EBCs and misIDs: KK's BY III, MMXXIII

[TonyQ]

Well done on passing 100, excellent birds!

What a wonderful collection of Owls 

[Kalaharikind]

On 5/16/2023 at 6:11 PM, Galana said:

What more could one ask for 

 

A party, of course!

 

What with the owl hunt and the extremely entertaining neighbours, the BIG birthday celebration faded into the background - until 21 Dunes.

 

Cheers! Gesondheid! Salut! Skol! Saude! Na zdravje!

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 17, 2023 by Kalaharikind

[xelas]

Looks tasty! Na mnoga leta, @Kalaharikind!

[Galana]

Slainte!  Mayesha marefu.

Edited May 17, 2023 by Galana

[Kalaharikind]

Hvala vam @xelas

Asante @Galana! 

 

From 21 Dunes we drove to Gobabis, where we stayed at Qain Quas (better known as "the place with the unpronounceable name"). (We bought droewors at the greengrocer, because that's how small towns work. Next stop was Spar and Tops for groceries and  things to drink. Normally I would do the grocery shopping first and then the booze. This time, I visited Tops first - a good thing, since the security guard slammed the entrance door shut as soon as I was inside. It would have been a dreary weekend had I been locked out... Note to self: when in Namibia, do try to remember what day it is, that Saturdays are early closing days and Sundays are completely dry.)

 

130    Pririt Batis
Priritbosbontrokkie
Batis pririt
 

 

131    Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
Geelbekneushoringvoël
Tockus leucomelas
 

 

132    Burnt-necked Eremomela
Bruinkeelbossanger
Eremomela usticollis
 

 

133    Groundscraper Thrush
Gevlekte Lyster
Turdus litsitsirupa
 

 

134    Indian Peafowl
Makpou
Pavo cristatus
 

 

Already counted: spotted and unspotted wild chickens

 

[Kitsafari]

ccongrats on the striking 100th  bird and a great haul of owls!

[Kalaharikind]

Thank you,@Kitsafari. Yes, the owls were awesome!

 

The place with the unpronounceable name was simply a stopover, and the next stop, just outside of Rundu, was another.

 

135    Hartlaub’s Babbler
Witkruiskatlagter
Turdoides hartlaubi
 

Kaisosi, Rundu, 17 April 2023

 

This little one seemed quite unfazed by the lack of a foot:

 

136 African Footed Wagtail
Bontkwikkie
Motacilla aguimp

 

Kaisosi, Rundu, 17 April 2023

 

I've just noticed a really odd thing: My file names are being autotranslated (and really badly, at that!) on/by the ST site - the wagtail is seemingly a pufferfish! Has anybody else experienced this - and what do I do about it? 

Edited May 20, 2023 by Kalaharikind

[Kalaharikind]

Ngepi, on the banks of the Kavango River, is one of those places that we return to time and time again. 

 

Our welcoming committee:

 

 

137    Yellow-bellied Greenbul
Geelborswillie
Chlorocichla flaviventris

 

 

138    Grey-backed Camaroptera
Grysrugkwêkwêvoël
Camaroptera brevicaudata
 

139    Long-billed Crombec

Bosveldstompstert
Sylvietta rufescens

 

 

140    Black-backed Puffback
Sneeubal
Dryoscopus cubla

 

 

Multi-species carrier, with what seems to be nest-building material:

 

 

 

[Peter Connan]

Wow, and baie geluk, both with the birthday and the haul!

[Kalaharikind]

Thanks, @Peter Connan! Smallanyana haul, compared with what's happening here - folks are rocking!

 

Rainfall report: 52 mm yesterday, with thunder, lightning and hail! Soft drizzle at the moment. Fire-lighting ceremony imminent.

 

141    Spectacled Weaver
Brilwewer
Ploceus ocularis
 

 

142    Terrestrial Brownbul
Boskrapper
Phyllastrephus terrestris
 

 

143    Green Wood-hoopoe
Rooibekkakelaar
Phoeniculus purpureus
 

 

144    Dark-capped Bulbul
Swartoogtiptol
Pycnonotus tricolor
 

 

145    Swamp Boubou
Moeraswaterfiskaal
Laniarius bicolor
 

(Missed out on the Tropical - could have had a full set for over the telly. Damn)

 

146    Magpie Shrike
Langstertlaksman
Urolestes melanoleucus

 

147    Lilac-breasted Roller
Gewone Troupant
Coracias caudatus
 

 

The above all from Ngepi (Divundu area), 17/18 April 2023

 

[Kalaharikind]

148    Common Ostrich
Volstruis
Struthio camelus
 

Doing its table-top imitation

 

149    Black-winged Stilt
Rooipootelsie
Himantopus himantopus
 

 

A cloud hangs over this one's identity - please help!

150    Marsh Sandpiper
Moerasruiter
Tringa stagnatilis
Wood Sandpiper
Bosruiter
Tringa glareola
Thanks @michael-ibkfor the correct ID!

 

 

151    Black Heron
Swartreier
Egretta ardesiaca
 

 

152    Little Bee-eater
Kleinbyvreter
Merops pusillus

 

153    Black Crake
Swartriethaan
Zapornia flavirostra
 

 

154    African Jacana
Grootlangtoon
Actophilornis africanus
 

All from Mahango GR (Divundu area), 18 April 2023

Edited May 30, 2023 by Kalaharikind

[Kalaharikind]

155    Red-billed Oxpecker
Rooibekrenostervoël
Buphagus erythrorynchus
 

The Afrikaans name translates as "red-billed rhinoceros bird", but seeing that rhinos were in short supply, you'll have to settle for an ox (or something bovine, anyway.) 

 

 

156    Golden-tailed Woodpecker
Goudstertspeg
Campethera abingoni
 

 

157    Grey Go-away-bird
Kwêvoël
Corythaixoides concolor
 

Either having a really bad hair day, or can't be bothered with this mohawk madness and insists on a comb-over.

 

158    Meves’s Starling
Langstertglansspreeu
Lamprotornis mevesii
 

 

159    Burchell’s Starling
Grootglansspreeu
Lamprotornis australis
 

 

160    African Grey Hornbill
Grysneushoringvoël
Lophoceros nasutus
 

Shall I take my EBC trophy now, or do I have to wait till the Christmas party?

 

161    Emerald-spotted Wood Dove
Groenvlekduifie
Turtur chalcospilos
 

The usual excuse: took off when I moved to get a better shot.

All Ngepi, 18 April 2023

 

[TonyQ]

Well done with the additions.

The EBC is certainly a contender, putting my Bearded Tit at risk?

[Kalaharikind]

Yours certainly is outstanding, @TonyQ!

 

We were camped next to a jackalberry tree, and I kept an eye open for:

 

162    African Green Pigeon
Papegaaiduif
Treron calvus
 

 

163    Spur-winged Goose
Wildemakou
Plectropterus gambensis

 

So nice to have a pic where the spurs are actually visible:

 

We had a Spur-winged fly-by every day at dusk. It was beautiful to see on our first day there, with absolutely perfect light. So yes, I missed getting a pic, being busy with this, that and the other. Here's another try:

 

Ngepi, 19 April 2023

 

Edited May 30, 2023 by Kalaharikind

[michael-ibk]

Beautiful additions - and a pretty awesome ebc. I’d suggest your Marsh SP is actually a Wood Sandpiper.

[Kalaharikind]

Driving on the salt roads near Henties Bay, dozing in a hammock, being poled in a mokoro - if these things don't relax you, I doubt if anything will (well, unless you're the salt-road driver or the mokoro poler...) Johan had never been on a mokoro, so I treated him to a trip. Not the same as in the Delta, but good enough. The river level was quite high - and rising, acording to the locals - so no poling, but rather paddling. I had hoped to see more birds, but, it was an enjoyable trip. 

 

165    Pied Kingfisher
Bontvisvanger
Ceryle rudis
 

 

 

166    Goliath Heron
Reusereier
Ardea goliath
 

 

167    Squacco Heron
Ralreier
Ardeola ralloides
 

 

168    Great Egret
Grootwitreier
Ardea alba
 

and acolytes:

 

169    White-faced Whistling Duck
Nonnetjie-eend
Dendrocygna viduata

(This combination was pretty common.)

 

170    Lesser Jacana
Dwerglangtoon
Microparra capensis

 

171    Little Bittern
Kleinrietreier
Ixobrychus minutus
 

[Kalaharikind]

Thanks, @michael-ibk. Happy to change it to Wood. 

 

 

Edited May 31, 2023 by Kalaharikind

[xelas]

A mokoro ride ... is a memorable event! Only taking photos from it is a bit daunting 

[Kalaharikind]

Not to mention the wake from the bigger boats, @xelas

 

I need help with this one - sandpiper, but which one? (Our mokoro poler called sandpipers "sandpapers" - can't get that pronunciation out of my head)

  

 

I think this is a J Tawny? 

 

 

172    White-fronted Bee-eater
Rooikeelbyvreter
Merops bullockoides
 

 

173    African Golden Oriole
Afrikaanse Wielewaal
Oriolus auratus
 

 

174    Southern Red-billed Hornbill
Rooibekneushoringvoël
Tockus rufirostris
 

 

And here's a slightly better Grey:

 

All 19 April 2023

 

[Kalaharikind]

Our next destination was Mubala, with a stock-up stop in Katima Mulilo (massive potholes, and the same Wild West frontierstown atmosphere as Maun). 

 

We were at flycatcher central:

 

175    African Paradise Flycatcher (+ Dragonfly?)
Paradysvlieëvanger
Terpsiphone viridis
 

 

176    Ashy Flycatcher
Blougrysvlieëvanger
Muscicapa caerulescens

 

 

 

177    Pale Flycatcher
Muiskleurvlieëvanger
Melaenornis pallidus
 

 

178    Woodland Kingfisher (+ Praying Mantis)
Bosveldvisvanger
Halcyon senegalensis

 

 

[Tdgraves]

Is the SIF the only shot you have @Kalaharikind?

another wood sandpiper perhaps?

[Kalaharikind]

Mubala's birds were even more uncooperative than Ngepi's, giving only enough time for one shot before they were gone. 

 

179    White-crested Helmet-Shrike
Withelmlaksman
Prionops plumatus
 

 

180    Southern Black Tit
Gewone Swartmees
Melaniparus niger

 

 

181    Schalow’s Turaco
Langkuifloerie
Tauraco schalowi         
 

 

182    Southern Carmine Bee-eater
Rooiborsbyvreter
Merops nubicoides
 

 

183    African Fish Eagle
Visarend
Haliaeetus vocifer
 

 

 

The carmines and the fish eagle were in the same tree (though not at the same time) on the other side of the Kavango. It was brilliant for lazy campsite birding: I could use the table instead of the tripod (which never even made it out of the bakkie ) to steady myself, with something to drink within arm's reach. Bliss.

[Kalaharikind]

Only shot, @Tdgraves, I'm afraid. Another addition to the pile of birds that shall never be known by their rightful names.

[Kalaharikind]

184    Rufous-bellied Heron
Rooipensreier
Ardeola rufiventris
 

Again, another exasperating one-shot opportunity. 

 

185    Whiskered Tern
Witbaardsterretjie
Chlidonias hybrida
 

 

And then later on, on a sandbank:

 

 

186    Giant Kingfisher
Reusevisvanger
Megaceryle maxima

 

Across the Zambesi
 

 

187    White-browed Robin-chat

Heuglinjanfrederik
Cossypha heuglini

 

As shy as it's vocal - all other shots at all other camp sites were total rubbish.

 

188    Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike
Oranjeborsboslaksman
Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

 

 

189    White-crowned Lapwing
Witkopkiewiet
Vanellus albiceps
 

 

 

Wahlberg's? Lesser Spotted? Ostrich? Please help!

 

 

 

[Peter Connan]

Wow! Some really cool birds seen!