Osprey migration to introduce the concept to the children. It will also include lesson plans and suggested web links to further each school’s migration studies.

Although education packs will be provided for all schools participating in the project, the OMF will provide additional support for education in developing countries where facilities are limited. The Foundation is already providing educational opportunities for children in several Gambian schools through the provision of optics, books and computer equipment. This work is being co-ordinated in The Gambia by Junkung Jadama a local bird guide who is visiting schools to give talks and lead fieldtrips. This model could be repeated in other areas where education facilities are poor. Schools from more affluent areas may wish to hold fund raising events to assist with this education work.

As more schools join the project we hope to organise an international meeting for all of the children involved. The meeting would be held at a well-known migration watch point in the spring or autumn when large numbers of migrant birds, including Ospreys, will be passing through in spectacular numbers. The meeting would enable the children to experience migration at first hand, and at the same time, provide a unique opportunity to bring children and their teachers from many cultural backgrounds together.

Tim Mackrill & Tim Appleton, Leicestershire and Rutland Wildlife Trust

Dr Yossi Leshem, Tel Aviv University


Tracking an individual Osprey's migration:




No. 09 (with AW) tracked through Spain and crossing to Morocco 09.09.2011




















Arriving to feed off the Moroccan Atlantic Coast on 10.09.2011

















Our bird heads inland to roost and then makes its way south near Agadir to roost again 11.09.2011









For further information or to get involved contact us HERE

Wednesday, January 18, 2012

Botswana Trip Report Part 3 - Species Listing


WORLDWIDE BIRDING TOURS: Botswana 2011

October 14th to 26th 2011

Species Listings for Birds and Mammals

Tour Leader: Peter Jones
Tour Guide: Kurt McKenzie
Author: Peter Jones

For day to day accounts of our great safari tour, please read the previous 2 blogs i.e. Part One and Two.
The tour trip report is posted in three parts, the first deals with our excursions in and around Maun and the Kalahari Desert, the second our excursions to Khwai, Savuti, Chobi and Victoria Falls, this the third and final part covers bird and mammal species seen.



Bush Fire in the Kalahari

This blog is a supplementary part to the previous day by day tour descriptions and gives a complete list of both Bird and Mammal species seen by the tour group. If you are not a lover of lists there are some great photographs included...

African Darter
STRUTHIONIFORMES: Struthionidae
Common Ostrich           Struthio camelus

GALLIFORMES: Numididae
Helmeted Guineafowl     Numida meleagris

GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae
Crested Francolin          Dendroperdix sephaena
Red-billed Spurfowl       Pternistis adspersus
Swainson's Spurfowl     Pternistis swainsonii
Harlequin Quail  Coturnix delegorguei

ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae
White-faced Whistling Duck       Dendrocygna viduata
Fulvous Whistling Duck Dendrocygna bicolor
White-backed Duck        Thalassornis leuconotus
Spur-winged Goose       Plectropterus gambensis
Knob-billed Duck           Sarkidiornis melanotos
Egyptian Goose            Alopochen aegyptiaca
African Pygmy Goose   Nettapus auritus
Red-billed Teal  Anas erythrorhyncha
Garganey          Anas querquedula
Hottentot Teal    Anas hottentota
Southern Pochard         Netta erythrophthalma

PODICIPEDIFORMES: Podicipedidae
Little Grebe       Tachybaptus ruficollis
Black-necked Grebe       Podiceps nigricollis

Open-billed Stork
CICONIIFORMES: Ciconiidae
Yellow-billed Stork         Mycteria ibis
African Openbill            Anastomus lamelligerus
Woolly-necked Stork      Ciconia episcopus
Saddle-billed Stork        Ephippiorhy. senegalensis
Marabou Stork   Leptoptilos crumeniferus

PELECANIFORMES: Threskiornithidae
African Sacred Ibis        Threskiornis aethiopicus
Hadada Ibis      Bostrychia hagedash
Glossy Ibis       Plegadis falcinellus
African Spoonbill           Platalea alba

PELECANIFORMES: Ardeidae
Black-crowned Night Heron        Nycticorax nycticorax
Striated Heron   Butorides striata
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
Western Cattle Egret      Bubulcus ibis
Grey Heron       Ardea cinerea
Purple Heron     Ardea purpurea
Great Egret       Ardea alba
Intermediate Egret         Egretta intermedia
Black Heron      Egretta ardesiaca
Slaty Egret        Egretta vinaceigula
Little Egret        Egretta garzetta

PELECANIFORMES: Scopidae
Hamerkop         Scopus umbretta

PELECANIFORMES: Pelecanidae
Great White Pelican       Pelecanus onocrotalus

SULIFORMES: Phalacrocoracidae
Reed Cormorant            Microcarbo africanus

SULIFORMES: Anhingidae
African Darter    Anhinga rufa

ACCIPITRIFORMES: Sagittariidae
Secretarybird    Sagittarius serpentarius

Bateleur
ACCIPITRIFORMES: Accipitridae
Black-winged Kite          Elanus caeruleus
Black Kite         Milvus migrans
Yellow-billed Kite           Milvus aegyptius
African Fish Eagle         Haliaeetus vocifer
Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus
White-backed Vulture     Gyps africanus
Cape Vulture     Gyps coprotheres
Lappet-faced Vulture     Torgos tracheliotus
Black-chested Snake Eagle        Circaetus pectoralis
Brown Snake Eagle       Circaetus cinereus
Bateleur            Terathopius ecaudatus
African Marsh Harrier     Circus ranivorus
Pallid Harrier     Circus macrourus
Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates
Pale Chanting Goshawk Melierax canorus
Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar
Shikra   Accipiter badius
Common Buzzard          Buteo buteo
Steppe Buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus
Lesser Spotted Eagle    Aquila pomarina
Tawny Eagle      Aquila rapax
Steppe Eagle    Aquila nipalensis
African Hawk-Eagle       Aquila spilogaster
Wahlberg's Eagle          Hieraaetus wahlbergi
Booted Eagle    Hieraaetus pennatus
Ayres's Hawk-Eagle       Hieraaetus ayresii
Martial Eagle     Polemaetus bellicosus
Long-crested Eagle       Lophaetus occipitalis

Tawny Eagle
FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae
Greater Kestrel  Falco rupicoloides
Red-necked Falcon        Falco chicquera
Lanner Falcon   Falco biarmicus

OTIDIFORMES: Otididae
Kori Bustard      Ardeotis kori
Red-crested Korhaan     Lophotis ruficrista
Northern Black Korhaan Afrotis afraoides

GRUIFORMES: Rallidae
African Crake    Crex egregia
Black Crake       Amaurornis flavirostra
African Swamphen        Porphyrio madagascariensis
Common Moorhen         Gallinula chloropus

GRUIFORMES: Gruidae
Wattled Crane   Grus carunculata

CHARADRIIFORMES: Turnicidae
Common Buttonquail     Turnix sylvaticus

CHARADRIIFORMES: Burhinidae
Water Thick-knee           Burhinus vermiculatus
Spotted Thick-knee        Burhinus capensis

CHARADRIIFORMES: Recurvirostridae
Black-winged Stilt          Himantopus himantopus

CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae
Long-toed Lapwing        Vanellus crassirostris
Blacksmith Lapwing       Vanellus armatus
Crowned Lapwing          Vanellus coronatus
Three-banded Plover     Charadrius tricollaris

CHARADRIIFORMES: Rostratulidae
Greater Painted Snipe    Rostratula benghalensis

CHARADRIIFORMES: Jacanidae
African Jacana  Actophilornis africanus

Spotted Thick-knee
CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae
Marsh Sandpiper           Tringa stagnatilis
Common Greenshank    Tringa nebularia
Green Sandpiper           Tringa ochropus
Wood Sandpiper           Tringa glareola
Common Sandpiper      Actitis hypoleucos
Little Stint          Calidris minuta
Ruff      Philomachus pugnax

CHARADRIIFORMES: Glareolidae
Double-banded Courser Rhinoptilus africanus
Collared Pratincole        Glareola pratincola
Black-winged Pratincole Glareola nordmanni

CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae
Grey-hooded Gull          Chroicoceph. cirrocephalus
Gull-billed Tern  Gelochelidon nilotica
Whiskered Tern  Chlidonias hybrida
White-winged Tern         Chlidonias leucopterus
Black Tern         Chlidonias niger

PTEROCLIDIFORMES: Pteroclididae
Double-banded Sandgrouse      Pterocles bicinctus
Burchell's Sandgrouse   Pterocles burchelli

COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae
Common Pigeon           Columba livia
Speckled Pigeon           Columba guinea
European Turtle Dove    Streptopelia turtur
Mourning Collared Dove            Streptopelia decipiens
Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata
Ring-necked Dove         Streptopelia capicola
Laughing Dove  Spilopelia senegalensis
Emerald-spotted Wood Dove    Turtur chalcospilos
Namaqua Dove Oena capensis
African Green Pigeon    Treron calvus

PSITTACIFORMES: Psittacidae
Rosy-faced Lovebird     Agapornis roseicollis
Meyer's Parrot   Poicephalus meyeri

African Fish Eagle
MUSOPHAGIFORMES: Musophagidae
Grey Go-away-bird        Corythaixoides concolor

CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae
Senegal Coucal Centropus senegalensis
Coppery-tailed Coucal   Centropus cupreicaudus
Jacobin Cuckoo            Clamator jacobinus
Common Cuckoo          Cuculus canorus

STRIGIFORMES: Tytonidae
Western Barn Owl          Tyto alba

STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae
Verreaux's Eagle-Owl     Bubo lacteus
Pearl-spotted Owlet       Glaucidium perlatum

CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae
Rufous-cheeked Nightjar            Caprimulgus rufigena

APODIFORMES: Apodidae
African Palm Swift         Cypsiurus parvus
Common Swift  Apus apus
African Black Swift        Apus barbatus
White-rumped Swift       Apus caffer

COLIIFORMES: Coliidae
Speckled Mousebird      Colius striatus

CORACIIFORMES: Coraciidae
Purple Roller     Coracias naevius
Lilac-breasted Roller      Coracias caudatus
Broad-billed Roller         Eurystomus glaucurus

CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis

CORACIIFORMES: Meropidae
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater            Merops hirundineus
Little Bee-eater  Merops pusillus
White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides
European Bee-eater       Merops apiaster
Southern Carmine Bee-eater       Merops nubicoides

BUCEROTIFORMES: Upupidae
African Hoopoe Upupa africana

BUCEROTIFORMES: Phoeniculidae
Green Wood Hoopoe    Phoeniculus purpureus
Common Scimitarbill     Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Lilac-breasted Roller
BUCEROTIFORMES: Bucerotidae
Bradfield's Hornbill        Tockus bradfieldi
African Grey Hornbill     Tockus nasutus
Southern Red-billed Hornbill       Tockus rufirostris
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill   Tockus leucomelas

BUCEROTIFORMES: Bucorvidae
Southern Ground Hornbill           Bucorvus leadbeateri

PICIFORMES: Lybiidae
Acacia Pied Barbet        Tricholaema leucomelas
Black-collared Barbet     Lybius torquatus
Crested Barbet  Trachyphonus vaillantii

PICIFORMES: Indicatoridae
Greater Honeyguide       Indicator indicator

PICIFORMES: Picidae
Bennett's Woodpecker   Campethera bennettii
Golden-tailed Woodpecker         Campethera abingoni
Cardinal Woodpecker    Dendropicos fuscescens
Bearded Woodpecker    Dendropicos namaquus

PASSERIFORMES: Platysteiridae
Chinspot Batis  Batis molitor

PASSERIFORMES: Prionopidae
White-crested Helmetshrike        Prionops plumatus

PASSERIFORMES: Malaconotidae
Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis
Black-crowned Tchagra  Tchagra senegalus
Black-backed Puffback  Dryoscopus cubla
Ethiopian Boubou         Laniarius aethiopicus
Southern Boubou          Laniarius ferrugineus
Swamp Boubou            Laniarius bicolor
Crimson-breasted Shrike            Laniarius atrococcineus
Brubru  Nilaus afer

PASSERIFORMES: Laniidae
Magpie Shrike   Urolestes melanoleucus
Southern White-crowned Shrike  Eurocephalus anguitimens
Lesser Grey Shrike        Lanius minor
Common Fiscal Lanius collaris
PASSERIFORMES: Oriolidae
Black-headed Oriole      Oriolus larvatus

Three-banded Plover
PASSERIFORMES: Dicruridae
Fork-tailed Drongo        Dicrurus adsimilis

PASSERIFORMES: Monarchidae
African Paradise Flycatcher       Terpsiphone viridis

PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae
Cape Crow        Corvus capensis
Pied Crow         Corvus albus

PASSERIFORMES: Paridae
Southern Black Tit         Parus niger

PASSERIFORMES: Alaudidae
Rufous-naped Lark        Mirafra africana
Eastern Clapper Lark     Mirafra fasciolata
Fawn-colored Lark         Calendulauda africanoides
Sabota Lark      Calendulauda sabota
Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark   Eremopterix leucotis
Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark         Eremopterix verticalis

PASSERIFORMES: Pycnonotidae
African Red-eyed Bulbul            Pycnonotus nigricans
Common Bulbul            Pycnonotus barbatus
Dark-capped Bulbul       Pycnonotus tricolor

PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae
Brown-throated Martin    Riparia paludicola
Sand Martin      Riparia riparia
Barn Swallow    Hirundo rustica
Wire-tailed Swallow        Hirundo smithii
Pearl-breasted Swallow  Hirundo dimidiata
Rock Martin       Ptyonoprogne fuligula
Common House Martin  Delichon urbicum
Greater Striped Swallow Cecropis cucullata

PASSERIFORMES: Macrosphenidae
Long-billed Crombec     Sylvietta rufescens

PASSERIFORMES: Phylloscopidae
Willow Warbler  Phylloscopus trochilus

PASSERIFORMES: Acrocephalidae
Olive-tree Warbler          Hippolais olivetorum

PASSERIFORMES: Locustellidae
Little Rush Warbler        Bradypterus baboecala

PASSERIFORMES: Cisticolidae
Chirping Cisticola          Cisticola pipiens
Levaillant's Cisticola      Cisticola tinniens
Croaking Cisticola         Cisticola natalensis
Neddicky          Cisticola fulvicapilla
Desert Cisticola Cisticola aridulus
Tawny-flanked Prinia      Prinia subflava
Black-chested Prinia      Prinia flavicans
Barred Wren-Warbler      Calamonastes fasciolatus
Green-capped Eremomela         Eremomela scotops

Greater Blue-eared Starling
PASSERIFORMES: Leiothrichidae
Arrow-marked Babbler   Turdoides jardineii
Hartlaub's Babbler         Turdoides hartlaubii
Southern Pied Babbler   Turdoides bicolor

PASSERIFORMES: Sylviidae
Chestnut-vented Warbler            Sylvia subcaerulea

PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae
Common Starling           Sturnus vulgaris
Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea
Greater Blue-eared Starling         Lamprotornis chalybaeus
Meves's Starling            Lamprotornis mevesii
Burchell's Starling          Lamprotornis australis
Red-winged Starling       Onychognathus morio

PASSERIFORMES: Buphagidae
Red-billed Oxpecker      Buphagus erythrorhynchus

PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae
Groundscraper Thrush   Psophocichla litsitsirupa

PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae
White-browed Robin-Chat          Cossypha heuglini
Bearded Scrub Robin    Erythropygia quadrivirgata
White-browed Scrub Robin        Erythropygia leucophrys
Kalahari Scrub Robin     Erythropygia paena
Arnot’s Chat      Pentholaea arnotti
Capped Wheatear          Oenanthe pileata
Familiar Chat     Cercomela familiaris
Ant-eating Chat Myrmecocichla formicivora
Southern Black Flycatcher          Melaenornis pammelaina
Marico Flycatcher          Bradornis mariquensis

PASSERIFORMES: Nectariniidae
Collared Sunbird           Hedydipna collaris
Amethyst Sunbird          Chalcomitra amethystina
Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis
Marico Sunbird  Cinnyris mariquensis
Purple-banded Sunbird  Cinnyris bifasciatus
White-bellied Sunbird     Cinnyris talatala

PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver   Plocepasser mahali
Great Sparrow   Passer motitensis
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow  Passer diffusus

PASSERIFORMES: Ploceidae
Red-billed Buffalo Weaver         Bubalornis niger
Scaly-feathered Weaver Sporopipes squamifrons
Southern Brown-throated Weaver           Ploceus xanthopterus
Southern Masked Weaver          Ploceus velatus
Village Weaver  Ploceus cucullatus
Red-headed Weaver      Anaplectes rubriceps
Red-headed Quelea       Quelea erythrops
Red-billed Quelea          Quelea quelea

Southern Brown-throated Weaver
PASSERIFORMES: Estrildidae
Green-winged Pytilia      Pytilia melba
Red-headed Finch         Amadina erythrocephala
Red-billed Firefinch       Lagonosticta senegala
Blue Waxbill      Uraeginthus angolensis
Violet-eared Waxbill       Uraeginthus granatinus
Black-faced Waxbill       Estrilda erythronotos

PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae
Western Yellow Wagtail  Motacilla flava
African Pied Wagtail      Motacilla aguimp
African Pipit      Anthus cinnamomeus
Buffy Pipit        Anthus vaalensis
Plain-backed Pipit         Anthus leucophrys

PASSERIFORMES: Fringillidae
Black-throated Canary    Crithagra atrogularis
Yellow-fronted Canary    Crithagra mozambica
Yellow Canary   Crithagra flaviventris

PASSERIFORMES: Emberizidae
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting       Emberiza tahapisi
Golden-breasted Bunting           Emberiza flaviventris


And now for the mammals...
Oryx. Showing that it's not always a bed of roses for the winner in a battle of 2 bulls! The bull shown in the top section of the photograph is now carrying the horn of it's rival in the side of his neck, whilst the losing bull takes a rest with his one remaining horn.


Mammal List
Burchell's Zebra
Antelope Roan
Antelope Sable
Baboon Chacma
Badger Honey
Buffalo
Bushbuck
Duiker Common
Elephant African
Fox Bat-eared
Fox Silver
Genet Small-spotted
Giraffe
Hippopotamus
Hyaena Spotted
Impala
Jackal Black-backed
Jackal Side-striped
Kudu
Leopard
Lion
Mongoose Banded
Mongoose Dwarf
Sable
Mongoose Slender
Mongoose Yellow
Monkey Vervet
Oryx
Peter's Epauletted Bat
Porcupine
Red Lechwe
Sitatunga
Springbok
Squirrel Tree
Steenbok
Tsessebe
Warthog
Waterbuck
Wildebeest Blue
Zebra Burchell's




For full tour description and itinerary see Here

Photographs: Jimmy (Drongo) Turner and Spanish Nature


The Crew and a rather aloof tour leader doing his Livingston impression! A big thank you to Kurt McKenzie for his great company and superb guiding, also Annelies and the crew for making everything work, both your friendships are very much appreciated. 
2012 Tour Date for the next Botswana Safari - 29th October to 11th November details HERE