Madagascar Turtle-dove - Nesoenas picturatus
Holiday season is nearly upon me and thoughts turn in part to the task which seems to exist these days only on family holidays. I have not really been out birding for my own enjoyment in any circumstances for a good year. I have not stopped to analyse why that is. I haven't even written up the birds that I have seen in Malasyia, Seychelles and elsewhere. I think losing access to my old web site has created a mental block. It just doesn't feel as good to come to a website with less than a dozen posts. The idea that everything is not in one place anymore is a bit upsetting.
I won't make myself any promises but what I will do is just gently get my camera kit in a good shape for the US and keep to my routine which includes time for a Daily Bird. It would be a shame to lose the habit of collecting these beautiful pictures and having a way to look at life other than through a cocktail list of work email inbox. That's a touch harsh but birding does elevate free time to something a little more adventurous than pushing a trolley around Spinneys.
These charming Doves were there to greet me each morning at breakfast at the Constance Ephilia. What a lucky and privileged life I lead. This was a superb family holiday - location, activities, food, privacy. Stunning place. It was a full board type arrangement so I could wander down to this restaurant next to a perfect tropical beach and have juice, eggs cooked as I wanted them and so on. How can anything be wrong with life when you can do that for a week ? We are off to New York in about 2 weeks and after a week of the Big Apple we are going up to Vermont to the Green Mountain National Park - a place called Manchester ! Time once again for my Sibley ! I have never really got to grips with simple basic US birds. I will have a backyard so I should be able to do some backyard birding.
Madagascar Turtle-Dove, Nesoena picturatus
Constance Ephilia, Mahe, Seychelles
August 2016
