SEE THE LATEST FOOTAGE FROM THE BIRDCAM!

GP's European Birding Adventures

Elegant Tern on West Coast?

Karoo...Birding trip

Weekend Target Bird

Want to learn more about birds and birding, but you don't know where or how to start?

Then take part in our brand spanking new introductory birding course right away!

PHOTO BY KEEFEE

Names: Blue-winged Mountain Tanager, Anisognathus somptuosus, Tangara Montana Aliazul

About the picture:
The photo was taken at Mindo Loma Lodge in Ecuador. It's a great country full of exciting birds. This excellent, small lodge is a great place to take photos of tanagers and other birds that come to their feeders. They have an elevated gallery with bananas on a pulley system that bring the tanagers in close. A very cool place.


About the Blue-winged Mountain Tanager
The Anisognathus somptuosus is a species of bird in the Thraupidae family. It is found in Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela. It commonly resides within 1400-2400 meters above sea level. It inhabits subtropical and tropical montane forest, second-growth forest, and forest edges.
The Blue-winged Mountain Tanager is about 16 to 17 cm in length and weighs approximately 42 gm.It is brightly colored with its center crown, nape and underparts golden yellow. The rest of the head, upperparts, wings, and tail are mostly black. Wings and tail are edged in turquoise blue and the lesser median coverts are violet-blue. There is some slight regional variations in color. Also the males are brighter in color than females.
It is commonly seen in pairs or small family groups of 3-6 individuals, but has been seen in large mixed groups as well.
Cup nests are built in up in trees, constructed of course grasses and lined with fine grasses. The clutch size is 3-5 eggs. The female incubates the eggs and builds the nest, but the male may feed the female while she incubates. Both sexes feed the young.


http://ezinearticles.com/?Rainforest-Birds---Blue-Winged-Mountain-Tanager&id=1051868

1 Comment

Congratulations to Gaston Cassus whose photo of a Snowy Egret chick was voted the winner in the February 2010 Theme of The Week Contest!

Thank you very much to everyone that entered and voted!

2 Comments

Once again Ikoro didn't disappoint and kept me busy juggling binoculars and camera with the variety of species around. The Cinnamon-chested Bee-eaters (Photo on right) were everywhere and I later came across an adult perched with 2 immatures of which I managed to get a fair photo. The food seemed plentiful as all were hawking and gleaning, well those that weren't more concerned about getting breeding started like the Paradise Flycatcher, Brown-crowned Tchagra and Yellow Bishop displaying - the latter was also energetically pursuing a female all over the place.

Between all this, I saw a brown flycatcher-like bird with a fair amount of white on the wings and immediately bring to mind one of the Ficedula flycatchers. There was also a lighter brown and narrow collar visible with a hint of the same colour supercilium. Unfortunately it didn't hang around and left very promptly - leaving me with sketchy notes and wondering if indeed it was a Ficedula flycatcher and whether it was a female or immature.

The African Harrier-hawk seemed interested in all the commotion but quickly got dive bombed by a variety of very small albeit brave (or silly?) birds. All the activity at this stage also included Dusky Flycatcher, Brown-throated Wattle-eye, Bronze and Variable Sunbirds, White-browed Robin-chat, Thick-billed Seed-eater (pair), Tawny-flanked Prinia, Chubb's Cisticola (very vocal as usual with some doing serious territory defence), Fawn-breasted Waxbill, Western Citril and Baglafecht Weaver.

As these things come about, something drew my attention behind me (no idea what) and I saw a bird perched about 20m away - massive white spot on the forehead and a lot of white on the wings. I froze, well except my hands pinning the binoculars to my face - Yes, it was a Collared Flycatcher (Ficedula albicollis) male in breeding plumage - but I needed better views to be sure and at least one photo for the record. In the end I got 3 ID-able photos showing the distinct features of the species including a 'patch' of white on the lower down the primaries, full wide and white collar. The rump was whitish. To say I was pleased no end is an understatement.

Interestingly I came across the Collared Flycatcher again about 40min later and 200m away from the original sighting - was it the same bird? Who knows but I'll be back at Ikoro to try and find it before it sets off on its long journey north. To see the other 2 photos, click on these links: rear and side views

The rest of the morning didn't produce more excitement but there were good sightings of Red-billed Fire-finches with nesting material, Augur Buzzard, couple of Yellow White-eyes, White-tailed Blue Flycatcher (always a pleasure to see them), Red-chested Cuckoo (also being very vocal) and ending with a displaying Pin-tailed Whydah male.

Certainly a very worthwhile morning for birding with the sun having made its appearance for a short while. Late afternoon produced a massive hailstorm leaving my lawn all white and the air rather chilly. Just another day at the office!

Photos from Ikoro:

 PHOTOS BY MARCELL CLAASSEN

1 Comment

First up was a Common Sandpiper as I got out the car and a lone Sacred Ibis in a tree. Further off into the wetland were a couple of Fan-tailed Widowbirds flitting around in what appeared to be mating displays.

The more numerous Yellow-backed Weavers were all involved with nest building and one nest had a female going in and out regularly. The 4 Village Weavers looked lost among all their cousins and didn't hang around where I was.

Suddenly out of the distant reeds 3 Yellow-billed Ducks flew up and over me and toward somewhere much further upstream. They flew back and forth about 3 times. At one stage aGreat Egret followed them back from upstream. A surprise came in the form of a Pink-backed Pelican flying out from behind some vegetation upstream and away in a southerly direction. The air show was participated in by a couple of Augur Buzzards calling constantly and the Angola and Red-rumped Swallows doing fly-bys. White-rumped Swifts made an early appearance before setting off downstream. Only 1 Black Kite passed overhead - about 1km back toward town later there were about 30 odd circling and rising in early thermals and another 15 Hooded Vultures about 500m further following suit.

In the trees next to the road the Speckled Mousebirds kept busy although at a seemingly snail's pace compared to the gleaning speed of the Bronze and Variable Sunbirds. The latter also had a nest in a Eucalyptus tree about 3m above and right next to the water. Both Pied and Cape Wagtails were present as was the ever energetic Swamp Flycatcher.

Other species seen include Western Citril, Hadada Ibis, Pied Kingfisher and Common Waxbill. I didn't venture into or along the wetland today but certainly will be returning to see what hidden treasures it holds.

PHOTOS BY MARCELL CLAASSEN

2 Comments

The Theme of The Week for this week is...Squabbling!

If you have a photo of birds ding battle, ou can submit your photos in either the Trekkie's Forums or in the relevant GBT Flickr Group Discussion . Remember a winner is selected each month end and receives a prize for GBT. 

PHOTO BY BATMAD

No Comments

I was on the winding dirt track that leads to our boat and as I rounded a corner there was the eagle flying at my eye height. He flew following the road in front of me for about two kilometers. I have watched these eagles perched near me, flying above me, flying along a cliff face below me but somehow the absolute size, power and grace was brought home to me ten fold watching him fly directly at my eye line.

3 Comments