260 | BIRDSCONTOUR REPORT (25.4.-15.5.2014)

260

Art. # 260

BIRDSCONTOUR REPORT

(25.04.’14 – 15.05.’14)

Text and photos from Stefan Rust

2014

(In terms of the Geneva Convention the copyright of these texts belong to Stefan Rust)

Dear birding friends, 

as birdwatching is a relatively new and one of the fastest growing and a most popular pursuit, it attracts people of all ages around the world. There can hardly be a better place than southern Africa (Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Swaziland, Lesotho, South Africa) to nurture an interest in birds as it supports almost 1000 bird species, which is about 10 per cent of the world's entire bird. Taking birding to new heights, Hobby-Ornithologist Stefan Rust together with BirdsConTour represents some of the ontour bird sightings and several other interesting birding aspects to showcase the fun of birding, promote citizen science, highlight conservation, indicate where to view what birds and raise awareness of southern Africa's (sometimes international) birds and their habitats.

PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS WORK GETS DISTRIBUTED INTERNATIONALLY

Have a quick look if your name or business is included in this scientific informational work (alphabetically arranged):

A Little Sossus Lodge

Ababis Guest Farm

Anders Elke & Detlef

Blue Planet

Boehm Christa & Horst

Botha Christian (Web Designer)

Catamaran Charters, Dolphin & Seal Cruises

Conny’s Restaurant (Catherine van Heerden, Conny)

Crafford Gerhard (Graphic Designer at John Meinert Printing (PTY) LTD

Etosha Dolomite Camp

Etosha National Park

Etosha Safari Camp (Gondwana Collection)

Gauchas Farm (Argo Rust)

Gondwana Collection (Etosha Safari Camp)

Grootberg Pass (Palmwag)

Hauffe Elvira

Hoanib River (Khowarib Lodge)

Hock Sabine & Stephan (Immanuel Wilderness Lodge)

Hohenstein Lodge

Hotel Pension Rapmund

Immanuel Wilderness Lodge (Sabine & Stephan Hock)

John Meinert Printing (PTY) LTD

Khowarib Gorge (Khowarib Lodge)

Khowarib Lodge

Khowarib Settlement (Khowarib Lodge)

Leicher Birgit

Lies Ingo

Möhle Antche & Horst

Nel Roeleen & Tollie (Otjitotongwe Cheetah Farm)

Omandumba Farm (Deike & Harald Rust)

Otjitotongwe Cheetah Farm (Roeleen & Tollie Nel)

Ozonjuitji m’Bari Waterhole (Etosha National Park)

Pack Peter

Palmwag (Grootberg Pass)

Rapmund Hotel Pension

Rust Argo (Farm Gauchas)

Rust Deike & Harald (Farm Omandumba)

Sesriem Canyon

Silversand catamaran

Sossusvlei (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

Spitzkoppe

Swakopmund

Trip Travel (Isolde Venter)

Twyfelfontein Country Lodge

Twyfelfontein UNESCO Heritage Site

Van Heerden Catherine (Conny’s Restaurant)

Venter Isolde (Trip Travel)

Vogel Ingeborg Lotte Brigitte

Voigtland Farm (Gabi & Stephan Voigts)

Voigts Gabi & Stephan (Farm Voigtland)

Walvisbay Lagoon

Windhoek

Winkler Margitta

Sites and countries visited during this period incl. amount of species per site:

(0-0 - Haven’t been there myself)

(single letter – indicates several sites per day)

25.04: (A) Road from Windhoek to Farm Gauchas, Schlip (38 species), (B) Farm 

           Gauchas, Schlip (42 species)

26.04: (A) Farm Gauchas (14 species, additional to yesterday)

27.04: (A) Farm Gauchas (1 species, additional to previous days), (B) Road from Farm 

           Gauchas to Windhoek (6 species, additional to 25th)

01.05: (A) Road from Windhoek to Farm Voigtland (2 species), (B) Farm Voigtland (15 

           species), (C) Road from Farm Voigtland to Immanuel Wilderness Lodge (6

           species) (D) Immanuel Wilderness Lodge (19 species).

02.50: (A) Immanuel Wilderness Lodge (13 species, additional to yesterday), (B) Road

           from Immanuel Wilderness Lodge to Etosha Safari Camp (17 species), (C) Etosha

           Safari Camp (23 species)

03.05: (A) Etosha Safari Camp (7 species, additional to yesterday), (B) Etosha NP. (49  

           species), Etosha Safari Camp (2 species, additional to before)

04.05: (A) Etosha Safari Camp (1 species, additional to yesterday), (B) Etosha NP (13

           species, additional to yesterday) (C) Etosha Dolomite Camp (26 species)

05.05: (A) Etosha Dolomite Camp (6 species, additional to yesterday), (B) Etosha NP (10

           species, additional to before), (C) Otjitotongwe Cheetah Farm (24 species)

06.05: (A) Otjitotongwe Cheetah Farm (7 species, additional to yesterday), (B) Road

           from Otjitotongwe Cheetah Farm to Khowarib Lodge (14 species), (C) Khowarib

           Lodge (25 species)

07.05: (A) Khowarib Lodge & surrounding (23 species, additional to yesterday)

08.05: (A) Khowarib Lodge (3 species, additional to previous days), (B) Road from

           Khowarib Lodge to Twyfelfontein Country Lodge (14 species), (C) Twyfelfontein

           Country Lodge (10 species)

09.05: (A) Twyfelfontein Country Lodge (6 species, additional to yesterday), (B) Road

           from Twyfelfontein Country Lodge to Hohenstein Lodge (17 species), (C) Farm

           Omandumba (18 species), (D) Hohenstein Lodge (31 species)

10.05: (A) Hohenstein Lodge (4 species, additional to yesterday), (B) Road from

           Hohenstein Lodge to Swakopmund (7 species), (C) Swakopmund (7 species), (D)

           Hotel Pension Rapmund (6 species)

11.05: (A) Hotel Pension Rapmund (1 species, additional), (B) Walvisbay Lagoon (20

           species), (C) Swakopmund (1 species)

12.05: (A) Hotel Pension Rapmund (1 species, additional to previous), (B) Road from

           Hotel Pension Rapmund to A-little-Sossus Lodge (23 species), (C) A-little-Sossus

           Lodge (20 species)

13.05: (A) A-Little-Sossus Lodge (2 species, additional) (B) Sossus Vlei, Great Sand Sea

           (12 species), (C) A-little-Sossus Lodge (1 species, additional)

14.05: (A) A-little-Sossus Lodge (1 species, additional), (B) Road from A-little-Sossus

           Lodge to Guestfarm Ababis (18 species), (C) Gästefarm Ababis (22 species)

15.05: (A) Guestfarm Ababis (1 species, additional), (B) Road from Gästefarm Ababis to

           Windhoek (30 species)

Total Distance traveled:

3 169 km

Personal Highlights:

MALACHITE KINGFISHER

YELLOW-BILLED OXPECKER

ANTARCTIC TERN

SUBANTARCTIC SKUA

PECTORAL SANDPIPER

25.04.'14  Farm Gauchas, Schlip, Namibia  Environmental Management In an attempt to restore family Nature, BirdsConTour founded the Environmental Management project.

Many farmers depend on livestock and game, so grass as food is inescapable. In livestock country the grass indicates the health of the land. In these areas there are very few places where grass cannot grow, but nowadays many places where it doesn’t grow anymore. Where good grass grows, the animals will be in a good productive condition.

Mr. Argo Rust successfully practices the principles of Holistic Management on Farm Gauchas with visible and measurable results.

Read more about BirdsConTour’s project Environmental Management in the electronic newsletter Birds in Words (www.birdscontour.blogspot.com) article 218.

26.04.'14  Farm Gauchas, Schlip, Namibia  Architecture for a better Bird Life / Birdequip  460 Kilometer of driving to locate an owl nest. The aim is to attract owls to this area so that the ecosystem gets into balance. The owls will catch mice and keep their population under control. Four more nestbottels were located on the farmhouse yard for hole-nesting birds to have nesting possibilities in the next breeding season. By attracting more birds to the garden the less loss will occur to the garden plants and their fruits. Birds are the natural insect population controllers.

Read more about BirdsConTour’s projects Architecture for a better Bird Life and Birdequip in the electronic newsletter Birds in Words (www.birdscontour.blogspot.com).

27.04.’14 Corner B1 and D1254, Namibia  BirdsConTour for a cleaner Bird Habitat  The previous Easter weekend caused accumulation of litter. BirdsConTour took action in cleaning this area. Read more about BirdsConTour’s project BirdsConTour for a cleaner Bird Habitat in the electronic newsletter Birds in Words (www.birdscontour.blogspot.com) article 75.

30.04.’14 Birgit Leicher  Bird & Birder Friendly Award  The time and work that Mrs. Leicher invests in supporting BirdsConTour with its various projects is rewarded through renewing her 2013 two penguin-rated Bird & Birder Friendly Award with a three penguin-rated one.

Read more in the electronic newsletter Birds in Words (www.birdscontour.blogspot.com) article 255.

01.05.'14  Immanuel Wilderness Lodge, Namibia  Bird & Birder Friendly Award  Strategically well-situated lies the Immanuel Wilderness Lodge a mere 20 km north of Windhoek. Sabine & Stephan take not only their bigger animals on their property into consideration but also the feathered animals. For their bird & birder friendly practices they deserved a two penguin-rated Bird & Birder Friendly award from BirdsConTour.

Read more in the electronic newsletter Birds in Words (www.birdscontour.blogspot.com) article 256.

02.05.'14  Corner of the B1/D2404 road, Namibia  BirdsConTour for a cleaner Bird Habitat  Members of a nine German speaking guest group participated in collecting litter around a termite mount. at the turnoff B1/D2404, where a break was arranged to marvel at this wonder in the animal kingdom.

03.05.'14  Okaukuejo Waterhole, Etosha NP., Namibia  Common House Martin (1)

Although some of these birds overwinter in our region, most do leave the northern regions of southern Africa by the end of May.

04.05.'14  Etosha Dolomite Camp, Etosha NP., Namibia  White Stork (1) What an unusual sighting for German guests to see a White Stork in Africa together with Burchell’s Zebra in Africa. These birds are mainly Palearctic-breeding migrants, arriving from October and departing March till May. Most southern Africa birds are from central and east Europe and the Middle East, traveling round-trip journeys sometimes longer than 22 000 km. Usually they are in flocks of 10-50 birds. Individual birds are mainly injured or juvenile ones. White Storks are welcomed pest controllers; their diet includes American Bollworm Heliothis armigera, Armyworms Spodoptera exempta and locusts such as Brown Locust Locustana pardalina.

A second individual White Stork was observed at the Ozonjuitji m’Bari waterhole.

05.05.’14  Otjitotongwe Cheetah Farm, Kamanjab, Namibia  White-bellied Sunbird (1) Usually they are found solitary. They have a rapid and jerky flight and are able to fly backwards away from flowers.

06.05.’14  Grootberg Pass, Palmwag, Namibia  Booted Eagle (2) The Booted Eagle is an intra-African and Palearctic-breeding migrant to southern Africa. The Palearctic-breeding migrants are present from November until February. Because these two birds, one pale and one dark morph, are still present, it can be assumed that they are breeding birds having dispersed into Namibia for overwintering

06.05.’14  Khowarib Lodge, Khowarib Settlement, Namibia  Malachite Kingfisher (1) What a surprise to find this jewel of a bird in the dry Kunene Region, at the permanent flowing Hoanib River near the Khowarib settlement. It is well possible that this bird is resident here in the Khowarib Gorge because the habitat is ideal, well vegetated, slow-flowing watercourse, steep banks for breeding season for nest tunnel and more open waters for other times. Perhaps this shy little bird has only been overlooked previously.

07.05.’14  Khowarib Lodge & surrounding, Khowarib Settlement & Sesfontein, Namibia  African Hawk-Eagle (2) With its large feet it tackles prey up to 4 kg. A pair often hunts cooperatively, one bird enters the cover to flush the prey while the other waits to strike the prey. The pair then shares the prey.

08.05.’14  Twyfelfontein UNESCO Heritage Site, Twyfelfontein, Namibia  Verreauxs’ Eagle (2) Always a delight to see the pair of eagles at this site, nearby the Twyfelfontein Country Lodge. Throughout Africa their distribution follows that of rock hyraxes. Mostly their territories contain up to 5 alternative nest sites, whereas one is usually favored.

09.05.’14  Farm Omandumba, Erongo Mountains, Namibia  Yellow-billed Oxpecker (1) Is this species extending its distribution area? Mr. Peter Pack, Ingo Lies and Harald Rust have registered a Yellow-billed Oxpecker on Farm Omandumba at the northern slopes of the Erongo Mountains. Mr. Harald Rust, owner of Farm Omandumba uses environment-friendly farming practices and since twelve days he records a Yellow-billed Oxpecker on his livestock that grazes around his farmhouse, cattle and donkeys. Possibly this species profits from Namibia’s conservation efforts, having 42% of its surface proclaimed as conservation area.

09.05.’14  Farm Omandumba (Deike & Harald Rust), Erongo Mountains, Namibia  Bird & Birder Friendly Award  For the continuous environment-friendly farming practices of Deike and Harald Rust their previous years’ two penguin-rated Bird & Birder Friendly Award was renewed today. CONGRATULATIONS! As usually all awardees are recognized in the Birds in Words news, www.birdscontour.blogspot.com, article 71.

09.05.’14  Hohenstein Lodge, Erongo Mountains, Namibia  Bird & Birder Friendly Award  For the first time rewarded with a two penguin-rated Bird & Birder Friendly Award in 2013, this environment-friendly accommodation received an updated two penguin-rated Award today. CONGRATULATIONS! As usually all awardees are recognized in the Birds in Words news, www.birdscontour.blogspot.com, article 71.

10.05.’14  Usakos, Namibia  Dusky Lark (2) This is an Intra-African migrant. Most probably these two birds are on their northward migration.

11.05.’14  Walvisbay Lagoon, Namibia  Antarctic Tern (1) In southern Africa most of these birds are found ashore between Lambert’s Bay and Cape Agulhas, Western Cape and in Algoa Bay and Eastern Cape. On the west coast it is a vagrant north of Lambert’s Bay with one Namibia record previously. The catamaran Silversand of Catamaran Charters is ideally for sea birding.

11.05.’14  Walvisbay Lagoon, Namibia  Pectoral Sandpiper (1) The frequency of records in southern Africa have increased after 1969, with at least 36 in the time from 1970-1990. Usually their habitat is freshwater wetlands and rarely on the open coast. Catamaran Charters is recommendable for birding tours, their staff being quite knowledgably on bird life.

12.05.’14  A Little Sossus Lodge, Namibia  Anti-Poaching Crusade  Its probably in the nature of humans to focus on the bad. For good reason it is tempting to feel disheartened by increasing reports of poaching of wild animals, no matter whether large or small. There is not much point in trying to argue because it’s a fact that poaching gets more and more and it is really difficult to keep feeling positive. But, actually, there is. There are a growing number of organizations and initiatives getting established with the aim of saving animals and many have success stories to present. And this is the key issue. If one doesn’t bring hope into the crisis of poaching, people will give up. Success stories have a motivating effect on people and that is one of the aims of the Anti-Poaching Crusade project of BirdsConTour. Today, as an example, BirdsConTour patrolled a border fence of a piece of farm land and found a wire sling attached to the fence by poachers with the aim of trapping game. This wire sling then was demounted. With such actions BirdsConTour is not going to save the animals and that is not the main idea. The strategic idea is that every time BirdsConTour does achieve something, no matter how small, in its Anti-Poaching Crusade, it hopefully provides a lot of inspiration for other people.

13.05.’14  Sossusvlei, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Namibia  Bradfield’s Swift (8) This swift was previously considered as rare in South Africa but has expanded southwards from Namibia. The Bradfield’s Swift is Central Namibia’s most common breeding swift. Here they nest in the Sesriem Gorge.

14.05.’14  Ababis Guest Farm, Namibia  BirdsConTOUR for conservation  By traveling directly with BirdsConTour or making use of a guide from BirdsConTour you support bird conservation and create an economic platform for local livelihoods. Sometimes travelers also participate in another BirdsConTour project. To say THANK YOU, every tour participant receives a Bird & Birder Friendly Award at the end of the tour.

Today nine German-speaking guests were rewarded with one penguin-rated Bird & Birder Friendly Awards.

Read more in the electronic newsletter Birds in Words (www.birdscontour.blogspot.com) article 259 and find more awardees in article 71.

15.05.’14  Connie’s Restaurant, Klein Aub, Namibia  Bird & Birder Friendly Award  … when BirdsConTour kicked off with another group of guests down to Sossusvlei, intending to stop over for lunch at Conny’s and rewarding her with a one penguin-rated Bird & Birder friendly Award, sad news reached that Conny died in a car crash.

Read more in the electronic newsletter Birds in Words (www.birdscontour.blogspot.com) article 252 and find all awardees mentioned in article 71.

Index to bird species observed in this period:

(English names and date when seen)

(*  - See text about species on according date above)

(A or B – Appears when species is recorded at different sites on same day, specifying where on according date beneath species list)

-Acacia Pied Barbet   25.4.(B) / 01.5.(B)(D) / 02.5.(C) / 03.5.(B) / 05.5.(C) / 08.5.(A)(C) / 09.5.(C)(D) / 12.5.(C) / 14.5.(C) / 15.5.(B) /

-African Black Oystercatcher   11.5.(B) /

-African Grey Hornbill   03.5.(B) / 05.5.(C) / 06.5.(C) /

-African Hawk-Eagle   07.5.(A) / 09.5.(B) /

-African Hoopoe    01.5.(B) / 14.5.(C) /

-African Palm-Swift   25.4.(A) / 01.5.(C) / 03.5.(B) / 15.5.(B) /

-African Paradise-Flycatcher   06.5.(A)(C) /

-African Red-eyed Bulbul   25.4.(A)(B) / 01.5.(B) / 02.5.(A)(C) / 03.5.(B) / 04.5.(C) / 05.5.(C) / 06.5.(C) / 09.5.(A)(C)(D) / 12.5.(B) / 14.5.(B)(C) /

-African Scops-Owl   07.5.(A) /

-Alpine Swift   09.5.(D) /

-Amur Falcon   04.5.(B) /

-*Antarctic Tern   11.5.*(B) /

-Ant-eating Chat   04.5.(B) / 09.5.(B) /

-Barn Owl   25.4.(A) / 03.5.(A) / 05.5.(A) / 07.5.(A) /

-Barred Wren-Warbler   26.4.(A) / 01.5.(D) / 02.5.(C) / 04.5.(C) / 05.5.(C) / 09.5.(D) /

-Bare-cheeked Babbler   07.5.(A) /

-Bateleur   04.5.(B) /

-Black-chested Prinia   25.4.(B) / 02.5.(B)(C) / 03.5.(B) / 07.5.(A) / 08.5.(B) / 09.5.(C)(D) / 12.5.(C) / 15.5.(B) /

-Black-chested Snake-Eagle   07.5.(A) / 14.5.(A) /

-Black-faced Waxbill   25.4.(B) /

-Black-shouldered Kite   27.4.(B) / 06.5.(B) / 15.5.(B) /

-Black-throated Canary   25.4.(B) / 01.5.(B) / 03.5.(A) /

-Black-winged Stilt   05.5.(B) / 12.5.(B) /

-Blacksmith Lapwing   03.5.(B) / 04.5.(C) /

-Bokmakierie   07.5.(A) / 08.5.(B) / 09.5.(A) / 12.5.(C) / 15.5.(B) /

-*Booted Eagle   06.5.*(B) /

-*Bradfield’s Swift   25.4.(A) / 07.5.(A) / 13.5.*(B) / 15.5.(B) /

-Brown-crowned Tchagra   25.4.(B) / 04.5.(C) / 06.5.(C) / 09.5.(D) /

-Burchell’s Courser   03.5.(B) / 14.5.(B) /

-Burchell’s Starling   25.4.(A) / 02.5.(B) / 03.5.(B) / 05.5.(B) / 15.5.(B) /

-Cape Bunting   09.5.(A) /

-Cape Cormorant   11.5.(B)(C) /

-Cape Crow   03.5.(B) / 04.5.(C) / 12.5.(B) /

-Cape Glossy Starling   25.4.(A)(B) / 01.5.(B)(C) / 02.5.(B) / 03.5.(B) / 06.5.(A)(B)(C) / 08.5.(B)(C) / 10.5.(A)(B) / 12.5.(B) / 14.5.(B)(C) / 15.5.(B) /

-Cape Penduline-Tit   25.4.(B) /

-Cape Sparrow   25.4.(B) / 07.5.(A) / 08.5.(C) / 10.5.(C)(D) / 11.5.(B) / 12.5.(B) / 13.5.(B) / 14.5.(C) /

-Cape Teal   12.5.(B) /

-Cape Turtle-Dove   25.4.(A)(B) / 01.5.(B)(D) / 02.5.(A)(C) / 03.5.(B) / 04.5.(C) / 05.5.(C) / 06.5.(C) / 09.5.(A)(B)(C)(D) / 12.5.(C) / 14.5.(C) /

-Cape Wagtail   25.4.(A) / 06.5.(C) / 10.5.(C)(D) / 11.5.(B) / 15.5.(A) /

-Capped Wheatear   25.4.(A)(B) / 04.5.(B) / 15.5.(B) /

-Cardinal Woodpecker   03.5.(A) /

-Cattle Egret   04.5.(C) /

-Chat Flycatcher   27.4.(A)(B) / 05.5.(B) /

-Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark   03.5.(B) /

-Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler   25.4.(A)(B) / 02.5.(A) /

-Cinnamon-breasted Bunting   02.5.(C) / 04.5.(C) /

-Common Fiscal   25.4.(A)(B) / 04.5.(B) / 09.5.(A)(B) / 12.5.(C) / 14.5.(B) / 15.5.(B) /

-*Common House-Martin   *03.5.(B) /

-Common Ostrich   01.5.(D) / 02.5.(C) / 03.5.(B) / 04.5.(C) / 06.5.(A)(B) / 07.5.(A) / 09.5.(B)(C) / 12.5.(B) / 13.5.(B) / 14.5.(B) / 15.5.(B) /

-Common Quail   26.4.(A) /

-Common Scimitarbill   25.4.(B) / 02.5.(A) / 05.5.(C) /

-Common Tern   11.5.(B) /

-Common Waxbill   11.5.(A) /

-Crimson-breasted Shrike   25.4.(B) / 02.5.(A) / 03.5.(B) / 09.5.(B)(D) /

-Crowned Lapwing   25.4.(A)(B) / 03.5.(B) / 04.5.(C) / 06.5.(A) / 07.5.(A) / 14.5.(C) / 15.5.(B) /

-Damara Hornbill   09.5.(B) /

-Desert Cisticola   12.5.(C) /

-Double-banded Sandgrouse   05.5.(A) /

-*Dusky Lark   10.5.(B) /

-Dusky Sunbird   25.4.(B) / 03.5.(B) / 04.5.(C) / 07.5.(A) / 09.5.(B) / 10.5.(C)(D) / 12.5.(C) / 14.5.(B)(C) /

-Egyptian Goose   25.4.(A) / 01.5.(A) / 02.5.(A) / 03.5.(A)(B) / 05.5.(A) /

-Familiar Chat   25.4.(B) / 02.5.(A)(C) / 04.5.(C) / 05.5.(C) / 06.5.(C) / 09.5.(D) / 12.5.(C) / 14.5.(C) /

-Fiery-necked Nightjar   25.4.(B) / 02.5.(A) / 12.5.(C) /

-Fork-tailed Drongo   25.4.(A)(B) / 02.5.(A)(B)(C) / 03.5.(B) / 04.5.(C) / 05.5.(C) / 09.5.(C)(D) /

-Freckled Nightjar   08.5.(A) /

-Gabar Goshawk   25.4.(A) / 03.5.(A) /

-Golden-breasted Bunting   05.5.(B) /

-Golden-tailed Woodpecker   05.5.(C) /

-Great Sparrow   25.4.(B) / 02.5.(C) / 08.5.(B) / 09.5.(C) / 10.5.(A) /

-Great Spotted Cuckoo   04.5.(C) /

-Great White Pelican   11.5.(B) /

-Greater Flamingo   11.5.(B) /

-Greater Kestrel   03.5.(B) /

-Greater Striped Swallow   25.4.(A) / 01.5.(A)(D) / 02.5.(B) / 04.5.(C) /

-Green-winged Pytilia   26.4.(A) / 03.5.(B) /

-Grey-backed Camaroptera   02.5.(A) / 05.5.(C) /

-Grey-backed Cisticola   09.5.(D) /

-Grey-backed Sparrowlark   25.4.(A)(B) / 03.5.(B) / 07.5.(C) / 08.5.(B)(C) / 12.5.(B) / 13.5.(B) / 14.5.(B)(C) / 15.5.(B) /

-Grey-headed Gull   11.5.(B) /

-Grey Go-away-bird   27.4.(B) / 01.5.(D) / 05.5.(C) / 06.5.(C) / 09.5.(D) / 10.5.(B) / 14.5.(C) /

-Groundscraper Thrush   01.5.(B) /

-Hartlaub’s Gull   10.5.(C)(D) / 11.5.(B) /

-Hartlaub’s Spurfowl   05.5.(A) / 06.5.(A) /

-Helmeted Guineafowl   25.4.(A) / 01.5.(D) / 05.5.(A)(C) / 07.5.(A) / 10.5.(C) / 15.5.(B) /

-Herero Chat   09.5.(D) /

-House Sparrow   25.4.(A) / 01.5.(B) / 02.5.(B) / 10.5.(C)(D) / 12.5.(B) / 13.5.(A)(B) / 14.5.(C) /

-Kalahari Scrub-Robin   09.5.(D) /

-Kelp Gull   11.5.(B) / 12.5.(A) /

-Kori Bustard   03.5.(B) / 04.5.(C) /

-Lanner Falcon   03.5.(B) /

-Lappet-faced Vulture   02.5.(B) / 03.5.(B) / 12.5.(B) /

-Lark-like Bunting   25.4.(A)(B) / 06.5.(B)(C) / 08.5.(B)(C) / 09.5.(B)(C)(D) / 10.5.(B) / 12.5.(B)(C) / 13.5.(B) / 14.5.(B) / 15.5.(B) /

-Laughing Dove   25.4.(A)(B) / 01.5.(D) / 02.5.(C) / 03.5.(B) / 04.5.(C) / 06.5.(B)(C) / 09.5.(C)(D) / 10.5.(C) / 11.5.(B) / 14.5.(C) / 15.5.(B) /

-Lesser Flamingo   11.5.(B) / 12.5.(B) /

-Lilac-breasted Roller   26.4.(A) / 01.5.(B) / 03.5.(B) / 07.5.(A) /

-Little Egret   11.5.(B) /

-Little Swift   25.4.(A) / 01.5.(C) / 03.5.(B) / 07.5.(A) / 10.5.(B) / 15.5.(B) /

-Long-billed Crombec   04.5.(C) /

-Long-billed Pipit   03.5.(B) / 12.5.(C) /

-*Malachite Kingfisher   06.5.*(C)

-Marico Flycatcher   25.4.(A)(B) / 01.5.(D) / 03.5.(B) / 08.5.(B) / 09.5.(C) / 14.5.(C) /

-Marico Sunbird   25.4.(A)(B) / 01.5.(D) /

-Monteiro Hornbill   05.5.(B) / 09.5.(D) /

-Mountain Wheatear   06.5.(B) / 07.5.(C) / 08.5.(B)(C) / 09.5.(B) / 12.5.(B)(C) / 13.5.(B) / 14.5.(B) / 15.5.(B) /

-Namaqua Dove   25.4.(A)(B) / 02.5.(A)(B)(C) / 04.5.(C) / 06.5.(A)(C) / 09.5.(B)(C)(D) / 10.5.(B) / 13.5.(C) / 14.5.(C) /

-Namaqua Sandgrouse   25.4.(A)(B) / 03.5.(B) / 09.5.(B) / 10.5.(B) / 12.5.(B)(C) / 13.5.(B) / 14.5.(C) / 15.5.(B) /

-Northern Black Korhaan   25.4.(A)(B) / 03.5.(B) / 09.5.(B) /

-Orange River Francolin   02.5.(C) /

-Pale-winged Starling   06.5.(B)(C) / 08.5.(B)(C) / 14.5.(B)(C) / 15.5.(B) /

-Pearl-spotted Owlet   25.4.(A) / 01.5.(D) / 03.5.(A)(B) / 05.5.(C) / 06.5.(C) / 09.5.(D) /

-*Pectoral Sandpiper   11.5.*(B) /

-Pied Avocet   12.5.(B) /

-Pied Crow   03.5.(B) / 12.5.(B) / 13.5.(B) / 15.5.(B) /

-Pririt Batis   26.4.(A) / 01.5.(D) / 02.5.(B)(C) / 03.5.(B) / 05.5.(C) / 06.5.(C) / 09.5.(D) /

-Purple Roller   03.5.(B) /

-Pygmy Falcon   26.4.(A) / 14.5.(C) /

-Red-backed Shrike   26.4.(A) /

-Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver   01.5.(B) /

-Red-billed Hornbill   05.5.(C) / 06.5.(C) /

-Red-billed Quelea   03.5.(B) /

-Red-billed Spurfowl   26.4.(A) / 01.5.(B)(D) / 02.5.(C) / 05.5.(C) / 06.5.(C) / 09.5.(D) /

-Red-billed Teal   04.5.(B) /

-Red-capped Lark   05.5.(B) /

-Red-crested Korhaan   26.4.(A) / 02.5.(C) / 05.5.(B)(C) / 09.5.(D) /

-Red-faced Mousebird   07.5.(A) / 09.5.(C)(D) / 14.5.(B) /

-Red-headed Finch   25.4.(B) / 02.5.(A) /

-Rock Kestrel   25.4.(A) / 07.5.(C) / 09.5.(A) / 14.5.(B) /

-Rock Martin   25.4.(A)(B) / 01.5.(B)(D) / 02.5.(C) / 03.5.(B) / 05.5.(B) / 06.5.(B)(C) / 08.5.(B)(C) / 09.5.(C)(D) / 12.5.(B)(C) / 13.5.(B) / 14.5.(B)(C) / 15.5.(B) /

-Rockrunner   08.5.(A) /

-Rosy-faced Lovebird   26.4.(A) / 06.5.(C) / 09.5.(C) / 14.5.(B)(C) /

-Ruddy Turnstone   11.5.(B) /

-Rüppell’s Korhaan   08.5.(B) / 12.5.(B)(C) / 13.5.(B) / 15.5.(B) /

-Rüppell’s Parrot   05.5.(C) / 06.5.(C) / 09.5.(D) /

-Rufous-eared Warbler   25.4.(B) /

-Sabota Lark   25.4.(A)(B) / 02.5.(C) / 03.5.(B) / 06.5.(A)(B) / 08.5.(B) / 09.5.(D) / 12.5.(C) / 14.5.(B) /

-Scaly-feathered Finch   25.4.(A)(B) / 03.5.(B) / 14.5.(B) / 15.5.(B) /

-Scarlet-chested Sunbird   09.5.(D) /

-Secretarybird   04.5.(B) /

-Shaft-tailed Whydah   25.4.(B) / 03.5.(B) / 10.5.(A) /

-Shikra   25.4.(A) /

-Short-toed Rock-Thrush   02.5.(C) / 04.5.(C) /

-Sociable Weaver   25.4.(A)(B) / 03.5.(B) / 12.5.(B)(C) / 14.5.(B) / 15.5.(B) /

-South African Shelduck   04.5.(B) /

-Southern Black Tit   03.5.(C) / 05.5.(C) /

-Southern Grey-headed Sparrow   25.4.(B) / 01.5.(B)(D) / 02.5.(B)(C) / 08.5.(B) / 09.5.(D) /

-Southern Masked-Weaver   25.4.(B) / 01.5.(D) / 04.5.(A) / 05.5.(C) / 06.5.(B)(C) / 09.5.(C)(D) / 12.5.(B) /

-Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk   25.4.(B) / 27.4.(B) / 02.5.(B) / 03.5.(C) / 04.5.(B) / 06.5.(B) / 09.5.(B) / 15.5.(B) /

-Southern Red Bishop   02.5.(A) /

-Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill   26.4.(A) / 02.5.(B)(C) / 04.5.(B) / 05.5.(C) / 07.5.(A) /

-Speckled Pigeon   06.5.(C) / 08.5.(C) / 11.5.(B) / 12.5.(B) / 13.5.(B) / 14.5.(C) / 15.5.(B)

-Spike-heeled Lark   25.4.(A)(B) /

-Spotted Eagle-Owl   10.5.(A) / 13.5.(A) /

-Spotted Thick-knee   27.4.(B) / 03.5.(A) / 05.5.(A)(B) / 14.5.(C) /

-Stark’s Lark   12.5.(C) /

-Subantarctic Skua   11.5.(B) /

-Swallow-tailed Bee-eater   25.4.(A) / 26.4.(A) / 01.5.(C)(D) / 02.5.(B)(C) / 03.5.(B) / 07.5.(A) /

-Swainson’s Spurfowl   05.5.(C) /

-Swift Tern   11.5.(B) /

-Tawny Eagle   02.5.(B) / 03.5.(B) / 04.5.(C) /

-Three-banded Plover   03.5.(B) / 05.5.(B) / 06.5.(C) /

-Tractrac Chat   06.5.(B) / 09.5.(B) / 15.5.(B) /

-*Verreaux’s Eagle   07.5.(A) / 08.5.*(B) /

-Violet-backed Starling   04.5.(C) /

-Violet-eared Waxbill   25.4.(B) / 04.5.(C) /

-Wattled Starling   26.4.(A) / 01.5.(B) / 03.5.(B) / 06.5.(B) /

-White-backed Mousebird   25.4.(B) / 01.5.(C)(D) / 09.5.(C) / 15.5.(B) /

-White-backed Vulture   26.4.(A) / 27.4.(B) / 02.5.(B) / 03.5.(B) / 12.5.(B) /

-*White-bellied Sunbird   05.5.*(C) /

-White-breasted Cormorant   11.5.(B) /

-White-browed Sparrow-Weaver   25.4.(A)(B) / 01.5.(B)(C) / 02.5.(B)(C) / 03.5.(B) / 04.5.(C) / 05.5.(C) / 06.5.(C) / 08.5.(C) / 09.5.(D) / 14.5.(B) / 15.5.(B) /

-White-fronted Plover   11.5.(B) /

-White-rumped Swift   25.4.(A) / 01.5.(D) / 04.5.(C) /

-*White Stork   04.5.(B)*(C) /

-White-tailed Shrike   09.5.(D) /

-White-throated Swallow   04.5.(B) /

-Yellow Canary   25.4.(B) /

-Yellow-bellied Eremomela   25.4.(B) / 09.5.(B)(C) /

-*Yellow-billed Oxpecker   09.5.0-0*(C) /

Total number of species identified:

178

Enjoy Birding, 

Stefan Rust

Please note: Most scientific information has been taken from Roberts Birds of Southern Africa, V11th edition!

(For further reading see www.birdscontour.blogspot.com)

(For more information contact Stefan Rust on +264 (0)81 129 8415 or birdscontour@iway.na)