Michael´s Fourth Year

[michael-ibk]

269/B232.) Red-Headed Weaver (Anaplectes melanotis) / Scharlachweber

 

Only one sighting in Moremi of this attractive species. Not always the most approachable bird but there´s always an exception to the norm. On our last time in the Mara one liked to attend breakfast tables and steal butter!

 

 

The bird mentioned from Kenya. As you can see this is a quite different-looking subspecies, "leuconotus".

 

 

Edited May 12, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

270/B233.) Red-Billed Quelea (Quelea quelea) / Blutschnabelweber

 

Seen regularly in all areas but not in big flocks. This species is regarded as the most numerous undomesticated bird on earth, with the total post-breeding population sometimes peaking at an estimated 1½ billion individuals.

 

[michael-ibk]

271/B234.) Southern Red Bishop (Euplectes orix) / Oryxweber

 

One of the perks of doing safari in the Green Season is all the Weavers, Bishops and Widowbirds which are so often indistinguishable are in full breedg plumage. Red Bishops like very wet habitats, and we had our best views on the Chobe boat trip. Here with a female admirer.

 

 

272/B235.) Yellow-Crowned Bishop (Euplectes afer) / Tahaweber

 

This species (seen in Chobe and one in Savuti) was less generous in posing for photos, only seen fluttering in the grass quite far away. But just about sufficient to be identifiable from the photo.

 

 

Edited May 12, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

273/B236.) Fan-Tailed Widowbird (Euplectes axillaris) / Stummelweber

 

Another very tricky bird to get a photo of. Seen a couple of times when on the boat but never really allowing close approach.

 

 

I was quite sure we had seen - and photographed - White-Winged Widowbird as well (in even worse "quality") but can´t seem to find one in my files now. Oh well.

 

[michael-ibk]

274/B237.) Pin-Tailed Whydah (Vidua macroura) / Dominikanerwitwe

 

One sighting in Moremi deep in the Delta. Whydahs are all brood parasites, this one´s main host is the Common Waxbill.

 

 

275/B238.) Shaft-Tailed Whydah (Vidua regia) / Königswitwe

 

Very common in the Kalahari especialy, much browner ("buffy" to be exact) than its cousin. Takes advantage of Violeat-Eared Waxbill preferrably, even mimics that species´ call.

 

 

 

276/B239.) Long-Tailed Paradise Whydah (Vidua paradisaea) / Schmalschwanzwitwe

 

One sighting each in Savuti, Moremi and on the road to Savuti. Parasiting the Green-Winged Pytilia. My theory is all these Whydah birds once must have had a gathering and then decided which one gets which little bird as host since it all seems so neatly divided.

 

 

The very drab-looking female:

 

 

277/B240.) Village Indigobird (Vidua chalybeata) / Rotfußwitwe

 

Only one (female) bird seen on the way to the Kalahari. A fan of the Red-Billed Firefinch. As you can see I did not even notice it while taking the photo, a species "discovered" at home.

 

 

 

Edited May 12, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

278/B241.) Green-Winged Pytilia (Pytilia melba) / Buntastrild

 

Seen a couple of times but tiny little guys they are very tricky to get a decent photo of. I finally was kind of lucky on our way out of the Kalahari where one played hide and seek with me. Stunning little bird.

 

 

 

279/B242.) Red-Billed Firefinch (Lagonosticta senegala) / Senegalastrild

 

Just one female seen in Kasane around the lodge. By far the most common Firefinch species, I was very surprised we did not see more of them.

 

 

280/B243.) Scaly-Feathered Finch (Sporopipes squamifrons) / Schnurrbärtchen

 

An abundant species in the Kalahari. One of my particular favourites, I love their kinda grumpy look. Master that at work, and nobody will even dare to ask anything of you.

 

 

 

Edited May 12, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

281/B244.) Blue Waxbill (Uraeginthus angolensis) / Blauastrild

 

A quite common species througout the trip, best sightings in Kasane around the lodge.

 

 

 

282/B245.) Violet-Eared Waxbill (Granatina granatina) / Granatstrild

 

I suppose we must have seen them on our previous trip in the CKGR but I don´t really remember them. Regularly seen (also in Savuti) and quickly became kind of a nemesis bird because taking a photo proved to be very difficult. (I think Peter had better luck at the campsite.) Beautiful species. Not to be confused with East Africa´s much bigger Purple Grenadier.

 

 

 

283/B246.) Common Waxbill (Estrilda astrilda) / Wellenastrild

 

I think we only saw this familiar Waxbill species in Kasana - around the lodge of course.

 

 

284/B247.) Black-Faced Waxbill (Estrilda erythronotos) / Elfenastrild

 

Definitely a lifer for me, one small flock of birds seen in the Kalahari. A "large "Waxbill according to the book but that´s all very relative - its size is given with 12 cm instead of the usual 11 cm for all the other Waxbills.

 

[michael-ibk]

285/B248.) Golden-Breasted Bunting (Emberiza flaviventris) / Gelbbauchammer

 

Two distant sightings, one in Savuti, one in Moremi. Probably the most familiar safari Bunting species.

 

 

286/B249.) Black-Throated Canary (Crithagra atrogularis) / Angolagirlitz

 

Only one sighting in Moremi. A widespread but patchily distributed species. Requires access to water therefore absent from proper desert areas.

 

 

287/B250.) Yellow Canary (Crithagra flaviventris) / Gelbbauchgirlitz

 

Another trip "enemy" - often seen in the Kalahari, no wonder given its shining golden appearance but never sticking around to pose properly.

 

 

And that - phew, finally - concludes my Botswana run. Getting 250 species was a goal of mine, and so I´m quite happy that worked out, even if I had to use several quite questionable photos. Lost a few species I thought I had "on the PC" (like Black Kite, Pallid Harrier or White-Winged Widowbird) but also "found" a few new ones like Southern Black Flycatcher or Village Indigobird. Special thanks also to my guide @Doug Macdonald who obviously was a huge help in getting all these, he´s really gotten very much into this BY game.

 

 

Edited May 12, 2019 by michael-ibk

[PeterHG]

Amazing Botswana total  and more beautiful shots! Interesting info, too, especially on the Oxpeckers. Sadly I seem to have missed holiday-work opportunities like counting ticks and chasing off oxpeckers in Zimbabwe. I'll keep it in mind, though.

Edited May 12, 2019 by PeterHG

[Galana]

7 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

Oxpeckers and Elephants ;-)) have been recorded to hybridise occassionally.

Careful with the punctuation. That would have been one hell of a  sight to see.

 

Do not the Oxpeckers benefit the host mammal by alarms?

 

Congratulations on a great score. A 'few' from say Seewinkel should push you through 300.

[xelas]

Amazing total with even better photos. So North (of Southern Africa) beats South (of Southern Africa) by 250:212. Congratulations!

Edited May 13, 2019 by xelas

[Soukous]

so many terrific shots @michael-ibk quantity and quality. 

[Dave Williams]

I can't keep up with the pace  and just looking through your additions has taken up my allocated time for my breakfast coffee! A stunning total already and we are still in May. Some great shots included in there but just like the Costa Rica trip I wonder if I could cope with all those additions to try and ID. You are right, I decided to leave the Larks well alone and as for the Cisticolas what a nightmare! Until not long ago we had a Raven nest in the garden and the bird started attacking the full frame glass door, it started to concentrate on the rubber seal causing us to have to get it replaced at a not inconsiderable expense. I shot the bird.

No I didn't, I had the bright idea of placing a rather tacky looking plastic West Highland White Terrier by the window which barked when you approached it ( the dog , not the window)it worked a treat and the problem never reoccured. The huge nest was later destroyed in a storm and they have built one elsewhere and although they still hang around the vicinity our door hasn't been re-visited and the WHWT is back where it belongs, hidden from view of any visitors!

[Zim Girl]

Wow, you have been busy over the weekend @michael-ibk

Congratulations on your 200 BY birds, which is likely to become 300 very soon and glad you met your target of 250 Bots birds, some really beautiful ones in there.

[PeterHG]

4 hours ago, Dave Williams said:

placing a rather tacky looking plastic West Highland White Terrier by the window which barked when you approached it

What a great idea to solve this problem! Having a Raven even nest in your garden, though, is something else..

[TonyQ]

250 from Botswana is an amazing total, and the vast majority of them are excellent photos.

[Kitsafari]

A very productive BY trip!  And very useful for me since You helped ID a handful of birds that stumped me.  😁

[Alexander33]

Great trip down memory lane here, Michael, and some really good shots. I agree that it was odd to not see any sunbirds. The white-crested helmetshrike, though, was a nice surprise for me — definitely very cool-looking. 

[michael-ibk]

Thank you everybody, much appreciated! Time to return to Europe and play catch-up there!

 

288/E38.) Whinchat (Saxicola rubetra) / Braunkehlchen

 

Tiebelmündung, Carinthia, 22/4. One of our many problem birds here in Austria. Like most of the meadow-based species their population has crashed catastrophically for the last 20 years. There are several regional projects trying to create "habitat islands" for them in the midth of our super--efficient agriculture areas which seem to work not too badly so there´s some hope at least. Contrary to what I just said about their declining trend 2019 has been a pretty good year so far for me with sightings.

 

 

 

 

Edited May 23, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

289/E39.) Great Spotted Woodpecker (Dendrocopos major) / Buntspecht

 

Lago di Caldaro, Italy, 31/3. Our default Woodpecker here in Austria. While I was lucky with some species this year I haven´t fared too well so far with this comparatively "easy" one.

 

Edited May 23, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

290/E40.) Eurasian Magpie (Pica pica) / Elster

 

Tiebelmündung, Carinthia, 20/4/19. The Eurasian magpie is one of the most clever birds, and it is believed to be one of the most intelligent of all non-human animals. And if you don´t believe me ask the scientists, they will tell you the expansion of its nidopallium is approximately the same in its relative size as the brain of chimpanzees, orangutans and humans. Whatever a nidopallium is, not sure if I have one myself.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

291/E41.) Eurasian Tree Sparrow (Passer montanus) / Feldsperling

 

Tiebelmündung, Carinthia, 20/4. I get the impression from several Big Years that the Tree Sparrow seems to be not that common in the UK. Really not the case here, they are doing very well un Austria, one of our most common birds and frequent guests at the balcony.

 

Edited May 23, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

292/E42.) Eurasian Crag Martin (Ptyonoprogne rupestris) / Felsenschwalbe

 

Winklern, Carinthia, 21/4. A Big Year first for me (IIRC). One of our special birds here in the Alps, birders from abroad always like to get these. Much scarcer that Barn Swallows or House Martins. But actually not that difficult to see if one tries since they are more and more adapting to human settlements, they have increasingly started to use mototway bridges or higher buildings as nesting place instead of their traditional cliffs.

 

 

One of the better ID features is the white-spotted tail but that is only visible when it´s fanned out:

 

Edited May 23, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

-/E43.) Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) / Fitis

 

Stausee Reißeck, Carinthia, 19/4. The first of quite a lot of birds which does not really help move forward the countdown one bit. Part of the reason my Botswana list was quite substantial was a lot of Palearctic migrants was still down there. Now they are back here again. It never ceases to fascinate me why a tiny bird like a Willow Warbler goes to all that effort to fly as far as Southern Africa (instead of just Southern Europe) and - even more puzzling - why it would ever bother to return from a lush place like the Okavango Delta.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

293/E44.) Little Ringed Plover (Charadrius dubius) / Flussregenpfeifer

 

Maria Elend, Carinthia, 21/4. One of the very few waders (the other one is the Common Sandpiper) which is breeding in the Alps although it is getting more and more difficult for them to find suitable nesting grounds.