Back From India

Well, what a trip that was! As they say "Incredible India!" Too much to mention now but in the next few days I will post a few photos and notes here. Just time to say that I saw all 12 of my target woodpeckers including the massive Great Slaty Woodpecker. No Tiger though... in fact a "man-eater" was reportedly shot during our time there after it had taken a poor man from a village... a village where we had been just days before and seen three Ibisbills in the adjacent river bed. As I said, incredible.   

Great Slaty Woodpecker

So as I have already mentioned it is India next. My main target there is to see Great Slaty Woodpecker, the world's largest picid. Seeing it will be great, but I will also try and get photos and hopefully some sound recordings, too... I'll let you know how I get on...

Windy Day with Fieldfares, Bustards and others...

Went out today in the Kiskunsag region with a birder from the USA. It was overcast, a cold wind blew and the recently melted snow meant it was wet underfoot. But it was a great day with many flocks of handsome Fieldfares. We also found around 150 Great Bustards 125 in one group and 25 in another, the latter flying in front over us, so close we could see them opening and closing their beaks as they powered along. Other birds included 2 Rough-legged Buzzards, a Peregrine, 100s of Greater White-fronted and Greylag Geese, Great Grey Shrike and  at the end of the day Middle Spotted and Black Woodpeckers... yes, a windy day.

India... Tigers, Woodpeckers

Soon be time to head off again, to India, the north on this occasion... Where we are going there is apparently a good chance of seeing a Tiger and that will be nice... but there are also 20 species of woodpecker possible... I know which I will be more focused on.... but I won't turn up my nose at a Tiger!

My Black Woodpecker monograph... an up-date

My book on Black Woodpecker is due to be published this July. Here are some advanced details from the publisher: Black Woodpecker Monograph

Cold Out There!

There I am, planning my up-coming trip to subtropical India... while here outside it's freezing!

New Year... New Destinations... India

So after a successful 2010, it is onwards, and my world woodpecker quest and research continues. My next destination is India. A group of friends and I will visit the foothills of the Himalayas, Corbett National Park and other areas in the Uttaranchal State. There is a chance of seeing Bengal Tiger here and around 20 species of woodpecker!