I flew out of Abu Dhabi early morning on 20th October. It was an uneventful flight & I arrived slightly early just after mid-day. Jill was there to meet & greet me & we transferred to the villa. I must say it was the shortest transfer ever being all over 200 m! However, one couldn't have walked it as it was incredibly steep climb to the villa.
The view from the villa.
I sat on the veranda looking over the airport & bay. There was a little forest behind me on the side of the cliffs. My first surprise was a Seychelles Kestrel sat in the tree in the garden! What? I rushed to get my camera, but it flew off & what a weird weak flight it was. I wasn't expecting it to be so small, it is tiny!
Seychelles Blue Pigeon.
And when the sun came out! Whow!
Seychelles Bulbul
Madagascar Fody
Female
Madagascar Turtle Dove
Madagascar Fodies were the commonest birds, the males being amazingly bright red. Seychelles Bulbuls were calling & gave good views but the light was poor. Madagascar Turtle Doves were around & sat on next doors house. A couple of Seychelles Sunbirds were playing hide & seek & by the end of the day I had seen Seychelles Blue Pigeon. What a smart bird this is!
A White tailed Tropicbird flew in from the bay & 3 Cattle Egrets were on the airport runway.
White tailed Tropicbird
A White tailed Tropicbird flew in from the bay & 3 Cattle Egrets were on the airport runway.
Delana, Laurens & Anelle were late getting in, as their flight from South Africa was delayed. We celebrated their arrival with a tropical rum punch! Then it was early to bed as the ferry to La Digue is very early in the morning.
Our bedroom balcony.
We all returned to Mahe on 4th November via the ferry. Managed to see a few birds despite the high speed: 3 Wedge tailed Shearwater; a Tropical Shearwater; a few of both Common & Lesser Noddy & 3 Sooty Tern. We picked up the hire car & drove to the south western side of the island to our superbly positioned villa high up overlooking the bay.
The next day Delana & I were up early & drove to La Misere area, a known spot for the very rare Seychelles White-eye. We spent a couple of hours birding the area but without any joy. Several of the endemics were common here, including the Seychelles Blue Pigeon; Seychelles Sunbird & Seychelles Bulbul.
We returned to the villa & picked up the others & enjoyed a few hours on the beach on the edge of the Port Launey Marine National Park.
Delana & I went out again in the evening to Mission looking for the Seychelles Scops Owl. We spent around three hours here, but only heard one bird calling & it wouldn't budge! A little dispirited we returned home.
Conception Island
On the 6th November we hired a boat to take us out snorkeling & to get as close as possible to Conception Island where the Seychelles White-eye can be found. We got really close to the shore & we could hear a White-eye calling but couldn't see it!
Delana then swam to the rocks with the phone above her head & climbed up onto the island. As soon as she entered the forest proper she saw 2 Seychelles White-eyes! I sat on the boat looking hard but without success. I didn't feel confident of making it up the rocks with my bad foot as it affects my balance badly. All credit to Delana though, as she really went for it & deserved her tick!
Just after mid-day we drove back up to the Mission viewpoint & enjoyed a picnic there. The views were spectacular with many White tailed Tropicbirds sailing over the forest. A Seychelles Kestrel put in an appearance but I didn't get any shots!
It was also interesting to read about the history of this area being a school for orphaned freed slaves from 1875 on wards.
We spent the late afternoon, early evening on the balcony of the villa overlooking the bay.
On the 7th we drove the short distance to wonderfully secluded beach Anse Soleil. It was a spot well known to Delana & proved to be an idyllic few hours. It was everyone's last evening on the trip so we had a great meal of prawns & sat talking & drinking on the balcony.
It was all packing & leaving the villa early on 8th November. I drove to the airport & said my goodbyes to everyone who flew to South Africa. I then spent the day back looking for Seychelles White-eye but despite putting in six hours work I had no success. I then dropped the car back at the airport & enjoyed three hours in the lounge before boarding my flight back to Abu Dhabi arriving in the early hours of 9th November.
Looking down the valley.
Seychelles Blue Pigeon
Seychelles Bulbul
Male Seychelles Sunbird
Female.
The next day Delana & I were up early & drove to La Misere area, a known spot for the very rare Seychelles White-eye. We spent a couple of hours birding the area but without any joy. Several of the endemics were common here, including the Seychelles Blue Pigeon; Seychelles Sunbird & Seychelles Bulbul.
Looking north towards the national park.
Looking south in the bay.
Photo courtesy of Delana
Semi-circle Angelfish
Photo courtesy of Delana.
Delana & I went out again in the evening to Mission looking for the Seychelles Scops Owl. We spent around three hours here, but only heard one bird calling & it wouldn't budge! A little dispirited we returned home.
Getting the boat into the water.
Leaving Mahe behind.
Anelle & Delana.
On the 6th November we hired a boat to take us out snorkeling & to get as close as possible to Conception Island where the Seychelles White-eye can be found. We got really close to the shore & we could hear a White-eye calling but couldn't see it!
Ready for the plunge!
Swimming to the island.
She made it!
Climbing up into the forest.
Delana coming back to the boat after snorkeling.
Photo courtesy of Delana
Photo courtesy of Delana
Taken from in the sea by Delana.
Photo courtesy of Delana
Photo courtesy of Delana
White spotted Rabbitfish
Photo courtesy of Delana
Ladder Wrasse
Photo courtesy of Delana
Snub nosed Pompano
Photo courtesy of Delana
Three spot Angelfish
Photo courtesy of Delana
Lourens & Delana
Delana then swam to the rocks with the phone above her head & climbed up onto the island. As soon as she entered the forest proper she saw 2 Seychelles White-eyes! I sat on the boat looking hard but without success. I didn't feel confident of making it up the rocks with my bad foot as it affects my balance badly. All credit to Delana though, as she really went for it & deserved her tick!
The view!
Stunning!
White tailed Tropicbird
Just after mid-day we drove back up to the Mission viewpoint & enjoyed a picnic there. The views were spectacular with many White tailed Tropicbirds sailing over the forest. A Seychelles Kestrel put in an appearance but I didn't get any shots!
It was also interesting to read about the history of this area being a school for orphaned freed slaves from 1875 on wards.
Sunset from the villa.
We spent the late afternoon, early evening on the balcony of the villa overlooking the bay.
On the 7th we drove the short distance to wonderfully secluded beach Anse Soleil. It was a spot well known to Delana & proved to be an idyllic few hours. It was everyone's last evening on the trip so we had a great meal of prawns & sat talking & drinking on the balcony.
White tailed Tropicbird
It was all packing & leaving the villa early on 8th November. I drove to the airport & said my goodbyes to everyone who flew to South Africa. I then spent the day back looking for Seychelles White-eye but despite putting in six hours work I had no success. I then dropped the car back at the airport & enjoyed three hours in the lounge before boarding my flight back to Abu Dhabi arriving in the early hours of 9th November.
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