eastern south africa and swaziland · 2014-01-22 · eastern south africa and swaziland 4th - 16th...

Eastern South Africa and

Swaziland

4th - 16th March 2012

Trip Report

Above: Crested Guineafowl, Mkuze Game Reserve.

Lawson’s Birding, Wildlife and Custom Safaris

P O Box 16849

West Acres, Nelspruit

Mpumalanga, South Africa 1211 Tel : +27 13 741 2458

Email : [email protected]

Web : www.lawsons-africa.co.za

Lawson’s Birding, Wildlife and Custom Safaris; www.lawsons-africa.co.za; [email protected] 2

Tour Summary

Tour Participants: Margaret Alderson John Brown

Jean Bruckshaw

Claire Joures Sheila Kilduff

Brian Lythgoe

Diana Oldfield

Tony O Neil

Judith Rees

Martin Tavnton

Brenda Webb Janet Welsh

Tour Leaders: Leon Marais and Nic Squires.

Photo acknowledgements: Leon Marais.

Temperature Range: 12 - 33°C.

Total Birds Seen: 339.

Total Mammals Seen: 37.

Top birds: Southern Bald Ibis, Secretarybird, Jackal Buzzard, Taita Falcon, Blue Crane, African Finfoot, Blue

Korhaan, Knysna Turaco, Southern Ground Hornbill, Blue Swallow, Yellow-breasted Pipit, Gurney’s Sugarbird.

Trip Report Compiled By: Leon Marais

Note:

The species mentioned in the report are only some of the species seen at each locality. Please refer to

detailed checklists at end of the report for all species seen on this specific tour.

Below: Birding the Wakkerstroom back country.


Trip Breakdown Day 1: Sunday 4th March 2012 ~ Dullstroom. We kicked off the safari relatively late after the 09h00 flight arrival in Johannesburg from Manchester via Dohar. After boarding the vehicles and getting ourselves sorted out we headed out of the city and into Western Mpumalanga Province, with a couple of stops at good waterbird spots along the way. Groenfontein, a small water-filled depression (known locally as a ‘pan’) was particularly productive, with species such as White-backed Duck, Maccoa Duck, Yellow-billed Duck, Southern Pochard, Great Crested Grebe, African Snipe, Glossy Ibis, Grey-headed Gull, Black-headed Heron and Black-winged Stilt recorded. We then pushed through to a lunch stop, and continued towards Dullstroom. After passing through the small town of Belfast we took a back-road detour to Dullstroom, which took up most of the afternoon and produced some decent birds such as Malachite Sunbird, Malachite Kingfisher, Diedric Cuckoo, White-throated Swallow, Mountain Wheatear, Ant-eating Chat, Cape Longclaw, Amur Falcon (in large numbers), Steppe Buzzard, Denham's Bustard and Grey Crowned Crane, among others. We ended up in town in the late afternoon and had a little time to settle in before a festive first dinner at Fib's Restaurant, with the Malva Pudding being one of the culinary highlights of the tour. Route: Johannesburg to Dullstroom. Weather: Warm and partly cloudy. Temperature range: 15 - 27°C. Birds seen: 69. Bird of the day: Malachite Sunbird. Day 2: Monday 5th March 2012 ~ Dullstroom With an early start on a fine clear morning we left Dullstroom and headed up the De Berg Road into the high grassy plateau of the Veloren Valei Nature Reserve, birding all the way. It was a gloriously sunny morning with lots of bird activity, culminating in a wonderful coffee stop (left) at

over 2000 meters-above-sea-level in the reserve, during which we were serenaded by a confiding Yellow-breasted Pipit. Other birds seen during the morning included Blue Crane, Yellow Bishop, African Wattled Lapwing, African Fish Eagle, Jackal Buzzard, Long-crested Eagle, Cape Vulture, Sentinel Rock-Thrush, Buff-streaked Chat, Cape Longclaw, Pied Starling, Grey-winged Francolin and African Olive Pigeon,

among others. We then headed back down to town for breakfast at Harry's Pancakes, followed by a break before a long afternoon route via Tonteldoos and back via the De Berg Road. Birds seen for the afternoon included Denham’s Bustard, Secretarybird, Wattled Crane (one vehicle only), Grey Crowned Crane, Purple Heron, Hamerkop, Spur-winged Goose, Black-chested Snake-Eagle, Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk, European Bee-eater, Black-collared Barbet, Bokmakierie and others.

We arrived back in town in the early evening and had a little time to get ready before dinner at Plat De Jour, where the meal was good but the Malva Pudding not quite up to Fib’s standard. Route: Veloren Valei / Steenkampsberg in the morning and Tonteldoos Loop in the afternoon. Weather: Clear to start, clouding over in the late afternoon. Temperature range: 13 - 25°C. Birds seen: 79. Bird of the day: Yellow-breasted Pipit.


Day 3: Tuesday 6th March 2012 ~ Blyde River Canyon With a very early start we left Dullstroom with our luggage and headed on through Lydenberg to Mount Sheba, which was under a heavy mist layer, though we did manage to get some good views of the endemic Gurney’s Sugarbird and a family of Red-necked Spurfowl on the way down to the hotel. Visibility was extremely poor so we opted for breakfast first and birding later. The mist eventually began to lift and by the time we left we had some great birds on the list, such as Lemon Dove, Knysna Turaco, Grey Cuckooshrike, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, White-starred Robin, Bar-throated Apalis, Drakensberg Prinia, Cape Batis and others. On the way back to the main road we stopped at a flowering Protea for better views of the Gurney’s Sugarbirds and some Wailing Cisticolas in the grass. We then headed down to the historical gold mining town of Pilgrim’s Rest for a lunch break before continuing along the Vaalhoek Road through to the Blyde River Canyon,

where we had a well-earned rest before heading up to the Upper View Site for a spot of raptor-watching before getting ready for dinner. The weather was not too good however, with a heavy cloud layer and strong wind blowing, though we did manage to record Black Sarrowhawk to help us in our goal of beating the previous record of 32 raptor species. Later in the evening we met for a good buffet dinner at the restaurant, with pretty good Malva Pudding to end with. Route: Dullstroom to Mount Sheba and the Blyde River Canyon. Weather: Cool and misty to start, clearing slightly in the afternoon. Temperature range: 12 - 25°C. Birds seen: 65. Bird of the day: Gurney’s Sugarbird. Day 4: Wednesday 7th March 2012 ~ Satara Rest Camp After a 05h45 meet up for coffee, under leaden, heavy skies, we headed out on a birding walk down to the Lower View point. Things started off slowly but soon gathered momentum and we ended the walk with a fine brace of birds such as African Black Duck, Trumpeter Hornbill, Black Cuckooshrike, Kurrichane Thrush, Mocking Cliff-Chat, White-throated Robin-Chat, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Long-billed Crombec, Green-backed Cameroptera, Black-backed Puffback and Collared Sunbird, among others. We ended up at the restaurant for breakfast and then packed and headed up to the Three Rondavels view site before continuing on up the Abel Erasmus Pass to meet with Michael at the Taita Falcon eyrie. We got superb views of the Falcons, one of which was chasing Speckled Pigeons, and then continued down to Orpen Gate. After a drinks and snack break we headed into the Kruger and birded our way to camp, with massive numbers of new species on the way. We arrived in the early evening and had time to settle in before dinner. New species seen included Tawny and Wahlberg’s Eagles, Brown Snake-Eagle, Bateleur, African Harrier-Hawk, Red-crested Korhaan, Senegal Lapwing, Grey Go-away Bird, Jacobin Cuckoo, Burchell’s Coucal, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Woodland Kingfisher, Southern Carmine Bee-eater, Lilac-breasted Roller (this bird ending a 50 year wait for Tony!), Green Wood-hoopoe, Red-billed, Southern Yellow-billed and Grey Hornbills, Monotonous Lark, Marico Flycatcher, Lesser Grey, Red-backed, Southern White-crowned and Magpie Shrikes, Burchell’s Starling, Red-billed Oxpecker, Marico Sunbird, Blue Waxbill, Long-tailed Paradise Whydah and others. We also racked up some nice mammals, such as African Elephant, Southern Giraffe, Cape Buffalo, Kudu, Blue Wildebeest and Burchell’s Zebra. We ended up in camp in the late afternoon and had a little time to settle in before dinner in the restaurant. Route: Blyde River Canyon to Satara. Weather: Cool to start, warming up in the Kruger National Park. Temperature range: 14 - 30°C. Birds seen: 112. Bird of the day: Taita Falcon.


Day 5: Thursday 8th March 2012 ~ Satara Rest Camp Raptor quest! After meeting up for coffee at 05h15 we left camp in the vehicles and headed north-east into the Mavumbye Plains (below right), a region of productive grasslands on the Basalt Soils. Our target birds of Common Ostrich, Kori Bustard and Chestnut-Backed Sparrowlark were seen, as well as numerous other species and incredible numbers of certain birds such as Red-billed Quealea and Wattled Starling. We could hear the chirping of hundreds of thousands of chicks in a massive Quealea colony some distance off to the south of the S90 dirt road, over which was the most

incredible congregation of eagles - most probably Lesser-spotted (identified in flight), Steppe and Tawny Eagles, perhaps several hundred birds in total and truly something to behold. Other species for the morning included White Stork, Hooded Vulture, Gabar Goshawk, Lesser Kestrel, Black Crake, Kori Bustard, Namaqua Dove, Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, Purple Roller, Rufous-naped and Sabota Larks, Yellow-throated Longclaw, Black-crowned Tchagra and others. We made our way back to camp, where we had breakfast before a quick walk to see a resident African Scops Owl. We then had time off to rest before an afternoon drive along the S100, which produced some good general game sightings, followed by a sunset drive with the National Park’s guide which produced Spotted Thick-knee, Bronze-winged Courser and three species of nightjar (European, Fiery-necked and Square-tailed) as new records. Route: Various routes in the Satara region. Weather: Warm to hot. Temperature range: 17 - 31°C. Birds seen: 83. Bird of the day: Kori Bustard. Day 6: Friday 9th March 2012 ~ Skukuza Rest Camp After an early cup of coffee and a home-baked rusk we headed out on our morning safari, heading northwards once again into the plains in search of Harriers and Secretarybird. The latter Nic and I had found on a nest while the group was out on the sunset drive the previous evening and we found the pair atop a flat thorn tree awaiting the warmth of the rising sun. Other species seen during the morning included Hooded, Lappet-faced, White-headed and White-backed Vultures at a kill scene, Kori Bustard, Montague's Harrier, African Hawk-Eagle and others. We then made our way back to camp for breakfast. We did our bird list for the previous day and then packed and left for Skukuza, the journey being very eventful and taking up most of the day. Highlights included a pair of male Cheetah crossing the road in front of us, Black Cuckoo, Pygmy Goose, Allen’s Gallinule, African Jacana and Martial Eagle. We arrived in camp in the afternoon and had a well deserved rest before a short walk in the camp grounds which produced White-browed Robin-Chat, Black-headed Oriole, African Goshawk, Black-collared Barbet, African Palm-Swift, African Paradise Flycatcher and others. We then had time to get ready before a wonderful dinner at the Selati Train Restaurant. Route: Various routes in the Satara region. Weather: Warm to hot. Temperature range: 17 - 32°C. Birds seen: 109. Bird of the day: Montagu’s Harrier.


Day 7: Saturday 10th March 2012 ~ Pretoriuskop Rest Camp Our morning at Skukuza started with the usual cup of coffee before a long drive down the Sabie River. It proved to be a productive morning, with some excellent additions to the trip list, the highlights of which were Broad-billed Roller, Retz's Helmet-Shrike, African Finfoot (right), Mosque Swallow and White-crowned Lapwing, among others. Back at Skukuza we had breakfast and hit the shops for Magnums before departing for Pretoriuskop. Not far out of camp we came across a pack of Wild Dogs asleep next to the road, much to the delight of Sheila, whose twenty-year dream was thus fulfilled. We then continued on to Pretoriuskop,

seeing birds such as Crested and Natal Francolins, Helmeted Guineafowl, Spotted Eagle-Owl, European Roller, Bearded Woodpecker, White-crested Helmet-Shrike and Cinnamon-breasted Bunting on the way. After arriving and checking in we had a short break followed by a walk around the camp which added two new birds to our list: Purple-crested Turaco and Yellow-throated Petronia. We then had some time to rest before meeting up for dinner in the camp’s restaurant. Route: Various routes in the Skukuza region. Weather: Warm to hot. Temperature range: 18 - 33°C. Birds seen: 88. Bird of the day: African Finfoot. Day 8: Sunday 11th March 2012 ~ Maguga Dam, Swaziland Our morning routine continued, with an early game drive around Pretoriuskop, which produced a few new birds, including Lizard Buzzard, which took us close to our benchmark of 32 raptor species. Back at camp we had breakfast and then left, driving all the way through the park to exit at Malelane Gate. The drive proved to be highly successful, producing Dark Canting Goshawk as our 32nd raptor species, Southern Ground Hornbill to close up a massive hole on our check list, and Leopard to give us the 'Magnificent Seven' in terms of the mammals. After lunch at Afsaal Picnic Site we headed out of the park and into Swaziland, arriving at our accommodation in the late afternoon. While getting to our rooms and sorting ourselves out our raptor list jumped to 33 with Erurasian Hobby seen overhead. We then had a wonderful Swazi buffet dinner, and retired in anticipation of a later start the following morning. Route: Pretoriuskop to Mguga Dam via Malelane Gate and Jeppe’s Reef Border Post. Weather: Warm to hot. Temperature range: 17 - 29°C. Birds seen: 78. Bird of the day: Dark Chanting Goshawk. Day 9: Monday 12th March 2012 ~ Mkuze Game Reserve. After eight days of early mornings we opted for a slightly later start, loading our bags at 06:45 and having a wonderful buffet breakfast at 07h00. We left Maguga Dam for Maloltja Nature Reserve not far away, where we did a bit of montane grassland birding, with the species component reminding us of Dullstroom. Top bird for the day was Blue Swallow, a pair of which was seen quartering low over the grasslands in typical fashion. We then left the reserve and drove down through Swaziland for a lunch break below the Lebombo Range at Nisela, where the Southern Red Bishops were still in breeding mode, before crossing back into South Africa and making our way to


Mkuze. We had a brief stop at the Emshopi Gate, where we saw Martial Eagle overhead, as well as Purple-crested Turaco and Southern Black Flycatcher, before making our way to Mantuma Camp, seeing no fewer than five White Rhino en-route. We finally got the safari tent allocation sorted out, and then headed over to the mess chalet for a great barbeque chicken dinner by Don and Mavourneen. Route: Maguga Dam to Mkuze Game Reserve via Lavumisa Border Post. Weather: Cool to start, warming up later in Mkuze. Temperature range: 12 – 33°C. Birds seen: 56. Bird of the day: Blue Swallow.

Day 10: Tuesday 13th March 2012 ~ Mkuze Game Reserve. After an early cup of coffee we left Mantuma Camp and headed out on a morning drive, ending up at Nsumo Pan (below right) for some scope birding, recording water-associated species such as Pink-backed Pelican, Yellow-billed Stork, African Openbill, White-breasted Cormorant, African Darter and Water Thick-knee. Terrestrial birds seen included Speckled and Red-faced Mousebirds, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, African Hoopoe, Common Scimitarbill, Pale Flycatcher, Violet-backed Starling and others. We then made our way back to camp for breakfast and list duties. Afterwards we had an hour-long walk around the camp, on which we netted four new species for the list (Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Yellow-rumped and Red-fronted Tinkerbirds and Rudd’s Apalis). We then had a short break before meeting for lunch at 13h00, when we saw a Crowned Eagle in display high above us as our 34th raptor species. It was then time for another break before an afternoon drive, which produced a few new species such as Gorgeous Bush-Shrike (only seen by Leon and Martin), Crested Guineafowl and Jameson’s Firefinch. We arrived back in camp in the late afternoon and then met up later for a fine steak dinner.

Route: Drives in Mkuze Game Reserve. Weather: Warm to hot. Temperature range: 17 – 31°C. Birds seen: 81. Bird of the day: Rudd’s Apalis. Day 11: Wednesday 14th March 2012 ~ Wakkerstroom. With a slight reprieve we met up for coffee at 05h25 before departing on an early morning drive, which unfortunately didn't produce too many new birds (despite much effort) but was nevertheless very enjoyable. We got back to camp and had breakfast, packed and departed for Wakkerstroom via Utrecht and Vryheid, the journey taking up most of the rest of the day. The last quarter was on back roads where the birding could continue, with a couple of new records and some old friends from the first couple of days seen again. Of particular enjoyment was a stop to scope out a large dam, with birds arriving in the late afternoon to settle down for the night, including South African Shelduck, Southern Bald Ibis, Sacred ibis and Cattle Egret, African Purple Swamphen and Red-knobbed Coot by the dozen. We arrived in town in the late afternoon and had time to settle in before dinner at the Wakkerstroom Country Inn.


Route: Mkuze to Wakkerstroom. Weather: Warm in Mkuze, cooling as we climbed to Wakkerstroom . Temperature range: 17 - 25°C. Birds seen: 84. Bird of the day: Crested Guineafowl. Day 12: Thursday 15th March 2012 ~ Wakkerstroom. With a 05h30 departure we left town on a long morning drive in the splendid Wakkerstroom countryside, with a coffee stop over a wide vista with plenty to seek out with our scopes. The route took us through to breakfast back at the inn at 10h00, where we ate, did our lists and then headed back out to scope out the wetland reserve for an hour or so, seeing some decent waterbirds. We

then had a rest through the mid day period before a long afternoon drive in search of new species, recording Pearl-breasted Swallow and Brown-throated Martin, and we nearrowly missed both Rock Pipit and Ground Woodpecker, both of which we could hear but not see! On the way back, under a gathering storm, we had one of the highlights of the tour, or for me anyway, in the form of a massive flock of untold numbers of Amur Falcons, perhaps gathering ahead of their imminent return to Asia. Back at the inn we had a great farewell dinner before a final day of travelling. Other new birds for the day included Blue Korhaan, Spike-heeled and Red-capped Larks, African Reed Warbler, Lesser Swamp-Wabler, Cape Weaver and African Quailfinch. Route: Routes in the Wakkerstroom district. Weather: Cool to warm. Temperature range: 12 - 24°C. Birds seen: 84. Bird of the day: Blue Korhaan. Day 13: Friday 16th March 2012 ~ Departure. There wasn’t much time for birding today, as we had to get to Johannesburg for a 13h30 flight departure, experiencing the only lousy weather of the tour on the way. We arrived a little late but still well in time for the check-in, where we said quick farewells to the group. Below: To see more photos visit the Lawson’s Flickr site:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/leonmars/sets/72157629678428489/

Bird List

(Note: birds listed were seen by the guide and at least one member of the tour)

COMMON NAME

4-M

ar-12

5-M

ar-12

6-M

ar-12

7-M

ar-12

8-M

ar-12

9-M

ar-12

10-M

ar-12

11-M

ar-12

12-M

ar-12

13-M

ar-12

14-M

ar-12

15-M

ar-12

16-M

ar-12

Total

SCIENTIFIC NAME

1 Common Ostrich X 1 Struthio camelus

6 Great Crested Grebe X 1 Podiceps cristatus

8 Little Grebe X X X 2 Tachybaptus ruficollis

50 Pink-backed Pelican X 1 Pelecanus rufescens

55 White-breasted Cormorant X X X X X 5 Phalacrocorax lucidus

58 Reed Cormorant X X X X X 5 Phalacrocorax africanus

60 African Darter X X X 3 Anhinga rufa

62 Grey Heron X X X 3 Ardea cinerea

63 Black-headed Heron X X X X 4 Ardea melanocephala

64 Goliath Heron X X X 3 Ardea goliath

65 Purple Heron X X 2 Ardea purpurea


COMMON NAME

4-M

ar-12

5-M

ar-12

6-M

ar-12

7-M

ar-12

8-M

ar-12

9-M

ar-12

10-M

ar-12

11-M

ar-12

12-M

ar-12

13-M

ar-12

14-M

ar-12

15-M

ar-12

16-M

ar-12

Total

SCIENTIFIC NAME

68 Yellow-billed Egret X X X 3 Egretta intermedia

71 Cattle Egret X X X X X X X X X 9 Bubulcus ibis

72 Squacco Heron X 1 Ardeola ralloides

74 Green-backed Heron X 1 Butorides striatus

81 Hamerkop X X X X X 5 Scopus umbretta

83 White Stork X X 2 Ciconia ciconia

84 Black Stork X X X 3 Ciconia nigra

86 Woolly-necked Stork X X 2 Ciconia episcopus

87 African Openbill X 1 Anastomus lamelligerus

88 Saddle-billed Stork X X X 3 Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

89 Marabou Stork X X X 3 Leptoptilos crumeniferus

90 Yellow-billed Stork X 1 Mycteria ibis

91 African Sacred Ibis X X X X 4 Threskiornis aethiopicus

92 Southern Bald Ibis (E) X X X 3 Geronticus calvus

93 Glossy Ibis X 1 Plegadis falcinellus

94 Hadeda Ibis X X X X X X X X 8 Bostrychia hagedash

95 African Spoonbill X X 2 Platalea alba

99 White-faced Duck X X 2 Dendrocygna viduata

101 White-backed Duck X 1 Thalassornis leuconotus

102 Egyptian Goose X X X X X X X X X X # Alopochen aegyptiacus

103 South African Shelduck (E) X X 2 Tadorna cana

104 Yellow-billed Duck X X X X 4 Anas undulata

105 African Black Duck X X X 3 Anas sparsa

112 Cape Shoveler (E) X 1 Anas smithii

113 Southern Pochard X X 2 Netta erythrophthalma

114 African Pygmy-Goose X 1 Nettapus auritus

115 Comb Duck X 1 Sarkidiornis melanotos

116 Spur-winged Goose X X X 3 Plectropterus gambensis

117 Maccoa Duck X 1 Oxyura maccoa

118 Secretarybird X X X 3 Sagittarius serpentarius

121 Hooded Vulture X X X 3 Necrosyrtes monachus

122 Cape Vulture (E) X X 2 Gyps coprotheres

123 White-backed Vulture X X X X X X X X 8 Gyps africanus

124 Lappet-faced Vulture X 1 Torgos tracheliotus

125 White-headed Vulture X 1 Trigonoceps occipitalis

126b Yellow-billed Kite X 1 Milvus aegyptius

127 Black-shouldered Kite X X X X X X 6 Elanus caeruleus

132 Tawny Eagle X X X 3 Aquila rapax

134 Lesser Spotted Eagle X 1 Aquila pomarina

135 Wahlberg’s Eagle X X X X X X 6 Aquila wahlbergi

137 African Hawk-Eagle X X 2 Hieraaetus fasciatus

139 Long-crested Eagle X X 2 Lophaetus occipitalis

140 Martial Eagle X X X X X 5 Polemaetus bellicosus

141 African Crowned Eagle X 1 Stephanoaetus coronatus

142 Brown Snake-Eagle X X X X X 5 Circaetus cinereus

143 Black-chested Snake-Eagle X X X 3 Circaetus gallicus

146 Bateleur X X X X X X X X 8 Terathopius ecaudatus

148 African Fish Eagle X X X X X 5 Haliaeetus vocifer

149 Steppe Buzzard X X X X 4 Buteo buteo

152 Jackal Buzzard (E) X X X X X 5 Buteo rufofuscus

154 Lizard Buzzard X 1 Kaupifalco monogrammicus

155 Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk X X 2 Accipiter rufiventris


COMMON NAME

4-M

ar-12

5-M

ar-12

6-M

ar-12

7-M

ar-12

8-M

ar-12

9-M

ar-12

10-M

ar-12

11-M

ar-12

12-M

ar-12

13-M

ar-12

14-M

ar-12

15-M

ar-12

16-M

ar-12

Total

SCIENTIFIC NAME

157 Little Sparrowhawk X 1 Accipiter minullus

158 Black Sparrowhawk X 1 Accipiter melanoleucus

160 African Goshawk X X X 3 Accipiter tachiro

161 Gabar Goshawk X 1 Micronisus gabar

163 Dark Chanting Goshawk X 1 Melierax metabates

165 African Marsh-Harrier X X 2 Circus ranivorus

166 Montagu's Harrier X 1 Circus pygargus

169 African Harrier-Hawk X X X 3 Polyboroides typus

173 Eurasian Hobby X 1 Falco subbuteo

176 Taita Falcon X 1 Falco fasciinucha

180 Amur Falcon X X X X X X X X X 9 Falco amurensis

181 Rock Kestrel X X 2 Falco rupicolis

183 Lesser Kestrel X 1 Falco naumanni

189 Crested Francolin X X X X 4 Peliperdix sephaena

190 Grey-winged Francolin (E) X 1 Scleroptila africanus

196 Natal Francolin (NE) X X X X 4 Pternistes natalensis

198 Red-necked Spurfowl X 1 Pternistes afer

199 Swainson's Spurfowl (NE) X X X X X X 6 Pternistes swainsonii

203 Helmeted Guineafowl X X X X X X X X X 9 Numida meleagris

204 Crested Guineafowl X X 2 Guttera pucherani

207 Wattled Crane X 1 Grus carunculatus

208 Blue Crane (E) X X 2 Anthropoides paradiseus

209 Grey Crowned Crane X X X 3 Balearica regulorum

213 Black Crake X X X 3 Amaurornis flavirostris

223 African Purple Swamphen X X X X 4 Porphyrio madagascariensis

224 Allen's Gallinule X 1 Porphyrio alleni

226 Common Moorhen X X 2 Gallinula chloropus

228 Red-knobbed Coot X X X X 4 Fulica cristata

229 African Finfoot X 1 Podica senegalensis

230 Kori Bustard X X 2 Ardeotis kori

231 Denham's Bustard X X X X 4 Neotis denhami

234 Blue Korhaan (E) X 1 Eupodotis caerulescens

237 Red-crested Korhaan X 1 Eupodotis ruficrista

240 African Jacana X X X 3 Actophilornis africanus

249 Three-banded Plover X X X 3 Charadrius tricollaris

255 Crowned Lapwing X X 2 Vanellus coronatus

256 Senegal Lapwing X X 2 Vanellus lugubris

258 Blacksmith Lapwing X X X X X X X X X 9 Vanellus armatus

259 White-crowned Lapwing X 1 Vanellus albiceps

260 African Wattled Lapwing X X 2 Vanellus senegallus

264 Common Sandpiper X 1 Actitis hypoleucos

266 Wood Sandpiper X X X X 4 Tringa glareola

270 Common Greenshank X X 2 Tringa nebularia

274 Little Stint X 1 Calidris minuta

284 Ruff X X 2 Philomachus pugnax

286 African Snipe X X X 3 Gallinago nigripennis

295 Black-winged Stilt X X X 3 Himantopus himantopus

297 Spotted Thick-knee X 1 Burhinus capensis

298 Water Thick-Knee X X X X X X 6 Burhinus vermiculatus

303 Bronze-winged Courser X 1 Rhinoptilus chalcopterus

315 Grey-headed Gull X 1 Larus cirrocephalus

338 Whiskered Tern X X X 3 Chlidonias hybridus


COMMON NAME

4-M

ar-12

5-M

ar-12

6-M

ar-12

7-M

ar-12

8-M

ar-12

9-M

ar-12

10-M

ar-12

11-M

ar-12

12-M

ar-12

13-M

ar-12

14-M

ar-12

15-M

ar-12

16-M

ar-12

Total

SCIENTIFIC NAME

339 White-winged Tern X 1 Chlidonias leucopterus

348 Rock Dove X 1 Columba livia

349 Speckled Pigeon X X X X X 5 Columba guinea

350 African Olive-Pigeon X X 2 Columba arquatrix

352 Red-eyed Dove X X X X X X X 7 Streptopelia semitorquata

353 African Mourning Dove X X 2 Streptopelia decipiens

354 Cape Turtle-Dove X X X X X X X X X X # Streptopelia capicola

355 Laughing Dove X X X X X X X X 8 Streptopelia senegalensis

356 Namaqua Dove X X X 3 Oena capensis

358 Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove X X X X 4 Turtur chalcospilos

360 Lemon Dove X 1 Aplopelia larvata

361 African Green-Pigeon X X 2 Treron calva

370a Knysna Turaco (E) X 1 Tauraco corythaix

371 Purple-crested Turaco X X X X 4 Tauraco porphyreolophus

373 Grey Go-away-bird X X X X X 5 Corythaixoides concolor

374 Common Cuckoo X 1 Cuculus canorus

377 Red-chested Cuckoo X X 2 Cuculus solitarius

378 Black Cuckoo X 1 Cuculus clamosus

381 Levaillant's Cuckoo X X 2 Clamator levaillantii

382 Jacobin Cuckoo X X 2 Clamator jacobinus

386 Diderick Cuckoo X X X X 4 Chrysococcyx caprius

391a Burchell’s Coucal X X X X 4 Centropus burchelli

396 African Scops-Owl X X 2 Otus senegalensis

398 Pearl-spotted Owlet X X 2 Glaucidium perlatum

401 Spotted Eagle-Owl X 1 Bubo africanus

402 Verreaux's Eagle-Owl X X 2 Bubo lacteus

404 European Nightjar X 1 Caprimulgus europaeus

405 Fiery-necked Nightjar X 1 Caprimulgus pectoralis

409 Square-tailed Nightjar X 1 Caprimulgus fossii

415 White-rumped Swift X X X X X X X 7 Apus caffer

416 Horus Swift X X 2 Apus horus

417 Little Swift X X X X X X X X 8 Apus affinis

418 Alpine Swift X 1 Apus melba

421 African Palm Swift X X X X 4 Cypsiurus parvus

424 Speckled Mousebird X X X X X X 6 Colius striatus

426 Red-faced Mousebird X X X X X 5 Urocolius indicus

428 Pied Kingfisher X X X X X X 6 Ceryle rudis

431 Malachite Kingfisher X 1 Alcedo cristata

433 Woodland Kingfisher X X X X X X 6 Halcyon senegalensis

435 Brown-hooded Kingfisher X X X X 4 Halcyon albiventris

437 Striped Kingfisher X X 2 Halcyon chelicuti

438 European Bee-eater X X X X X X X X X X # Merops apiaster

440 Blue-cheeked Bee-eater X 1 Merops persicus

441 Southern Carmine Bee-eater X X X X 4 Merops nubicoides

443 White-fronted Bee-eater X 1 Merops bullockoides

444 Little Bee-eater X X X 3 Merops pusillus

446 European Roller X X X X X X 6 Coracias garrulus

447 Lilac-breasted Roller X X X X X X 6 Coracias caudata

449 Purple Roller X X X 3 Coracias naevia

450 Broad-billed Roller X X 2 Eurystomus glaucurus

451 African Hoopoe X X X X X 5 Upupa africana

452 Green Wood-Hoopoe X X X X X 5 Phoeniculus purpureus


COMMON NAME

4-M

ar-12

5-M

ar-12

6-M

ar-12

7-M

ar-12

8-M

ar-12

9-M

ar-12

10-M

ar-12

11-M

ar-12

12-M

ar-12

13-M

ar-12

14-M

ar-12

15-M

ar-12

16-M

ar-12

Total

SCIENTIFIC NAME

454 Common Scimitarbill X X X 3 Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

455 Trumpeter Hornbill X X X X 4 Bycanistes bucinator

457 African Grey Hornbill X X X 3 Tockus nasutus

458 Red-billed Hornbill X X X 3 Tockus erythrorhynchus

459 Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill X X X X X X X 7 Tockus leucomelas

460 Crowned Hornbill X 1 Tockus alboterminatus

463 Southern Ground-Hornbill X 1 Bucorvus leadbeateri

464 Black-collared Barbet X X X X X X 6 Lybius torquatus

465 Acacia Pied Barbet (NE) X 1 Tricholaema leucomelas

469 Red-fronted Tinkerbird X 1 Pogoniulus pusillus

470 Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird X X 2 Pogoniulus chrysoconus

471 Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird X 1 Pogoniulus bilineatus

473 Crested Barbet X X X X X X X X 8 Trachyphonus vaillantii

474 Greater Honeyguide X 1 Indicator indicator

483 Golden-tailed Woodpecker X X X X 4 Campethera abingoni

486 Cardinal Woodpecker X X 2 Dendropicos fuscescens

487 Bearded Woodpecker X X 2 Dendropicos namaquus

493 Monotonous Lark (NE) X 1 Mirafra passerina

494 Rufous-naped Lark X X X X 4 Mirafra africana

496 Flappet Lark X 1 Mirafra rufocinnamomea

498 Sabota Lark (NE) X X X 3 Mirafra sabota

506 Spike-heeled Lark X 1 Chersomanes albofasciata

507 Red-capped Lark X 1 Calandrella cinerea

515 Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark X X 2 Eremopterix leucotis

518 Barn Swallow X X X X X X X X X X X X X # Hirundo rustica

520 White-throated Swallow X X X 3 Hirundo albigularis

521 Blue Swallow X 1 Hirundo atrocaerulea

522 Wire-tailed Swallow X X 2 Hirundo smithii

523 Pearl-breasted Swallow X 1 Hirundo dimidiata

524 Red-breasted Swallow X 1 Hirundo semirufa

525 Mosque Swallow X 1 Hirundo senegalensis

526 Greater Striped Swallow (E) X X X X X X 6 Hirundo cucullata

527 Lesser Striped Swallow X X X X X X 6 Hirundo abyssinica

528 South African Cliff-Swallow (E) X X 2 Hirundo spilodera

529 Rock Martin X X 2 Hirundo fuligula

530 Common House Martin X 1 Delichon urbica

533 Brown-throated Martin X 1 Riparia paludicola

534 Banded Martin X X X X 4 Riparia cincta

536 Black Saw-wing X 1 Psalidoprocne holomelas

538 Black Cuckooshrike X 1 Campephaga flava

540 Grey Cuckooshrike X 1 Coracina caesia

541 Fork-tailed Drongo X X X X X X X X 8 Dicrurus adsimilis

543 Eurasian Golden Oriole X 1 Oriolus oriolus

545 Black-headed Oriole X X 2 Oriolus larvatus

547 Cape Crow X X 2 Corvus capensis

548 Pied Crow X X 2 Corvus albus

550 White-necked Raven X 1 Corvus albicollis

554 Southern Black Tit X X X X X X 6 Parus niger

558 Grey Penduline Tit X X 2 Anthoscopus caroli

560 Arrow-marked Babbler X X X 3 Turdoides jardineii

568 Dark-capped Bulbul X X X X X X X X X X X X X # Pycnonotus barbatus

570 Yellow-streaked Greenbul X 1 Phyllastrephus flavostriatus


COMMON NAME

4-M

ar-12

5-M

ar-12

6-M

ar-12

7-M

ar-12

8-M

ar-12

9-M

ar-12

10-M

ar-12

11-M

ar-12

12-M

ar-12

13-M

ar-12

14-M

ar-12

15-M

ar-12

16-M

ar-12

Total

SCIENTIFIC NAME

572 Sombre Greenbul X X 2 Andropadus importunus

574 Yellow-bellied Greenbul X 1 Chlorocichla flaviventris

576 Kurrichane Thrush X 1 Turdus libonyana

580 Groundscraper Thrush X X 2 Turdus litsitsirupa

581 Cape Rock-Thrush (E) X X X X 4 Monticola rupestris

582 Sentinel Rock-Thrush (E) X 1 Monticola explorator

586 Mountain Wheatear (NE) X X X 3 Oenanthe monticola

588 Buff-streaked Chat (E) X X 2 Oenanthe bifasciata

589 Familiar Chat X X 2 Cercomela familiaris

593 Mocking Cliff-Chat X X 2 Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris

595 Ant-eating Chat (E) X X X X 4 Myrmecocichla formicivora

596 African Stonechat X X X X X 5 Saxicola torquata

599 White-browed Robin-Chat X 1 Cossypha heuglini

601 Cape Robin-Chat X 1 Cossypha caffra

602 White-throated Robin-Chat (E) X X X 3 Cossypha humeralis

606 White-starred Robin X 1 Pogonocichla stellata

617 Bearded Scrub-Robin X 1 Erythropygia quadrivirgata

631 African Reed-Warbler X 1 Acrocephalus baeticatus

635 Lesser Swamp-Warbler X 1 Acrocephalus gracilirostris

642 Broad-tailed Warbler X 1 Schoenicola brevirostris

643 Willow Warbler X 1 Phylloscopus trochilus

645 Bar-throated Apalis X X 2 Apalis thoracica

648 Yellow-breasted Apalis X X 2 Apalis flavida

649 Rudd's Apalis (E) X X 2 Apalis ruddi

651 Long-billed Crombec X X 2 Sylvietta rufescens

653 Yellow-bellied Eremomela X 1 Eremomela icteropygialis

657a Green-backed Camaroptera X 1 Camaroptera brachyura

664 Zitting Cisticola X X X X X 5 Cisticola juncidis

670 Wailing Cisticola X X 2 Cisticola lais

672 Rattling Cisticola X X X X X X X X 8 Cisticola chiniana

674 Red-faced Cisticola X 1 Cisticola erythrops

677 Levaillant’s Cisticola X X X 3 Cisticola tinniens

678 Croaking Cisticola X 1 Cisticola natalensis

679 Lazy Cisticola X X 2 Cisticola aberrans

681 Neddicky X 1 Cisticola fulvicapillus

683 Tawny-flanked Prinia X X X X 4 Prinia subflava

686b Drakensberg Prinia (E) X X 2 Prinia hypoxantha

689 Spotted Flycatcher X X X X X X X X X 9 Muscicapa striata

690 African Dusky Flycatcher X 1 Muscicapa adusta

691 Ashy Flycatcher X 1 Muscicapa caerulescens

693 Grey Tit-Flycatcher X 1 Myioparus plumbeus

694 Southern Black Flycatcher X X X 3 Melaenornis pammelaina

695 Marico Flycatcher (NE) X 1 Melaenornis mariquensis

696 Pale Flycatcher X 1 Melaenornis pallidus

700 Cape Batis (E) X X 2 Batis capensis

701 Chinspot Batis X X X 3 Batis molitor

710 African Paradise Flycatcher X X X 3 Terpsiphone viridis

711 African Pied Wagtail X X 2 Motacilla aguimp

713 Cape Wagtail X X X X X 5 Motacilla capensis

716 African Pipit X X X X 4 Anthus cinnamomeus

725 Yellow-breasted Pipit (E) X 1 Hemimacronyx chloris

727 Cape Longclaw (E) X X X X 4 Macronyx capensis


COMMON NAME

4-M

ar-12

5-M

ar-12

6-M

ar-12

7-M

ar-12

8-M

ar-12

9-M

ar-12

10-M

ar-12

11-M

ar-12

12-M

ar-12

13-M

ar-12

14-M

ar-12

15-M

ar-12

16-M

ar-12

Total

SCIENTIFIC NAME

728 Yellow-throated Longclaw X X X X 4 Macronyx croceus

731 Lesser Grey Shrike X X X 3 Lanius minor

732 Common Fiscal X X X X X X X X 8 Lanius collaris

733 Red-backed Shrike X X X X X X X X 8 Lanius collurio

735 Magpie Shrike X X X X X 5 Lanius souzae

740 Black-backed Puffback X X X X X 5 Dryoscopus cubla

741 Brubru X 1 Nilaus afer

743 Brown-crowned Tchagra X X X X 4 Tchagra australis

744 Black-crowned Tchagra X X 2 Tchagra senegala

746 Bokmakierie (E) X X X 3 Telophorus zeylonus

747 Gorgeous Bush-Shrike X 1 Telophorus quadricolor

753 White-crested Helmet-Shrike X X X 3 Prionops plumatus

754 Retz's Helmet-Shrike X 1 Prionops retzii

756 Southern White-crowned Shrike (NE) X X 2 Eurocephalus anguitimens

758 Common Myna X X X 3 Acridotheres tristis

759 Pied Starling (E) X X X X 4 Spreo bicolor

760 Wattled Starling X X X 3 Creatophora cinerea

761 Violet-backed Starling X X X X X 5 Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

762 Burchell’s Starling (NE) X X X X 4 Lamprotornis australis

764 Cape Glossy Starling X X X X X X 6 Lamprotornis nitens

765 Greater Blue-eared Starling X X 2 Lamprotornis chalybaeus

769 Red-winged Starling X X X X X X 6 Onychognathus morio

772 Red-billed Oxpecker X X X X X X X X 8 Buphagus erythrorhynchus

774 Gurney’s Sugarbird (E) X 1 Promerops gurneyi

775 Malachite Sunbird X X X X 4 Nectarinia famosa

779 Marico Sunbird X 1 Nectarinia mariquensis

783 Southern Double-collared Sunbird X 1 Nectarinia chalybea (E)

785 Greater Double-collared Sunbird X X 2 Nectarinia afra (E)

792 Amethyst Sunbird X X X 3 Nectarinia amethystina

793 Collared Sunbird X X X 3 Anthreptes collaris

796 Cape White-eye (E) X X X 3 Zosterops pallidus

798 Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver X X 2 Bubalornis niger

801 House Sparrow X X 2 Passer domesticus

803 Cape Sparrow (NE) X X 2 Passer melanurus

804 Southern Grey-headed Sparrow X X X X X X X X 8 Passer diffusus

805 Yellow-throated Petronia X X 2 Petronia superciliaris

808 Dark-backed Weaver X 1 Ploceus bicolor

811 Village Weaver X X 2 Ploceus cucullatus

813 Cape Weaver (E) X 1 Ploceus capensis

814 Southern Masked-Weaver X X 2 Ploceus velatus

821 Red-billed Quelea X X X X X X X 7 Quelea quelea

824 Southern Red Bishop X X X X X 5 Euplectes orix

826 Yellow-crowned Bishop X X X 3 Euplectes afer

827 Yellow Bishop X 1 Euplectes capensis

828 Fan-tailed Widowbird X X 2 Euplectes axilaris

829 White-winged Widowbird X X X X X 5 Euplectes albonotatus

831 Red-collared Widowbird X X X 3 Euplectes ardens

832 Long-tailed Widowbird X X X X 4 Euplectes progne

834 Green-winged Pytilia X 1 Pytilia melba

841 Jameson’s Firefinch X 1 Lagonosticta rhodopareia

842 Red-billed Firefinch X X 2 Lagonosticta senegala

844 Blue Waxbill X X X X 4 Uraeginthus angolensis


COMMON NAME

4-M

ar-12

5-M

ar-12

6-M

ar-12

7-M

ar-12

8-M

ar-12

9-M

ar-12

10-M

ar-12

11-M

ar-12

12-M

ar-12

13-M

ar-12

14-M

ar-12

15-M

ar-12

16-M

ar-12

Total

SCIENTIFIC NAME

846 Common Waxbill X X X X X 5 Estrilda astrild

852 African Quailfinch X 1 Ortygospiza atricollis

857 Bronze Mannikin X X 2 Spermestes cucullatus

860 Pin-tailed Whydah X X X X X X X X 8 Vidua macroura

862 Long-tailed Paradise-Whydah X X X X X 5 Vidua paradisaea

864 Dusky Indigobird X 1 Vidua funerea

865 Purple Indigobird X 1 Vidua purpurascens

867 Village Indigobird X X X 3 Vidua chalybeata

869 Yellow-fronted Canary X X X X X X X 7 Serinus mozambicus

870 Black-throated Canary X 1 Serinus atrogularis

872 Cape Canary X X X 3 Serinus canicollis

877 Brimstone Canary X 1 Serinus sulphuratus

881 Streaky-headed Seed-Eater X X 2 Serinus gularis

884 Golden-breasted Bunting X X X X 4 Emberiza flaviventris

885 Cape Bunting (NE) X X 2 Emberiza capensis

886 Cinnamon-breasted Bunting X X 2 Emberiza tahapisi

Daily Totals

69

79

65

112

83

109

88

78

56

81

84

84

2

Trip Total: 337

Mammal List

COMMON NAME

4-M

ar-12

5-M

ar-12

6-M

ar-12

7-M

ar-12

8-M

ar-12

9-M

ar-12

10-M

ar-12

11-M

ar-12

12-M

ar-12

13-M

ar-12

14-M

ar-12

15-M

ar-12

16-M

ar-12

Total

SCIENTIFIC NAME

3 Baboon, Chacma X X X X X 5 Papio ursinus

6 Bat, Fruit (Peter's Epauletted) X 1 Epomophorus crypturus

8 Blesbok X X 2 Damaliscus dorcas phillipsi

9 Buffalo X X X X X X 6 Syncerus caffer

12 Bushbuck X X 2 Tragelaphus scriptus

17 Cheetah X 1 Acinonyx jubatus

19 Dassie, Rock (Hyrax) X X X 3 Procavia capensis

21 Duiker, Common X X 2 Sylvicapra grimmia

24 Elephant, African X X X X X 5 Loxodonta africana

27 Giraffe, Southern X X X X X X X X 8 Giraffa camelopardalis

29 Hare, Scrub X 1 Lepus saxatilis

31 Hippopotamus X X X X X 5 Hippopotamus amphibius

32 Hyaena, Spotted X 1 Crocuta crocuta

33 Impala X X X X X X X X 8 Aepyceros melampus

34 Jackal, Black-backed X 1 Canis mesomelas

36 Klipspringer X X 2 Oreotragus oreotragus

37 Kudu, Greater X X X X X 5 Tragelaphus strepsiceros

38 Leopard X 1 Panthera pardus

39 Lion X 1 Pathera leo

40 Mongoose, Banded X 1 Mungos mungo

41 Mongoose, Dwarf X X 2 Helogale parvula

42 Mongoose, Slender X X X 3 Galerella sanguinea

44 Mongoose, Yellow X 1 Cynictis penicillata

45 Monkey, Samango X 1 Cercopithecus mitis

46 Monkey, Vervet X X X X X X X X X 9 Cercopithecus aethiops

50 Nyala X X X 3 Tragelaphus angasii

58 Reedbuck, Common X X X 3 Redunca arundinum


60 Rhebok, Grey X 1 Palea capreolus

62 Rhinoceros, White X X 2 Ceratotherium simum

67 Squirrel, Tree X X X X X 5 Paraxerus cepapi

68 Steenbok X X 2 Raphicerus campestris

70 Suricate X 1 Suricata suricatta

72 Warthog X X X X X X 6 Phacochoerus aethiopicus

73 Waterbuck, Common X X X X 4 Kobus ellipsiprymnus

74 Wild Dog X 1 Lycaon pictus

76 Wildebeest, Blue X X X X X X X 7 Connochaetes taurinus

77 Zebra, Burchell's X X X X X X X X 8 Equus burchelli

Daily Totals

0

4

5

18

16

19

14

13

11

8

8

4

0

Trip Total: 37

Below: a flock of Helmeted Guineafowl approaching a pool on the Mavumbye Creek near Satara.

eastern south africa and swaziland · 2014-01-22 · eastern south africa and swaziland 4th - 16th...

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