Madagascar snippets 2011

[MarkS]

A few tiny morsels from 3 weeks in Madagascar. Hard though it is, not to be slightly gutted about missing Swinhoe's and Jouanin's Petrels, having a pair of Helmet Vangas 20 feet away does offer more than a little consolation. And then there's always the furries.....and the chameleons.......and strange geckos........ and weird trees......

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...but I still wouldn't mind them petrels. Maybe tomorrow?....

[MarkS]

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[Sandman]

Absolutely stunning Mark! You have not missed a thing; Jouanin's and Swinhoe's are common as dirt out there.
Did you go with wifey? So not a pure dusk-til-dawn birding/nature trip?
If so I'm very interested in logistics, as this is the destination Maya & I are the most keen to do, after central Chile this upcoming January.
Again; well done!

[MarkS]

Absolutely stunning Mark! You have not missed a thing; Jouanin's and Swinhoe's are common as dirt out there.
Did you go with wifey? So not a pure dusk-til-dawn birding/nature trip?
If so I'm very interested in logistics, as this is the destination Maya & I are the most keen to do, after central Chile this upcoming January.
Again; well done!

Cheers Tommy!

Yes, wifey well and truly in tow and up at crack of dawn for tea and Vangas and out into the night for lots of nocturnal furriness! Got 'er well trained, Tom ;-) Of course, lots of cute cuddly things help in the persuasion stakes.

Had been wanting to go for many years, but always believed you HAD to go in October when the birds are singing and when wifey teachers have to work, until Oscar told me about his summer trip 2 years ago. Sorted. Not a cheap trip, but it's abso-bloody-lutely amazing. Managed about 100 endemic/near-endemics in the 3 weeks, including 5 new families - mesites, asities, Cuckoo-roller, ground-rollers and vangas. Not bad for "out of season".

[khalifa]

Amazing Mark,
When Madgascar mentioned the movie and lemurs first to come to my mind
I guess you will nail the petrels tomorrow + Oriental pratncole

[Mike Barth]

Fabulous Mark !! Another destination to add to my long list ! :-) At this rate I need to live to 110 :-)