Sticky's part Deux

The Pirogue was due to move of as soon as the other two passengers were ready, not withstanding the time spent by the pointer person, bailing large amounts of water out of the "boat" so crew assembled it was shove off and eyes peeled , the first port of call was the Peanut processing plant! Where earlier we had seen an African Fish Eagle parked, it was still visible but now on the other side of the plant.

A left turn into the current really put the engine to the test as we edged closer to the start of the mangrove swamps and the two creeks to be investigated Tunku and Kisi Bolong. It did not take long before we were calling things like Malachite, Pygmy, Blue Bellied, pied, Giant and Grey Headed Kingfishers. And of course a whole host of other neat stuff, like White Crested Tiger Heron, Goliath Heron, African Hobby and the rarity of the trip A Peregrine Falcon which took a Weaver bird in mid air.

I think amongst the hole lot the next bird called "by me!!" was the Orange Cheeked Waxbill a real corker of a little bird certainly on a par with the Cut Throat Finch. Should anyone really be bored a full list could be supplied "yawn"

On the Mammal and reptile side of things they were a little sparse with only one decent sized Nile Crocodile seen as it slipped into the water only to disappear, Nile Monitors were a little more obliging with one specimen estimated to be a 9 feet long and full of some form of food.

It was just after this big chappy that we saw the bird most people really want the African Finfoot plonking around the roots of the mangrove it was dark under there but enough was seen to confirm the species, brilliant to say the least but to dark for any chance of a picture,, just seeing it was really enough. For a further two hours we drifted into the Mangroves quietly picking of species after species before we had to turn around, and take a new track/route through to the Kissi Bolong and just 50 meters down we had the second mind blowing mega bird of the trip A fine male Perls Fishing Owl sat out in the open like it was the most natural thing to do, mind you as soon as it realised we was sneaking up on it it was of and never to be seen again.

Suffice to say the species totaliser went up a few notches, the move back across the river to Tendaba camp was as eventful as we picked up on the odd ones we had missed on the way over.

As the sun was over the yard arm it was time for second breakfast, which was always liquid of course!! A light bit of shut eye before we strolled down to the Airport!! once again this time with the required Nightjar kit you know powerful torch etc.we disturbed a couple of Four Banded Sandgrouse as we moved through the long grass alongside the rice fields we had selected a likly area /clearing in the grass away from the other people out and noisily plonking after the same target species. We knew we should see all three types here, so we sat and offered our selves up to the Mossies for the next hour and a half. The churring started more or less as soon as it got dark and we could see occasional flutterings around us as they flew against the night sky, couple this with the incessant background noise of crickets frogs and all manner of other insects, including 70 million Mozzies!! oh! and a pair of dueting White Faced Scops Owls it was brilliant.

Did we get all three? well of course, as the others had pushed most of the birds our way, thank you. We did not mention this later at the bar,,, Much!! but they were out again the next night, and with our superb guiding get the all. More free beer.

With our Four days at Tendaba over we were on the long drive/ride back to Bijilo for a bit of R&R wash clothes, clean kit, pour over lists on an extended call over and generally sort out some of the more local areas.

So Lets see what the next blog brings!!

Thanks for Reading

Paul