Alex & Zvezdana Big Year 2017

[xelas]

Sparrows ... sometimes overlooked as there are so many of them, but they do count.

 

BY 209 / NAM 133

Cape Sparrow - Passer melanurus

 

Swakopmund, 25 April

female

 

 

BY 210 / NAM 134

Great Sparrow - Passer motitensis

 

Ameib ranch, 29 April

female

 

Barchan Dune Retreat, 23 April

male

 

 

BY 211 / NAM 135

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow - Passer diffusus

 

Ameib ranch, 28 April

 

 

 

 

Edited August 9, 2017 by xelas

[xelas]

Weavers are more colourful!

 

BY 212 / NAM 136

Chestnut Weaver - Ploceus rubiginosus

 

 

female

 

 

BY 213 / NAM 137

Sociable Weaver - Philetairus socius

 

Etosha, 08 May

 

 

BY 214 / NAM 138

Southern Masked Weaver - Ploceus velatus

 

Hoba, 13 May

female

 

Uis, 01 May

male

 

 

BY 215 / NAM 139

White-browed Sparrow Weaver - Plocepasser mahali

 

Hoada camp, 05 May

[xelas]

And one bird that kinda fit in here.

 

BY 216 / NAM 140

Yellow-throated Petronia - Petronia superciliaris

 

Ameib ranch, 30 April

 

[michael-ibk]

Well, we´ve discussed that Weaver before. Still not sure what it is but pretty sure it´s not a Chestnut. That bird should never be greenish, and the iris brown, also in the female.

 

 

[Galana]

37 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

Well, we´ve discussed that Weaver before.

I agree but after eliminating everything else it could not be, this is the best fit on the table.How many dark brown/red eyed weavers are there in Namibia? Out of range for Village/Spot-backed which would be a better fit.  Indeed re-examining this bird that is what it seems to be but if so its range has extended down from Rundu which is quite a jump to wherever Zvezda saw it..

Edited August 9, 2017 by Galana
additional text.

[Tdgraves]

The only yellow weavers widespread in Namibia according to Roberts are the southern and lesser masked. Could it not be a female lesser?

[xelas]

The photo was taken at Ameib ranch, 30 April.

 

While distribution lists are to be respected and followed by birders, this link shows not always they are also respected and followed by birds: http://weavers.adu.org.za/trip2012na.php .

The Chestnut Weaver is almost the same as the bird on Zvezda's photo. I will stay with my ID.  Funny thing is it was ringed and photographed almost exactly 5 years ago!!

Edited August 9, 2017 by xelas

[Galana]

@Tdgraves  The Lesser can be discounted due to the eye colour and lighter bill.

@xelas Thanks for that link. whilst the bird is a bit browner and @michael-ibk says I was taken by the heavy bill adn the cmplete lack of  a 'stop' between the forecrown and start of the bill. I hope I don't get done for copyright with this. I acknowledge the source. If its not a Chestnut then it can ONLY be a Village or Spot-backed on an away day from Rundu. Village likes water and there was certainly plenty of that around just before xelas arrived.

[michael-ibk]

I still think a Chestnut Weaver should be, well, chestnut, and Alex, I don´t think that your bird looks almost the same as the one you linked to, the latter is clearly much browner. And the edges on the wing-feathers should be a whitish buff (as seen on the bird in the post above), not green-yellowish as in your bird.

 

I agree that it´s more probable that this is a bird out of its normal range. And well, in Austria we get all kinds of birds on a regular basis which are very far from where they should be according to the books, the same can happen everywhere I guess.

 

Eye colour can be a bit deceptive in photos, but I agree that Village Weaver is a likely choice. Cape, Southern Brown-Throated, Weaver (also out of range) would not have such a heavy bill, Golden, Spectacled, Red-Headed,  Yellow and Olive-Headed are quite distinctive (and some of them really in a different corner of Southern Africa), Lesser Masked should have a slender bill as already pointed out.

 

Not sure if we can totally exclude Southern Masked Weaver? If you look at that juv. specimen shown in Alex´ link the red eye is barely visible. OTOH, the head shape does not look quite right.

 

In any case, it´s a good riddle.

 

 

[Galana]

7 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

In any case, it´s a good riddle

I agree. I am coming to the opinion it is Village. As @xelas has not counted Village in his total and unlikely to see one now why don't we let him have the point anyway? Whatever it is he is not likely to see another in 2017.

[xelas]

@michael-ibk and @Galana, as you both are much more experienced birders then I am, I am happy to change the ID of this ex-Chestnut, now Village Weaver:

 

BY 212 / NAM 136

Village Weaver - Ploceus cucullatus

 

The count stands as it is.

[xelas]

Now that we have sorted out Weavers, lets move to last few birds fro our Namibia trip.

 

 

BY 217 / NAM 141

Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah - Vidua obtusa

 

Etosha, 11 May

 

 

BY 218 / NAM 142

Shaft-tailed Whydah - Vidua regia

 

Etosha, 08 May

 

[xelas]

BY 219 / NAM 143

Red-billed Quelea - Quelea quelea

 

Etosha, 08 May

male, breeding

 

 

Below could be either non-breeding male or female ... which one is it?

 

Etosha, o8 May

 

 

And if this one is a Red-billed Quelea then it can only be a juvenile?? - Neither! It is a female Shaft-tailed Whydah. - thanks to @Galana

 

Hoba, 13 May

 

 

BY 220 / NAM 144

Red-headed Finch - Amadina erythrocephala

 

Barchan Dune Retreat, 23 April

female

 

Barchan Dune Retreat, 23 April

male

 

 

BY 221 / NAM 145

Scally-feathered Finch - Sporopipes squamifrons

 

Etosha, 05 May

Edited August 10, 2017 by xelas

[Galana]

33 minutes ago, xelas said:

And if this one is a Red-billed Quelea then it can only be a juvenile??

 

Neither! It is a female Shaft -tailed Whydah.

[xelas]

BY 222 / NAM 146

Red-billed Firefinch - Lagonosticta senegala

 

Ameib ranch, 30 April

male

 

female

 

juvenile

 

 

BY 223 / NAM 147

Green-winged Pytilla - Pytilia melba

 

Hoba, 13 May

 

 

BY 224 / NAM 148

Black-faced Waxbill - Estrilda erythronotos

 

Hoba, 13 May

 

 

BY 225 / NAM 149

Blue Waxbill - Uraeginthus angolensis

 

Hoba, 13 May

 

 

 

BY 226 / NAM 150

Violet-eared Waxbill - Uraeginthus granatinus

 

Hoada camp, 04 May

male

 

Hoba, 13 May

female

[xelas]

BY 227 / NAM 151

White-throated Canary - Serinus albogularis

 

Barchan Dune Retreat, 23 April

 

 

BY 228 / NAM 152
Black-throated Canary - Serinus atrogularis

 

Hoada camp, 04 May

 

 

BY 229 / NAM 153

Yellow Canary - Serinus flaviventris

 

Ameib ranch, 01 May

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

Love the Pytilia, such a beautiful bird. Could be totally wrong but I´m doubtful about that Yellow Canary (no yellow belly, no canary-shaped bill) - looks more like a (Lesser Masked) Weaver to me?

[xelas]

59 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

Love the Pytilia, such a beautiful bird. Could be totally wrong but I´m doubtful about that Yellow Canary (no yellow belly, no canary-shaped bill) - looks more like a (Lesser Masked) Weaver to me?

 

Lesser Masked Weaver?! The bill is right, but what can we do with eyes? Let's hear what @Galana has to say.

[Galana]

16 minutes ago, xelas said:

Let's hear what @Galana has to say.

I agree with Michael. That is no canary. Very reminiscent of Viteline (SM) female. Also has a lot of Red-headed Weaver (f) in it but again out of range and no red bill. I think there is some hybridisation going on. Did you get any photos of the nest? Was it a colony?

[xelas]

1 hour ago, Galana said:

Did you get any photos of the nest? Was it a colony?

 

Nope. The bird came alone to where the lovebirds and sparrows and pigeons were feeding, in the garden of the Ameib ranch. So it is not a canary, that is based on the shape of the beak. On Wikipedia they have a photo of Lesser Masked Weaver female that is similar to our ex-Yellow Canary: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lesser_masked_weaver#/media/File:Lesser_Masked_Weaver_female_RWD.jpg so let me corrected it according to Michael's directions:

 

BY 229 / NAM 153

Village Weaver - Ploceus intermedius

 

[xelas]

So we have reached the last bird of this year Namibia trip; with over 150 different ID we are very surprised, and happy to be able to present you with so many different birds ... and also proud that not too many mistakes have been done. I thank you all for viewing and liking and commenting! See you in about 2 months, with a very different repertoire of birds! 

 

 

BY 230 / NAM 154

Lark-like Bunting - Emberiza impetuani

 

Ameib ranch, 30 April

 

 

[Galana]

@xelas

 

You did very well indeed and no doubt you will do just as well in Scotland although the numbers can never match an African country.

But you never know so keep that camera handy along with a decent guide book.

Don't forget to tak the High road. Fàilte gu Alba

[TonyQ]

A great selection from Namibia - beautiful birds, beautiful photos.

[xelas]

Just now, TonyQ said:

A great selection from Namibia - beautiful birds, beautiful photos.

 

Thanks, @TonyQ!

[Soukous]

what a stunning collection of photographs @xelas, a very fruitful safari.