Dark-backed Sibias

These two Dark-backed Sibias kept perching on the car, seemingly admiring themselves, but actually confused by their reflections in the window. Photo by Gerard Gorman taken at Doi Lang in northern Thailand, November 2013. 

Probirder in NW Thailand

An update from the mountains of NW Thailand. Here is a Dark-backed Sibia I took in the Doi Ang Kang National Park a few days ago. Gerard Gorman. 

Northern Thailand

The European birding season is over for this year for Probirder. Now a few long-haul, exotic destinations await. First up is Northern Thailand, in particular the mountains and forests of Chiang Mai Province in the north-west. There are some wonderful birds to find there. Watch this space ! 

Winter approaches

Most birding tour guiding is over here in eastern Europe as winter approaches, but there is still much to do. Checking out sites, up-dating the website and blogs, and in particular, I have to check the proofs of my forthcoming book WOODPECKERS OF THE WORLD - A PHOTOGRAPHIC GUIDE. Here is a preview of the book's cover (though it is not the final version, just a draft). Gerard Gorman. 

Cranes and more cranes

Just finished guiding yet another tour in Hungary with a group from the UK. Highlights included dozens of Long-eared Owls, all 8 possible species of woodpecker, raptors such as Saker, Merlin, Hen and Marsh Harrier, Long-legged and Rough-legged Buzzards, Imperial and White-tailed Eagles, various wildfowl including Ferruginous Duck and 1000s of Common Cranes in Europe's biggest congregations. 

Off again... back to back birding

This is a busy season for us. Off again tomorrow with another group, lots of Common Cranes, wildfowl, raptors and woodpeckers on the agenda. Watch this space 

First Autumn Tour Done !

Just finished my first tour of the autumn season in Hungary - with a great gang from Liverpool. Highlights included good views of Imperial and White-tailed Eagles, Hen and Marsh Harriers, Saker, Great Grey Shrikes, Hawfinches, Little Crake, Pygmy Cormorants, Common Cranes, Great Bustards, Long-eared Owls in 2 roosts and all 8 woodpecker species seen ! Here is one of the owls we saw, looking at use !

Autumn season begins

The autumn birding tour season begins proper tomorrow and Probirder will be off with a group from the UK in search of raptors, wildfowl, woodpeckers and more in Hungary... watch this space!

Manuscript in !

It is done. Well, at least my Woodpeckers of the World manuscript is at the publisher, on the editor's desk. Now THAT was a lot of work ! But not over, as there will be maps to check, photos to caption and proofs to read through. I expect it will be out, in book form, in about 6 months.    

Why don't drivers take more care ?

This was one of my local Great Spotted Woodpeckers... no more comment needed ...

MIGRATION HOTSPOTS

Check out, and buy, this new book by Tim Harris ! Published by Helm and the RSPB, MIGRATION HOTSPOTS is full of great photos and has an accurate and informative text on the best places for passage birds around the world.

Another trip done, and a trash bird !

Really, I have lost count now of the number of birding and wildlife tours I have led. Got back yesterday after taking a group of mixed interest folks - birds, butterflies, moths, plants - around eastern Hungary. A great trip... we saw over 50 species of day-flying butterflies, many great birds including 4 Imperial Eagles, Saker, and 8 species of woodpecker. And here, in this photo, one of my highlights... a cheeky young House Sparrow. Well, I thought it was time to give the under-rated a mention in this blog.  

My woodpecker manuscript...

Handed in my manuscript for Woodpeckers of the World ! Now for editing, making maps, sourcing photos, writing captions... still lots to do. Book should be out in 2014. 

Lonely Planet Hungary

The 7th edition of the LONELY PLANET guide to HUNGARY is out. Such general guidebooks are usually good on cities, architecture, history, food, travel, and the like, but weak on natural history. This book is the exception as there are several passages and photos related to birdwatching. Probirder even gets a good mention ! Check it out.

Swallowtails on dung

Here is another photo from a recent trip. These Swallowtail butterflies were gorging on some horse dung. Aggtelek National Park, Hungary, Gerard Gorman.

Lesser Purple Emperor

June is an excellent time for butterflies in C & E Europe. I have just finished two tours, one in Croatia and one in Hungary, which focused on these popular insects. Here is a Lesser Purple Emperor, one of many we saw in the Bukk and Aggtelek Hills in NE Hungary recently. It was easy to photograph as it perched on someone's hat at eye level.

Yellow-bellied Toad

You know, Probirder does not only do birds ! Here is a Yellow-bellied Toad from Croatia.

Croatia - great tour !

Another tour under the Probirder belt ! Croatia in June is great for birds, butterflies, reptiles... you name it. Here is a Black-headed Bunting from near the Plitvice Lakes NP that I snapped a few days ago. 

Great Bustard in the Kiskunsag

Here is a nice shot of a Great Bustard in flight from one of our recent Hungary tours. Taken by Rolland Kern in the Kiskunsag region.

Austro-Hungarian Tour

So that is another tour successfully completed! This time we were in Austria, the Alps and Seewinkel region, and Hungary, the Hansag. We recorded 150 species despite some poor, rainy, weather. Highlights included a mix of some great upland and lowland birds, like White-backed and Syrian Woodpeckers, Western Bonelli's Warbler, Alpine Chough, Ring Ouzel, Firecrest, Water Pipit, White-tailed, Imperial and Golden Eagles, Montagu's Harrier, Great Bustard and many waders and wildfowl.

And another tour done!

No rest for the wicked they say. Yes, another successful birding tour around Hungary under my belt. All the usual suspects found and watched, including this Honey Buzzard. 

Great Tour !

Yes, just finished a great tour around Hungary! Great Bustard, Eagle and Ural Owls, Saker, Red-footed Falcon, White-tailed, Imperial and Lesser Spotted Eagles, Black and White Storks, Lesser Grey Shrike, Bee-eater, Golden Oriole, a host of woodpeckers and warblers, Penduline and Bearded Tits (look at this stunner), etc etc etc. And off again tomorrow !!!

Spring birding season underway

The spring birding season is looking good. Lots of guests to guide, and lots of birds around to show them ! 

Eastern Hungary

Checked out a few places in eastern Hungary at the weekend. Very successful with water and wetland birds abundant on the plains. In the hills found some White-backed Woodpeckers and Ural Owls and on route a few Eastern Imperial Eagles and Saker. Looks like it is going to be a birdy spring.

Hungary Clip

Here is a nice little video clip of a visit to Hungary last spring by Steve Menzie from Liverpool... enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Oas1407Ge0&feature=youtu.be

Bare-legged Owl

The Bare-legged Owl Gymnoglaux lawrencii (also known as Cuban Screech Owl) is another endemic species of Cuba. Our excellent local guides knew sites for several individuals, including this one in a tree cavity.

Cuban Pygmy Owl

Here is another endemic species from our Cuban trip.. Cuban Pygmy Owl Glaucidium siju. This species seems to be common, and often calls by day. Gerard Gorman, March 2012.

Cuban Tody

Just back from a very successful tour to Cuba.One of the many highlights was this Cuban Tody Todus multicolor. More pics here soon! 

Baboon in Ghana

This chap and his pals were a bit feisty too. One of his clan even dropped onto a lunch table and stole the ketchup bottle from a group of Germans!

Trunk Road in Ghana

There were many highlights, all kinds of birds and other wildlife in Ghana. There were a few anxious moments when this old bull elephant took umbrage at me trying to get a close photo! 

Ghana

So Probirder is leaving the snows of Eastern Europe for a few weeks. Snow is great, all those tracks, but I am off to West Africa, to Ghana. There are a few woodpeckers, not to mention African Piculet, that I need to record and photograph there. I will put a few pics up here...  watch this space !