Michael´s Year

[michael-ibk]

555/EA226.) Red-Billed Firefinch (Lagonosticta senegala) / Senegalamarant

 

Aberdares Country Club, 7/12

 

 

And the female, Sandai, 5/12

 

[michael-ibk]

556/EA227.) Common Waxbill (Estrilda astrild) / Wellenastrild

 

Volcanoes, 23/11

 

[michael-ibk]

557/EA228.) Black-Crowned Waxbill (Estrilda nonnula) / Nonnenastrild

 

Kigali, 22/11

 

[michael-ibk]

558/EA229.) Black-Headed Waxbill (Estrilda atricapilla) / Kappenastrild

 

Volcanoes, 23/11. Almost identical but a bit darker, and no red in the upper mandible.

 

[michael-ibk]

559/EA230.) Grey-Headed Silverbill (Lonchura griseicapilla) / Perlhalsamadine

 

Lake Baringo, 1/12

 

[michael-ibk]

560/EA231.) Pin-Tailed Whydah (Vidua macroura) / Dominikanerwitwe

 

Akagera, 21/11

 

[michael-ibk]

561/EA232.) Village Indigobird aka Steelblue Widowfinch (Vidau chalybeata) / Rotfuß-Atlaswitwe

 

Sandai, 5/12

 

 

And the female:

 

[michael-ibk]

562/EA233.) Brimstone aka Bully Canary (Serinus sulphuratus) / Schwefelgirlitz

 

Sandai, 10/12

 

[michael-ibk]

563/EA234.) Yellow-Fronted aka Yellow-Eyed Canary (Serinus mozambicus) / Mosambikgirlitz

 

Mara Siria Camp, 29/11

 

[michael-ibk]

564/EA235.) Thick-Billed Seedeater (Serinus burtoni) / Dickschnabelgirlitz

 

Aberdares, 5/12

 

[michael-ibk]

565/EA236.) African Citril (Serinus citrinelloides) / Dünnschnabelgirlitz

 

Volcanoes, 23/11

 

[michael-ibk]

566/EA237.) Streaky Seedeater (Serinus striolatus) / Strichelgirlitz

 

Volcanoes, 23/11

 

[michael-ibk]

567/EA238.) (African) Golden-Breasted Bunting (Emberiza flaviventris) / Gelbbauchammer

 

Aberdares Country Club, 7/12

 

 

And with this bird I finally, finally conclude my Big Year. Very happy with that number but even more so with the fun (and sometimes frustration) I had getting all these. Of course Africa gave me the bulk of birds - seeing a lot of different habitats in both South Africa and Rwanda/Kenya really helped. Both my guides Dennis and Paul really got into this as well and pointed out a lot of birds to me, Paul especially would always ask me about "our score". Including the "already in the list" ones we took photos of about 300 species in Eastern Africa, almost a quarter of all species found in that area, really much more than I had hoped for. But even though the number of birds from back home is much lower those were the ones I really had to work for, and am therefore most satisfied about. At the start of the year I had no idea it would be possible to find such diversity on my doorstep, and it was a real eyeopener that we do have quite a bit more than Blackbirds, Tits and Mallards.

[Patty]

[xelas]

@@michael-ibk this is absolutely impressive count! And with only a couple of ebc your photography skills are also unmatched.

(Thanks for e-mojis, @@Patty ).

[Peter Connan]

What an incredible performance Michael! I stand in awe.

[Tdgraves]

@@michael-ibk just got back from the airport and thought I'd see whether you had indeed reached 500, so I was somewhat surprised to see your final total! Very well done. It is interesting to see how many birds there are in East Africa and you are right, having so many different habitats and interested guides really helps.

[michael-ibk]

Thank you, @@Patty , @@xelas , @@Peter Connan and @@Tdgraves (welcome back, hope you had a good trip?).

[Dave Williams]

Superb collection, trying to learn ID's for as many species as I can before heading off to Namibia where hopefully I'll get more than a few new ones to add to my list.

[TonyQ]

@@michael-ibk

Well done - a magnificant achievement.It is hard to imagine anyone beating that figure - but then who would have imagined such a score for 2016?

I have really enjoyed your enthusiasm and the high quality photography throughout.

Brilliant!

[lmSA84]

@@michael-ibk - I've only just had a chance to finally see this masterpiece and whilst I can't seem to be able to use the emoji I will also bow down before you!