המועדפים של deboas

A truly amazing encounter with one of the world's most enigmatic ungulates. When I first saw this Pygmy Hippo, it was resting on the ground a few meters off the trail, covered with sweat droplets. After about an hour of waiting, it got up and slowly walked through the forest. It did not appear to mind my presence.

I was lucky to observe this owl for about 20 minutes. When I first found it, it was actively looking around from a relatively open perch. It flushed to a more concealed perch after I attempted to approach it more closely. I heard it (or another individual) calling the following night in the same general area. (I'm about a year behind on my photos, but I had to expedite this one...)

Hirundine seen on RRS James Clark Ross, en route from Falklands to South Georgia. First seen at 13:30 ship's time by Nicholas L. Warren at 51 degrees, 52 minutes S, 55 degrees, 52 minutes W. Observed later that afternoon by NLW, Ben Phalan and Mike Dunn. Not seen on subsequent days.

This bird was observed and photographed while I was en route to Bird Island, South Georgia. I then had no internet access or access to relevant field guides until 2004. I sent the photograph (which was a transparency) to a colleague in February 2003, and he identified the bird as a Grey-breasted Martin. He added that there had been at least one in Stanley in early November 2001 as part of an "invasion" of hirundines (Barn Swallow, Chilean Swallow) from end October to mid November, per December 2002 Falklands Conservation newsletter.

However, on getting the slide scanned in 2018, I revisited this record and believe the bird is in fact a Purple Martin.

DESCRIPTION (from field notes)

Overall: A bit bigger and chunkier than a Barn Swallow, perhaps about the size of a Common Starling. A dark, sooty plumage overall, blackish with some shiny blue sheen.

Bare parts: Bill dark grey, quite strong, slightly hooked at tip. Pale pink mouth (wide). Legs and feet dark blackish brown. Eye dark (blackish).

Upperparts: Blackish, with dark blue gloss on some new inner primaries, innermost greater coverts, some lesser coverts, middle tertial, and patchily on mantle. Pale ashy grey forehead and nape, black lores, glossy blue patch across top of crown. Perhaps had a whitish border to mantle, but this may have just been feather bases showing. Wings dark blackish, long (obscuring tail).

Underparts: Greyish, becoming whitish on chin (v. slight hint of darker malar streaks) with some faint streaks on lower breast from shaft streaks or darker feather shafts. Whitish vent.

Behaviour: Quite weak, but not enough to allow it to be caught. Flew a short distance out from ship several times before returning to perch on deck. Pecked at a paint chip and looked like it was trying to drink spray.

I believe this was the male from an hour previously, leaving the bromeliad to go live and love some more. He had climbed up to the end of a leaf from the neighbouring bromeliad. He does look a lot yellower than the photos from 19:24, so I am not sure if it is the same individual or not. In the subsequent two days, no adult frog was seen in this bromeliad.

Nesting on a ferry going daily for 33 km up and down the Drin Valley (2:30 hours one-way).

The swallows are breeding in the vehicle area on the lower deck, which is open on both sides.

Apparently, the parents are shuttling back and forth with the ferry, and feeding their chicks during the trip.

See also
www.inaturalist.org/observations/14568369
www.inaturalist.org/observations/14568372

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Estimated at two metres long. Immobile in vegetation at (human) head height. I was focused on looking for birds' nests and only noticed the snake when I was less than two metres from it! It vibrated the tip of its tail gently, either as a warning or as a way to express tension. I initially thought it had just swallowed some prey, but when I moved away it deflated its throat, and when I moved closer again it inflated it again - so it was a defensive/threat posture.