The joy of Ceyx

The Malagasy word for foreigner is vasa. It is also the name of Madagascar's two large black species of parrot. (The third parrot here is the pretty little grey-headed lovebird, which we saw today, in the goal of a temporary football pitch on the grassy floor of a dry lake.) Today, after countless lesser vasas on our tour, I at last heard the call of a greater vasa. The parrot was obliging enough to sit in a tree, displaying his powerful bill, waving his disproportionate tail and showing our group all of his diagnostic features.

At the opposite end of the avian size spectrum a boldy orange, white and red Madagascar pygmy kingfisher sat in the shade of the forest and allowed our clients to take spectacular photos. Bulbuls muttered, souimangas chipped, sickle-bills wailed and the mounting heat drove us home to pack bags and make ready for our final adventure, in the wet forests of Andasibe and Mantadia.

2^nd November

New this morning in Ankarafantsika and on our journey back to Mahajanga

	Birds
967	greater vasa parrot	Coracopsis vasa
968	Madagascar pygmy kingfisher	Ceyx madagascariensis
969	African pygmy goose	Nettapus auritus
	Reptiles
60	Grandidier’s dwarf gecko	Lygodactylus tolampyae

2012 Totals

Mammals: 111

Birds: 969

Reptiles: 60

Amphibians: 15

Fish: 12