Michael´s Fourth Year

[michael-ibk]

228/B191.) Barred Wren-Warbler (Calamonastes fasciolatus) / Damarabindensänger

 

Another lifer for me, a Southern African near-endemic. Just this one sighting, unfortunately quite distant on a very gloomy day. Mix a lightless day with a distant small bird, always a good recipe for a splendid ebc.

 

[michael-ibk]

229/B192.) Grey-Backed Camaroptera (Camaroptera brevicaudata) / Meckerbogenflügel

 

One of the most common little guys, seen regularly throughout the trip. Again, the best opportunity to get close was Chobe Bush Lodge. I always wonder who the hell came up with the German name which means "Whiny Archwing". I guess some people were just having fun when giving away names. And I´ve raised this question a couple of times, I´m not even sure which "authority" decides what would be the translated name of a bird occurring on the other side of the globe.

 

[michael-ibk]

230/B193.) Yellow-Breasted Apalis (Apalis melanocephala) / Gelbbrust-Feinsänger

 

An attractive little thing but one needs to get closer to really appreciate its beauty. One sighting at - again - Chobe Bush Lodge. Adding on Kasane to our actual mobile trip did wonders for my BY count.

 

[michael-ibk]

231/B194.) Chat Flycatcher (Bradornis infuscatus) / Akazienschnäpper

 

Only one sighting in the Kalahari but of an extremely patient specimen. A shame it´s such a dull bird, I´d rather have had a Crimson-Breasted posing like this.

 

 

 

232/B195.) Marico Flycatcher (Bradornis mariquensis) / Maricoschnäpper

 

A photo victim of just being too common, we´d regulalary see this one but never would stop for it, always thinking a much better opportunity would come later on. Not really.

 

 

233/B196.) Southern Black Flycatcher (Melaenornis pammelaina) / Glanzdrongoschnäpper

 

Only one sighting in Moremi. Quite possibly overlooked, one tends to tick off a black bird like this as "just another Drongo".

 

Edited May 11, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

234/B197.) Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata) / Grauschnäpper

 

A couple of birds seen in Khwai and Moremi. Will pop up later in the count for Europe, this is a Palearctic migrant. The scientific name makes much more sense, this bird has much more of a streaked or "striated" appearance rather than being spotted.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 11, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

235/B198.) African Pipit (Anthus cinnamomeus) / Zimtspornpieper

 

One bird I could slap myself for. We saw this species quite a lot, but after I had a decent photo I did not bother for them again. And then home at the PC I embarrassingly found that my "African Pipit" was in fact a Rufous-Naped Lark! So I was lucky to find a photo of this common Pipit at all. A "magnificent" photo.

 

 

236/B199.) Buffy Pipit (Anthus vaalensis) / Vaalpieper

 

A rather plain-backed species. Plain-Backed Pipit is pretty similar and several sources treat two subspecies of Plain-Backed Pipit as Buffy Pipits.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

237/B200.) Pririt Batis (Batis pririt) / Priritschnäpper

 

I am quite fond of Batises, cute little guys, and so I was happy when I found a nice pair of this species in the Kalahari during a coffee break. The female is the chestnut one.

 

 

Edited May 11, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

238/B201.) African Paradise Flycatcher (Terpsiphone viridis) / Graubrust-Paradiesschnäpper

 

One of the crowdpleasers of the African avifauna. Only seen twice, one in Moremi, and one from the balcony at Chobe Bush Lodge. Yes, I did really enjoy sitting there.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

239/B202.) African Pied Wagtail (Motacilla aguimp) / Witwenstelze

 

Saw two of these on the boat trip in Chobe and then said to the captain, don´t bother, I´m sure we´ll see plenty of those afterwards. I should have looked at the distribution map, this bird is uncommon away from the river so I was lucky to get another chance in Khwai.

 

 

240/B203.) Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) / Schafstelze

 

See, @Kitsafari, I told you about my absolutely cringeworthy photos, here´s a good example just to take the pressure off you. A small flock from the road to Savuti, probably on its way back to Europe. And luckily much better shots wait from there.

 

 

And if you thought it could not get any worse, don´t worry the art of ebcs is a bottomless pit, here´s my entry for the yearly award:

 

241/B204.) Cape Wagtail (Motacilla capensis) / Kapstelze

 

Every bird counts. Every one.

 

Edited May 11, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

242/B205.) Magpie Shrike (Corvinella melanoleuca) / Elsterwürger

 

The most common Shrike in the wetter areas like Moremi and Khwai. Unlike the familiar "Lanius" Shrikes mostly occurring in little groups.

 

 

243/B206.) Southern White-Crowned Shrike (Eurocephalus anguitimens) / Weißscheitelwürger

 

Extremely similar to its Northern pendant but not as brown on the back and without a white rump. The miombo zone of Zambia and S. Tanzania separates the two extremely similar species.

 

 

244/B207.) Red-Backed Shrike (Lanus collurio) / Neuntöter

 

Common especially in Savuti and the Kalahari. Oddly we saw almost only females, maybe the males begin to migrate back to Europe earlier?

 

 

245/B208.) Lesser Grey Shrike (Lanius minor) / Schwarzstirnwürger

 

Another Palearctic migrant which we´d regularly see in the drier areas. But not one I´m particularly familiar with, they are only a very rare vagrant in Austria, I have neve seen them here. The 2nd year birds (first picture) have not yet formed the full distinctive black mask.

 

 

 

Edited May 11, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

246/B209.) White-Crested Helmetshrike (Prionops plumatus) / Weißschopf-Brillenvanga

 

One spectacularly good sighting of a flock at the Xaxanaxa gate in Moremi. This is an extremely cool-looking bird, and never before have I managed to get that close, they were not bothered at all about us.

 

[Galana]

54 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

here´s my entry for the yearly award:

 

241/B204.) Cape Wagtail (Motacilla capensis) / Kapstelze

Not even close! This would count as a good image for me!

Keep them coming!

Re Whiny Archwing. I am sure you know the English alternate name is "Bleating Bush Warbler".

 

Your productivity on the Balcony is remarkable. A much overlooked birding asset.   Has @xelas told you of the 3Bs in the selection of Lodges on a typical "Whiteknuckles Lite" trip.

Bed, Beer and Balcony.

Edited May 11, 2019 by Galana
Text amendments.

[Tdgraves]

A belated well done on 200 from the Caribbean @michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

Thank you @Tdgraves, enjoy the Carribean! Not that we are jealous, not at all...

 

247/B210.) Brubru (Nilaus afer) / Bruburwürger

 

The smallest Bushshrike, two sightings in Moremi. It is a restless but unobtrusive arboreal species which hunts insects in the canopy. Its need for large trees in which to feed means that it has an unusually large territory for a bird of its size, typically 35 hectares.

 

 

248/B211.) Black-Backed Puffback (Dryoscopus cubla) / Schwarzmantel-Schneeballwürger

 

A couple of sightings in Moremi and one by the Boteti river. Very similar to the Northern Puffback (with which it forms a superspecies) found in Uganda or Central Kenya but generally more white than that bird.

 

 

 

Edited May 12, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

249/B212.) Swamp Boubou (Laniarius bicolor) / Sumpfwürger

 

I was trying to get a photo of a skulking individual just as we were entering Moremi. Our guide Doug said "Don´t bother, they are all over the Delta, you will get plenty of opportunities". Of course we did not see a single bird in the Delta, poor Doug was the bottom of "All over bird" jokes quite a lot. Fortunately I found a bird in the hotel garden in Maun.

 

 

250/B213.) Tropical Boubou (Laniariu aethiopicus) / Boubouwürger

 

Just one distant sighting at Chobe Bush Lodge. Very similiar to its Swamp cousin but not as purely white on the flanks. A taxonomy nightmare, the former "Tropical Boubou" was split in four or five good species, and the remaining Tropical Boubou is divided in a couple of subspecies. This one is probably "mossambicus" as far as I can tell.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 12, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

251/B214.) Crimson-Breasted Shrike (Laniarius atrococcineus) / Rotbauchwürger

 

One of Southern Africa´s most appealing birds. Common enough especially in drier habitats but restless and always skulking, and annoyingly preferrably on the other side of the bush. A challenging subject but a rewarding one.

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 12, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

252/B215.) Brown-Crowned Tchagra (Tchagra australis) / Dorntschagra

 

Only a handful of sightings. An inhabitant of thickets and arid thornbush, this bird seen in a very dry area between Savuti plains and Khwai. Less arboreal than its cousin.

 

 

253/B216.) Black-Crowned Tchagra (Tchagra senegalus) / Senegaltschagra

 

One bird seen in Moremi. Even more widespread than its cousin which is absent from the Congo basin.

 

[michael-ibk]

254/B217.) Cape (Glossy) Starling (Lamprotornis nitens) / Rotschulter-Glanzstar

 

Fairly common in the Kalahari where it is the default glossy Starling. More of a greenish shine underneath than its cousin up next. But still much bluer than depicted in Sinclair´s "Birds of Southern Africa", one of the few birds I think they don´t got down quite right in their drawings. (They have the eyes of both species as yellow for example.)

 

 

255/B218.) Greater Blue-Eared Starling (Lamprotornis chalybaeus) / Grünschwanz-Glanzstar

 

Only one sighting in Savuti. The broad, dark-blue eyemask is diagnostic.

 

[michael-ibk]

256/B219.) Burchell´s Starling (Lamprotornis australis) / Rieseglanzstar

 

The default Starling in Northern Botswana, the most abundant of all larger bird species. Bold, often hopping around in camp as well.

 

 

257/B220.) Meve´s Starling (Lamprotornis mevesii) / Mevesglanzstar

 

Only a handful of sightings in Savuti. This bird is far mor successful farther East, it is one of the most common species in Mana Pools. More delicate than its larger cousin, with a much larger tail.

 

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

258/B221.) Wattled Starling (Creatophora cinerea) / Lappenstar

 

Scarce in the North but quite common in the Kalahari where we often saw flocks passing over. Getting a photo was surprisingly tricky, though. An erratic colonial breeder, some sites used only infrequently, others in most years.

 

[michael-ibk]

259/B222.) Yellow-Billed Oxpecker (Buphagus africanus) / Gelbschnabelmadenhacker

 

The rarer Oxpecker generally but contrary to that more commonly seen in the North. Absent from the Kalahari. Generally prefers larger animals like Rhino, Giraffe or Buffalo. Interestingly their choice of hosts is not the same everywhere. In Botswana they only use Buffalo, Giraffe and cattle, whereas in  Zimbabwe they go for Rhino, Zebra and Eland as well. Just goes to show these guide books know nothing because the Botswana birds clearly like Kudus as well.

 

 

 

260/B223.) Red-Billed Oxpecker (Buphagus erythrorhynchus) / Rotschnabelmadenhacker

 

Favours Giraffe, Kudu, Eland, Zebra and Buffalo. Not all animals readily accept these birds, Elephants always reject them and try to get rid of them. Which explains why indeed I can´t remember seeing Oxpeckers on the big guys. The two species (Oxpeckers, not Oxpeckers and Elephants ;-)) have been recorded to hybridise occassionally. It was long thought that the relationship between Oxpeckers and theirs hosts is mutually beneficial but recent studies have put that into question. While obviously the birds are dependent on their food source there´s no proof the mammals really gain anything. The amount of ticks remains the same with or without Oxpeckers, and their wounds take longer to heal. See this paper here, I found it quite interesting. https://academic.oup.com/beheco/article/11/2/154/204658

 

Edited May 12, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

On to my next favourite group - Sunbirds!

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What is that? Nothing?!? Exactly, we did not see a single Sunbird all over Botswana. Not completely true, I do remember glimpsing two or three White-Bellied ones but this familiy was all but absent which really surprised me. Seven species should be possible in theory so I wonder why they all hid from me. Maybe I´ve done something aweful to Sunbirds on a previous trip, I really don´t know.

Edited May 12, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

261/B224.) Great Sparrow (Passer motitensis) / Rostsperling

 

A couple of sightings in the Kalahari. Very similar to the House Sparrow but it has a chestnut (not grey) rump.

 

 

262/B225.) Southern Grey-Headed Sparrow (Passer diffusus) / Damarasperling

 

A very common bird all over Botswana, likes to hang around human settlement as Sparrows often do.

 

 

263/B226.) Northern Grey-Headed Sparrow (Passer griseus) / Graukopfsperling

 

Kasane is the only place in all of Southern Africa where this bird is supposed to occur. Told apart from its Southern cousin by its whiter throat. The white shoulder stripe (not visible here) is reduced or absent. I am pretty sure that we also saw one in Savuti so maybe they are expanding.

 

[michael-ibk]

264/B227.) White-Browed Sparrow-Weaver (Plocepasser mahali) / Weißbrauenweber

 

A very successful and common Weaver found in most safari regions. Most nests are used for just roosting, only the dominant pair breeds.

 

 

265/B228.) Red-Billed Buffalo Weaver (Bubalornis niger) / Büffelweber

 

Not a Weaver I´ve seen a lot before but they are very common in Northern Botswana. Very modern Patchwork birds: Some males are polygynous, building multiple nests to attract females, other males form coalitions and assist with raising chicks.

 

Edited May 12, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

266/B229.) Village Weaver (Ploceus cucullatus) / Dorfweber

 

One of Africa´s most common and familiar Weaver species. This is the more Northern "nigriceps" species, birds more South don´t have an entirely black head but a yellow frons.

 

 

267/B230.) African aka Holub´s Golden Weaver (Plocues xanthops) / Safranweber

 

Only seen in Kasane and Maun. A very large Weaver with pale eyes.

 

 

268/B231.) Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus) / Maskenweber

 

Several colonies seen in Moremi. They were very busy nest-building, always a fun thing to watch. It´s really fascinating to see what architectorial masterpieces these small birds are able to create.