Michael´s Fifth Year

[michael-ibk]

Quite right, @Galana, I clearly was looking at the wrong bird altogether while typing - although a Blue-Headed Bee-Eater would have been a pretty sensational find. What can I say about your "Böhm´s " pronouncation ... well, for an Anglophone "Bums" might be as correct as an Anglophone is capably of saying an "ö" but please - if you ever meet a Mr. Böhm from Germany don´t adress him like that.

[michael-ibk]

179/T135.) Tanzanian Red-Billed Hornbill (Tockus ruahae) / Tansania-Rotschnabeltoko

 

The Red-Billed Hornbill has been split in no less than five different species these days, all of them look pretty much the same. This variation which is very common in Ruaha has very dark eyepatches.

 

[michael-ibk]

180/T136.) Von der Decken´s Hornbill (Tockus deckeni) / Von-der-Decken-Toko

 

A few sightings in Selous and Ruaha (where photo was taken).

 

[michael-ibk]

181/T137. ) African Grey Hornbill (Tockus nasutus) / Grautoko

 

A regular but not a numerous sight - as is the norm for this bird. Photo from Ruaha. I was hoping for its Pale-Billed cousin in the Selous but no luck there.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

182/T138.) Crowned Hornbill (Tockus alboterminatus) / Kronentoko

 

A few sightings in Ruaha and the Udzungwa mountains.

 

[michael-ibk]

183/T139.) Trumpeter Hornbill (Bycanistes bucinator) / Trompeterhornvogel

 

Regularly flying over the forest at dawn in the Udzungwa Mountains.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

184/T140.) Southern Ground Hornbill (Bucorvus leadbeateri) / Kaffernhornrabe

 

One sighting only in the Selous

 

[michael-ibk]

185/T141.) Crested Barbet (Trachyphonus vaillantii) / Haubenbartvogel

 

A familiar bird on Southern African safaris but the first time I have seen them that far up North. One sighting in the Selous.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

186/T142.) Black-Collared Barbet (Lybius torquatus) / Halsband-Bartvogel

 

I hope everybody will finally allow one of my contributions into the ebc-contest now. One bird in Ruaha.

 

[michael-ibk]

187/T143.) D´Arnaud´s Barbet (Trachyphonus darnaudii) / Ohrfleck-Bartvogel

 

Common (for a Barbet) in Ruaha. I thought I had a lifer with this one but then realized that Usambiro (which I have seen in the Mara) was lumped with this one.

 

[michael-ibk]

188/T144.) Greater Honeyguide (Indicator indicator) / Schwarzkehl-Honiganzeiger

 

Two distant sightings in Ruaha.

 

[michael-ibk]

189/T145.) Pallid Honeyguide (Indicator meliphilus) / Taveta-Honiganzeiger

 

A good riddle for the experts on the FB Birding Tanzania group. Nothing really seems to fit completely. Seen in the middle of the forest in Udzungwa, and it definitely was very small, I made a deliberate effort to estimate its size on the spot and thought "like a Dusky Flycatcher", so very small indeed. Most of the contributors on the discussion then reluctantly agreed on Pallid which would be an unusual record for the area (but who know about these minor Honeyguide birds really), while one person argued for Lesser. Personally I don´t think so because of its size and the middle of thick primeval forest is not really the habitat for that bird. But very interested to hear what the Big Year community thinks about this one. Hey, maybe I have discovered a new species. ;-)

 

Edited March 31, 2020 by michael-ibk

[xelas]

48 minutes ago, michael-ibk said:

I hope everybody will finally allow one of my contributions into the ebc-contest now.

 

Not me! It is easily recognisable, decently sharp, only a bit intensively cropped. Try better.

[michael-ibk]

But do appreciate how carefully composed the ebc is, with the twig right in front of the head, blocking the eye? Surely that must be worth something?

[Galana]

3 hours ago, xelas said:

Not me! It is easily recognisable, decently sharp, only a bit intensively cropped. Try better.

Me neither! That's better than some of my standard photos. Must try harder.

 

3 hours ago, michael-ibk said:

Usambiro (which I have seen in the Mara) was lumped with this one.

Not in my books. Usambiro has dark bill for a start. I have seen both and count them as both. but it won't change your BY score so 'why not?'

 

Re Pallid. I am with you. Have you contacted TZ Bird Atlas and reported it? Also African bird club would like to know.

Now to Mr Böhm . I regularly stay at Weinhof St. Barbara in Alf am Moselle. Owned and run by Fam. Bömer. I don't have any trouble at all. I just call them Elke and Karl-Heinz.

[shazdwn]

EBC contender? 🧐 No, I don’t think so 😁

[Zim Girl]

Just catching up and love the Kingfishers and Bee-eaters - stunning!

[michael-ibk]

19 hours ago, Galana said:

Have you contacted TZ Bird Atlas and reported it?

 

Yes, Neil Baker who is the man behind the scenes was one of the guys discussing the ID of this little fellow.

[michael-ibk]

190/T146.) Fischer´s Sparrow-Lark (Eremopterix leucopareia) / Braunscheitellerche

 

Surprisingly not a single "proper" Lark in Southern Tanzania. Well, at least saved me some ID headaches. These Sparrowlarks, however, are very common in the Selous and also numerous in Ruaha. Male and female.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

191/T147.) Lesser Striped Swallow (Hirundo abyssinica) / Zwergrötelschwalbe

 

Seen now and then both in the Selous and Ruaha.

 

 

Always nice to get a breeding record, this one was obviously carrying nesting material.

 

Edited April 1, 2020 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

192/T148.) Wire-Tailed Swallow (Hirundo smithii) / Rotkappenschwalbe

 

Not a shy bird - as they often do we had a pair nesting in our boat, and so they were our constant companions when out on the water in the Selous.

 

[michael-ibk]

193/T149.) Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) / Rauchschwalbe

 

Just a "boredom shot" for complecity´s sake because we were stuck in traffic. Haven´t seen my first one in Europe yet, always makes me happy when they return.

 

[michael-ibk]

194/T150.) African Pied Wagtail (Motacilla aguimp) /Witwenstelze

 

A couple of sightings in the Selous mainly.

 

[michael-ibk]

195/T151.) Mountain Wagtail (Motacilla clara) / Langschwanzstelze

 

Rarely before have I been so exhausted when taking a photo. This was atop Sanjay Falls, after a very humid and strenous hike up the mountain in thick primeval forest.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

196/T152.) Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) / Schafstelze

 

Just a single bird in the Selous - must have lost its pals, unusual to see them as singles.