Ringing and Birding at Haka Park, March 2012

We recently gained permission to ring at Haka Park, which is an excellent birding spot very near Harare.
After meeting at the gate very early in the morning, we drove into the park to a spot on the edge of the Miombo woodlands, where we would set up the nets. A few of the more energetic people went into the vlei in an attempt to catch a Broad-tailed Warbler.
Miombo woodland birding, and especially ringing, is difficult due to the low density of bird life. The birds mostly move around in mixed species feeding parties, which are your only real chance of catching a considerable number of birds. They are also often high in the trees - too high for the nets to reach them. It is therefore a bit of a hit-and-miss affair, ringing in the woodlands. Black Cuckooshrike were near the nets but did not get caught. Two Yellow-fronted Canaries, among other things, were the best catch from the woodlands.
Meanwhile, the vlei nets were catching a few birds, but not very many. Things were going slowly, but eventually the main target was caught; a Broad-tailed Warbler!

Broad-tailed Warbler

Male Yellow Bishop

On the 29th of March I did a morning of birding in Haka. I tried to get photos of the Broad-tailed Warbler, but failed on that. Whilst walking through grass taller than me I flushed a male flufftail! It was too quick to photograph, but was most likely a Red-chested Flufftail.

I found an Orange-breasted Waxbill nest with two eggs nearby, then moved to the woodland in the hope of photographing some Miombo birds. Interestingly, I saw one of the Yellow-fronted Canaries ringed a week ago, near where it was caught. I managed to find two bird parties, both of which had beautiful Southern Hyliota in the foliage above my head! Spotted Creeper, Stierling's Wren-warbler, African Golden Oriole and White-crested Helmet-shrike were some of the highlights of the woodland birds, but the prize for the day's best bird went to a lovely Woodland Kingfisher! This bird must have been passing through on its northward migration.

Southern Hyliota

Woodland Kingfisher