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!

Georgetown, Guyana - Part I

Arrived Georgetown, the capital of Guyana (country number 136), late evening and by chance had met Bristolian's Dick and Els en route who gave me a lift into the city, some 30Km. Not unusually their driver was more than helpful finding me accommodation and by mid-night I was 'turned in' at the Sleepin' International Hotel (recommended).

 First thing this morning I took the 20 minutes walk, via this 'ethnic' statue, to the

 

 

 A tantalising taster of what might be forthcoming during the day.

 First to flush was

 BLACK-CAPPED DONOCOBIUS which didn't hang about.

 Both BLUE-BLACK GRASSQUIT

 

 

 and what, given the prominent eye-ring, I suspect to be SPECTACLED CAIMAN were more obliging as was the only

 PALE-BELLIED THRUSH of the day, enough to get it on the World List.

That certainly could not be said of GREAT KISKADEE undoubtedly the most prolific bird here. On every building, bush, tree etc my estimate was 2-300 during the course of the day. However,

a couple of them did show, the not often seen, bright crown patch.

 LARGE FLYING INSECT

 I did endeavor to buy a camera today, then the whole building could have been shown, but it was difficult enough to find a food shop let alone 'electrical'.

 CATTLE EGRET

What is believed to be a female EUPHONIA, of one description or another, was alone and without the help of the male no chance of identification. Beautiful nonetheless!

 SHINY COWBIRD male

 What was presumed to be animal meat, thrown into the lake and river for the Caiman, was attracting a huge

 number of FLIES

 GREAT-BILLED SEED FINCH

 STRIATED HERON

 GREY KINGBIRD

 GREY-HEADED CHACHALACA

 There is a zoo here, and where there's a zoo there is food and where there is food there are usually birds so worth a look. Not a fan, and to see the largest (HARPY) EAGLE in the world confined to this tiny cage did my head in.

 Although seen in Costa Rica (2004) this is likely to be all I'll see of this magnificent species.

 LILIES

 

 Tell-tale 'croaking' from deep in the reed-bed

 soon manifested itself into a fine and obliging

 

LIMPKIN 

(very surprised we have not encountered one before this).

 

 Anyone fancy a shot at this 'early bather', I can't do it!

 ORANGE-WINGED AMAZON

 PALE-VENTED PIGEON (in company of, 'what else')

 

 PIED WATER TYRANT

 Whoops, someone must have flicked the monochrome while I wasn't looking?

SMOOTH-BILLED ANI

I will be back at the same site tomorrow to chase up those missed today!

Not what could be called 'stunning shots' but this

BLACK-STRIPED SPARROW

back at Mateo's in Panama was a 'lifer'!