I'm a keen natural historian and I indulge this passion whenever I get the opportunity. This page provides brief trip reports and my photos from recent adventures near and far. There is a strong bias towards birds, as I've been a birdwatcher since I was knee-high to a sparrow, as well as mammals, as they are the group that I worked on for my Ph.D. and which I have studied ever since.
Exploring SC
I haven't had much time to explore since arriving in SC but the upstate around Clemson is beautiful, filled with wildflowers, birds and insects, with plenty of lakes and mountains for paddling and hiking.
I haven't had much time to explore since arriving in SC but the upstate around Clemson is beautiful, filled with wildflowers, birds and insects, with plenty of lakes and mountains for paddling and hiking.
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Chile November 2016
I just spent two weeks in Chile, teaching a comparative methods course for the Sociedad Chilena de Evolución at the Universidad Andrés Bello in Santiago and then in Concón for the annual society meetings. I managed to get some time to go into the Andes where I achieved a major childhood ambition of mine to see an Andean Condor (Vultur gryphus)! I only had my phone on me so the photos aren't great but I got some amazing views of them along with some other fantastic birds like the grey-hooded sierra finch (Phrygilus gayi) and on the coast for the meetings I could watch Peruvian pelicans (Pelecanus thagus) and Peruvian boobies (Sula variegata) as well as Inca terns (Larosterna inca - they have amazing moustaches) from my hotel room window!
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Chile November 2015
I spent a fantastic two weeks in Chile visiting Cristian Hernandez and his lab at the Universidad de Concepción and during that time I was able to visit the Reserva Nacional Nonguén, which is a lovely patch of natural forest close to Concepción. I saw a few birds but the Chilean rose hair tarantula was the star of the hike. Later in the week I did see, albeit very briefly, the rather lovely many-coloured rush tyrant (Tachuris rubrigastra), which has a much prettier name in Spanish: Siete colores. On the final day I saw some South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens), which I think was my only mammal of the trip!
I spent a fantastic two weeks in Chile visiting Cristian Hernandez and his lab at the Universidad de Concepción and during that time I was able to visit the Reserva Nacional Nonguén, which is a lovely patch of natural forest close to Concepción. I saw a few birds but the Chilean rose hair tarantula was the star of the hike. Later in the week I did see, albeit very briefly, the rather lovely many-coloured rush tyrant (Tachuris rubrigastra), which has a much prettier name in Spanish: Siete colores. On the final day I saw some South American sea lions (Otaria flavescens), which I think was my only mammal of the trip!
Atlantic Rainforest Brazil July 2015
I took a few days after the Evolution conference in Guarujá to head into the Atlantic Rainforest, we stayed in the Tres Picos State Park at a lodge sometimes run by Serra dos Tucanos Birding Tours. We were incredibly lucky to see some amazing Atlantic forest endemics including the Grey-winged Cotinga (Tijuca condita), 3-toed Jacamar (Jacamaralcyon tridactyla), Itatiaia Thistletail (Asthenes moreirae) and many many more! Being so close I also made a flying visit to Poço das Antas Biological Reserve (http://www.micoleao.org.br/) to see the endemic and endangered Golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia).
I took a few days after the Evolution conference in Guarujá to head into the Atlantic Rainforest, we stayed in the Tres Picos State Park at a lodge sometimes run by Serra dos Tucanos Birding Tours. We were incredibly lucky to see some amazing Atlantic forest endemics including the Grey-winged Cotinga (Tijuca condita), 3-toed Jacamar (Jacamaralcyon tridactyla), Itatiaia Thistletail (Asthenes moreirae) and many many more! Being so close I also made a flying visit to Poço das Antas Biological Reserve (http://www.micoleao.org.br/) to see the endemic and endangered Golden lion tamarins (Leontopithecus rosalia).
