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EASTERN SOUTH AFRICA AND ZIMBABWE BIRDING TRIP REPORT3rd Feb - 5th March 1997by Jon HornbuckleCONTENTSIntroduction SYSTEMATIC LISTS MAPS INTRODUCTIONI spent a month birding in southern Africa, mainly Natal, Lesotho and Zimbabwe, with Ashley Banwell and Mike Archer. We recorded 524 species during this time, including 3 species of flufftail and twinspot, Corncrake, Blue Bustard, African Broadbill, Blue Swallow, Orange and Spotted Ground-Thrushes, Boulder Chat, all the Drakensberg endemics and 100s of Amur Falcons. I had 96 ticks, having been throughout Namibia and the Cape previously. Notable misses, all difficult, were Slaty Egret, Taita Falcon, Thick-billed and Barred Long-tailed Cuckoos, Grass and Cape Eagle Owls, African Pitta and several birds including Wattled Crane seen later in Malawi. The dates were chosen partly for convenience and partly with the aim of seeing scarce breeding species such as flufftails, Broadbill and especially African Pitta - the key bird for BirdQuest's Zimbabwe trip in February. It was too late when we discovered we should have been in Zimbabwe in the second half of December for the Pitta, although that might have been too early for the flufftails. This was a good time for seeing the whydahs and weavers in breeding plumage. The countries are fairly safe, cheap and hassle-free, and most people speak English. South Africa has good roads, well-stocked shops and wildlife is well-protected in a multitude of reserves and National Parks, the only problems being restrictions on walking and opening hours in some of these. Roads in Zimbabwe are of variable quality, but traffic usually very light, shops carry a good range of basic items, and there are a few major National Parks and reserves. Add to this some spectacular scenery and excellent opportunities for big mammal watching, and the whole area can be thoroughly recommended. TRANSPORTWe flew to Joburg, with BA or KLM on open-jaw tickets, leaving Africa from Malawi. We took the overnight Joburg to Harare bus, boarding at Pretoria as we did not fancy driving at night in Joburg. It was operated by Greyhound, booked a few days before at a local travel agency, comfortable, cost 250R (£33) but took 15 hours, including 90 mins at the border. Blue Arrow (tel in Joburg 011 830 1400 or fax Harare 263 4 729572) operate a similar service Flights were c.£180 single and £220 return, the only way to get a discount being to fly from Europe with South African Airlines (or probably Air Zimbabwe), a more expensive option. Car hire, essential, was pre-booked in the UK with Budget (0800 181181) in S Africa - £377 for a Group A; the car could have been dropped at a different location without charge but not driven into Zimbabwe. Hertz (099 099 6699), with a 20% BA discount, were by far the cheapest option in Zimbabwe - £528 for a Group A (Mazda 323) for 16 days. We were overcharged when the credit card bill came through but a letter of complaint to Hertz UK resulted in a £104 refund and apology for the "error". Both cars were trouble-free. There are lots of tour companies operating in southern Africa, including Ken Thorne's birder-orientated, personalised African Odyssey Tours, address as in Contacts section. FOOD AND ACCOMMODATIONRestaurants are available in towns and National Parks but not in reserves, where accommodation is usually self-catering, with decent cooking facilities. We mainly stayed in National Parks and reserves in S Africa, and did not find pre-booking necessary, but it is essential at school holiday times, ie mid April-mid May, mid Aug-mid Sept and mid Dec-mid Jan in Zimbabwe. RECOMMENDATIONSWeaver's Nest, Wakkerstroom, 017 730 319, fax 515 - 217R = £30 per day half board Chalet at Mkuzi Game Reserve - 80R per person (only allowed to drive in park 05.00-19.00). Treehouse at Bonamanzi Game Park, 562 0181 or 0516 - 115R per person - beware mosquitos Log cabin at Umlalazi NR - 100R per person Rustic cabin at Vernon Crookes Nature Reserve - 65R per person Robin Guy's cottage, Underberg - 140R total Joburg - Ken Thorne has accommodation in Witwatersrand Pietermaritzburg - Jack Ingham's b & b, 0331 433237, is good according to Gordon Bennett Sylvia McCracken's hostel, 128 Samora Machel Avenue, Harare - Z$35 = £2 per person Aberfoyle Country Club, 708239 or 428385 - Z$150 per person + 70 for dinner Seldomseen, 120 81273 (was PO Box 812, Mutare but may not be appropriate now as no longer run by Mrs Manson) - Z$160 for a cottage Inn on the Vumba, PO Box 524, Mutare, tel/fax 20 60722 - Z$700 for 2, half board Cloud's End Hotel, Makuti, 63 526, fax 541 - Z$700 for a double plus a single Cottage at Hwange NP, Main Camp - Z$410 for 4 beds inc NP fees for 3, Sinamatella Camp Z$150 for 3 (half price at this time of year) Cottage at Victoria Falls Rest-camp, by the town centre, 4311 4210 - Z$275 total Gorges Hotel, Vic Falls, fax Harare 4 735080 or London 0181 9056947 (tel 905 7383) - US$164 -182 b & b for 2, or $198 - 216 with dinner. Clovelly Lodge, Masvingo (turn left off Bulawayo road coming into Masvingo, just after Brae bed and breakfast) - c.£5 b & b + communal dinner; good for Great Zimbabwe visit. Kiledo Lodge, Chipinge 4 786 521 / 9 - for Gunarezhou NP region. REFERENCESIllustrated Guide to the Birds of Southern Africa by I Sinclair, P
Hockey and W Tarboton - known as the SASOL guide (after its sponsor). Trip reports02/11/87-13/12/87 South Africa, Namibia & Zimbabwe A & EA Greensmith Nigel Wheatley's Where to watch birds in Africa and Gordon Bennett's Birding in Natal (Birding 28, 6 490-499) are useful at the planning stage. Kingdon, J (1997) The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Academic Press. The S African and Zimbabwe Tourism Boards (tel 0541 550044 and 0171 240 6169, respectively) are a good source of brochures and most reserves have maps, bird lists, etc. CONTACTSGordon Bennett, PO Box 100502, Scottsville 3209, tel 033 165 555 MISCELLANEOUSThe weather was generally pleasant, sometimes hot and sunny and with some heavy showers, mainly at night. One day was very windy and partly wet. The rainy season peaks in Jan / Feb and can extend either side for a month or so, but S Africa has had a run of relatively dry summers, except for 1996. There had been exceptionally heavy rain in Zimbabwe in Jan / early Feb. The only serious health risk is malaria and that only occurs in the lowlands, ie mainly in the coastal belt. We had virtually no health or insect problems. Security is said to be getting worse in S Africa, with driving at night not recommended; the car had a good disabler and alarm but apparently was liable to be stripped if left unattended away from a car park or well-frequented area. This did not appear to be much of a problem in Zimbabwe. Visas are not required. Currency is easily exchanged and cash cards are taken at bank machines. Phones work well and you can use BT charge cards, eg to ring UK from a call box. The one poor feature of S Africa is the postal system - letters frequently take 3 -5 weeks to arrive, or even longer, unless you pay a large surcharge for express delivery from S Africa. The service appears to be excellent in Zimbabwe, at least to or from Harare where postage takes less than a week. ITINERARYFeb 3 Arrive Joburg 10.40, Suikerbosrand NR 4 Joburg to pick up MGA and AB, Wakkerstroom 5 Wakkerstroom area 6-8 Mkuzi NP 9 Mkuzi, Bonamanzi NR 10 Bonamanzi NR 11 Dukuduku Forest (St Lucia), Mtunzini / Umlalazi 12 Dhlinza and Ntumeni Forests, Enselini NR, Umlalazi 13 Umlalazi, Vernon Crookes NR 14 Vernon Crookes, Xumeni Forest, Underberg 15 Sani Pass, Lesotho 16 Bulwer Forest, Suikerbosrand, Pretoria 17 Bus to Harare 18 Mkuvisi, Marlborough and Monavale Vleis, Gosho Park, Christmas Pass, Seldomseen 19 Seldomseen, Bunga Forest, White Horse Inn, Mutare 20 Seldomseen, Honde Valley, Aberfoyle Tea Estate 21 Gleneagles Reserve, Aberfoyle 22 Aberfoyle, Katiwa Tea Plantation, Nyanga NP, Gosho Park, Harare 23 Marlborough and Monavale Vleis, Makuti, Charara Safari Area 24 Makuti, Chirundu, Charara SA 25-26 Hwange NP 27 Hwange NP, Victoria Falls 28 Victoria Falls, Imbalala Camp (Katulgula) March 1 Victoria Falls, Imbalala Camp, Gorges Hotel 2 Zambia, Tshbalala GR, Masvingo 3 Great Zimbabwe, Felixburg, Harare 4 Christon Bank, Marlborough Vlei, Botanical Gardens, Monavale Vlei, Rainham Dam 5 Gosho Park, fly to Malawi 16.45. SITESMost of the sites are detailed in the guidebooks or trip reports, so I will restrict comments to the aims of our itinerary and a few interesting sites not normally visited by Western birders. SOUTH AFRICARoute taken with target species (capitals if dips):- Wakkerstroom - Bald Ibis, WHITE-WINGED FLUFFTAIL (can be heard at night in marsh W of town), Blue Bustard, GRASS OWL, Rudd's & Botha's Larks, Buff-streaked Chat, Yellow-breasted Pipit Mkuzi - Southern Banded Snake-eagle, BLUE QUAIL, CRESTED GUINEAFOWL, BROWN-HEADED PARROT, Purple-crested Turaco, Emerald Cuckoo, MOZAMBIQUE NIGHTJAR, Trumpeter Hornbill, White-eared Barbet, SCALY-THROATED HONEYGUIDE, Southern Tchagra, Gorgeous Bushshrike, Black-bellied Starling, SABOTA LARK, White-throated Robin-Chat, Eastern Nicator, Bearded Scrub-Robin, Rudd's Apalis, Stierling's Barred Warbler, BUSHVELD PIPIT, Green & Pink-throated Twinspots, Neergaard's Sunbird, GREY WAXBILL Bonamanzi - Southern Banded Snake-eagle, Crested Guineafowl, Lesser Moorhen, African Broadbill, Blue-grey Flycatcher, RUDD'S APALIS, Red-headed Quelea, Grey Sunbird, GREY WAXBILL, Southern Brown-throated Weaver, Lemon-breasted Canary St Lucia - SOUTHERN BANDED SNAKE-EAGLE, RED-CHESTED FLUFFTAIL, LIVINGSTONE'S TURACO, NATAL NIGHTJAR, Woodward's Batis, Brown Robin, GREY SUNBIRD, YELLOW WEAVER, GREY WAXBILL, QUAILFINCH We did not bother to go all the way to St Lucia, just stopping at Dukuduku Forest for the 2 most important species. Mtunzini - MANGROVE KINGFISHER, NATAL NIGHTJAR, Blue-grey Flycatcher Dhlinza (Eshowe) and Ntumeni Forests - Bronze-naped Pigeon, YELLOW-STREAKED GREENBUL (Ntumeni only), Spotted Ground-Thrush, ORANGE GROUND-THRUSH, Chorister Robin, Brown Robin. The official entrance to Dhlinza Forest at Eshowe is on the main road to Nkandla, a left turn after passing through town, but we took a left turn to George Hotel before town centre, bore left, turned right on Saunders St, parked just inside the forest and walked along a gully to the Nature Trail where soon had Bronze-naped Pigeon, Chorister Robin and Spotted Ground-Thrush. For Ntumeni Forest, go towards Nkandla, turning left 11km after Dhlinza Forest entrance; the reserve is on the right after 3.5km, and the car park 1km inside the forest. According to a local, there is very good forest 75km from Eshowe along the Nkandla road. Enselini NR, north of Empangeni, directly east of N2 highway just south of railway crossing: good mixed habo but only open 07.00 - 18.00: NATAL NIGHTJAR, African Broadbill Vernon Crookes (Umzinto) - Knysna Turaco, BROAD-TAILED WARBLER Xumeni Forest, Donnybrook - CAPE PARROT, Orange Ground-Thrush, Barratt's Warbler Underberg (sites from Robin Guy) - WATTLED and Blue Cranes, CAPE EAGLE-OWL, Broad-tailed Warbler Sani Pass, Lesotho - Cape Vulture, Ground Woodpecker, Bush Blackcap, Orange-Breasted Rockjumper, Sentinel Rock-Thrush, Lazy Cisticola, Drankensberg Prinia, Barratt's Warbler, Mountain & SA Rock Pipit, Gurney's Sugarbird, Drakensberg Siskin A 4-wheel drive is essential and so it is best to go with Robin Guy. Bulwer Forest (near Underberg) - CAPE PARROT Suikerbosrand NR - MELODIOUS, MONOTONOUS and SABOTA LARKS, TRANSVAAL (SHORT-TOED) ROCK-THRUSH, but all unlikely. In retrospect, I would have substituted:- 1. Ngoye Forest for Ntumeni, where we failed to find Yellow-streaked Greenbul (later seen in Zimbabwe): this holds Woodward's/ Green Barbet but the road is bad and it is said to be risky to leave the car unattended. It lies 16km W of Empangeni, check directions, but turn off along a dirt road by a small garage, drive until road is impassable - it rises and bends to right before some buildings while logging track goes straight on up valley. A tiny path by new buildings on left goes through scrappy forest to a logging road giving access to the forest. 2. Giants Castle (for Short-tailed Pipit) and 12km S of Moii River for its Wattled Crane roost, in place of Vernon Crookes. Oribi Gorge is another southern site worth visiting, eg for Knysna Woodpecker. I would also try to finish at Pietersburg, to visit the local Nature reserve for Short-clawed Lark. ZIMBABWERoute taken with target species:- Harare - Mkuvisi Woods - PURPLE-CRESTED TURACO, WHYTE'S BARBET, Spotted Creeper, Wood & STRIPED PIPITS, Stierling's Barred-Warbler, Miombo Tit, VIOLET-BACKED SUNBIRD Marlborough Vlei (2nd Avenue, turn left on to Harare Drive, after 2km turn right on Princess Margaret Road) and Monavale Vlei (Monavale Road, off Princes Road) - RED-CHESTED, STRIPED and Streaky-breasted Flufftails, BLUE QUAIL, African & STRIPED CRAKES, BLACK-RUMPED BUTTONQUAIL, Black Coucal, Broad-tailed Warbler, CUCKOO FINCH [incredibly, BirdQuest had all these species just before our visit!] Gosho Park, an excellent miombo site 75km from Harare on Mutare road just past Marondera, turn left just after Peterhouse School - Whyte's Barbet, Boulder Chat (on 3rd visit), Southern Hyliota, Wood Pipit, Black-eared Canary Christmas Pass, left turn up dirt road just before peak of main road into Mutare - BLUE SWALLOW, Miombo Rock-thrush, Striped Pipit The Vumbas: Seldomseen - Bunga Forest - White Horse Inn - Mutare - BAT HAWK, Livingstone's Turaco, EMERALD CUCKOO, WHITE-EARED BARBET, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, GORGEOUS BUSHSHRIKE, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Eastern Sawwing, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Stripe-cheeked Greenbul, Orange Ground-Thrush, Swynnerton's Robin, Chirinda Apalis, Robert's Prinia, CINNAMON-BREASTED TIT, GREEN & RED-THROATED TWINSPOTS, GREY WAXBILL Honde Valley - Red-chested Flufftail, MARSH TCHAGRA, Grey Waxbill Aberfoyle Tea Estate - BARRED CUCKOO, EASTERN HONEYGUIDE, Blue Swallow, CHESTNUT-FRONTED HELMETSHRIKE, MARSH TCHAGRA, Peters' Twinspot, NYASA SEEDCRACKER (at the Pepper Gardens), Black Widowfinch. African Pitta has been seen here sporadically but not this year. Katiwa Tea Plantation - Dickinson's Kestrel, Mozambique Batis, PIED MANNIKIN Nyanga NP - CAPE EAGLE-OWL, STRIPED FLUFFTAIL, Blue Swallow, GOLDEN-BACKED PYTILIA Chirundu, Charara Safari Area - WHITE-BACKED NIGHT-HERON, A. SKIMMER, White-Crowned Plover, Lilian's Lovebird, Mottled and BOEHM'S SPINETAILS, Pennant-winged & Mozambique Nightjars Hwange NP - Natal Francolin, Freckled Nightjar, Monotonous Lark, Racket-tailed Roller Victoria Falls - Bat Hawk (by railway station at dusk), TAITA FALCON (Gorges Hotel or Zambian side), Natal Francolin, White-Crowned Plover, Schalow's Turaco (forest at Falls), Collared Palm-Thrush, PURPLE-BANDED SUNBIRD, Golden-backed Pytilia, Purple Widowfinch. Be sure to visit Gorges Hotel - 12km along Bulawayo road turn left on Deka Road and left again after 11.2km - hotel is 2.6km along dirt track. Imbalala Camp, Kazungula - SLATY EGRET, ROCK PRATINCOLE, NATAL NIGHTJAR, CHURRING CISTICOLA, RED-HEADED QUELEA, Brown Firefinch, Violet Widowfinch Security is tight here and it is necessary to take a boat to see the best birds, so it is best to pay up and book with Wild Horizons. Tshbalala GR - Sabota Lark This is 8km from Bulawayo on the road to Rhodes Matopos NP and is an excellent grassland and acacia scrub reserve but with restrictive opening hours. Felixburg - WATTLED CRANE, Melodious Lark, Quail Finch 32km S of Chivu there is a pan on the W side of the main road to Gutu - the grassland here is good for the above species. We came N up the A4 from Masvingo and cut across to Felixburg on dirt roads; 4.3km before reaching the Chivu-Gutu road, on Shash Fantein Road ?, there was good grassland on both sides, with lots of larks and Quaifinch. Christon Bank NR, Harare - Mazowe road for 22km, turn right and continue for 8km keeping straight on near end - BOULDER CHAT, CINNAMON-BREASTED TIT Rainham Dam - Lesser Moorhen, GRASS OWL, QUAIL FINCH, LOCUST FINCH Leave Harare on Princes Avenue and contiue straight on - the dam is on the right some 6km after the broad tar changes to narrow tar - see map for access. Localities not visited included Lake McIlwaine (Racket-tailed Roller, Western Violet-backed Sunbird, Locustfinch), Rhodes Matopos (Boulder Chat), Gunarezhou NP in the far SE (Lesser Black-winged Plover, Thick-billed Cuckoo) and the Vimbas, Haroni Rusitu, S of the Vumbas where a 4-wheel drive is necessary (Eastern Honeyguide, SLENDER BULBUL, Black-headed Apalis, Vanga Flycatcher, Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike and possibly Pel's Fishing-Owl). The Bulbul, which should be easy there, is the "best" bird as there is no other accessible site for it. DAILY LOGFeb 3 10.30 arrived Joburg from London, picked up car and visited my uncle near Vereeniging - first Amur Falcons en route. 16.00-18.30 Suikerbosrand NR. Dossed at uncle's. 4 07.10 - 08.05 drive back to Joburg airport to pick up MGA and AB, delayed an hour. Left at 11.00 for Wakkerstroom, arriving Weaver's Nest at 15.00. Amersfoort Road and Over Langberg till 19.15: lots of Amur Falcons and Bald Ibis. John McAllister, local ranger, came round after excellent dinner and was very helpful. 5 06.00 - 09.20 with JMcA in his minibus: Rudd's and Botha's Larks on E2-E8. After breakfast, Yellow-breasted Pipit on Zaaihoek Dam road and Buff-streaked Chat on crags nearly opposite hotel. 13.00-15.30 at cottage by the marsh (50R per person, as hotel was full), then I drove to Volksrust to buy Greyhound tickets to Harare. !6.30-18.30 search for Blue Bustard, eventually rewarded by distant view from E2-E8; dusk at N side of marsh - Marsh Owl but no Grass Owl. 20.00-21.30 barbie then back to marsh, but quiet. 6 04.45 to km21 on Amersfoort Road for Blue Cranes and Blue Bustard/ Korhaan but foggy and only 2 cranes seen. Better view of bustards at yesterday's site, then to Weaver's Nest for breakfast. Returned to Pipit field, only seeing 2 pale birds, then left for Mkuzi at 11.00 via Wattled Crane site but dipped. Circuitous drive to Piet Retief where shopped for Mkuzi, then fast run till inside the Park where stopped by 7 White Rhino on the road. Arrived at office at 16.30 as it was shutting. Booked chalet, gave food to cook, then drove to Kubube hide, seeing Pink-throated Twinspot, with Nicator and Bearded Robin behind nearby toilet block. Had to eat at 18.45 as cook left at 19.00 latest 7 05.05 to Ensumo Pan with good stop in sand forest: Gorgeous Bush-Shrike and White-throated Robin-Chat. Pan full of water and disappointing, so to beautiful Fig Forest where Trumpeter Hornbill and Purple-crested Turaco were numerous and saw White-eared Barbet and Green Twinspot; sunbirds near entrance included Neergaard's. Back to hides - Southern Banded Snake-Eagle with prey. Good stop in acacia scrub but loop road gave little. Afternoon walk above river near camp unrewarding but day's list was 96 species. 8 05.10 to airstrip, only Rufous-naped Lark, then Kubube hide, Ensumo Pan and Fig Forest where Emerald Cuckoo was only highlight. Still no Brown-headed Parrot or Bush Pipit on loop road, lots of game at Kubube hide. Afternoon disappointing until return to hide where 5 White Rhino mud-bathed very close. 9 05.05 to airstrip, acacias - Stierling's Barred Warbler - Kubube hide (missing Grey Waxbill) then to very nice Safari Camp, overlooking Inhlonhlela Pan, but would have been better to have birded round entrance gate for Bush Pipit. Left at 11.00 for Hluhluwe, where bought food, arriving at Bonamanzi at 12.30 - office shut (Sunday) but eventually found someone for keys to fully-equipped Treehouse. Lots of trails in wet forest, few birds included Crested Guineafowl, Yellowbill and Olive Bush-Shrike. Night drive gave Ratel, Porcupine and White-tailed Mongoose. 10 Fine view of displaying Broadbills after last treehouse. Discussion with ranger at 06.15, then Lalapanzi camp where called up Lemon-breasted Canary. 08.15 guided to floodplain, outside reserve, walking last stretch as track flooded - good birding but much rain: Red-headed Quelea, Southern Brown-throated Weavers and Grey Sunbird. Cuckoo Hawk and Blue-grey Flycatcher in afternoon in forest but no Natal Nightjar at Lalapanzi camp in evening. 11 05.10 towards St Lucia, stopping at Dukuduku Forest 10km after Mtubatuba: elusive Brown Robin and Woodward's Batis on 2 short trails. 09.00 to Richard's Bay where unable to find any of sites in guide-book due to major port development. Did find tern roost and Yellow Weaver at pan with dead hide. On to Mtunzini where rented good log cabin at Umlalazi NR. Walk in gallery forest and briefly onto somewhat surreal dune system (MGA), giving a rare view of the Indian Ocean. Then drive to Wilderness Drive for Palmnut Vulture, stopping at prawn farm (where evicted by agressive white). Evening at mangroves gave nothing new. Consumed 2 litres of red wine! 12 05.10 to Eshowe on old road, only 30 mins but Dhlinza Forest reserve difficult to find: Bronze-naped Pigeon, Chorister Robin and Spotted Ground-Thrush. After 3 hours drove to Ntumeni Forest where an hour gave good view of Brown Robin but no Yellow-streaked Bulbul. Drove to brow of hill just beyond forest: Drak. Prinia, Lazy Cisticola and Red-backed Mannikin. Returned to Mtunzini at 13.00 - hot and sunny. After lunch took N2 north to Enseleni NR but only had 75 mins before closing time - Broadbill heard. Dash back to Umlalazi to look for Finfoot at S end, but had to make do with Pygmy Kingfisher and 2 Hobbies. 13 Heavy rain overnight and in morning with strong wind, dune forest walk hopeless. Drive to Vernon Crookes NR near Umzinto S of Durban, arriving 12.30. Discovered I'd left crucial bag behind so drove back 217km (in 105 mins) to retrieve it; arrived back at Vernon Crookes at 17.15. AB & MGA had had Cuckoo Finch and Greater Double-collared Sunbird in my absence. Called in Knysna Turaco from treehouse where we stayed. 14 05.15-08.00 Vernon Crookes NR, windy - only Peregrine new. Drove to Donnybrook and birded Xumeni Forest from muddy logging road 11.00-13.00 - excellent forest but no trails in: Olive Woodpecker, Orange Ground-Thrush and Barratt's Warbler. Robin Guy's at Underberg 14.00 - lovely spot, nice weather, good local birding: Broad-tailed Warbler and Corncrake! Tried for Cape Eagle-Owl at dusk: Jackal Buzzard and brief view of large owl? in flight. Belatedly found it impossible to buy takeaway alcohol after 17.00! 15 05.10-06.40 local circuit, starting at Himeville for Amur Falcon roost, not found, then Red-winged Francolin fields - heard but only Horus Swift seen - and nearby marsh. 07.30 departed for Sani Pass after good breakfast, birding all way up - border post only open 08.00-16.00: Drakensberg Prinia, Swee Waxbill, Drakensberg Siskin, Gurney's Sugarbird, Lammergeier, Cape Vulture, Bald Ibis, in order of view up to the pass - spectacular scenery. Grey-winged Francolin, Layard's Tit-Babbler, Fairy Flycatcher, Grey Tit (unexpected surprise - one of few sp. missed in the Cape), Rockjumper, Mountain Pipit, Sentinel Rock-Thrush, Ground Woodpecker and Rock Pipit on the other side. Returned to border at 16.00 and saw Bush Blackcap and Barratt's Warbler just below, then searched for Wattled Crane, only finding the locally rarer Blue Crane. Good steak at Mike's restaurant. Best day of the trip, largely thanks to Robin Guy. 16 05.05 to Cape Eagle Owl site but valley full of low cloud so on to Himeville where at 05.20 Amur Falcons were leaving the tall eucalypt roost to right of main road mid town. A Black Sparrowhawk glided in and grabbed a falcon, causing remaining 250+ to leave en masse, but crows stayed put. 36km to Bulwer Forest: Starred Robin, Olive Bushshrike and Yellow-throated Warbler but no Cape Parrot or Blue-mantled Flycatcher. No luck at Mountain Hotel site for Black Widowfinch. 11.00-16.30 Underberg to Suikerbosrand, with 30R of toll road and a few short stops. In reserve till 18.15 then to uncle's, leaving for Pretoria at 20.15. Dropped car by 22.45, coach to Zimbabwe left at 23.20. 17 Coach comfortable, if cramped - 3 videos, scenery unexciting, 90 mins to cross border, reaching Harare 14.30. Bank (closed at 15.00), Hertz at hotel near coach station; drove to self-catering "hostel" at 128 Samora Machel Avenue - cheap and very friendly, run by Sylvia McCracken. 17.30 Jacko Williams house, Borrowdale for lengthy and useful discussion, followed by good local pizza and icecream. 18 06.15-08.45 Mkuvisi miombo woodland: Spotted Creeper, Stierling's Barred Warbler feeding young, Miombo Tit and Striped Pipit. Picked up Jacko Williams to show us the vleis - Black-chested Snake-Eagle with snake and Black Coucal but no flufftails. Tea at Jacko's then checked out from hostel and drove to Gosho Park, Marondera: 14.00-15.30, no Boulder Chat. On to Christmas Pass above Mutare, 17.30, where found Miombo Rock-Thrush at power lines just after cattle grid. Reserved table at Inn on the Vumba and found Twinstreams cottage, Seldomseen, a further 17km on. Enjoyable evening at Inn on the Vumba with good 5 course dinner (£5) and chat with Mark van Beirs. 19 Morning at Seldomseen including 3 hours with sharp-eyed Peter (Z$90): Livingstone's Turaco, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Black-fronted Bushshrike, Eastern Sawwing, Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Stripe-cheeked Greenbul, Chirinda Apalis, Robert's Prinia and too brief view of Swynnerton's Robin. Tried Bunga Forest for Swynnerton's but dead. Afternoon at Seldomseen gave Swynnerton's Robin for AB and Buff-spotted Flufftail for me. Nothing at White Horse Inn, Inn on the Vumba or Mutare Bat Hawk site, but another pleasant eve at Inn on the Vumba. 20 05.30 main trail: Orange Ground-Thrush and Starred Robin, then to the Protea nursery to look for indigobirds, without success, and off to the Honde Valley. Missed Nyanga turn, off main Harare road - it was signed to a university - and had to retrace steps to find it. Eventually turned up honde Valley and after a few km, stopped to wade into the vlei on right and succeeded in flushing a Red-chested Flufftail. Aberfoyle Country Club was c.60km along this road, but took right fork at Club entrance for a km to a lake and marsh. Walked trail on right side - Little Bittern and Grey Waxbill at last. 6km to Club, arriving early afternoon. Drive through forest edge later produced few birds but a rather nice chameleon. 21 05.30-07.00 around Club but no sign of Barred Cuckoo present 2 weeks earlier. Ahmed Abasi, the good guide, was away with BirdQuest, but his brother Neva escorted us to Gleneagles Reserve. He set off apace, with AB and MGA but I dawdled, seeing Black-fronted Bushshrike, Blue-mantled Flycatcher, Chirinda Apalis, Red-faced Crimsonwing, Red-throated Twinspot, and a party of Helmet-shrikes which may have contained the sought-after Chestnut-fronted but went the wrong way. Returned to the Club, then to the lake where had Red-winged Warbler but no Marsh Tchagra or Pale Batis. AB and MGA had 2 hour walk to hilltop where Blue Swallow was seen after a long wait and an alfresco meal in a local farmer's compound, with freshly cooked corn on the cob, gallons of tea and chickens feeding at their feet (MGA). 22 Early morning at Club in another abortive search for E Honeyguide and Barred Cuckoo - I had Lesser Cuckoo and AB Wattle-eye. 08.00 to Katiwa tea plantation, a left turn onto Katiwa Road c.30km from the Club gates, 1km after the second bridge. Plantation gates are reached after 16km and another 3km brings you to their club; in garden opposite saw Mozambique Batis and Dickinson's Kestrel nearby, but failed to find Pied Mannikin. 10.15-12.30 to Nyanga NP, eventually locating Mare Dam but no Blue Swallows - 2 flew past at next dam, Purdon, but no other sightings. 14.00-16.15 easy drive to Gosho Park: lots of birds with Whyte's Barbet, Slender-billed Honeyguide, White-breasted Cuckoo-Shrike, Mashona Hyliota, Wood Pipit, Black-eared Canary and Mocking Chat, but no Boulder Chat. Left at 18.30, dusk, for Harare - got into Sylvia's only when discovered the intercom at locked gate, hidden by veg. Chicken and chips over the road - MGA eating a whole chicken! 23 06.40 to Monavale Vlei with Alex Masterson, as prearranged - a single Streaky-breasted Flufftail in 2 hours - then on to Marlborough Vlei - 1 African Crake, an unflushable flufftail, Black Coucal with 7 eggs, Pink-throated Longclaw and Broad-tailed Warbler. Old trousers, sandals and socks may be best for vlei-bashing, although tall rubber boots may be OK. After tea and biscuits at Alex's, checked out of Sylvia's, bank, pizza and departed for Makuti at 13.00, reaching Cloud's End at 15.55 - great view from our chalet. Drive down escarpment only gave Mottled Spinetail, but 2 female-type Pennant-winged Nightjars were seen back at hotel. Bream and apple pie for dinner (£4). 24 Early morn around hotel: Little Sparrowhawk and Grey-headed Bushshrike. Drove into Charara Safari Area to Chirundu with stops: Cuckoo Hawk, Dickinson's Kestrel, Lilian's Lovebird, Meyer's Parrot and Long-tailed Starling. Arrived 10.00 but difficult to view the Zambezi till took dirt track on right to Tiger Safaris where arranged half day boat hire for Z$475 then walked along river - Steel-blue Indigobird, Thrush Nightingales singing and an Osprey flushed a White-crowned Plover. New chalets overlooking river looked a good place to stay. After omelettes at motel, very hot boat trip 12.20-16.20: Dwarf Bittern but no White-backed Night-Heron, Skimmers or parrots. Forest stop on way back gave Arnot's Chat and Elephant, and drive up escarpment in dark Mozambique Nightjar, Hyena and a pair of Lions close by the roadside. 25 06.00-08.00 to Chinhoyi, 10.30 Kwekwe, then took cross-country route to Lupane, supposedly tarred but actually dirt or sand for 200km, so only reached Hwange at 16.00. Booked in to 4-bed cottage and drove to tower viewpoint: Long-tailed Shrike, Shaft-tailed Whydah and Scaly-feathered Finch. Night drive after dinner to Hwange Lodge gave Barred Owlet, Spring Hare and Elephant but no nightjars. 26 06.00-08.00 loop drive: Ground Hornbill and Pied Babbler were new but no mammals. Then search for Racket-tailed Roller on road out of NP, eventually finding 6 or 7 500m along track on right, 2.8km N of railway crossing. Celebratory cooked breakfast then drive through NP to Sinamatella Camp 10.30-14.30 - elephants but few birds of note. Chilled out at lodge till 16.15 then drove to salt spring (dry) and Mandavu Dam (too wet): Natal Francolin at last. At night Freckled Nightjar was on roof of restaurant and White-faced Scops Owl at cottage no.17. 27 06.30-10.30 drive to Mandavu Dam and back on Riverside Loop - only Harlequin Quail and Monotonous Lark. Left after brunch as it had started raining, reaching Vic Falls at 14.30. Rented cottage and looked for Chris Pollard, finally talking to him on phone - disappointed to find Rock Pratincole and Skimmer had left (mid Feb and early Jan, respectively) and Slaty Egret, Taita Falcon and Natal Nightjar were invisible now. Birded along river edge - Finfoot and Steel-blue Widowfinch - then pizza and to casino to see Chris, who proved to be very knowledgeable. 28 06.15-07.00 Big Tree, Zambezi Drive - Palm-Thrush - then to Gorges Hotel, fabulous view and good tea; waiter Morgan took us to Bat Hawk nest (south side of Deka Road 10.1 km from main Bulawayo road). 10.15-12.45 Vic Falls NP, spectacular but not very photogenic because of spray - Trumpeter Hornbills but no Schalow's Turaco. Chicken curry then to Imbalala Camp 14.45-16.00; after tea, boat trip with Kit Hustler to island in floodplain: Long-toed Plover, Coppery-tailed Coucal, White-rumped Babbler, Black-throated Canary and "Violet" Widowfinch. After dinner with BirdQuest group, drove back to Vic Falls 22.00-23.30, counting 38 eagle-owls on and by the road and a few Bat-eared Foxes. March 1 06.30 - 08.30 Vic Falls NP but no Turaco. Slow drive to Katulgula where pontoon boat trip 11.00-13.00 was disappointing: Allen's Gallinule and Brown Firefinch flypast but no Rufous-bellied Heron, Swamp Boubou, Chirping Cisticola or Red-headed Quelea. Slow drive back gave Orange-winged Pytilia and Purple Widowfinch but not Bradfield's Hornbill. 16.00-18.45 Gorges Hotel: stellar views of Black Eagle and Bat Hawk flypast but no Taita (heard by Morgan at 06.00). Good pizza at Saddles and many beers at upstairs bar. 2 Late start after night out, so had to abandon plan to go for Taita at dawn. 06.30 to Zambian border, supposed to open at 06.00, but keys failed to arrive till 06.45 - doubtless another Saturday night casualty. Walked across into Zambia - £5 or US$10 for day visa: nice view of falls and Golden-backed and Green-winged Pytilias, but insufficient time to try good-looking walk along river. Retraced steps, then drove to Bulawayo, arriving 14.30, and on to Tshbalala GR where soon had Sabota Lark and Kalahari Robin, Buffy Pipit and Sable later. 15.30 to Masvingo where took last beds at friendly Clovelly Lodge - excellent value. 3 Lazy start with breakfast at 07.00; cloudy with intermittent rain all day. Great Zimbabwe till 11.00 - interesting but not a great spectacle, some good habo: African Hawk-Eagle and Olive Tree Warbler. North from Masvingo to grasslands near Felixburg where larks and Quailfinch were common - Monty Harrier but no Wattled Crane. Sylvia's at 18.30, then to Sitar Restaurant, on way to Borrowdale, for good Indian. 4 06.15-06.45 to Christon Bank NR - rather disappointing, with Mocking, not Boulder Chats, Whyte's Barbet, Hyliota and Penduline-Tit. Left at 11.00 for Marlborough Vlei - 1 African Crake only - and Botanical Gardens - Abdim's Stork. 15.30-16.15 Monavale Vlei, nothing, then Rainham Dam which was flooded, making access difficult: Lesser Moorhen, Southern Pochard and White-backed Duck but no Locustfinch or Grass Owl. Final pizza and icecream. 5 05.55-07.00 to Gosho Park for last desperate attempt to see Boulder Chat, regretting not going to Rhodes Matopos where said to be common. At 07.20 saw 2 on lower part of huge twin rocks - quite shy, reminiscent of wood-hoopoes in flight; seen only once more, on rocks 300m away, giving frequent sqeaky-gate call. Few other birds till two big parties found: miombo specialities plus Grey-headed Bush-Shrike, White-bellied Cuckoo-Shrike, Puffback, Green-capped Eremomela, Black Tit and Striped, Wood and Tree Pipits. 12.00-13.00 to Harare, then to airport for 16.00 flight to Blantyre, Malawi which left at 16.45. Had to give exactly US$20 for departure tax as no change is given. Mozambique looked well-forested from the air. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSMany thanks to Gordon Bennett, Rhett Butler, Andy Deighton, Brian Foster, Gordon Halthausen, Kit Hustler, Steve James, John McAllister, Pete and Rob Morris, Dave Sargeant, Mark van Beirs, Mark Welfare, and especially Robin Guy, Alex Masterson, Ken Thorne and Jacko Williams, for much help and advice. Ashley and Mike were excellent companions throughout. Mike made some useful additions to the text of this report and Gordon Bennett kindly corrected some errors. Jon Hornbuckle 35 Grove Road, Sheffield S7 2GYSYSTEMATIC LIST OF BIRDSTaxonomy, names and sequence based on Birds of the World: A Checklist by JF Clements (1991), with common names used in the region in brackets where they differ substantially from Clements. Notable records by only one observer are initialled in brackets. Ostrich, Struthio camelus 5 Hwange. Little Grebe, Tachybaptus ruficolli Small numbers throughout with a max of 20 Underberg. Long-tailed (Reed) Cormorant, Phalacrocorax africanus Sporadic with a max of 20 Mtunzini. Great Cormorant, Phalacrocorax carbo A few scattered sightings. African Darter, Anhinga rufa 10 Mtunzini, 5 Underberg, 4 Harare vlies and 1 Hwange. Great White Pelican, Pelecanus onocrotalus 2 Richard's Bay. Pink-backed Pelican, Pelecanus rufescens 2 Mkuzi, 1 Bonamanzi and 5 Richard's Bay. White-faced Whistling-Duck, Dendrocygna viduata Up to 30 Mkuzi and 10 Hwange and Imbalala Camp. Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus Around 10 Mkuzi and several sites in Zimbabwe. Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis Widespread with a max of 10 at Wakkerstroom. Comb(Knob-billed) Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos Only in Zimbabwe: 7 Chirundu, 2 singles Hwange and 5 Rainham Dam, Harare. African Pygmy-goose Nettapus auritus 2 Inhlonhlela Pan, Mkuzi was the only record. Cape Teal Anas capensis 2 near Underberg. Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata 50 Wakkerstroom, 10 Vernon Crookes and a few elsewhere in Natal. Hottentot Teal Anas hottentota 2 Rainham Dam. Red-billed Teal Anas erythrorhyncha 4 Wakkerstroom and up to 5 Hwange. Cape Shoveler Anas smithii 2 Wakkerstroom and near Underberg. Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma 4 Rainham Dam. White-backed Duck, Thalassornis leuconotus 6 Rainham Dam. Little Egret Egretta garzetta Surprisingly scarce: 2 Wakkerstroom, a few near Underberg and 1 Hwange. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 1-3 Natal coastal strip, 2 Underberg and singles Mutare and Hwange. Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala Widespread with many singles and a max of 10 at Wakkerstroom. Goliath Heron Ardea goliath Singles Wakkerstroom, Mkuzi, Umlalazi and Hwange. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 2 Wakkerstroom and Bonamanzi, singles Honde Valley, Katulgula and Harare. Great Egret Casmerodius albus 3 Wakkerstroom, 1 Mkuzi. Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis Fairly common throughout with a a max of 300 en route from Underberg to Suikerbosrand and 150 Chirundu. Squacco Heron, Ardeola ralloides Singles near Joburg and at Wakkerstroom. Striated (Green-backed) Heron, Butorides striatus 1 Wakkerstroom, 2 Bonamanzi, 4 Chirundu and 1 Hwange. Little Bittern, Ixobrychus minutus Singles Honde Valley and Katulgula. Dwarf Bittern, Ixobrychus sturmii Singles Zambezi River, Chirundu and Hwange. Hamerkop, Scopus umbretta 5 Wakkerstroom, 2-3 Mkuzi and 1 or 2 almost daily in Zimbabwe. Glossy Ibis, Plegadis falcinellus 100+ near Underberg and 2 Hwange. Hadada Ibis, Bostrychia hagedash Fairly common in Natal with a max of 35 at Umlalazi. Bald Ibis, Geronticus calvus 80 near Wakkerstroom and 20 at Sani Pass. Sacred Ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus 20 Wakkerstroom and 10 Underberg. African Spoonbill, Platalea alba 1 Wakkerstroom, 2 Hwange. Abdim's Stork, Ciconia abdimii 10 Underberg - Suikerbosrand; common around Harare with a max of 20 on 17th. Woolly-necked Stork, Ciconia episcopus A few in Natal, with a max of 20 at Bonamanzi; up to 40 Hwange. White Stork, Ciconia ciconia 50 near Wakkerstroom, up to 20 near Underberg, 30 S of Harare and a few elsewhere in Zimbabwe. Saddle-billed Stork, Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis 2 singles at Hwange. Marabou Stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus 1 at Mkuzi on 9th was the only record. Osprey, Pandion haliaetus 1 Harare vleis and 2 Hwange. African Cuckoo-Falcon (Cuckoo Hawk), Aviceda cuculoides 2 soaring at Bonamanzi and 1 Charara SA (Makuti - Chirundu). Bat Hawk, Macheiramphus alcinus 1 perched by nest near Gorges Hotel, Vic falls and 1 flying over the gorge at dusk Black-shouldered Kite, Elanus caeruleus Widely scattered with a max of 5 near Wakkerstroom and Sani Pass and up to 10 around Harare Black Kite, Milvus migrans Common with a max of 30 on the Natal coast and on the Zambian side of Vic Falls. African Fish-Eagle, Haliaeetus vocifer 3 Chirundu, 1 Hwange and heard at Mkuzi. Palm-nut Vulture, Gypohierax angolensis A rare bird in S Africa - 2 Mtunzini, the only reliable site. Lammergeier, Gypaetus barbatus 3 Sani Pass. Hooded Vulture, Necrosyrtes monachus 1-2 Hwange. White-backed Vulture, Gyps africanus Up to 15 Mkuzi, 1 Honde Valley, 6 Vic Falls - Katulgula, 2 Hwange. Cape Griffon (Vulture), Gyps coprotheres 20Sani Pass. Lappet-faced Vulture, Torgos tracheliotus Singles Mkuzi and Hwange. White-headed Vulture, Trigonoceps occipitalis 1 Chirindu. Black-chested Snake-Eagle, Circaetus pectoralis Singles Bonamanzi, Monavale Vlei (with snake), Honde Valley and Katulgula. Brown Snake-Eagle, Circaetus cinereus 1 Mkuzi. Fasciated (Southern Banded) Snake-Eagle, Circaetus fasciolatus Singles Mkuzi and Umlalazi. Bateleur, Terathopius ecaudatus 1-2 Mkuzi, 1 Bonamanzi, 3 Chirundu, and 2 Hwange on 26 and 27th. Western Marsh-Harrier, Circus aeruginosus 1 Harare vleis. African Marsh-Harrier, Circus ranivorus 1 near Underberg on 14 and 15th. Montagu's Harrier, Circus pygargus 4 near Felixburg, Zimbabwe. African Harrier-Hawk, Polyboroides typus Singles near Underberg on 14 and 16th, and Katulgula. Lizard Buzzard, Kaupifalco monogrammicus 1 Vic Falls - Katulgula. Dark Chanting-Goshawk, Melierax metabates 2 Vic Falls - Katulgula. Gabar Goshawk, Melierax gabar Singles Mkuzi, Hwange and Christon Bank. African Goshawk, Accipiter tachiro Singles Mkuzi, Dukuduku Forest and Christon Bank. Shikra, Accipiter badius Singles Mkuzi, Hwange and Vic Falls. Little Sparrowhawk, Accipiter minullus Singles Aberfoyle and Makuti. Black Goshawk, Accipiter melanoleucus Singles Himeville (taking an Amur Falcon from the roost) and the Vumbas. Common (Steppe) Buzzard, Buteo buteo Daily in South Africa with a max of 10 around Wakkerstroom, and a few in Zimbabwe. Augur Buzzard, Buteo augur 2 singles Honde Valley and 1 near Vic Falls. Jackal Buzzard, Buteo rufofuscus 5+ Wakkerstroom, 1 Underberg and 2 Sani Pass. Lesser Spotted Eagle, Aquila pomarina Singles Suikerbosrand on 3rd Tawny Eagle, Aquila rapax Singles Chirundu and Hwange. Steppe Eagle, Aquila nipalensis Singles Mkuzi and Great Zimbabwe, 2 Chirundu. Wahlberg's Eagle, Aquila wahlbergi Singles Gosho Park and Honde Valley, 2 Chirundu. Verreaux's Eagle, Aquila verreauxii 2 Suikerbosrand and Gorges Hotel, Vic Falls; 1 Aberfoyle. African Hawk-Eagle, Hieraaetus spilogaster Singles Mkuzi and Great Zimbabwe. Ayres' Hawk-Eagle, Hieraaetus ayresii 1 Chirundu. Long-crested Eagle, Lophaetus occipitalis Singles Richard's Bay, Vernon Crookes, Honde Valley and Chirundu, and 2 in the Vumbas. Crowned Hawk-Eagle, Stephanoaetus coronatus 2 Mkuzi and 1 Seldomseen. Secretary-bird, Sagittarius serpentarius 2 Wakkerstroom - Piet Retief, 1 Hwange and 4 near Felixburg. Lesser Kestrel, Falco naumanni 1 near Suikerbosrand, 2 near Wakkerstroom. Eurasian Kestrel, Falco tinnunculus 2 at Wakkerstroom and 1 near Sani Pass were the only ones identified. Greater Kestrel, Falco rupicoloides 1 near Felixburg. Dickinson's Kestrel, Falco dickinsoni Singles Katiwa Tea Plantation, Nyanga NP and near Chirundu. Amur (Eastern Red-footed) Falcon, Falco amurensis 25 Vereeniging - Suikerbosrand, 200+ Wakkerstroom area, 50+ near Underberg, 250+ Himeville roost, 70+ Greystones, Harare and a few singles elsewhere in Zimbabwe. Eurasian Hobby, Falco subbuteo 1-2 scattered throughout, with 4 in Hwange on 25th. Lanner Falcon, Falco biarmicus 2 Sani Pass. Peregrine Falcon, Falco peregrinus A male at Vernon Crookes. Helmeted Guineafowl, Numida meleagris Widespread in small parties. Crested Guineafowl, Guttera pucherani Only seen at Bonamanzi, with parties of 10 and 14 on 9th and 20 on 10th. Grey-winged Francolin, Francolinus africanus 1 below Sani Pass. Crested Francolin, Francolinus sephaena 4 Mkuzi on 7 and 9th, 4 +3 chicks Bonamanzi and up to 6 daily Hwange. Natal Francolin, Francolinus natalensis Failed to find it in Natal but fairly common in Hwange - Vic Falls / Katulgula region. Red-billed Francolin, Francolinus adspersus Common Hwange - Vic Falls / Katulgula region. Swainson's Spurfowl, Francolinus swainsonii Widespread with a max of 10 at Hwange. Common Quail, Coturnix coturnix Heard calling around Wakkerstroom. Harlequin Quail, Coturnix delegorguei 9 near Sinamatella Camp, Hwange. Buff-spotted Flufftail, Sarothrura elegans 1 heard by all in the morning at Seldomseen and 1 seen well there early afternoon perched on a low horizontal branch (JH only, unfortunately). Red-chested Flufftail, Sarothrura rufa 1 flushed and 3 heard at vlei in Honde Valley. Streaky-breasted Flufftail, Sarothrura boehmi 1 flushed at Monavale Vlei. African Crake, Crecopsis egregia 1 flushed at Marlborough Vlei on 23rd Feb and 4th March. Corn Crake, Crex crex 1 flushed at vlei near Underberg (JH). Black Crake, Amaurornis flavirostra 3 Bonamanzi and 1 Imbalala Camp. Allen's Gallinule, Porphyrio alleni 4+ Imbalala Camp. Purple Gallinule, Porphyrio martinicus 3 Wakkerstroom and 1 Bonamanzi. Common Moorhen, Gallinula chloropus 1-2 Vernon Crookes, Underberg and Gosho Park. Lesser Moorhen, Gallinula angulata 1 in flight Lalapanzi Camp, Bonamanzi and 1 at Rainham Dam. Red-knobbed Coot, Fulica cristata 50+ Wakkerstroom and Harare, 2 near Underberg. African Finfoot, Podica senegalensis 1 by bank of R. Zambezi near Big Tree, Vic Falls. Blue Crane, Grus paradisea 2 Wakkerstroom and Underberg. Grey (Southern) Crowned-Crane, Balearica regulorum 4 Wakkerstroom, 2 Vernon Crookes, Underberg vlei and Hwange, singles Tshbalala and Felixburg. Stanley Bustard, Neotis denhami 4 near Wakkerstroom and 2 near Underberg. Blue Bustard, Eupodotis caerulescens 2 near Wakkerstroom on 4th and 3 at same site on 5th. African Jacana, Actophilornis africanus Widespread with a max of 5 on several waters. Lesser Jacana, Microparra capensis Singles Vernon Crookes and Imbalala Camp. Marsh Sandpiper, Tringa stagnatilis 2 Wakkerstroom and 1 Chirundu. Common Greenshank, Tringa nebularia Singles Mkuzi, Bonamanzi, Umlalazi, Hwange and Vic Falls. Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola Singles Mkuzi, Bonamanzi and Umlalazi. Common Sandpiper, Tringa hypoleucos Widespread in small numbers with a max of 10 at Umlalazi. Sanderling, Calidris alba 12 Umlalazi beach. Curlew Sandpiper, Calidris ferruginea 1 Bonamanzi. Ruff, Philomachus pugnax 1 Richard's Bay, 2 Underberg, 10 Chirundu and 20 Hwange. Water Thick-knee, Burhinus vermiculatus 3-5 Mkuzi, 8 Bonamanzi, 1 Umlalazi, 20 Chirundu, 10 Hwange and 3 Imbalala Camp. Spotted Thick-knee, Burhinus capensis 2-4 Hwange. Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus Singles Mkuzi and Hwange. Three-banded Courser, Rhinoptilus cinctus 2 Chirundu and 4 Hwange. Three-banded Plover, Charadrius tricollaris 4 Bonamanzi, 5 Umlalazi, 1 Chirundu and 3 Hwange. White-fronted Plover, Charadrius marginatus 1 Bonamanzi. Long-toed Lapwing, Vanellus crassirostris 2 Imbalala Camp. Blacksmith Plover, Vanellus armatus Fairly common and widesoread witha max of 30 at Chirundu. White-headed Lapwing (White-crowned Plover), Vanellus albiceps 2-6 Imbalala Camp. Wattled Lapwing, Vanellus senegallus 4 Wakkerstroom, 3 Bonamanzi and 10 Imbala Camp and Felixburg. Crowned Lapwing, Vanellus coronatus Common in Transvaal, up to 12 Mkuzi and 20 Underberg - Suikerbosrand. Gray-headed Gull, Larus cirrocephalus 1 Bonamanzi and 20 Richard's Bay. Whiskered Tern, Chlidonias hybridus 10+ Richard's Bay, 2 Underberg and 1 Hwange.. White-winged Tern, Chlidonias leucopterus 1 Mkuzi, 50+ Richard's Bay and 2 Hwange. Caspian Tern, Sterna caspia Flocks of 19 and 10 Richard's Bay. Double-banded Sandgrouse, Pterocles bicinctus 2-4 Hwange. Feral Pigeon, Columba livia Noted in towns. Speckled (Rock) Pigeon, Columba guinea Only 2 noted Wakkerstroom and 60+ Sani Pass. African (Rameron) Pigeon, Columba arquatrix A few around Underberg, singles Mkuvisi and the Vumbas, and 40 Aberfoyle. Delegorgue's (Bronze-naped) Pigeon, Columba delegorguei 1 perched up at Dhlinza Forest and others singing, 2 Aberfoyle Club. Lemon (Cinnamon) Dove, Columba larvata A few singles in the Natal inland forests and the Vumbas. Laughing Dove, Streptopelia senegalensis Widespread and fairly common. Ring-necked (Cape Turtle) Dove, Streptopelia capicola Common throughout. Red-eyed Dove, Streptopelia semitorquata Common in Natal towns and a few in inland forests and at Chirundu and Hwange. Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove (Green-spotted Dove), Turtur chalcospilos Fairly common Mkuzi and Hwange, and a few in woodland elsewhere. Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, Turtur afer 1 daily Honde Valley and Chirundu. Tambourine Dove, Turtur tympanistria 3 Mkuzi, 1-2 Bonamanzi and Natal inland forests, and 2 singles Honde Valley. Namaqua Dove, Oena capensis Up to 3 daily Chirundu, Hwange and Vic Falls. African Green-Pigeon, Treron calva 10 Fig Tree Walk, Mkuzi. Brown-necked (Cape) Parrot, Poicephalus robustus 2 Vic Falls (MGA). Meyer's Parrot, Poicephalus meyeri 1 Charara, 2 Hwange and 4 Vic Falls - Katulgula. Lilian's Lovebird, Agapornis lilianae 50 Chirundu. Speckled Mousebird, Colius striatus Up to 5 daily Mkuzi and Bonamanzi, 2 Underberg and 1 Vumbas. Red-faced Mousebird, Urocolius indicus 7 Mkuzi. Livingstone's Turaco, Tauraco livingstonii Heard Dukuduku Forest, St Lucia, 5 Vumbas and 2 Aberfoyle. Knysna Turaco, Tauraco corythaix 2-3 Vernon Crookes. Purple-crested Turaco, Musophaga porphyreolopha 2-4 daily Mkuzi, Bonamanzi and Dhlinza Forest; singles Hwange and Vic Falls and heard Harare. Grey Go-away-bird, Corythaixoides concolor Fairly common in Zimbabwe except the eastern highlands, with up to 6 most days. Pied (Jacobin) Cuckoo, Oxylophus jacobinus 1 Mkuzi, 3 Bonamanzi, singles Harare, Aberfoyle, Chirundu and Vic Falls, and 3 Hwange. Levaillant's (Striped) Cuckoo, Oxylophus levaillantii 1 Hwange. Red-chested Cuckoo, Cuculus solitarius Heard at Bonamanzi but only 1 seen, at Aberfoyle. Common / African Cuckoo, Cuculus canorus / gularis Singles Vernon Crookes and Aberfoyle, 2 Mkuvisi Woods. Lesser Cuckoo, Cuculus poliocephalus 1 Aberfoyle Club. Klaas' Cuckoo, Chrysococcyx klaas Singles Bonamanzi and Mkuvisi Woods. African Emerald Cuckoo, Chrysococcyx cupreus 2 Fig Tree Walk, Mkuzi. Dideric Cuckoo, Chrysococcyx caprius 1 seen and 2 heard Wakkerstroom, heard Xumeni Forest, 3 gosho Park, heard Imbalala Camp and 2 Tshbalala (Bulawayo). Yellowbill (Green Coucal), Ceuthmochares aereus Singles Bonamanzi, Dhlinza and Ntumeni Forests, 2 Umlalazi and 1 Beitbridge. Black Coucal, Centropus grillii 2 Monavale Vlei on all 3 occasions, including 1 incubating 7 eggs. Coppery-tailed Coucal, Centropus cupreicaudus 2 Imbalala Camp. Senegal Coucal, Centropus senegalensis Singles Mkuvisi, Honde Valley twice, Vic Falls and GreatZimbabwe. Burchell's Coucal, Centropus burchelli 1-2 Mkuzi and 3+ Bonamanzi. White-faced Scops-Owl, Otus leucotis 1 Hwange. African Scops-Owl, Otus senegalensis 2 heard Hwange both nights. Spotted Eagle-Owl, Bubo africanus Widespread and fairly common, especially dead on the road in Zimbabwe, eg 6 corpses counted in Hwange. 38 live bubo were seen on driving at night the 60km from Katulgula to Vic Falls! African Wood-Owl, Strix woodfordii 1 Seldomseen. African Barred Owlet, Glaucidium capense Singles near Hwange Lodge, and another heard, and at Sinamatella Camp, Hwange. Marsh Owl, Asio capensis 7 Wakkerstroom and 2 Monavale Vlei and Tshbalala. [Rufous-cheeked Nightjar, Caprimulgus rufigena] 1 dead on the road near Makuti. Fiery-necked Nightjar, Caprimulgus pectoralis Heard Bonamanzi, Makuti and Hwange but only 1 probable seen, near Mutare. Freckled Nightjar, Caprimulgus tristigma 2 around the restaurant at Sinamatella Camp, Hwange - 1 strongly singing from the roof. Square-tailed (Mozambique) Nightjar, Caprimulgus fossii 2 on the road near Makuti. Pennant-winged Nightjar, Macrodipteryx vexillarius 2 at Clouds End, Makuti. Scarce Swift, Schoutedenapus myioptilus Honde Valley and 20 thought to be this sp. at Aberfoyle. Mottled Spinetail, Telacanthura ussheri 2 Charara. African Palm-Swift, Cypsiurus parvus Small numbers throughout. Mottled Swift, Tachymarptis aequatorialis 1 at Aberfoyle. Common Swift, Apus apus 1 Wakkerstroom, 15 Eshowe, 10 Vernon Crookes and Chirundu. African (Black) Swift, Apus barbatus Numerous at Aberfoyle and Vic Falls. Little Swift, Apus affinis Widespread and fairly common. Horus Swift, Apus horus 10 near Underberg. White-rumped Swift, Apus caffer Small numbers throughout with a max of 20 at Bonamanzi. Narina Trogon, Apaloderma narina 2 Vernon Crookes and 1 Charara. Malachite Kingfisher, Alcedo cristata Up to 4 Bonamanzi, singles Vernon Crookes, Honde Valley and Vic Falls, 3 Chirundu. 1 with a black bill at Umlalazi was probably an imm. of this sp. rather than semitorquata as thought at the time. African Pygmy-Kingfisher, Ispidina picta 2 singles Umlalazi. Grey-headed Kingfisher, Halcyon leucocephala Singles Bonamanzi and Charara. Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Halcyon albiventris Up to 3 most days in Zimbabwe except when in the Vumbas. Striped Kingfisher, Halcyon chelicuti Daily in Natal with a max of 5 at Mkuzi but only 1 in Zimbabwe, at Honde Valley. Giant Kingfisher, Megaceryle maxima 1 Umlalazi and 2 flying high, calling over Aberfoyle Club. Pied Kingfisher, Ceryle rudis Widespread in S Africa with 10 max at Bonamanzi but in Zim only 6 Chirundu and singles Vic Falls and Felixburg. White-fronted Bee-eater, Merops bullockoides 10 Chirundu. Little Bee-eater, Merops pusillus 2 singles Mkuzi and Honde Valley, up to 10 Hwange and a few daily in Vic Falls region. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Merops persicus 1 Mkuzi, 2 Richard's Bay, 100 Chirundu and a few Hwange and Vic Falls. European Bee-eater, Merops apiaster Up to 10 daily Mkuzi and fairly common in Zimbabwe with a max of 50 around Felixburg and Hararre. Southern Carmine Bee-eater, Merops nubicoides 5 Beitbridge - Harare and Hwange. European Roller, Coracias garrulus Singles Mkuzi, Richard's Bay and Honde Valley. Lilac-breasted Roller, Coracias caudata 2 singles Mkuzi and fairly common in Zimbabwe excluding the eastern highlands, with a max of 50 Beitbridge - Harare. Racket-tailed Roller, Coracias spatulata 6 or 7 near Hwange Lodge. Broad-billed Roller, Eurystomus glaucurus 2 Honde Valley on 20th and 21st, 1 Katiwa Tea Plantation and 2 Hwange. African Hoopoe, Upupa africana 1 Mkuzi and up to 4 on 6 dates in Zimbabwe. Green (Red-billed) Woodhoopoe, Phoeniculus purpureus Up to 10 Mkuzi and 2-6 most days in Zimbabwe. Common Scimitar-bill, Rhinopomastus cyanomelas Up to 4 Mkuzi, 10 Mkuvisi and Gosho Park, 2 Honde Valley and 1 near Felixburg. Red-billed Hornbill, Tockus erythrorhynchus Fairly common in western Zimbabwe only. Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Tockus leucomelas 2-4 Mkuzi and common Hwange. Crowned Hornbill, Tockus alboterminatus 2 Mkuzi and Dhlinza Forest, 2-4 Charara. African Grey Hornbill, Tockus nasutus 1 Hwange, 2 daily Vic Falls - Katulgula and 4 Rainham Dam. Silvery-cheeked Hornbill, Ceratogymna brevis Heard Aberfoyle. Trumpeter Hornbill, Ceratogymna bucinator 20 Mkuzi, up to 3 daily Bonamanzi - Xumeni Forest and 5-7 daily Vic Falls. Southern Ground-Hornbill, Bucorvus leadbeateri 3 Hwange. White-eared Barbet, Stactolaema leucotis 3 Mkuzi, 15 Dukuduku Forest + Umlalazi, 2 Dhlinza and Ntumeni Forests and Mkuvisi, 5 Seldomseen and Honde Valley. Whyte's Barbet, Stactolaema whytii 2 Aberfoyle and Christon Bank, 1 with 3 juv Gosho Park on 22nd Feb and 6+ there on 5th March. Yellow (Golden)-rumped Tinkerbird, Pogoniulus bilineatus 2 Mkuzi, 1 Bonamanzi, and 2 Dukuduku Forest and Aberfoyle. Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Pogoniulus chrysoconus 1 Mkuvisi and 1-2 Gosho Park. Red-fronted Tinkerbird, Pogoniulus pusillus 1-2 Mkuzi, 2 Bonamanzi and Umlalazi, 1 Dhlinza Forest. Pied Barbet, Tricholaema leucomelas 1 Mkuzi. Black-collared Barbet, Lybius torquatus Singles Mkuzi and Bonamanzi, Mkuvisi and Honde Valley, 2-3 Vernon Crookes; fairly common in Zimbabwe excluding the eastern highlands, with a max of 10 in the Vic Falls region. Crested Barbet, Trachyphonus vaillantii 1 Mkuzi, singles Bonamanzi, Mkuvisi, Zambezi NP and Hwange, 2 Vumbas. Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Indicator variegatus 1 Seldomseen. Greater Honeyguide, Indicator indicator Only 1, at Mkuzi. Lesser Honeyguide, Indicator minor An indicator at Christon Bank was thought to be this sp. Wahlberg's (Sharp-billed) Honeyguide, Prodotiscus regulus 1 Gosho Park on 22nd Feb. Rufous-necked Wryneck, Jynx ruficollis 2 singles Wakkerstroom, 1 Mkuzi and Bulwer Forest. Bennett's Woodpecker, Campethera bennettii 1 Mkuvisi Woodland. Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Campethera abingoni Singles Mkuzi, Xumeni Forest, Honde Valley, Christon Bank and 3 Dukuduku Forest. Ground Woodpecker, Geocolaptes olivaceus 1 near Wakkerstroom and 9 Sani Pass. Cardinal Woodpecker, Dendropicos fuscescens 2-3 Mkuzi / Bonamanzi and small numbers throughout Zimbabwe. Bearded Woodpecker, Dendropicos namaquus 1 Zambezi NP. Olive Woodpecker, Dendropicos griseocephalus 2 Xumeni and Bulwer Forests. African Broadbill, Smithornis capensis Singles Bonamanzi on 9th and 10th with 3 others heard, and heard at Enselini (MGA). White-tailed Crested-Flycatcher, Trochocercus albonotatus Singles Seldomseen and Aberfoyle. African Crested-(Blue-mantled) Flycatcher, Trochocercus cyanomelas Singles Aberfoyle and Charara. African Paradise-Flycatcher, Terpsiphone viridis Singles Wakkerstroom and Vernon Crookes, 2 Mkuzi and 5 Umlalazi; widespread in small numbers throughout Zimbabwe. Square-tailed Drongo, Dicrurus ludwigii Up to 4 daily Bonamanzi - Vernon Crookes, 5 Honde Valley. Fork-tailed Drongo, Dicrurus adsimilis Widespread and fairly common throughout Natal and Zimbabwe. Cape (Black) Crow, Corvus capensis 8 Wakkerstroom area, common Underberg area, a few in the Vumbas and 2 Harare. White-necked Raven, Corvus albicollis 2 Vumbas, Hwange and Great Zimbabwe, 20 Honde Valley and a few Nyanga NP. Pied Crow, Corvus albus 1 Richard's Bay, 30 Mtunzini - Eshowe but common throughout Zimbabwe. Eurasian Golden-Oriole, Oriolus oriolus 3 Mkuzi. African Golden-Oriole, Oriolus auratus 2 singles Aberfoyle, 5 Zambezi NP, 2-3 Hwange, 2 Christon bank and 1 Gosho Park. African Black-headed Oriole, Oriolus larvatus Singles Bonamanzi, Vernon Crookes, Christmas Pass, Honde Valley, Tshbalala and Christon Bank; 2 Dhlinza Forest and Gosho Park. White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike, Coracina pectoralis 1-4 Gosho Park and 1 Vic Falls. Grey Cuckoo-shrike, Coracina caesia 2 Aberfoyle Black Cuckoo-shrike, Campephaga flava 3 Vernon Crookes and Mkuvisi; 2 Zambezi NP, Christon Bank and Gosho Park, and 1 Vic Falls. Red-backed Shrike, Lanius collurio Widespread, common at Mkuzi and S of Harare but mainly singles elsewhere and absent from E of Harare. Lesser Grey Shrike, Lanius minor Singles Wakkerstroom and Tshbalala. Common Fiscal, Lanius collaris Widespread and fairly common throughout except Mkuzi and Vic Falls area where absent. Magpie Shrike, Corvinella melanoleuca 30 Hwange and 5 Tshbalala. White-crowned Shrike, Eurocephalus anguitimens 6 Hwange, 2 Tshbalala and 20 gosho Park on 5th March. Brubru, Nilaus afer 1-2 Mkuzi, a few Mkuvisi, Gosho Park and the Vumbas. Black-backed Puffback, Dryoscopus cubla Widespread and fairly common with a max of 8 at Gosho Park. Black-crowned Tchagra, Tchagra senegala 1 Mkuzi and 2 Mkuvisi and Christon Bank. Brown-crowned (Three-streaked) Tchagra, Tchagra australis 1-2 Mkuzi and singles Tshbalala, Great Zimbabwe and Harare. Southern Tchagra, Tchagra tchagra 1 at Mkuzi on 7th was the only record of this elusive species. Tropical Boubou, Laniarius aethiopicus 1-2 Hwange, singles Vic Falls and Christon Bank. Southern Boubou, Laniarius ferrugineus Widespread in Natal and the eastern Zimbabwe highlands in singles and 2s. Crimson-breasted Gonolek, Laniarius atroccoccineus Up to 5 Hwange. Bokmakierie, Telophorus zeylonus 3-5 Suikerbosrand, singles Wakkerstroom and Underberg. Sulphur (Orange)-breasted Bushshrike, Telophorus sulfureopectus 1-2 Mkuzi and 1 Honde Valley. Olive Bushshrike, Telophorus olivaceus Singles Bonamanzi, Dhlinza Forest and Bulwer Forest. Black-fronted Bushshrike, Telophorus nigrifrons 1 Seldomseen and 2 Aberfoyle. Four-coloured (Gorgeous) Bushshrike, Telophorus quadricolor Frequently heard at Mkuzi and Bonamanzi but only 1 seen at each locality. Grey-headed Bushshrike, Malaconotus blanchoti 1 seen and another heard Chirundu, 3 Christon Bank on 5th March. White Helmetshrike, Prionops plumatus 5 Mkuzi, 10 Nyanga NP and Zambezi NP, 5-15 Hwange and a few Vic Falls - Katulgula. Retz's Helmetshrike, Prionops retzii 8 Vic Falls - Katulgula. Cape Batis, Batis capensis 4 Dukuduku Forest, 2 Umlalazi, singles Vernon Crookes and Underberg, 3 Bulwer Forest and 10 the Vumbas. Zululand (Woodward's) Batis, Batis fratrum 4 Dukuduku Forest. Chinspot Batis, Batis molitor Up to 10 Mkuzi, up to 8 Bonamanzi, 2 Mkuvisi, Christmas Pass and Vic Falls, 4 Honde Valley and Christon Bank, and 10 Gosho Park. Pale (Mozambique) Batis, Batis soror 1 Katiwa Tea Plantation. Black-throated Wattle-eye, Platysteira peltata 1 Aberfoyle (AB) and 2 Gosho Park on 5th March.. Cape Rock-Thrush, Monticola rupestris 2 Sani Pass and 1 Bulwer. Sentinel Rock-Thrush, Monticola explorator 20 Sani Pass. Miombo Rock-Thrush, Monticola angolensis 3 Christmas Pass and singles Aberfoyle and Christon Bank. Orange Ground-Thrush, Zoothera gurneyi Singles Xumeni Forest and Seldomseen (2). Spotted (Natal) Ground-Thrush, Zoothera guttata 2 Dhlinza Forest. Olive Thrush, Turdus olivaceus 5 Seldomseen. Kurrichane Thrush, Turdus libonyanus 2 Bonamanzi, singles Gosho Park and Imbalala Camp, 2 Aberfoyle and 5 harare Bot Gardens. Orange-breasted Rock-jumper, Chaetops aurantius 5 Sani Pass. Red-winged Starling, Onychognathus morio Widespread and fairly common throughout but absent from Mkuzi, the coast and the Vumbas. Burchell's Glossy-Starling, Lamprotornis australis 1 Imbalala Camp. Black-bellied Glossy-Starling, Lamprotornis corruscus 2 daily Mkuzi, 5 Bonamanzi and 3 Vernon Crookes. Red-shouldered (Cape) Glossy-Starling, Lamprotornis nitens 20+ Wakkerstroom, Mkuzi and Vernon Crookes and a few elsewhere in Natal. Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling, Lamprotornis chalybaeus Common Hwange and a few S of Harare. Meve's (Long-tailed) Glossy-Starling, Lamprotornis mevesii 50+ Chirundu and Hwange. Violet-backed (Plum-coloured) Starling, Cinnyricinclus leucogaster 2-4 Mkuzi, 2 Vernon Crookes, 5+ Charara and 10 Hwange. African Pied Starling, Spreo bicolor Common Wakkerstroom, 5 Bonamanzi and 20 Underberg. Common Myna, Acridotheres tristis Common Wakkerstroom and Mtunzini, a few locally throughout inland Natal. Red-billed Oxpecker, Buphagus erythrorhynchus 2 -10 Mkuzi. Pale (Mouse-coloured) Flycatcher, Bradornis pallidus 3 Mkuzi, singles Bonamanzi and Hwange, 2 Kutulgala and Tshbalala. Mariqua Flycatcher, Bradornis mariquensis 10 Hwange. Southern Black-Flycatcher, Melaenornis pammelaina Up to 6 daily Mkuzi, 4-5 Bonamanzi, and 2 Vernon Crookes, Christon Bank and Gosho Park. Spotted Flycatcher, Muscicapa striata Up to 10 daily Mkuzi, 4 Bonamanzi, 2 Vernon Crookes, Suikerbosrand and Hwange, 4 singles elsewhere in Zimbabwe. African Dusky Flycatcher, Muscicapa adusta 1 Mkuzi, 2 Underberg and below Sani Pass, and 1 Aberfoyle. Ashy (Blue-grey) Flycatcher, Muscicapa caerulescens 1-2 Bonamanzi, 3 Umlalazi and up to 4 daily in the western Zimbabwe highlands. Grey Tit-Flycatcher, Myioparus plumbeus 1-2 daily Mkuzi and 1 Aberfoyle. Collared Flycatcher, Ficedula albicollis Single males Christmas Pass and Gosho Park. White-starred Robin, Pogonocichla stellata 1 Bulwer Forest and 2 Seldomseen. Swynnerton's Robin, Swynnertonia swynnertoni 2 singles Seldomseen. Thrush Nightingale, Luscinia luscinia 10 heard Chirundu. Cape Robin-Chat, Cossypha caffra 10 Sani Pass, 1 Bulwer Forest, 2-3 Seldomseen and 2 Aberfoyle. White-throated Robin-Chat, Cossypha humeralis 2 singles Mkuzi and 1 Bonamanzi. White-browed (Heuglin's) Robin-Chat, Cossypha heuglini 2 Aberfoyle. Chorister Robin-Chat, Cossypha dichroa 3 Dhlinza Forest. Collared Palm-Thrush, Cichladusa arquata 2 Big Tree, Vic Falls Bearded Scrub-Robin, Cercotrichas quadrivirgata 1 Mkuzi and 2-3 Bonamanzi. Brown Scrub-Robin, Cercotrichas signata 1 Dukuduku Forest and another heard, and 1 Ntumeni Forest. Red-backed Scrub- (White-browed) Robin, Cercotrichas leucophrys Common Suikerbosrand, up to 3 Mkuzi and 1-2 Bonamanzi. Kalahari Scrub-Robin, Cercotrichas paena 2 Tshbalala. Common Stonechat, Saxicola torquata 10 Suikerbosrand and Wakkerstroom, 6 Underberg, 2 Harare vleis and Hwange, common Honde Valley and Nyanga NP, and 5 great Zimbabwe - Harare. Buff-streaked Chat, Saxicola bifasciata 2 Wakkerstroom. Mountain Wheatear (Chat), Oenanthe monticola 15 Suikerbosrand and 2 Wakkerstroom. Sicklewing Chat, Cercomela sinuata 20 Sani Pass. Familiar Chat, Cercomela familiaris 20 Suikerbosrand, 2-3 Gosho Park, 1 Vic Falls and 6 Great Zimbabwe. Southern Anteater-Chat, Myrmecocichla formicivora 10-15 Suikerbosrand and Wakkerstroom. White-headed Black-(Arnot's) Chat, Myrmecocichla arnotti 2 Charara (Makuti - Chirundu). Mocking Cliff-Chat, Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris 4 Gosho Park and Christon Bank and 1 near Bulawayo. Boulder Chat, Pinarornis plumosus 1, possibly 2, pair(s) Gosho Park on 5th March only. Spotted Creeper, Salpornis spilonotus 4 Mkuvisi and Gosho Park. Sand Martin, Riparia riparia 1 Harare vleis. Banded Martin, Riparia cincta 20 Wakkerstroom. Rock Martin, Hirundo fuligula 15 Sani Pass, 4 Nyanga NP and a few at Vic Falls. Barn Swallow, Hirundo rustica Common throughout. White-throated Swallow, Hirundo albigularis 2 Umlalazi, 1 Vernon Crookes, 4 Beitbridge and 3 Nyanga NP. Wire-tailed Swallow, Hirundo smithii 10 Bonamanzi, a few Zambezi NP and 4 Katulgula. Blue Swallow, Hirundo atrocaerulea 6 Aberfoyle (MGA) and 2 Purdon Dam, Nyanga NP Greater Striped-Swallow, Hirundo cucullata Common in Transvaal and 25 at Underberg - Sani Pass but only other records were singles at Bonamanzi and Nyanga NP and 2 at Charara. Lesser Striped-Swallow, Hirundo abyssinica 10 Mkuzi, 2 near St Lucia, 6 Chirundu and common at Hwange. Rufous-chested Swallow, Hirundo semirufa 6 Zambezi NP and 4 Hwange. Mosque Swallow, Hirundo senegalensis 10 Hwange. South African Swallow, Hirundo spilodera 2 Wakkerstroom and 10 Sani Pass. House Martin, Delichon urbica 10 Wakkerstroom, 1 Underberg, 3 Chirundu, 100 Hwange, 1 Vic Falls gorge and 4 Great Zimbabwe. Eastern Sawwing, Psalidoprocne orientalis 10 Seldomseen and 20 Honde Valley. Black Sawwing, Psalidoprocne holomelas 1 Mkuzi, 4 Bonamanzi, 10 Vernon Crookes, 1 Sani Pass. Common Bulbul, Pycnonotus barbatus Common throughout. Sombre Greenbul, Andropadus importunus Common throughout Natal. Stripe-cheeked Bulbul, Andropadus milanjensis Fairly common Vumbas and Honde Valley. Yellow-bellied Greenbul (Bulbul), Chlorocichla flaviventris Fairly common Mkuzi and the coastal strip reserves. Terrestrial Brownbul, Phyllastrephus terrestris Fairly common throughout Natal and western Zimbabwe, with a few at Vic Falls. Yellow-streaked Greenbul, Phyllastrephus flavostriatus 4 Seldomseen and Aberfoyle. Eastern (Yellow-spotted) Nicator, Nicator gularis Several heard but only 2 seen Mkuzi and heard at Umlalazi. Bush Blackcap, Lioptilus nigricapillus 2 below Sani Pass. Pale (Cape) White-eye, Zosterops pallidus Widespread and fairly common in Natal and from Harare to eastern Zimbabwe. Red-faced Cisticola, Cisticola erythrops 4 Mkuzi. Singing Cisticola, Cisticola cantans 2 Seldomseen. Lazy Cisticola, Cisticola aberrans 3 near Ntumeni Forest. Rattling Cisticola, Cisticola chinianus Common Mkuzi, a few Underberg. Wailing Cisticola, Cisticola lais 1 near Underberg. Chirping Cisticola, Cisticola pipiens Heard Imbalala Camp. Tinkling (Levaillant's) Cisticola, Cisticola tinniens 2 Wakkerstroom, 1 near Pietermaritzberg and a few Harare vleis. Croaking Cisticola, Cisticola natalensis 2 Bonamanzi, Charara and Rainham Dam, 4+ Vernon Crookes. Piping Cisticola (Neddicky), Cisticola fulvicapillus 2 Vernon Crookes, common Suikerbosrand, a few Tshabala and Rainham Dam. Zitting (Fan-tailed) Cisticola, Cisticola juncidis Common Wakkerstroom and a few Bonamanzi, Umlalazi, Suikerbosrand and throughout Zimbabwe. Pectoral-patch (Pale-crowned) Cisticola, Cisticola brunnescens 1 Wakkerstroom and 2 Underberg and Harare vleis. Wing-snapping (Ayres') Cisticola, Cisticola ayresii Fairly common Wakkerstroom area. Tawny-flanked Prinia, Prinia subflava Widespread in small numbers. Black-chested Prinia, Prinia flavicans 1 Hwange. Drakensberg Prinia, Prinia hypoxantha 2 below Sani Pass and singles near Ntumeni Forest, at Vernon Crookes and Bulwer Forest. Roberts' Prinia, Prinia robertsi 2 seldomseen and heard Aberfoyle. Red-winged Prinia (Warbler), Prinia erythroptera 2 at marsh / lake near Aberfoyle. Bar-throated Apalis, Apalis thoracica 2 Suikerbosrand, 1 Eshowe, 10 Bulwer Forest, 3 Seldomseen, 2 Aberfoyle and Christon Bank, 1 Goshu Park. Yellow-breasted Apalis, Apalis flavida 2 daily Mkuzi and singles Bulwer Forest, Aberfoyle and Zambezi NP. Rudd's Apalis, Apalis ruddi 2-6 daily Mkuzi and Bonamanzi Chirinda Apalis, Apalis chirindensis 7 Seldomseen / Bunga Forest and 10 Aberfoyle. Grey-backed Camaroptera, Camaroptera brevicaudata 2 Charara and 1 Vic Falls. Green-backed Camaroptera, Camaroptera brachyura Common throughout Natal and a few at Aberfoyle. Stierling's Wren-(Barred) Warbler, Calamonastes stierlingi 1 Mkuzi (AB), 4 Mkuvisi (including feeding young), 2 Gosho Park and 2 heard. African Bush- (Sedge) Warbler, Bradypterus baboecala 3 Harare vleis African Scrub- (Barratt's) Warbler, Bradypterus barratti 1 seen and 3 heard Xumeni forest, 1 seen and 2 heard below Sani Pass, and 1 heard Seldomseen. Cape Grassbird, Sphenoeacus afer 4 Sani Pass and 1 Aberfoyle. Sedge Warbler, Acrocephalus schoenobaenus Singles at Harare vleis and Imbalala Camp. African Reed-Warbler, Acrocephalus baeticatus 2+ Wakkerstroom, 1 Umlalazi and 3 Harare vleis. 10 acros at Bonamanzi were probably this sp. and a large acro at Honde Valley appeared to be arundinaceus Great Reed Warbler Lesser Swamp-Warbler, Acrocephalus gracilirostris At least 1 Imbalala Camp. Olive-tree Warbler, Hippolais olivetorum 1 Great Zimbabwe (JH). African Yellow Warbler, Chloropeta natalensis 2 singles near Underberg. Fairy Warbler (Flycatcher), Stenostira scita 4 Sani Pass. Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Eremomela icteropygialis 1 Christon Bank and 3 Gosho Park on 5th March Greencap Eremomela, Eremomela scotops 2-5 Gosho Park. Burnt-neck Eremomela, Eremomela usticollis 2 Mkuzi and 1 Hwange. Red-faced Crombec, Sylvietta whytii 2 Mkuvisi and Christon Bank, 1 Honde Valley and 8 Gosho Park on 5th March. Cape (Long-billed) Crombec, Sylvietta rufescens Up to 5 daily Mkuzi and Bonamanzi, 1 Gosho Park Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler, Phylloscopus ruficapilla 2 Bulwer Forest and up to 5 Vumbas and Honde Valley. Willow Warbler, Phylloscopus trochilus Widespread with up to 3 in suitable habitat in S Africa and fairly common in western Zimbabwe. Southern (Masona) Hyliota, Hyliota australis 2 Gosho Park on 22nd Feb and 5 on 5th March, 1 Christon Bank. Broad-tailed Grassbird (Warbler), Schoenicola platyura 6 at marsh near Underberg and 1 Marlborough Vlei. Layard's Warbler (Tit-Babbler), Sylvia layardi 2 Lesotho. Garden Warbler, Sylvia borin 1 Vumbas Greater (Common) Whitethroat, Sylvia communis Singles Tshabala and Great Zimbabwe. Southern Pied-Babbler, Turdoides bicolor 10 Hwange. White-rumped Babbler, Turdoides leucopygius 6+ Imbalala Camp. Arrow-marked Babbler, Turdoides jardineii 10 Hwange daily and 2-3 Great Zimbabwe and Christon Bank. Southern Black-Tit, Parus niger Up to 6 daily Mkuzi, 2 Bonamanzi and Mkuvisi, 2-4 in woodland throughout Zimbabwe. Miombo (Northern Grey) Tit, Parus griseiventris Fairly common in miombo-type woodland, ie Mkuvisi, Christon Bank and Gosho Park. Ashy Tit, Parus cinerascens 10 Vumbas. (Southern) Grey Tit, Parus afer 3 Lesotho. African (Grey) Penduline-Tit, Anthoscopus caroli 2 Mkuzi and Christon Bank, and 5 Gosho Park on 5th March. Monotonous Lark, Mirafra passerina 2 seen and 2 heard near Felixburg. Latakoo (Melodious) Lark, Mirafra cheniana 3 near Sinamatella Camp, Hwange. Rufous-naped Lark, Mirafra africana 2 Airstrip, Mkuzi, 5 Sani Pass and most days in Zimbabwe except E of Harare, with a max of 10 Great Zimbabwe - Harare. Sabota Lark, Mirafra sabota 3 Tshbalala GR, Bulawayo. Rudd's Lark, Mirafra ruddi At least 2 near Wakkerstroom. Spike-heeled Lark, Chersomanes albofasciata 2 Tshbalala GR. Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark, Eremopterix leucotis At least 2 at Hwange on 26-27th. Red-capped Lark, Calandrella cinerea 20 near Wakkerstroom and 80 near Felixburg. Pink-billed Lark, Spizocorys conirostris 2 near Wakkerstroom. Botha's Lark, Spizocorys fringillaris At least 2 near Wakkerstroom. Large (Thick)-billed Lark, Galerida magnirostris 6 Sani Pass. House Sparrow, Passer domesticus 10 Mtunzini, a few Beitbridge and 2 en route to Hwange Mossie (Cape Sparrow), Passer melanurus 2 Wakkerstroom and 10 Underberg. Cape (Grey-headed) Sparrow, Passer diffusus 5 Wakkerstroom, 4 Mkuzi, 2 Umlalazi, common around Underberg, Chirundu and throughout western Zimbabwe. Yellow-throated Petronia, Petronia superciliaris 10 Gosho Park Orange-winged (Golden-backed) Pytilia, Pytilia afra Singles Katulgula - Vic Falls and Vic Falls (Zambia). Green-winged Pytilia (Melba Finch), Pytilia melba 3 Mkuzi and Suikerbosrand, 1 Hwange, a few Vic Falls area and 2 near Felixburg. Green-backed Twinspot, Mandingoa nitidula 1 Fig Tree Walk, Mkuzi. Red-faced Crimson-wing, Cryptospiza reichenovii Single pairs Seldomseen and Aberfoyle. Peters' (Red-throated) Twinspot, Hypargos niveoguttatus 1 Seldomseen and a pair Aberfoyle. Pink-throated Twinspot, Hypargos margaritatus 1-2 Mkuzi. Brown Firefinch, Lagonosticta nitidula 2 Imbalala Camp. Red-billed Firefinch, Lagonosticta senegala 2 Vic Falls - Katulgula. African (Blue-billed) Firefinch, Lagonosticta rubricata 10 Aberfoyle. Jameson's Firefinch, Lagonosticta rhodopareia 2 Mkuvisi and 10 Seldomseen. Blue-breasted Cordonblue (Blue Waxbill), Uraeginthus angolensis 5-10 Mkuzi, 5 Mkuvisi and Seldomseen, common Chirundu and western Zimbabwe . Violet-eared Waxbill, Uraeginthus granatina 2 Suikerbosrand and Hwange. Black-tailed (Grey) Waxbill, Estrilda perreini 2 lakeside near Aberfoyle. Yellow-bellied Waxbill (East African Swee), Estrilda quartinia 5+ Christmas Pass and 3 Seldomseen. Swee Waxbill, Estrilda melanotis 1 Xumeni Forest and 10 below Sani Pass. Common Waxbill, Estrilda astrild Widespread in small parties of up to 10. Black-cheeked Waxbill, Estrilda erythronotos 1 Suikerbosrand. Zebra (Orange-breasted) Waxbill, Amandava subflava 20 Underberg vlei and 5 Harare vleis and Gosho Park. African Quailfinch, Ortygospiza atricollis 30 near Felixburg. Bronze Mannikin, Lonchura cucullata 20 Umlalazi, 15 Mkuvisi and common in the western highlands. Black-and-white (Red-backed) Mannikin, Lonchura bicolor 10 near Ntumeni Forest, 2 Vernon Crookes and common Honde Valley Cut-throat, Amadina fasciata 10 Hwange. Red-headed Finch, Amadina erythrocephala 1 SE of Joburg. Village Indigobird (Steel-blue Widowfinch), Vidua chalybeata 4 Mkuzi, 5 Mkuvisi, 1 Chirundu and up to 3 Vic Falls area. Variable Indigobird (Black Widowfinch), Vidua funerea 3 Honde Valley. Purple Indigobird, Vidua purpurascens 1 Mkuvisi and 2 Katulgula - Vic Falls. Violet Indigobird, Vidua incognita 1 Imbalala Camp, singing like Brown Firefinch - identified by Kit Hustler. Shaft-tailed Whydah, Vidua regia Up to 10 daily Hwange and a few Vic Falls area. Pin-tailed Whydah, Vidua macroura Fairly common throughout excluding western Zimbabwe where absent. Eastern Paradise-Whydah, Vidua paradisaea Common Suikerbosrand and Wakkerstroom. Broad-tailed Paradise-Whydah, Vidua obtusa 10 Chirundu and up to 5 Hwange. African Pied Wagtail, Motacilla aguimp 1-2 Mkuzi, 3 Bonamanzi, 2 Umlalazi and widespread in Zimbabwe with a max of 10 at Chirundu. Yellow Wagtail, Motacilla flava 2 Richard's Bay. Mountain (Long-tailed) Wagtail, Motacilla clara 2 Aberfoyle. Cape Wagtail, Motacilla capensis 1-2 Wakkerstroom and 2 Sani Pass and Vic Falls. Yellow-throated Longclaw, Macronyx croceus Widespread and fairly common in Natal and 2-3 Harare vleis. Cape (Orange-throated) Longclaw, Macronyx capensis Common Wakkerstroom, a few Suikerbosrand and 1 Monavale Vlei. Rosy (Pink)-throated Longclaw, Macronyx ameliae 5 Harare vleis. Yellow-breasted Pipit, Anthus chloris 2 definite and 2 probable juvs Wakkerstroom. Striped Pipit, Anthus lineiventris Singles Mkuvisi, Christmas Pass, Christon Bank and Gosho Park. Wood Pipit, Anthus nyassae Singles Gosho Park on 22nd Feb and 5th March. Yellow-tufted (Rock) Pipit, Anthus crenatus 1 Lesotho. African (Grassveld) Pipit, Anthus cinnamomeus Common Wakkerstroom and several Bonamanzi, Underberg / Sani Pass and Felixburg area. Mountain Pipit, Anthus hoeschi 10 Sani Pass. Buffy Pipit, Anthus vaalensis Singles Tshbalala and Felixburg. Tree Pipit, Anthus trivialis 3-5 Gosho Park and 1 Tshbalala. Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver, Bubalornis niger 20+ Beitbridge and 10 Tshbalala. Scaly Weaver (-feathered Finch), Sporopipes squamifrons 10 Hwange and Felixburg, 15 Tshbalala. White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Plocepasser mahali Common / abundant in Zimbabwe excluding the western highlands where absent. Lesser Masked Weaver, Ploceus intermedius A few Mkuzi, 10 Bonamanzi, 20 Suikerbosrand Spectacled Weaver, Ploceus ocularis 2 Mkuzi and Umlalazi, and 1 Vic Falls. Cape Weaver, Ploceus capensis Common Wakkerstroom and 20 Underberg. African Golden- (Yellow) Weaver, Ploceus subaureus 6 Richard's Bay. Holub's Golden-Weaver, Ploceus xanthops 4 Honde Valley and Chirundu. Southern Brown-throated Weaver, Ploceus xanthopterus 10 Bonamanzi and 2 Imbalala Camp. Southern Masked-Weaver, Ploceus velatus 10+ Mkuzi, Umlalazi and Suikerbosrand, 15 Harare, common Chirundu and western Zimbabwe. Village (Spotted-backed) Weaver, Ploceus cucullatus 5 Wakkerstroom. Forest Weaver, Ploceus bicolor Widespread in small numbers in Natal and western Zimbabwe - common at Aberfoyle. Red-headed Weaver, Anaplectes rubriceps 20 Harare and 1 Chirundu. Red-headed Quelea, Quelea erythrops 50 Bonamanzi. Red-billed Quelea, Quelea quelea 50+ Underberg, and common throughout Zimbabwe, with 100+ Chirundu, excluding the eastern highlands where 1 at aberfoyle was the only record. Yellow-crowned (Golden) Bishop, Euplectes afer 10+ Wakkerstroom, 5 Underberg, 10 Suikerbosrand, a few Honde Valley and 1 Hwange. Red Bishop, Euplectes orix Locally common throughout, excluding western Zimbabwe where absent. Yellow Bishop (Yellow-rumped Widow), Euplectes capensis Common Suikerbosrand and a few Harare vleis. Fan-tailed (Red-shouldered) Widowbird, Euplectes axillaris 5 Wakkerstroom, Bonamanzi and 10 Vernon Crookes. Yellow-shouldered (backed) Widowbird, Euplectes macrourus Common Harare vlies and 1 Geat Zimbabwe. White-winged Widowbird, Euplectes albonotatus 4-5 Harare vlies and 10 Hwange. Red-collared Widowbird, Euplectes ardens Common Suikerbosrand and Nyanga NP, a few Underberg, Harare vleis, Aberfoyle and Great Zimbabwe. Long-tailed Widowbird, Euplectes progne Common Suikerbosrand, Wakkerstroom, and Honde Valley. Parasitic Weaver (Cuckoo Finch), Anomalospiza imberbis 2 Vernon Crookes. Grosbeak (Thick-billed) Weaver, Amblyospiza albifrons 10 Bonamanzi and Honde Valley, 1 Umlalazi and 2 Imbalala Camp. Gurney's Sugarbird, Promerops gurneyi 6+ Sani Pass. Collared Sunbird, Anthreptes collaris 10 Mkuzi, 2 Bonamanzi, Umlalazi, Vernon Crookes and Bulwer Forest, and 1 Vic Falls. Olive Sunbird, Nectarinia olivacea 2 Umlalazi and 1 Aberfoyle. Mouse-coloured (Grey) Sunbird, Nectarinia veroxii 2 Bonamanzi. Amethyst Sunbird, Nectarinia amethystina 2 Vernon Crookes and common Honde Valley, Nyanga NP and Gosho Park, and a few Imbalala Camp. Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Nectarinia senegalensis Singles Mkuzi and Bonamanzi, 2 Katiwa Tea Plantation. Variable (Yellow-bellied) Sunbird, Nectarinia venusta Common Vumbas and Honde Valley, 2 Great Zimbabwe and 1 Gosho Park. White-breasted Sunbird, Nectarinia talatala 2 Mkuzi, 1 Bonamanzi and 2 Hwange. Miombo Sunbird, Nectarinia manoensis Up to 20 Gosho Park, 1 Christmas Pass and Seldomseen, 4 Great Zimbabwe and 5 Christon Bank. Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Nectarinia afra 2 singles Vernon Crookes. Lesser Double-collared Sunbird, Nectarinia chalybea 1 Xumeni Forest. Neergaard's Sunbird, Nectarinia neergaardi 2 Mkuzi. Copper Sunbird, Nectarinia cuprea 2 Imbalala Camp. Bronze Sunbird, Nectarinia kilimensis Up to 3 Seldomseen. Malachite Sunbird, Nectarinia famosa 2 wakkerstroom and 10 Sani Pass. Mariqua Sunbird, Nectarinia mariquensis 1-2 Mkuzi and a few Imbalala Camp. Purple-banded Sunbird, Nectarinia bifasciata Up to 5 Mkuzi and 1 Dukuduku Forest. Cape Canary, Serinus canicollis 10 Wakkerstroom and 5 Underberg. Forest Canary, Serinus scotops 30 Xumeni Forest and 10 Bulwer Forest. Southern Yellow-rumped Seedeater (Black-throated Canary), Serinus atrogularis 2 Monavale Vlei and 4 Imbalala Camp. Lemon-breasted Seedeater (Canary), Serinus citrinipectus 1 Bonamanzi. Yellow-fronted (eyed) Canary, Serinus mozambicus Widespread and fairly common throughout with a max of 20 at Mkuzi. Yellow Canary, Serinus flaviventris Common Sani Pass. Brimstone (Bully) Canary, Serinus sulphuratus 2 Vernon Crookes and Bulwer Forest. Streaky-headed Seedeater (Canary), Serinus gularis A few Underberg area, Vumbas and Great Zimbabwe, and up to 20 Gosho Park. Black-eared Seedeater (Canary), Serinus mennelli 2 Gosho Park on 2 dates. Drakensberg Siskin, Serinus symonsi 20 Sani Pass. Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, Emberiza tahapisi Common Suikerbosrand, a few Nyanga NP, Hwange and Bulawayo - Great Zimbabwe. Cape Bunting, Emberiza capensis Common Sani Pass. Golden-breasted Bunting, Emberiza flaviventris 1-2 Mkuzi, Nyanga NP, Hwange, Vic Falls and Great Zimbabwe. Cabanis' Bunting, Emberiza cabanisi 2 Christmas Pass and Gosho Park on 5th March. DIP LISTSlaty Egret, Egretta vinaceigula - Imbalala Camp Taita Falcon, Falco fasciinucha - Vic Falls Red-winged Francolin, Francolinus levaillantii - Underberg / Sani Pass Striped Flufftail, Sarothrura affinis - Harare Vleis Wattled Crane, Grus carunculatus - Underberg, S of Harare Rock Pratincole, Glareola nuchalis - Westwood Lodge, Vic Falls & Chirundu but leaves in Feb when water level rises. Senegal Lapwing, Vanellus lugubris - Mkuzi ?, Kruger NP, Gunarezhou NP African Skimmer, Rhynchops flavirostris - R Zambezi Brown-headed Parrot, Poicephalus cryptoxanthus - Mkuzi but seasonal Schalow's Turaco, Tauraco schalowi - Vic Falls Thick-billed Cuckoo, Pachycoccyx audeberti - miombo woodland in easten Zimbabwe Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo, Cercococcyx montanus - Aberfoyle but rare African Grass-Owl, Tyto capensis - Wakkerstroom, Rainham Dam Cape Eagle-Owl, Bubo capensis - Underberg, N of Harare Bat-like Spinetail, Neafrapus boehmi - Chirundu Mangrove Kingfisher, Halcyon senegaloides - Mtunzini in winter Green Barbet, Stactolaema olivacea - Nagoye Forest Green-backed Honeyguide, Prodotiscus zambesiae - Aberfoyle, Haroni Rusitu African Pitta, Pitta angolensis - Chizarira NP Livingstone's Flycatcher, Erythrocercus livingstonei - Chizarira NP Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike, Prionops scopifrons - Aberfoyle, Haroni Rusitu Tiny Greenbul (Slender Bulbul), Phyllastrephus debilis - Haroni Rusitu Black-headed Apalis, Apalis melanocephala - Haroni Rusitu Cinnamon-breasted Tit, Parus pallidiventris - Vumbas Short-clawed Lark, Certhilauda chuana - Pietersberg NR Bush Pipit, Anthus caffer - Mkuzi Short-tailed Pipit, Anthus brachyurus - Giant's Castle Western Violet-backed Sunbird, Anthreptes longuemarei - L McIlwaine (Harare) Locustfinch, Ortygospiza locustella - Rainham Dam LIST OF MAMMALSTaxonomy, names and sequence according to Kingdon, J (1997) The Kingdon Field Guide to African Mammals. Chacma Baboon Papio ursinus Fairly common at Mkuzi. Vervet Monkey, Cercopithecus pygerythrus Fairly common in Natal and western highlands of Zimbabwe Greater Galago, Otolemur crassicaudatus 1 Bonamanzi South African Galago, Galago moholi 4 near Hwange Lodge Lesser Elephant Shrew, Elephantulus sp. 1 Gosho Park Scrub Hare, Lepus saxatilis A few singles, eg at Hwange Natal Red Rock Hare, Pronolagus crassicaudatus 1 Vernon Crookes Spring Hare Pedetes capensis 1 Hwange and 2 near Katulgula. Smith's Bush Squirrel, Paraxerus cepapi 2 Seldomseen South African Ground Squirrel Geosciurus inauris A few Wakkerstroom area South African Porcupine, Hystrix africaeaustralis 1 Bonamanzi Side-striped Jackal, Canis adustus 3 Makuti and 1 felixburg Bat-eared Fox, Otocyon megalotis 4 Katulgula - Vic Falls Ratel, Mellivora capensis 1 Bonamanzi Dwarf Mongoose, Helogaleparvula 10 Hwange Yellow Mongoose Cynictis penicillata 1 Suikerbosrand and 3 Wakkerstroom Meerkat(Suricate) Suricata suricatta 5 Suikerbosrand and 10 Wakkerstroom Banded Mongoose, Mungos mungo 6 Hwange White-tailed Mongoose, Ichneumia albicauda 2 singles Bonamanzi Marsh Mongoose, Atilax paludinosus 1 Gosho Park Spotted Hyena Crocuta crocuta 1 Makuti, 2 Hwange African Civet, Civettictis civetta 1 Bonamanzi Lion, Panthera leo A pair Makuti Cape Rock Hyrax, Procavia capensis A few Sani Pass, Gosho Park and 1 Christon Bank (the latter could possibly have been Yellow-spotted Hyrax, Heterohyrax brucei) African Elephant Loxodonta africana 25-60 Hwange, 1 Chirundu Common Zebra, Equus quagga boehmi Common Mkuzi and a few Hwange White Rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum Parties of 7 and 5 and a few singles Mkuzi Hippopotamus, Hippopotamus amphibius 100 Chirundu and several Imbalala Camp Common Warthog, Phacochoerus africanus Several Mkuzi and Bonamanzi Giraffe, Giraffa camelopardalis 4 Hwange, 3 Gosho Park Greater Kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros Numerous Mkuzi Eland Tragelaphus oryx 10+ Sani Pass Bush Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia 1 Aberfoyle and 2 Goshu Park Natal Duiker Cephalophus natalensis 1-2 Bonamanzi Blue Duiker, Cephalophus monticola 2 Bonamanzi Rhebok Pelea capreolus A few Sani Pass Mountain Reedbuck Redunca fulvorufula Several Sani Pass Southern Reedbuck Redunca arundinum 5 Vernon Crookes Ringed Waterbuck, Kobus ellipsiprymnus ellipsiprymnus 4 Katulgula Impala Aepyceros melampus Fairly common Mkuzi and a few Hwange Bontebok Damaliscus dorcas A few Suikerbosrand Bridled Gnu / Blue Wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus Common Mkuzi White-tailed Gnu / Black Wildebeest Connochaetes gnou A few Suikerbosrand Sable Antelope Hippotragus niger A few Gosho Park and Tshbalala. |
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Copyright © 1992-2012 John Wall |