Rose-Ann
@athena42.bsky.social
Licensed volunteer bat wrangler and rehabber with Bat Rescue Berkshire, Lancs CCC supporter living in Reading, traveller
Although it meant we got quite wet & chilly, today’s rain produced another termite emergence which led to some unexpected birds - including Levaillant’s cuckoo, three-banded courser
Chobe national park, Botswana
Chobe national park, Botswana
November 14, 2025 at 8:47 PM
Although it meant we got quite wet & chilly, today’s rain produced another termite emergence which led to some unexpected birds - including Levaillant’s cuckoo, three-banded courser
Chobe national park, Botswana
Chobe national park, Botswana
Herd of elephants in Chobe national park, Botswana, with incoming storm clouds
November 14, 2025 at 8:33 PM
Herd of elephants in Chobe national park, Botswana, with incoming storm clouds
Long day on a game drive in Chobe national park, not as many mammals as expected but we didn’t do too badly - one large herd of elephant, a couple of big herds of Cape buffalo, half a dozen black-backed jackal, 2 mongoose species, plus the usual hippos, antelopes, thieving vervet monkeys & baboons
November 14, 2025 at 8:31 PM
Long day on a game drive in Chobe national park, not as many mammals as expected but we didn’t do too badly - one large herd of elephant, a couple of big herds of Cape buffalo, half a dozen black-backed jackal, 2 mongoose species, plus the usual hippos, antelopes, thieving vervet monkeys & baboons
New lodge, Namushasha, back in Namibia, on a different river, the Kwando, which eventually joins the Zambezi
November 12, 2025 at 1:44 PM
New lodge, Namushasha, back in Namibia, on a different river, the Kwando, which eventually joins the Zambezi
Another boat trip on the Okavango, this time for skimmers, greater swamp warbler, chirping cisticola & Pel’s fishing owl (but nowhere near the views we had yesterday in the grounds of the lodge - way better than this one off Merlin!). Also crocs & hippos and endless papyrus & reeds
November 11, 2025 at 11:45 AM
Another boat trip on the Okavango, this time for skimmers, greater swamp warbler, chirping cisticola & Pel’s fishing owl (but nowhere near the views we had yesterday in the grounds of the lodge - way better than this one off Merlin!). Also crocs & hippos and endless papyrus & reeds
Sunset over the Okavango
November 10, 2025 at 5:09 PM
Sunset over the Okavango
Arrived at our new lodge in the Okavango panhandle, Botswana, by boat
November 10, 2025 at 10:56 AM
Arrived at our new lodge in the Okavango panhandle, Botswana, by boat
Took a boat across the river for a morning game drive, lots of birds & different antelope species including this bushbuck, plus a pair of lions
November 9, 2025 at 11:09 AM
Took a boat across the river for a morning game drive, lots of birds & different antelope species including this bushbuck, plus a pair of lions
The rains have come early this year, so local people are happy and everywhere is very green but we’ve had a couple of wet boat trips!
November 9, 2025 at 5:59 AM
The rains have come early this year, so local people are happy and everywhere is very green but we’ve had a couple of wet boat trips!
Now on the banks of the Okavango but still in Namibia. Accommodation is a bit of a come down, tired & scruffy, but the location is great. A pair of wood owls, lots of babblers, woodland kingfisher, by my tent instead of an alarm
November 9, 2025 at 5:14 AM
Now on the banks of the Okavango but still in Namibia. Accommodation is a bit of a come down, tired & scruffy, but the location is great. A pair of wood owls, lots of babblers, woodland kingfisher, by my tent instead of an alarm
Pre-breakfast boat trip on the Zambezi to see a colony of southern carmine bee-eaters - unlike other bee-eaters they make vertical burrows in the sand, we watched this huge colony for over an hour, with kites, African marsh harrier & hamerkop in close attendance
November 7, 2025 at 9:01 AM
Pre-breakfast boat trip on the Zambezi to see a colony of southern carmine bee-eaters - unlike other bee-eaters they make vertical burrows in the sand, we watched this huge colony for over an hour, with kites, African marsh harrier & hamerkop in close attendance
Arrived at our new lodge now in Namibia, on the Zambezi again, by boat. Very swish prefab “cabins”, excellently equipped, fresh ground coffee. Skimmers, fish eagle & carmine bee-eaters from my terrace
November 6, 2025 at 8:06 PM
Arrived at our new lodge now in Namibia, on the Zambezi again, by boat. Very swish prefab “cabins”, excellently equipped, fresh ground coffee. Skimmers, fish eagle & carmine bee-eaters from my terrace
4 countries in 24 hours! Day trip from Zimbabwe to Zambia yesterday, to see the other side of the Falls, lunch here in Botswana on the Chobe river, then we go into Namibia’s Caprivi strip where we stay for a few days
November 6, 2025 at 10:30 AM
4 countries in 24 hours! Day trip from Zimbabwe to Zambia yesterday, to see the other side of the Falls, lunch here in Botswana on the Chobe river, then we go into Namibia’s Caprivi strip where we stay for a few days
Late afternoon boat trip on the #Zambezi, highlights (apart from unlimited booze & snacks) were great views of African skimmers & rock pratincoles, and a herd of elephants walking then swimming across the river. Despite threatening, weather stayed dry
November 5, 2025 at 5:27 PM
Late afternoon boat trip on the #Zambezi, highlights (apart from unlimited booze & snacks) were great views of African skimmers & rock pratincoles, and a herd of elephants walking then swimming across the river. Despite threatening, weather stayed dry
Visited the Zambia side of Mosi oa tunya (Victoria falls), low water levels, despite torrential rain yesterday, meant there was less to see (in April or May it would have been a wall of water), except for the view along the gorge that the river falls into
November 5, 2025 at 5:20 PM
Visited the Zambia side of Mosi oa tunya (Victoria falls), low water levels, despite torrential rain yesterday, meant there was less to see (in April or May it would have been a wall of water), except for the view along the gorge that the river falls into
Very good lunch out, on the river a short way above the Falls (beetroot, orange & ginger gazpacho, melon & feta salad with Zambezi shandy (grenadine, orange, soda, bitters)). Birded in comfort from the terrace, as the weather began to close in. Arrived back at hotel in tropical thunderstorm!
November 4, 2025 at 3:07 PM
Very good lunch out, on the river a short way above the Falls (beetroot, orange & ginger gazpacho, melon & feta salad with Zambezi shandy (grenadine, orange, soda, bitters)). Birded in comfort from the terrace, as the weather began to close in. Arrived back at hotel in tropical thunderstorm!
Mosi oa tunya (“the smoke that thunders” in the local Lozi language aka #VictoriaFalls) from the #Zimbabwe side. It’s the lowest water season so we didn’t get drenched but the central section was still impressive! Lots of birds too - Schalow’s turaco, bearded scrub-robin, tropical boubou
November 4, 2025 at 3:03 PM
Mosi oa tunya (“the smoke that thunders” in the local Lozi language aka #VictoriaFalls) from the #Zimbabwe side. It’s the lowest water season so we didn’t get drenched but the central section was still impressive! Lots of birds too - Schalow’s turaco, bearded scrub-robin, tropical boubou
Peter’s epauletted fruit bats roosting under the thatched eaves of one of the buildings at our lodge near Victoria Falls. Watched them feeding on nectar from “sausage tree” (Kigelia) flowers last night 🦇
November 4, 2025 at 6:47 AM
Peter’s epauletted fruit bats roosting under the thatched eaves of one of the buildings at our lodge near Victoria Falls. Watched them feeding on nectar from “sausage tree” (Kigelia) flowers last night 🦇
Reposted by Rose-Ann
The ‘pay-to-destroy' Bill, also known as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, returns to @houseoflords.parliament.uk today. The Bill ignores and disregards the need for evidence and will not benefit the economy, our natural heritage or society. Updated briefing here www.bats.org.uk/our-work/bio...
October 20, 2025 at 9:34 AM
The ‘pay-to-destroy' Bill, also known as the Planning and Infrastructure Bill, returns to @houseoflords.parliament.uk today. The Bill ignores and disregards the need for evidence and will not benefit the economy, our natural heritage or society. Updated briefing here www.bats.org.uk/our-work/bio...
@reading-buses.co.uk A no. 21 & a no. 20 have just gone past the Market Place bus stop without stopping evening though there were about 20 people waiting. There’s a sign saying it’s closed tomorrow but why aren’t they stopping today???
October 1, 2025 at 3:42 PM
@reading-buses.co.uk A no. 21 & a no. 20 have just gone past the Market Place bus stop without stopping evening though there were about 20 people waiting. There’s a sign saying it’s closed tomorrow but why aren’t they stopping today???
@norcrosscricket.bsky.social A view of Guwahati from hotel last year prior to visiting Bhutan (photo of Punakha dzong), probably my favourite country in the world. Listening to commentary on my volunteer stint at the sunny Museum of English Rural Life, Reading
September 30, 2025 at 10:12 AM
@norcrosscricket.bsky.social A view of Guwahati from hotel last year prior to visiting Bhutan (photo of Punakha dzong), probably my favourite country in the world. Listening to commentary on my volunteer stint at the sunny Museum of English Rural Life, Reading
Views towards Hay bluff & the Black Mountain from Hergest Ridge
September 24, 2025 at 2:48 PM
Views towards Hay bluff & the Black Mountain from Hergest Ridge
Glorious walk round @nationaltrust.org.uk Croft woods & parkland in north Herefordshire, starting to look quite autumnal
September 22, 2025 at 4:18 PM
Glorious walk round @nationaltrust.org.uk Croft woods & parkland in north Herefordshire, starting to look quite autumnal
Encouraging use of drone technology for bat surveys of complex buildings, lots of safety considerations but revealing results #NatBatConf
September 7, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Encouraging use of drone technology for bat surveys of complex buildings, lots of safety considerations but revealing results #NatBatConf
Reposted by Rose-Ann
20% of the world’s plant biodiversity is only found on islands. The proportion is even higher for reptiles and bats. #NatBatConf @batconservation.bsky.social
September 6, 2025 at 9:16 AM
20% of the world’s plant biodiversity is only found on islands. The proportion is even higher for reptiles and bats. #NatBatConf @batconservation.bsky.social