TGIF

The day started out fantastically well. Andy called me over (didn't even have my coffee yet) and showed me a bird he'd seen in the garden this morning and identified as an African (Angolan) Pitta and showing me te pic in the field guide. My jaw just hit the deck and I said "Where?"

Actually just a few meters from me in the garden it was. My first sighting of it ever and a bird I know some birders would kill for. Just hanging around between the plants in the garden and behaving very much according to the field guide (animals usually do the opposite - to prove a point a I think) and being shy and skulking. Well, nearly breaking my neck, I found the video camera and hamered off tons of footage and stillls. Only then did I relax and try and get good shots and make mental notes of what it was doing, eating etc. I phoned a few people but not really many local birders around here. I got the Park Warden to come and have a look and he said he's never seen it before (He's worked at Nyungwe Forest and Akagera before taking over at PNV) and was quite impressed and excited with the find.

Anyway, sent off some e-mails and started getting responses back in a short space of time. By sunset, the bird was still around. So, hopefully it'll be around another day or so at least - what I can find out about it indicates this is more or less (actually less) on its migration route.

The bbq grid has gone in for some minor additions i.e. adding a few more cross wires - I think the gaps are a "little" big but I should be getting that back tomorrow morning.

Also met with Greg who's busy preparing to meet some very important clients tomorrow, so a lot of excitement there and making sure everything is sorted, down to the smallest detail