| Related sites for http://www.adventures.co.za/trip_bir.htm |
| Worldtwitch_-_Africa_and_Middle_East Collection of detailed trip reports and resources. | | Zambian_Birdlife Details of bird habitats in Zambia and the species found in the various habitats. | | Birding_in_the_Solomon_Islands_by_Jon_Hornbuckle Report of a 1999 birding trip to the Solomon Islands, with details on finding endangered endemic species and on accommodations, permits, and boat hire. | | FijiGuide__Birdwatching Overview of Fiji's bird life. | | Ornithological_Society_of_Polynesia Birds of French Polynesia and conservation programs. | | Ozbirdpix Forum for birders in the Australasian Region to share images. | | Ross_Silcock\'s_Site Birds of the Pacific: A Birder's Checklist and information on New Zealand land and pelagic tours. | | Vanuatu_Birds_Online Photos, calls, distributions, checklists, hot spots, bird watching tips, and a sightings database. | | BirdChat Searchable archives and subscription management for the e-mail discussion group for wild birds, birders, and birding. | | BirdChat_Guidelines Information about the BirdChat e-mail group. | | BirdMail Recent messages from dozens of regional birding e-mail groups. | | ExpeditionBirding E-mail group for discussion of threatened and endemic birds worldwide and expeditions to see them. | | Frontiers_of_Field_ID Archives and subscription management for the e-mail group for discussion of advanced bird identification issues. | | Megabirds E-mail group for news of very rare birds from around the world. | | WorldTwitch_-_Directory_of_Web_Nature_E-mail_Groups Links to web archives of mailing lists about birding, birds, butterflies, dragonflies, and other natural history topics. | | Aves_Bird_Watcher\'s_Log Software for Windows includes world bird list, image collection, trip log, daily diary, and club members list. | | AviSys_Birding_Software Information on database and reporting software for North America and Worldwide birders. | | Better_Birdwatching Videos and software for identifying birds in the western North America. | | Bird_Songs_International Detailed descriptions of CD-ROMs Birds of Bolivia, Birds of Venezuela, and Birds of Tropical Asia. | | BirdBase_Plus_BirdArea Database for entering your worldwide sightings, plus lists of the birds of any major world area. | | Birding_Database Software for recording sightings and producing lists. Multimedia capability; Western Palearctic and World lists. | | BirdSong_Bytes Photos and songs of 136 common birds of Eastern North America. | | EnjoyBirds Information about this digital illustrated guide for identifying birds and bird calls of North and Central America, Hawaii, and the Caribbean. | | Eremaea_Birds On-line personal bird listing with access to a global database. | | Flying_Emu Map List software for North American and world birding lists, plus many links. | | Lanius_Software Products include the North American Bird Reference Book CD-ROM and Lanius Excalibur Bird Life List Utility. | | Pocket_Bird_Recorder Listing software for PocketPC and PalmOS devices. | | Redshank_Software Information on Avendex, a bird sightings database and analysis program for North and South Carolina (Windows and Mac); ClipBird checklist utility. | | Syrinx A program for spectral analysis, editing, and playback of bird sounds. | | Thayer_Birding_Software Popular bird identification and record keeping software, with newsletters, discussion group, and checklists. | | TweetChirp_Assistant Plays bird calls and records sightings on a Windows CE based personal organizer. | | Wildlife_Acoustics Manufactures and markets the Song Sleuth digital birdsong detective, which claims to automatically identifies birds from their songs in the field. | | Wildlife_Computing Bird Recorder 32 and Pocket Bird Recorder programs for keeping track of sightings of birds, butterflies, and dragonflies. | | Wildlife_Recorder Software for keeping bird, butterfly, dragonfly, mammal, and other wildlife sightings organized. Features include report generation and voice sightings entry. | | Wings Macintosh OS X software for managing bird records in a relational database. | | Kathy_and_Walter\'s_Sewing_Items Collection includes a variety of machines, memorabilia and sewing related accessories. | | Krazy_About_Tatting_Shuttles Tatting shuttle information, history, and displaying. | | Linda\'s_Thimbles,_Needlework_Tools_and_Hatpins Collection of antique hatpins, thimbles and needlework tools. | | Rosie\'s_Needle_Book_Museum Collection of sewing needle books used as advertising premiums. | | All_About_Optics Advice about selecting optics for birding and reviews of binoculars and spotting scopes. Sponsored by Eagle Optics. |
|
Magnificent birding in Botswana &
Zimbabwe
For more interesting articles, places to visit, transportation options, etc.
Magnificent birding in Botswana and
Zimbabwe
Botswana - Zimbabwe Overland tour: August/September 1996
Article and photos by Lynette Oxley
A Meyer's Parrot & Green pigeon at Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge in the Okavango Delta
One of the highlights of our three week overland trip to Botswana and Zimbabwe was the prolific
birdlife experienced. From the pretty duets of the Swamp Boubous in the Okavango Delta and the
Linyanti swamps (Chobe National Park) to the baby-like cries of the Trumpeter hornbills on the
mighty Zambezi which produced a birding extravaganza not to be forgotten for a very long time.
Our first overnight spot was at Nata on the edge of the Makgadikgadi Reserve. Nata Lodge is an
ideal birding spot and encourages birds to visit a feeding tray close to the dining room and bar.
We saw a variety of birds visit this tray the next morning before breakfast including an Acacia
Acacia Pied Barbet (Tricholaema leucomelas/Lybius leucomelas), a very tame Yellowbilled
Hornbill (Tockus Flavirostris/Tockus leucomelas) A, Glossy Starlings (Loprotornis nitens),
Steelblue Widowfinches (Vidua chalybeata) and African Redeyed Bulbuls (Pycnonotus nigricans).
They have also compiled a comprehensive bird list for a 20 kilometre radius which are made
available to visitors at the Lodge.
Yellowbilled and Redbilled Hornbills (Tockus erythrorhynchus) were seen in great numbers
throughout our trip in Botswana with the Grey Hornbill (Tockus nasutus) seen less frequently.
Driving through the Makgadikgadi Reserve and Nxai Pans on our way to Gweta we encountered
a variety of birds next to the road. This helped to break the monotony of the trip and included the
beautiful Pintailed Whydah (Vidua macroura), the colourful Lilacbreasted Roller (Coracias
caudata), the Southern Whitecrowned Shrike (Eurocephalus anguitimens), Meve's Longtailed
Starlings (Lamprotornis mevisii), Forktail Drongos (Dicrurus adsimilis) and the Blackbellied
Korhaan (Eupodotis melangaster). The first time I saw the Meve's Longtailed Starling I was
amazed by the birds wonderful colours and its quant group behaviour. We saw large numbers of
these birds throughout Botswana. The Southern Whitecrowned Shrike is a large robust bird and is
the only shrike in the region which have a white crown and forehead. We saw groups of five to six
of these birds in small bushes next to the road.
The afternoon and morning spent at Gweta only produced a few Pied Crows (Corvus albus) and
we went on to Maun from where we flew into Oddball's's Palm Island Luxury Lodge in the
Okavango Delta. Birding in the Delta is absolutely fantastic.
We were greeted at our camping site at Oddball's's by a beautiful Swamp Boubou (Laniarius
bicolor) duet. One bird calls with a whistle while the other one answers with a rattling sound. The
bird who whistles' whole throat expands with the effort of the call. These birds provided hours of
pleasure for us during the trip.
We saw a wide variety of birds at Oddball's camp itself as well as during our mokoro (dugout
canoe) trip into the Delta. Our first and last nights were spent at Oddball's while one night was
spent camping on one of the island in the Delta itself. The mokoro polers/guides have a
reasonable to good knowledge of the birds in the Delta and can be used as a first reference
source. Language and pronunciation sometimes causes problems with identification.
At Oddball's camp we saw African Mourning Doves (Streptopelia decipiens/Casmerodius albus),
Crested Barbet (Trachyphonus vaillantii) [Picture on the left - A Crested Barbet ruffled by the wind], Blackcollared Barbets (Lybius torquatus), Green
Pigeons (Treron calva), Meyer's Parrots (Poicephalus meyeri), Meve's Longtailed Starlings,
Greater Blue-eared Starlings (Lamprotornis chalybaeus), Greenspotted/Emeraldspotted Doves
(Turtur chalcospilos) and Blackeyed Bulbuls (Pycnonotus barbatus).
The sad but beautiful calls (kur-r-r-r-r-r-r) of the African Mourning Dove (Streptopelia decipiens/Casmerodius albus)
greeted us every morning at sunrise and as well as saying goodnight at sunset. African Mourning
Doves is the only collared dove with a totally grey head, yellow eye and distinctive red eye-ring.
A couple of African Green Pigeons (Treron calva) [Picture on left: A good view of the white tip on the Green Pigeon's beak] and Meyer's Parrots (Poicephalus meyeri)
were also "clowning" around on a dead tree stump covered with a creeper right in front of the
Oddball's verandah and provided hours of pleasure. Both the green pigeons and the parrots were,
at times, hanging upside-down [Picture on the right: A Meyer's Parrot hanging upside down] while feeding. Green pigeons are the only green pigeon in the
region and appears very parrot-like with its bright colours and very parrot-like behaviour. The
Meyer's parrots were also perching conspicuously on this dead tree stump and the behaviour was
very similar to those of the green pigeons.
A Greenspotted/Emeraldspotted Dove (Turtur
chalcospilos) also briefly visited the bare ground in front of the Oddball's verandah (where the
mokoros leave from) but were extremely shy. The green spots on the wings are very conspicuous
when the sunlight fall on it.
On our mokoro trip we encountered a wide variety of water and other birdlife including big
groups of Wattled Cranes (Grus carunculata), Spurwing Goose (Plectropterus gambensis),
African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus), Blacksmith Plovers (Vanellus armatus), Black Crake
(Amaurornis flavirostris), Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath), Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides),
Little Bee-eaters (Merops Pusillus), Little Egret (Egretta garzetta), Great White Egret (Egretta
alba/Casmerodius albus), Coppertail Coucal (Centropus cupreicaudus), Senegal/Fleck's Coucal
(Centropus senegalensis), African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer), Lilacbreasted Rollers (Coracias
caudata), Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis), Heuglin's Robin (Cossypha heuglini), Lapettfaced
Vultures (Torgos tracheliotus), African Longtailed Shrike (Corvinella melanoleuca),
Arrowmarked Babbler (Turdoides jardineii), as well as the other birds also seen at the Lodge
itself.
Birdwatching on mokoros is extremely relaxing and this quite mode of transport provides one
with an ideal opportunity to get close to the birds. The mokoro polers/guides also have an
excellent knowledge of the Delta, and knows the good birding spots and where to find particular
birds.
Picture above: Large numbers of Wattled Cranes in flight
We saw the Wattled Cranes in big groups, always with a couple of Spurwing Geese and
speculated on the possibility of a symbiotic relationship between these birds. The Wattled Cranes
were extremely wary and we couldn't get very close to these groups. When our mokoros
approached the Wattled Cranes, also sometimes in the company of Red Lechwe, the birds and
buck took of rapidly with a great noise in the air as well as in the water.
Picture above: Taking flight: Wattled Cranes and Red Lechwe flee from the
approaching Mokoros
At our campsite on one of the islands we spotted a variety of small forest birds as well as
Arrowmarked Babblers and Meve's Longtailed Starlings. During our siesta time, the afternoon
after setting up camp, I watched a Heuglin's Robin hopping and feeding around on the ground in
the dense riverine thickets. This bird's song has variable crescendo phrases starting with soft
notes, becoming harder and faster and then ending suddenly. The song sounds like "it's-up-to-you, it's-up-to-you, up-to you, UP-TO-YOU" or "think-of-it, think-of-it, THINK-OF-IT".
According to Robert's this bird is one of the best avian singers in the world. Sometimes these
birds sing in duet and are also good mimics of other birds.
Another experience worth mentioning happened on our way back to Oddball's in the Mokoros.
The Mokoro polers/guides took some leftover fresh fish from our black bream breakfast which
they threaded with reeds to make it float. They literally then called some African Fish Eagles that
swooped down in front of our Mokoros to retrieve the fish.
After Oddball's we flew back to Maun from where we started our journey to Third Bridge in
Moremi Wildlife Reserve. On our way we passed a great number of small groups of Kurrichane
Buttonquail (Turnix sylvatica) scratching in the dry leaves and grass next to the road. Their call is
a deep hooting "hoom-hoom-hoom" at 2 second intervals. This very small quail walks slowly on
tiptoes with jerky steps and the body rocks forwards and backwards. As elsewhere in Botswana
we saw large numbers of Yellowbilled and Redbilled Hornbills. These comical birds become very
tame around the camp and one particular bird visited us every day at our campsite at Third
Bridge.
Third Bridge produced some of our best birding of the trip. This included Marabou Storks
(Leptoptilos crumeniferus), Blue Waxbill (Uraeginthus angolensis) [Picture on the right: A
Blue Waxbill in Moremi Game Reserve], Namaqua doves (Oena capensis), Harlaub's Babblers (Turdoides hartlaubii),
Arrowmarked Babbler (Turdoides jardineii),
Crimsonbreasted Shrikes (Laniarius attroccineus), Pinbacked Pelicans (Pelecanus rufescens),
Longtailed Shrikes (Cornvinella melanoleuca), African Spoonbills (Platalea alba), Ground
Hornbills (Bucorvus leadbeateri), Yellowbilled Storks (Mycteria ibis), Helmeted Guineafowl
(Numida meleagris), Grey Louries (Corythaixoides concolor), Senegal Coucal (Centropus
senegalensis), Lilacbreasted Rollers (Coracias caudata), Redbilled Woodhoopoes (Phoeniculus
purpureus), African Hoopoe (Upupa africana/Upupa epops) and Blackcollared Barbet's (Lybius
torquatus).
On the road from our campsite to the ablution blocks at Third Bridge we saw large groups of
Blue Waxbills and always at a particular spot a Crimsonbreasted Shrike foraging on the ground.
Blue Waxbills always have an urgent, busy call note and the birds around the campsite were quite
tame.
On one game viewing excursion at Third Bridge my attention was drawn to the shrill piping calls
("tlee-teeooo) of several Longtailed Shrikes [Picture on the left: A couple of Longtailed Shrikes
close to Mokushumu pans in Moremi Game Reserve] sitting at the top of a bush.
Later that day coming
back towards Third Bridge we also had the privilege of seeing a Marabou Stork [Picture on the right::
A Marabou Stork at Labala Pan in Moremi], a pair of
Pinbacked Pelicans, an African Spoonbill and a Yellowbilled Stork at Labala Pan just before Third
Bridge.
The Marabou Stork is a large, unusual looking bird and the bird that we saw was standing
still for long periods, not very active at all. These storks are mostly scavengers but sometimes
forages for insects in grasslands. Diet is quite interesting and according to Robert's includes
carrion, refuse, rodents, insects, birds (includes quelea and even adult flamingo), fish (up to 450
grams), young crocodiles, lizards, snakes and frogs. Another interesting fact about this bird is that
defecates on its legs to regulate its body temperature and this usually makes the legs seem white. [Picture
on the left: Note the white on the legs of this Marabou Stork in Moremi]
It was also unusual to see a solitary Yellowbilled Stork [Picture on the right: A juvenile Yellowbilled Stork
at Labala Pan in Moremi Game Reserve] in this group, because these birds usually
occurs in groups. We also saw a solitary African Spoonbill [Picture on the right: An African Spoonbill
at Labala Pan in Moremi Game Reserve] which derived their names from the
distinctive shape of their bills. It wades in swallow water while sweeping this spoonlike bill from
side to side sifting for food.
Pinbacked Pelicans are large greyish birds and usually forages singly or in pairs (not in co-ordinated groups)
like the birds in the picture are doing. They eat
fish up to 400 grams but their prey is usually smaller than that of the White Pelican (Pelecanus onocrotalus). [Picture
on the left: A pair of Pinbacked Pelicans at Labala Pan in Moremi Game Reserve - late afternoon]. Breeding
takes place in Northern Botswana as well as Lake St Lucia from June to January in large breeding colonies.
Our next stop was Savuti in the Chobe National Park where the highlight of our visit was the two
juvenile Barred Owls (Glaucidium capense) [Picture on the right:
A Barred Owl against a backdrop of ligth in Savuti] we saw close to our camp. This is a small owl with no eartufts. Two ladies in our camp was alerted to their presence by their repeated high-pitched calls of purr purr piu piu piu piu which rises in volume which sounds somewhat like a Cape Turtle dove. There are also a 2-sullabled slightly trilled prr-purr, prr-purr sound followed by a soft twoo, twoo, twoo.
A Barred Owl staring at the photographer
We also saw a Kori Bustard (Ardeotis kori) and a Stanley's Bustard
(Neotis denhami) on one of our game drives. The Kori Bustard [Picture on the left:
A Kori Bustard in the grassplanes of Savuti] is the largest bustard in the
Southern Africa region and the male is the world's heaviest flying bird. In some part of their range
bee-eaters eat insects from the back of these birds. Stanley's Bustard is very shy and wary and
walks away quickly when disturbed.
The next stop in the Chobe National Park was the Linyanti swamps which forms the border
between Botswana and Namibia and after the dusty dry Savuti the call of the Swamp Boubou next
to the Linyanti river rejuvenated me. A variety of birds were seen here including the Little Bee-eater (Merops pusillus), Namaqua dove (Oena capensis), Emeraldspotted/Greenspotted Dove
(Turtur chalcospilos), Redbilled Quelea (Quelea quelea), Greater Blue-eared Starlings
(Lamprotornis chalybaeus), Arrowmarked Babblers (Turdoides jardineii), Coqui Francolin
(Francolinus coqui), Golden Weavers (Ploceus xanthops) and Blackeyed Bulbuls (Pycnonotus
barbatus).
The Crested Francolin is a small francolin and has a distinct capped appearance and a broad white eybrow stripe which, combined with its freckled neck and breast, distinguish it. When agitated it raises its crest and cocks its tail like a bantan, and is the only francolin to do so. [Picture above:
A Crested Francolin in Linyanti swamps (Chobe National Park).
Next to the Linyanti river we saw big groups of Greater Blue-eared Starlings and Arrowmarked
Babblers. [Picture above: An Arrowmarked Babbler foraging at Linyanti swamps] Both types of birds are characterful birds with bold mannerisms. Arrowmarked
Babblers are very noisy birds and their calls are a nasal whirring crescendo with many birds
calling 'ra-ra-ra-ra' or a harsh 'chak-chak-chak-chak'. They are usually in big noisy groups and
forages on the ground, jumping and clambering through the undergrowth rustling the leaves as
they go. We saw large numbers of these birds around our Linyanti campsite. Greater Blue-eared
Starlings are also very gregarious and also forages by running about on the ground. [Picture
on the left: A Greater Blue-eared Starling scractchin in the dry grass: Linyanti swamps]
The Golden Weaver is a beautiful colourful bird and is uncommon resident and the particular bird
in the photo was found next to the Linyanti river.
We also saw a pair of Little Bee-eaters waiting for insects on the same bush behind our tent
and sometimes even in the camps rubbish tip. This is the smallest of the Bee-eaters in the region
and they usually hawks insects from a perch. [See pictures above and right]
A Bearded Woodpecker (Thripias namaquus) were also spotted hammering at a small tree next to the
Linyanti river while large numbers of Rebilled Quelea (Quelea quelea) also gathered in the late
afternoon with a flurry of activity.
From Linyanti we took the cutline road up to the main road to Kachikau and Kasane from where
we went through to Victoria Falls in Zimbabwe. On the mighty Zambezi river we saw and heard a
variety of birds of which the sighting of African Skimmers (Rynchops flavirostris) were the
highlight. We saw a big group of these birds during an one day canoe safari, north of Victoria
Falls. This tern-like bird has a large red bill, with the lower jaw much longer than the upper. These
birds are extremely wary and not easily approached. We got relatively close to them because of
our silent mode of transport in the canoes. They feed by flying over the water with the lower jaw
dipped just below the surface of the water and cutting a narrow wake. The bird then returns on
the same course and snaps the bill closed as the food is swept up.
Other birds seen on the Zambezi river included Whitebreasted (Great) Cormorant (Phalacrocorax
carbo), Reed Cormorant (Phalacrocorax africanus), Darters (Anhinga melanogaster), Goliath
Heron (Ardea goliath), Great White Egret (Casmerodius albus/Egretta Alba), Greenbacked Heron
(Butorides striatus), Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta), Oppenbilled Storks (Anastomus lamelligerus),
Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus), Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiacus), Yellowbilled
Kites (Milvus aegyptius/Milvus migrans), Black Crake (Amaurornis flavirostris), Whitecrowned
Plovers (Vanellus albiceps), Water Dikkop (Burhinus vermiculatus), Pygmy Kingfishers (Ispidina
picta), Pied Kingfishers (Ceryle rudis), Giant Kingfishers (Ceryle maxima), Malachite Kingfisher
(Alcedo cristata), Brownhooded Kingfisher (Halcyon albiventris/Halcyon leucocephala), Little
Bee-eater (Merops pusillus), Whitefronted Bee-eater (Merops bullockoides), Trumpeter Hornbill
(Bycanistes bucinator), Blackcollored Barbets (Lybius torquatus), Black-eyed Bulbul (Pyconotus
barbatus layardi), African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus), African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus
vocifer) and African Pied Wagtails (Motacilla aguimp).
The Trumpeter Hornbill (Bycanistes bucinator) is similar to the Siverycheeked Hornbill
(Bycanistes brevis) but in smaller proportions. We heard the baby-like cries of the bird throughout
our stay in Victoria Falls. The call is a combination of braying, laughing, trumpeting (from there
the name), squealing and wailing in a rapid staccato. These calls often take place in groups,
espcially at dawn and dusk.
Another interesting bird was the only all-black Stork in the region namely the Openbilled Stork.
The bill is large with a distinct gap in the middle and is used to grasp mollusc shells and then the
lower jaw is used and inserted into the snail shell to extract the content. We saw large numbers of
these birds next to the Zambezi river and on small islands in the middle of the river.
The best birding at Victoria Falls is done on canoes (either canoe safaris - one or multi day or
Royal Drifts) because with this mode of transport one can get quite close to the birds without
disturbing them. For example we got very close to Water Dikkop which were nesting on the little
islands on the river. This bird is quite vocal during the day although it is mostly crepuscular and
nocturnal.
A trip into the Okavango Delta, Moremi Game Reserve, Chobe National Park and Victoria Falls
is well worth it. For organised general overland tours covering these areas please see our
Drifters
page. For canoeing on the Zambezi please see our Frontiers and Shearwater pages.
A Comprehensive list of the birds seen on our Botswana/Zimbabwe trip
August/September 1996
Common Name
Scientific name
Places seen
(in and around the specific places)
Country
Arrowmarked
Babbler
Turdoides jardineii
1)Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
2)Savuti (Chobe National Park)
3)Linyanti swamps (Chobe National Park)
4)Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
BotswanaHartlaub's
Babbler
Turdoides harlaubii
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Wildlife Reserve)
BotswanaBlackcollared
Barbet
Lybius torquatus
1) Nata Lodge (Nata)
2) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango
Delta)
3) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
Botswana
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweCrested
Barbet
Trachyphonus vaillantii
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
BotswanaPied (Acacia)
Barbet
Tricholaema leucomelas
Lybeus leucomelas
1) Nata Lodge (Nata)
BotswanaLittle
Bee-eater
Merops pusillus
1) Linyanti swamps (Chobe National Park)
Botswana
1) Victoria falls
ZimbabweWhitefronted
Bee-eater
Merops bullockoides
1) Victoria falls
ZimbabweSwamp
Boubou
Laniarius bicolor
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
2) Linyanti Swamps (Chobe National Park)
BotswanaAfrican Redeyed
Bulbul
Pycnonotus nigricans
1) Nata Lodge (Nata)
2) Linyanti Swamps (Chobe National Park)
BotswanaBlackeyed (common)
Bulbul
Pycnonotus barbatus
1) Nata Lodge (Nata)
2) Linyanti Swamps (Chobe National Park)
BotswanaKori
Bustard
Ardeotis kori
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
2) Savuti (Chobe National Park)
BotswanaStanley's
Bustard
Neotis denhami
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
2) Savuti (Chobe National Park)
BotswanaKurrichane (small)
Buttonquail
Turnix sylvatica
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
BotswanaReed
Cormorant
Phalacrocorax africanus
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweWhitebreasted (great)
Cormorant
Phalacrocorax carbo
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweCoppertailed
Coucal
Centropus cupreicaudus
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
BotswanaSenegal
Coucal
Centropus senegalensis
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
2) Third Bridge (Moreme Game Reserve)
BotswanaBlack
Crake
Amaurornis flavirostris
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
Botswana
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweWattled
Crane
Grus carunculata
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
2) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
BotswanaPied
Crow
Corvus albus
1) Nata Lodge (Nata)
2) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
3) Maun
4) Savuti (Chobe National Park)
Botswana
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweAfrican
Darter
Anhinga melanogaster
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweWater
Dikkop
Burhinus vermiculatus
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweAfrican Mourning
Dove
Streptopelia decipiens
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
2) Linyanti Swamps (Chobe National Park)
BotswanaCape Turtle
Dove
Streptopelia capicola
1) Nata Lodge (Natal)
2) Linyanti Swamps (Chobe National Park)
Botswana
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweGreenspotted
/Emeraldspotted
Dove
Turtur chalcospilos
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
2) Linyanti swamps (Chobe National Park)
BotswanaLaughing (Palm)
Dove
Streptopelia sengalensis
1) Linyanti swamps (Chobe National Park)
Botswana
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweNamaqua
Dove
Oena capensis
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
2) Savuti (Chobe National Park)
3) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango
Delta)
BotswanaForktailed
Drongo
Dicrurus adsimilis
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
2) Savuti (Chobe National Park)
3) Linyanti swamps (Chobe National Park)
4) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
BotswanaAfrican Fish
Eagle
Haliaeetus vocifer
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
Botswana
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweGreat white
Egret
Casmerodius albus
Egretta alba
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
Botswana
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweLittle
Egret
Egretta garzetta
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
BotswanaJameson's
Firefinch
Lagonosticta rhodopareia
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
BotswanaRedbilled
Firefinch
Lagonosticta senegala
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
BotswanaCoqui
Francolin
Francolinus coqui
1) Linyanti swamps (Chobe National Park)
BotswanaSwainson's
Francolin
Francolinus swainsonii
1) Linyanti swamps (Chob National Park)
BotswanaSpurwinged
Goose
Plectropterus gambensis
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
BotswanaEgyptian
Goose
Alopochen aegyptiacus
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
Botswana
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweHelmeted
Guineafowl
Numida meleagris
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
2) Savuti (Chobe National Park)
BotswanaHamerkop
Hamerkop
Scopus umbretta
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweGoliath
Heron
Ardea goliath
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweGreenbacked
(Striated)
Heron
Butorides striatus
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabwePurple
Heron
Ardea purpurea
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweGreenbacked
(Striated)
Heron
Butorides striatus
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweSquacco (common)
Heron
Ardeola ralloides
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
BotswanaAfrican
Hoopoe
Upupa africana
1) Savuti (Chobe National Park)
2) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
BotswanaGrey
Hornbill
Tockus nasutus
1) Nata Lodge (Nata)
2) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
3) Savuti (Chobe National Park)
4) Linyanti swamps (Chobe National Park)
BotswanaGround
Hornbill
Bucorvus leadbeateri
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
2) Savuti (Chobe National Park)
Redbilled
Hornbill
Tockus erythrorhynchus
1) Nata Lodge (Nata)
2) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
3) Savuti (Chobe National Park)
4) Linyanti swamps (Chobe National Park)
BotswanaTrumpeter
Hornbill
Bycanistes bucinator
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweYellowbilled
(Southern)
Hornbill
Tockus leucomelas
Tockus albiventris
1) Nata Lodge (Nata)
2) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
3) Savuti (Chobe National Park)
4) Linyanti swamps (Chobe National Park)
BotswanaSacred
Ibis
Threskiornis aethiopicus
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweAfrican
Jacana
Actophilornis africanus
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
BotswanaBrownhooded
Kingfisher
Halcyon leucocephala
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweGiant
Kingfisher
Ceryle maxima
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweGreyhooded
Kingfisher
Halcyon leucocephala
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
BotswanaPied
Kingfisher
Ceryle rudis
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
2) Linyanti swamps (Chobe National Park)
Botswana
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweMalachite
Kingfisher
Alcedo cristata
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
Botswana
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabwePygmy
Kingfisher
Ispidina picta
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
Botswana
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweYellowbilled
Kite
Milvus aegyptius
Milvus migrans
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweBlackbellied
Korhaan
Eupodotis melanogaster
1) Between Nata & Maun
BotswanaGrey
Lourie
Corythaixoides concolor
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
2) Savuti (Chobe National Park)
3) Linyanti swamps (Chobe National Park)
Botswana
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweOstrich
Ostrich
Struchio camelus
1) Nata Lodge (Nata)
2) Moremi Game Reserve
BotswanaPearlspotted
Owl
Glaucidium perlatum
1) Savuti (Chobe National Park)
BotswanaRedbilled
Oxpecker
Buphagus erythrorhunchus
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
2) Savuti (Chobe National Park)
BotswanaMeyer's
Parrot
Poicephalus meyeri
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
BotswanaPinbacked
Pelican
Pelecanus rufescens
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
BotswanaGreen
Pigeon
Treron calva
1) Odball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
BotswanaBlacksmith
Plover
Vanellus armatus
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
Botswana
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweCrowned
Plover
Vanellus coronatus
1) Between Nata and Gweta
2) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
BotswanaWhitecrowned
Plover
Vanellus albiceps
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweRedbilled
Quelea
Quelea quelea
1) Linyanti swamps (Chobe National Park)
BotswanaHeuglin's
Robin
Cossypha heuglini
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
BotswanaLilacbreasted
Roller
Coracias caudata
1) Throughout
BotswanaAfrican Longtailed
Shrike
Corvinella melanoleuca
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
2) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
BotswanaCrimsonbreasted
Shrike
Laniarius atrococcineus
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
BotswanaGreyheaded Bush
Shrike
Malaconotus banchoti
1) Linyanti swamps (Chobe National Park)
BotswanaSouthern
Whitecrowned
Shrike
Eurocephalus anguitimens
1) Nata Lodge (Nata)
2) Between Nata - Gweta and Maun
3) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
BotswanaAfrican
Skimmer
Rhynchops flavirostris
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweAfrican
Spoonbill
Platalea alba
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
BotswanaGlossy
Starling
Lamprotornis nitens
1) Nata Lodge (Nata)
BotswanaGreater Blue-eared
Starling
Lamprotornis chalybaeus
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
2) Linyanti swamps (Chobe National Park)
BotswanaMeve's Longtailed
Starling
Lamprotornis mevesii
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
2) Savuti (Chobe National Park)
3) Linyanti swamps (Chobe National Park)
4) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
BotswanaAfrican Openbilled
Stork
Anastomus lamelligerus
1) Victoria Falls
ZimbabweSaddlebilled
Stork
Ephippiorhynchus
senegalensis
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
2) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
BotswanaMarabou
Stork
Leptoptilos crumeniferus
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
BotswanaYellowbilled
Stork
Mycteria ibis
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
2) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
BotswanaKurrichane
Thrush
Turdus libonyana
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
2) Linyanti swamps (Chobe National Park)
BotswanaCape
Vulture
Gyps coprotheres
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
BotswanaLappetfaced
Vulture
Torgos tracheliotus
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
2) Oddballs Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
BotswanaPalmnut
Vulture
Gypohierax angolensis
1) North of Gweta
BotswanaAfrican Pied
Wagtail
Motacilla aguimp
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
BotswanaCape
Wagtail
Motacilla capensis
1) Oddball's Palm Island Luxury Lodge (Okavango Delta)
BotswanaBlue
Waxbill
Uraeginthus angolensis
1) Third Bridge (Moremi Game Reserve)
2) Linyanti swamps (Chobe National Park)
BotswanaGolden
Weaver
Ploceus xanthops
1) Linyanti swamps (Chobe National Park)
BotswanaPintailed
Whydah
Vidua macroura
1) Makgadikgadi Reserve (on the road)
BotswanaSteelblue
Widowfinch
Vidua chalybeata
1) Nata Lodge (Nata)
BotswanaRedbilled
Woodhoopoe
Phoeniculus purpureus
1) Nata Lodge (Nata)
BotswanaBearded
Woodpecker
Thripias namaquus
1) Linyanti swamps (Chobe National Park)
Botswana
* Areas include a wide kilometre range in and around these places eg. Third Bridge includes a
large area in Moremi Game Reserve.
E-mail us for more information or comments:
Drifters 16 Day Overland Tour.
|
|
