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News in Brief: Kenya, India, Sri Lanka, the UK, The Gambia, France, Thailand, Japan, Ethiopia, Oman, Tunisia & Jamaica
January 2025
‘Wow, what a trip!’ writes tour leader Mirthe Aarts. ‘In Kakamega Forest the pond behind our lodging was magical as always, with a sensational chorus of frogs, including the delightful Common and Kivu Reed Frogs. We enjoyed finding and photographing multiple individuals of Large-eyed Green Treesnake, Yellow Forest Snake, Boulenger’s Pygmy Chameleon, and East African Highland Grass Lizard, alongside some other super wildlife including Crowned Eagle, Ross’s Turaco, High-casqued Hornbill, Cardinal Woodpecker, Red-tailed and Blue Monkeys.
A stop at Nakuru produced High-casqued Chameleon, which we stopped counting after the 35th individual, plus a cracker of a Spotted Eagle-Owl and the following morning en route to Mount Kenya we enjoyed watching White Rhino and East African Oryx, to name a few. At Mount Kenya itself we enjoyed what must be one of the world’s most stunning chameleons in Mount Kenya Side-striped Chameleon, plus the mountain’s other special lizards in Alpine Meadow Skink and Mount Kenya Alpine Meadow Lizard and the delightful Lesser Bushbaby.
Leaving Mount Kenya, we headed to Tsavo where en route we encountered herds of 25+ Elephant. At Tsavo, thanks to our guide Dickson’s unmatched expertise, we were able to enjoy Speckled Sand Snake, Link-marked Sand Snake, Smith’s Racer, Speckled Green Snake, Battersby’s Green Snake, Brown House Snake and, to top it all, a beautifully coloured Puff Adder and a Red Spitting Cobra. Other highlights here included several Graceful Chameleons, a Martial Eagle hunting Helmeted Guineafowl, Secretary Bird, a pride of Lion, including cubs, Gerenuk, Bat-eared Fox, and a Serval!
The final stop on the itinerary was at Kenya’s coast, specifically Arabuko Sokoke Forest and Watumu. Here our luck continued with wildlife and we finished the trip with Golden-rumped Elephant-shrew, Flap-necked Chameleon, African Coral-rag Skink and a stunning blue morph of the Speckled Green Snake!’
February 2025
‘Our tour to the stunning and picturesque Satpura National Park was a resounding success, giving us a remarkable tally of eight individual Tigers, five Sloth Bears, one Asian Wild Dog and 175+ species of birds’, writes tour leader Omkar Shelke.
‘We were fortunate enough to witness an amazing Tiger sighting within seconds of entering the park, while other Tigers were consistently seen close to the gates during our safaris, allowing us to witness exceptional behaviours such as scent marking, hunting attempts on deer and wild boar, river crossings, and swimming. The playful cubs seen from the boat were also a sight to behold! Another standout moment was observing the Sloth Bear in action, digging for termites and displaying its natural behaviour in the wild.
Next, we ventured to Kanha, where the crisp, cold mornings and evenings, combined with the breathtaking meadows, created an enchanting atmosphere. The sight of Barasingha (Swamp Deer) grazing in the mist-covered meadows during the early mornings was a highlight. Here, we primarily focused on birdlife, given the remarkable Tiger sightings we had enjoyed in Satpura, and Kanha did not disappoint, as its bird population was simply outstanding. Despite the focus on birds, we were lucky enough to have a couple of close Tiger sightings, as well as sharing a special moment with a lone Asian Wild Dog.
This tour exceeded expectations, providing participants with an extraordinary wildlife experience and exceptional sightings that will be remembered for years to come.’
January 2025
‘Our tour began with a journey from Colombo to Kandalama, enjoying views of Indian Palm Squirrel, Indian Pond Heron and Blue-tailed Bee-eater en route’, writes tour leader Saman Kumar. ‘Our first full day was spent exploring the ancient city of Polonnaruwa, where we visited historic landmarks such as the Parakramabahu Palace, the Sacred Quadrangle, and the Gal Vihare. We spotted a variety of birds, including Great Egret, Red-wattled Lapwing, and Brahminy Kite. Later, we visited Sigiriya, where some climbed the famous Lion Rock while others engaged in birdwatching, seeing species like Indian Paradise Flycatcher, Alexandrine Parakeet, and Peregrine Falcon.
We continued to the Dambulla Cave Temple, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its numerous Buddha statues and intricate paintings, before heading to Matale to explore a spice garden. Time in Kandy included birdwatching sessions in Udawattakele Sanctuary, where we encountered Sri Lanka Hanging Parrot, Brown Fish Owl, and Indian Black Terrapin. We also visited the Temple of the Tooth Relic, learning about its cultural significance, and toured the Peradeniya Royal Botanical Gardens, spotting Alexandrine Parakeets and an Oriental Rat Snake among the lush greenery.
Moving on to Nuwara Eliya, we stopped at a tea plantation to witness the tea-making process. Despite rainy weather, we made the most of our visit by exploring Victoria Park, seeing Kashmir Flycatcher, Pied Thrush, and Indian Blue Robin. We then proceeded to Ella, with a stop at Surrey Estate Bird Sanctuary, where we were thrilled to spot a Brown Wood Owl. After a scenic lunch in Ella and a visit to Ravana Falls, we continued towards Tissamaharama. At the Tissa Tank, we observed a large bat colony and encountered a White-naped Woodpecker.
Throughout the tour, participants marvelled at Sri Lanka’s stunning landscapes, rich history, and incredible birdlife. From ancient ruins and sacred temples to lush forests and misty highlands, the journey provided a perfect blend of cultural exploration and wildlife encounters.’
February 2025
‘Our “Tiger Direct” tour was a huge success with some incredible sightings including 12 Tigers, four Sloth Bears, two Leopards, 20 species of mammals and over 150 species of birds’, writes tour leader Swanand Deshpande.
‘Our journey began in Tadoba National Park, where the highlight was a Tigress with her cubs, offering a heartwarming and rare view of family life. We also spotted Sloth Bears with their cubs, an extraordinary sight, as well as a Leopard, adding to the excitement. The park’s stunning bamboo forests provided a beautiful backdrop to our wildlife encounters, making Tadoba a truly special experience.
Next, we ventured into Pench National Park, which showcased its own beauty in a different way. This park delivered excellent Tiger sightings but one of the most remarkable experiences here was the discovery of hundreds of fruit bats roosting, creating an unforgettable spectacle.
Our journey continued to Kanha National Park, renowned for its vast meadows, the cold mornings especially captivating in the early morning mist. Kanha is also home to the Barasingha (Swamp Deer), which we had the privilege of spotting during our visit. The park’s remarkable birdlife added to the magic and we also enjoyed several fantastic Tiger sightings, which capped off the visit to Kanha in spectacular fashion.
Guests were not only amazed by the wonderful wildlife sightings but also by the landscapes, the diversity of habitats, and the stunning surroundings that made this journey truly exceptional.’
February 2025
‘Based at the Berry Head Hotel in Brixham, we enjoyed a cold but mostly dry tour which produced some exciting birds and other wildlife’, writes tour leader Mike Langman. ‘Highlights of our Exe Estuary cruise included 400+ Avocets and similar numbers of Black-tailed Godwits, wintering Long-billed Dowitchers, 70+ Pintails and 8+ Red-breasted Mergansers, plus Peregrine, Marsh Harrier and several Cattle Egrets.
A visit to Berry Head found Cirl Buntings and several hundred Guillemots already back on the breeding cliffs, plus a few Razorbills on the sea below and Gannets offshore. Along Brixham Breakwater, Purple Sandpipers roosted, and Rock Pipits and Mediterranean Gulls were located. On the afternoon private charter up the beautiful Dart Estuary, Grey and Common Seals were seen well, plus Great Northern Divers, Kingfishers and plenty of Curlew Shelducks and Little Egrets. We ended the day with a visit to Broadsands and saw two Firecrests.
We paid a second brief visit to Broadsands for the Cirl Bunting Feeding Station, where six Cirl Buntings and four Reed Buntings were present. En route to Dartmoor, a stop on the River Dart produced Dipper, Grey Wagtail, Chiffchaff and Goldcrest. At Yarner Woods, Siskin, Nuthatch, Great Spotted Woodpecker and Marsh Tit were the highlights. The Heaths were quiet in the cold weather but a late stop at the Teign Estuary found Common Sandpiper and Goosander. On the final day, a trip to Slapton and Beesands included some scarce birds such as Ring-necked Duck, Great White Egret, Red-necked Grebe, Water Rail, Cetti’s Warbler and Goldeneye.’
February 2025
‘Our group had exclusivity at Mandina Lodges for our week-long exhilarating holiday amidst the lush mangroves, with colourful African birds in abundance and far from bustling beach resorts and the outside world’, writes tour leader Dave Jackson.
‘During our tour, we visited several sites by coach, including Farasutu Forest where a Greyish Eagle Owl peered down at us, Kartong on the border of Senegal, and Tanji Fishing Village where villagers in vibrant attire sell and smoke freshly caught fish and Grey-headed Gulls engage in battles for scraps along the beach. We made leisurely trips along the river by canoe seeing Malachite, Pied and Blue-bellied Kingfishers, with one lucky family espying an African Finfoot during an evening cruise. We encountered many doves and pigeons, including the diminutive Namaqua Dove and scarcities included Spotted and Lesser Honeyguides and Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike, along with four bee-eaters and seven species of sunbird, though a feeding Black Heron (umbrella bird) may have taken top spot. It was an unforgettable holiday filled with beautiful African birds and wildlife in stunning surroundings.’
February 2025
'Our trip to the Camargue and Les Alpilles in southern France was blessed with dry, cool weather and days of sunshine which provided near-perfect conditions to find the wildlife we sought’, writes tour leader Neil McMahon. ‘Top of the list, of course, was the elusive Wallcreeper, a very small population which winters in the low limestone hills of Les Alpilles. We were fortunate to find two birds, one at the historic and picturesque Les Baux and the other at the enthralling Roman Aqueduct at Pont du Gard. Both provided sustained views and everyone was thrilled!
The newly renovated Hotel des Granges was our comfortable base to explore the Camargue and other sites close to Arles and we visited reserves within the Camargue National Park and key sites just outside. The warm sunshine brought out some early insects, amphibians and examples of Robert's Giant Orchid in bloom, while mammals included Red Fox, Brown Hare and Coypu. However, it was the birds that took precedence and flocks of Glossy Ibis, Greater Flamingo and Common Crane filled the skies and plenty of raptors included three species of eagle, Hen and Marsh Harriers and Merlin. Difficult reedbed and marsh birds tracked down were Moustached Warbler, Western Swamphen and irruptive Bearded Tits and tricky woodland birds seen were Lesser Spotted Woodpecker, Crested Tit, Short-toed Treecreeper and Firecrest.
The historic old city of Arles provided some appropriate culture, sandwiched between our wildlife-watching and classic Naturetrek picnic lunches. It may have been winter and the mistral wind was the cooling feature but our expedition could not be thwarted with the guest teamwork, spotting skills and camaraderie providing the critical ingredients for success.'
February 2025
‘Well, we had it all – a severe weather warning, heavy rain, wind and hail but it never stopped us from getting out and enjoying what Mull has to offer,’ writes tour leader Mick Durham. ‘Each day we explored a different part of Mull: to the north with the wonderful beach at Calgary and Dervaig with a “hot spot” wader location, Loch na Keal, Loch Spelve and Loch Scridain for Otters, eagles and divers, Glen More, the Sound of Mull and a visit to the smaller island of Iona.
The wildlife didn’t disappoint either. We were particularly blessed with a local Otter, though it didn’t appear every day. Our hotel overlooked Tobermory Harbour and right in front of the hotel we discovered an Otter fishing. When it caught something big, it brought it up onto a flight of stone steps giving wonderful viewing. Elsewhere we found a family of three and again we had wonderful (though a little more distant) viewing as they played around in the seaweed.
Many birders come to Mull to see eagles and we certainly saw eagles! Most days we saw either Golden or White-tailed Eagles, sometimes two together. Of particular note were the White-tailed Eagles on Loch na Keal. We saw one bringing in a branch, presumably to refurbish the nest and we witnessed the pair mating.
Another treat was watching a Dipper taking moss up under an old bridge and into its nest. Other notable sightings were two Little Egret, a couple of Goosander, at least 10 Greenshank, a small herd of Fallow Deer, Common Seals and a great many Red Deer. There were a few disappointments. We only saw one female Hen Harrier and that all too briefly as it was swept along by the strong winds. We failed to find Sparrowhawk or Merlin and some of the smaller birds were noticeable by their absence. But these were small disappointments. The rain failed to dampen our enthusiasm and the wildlife responded accordingly. The sun shone on our final day and “Mull in Winter” was voted a success!’
February 2025
‘Arriving in Bangkok, we met our local guide End, fixer Deap and two drivers, one for each minibus. We were soon on our way and an hour later were watching 30 species of wader, which included Spoon-billed Sandpiper – what a start!’ writes tour leader Neil Murphy.
‘Over the next 15 bird-filled days we managed to see 10 Phasianidae species, eight tern species, 16 raptor species, eight owl species, four hornbill species, seven kingfisher species, five bee-eater species, seven barbet species, 20 woodpecker species, three broadbill species, 17 bulbul species, 18 warbler species, 12 babbler species and 14 species of flycatchers!
Thailand is a large country but we covered it extensively, with three days in each of the following areas: Phetchaburi saltpans and rice paddies, Kaeng Krachen National Park and Khao Yai National Park, all in the south. We then flew north to Chiang Rai where we visited Doi Pha Hom Pok National Park (Doi Lang) and Doi Inthanon National Park which rises to 2,565m, the highest point in Thailand.
As ever, Thai hospitality was second to none and we were treated to fabulous food and a regular mid-morning coffee break to keep our eyes sharp. Indeed, several good birds were found and it was a struggle not to spill the caffeine whilst seeing the birds. Sure enough, our time in Thailand was all too brief and we said our farewells to End and Deap but not before we had totalled up our trip list, nearly 400 species of bird and countless other wildlife which made for an amazing trip around fabulous Thailand.’
February 2025
‘Japan is a fascinating country to visit with the food, scenery, culture and, of course, the wildlife providing a wonderful experience’, writes tour leader Barrie Cooper. ‘For example, a snow-covered Hokkaido had bugling and dancing Red-crowned Cranes. The close views of these majestic cranes must be one of the most special of wildlife moments. Stunning views of Steller's Sea Eagles and White-tailed Eagles as they swooped down for fish just metres away provided more memorable highlights. Watching the globally endangered Blakiston's Fish Owl catch and eat fish is another exciting privilege; we saw this magnificent species on three evenings.
On Honshu, the Snow Monkeys always provide entertainment in and around their hot water bathing pool. Birds such as Japanese Accentor and Japanese Green Woodpecker are two of the endemic species that we saw well. On Kyushu, a few thousand Hooded and White-naped Cranes provided a true spectacle of sight and sound as they flew in to feed at dawn. It was particularly pleasing to see many juveniles of both Hooded and White-naped Cranes, as these two rare species attempt to increase their numbers. The globally endangered Black-faced Spoonbill gave us another of those privileged moments when one grappled with a large fish for 15 minutes, just 20 metres away from us. Watching two Japanese Badgers at close quarters was yet another special 15 minutes. Japan in winter is excellent at creating marvellous memories and this trip provided plenty.’
February 2025
‘Ethiopia is a wonderful, must-visit destination for the keen naturalist and on this excellent itinerary we were treated to fantastic wildlife sightings throughout, including many endemics’, writes tour leader Dan Lay.
‘After arriving in the country’s vibrant capital, Addis Ababa, we made the short journey across to the beautiful crater lakes at Bishoftu where we enjoyed Ethiopian Bee-eater, Black Crowned Crane, Pink-backed Pelican, the exquisite Malachite Kingfisher, Abyssinian Woodpecker, Black-winged Lovebird, Ethiopian Boubou, Black-headed Oriole, African Paradise Flycatcher, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Abyssinian White-eye, Ethiopian Thrush, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, the ubiquitous Grivet Monkey and here we also enjoyed superb Ethiopian coffee.
Our itinerary continued to Arba Minch, Lake Chamo and Lake Hawassa where we enjoyed superb sightings of sizeable Nile Crocodiles, two sub-adult Nile Monitors fighting, Hippopotamus, Mantled Guereza, Spotted Hyena, Common Duiker, Kenya Dwarf Gecko and a superb suite of birds including White-cheeked Turaco, Narina Trogon, Thick-billed Raven, Northern Carmine Bee-eater, African Hawk-eagle, a number of Silvery-cheeked Hornbills, Broad-billed Roller, Banded Barbet, Red-bellied Parrot, Grey-headed Bushshrike, African Spotted Creeper, Rusty-breasted Wheatear, Wattled Ibis and much more.
Our time in the fantastic Bale Mountains was highlighted by Ethiopian Wolves hunting Giant Mole-rats, two Leopards, Bale Monkey, Mountain Nyala, Menelik’s Bushbuck, Giant Forest Hog, Bale Two-horned Chameleon and a birdlife including Blue-winged Goose, Moorland Francolin, Spot-breasted Lapwing, Rouget’s Rail, White-collared Pigeon, White-winged Collared Dove, Ethiopian Cisticola, Ethiopian Oriole, Abyssinian Catbird, Ethiopian Thrush, Red-billed Pytilia, Ethiopian Siskin, and a plethora more whilst being based at the superb Bale Mountains Lodge.’
February 2025
‘This excellent tour took in the mountains and coast of the Muscat region, the khawrs and beaches of the far north-east, the desert interior of the south, and the very special monsoon-fed Dhofar region around Salalah, and included two great pelagic boat trips (with whales and dolphins as well as seabirds) and a successful night watching Green Turtles laying eggs’, writes tour leader Simon Woolley. ‘We scored with almost all of Oman’s special birds: Crab-plover, Great Knot, Grey Hypocolius, Hume’s and Red-tailed Wheatears, Jouanin’s Petrel, Persian Shearwater, Spotted and Chestnut-bellied Sandgrouse, and almost the complete set of “Dhofar specials”, such as Arabian Eagle-Owl, Bruce’s Green Pigeon, Verreaux’s Eagle and Arabian Warbler. We saw several very scarce migrants from Asia, such as Grey-headed Swamphen, Asian Koel, Pheasant-tailed Jacana and Medium Egret, Red-knobbed Coot from Africa, and even found not one but two extreme vagrants (a second and a fifth for Oman)!
All of this was in very warm weather, often under clear blue skies, with a great team of clients and local guides/drivers. We enjoyed vast, empty beaches, the extreme aridity of the Empty Quarter, desert oases, coastal marshes and estuaries, rugged mountains, beautiful mosques, monsoon forest-clad escarpments, springs and waterfalls. Oman really does have it all.’
February 2025
‘Our trip to Tunisia was focused on the desert south of the country and the special birds of this exciting, hot and arid land’, writes tour leader Martin Pitt. ‘The circuit from the island of Djerba took us through rocky oueds, sandy plains and mountains that form a diverse set of habitats in this starkly beautiful landscape. We also took in the palm oasis of Ksar Ghilane on the edge of the sand sea and the coastal areas in the shallow seas of the Gulf of Gabes.
We arrived after an especially wet winter but for us it was warm and sunny, although markedly cool in the early mornings. The legacy of the earlier period had been a “once-in-a-lifetime” display of flowering plants; in places the desert was especially verdant and this had attracted an early start to the breeding season for the resident species, and in some cases evidence that northward migration was beginning. It made the viewing conditions challenging but in all we successfully managed to find many of the local specialities including many of the desert wheatears and larks together with Moussier’s Redstart, Streak Scrub, African Desert, Marmora’s and Tristram’s Warblers and Cream-colored Coursers that call these southern arid areas home.
Overall, we recorded 104 species of birds and six species of mammals. The highlight was an African Golden Wolf, that almost seemed as curious about us as we were about it, together with the iconic ungulates of the region including the stunning Scimitar-horned Oryx. Overall, it was a great introduction to the Maghreb Sahara.’
February 2025
‘A great week in Jamaica was split between two lovely centres, one high up in the Blue Mountains north of Kingston and the other on the coast in the remote north-east of the island’, writes tour leader Andy Smith. ‘With birds the primary focus of the tour, the 30 or so Jamaican endemics were top priorities for many in the group. In the event, we managed to see all of them with comparative ease, from the diminutive Jamaican Tody and the dazzling Red-billed Streamertail to both Chestnut-bellied and Lizard Cuckoos and the impressive Jamaican Owl.
Up in the lushly forested Blue Mountains we found Crested Quail Doves, Arrowhead Warblers, Blue Mountain Vireos, White-eyed Thrushes and elusive Jamaican Blackbirds, whilst in the remote John Crow Mountains we saw both Black-billed and Yellow-billed Amazons, Jamaican Crow and the very range-restricted Black-billed Streamertail. Beyond the endemics there were interesting regional specialities like Bahama Mockingbird, Caribbean Dove and tiny Vervain Hummingbirds to be enjoyed, plus a host of wintering North American warblers including Black-and-white, Yellow-throated, Worm-eating, Cape May and Black-throated Blue. A satisfying selection of coastal and wetland birds from Magnificent Frigatebird and Brown Pelican to White-tailed Tropicbird and Royal Tern added to our interest, as did a range of colourful butterflies and reptiles such as American Crocodile and Jamaican Giant Anole.
All this, plus some very fine scenery, warm tropical weather, good food, comfortable accommodation and an exciting immersion into the rich Jamaican culture, made for a very memorable and enjoyable trip. I look forward to the next one!’
February 2025
‘On a cold, windy but dry week, the group enjoyed a wonderful few days’ birding that delivered a total of 107 bird species, plus Otter’, writes tour leader Chris Rollie. ‘The “ill wind” of storm Eowyn changed the planned itinerary but resulted in a 20-minute telescope view of a gliding adult Golden Eagle. RSPB Mersehead Reserve gave close views of Svalbard Barnacle Geese, Pintail, Wigeon, Teal, Shoveler, Gadwall, Curlew, Lapwing, Tree Sparrow and Yellowhammer. The Whooper Swan feed at WWT Caerlaverock was a close-up treat, followed by visits to hides with both Merlin and Hen Harrier. NTS Threave Wetlands provided fine views of increasingly rare Willow Tit, while RSPB’s Ken-Dee Marshes Reserve gave good views of elusive Greenland White-fronted Geese. Around 150 Red Kites put on a breathtaking diving spectacle as they swooped for food at Bellymack Hill Red Kite feeding station.
As ever, Loch Ryan was a delight, with superb close views of Pale-bellied Brent Geese, Wigeon, Slavonian and Great Crested Grebes, Common Scoter, Red-breasted Merganser, Common Eider and various waders. Good, if more distant, views were had of Greater Scaup, Red-throated Diver, Black Guillemot, Goldeneye, Shag, Great Northern Diver and four beautiful Long-tailed Ducks. Nearby, we saw a roosting flock of over 30 Ravens, followed by a magnificent ringtail Hen Harrier flying to roost. We ended the week with a relaxing stroll in oak woodland, with nest-building Ravens, rasping Jays and a snatch of calling Green Woodpecker. Spring is near!’
