It was overcast this morning when I got up and by the time I had started my early morning walk, it was still a little misty and comparatively cool…. (in the low 70s). I had benefited from a full nights sleep which had not absolutely got rid of the jet lag which I am rubbish at dealing with anyway  but I was feeling better.  However I am suffering with the effects of the nastiest bug that I have ever experienced and it  has taken its toll. All my family are suffering including my little granddaughters who have been particularly badly affected. I hope they are feeling better now. I wandered in the direction of a park area that I know contains lots of birds with the target being the White Breasted Water Hens that I have been seeing there. They are common but on my last trip I hadn't even bothered with them, its always the same, you ignore the common birds…..common here but unknown at home…..and then when you get back you regret it. This year I vowed not to overlook these birds.

I sat for ages on a stump right where I knew they were emerging from the undergrowth expecting to be successful without much difficulty. Well I was wrong… they never emerged while I was there. By now I had wasted 40 minutes!!! I gave up, thats not like me but I can't afford to waste too much time especially if I have judged that its not going to happen. Walking on, I suddenly noticed this absolutely gorgeous White-throated Kingfisher, what an opportunity. It was perched on a stump in the river. I edged closer, sat down and then shuffled forward on my backside to a spot that gave me a clear unobstructed view. I had done it, a good spot without disturbing it. You imagine that countries like this with all these exotics give real opportunities, well of course they do but the birds are just as easily disturbed as back home. Fieldcraft and stealth is still needed. Its a bit more scary because you are invariably on the ground and you don't know for sure what biting bugs are down there with you. Calculated risks are taken, well they are by me!! The bird was there for ages, preening and on the look out for prey in the water.

I could see that it had been in the water recently because it was wet but I hadn't imagined that this species would dive for fish, there are different sorts of Kingfishers and not all are actually fish eaters, some taking lizards and large insects. I really need to do some research about the feeding habits of this species because it certainly was scanning the water for prey. Unfortunately after a while it was disturbed by a local preparing his boat for the day….. all in all, a great encounter for me and the reason I am here. On my walk this morning I also saw Stone Curlew and a particularly nice male Purple Sunbird but I didn't manage a photo of either.

When I was almost back at Ravis Dream House and as I crossed the road bridge I caught site of a very nice Little Cormorant (Phalocrocorax niger), a nice pretty little cormorant.