Joerl Travels
Grading: 1 - 4 Turkeys 
( 4 = Hot, sunny tropical climate. Humid. Mountain climbing. Beer only in the evening. )
Joerl Travels is a witty name of a group of hardcore birders from Sweden going on private birding trips.
Download trip reports in pdf-format with species lists and logistics info. Check the info on planning different trips on the web sites for respective trips. Look at photo galleries from the trips. Some other trips are also listed; smaller groups or single person trips.
Birding trips with Erling Jirle and co-travellers; Joerl Travels
Bolivia, 15 Nov – 9 dec 2024 Photo gallery from the trip (196 photos on nature and organisms, no bird photos yet)
Custom Bolivia tour organized by Bird Bolivia.
Tour leader: Sandro Valdez, excellent Bolivian guide from the Amazon village San José de Uchupiamonas.
4WD bus driver and cook: Herman Lijeron.
Participants: Erling Jirle, Nils Kjellén, Bengt Grandin and Bengt-Eric Sjölinder.
About 560 bird species recorded in 22 birding days.
Short tour description and general info by Bird Bolivia
Banda Sea Cruise, Indonesia with Birdtour Asia, 5 – 25 Oct 2023
Tour leader: James Eaton. Participants from the Joerl team: Erling Jirle and Bengt-Eric Sjölinder.
256 bird species recorded in 17 birding days. Erling and Bengt-Eric also started with 2 days in Bali with a private guide; Hery Kusumanegaara, 6–7 Oct to get some Bali targets missed at previous visits.
Tour description by Birdtour Asia No trip report.
Western India, 27 Jan – 14 Feb 2023.
Punjab, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Maharashtra with Birdtour Asia.
Tour leader: Mike Nelson. Local excellent guide: Ghani Singh. Participants: Erling Jirle, Bengt-Eric Sjölinder, Nils Kjellén plus 4 Brits.
Tour description by Birdtour Asia 328 bird species recorded in 18 birding days. No trip report.
NE Brazil, 9 Jan – 2 Feb 2020
Special tour organized by Brazil Birding Experts to 5 states in Northeastern Brazil, especially caatinga areas.
Tour leader: Eduardo Patrial. Guide #2: Felipe Arantes.
Only Swedish participants: Erling Jirle, Nils Kjellén, Bengt Grandin, Arne Holgersson, Mathias Bergström and
Christian Cederroth.
Total distance traveled: ≈ 6700 km with 2WD Jeep Compass and Renault Duster + some local driving with other 4WD.
Detailed tour description Trip report (Jirle) 533 bird species recorded in 22 birding days.
Vietnam, 9 March – 2 April 2019
Special tour organized by Vietnam Wildtour.
Participants from the Joerl Team: Erling Jirle, Nils Kjellén, Bengt Grandin and Bengt-Eric Sjölinder.
Detailed tour description (Vietnam Wildtour) Trip report (Jirle) 398 bird species recorded in 22 birding days.
North Island, New Zealand, 7 – 23 Feb 2019
Conference trip to Goat Island + 6 days private extension to Tiritiri Matangi Island, Miranda and Auckland. 88 bird species including 3 new bird families.
Nova Scotia, Canada, 17 – 24 May 2018
Private trip to visit my dear friend Nicoletta Faraone in Kentville, Nova Scota. 61 bird species.
Guyana, 8 – 23 Feb 2018
Special tour organized by Ron Alicock Birding Tours, Guyana. 6 Swedish participants: Erling Jirle, Bengt-Eric Sjölinder, Nils Kjellén, Bengt Grandin, Calle Sjölund and Christian Cederroth. Tour leader: Leon Moore.
Detailed tour description (Alicock). Full report with diary and species list (Jirle). 438 bird species recorded in 15 birding days.
Papua New Guinea 3 – 20 July 2017 + extension to New Britain
Rockjumper Trip. All ten participants are Swedes: Anderson, Elleström, Grandin, Holgersson, Johansson, Jirle, Kjellén, Lander, Lundquist and Sjölinder
Tour Leaders: Adam Walleyn and Gareth Robbins
Trip description. 370 bird species recorded on the main island.
Zimbabwe 28 Feb – 11 March 2017
Fieldwork trip with Marcus Stensmyr and Souzan Mansourian to Matobo National Park.
Panama 3 – 22 Feb 2017
A trip covering most of Panama, including Darien Gap. Organized by Birding Panama. Team: Bengt-Eric Sjölinder, Erling Jirle, Nils Kjellén and Anders Lundquist. Guide: Euclides "Kilo" Campos.
Download full report (pdf, 283 kB). 582 bird species recorded.
Pantanal, Brazil 9 – 14 July 2016
A private trip to Pantanal in combination with a conference trip to Iguaçu Falls. With C. Löfstedt and K. Haara. Guide: Ricardo Parrini.
Download full report (pdf, 565 kB). 220 bird species recorded.
Cuba, 2 – 15 Dec 2015
The first Heliangelus trip to Cuba. Participants from the Joerl team: Erling Jirle and Nils Kjellén. Tour leader: John Kvarnbäck.
Download full report (pdf, 1,2 MB. Trip description and daily log in Swedish, but the checklist is in English. 173 bird species recorded.)
Bali, Oct 2015.
Traveller: Erling Jirle. 81 bird species recorded.
Zambia Nov 2014
Fieldwork trip with Marcus Stensmyr and Souzan Mansourian to Kafue National Park.
Download list (pdf, 108 kB. Trip report generated via iGoTerra: Birdlist and mammals list)
Madagascar, 9 Oct – 5 Nov 2014
Heliangelus trip with pre-trip extension in NW Madagascar and post-trip extension to NE Madacascar including Masoala NP. 195 bird species, 30 mammals, 12 herptiles.
Lodging Trip map (Pdf; 820 kb); Heliangelus trip description (in Swedish)
Corse, France. April 2014
Mufflon team: Erling Jirle, Nils Kjellén, Elsy-Britt Schildt, C-G Dahl and Katarina Hedlund.
Ghana, 25 Nov – 16 Dec 2013
Ghana Mega special trip organized by Rockjumper for a Joerl Travels group consisting of Erling Jirle, Bengt-Eric Sjölinder, Nils Kjellén, Bengt Grandin, Kristian Svensson, Urban Toresson & Anders Lundquist. Tour leader: David Hoddinott.
Trip webpage (mainly in Swedish)
WPO; Western Pacific Oddyssey, March – April 2013
Seabird, whales and island endemics cruise from Christchurch (South Island, New Zealand) 25 March via Norfolk Island (AUS) – New Caledonia (F) – Rennell, Makira, Guadalcanal and Kolombangara (Solomon Islands) – Bouganville and New Ireland (Papua New Guinea) arriving in Kavieng (New Ireland, PNG) 12 April. This was a shorter WPO than originally stated; NZ–Japan, 30 days. But there was a 4 day extension with birding on New Ireland 13–16 April, staying at a lodge by the beach; Rubio Plantation. And before WPO started there I spent 5 days with relaxed private birding on the South Island of New Zealand, 56 species and several new bird families.
Heritage Expeditions trip description with Captains log and more.
Cruise team in the triple cabin: Erling Jirle, Teet Sirotkin and Graham Speight. Ship: Spirit of Enderby, Heritage Expeditions. Tour leader WPO + extension: Chris Collins, WildWings.
Borneo, March – April 2012 (Mainly Sabah, but also one reserve in Sarawak) trip web site
Joerl Travels team: Erling Jirle, Joakim Johansson, Nils Kjellén, Bengt-Eric Sjölinder, Erik Törnvall and Tunyapat "Gobben" Pinwanichkul. Main organizer: Bengt-Eric Sjölinder.
Trip report generated via iGoTerra: Birdlist (356 species) and Mammals (38 species): Download list (pdf, 180 kB)
Colombia, 22 Feb – 19 March 2011 Photo gallery from the trip (400 photos) 
Joerl Travels team: Ola Elleström, Erling Jirle, Joakim Johansson, Nils Kjellén and Bengt-Eric Sjölinder. Organizer and tour leader: Samuel Hansson, Heliangelus. In total: 655 species (53+ endemics).
Lesser Antilles (Martinique, Dominica, Guadeloupe), West Indies, Dec 2010 Photo gallery from the trip (233 photos) 
Traveller: Erling Jirle. Download short travel report (pdf, 100 KB)
Uganda/Rwanda, Feb 2009 trip web site
Trip report content:
Participants and tasks, Bird statistics, Costs, References, Travel Diary. Bird list: 655 species recorded in total; 288 non-passerines and 367 passerines. 639 species in Uganda and 253 species in Rwanda. Ugandan endemics: 1 (there is only one true endemic species, Fox’s Weaver) Albertine Rift endemics: 22. Birding days: 25 (4 1/2 of them in Rwanda)., Mammal list, Herptile list, Amphibians. 59 pages.
Joerl Travels Team: Erling Jirle, Ola Elleström, Joakim Johansson, Nils Kjellén, Jonas Rosquist and Bengt-Eric Sjölinder. Organizer and tour leader: Alfred Twinomujuni.
Oman, Nov – Dec 2008 Trip web site
Team: Erling Jirle, Nils Kjellén and Elsy-Britt Schildt.
Ecuador, Feb 2008 Trip web site
Trip report content:
Participants and tasks, Bird statistics, Costs, Flights, Time zones, Equipment, Photographer, References, Itinerary and Diary. Bird list: 861 species in 24 days (857 species in Ecuador, 4 species on Bonaire. 2 Ecuador endemics and 52 Chocó endemics), Mammal list, Herptil list. 70 pages, with photos.
Joerl Travels Team: Erling Jirle, Ola Elleström, Joakim Johansson, Nils Kjellén, Bengt-Eric Sjölinder, and Erik Törnvall. Organizer: Andean Birding, Quito. Tour leader: Boris Herrera.
Eastern Texas, Baja California and Pacific Mexico, March 2007 Trip web site
Trip report content:
Participants and tasks, Birds, Money, Time zones, Food and drinks, Hotels, Flights, Rented cars, Boat trips, Miscellaneous, Itinerary, References. Bird list: 469 species in 22 days (397 species in Mexico, 185 species in Texas), Mammal list, Herptil list, Fish list, Butterfly list. 52 pages, with photos.
Joerl Travels Team: Erling Jirle, Joakim Johansson, Nils Kjellén abd Bengt-Eric Sjölinder.
The Philippines, March – April 2006 Trip web site
Trip report content:
Map, Logistics, Participants, Recorded species and bird statistics, Web site, References, Some practical tips, Team photo, Itinerary, Travel diary, Bird list: 352 species in 27 birding days (150 endemics and 4 near-endemics), Mammals and other animals. 46 pages, with photos. Compare with endemics per country list !
Joerl Travels Team: 7 Swedes. Organizer and tour leader: Tim Fisher.
Venezuela, Feb 2005
Trip web site
Trip report content:
Facts about the country, Participants and tasks, Bird statistics, Money, Trip costs, Flights, Cars, Accomodation, Equipment, References, Contacts, Itinerary. Travel diary with locality descriptions and logbook. Bird list: 653 species in 24 days (Highest number in any Venezuela report, sofar..), Mammal list, Herptil list. 63 pages.
Joerl Travels Team: 7 Swedes.
Argentina, Feb – March 2004 Trip web site
Trip report content:
Participants and tasks, Bird statistics, Dip list, Money, Food and drinks, Hotels, Flights, Rented cars, Boat trip, Miscellaneous, Itinerary with travel diary, Localities, References. Bird list: 484 species in 23 birding days, Mammal list, Herptil list. 60 pages.
Joerl Travels Team: Erling Jirle, Ola Elleström, Claes Engelbrecht, Joakim Johansson, Johan Lorentzon and Bengt-Eric Sjölinder.
Cameroon, March – April 2003 Trip web site
Trip report content:
Map, Facts about the country, Climate, Participants and tasks, Birds, Money, Trip costs, Flights, Cars, Accomodation, Equipment, References, Contacts, Itinerary. Travel diary with locality descriptions and logbook. Bird list: 591 species (Highest number in any report, sofar..)
Joerl Travels Team: 9 Swedes.
Peru, Feb 2000 Photo gallery from the trip (61 photos) 
Trip report content:
Participants and tasks, Photographs, Bird statistics, Costs, Flights, References, Links, Itinerary and Diary. Bird list: 802 species in 23 days (32 Peruvian endemics and 6 near-endemics), Mammal list, Herptil list. 75 pages, with photos.
Joerl Travels Team: Erling Jirle, Bengt-Eric Sjölinder, Joakim Johansson, Nils Kjellén, Claes Engelbrecht and Per Ålind.
South Africa and Namibia. A Birding Tour. 4 Nov – 12 Dec 1996
Trip report content:
Introduction, Participants, Numbers of recorded species, The dip list, IUCN list of threatened birds, Facts about the countries, Useful words in Afrikaans, Car hire and traffic, Accomodation, Food, Liquid, Money, Economy, Bird guides, Contacts, Route map, Itinerary, Nature, References, Birding sites (14 pp.)
Bird list (637 species, 37 pp.) Mammal list (78 species, 5 pp.) Herptile list (51 species, 4 pp.) Footnotes. 75 pages (A5 format in printed version)
The first trip with the Joerl Travels Team: Erling Jirle, Joakim Johansson, Nils Kjellén, Bengt-Eric Sjölinder and Per Ålind. All from Sweden.
Costa Rica, 16 Feb – 16 March 1993. En skådarresa
Trip report content:
(in Swedish). 36 pp, Intro, Sites, Bird list: 504 species. Team: Erling Jirle and Nils Kjellén.
Australia. A birding tour Dec 1989 – Jan 1990
Trip report content:
56 pp, Intro, Sites, Bird list: 513 species.Team: Erling Jirle and Nils Kjellén.
A birdwatching tour to China, Hong Kong and The Philippines 15 Feb – 3 May 1987
Trip report content:
48 pp, maps, visit to Sinkiang, Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan and eastern China, Hong Kong, Quezon, Bird list: 554 species. Team: Erling Jirle and Nils Kjellén.
Gambia Nov – Dec 1976
Team: Erling Jirle and Nils Kjellén (3 weeks), Olof Persson (2 weeks). Travel report in Swedish.
No separate travel report or website:
Chile/Bolivia Oct 2011 (work trip with C. Löfstedt and J.-M. Lassance)
Goa, India 2006 (E. Jirle and Kristina Bjureke)
Dominican Republic 2005 (E. Jirle and Kristina Bjureke)
Morocco 2004 (E. Jirle and Kristina Bjureke)
Tenerife (Canary Islands, Spain) 2002 (E. Jirle)
USA 2002 – 4 weeks (E. Jirle)
Brazil 2000 (work trip; Conference in Igauaçu, and 1 day in Itatiaia NP)
South Africa 1999 (E. Jirle and the Romberg family)
Assam and Arunachal Pradesh (India) 1994 (Regulus Travel). Only printed travel report available.
Florida 1993 (E. Jirle)
Kenya. 5 trips 1990–1992 (5-6 weeks each, work trips)
Iceland 1989 (E. Jirle and Rut Bjarnadottír)
Eilat 28 Feb–29 April 1985 (E. Jirle and Nils Kjellén)
South Asia Jan–April 1981 (100 days) (Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, India, Nepal) (E. Jirle, Nils Kjellén et al.). Only printed travel report available.
Finland and Varanger (Norway) 1979 (E. Jirle, N. Kjellén, T. Gunnarsson and E. Hansen)
Tunisia 1978 (Skånes FB)
Western Europe (4 weeks Interrailing in 12 countries) 1977 (E. Jirle)
Runde, Norway 1973 (Skånes FB)
BACK TILLBAKA
Page created 25 November 1998. Updated 21 December 2024.
J.T. CEO: Erling Jirle, Måsvägen 10 B, 227 33 Lund, Sweden. e-mail homepage
marks that all birdspecies and subspecies from the trip are added in the iGoTerra (former Globaltwitcher) database.
