Michael´s Fourth Year

[michael-ibk]

108/B71.) Allen´s Gallinule (Porphyrio alleni) / Bronzesultanhuhn

 

Another new one for me, also on the Chobe river (which is just awesome for birds btw).

 

 

A juvenile:

 

[michael-ibk]

109/B72.) Black Crake (Amaurornis flavirostra) / Schwarzkielralle

 

Guess where. Not a rare bird (rather the Crake or Rail-like type most likely to be seen) but rarely Observed as closely as this specimen.

 

Edited April 26, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

110/B73.) Wattled Crane (Bugeranus carunculatus) / Klunkerkranich

 

I was a bit disappointed not to get better views of this magnificent bird. A few very distantly seen in Khwai, and a trio in a forest on the way to Moremi - not the most typical habitat for them. A vulnerable species, only about 2,000 left of them in Southern Africa. They are much more common in Zambia´s Kafue NP.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

111/B74.) Secretarybird (Sagitarius serpentarius) / Sekretär

 

One (very early morning) in Savuti, one in the Kalahari. This bird has the longest legs of any bird of prey, used to stump its victims to death. Secretary birds prefer to walk rather than fly, and average about 20 to 30 km a day on foot. The taxonomic name means “the archer of snakes.” The origin of their common name is more unclear: One theory is that the feathers jutting out behind the bird’s head reminded 19th-century Europeans of the quill pens that secretaries tucked behind their ears, while its grey and black body was reminiscent of their tailcoats. A more recent theory is that the name derives from the Arabic ‘saqr-et-tair’, or ‘hunter bird’.

 

 

 

Edited April 26, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

112/B75.) Kori Bustard (Ardeotis kori) / Riesentrappe

 

Very common all through the trip, positively abundant in the Kalahari and Savuti. There they seem to have some kind of relationship with the Carmines which apparently like to hitch a ride. The Robert´s App states that that behaviour is only known from there. @Safaridude, however, has just demonstrated that Northern Carmines do the same thing with Arabian Bustards in Ethiopia.

 

 

 

113/B76.) Denham´s Bustard (Neotis denhami) / Kafferntrappe

 

Not a bird you get every day, a good tick. I´ve seen one on farmland in South Africa, but this one was much closer. A near-threatened species.

 

Edited April 26, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

114/B77.) Red-Crested Korhaan (Lophotis ruficrista) / Rotschopftrappe

 

Seen several times in Savuti and the Kalahari. Also called the "suicide bird". All in an effort to advertise undisputed control over his territory and to attract the opposite sex as a result, the male starts vocalizing on the ground with an ascending piping call. All of a sudden and as the call reaches a crescendo it then flies vertically up into the sky. On reaching a certain height the korhaan merely folds its wings, and plummets back down towards terra firma, body seemingly prone - almost as if having been shot in mid-air. Shortly before hitting the ground, it opens its wings for a soft, elegant landing. Not seen this time, February is already the end of their breeding season.

 

 

115/B78.) Northern Black Korhaan (Afrotis afraoides) / Weißflügeltrappe

 

THE Kalahari bird to me. Does not appreciate passing cars one bit, vigorously and fearlessly defends its territory with a harsh khhr-kurrr from the ground.

 

 

[Galana]

1 hour ago, michael-ibk said:

"phylogenetic placement outside the monophyletic assemblage of true francolins".

Of course. Evry skoolboy no s that!

Congratulations on your Century (There should be an Emoji for applause!!)

Anglophones go with the Quill pens behind the ear on Secretary birds.

Some lovely photos as per usual.

Great ECB with the Common Quails and easily identified by the tail pattern on the left hand one.

Kites? I was always told that YB south of the Zambezi and Black north. but that was many years ago now. Some lump and others split. A bit like Buzzards it depends how badly one needs the point!

[pedro maia]

On 4/24/2019 at 6:45 PM, michael-ibk said:

91/B54.) Black-Winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) / Gleitaar

 

Seen once in Moremi and a couple of times in the Kalahari (photo from there). This used to be the "Black-Shouldered" Kite but that name is now exclusively used for the very similar Australian variant of this bird. These Kites are at home in Southern Europe as well (Iberia to be exact), and once in a while one will pop up farther North. We had one last year in Austria.

 

 

 

Yesterday I saw 7!! all together, I think I have a picture with 3, I think it’’s a lovely bird of prey.

[TonyQ]

Well done on reaching 100 with some great additions

[Dave Williams]

Yes, well I done on the 100. Some enviable sightings and stunning photos to celebrate them.

[screentraveller]

The tufted duck floating on golden waters  is probbly from a fairie story . Adorable!

[screentraveller]

Now I understand the silly walk of the secretary bird, it‘s preying on snakes.  It makes this bird a contender in Monty Python‘s Silly Walk.

[michael-ibk]

116/B79.) Black-Winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus) / Stelzenläufer

 

Only two or three sightings in Moremi. Quite sure I will get better shots in Europe, hopefully as early as next week in Seewinkel. A male here, the female looks almost the same but with brownish wings, and some gray on the nape.

 

[michael-ibk]

117/B80.) African Jacana (Actophilornis africanus) / Blaustirn-Blatthühnchen

 

Abundant in all the wetter areas of Northern Botswana, and surprsingly even seen in some pretty dry parts of Savuti and Fourth Bridge. Probably the defining Delta bird to me. Photos from Chobe and Moremi (in flight).

 

 

 

118/B81.) Lesser Jacana (Microparra capensis) / Zwergblatthühnchen

 

A lifer I was very happy about, several individuals seen on a boat drive around Xaxanaxa in the Delta. Frequently excluded by its cousin from lili-covered areas, having to retreat to areas of floating grass inaccessible to the much heavier bird. Unapproachable on foot but fortunately confiding enough by boat. Both sexes care for their young, the only Jacana to do so.

 

 

 

Edited April 28, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

119/B82.) Spotted Thick-Knee (Burhinus capensis) / Kaptriel

 

Several sighting in Savuti, Khwai and even the Kalahari, all grassland areas are ok for this bird. We had a (Eurasian) Thickknee sighting last week in Tirol, a pretty sensational tick for my country. Unfortunately I did not have the time to try to find it.

 

 

120/B83.) Water Thick-Knee (Burhinus vermiculatus) / Wassertriel

 

Regular sightings along waterbodies, photo here from Chobe. More active by day than its spotted cousin.

 

Edited April 28, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

121/B84.) Black-Winged Pratincole (Glareola nordmanni) / Schwarzflügel-Brachschwalbe

 

Common in Savuti and Moremi. There might well have been some Collared Pratincoles among the flocks but they are just too hard to tell apart in their non-breeding state. Maybe the one in the second photo?

 

 

[michael-ibk]

122/B85.) Temminck´s Courser (Cursorius temmincki) / Temminckrennvogel

 

Quite common in the Kalahari. The only Courser we saw, Double-Banded and Bronze-Winged should occur as well and are described in the book as "fairly common" but not for us.

 

 

Edited April 28, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

123/B86.) Blacksmith Lapwing (Vanellus armatus) / Waffenkiebitz

 

The most abundant Lapwing in all wetter areas. The name derives from the repeated metallic 'tink, tink, tink' alarm call, which suggests a blacksmith´s hammer striking an anvil.

 

 

124/B87.) Long-Toed Lapwing (Vanellus crassirostris)  / Langzehenkiebitz

 

One of the most striking Lapwings IMO. Seen a couple of times in Chobe and Khwai,  a true wetland Lapwing. A  localised and generally (naturally) uncommon species.

 

 

125/B88.) Crowned Lapwing (Vanellus coronatus) / Kronenkiebitz

 

The classic Kalahari Lapwing. So  common there that I forgot to even take a photo. A good thing therefore a few had also popped up in Savuti.

 

 

We also saw White-Crowned Lapwing, very common on the Chobe river. Since photo opportunities were not that good I did not bother, expecting to get better viewings in the Delta. A mistkae - the White-Crowned is a Lapwing of big river systems only.

Edited April 28, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

126/B89.) Caspian Plover (Charadrius asiaticus) / Wermutregenpfeifer

 

Another lifer for me, seen in the Kalahari. Our guide Doug told us they used to be quite common but - like so many other waders - have become scarce in the last decade. A migrant from its breeding grounds in Central Asia.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

127/90.) Kittlitz´s Plover (Charadrius pecuarius) / Hirtenregenpfeifer

 

By far the most common Plover. Not a very demanding bird, accepting a number of different habitats, which also explains its success. Named after the German scientist Heinrich von Kittlitz, a friend of Eduard Rüppel (who christened a whole bunch of birds himself).

 

 

128/B91.) Three-Banded Plover (Charadrius tricollaris) / Dreiband-Regenpfeifer

 

Seen regularly in Savuti and Moremi especially. Another extremely widespread species. But only ever a few individuals seen, never in flocks like its cousin.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

129/B92.) Greater Painted-Snipe (Tostratula benghalensis) / Goldschnepfe

 

One bird in Khwai, one around Fourth bridge. Another lifer for me which I was quite excited about. Unfortunately one was extremely distant, the other one seen after sunset. Only distantly related to true snipes.They are "polyandrous" which means males are responsible for incubation and care of chicks. (Similar to Phalaropes and most Jacanas). First bird is a male, second one a female, they do look quite different.

 

Edited April 28, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

130/B93.) Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia) / Grünschenkel

 

Only two sightings in Moremi. A Palearctic migrant, and passing through our country right now, so I do hope to get some better photos next week.

 

 

131/B94.) Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola) / Bruchwasserläufer

 

The most common classic Wader by far. Seen even in the Kalahari. Our guide mentioned it has taken the place of the Common Sandpiper in that regard which used to be extremely common but is seen in Southern Africa less and less.

 

 

132/B95.) Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos) / Flussuferläufer

 

Surprisingly scarce, a few sightings in Chobe and Moremi but really a surprisngly low number of birds. The only Sandpiper which is breeding in my area here in Austria, albeit in extremely low densities.

 

 

In general wader sightings were a bit disappointing. Not many birds, and not a huge variety of species. No Marsh Sandpiper especially, and I would have to be very lucky to get them here at home.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

133/B96.) Ruff (Philomachus pugnax) / Kampfläufer

 

Seen regularly, and some males were already in pretty interesting plumages. Ruffs are highly variable in their breeding state.

 

 

 

134/B97.) Little Stint (Calidris minuta/ Zwergstrandläufer

 

One single individual in Savuti, obviously must have lost its pals. No Curlew Sandpipers either which are supposed to be "abundant".

 

 

Edited April 28, 2019 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

135/B98.) African Skimmer (Rhynchops flavirostris) / Afrikanischer Scherenschnabel

 

One individual in the Fourth Bridge area in Moremi. Distant and after sunset, a far cry from the high quality sightings I´ve enjoyed of this cool bird in Zambia´s Kafue NP. A near-threatened species, only about 1000 left in Southern Africa.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

136/B99.) Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida) / Flussseeschwalbe

 

I only remember this bird from Chobe. Another European "local", I expect to get a good fix of shooting opportunities of this species later this year at Lake Constance. Not only a migrant in Southern Africa, there is a resident population as well.

 

 

137/B100.) White-Winged Black Tern (Chlidonias leucopterus) / Weißflügel-Seeschwalbe

 

Another Palearctic migrant, also seen on the Chobe River. All these Marsh Terns are not that easy to tell apart in their non-breeding state, the greyish "headphones" behind the ears are diagnostic. A very attractive species in their breeding state, but I have only seen them that way in Romania.