Sunday 21 October 2012

Some highlights from Madagascar (so far)





So here is my first post from Madagascar, and what a wonderful time I'm having. The wildlife is incredible, and the abundance is also staggering. This post contains just a tiny sample of the photos I've taken so far, and mainly of birds. The Madagascar Nightjars show well near camp (Nosy Be) and are relatively easy to spot. They are also incredibly confiding, landing on the ground and branches 15ft away. The Hoopoes were similar, and while visiting Ankarafantsika National Park they were resident in the camp site, as were the Bee-eaters and Sickle-billed Vangas. Perhaps the highlight of the trip so far however, were the pair of Madagascar Fish Eagles that visited the camp briefly (in Ankarafantsika). There are thought to be around only 120 pairs of these magnificent birds left in  Madagascar, so to see a pair was simple magical.
I felt like I should also include some other wildlife, and these Coquerels' Sifakas were also present on the campsite; a truly beautiful lemur. This Panther Chameleon was present on camp at Nosy Be for over a week.






Madagascar Nightjar, Caprimulgus madagascariensis

Madagascar Hoopoe, Upupa epops marginata

Madagascar Bee-eater, Merops superciliosus

Madagascar Fish Eagle, Haliaeetus vociferoides

Sickle-billed Vanga, Falculea palliata

Coquerel's Sifaka, Propithecus coquereli
Panther Chameleon, Furcifer pardalis