Arrived back in the UK today after two weeks hammering the woods, marshes, rainforests, highlands and coastal scrub of glorious, insane and supercool Mexico with Tropical, Bazzo and "Er Neill" (he can drive calmly through the maddest towns, stare down howler monkeys and laugh in the face of the Aztec two-step, but still no nickname).
The trip was astonishing - 359 species, plus a few more heard but not seen, monkeys, alligators, crocs, iguanas, ocelot, 7 million Free Tailed Bats leaving a roost, Mayan temples and the daily vibrant chaos of this great country.
In case you're wondering, the birdies on this entry are the supersexy Vermillion Flycatcher, and the foxy little Bat Falcon.
None of us were bitten by snakes, kidnapped by bandits or driven insane by the steaming darkness of the deepest rainforests, and although most got to dance the Aztec two-step during the 3,459 km journey, we all returned jetlagged, but with the image of an Agami on a dark forest stream burned onto the back of our retinas..
I'll post a series of entries over the next few days breaking the trip down into five sections:
1. Felippe Carillo Puerto and the Vigia Chica Road
2. Calakmul
3. Palenque
4. Chiapas highlands and Sumidero canyon
5. North Yucatan coastal strip
But right now I need a bit more kip.
Thanks to the wonderful Mrs D for looking after the blog for me while I've been away - and muchas gracias to my travelling companions for our best trip yet.
Hasta luego.
Eyes to the skies everyone, eyes to the skies....
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Staff and volunteers at the RSPB Marshside nature reserve in Southport have been really busy during National Nestbox Week, making and putting up some special nestboxes for a bird that amazingly needs our help â the humble house sparrow.
RSPB Warden, Graham Clarkson said: âÂÂMarshside is an amazing place for wildlife and we have recently counted a whopping 109 house sparrows here. 20 specially designed boxes are now up and itâÂÂs great news that weâÂÂve seen the birds investigating them. LetâÂÂs hope we can do our bit to help to secure the future of this familiar little bird.âÂÂ
Numbers of the well known cheerful and gregarious house sparrow have dramatically gone down in recent years and this much loved bird has been targeted as needing urgent help by being âÂÂredâ in a list of 'birds of conservation concern' and a UK Biodiversity Action Plan Species.
Possible explanations for this decline include there being generally less food available for them, with less grain being spilt on farms due to tighter hygiene regulations, and lack of insects available for the adults to feed chicks in the nest. Being able to find suitable nesting sites is also extremely important. The continued availability of allotments, gardens and other green spaces in urban and suburban areas is crucial to preventing further declines. House sparrows love areas of thick vegetation with watercourses and readily available nest sites; Marshside is a great place for them!
Graham continues: "Even more house sparrow boxes will soon be being erected at the Fog Bell in Marshside by pupils from Stanley High School and members of the North Meols Civic Society, which is supported by the RSPB. We are extremely grateful for the funding for the construction of the nest-boxes which has been provided by Natural England via the Environmental Stewardship Scheme."
Saving threatened species like the house sparrow is a key part of the RSPBâÂÂs Letter to the Future campaign, which is a direct call to politicians to do more to protect our wildlife, countryside and the environment. You can sign the letter at your nearest RSPB reserve, where you'll be adding your name to hundreds of thousands of others determined to ensure future generations inherit a world worth living in, or sign online at www.signtheletter.org
Why not find out how the new sparrow boxes are doing as well as seeing the rest of the wildlife along the coast by visiting RSPB Marshside nature reserve all year round. ItâÂÂs free to visit and if you go to Sandgroundersâ hide on the reserve there are volunteers whoâÂÂll show you the birds through binoculars and telescopes every day from 10.30am â 5pm. ItâÂÂs also heated and wheelchair accessible. There are also four other viewing areas along with several kilometres of rough paths. Free parking is available in the Sefton Council car park (adjacent to the former Sand-winning plant) opposite the junction of Marshside Road and Marine Drive. For details of events at Marshside visit www.rspb.org.uk/marshside or visit our facebook group; RSPB Ribble Estuary Nature Reserves.
Welcome home John - Ainsdale still had Snow Bunting last week...a slow Spring!
One and probably two Blackcaps at traditional wintering sites around Birkdale Common/Royal Birkdale Golf Course edge today.
Pete Allen had the 2 Tundra Beans on Plex Moss this morning as well as 20 Corn Buntings and he counted 47 Tufted Duck, 4 Shoveler and 2 Little Grebe on Sands Lake. Some of the Tufties are now displaying.