Michael´s Fifth Year

[michael-ibk]

279/236.) Cardinal Quelea (Quelea cardinalis) / Kardinalweber

 

Quite an exciting Quelea for me - a lifer, seen twice in Ruaha.

 

Edited April 10, 2020 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

280/237.) Red-Collared Widowbird (Euplectes ardens) / Schildweber

 

One very distant sighting in Ruaha. Got my guide excited, it seems to be a pretty rare bird there.

 

[michael-ibk]

281/T238.) Fan-Tailed Widowbird (Euplectes axillaris) / Stummelweber

 

Pretty common in the fields around the Udzungwas.

 

[michael-ibk]

282/T239.) White-Winged Widowbird (Euplectes albonotatus) / Spiegelweber

 

Not uncommon in Ruaha but pretty hard to get.

 

[michael-ibk]

283/T240.) Southern Red Bishop (Euplectes orix) / Oryxweber

 

I really like Bishops - and they were delightfully common in Ruaha.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

284/T241.) Black-Winged Red Bishop (Euplectes hordeaceus) / Flammenweber

 

And there were tons of Red Bishops - this one was common in Udzungwa and also seen occassionally in Ruaha. A bit larger than its cousin (which is rarely a helpful ID mark), but note the pale vent (visible in the second picture).

 

 

[michael-ibk]

285/T242.) Zanzibar Red Bishop (Euplectes nigroventris) / Brandweber

 

And the third Red Bishop (which does look distinctly different) - very common in the fields of the Udzungwa Mountains.

 

[michael-ibk]

286/T243.) Green-Winged Pytilia (Pytilia melba) / Buntastrild

 

Seen a couple of times but could never approach closely enough. Male from Ruaha, Female from Udzungwa.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

287/T244.) Lesser Seedcracker (Pyrenestes minor) / Kleinastrild

 

From Udzungwa. A really good bird to see, very rare and localised. Could be a Big Year first. Made quite some effort for it.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

288/T245.) Red-Cheeked Cordon-Bleu (Uraeginthus bengalus) / Schmetterlingsastrild

 

We saw all three Cordon-Bleus. This one was at the airstrip in Ruaha, the only individual we saw.

 

[michael-ibk]

289/T246.) Southern Cordon-Bleu (Uraeginthus angolensis) / Blauastrild

 

Common in the Selous. Actually a tricky bird to photograph on a game drive, they are much easier in gardens and parks.

 

[michael-ibk]

290/T247.) Blue-Capped Cordon-Bleu (Uraeginthsu cyanocephalus) / Blaukopfastrild

 

A new one for me, unfortunately it did not allow closer approach. Just one sighting in Ruaha.

 

 

Edited April 10, 2020 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

291/T248.) Red-Billed Firefinch (Lagonosticta senegala) / Senegalamarant

 

I used to be quite fond of them but these days they are more a source of disappointment. There are six Red Firefinch species and the only one I´m ever seeing is this one. Go away!

 

[michael-ibk]

292/T249.) Common Waxbill (Estrilda astrild) / Wellenastrild

 

Quite common in the Udzunga fields.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

293/T251.) Zebra Waxbill (Estrilda perreini) / Goldbrustastrild

 

Another lifer for me. These days called the Orange-Breasted Waxbill but I prefer the old name.

 

Edited April 10, 2020 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

294/T252.) Cut-Throat Finch (Amadina fasciata) / Bandastrild

 

Just one sighting at the Ruaha airstrip.

 

Edited April 10, 2020 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

295/T253.) Eastern aka Long-Tailed Paradise-Whydah (Vidua paradisaea) / Schmalschwanzwitwe

 

A few sightings in the Selous and Ruaha.

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

296/T254.) Pin-Tailed Whydah (Vidua macroura) / Dominikanerwitwe

 

Common, especially in Udzungwa.

 

 

[michael-ibk]

297/T255.) Steel-Blue Whydah (Vidua hypocherina) / Glanzwitwe

 

One sighting in Ruaha - another lifer.

 

[michael-ibk]

298/T256.) Village Indigobird (Vidua chalybeata) / Rotfußwitwe

 

A few sightings in Ruaha and Uzdungwa. The first one definitely is, I´m less sure about the others - maybe Variable or Purple, anyone willing to give me an extra point?

 

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

299/T257.) Bronze Mannikin (Lonchura cucullata) / Kleinelsterchen

 

The familiar Mannikin, very common in Udzungwa.

 

 

 

Edited April 10, 2020 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

300/T258.) Magpie Mannikin (Lonchura fringilloides) / Riesenelsterchen

 

I was thrilled to finally see one of the other Mannikins - and what a good poser it was (for a few seconds at least). Also from Udzungwa.

 

 

 

[michael-ibk]

301/T259.) Red-Backed Mannikin (Lonchura nigriceps) / Braunrückenelsterchen

 

And hooray, also got the third Mannikin. One bird in Udzungwa.

 

Edited April 13, 2020 by michael-ibk

[michael-ibk]

302/260.) Yellow-Fronted Canary (Serinus mozambicus) / Mosambikgirlitz

 

Quite common in the Udzunga fields.

 

[michael-ibk]

303/261.) Reichenow´s aka Yellow-Rumped Seedeater (Serinus reichenowi) / Reichenowgirlitz

 

Two sightings in the Selous. Not the most exciting bird but another new one for me.