Friday 1 February 2013

Georgetown, Guyana - Part II

It was exactly 40 years ago today that I made my first documented record of 'bird watching', despite a boyhood of egg-collecting and on occasion shooting the poor things. Most of us have learned a lot since then and I am pleased to have inspired one or two to take up the hobby, but not all with the desired outcome! The bug started as I sat in the Saloon Pantry of the Ocean Salvage Tug 'Confiance', chatting away with my shipmate Paul (Andy) Knapp about earlier days. Both of us had shared the same interest and as we were refitting the ship in Portsmouth at that time we decide to visit Farlington Marshes that very afternoon. Our luck was in as we encountered the Warden who allowed us access to view both Jack Snipe and roosting Long-eared Owls, which had me 'hooked', although the interest has 'waned' a little since then????

and while I'm sat here scribing away another 'record', the heaviest and most ferocious rain-storm I have ever witnessed, for 20 minutes I didn't realise rain could fall that hard!

One of the prerequisites to staying at the
SLEEPIN' INTERNATIONAL
was that there had to be 'reliable' Internet access, preferably in the cabin. Logging on for the first time the whole thing had gone to 'rats', so got in contact with the Front Desk. An immediate reaction as the Night Porter arrived in a matter of seconds to whom I introduced myself. "No need for that man" he replied
 SHERWIN
"I've been reading The Bagsy Blog for months now, and feel I already know you".
GUYANA joined the readership 05/07/2011
Unfortunately no chance of 'cabin access' but since then there has been no problem in the lobby.
 Christmas is now over, and PAPA NOEL prepares to return to Lapland,
here accompanied by the black SWEENEY TODD!
I feel sure Sarah Lindsay will be pleased, she specified I could not attend her wedding later in the year with a beard! Priorities over, it was now time to take a look around town armed with the new small camera.
 
Guyana's MAIN CATHEDRAL
which has the distinction of being the 'Tallest Wooden Building in the World.
 The BANK of GUYANA
 The PRESIDENTIAL PALACE
 
 As it says 'on the tin'!
 There seems to be a Church for each person here?
 Along with a few Street Scenes.
 
 The 'hub' of the whole city, the STARBOEK MARKET
with associate stalls.
 ROMAN CATHOLIC CATHEDRAL
 and more Streets
 GOVERNMENT OFFICES
PRIME MINISTER'S OFFICE (or is that President?)
NOW, YOU DIDN'T THINK YOU WERE GOING TO GET AWAY 
WITH NO 'BIRDING' DID YOU?
Close by is the NATIONAL PARK
which I was forewarned didn't hold as many birds as the Botanical Gardens
but thought worth a try.
 
SOCIAL FLYCATCHER the white doesn't quite join at the nape!
Some fine WATER LILIES
 SOUTHERN HOUSE WREN
 Pleased I noticed these TERMITES,
starting to build a new nest, on the bench I was about to sit on!
 Opportunist shots of a passing RINGED KINGFISHER
SNAIL KITE complete with SNAIL.
BROWN-THROATED PARAKEET
 
Lots of CATTLE EGRETs but not a Bovine in sight!