Batwatch Nicaragua

My website died a sad death yesterday – a long weekend no less – so if you want details about the Batwatch trip please go to

http://mammalart.wordpress.com/

Thanks! Fiona

Hungary 2011

Hi all,

As I said in a previous post, I am going to visit Slovakia in June to track some large carnivores. We first plan to visit Hortobagy, Hungary.

It seems that the sousliks are not very easy to spot… Do you know where we would have some good opportunities? If someone has any information on saker falcon, imperial eagle, great bustard and wildcat, it may be very useful as well.

I will post a report as soon as we come back, and let’s hope there will be some nice observations^^

Thank you very much !

 

 

Nathan

Batwatch Nicaragua

Want to see ,catch and identify bats with a purpose? Visit a spectacularly diverse tropical region? Catch 40 or more species in a week? Join Batwatch Nicaragua, a new kind of tour-workshop led by Fiona Reid and Nicaraguan bat biologists, in the remote Indio-Maiz national park, November 12-20, 2011. You can contact Fiona Reid at fiona.reid@xplornet.com .

Go to http://www.fionareid.ca/?page_id=435 for more details

Takin vs Dhole

This is very cool… Vikram Singh from Wild World India sent me the following images taken by his friend and colleague Dhritiman Mukherjee on May 20, 2011.

They were in the Mishmi Hills in the state of Arunachal Pradesh when Vikram says ” I came across one of my most spectacular moments in the wilderness. A Mishmi Takin and calf were stalked by a lone Indian Wild Dog on a hill slope where the only escape route for the Takin was through a narrow path up, fiercely guarded by the Dog. We observed this confrontation at different times over two days and were not sure how long had this been going on before we managed to stumble upon it while scoping the hills for birds. We had to finally leave without knowing the outcome of this face-off. ”

That’s one plucky Dhole!
Jon

RFI – for Chipmunks and Ground Squirrels in California, Colorado and eastern Utah

I am in the USA for 10 days early next month – mainly around LA and Denver – but I will spend a few days driving around or out of both states if I need to. Can anyone recommend sites for the following squirrels in those areas:

Hopi Chipmunk
Lodgepole Chipmunk
Merriam’s Chipmunk

Belding’s Ground Squirrel
Spotted Ground Squirrel
Mojave Ground Squirrel

I might go to Yosemite again too. Does anyone know how easy it is to see Allen’s and Long-eared Chipmunks there or in the surrounds?

thanks

Jon

RFI: Texas and North Carolina

Gerald Broddelez asked me to post the following RFI for him .. Jon

Dear all, I ll be visiting texas and n’carolina next august and would appreciate any mammal watching sites and key species anyone can recommend. Bobcat and Red Wolf are my priorities. Any info on bats and/or bat specialists etc is also very welcome. Many thanks Gerald

New Trip Report: Giant Pandas in the Qinlings

I’ve just added a new report from Jerzy Dyczkowski, who was in the Qinlings for a week and saw 12 species including Giant Panda, Tufted Deer, Golden Snub-nosed Monkey and Rothschild’s Zokor.

I also added a link to a nice article in the Sunday Times (a UK newspaper) about panda watching there.

Both are linked on http://www.mammalwatching.com/Palearctic/palearctchina.html

Jon

New Trip Report – Australia and NZ

I’ve just uploaded a new report from Matthew and Maureen Steer’s world trip. We spent two weeks in Western Australia, driving up to Shark Bay and then around the south-west forests. After that we spent four weeks exploring the South Island of New Zealand for amazing scenery and aquatic mammals. Returning to Australia we spent ten days on Tasmania, then two weeks driving from Melbourne to Adelaide. We spent six days in the red centre around Alice Springs. Amongst this we were also in and around Sydney for eight days. We saw a total of 42 native mammals and 8 invasive/feral species over the twelve weeks.

Some of the highlights include Tiger and Western Quolls and a Brush-tailed Phascogale.

http://www.mammalwatching.com/Australasian/Otherreports/MS%20Australia_and_New_Zealand_Trip_report%202011.pdf

Jon

Birch Mouse ancestor discovered in Inner Mongolia is new species of rare ‘living fossil’

Birch mouse ancestor discovered in Inner Mongolia is new species of rare ‘living fossil’

ScienceDaily (May 25, 2011) — Tiny fossil teeth discovered in Inner Mongolia are a new species of birch mouse, indicating that ancestors of the small rodent are much older than previously reported, according to paleontologist Yuri Kimura, Southern Methodist University in Dallas

Jon

New Trip Report – Lynxes in Sweden

Until a a week ago a pair of Eurasian Lynxes had been seen daily for 3 weeks or so near Stockholm, at a Great Grey Owl Site. I’ve uploaded a couple of reports from people who saw them. Wish I had. And as they haven’t been seen for a week it sounds like they may have moved on.

http://www.mammalwatching.com/Palearctic/palearctsweden.html

Jon