The Magic of The Nile

May 2008 - The River Nile

5.30am and the sundeck and Nile await, bleary eyed I make my way up onto the sundeck for my first views of this amazing river!
At this time of morning there is no sign of the searing heat to come later in the day, and it is very pleasant and peaceful and as I peer over the boat I catch a glimpse of an unmistakable Pied Kingfisher flying in to land on the boat & display with a flurry of bill pointing and tail flicking towards the single banded female.
This is a Lifer for me and the first bird seen of the trip, little was I to know this is one of the most frequent and classic sights of the Nile. During the next hour I watch in awe as around 500 Cattle Egrets, 200 Squacco Heron, 150 Little Egret, 6 Purple Heron and 5 Night Herons make their way from the night time roosts to the feeding grounds!
Before breakfast things get even better with a Striated Heron slowly flying by and then the monster tick of the trip a Goliath Heron with its grey wings, chestnut slim neck and bulky head making its way to a small spit before landing to feed.
Heading back to the cabin Hoopoe & Laughing Dove are the supporting cast!
So with full belly's we head off to Luxor Temple, which is stunning and gives a real taster to the history of ancient Egypt. I of course wonder off to watch African Rock Martins whizzing past the monuments and avoiding a low flying Black Kite!
At Karnack Temple we are even more impressed and the colours on the stone are a real eye opener, they couldn't however compete with the emerald green of the aptly named Little Green Bee-eaters which showed well flashing their orange wings.
The heat sees us happy to return to the boat for the hottest part of the day, and as we walk along the garden of the docking yard a gorgeous sweet song belongs to a Nile Valley Sunbird, simply stunning in it’s radiant colour scheme. Nearby a Graceful Warbler is always on the move, in and out of the vegetation.
After lunch, coffee and cakes, we take a cab with what can just about be described as a car to Crocodile Island.
It is here that we spend 2 hours along a small inlet by the bridge and enjoy the most spectacular time.
Up to 6 Senegal Thick Knees are showing down to feet , with even bigger bills and mad starring eyes to that of Stone Curlews and a fish eagles call! They are sharing the lawns with Spur Winged Plovers which are just lovely.
The river is full of the by now usual herons & egrets, and two very close Purple Gallinules with green backs, which are vying for attention with beautiful White Winged Black & Whisked Terns.
The wires are tinging to the sound of bugs being bashed by European, Little Green & Gordy Blue Cheeked Bee-eaters, the later as good as it gets!
They are spooked by a Black Shouldered Kite, which is over looking the fields which hold Masked Shrike, Olivacious Warbler, Hoopoe, Pallid Swift , Red Rumped Swallow & common bulbul!
Lastly a Stunning Glamorous Reed Warbler sings it heart out in a small reed bed. A fitting finish the day!