A stunning endemic bird

Blue-headed Quail-Dove Starnoenas cyanocephala, a localised, endemic Cuban bird. I got this shot in a roadside woodland on the Zapata Peninsula, Cuba last week. It was not easy, the bird was often in cover and when it did trot out into the open it would not stay still! Gerard Gorman.

Back from Cuba

Now that was a great trip to Cuba ! Here is one of the many birds we saw, a Cuban Parakeet, taken in the Zapata Swamp National Park. Gerard Gorman. 

Off to Cuba again !

Vamos ! Probirder is off to Cuba again ! It is a great birding destination with endemics that include 2 woodpeckers. Here is one, Cuban Green Woodpecker, which I photographed on my trip there last year. The internet in Cuba is not always available, so not sure I will be able to post anything whilst there... we'll see.

Great Tour in Northern Spain

Just completed a great week-long tour to the Pyrrenean Mts in Navarra, northern Spain. Special birds seen included 3 Lammergeiers, many Griffon Vultures and Red Kites, Wallcreeper, Eagle Owl, Snow Finch, Golden Eagle, White and Black Storks, Alpine and Red-billed Choughs, and the lilfordi race of White-backed Woodpecker, etc, etc. The higher elevations were covered in snow and animal tracks were everywhere. For example, here is the trail of a Wild Boar. 

Tracks & Signs book due in September

The publisher has announced that my POCKET GUIDE TO TRACKS AND SIGNS (of Europe) will be out this September (2014). I have seen a few versions of the cover, but the final one is not yet decided upon. In the meantime, here are some bear droppings to keep you going. Click here TRACKS AND SIGNS for more info and a pre-publication discount !

New Woodpecker Book

My new book WOODPECKERS OF THE WORLD - THE COMPLETE GUIDE is due out this June. Click here for more details. 

Mammals in Tanzania

Probirder is back from Tanzania ! Lots of good birds of course, but overall the large mammals - zebras, wildebeest, giraffes, various gazelles and antelopes, black rhino, elephants, hippos, lions, including cubs, and 2 cheetahs - were the highlight. This young elephant was carefully guarded by the herd. Photo by Gerard Gorman.