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Our 2012 Namibia & Botswana tour followed our well-tried route and once again gave us all possible Namibian endemics (and near-endemics), plus simply wonderful looks at Wattled Crane and Pel's Fishing Owl in the Okavango Delta - two of the regions most sought after birds! We also enjoyed some great mammals, with close up Black Rhino and Elephants at Etosha, the unusual Dassie Rat at Erongo, and Serval, Leopard, and the rare Hunting (Wild) Dog in the Okavango Delta.
The tour began in fine style with almost 90 species being seen just around Windhoek itself. Highlights included flocks of South African Shelduck, African Hawk-Eagle, Gray Go-away-bird, Pearl-spotted Owlet (the first of many), Bradfield's Swift, White-backed Mousebird, Pririt Batis, Crimson-breasted Gonolek (just stunning), Ashy Tit, Black-fronted Bulbul, Rufous-vented Warbler, Kalahari Scrub-Robin, Scaly Weaver, the gorgeous Violet-eared Waxbill, and 'out of this world' Shaft-tailed Whydah.
Heading south-west from Windhoek we stopped at a small dam near Guisis, picking up Cape Shoveler and Moccoa Duck, and then, as we entered the more arid country, Pale Chanting-Goshawk, Kori and White-quilled bustards, and our first Chat Flycatchers.
We then had two nights in the Namib Naukluft Desert, and a day trip to the huge red sand dunes at Sossusvlei. Having experienced almost three years of record rains, the normally arid desert was now a vast grassland, with scattered herds of Gemsbok and Springbok throughout. Our main target bird here was Dune Lark, which performed very well and in record time, and we also enjoyed Ostrich, Secretary-bird, Pygmy Falcon, Burchell's Courser, Ludwig's and Rueppell's bustards, and several large flocks of Namaqua Sandgrouse.
Continuing on, we then headed north-west to Walvis Bay at the coast, but not before a stop at the Tropic of Capricorn, where we had good looks at Tractrac Chat, the rather uncommon Yellow-rumped (Karoo) Eremomela, and distant herds of Mountain Zebra. The coast itself was marvellous, with huge numbers of shorebirds wheeling around over the Walvis Bay tidal flats. Greater Flamingo, Cape and Crowned cormorants, Hartlaub's and Kelp (Cape) gulls, Damara Tern, Gray's Lark, and Orange River White-eye were other highlights, and we even had time to see the strange Welwitschia plants in their special reserve near Swakopmund.
An early start for the hinterland then took us to Spitzkoppe and a search for one of Namibia's most localized endemic birds- it was tough this year, but eventually we were all rewarded with some of our closest views ever of a pair of Herero Chats. Continuing on, we then found a pair of the uncommon Rueppell's Parrots before arriving at the delightful Erongo Wilderness Camp for a two night stay. And what a great place Erongo is, with Hartlaub's Francolin, Rosy-faced Lovebird (dozens), Monteiro's Hornbill, White-tailed Shrike, Carp's Tit, Rockrunner, and Short-toed Rock-Thrush, all just around the camp. An afternoon walk in a nearby dry river bed produced a troop of Chacma Baboons, Banded Mongoose, Warthog, a magnificent male Greater Kudu, and about 20 Gemsbok. While at the camp itself, Rock Hyrax and a few of the localised Dassie Rats were rarely out of sight.
The next part of our tour took us north to Etosha and then to near Rundu on the border with Angola. By driving slowly, and watching for birds and mammals along the way, it took us two days to travel just half the length of Etosha park, but it was well worth it, with just a few of the highlights being White-backed and Lappet-faced vultures, Greater Kestrel, the beautiful Blue Crane, Temminck's and Double-banded coursers, Double-banded Sandgrouse, African Scops-Owl, Verreaux's Eagle-Owl, Violet Woodhoopoe, Southern Red-billed Hornbill, White Helmetshrike, Pink-billed Lark, Desert Cisticola, Black-faced Babbler, Groundscraper Thrush, and Eastern Paradise-Whydah. While the most memorable mammal encounters included some close up African Elephant, about 5000 Burchell's Zebra, two Black Rhino,
Common Giraffe, Hartebeest, and Wildebeest. However, perhaps the most unusual incident we saw was a Springbok falling into a drinking trough and then being killed by three Black-backed Jackals as it finally emerged.
As the drive to Rundu is long, we first spent a night at Uris, an hours drive outside Etosha park, and it was here we had great looks at yet another near-endemic: the attractive Bare-cheeked Babbler. But then it was on to Rundu (with an unexpected Slaty Egret at a roadside pool along the way), and then some excellent birding along the Okavango River. White-faced Whistling-Duck, African Openbill, Dwarf Bittern, Rufous-bellied Heron, Long-toed and Wattled lapwings, Lesser Jacana, Coppery-tailed Coucal, Malachite and Giant kingfishers, Gabon (Swamp) Boubou, and Hartlaub's Babbler were all seen well.
Our last stop in Namibia was right on the Botswana border at Mahango Game Reserve. As usual this little park was teaming with birdlife from Spur-winged Goose and Greater Painted-snipe in the the flooded grasslands, to Meyer's Parrot and Retz's Helmetshrike in the woodlands, with White-backed Vulture and Bateleur overhead. It was great for mammals too, with more elephants, Lechwe, Reedbuck, and four uncommon Roan Antelope.
The Botswana part of our tour took place at three lodges this year, begining as always at Xaro in the Pan Handle. Without doubt the highlight for every one was our spectacular views of Pel's Fishing-Owl, watched for over fifteen minutes, and at times facing us right in the sun. That was not all though, because we also enjoyed African Pygmy-Goose, African Marsh-Harrier, African Green-Pigeon, African Wood-Owl, numerous White-fronted Bee-eaters, Pearl-breasted Swallow, Chirping Cisticola, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, and Brown Firefinch.
We then took a charter flight for about one hour south, deep into the heart of the Okavango Delta, staying first at Stanley's Camp and then at their sister camp - Chief's. Both brought us some serious top-notch luxury, especially when considering the remoteness of these camps. And at both places we drove the sandy tracks in open-sided 4X4 vehicles enjoying the vastness of the landscape, virtually no other vehicles, and a wonderful range of mammals and birds that included Swainson's Francolin, Saddle-billed Stork, Dickinson's Kestrel, Small Buttonquail, Senegal Coucal, Bennett's Woodpecker, Magpie Shrike, and Purple Indigobird. Perhaps the most memorable bird though was the stately Wattled Crane, while Spotted Hyaena with a tiny baby, Serval, Hunting Dog, and Leopard all tied for first place on our mammal list.
All in all, it was a fun and memorable trip, and I thank you all for joining me, and I look forward to seeing each of you on another tour in the near future.
--Terry
For more information about this tour, including future departures, visit our website at www.fieldguides.com. And to see this same triplist online, go to https://fieldguides.com/triplists/nam12LIST.pdf and you will find the list in its entirety.
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for
individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I =
introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b =
boreal migrant
BIRDS
Struthionidae (Ostrich)
OSTRICH (Struthio
camelus) – Fifty in the Namib
Naukluft Desert NP, and about 140 at Etosha. Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCK (Dendrocygna viduata) – About 100 at both Hakusembe and Mahango
GR, and then about 25 near Stanley's Camp. WHITE-BACKED DUCK
(Thalassornis leuconotus) – Two were seen by some of the group at
Chief's Camp.
COMB DUCK (Sarkidiornis melanotos) – A total of 7 were seen at Hakusembe and
in the Mahango reserve.
EGYPTIAN GOOSE
(Alopochen aegyptiaca) – Common and widespread at wetlands
throughout the tour; in all we saw about 1200.
SOUTH AFRICAN
SHELDUCK (Tadorna cana)
– About 60 at the Windhoek Sewage Works
and 50 at Guisis.
SPUR-WINGED GOOSE
(Plectropterus gambensis) – About 100 at Mahango GR, and 1 near
Stanley's Camp.
AFRICAN
PYGMY-GOOSE (Nettapus auritus)
– Ten (all in flight) near Xaro and
then 2 at Chief's Camp.
AFRICAN BLACK DUCK
(Anas sparsa) – Three at Windhoek Sewage Works (where it
is considered to be very uncommon).
CAPE SHOVELER
(Anas smithii) – About 15 at Guisis.
RED-BILLED DUCK
(Anas erythrorhyncha) – The most common and widespread duck in
Namibia; in all we saw about 700.
HOTTENTOT TEAL
(Anas hottentota) – Four at Windhoek Sewage Works and 2 near
Chief's Camp.
CAPE TEAL (Anas capensis) – Small numbers at Windhoek Sewage Works
and Guisis, and about 60 at Etosha.
Numididae (Guineafowl)
HELMETED GUINEAFOWL (Numida meleagris) – Common in a variety of bushed grassland
throughout the tour; in all we saw about 250. Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and
Allies)
HARTLAUB'S FRANCOLIN (Francolinus hartlaubi) – Great looks at 5 of these very localised
endemic francolins near Erongo Wilderness Lodge. [E] RED-BILLED
FRANCOLIN (Francolinus
adspersus) – Widespread in
bushed grasslands; in all we saw about 160.
SWAINSON'S
FRANCOLIN (Francolinus
swainsonii) – About 40 in the
Stanley's Camp area.
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
LITTLE GREBE (Tachybaptus ruficollis) – Widespread on a variety of wetlands
thoughout the tour, with a total of about 65. EARED GREBE
(Podiceps nigricollis) – Ten at the Walvis Bay Salt Works.
Phoenicopteridae (Flamingos)
GREATER FLAMINGO (Phoenicopterus roseus) – About 80 at the Walvis Bay Salt Works.
Ciconiidae (Storks)
AFRICAN OPENBILL (Anastomus lamelligerus) – About 50 at Hakusembe, another 50 in the
Xaro area, and 40 near Stanley's Camp. ABDIM'S STORK
(Ciconia abdimii) – Four at the Okaukuejo waterhole in
Etohsa.
SADDLE-BILLED
STORK (Ephippiorhynchus
senegalensis) – Great looks
at 5 in the Stanley's Camp area.
MARABOU STORK
(Leptoptilos crumeniferus) – Twenty-four were to the south-west of
Windhoek, 3 at Etosha, 6 near Stanley's Camp, and 2 near
Chief's Camp.
YELLOW-BILLED
STORK (Mycteria ibis) – One in the Stanley's Camp area.
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
GREAT CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax carbo) – Four at the Windhoek Sewage Works and
about 30 in the Walvis Bay area. CAPE CORMORANT
(Phalacrocorax capensis) – At least 5000 in the Walvis Bay to
Swakopmund area.
LONG-TAILED
CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax
africanus) – Seen on a
variety of fresh water wetlands throughout the tour; in all
we saw about 140.
CROWNED CORMORANT
(Phalacrocorax coronatus) – About 30 in front of our hotel at Walvis
Bay, and 3 at the guano platform.
Anhingidae (Anhingas)
AFRICAN DARTER (Anhinga rufa rufa) – Widespread at wetlands throughout the
tour, with a total of about 140. Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
GREAT WHITE PELICAN (Pelecanus onocrotalus) – Four at Windhoek Sewage Works, 3 at
Guisis, and about 300 at Walvis Bay. Scopidae (Hamerkop)
HAMERKOP (Scopus
umbretta) – One at Windhoek
Sewage Works, and 11 at various sites in the Okavango Delta.
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
LITTLE BITTERN (Ixobrychus minutus) – One flew across the river near Xaro Camp.
DWARF BITTERN
(Ixobrychus sturmii) – One briefly on the way to Rundu and then
good looks at 1 at Hakusembe.
GRAY HERON
(Ardea cinerea) – Widespread at wetlands throughout the
tour.
BLACK-HEADED HERON
(Ardea melanocephala) – One at the Windhoek Sewage Works.
PURPLE HERON
(Ardea purpurea) – Singles at Windhoek Sewage Works, and one
near Xaro Lodge.
GREAT EGRET
(Ardea alba) – One at Mahango GR.
INTERMEDIATE EGRET
(Mesophoyx intermedia) – Singles near Rundu, Stanley's Camp, and
Chief's Camp.
LITTLE EGRET
(Egretta garzetta) – About 60 at Walvis Bay, 20 at Hakusembe,
30 at Mahango GR, and 1 near Chief's Camp.
SLATY EGRET
(Egretta vinaceigula) – One 150 kms. south of Rundu and 2 at
Mahango GR - a very localised endemic.
CATTLE EGRET
(Bubulcus ibis) – Common and widespread away from arid
desert areas.
SQUACCO HERON
(Ardeola ralloides) – Two near Xaro Lodge.
RUFOUS-BELLIED
HERON (Ardeola rufiventris)
– Singles at Hakusembe and near Chief's
Camp.
STRIATED HERON
(Butorides striata) – About 45 from Hakusembe easterly to the
Okavango Delta.
BLACK-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax
nycticorax) – We saw a single
adult at Windhoek Sewage Works.
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
GLOSSY IBIS (Plegadis falcinellus) – Two south of Rundu and 2 near Chief's
Camp. SACRED IBIS
(Threskiornis aethiopicus) – About 30 in Johannesburg, 2 in Windhoek,
1 at Rundu, and 4 near Stanley's Camp.
HADADA IBIS
(Bostrychia hagedash) – Six in Johannesburg.
AFRICAN SPOONBILL
(Platalea alba) – One in Etosha.
Pandionidae (Osprey)
OSPREY (Pandion
haliaetus) – Singles in
Johannesburg and Windhoek. Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE (Elanus caeruleus) – About 20 in the unusually grassy areas
from Windhoek to Sussosvlei, and then 10 at Etosha. BLACK KITE
(YELLOW-BILLED) (Milvus
migrans parasitus) – Two to
the east of Rundu.
AFRICAN FISH-EAGLE
(Haliaeetus vocifer) – About 40 in the Okavango area.
HOODED VULTURE
(Necrosyrtes monachus) – Ten near Stanley's Camp.
WHITE-BACKED
VULTURE (Gyps africanus)
– About 150 on the way to Spitzkoppe,
100 at Etosha, and another 70 in small scattered flocks
elsewhere.
LAPPET-FACED
VULTURE (Torgos tracheliotus)
– Now considered a threatened species,
but we were lucky and saw at least 26 throughout the tour.
WHITE-HEADED
VULTURE (Trigonoceps
occipitalis) – We saw a
single sub-adult at Mahango GR.
BLACK-BREASTED
SNAKE-EAGLE (Circaetus
pectoralis) – Some of the
group saw 1 near the Shakawe airfield.
BROWN SNAKE-EAGLE
(Circaetus cinereus) – Singles near both Stanley's and Chief's
camps.
BATELEUR (Terathopius ecaudatus) – About 20 in the Okavango Delta.
AFRICAN
MARSH-HARRIER (Circus
ranivorus) – Two singles from
the boat trips out of Xaro Lodge.
AFRICAN
HARRIER-HAWK (Polyboroides
typus) – Singles at
Sossusvlei, Hakusembe, and near Chief's Camp.
DARK
CHANTING-GOSHAWK (Melierax
metabates) – One at the
Shakawe airfield.
PALE
CHANTING-GOSHAWK (Melierax
canorus) – Very common in the
Namib Naukluft Desert NP and north to the Erongo mountains
and Etosha; in all we saw about 70.
GABAR GOSHAWK
(Micronisus gabar) – Singles at Okombahe, Etosha, and Mahango
GR.
SHIKRA (Accipiter badius) – Singles at Guisis, Spitzkoppe, Etosha,
and near Stanley's Camp.
AUGUR BUZZARD
(Buteo augur) – One at Spitzkoppe.
TAWNY EAGLE
(Aquila rapax) – Widespread in small numbers; in all we
saw 7.
VERREAUX'S EAGLE
(Aquila verreauxii) – Two of the group saw 1 over Erongo
Wilderness Lodge.
AFRICAN HAWK-EAGLE
(Aquila spilogaster) – Four near Windhoek.
WAHLBERG'S EAGLE
(Hieraaetus wahlbergi) – One near Stanley's Camp.
BOOTED EAGLE
(Hieraaetus pennatus) – Five near Guisis, and 1 near Solitaire.
Sagittariidae (Secretary-bird)
SECRETARY-BIRD (Sagittarius serpentarius) – One near Solitaire, and 1 at Etosha.
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
PYGMY FALCON (Polihierax semitorquatus) – One for some of the group at the Namib
Desert Lodge, and then 1 for everyone near Solitaire.
LESSER KESTREL
(Falco naumanni) – A single adult male flew over the
waterhole at Okaukuejo.
EURASIAN KESTREL
(Falco tinnunculus) – The distinctive form 'rupicolis' is often
split and known as Rock Kestrel, we saw about 20 between
Windhoek and Sossusvlei, and then about 10 at Etosha.
GREATER KESTREL
(Falco rupicoloides) – Great looks several times both around
Solitaire and at Etosha.
DICKINSON'S
KESTREL (Falco dickinsoni)
– One briefly at Mahango GR, and then
nice looks at 6 in the Stanley's Camp area.
LANNER FALCON
(Falco biarmicus) – We had a really closed tee-d up bird at
Sossusvlei and then another 6 between Solitaire and Walvis
Bay.
Otididae (Bustards)
KORI BUSTARD (Ardeotis kori) – Two near Solitaire, and about 20 at
Etosha. LUDWIG'S BUSTARD
(Neotis ludwigii) – Four on the dry grasslands on the way to
Sossusvlei.
RUEPPELL'S BUSTARD
(Eupodotis rueppellii) – Six between Solitaire and Sossusvlei.
[E]
RED-CRESTED
BUSTARD (Eupodotis ruficrista)
– Two single females at Etosha.
WHITE-QUILLED
BUSTARD (Eupodotis afraoides)
– We saw a male and a female near
Solitaire, and then 4 others at Etosha.
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
BLACK CRAKE (Amaurornis flavirostra) – Two at the Windhoek Sewage Works, and
then a total of about 30 from Hakusembe and on through the
Okavango Delta. PURPLE SWAMPHEN
(Porphyrio porphyrio) – Three at Windhoek Sewage Works -
sometimes split as the African Purple Swamphen P.
madagascariensis.
EURASIAN MOORHEN
(Gallinula chloropus) – Small numbers at Windhoek, Etosha,
Hakusembe, and near Stanley's Camp.
RED-KNOBBED COOT
(Fulica cristata) – About 50 at both the Windhoek Sewage
Works and Guisis, and then 30 near Namutoni at Etosha.
Gruidae (Cranes)
BLUE CRANE (Anthropoides
paradiseus) – Fabulous close
looks at an adult and immature at Etosha. WATTLED CRANE
(Bugeranus carunculatus) – Just wonderful this year with 2 pairs and
a single near Stanley's Camp.
Burhinidae (Thick-knees)
WATER THICK-KNEE (Burhinus vermiculatus) – A total of 11 between Mahango and the
Stanley's Camp area. SPOTTED THICK-KNEE
(Burhinus capensis) – Good looks at a pair near Chief's Camp.
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
LONG-TOED LAPWING (Vanellus crassirostris) – Two near Hakusembe and 4 at Mahango.
BLACKSMITH PLOVER
(Vanellus armatus) – Widespread at wetlands throughout the
tour; in all we saw about 220.
CROWNED LAPWING
(Vanellus coronatus) – Common at Etosha (80), Hakusembe (40),
and around Stanley's Camp (20).
WATTLED LAPWING
(Vanellus senegallus) – Four at Hakusembe, and 2 at Mahango GR.
BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola)
– About 40 along the shores near Walvis
Bay.
COMMON RINGED
PLOVER (Charadrius hiaticula)
– About 60 along the shores near Walvis
Bay.
THREE-BANDED
PLOVER (Charadrius
tricollaris) – Widespread in
small numbers at a variety of fresh water pools throughout
the tour.
WHITE-FRONTED
PLOVER (Charadrius marginatus)
– About 40 between Walvis Bay and
Swakopmund.
CHESTNUT-BANDED
PLOVER (Charadrius pallidus)
– Nice looks at 1 on a roadside pool
near Swakopmund.
Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers)
AFRICAN OYSTERCATCHER (Haematopus moquini) – Two along the shore north of Swakopmund.
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-WINGED STILT (Himantopus himantopus) – Most common around Walvis Bay and
Swakopmund, but also widespread at many pools throughout the
tour. PIED AVOCET
(Recurvirostra avosetta) – Great looks at about 350 on the Walvis
Bay and Swakopmund Salt Works ponds.
Jacanidae (Jacanas)
LESSER JACANA (Microparra capensis) – Fantastic this tour with great close
looks at both Hakusembe and then on a boat trip from Xaro
Lodge. AFRICAN JACANA
(Actophilornis africanus) – Four at Etosha, and then a total of about
200 in the Okavango Delta.
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
COMMON SANDPIPER (Actitis hypoleucos) – Two near Chief's Camp. COMMON GREENSHANK
(Tringa nebularia) – Six at Walvis Bay, 1 near Stanley's Camp
and 2 near Chief's Camp.
WOOD SANDPIPER
(Tringa glareola) – First seen in the Mahango GR and then
about another 10 around Stanley's and Chief's camps.
WHIMBREL (Numenius phaeopus) – The white-backed nominate form (often
split as Eurasian Whimbrel) was common around Walvis Bay.
RUDDY TURNSTONE
(Arenaria interpres) – About 100 between Walvis Bay and
Swakopmund.
SANDERLING
(Calidris alba) – About 200 between Walvis Bay and
Swakopmund.
LITTLE STINT
(Calidris minuta) – At least 400 on the Walvis Bay and
Swakopmund salt works ponds.
CURLEW SANDPIPER
(Calidris ferruginea) – Many thousands on the tidal flats at
Walvis Bay, included a good number in near breeding plumage.
RUFF (Philomachus pugnax) – About 12 at Walvis Bay and 3 near
Stanley's Camp.
Turnicidae (Buttonquail)
SMALL BUTTONQUAIL (Turnix sylvaticus) – One was seen twice in flight on a drive
from Stanley's Camp. Glareolidae (Pratincoles and Coursers)
BURCHELL'S COURSER (Cursorius rufus) – We had good looks at 6 of these erratic
wanderers at Sossusvlei. TEMMINCK'S COURSER
(Cursorius temminckii) – One at Etosha.
DOUBLE-BANDED
COURSER (Smutsornis africanus)
– About a dozen at Etosha.
COLLARED
PRATINCOLE (Glareola
pratincola) – A single was at
a waterhole near Chief's Camp.
Rostratulidae (Painted-Snipes)
GREATER PAINTED-SNIPE (Rostratula benghalensis) – One male along the flooded grasslands in
Mahango GR. Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
GRAY-HOODED GULL (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus) – About 30 flying over our hotel in
Johannesburg. HARTLAUB'S GULL
(Chroicocephalus hartlaubii) – Very common all along the shore from
Walvis Bay to Swakopmund; in all we saw about 3000.
KELP GULL (CAPE)
(Larus dominicanus vetula) – Common at Walvis Bay and Swakopmund, with
a total of about 1000.
DAMARA TERN
(Sternula balaenarum) – Can be difficult but we were lucky this
year and saw 5 to the north of Swakopmund.
CASPIAN TERN
(Hydroprogne caspia) – Two at the Walvis Bay Salt Works.
COMMON TERN
(Sterna hirundo) – About 150 at Walvis Bay.
GREAT CRESTED TERN
(Thalasseus bergii) – Two near Walvis Bay.
SANDWICH TERN
(Thalasseus sandvicensis) – About 15 with the Common Terns at Walvis
Bay.
Pteroclidae (Sandgrouse)
NAMAQUA SANDGROUSE (Pterocles namaqua) – Two on the road south-west of Windhoek
and then a total of about 550 between Sossusvlei,
Spitzkoppe, and Etosha. DOUBLE-BANDED
SANDGROUSE (Pterocles
bicinctus) – About 200 came
to drink at dusk at the Okaukuejo waterhole, and we then saw
a total of about 20 feeding on the ground in daylight around
Stanley's and Chief's camps.
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) – About 50 at Windhoek and 20 at Walvis
Bay. SPECKLED PIGEON
(Columba guinea) – Common from Windhoek to the coast and
then north to Etosha; we saw a total of about 100.
RED-EYED DOVE
(Streptopelia semitorquata) – Common in the Okavango region, where we
saw about 130.
RING-NECKED DOVE
(Streptopelia capicola) – Common and widespread in open wooded or
bushy areas throughout the tour.
LAUGHING DOVE
(Streptopelia senegalensis) – Common and widespread throughout the tour
(even in desert areas).
EMERALD-SPOTTED
WOOD-DOVE (Turtur
chalcospilos) – Common from
the east side of Etosha and on through the Okavango Delta;
in all we saw about 140.
NAMAQUA DOVE
(Oena capensis) – Widespread throughout the tour with a
total of about 300.
AFRICAN
GREEN-PIGEON (Treron calvus)
– Nice looks around Xaro and Stanley's.
Psittacidae (Parrots)
ROSY-FACED LOVEBIRD (Agapornis roseicollis) – These attractive little parrots were most
common at Erongo Wilderness Lodge, but we also saw them at
the Namib Desert Lodge, and 2 near Windhoek. [E] MEYER'S PARROT
(Poicephalus meyeri) – Small numbers from Mahango and on through
the Okavango.
RUEPPELL'S PARROT
(Poicephalus rueppellii) – We saw two of these very localised
endemic parrots eating wild raisins at Okombahe, and then
another pair in flight near the Erongo Mountains. [E]
Musophagidae (Turacos)
GRAY GO-AWAY-BIRD (Corythaixoides concolor) – Common throughout the tour away from the
most arid areas; in all we saw about 220. Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
PIED CUCKOO (Clamator jacobinus) – One at Mahango GR. GREAT SPOTTED
CUCKOO (Clamator glandarius)
– We saw an immature (being accompanied
by a pair of Cape Glossy-Starlings) to the south of
Okaukuejo.
COPPERY-TAILED
COUCAL (Centropus
cupreicaudus) – Two at
Hakusembe, and then common throughout the Okavango Delta.
SENEGAL COUCAL
(Centropus senegalensis) – Two singles near Stanley's Camp.
Tytonidae (Barn-Owls)
BARN OWL (Tyto
alba) – Heard at both Erongo
Wilderness Lodge and at Halali in Etosha. Strigidae (Owls)
AFRICAN SCOPS-OWL (Otus senegalensis) – Thanks to a local gardener we had good
looks at 1 roosting at Halali Rest Camp. VERREAUX'S
EAGLE-OWL (Bubo lacteus)
– Singles at Okaukuejo and Chief's
Camp.
PEL'S FISHING-OWL
(Scotopelia peli) – We saw 1 briefly at Xaro Lodge, and then
had wonderful long looks at a second bird near Shakawe town
- just fantastic this year!
PEARL-SPOTTED
OWLET (Glaucidium perlatum)
– Very common from the Erongo Mountains
to Etosha (about 20), and a few others elsewhere.
AFRICAN BARRED
OWLET (Glaucidium capense)
– After a great deal of trying we
finally had a responsive bird near Stanley's Camp.
AFRICAN WOOD-OWL
(Strix woodfordii) – A pair at Xaro Lodge.
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
FIERY-NECKED NIGHTJAR (Caprimulgus pectoralis) – A single was seen during our evening
drive near Stanley's Camp. FRECKLED NIGHTJAR
(Caprimulgus tristigma) – Heard at Erongo Wilderness Lodge.
Apodidae (Swifts)
ALPINE SWIFT (Apus melba) –
One at Windhoek, and 3 near Sossusvlei. BRADFIELD'S SWIFT
(Apus bradfieldi) – About 25 at Windhoek, 100+ at Namib
Desert Lodge, and 10 at Omaruru. [E]
LITTLE SWIFT
(Apus affinis) – Fairly widespread (away from the desert)
from Windhoek to Rundu.
WHITE-RUMPED SWIFT
(Apus caffer) – Six near Windhoek, and 6 at Etosha.
AFRICAN PALM-SWIFT
(Cypsiurus parvus) – Common and widespread.
Coliidae (Mousebirds)
SPECKLED MOUSEBIRD (Colius striatus) – Some of the group saw a few at our hotel
in Johannesburg. WHITE-BACKED
MOUSEBIRD (Colius colius)
– Common from Windhoek to the Erongo
Mountains; in all we saw about 150.
RED-FACED
MOUSEBIRD (Urocolius indicus)
– One north of Omaruru, 9 at Xaro
Lodge, and 10 near Stanley's Camp.
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
MALACHITE KINGFISHER (Corythornis cristatus) – Four singles between Hakusembe and Xaro
Lodge. GRAY-HEADED
KINGFISHER (Halcyon
leucocephala) – Two near
Outjo, and about 6 near Stanley's Camp.
WOODLAND
KINGFISHER (Halcyon
senegalensis) – One at
Hakusembe, 2 at Stanley's Camp, and 1 at Chief's.
STRIPED KINGFISHER
(Halcyon chelicuti) – One near Stanley's Camp.
GIANT KINGFISHER
(Megaceryle maximus) – One at Hakusembe, and then pairs at both
Mahango GR, and at Xaro Lodge.
PIED KINGFISHER
(Ceryle rudis) – Very common along the the river from
Hakusembe and on throughout the Okavango Delta.
Meropidae (Bee-eaters)
WHITE-FRONTED BEE-EATER (Merops bullockoides) – About 250 along the river at Xaro Lodge
included many exceptionally tame birds. LITTLE BEE-EATER
(Merops pusillus) – Common (about 120) from Hakusembe and
throughout the Okavango Delta.
SWALLOW-TAILED
BEE-EATER (Merops hirundineus)
– First seen at Sossusvlei (6) and then
about another 60 at widely scattered locations throughout
the tour.
BLUE-CHEEKED
BEE-EATER (Merops persicus)
– We saw a total of 15 (in stunning
plumage) around Hakusembe and Xaro.
Coraciidae (Rollers)
LILAC-BREASTED ROLLER (Coracias caudatus) – Common and widespread away from desert
areas; in all we saw about 160. RUFOUS-CROWNED
ROLLER (Coracias naevius)
– One near Soliatire, and 6 at Etosha.
Upupidae (Hoopoes)
EURASIAN HOOPOE (AFRICAN) (Upupa epops africana) – One near Solitaire, 3 at Xaro Lodge, and
2 near Chief's Camp. Phoeniculidae (Woodhoopoes and
Scimitar-bills)
GREEN WOODHOOPOE (Phoeniculus purpureus) – First seen at Okombahe and Omaruru (30)
and then about 30 at various sites in the Okavango. VIOLET WOODHOOPOE
(VIOLET) (Phoeniculus
damarensis damarensis) – Nice
looks at a pair feeding a juvenile at Halali Rest Camp in
Etosha. [E]
COMMON
SCIMITAR-BILL (Rhinopomastus
cyanomelas) – Five in the
Outjo to Omaruru area, and 1 at Mahango GR.
Bucerotidae (Hornbills)
MONTEIRO'S HORNBILL (Tockus monteiri) – Four in the Spitzkoppe to Erongo
Mountains area. [E] SOUTHERN
RED-BILLED HORNBILL (Tockus
rufirostris) – Common from
the east side of Etosha to the Okavango Delta; in all we saw
about 80.
DAMARA RED-BILLED
HORNBILL (Tockus damarensis)
– We saw 4 in the river bed at
Okombahe. [E]
SOUTHERN
YELLOW-BILLED HORNBILL (Tockus
leucomelas) – Fairly common
in the bush country from Spitzkoppe to Mahango.
AFRICAN GRAY
HORNBILL (Tockus nasutus)
– Very common from Spitzkoppe
northwards and easterly; a total of about 250 included over
50 together at Etosha.
Lybiidae (African Barbets)
CRESTED BARBET (Trachyphonus vaillantii) – One in Johannesburg, 8 around Xaro Lodge,
and 1 at Chief's Camp. YELLOW-FRONTED
TINKERBIRD (Pogoniulus
chrysoconus) – One at Xaro
Lodge.
PIED BARBET
(Tricholaema leucomelas) – Small numbers from Windhoek to the coast
and north to Etosha.
BLACK-COLLARED
BARBET (Lybius torquatus)
– Took a long time but we eventually
all saw them at Xaro Lodge, and then at Chief's camp.
Indicatoridae (Honeyguides)
LESSER HONEYGUIDE (Indicator minor) – Some of the group saw 1 at Xaro Lodge.
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
BENNETT'S WOODPECKER (Campethera bennettii) – Great looks at a single, and then a pair,
in the Chief's Camp area. GOLDEN-TAILED
WOODPECKER (Campethera
abingoni) – Near Erongo
Wilderness Lodge, at Etosha, and at Xaro we saw 4 of the
race 'anderssoni', the Erongo bird (which had a virtually
black breast) is just a variation of this race.
CARDINAL
WOODPECKER (Dendropicos
fuscescens) – One at
Okaukuejo, and 4 at Xaro Lodge.
BEARDED WOODPECKER
(Dendropicos namaquus) – We saw a female near Erongo Wilderness
Lodge and a pair at Xaro Lodge.
Platysteiridae (Wattle-eyes and Batises)
CHINSPOT BATIS (Batis molitor) – A pair near Stanley's Camp. PRIRIT BATIS
(Batis pririt) – Four in the Windhoek area, and 4 at
Spitzkoppe.
WHITE-TAILED
SHRIKE (Lanioturdus torquatus)
– This striking and attractive endemic
was common around the Erongo Wilderness Lodge. [E]
Prionopidae (Helmetshrikes and Allies)
WHITE HELMETSHRIKE (Prionops plumatus) – Small flocks were seen at Etosha, on the
way to Hakusembe, and at Mahango GR; in all we saw about 35.
RETZ'S
HELMETSHRIKE (Prionops retzii)
– Three at Mahango GR, 4 at Xaro, and 3
more near Stanley's Camp.
Malaconotidae (Bushshrikes and Allies)
BRUBRU (Nilaus
afer) – Small numbers (6)
were widespread in the open acacia woodland. BLACK-BACKED
PUFFBACK (Dryoscopus cubla)
– Two at Mushara Lodge, and then 2 at
Mahango, and 4 near Stanley's Camp.
BROWN-CROWNED
TCHAGRA (Tchagra australis)
– Two at Xaro Lodge.
GABON BOUBOU
(Laniarius bicolor) – Also known as Swamp Boubou we saw about
20 between Hakusembe and Xaro Lodge.
CRIMSON-BREASTED
GONOLEK (Laniarius
atrococcineus) – These
striking bushshrikes were widespread in acacia bush country;
in all we saw about 18.
BOKMAKIERIE
(Telophorus zeylonus) – Two at Spitzkoppe.
SULPHUR-BREASTED
BUSHSHRIKE (Telophorus
sulfureopectus) – Singles at
Mahango GR and Xaro Lodge.
Campephagidae (Cuckoo-shrikes)
BLACK CUCKOO-SHRIKE (Campephaga flava) – Two females at Xaro Lodge and a pair at
Stanley's Camp. Laniidae (Shrikes)
LESSER GRAY SHRIKE (Lanius minor) – A total of about 120 were seen between
Windhoek, the coast, and north to Etosha. COMMON FISCAL
(Lanius collaris subcoronatus) – The distinctive white-browed form
'subcoronatus' is sometimes split at Latakoo Fiscal; we saw
about 16 between Windhoek, Sossusvlei, and Etosha.
MAGPIE SHRIKE
(Corvinella melanoleuca) – About 10 in the Stanley's Camp area.
WHITE-CROWNED
SHRIKE (Eurocephalus
anguitimens) – Fairly common
from Okombahe to Etosha.
Oriolidae (Old World Orioles)
AFRICAN GOLDEN ORIOLE (Oriolus auratus) – Six singles between Etosha and the Xaro
Lodge area. Dicruridae (Drongos)
FORK-TAILED DRONGO (Dicrurus adsimilis) – Common and widespread. Monarchidae (Monarch Flycatchers)
AFRICAN PARADISE-FLYCATCHER (Terpsiphone viridis) – A pair at Erongo Wilderness Lodge.
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
CAPE CROW (Corvus
capensis) – Four near
Solitaire, and about 20 at Etosha. PIED CROW (Corvus albus) – Fairly common from Solitaire to the coast
and then at Etosha; we saw a total of about 80.
Alaudidae (Larks)
SABOTA LARK (Calendulauda sabota naevia) – First seen at the Tropic of Capricorn
(3), and then at Spitzkoppe (4) and Etosha (20). DUNE LARK (Calendulauda erythrochlamys) – We had excellent close looks at this very
localized endemic at our usual site near Sossusvlei.
[E]
DUSKY LARK
(Pinarocorys nigricans) – Four on the road near Halali, and 6 at
Mahango GR.
GRAY'S LARK
(Ammomanopsis grayi) – Can be difficult, but we had great looks
at about 10 on the gravel plains north of Swakopmund.
[E]
SPIKE-HEELED LARK
(Chersomanes albofasciata) – About a dozen at Etosha.
KAROO LONG-BILLED
LARK (Certhilauda subcoronata)
– One to the north of Spitzkoppe.
CHESTNUT-BACKED
SPARROW-LARK (Eremopterix
leucotis) – Several small
flocks at the Etosha waterholes.
GRAY-BACKED
SPARROW-LARK (Eremopterix
verticalis) – Several hundred
at Sossusvlei, and then similar large flocks around
Spitzkoppe and at Etosha.
RED-CAPPED LARK
(Calandrella cinerea) – One near Swakopmund, and about 40 at
Etosha.
STARK'S LARK
(Spizocorys starki) – Two on the plains north of Swakopmund.
PINK-BILLED LARK
(Spizocorys conirostris) – Six in the Okaukuejo area of Etosha.
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
PLAIN MARTIN (Riparia paludicola) – Six at Etosha, and about 40 along the
river at Xaro Lodge. BANDED MARTIN
(Riparia cincta) – Ten over the grassy plains at Etosha.
ROCK MARTIN
(Ptyonoprogne fuligula) – Common and widespread between Windhoek
and Etosha; in all we saw about 150.
BARN SWALLOW
(Hirundo rustica) – Small numbers from Etosha to Rundu and
easterly to the Okavango.
WHITE-THROATED
SWALLOW (Hirundo albigularis)
– Four at the Windhoek Sewage Works.
WIRE-TAILED
SWALLOW (Hirundo smithii)
– About 10 at Hakusembe, and a dozen
near Xaro Lodge.
PEARL-BREASTED
SWALLOW (Hirundo dimidiata)
– Three at Xaro Lodge.
GREATER
STRIPED-SWALLOW (Cecropis
cucullata) – Twenty at
Windhoek, and 3 near the Erongo Mountains.
LESSER
STRIPED-SWALLOW (Cecropis
abyssinica) – These beautiful
swallows were common in the Mahango, Xaro, and Stanley's
Camp areas.
Paridae (Chickadees and Tits)
SOUTHERN BLACK-TIT (Melaniparus niger) – Two in the eastern part of Etosha, and
then another 10 between Mahango GR and Stanley's Camp.
CARP'S TIT
(Melaniparus carpi) – We saw 5 of these localized endemics in
the Erongo Mountains area. [E]
ASHY TIT (Melaniparus cinerascens) – Two near Windhoek and 3 near Solitaire.
Pycnonotidae (Bulbuls)
YELLOW-BELLIED GREENBUL (Chlorocichla flaviventris) – Two singles at Hakusembe and Mahango GR.
COMMON BULBUL
(DARK-CAPPED) (Pycnonotus
barbatus tricolor) – Six at
Johannesburg (for some), and then common for everyone from
Hakusembe and throughout the Okavango Delta.
BLACK-FRONTED
BULBUL (Pycnonotus nigricans)
– More commonly known as Red-eyed
Bulbul, they were very common from Windhoek to Etosha; in
all we saw about 250.
Macrosphenidae (African Warblers)
CAPE CROMBEC (Sylvietta rufescens) – Small numbers were widespread in the
acacia bush country. ROCKRUNNER
(Achaetops pycnopygius) – This strange endemic is now placed in the
family Macrosphenidae (African Warblers); we had excellent
looks at a pair at the Erongo Wilderness Lodge. [E]
Acrocephalidae (Reed-Warblers and Allies)
SEDGE WARBLER (Acrocephalus schoenobaenus) – One at Hakusembe. AFRICAN
REED-WARBLER (Acrocephalus
baeticatus) – About 5 at the
Windhoek Sewage Works.
Cisticolidae (Cisticolas and Allies)
GREEN-BACKED CAMAROPTERA (GRAY-BACKED)
(Camaroptera brachyura brevicaudata)
– Common in wooded and bush country
from the Erongo Mountains to the Okavango Delta. BARRED
WREN-WARBLER (Calamonastes
fasciolatus) – Two in the
acacia bush country at Windhoek.
RUFOUS-EARED
WARBLER (Malcorus pectoralis)
– We saw these attractive warblers in
the low scrub near Guisis and at the Tropic of Capricorn.
RATTLING CISTICOLA
(Cisticola chiniana) – Eight near Windhoek, and then about 40 in
the Okavango Delta bush country.
CHIRPING CISTICOLA
(Cisticola pipiens) – One in the reeds during a boat trip from
Xaro Lodge.
ZITTING CISTICOLA
(Cisticola juncidis) – Two at the Windhoek Sewage Works.
DESERT CISTICOLA
(Cisticola aridulus) – One at Etosha.
BLACK-CHESTED
PRINIA (Prinia flavicans)
– Common from Windhoek to Etosha and on
to Rundu, and 1 near Stanley's Camp; in all we saw about 80.
YELLOW-BELLIED
EREMOMELA (Eremomela
icteropygialis) – Fairly
common from Windhoek to the coast and north to Etosha.
YELLOW-RUMPED
EREMOMELA (Eremomela gregalis)
– Also known as Karoo Eremomela, we had
good looks at 1 of these uncommon birds on the way to Walvis
Bay.
BURNT-NECK
EREMOMELA (Eremomela
usticollis) – Three at our
hotel in Windhoek.
Sylviidae (Old World Warblers)
RUFOUS-VENTED WARBLER (Parisoma subcaeruleum) – About 20 in the Windhoek and Solitaire
areas, and 2 near Spitzkoppe. Zosteropidae (Yuhinas, White-eyes, and
Allies)
CAPE WHITE-EYE (Zosterops pallidus) – Confusing use of scientific names between
this and the next 'species' with most African authorities
now calling Cape White-eye Z. virens, which was seen by most
of the group at Johannesburg. CAPE WHITE-EYE
(ORANGE RIVER) (Zosterops
pallidus pallidus) –
Confusing use of scientific names between this and the
previous 'species' with most African authorities now
splitting this as Orange River White-eye Z. pallidus.
Leiothrichidae (Laughingthrushes)
HARTLAUB'S BABBLER (Turdoides hartlaubii) – Common at Hakusembe and throughout the
Okavango Delta; in all we saw about 120. BLACK-FACED
BABBLER (Turdoides melanops)
– We saw 6 of these localized babblers
during our lunch at Mushara Lodge.
SOUTHERN
PIED-BABBLER (Turdoides
bicolor) – About 8 (quite
well hidden) near the Erongo Mountains, and then good looks
at 5 at Etosha.
ARROW-MARKED
BABBLER (Turdoides jardineii)
– Three small flocks at Xaro Lodge and
near Stanley's Camp.
BARE-CHEEKED
BABBLER (Turdoides gymnogenys)
– Great looks at about 25 of these very
localized endemic babblers at Uris. [E]
Muscicapidae (Old World Flycatchers)
CHAT FLYCATCHER (Bradornis infuscatus) – Small numbers were widespread in the arid
country from Windhoek to Sossusvlei and then on to the
coast, also a few south of Etosha. MARIQUA FLYCATCHER
(Bradornis mariquensis) – Common in acacia bush country throughout
Namibia; in all we saw about 70.
SOUTHERN
BLACK-FLYCATCHER (Melaenornis
pammelaina) – Six between
Mahango and Stanley's Camp.
ASHY FLYCATCHER
(Muscicapa caerulescens) – Some of the group saw 2 at Xaro Camp.
GRAY
TIT-FLYCATCHER (Myioparus
plumbeus) – Three singles in
the Xaro Lodge area.
KALAHARI
SCRUB-ROBIN (Cercotrichas
paena) – Six in the
Spitzkoppe to Erongo Mountains area, and a couple of others
elsewhere including near Windhoek.
RED-BACKED
SCRUB-ROBIN (Cercotrichas
leucophrys) – Four around
Erongo Wilderness Lodge.
HERERO CHAT
(Namibornis herero) – After some effort we eventually had great
looks at a pair of these very localized endemic chats at
Spitzkoppe - yippee! [E]
CAPE ROBIN-CHAT
(Cossypha caffra) – Two in Johannesburg for most of the
group.
WHITE-BROWED
ROBIN-CHAT (Cossypha heuglini)
– Small numbers between Hakusembe and
the delta camps.
SHORT-TOED
ROCK-THRUSH (Monticola
brevipes) – Some of the group
saw a female at Namib Desert Lodge, and then everyone had
great looks at a male at Erongo.
STONECHAT (Saxicola torquatus) – One in the reed beds near Xaro Lodge -
often split as African Stonechat.
SOUTHERN
ANTEATER-CHAT (Myrmecocichla
formicivora) – About 6 near
the Erongo Mountains, and 20+ at Etosha.
TRACTRAC CHAT
(Cercomela tractrac) – Singles at the Tropic of Capricorn and
near Swakopmund.
FAMILIAR CHAT
(Cercomela familiaris) – Small numbers in central and western
Namibia.
MOUNTAIN WHEATEAR
(Oenanthe monticola) – About 20 in the Namib Desert NP, 4 at
Spitzkoppe, and 2 in the Erongo Mountains.
CAPPED WHEATEAR
(Oenanthe pileata) – Six around Solitaire, and 6 at Etosha.
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
GROUNDSCRAPER THRUSH (Psophocichla litsipsirupa) – Two on the road in the eastern part of
Etosha. KAROO THRUSH
(Turdus smithi) – Most of the group saw 1 at our hotel in
Johannesburg.
Sturnidae (Starlings)
WATTLED STARLING (Creatophora cinerea) – About 20 at Etosha. CAPE
GLOSSY-STARLING (Lamprotornis
nitens) – Widespread
throughout most of Namibia.
GREATER BLUE-EARED
GLOSSY-STARLING (Lamprotornis
chalybaeus) – Five at
Hakusembe.
MEVES'S
GLOSSY-STARLING (Lamprotornis
mevesii) – Common throughout
the Okavango Delta; in all we saw about 100.
BURCHELL'S
GLOSSY-STARLING (Lamprotornis
australis) – Common
throughout the Okavango Delta; in all we saw about 140.
VIOLET-BACKED
STARLING (Cinnyricinclus
leucogaster) – About 40
around Erongo Wilderness Lodge.
PALE-WINGED
STARLING (Onychognathus
nabouroup) – Seventy in the
Namib Desert NP area, and about 40 around Spitzkoppe.
Buphagidae (Oxpeckers)
RED-BILLED OXPECKER (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) – About 40 at various places in the
Okavango Delta. YELLOW-BILLED
OXPECKER (Buphagus africanus)
– Ten in the Okavango Delta -
particularly fond of feeding on giraffe and buffalo.
Nectariniidae (Sunbirds and Spiderhunters)
COLLARED SUNBIRD (Hedydipna collaris) – Two at Chief's Camp. SCARLET-CHESTED
SUNBIRD (Chalcomitra
senegalensis) – Three at
Windhoek Country Club, and 4 around Hakusembe.
MARIQUA SUNBIRD
(Cinnyris mariquensis) – About a dozen in the Windhoek area, and
then 1 at Etosha, and 3 at Hakusembe.
WHITE-BREASTED
SUNBIRD (Cinnyris talatala)
– Nice looks at a male north of
Grootfontein.
DUSKY SUNBIRD
(Cinnyris fuscus) – Common in the Namib Naukluft Desert NP
and around Spitzkoppe.
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
CAPE WAGTAIL (Motacilla capensis) – Fairly common at Johannesburg, Windhoek,
Walvis Bay, and the Xaro Lodge area; we saw a total of about
50. AFRICAN PIED
WAGTAIL (Motacilla aguimp)
– Six at Hakusembe, and 2 at Xaro
Lodge.
AFRICAN PIPIT
(Anthus cinnamomeus) – A total of about 10 at Etosha and near
Stanley's and Chief's camps.
BUFFY PIPIT
(Anthus vaalensis) – One at Etosha.
Emberizidae (Buntings, Sparrows and
Allies)
LARK-LIKE BUNTING (Emberiza impetuani) – Very common around Guisis and Spitzkoppe,
and a few other elsewhere; in all we saw about 120. CINNAMON-BREASTED
BUNTING (Emberiza tahapisi)
– Four at Spitzkoppe and about 10 at
Etosha.
CAPE BUNTING
(Emberiza capensis) – One at the Erongo Wilderness Lodge.
GOLDEN-BREASTED
BUNTING (Emberiza
flaviventris) – Two at the
Erongo Wilderness Lodge.
Fringillidae (Siskins, Crossbills, and
Allies)
BLACK-THROATED CANARY (Serinus atrogularis) – About 20 at Windhoek, 4 at Spitzkoppe,
and 6 at Erongo Wilderness Lodge. YELLOW CANARY
(Serinus flaviventris) – We saw 5 (including 4 super bright yellow
males) at Sossusvlei, and at the Namib Desert Lodge.
WHITE-THROATED
CANARY (Serinus albogularis)
– Two at Kuiseb Pass.
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) – Common around Johannesburg, Windhoek,
Solitaire, and Walvis Bay. GREAT RUFOUS
SPARROW (Passer motitensis)
– One at Guisis, and then 8 at Erongo,
and about a dozen at Etosha.
CAPE SPARROW
(Passer melanurus) – A few at Johannesburg, and then very
common around Sossusvlei and Solitaire.
SOUTHERN
GRAY-HEADED SPARROW (Passer
diffusus) – Small numbers at
many widespread locations throughout the tour; in all we saw
about 180.
Ploceidae (Weavers and Allies)
RED-BILLED BUFFALO-WEAVER (Bubalornis niger) – Poor views in the Erongo Mountains, but
then seen well around both Stanley's and Chief's camps.
SCALY WEAVER
(Sporopipes squamifrons) – More commonly known as Scaly-feathered
Finch, we saw about 50 at Windhoek, Solitaire and
Sossusvlei.
WHITE-BROWED
SPARROW-WEAVER (Plocepasser
mahali) – Widespread in
acacia country throughout the tour.
SOCIAL WEAVER
(Philetairus socius) – About 1000 in the Solitaire to Sossusvlei
area (including many at large nests), and then about 250 at
Etosha.
HOLUB'S
GOLDEN-WEAVER (Ploceus
xanthops) – About a dozen at
Xaro Lodge.
SOUTHERN
MASKED-WEAVER (Ploceus
velatus) – Common and
widespread throughout most of Namibia, and a few near
Stanley's Camp.
RED-BILLED QUELEA
(Quelea quelea) – Flocks of several thousand in the
Okavango, and several smaller flocks at Windhoek and Etosha.
RED BISHOP
(Euplectes orix) – About 20 (including some in breeding
plumage) at the Windhoek Sewage Works.
GROSBEAK WEAVER
(Amblyospiza albifrons) – Some of the group saw a single female at
Xaro Lodge.
Estrildidae (Waxbills and Allies)
COMMON WAXBILL (Estrilda astrild) – Singles at Windhoek and Walvis Bay, and
then about 30 at Xaro Lodge. BLACK-CHEEKED
WAXBILL (Estrilda
erythronotos) – More commonly
known as Black-faced Waxbill, we saw 6 at Windhoek and 6 at
Erongo Wilderness Lodge.
BLUE-BREASTED
CORDONBLEU (Uraeginthus
angolensis) – Small flocks
were widespread in acacia bush country throughout the tour.
VIOLET-EARED
WAXBILL (Granatina granatina)
– We saw 12 of these beautiful waxbills
at Windhoek, Spitzkoppe, and Etosha.
GREEN-WINGED
PYTILIA (Pytilia melba)
– Another gorgeous looking waxbill, we
saw them at Windhoek and in the Erongo Mountains.
RED-BILLED
FIREFINCH (Lagonosticta
senegala) – A single female
at Xaro Lodge.
BROWN FIREFINCH
(Lagonosticta nitidula) – Six at Hakusembe, and about 20 at Xaro
Lodge.
JAMESON'S
FIREFINCH (Lagonosticta
rhodopareia) – A single male
at Mahango GR.
RED-HEADED FINCH
(Amadina erythrocephala) – Eight at the Namib Desert Lodge, and
about 60 at Etosha.
AFRICAN QUAILFINCH
(Ortygospiza fuscocrissa) – About a dozen were flying around calling
over one of the Etosha waterholes.
Viduidae (Indigobirds)
PIN-TAILED WHYDAH (Vidua macroura) – Good looks at a male at Windhoek Sewage
Works. EASTERN
PARADISE-WHYDAH (Vidua
paradisaea) – Four males at
Etosha, and about 8 (males and females) near Chief's Camp.
SHAFT-TAILED
WHYDAH (Vidua regia) – We saw a pair near Windhoek, and then
250+ (some in large flocks) at Etosha.
VILLAGE INDIGOBIRD
(Vidua chalybeata) – A single male in breeding plumage near
Stanley's Camp - remember the bright reddish legs!
PURPLE INDIGOBIRD
(Vidua purpurascens) – A single male in breeding plumage near
Stanley's Camp - remember the very pale pinkish-white legs!
MAMMALS
MOHOLI BUSHBABY
(Galago moholi) – Good looks at 2 during the evening drives
in the Stanley's Camp area.
BLACK-FACED VERVET
MONKEY (Cercopithecus
aethiops) – About 20 around
Xaro Lodge and 15 at Chief's Camp.
CHACMA BABOON
(Papio ursinus) – Troops were seen around Windhoek, in the
Erongo Mountains, and in the Okavango near Stanley's and
Chief's camps.
CAPE GROUND
SQUIRREL (Xerus inaurius)
– Common around Solitaire, and then
smaller numbers around Erongo Wilderness Lodge and at
Etosha; in all we saw about 60.
TREE SQUIRREL
(Paraxerus cepapi) – Common from Rundu in northern Nambia and
throughout the Okavango; we saw a total of about 250.
OLD WORLD
PORCUPINE SP. (Hystrix
africaeaustralis) – One came
past the dining room at Erongo Wilderness Lodge.
DASSIE RAT
(Petromus typicus) – Great looks at this strange animal at
Erongo Wilderness Lodge.
BLACK-BACKED
JACKAL (Canis mesomelas)
– Small numbers at Sussosvlei, near the
Erongo Mountains and at Etosha where we saw 3 kill a
Springbok which had accidentally slipped into a waterhole.
BAT-EARED FOX
(Otocyon megalotis) – Five in the grasslands near Solitaire.
HUNTING DOG
(Lycaon pictus) – Just fantastic this tour with 10 near the
Stanley's Camp airstrip and 5 near Chief's Camp - one of
Africa's rarest large mammals!
COMMON
(SMALL-SPOTTED) GENET (Genetta
genetta) – Good looks at 1
while spot-lighting near Stanley's Camp.
SLENDER MONGOOSE
(Herpestes sanguineus) – We saw the black form near Erongo
Wilderness Lodge; this is sometimes split as Black Mongoose.
We also saw the 'normal' form at Uris and near Stanley's
Camp.
BANDED MONGOOSE
(Mungos mungo) – About 25 near Erongo and 60+ on the way
to Rundu.
YELLOW MONGOOSE
(Cynictis penicillata) – About 10 in the Solitaire area, and
singles at Spitzkoppe and Etosha.
SPOTTED HYAENA
(Crocuta crocuta) – Two adults and a tiny baby during our
evening drive near Stanley's Camp.
SERVAL (Felis serval) – Two singles during our evening drive near
Stanley's Camp.
LEOPARD (Panthera pardus) – Good long looks at a young male in a tree
near Chief's Camp.
CAPE (AUSTRALIAN)
FUR SEAL (Arctocephalus
pusillus) – One near Walvis
Bay.
AFRICAN ELEPHANT
(Loxodonta africana) – Repeated good looks in Etosha and the
Okavango Delta; in all we saw about 90.
ROCK HYRAX
(Procavia capensis) – Very numerous around Erongo Wilderness
Lodge.
MOUNTAIN ZEBRA
(Equus zebra) – About 80 were seen in the distance near
the Tropic of Capricorn.
BURCHELL'S ZEBRA
(Equus burchelli) – Very common at Etosha where we saw about
5000, and then smaller numbers at Mahango GR and in the
Okavango.
BLACK RHINOCEROS
(Diceros bicornis) – Two singles at Etosha NP.
WARTHOG (Phacochoerus aethiopicus) – Widespread away from the most arid desert
regions; in all we saw about 350.
HIPPOPOTAMUS
(Hippopotamus amphibius) – Five during one of our boat trips from
Xaro Lodge.
COMMON GIRAFFE
(Giraffa camelopardalis) – About 20 at Etosha, and 80 in the
Okavango Delta.
BUSHBUCK (Tragelaphus scriptus) – Two singles in the Okavango Delta.
GREATER KUDU
(Tragelaphus strepsiceros) – We saw a huge male in a river bed near
Erongo Wilderness Lodge, and then about 10 at Etosha,15 at
Mahango, and 8 in the Okavango Delta.
AFRICAN BUFFALO
(Syncerus caffer) – About 80 near Stanley's Camp.
LECHWE (Kobus leche) –
About 100 at Mahango GR, and then several smaller herds from
the air as we flew over the Okavango Delta.
REEDBUCK (Redunca arundinum) – Three singles at Mahango and in the
Okavango Delta.
ROAN ANTELOPE
(Hippotragus equinus) – Four in the Mahango GR.
GEMSBOK (Oryx gazella) – About 60 in the Namib Naukluft NP
(including Sossusvlei) then 5 near Erongo Mts. and about 100
at Etosha.
TOPI (Damaliscus lunatus) – Often split and known as Tsessebe in
southern Africa, we saw 5 near Stanley's Camp.
HARTEBEEST
(KONGONI) (Alcelaphus
buselaphus) – About 20 at
Etosha.
BLUE WILDEBEEST
(Connochaetes taurinus) – A single lonely beast near Solitaire, and
then about 300 at Etosha and 80+ in the Okavango.
KLIPSPRINGER
(Oreotragus oreotragus) – Three in the hills to the west of the
Erongo Mountains.
STEENBOK (Raphicerus campestris) – Two at Etosha.
IMPALA (Aepyceros malampus) – About 40 of the 'black-faced' form at
Etosha, and then 750+ of the more widespread form at Mahango
and in the Okavango Delta.
SPRINGBOK (Antidorcas marsupialis) – Large numbers on the grassy plains in the
Namib Naukluft NP and at Etosha; in all we saw about 8000.
ADDITIONAL COMMENTS
Reptiles seen on the tour.
Yellow-bellied Sand Snake; one near Erongo Wilderness Lodge.
Agama Lizard; small numbers at Guisis and in the Namib Naukluft Desert NP.
Shovel-snouted Lizard; about 10 in the Sossusvlei area.
Leopard Tortoise; singles at Etosha and near Stanley's Camp.
Water Monitor; five (including a couples of huge one's) in the Okavango Delta.
Nile Crocodile; three in the Okavango Delta.
Totals for the tour: 338 bird taxa and 40 mammal taxa