Ringing on the 7th to the 11th September

A week's ringing activities started with a trip to Afdis on the morning on the 7th of September, where we caught about 25 birds. There were very few waders around - we only caught one Three-banded Plover and a Blacksmith Lapwing.

Three-banded Plover

We did, however, catch a few other birds. Warblers and Weavers, including three Thick-billed Weavers, Black-collared Barbet, White-browed Robin-chat and a pair of Yellow-throated Longclaw were the highlights.

Yellow-throated Longclaw

If you're wondering why they are called Longclaws...

Black-collared Barbet having a good chew on my finger.

Ringing at Haka Park on the 10th was less successful, as it usually is with Miombo woodland. I did manage to catch two new species for myself - Black-crowned Tchagra and Yellow-throated Petronia.

Black-crowned Tchagra

Yellow-throated Petronia. Even in the hand, the yellow is difficult to see.

Smith's Bush Squirrel at Haka Park

Finally, we managed to catch two Fiery-necked Nightjars on the night of the 11th, in Haka Park. Both were males and one was a recapture, originally ringed a little over a year ago in the same place.

Male Fiery-necked Nightjar

Back in Action

I'm back in Zimbabwe (on holiday) for a couple of months, so watch this space for new posts, coming soon.

White-crested Helmet-shrike at Haka Park

The Last Post...

I haven't posted on this blog recently because I'm actually no longer in Zimbabwe - I've moved to Australia for a while to study.

Sadly, this means no more regular posts on this blog, but don't despair. I have started a new one, and if you'd like to follow my birding and photography whilst I'm in Australia, click on this link to view the new blog (coming soon).

Nyanga, January 2013

The first trip of 2013 - two nights in Nyanga.
It was very wet and misty for much of the time, unsurprisingly.

Mist rolling in towards Troutbeck

I was rather lucky to find a Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk on one morning, right outside the cottages! Otherwise, there were good birds around including African Black Duck, African Olive-pigeon, White-throated Swallow, Cape Robin-chat, Cape Grassbird and Bronzy Sunbird.

White-throated Swallow

Red-winged Starling

Immature Common Fiscal

There was an incredible amount of frogs on the edges of the dams, plus a bunch of African Striped Skinks in the rocky areas.

Sharp-nosed Reed Frog

Swynnerton's Reed Frog

Swynnerton's Reed Frog immature

African Striped Skink

On the way back I stopped at a place where Blue Swallows are known to occur, and found them! Also saw Malachite Sunbird and Cape Canary there.

Blue Swallow habitat

Blue Swallow

Bumi Hills

I recently got to spend three wonderful days at Bumi Hills, on Lake Kariba.

The view from Bumi Hills lodge was quite spectacular. In fact, most of the scenery around Bumi Hills was pretty excellent.

View of the bay from Bumi Hills harbour

A HDR image of the sunrise

Animal viewing was great, with elephants and hippos very close, plus plenty of other game. We even had Lion on the first afternoon!

On the same game drive as the Lion sighting, we also spotted a baby Impala wriggling on the ground. As we drove closer, it got up and ran off, and in the other direction a big python slithered away. What a sighting! Unfortunately, too dark for any reasonable photographs...


The birds were particularly good at Bumi. With all the rain, there were puddles of water all over the place, especially on the open floodplain areas.

At the lodge itself were some great birds including White-backed Vulture, Bateleur, Jacobin Cuckoo, African Barred Owlet, Southern Red-billed Hornbill, African Golden Oriole, Ashy Flycatcher, Retz's Helmet-shrike and nesting Red-winged Starling.
One night we had 100mm of rain! The next morning a very soggy bird was on the lawn outside - a Common Swift. I was amazed at the size of the bird, having never seen one in the hand.

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Crested Barbet

Bateleur flying past Bumi Hills

Waterbirds were excellent; White-breasted and Reed Cormorants, African Darter, Black, Green-backed and Goliath Herons, African Openbill, Saddle-billed Stork, Glossy Ibis, African Spoonbill, Spur-winged Goose, African Fish-eagle, Common Ringed Plover, White-crowned Lapwing, Curlew Sandpiper, Black-winged Stilt, Water Thick-knee, Grey-headed Gull and Whiskered and White-winged Terns were all seen, plus some others.

Green-backed Heron

Reed Cormorants, with White-crowned Lapwing in the background

African Darter

African Fish-eagle

Other good birds around the Bumi area included Crested Francolin, Black-bellied Bustard, Double-banded Sandgrouse, Namaqua Dove, Southern Carmine Bee-eater, Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark, White-throated Swallow, Eastern Nicator, Long-billed Crombec, Red- and Yellow-billed Oxpeckers, White-browed Sparrow-weaver and Green-winged Pytilia.

Southern Carmine Bee-eater

Lilac-breasted Roller

Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark, on the airstrip

A fantastic trip, and probably my last visit to the bush before I go to Australia for a while. The sort of place that will make me miss Zimbabwe!

...and how could I not miss a view like this one?