Peter B's first big year

[Galana]

Now you have an excuse to go back in the Austral Spring and get all those LBJ's in breeding plumage.

Q. Does the Southern Fiscal occur in Bangweulu alongside the Northern??

[BRACQUENE]

Thanks Fred @Galanaand I was of course expecting a reaction from you on this one which I gave a long consideration as I did also on the notoriously difficult genus "Cisticolas" to identify and the weavers outside the breeding season ( and to be honest there are a few others I still have to identify ) .

As you know of course before ( approx 2010 ) the Northern was traditionally grouped with the Southern Fiscal and called the Common Fiscal or Lanius collaris humeralis ; moreover BirdLife International and the classic Birds books still don't make a distinction so this would mean that my two species identified would anyway automatically be reduced to one ; the differences between them are minor but juvenile plumage and for the adults color and back and "tail" are the most notable and that's what I have been looking at or at least tried to 

For the Northern Fiscal there are three subspecies  : LH capelli , humeralis and smithii and the first two have been recorded in Zambia at least in the northern areas because the Northern Fiscal is absent from the Luangwa valley and scarce on the Kafue Flats and most of the South ; as you can see below the Northern Fiscal has been recorded at Chikuni in the Wetlands were we landed ;  As for the Southern the subspecies   L. c. collaris Linnaeus is found in the extreme southern Namibia, southern, central and eastern South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, and extreme southern Mozambique (Maputo)(except the south), Zambia, northern Botswana, and possibly also extreme south western Tanzania and extreme north eastern Namibia ; In Zambia it has been identified from what I read only in the Northwest in West Lunga NP  , a pristine corner of Zambia famous for that one endemic white-chested tinker bird collected in 1964 , but to be honest I didn't find a positive ID in Bangweulu which should have made me suspicious

 

 

What made me despite this finally go for the Southern was the general aspect of the bird with the characteristic white "V" on the back , a relatively long black tail with white outer feathers and white tips on the other feathers and the resemblance with similar "Southern" I saw , but I didn't pay enough attention ( see below) to the small white nick on the bottom of the wing which seems to be caracteristic for the Northern Fiscal 

So unless someone has a different point of view it is clear now for me that the picture of jackie hangman # 118 should have been added to #101 

 

 

[Galana]

The main difference is that the Southern is greyer underneath. Don't ask how you do this in the field without a shade card.

I would go by the distribution map with the proviso that birds don't read them.

I ducked out on your Chirping Cisticola as you really need sound but the location fits so why worry?

 

[BRACQUENE]

@GalanaThanks again and given the rather difficult conditions on that mokoro in Bangweulu with no support for our backs during hours and constant movement  I think I did a rather good job with the pictures even if I missed sometimes my son Willem to write down everything that passed by or sat on a tree in the far distance ! Luckily with your Poirot and teaching 😉skills I found the perfect replacement 

[BRACQUENE]

101° & 118 ° Let us forget then the Southern Fiscal before I start to dream about it and instead add a new found picture of the Northern one at Bangweulu the 20th of July , at least I hope 

124° Coppery-tailed Coucal ( Centropus cupreicaudus - Koperstaartspoorkoekoek) - Bangweulu Wetlands 20th of July 2022 : 

 

125° African Grey Hornbill  ( Lophoceros nasutus - Grijze tok of hoornvogel ) - South Luangwa NP Tafika area 23th of July 2022 : 

126° Red-billed Firefinch ( Lagonosticta Senegala -  Vuurvink ) South Luangwa NP Tafika area  23th of July 2022 : 

127° Robin ( Erithacus rubecula - Roodborst ) Wolfsputten Dilbeek 9th of July 2022 : 

128° Common Scimitarbill ( Rhinopomastus cyanomelas - Zuid-Afrikaanse boomhop ) North Luangwa NP Takwela "in camp "13th of July 2022 : 

129 ° Greater Scaup ( Aythya marila - Topper ) Anderlecht Lake 30th of June 2022 :

130° Common Pochard ( Aythya ferina - Tafeleend) Anderlecht Lake 30th of June 2022 : 

Secretly I hoped that this was a Canvasback (Aythya valisineria) with his lady behind (rarely seen in Europe but lately more and more ) looking at the male's rather long black beak but the quality of this picture taken with my mobile isn't stellar and zooming in there might be ( and I think there is ) white in the middle part so before Fred notices that, I will stay with the common one  

 

131° Yellow-bellied Greenbul ( Chlorocichla flaviventris - Geelborstbuulbuul ) South Luangwa NP Tafika 23 th of July 2022 : 

Not easy to see I admit , but a common resident at Tafika seen by most  ! 

 

 

[PeterHG]

Another set of good additions, both African and European! I am a little doubtful about #129, though. Maybe a Tufted Duck?

[Galana]

3 hours ago, PeterHG said:

I am a little doubtful about #129, though. Maybe a Tufted Duck?

My thoughts also. Never say never but a Scaup in Belgium in June is about as likely as snow.

 

[BRACQUENE]

@PeterHG @Galana

Thanks for your comments ! 

Gave this one also a long consideration also and I admit of course that the sighting in June is a problem but from the looks I didn't see a clear tuff (but going very close maybe a hint) and the back and flank is not a clear black ( more grayish) and white division and finally the neck is not really short for me which is normally the case with the tufted duck but this can also be an impression due to the light and the picture ;  Village Indigo and red-billed weaver bird , Northern and Southern Fiscal and now the Scaups and the Tufted Duck I learn every day 

Finally  as with the Grey and te Black-headed Heron identification is not always straightforward, however as I have read :  This group of ducks ( Greater and Lesser Scaup and Tufted Duck ) has a variety of plumages and, to make matters worse, is notorious for producing hybrids, some of which can appear very similar to one of the parent species or even to another species altogether.

[Galana]

10 hours ago, BRACQUENE said:

I learn every day 

That's the fun of it and we all do it. You did well.

[BRACQUENE]

132 Burnt-necked Eremomela ( Eremomela usticollis - Roesthalseremomela) - North Luangwa NP Mwaleshi area 17th of July 2022 : 

 

Every day brings surprises and this one I discovered a few moments ago and it is not the most common bird seen at least from what I saw on Safaritalk with a few sightings from @Peter Connanand @xelas

 

[BRACQUENE]

133° Green woodpecker ( Picus viridis - Groene Specht ) Wolfsputten Dilbeek 6th of July 2022 : 

 

134° Little Grebe ( Tachybaptus ruficollis - Dodaars ) Anderlecht Lake 19th of September 2022 : 

135° Herring Gull ( Larus argentatus - Zilvermeeuw) Anderlecht Bon Air 19th of September 2022 : 

  

136° Black-headed Gull ( Larus ridibundus - Kokmeeuw ) Anderlecht Bon Air 19th of September 2022 : 

 

137° Village Weaver ( Ploceus cucullatus- Grote textorwever) South Luangwa NP Tafika camp 22 th of July 2022 : 

 

138° Common Moorhen ( Gallinule chloropus - Waterhoen ) - Bangweulu Wetlands 20th of July 2022 : 

139° Franklin's Gull ( Leucophaeus pipixcan - Franklins meeuw ) Bangweulu Wetlands Shoebill Island Camp 19th of July 2022 : 

I know this one taken in the early morning from the terrace of our lodge is a species rare or uncommon in Zambia ( but seen in the Wetlands before ) ;  the hood is partially black ( no doubt about that despite the poor quality of the picture ) and then there is only the common black-headed gull as an alternative in Southern Africa  but even if I can't see the eyes or the entire wings it is clear for me that there is a black subterminal band on outer primaries surrounded by a white band which could be an indication ?

But of course I am waiting for a reaction from the specialists to be sure  ! 

[Tdgraves]

do you have any other angles of the weaver? I only ask, as I have misidentified a weaver as village this BY...

I haven't got a Zambia bird book, but could your gull be grey-headed?

[BRACQUENE]

@Tdgraves

 

Thanks a lot for your reaction ! A close up could perhaps help?

 

As for the gull my number 46 is a  grey-headed but this one even going in close up has a black head at least in my opinion and in Derek Solomons birds of Zambia the Franklin’s is mentioned..

[michael-ibk]

You are making great progress Peter! I would also go with GH-Gull as the most likely candidate, probably in some moulting phase between juvenile (which have smudged heads) and adult. Maybe . Franklin´s would be a super-rarity. ebird has no records at all, and Birds of Africa seems to indicate there has only been one sighting ever.

[Tdgraves]

I defer to @Galana when it comes to LBJs, but the bill does not seem heavy enough nor the back streaked enough to me....

[michael-ibk]

Could well be Katanga Masked Weaver (which does not have a streaked back) and seems to be the most common Weaver around Bangweulu.

 

Forget what I said - just saw this was taken at Tafika.

Edited October 7, 2022 by michael-ibk

[BRACQUENE]

As for the Katanga masked Weaver I am still hoping that I have one in my pictures from Bangweulu@michael-ibkbut for the moment didn’t find it yet 😉
 

[Galana]

I am so glad I had that extra glass of wine with Dinner so I am late back and the work is done..

I agree with GH Gull. To be honest the chromatic bloom produced so much blue and brown I was thinking Rollers at one stage.

As for the Weaver. If we eliminate all it cannot be then what we are left with is Village but I would have liked more yellow supercileum. Never heard of Katanga but having looked it up it would appear a close fit so who knows? Play it safe.

[BRACQUENE]

Thanks a lot Fred @Galana and even if for me that head is more black than gray , I will of course follow the majority  ; as for the weaver as I said before I am pretty obsessed with the Katanga masked weaver and would love to find it amongst my photos but I am absolutely sure I will not find it in Tafika Camp as its habitat is strictly limited to swampy areas in southeastern Congo former Katanga province and NW Zambia especially  Bangweulu  😉

[offshorebirder]

Like others, I am afraid it is definitely not a Franklin's Gull - but rather a Grey-headed Gull.  

 

Among other issues, Franklin's Gulls have all-whitish underwings except for a dark band near the tip and much more white on the face than the bird in your photo.   The white on the face contrasts strongly with the blackish areas.

 

The facial pattern and upperwing pattern are a dead ringer for Gray-headed Gull.

 

[BRACQUENE]

Thanks Nate @offshorebirder I am glad so many members responded to the challenge  and that’s a bonus for my learning process; in the future though I will trust less in blurry pictures  taken at 6 15 in the morning 

[BRACQUENE]

The Katanga Masked Weaver :

 

I woke up early this morning starting to think about my trip to Gonarezhou NP three days from now and what I would be able to add to my collection of birds which is understandably running out of fuel after one safari and a few pictures from around Dilbeek taken in the last three months only!

The last picture , number 139 , where I confused black with gray and some more unresolved ones that I keep for the moment in hand , made me realize how difficult this Bird ID business is but as those who followed my former adventures in some games during the pandemic know I have detective blood in my veins and will never give up ...

 

So I would like to entertain you all before I leave with some thoughts about that "mysterious" Ploceus Katangae or Katanga Masked Weaver and this for several reasons : 

 

The first is pretty obvious I think when you look at the distribution of the bird : it is endemic to DR Congo ( country with which I have some common past as you know and moreover my wife lived there until she was eighteen ) and N Zambia especially ; as I further discovered in December 1940 two adult males of the species were was first collected in Musosa NE of lake Mwero , then part of Belgian Congo but now Zambia by Hans J.Bredo , a Belgian government entomologist who seemed to have collected other birds in Central Africa but was in fact it seems specialised in locusts !

The types are in the Museum of Natural Sciences in Belgium (IRSNB 3161 and 3162). In 1947 the species was formally described by René Verheyen , a Belgian ornithologist as a subspecies of the Ploceus velatus or Southern Masked Weaver but it was only in 1971 that a first illustration of a breeding male was published by Benson and a few years later both male and female followed ; 

 

Since Verheyen considered it a subspecies of the Southern though a growing number of authors started to see it as a seperate species and if we look at the latest situation this is confirmed by the 2017 updates of the Clements checklist which even specifies two subspecies of the Katanga Masked Weaver : 

- Ploceus katangae katangae: spottily distributed in northern Zambia and immediately adjacent southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo

- Ploceus katangae upembae: southeastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (headwaters of the Lualaba River, Katanga)

 

If I look at my bird books the Birds of Africa ( Sinclair - Ryan ) second edition of 2010 mentions it on page 664 adding that it is sometimes considered a race of Southern Masked whilst strangely the Fourth edition ( 2011 ) of Birds of Southern Africa by the same authors & Hockey and Tarboton doesn't mention it ;  I recently bought a pocket guide of birds of Zambia at Mfuwe airport and there it isn't either ; probably they forgot it because in their app I downloaded , the authors Rory McDougall and Derek Solomon clearly mention it !

 

My second reason is to thank my "teacher" Fred @Galanafor his help and appreciated corrections until now and at the same time broaden even more his considerable knowledge of birds in general and weavers in particular by talking about this species he didn't seem to have encountered until now ;

 

And finally the most important thing is to find out if and when I saw that species in my four days at Bangweulu and how to recognize it because as we were there in July this was outside the September - October and March breeding season when the yellow male with a black mask is more easily distinguished from the Southern Masked Weaver by having more saffron around the mask, less black on forehead, and a darker yellow green back. 

As for the female , the young and non-breeding males there is a strong resemblance with Southern Masked even if the colours might be slightly duller and the Katanga Weaver is also generally seen as slightly smaller than the Southern Masked .

But more importantly the ranges of Southern and Katanga Masked are not known to overlap as the maps below show ; in fact the Southern Masked is not occurring in Northern Zambia at all if we can believe the maps (and after the Northern and Southern Fiscal I think I should )

 

 

The pictures I have seen online of the Katanga Masked Weaver outside the breeding season are few and far between and some have been taken in the transition period so this makes it even more difficult ; this one is the most interesting one :

Let's now take my pictures , also those I didn't post before taking into account that I identified a Southern Masked Weaver under 120 ° ( and two others as Golden and Black-headed which both occur in Bangweulu ) which might now be under suspicion !? at least if we accept that there is no Southern in Bangweulu but only one of the two subspecies of the Katanga , the Ploceus katangae katangae .

The one taken the 19th of July and identified ( wrongly? ) as Southern Masked 

Two weavers seen one hour later on the 19th

The one seen on the 21th of July

And in close-up

The last one a few hours later 

 

So it would be nice to have some thoughts from the specialists and the others and even if I will lose a Southern one I will probably gain a Katanga one 

 

 

 

 

[Galana]

On 10/7/2022 at 8:10 PM, Galana said:

Never heard of Katanga but having looked it up it would appear a close fit so who knows? Play it safe.

Well well!

Thank you for opening my eyes. I declare you may have a point. It is not us that are incorrect it is these 'experts' that write the books that are confusingly inconsistent. It would be scurrulous of us mere mortals to suggest this is somehow linked to the need to sell new editions so my lips are sealed. To re quote myself from above "so who knows?" & 'Play it safe'.

As an aside I have been baffled for years by a Weaver seen regularly and consistently in Western Uganda that bears distinct family resemblance to Heuglins and Northern Masked neither of which should occur. I have been fobbed off by the 'experts' into a Lake Victoria or hybrid.

 

So, braced with your @BRACQUENEguidance on Katanga (which I have never heard of despite over 12 trips to Zambia) I took myself to page 664 of my edition of Sinclair and Ryan and got a nice surprise.

Page 662 of my edition (2001 as I am too poor to buy many bird books  from a meagre pension) and #3 is  Tanzanian Masked Weaver. reichardi.

So what?? "Endemic to S Tanzania and NE Zambia.", Considered a race of Southern Masked Weaver, Katanga Masked Weaver 'katangae', NE Zambia and SE DRC and 'ruweti'  (Upper Lufira, DRC are intermediate and their specific status is uncertain.

 

All this goes to prove my cynical view and if you want to lose southern and gain katanga be my guest..  But my Sinclair page 662 says 'Southern', vitelline is in Bangawelu so again, "who really knows?" Sinclair obviously does not.

As for poor Reichardi, I shall be giving him some attention in 2023 so he won't feel neglected. I certainly will not be buying a new book. the one I have has still got bother covers relatively intact so good for a few years yet.

I will be there in the breeding season so might even find a male.

Edited October 9, 2022 by Galana

[Dave Williams]

This birding lark can be very confusing. You referred to Northern and Southern Fiscal, my Sasol guide only has one ...Common Fiscal, and it was only bought 10 years ago. Ok so there is a chance I can double my score when I go to Senegal should I find one but is it necessary to split them. Why is there only one Yellow Wagtail?

 

 

 

[BRACQUENE]

I am back from Gonarezhou NP Zimbabwe after an intense safari ( see the start of the TR soon elsewhere ) and some unexpected birds by the way even in the garden of our lodge in Harare : thanks Fred @Galanafor your comments on the weavers and @Dave Williams; I agree that splitting and inventing new names is mostly purely commercial and sorry that I have the latest editions but that's because I started later than all of you  and as I heard from @Doug Macdonaldand his fabulous team  @michael-ibkis going on the same Gonarezhou trip with Bushbound Safaris as mine early November  (he is in for a treat !! )  , so I am looking out which birds he can add to his already impressive collection