Daniel Branch

One of the highlights of the Peruvian Amazon was spending time with the Boto and Tucuxi!
Never easy to photograph, especially the Tucuxi, but I did my best! Frustrating when they would surface right next to the boat, only to be gone again in seconds!

PYGMY MARMOSET!
When planning my trip to Amazonian Peru, this was the mammal I wanted to see the most!
And they did not disappoint!
Fantastic characters!

It’s my 2,180th species in South America, but this is the one that started my love of birds on this continent!
Watching the BBC documentary ‘Andes to Amazon’ back in 2000, I saw the Wire-tailed Manakin lek on my parents TV and knew I wanted to see it!
Today was finally that day, although no the lek!

If your early enough in the day then it will be fine, but in the middle of the day might be a struggle. I’ve used it for Antpittas in the first few hours and last few hours and it worked perfectly.

I got a Pulsar Axion 2 XG35
During the day I use it very sparingly, so can’t give you much. I tried using it to pick out birds on rocks in a river during the day and it wouldn’t do it.
At night though it’s an absolutely amazing, I don’t know how I managed before having it!

OCELOT!!! ABSOLUTE SCENES!!!
Southern Peru had already been excellent for mammals, but last night it reached a new level when I had an this beauty walking down the trail towards me!
My first South American cat species! An incredible encounter!

You can the first client of Dan Branch Extreme Birding Tours!

It was a fantastic decision to invest in a thermal for my first trip into the Amazon!Whilst it hasn’t yet produced a Jaguar or Tapir, the mammals have been fantastic!
But my dream was to find a sleeping Tinamou… and last night I managed this fabulous White-throated Tinamou!

TAPACULO NUMBER 46!!!
The Rusty-belted Tapaculo lurks in the Amazon rainforest of five countries, the most of any Tapaculo! Because of this it has long been a sore spot when working my way through said countries Tapaculo lists!
But no more! Phenomenal views in Amazonian Peru!

Had a fantastic morning searching for and then ticking off Inca Wren!
And at the same place also saw one of the wonders of the world! Absolutely amazing place!
10/10 would recommend to a friend!

TAPACULO NUMBER 45!!!
SCYTALOPUS NUMBER 36!!!
Following swiftly on from the last, Vilcabamba Tapaculo is the latest addition to my Tapaculo total!
And another rather showy individual as well, displaying its glorious grey and brown plumage!

TAPACULO NUMBER 44!!!
SCYTALOPUS NUMBER 35!!!
After a years hiatus, I finally returned to my quest of seeing all the Tapaculos!
The latest? The Ampay Tapaculo, which decided to show phenomenally well in the Andes of southern Peru!
One of my best encounters yet!

It seems to have been a good breeding season so far for the birds on Soil Hill!
8 Whitethroat pairs with 6 confirmed carrying food is a new personal Hill record! Plus 1st time confirming Song Thrush!
But none of that compares to this sexy beast I found! 😍😍😍
#SoilHillBirding #UKBirding

Perfect! Hopefully that’s the reason then!
I don’t think they bred here last year, so it’s been nice to have them back again!

Is it not too early for that? Normally here they start doing that at the very end of June/beginning of July.
I wish I had been able to be on patch more in April to work out what’s going on. Thanks
(hello Alan)

How many Garden Warblers have you photographed on Soil Hill Mr Rankin?!
I rest my case! 100% worth the effort! 🥳

It took a cumulative four hours over five days, but I finally FINALLY managed to get one sequence of photos of the Soil Hill Garden Warbler!
It then resumed its usual phantom behavior, singing away from the depths of the vegetation!
#SoilHillBirding #UKBirding

A drizzly morning saw a new Grasshopper Warbler singing on Soil Hill!
A late singer, normally they’ve gone silent by the end of May!
My nemesis Garden Warbler continues into its 4th day and still no photo!
How can a bird be so vocal but so impossible to see?!
#SoilHillBirding #UKBirding

💥SOIL HILL PATCH TICK💥
💥NUMBER 130💥
💥GARDEN WARBLER💥
Despite singing throughout my visit, a frustratingly windy morning meant in 90 minutes I only saw it once with no photos!
But still...
SPECIES 130 FOR SOIL HILL!!!
And Garden Warbler is my 10th Warbler!!!
#SoilHillBirding #UKBirding

Another glorious day at Blackstone Edge Reservoir upon Humber...
An incredible flock of 15 (FIFTEEN!!!) Sanderlings were enjoying the ample muddy shoreline today, showing very well at times!
Inland birding can be hard work at times, but sometimes it's absolutely fantastic!
#UKBirding

It was foggy, rainy and windy at Blackstone Edge this morning!
Almost unbirdable!
Fortunately on the near mud it was just possible to make out a new Sanderling scurrying about among the Dunlin, making it all worthwhile!
And then I fled to more sheltered conditions!
#UKBirding

The Blackstone Edge Reservoir wader bonanza continues for another day!
Nothing unusual, but 13 Ringed Plovers and 6 Dunlin certainly kept me entertained!
The Dunlins also continue to be in fine voice, serenading me with their buzzy songs!

A substantial breeze made for challenging conditions whilst checking the reservoirs this morning!
The two Sanderlings were still on Blackstone Edge, along with a small group of very randy Dunlin, filling the air with their buzzy songs!
Like a scene from Spurn beach!
#UKBirding

The arrival of wet and windy weather brought an apparent 'fall' of Sanderling, with two on Blackstone Edge Reservoir and three at Whiteholme Reservoir!
Also, a patch tick of Grey Squirrel at Whiteholme, though it's baffling how and why it found itself this far onto the moors!
#UKBirding

I’ve got a 30th birthday party tonight, so not expecting an early start up there…
Inevitably there’ll be something good that slips through as a result haha

Sadly I haven’t been around much to check, but to my knowledge there has been nothing of any rarity value found but there also hasn’t been much coverage.
Other reservoirs in Halifax have managed Wood Sandpiper, Ruff and Sanderling this spring.

Incredibly, there were only two Dunlin reported in Halifax in 2024!
TWO!
In the whole year!
Fortunately, 2025 has been a fantastic return to form, and it was delightful to spend my morning on the moors being serenaded by at least three singing individuals! #UKBirding

An enjoyable and sunny morning on Soil Hill, surrounded by singing warblers and topped off with this excellent Marsh Harrier!
Just about annual for this site, so always a welcome addition to any visit!
#SoilHillBirding

Despite the rain it was a very productive morning on Soil Hill!
Headliners include the first Halifax Grasshopper Warbler of the year, a welcome sight after 2024s poor showing for this species!
Also another male Ring Ouzel and a Red Kite north!
#SoilHillBirding #UKBirding

It's turning into an excellent week for Ring Ouzel on Soil Hill, with a nice female present this morning!
2020 was my best spring, with five individuals, but I'm already at four this year, rapidly closing in on a new record!
#SoilHillBirding #UKBirding