tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7992816480929894542024-03-12T21:36:44.554-07:00Birding and Bird Ringing in ZimbabweNickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.comBlogger50125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-27731724236529960422014-02-22T03:57:00.003-08:002014-02-22T03:59:20.533-08:00Exciting Harare Wildlife; A Final Week's WorthMy last week in Zim was fairly rushed and I didn't have a lot of free time. Nevertheless it was pretty entertaining as far as the wild animals were concerned.<br />
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Mukuvisi on the 3rd of November was a lovely walk. Two things still stand out in my memory; a young Ovambo Sparrowhawk which had caught a Green Wood-hoopoe perched in a tree before moving away.</div>
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The other, more exciting sighting was an active Grey Penduline-tit nest. What a treat! I'd never seen a penduline-tit nest before. They are quite unusual in that they construct a rather impressive nest which appears to be made of a wool-like material, and even has a fake entrance.</div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ovambo Sparrowhawk clutching a Green Wood-hoopoe</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawHCsCpLNANjsrG-Sd9qy7PQRh7uk_4GPHXuz9vB_w6Asc8xjtB9IqU0nJcTcFiUqKEtA98L9U-qJYLtGlnhSrDMxYOFnUPtKQ0VF6n8cYkkdAwfYSwM2guGCkJdCujp817BjfL4MTW9T/s1600/Grey+Penduline-tit02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjawHCsCpLNANjsrG-Sd9qy7PQRh7uk_4GPHXuz9vB_w6Asc8xjtB9IqU0nJcTcFiUqKEtA98L9U-qJYLtGlnhSrDMxYOFnUPtKQ0VF6n8cYkkdAwfYSwM2guGCkJdCujp817BjfL4MTW9T/s1600/Grey+Penduline-tit02.JPG" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey Penduline-tit on nest</td></tr>
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I followed up Mukivisi with a couple of nightjar-catching trips to Haka Park later in the week. Only one bird was caught between the two attempts - timing is important! The birds are much more active on the full moon (my two trips were during the new moon).<br />
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I did, however, see some cool wildlife.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvVXMdx-rNwDis6WLUWuGkcKMhKy2BoAkmX7E-5kQadbUitDUHKnUQ3-Ll61a0XxDkKAplnKXIm5ARHE_m1tCcRbm2uLCWMFhbimlbdTc5rQ1qrA5SXpIOjMdE4MGYOthfT7GaKzVFKHg/s1600/Barn+Owl01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRvVXMdx-rNwDis6WLUWuGkcKMhKy2BoAkmX7E-5kQadbUitDUHKnUQ3-Ll61a0XxDkKAplnKXIm5ARHE_m1tCcRbm2uLCWMFhbimlbdTc5rQ1qrA5SXpIOjMdE4MGYOthfT7GaKzVFKHg/s1600/Barn+Owl01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Western Barn Owl</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn71AeAY6ExCtRpfySTWsc2zeCQORr0lCH5EEGmdVkr-8C8QrHgOxzJoAcec7daMm9ItA3chU4XBy6bKlPDoq_J8cMWc7raiZMny-fbuF_6o07BaV_VL0Knm5zrM1sTHIAHRdlDFm65AyF/s1600/White-tailed+Mongoose01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhn71AeAY6ExCtRpfySTWsc2zeCQORr0lCH5EEGmdVkr-8C8QrHgOxzJoAcec7daMm9ItA3chU4XBy6bKlPDoq_J8cMWc7raiZMny-fbuF_6o07BaV_VL0Knm5zrM1sTHIAHRdlDFm65AyF/s1600/White-tailed+Mongoose01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-tailed Mongoose. I spotlighted this on the edge of the vlei, and followed it for a while along the road. It eventually stopped and I managed to sneak close enough for a photo with only a 50mm lens (really should have brought my usual lens...).</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbM9jJ0lMsqRTT2g1LhULGDdhAwCjJ3zFzErmoNldt4kss7zQ2PRtHC7hsLxdm7JOdwdjBGlXosCgNjwJ5lQeQJOByCogD3NPqQLjDzSCbp867_LvecEv8I1zwiRTeKAM4eB0BCZ4bEOg/s1600/Giant+Bull+Frog01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBbM9jJ0lMsqRTT2g1LhULGDdhAwCjJ3zFzErmoNldt4kss7zQ2PRtHC7hsLxdm7JOdwdjBGlXosCgNjwJ5lQeQJOByCogD3NPqQLjDzSCbp867_LvecEv8I1zwiRTeKAM4eB0BCZ4bEOg/s1600/Giant+Bull+Frog01.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Giant Bullfrog (<i>Pyxicephalus adspersus</i>), found in the Miombo woodlands, surprisingly.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was huge!</td></tr>
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A friend of mine caught a baboon spider (tarantula) in his house, which he passed on to me to photograph and release.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NUO1xSyYFvstC8NXTvI4elRYLS2Eb8cCBJX7-ZM4BAmZ1IW3yrOfDnhkxluMSSP-YysNUrSS7dFpuwIy8BIP2CIL6TvcRI19A2SluVJQdh63Dq1s20ihKQnwEKrV4-EmfPWSJjzbqxY3/s1600/DSC_5546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7NUO1xSyYFvstC8NXTvI4elRYLS2Eb8cCBJX7-ZM4BAmZ1IW3yrOfDnhkxluMSSP-YysNUrSS7dFpuwIy8BIP2CIL6TvcRI19A2SluVJQdh63Dq1s20ihKQnwEKrV4-EmfPWSJjzbqxY3/s1600/DSC_5546.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Identified as <i>Idiothele nigrofulva</i>, photographed at Greystone Park upon release. Imagine finding that in your lounge!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiP2eSkMwhAhB0U8iPSqc94VYNWqtIdgw3z4EtwcRzR4n5nlUrmHoN_YQlU8ylzHAt2_c65BeP6ZIgts9JA79JMepk89cP9ZvIj5vH1SidATKHIt3jDfLa3RDbopY9MYybcQR8ea7HUEAJ/s1600/DSC_5542.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiP2eSkMwhAhB0U8iPSqc94VYNWqtIdgw3z4EtwcRzR4n5nlUrmHoN_YQlU8ylzHAt2_c65BeP6ZIgts9JA79JMepk89cP9ZvIj5vH1SidATKHIt3jDfLa3RDbopY9MYybcQR8ea7HUEAJ/s1600/DSC_5542.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It had an impressive set of fangs.</td></tr>
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On 9 November, the day before I left, I had a last visit to Haka Park. I had to say goodbye to those lovely Helmet-shrikes!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-FeI0JnD3to7hUTZQVpbItntsiLufUTywGOwiH-HjvtzK3bHE6cITPcVVMoCtOujq7-3c-vkvmj79f4k2hksfJ9w6m75sh38n91JBtSeeWQhHy-ONlgiD4gctAuuaDTy5P1bd7E0Xrzx/s1600/White-crested+Helmet-shrike03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgG-FeI0JnD3to7hUTZQVpbItntsiLufUTywGOwiH-HjvtzK3bHE6cITPcVVMoCtOujq7-3c-vkvmj79f4k2hksfJ9w6m75sh38n91JBtSeeWQhHy-ONlgiD4gctAuuaDTy5P1bd7E0Xrzx/s1600/White-crested+Helmet-shrike03.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-crested Helmet-shrike</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu68E03rm-cOOIxQz2NdDxWvZgbcbMGT77ABJrLUwJYSQpGrTEgPZqLI6M-wxyoxP-3h3GWNsCBPCEg9ZqM4kDQkE_CkNaUd8oOicHSGrgxuk0osnmvFTZagiyHWVbDOhJD6xCQzlVAU83/s1600/Plains+Zebra06.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu68E03rm-cOOIxQz2NdDxWvZgbcbMGT77ABJrLUwJYSQpGrTEgPZqLI6M-wxyoxP-3h3GWNsCBPCEg9ZqM4kDQkE_CkNaUd8oOicHSGrgxuk0osnmvFTZagiyHWVbDOhJD6xCQzlVAU83/s1600/Plains+Zebra06.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plains (Burchell's) Zebra</td></tr>
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Whilst watching the helmet-shrikes, we noticed the birds were mobbing something on the ground. We walked close to the spot, and still only managed to see the thing when it shot off up a tree.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7swLb42DAveuHk4OU2ID9dV0LwGI4yD2uaM7ROanuuQLOif8EUVyLX_mkoK6s3EFcivD3reJ8SXu2-4mk2oXouvOPLRouOFKEeRwvt0cW8n8fV_B4ZkUledJ9yifJszBRkw4BvvEuws3H/s1600/Boomslang03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7swLb42DAveuHk4OU2ID9dV0LwGI4yD2uaM7ROanuuQLOif8EUVyLX_mkoK6s3EFcivD3reJ8SXu2-4mk2oXouvOPLRouOFKEeRwvt0cW8n8fV_B4ZkUledJ9yifJszBRkw4BvvEuws3H/s1600/Boomslang03.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was a Boomslang!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllUC4vb_KMEZBuCp3jWQ4q0BS5wUSDeZRTVKBwJg6dO0Gnwc6PAQ4B-ANaOnBmPvtWu9c18sKGsy8a9rHZy0194Gyl15eQlzhmQB8ay1ga5nPMzBJFCx7Bus16ASS9iZozdiN292sNDNX/s1600/Boomslang04.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhllUC4vb_KMEZBuCp3jWQ4q0BS5wUSDeZRTVKBwJg6dO0Gnwc6PAQ4B-ANaOnBmPvtWu9c18sKGsy8a9rHZy0194Gyl15eQlzhmQB8ay1ga5nPMzBJFCx7Bus16ASS9iZozdiN292sNDNX/s1600/Boomslang04.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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Unfortunately, I have finally run out of recent material to put up. Perhaps I'll post some old stuff at some point.<br />
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Goodbye for now!Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-13028587488664453672014-02-15T05:07:00.000-08:002014-02-15T05:07:02.598-08:00Afdis RingingAfdis has been one of my favourite ringing spots for the last couple of years, and although human disturbance has increased a bit, there are still good birds around those rather delightful-smelling ponds!<br />
We did a quick morning's ringing at Afdis on 2 November, 2013, just one week before I flew back to Perth.<br />
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It was a pretty good morning, with roughly 30 birds caught (I don't have the numbers with me).<br />
Highlights were warblers (Little Rush, African Reed, Lesser Swamp), Tropical Boubou, three Thick-billed Weavers, Brimstone Canary, Variable Sunbird, a Wood Sandpiper in active primary moult and four Blacksmith Lapwings, aged 5 (0-6 months old) and 7 (13-18 months old).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvTMfaguQTAfnDDafG51uC1xON2jrGqN4MTQTGdiv_2WOrY1oTIwqrPI_t3COOUYcgffkZ-VEqwpnt0MbpWR-THE4dTV88iOKRsab_yhHtizTPBvLhHY-IT7IN8WguanPdFpBesj1DPtG/s1600/DSC_5328.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJvTMfaguQTAfnDDafG51uC1xON2jrGqN4MTQTGdiv_2WOrY1oTIwqrPI_t3COOUYcgffkZ-VEqwpnt0MbpWR-THE4dTV88iOKRsab_yhHtizTPBvLhHY-IT7IN8WguanPdFpBesj1DPtG/s1600/DSC_5328.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brimstone Canary</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_SaVA2OjyjlDdb7MSChQX9dakO__T_4XZ9L_w4RGeSy-REncVhyphenhyphenKcrzyVrtxL0uMzd6b-c38ewiDCe3P1il9rUzSHO5eLwsh_dywXCfko9K7RRF7fV9ffFVAJ6a94M8m-GXPhRG5atLN/s1600/DSC_5335.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEja_SaVA2OjyjlDdb7MSChQX9dakO__T_4XZ9L_w4RGeSy-REncVhyphenhyphenKcrzyVrtxL0uMzd6b-c38ewiDCe3P1il9rUzSHO5eLwsh_dywXCfko9K7RRF7fV9ffFVAJ6a94M8m-GXPhRG5atLN/s1600/DSC_5335.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Masked-weaver male in breeding plumage. Interesting yellowish colouration in the otherwise red eye</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRwzHdOpTtuKBkj1aOMoqAsGv5agP8O983HeLaBr_w25d1H7xaJwW3SDdXM6_ajwqk0LPxSHMRPJt6Mck0ZEw2DgEOGB-BE5UcVMF_8nHDNtByQ-AmOykMxNDmFiT8vXElBXz_8AMpYRu/s1600/DSC_5311.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdRwzHdOpTtuKBkj1aOMoqAsGv5agP8O983HeLaBr_w25d1H7xaJwW3SDdXM6_ajwqk0LPxSHMRPJt6Mck0ZEw2DgEOGB-BE5UcVMF_8nHDNtByQ-AmOykMxNDmFiT8vXElBXz_8AMpYRu/s1600/DSC_5311.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blacksmith Lapwing, age 5</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERMN7Ww-Qxr6ZplHw-GrSkHIOdrbL7U18cmP5KA3ykR7-fYRewrvldZatrYB-jLbH2MCbhWDj7x0EShcfL1I14e5vLdD5-Y8fRtPZw6s9uBARu47pN29tP89OZel8RfsnJo3Xj7_-Bmdu/s1600/DSC_5320.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjERMN7Ww-Qxr6ZplHw-GrSkHIOdrbL7U18cmP5KA3ykR7-fYRewrvldZatrYB-jLbH2MCbhWDj7x0EShcfL1I14e5vLdD5-Y8fRtPZw6s9uBARu47pN29tP89OZel8RfsnJo3Xj7_-Bmdu/s1600/DSC_5320.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blacksmith Lapwing, age 7</td></tr>
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We also completed an atlas card for the pentad, with some nice observations, most notably Black-crowned Night-heron and Green Sandpiper.<br />
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I didn't have a great amount of time left for birding during the last couple of weeks of my holiday, but I managed to get to Greystone Park on the 28th of October with a friend, where we found a few things such as Egyptian Goose with goslings, African Black Duck, White-browed Scrub-robin and good views of Tambourine Dove.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3TgbNFZext-rvmu2Zx-QgL4fIAHfgZQwg0VEmHpm_lw01JxMerKfug4BjqltC2V-xWrpjBt2ekH2DeHqSD5vKcpDYw87LnFt_QvxsbHr7COJwi1jeWuXSPtKg7eQF1oeJ1GMmbYIgPaR/s1600/Tambourine+Dove02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix3TgbNFZext-rvmu2Zx-QgL4fIAHfgZQwg0VEmHpm_lw01JxMerKfug4BjqltC2V-xWrpjBt2ekH2DeHqSD5vKcpDYw87LnFt_QvxsbHr7COJwi1jeWuXSPtKg7eQF1oeJ1GMmbYIgPaR/s1600/Tambourine+Dove02.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Tambourine Dove</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorzUvY28hYtBOsT1DErnCebjcNmdG-PH2W3zBVRnJUisponOEVnSFokoFs57iUdWIAr7T0c4NmYAkxJqubiwiCittTq6jPzEK_qqZfit7xJf9PloVnte0RxfBahRojyahHgJc7G20F-5T/s1600/White-browed+Scrub-robin02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjorzUvY28hYtBOsT1DErnCebjcNmdG-PH2W3zBVRnJUisponOEVnSFokoFs57iUdWIAr7T0c4NmYAkxJqubiwiCittTq6jPzEK_qqZfit7xJf9PloVnte0RxfBahRojyahHgJc7G20F-5T/s1600/White-browed+Scrub-robin02.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-browed Scrub-robin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-68940448627113141912014-02-10T05:52:00.002-08:002014-02-10T05:52:32.527-08:00The Bats of Kasanka: Part Five - Mana Pools<a href="http://zimbirding.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/the-bats-of-kasanka-part-one-kariba.html">Part One - Kariba</a><br />
<a href="http://zimbirding.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/the-bats-of-kasanka-part-two-forest-inn.html">Part Two - Forest Inn</a><br />
<a href="http://zimbirding.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/the-bats-of-kasanka-part-3-mammals.html">Part Three - Kasanka, the Mammals</a><br />
<a href="http://zimbirding.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/the-bats-of-kasanka-part-four-birds.html">Part Four - Kasanka, the Birds</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Bright and early on October 24 my dad and I drove south from Lusaka, hoping to hit the border with Zimbabwe by breakfast time. There had been an incredible amount of rain the night before, which had soaked into the 'main road' (dirt tracks winding alongside the tarmac, which was under repairs for a long distance). I'm glad we left as early as we did, because as the morning went on, the now very muddy 'road' was being made worse and worse by the heavy trucks going to and from Zimbabwe. It must have been a nightmare by the end of the day!<br />
<br />
The border was pretty quick and painless, and we headed for Makuti Hotel, where we stopped for brunch. After that we descended the escarpment into the Zambezi Valley, and on towards Nyamepi campsite in Mana Pools National Park, where we camped for three nights.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4s4wDb3Dav21WfZ54C06_XtJljBWxzmHIhyicb64VXH-PneyvqhbkDmJcYPZV9gopAjGxW0u2WUoJOC8Z8X-RyTMW57GhDYLWNbhJKheqYx7ftsKKCFBs7vQbFMebFnnlM1fhCTjuJ6j/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ4s4wDb3Dav21WfZ54C06_XtJljBWxzmHIhyicb64VXH-PneyvqhbkDmJcYPZV9gopAjGxW0u2WUoJOC8Z8X-RyTMW57GhDYLWNbhJKheqYx7ftsKKCFBs7vQbFMebFnnlM1fhCTjuJ6j/s1600/6.jpg" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We crossed the border at Kariba rather than the more direct route through Chirundu, because the Chirundu border post is apparently very slow and just awful in general.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We stayed in Nyamepi, and made regular visits to Mana Mouth and Long Pool, plus a couple of visits to Vundu Point and Mucheni camp.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2iv3pvgisH5wHnFJvPaHxbw5f_OG_xBWGTLMv082jdNFRm0GfzL9YbhfgcFWwWGJTDmqR0mnF2iZCkTjj4xsTn_rHbn-a-Vb8phXpDl9tbB5bu7rRVnFxT6Cux4ueV-_HmV4fQOolGgU/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2iv3pvgisH5wHnFJvPaHxbw5f_OG_xBWGTLMv082jdNFRm0GfzL9YbhfgcFWwWGJTDmqR0mnF2iZCkTjj4xsTn_rHbn-a-Vb8phXpDl9tbB5bu7rRVnFxT6Cux4ueV-_HmV4fQOolGgU/s1600/7.jpg" height="203" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6f4mQSPpAasFcduI9H1NDrjYAoaieSsvBmWjQtMTK0RLfhQzQzy_xGdNgnKHJ15ukGJa-VFfnAh5KNECwxdLwPvg6DDfJSoX6huikiNZ8ME_aa40rwuxhOp91fLTPXQACT4ASqKZiJoWg/s1600/108.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg6f4mQSPpAasFcduI9H1NDrjYAoaieSsvBmWjQtMTK0RLfhQzQzy_xGdNgnKHJ15ukGJa-VFfnAh5KNECwxdLwPvg6DDfJSoX6huikiNZ8ME_aa40rwuxhOp91fLTPXQACT4ASqKZiJoWg/s1600/108.jpg" height="97" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from our campsite, in Nyamepi. Not bad!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyPSWbgKI7c8xhyphenhyphenrXPFXyKFDxdAsoVv7PBbLKN91Stv3q04cJRTBOAp52j1shZzSoUUPBctpKQ8YjNtMxFqQg6kdk836Q6gmHdcdQAFcKXc4kpbr1Z0vihPLxNueHT6YxO6NG81JNh1RK/s1600/DSC_0889.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQyPSWbgKI7c8xhyphenhyphenrXPFXyKFDxdAsoVv7PBbLKN91Stv3q04cJRTBOAp52j1shZzSoUUPBctpKQ8YjNtMxFqQg6kdk836Q6gmHdcdQAFcKXc4kpbr1Z0vihPLxNueHT6YxO6NG81JNh1RK/s1600/DSC_0889.JPG" height="193" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The camp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVm7uk4gU-JDwcho3lNQjucaIz4M8MAzRRoyzpztSYwzNtFcgYhZh328Tjeb9mtiv5qRXJ7mbqsH0guooQJqJWT1A2xzDpaJnVhICsjXjViOBcahsWrCyExNRVL-Jx6gDH0sZRvI85Oxp/s1600/110.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTVm7uk4gU-JDwcho3lNQjucaIz4M8MAzRRoyzpztSYwzNtFcgYhZh328Tjeb9mtiv5qRXJ7mbqsH0guooQJqJWT1A2xzDpaJnVhICsjXjViOBcahsWrCyExNRVL-Jx6gDH0sZRvI85Oxp/s1600/110.jpg" height="100" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from Mucheni</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuwpaY71w9fbbFayhxIAqla3wW2xSJZ2zuS50KoST10dNXPBf61_VQwYzw7fJFeWfWIifAvfgZK0dEtFmfNCIm2hG2ld124P5YZo8SfKFV5lQgiOgpJbKDlrJHF9Z75yvsyD-gy_RWK2t/s1600/111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmuwpaY71w9fbbFayhxIAqla3wW2xSJZ2zuS50KoST10dNXPBf61_VQwYzw7fJFeWfWIifAvfgZK0dEtFmfNCIm2hG2ld124P5YZo8SfKFV5lQgiOgpJbKDlrJHF9Z75yvsyD-gy_RWK2t/s1600/111.jpg" height="87" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long Pool</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aVWYqSK1dRwIYMBEDWbwAI4Q64VyE5AtSeEWdHauHPQz46DF3ObOUyGu5_4MBa3Dr_F92pDmGSEfX02fwCYcuNoQR1NNnyaDniEDDXlrhWkK4lwQ7Z4qRmG_6ZqWUYdrzeUbqGfbNHAm/s1600/DSC_0883.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_aVWYqSK1dRwIYMBEDWbwAI4Q64VyE5AtSeEWdHauHPQz46DF3ObOUyGu5_4MBa3Dr_F92pDmGSEfX02fwCYcuNoQR1NNnyaDniEDDXlrhWkK4lwQ7Z4qRmG_6ZqWUYdrzeUbqGfbNHAm/s1600/DSC_0883.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mana Mouth</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKodj8-p4ToYoXRxRX1ZfOHkJe6egotVk02UXQJiuApJElO_3_fhM0GS_dJefODczpHNoGpdVxZS97W_N6e0QKO8BAcIqp67xDzohoNTreUpRUGIw-JAtpQs9tU37sCvktUGqzFZ5WMNCc/s1600/DSC_4370.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKodj8-p4ToYoXRxRX1ZfOHkJe6egotVk02UXQJiuApJElO_3_fhM0GS_dJefODczpHNoGpdVxZS97W_N6e0QKO8BAcIqp67xDzohoNTreUpRUGIw-JAtpQs9tU37sCvktUGqzFZ5WMNCc/s1600/DSC_4370.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Long Pool again</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-jaavSkVxejCHyEf5utz32Agh0a_4GrfAMMzjP8yn7Psr44B4dEi1HV1g8bl0kqhiGZUNbSrNwbUn8uONhjln6NXfbYyBvLTcnYVpJzLOr4NgERNZtOZDXAoEAiDfhY0tM3rBy3kVoHa/s1600/DSC_4750.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-jaavSkVxejCHyEf5utz32Agh0a_4GrfAMMzjP8yn7Psr44B4dEi1HV1g8bl0kqhiGZUNbSrNwbUn8uONhjln6NXfbYyBvLTcnYVpJzLOr4NgERNZtOZDXAoEAiDfhY0tM3rBy3kVoHa/s1600/DSC_4750.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The hills in Zambia, across the Zambezi River. Vundu Point</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We had some fantastic mammals sightings, of 19 species: Vervet Monkey, Chacma Baboon, Smith's Bush Squirrel, Lion, African Wild Dog, Side-striped Jackal, Spotted Hyaena, Dwarf Mongoose, Banded Mongoose, Elephant, Hippopotamus, Common Warthog, Impala, Common Eland, Greater Kudu, Nyala, Waterbuck and Plains Zebra.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzcYsMrrwPCutznY3NQ9py_HDdEMxxCoYWztbIOhRGoVYyio_44lVSADnTO3AUB0mcYousDJUG3eTgeE6t9Xhgf3uTglW-tNfwvi4auaMJZhWAKK3HnFENMrT7jipIWJcRz46eRGj87Sv/s1600/Buffalo16.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLzcYsMrrwPCutznY3NQ9py_HDdEMxxCoYWztbIOhRGoVYyio_44lVSADnTO3AUB0mcYousDJUG3eTgeE6t9Xhgf3uTglW-tNfwvi4auaMJZhWAKK3HnFENMrT7jipIWJcRz46eRGj87Sv/s1600/Buffalo16.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Buffalo</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxah4ba4AJ4_N01Dl6n9PaaXpbAAvayt6j8uVRddw76UeDv5U1isBkRjI4wMfRnwsFfUHg2gtUvDaeMLCwyCyc9WQe-ka2oS8tcgDVA5P_e7hyXbqS6gmouy1_2krT3UVQqHwF2jOrvGK/s1600/Dwarf+Mongoose02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcxah4ba4AJ4_N01Dl6n9PaaXpbAAvayt6j8uVRddw76UeDv5U1isBkRjI4wMfRnwsFfUHg2gtUvDaeMLCwyCyc9WQe-ka2oS8tcgDVA5P_e7hyXbqS6gmouy1_2krT3UVQqHwF2jOrvGK/s1600/Dwarf+Mongoose02.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dwarf Mongoose</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GOHaAqcb2dzUJIC4-l5oMpwFJizgRYEBEFeo9T65RZS9MkzyHvG0dzHJ-mjHs4bJ3lIc7i-bnR2z3x6NLFLicNUJKjSrUQoTuIci-aWbjwpM_RyUB7BEbdXuPrth-8rVyaRcAFjBoOlQ/s1600/Eland03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GOHaAqcb2dzUJIC4-l5oMpwFJizgRYEBEFeo9T65RZS9MkzyHvG0dzHJ-mjHs4bJ3lIc7i-bnR2z3x6NLFLicNUJKjSrUQoTuIci-aWbjwpM_RyUB7BEbdXuPrth-8rVyaRcAFjBoOlQ/s1600/Eland03.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Eland</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSMqpFbSjy-Mhu8M4IOjXufM2bCxIH-dGIzZS5xImZxYb8GHWfbR5E2-cU3D1OIItQNkZST3Ym8rtgEV7IN7VhkrGA0TtfFQ2Jg2PgTlo6O4ch8D6pmZd6w0hWSV9ttxa5QbRmNlrk0zt/s1600/Elephant,+Hippopotamus01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixSMqpFbSjy-Mhu8M4IOjXufM2bCxIH-dGIzZS5xImZxYb8GHWfbR5E2-cU3D1OIItQNkZST3Ym8rtgEV7IN7VhkrGA0TtfFQ2Jg2PgTlo6O4ch8D6pmZd6w0hWSV9ttxa5QbRmNlrk0zt/s1600/Elephant,+Hippopotamus01.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Elephant, Hippo and Nile Crocodile</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-D_Jkx0jW1xwzHjAb-eN04zP8xQtCxin5kZqwyQmbYgNTiRlhlo3V7x4vs2AdxnjnZx1PrKvaXUsTxLvWk_FfMHzsN9QmDyPvr_HtAeAbpi3-ew4LtPSm8Rh_W0ro1DbIHPPKwB_y-wY/s1600/Greater+Kudu04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi-D_Jkx0jW1xwzHjAb-eN04zP8xQtCxin5kZqwyQmbYgNTiRlhlo3V7x4vs2AdxnjnZx1PrKvaXUsTxLvWk_FfMHzsN9QmDyPvr_HtAeAbpi3-ew4LtPSm8Rh_W0ro1DbIHPPKwB_y-wY/s1600/Greater+Kudu04.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greater Kudu male</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLeAhZGgFjyvQJtUtn8sF_5DC1GOF-VtZzxSWLP8HkiPfho0PswOmVy8WQny-QJEW4QDCf9g1fKWrSgXu05YR-naoid5Dl0SVhlbRr84jnQUiuqLKiiFWY60SpLr_Yj07JdYNP9t-YmkF/s1600/Nyala05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaLeAhZGgFjyvQJtUtn8sF_5DC1GOF-VtZzxSWLP8HkiPfho0PswOmVy8WQny-QJEW4QDCf9g1fKWrSgXu05YR-naoid5Dl0SVhlbRr84jnQUiuqLKiiFWY60SpLr_Yj07JdYNP9t-YmkF/s1600/Nyala05.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nyala</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithzGR5ZI2EP1zW_Y0I3ovhCVWPEAvqHf5Fq_rH4ZMSmuRtakF6U78DIDgbt4VorjUG2pFSmFsqvW83CJAS7F2jTi4DlOMUZWZVYu775oiVnjuY8zkXsfvBPPtn2H8c5g0UkVCxO4v7or9/s1600/Plains+Zebra02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEithzGR5ZI2EP1zW_Y0I3ovhCVWPEAvqHf5Fq_rH4ZMSmuRtakF6U78DIDgbt4VorjUG2pFSmFsqvW83CJAS7F2jTi4DlOMUZWZVYu775oiVnjuY8zkXsfvBPPtn2H8c5g0UkVCxO4v7or9/s1600/Plains+Zebra02.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Plains (Burchell's) Zebra</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KqoZGQAa3fT75KMiEX4SH0zGvWy2ri63xiqM-drttZu7N-xDny9aDAVAxundY-V1uRmMT2oKRqZ_EINDxJcpQI5utpPn5xzk4P8x-jmS-qib_JpMlF1eAAK_cT-ZojXq8SVMlbo932yp/s1600/Side-striped+Jackal01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8KqoZGQAa3fT75KMiEX4SH0zGvWy2ri63xiqM-drttZu7N-xDny9aDAVAxundY-V1uRmMT2oKRqZ_EINDxJcpQI5utpPn5xzk4P8x-jmS-qib_JpMlF1eAAK_cT-ZojXq8SVMlbo932yp/s1600/Side-striped+Jackal01.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Side-striped Jackal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There was a dead hippo at one of the pools, upon which a pride of Lions was feasting over the three days we were around. There were at least 7 Lions, including males, females and a few cubs.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0RpPQIiScZekEjR6ySbHrIBA11Gxd0v1cQbdILP3fmMbuc1IxMrh_jgVqeQwZ2I-amE9WbTxjozxJBOGHI0GECYSpCnvK5fMH91bNoL6Lf4aWMYHF5URNqFEMb9BfQb8A2Xvj4io4jNx/s1600/Lion07.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc0RpPQIiScZekEjR6ySbHrIBA11Gxd0v1cQbdILP3fmMbuc1IxMrh_jgVqeQwZ2I-amE9WbTxjozxJBOGHI0GECYSpCnvK5fMH91bNoL6Lf4aWMYHF5URNqFEMb9BfQb8A2Xvj4io4jNx/s1600/Lion07.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
The Wild Dogs put on a particularly good show. The afternoon we arrived they had killed three Impala, and we drove up and watched them feeding. They stayed in the area whilst we were there, and hunted again on our last evening in the park. We saw them make a half-hearted chase of a Waterbuck, and apparently they caught an Impala again that evening, which we didn't see.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7qZOP9XK8LYIrLBTXVpGFGKcIbHDR9KaaFn4-UpXHECfOcWH3YkwO4rDoiLkWIQjkKQlL5rf3jNICxaQ_t-yltmhVA6kljUuTLAi6_DaMKv-3JTxar8Atjd7oI3WvrKbNEfjYwe-ir4q/s1600/African+Wild+Dog12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEig7qZOP9XK8LYIrLBTXVpGFGKcIbHDR9KaaFn4-UpXHECfOcWH3YkwO4rDoiLkWIQjkKQlL5rf3jNICxaQ_t-yltmhVA6kljUuTLAi6_DaMKv-3JTxar8Atjd7oI3WvrKbNEfjYwe-ir4q/s1600/African+Wild+Dog12.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49jEFtpXT2jKGuksvV_aqvEPVUaRhX7DFeHTnorHEbG5mDw7qOUKvxHszcn4rITNjcwNj2mMYP8ziEG2XBg3xoshFtuc5hwzIMcrFRrMwcJkYJtBYZMCDOxqhufnhMQzKA9TMfLJLjHwS/s1600/African+Wild+Dog17.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi49jEFtpXT2jKGuksvV_aqvEPVUaRhX7DFeHTnorHEbG5mDw7qOUKvxHszcn4rITNjcwNj2mMYP8ziEG2XBg3xoshFtuc5hwzIMcrFRrMwcJkYJtBYZMCDOxqhufnhMQzKA9TMfLJLjHwS/s1600/African+Wild+Dog17.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimWs_5DwnbGVwwx83bd03lNg3HRVny_DGhYvbCBXCMVJXi9NgQku92RAR6ass3KLWCD5J09hMtPJNHgNQlHhC6XrZ29_QMJBunoM1yhyphenhyphenFvEqI09crqpDglS1aKn7Zi2_JHdSyxEUBYSB1L/s1600/African+Wild+Dog22.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimWs_5DwnbGVwwx83bd03lNg3HRVny_DGhYvbCBXCMVJXi9NgQku92RAR6ass3KLWCD5J09hMtPJNHgNQlHhC6XrZ29_QMJBunoM1yhyphenhyphenFvEqI09crqpDglS1aKn7Zi2_JHdSyxEUBYSB1L/s1600/African+Wild+Dog22.JPG" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
And there were, of course, some great Elephant encounters. One bull walked through our neighbour's campsite during the middle of the day, very calmly eating the <i>Faidherbia</i> seed pods.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSJoOYNB3ZjP61lNx0D9U0dbKtoS82EWOMH4aUYPFayyufpbYupMbTKcZRRfb3pasm5He78f7KbnG_yetpxM4zlrxu41vzQqFKxNNpBXytze9dvSQ4Wlq1qd6Gg9MMqtrG7KoNWkCCS8P/s1600/DSC_4814.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSSJoOYNB3ZjP61lNx0D9U0dbKtoS82EWOMH4aUYPFayyufpbYupMbTKcZRRfb3pasm5He78f7KbnG_yetpxM4zlrxu41vzQqFKxNNpBXytze9dvSQ4Wlq1qd6Gg9MMqtrG7KoNWkCCS8P/s1600/DSC_4814.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3xxItAzsxlFL7VC_b7y8Gz2NjoZPxFC2JdOnrZ0ALsD3HUDoIybmfzT-Qh63yLBiHeapRlqLLJvH5DeW-FIzluJAUS0YScMjJNgbMUD1fQupjWk0D7qM_pC73STwJmB_c_uKCsWRkIti/s1600/Elephant27+(2).JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi3xxItAzsxlFL7VC_b7y8Gz2NjoZPxFC2JdOnrZ0ALsD3HUDoIybmfzT-Qh63yLBiHeapRlqLLJvH5DeW-FIzluJAUS0YScMjJNgbMUD1fQupjWk0D7qM_pC73STwJmB_c_uKCsWRkIti/s1600/Elephant27+(2).JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How could you not love a face like this?</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I set up the trail camera again in the campsite, although it was not as effective as in Kasanka.<br />
I got Vervet Monkey, Impala and Spotted Hyaena.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznRy75CQJJkCpHNnQe1ke-Wc8-R7Hrqc5YSzppB0KBO-K9uQJDd9knZOR_hxjCTii-FH3a9C5D9cfT1TZRGEn9VbO2GEHeafTTVk4uGW6O0HX02To0i2sjZNM8BSwcrh4SaPZo3-KQwN-/s1600/EK000041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgznRy75CQJJkCpHNnQe1ke-Wc8-R7Hrqc5YSzppB0KBO-K9uQJDd9knZOR_hxjCTii-FH3a9C5D9cfT1TZRGEn9VbO2GEHeafTTVk4uGW6O0HX02To0i2sjZNM8BSwcrh4SaPZo3-KQwN-/s1600/EK000041.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted Hyaena</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalv-2J0PkkbZEPGsoMesR3Y3Sub_vRPOH8beqJSvqD-xifVMp1WdP0HEa9MDdwj77VZArSwpTUe5NDfkD0nBOxeQb7wpoUVgHc4mKvV7hlzIhbKmAKDuRgTs9pkyXjw_RD2xgGvVFSFUA/s1600/EK000048.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhalv-2J0PkkbZEPGsoMesR3Y3Sub_vRPOH8beqJSvqD-xifVMp1WdP0HEa9MDdwj77VZArSwpTUe5NDfkD0nBOxeQb7wpoUVgHc4mKvV7hlzIhbKmAKDuRgTs9pkyXjw_RD2xgGvVFSFUA/s1600/EK000048.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Impala</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Other than the masses of Nile Crocodiles, reptiles were hard to find. I got African Striped Skink (<i>Trachylepis striata</i>) and Serrated Hinged Terrapin (<i>Pelusios sinuatus</i>).<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbGTm7JQOAzuQi781ht0nIq01CQFshl00ai84CyPEYxrTtMsr3whnCsNfAyjVxN0iPwYo5P_Emcn4Hm1puClKw4b6qJvR4acjDj1BFR03wrwn9s81NIcSAWA1sidUBKRVtpmbWJio4Ofu/s1600/Nile+Crocodile05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXbGTm7JQOAzuQi781ht0nIq01CQFshl00ai84CyPEYxrTtMsr3whnCsNfAyjVxN0iPwYo5P_Emcn4Hm1puClKw4b6qJvR4acjDj1BFR03wrwn9s81NIcSAWA1sidUBKRVtpmbWJio4Ofu/s1600/Nile+Crocodile05.JPG" height="93" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seven extremely convincing reasons so avoid water</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYz1-CUJkUqch_m3M-eFh2WCzjEfeoNbe7gr_mYQEcwcc2qwNbLA5UWckhzP3H0UbA1fDShBadc9qOqZ7KMtP4NA9DzFUF15xjSBW3yot6XirClhzO_nHCSpIaaLVecQ2Th58mg4yYkXZk/s1600/Serrated+Hinged+Terrapin01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYz1-CUJkUqch_m3M-eFh2WCzjEfeoNbe7gr_mYQEcwcc2qwNbLA5UWckhzP3H0UbA1fDShBadc9qOqZ7KMtP4NA9DzFUF15xjSBW3yot6XirClhzO_nHCSpIaaLVecQ2Th58mg4yYkXZk/s1600/Serrated+Hinged+Terrapin01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serrated Hinged Terrapin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Birds, on the other hand, were plentiful and easy to find.<br />
127 species all up, and the highlights were: Green-backed Heron, Glossy Ibis, Hadeda Ibis, Saddle-billed Stork, Spur-winged Goose, Hooded Vulture, Bateleur, Martial Eagle, Crested Guineafowl, Water Thick-knee, White-crowned Lapwing, Marsh Sandpiper, Little Stint, African Skimmer, Lilian's Lovebird, White-browed Coucal, Verreaux's Eagle-owl, Square-tailed Nightjar, Bohm's Spinetail, Broad-billed Roller, Southern Carmine Bee-eater, Southern Ground-hornbill, Trumpeter Hornbill, Mosque Swallow, Eastern Nicator, Arnot's Chat, Grey-headed Bush-shrike, Red-billed Oxpecker, Cut-throat Finch, Lesser Masked-weaver and Purple Indigobird.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-k0ZY7ZwgofVibG-LiRs9ou3cEHENA7D8FGbjOzAk8WbW7xWpfOKnkvrikJOK1yqFNh4fVrCe-jWPWN2xwwyGzuD_8USQ4UvstoNzHUXuqDs3KtOmQGsGQ_rXgOdXuMveneeD5E8hhneH/s1600/Arnot's+Chat04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-k0ZY7ZwgofVibG-LiRs9ou3cEHENA7D8FGbjOzAk8WbW7xWpfOKnkvrikJOK1yqFNh4fVrCe-jWPWN2xwwyGzuD_8USQ4UvstoNzHUXuqDs3KtOmQGsGQ_rXgOdXuMveneeD5E8hhneH/s1600/Arnot's+Chat04.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arnot's Chat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQQxhDp5rfowGLaumgAy96skz-dtHRWeo_8yLoSH2ttzrt5pG4EQT15u6qoCXPfMvJs1iH0VmykHP4XJPiNkv75t78vACtf6n0oaMb4UgHUnY7F4HlYRWJr-ojlscEtPkaNarWoHryPoZ/s1600/Black-winged+Stilt02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuQQxhDp5rfowGLaumgAy96skz-dtHRWeo_8yLoSH2ttzrt5pG4EQT15u6qoCXPfMvJs1iH0VmykHP4XJPiNkv75t78vACtf6n0oaMb4UgHUnY7F4HlYRWJr-ojlscEtPkaNarWoHryPoZ/s1600/Black-winged+Stilt02.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-winged Stilt</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinN64JKkRGK85wIgeCuh3RsmoTKrJ-vTU6wFimIMRG7xlNPUoN4Kc4tU9CuS3Ovl5L5GtqsZJV77Nh-wTtSkbHXIQzN6fVTEbPL9c9yYBihuPLaaNn-a41n3q06ucMmVtPhrkst-j6jBRF/s1600/Brown-hooded+Kingfisher02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinN64JKkRGK85wIgeCuh3RsmoTKrJ-vTU6wFimIMRG7xlNPUoN4Kc4tU9CuS3Ovl5L5GtqsZJV77Nh-wTtSkbHXIQzN6fVTEbPL9c9yYBihuPLaaNn-a41n3q06ucMmVtPhrkst-j6jBRF/s1600/Brown-hooded+Kingfisher02.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown-hooded Kingfisher struggling to swallow a frog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7UNabCOHt8gdqYMYmbtaAH-eDReXjOjECxtrReAn-SkX4sqC82t6A9_swv-vWgYNrI1uHL9i_SwRQUWnXakmXGagi5Fspaf0YQ7QtF89ReAucQxTwAJ6DDJWFXyfr8KCd2_E2w-DWJuvt/s1600/Crested+Guineafowl01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7UNabCOHt8gdqYMYmbtaAH-eDReXjOjECxtrReAn-SkX4sqC82t6A9_swv-vWgYNrI1uHL9i_SwRQUWnXakmXGagi5Fspaf0YQ7QtF89ReAucQxTwAJ6DDJWFXyfr8KCd2_E2w-DWJuvt/s1600/Crested+Guineafowl01.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crested Guineafowl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyz53cG0DrKEKRRFrKlMSWh5MTGhsGV3ikJx1CGR6bvpWF9EaqkB9N0wvzCOvA1_pUj8ScPFJZ9mgoWbB0_IjBQSTs1MbgIQ9At-6RsNPS1Afx962eJs7He5s_pWhfQcUtVKwRwnXtr7fl/s1600/Hooded+Vulture06.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyz53cG0DrKEKRRFrKlMSWh5MTGhsGV3ikJx1CGR6bvpWF9EaqkB9N0wvzCOvA1_pUj8ScPFJZ9mgoWbB0_IjBQSTs1MbgIQ9At-6RsNPS1Afx962eJs7He5s_pWhfQcUtVKwRwnXtr7fl/s1600/Hooded+Vulture06.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hooded Vulture</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTBkmXgUeWqG60fk-vSKZwbFH5AsYo2iYr5zhoV_C1D-KrSjJHg2gpOfoOT_-k_M2NCwYrX1ciQQUs6NCgoYvz-fEAXBr-Jwqf_aOIpbVCRb4F8M-bznQxNVco101B2yW82RoVZXric4g/s1600/Lilian's+Lovebird05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipTBkmXgUeWqG60fk-vSKZwbFH5AsYo2iYr5zhoV_C1D-KrSjJHg2gpOfoOT_-k_M2NCwYrX1ciQQUs6NCgoYvz-fEAXBr-Jwqf_aOIpbVCRb4F8M-bznQxNVco101B2yW82RoVZXric4g/s1600/Lilian's+Lovebird05.JPG" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lilian's Lovebird</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJ4mEcamljvpn-FT0RKoB08m8OXAIgkDVz8ZpRjWtk30sVheig-myfBOL1a3GtZ-LvuI-195_xPsTEhgt9bQwDnHDH057qI10e-yOVM5zsmbApqgOmM-H1cm268ieIwD3VIYVjWUFb7Dw/s1600/Marabou+Stork06.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzJ4mEcamljvpn-FT0RKoB08m8OXAIgkDVz8ZpRjWtk30sVheig-myfBOL1a3GtZ-LvuI-195_xPsTEhgt9bQwDnHDH057qI10e-yOVM5zsmbApqgOmM-H1cm268ieIwD3VIYVjWUFb7Dw/s1600/Marabou+Stork06.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marabou Stork</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_HN873Y48g9wMMih88hyphenhyphenSOaQijQPNwt1qFZyTIhjOpKLOvEZ2RJ6X89dfkdMGBU7s2Wo5NHYxwRXV1dPZK4CMA7au2yfiPloJ8bCDHqXOyipKmkEISQFhyGMDNGP8226ot_2uFoMT8Os/s1600/Marsh+Sandpiper04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0_HN873Y48g9wMMih88hyphenhyphenSOaQijQPNwt1qFZyTIhjOpKLOvEZ2RJ6X89dfkdMGBU7s2Wo5NHYxwRXV1dPZK4CMA7au2yfiPloJ8bCDHqXOyipKmkEISQFhyGMDNGP8226ot_2uFoMT8Os/s1600/Marsh+Sandpiper04.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marsh Sandpiper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRksxtewUvOJX3attBssnX7NXDgprdhIhfyFFjaFYswcq3z6EWVqM5nnOmDCNnYjTy6JZOp6-xRubqM4A1n9xgnlYi-3EyjCqmYS1MMDolPWKOnFozcwBAVgzKDKh39_vIhJT7UFBRTlm/s1600/Mosque+Swallow04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZRksxtewUvOJX3attBssnX7NXDgprdhIhfyFFjaFYswcq3z6EWVqM5nnOmDCNnYjTy6JZOp6-xRubqM4A1n9xgnlYi-3EyjCqmYS1MMDolPWKOnFozcwBAVgzKDKh39_vIhJT7UFBRTlm/s1600/Mosque+Swallow04.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mosque Swallow, carrying nesting materials. They were building a nest inside a hollow in a tree branch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZij8YW2Gp1gz7JwcAyAFOWVyNC_me6a8CH70vETxtj4oTh3g86buYI9eGz3faJSMiK4_IR56ozDPj8T11hD0KUq6tlHvtGwr5mdCK2-4XFI8673-TpCl4LOXYTfR-r1Oh58meNaqLCBgM/s1600/Mosque+Swallow05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZij8YW2Gp1gz7JwcAyAFOWVyNC_me6a8CH70vETxtj4oTh3g86buYI9eGz3faJSMiK4_IR56ozDPj8T11hD0KUq6tlHvtGwr5mdCK2-4XFI8673-TpCl4LOXYTfR-r1Oh58meNaqLCBgM/s1600/Mosque+Swallow05.JPG" height="400" width="265" /></a></div>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtc26I871lNJldcii-ABXPb90e5KcEQecAYNSGD4yfH0aHnYcKHy5ZgT1V8K2AX2na9z-EJG74_S80fowhnK0_E_fepDSiTjrIhxc99u4cF8Yp_q0xo2-hd0okX2tJ-xtN6GWXLNr_Y6Z/s1600/Red-billed+Quelea04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFtc26I871lNJldcii-ABXPb90e5KcEQecAYNSGD4yfH0aHnYcKHy5ZgT1V8K2AX2na9z-EJG74_S80fowhnK0_E_fepDSiTjrIhxc99u4cF8Yp_q0xo2-hd0okX2tJ-xtN6GWXLNr_Y6Z/s1600/Red-billed+Quelea04.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-billed Quelea flock</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzPaJSJ2ow3yMQ3mUA8fcYMkm7BEdZU6cwyn3h3n0DDRAutZpeuNs8Oh5PNZ91hdb6FwThroyMXDoAiTuzP1oYHTVPO7f5pdaqAQOXGzwuywi79Vycv5t04zE_BUd83Af5bBcnbgX02bp/s1600/Southern+Carmine+Bee-eater06.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIzPaJSJ2ow3yMQ3mUA8fcYMkm7BEdZU6cwyn3h3n0DDRAutZpeuNs8Oh5PNZ91hdb6FwThroyMXDoAiTuzP1oYHTVPO7f5pdaqAQOXGzwuywi79Vycv5t04zE_BUd83Af5bBcnbgX02bp/s1600/Southern+Carmine+Bee-eater06.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Carmine Bee-eater</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZetEKKfyE8aaXHRGl_q6_J-OWjNAJT7fAhnT_q_8GLwK0xMA5uKocj8u_gRMS-TMJfvq4hKWcFwoyfAP5UzMnKlrwKj-ekF7hBRri_6IxUu9RTyGs8olMPi1MR74728GpRsbQxx98mJ63/s1600/Verreaux's+Eagle-owl01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZetEKKfyE8aaXHRGl_q6_J-OWjNAJT7fAhnT_q_8GLwK0xMA5uKocj8u_gRMS-TMJfvq4hKWcFwoyfAP5UzMnKlrwKj-ekF7hBRri_6IxUu9RTyGs8olMPi1MR74728GpRsbQxx98mJ63/s1600/Verreaux's+Eagle-owl01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Verreaux's Eagle-owl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1k6LStTXXhDK7DPgAbcQD8tbN6gOakJMJI6af2vimozoXFr0J-DJnWHMgL7ikM_CrHhDz8U9P_VKLlVLj3svqp25qqnhA0nwG1-K9e6mVJIutNSmGHKCKva3q-kc3954ATl17-QbnGHr/s1600/White-backed+Vulture03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiH1k6LStTXXhDK7DPgAbcQD8tbN6gOakJMJI6af2vimozoXFr0J-DJnWHMgL7ikM_CrHhDz8U9P_VKLlVLj3svqp25qqnhA0nwG1-K9e6mVJIutNSmGHKCKva3q-kc3954ATl17-QbnGHr/s1600/White-backed+Vulture03.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-backed Vulture</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dnpllzpGvTHmSIpho53vqhopVxkfF4NShrop-k1XP8R7TGkQ02M8TfCut1vBE6A1qAX9__BumT3vknNL7_PYiNvHtAdKl5YmRZiWw6FTikdRqooFX3_2nQWymho808VngIFv_IZ19CRM/s1600/White-fronted+Bee-eater08.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0dnpllzpGvTHmSIpho53vqhopVxkfF4NShrop-k1XP8R7TGkQ02M8TfCut1vBE6A1qAX9__BumT3vknNL7_PYiNvHtAdKl5YmRZiWw6FTikdRqooFX3_2nQWymho808VngIFv_IZ19CRM/s1600/White-fronted+Bee-eater08.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-fronted Bee-eater</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtW5Z0r2nZVV8U2Z27cYtKYNwLNZN8_cvs6e3mW79Nu-gO4MMuC34Jl1j1Aa3F9mc6CvPC0UUlJ9hf2CG7ucF9WMFuu1yX4fftACmN5NmaIOv7a0XWmnwLcOWI36qnCG82M7sLYX0e-BwW/s1600/Wood+Sandpiper01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtW5Z0r2nZVV8U2Z27cYtKYNwLNZN8_cvs6e3mW79Nu-gO4MMuC34Jl1j1Aa3F9mc6CvPC0UUlJ9hf2CG7ucF9WMFuu1yX4fftACmN5NmaIOv7a0XWmnwLcOWI36qnCG82M7sLYX0e-BwW/s1600/Wood+Sandpiper01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood Sandpiper</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
And that was it. We eventually had to say goodbye to amazing Mana Pools, and I am still looking forward to next time!<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOUkH903YTsx1LIGU6KdSGGmZUAr8UFh_FfZRLV9Eta4Ycm-lrmEmG-vYVk6EuBP7Dhj6RYXOUkQzXKd10UacBpAzqV4SRp4cGnFeehbe3-kJ9OeVyDgvtDpcAKE_92oABu4dI9_INck0/s1600/DSC_5213.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibOUkH903YTsx1LIGU6KdSGGmZUAr8UFh_FfZRLV9Eta4Ycm-lrmEmG-vYVk6EuBP7Dhj6RYXOUkQzXKd10UacBpAzqV4SRp4cGnFeehbe3-kJ9OeVyDgvtDpcAKE_92oABu4dI9_INck0/s1600/DSC_5213.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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This was also the last part of our 10-day trip to Kasanka in Zambia. We drove back to Harare on 27 October 2013, where I spent my last two weeks before flying back to Australia.<br />
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Thanks for reading! And look forward to a few more blog posts still to come.Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-7643588379552664122014-02-04T20:22:00.002-08:002014-02-10T05:53:12.557-08:00The Bats of Kasanka: Part Four - The Birds<div>
<a href="http://zimbirding.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/the-bats-of-kasanka-part-one-kariba.html">Part One - Kariba</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://zimbirding.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/the-bats-of-kasanka-part-two-forest-inn.html">Part Two - Forest Inn</a></div>
<div>
<a href="http://zimbirding.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/the-bats-of-kasanka-part-3-mammals.html">Part Three - Kasanka, the Mammals</a></div>
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<div>
<br /></div>
I saw 122 bird species during the three days in Kasanka. The dambos were dry at that time of year, so I unfortunately missed a lot of wet grassland specials. I also had a tough time birding the Miombo Woodlands, where I only found one mixed feeding party over the three days.<br />
<div>
Other than that, birding was a joy in the park, with exciting stuff flitting about everywhere.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFP5Z2QQ7k5hItrJWfipt43wHlu-1fkRAs_Z5J12CBRoxwuBumjJ7NkO_aKldrNscYNXhyphenhyphentYD0grpGSxYRiHoWLoYtU8KeZZ0iKFYa8CZe3_DOwjtahyWpt3V6rYj1elghWt0-a4eMFqrt/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFP5Z2QQ7k5hItrJWfipt43wHlu-1fkRAs_Z5J12CBRoxwuBumjJ7NkO_aKldrNscYNXhyphenhyphentYD0grpGSxYRiHoWLoYtU8KeZZ0iKFYa8CZe3_DOwjtahyWpt3V6rYj1elghWt0-a4eMFqrt/s1600/4.jpg" height="277" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Map of the park. Most of the green area is Miombo woodland, with browner dambos cutting through. Near Fibwe Hide there is a large stand of Mushitu and a swamp, and Riparian forest fringes some sections of river. Wasa Lodge overlooks a lake.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<u><br /></u></div>
<div>
<u>Miombo Woodlands:</u></div>
<div>
Non Southern Africa 'specials' are in bold.</div>
<div>
Difficult birding with birds mostly seen individually, but I did eventually get lucky and find a mixed feeding party - Steppe Buzzard, Schalow's Turaco, Pennant-winged Nightjar, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Woodland Kingfisher, Racket-tailed Roller, Cardinal Woodpecker, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, African Golden Oriole, Rufous-bellied Tit, Spotted Creeper, <b>Miombo Scrub-robin</b>, Green-capped Eremomela, <b>Black-necked Eremomela</b>, <b>Red-capped Crombec</b>, Stierling's Wren-warbler, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Chinspot Batis, Miombo Blue-eared Starling and Black-eared Seedeater were the highlights in the Miombo.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xjF1Q-iz_B6lMsRisDwmDt9io-cC4zpdeMdm1NMbnv0MCqLdFKyHHWycb36azJ4q8oJD0LA8suXnDfQW72BqGCWwDa2dCkuxdpi_9WZgOtIxqOlpBEa_PjWBZILK4fgR9-YTAdMPnpmu/s1600/Arnot's+Chat01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0xjF1Q-iz_B6lMsRisDwmDt9io-cC4zpdeMdm1NMbnv0MCqLdFKyHHWycb36azJ4q8oJD0LA8suXnDfQW72BqGCWwDa2dCkuxdpi_9WZgOtIxqOlpBEa_PjWBZILK4fgR9-YTAdMPnpmu/s1600/Arnot's+Chat01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Arnot's Chat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQ76r03SZCro_5kVH4RHw_IXkmVbFZD0tf3mPW8h4pWdx9mBVrlqV1l0sfy7nDTUH5KYHulYqJSouEl_zrPMpiPUN7fYcOIY7WaSHCGPrfTC8G3hBEq29rFcTNkGWA0x_G8ukU0nj73KK/s1600/DSC_3824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdQ76r03SZCro_5kVH4RHw_IXkmVbFZD0tf3mPW8h4pWdx9mBVrlqV1l0sfy7nDTUH5KYHulYqJSouEl_zrPMpiPUN7fYcOIY7WaSHCGPrfTC8G3hBEq29rFcTNkGWA0x_G8ukU0nj73KK/s1600/DSC_3824.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great Arnot's Chat and Racket-tailed Roller habitat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXijl-0R1z75stu8ZIa4wl885rJqzPdxEpnrmLypTKNaxBSphseZNmkzsH87jXuZ8sfDL8pp4XzeQXHAz_JzECI_tUXKLLrylG8sNX6oaTcUMf1B7xKpUChhdoOHk4utjbtrfMeoerg8M/s1600/DSC_4168.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimXijl-0R1z75stu8ZIa4wl885rJqzPdxEpnrmLypTKNaxBSphseZNmkzsH87jXuZ8sfDL8pp4XzeQXHAz_JzECI_tUXKLLrylG8sNX6oaTcUMf1B7xKpUChhdoOHk4utjbtrfMeoerg8M/s1600/DSC_4168.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunrise through the Miombo on our last morning in the park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauMp9X6yRxCWIjoXmby3QWsRqt7GEo8hvaTzYRUzR41E9q53IGHbz50xFbU5ZyxYwD39xDS1MnXxW0Y_coca-g_RKPgGQtrOU1IC1FF6jnzsLOz1q4siInEq2GrVv0P4mz0FRjfJmqvkl/s1600/Helmeted+Guineafowl02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjauMp9X6yRxCWIjoXmby3QWsRqt7GEo8hvaTzYRUzR41E9q53IGHbz50xFbU5ZyxYwD39xDS1MnXxW0Y_coca-g_RKPgGQtrOU1IC1FF6jnzsLOz1q4siInEq2GrVv0P4mz0FRjfJmqvkl/s1600/Helmeted+Guineafowl02.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Helmeted Guineafowl - with a yellow 'helmet'! Different to those further south</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaHlM7eY8GY66ajLby9xQDOeMeOoELYBDYOibWKibhLbDBNLrGFIG8q6rwybKB2cq3nZEW1mWi7i8U-yzBy9LhIbvwKdtbiPcQTQ1pGzm2YvA4TZjAHe3LFVQ3Sylnwbuh4PSOj4TAbJH/s1600/Red-capped+Crombec03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYaHlM7eY8GY66ajLby9xQDOeMeOoELYBDYOibWKibhLbDBNLrGFIG8q6rwybKB2cq3nZEW1mWi7i8U-yzBy9LhIbvwKdtbiPcQTQ1pGzm2YvA4TZjAHe3LFVQ3Sylnwbuh4PSOj4TAbJH/s1600/Red-capped+Crombec03.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-capped Crombec</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvx5giveM8X6E97jStEMWvsMIo9GuY9N47jBO4kkBHzPRQYcjNNgecu5r4OUoeqtE731YR0BKI8tTEqQUNyqTdZYYOjB7kUdqvJvH9FXdRTolCx15J78syDaQxBjlTrEdVMwCCZwsHxvOY/s1600/Steppe+Buzzard01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvx5giveM8X6E97jStEMWvsMIo9GuY9N47jBO4kkBHzPRQYcjNNgecu5r4OUoeqtE731YR0BKI8tTEqQUNyqTdZYYOjB7kUdqvJvH9FXdRTolCx15J78syDaQxBjlTrEdVMwCCZwsHxvOY/s1600/Steppe+Buzzard01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steppe Buzzard</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6gfpU8Jp4LQeaaqSa3dxuWKzIXK2sjvoYehgAJGDMN5SVZluA6_rohYk11zZ93uhSBH6VbWsBBoxbHIo9EtOpzynYH4zpCcw5IumkHqGop4whqDm4lm2XMhrPw52qm2y_zz0cyCBM9rW/s1600/Yellow-bellied+Hyliota02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6gfpU8Jp4LQeaaqSa3dxuWKzIXK2sjvoYehgAJGDMN5SVZluA6_rohYk11zZ93uhSBH6VbWsBBoxbHIo9EtOpzynYH4zpCcw5IumkHqGop4whqDm4lm2XMhrPw52qm2y_zz0cyCBM9rW/s1600/Yellow-bellied+Hyliota02.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-bellied Hyliota</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<u>Dry dambos & reedbeds</u><u>:</u></div>
<div>
During the wet season the dambos have the potential to be much more exciting.</div>
<div>
African Marsh-harrier, Red-necked Spurfowl, White-browed Coucal, Coppery-tailed Coucal, Speckled Mousebird, Malachite Kingfisher, <b>B<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">ö</span></span>hm's Bee-eater</b>, White-fronted Bee-eater, African Stonechat, Moustached Grass Warbler, Broad-tailed Warbler, Chirping Cisticola, Croaking Cisticola, Golden Weaver, Yellow-mantled Widowbird and Red-backed Mannikin were some of the birds seen in these habitats.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQeT3knfjLIepg5v8jXYEyqeoRM0umygEi1amwG7iyiec6LhwIVXn1DVbP9zuXDOXe_sc9C82hOH8DAMqVSu0dapuhIFOaWpJ7ykGYdZSL60toS1zseXLSoBXrp5EBvrwVTKl0hwMsvDH/s1600/Bohm's+Bee-eater05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcQeT3knfjLIepg5v8jXYEyqeoRM0umygEi1amwG7iyiec6LhwIVXn1DVbP9zuXDOXe_sc9C82hOH8DAMqVSu0dapuhIFOaWpJ7ykGYdZSL60toS1zseXLSoBXrp5EBvrwVTKl0hwMsvDH/s1600/Bohm's+Bee-eater05.JPG" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">B<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">ö</span></span></span>hm's Bee-eater pair, near Pontoon Camp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFjK70gmSn2M0NkPcd0mR3Wi85-ps2_xnwhZ3XMpCYS4P9MDIEkpu8RjKVSMQK1lEG8al3aPWQaWf_6zNEkkdcZDHbR38ShR0lP6fbpx0EdR3BrqEPscOgWJ7vqETHrp745mc_bE7KPlg/s1600/Bohm's+Bee-eater06.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFjK70gmSn2M0NkPcd0mR3Wi85-ps2_xnwhZ3XMpCYS4P9MDIEkpu8RjKVSMQK1lEG8al3aPWQaWf_6zNEkkdcZDHbR38ShR0lP6fbpx0EdR3BrqEPscOgWJ7vqETHrp745mc_bE7KPlg/s1600/Bohm's+Bee-eater06.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">B<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: x-small;">ö</span></span></span>hm's Bee-eater</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZI71enDEe-QOwg8wNKhF6-OsWcp5lVgHMDM-LUYZqaFLambn0Qgol8YRoo7gKcyBDhZjCKQ2ymE1PbH2s5aZl54dvChsltEIyUyIyiv2fm6ZcU7wRD76Z40KQhDBr95ARd1Lm-NfdqVg/s1600/Chirping+Cisticola02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwZI71enDEe-QOwg8wNKhF6-OsWcp5lVgHMDM-LUYZqaFLambn0Qgol8YRoo7gKcyBDhZjCKQ2ymE1PbH2s5aZl54dvChsltEIyUyIyiv2fm6ZcU7wRD76Z40KQhDBr95ARd1Lm-NfdqVg/s1600/Chirping+Cisticola02.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chirping Cisticola</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7p-ltmX-p-ocMYs6_2BCqBvW9NPfNXvTIr7p1FX2RZ1gZN5O89a_WTk8QVCrHg09emEUQu2X71Hz7A8cgtlSUdnSUBliYiYk8ywJ-jBQFNLf91v-WAh_2R2rKcmE1DgT-OIU1jEdI-raf/s1600/DSC_0674.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7p-ltmX-p-ocMYs6_2BCqBvW9NPfNXvTIr7p1FX2RZ1gZN5O89a_WTk8QVCrHg09emEUQu2X71Hz7A8cgtlSUdnSUBliYiYk8ywJ-jBQFNLf91v-WAh_2R2rKcmE1DgT-OIU1jEdI-raf/s1600/DSC_0674.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Thick grass near BBC Platform. I saw Coppery-tailed Coucal, Moustached Grass Warbler and Broad-tailed Warbler here</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAtiQXzoRIQnvV_AAW95-xW_9TRRGDVTmRLDnFmVprKFdI5gRhPRnce0Je7vaYBQxfuPmwtZKOO-zG5DdCqhrl3lBkvXQz6nW55dCnmVIZ1zQ6xylw4Rp84FtA-lvlxTmthX8q3dakZxv/s1600/Moustached+Grass+Warbler01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiAtiQXzoRIQnvV_AAW95-xW_9TRRGDVTmRLDnFmVprKFdI5gRhPRnce0Je7vaYBQxfuPmwtZKOO-zG5DdCqhrl3lBkvXQz6nW55dCnmVIZ1zQ6xylw4Rp84FtA-lvlxTmthX8q3dakZxv/s1600/Moustached+Grass+Warbler01.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Moustached Grass Warbler</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC__yTr9T0m9tnJUorJQ32TFmp3cRtCOFt5EuXPPnEDNcBmw_sEjHWwlY5bp3LZMo9g5li_hhz_S-NIjQ9x-ujFFlJfZxz4UE9E7HF3kldSWXajlCLE3uIvkFcoRrMYrEMuTYVttRNzdBi/s1600/Red-necked+Spurfowl01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC__yTr9T0m9tnJUorJQ32TFmp3cRtCOFt5EuXPPnEDNcBmw_sEjHWwlY5bp3LZMo9g5li_hhz_S-NIjQ9x-ujFFlJfZxz4UE9E7HF3kldSWXajlCLE3uIvkFcoRrMYrEMuTYVttRNzdBi/s1600/Red-necked+Spurfowl01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-necked Spurfowl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<u><br /></u></div>
<div>
<u>Open water:</u></div>
<div>
Wasa Lake held a few waterbirds that I didn't see elsewhere, but most of the species on this part of the list come from the small pan in front of Pontoon Camp.</div>
<div>
The list includes: African Darter, Hamerkop, Hadeda Ibis, Yellow-billed Stork, White-faced Duck, Spur-winged Goose, African Fish-eagle, African Jacana, Blacksmith Lapwing, Wood Sandpiper, Pied Kingfisher and Cape Wagtail.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7INogIfF7oj4e4nhk3iRGomhoDWrsGLv-AHV_lDQGtpcncD7vAVBLrWLcFDsbBSHUWzphfwzWSAqp4ni-Yj9y80vSnM9tC-KidcCZNeQtfCATYzfX9KKHCGIoZRxxWcHRLzeY0FarDk4W/s1600/African+Fish-eagle01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7INogIfF7oj4e4nhk3iRGomhoDWrsGLv-AHV_lDQGtpcncD7vAVBLrWLcFDsbBSHUWzphfwzWSAqp4ni-Yj9y80vSnM9tC-KidcCZNeQtfCATYzfX9KKHCGIoZRxxWcHRLzeY0FarDk4W/s1600/African+Fish-eagle01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Fish-eagle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNK5glDRDyReTSqy5ypn7dDpTBCdpFYPpgT2AJvNfGuqz3k6S-HA5blvAYQwCd0sDf3zXP_ByYs_0azywxVuJVEctHW5vpQy2CRU0I6hqGoLjbAyjKFPi3vGRRrfAV8YpWvqedf0twqjj/s1600/Pied+Kingfisher02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpNK5glDRDyReTSqy5ypn7dDpTBCdpFYPpgT2AJvNfGuqz3k6S-HA5blvAYQwCd0sDf3zXP_ByYs_0azywxVuJVEctHW5vpQy2CRU0I6hqGoLjbAyjKFPi3vGRRrfAV8YpWvqedf0twqjj/s1600/Pied+Kingfisher02.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pied Kingfisher</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
<u>Riparian & Mushitu Forest:</u></div>
<div>
The most exciting birds were in these habitats, and a great deal of them were found in and around Pontoon Camp. African Green-pigeon, Schalow's Turaco, African Emerald Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo, Red-chested Cuckoo, African Wood-owl, Pel's Fishing-owl (heard only, unfortunately), Narina Trogon, <b>B<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 16.1200008392334px;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">ö</span></span>hm's Bee-eater</b>, Crowned Hornbill, Trumpeter Hornbill, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, <b>Black-backed Barbet</b>, Lesser Honeyguide, Olive Woodpecker, Green-backed Woodpecker, African Broadbill, Square-tailed Drongo, <b>Purple-throated Cuckooshrike</b>, Hartlaub's Babbler, <b>Little Greenbul</b>, White-browed Robin-chat, Yellow-breasted Apalis, African Paradise-flycatcher, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Olive Sunbird, Collared Sunbird, Purple-banded Sunbird, Spectacled Weaver, Dark-backed Weaver, Red-throated Twinspot and Brown Firefinch were the best finds.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46_VBR3c1jszk65ZdMtVSGns3qu59b64PQw6JjvJ6_Fn24t8SqR-Io696Wyie-JA_apIvXbGLZ1SsrGtP1nXEN68F4R1IM_nl2xY6eT0pNl6ejV1or0_QKZaw7CkQcvxu-rgLe0M6Ek9A/s1600/African+Broadbill01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46_VBR3c1jszk65ZdMtVSGns3qu59b64PQw6JjvJ6_Fn24t8SqR-Io696Wyie-JA_apIvXbGLZ1SsrGtP1nXEN68F4R1IM_nl2xY6eT0pNl6ejV1or0_QKZaw7CkQcvxu-rgLe0M6Ek9A/s1600/African+Broadbill01.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Broadbill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iQksdfp1bX9Gim7ZpWwAaNx59Fwd53Xwwky_hJAGeQFzPEvF-yVkOXQbqjIFyqOHx-Ykd9aAdI3ZtDiB0DQvEFJn5AFk7ZyHQCdtytx8Phl0_D9dDjuEN4fUgimdZBN3O4UR4Va9jj6h/s1600/Black-backed+Barbet01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1iQksdfp1bX9Gim7ZpWwAaNx59Fwd53Xwwky_hJAGeQFzPEvF-yVkOXQbqjIFyqOHx-Ykd9aAdI3ZtDiB0DQvEFJn5AFk7ZyHQCdtytx8Phl0_D9dDjuEN4fUgimdZBN3O4UR4Va9jj6h/s1600/Black-backed+Barbet01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-backed Barbet. A candidate for best bird of the trip</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjXh6DXA193k3JZx_-BlCCuSIBgqCbpEtujTAPfwQUXxRg1n2MWIZW5orlDF0HmLwrmtMsryA39_TrS-J4-ZOnpPlQsvBtYuARqanWMwjkqK-xqC-NVmFly8IuUxfJd1wWVuCQV5eZtnc/s1600/Black-throated+Wattle-eye01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirjXh6DXA193k3JZx_-BlCCuSIBgqCbpEtujTAPfwQUXxRg1n2MWIZW5orlDF0HmLwrmtMsryA39_TrS-J4-ZOnpPlQsvBtYuARqanWMwjkqK-xqC-NVmFly8IuUxfJd1wWVuCQV5eZtnc/s1600/Black-throated+Wattle-eye01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-throated Wattle-eye male bringing food to the nest</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmNIdJXX1VRtO6nkln6CbH6Sr0z58zhyphenhyphen7tw9RBpJlMrnYi8QoSfcvIZGrIwt8IN5Cn9gIB_O6-Lcm7qxCbkLWE6QR3OL0QjR-1fIKKN-tGB5csDnATd45XaFIwvxHUiyS16O8CkaZBXso/s1600/Black-throated+Wattle-eye02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOmNIdJXX1VRtO6nkln6CbH6Sr0z58zhyphenhyphen7tw9RBpJlMrnYi8QoSfcvIZGrIwt8IN5Cn9gIB_O6-Lcm7qxCbkLWE6QR3OL0QjR-1fIKKN-tGB5csDnATd45XaFIwvxHUiyS16O8CkaZBXso/s1600/Black-throated+Wattle-eye02.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...And here he is feeding chicks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NWGCHMyxkRi5SshPEz1vXI_K4Ktf8vmj6oHEMCBVGR0xMlMlMga1RvDDY2MsrqO-Fv-notXf3Ef_aKYtUc2bY426E4ZAyTNubHm-ty2nUgawKjCi0rnLk34S89-_eP-7Zsejqxf34TP0/s1600/Brown+Firefinch02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7NWGCHMyxkRi5SshPEz1vXI_K4Ktf8vmj6oHEMCBVGR0xMlMlMga1RvDDY2MsrqO-Fv-notXf3Ef_aKYtUc2bY426E4ZAyTNubHm-ty2nUgawKjCi0rnLk34S89-_eP-7Zsejqxf34TP0/s1600/Brown+Firefinch02.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown Firefinch</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitc-WSRRhz_AHQEpxXh-ak6nzjgRiJE2f3GSWltIfPqB0yj-PLE-dwmUUa2-q5BDvVAfBBpzgEOiap9uMgtloTYQMY8a1Ia1uVj6X5Cpf0Vcf7OcKAXs90ko07FPpuWUm3hLYsYvqLvB4Q/s1600/Dark-backed+Weaver04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitc-WSRRhz_AHQEpxXh-ak6nzjgRiJE2f3GSWltIfPqB0yj-PLE-dwmUUa2-q5BDvVAfBBpzgEOiap9uMgtloTYQMY8a1Ia1uVj6X5Cpf0Vcf7OcKAXs90ko07FPpuWUm3hLYsYvqLvB4Q/s1600/Dark-backed+Weaver04.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dark-backed Weaver carrying nesting materials</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_PgUZVTv7PMUclYg4JfRJXGUf2kMhRrqq2sy_E5IxniVTyksm64yK7uWGBeu92Zus5amyLEBI0cIcfkW7xgT2BMxYwN-q9xNn4kexwXD5C43u0niCu9fTDI0L-cuhVjQav47H5AMGGiM/s1600/DSC_0659.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ_PgUZVTv7PMUclYg4JfRJXGUf2kMhRrqq2sy_E5IxniVTyksm64yK7uWGBeu92Zus5amyLEBI0cIcfkW7xgT2BMxYwN-q9xNn4kexwXD5C43u0niCu9fTDI0L-cuhVjQav47H5AMGGiM/s1600/DSC_0659.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pontoon Camp, Broadbill habitat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0zluTKO6tmIa4mpmS1RVcPgxP3H4Q7zh8Zu8KhaGc2zDDXn9rOmMhBZUm5FnA6abO7wMIv0b6-a6GIFEIqjOY-_grPLsnTpBaw7oSaRggTMp59aw6epzZ1s3EI32vHWr_EqkqJoOtS0Y/s1600/Green-backed+Woodpecker02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha0zluTKO6tmIa4mpmS1RVcPgxP3H4Q7zh8Zu8KhaGc2zDDXn9rOmMhBZUm5FnA6abO7wMIv0b6-a6GIFEIqjOY-_grPLsnTpBaw7oSaRggTMp59aw6epzZ1s3EI32vHWr_EqkqJoOtS0Y/s1600/Green-backed+Woodpecker02.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green-backed Woodpecker</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFI46cgDHi33Tbs3N839rWxDMhmlxbpSxj4FoDDhoZetCUMIG_M9VgqHiFWndqChKtN4hC8KbGqwHlo0k9s_ZhNF_cqKiAJlrNVq-GaQyZCnFKx0J4szAPN7XE_Uq0yEdDY4dtjgd3zTm/s1600/Little+Greenbul01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnFI46cgDHi33Tbs3N839rWxDMhmlxbpSxj4FoDDhoZetCUMIG_M9VgqHiFWndqChKtN4hC8KbGqwHlo0k9s_ZhNF_cqKiAJlrNVq-GaQyZCnFKx0J4szAPN7XE_Uq0yEdDY4dtjgd3zTm/s1600/Little+Greenbul01.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Greenbul</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAXGvkjCaj451XpY_4nua4NiXG9EHgJkMJsyUIZbnstQnI2uRbBUUfuIkm5NSarkasOSFcAVYKomjbc83BbseyKp4qU-xL5N3EiFjmXiR2UwffWRDx9ECuQa_q9PBl5YbCxaaYUv5E2Dd/s1600/Narina+Trogon01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAXGvkjCaj451XpY_4nua4NiXG9EHgJkMJsyUIZbnstQnI2uRbBUUfuIkm5NSarkasOSFcAVYKomjbc83BbseyKp4qU-xL5N3EiFjmXiR2UwffWRDx9ECuQa_q9PBl5YbCxaaYUv5E2Dd/s1600/Narina+Trogon01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Narina Trogon male</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-_Kxvh5IaQJGHBfiz86ZUoUYjHHGjPlG0GEGat77aUTt94QQioXMDzN0vCYhrkma-0r7nHOKIEhgjf5_zWsxK3UWYzrcXDdooklgcenuGtjZOYpXaLNncXtu73nLuxdN5sVXQ3M7_0nx/s1600/Purple-banded+Sunbird02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt-_Kxvh5IaQJGHBfiz86ZUoUYjHHGjPlG0GEGat77aUTt94QQioXMDzN0vCYhrkma-0r7nHOKIEhgjf5_zWsxK3UWYzrcXDdooklgcenuGtjZOYpXaLNncXtu73nLuxdN5sVXQ3M7_0nx/s1600/Purple-banded+Sunbird02.JPG" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple-banded Sunbird male</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUyKlxG8GfUB6V5ETh_kMTKZ6ADqIFbt7zOsKRPGgSjcfaF98dubi3ej8bwxJI30CzBTZWvqlobyuCJ6-EwNP64zNpHqzVT4_AWkahIBlblGiImpT3ZzMAhyphenhyphenNuvl_tii9V-fRdBGjmqruz/s1600/Schalow's+Turaco02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUyKlxG8GfUB6V5ETh_kMTKZ6ADqIFbt7zOsKRPGgSjcfaF98dubi3ej8bwxJI30CzBTZWvqlobyuCJ6-EwNP64zNpHqzVT4_AWkahIBlblGiImpT3ZzMAhyphenhyphenNuvl_tii9V-fRdBGjmqruz/s1600/Schalow's+Turaco02.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Schalow's Turaco</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVZmCEf9nVKvKZyMDZ0W7LEjwgRHZUfN7nwI0viPQOzn43wkCg74UCegX0axkyf5X8D_kTNhDCuHXKUP69CeYPIIYXdlzh1GjqVWuDPJKtKFfVfEAH3iW-n5R3PieY2pzwAsgvuV_cwa_/s1600/Spectacled+Weaver02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkVZmCEf9nVKvKZyMDZ0W7LEjwgRHZUfN7nwI0viPQOzn43wkCg74UCegX0axkyf5X8D_kTNhDCuHXKUP69CeYPIIYXdlzh1GjqVWuDPJKtKFfVfEAH3iW-n5R3PieY2pzwAsgvuV_cwa_/s1600/Spectacled+Weaver02.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spectacled Weaver</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvh4b7xLC5_J6yTuVbz_d8x0Cs2IZv3ay3FDJFZwpb74wG6zDOo7-SlfIni2mGi9dvRnemG-Lh3vUBqjnWp-KoX6ZEg4w4yqO-FK6kUStxJwsK8j9fds1H3x2Qom2nfPuovMvBij22yxnv/s1600/Square-tailed+Drongo05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvh4b7xLC5_J6yTuVbz_d8x0Cs2IZv3ay3FDJFZwpb74wG6zDOo7-SlfIni2mGi9dvRnemG-Lh3vUBqjnWp-KoX6ZEg4w4yqO-FK6kUStxJwsK8j9fds1H3x2Qom2nfPuovMvBij22yxnv/s1600/Square-tailed+Drongo05.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Square-tailed Drongo nesting in Pontoon Camp, with chicks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3fd9UQZWaNmqQZzNJdCi7j1Pei_A_92MLASKsY7osH2bF0cTHx6TdyA8JMxwtbV0sGg80_OGKPlBbiTq8ZLq64NaeQcDs7IosMmyodGwCSy8I5lvJpPbjw8_4zlBrQGSuMCMeWjW5Oeo/s1600/Yellow-rumped+Tinkerbird02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu3fd9UQZWaNmqQZzNJdCi7j1Pei_A_92MLASKsY7osH2bF0cTHx6TdyA8JMxwtbV0sGg80_OGKPlBbiTq8ZLq64NaeQcDs7IosMmyodGwCSy8I5lvJpPbjw8_4zlBrQGSuMCMeWjW5Oeo/s1600/Yellow-rumped+Tinkerbird02.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyvh5HerNI_HW0dyMn71MFgu1dxgWJU3jmM9UyaMFxkptzWzmRrasTq_iFaCXxUnLGANoqQieAsrI-OOEmXe_Iex_vTwWjSL_yafBFQ2ZX_zLKPCzrKXA9tT5NtxsahegHktS9D6tjj7g/s1600/Purple-throated+Cuckooshrike03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglyvh5HerNI_HW0dyMn71MFgu1dxgWJU3jmM9UyaMFxkptzWzmRrasTq_iFaCXxUnLGANoqQieAsrI-OOEmXe_Iex_vTwWjSL_yafBFQ2ZX_zLKPCzrKXA9tT5NtxsahegHktS9D6tjj7g/s1600/Purple-throated+Cuckooshrike03.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple-throated Cuckooshrike female</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Raptors were plentiful, and mostly not restricted by habitat.</div>
<div>
The 13 species included Black-shouldered Kite, Yellow-billed Kite, White-headed Vulture, Bateleur, African Marsh-harrier, Ovambo Sparrowhawk, Wahlberg's Eagle and the best, African Hobby - a rare bird in Southern Africa.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hYCr_4LW9K2bEsq_Fg8jHjzAlCTFmrP6nTq5pUTd_fmeXGZ08cXHMhHXvLPHXRQ4nBaWlpMUj8H-Up9qWZoWSdn5NS_eBcyKLvO7moLarJVggD90hYJ_xM7ViitAbcGXP-F-lLD7yxT5/s1600/Yellow-billed+Kite01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hYCr_4LW9K2bEsq_Fg8jHjzAlCTFmrP6nTq5pUTd_fmeXGZ08cXHMhHXvLPHXRQ4nBaWlpMUj8H-Up9qWZoWSdn5NS_eBcyKLvO7moLarJVggD90hYJ_xM7ViitAbcGXP-F-lLD7yxT5/s1600/Yellow-billed+Kite01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-billed Kite</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
Whilst waiting one evening at Fibwe Hide for the bats to emerge, I was treated to a spectacular Barn Swallow sighting. A small flock flew in, flying around over the swamp. The flock grew larger and larger, reaching about 3,000 Barn Swallows before they flew out of sight. Amazing!</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglH-QP_kJDX4RZhEXmi74kseNzltHc7-wjEWC3VZFT_J9RC4ctC0dyndpS51TJcKy0bavgEoQG0dWHA8BVUHfnL31RcWRk9AH4JydonHyoTp1BtCWRH047lxeY19fGhdO_BJl2tZIQ1Wlz/s1600/Barn+Swallow02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEglH-QP_kJDX4RZhEXmi74kseNzltHc7-wjEWC3VZFT_J9RC4ctC0dyndpS51TJcKy0bavgEoQG0dWHA8BVUHfnL31RcWRk9AH4JydonHyoTp1BtCWRH047lxeY19fGhdO_BJl2tZIQ1Wlz/s1600/Barn+Swallow02.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It may not look like much, but there are nearly 3,000 Barn Swallows in this picture!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
I like to include other interesting critters that I find, but in Kasanka I was so busy birding I didn't have time for much else. I did disturb a bright green snake in Pontoon Camp, probably a Green Snake sp. (<i>Philothamnus sp.</i>).<br />
I saw African Striped Skink (<i>Trachylepis striata</i>) at Wasa Lodge and found a few small Guttural Toads (<i>Amietophrynus gutturalis</i>) in camp.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3YU24Td0Js_Z9VVVVm9vRtT0g2ejngN4Ft37YV0nJQYgfgKoAL6ZfbpHDWNx7Y_g1YQ4rDyCxenqRjY0U1vyjALg0dVLcU2Yqyjo0J72jLJqk9SnBhRveXNQ7K1RGylm_4jRvdLRkq9N/s1600/African+Striped+Skink01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgY3YU24Td0Js_Z9VVVVm9vRtT0g2ejngN4Ft37YV0nJQYgfgKoAL6ZfbpHDWNx7Y_g1YQ4rDyCxenqRjY0U1vyjALg0dVLcU2Yqyjo0J72jLJqk9SnBhRveXNQ7K1RGylm_4jRvdLRkq9N/s1600/African+Striped+Skink01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Striped Skink</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzY0wYdRub8fqAVDsStwpViliHZKRO8I7BNwliqi2ctQA1HnPWNJU0FNds3NyOOVVRFcfApOjZr-CUyVAA46y_hjjxBT8U3cMqvVlps-OXqBatnhYeZDRGJQi-gs9kMzrUzxG1ijURGorc/s1600/Guttural+Toad01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzY0wYdRub8fqAVDsStwpViliHZKRO8I7BNwliqi2ctQA1HnPWNJU0FNds3NyOOVVRFcfApOjZr-CUyVAA46y_hjjxBT8U3cMqvVlps-OXqBatnhYeZDRGJQi-gs9kMzrUzxG1ijURGorc/s1600/Guttural+Toad01.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Guttural Toad</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Sadly, we had to leave this fantastic place, and we made our way to Lusaka early on the 23rd of October, 2013. The 520km drive took roughly six hours.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjGp6va8VtB0xMgnZ70ErkNVCmjigMCDTUQRJut7kFNS1XPBvXlncF6c2_602D7CvLsytsxfVXUH9vvvrt4K6lb4wApL2UX5pREayKDX62hjAVarBd7EIjIgmSV078exM2modlpgD-KjJ/s1600/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjjGp6va8VtB0xMgnZ70ErkNVCmjigMCDTUQRJut7kFNS1XPBvXlncF6c2_602D7CvLsytsxfVXUH9vvvrt4K6lb4wApL2UX5pREayKDX62hjAVarBd7EIjIgmSV078exM2modlpgD-KjJ/s1600/5.jpg" height="304" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
To be continued... Mana Pools next!<br />
<br />
<a href="http://zimbirding.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/the-bats-of-kasanka-part-five-mana-pools.html">Part five - Mana Pools</a>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-38442483568161613752014-02-03T21:36:00.000-08:002014-02-10T05:53:35.062-08:00The Bats of Kasanka: Part Three - The Mammals<a href="http://zimbirding.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/the-bats-of-kasanka-part-one-kariba.html">Part One - Kariba</a><br />
<a href="http://zimbirding.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/the-bats-of-kasanka-part-two-forest-inn.html">Part Two - Forest Inn</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Day three (Sunday 20 Oct) dawned and after a few hours birding the Miombo Woodland around Forest Inn, we set off to drive the remaining 240km to our destination; Kasanka National Park, where we stayed for three nights.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJ2bmhpZFyR9rQf3t10VG8Dgcu7fyATv4zyWIwu0taoHsVMEilVJ_dgnhFj0uzB-oyd9f1uOxPdBPH74n5oz-UdHI4qLt4Kldq5xUUFZgYrr0tUb5q6Zano2cGC4wHK2OnK0Al7Vv09RG/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpJ2bmhpZFyR9rQf3t10VG8Dgcu7fyATv4zyWIwu0taoHsVMEilVJ_dgnhFj0uzB-oyd9f1uOxPdBPH74n5oz-UdHI4qLt4Kldq5xUUFZgYrr0tUb5q6Zano2cGC4wHK2OnK0Al7Vv09RG/s1600/3.jpg" height="235" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Forest Inn to Kasanka National Park. At one point during the drive, we were just 1km from the border of the DRC.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qKPNgWn367j9-jNQ7txaLPWdTWdvRWQcEiXafapnKi6-ahCTicZxfe_dtnZthPXs9VUB2xH7eXVEEPvBX35Ucdeqgciic5xN16IT8lMXSjDdoO6urMYVOAhVPOUR4SXjkCEN5x5PBtb8/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4qKPNgWn367j9-jNQ7txaLPWdTWdvRWQcEiXafapnKi6-ahCTicZxfe_dtnZthPXs9VUB2xH7eXVEEPvBX35Ucdeqgciic5xN16IT8lMXSjDdoO6urMYVOAhVPOUR4SXjkCEN5x5PBtb8/s1600/4.jpg" height="277" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our travels inside Kasanka. Wasa Lodge is the main accommodation in the park, as well as the reception for camping.<br />
Pontoon used to be an actual pontoon across the river, but now there's a bridge.<br />
Fibwe Hide is the famous tree-top platform for viewing the bats in the evening.</td></tr>
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<br />
Kasanka National Park is dominated by pristine Miombo Woodland, with patches of Mushitu evergreen forest (this is where the bats roost). Many dambos (vleis) follow the rivers through the park, although these were mostly dried up in October when we visited. A few lakes and swamps are present.<br />
<br />
At this point, the days were stinking hot, up to 39 degrees. This, plus the ever present swarms of biting flies, meant the windows stayed closed and the air conditioner on!<br />
<br />
We camped at Pontoon campsite, on the edge of the Kasanka river in riparian forest - a beautiful spot.<br />
<br />
I got a fairly impressive mammal list in the park - 12 species - despite it not being well known for its game. Bold species aren't found in Southern Africa.<br />
Brown Greater Galago, <b>Yellow Baboon (ssp. </b><b><i>kindae</i>)</b>, Straw-coloured Fruit Bat, <b>Gambian Sun Squirrel</b>, African Savannah Hare, an unidentified Genet sp, Side-striped Jackal, Hippopotamus, Common Warthog, Common Duiker, Puku, Bushbuck and Sitatunga.<br />
<br />
<u>Dambos, lakes and rivers:</u> Puku were the most numerous mammal in the park, most of them in the open grassy areas of dambos and lake edges.<br />
Warthog, <b>Yellow Baboon</b>, Side-striped Jackal and African Savannah Hare were in the same habitat, the latter two only seen at night.<br />
One Common Duiker was seen on the edge of a dambo.<br />
Hippopotamus were in Wasa Lake (visible from Wasa Lodge).<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2di4KFv4mj6U26cE96f6gSVIiDr9edO0QG8gGh7sml1n6c2vAy-e0oYLRVW7bGQtw03FIJeL6FJy1RyUG3e04I4fHlpJ0Co4zUCRWmEP6tO6gnq1OHJ3DotbESXab-JY5kb-yXim3_to/s1600/103.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_2di4KFv4mj6U26cE96f6gSVIiDr9edO0QG8gGh7sml1n6c2vAy-e0oYLRVW7bGQtw03FIJeL6FJy1RyUG3e04I4fHlpJ0Co4zUCRWmEP6tO6gnq1OHJ3DotbESXab-JY5kb-yXim3_to/s1600/103.jpg" height="75" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wasa Lake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5z8mqPD-k4brsEAq7J6d3ftCh5VWXYf3kQKD0cZyIrZbZJa6nGrbPXszaM_0k3QDf_3VQaeII7NfRsw63sanKCJ9lSWS2YzBULakROMiMbKTUoqRXYFgpfIwBqCTngpeuGJAyYTFWewH/s1600/105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix5z8mqPD-k4brsEAq7J6d3ftCh5VWXYf3kQKD0cZyIrZbZJa6nGrbPXszaM_0k3QDf_3VQaeII7NfRsw63sanKCJ9lSWS2YzBULakROMiMbKTUoqRXYFgpfIwBqCTngpeuGJAyYTFWewH/s1600/105.jpg" height="105" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Typical dambo, dry during October.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBeGIDNd79VgEgi8FaAY-yxHcvJks9mm2G9cFg3jdI1ZAnSkCQnFHliifwGogS0tBseeQgKbOSXZXvFLY6FO0MlzDtasr4U8ru0t_rSnvg_gIK2Z6bpi7rpuNLRmYZGUUbJZe340ITmK2/s1600/Common+Duiker01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigBeGIDNd79VgEgi8FaAY-yxHcvJks9mm2G9cFg3jdI1ZAnSkCQnFHliifwGogS0tBseeQgKbOSXZXvFLY6FO0MlzDtasr4U8ru0t_rSnvg_gIK2Z6bpi7rpuNLRmYZGUUbJZe340ITmK2/s1600/Common+Duiker01.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Duiker</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIzdL662lZwg7Dpbnk4s7PwD_SlnjYoijIEcRGHrbHb2XlAXmxGKuqW3UK_wajsbwgmwdiNKOfsJKPV1uNsuDgTW4ny4ej1SUH8vmG4KsLtTsUmUr9os2Zu-fLWj2PLZslfPHcdOf07J9/s1600/Puku02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcIzdL662lZwg7Dpbnk4s7PwD_SlnjYoijIEcRGHrbHb2XlAXmxGKuqW3UK_wajsbwgmwdiNKOfsJKPV1uNsuDgTW4ny4ej1SUH8vmG4KsLtTsUmUr9os2Zu-fLWj2PLZslfPHcdOf07J9/s1600/Puku02.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puku female</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1KzDoeBDZYbAy0MXi5y_fxuFRrYTXYuE-ioHYxd_1HOpuXpUKyHviJbuJa_pKnIDlokpD6cN0vb8VKyc9r9HJV_nLUYqyYcRMqq0TdkFM2Aa0t7aGh5MxefJ9dxTNg6xt2ICrrMPfMbn/s1600/Puku07.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1KzDoeBDZYbAy0MXi5y_fxuFRrYTXYuE-ioHYxd_1HOpuXpUKyHviJbuJa_pKnIDlokpD6cN0vb8VKyc9r9HJV_nLUYqyYcRMqq0TdkFM2Aa0t7aGh5MxefJ9dxTNg6xt2ICrrMPfMbn/s1600/Puku07.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Puku male</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<u>Miombo Woodlands:</u> The woodlands were not very productive from a mammal watching point of view. Puku and <b>Yellow Baboon</b> made up most of the sightings. Lichtenstein's Hartebeest occur but we never saw any. The Genet, which remains unidentified, was seen in the woodlands at night.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoy1V0I9CbTAEtr1eyYRoIp5ikThEH5cmUihWJ90JuRiH-nIRVXUoH62ltDyBXOt2ww704bfGSM4X2lPbkKjbFkSGJl7U5dP8JKqZgkrdrJ8_diDaKofRVbXcOoEmWCPTm4r8FdRR67r5/s1600/DSC_0700.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyoy1V0I9CbTAEtr1eyYRoIp5ikThEH5cmUihWJ90JuRiH-nIRVXUoH62ltDyBXOt2ww704bfGSM4X2lPbkKjbFkSGJl7U5dP8JKqZgkrdrJ8_diDaKofRVbXcOoEmWCPTm4r8FdRR67r5/s1600/DSC_0700.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of Zambia's largest trees, near Bufumu Forest</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmwwREqOt5DuJM0yJJKrXCF6A8Zq3EQKbvcbf4jwaeZ5MYzXqMqWNNdByxGXItprtVwp0YZbfzsX26CkGiJgjJHu0feOGLOHn1OHttoLsqCChn15pWjlXkt0BTEiEWnmLnmZHXOKTSCcg/s1600/DSC_3824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcmwwREqOt5DuJM0yJJKrXCF6A8Zq3EQKbvcbf4jwaeZ5MYzXqMqWNNdByxGXItprtVwp0YZbfzsX26CkGiJgjJHu0feOGLOHn1OHttoLsqCChn15pWjlXkt0BTEiEWnmLnmZHXOKTSCcg/s1600/DSC_3824.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tall Miombo Woodland. Most of the park was similar to this.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUZDYRFQhyj5Nliv5KUw8C202_Zq29HSQD9u59olunvV2ezHIMmiMbBCLGPRMZqyZfnYK25MUbpdivtxocDm4ofcqDNUfYPFR8NA-qdWjVhBgrTv15x7bBDrvkJhrgXGA_u8_rQDKHaKA/s1600/Yellow+Baboon02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcUZDYRFQhyj5Nliv5KUw8C202_Zq29HSQD9u59olunvV2ezHIMmiMbBCLGPRMZqyZfnYK25MUbpdivtxocDm4ofcqDNUfYPFR8NA-qdWjVhBgrTv15x7bBDrvkJhrgXGA_u8_rQDKHaKA/s1600/Yellow+Baboon02.JPG" height="320" width="214" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Baboon</td></tr>
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<u><br /></u>
<u>Riparian and Mushitu forest:</u> The riparian forest around Pontoon campsite was rather good; Bushbuck, Brown Greater Galago and <b>Gambian Sun Squirrel </b>were seen here.<br />
The Straw-coloured Fruit Bats roost in the large Mushitu swamp forest in the centre of the park.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfYR6o2x83khTh7jJOPCa4OT5g_RpiD4M37BhrXVbGJ_6FLJOMWUqeiHj1Q2MaPvu0176ym8uVKoUjQUulDWJosavVx7LCga_etP9Mtn5RNDch9i3Yv3sUEzhrdXg3rl4knrfFZVYBVsE/s1600/013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkfYR6o2x83khTh7jJOPCa4OT5g_RpiD4M37BhrXVbGJ_6FLJOMWUqeiHj1Q2MaPvu0176ym8uVKoUjQUulDWJosavVx7LCga_etP9Mtn5RNDch9i3Yv3sUEzhrdXg3rl4knrfFZVYBVsE/s1600/013.jpg" height="137" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A view of Pontoon camp (under the trees) from the dambo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiaW0IV3f85M1NS8WrYy5FxbV2JjYMo5cS0M_7ZU6roWxWqCJSMV3hg_EN2p_tdGHK94uP2wJy9P4hu16pxJpxDZgTY2J29ZqHk-EAbwSv6Lu8p8ovFWAtjzb43rACP68XQcaG4iVf3ro/s1600/Bushbuck01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDiaW0IV3f85M1NS8WrYy5FxbV2JjYMo5cS0M_7ZU6roWxWqCJSMV3hg_EN2p_tdGHK94uP2wJy9P4hu16pxJpxDZgTY2J29ZqHk-EAbwSv6Lu8p8ovFWAtjzb43rACP68XQcaG4iVf3ro/s1600/Bushbuck01.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bushbuck male on the edge of the dambo</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNihA7XUIV2MiW978KwQ22kU3ZVnYNcK-fQQo8a22lUVH3-yYkTUHyx9s43YLiV2C53aTv2Sy6qqUfU3WlrdHaq1-2xUyoxhuKTM1CDJ4c4wLlACH6ZJRbeTtu3II4CVWvszjHkuZKJu-/s1600/DSC_0652.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwNihA7XUIV2MiW978KwQ22kU3ZVnYNcK-fQQo8a22lUVH3-yYkTUHyx9s43YLiV2C53aTv2Sy6qqUfU3WlrdHaq1-2xUyoxhuKTM1CDJ4c4wLlACH6ZJRbeTtu3II4CVWvszjHkuZKJu-/s1600/DSC_0652.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our campsite</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyZHHHASRIFZYBhbY8RQ4X5UA8yn8F_-8LM5L7xGpYZUyoKxHogwHewkr0FDY2KcF7odjJwbU8dfDPCq3F0B_Dk3Sx2sFbZMyTW3GrDy3t6y1rXRSX4-aSm7wtyEowflvJWsBp37Hd8At/s1600/011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYyZHHHASRIFZYBhbY8RQ4X5UA8yn8F_-8LM5L7xGpYZUyoKxHogwHewkr0FDY2KcF7odjJwbU8dfDPCq3F0B_Dk3Sx2sFbZMyTW3GrDy3t6y1rXRSX4-aSm7wtyEowflvJWsBp37Hd8At/s1600/011.jpg" height="86" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking over the large Mushitu forest, including the bat roost</td></tr>
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<u><br /></u>
<u>Swamp:</u> The large swamp which is overlooked by Fibwe Hide is famous for excellent viewing of Sitatunga. These animals were also present in the tall reeds near Pontoon camp.<br />
<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezNlkA55d4an7bTtOcdjOXTRV5pOzh2zOUw1KXaC9W_3cL01GS8FXpEsXmnPY1kDwPeuNx-3VnC5Ehl2cMJHyaimsHPR-ddRpio2Nwd6pO7ChMI1IW-gGxQma_FxXObQ3av4j-1lZcKec/s1600/010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgezNlkA55d4an7bTtOcdjOXTRV5pOzh2zOUw1KXaC9W_3cL01GS8FXpEsXmnPY1kDwPeuNx-3VnC5Ehl2cMJHyaimsHPR-ddRpio2Nwd6pO7ChMI1IW-gGxQma_FxXObQ3av4j-1lZcKec/s1600/010.jpg" height="96" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fibwe Hide, a tree-top platform overlooking a large swamp</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZBPqeN0Aqh-bD87EMkz_181qzlxYpYWkjlrqGtjRhlMQP7VLBVV0wajY6bDCV1_pPvICqdtOofbyP7JQx_nM94UqRKjQv7s69MoCRu14FkYLrwOt8CTwQYva5C3PSAahkwTehFd_G0j7/s1600/DSC_3118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZBPqeN0Aqh-bD87EMkz_181qzlxYpYWkjlrqGtjRhlMQP7VLBVV0wajY6bDCV1_pPvICqdtOofbyP7JQx_nM94UqRKjQv7s69MoCRu14FkYLrwOt8CTwQYva5C3PSAahkwTehFd_G0j7/s1600/DSC_3118.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset over the swamp, from Fibwe</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQ6Rir4BetzmV74FsTOJ4chs4UsFxnoxRv6wBPG1xc3MXsOz8-cr_W7lrMkOKhHLZ2-CuxdQIlXt0If9tU6Gnq9X2xWFkjVtYYu3TNherJpnLof2DwZQ9d5Ma4ZsKkN5DUZVilJ_KVyPm/s1600/Sitatunga01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJQ6Rir4BetzmV74FsTOJ4chs4UsFxnoxRv6wBPG1xc3MXsOz8-cr_W7lrMkOKhHLZ2-CuxdQIlXt0If9tU6Gnq9X2xWFkjVtYYu3TNherJpnLof2DwZQ9d5Ma4ZsKkN5DUZVilJ_KVyPm/s1600/Sitatunga01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Sitatunga in the swamp, viewed (long-distance) from Fibwe</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAPQr2AYgFAxF6NR0YneYEgjWPnOeT5d6R-jQnNmWUJDiswn4PLF9Ojp-s1AhcraVldHi0QUXZAZZxljxRqVtcAu1w_pVwG44metBxoTwU6JCEs8reYugKhf_Er4iU-atAsdxS1BfBrsE/s1600/Sitatunga03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmAPQr2AYgFAxF6NR0YneYEgjWPnOeT5d6R-jQnNmWUJDiswn4PLF9Ojp-s1AhcraVldHi0QUXZAZZxljxRqVtcAu1w_pVwG44metBxoTwU6JCEs8reYugKhf_Er4iU-atAsdxS1BfBrsE/s1600/Sitatunga03.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitatunga in the tall reeds near Pontoon camp</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I also set up my motion sensor trail camera near the campsite during the nights, with good results.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34rdjdA9MrmGnrfgKlit4IXVeHQ759EQxC6ag-v18eWszDDiW9AU-KsmWnLP1EYu1qQgIGJs_jbahZBR2igUNP6sLVc6iJh3aWBPIPlFEElP5151nI6r8SMLwSdPRGLqZPmD-87k15ETk/s1600/EK000195.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34rdjdA9MrmGnrfgKlit4IXVeHQ759EQxC6ag-v18eWszDDiW9AU-KsmWnLP1EYu1qQgIGJs_jbahZBR2igUNP6sLVc6iJh3aWBPIPlFEElP5151nI6r8SMLwSdPRGLqZPmD-87k15ETk/s1600/EK000195.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sitatunga</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6H5lymCkZRJpLfG41Wzuj069ynDcGfROA7udlgi0Qb4zVzpq5SeankS0AgZ2lo8MPCxe6ustcIvTwwCL3esb4o8I6_O90moRVALeATh0bjrr5uDOTCUSa6bCXmMAiPwRgXNJOsphzDJMP/s1600/EK000198.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6H5lymCkZRJpLfG41Wzuj069ynDcGfROA7udlgi0Qb4zVzpq5SeankS0AgZ2lo8MPCxe6ustcIvTwwCL3esb4o8I6_O90moRVALeATh0bjrr5uDOTCUSa6bCXmMAiPwRgXNJOsphzDJMP/s1600/EK000198.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hippopotamus</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3S34QaNL-Ig40qUxthI2Pfqqy2R3_h9qxQRk7ptdYY43c8meaYkNGBBCpfAZHIw1PPd3NDGFamdIa1nMa13o5-pk5dA0wC2unvPcF2Nz8B9NswdY4IFmRuhn41cY7GstGd__8A6KYjoOi/s1600/EK000200.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3S34QaNL-Ig40qUxthI2Pfqqy2R3_h9qxQRk7ptdYY43c8meaYkNGBBCpfAZHIw1PPd3NDGFamdIa1nMa13o5-pk5dA0wC2unvPcF2Nz8B9NswdY4IFmRuhn41cY7GstGd__8A6KYjoOi/s1600/EK000200.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hippopotamus. Getting closer!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fan1OtWLwm34LeRhdMxx24QGR8ifEu9AYsYrnhEJn1KLyVGUyx0GOXLXKdxmUruQ1kM_UQLKFEpDkJLhqJ8pzbPqRwpLYxxY8CMw8xY32eunp9KJjzVnDr9rCwfwKK7RhKShZD5r60dY/s1600/EK000221.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7fan1OtWLwm34LeRhdMxx24QGR8ifEu9AYsYrnhEJn1KLyVGUyx0GOXLXKdxmUruQ1kM_UQLKFEpDkJLhqJ8pzbPqRwpLYxxY8CMw8xY32eunp9KJjzVnDr9rCwfwKK7RhKShZD5r60dY/s1600/EK000221.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Puku</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2x6VQk2Vd00Dwjt0sCf3z_Lywcu3JvBuBgb029bLNYmZoc3Zw6n63UDWMJLjbm0VLPtzuz16VEqvrnVOEdWY7fgAMwi0y-52rb-VqdXnRwaj4j-nU10t5-XD6EUQUG_OxphyphenhyphenUE89VYyFE/s1600/EK000248.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2x6VQk2Vd00Dwjt0sCf3z_Lywcu3JvBuBgb029bLNYmZoc3Zw6n63UDWMJLjbm0VLPtzuz16VEqvrnVOEdWY7fgAMwi0y-52rb-VqdXnRwaj4j-nU10t5-XD6EUQUG_OxphyphenhyphenUE89VYyFE/s1600/EK000248.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young Puku</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
We arrived in Kasanka during the last 10 days of October, which is also just about when the bats start arriving from all over Africa.<br />
I would have waited until later in the year, say mid-November, if I didn't have to be on a plane back to Perth on the 10th.<br />
As a result of our slightly early arrival in Kasanka, bat numbers were nowhere near their peak. However, there were still a lot of bats!<br />
Counting bats leaving the roost in the video footage I gathered, I estimate there were 80,000 Straw-coloured Fruit Bats present whilst we were there. That is an amazing number of Africa's largest bat species, but the mind simply boggles when you realise that this number, eighty thousand, is a mere <i>one percent</i> of their number at peak season!<br />
Eight million bats must be an incredible sight to behold.<br />
<br />
Fibwe Hide is the best known spot for viewing the bats, and this is where we went for the first evening. You can't see the bats leaving the roost from the platform - you see them flying along the swamp towards the feeding grounds.<br />
It was a slow trickle at first, and I was a bit disappointed that there seemed to be few bats. The bats soon started drifting past in huge numbers though.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqL168-3vI_MDZEgTns3T6g-bZBvTrMJaXnjTuNFLiXaQ77VFfoDYOnTrZtDICOCrd7chOOAXyy-U5tCw-bmBEjdPvm_IZepGjSZTWvJ5iSTsyu3LXOs5SZRZtcCaSChc2tarC69uiTLJ/s1600/DSC_0669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguqL168-3vI_MDZEgTns3T6g-bZBvTrMJaXnjTuNFLiXaQ77VFfoDYOnTrZtDICOCrd7chOOAXyy-U5tCw-bmBEjdPvm_IZepGjSZTWvJ5iSTsyu3LXOs5SZRZtcCaSChc2tarC69uiTLJ/s1600/DSC_0669.JPG" height="400" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tree which holds Fibwe Hide, and the ladder going to the platform</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-Vn0_KUIpZVZ4w0nTyCo62GZAStdWUtgchwUempg16wteUcnTvWxmMw3ekMldIYxgOzd1YwZNqzUOJDRhsK1F1IsSbJg47Yycib6tTQM6uNr1oofwrbfP5UGwxqI8CipYlA8k_z6G78x/s1600/Straw-coloured+Fruit+Bat02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjq-Vn0_KUIpZVZ4w0nTyCo62GZAStdWUtgchwUempg16wteUcnTvWxmMw3ekMldIYxgOzd1YwZNqzUOJDRhsK1F1IsSbJg47Yycib6tTQM6uNr1oofwrbfP5UGwxqI8CipYlA8k_z6G78x/s1600/Straw-coloured+Fruit+Bat02.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">First Straw-coloured Fruit Bat!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRM4f7Jqav2hu1F6-9PRlVojtjnuWMD0N7cDPSR3QLn5Eg7v39eqH1TXKYuDZYq9oBqelQmFGNqr6WMwVEbVSOcGskdtdP6DybCWtjmqCpfv4h46LrfdfwfYnbrN1PleZ9znMioxMzjrlJ/s1600/Straw-coloured+Fruit+Bat06.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRM4f7Jqav2hu1F6-9PRlVojtjnuWMD0N7cDPSR3QLn5Eg7v39eqH1TXKYuDZYq9oBqelQmFGNqr6WMwVEbVSOcGskdtdP6DybCWtjmqCpfv4h46LrfdfwfYnbrN1PleZ9znMioxMzjrlJ/s1600/Straw-coloured+Fruit+Bat06.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...And then more came.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I have embedded a few videos in this blog post, as photographs just don't do the bats justice.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/h7qlTSUGqb0" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
On Monday (21 Oct) we searched for a good bat watching site during the day. We came across the BBC Platform, which was apparently used by BBC for David Attenborough's documentaries.<br />
It is also, apparently, somewhere that you're not allowed to visit unless you pay for the 'bat experience' tour. In our defense, there was no wooden gate across the road, as there had been in other places, and no sign to indicate this was a restricted platform! The rangers reckon an Elephant messed with the gate during the night (there were indeed Elephant droppings close by).<br />
Anyway, this platform gave excellent views of the bat roost during the day, and I'm sure it would have been amazing to be there at dusk when they left the roost. We chose a nearby spot on the ground to watch them at dusk.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyE7Yp0SMzY93J8w02-F4Fkkv3_AQYFb8YBtsLtbrsZlgkivHlnxmIsLsxxADFCAItTmuL0sM4KrgsalGNzhzEgSRRzpP3CGovj0NsZktTU8v035lhkPc6XzgHlwJdvS-N2chFQjj6mIp1/s1600/Straw-coloured+Fruit+Bat08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyE7Yp0SMzY93J8w02-F4Fkkv3_AQYFb8YBtsLtbrsZlgkivHlnxmIsLsxxADFCAItTmuL0sM4KrgsalGNzhzEgSRRzpP3CGovj0NsZktTU8v035lhkPc6XzgHlwJdvS-N2chFQjj6mIp1/s1600/Straw-coloured+Fruit+Bat08.jpg" height="62" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The core of the bat roost, leaves missing from the trees as a result of many years of too many bats!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghP7oULg0dw_eTYUPaYiU8dZmQIzA-47xcUphXOuRj07Q_PFNsy9plgrrD4k-gg9zcZCZBCRbZ20G93p3MzsczpcGk4BvHX6WXNhJulJfc14-G-lEZ455VUCN9uUZ1ti-9frwDsF8e_ETG/s1600/Straw-coloured+Fruit+Bat10.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghP7oULg0dw_eTYUPaYiU8dZmQIzA-47xcUphXOuRj07Q_PFNsy9plgrrD4k-gg9zcZCZBCRbZ20G93p3MzsczpcGk4BvHX6WXNhJulJfc14-G-lEZ455VUCN9uUZ1ti-9frwDsF8e_ETG/s1600/Straw-coloured+Fruit+Bat10.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">They hang off the trees like huge bunches of fruit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXPg4rSXrMygERflO6_4LZGuFKUrAQ-QJuqTv1RdpjJ7xPQisiw8VdRjiAwQrUKBku-E0-pM1z4LtZVO_1LxlbZ0CeMKrRF37KLmruWlX_4XIV10ACDiwMv_BR0gK25g_74JHopTGOKT3/s1600/Straw-coloured+Fruit+Bat12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjXPg4rSXrMygERflO6_4LZGuFKUrAQ-QJuqTv1RdpjJ7xPQisiw8VdRjiAwQrUKBku-E0-pM1z4LtZVO_1LxlbZ0CeMKrRF37KLmruWlX_4XIV10ACDiwMv_BR0gK25g_74JHopTGOKT3/s1600/Straw-coloured+Fruit+Bat12.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lQrIsVOgNmEvJhWjcQCgxT07dZkGLX-h-0hKMk29ZAPpUQx_Mx7I7Cz1DUa1ahWabBmN9kiGkQcsoWaJCvwyUEt3FxBE0adqE8G0Spop7fzg4E1eI4qOn2AxAqn95D1w0vD9dVmGXQVd/s1600/DSC_0732.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6lQrIsVOgNmEvJhWjcQCgxT07dZkGLX-h-0hKMk29ZAPpUQx_Mx7I7Cz1DUa1ahWabBmN9kiGkQcsoWaJCvwyUEt3FxBE0adqE8G0Spop7fzg4E1eI4qOn2AxAqn95D1w0vD9dVmGXQVd/s1600/DSC_0732.JPG" height="211" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Another stunning sunset, this time from the dambo near BBC platform</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIqMHpa68L-2CnBTASum1i74gLl9EcZuYAZ3kMGKyBwrsLFlTLzztwg7X_nutYwDeShYXeiI1uCYm2ASdPZju3ZJ5FzFA7tb75iuBCv-cWiDOkxcSay5SBVdcjrbfgviaFVAQuULXkG7_/s1600/DSC_0664.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTIqMHpa68L-2CnBTASum1i74gLl9EcZuYAZ3kMGKyBwrsLFlTLzztwg7X_nutYwDeShYXeiI1uCYm2ASdPZju3ZJ5FzFA7tb75iuBCv-cWiDOkxcSay5SBVdcjrbfgviaFVAQuULXkG7_/s1600/DSC_0664.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was another, rather low, platform near the BBC platform, but it was pretty useless. Maybe when the bats are in full force, the roost overflows into this bit of forest...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
These two videos are of the bats leaving the roost site. These are what I used to get an estimate of numbers. It was strange to see such large numbers of animals, yet they gave out hardly a sound.<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/AV_L8jLxYZg" width="560"></iframe>
<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/1rW1TUh5GOw" width="560"></iframe><br />
<br />
On the final evening we watched the sunset from Fibwe Hide, then watched from the swamp below Fibwe as the bats flew over us in their hundreds and thousands.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCoczWa0gEy38hNGRHycKy1QB1218aAMNGmbhktg6aG_E03aTUB7EGKsNGEq5DTj6AxsgGy0pSTATvuvGyFkbf_J3Te5JCkgeHo7W_P0q9kIIPIzAyL3zGXT8KG4me9fEp7BqhbR32l2F/s1600/DSC_4029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwCoczWa0gEy38hNGRHycKy1QB1218aAMNGmbhktg6aG_E03aTUB7EGKsNGEq5DTj6AxsgGy0pSTATvuvGyFkbf_J3Te5JCkgeHo7W_P0q9kIIPIzAyL3zGXT8KG4me9fEp7BqhbR32l2F/s1600/DSC_4029.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/QbMS6YonvlM" width="560"></iframe><br />
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What an incredible experience it was to see the bats of Kasanka. I look forward to one day seeing them when all eight million are there!<br />
<br />
Next post; the birds of Kasanka...<br />
<a href="http://zimbirding.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/the-bats-of-kasanka-part-four-birds.html">Part four - Kasanka, the Birds</a><br />
<a href="http://zimbirding.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/the-bats-of-kasanka-part-five-mana-pools.html">Part five - Mana Pools</a>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-29766017090271498282014-01-27T22:39:00.004-08:002014-02-10T05:53:54.609-08:00The Bats of Kasanka: Part Two - Forest Inn<a href="http://zimbirding.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/the-bats-of-kasanka-part-one-kariba.html">Part One - Kariba</a><br />
<br />
<br />
Day two of our trip (Saturday 19 October, 2013) consisted of a 470km drive from Kariba across the border into Zambia and through the capital city, Lusaka, ending up at Forest Inn, on the Great Northern Road to Tanzania, where we spent the night. This was an all day affair!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YbDZMpGrGJ01lRYYH1uad6itx6faQG4RjV481TG9Xk2ZJNCMSiTwWCWdNV3mqBDPIDkd04akEEGz3tZQWdeLT7D4mffwTxsDydPG4APndN11mosCVjLkG_GlfAXRQTobqhJknwO8RDi0/s1600/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1YbDZMpGrGJ01lRYYH1uad6itx6faQG4RjV481TG9Xk2ZJNCMSiTwWCWdNV3mqBDPIDkd04akEEGz3tZQWdeLT7D4mffwTxsDydPG4APndN11mosCVjLkG_GlfAXRQTobqhJknwO8RDi0/s1600/2.jpg" height="397" width="400" /></a></div>
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The border crossing was tedious and mostly hassle free, but we had to wait an hour at the last desk for the only road toll officer on duty to get back from the shops!<br />
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Straight away you notice a difference between driving in Zimbabwe and in Zambia - the latter has bags of charcoal, firewood, baskets and even orchids for sale on the road verges, seemingly in the middle of nowhere. These 'vendors' were at regular intervals all the way to Lusaka and beyond, and as a result all of the bushland remaining near the road was under serious pressure from charcoaling.<br />
Not a great welcome to the country! I just hope Zimbabwe doesn't follow down the same path too quickly.<br />
<br />
There were major roadworks on the main route to Lusaka, so all traffic was forced to use the dirt tracks winding alongside the tarmac under repairs. This added an extra hour to the drive.<br />
Lusaka itself was dirty, dusty, hot and full of people and traffic. The city central was a traffic nightmare, and we had to find a way around.<br />
<br />
The road north of Lusaka heads towards the Copperbelt on the border of the DRC, and was therefore very busy with large trucks and other vehicles. This was not a very enjoyable drive. There was still very little bushland to be seen in amongst the multitude of villages and communal lands.<br />
<br />
And then we turned east at Kapiri Mposhi onto the Great Northern Road, and suddenly at was lovely! Most of the traffic was gone, and the bush was in better condition, as we were no longer on the main Copperbelt road.<br />
<br />
We arrived at Forest Inn, which is a set of self catering chalets and camping sites in the middle of nowhere, in the late afternoon.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KIxsiPK-jwG0poxdmX4LlLjx75g3Bc26WqsAhtD2PWAzNLGve5i48VrC59eE4sSwvc9Q0TfW5MH5EJXJQqcd5X68UnJjhGc6BjQtAFPyWhHIQHwlij_altDzerNYUVuecSBpz3QJr83V/s1600/DSC_0646.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-KIxsiPK-jwG0poxdmX4LlLjx75g3Bc26WqsAhtD2PWAzNLGve5i48VrC59eE4sSwvc9Q0TfW5MH5EJXJQqcd5X68UnJjhGc6BjQtAFPyWhHIQHwlij_altDzerNYUVuecSBpz3QJr83V/s1600/DSC_0646.JPG" height="214" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
It is set in a stand of Miombo Woodland, so I spent a few hours in the afternoon and the next morning birdwatching. We had now entered the Central Zambezian Miombo Woodland ecoregion (Zimbabwe is in the Southern Miombo Woodlands), so there were a few non-Southern African 'special' birds to be seen.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5Cu9FaI3PTAUcoDPosDgH1Z4vks34FppYafjC2_sggw6-hmw9Vnq15VUP5pqNPsNnEczkB4hrBrxoJsqGX0wGy7vGlCCi-H9XdKBff2D66Yn3Fmh3T2l5577n73d2KiMnglUSim1N4u-/s1600/DSC_0636.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ5Cu9FaI3PTAUcoDPosDgH1Z4vks34FppYafjC2_sggw6-hmw9Vnq15VUP5pqNPsNnEczkB4hrBrxoJsqGX0wGy7vGlCCi-H9XdKBff2D66Yn3Fmh3T2l5577n73d2KiMnglUSim1N4u-/s1600/DSC_0636.JPG" height="400" width="267" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miombo Woodlands bordering Forest Inn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34JaBeAM_Ed3Omv9_e6Qr0jfnfPTqldBSlqFldPXwKLkrGrSttwpvJSfr-cG2q8fASM44PauPXx-bBdFIK2HRDIIgCX-z3QjzAQV9IZcWHu9bUFphhBQPSv1CAB-yzA2Fs4hhxeIyP-sT/s1600/DSC_0642.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg34JaBeAM_Ed3Omv9_e6Qr0jfnfPTqldBSlqFldPXwKLkrGrSttwpvJSfr-cG2q8fASM44PauPXx-bBdFIK2HRDIIgCX-z3QjzAQV9IZcWHu9bUFphhBQPSv1CAB-yzA2Fs4hhxeIyP-sT/s1600/DSC_0642.JPG" height="267" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
(Non-SA 'specials' are in bold). Lizard Buzzard was the only raptor seen. I heard Fiery-necked Nightjar during the night, and saw Spotted Eagle-owl in the morning. The camp had African Pygmy-kingfisher, Crowned Hornbill, African Broadbill, White-browed Robin-chat, <b>Miombo Scrub-robin</b>, Willow Warbler, Ashy Flycatcher, African Paradise-flycatcher, Red-backed Mannikin, Golden-breasted Bunting and Cabanis's Bunting. After much searching the woodlands, I found a few great birds, including Grey-headed Kingfisher, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Rufous-bellied Tit, <b>Miombo Scrub-robin</b>, <b>Trilling Cisticola</b>, <b>Black-necked Eremomela</b>, Stierling's Wren-warbler, Retz's Helmet-shrike, Violet-backed Starling, Amethyst Sunbird and Red-headed Weaver.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxB4b5fQTS228DP_sYdeGa265s45536iTiVybIRWMDFeMAosiBjobcZu95dwZOJp5aWNfvhySAZ-Bb5S009y1yljh3JZQI8y4KDWz2T1RpnfYpUwGXOzSoa5jIv2f416g-4S0VNC3IHebK/s1600/African+Broadbill01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxB4b5fQTS228DP_sYdeGa265s45536iTiVybIRWMDFeMAosiBjobcZu95dwZOJp5aWNfvhySAZ-Bb5S009y1yljh3JZQI8y4KDWz2T1RpnfYpUwGXOzSoa5jIv2f416g-4S0VNC3IHebK/s1600/African+Broadbill01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Broadbill carrying nesting materials in the early morning (hence the awful lighting)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrnNmF3JNZt2p66mOW07EvuPsQ29XLCgTi6gg1CCFSyqd9kOni_U04OFTWs8tPXvzv85J0QUvw76RRZys_2aHp9l07ihkS8Fz1KT_ojoWFbFksMy3JeUYS9oxoOQIvD4ZzzXmo0A-e0MG/s1600/African+Pygmy-kingfisher01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBrnNmF3JNZt2p66mOW07EvuPsQ29XLCgTi6gg1CCFSyqd9kOni_U04OFTWs8tPXvzv85J0QUvw76RRZys_2aHp9l07ihkS8Fz1KT_ojoWFbFksMy3JeUYS9oxoOQIvD4ZzzXmo0A-e0MG/s1600/African+Pygmy-kingfisher01.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Pygmy-kingfisher</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyBdUO5PmFLwDP2rlBUO_TKZl8IFVCwalR3hRrS0oKbqFUihd3gAfBZVH5_56QieJ56yYz1foCAiW4Tf7ohaIVlUmicJvux_KZbmgfPDhbMscNsv-hE24HCKbZkdzae8v8FtXmOpPHHD7/s1600/Ashy+Flycatcher02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEheyBdUO5PmFLwDP2rlBUO_TKZl8IFVCwalR3hRrS0oKbqFUihd3gAfBZVH5_56QieJ56yYz1foCAiW4Tf7ohaIVlUmicJvux_KZbmgfPDhbMscNsv-hE24HCKbZkdzae8v8FtXmOpPHHD7/s1600/Ashy+Flycatcher02.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashy Flycatcher</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9YecLWGwEqyGS2MrDO-4gHhsPLrUme607gZlTKvwmny82DbG-LAFd_jT4CFGZm904gB28B8iYb7kt8q67IpBM-F8l_C0Nf0XCGQ51Ur5msOpsfjkjkskbh8kX1sX2TvXq-0yvd_vpwYu/s1600/Black-necked+Eremomela02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ9YecLWGwEqyGS2MrDO-4gHhsPLrUme607gZlTKvwmny82DbG-LAFd_jT4CFGZm904gB28B8iYb7kt8q67IpBM-F8l_C0Nf0XCGQ51Ur5msOpsfjkjkskbh8kX1sX2TvXq-0yvd_vpwYu/s1600/Black-necked+Eremomela02.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-necked Eremomela - the best find at Forest Inn</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJk-d5Dt0saNNqHXRyBpK8MioBj19iuatc7RPY2kFpc1G4lPryce6siYMrjEGGB5tNyJGlG4PqwYXh6dFpy3yQcFu4F2RFz5qd-YvFtw5H_itObeQDvgGxjIIT1C6K4bx3I101WGWS6Z2/s1600/Black-necked+Eremomela01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqJk-d5Dt0saNNqHXRyBpK8MioBj19iuatc7RPY2kFpc1G4lPryce6siYMrjEGGB5tNyJGlG4PqwYXh6dFpy3yQcFu4F2RFz5qd-YvFtw5H_itObeQDvgGxjIIT1C6K4bx3I101WGWS6Z2/s1600/Black-necked+Eremomela01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and a pair of the same species.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwkYc_J27cAQAmTeEDeHVDpowN1aI1AU3AAC9R7ah53wHTKpDdqCC4YejBOOZVuWUfE95dAlqN1eqOqDlmcR5-wjZjXA5PxLoLB8BgeSFft3_PyCsBKwyRGeJJK9sNQJGJ4eIaNR0WKS7/s1600/Cabanis's+Bunting03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlwkYc_J27cAQAmTeEDeHVDpowN1aI1AU3AAC9R7ah53wHTKpDdqCC4YejBOOZVuWUfE95dAlqN1eqOqDlmcR5-wjZjXA5PxLoLB8BgeSFft3_PyCsBKwyRGeJJK9sNQJGJ4eIaNR0WKS7/s1600/Cabanis's+Bunting03.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cabanis's Bunting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpm2Qeb_uC1J4O3XO_-cnyIDsulnk8lFlXtOduT4cLBgjOxS4oGBOifOIOqAmAAZjDmcOZ_n2KrpUXP2_ppN8ngayqTou52vw-XaiV7lpNsFXgjnjXE9TAatw6jXPfci-mWAUZB_MEu4U/s1600/Golden-breasted+Bunting01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEpm2Qeb_uC1J4O3XO_-cnyIDsulnk8lFlXtOduT4cLBgjOxS4oGBOifOIOqAmAAZjDmcOZ_n2KrpUXP2_ppN8ngayqTou52vw-XaiV7lpNsFXgjnjXE9TAatw6jXPfci-mWAUZB_MEu4U/s1600/Golden-breasted+Bunting01.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Golden-breasted Bunting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0wCM4Ncanv3ZMIE7PgpAyRII2JTf0TsP7XbYYxrYx15o2Y9TO-O1dylF0KYVwyrX5ept9sPsH-QJFGyAdj1CUXBn23uOCbHlGwOlEOYlPFVU9bwq5BlVudet4a60xZO7Y1qO9zZKKaV5/s1600/Kurrichane+Thrush01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx0wCM4Ncanv3ZMIE7PgpAyRII2JTf0TsP7XbYYxrYx15o2Y9TO-O1dylF0KYVwyrX5ept9sPsH-QJFGyAdj1CUXBn23uOCbHlGwOlEOYlPFVU9bwq5BlVudet4a60xZO7Y1qO9zZKKaV5/s1600/Kurrichane+Thrush01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kurrichane Thrush</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIHSuwoEtPBecsRI_YM-c_migtSgl90vUy2BAykZtCiKraQ72YYPe5AEb-ovpJGMd1QDSCmCH2fdbCkZlp8N48alObdiWAibhOOa8ZKq0vVkiaB3aFahj5UCcD8pS8w8yrmLhLscm7IdZ/s1600/Miombo+Scrub-robin02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQIHSuwoEtPBecsRI_YM-c_migtSgl90vUy2BAykZtCiKraQ72YYPe5AEb-ovpJGMd1QDSCmCH2fdbCkZlp8N48alObdiWAibhOOa8ZKq0vVkiaB3aFahj5UCcD8pS8w8yrmLhLscm7IdZ/s1600/Miombo+Scrub-robin02.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miombo Scrub-robin</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiriu9iwYmpFWQkN0BHF397et2X7xDIAStIHhJrg3onMDyOset25-IZHS3TlpG-r4ChefbDRyyvLb_UF5YW9GpOS_5FID-jWOlqYiqPCTKX8Dqck2yF6ZjHQXFtW9IBjXb1Z1rJ8Eb_YUfm/s1600/Rufous-bellied+Tit01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiriu9iwYmpFWQkN0BHF397et2X7xDIAStIHhJrg3onMDyOset25-IZHS3TlpG-r4ChefbDRyyvLb_UF5YW9GpOS_5FID-jWOlqYiqPCTKX8Dqck2yF6ZjHQXFtW9IBjXb1Z1rJ8Eb_YUfm/s1600/Rufous-bellied+Tit01.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rufous-bellied Tit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2zBXBqAUFjM-vBEnPYbb2nys0LQK1PXU4A_wcfnvJXBRdvo6S_HQ5e63XPV2nyv4pUTqBYJr_GY3RLmKQA6pouhPCuaAATaycj3cjVxotbp4AriSRwdr0YBLeyRo8VS9rds3tDzVORew/s1600/Rufous-bellied+Tit03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjp2zBXBqAUFjM-vBEnPYbb2nys0LQK1PXU4A_wcfnvJXBRdvo6S_HQ5e63XPV2nyv4pUTqBYJr_GY3RLmKQA6pouhPCuaAATaycj3cjVxotbp4AriSRwdr0YBLeyRo8VS9rds3tDzVORew/s1600/Rufous-bellied+Tit03.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rufous-bellied Tit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsv1PHaKOET_EtN_VIKuQCOUVy8drov8cUU4Eb20g5wGe8aK_gV2LpmdoYm1gnX7kRu2ZXYZvcJQkMcQRqWB3Y7KPNkhhVJMa0yKGSAJvx0vdd6g1xKW-aoySxkkVXopEr1kSI7C-yfFx/s1600/Spotted+Eagle-owl01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqsv1PHaKOET_EtN_VIKuQCOUVy8drov8cUU4Eb20g5wGe8aK_gV2LpmdoYm1gnX7kRu2ZXYZvcJQkMcQRqWB3Y7KPNkhhVJMa0yKGSAJvx0vdd6g1xKW-aoySxkkVXopEr1kSI7C-yfFx/s1600/Spotted+Eagle-owl01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted Eagle-owl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHASNM0N4tByi2uBWn4ZGEKjRteMSHSp6XZ1XOSUlf0dRAmXScz-xVeqYPGkwNE2Iur02TofQ7JzsPfXYS-5CRlD_dZpn1475hVj7DsD1WXP1ueTURZoJk8vRaIQUxxbqup1gXS_r-gtu/s1600/Stierling's+Wren-warbler02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpHASNM0N4tByi2uBWn4ZGEKjRteMSHSp6XZ1XOSUlf0dRAmXScz-xVeqYPGkwNE2Iur02TofQ7JzsPfXYS-5CRlD_dZpn1475hVj7DsD1WXP1ueTURZoJk8vRaIQUxxbqup1gXS_r-gtu/s1600/Stierling's+Wren-warbler02.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Stierling's Wren-warbler</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgbuUVM0bMbjsZwa9OMcNMSl8COBXUVAMHZU8_ZgNnaD8lB7eZ-LrPCWzU1Yo3eR2O7MHVMlkCrE3ZDQyDjNzIMH85vUp_6lAVSGS9dtf1GakjkHaajhrXeb7tlLGtKvA6eqOW79tnMMc/s1600/Trilling+Cisticola03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdgbuUVM0bMbjsZwa9OMcNMSl8COBXUVAMHZU8_ZgNnaD8lB7eZ-LrPCWzU1Yo3eR2O7MHVMlkCrE3ZDQyDjNzIMH85vUp_6lAVSGS9dtf1GakjkHaajhrXeb7tlLGtKvA6eqOW79tnMMc/s1600/Trilling+Cisticola03.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trilling Cisticola</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On Sunday morning we drove the remaining distance to Kasanka National Park, which you'll read about in the next post!<br />
<br />
To be continued...<br />
<a href="http://zimbirding.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/the-bats-of-kasanka-part-3-mammals.html">Part three - Kasanka, the Mammals</a><br />
<a href="http://zimbirding.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/the-bats-of-kasanka-part-four-birds.html">Part four - Kasanka, the Birds</a><br />
<a href="http://zimbirding.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/the-bats-of-kasanka-part-five-mana-pools.html">Part five - Mana Pools</a>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-8465424548730793192014-01-26T05:37:00.000-08:002014-02-10T05:54:10.836-08:00The Bats of Kasanka: Part One - KaribaDuring my two month stay in Zimbabwe last year, my dad and I decided to go on a 10 day African road trip, as we had done many times before I moved to Australia.<br />
Where to go was a big decision. The range of options was limited to a certain distance from home (up to roughly 1000km, I decided) - we didn't want to be doing too much driving as we had only 10 days to work with.<br />
This still left quite a few choices. The Okavango Delta in Botswana (I've been there before, but would happily go again) and Kruger National Park in South Africa were two possibilities.<br />
Chizarira National Park in Zimbabwe, closer to home, was another maybe.<br />
Mozambique offered Gorongosa Mountain and National Park as well as the Zambezi Delta.<br />
Malawi has Liwonde National Park and Mount Mulanje.<br />
Zambia in particular has a lot to offer; Lochinvar National Park supports tens of thousands of waterbirds (another place I've been, but would definitely go again). Kafue National Park is another place worth seeing. South Luangwa National Park is a fantastic game viewing destination, and this was very strongly considered.<br />
<br />
What an excellent selection, and all within roughly 1000km of Harare!<br />
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At some point I vaguely remembered seeing a David Attenborough documentary about a fruit bat migration somewhere in central Africa. A quick search told me that the place is Kasanka National Park in northern Zambia, a small park which is nowhere near as famous as the big parks of Southern Africa (Kruger, South Luangwa, etc.).<br />
It didn't take much to convince me this was the place to go, above all the other exciting places - just the simple fact that eight million fruit bats migrate to the Kasanak at the end of every year. What!? Eight <i>million</i>? That's right...<br />
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Kasanka is 1050km away from Harare by the route we drove. We avoided the slightly shorter route via the awful border post at Chirundu.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduIfMfGuYWHK9ujslaIlNRidjtMyJYd5hqSOdM1CNFJOhOfRh05xMq7sv8bugA-pHPacF9qBOXSnqIydWeniMK712UUaqziWm_lvMK9SBe9K8HIGYwHPLTADCC_IXj34QUCRWpcGiqXOE/s1600/00.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjduIfMfGuYWHK9ujslaIlNRidjtMyJYd5hqSOdM1CNFJOhOfRh05xMq7sv8bugA-pHPacF9qBOXSnqIydWeniMK712UUaqziWm_lvMK9SBe9K8HIGYwHPLTADCC_IXj34QUCRWpcGiqXOE/s1600/00.jpg" height="241" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern and Central Africa. The red rectangle outlines the map below.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWv2FSsyUjVKOLp0igktJeJcecYkZ2_VXIIh5tXZUYW61wvYmyDDmZAMe1crhukdQie-9HPc4j8dh2cjFzabC6S0-BH00NmvvgEKmzODsuZ_JsoH-cTZi1UMB7APELYTincYqIfFNz7bIo/s1600/0.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWv2FSsyUjVKOLp0igktJeJcecYkZ2_VXIIh5tXZUYW61wvYmyDDmZAMe1crhukdQie-9HPc4j8dh2cjFzabC6S0-BH00NmvvgEKmzODsuZ_JsoH-cTZi1UMB7APELYTincYqIfFNz7bIo/s1600/0.jpg" height="400" width="275" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWv2FSsyUjVKOLp0igktJeJcecYkZ2_VXIIh5tXZUYW61wvYmyDDmZAMe1crhukdQie-9HPc4j8dh2cjFzabC6S0-BH00NmvvgEKmzODsuZ_JsoH-cTZi1UMB7APELYTincYqIfFNz7bIo/s1600/0.jpg">Click Here</a> for full size.<br />
This is the route we drove, starting from Harare. We went through the border post at Kariba, then on to Kasanka National Park in the north. On the way back we spent a few days in the incredible Mana Pools National Park.</td></tr>
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With our main destination chosen, plus a few days in Mana Pools National Park on the return journey, we set off on just before lunch time on Friday the 18th of October, 2013. The reason for our somewhat tardy departure was a lack of Police clearance for taking the vehicle out of the country! Luckily, we had only budgeted to get to Kariba that day, so we still had enough time to get there after waiting all morning for Police clearance.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzH9yfcLTe4NsLvbAe4hLzxCzlTCPnfnDyeBNSMLDvMug4yR3ku6HNjkW91znycyTOI0SEAfAy1xpGcnSZBWTdTzIbqd7YzL1RP37-JjpVrPzcyxpsJvq6qCfqQ2sZyA8xpDXqW4ps1UTx/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzH9yfcLTe4NsLvbAe4hLzxCzlTCPnfnDyeBNSMLDvMug4yR3ku6HNjkW91znycyTOI0SEAfAy1xpGcnSZBWTdTzIbqd7YzL1RP37-JjpVrPzcyxpsJvq6qCfqQ2sZyA8xpDXqW4ps1UTx/s1600/1.jpg" height="240" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Harare to Lomagundi Lakeside, on the shore of Lake Kariba, about 360km.</td></tr>
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In Kariba at last, we stayed in a friend's holiday cottage in the Lomagundi Lakeside complex. We arrived in good time for sunset on Friday evening, and I managed to sneak in a bit of birding around the cottages and the shoreline.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vu9Y_QhdjO68yRXApqWTM6Xx_kMblGjAVxBkVEG4cjkG6xEA7M9STlbk-RBQdu9Ya4vb7GntnSRClR5TLgtxCDtolcKg4U6CZ4ENXYUtcK3Wf6cHEBaQ5vn3XTqOj43HU_9BMDzypcsd/s1600/102.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vu9Y_QhdjO68yRXApqWTM6Xx_kMblGjAVxBkVEG4cjkG6xEA7M9STlbk-RBQdu9Ya4vb7GntnSRClR5TLgtxCDtolcKg4U6CZ4ENXYUtcK3Wf6cHEBaQ5vn3XTqOj43HU_9BMDzypcsd/s1600/102.jpg" height="112" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This is the view from the bar at Lomagundi Lakeside. Take a moment to notice how many people there are at the edge of the water, then notice the crocodile lower left, one of many on the shores of Kariba. Scary stuff!</td></tr>
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I saw 69 species there including Goliath Heron, Glossy Ibis, Marabou Stork, African Openbill, African Harrier-hawk, Little Sparrowhawk, Water Thick-knee, White-crowned Lapwing, Black-winged Stilt, African Mourning Dove (new bird for me!), African Green-pigeon, Meyer's Parrot, White-browed Coucal, Square-tailed Nightjar, Broad-billed Roller, Southern Red-billed Hornbill, Bennett's Woodpecker, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Ashy Flycatcher, Meves's Starling, White-browed Sparrow-weaver and Lesser Masked-weaver.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EyA-kX6VA3jjVmcuBpxMxZP2Q6W9fDI9IS0DrH_IQgAY8_3HGo45PusXfCwTIgbmprpaB18WIAJDo4zxBDyhBTODrTIYZvuekqEoDaVnL8UlngScFj3ZHWdHKwrL2Sw6QPFo4-TfTYZr/s1600/African+Harrier-hawk01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9EyA-kX6VA3jjVmcuBpxMxZP2Q6W9fDI9IS0DrH_IQgAY8_3HGo45PusXfCwTIgbmprpaB18WIAJDo4zxBDyhBTODrTIYZvuekqEoDaVnL8UlngScFj3ZHWdHKwrL2Sw6QPFo4-TfTYZr/s1600/African+Harrier-hawk01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Harrier-hawk</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuY7vbVUtGQGrEGCdREZ-hesTc5XG_jxmmjzNDbwzUCQ9YCPOqqj0c_tgtGFSy3isYrB3yC5FVfhZK2ps9fihLBjNg8T_e6YWaHhnMufH-tT7ZrLgHtwk_zpEmznbXJf29AmU4f0Cpool/s1600/African+Mourning+Dove04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfuY7vbVUtGQGrEGCdREZ-hesTc5XG_jxmmjzNDbwzUCQ9YCPOqqj0c_tgtGFSy3isYrB3yC5FVfhZK2ps9fihLBjNg8T_e6YWaHhnMufH-tT7ZrLgHtwk_zpEmznbXJf29AmU4f0Cpool/s1600/African+Mourning+Dove04.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Mourning Dove - worth staying at LL just for this.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzi3LBI67VlY_i6TrmxsEm73AlFavuNPCRyoUx-lkGr9fp0OP2H8RiP0xsZk1Yy9W1Jt8NiGIfGnIuVBpumflGSYKCpmSbH8yRDlU9OMfb9GTyhQp22mVnZnrLUJPHjszuphqsymT0TaJ/s1600/African+Openbill01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmzi3LBI67VlY_i6TrmxsEm73AlFavuNPCRyoUx-lkGr9fp0OP2H8RiP0xsZk1Yy9W1Jt8NiGIfGnIuVBpumflGSYKCpmSbH8yRDlU9OMfb9GTyhQp22mVnZnrLUJPHjszuphqsymT0TaJ/s1600/African+Openbill01.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Openbill at sunrise</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAy9iZUFol-OMK0J2S1eyyFHHIhu48D7nolLGKCINxLIv07PVD55MmLBm9ck_73_DXNbzBYI-V2sKDSRokLAlvUsnda4gVQIbacGTrMc8ITAi9jx3bpNsgBkDpeXyAXTbMa0ji5I5JtJLU/s1600/Black-chested+Snake-eagle01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAy9iZUFol-OMK0J2S1eyyFHHIhu48D7nolLGKCINxLIv07PVD55MmLBm9ck_73_DXNbzBYI-V2sKDSRokLAlvUsnda4gVQIbacGTrMc8ITAi9jx3bpNsgBkDpeXyAXTbMa0ji5I5JtJLU/s1600/Black-chested+Snake-eagle01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-chested Snake-eagle</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcO4P_Vxll6NoNT7lD7PKPIU3dL8MXhVPcoP1YvFUK7z1G_QcRchiyCLb24JqeUObGVGM8wJS-bwYpxgfVGNP4DQIU6aPzjpP-Zj266OGYjNnBedppAOwuINeRmiWQxMirHrxkF1HHxAwj/s1600/Kurrichane+Thrush01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcO4P_Vxll6NoNT7lD7PKPIU3dL8MXhVPcoP1YvFUK7z1G_QcRchiyCLb24JqeUObGVGM8wJS-bwYpxgfVGNP4DQIU6aPzjpP-Zj266OGYjNnBedppAOwuINeRmiWQxMirHrxkF1HHxAwj/s1600/Kurrichane+Thrush01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A rather bad photograph of a Kurrichane Thrush showing partial leucism of the head feathers</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7a9wPnZ0eN8Mbmxxi9KOwcCr3UcGVDYqUyPD3CoPG7j6WaxZX6s2swtv0g-RdWFnkc95iU3tIzlQEJPRUZRmi_SsllQRDOxCzKOUhvIcO-rqgMVWXEbNGov40K-oivYKJGsMjC5OGt5-/s1600/Red-winged+Starling01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgl7a9wPnZ0eN8Mbmxxi9KOwcCr3UcGVDYqUyPD3CoPG7j6WaxZX6s2swtv0g-RdWFnkc95iU3tIzlQEJPRUZRmi_SsllQRDOxCzKOUhvIcO-rqgMVWXEbNGov40K-oivYKJGsMjC5OGt5-/s1600/Red-winged+Starling01.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Red-winged Starling</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7P5KbvyocOWImO8DwK1UII39-jd1U16H_FUf8ljhay-tTNshORtwo1C3A6N3a3NsqiffgWAshMRyhryvfORqqpOmDfwK3S5LyOhwsuMJFW-n3zABSQCKjCj_mvnhCNtkrcsvE0U97Nja/s1600/White-crowned+Lapwing01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhG7P5KbvyocOWImO8DwK1UII39-jd1U16H_FUf8ljhay-tTNshORtwo1C3A6N3a3NsqiffgWAshMRyhryvfORqqpOmDfwK3S5LyOhwsuMJFW-n3zABSQCKjCj_mvnhCNtkrcsvE0U97Nja/s1600/White-crowned+Lapwing01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-crowned Lapwing</td></tr>
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We tackled the Kariba border crossing bright and early on Saturday the 19th, with a long way to travel during the day.<br />
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To be continued...<br />
<a href="http://zimbirding.blogspot.com.au/2014/01/the-bats-of-kasanka-part-two-forest-inn.html">Part two - Forest Inn</a><br />
<a href="http://zimbirding.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/the-bats-of-kasanka-part-3-mammals.html">Part three - Kasanka, the Mammals</a><br />
<a href="http://zimbirding.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/the-bats-of-kasanka-part-four-birds.html">Part four - Kasanka, the Birds</a><br />
<a href="http://zimbirding.blogspot.com.au/2014/02/the-bats-of-kasanka-part-five-mana-pools.html">Part Five - Mana Pools</a>Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-68087029582608308812014-01-24T01:11:00.003-08:002014-01-24T01:11:38.987-08:00Fiery-necked NightjarsOn 16 October, 2013 I spent an evening at Haka Park catching and ringing nightjars. Fiery-necked Nightjar was the only species caught, and three birds in one evening was a reasonable catch.<div>
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<div>
The first one caught was an adult female, which we photographed for comparison shots between the male we caught recently. The most distinctive sexing feature was actually the white in the tail, not the white wing-bar.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5izXRDh9A00dCF9x-CnTuI5ipXOoTx-enrsgbJ4E-lj42VF6k0J3hQ4jemB1n_xGajvLgvfO09xvN73zEO6KZbWKB0iuepHop_evmqoCP7b7X7hpRbIGuvIpIp_VNwICFhM4zKqHHaWRF/s1600/comp.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5izXRDh9A00dCF9x-CnTuI5ipXOoTx-enrsgbJ4E-lj42VF6k0J3hQ4jemB1n_xGajvLgvfO09xvN73zEO6KZbWKB0iuepHop_evmqoCP7b7X7hpRbIGuvIpIp_VNwICFhM4zKqHHaWRF/s1600/comp.jpg" height="232" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left: female. Right: male</td></tr>
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<div>
The next two birds we caught in quick succession. It's possible they were even from the same nest, judging by their similar age and close proximity to each other.</div>
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Both were recorded as age 5, which means between 0 and 6 months old. We could actually be a bit more accurate on the age - they were likely laid on or near the full moon in August (although we can't be sure of this) and would have hatched about 18 days later. This would make them just over a month old, recently fledged, when we caught them.</div>
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One was male and the other female, sexed by the amount of white in the outer tail feathers.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmwjZ0iG6YD4xGnnB5igP2QspwzlXqjZKNS8YouyR9afYT205Y5llldCwDWZuJK5YmO-zfzZpSL2wtGXeTlOjgdrgmwx5UI-7c_-l8i7A1AZYdUrNtjlk-wPnBaz1L1wk_xHyHKd7brGR/s1600/DSC_2263b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUmwjZ0iG6YD4xGnnB5igP2QspwzlXqjZKNS8YouyR9afYT205Y5llldCwDWZuJK5YmO-zfzZpSL2wtGXeTlOjgdrgmwx5UI-7c_-l8i7A1AZYdUrNtjlk-wPnBaz1L1wk_xHyHKd7brGR/s1600/DSC_2263b.jpg" height="241" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The wing-bars of the two juveniles. Not much difference between male (left) and female (right).</td></tr>
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Juvenile plumage is actually very distinct from adult plumage. Compare the wings of the two juvenile birds, followed by the one adult bird. The secondaries and coverts are very different in the two age groups. The primaries and primary coverts show less contrast between the ages.<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ybJCuQcXxtRO2BADFzC3evHpxIe322IyMsXD-vchDFlDqn8Qowi3mtUhKf13IuY8wWKqur_Uv2ly8D_sSUvD0DaKAQ3Lb9fls86XasrdyxaFqrHf7U8MhrdFxrYk1oQ_U2i6TR1AYoWI/s1600/compar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3ybJCuQcXxtRO2BADFzC3evHpxIe322IyMsXD-vchDFlDqn8Qowi3mtUhKf13IuY8wWKqur_Uv2ly8D_sSUvD0DaKAQ3Lb9fls86XasrdyxaFqrHf7U8MhrdFxrYk1oQ_U2i6TR1AYoWI/s1600/compar.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile male (top) and female (bottom) outstretched wings.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHZKbtf4K1On4pNXIKWBCjs1_0uJ7hYpBSIdFCjtsVXL00cMQqSsCzAtBEZkJ1hCywPom1zcQ41IJjpQwKUtwyNjjIbjejI-0X5-QH7e2VKzmfWaWi5yelgp__ncb-AAwYQw7HRaH3_FP/s1600/4-1+Adult+Male+(CC35703)wing.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQHZKbtf4K1On4pNXIKWBCjs1_0uJ7hYpBSIdFCjtsVXL00cMQqSsCzAtBEZkJ1hCywPom1zcQ41IJjpQwKUtwyNjjIbjejI-0X5-QH7e2VKzmfWaWi5yelgp__ncb-AAwYQw7HRaH3_FP/s1600/4-1+Adult+Male+(CC35703)wing.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Adult male outstretched wing.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One bird was also moulting its rictal bristles, something I hadn't seen before.</div>
<div>
<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPJ-LzT9zJvtUOKL8cQtNcs2icA3658OY_XZY69o1oTsOOgfDU12yPeUaEDNFU4rap8cTRxIsARvzBAWpq0qCNiMu19shfi6AD_p3rERk88_i5Yu6rB2ZpdiwFOsftCGOeypq3P8qNf0d/s1600/DSC_2271.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbPJ-LzT9zJvtUOKL8cQtNcs2icA3658OY_XZY69o1oTsOOgfDU12yPeUaEDNFU4rap8cTRxIsARvzBAWpq0qCNiMu19shfi6AD_p3rERk88_i5Yu6rB2ZpdiwFOsftCGOeypq3P8qNf0d/s1600/DSC_2271.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waxy sheaths are still present on the newer rictal bristles.</td></tr>
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<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-84651116988502517992014-01-21T19:23:00.002-08:002014-01-21T19:23:14.940-08:00A Brief Holiday Away from the SunThe Vumba is one of my favourite birding places in Zimbabwe. I drove up there on October 13 to spend two nights at Seldomseen.<br />
Not once during those two days and nights did I see the sun!<br />
The mist rolled in when I arrived and didn't let up by the time I left. Vumba is notoriously good at being misty, but this was taking it to a new level. The mist was quite heavy, bordering on light drizzle at times. My waterproof hiking boots became normal hiking boots after a while!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuzFhrGmwv8obbtuAUPkOGZKQlDExzMRP6IFOZ5qfVEFJ1jYEkra2GPi9uUrn4NFRZguWHIb8l9m8byB6lDyikG9BkgLhY482CG9N-H-S_B06H9paUpgYqcb8dRKkEZ33TWGhGVvWPiHk/s1600/DSC_1923.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJuzFhrGmwv8obbtuAUPkOGZKQlDExzMRP6IFOZ5qfVEFJ1jYEkra2GPi9uUrn4NFRZguWHIb8l9m8byB6lDyikG9BkgLhY482CG9N-H-S_B06H9paUpgYqcb8dRKkEZ33TWGhGVvWPiHk/s1600/DSC_1923.JPG" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I actually really like the misty conditions, despite the birding difficulties that it entails. It certainly makes for interesting landscape photography.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ks_jHIY_nvlCFeyqjMMJd4EN1_zYZqiUBu60_e0olY62s9qg6xos09R9Gxsmqitkka93sCrCgEN9xMKHNedLvMvEFp_i1-9-5Zycr9QnTW3mDw1-tvhkn2zVSjOlS6PSOhpR8dp5UNwF/s1600/DSC_2043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0ks_jHIY_nvlCFeyqjMMJd4EN1_zYZqiUBu60_e0olY62s9qg6xos09R9Gxsmqitkka93sCrCgEN9xMKHNedLvMvEFp_i1-9-5Zycr9QnTW3mDw1-tvhkn2zVSjOlS6PSOhpR8dp5UNwF/s1600/DSC_2043.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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Despite all the wetness, the birds were still pretty active. I guess if you lived in a place where the mist can blanket everything for days, you'd have to learn to hunt and feed in the wet.<br />
<br />
The mist did, however, make it quite dark and exceedingly difficult to photograph birds. I actually gave up trying to get any pictures of real use, and just tried to enjoy the wildlife.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj277QZkNtd8qI2E7Wgf9wcv8NGRQALQ_bCb9vGm8sWL89AyXEK8_IjbO14jdo2aF9W9zUtTWCrg8zJjqIgrR9T5zqBDeC17JPaHU1xS1Y0PWFUfvmckRm5NMPfjydpyYr7ipGw6wG4oMXu/s1600/DSC_2081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj277QZkNtd8qI2E7Wgf9wcv8NGRQALQ_bCb9vGm8sWL89AyXEK8_IjbO14jdo2aF9W9zUtTWCrg8zJjqIgrR9T5zqBDeC17JPaHU1xS1Y0PWFUfvmckRm5NMPfjydpyYr7ipGw6wG4oMXu/s1600/DSC_2081.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birding in the forest</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I saw (or heard) many of the Vumba specials, including Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler, Barratt's Warbler, White-starred Robin, Lemon Dove, Buff-spotted Flufftail (Heard nearby and tried hard to see this, but no luck), African Firefinch, Olive Bush-shrike, Gorgeous Bush-shrike (my main target on this trip - heard but not seen!), Swynnerton's Robin, Black-fronted Bush-shrike and Bronzy Sunbird.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbE74aEy5Nnwqq16iPsHE-F9tRm2N1fHrpDVEhSW0QPsSydABdExQSJJv9b_IyQky6UYGJma_Nzo3gt40-uWa1ptq0s_TYk6836yyp_E1760o7F-4-REDe_tSlL_2VCxzOQkULB_dlnE7/s1600/African+Dusky+Flycatcher05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDbE74aEy5Nnwqq16iPsHE-F9tRm2N1fHrpDVEhSW0QPsSydABdExQSJJv9b_IyQky6UYGJma_Nzo3gt40-uWa1ptq0s_TYk6836yyp_E1760o7F-4-REDe_tSlL_2VCxzOQkULB_dlnE7/s1600/African+Dusky+Flycatcher05.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Dusky Flycatcher</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NKYNZl6VtF8rJn8y-nwp0Vzpe-gYU3UriOQnLy5M3n8W0OlWzmnCzk1bYajEQUAEneCq3r6zn9JKCe1SGQS_4DdN7m6vddkEDcRf__iudOJc6aorFND0VmTrGmp9r28a4Y2qLiJqS-BT/s1600/Bronzy+Sunbird02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6NKYNZl6VtF8rJn8y-nwp0Vzpe-gYU3UriOQnLy5M3n8W0OlWzmnCzk1bYajEQUAEneCq3r6zn9JKCe1SGQS_4DdN7m6vddkEDcRf__iudOJc6aorFND0VmTrGmp9r28a4Y2qLiJqS-BT/s1600/Bronzy+Sunbird02.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bronzy Sunbird male</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_q6OlAwtIzNutT8Eiz53GMVsehvx5qUuCVrI0bYmU8nM1ffddolMIo4REq9htgn5vv400C2H8v7NuIr1mo6QLRLL3HpS414-m2nAGYIA2vF8iL4g1NS8wCNJoJnQH4fuq8cTDF723xXm/s1600/Olive+Thrush02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm_q6OlAwtIzNutT8Eiz53GMVsehvx5qUuCVrI0bYmU8nM1ffddolMIo4REq9htgn5vv400C2H8v7NuIr1mo6QLRLL3HpS414-m2nAGYIA2vF8iL4g1NS8wCNJoJnQH4fuq8cTDF723xXm/s1600/Olive+Thrush02.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Olive Thrush</td></tr>
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I found a couple of nesting birds. African Dusky Flycatcher was feeding chicks in the nest near the bottom cottage.<br />
I visited a tree where I know Swynnerton's Robin had nested before (last time I checked was in 2009), and lo and behold! There was a nest with an egg in it. There was no sign of the parents, so I left it alone and checked later on. Much to my surprise there were two eggs in the nest, and the parent Swynnerton's Robins were hanging around.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LrIigF38JHuP0rIIuHXjnGRKhiqb6MMUlTnUzkE-szhOZ_koxdHi_bH9_QqcJcbbfokGJLkkF7JXjft0qhEj3HDOICY6RcQGHunZW0sDM5KIkM8B9fMODRETV9qSuc-lsnIY1Ejtajba/s1600/Swynnerton's+Robin08.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0LrIigF38JHuP0rIIuHXjnGRKhiqb6MMUlTnUzkE-szhOZ_koxdHi_bH9_QqcJcbbfokGJLkkF7JXjft0qhEj3HDOICY6RcQGHunZW0sDM5KIkM8B9fMODRETV9qSuc-lsnIY1Ejtajba/s1600/Swynnerton's+Robin08.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">5:50am - one egg in the nest</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VOa_Ya-O9onr7qPggUF4pyLkAv02m892nFWVp2tU-N3TCvuFM17WhPJ8ZjOt3EyVCGc8nOHfP7ghyphenhyphen77Dd7XPsZPAtMa4GuhR4zLMS3gwWONfCmf-yG-Zn-pxh5WsR_qKiK1tC1Ff0q8B/s1600/Swynnerton's+Robin09.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7VOa_Ya-O9onr7qPggUF4pyLkAv02m892nFWVp2tU-N3TCvuFM17WhPJ8ZjOt3EyVCGc8nOHfP7ghyphenhyphen77Dd7XPsZPAtMa4GuhR4zLMS3gwWONfCmf-yG-Zn-pxh5WsR_qKiK1tC1Ff0q8B/s1600/Swynnerton's+Robin09.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2:00pm - and then there were two!</td></tr>
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I visited Leopard Rock Hotel in an attempt to escape the mist. It was still misty there, but it actually partially lifted for about an hour. I could even see past the end of my nose.<br />
There were a few different birds here: African Stonechat, Black Cuckooshrike, Red-faced Crimsonwing and Giant Kingfisher to name a few. I also saw Blue (Samango) Monkey and Bushbuck on the golf course.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_6SjsSL7Io5rxEbuFjqlOvl9DZH058sVSAaV1YOOjKKCrHt8vzzxK2ptsuvTdYuE16djFyHpGJ1ocs4vG_DI97dgoq06tQKLqKnX0TcdbBrBZWFaGez-AuzyOdXD7o9CgkboA5dFiZze/s1600/DSC_2131.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhg_6SjsSL7Io5rxEbuFjqlOvl9DZH058sVSAaV1YOOjKKCrHt8vzzxK2ptsuvTdYuE16djFyHpGJ1ocs4vG_DI97dgoq06tQKLqKnX0TcdbBrBZWFaGez-AuzyOdXD7o9CgkboA5dFiZze/s1600/DSC_2131.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The mist lifted a little bit. You can hardly see it in this picture</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfO3WhveJ2TBPy9Jlu4kwIYhlHcBKYcPBpysddEZVbY2jg6BalfUP_IhirAUao5zBTAeGgYqcq60S2aR-EBkgJ-htqgVuhrazcA43OfPP_2Ly-MCfcmAMY8MRUte-YuQa2Bt8oVJDa-CP/s1600/DSC_2171.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKfO3WhveJ2TBPy9Jlu4kwIYhlHcBKYcPBpysddEZVbY2jg6BalfUP_IhirAUao5zBTAeGgYqcq60S2aR-EBkgJ-htqgVuhrazcA43OfPP_2Ly-MCfcmAMY8MRUte-YuQa2Bt8oVJDa-CP/s1600/DSC_2171.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Then the mist returned... Here I am looking towards the hotel, which is behind the barely visible trees on the hill</td></tr>
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<br />
Between Harare and Vumba is a small town called Headlands. Very near this town is the one place in the country where you stand a good chance of seeing South African Cliff-swallow. The birds have been breeding under two small bridges for a number of years, but their numbers have been fewer in recent years. Hopefully they will continue to cling on. I stopped on the way to Vumba and was perhaps a bit early in the year, as I only saw one distant bird, and no nests.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKps2I5AFmgHqrubuPb6YOMOEQQ_gzW9basaa_Jdz1iOGKFuLx6C6XAXrFfmg2L1v2ZqMjrXiZu0tcGpiq7nCoJYGe-Q5b2hxiy8WbhRrbN9wl5G2i24oEKPoFKZcuuzA4yCQV17jSCt2Y/s1600/South+African+Cliff-swallow02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKps2I5AFmgHqrubuPb6YOMOEQQ_gzW9basaa_Jdz1iOGKFuLx6C6XAXrFfmg2L1v2ZqMjrXiZu0tcGpiq7nCoJYGe-Q5b2hxiy8WbhRrbN9wl5G2i24oEKPoFKZcuuzA4yCQV17jSCt2Y/s1600/South+African+Cliff-swallow02.JPG" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A terrible photograph, but nonetheless my only South African Cliff-swallow photo from Zimbabwe</td></tr>
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<br />Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-4317037455926859362014-01-19T23:22:00.003-08:002014-01-19T23:22:36.505-08:00Haka Park, October 5thThe BirdLife Zimbabwe walk on Saturday the 5th October 2013 was at Haka Game Park. There was a rather large group of us, around 25 people. This meant lots of little birding groups, and a fairly high combined species count (although I can't remember the number - it's been a while!). Highlights were African Snipe, Black-chested Snake-eagle, Striped Kingfisher, European Honey-buzzard and probably a few others that I've forgotten about...<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7adELN_pX1O5tz01NCPjsceL7CVoCRZpda4w9JkVYQI8xnssrGekxjrpu7Ap9kRn7LJVK0eDat4Og3-gwPk_rDOtbsBPmVwhwyB9PKNAtLxStbpiGl3rEGTQuMdmkAnthr0YuO3JyJfTK/s1600/100.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7adELN_pX1O5tz01NCPjsceL7CVoCRZpda4w9JkVYQI8xnssrGekxjrpu7Ap9kRn7LJVK0eDat4Og3-gwPk_rDOtbsBPmVwhwyB9PKNAtLxStbpiGl3rEGTQuMdmkAnthr0YuO3JyJfTK/s1600/100.jpg" height="55" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Panoramic view of Cleveland Dam.</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIAretTNjbspWTvyABLYWUA3JXWMBFOm2rkb_SL3QjgiKJRERaXATJ6rLXOs_zM-Fm0odHhesreSrBqkq9S8f5JcSgzJzDR1gFIIndYoWP1np0z2LMDEtG4WC-Qe4QkrKylW1OuuSzdc9/s1600/Black-chested+Snake-eagle02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBIAretTNjbspWTvyABLYWUA3JXWMBFOm2rkb_SL3QjgiKJRERaXATJ6rLXOs_zM-Fm0odHhesreSrBqkq9S8f5JcSgzJzDR1gFIIndYoWP1np0z2LMDEtG4WC-Qe4QkrKylW1OuuSzdc9/s1600/Black-chested+Snake-eagle02.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Low flyover of a Black-chested Snake-eagle</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGfJiHIOxCp4954KjRYBJ4_NTo-929PV97cdI4h5BfI_CQfCl2YV74H0rfaN8MQ1DiDRFBlghW2ZBkrNraKLgftXSrRhlMwLNi8fS-blUEaXekyaZ3Jk3Ni_6pzCjEewfRsiQy43GXGvl/s1600/Common+Moorhen15.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcGfJiHIOxCp4954KjRYBJ4_NTo-929PV97cdI4h5BfI_CQfCl2YV74H0rfaN8MQ1DiDRFBlghW2ZBkrNraKLgftXSrRhlMwLNi8fS-blUEaXekyaZ3Jk3Ni_6pzCjEewfRsiQy43GXGvl/s1600/Common+Moorhen15.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Moorhen with recently hatched chicks</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWzsKKUd5gnttQwRm7zYMghpm_-sI0woTZMEJnn7F94Tk7WKg8iR9e-Js22JK8khoL5kgTZ9XLDIvSV8fKrRoASwZcpAjeMNY7hF8pgYoKMQNBCw4ZtoVSpxWPKv2qYAZlyfHx3rP-A_Z/s1600/DSC_9689.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKWzsKKUd5gnttQwRm7zYMghpm_-sI0woTZMEJnn7F94Tk7WKg8iR9e-Js22JK8khoL5kgTZ9XLDIvSV8fKrRoASwZcpAjeMNY7hF8pgYoKMQNBCw4ZtoVSpxWPKv2qYAZlyfHx3rP-A_Z/s1600/DSC_9689.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Groundscraper Thrush</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpRwq1vVlCM-IA8SqIpdusVlvsU36GCzoPcY4HyuNpYdEV2mGnSR-pjXaC8FGGeCQeFrYMFdKy_Y2QuNu_OuTmtq03IcPh8MHDbLNf816HGr4nzgNvJxOVDZgcTAuQh6gM0vZSx-mO7OQ/s1600/European+Honey-buzzard02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQpRwq1vVlCM-IA8SqIpdusVlvsU36GCzoPcY4HyuNpYdEV2mGnSR-pjXaC8FGGeCQeFrYMFdKy_Y2QuNu_OuTmtq03IcPh8MHDbLNf816HGr4nzgNvJxOVDZgcTAuQh6gM0vZSx-mO7OQ/s1600/European+Honey-buzzard02.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">European Honey-buzzard. Not a good photo, but an unusual bird.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6iMUPR8hA7Jo9Fs82MrBotg0T9trmjkG7RzhcbnaO9EmafNOl6GtPF-LB2w6yq7sFTXAcghJLNG7XExxRgvarGhLXfuoREfHTGlBu11NKnk-aPQTsUOhZ5qD4j291_77VrDua5VrCLl5G/s1600/Plains+Zebra05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6iMUPR8hA7Jo9Fs82MrBotg0T9trmjkG7RzhcbnaO9EmafNOl6GtPF-LB2w6yq7sFTXAcghJLNG7XExxRgvarGhLXfuoREfHTGlBu11NKnk-aPQTsUOhZ5qD4j291_77VrDua5VrCLl5G/s1600/Plains+Zebra05.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zebra foal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijX4PGf0GmH1pjHAQlqhEGdOQzwRczF42h9RVu6Q7UfcRkXIjqYg3iQ7TNfQk5mKUk0pqKafLe5hNv52AMApBLb3-FFEvfLHAsXpU6Hf17xIObcCZBZDDtGfizRxf-8P3sYC9WLxTQh0qF/s1600/Striped+Kingfisher03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijX4PGf0GmH1pjHAQlqhEGdOQzwRczF42h9RVu6Q7UfcRkXIjqYg3iQ7TNfQk5mKUk0pqKafLe5hNv52AMApBLb3-FFEvfLHAsXpU6Hf17xIObcCZBZDDtGfizRxf-8P3sYC9WLxTQh0qF/s1600/Striped+Kingfisher03.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Striped Kingfisher</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWh3D8XZgRJJ25F5yMRO6i-v0gTDp3giCQQc1e6YKWSWjJXn-xRltsvmFIx2wVgaldN-uts-TrRBuy7mwjEA0zx7C3qfSfCLLfuakHffHeaolFUxu_dTFk0pYdD9n6nGRDSlPsvhisNBJ/s1600/Yellow-fronted+Tinkerbird04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIWh3D8XZgRJJ25F5yMRO6i-v0gTDp3giCQQc1e6YKWSWjJXn-xRltsvmFIx2wVgaldN-uts-TrRBuy7mwjEA0zx7C3qfSfCLLfuakHffHeaolFUxu_dTFk0pYdD9n6nGRDSlPsvhisNBJ/s1600/Yellow-fronted+Tinkerbird04.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Many of my blog posts feature some sort of non-bird type critter that I've found, and this one is no different:<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gJ-LeYLr2qMiXfDsKKK40aM7-V8jP1XGG38MIVMF4mxoTwvXEQUFD6n4XxCxGunexyu1hQjKbt2LiIvsO5EwaQonZuiVrCGCoast8kYoKDjNyjn4EbH8eVPf7dL3M1E4N-XMj51lmSA2/s1600/DSC_1617.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4gJ-LeYLr2qMiXfDsKKK40aM7-V8jP1XGG38MIVMF4mxoTwvXEQUFD6n4XxCxGunexyu1hQjKbt2LiIvsO5EwaQonZuiVrCGCoast8kYoKDjNyjn4EbH8eVPf7dL3M1E4N-XMj51lmSA2/s1600/DSC_1617.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Latrodectus geometricus</i> (Brown Widow). Don't get bitten! Related to the Black Widow, and the Redback Spider of Australia.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCmJCeSPMkezP2hdElCoZ9V0K8RESgQzENV0KRlg9izNKkedFgNWDa26_Cz5xw4C8umUJ14VyQV-fTLzTl-WV38ElFZ1X-zzNzjiUlhQrtVqoNIDLaPcqwZ1uK4VMgiVKXfSp0ghuRWZ1/s1600/Flap-neck+Chameleon02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQCmJCeSPMkezP2hdElCoZ9V0K8RESgQzENV0KRlg9izNKkedFgNWDa26_Cz5xw4C8umUJ14VyQV-fTLzTl-WV38ElFZ1X-zzNzjiUlhQrtVqoNIDLaPcqwZ1uK4VMgiVKXfSp0ghuRWZ1/s1600/Flap-neck+Chameleon02.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flap-necked Chameleon. This guy was crossing the road, so I turned around save him. The lady walking past at the time was not impressed when I suddenly jumped out of the car and scooped up a chameleon right next to her!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJiIW0wyEYHOB6BvVYAPLthPalffObh9n0r-CgJ_qEBp4IUW6ByMRYn58UpY37xmq9-I8cUWD4poYeFPih2E5-AT7VYgYhi2w2NtRnGFS1IbZ31prIJdsA9Cp8HyR5v2WJXD_nzL6joO9/s1600/Southern+Tree+Agama01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvJiIW0wyEYHOB6BvVYAPLthPalffObh9n0r-CgJ_qEBp4IUW6ByMRYn58UpY37xmq9-I8cUWD4poYeFPih2E5-AT7VYgYhi2w2NtRnGFS1IbZ31prIJdsA9Cp8HyR5v2WJXD_nzL6joO9/s1600/Southern+Tree+Agama01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Southern Tree Agama, without the bright blue head colouration</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Best of all was a Brown House Snake (<i>Lamprophis fuliginosus</i>) rescued from a busy road by a friend of mine. He gave it to me to photograph before releasing it. The snake was very calm and hardly seemed to mind being handled. It was a most lovely snake.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8nkFLRASK-LDK5wBTb5aFvrCMFbkcePS0nXX-NKMpqaEYDUFiGMG-OFC7EDLQ8cHjIfL4w2CuqPOPo3qnMS48Ju2q8JC8g-Y0u4kwrQG6VAbn8BYIzBTrYehdg84arbm5RNvueVNUUXx/s1600/Brown+House+Snake02.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhY8nkFLRASK-LDK5wBTb5aFvrCMFbkcePS0nXX-NKMpqaEYDUFiGMG-OFC7EDLQ8cHjIfL4w2CuqPOPo3qnMS48Ju2q8JC8g-Y0u4kwrQG6VAbn8BYIzBTrYehdg84arbm5RNvueVNUUXx/s1600/Brown+House+Snake02.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2Nh0DCU047b2begrY10xJVbC_swMotPLWXiG_jIH3RkstvK286QoFWGNr53USr5QIOnOGlL1k3CSa4v0Pz7zxfMBgoksixleMsuLyu41fnD9YTEKuKbhBuBhaLU1FbT4uWfbdQC-t5M1/s1600/Brown+House+Snake11.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb2Nh0DCU047b2begrY10xJVbC_swMotPLWXiG_jIH3RkstvK286QoFWGNr53USr5QIOnOGlL1k3CSa4v0Pz7zxfMBgoksixleMsuLyu41fnD9YTEKuKbhBuBhaLU1FbT4uWfbdQC-t5M1/s1600/Brown+House+Snake11.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snake photography is rather difficult, I discovered</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipofORpfTlyUSweDPz7TaIXQH8qRkSOJYUECpgBma69DfkOToXXquVD69iLN6XxeNTWUrbvf45FLnVkjB3FBANo6CJgappyXzW1DoOVXJB7y8RdYW0XlucMpcRfjYFdyW9z4a-19GUfIvJ/s1600/DSC_1548.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipofORpfTlyUSweDPz7TaIXQH8qRkSOJYUECpgBma69DfkOToXXquVD69iLN6XxeNTWUrbvf45FLnVkjB3FBANo6CJgappyXzW1DoOVXJB7y8RdYW0XlucMpcRfjYFdyW9z4a-19GUfIvJ/s1600/DSC_1548.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">To give you an idea of size</td></tr>
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<br />Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-21581093939344451482014-01-17T18:43:00.001-08:002014-01-17T18:43:35.568-08:00Nesting TimeBreeding season was in full swing, with nesting birds just about everywhere I looked!<br />
Black-backed Puffback was building a nest in my mum's garden, and a pair of Kurrichane Thrush were feeding chicks a few trees away. Meanwhile, the Black-throated Wattle-eye and Fork-tailed Drongo nests were still active in Greystone Park.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwsaGuRpqtOsljih9uafT6NhY4DfuHb4h_vDUROHqivoRZfXWu6Hdv62FlBaBHlvXz7QpHgR6IVhG9RRaRG3eIJ_jWJ0PLJmMF1MLWXltRdYcLM3vaeDxEIwS3n6-JE3GD4QznKGevRNr/s1600/Dark-capped+Bulbul01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwsaGuRpqtOsljih9uafT6NhY4DfuHb4h_vDUROHqivoRZfXWu6Hdv62FlBaBHlvXz7QpHgR6IVhG9RRaRG3eIJ_jWJ0PLJmMF1MLWXltRdYcLM3vaeDxEIwS3n6-JE3GD4QznKGevRNr/s1600/Dark-capped+Bulbul01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dark-capped Bulbul, Helensvale</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rJX_okLxAUuoFYRVjOfPfc6cpRUis3HiXDNZk98Kdovy-0CvjYVtFO5GEgj_bI6mtwIYhdWYydoehxrmP2yxPqMaJRzDalz79jgaDDWlk4FdHLAbIyeWtwRJlQr6xkyOcX19RdHzeGZ-/s1600/Kurrichane+Thrush04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_rJX_okLxAUuoFYRVjOfPfc6cpRUis3HiXDNZk98Kdovy-0CvjYVtFO5GEgj_bI6mtwIYhdWYydoehxrmP2yxPqMaJRzDalz79jgaDDWlk4FdHLAbIyeWtwRJlQr6xkyOcX19RdHzeGZ-/s1600/Kurrichane+Thrush04.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kurrichane Thrush on nest. You can see one of the chicks' head peeking out on the right. The nest was rather messy-looking, and featured feathers, string and even a snake skin (hanging bottom right) in the construction!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
Birding in Ewanrigg on the 5th of October was just as good. A Chinspot Batis was feeding chicks in a tree next to the car park, and the Southern White-faced Scops-owl was still nesting close to the gate. Other birds included Red-headed Weaver, African Green-pigeon, Magpie Mannikin, Copper Sunbird, Shikra, White-winged Widowbird, Miombo Blue-eared Starling, Red-breasted Swallow, Whyte's Barbet and Ashy Flycatcher.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7U1ppCny-4wWI1hYpDCyo5b83ZHLWKlz2y3CFXeV0ixn-YOe_jj2sQ92UD57fc5jT-6VaKK-kYgJjdGgrPuBXeqwPNtDNVwyezrQ96IDFjoWvfwGDfH7tPSd0ne9GRKtPidFO-cv10mq/s1600/Chinspot+Batis01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_7U1ppCny-4wWI1hYpDCyo5b83ZHLWKlz2y3CFXeV0ixn-YOe_jj2sQ92UD57fc5jT-6VaKK-kYgJjdGgrPuBXeqwPNtDNVwyezrQ96IDFjoWvfwGDfH7tPSd0ne9GRKtPidFO-cv10mq/s1600/Chinspot+Batis01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chinspot Batis female at the nest (with a chick poking out).</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcNflZAnJJEXtP3K5A_rWXfr5210R3TPgukxc5j-RKiuQyX8O40dejXzw7w3R9z-LSrc-sDSEZt8dgzTnGrRi8A9PZeChtaQo35sA7yojutJUVFy6Y_fRgmwz56o3uN3q3-8UoUzTg6-e/s1600/Miombo+Blue-eared+Starling01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcNflZAnJJEXtP3K5A_rWXfr5210R3TPgukxc5j-RKiuQyX8O40dejXzw7w3R9z-LSrc-sDSEZt8dgzTnGrRi8A9PZeChtaQo35sA7yojutJUVFy6Y_fRgmwz56o3uN3q3-8UoUzTg6-e/s1600/Miombo+Blue-eared+Starling01.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miombo Blue-eared Starling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-4Fyo0TrLRlKH0ICJkbyUHqB5n8RbYOa04YGHgE5dyy9fr-2pGEOdASMOwG2vB-Wc6a5xBxctmmmzgODPf3DUGb_HqHAaeGS4wY5a0VuZbcKwuyyPs0DQoJzTyHudwfH0YP_VgQpKY8b/s1600/Natal+Spurfowl01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEix-4Fyo0TrLRlKH0ICJkbyUHqB5n8RbYOa04YGHgE5dyy9fr-2pGEOdASMOwG2vB-Wc6a5xBxctmmmzgODPf3DUGb_HqHAaeGS4wY5a0VuZbcKwuyyPs0DQoJzTyHudwfH0YP_VgQpKY8b/s1600/Natal+Spurfowl01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Natal Spurfowl family</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4-JiplCiY6gqXrYWUAFHgTShNrSYOwh9fcBCOL3Vkkb1X7XMcY7Ao1CW_e0GwaZaHV11a6GdmY3YoVaavDsmLID_9QxeOkzKo51bGNnHi9miuOYjAgf6Gn03ihzMkjRFt3h6aOgnxrM9/s1600/Southern+White-faced+Scops-owl03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD4-JiplCiY6gqXrYWUAFHgTShNrSYOwh9fcBCOL3Vkkb1X7XMcY7Ao1CW_e0GwaZaHV11a6GdmY3YoVaavDsmLID_9QxeOkzKo51bGNnHi9miuOYjAgf6Gn03ihzMkjRFt3h6aOgnxrM9/s1600/Southern+White-faced+Scops-owl03.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The star of the show; Southern White-faced Scops-owl sitting on the nest, a little above head height from the ground!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPOsQKjv0OdHFc9gPm2wi4hqf6TYPcj6FM-d7lhVAnaks5p7pP9YkFKTcUNEXf1angyVGBxwAdzWWlwWFC_5C6DZ7rhfPnXhWO8rgoPnY1QXGC3ZUrNFCdvS0FlCrMer6qccX0gY13xYV/s1600/Kirk's+Rock+Agama01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUPOsQKjv0OdHFc9gPm2wi4hqf6TYPcj6FM-d7lhVAnaks5p7pP9YkFKTcUNEXf1angyVGBxwAdzWWlwWFC_5C6DZ7rhfPnXhWO8rgoPnY1QXGC3ZUrNFCdvS0FlCrMer6qccX0gY13xYV/s1600/Kirk's+Rock+Agama01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male <i>Agama kirkii</i> (Kirk's Rock Agama) in a tree. It obviously cares little for such stereotypical names as 'rock agama'.</td></tr>
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The breeding situation was the same at Mukuvisi Woodlands the next day. Distant views of Wahlberg's Eagle nesting in the eucalypts, Little Bee-eater, Laughing Dove, Bronze Mannikin and the usual weavers all featured, but the main award goes to a Spotted Creeper sitting on the nest. What a great thing to see!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3oq0cJsaTWF5PLB35cd01ThDIpVMn2rq5UC21sE4X3Nj38uAY9QhtdOY-x7LzA5FLRLqZF6JNZQeLk3I7jroCrDz-1wG7_NUtWRycfY8TPmpEDgoV1c0NJLXXm8mrpdasKjqWCt1p-z4/s1600/Lesser+Honeyguide01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA3oq0cJsaTWF5PLB35cd01ThDIpVMn2rq5UC21sE4X3Nj38uAY9QhtdOY-x7LzA5FLRLqZF6JNZQeLk3I7jroCrDz-1wG7_NUtWRycfY8TPmpEDgoV1c0NJLXXm8mrpdasKjqWCt1p-z4/s1600/Lesser+Honeyguide01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lesser Honeyguide</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyQ7GZ_Twoac3iiecHH8mjnZ8ALl6xDBnSERUWspudV9TagliBx-lQzr7FnU-f7wW_rF2PgW_SUoikiCYd4nLM3DnwlEGP3id73Ak42e5WPFXcaKWIf-NmaDlEli5EfjEXRYV8lPwXFYC/s1600/Little+Bee-eater12.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoyQ7GZ_Twoac3iiecHH8mjnZ8ALl6xDBnSERUWspudV9TagliBx-lQzr7FnU-f7wW_rF2PgW_SUoikiCYd4nLM3DnwlEGP3id73Ak42e5WPFXcaKWIf-NmaDlEli5EfjEXRYV8lPwXFYC/s1600/Little+Bee-eater12.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Little Bee-eater, posing nicely</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYos38lGmRPMMv6tuY2rUVNMKjkoyLR9Ta1LpinN96ZfTHXxgSzQtz6WbJ2WI09GgN9Y4YaDuX3VngwdeWn0z860TOJ2XIiqjzs5WZp_OWH-Lsoa3yQUSXr4dLkNeQv4rOhTQoPXSxG_0k/s1600/Little+Bee-eater14.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYos38lGmRPMMv6tuY2rUVNMKjkoyLR9Ta1LpinN96ZfTHXxgSzQtz6WbJ2WI09GgN9Y4YaDuX3VngwdeWn0z860TOJ2XIiqjzs5WZp_OWH-Lsoa3yQUSXr4dLkNeQv4rOhTQoPXSxG_0k/s1600/Little+Bee-eater14.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVotz46i0yzDt515Qo74xkbOOkIMziUQxcHm3_9nQKTwXVRy4MM7yowcduvtPOaL_hApFni7uHHgUdvldySm11INOSMvaYHcYr0OLHox0jjfHR4b1bksNwDUmeBw85CM_OYmSdEFB3IIAo/s1600/Miombo+Tit01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVotz46i0yzDt515Qo74xkbOOkIMziUQxcHm3_9nQKTwXVRy4MM7yowcduvtPOaL_hApFni7uHHgUdvldySm11INOSMvaYHcYr0OLHox0jjfHR4b1bksNwDUmeBw85CM_OYmSdEFB3IIAo/s1600/Miombo+Tit01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Miombo Tit</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwT-jRfPP6T-6ObZY_3LdDTUdzvroakAB_sKILKaTh6_FaoJ2ox-Gz1xGTP1Y7rnrDbDkjoftvTeh_-nja8bAVqRbwKtML6TvPnuXYaG149aWJiUrY3HlwOxQdXeSWIBRazNDLjgsNAeUD/s1600/Spotted+Creeper04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwT-jRfPP6T-6ObZY_3LdDTUdzvroakAB_sKILKaTh6_FaoJ2ox-Gz1xGTP1Y7rnrDbDkjoftvTeh_-nja8bAVqRbwKtML6TvPnuXYaG149aWJiUrY3HlwOxQdXeSWIBRazNDLjgsNAeUD/s1600/Spotted+Creeper04.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted Creeper doing its best twig impression.</td></tr>
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Greengrove Dam was almost dried up, and very quiet. However, we did have a short visit from a Green Sandpiper - a great bird for Harare. Few migrate as far as Zim each year, and in South Africa they are considered a rarity, as far as I know.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIg59EZU_DcrP5dYVIAtC4O9UPsD7slUWtr_qm-D-YBCkTD74MnnlQTLfRTItpj638Uj3p2z9E7D5XO_g3UVVFYHArZX1s5yznyde-11uEKA5rZV_qSHOqTvWN4qz_ZTFfTLb3zcjarq5a/s1600/Green+Sandpiper01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIg59EZU_DcrP5dYVIAtC4O9UPsD7slUWtr_qm-D-YBCkTD74MnnlQTLfRTItpj638Uj3p2z9E7D5XO_g3UVVFYHArZX1s5yznyde-11uEKA5rZV_qSHOqTvWN4qz_ZTFfTLb3zcjarq5a/s1600/Green+Sandpiper01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Sandpiper</td></tr>
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Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-37558929443211534902014-01-09T01:43:00.000-08:002014-01-09T01:43:00.188-08:00Umfurudzi Safari Area: The Far NorthI have visited Umfurudzi Safari Area on many occasions, usually to stay at Hippo Pools camp, a wonderful birding location.<div>
But I had never been to the far northern end of the park. It is a very wild part of the country, and receives few visitors.</div>
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A good friend and I set out on October 3rd, 2013 for a day trip to the far north of the safari area. The target location was a rather large and inviting-looking patch of riparian forest on the Mazowe river, close to the northeast corner of the park. The distance was 32km from when we left the east-west running 'Black Granite Quarry' road. The trip up to this turnoff was on tar and good dirt roads, but immediately after we turned north the road became horrendous! Washed-away and eroded pieces of road, plus the regular patches of rocky ground, made for very slow going.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06wWmdGtzeJMGaidI0s8YjUtEhS56MMGzW3wEfU32vGx6NcmDBPCGYkQdUSHbDnF-fsswCMK-KXE69RIl5YVkvDOW2dTAUQT1m5-UZnfkLBHgmhsG2m6ImH6rdkoIedxYuUBWGYTc_0Su/s1600/p1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi06wWmdGtzeJMGaidI0s8YjUtEhS56MMGzW3wEfU32vGx6NcmDBPCGYkQdUSHbDnF-fsswCMK-KXE69RIl5YVkvDOW2dTAUQT1m5-UZnfkLBHgmhsG2m6ImH6rdkoIedxYuUBWGYTc_0Su/s1600/p1.jpg" height="230" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A map showing our target spot in relation to Hippo Pools. The green line denotes the boundary of Umfurudzi Safari Area.</td></tr>
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We decided on a day trip as we both had stuff to get back to on the weekend. It would have been better to stay at least one night in the area, as the driving time was longer than anticipated.<div>
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It was, however, a very enjoyable trip. The scenery, although very dry and rocky, was stunning.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQST6oaGToJNpIjidJO3_B7nX06MnpUiiNm0lUV4kQ5rOQ388qF3APL_Ph6NILNdZuPlDrE59go7cA5kE7McXif1z75VqQK8xmRZIU2RYx1NOHTqCfmUvnAWABtyigu8QI3usza2bcWg27/s1600/005.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQST6oaGToJNpIjidJO3_B7nX06MnpUiiNm0lUV4kQ5rOQ388qF3APL_Ph6NILNdZuPlDrE59go7cA5kE7McXif1z75VqQK8xmRZIU2RYx1NOHTqCfmUvnAWABtyigu8QI3usza2bcWg27/s1600/005.jpg" height="101" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The landscape from a small ridge near the north boundary</td></tr>
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The drive through the park was fairly productive in terms of birds. I recorded about 50 species, including Southern Red-billed Hornbill, Meyer's Parrot, Orange-winged Pytilia (great bird, but poor photographs), White-browed Sparrow-weaver, Meves's Starling (usually seen in the low altitude valley systems like the Zambezi and Save - just shows how far north we were!), Southern Black Tit, Shelley's Francolin and Swallow-tailed Bee-eater.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hRLZ2D6tlcuFvJ3_w8CG5ExLqnQheR6rakwTmbJ8alAJ1ZqAm-dEHbdnoGMjckBI96-TrQyWTtEKc-2iKHR8KC4_YOSdkHUofiMjnrR78mgwjVIv15FeXRFzq9dY6tx7axH3HVUetv0x/s1600/007.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6hRLZ2D6tlcuFvJ3_w8CG5ExLqnQheR6rakwTmbJ8alAJ1ZqAm-dEHbdnoGMjckBI96-TrQyWTtEKc-2iKHR8KC4_YOSdkHUofiMjnrR78mgwjVIv15FeXRFzq9dY6tx7axH3HVUetv0x/s1600/007.jpg" height="80" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The communal lands reach right to the western boundary of the park. Not much growing at that time</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1lc0cWf-YJBu5kqBb8sMPAmV8JGZBDXclsUtNaVkuqTdnbi5Gvgasc4b6D8fa4SCSTMfvGDRIiFbrOEaw-X7UKYg9lIlczjlNh22f0IaNdXDhLJTVBK5qHLK7f415YnBNIEv-vBdXmGV/s1600/Cinnamon-breasted+Bunting01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE1lc0cWf-YJBu5kqBb8sMPAmV8JGZBDXclsUtNaVkuqTdnbi5Gvgasc4b6D8fa4SCSTMfvGDRIiFbrOEaw-X7UKYg9lIlczjlNh22f0IaNdXDhLJTVBK5qHLK7f415YnBNIEv-vBdXmGV/s1600/Cinnamon-breasted+Bunting01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cinnamon-breasted Bunting</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ24dRDh0WPypY8oA74HyxA-8Iaj0VOP48veDlb2Agf3IA3gj8Oc4HxHTnkQfpipddO8KJCIZb-vjuwEAGRwsczZJ4zp4j38wUX0c2XpV6c2wUSbHMRa6CZT36Vggr5dslgCf-8KwuiOhu/s1600/DSC_0509.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ24dRDh0WPypY8oA74HyxA-8Iaj0VOP48veDlb2Agf3IA3gj8Oc4HxHTnkQfpipddO8KJCIZb-vjuwEAGRwsczZJ4zp4j38wUX0c2XpV6c2wUSbHMRa6CZT36Vggr5dslgCf-8KwuiOhu/s1600/DSC_0509.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A large granite dome, on the east-west quarry road</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dry riverbed</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnihF2nb437heemLwcDPajUMjSfsKLZpTKw0vudC7tebBOcHIwSJKvnzyUTg2XMa1Gesy5fZ_1yf0vNZJDVuOiAyP0zgBFab8HDXnORjt7_hBK5NQeYbluJ8KLqd9oMutUfWcPG13wkMe/s1600/DSC_0541.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibnihF2nb437heemLwcDPajUMjSfsKLZpTKw0vudC7tebBOcHIwSJKvnzyUTg2XMa1Gesy5fZ_1yf0vNZJDVuOiAyP0zgBFab8HDXnORjt7_hBK5NQeYbluJ8KLqd9oMutUfWcPG13wkMe/s1600/DSC_0541.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Did I mention rocks?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2yauVwAO4xh6JplaKhQ7aVeBVuPk8sj9IL7mpucdvTYxIQ7TsEqRfDuKSLF9E0aF9U658vLVYbQL1NNLNTMQAxpXvy-NZ4fZpXo7E1TemZ9R6smtWeKL9oo-OQ1BUNN88R_P8TuwLP9q/s1600/Meves's+Starling02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg2yauVwAO4xh6JplaKhQ7aVeBVuPk8sj9IL7mpucdvTYxIQ7TsEqRfDuKSLF9E0aF9U658vLVYbQL1NNLNTMQAxpXvy-NZ4fZpXo7E1TemZ9R6smtWeKL9oo-OQ1BUNN88R_P8TuwLP9q/s1600/Meves's+Starling02.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Meves's Starling, one of the better sightings of the day.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There were even a few animals to see. A couple of small groups of Kudu made a brief appearance, plus some Chacma Baboons. Kirk's Rock Agama, Rainbow Skink and even Leopard Tortoise were seen.<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJShrZFbKHsYJ-p86R3osmY68aStuFnBOalBerYjkmp8h-w_XjjaJMJ5Fs0-DHb2rgSVnm2WQoxsHeNF0oc9Jk19OA5zuHsWB8R-fqqolCntRypyvUaAVAviyaev1ojknt0R0pRsfTozuL/s1600/Kirk's+Rock+Agama03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJShrZFbKHsYJ-p86R3osmY68aStuFnBOalBerYjkmp8h-w_XjjaJMJ5Fs0-DHb2rgSVnm2WQoxsHeNF0oc9Jk19OA5zuHsWB8R-fqqolCntRypyvUaAVAviyaev1ojknt0R0pRsfTozuL/s1600/Kirk's+Rock+Agama03.JPG" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kirk's Rock Agama immature male</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpPk62KeMTRShv9aJy2wUrnfhNq8AeDSjOdf5bDoCmlkHRDILH-7kRRlV5DmHWuRXnhvRl1lDY8dyOGz1OdTT9A1JsNSRH7q8IDlhP8niUVpDDIpB6pbph7-9EiWUPJhUQv0z3KM-c1vS/s1600/Leopard+Tortoise08.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfpPk62KeMTRShv9aJy2wUrnfhNq8AeDSjOdf5bDoCmlkHRDILH-7kRRlV5DmHWuRXnhvRl1lDY8dyOGz1OdTT9A1JsNSRH7q8IDlhP8niUVpDDIpB6pbph7-9EiWUPJhUQv0z3KM-c1vS/s1600/Leopard+Tortoise08.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leopard Tortoise!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsubt5ETE1C7fWazQ_9H1VjWF2hyq2MihT2b1JPf36z7K9HAsUWjySSWuM3jmWkUQQjDDduhLGMy4uWfGQY5-7dYsn2oLbxo_QTsqG60120P3AfFyn8TlEVIanpIX-TNz9Dcjz0M3tFGy/s1600/Leopard+Tortoise011.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFsubt5ETE1C7fWazQ_9H1VjWF2hyq2MihT2b1JPf36z7K9HAsUWjySSWuM3jmWkUQQjDDduhLGMy4uWfGQY5-7dYsn2oLbxo_QTsqG60120P3AfFyn8TlEVIanpIX-TNz9Dcjz0M3tFGy/s1600/Leopard+Tortoise011.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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Unfortunately, time got the better of us and we had to turn around about 6km before the riverine forest.</div>
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I'll know what to expect next time...</div>
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Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-7050493007767711752014-01-08T01:02:00.003-08:002014-01-08T01:02:48.892-08:00Darwendale Dam; Hideaway LodgeOn October 10 I set out to atlas two squares around Darwendale Dam which, before I got there, lacked any coverage in the second atlas project.<br />
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The farm land between the tar road and Hideaway Lodge was very dry, with only a few fields in use near the lake. Nevertheless, there were plenty of birds to see.<br />
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Red-capped Lark, Capped Wheatear, White-winged Widowbird, Pearl-breasted Swallow, Namaqua Dove, Red-faced Mousebird, Pale Flycatcher, Long-billed Crombec, Crowned Lapwing, Red-breasted Swallow, Kittlitz's Plover, Thick-billed Weaver (not recorded near here in SABAP1, showing a definite range extension) and Eastern Saw-wing (another out-of-range record) were the highlights of the drive.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvrcZMP5kSmxjD_RRGqM_D5NabVlsM7YcwaLdGjR9UDtgfkGwwis8lloqTbBIvJeLi1fVDhZlTQmK1ssNJr58g0h1ySISFVsywH8Z2ihlzA7ZIsOEugxcBGHhqqaKyiaOOHzWbwWa1uGT/s1600/DSC_0379.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEvrcZMP5kSmxjD_RRGqM_D5NabVlsM7YcwaLdGjR9UDtgfkGwwis8lloqTbBIvJeLi1fVDhZlTQmK1ssNJr58g0h1ySISFVsywH8Z2ihlzA7ZIsOEugxcBGHhqqaKyiaOOHzWbwWa1uGT/s1600/DSC_0379.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhS_zFmKlR7gRjXwdfEWRwtnf-c5c1pf4icOxAajW7Z-Wa2joassUbUG2gxw3TUsXcRv8QyxsaRf4rsfIdqCu0ZXKm4saPr6vOaS6G3Y3iVlMR8w2pgq6Y1q2be9o0z8DdYeZph-FxEYL/s1600/Kittlitz's+Plover03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLhS_zFmKlR7gRjXwdfEWRwtnf-c5c1pf4icOxAajW7Z-Wa2joassUbUG2gxw3TUsXcRv8QyxsaRf4rsfIdqCu0ZXKm4saPr6vOaS6G3Y3iVlMR8w2pgq6Y1q2be9o0z8DdYeZph-FxEYL/s1600/Kittlitz's+Plover03.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kittlitz's Plover</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzv4RAuQ_PSQXgilrUxpErj3bDOPM_MInbhFUaQNK8aZcHw4WqjqHoDHhnr8-g-WtiPNzhgBwMCkNGstw0vynzhAZ5G2FMjnwkpXBTSCSRFSzLGWA7Au_3NkCt8ty48PacYV9nRvqv-cXE/s1600/Pale+Flycatcher03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzv4RAuQ_PSQXgilrUxpErj3bDOPM_MInbhFUaQNK8aZcHw4WqjqHoDHhnr8-g-WtiPNzhgBwMCkNGstw0vynzhAZ5G2FMjnwkpXBTSCSRFSzLGWA7Au_3NkCt8ty48PacYV9nRvqv-cXE/s1600/Pale+Flycatcher03.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pale Flycatcher</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejQQdcAdC9qR5PsXeMI_wzxhJhDHLTazB0Yk-m9tuCam6_xw-uEnRrQJ3iHQKF84lzZJXCVK-ZYSMV5xXDewHqb-RnMl-BY2tCT_IbINK-pg5wbVLsNsAJ8KsiJfE2OYhyphenhyphens5NTRbKf64w/s1600/Red-capped+Lark03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgejQQdcAdC9qR5PsXeMI_wzxhJhDHLTazB0Yk-m9tuCam6_xw-uEnRrQJ3iHQKF84lzZJXCVK-ZYSMV5xXDewHqb-RnMl-BY2tCT_IbINK-pg5wbVLsNsAJ8KsiJfE2OYhyphenhyphens5NTRbKf64w/s1600/Red-capped+Lark03.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-capped Lark</td></tr>
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Hideaway Lodge and the lake's edge itself did not disappoint. In the lodge grounds: Pied Kingfisher nesting, Lesser Masked-weaver and African Pipit.<br />
A walk along the shoreline produced Grey-headed Gull, African Openbill, Hottentot Teal, Glossy Ibis, Ruff, African Purple Swamphen, Goliath Heron, African Green-pigeon, Levaillant's Cisticola, Collared Pratincole and (best of all) African Pygmy-goose, to name a few species.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNNy8fAfr5DYMQkCMqe7z2CM31Sw1vI_fHuw0-kdO4yLzMFTajZb6P-enMxMiAo4zP6zCMLMgptLr2B6-BmivM5w29bSphVmzduGSzjp6pscdCXJ4ouvzJg-T1Gy9mXejQ0WMgHGf8qxe/s1600/004.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfNNy8fAfr5DYMQkCMqe7z2CM31Sw1vI_fHuw0-kdO4yLzMFTajZb6P-enMxMiAo4zP6zCMLMgptLr2B6-BmivM5w29bSphVmzduGSzjp6pscdCXJ4ouvzJg-T1Gy9mXejQ0WMgHGf8qxe/s1600/004.jpg" height="74" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darwendale Dam shoreline</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojLx9HoeXY5piE4yy63rRWjZERPyRYIhnmCXkjIfJBXVhxw5F-NpAePA0Zs45OL2fxMy5zpUcta3Qg49QhnVaS_at5dWLxxTS2CazVUCBjitJtkx0VXJxwVubwmSkFwGUPKHecytcGQSa/s1600/African+Pipit05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgojLx9HoeXY5piE4yy63rRWjZERPyRYIhnmCXkjIfJBXVhxw5F-NpAePA0Zs45OL2fxMy5zpUcta3Qg49QhnVaS_at5dWLxxTS2CazVUCBjitJtkx0VXJxwVubwmSkFwGUPKHecytcGQSa/s1600/African+Pipit05.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Pipit</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnBWVOCd88Yvju4RIHoJ7tN3KAjSZCbj9zK2LPCttnY9gvo3j6IKFDJcaf8Urmq4kjPDsM0u5vq9xsZPWTacyPz_nItiGfu-QqWNK9v3ecl8udZzVp233dUuDbEvO2cuPTNZX03EWZ5eV/s1600/African+Pygmy-goose01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCnBWVOCd88Yvju4RIHoJ7tN3KAjSZCbj9zK2LPCttnY9gvo3j6IKFDJcaf8Urmq4kjPDsM0u5vq9xsZPWTacyPz_nItiGfu-QqWNK9v3ecl8udZzVp233dUuDbEvO2cuPTNZX03EWZ5eV/s1600/African+Pygmy-goose01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Pygmy-goose!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0NcgFMRIVl-_ju8dHGvNTwvLI-jB0P22yMOw5rf3KMss4Z0Ec0yUoGUtm_f3X10P5z8k2muLlN3GfKKGAI6G0l_RiJ6Hqkw8e07z7lhNkvEGB8C4yx8oYf4EQDbFWf-wbeVx8ikUxC_k/s1600/Collared+Pratincole05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq0NcgFMRIVl-_ju8dHGvNTwvLI-jB0P22yMOw5rf3KMss4Z0Ec0yUoGUtm_f3X10P5z8k2muLlN3GfKKGAI6G0l_RiJ6Hqkw8e07z7lhNkvEGB8C4yx8oYf4EQDbFWf-wbeVx8ikUxC_k/s1600/Collared+Pratincole05.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Collared Pratincole</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tMqBDV7Egf6hbm-drMqw8WCNw3jEfs5TfIsvxOmH0kthyphenhyphenv3pHQyIN0VFIn2Ty0kjdpYw1yErl1YO0ZEBuPymng8gnbIrBzg49GWZHZsZRTiOacOryl8n7AoHh_yyZTy1TNfq32A6Mk1V/s1600/DSC_0480.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj7tMqBDV7Egf6hbm-drMqw8WCNw3jEfs5TfIsvxOmH0kthyphenhyphenv3pHQyIN0VFIn2Ty0kjdpYw1yErl1YO0ZEBuPymng8gnbIrBzg49GWZHZsZRTiOacOryl8n7AoHh_yyZTy1TNfq32A6Mk1V/s1600/DSC_0480.JPG" height="262" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Now, bring me that horizon...</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Bi5-xK2rJYkiJcA7oWV8T8mXw_KdhkB8GoF1B3-WUD_l28WZ9PjSYvLLEAX2PhNuXKeodS7atRHL7m2s5AAjb9Lir2GeFeTXbejb0dLlVpdSvO35tXFQgUy6GjvotVXGLVeHhjTOCckV/s1600/Pied+Kingfisher01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1Bi5-xK2rJYkiJcA7oWV8T8mXw_KdhkB8GoF1B3-WUD_l28WZ9PjSYvLLEAX2PhNuXKeodS7atRHL7m2s5AAjb9Lir2GeFeTXbejb0dLlVpdSvO35tXFQgUy6GjvotVXGLVeHhjTOCckV/s1600/Pied+Kingfisher01.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pied Kingfisher male</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTeYgXNnnMHe7JricUSNOY3GoebcFGNGp_vhhL-9c5FDW11rxyhCT5P0Bf189sqMNaLh0Gqll_fO76WUtNGbtkq-j54xSnpnlGupvcwaw1myzNyusvXXJgi6CG0tPylU4zGeBmAtATsdu/s1600/Red-billed+Quelea01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxTeYgXNnnMHe7JricUSNOY3GoebcFGNGp_vhhL-9c5FDW11rxyhCT5P0Bf189sqMNaLh0Gqll_fO76WUtNGbtkq-j54xSnpnlGupvcwaw1myzNyusvXXJgi6CG0tPylU4zGeBmAtATsdu/s1600/Red-billed+Quelea01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-billed Quelea</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnk83vFKvisp85NgDHnWAk7__p-PitOXH3mhhjGViURwcmoN9pQe_BkTTHy9ELHXrbbxyN0E5koZgljZOFrcn5L5uhYkUlMuu3kjlqFX_EVLqr_LzuzRNlUe_2f9t-rlNGWAs1Bjlwmhz/s1600/Three-banded+Plover04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwnk83vFKvisp85NgDHnWAk7__p-PitOXH3mhhjGViURwcmoN9pQe_BkTTHy9ELHXrbbxyN0E5koZgljZOFrcn5L5uhYkUlMuu3kjlqFX_EVLqr_LzuzRNlUe_2f9t-rlNGWAs1Bjlwmhz/s1600/Three-banded+Plover04.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three-banded Plover, with a ring. Unfortunately I couldn't get the entire number</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-45242147854864184962014-01-07T23:48:00.005-08:002014-01-09T02:10:14.411-08:00More Borrowdale Brooke Atlassing, October 2013I did another two atlas cards for the Borrowdale Brooke/Greystone Park square in early October, and recorded 118 and 120 species per five-day period.<br />
As per usual, there was often something interesting to be seen!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoG2R3LxkwIzyABijGfgX3F4oGGqrr5gD7N3kUgphFzVspV1QRqTIPtq70gdssNWvP5Akh72i76qyEnwcqGEVDBrhRDxxgTmnQblL730RMV-XFwcAet8gEn-ATu9asnKW1BJtaALwOLV8/s1600/DSC_9838.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKoG2R3LxkwIzyABijGfgX3F4oGGqrr5gD7N3kUgphFzVspV1QRqTIPtq70gdssNWvP5Akh72i76qyEnwcqGEVDBrhRDxxgTmnQblL730RMV-XFwcAet8gEn-ATu9asnKW1BJtaALwOLV8/s1600/DSC_9838.JPG" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The reason for Greystone Park's 'special' birds; Tambourine Dove, Red-throated Twinspot, Black-throated Wattle-eye. These birds inhabit dense riverine forest, such as the one in Greystone Park. In Harare, there are only a few small patches of this habitat left.</td></tr>
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Best birds recorded: African Black Duck, African Cuckoo-hawk, Tambourine Dove, African Green-pigeon, Red-faced Mousebird, African Wood-owl, African Cuckoo, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Black Cuckooshrike, Miombo Tit, Yellow-breasted Apalis (very unusual, but recently recorded at the same place by me), Ashy Flycatcher (Greystone Park - I don't know of any other records from here of this species), nesting Black-throated Wattle-eye, Miombo Blue-eared Starling, Copper Sunbird and Red-throated Twinspot.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFz-zZrJ3urfwVVyqbpPCVmPDu4RcOaqoEeQ0ve5Jy2NLXd95BmWY8-CpBq1OEjsDG2STbGHOlBGk3WnzgSAwxVkvynOxPcNAKG1TpvmG4NPXips882Gx9V3bnfSiFESRq3dxrb53Tw-uS/s1600/African+Black+Duck05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFz-zZrJ3urfwVVyqbpPCVmPDu4RcOaqoEeQ0ve5Jy2NLXd95BmWY8-CpBq1OEjsDG2STbGHOlBGk3WnzgSAwxVkvynOxPcNAKG1TpvmG4NPXips882Gx9V3bnfSiFESRq3dxrb53Tw-uS/s1600/African+Black+Duck05.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Black Duck, Borrowdale Brooke</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJu127s7x1Hsvjrynk5WqwCNTdGXDSPH0t57WtHlNDgx-PvHy_a1-ieLMv0GHiKUv2J-2SRcpNeqCcqTYSsM-vztizcL9wBx5pg2P6Y1z4Mf68ibOX50DL_PGSimJoxAqvndf8m7aMu1w/s1600/Black-throated+Wattle-eye01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbJu127s7x1Hsvjrynk5WqwCNTdGXDSPH0t57WtHlNDgx-PvHy_a1-ieLMv0GHiKUv2J-2SRcpNeqCcqTYSsM-vztizcL9wBx5pg2P6Y1z4Mf68ibOX50DL_PGSimJoxAqvndf8m7aMu1w/s1600/Black-throated+Wattle-eye01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-throated Wattle-eye sitting on eggs in Greystone Park.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQuc5z0Crm9Qwip2sn2qqU34Gl0xGPYfeRlLt-mMHZm_WTOn8L5_9kzVCvjVTKtYz7GMFuUVZQQE9wKyiIWk8D9mUHTMLfzlea1ZCebTbUfHf7GpgQiDrNhT5JMLMdyze2T6Sv3WlbEtd/s1600/DSC_9853.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQuc5z0Crm9Qwip2sn2qqU34Gl0xGPYfeRlLt-mMHZm_WTOn8L5_9kzVCvjVTKtYz7GMFuUVZQQE9wKyiIWk8D9mUHTMLfzlea1ZCebTbUfHf7GpgQiDrNhT5JMLMdyze2T6Sv3WlbEtd/s1600/DSC_9853.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Greystone park has large areas of thicket and bush with thick understory, perfect for waxbills and other small finches</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwse82d7hnKRQHb69K2FFlhg-wYfxxx-dy8iKmrh9jgnGN_JQ_NY1j9asuqhiXy47tPlxbNPEcZGGc_1xlSnfbRMr7zmuRLMDTs6OV5oNXpFyqe0-If_yfvMCc46DLg2x-2hJW2YQq_5-G/s1600/Blue+Waxbill01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwse82d7hnKRQHb69K2FFlhg-wYfxxx-dy8iKmrh9jgnGN_JQ_NY1j9asuqhiXy47tPlxbNPEcZGGc_1xlSnfbRMr7zmuRLMDTs6OV5oNXpFyqe0-If_yfvMCc46DLg2x-2hJW2YQq_5-G/s1600/Blue+Waxbill01.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Waxbill</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEqVdjrrtPvXQtlbdws1Ie76WLBLjn2mqJmNPA1UmPcsl7ocBN8m6Ic9g69eeqEMRQBaB11VjzgWX9S6HcAfb0Og2OLisRN_FCBh493Eo1XEMlYUpJZS2ergpfg2DJjHgKibv3DHgbdrT/s1600/Green-winged+Pytilia02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrEqVdjrrtPvXQtlbdws1Ie76WLBLjn2mqJmNPA1UmPcsl7ocBN8m6Ic9g69eeqEMRQBaB11VjzgWX9S6HcAfb0Og2OLisRN_FCBh493Eo1XEMlYUpJZS2ergpfg2DJjHgKibv3DHgbdrT/s1600/Green-winged+Pytilia02.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green-winged Pytilia male, Greystone Park. Common at GP, but this doesn't mean they are easy to photograph</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLUnCfpg9E5CzgIwQyNsyR-LwUME1GRFn4_JpFV80qLHcDM8sKzl9o0xDyctLsCvBj7rh5IBqfkkBrjF93tOHbx20d1EK3RDz62YgUDe4N7S5FhpBsaJ0uXePpRBgExReDjwDFaFEblpn/s1600/Lizard+Buzzard01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQLUnCfpg9E5CzgIwQyNsyR-LwUME1GRFn4_JpFV80qLHcDM8sKzl9o0xDyctLsCvBj7rh5IBqfkkBrjF93tOHbx20d1EK3RDz62YgUDe4N7S5FhpBsaJ0uXePpRBgExReDjwDFaFEblpn/s1600/Lizard+Buzzard01.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lizard Buzzard, Borrowdale Brooke</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSTzazglY-2ZRH-SH3V01IfkRp48JTv5WFmT74chD6Mqhti0BEJS7Up4GJwuzPNW8Q-oA20IYO7wmceM-6wUjVlZXVxBSH80E6JCC6YvKq9jvx-foXzrvrrasibPtHKXyOzDYGFAs9UZg/s1600/Red-throated+Twinspot03.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgjSTzazglY-2ZRH-SH3V01IfkRp48JTv5WFmT74chD6Mqhti0BEJS7Up4GJwuzPNW8Q-oA20IYO7wmceM-6wUjVlZXVxBSH80E6JCC6YvKq9jvx-foXzrvrrasibPtHKXyOzDYGFAs9UZg/s1600/Red-throated+Twinspot03.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Red-throated Twinspot, Greystone Park</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYshM4l_7JlrDIWIsb69jg-2S5hU-BkXCpYZsGSYxezdcONguqgQ5488KzlGV2zpmIp8-hBuHA5ZSWYcXIoov38bzIRFvuAFmVSXO-0tTrl_m__x893UVcUMkf9pxA4xXzzVFm5FdAKQz/s1600/Red-throated+Twinspot05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilYshM4l_7JlrDIWIsb69jg-2S5hU-BkXCpYZsGSYxezdcONguqgQ5488KzlGV2zpmIp8-hBuHA5ZSWYcXIoov38bzIRFvuAFmVSXO-0tTrl_m__x893UVcUMkf9pxA4xXzzVFm5FdAKQz/s1600/Red-throated+Twinspot05.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...And the female</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSD4GS-V6P8xo2G5bu9zxoElLyrSwlGmgZScGEIzcl6rNXA0wT7oil69OvBoTxM18c8eiBu7sz_1EBEXvDJdvEaI9G7bazb2C5JEDqHuZeWCutX9u3CcXRVvwJ76jnaKbLv62ATC4rQHi/s1600/White-bellied+Sunbird04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSD4GS-V6P8xo2G5bu9zxoElLyrSwlGmgZScGEIzcl6rNXA0wT7oil69OvBoTxM18c8eiBu7sz_1EBEXvDJdvEaI9G7bazb2C5JEDqHuZeWCutX9u3CcXRVvwJ76jnaKbLv62ATC4rQHi/s1600/White-bellied+Sunbird04.JPG" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male White-bellied Sunbird mid-song at Greysone Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwl9AI3M5JDYGORDXDXkS88u2uHXSynU9QD3TPay35ShPdzDByBmoiP4FUfz5dwkiCr0MGyMmH4N_HsOrOhC-oy_vGze9QLdIwt8LOMO3ZwFPfCZKf7AdWvkPK6nGGgTfpjZKGEe06_thK/s1600/Ashy+Flycatcher01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwl9AI3M5JDYGORDXDXkS88u2uHXSynU9QD3TPay35ShPdzDByBmoiP4FUfz5dwkiCr0MGyMmH4N_HsOrOhC-oy_vGze9QLdIwt8LOMO3ZwFPfCZKf7AdWvkPK6nGGgTfpjZKGEe06_thK/s1600/Ashy+Flycatcher01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ashy Flycatcher at Greystone Park</td></tr>
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Not many notable finds in the 'other animals' department aside, from this large cricket.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkE7DqWYCnG_bBsXxavzHV7yvAGsP0z7v4nJAxvBd03TN7wRVdTHUNeX3RS4hi488EFQJod9YiqKnSmni1_STVufm4yngYExC3613Kx8aId-esoe-xIw1S5MWDz9gDruHcOLlOeez7xtG/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGkE7DqWYCnG_bBsXxavzHV7yvAGsP0z7v4nJAxvBd03TN7wRVdTHUNeX3RS4hi488EFQJod9YiqKnSmni1_STVufm4yngYExC3613Kx8aId-esoe-xIw1S5MWDz9gDruHcOLlOeez7xtG/s1600/DSC_0020.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Z5riby7KQhs5I3sfb5gpTNGZ0_xZmB8DeJvPA7i_aV7LAjLHg8zcecOE_U2TeEms2v3rd89p03WRFdfF5ke2iw34Yhv9YWO6Rnxa3iax3ZsUA2jwb6cjZhWKtKstnBGdvoyFND2Lr4G3/s1600/DSC_0114.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0Z5riby7KQhs5I3sfb5gpTNGZ0_xZmB8DeJvPA7i_aV7LAjLHg8zcecOE_U2TeEms2v3rd89p03WRFdfF5ke2iw34Yhv9YWO6Rnxa3iax3ZsUA2jwb6cjZhWKtKstnBGdvoyFND2Lr4G3/s1600/DSC_0114.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Butterfly, species unknown. It's one of the 'blues', a very difficult group to get to grips with.</td></tr>
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In other news: We caught and ringed a Kurrichane Thrush at Mukuvisi with a huge parasite load. 27 ticks were removed from the bird, the majority of which were around or even inside the ear cavities.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLm-ocm0hv6VzGcgdECd-rifO1yRoQMwsrUOpKH4L9shNQCLu-60hUI1G01U7VdOtWi_Nsc4Pz0aMvT_SVC2bJFD9tTYD34SrLPYhaG3RXmjAuRi8p9ujB9pWMSW1xtPM6pL_nx3J6srd/s1600/DSC_9263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicLm-ocm0hv6VzGcgdECd-rifO1yRoQMwsrUOpKH4L9shNQCLu-60hUI1G01U7VdOtWi_Nsc4Pz0aMvT_SVC2bJFD9tTYD34SrLPYhaG3RXmjAuRi8p9ujB9pWMSW1xtPM6pL_nx3J6srd/s1600/DSC_9263.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You can see a few of the engorged ticks protruding from the ear. Nasty!</td></tr>
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<br />Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-15849117830395957862014-01-07T22:29:00.001-08:002014-01-07T22:32:30.163-08:00Atlassing and Ringing around Harare, Sept 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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So, after a long gap between posts whilst I have been on holiday (plus some time spent feeling unmotivated), I've finally got around continuing the posts about my trip to Zimbabwe in late 2013.<br />
Enjoy!...<br />
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<u>Ewanrigg Botanical Gardens Ringing, 15 September:</u><br />
A quiet day, where we didn't catch much worth reporting - weavers, Speckled Mousebirds, waxbills... The best catch of the day was a lovely White-browed Scrub-robin.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIP8cN2B-EVtjSTDdff0TN1qvxiLC9TD1nynKv8aivh0yZ2MmVI9CNU8PodoHqyJyamhOXC1vj6RSeeNxnNFoWgPmxSlxkgoYTMDNKSyQjq5rvNs1eLzwDPkKEMMJeRWdR4ABcY7xw0goj/s1600/DSC_8934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIP8cN2B-EVtjSTDdff0TN1qvxiLC9TD1nynKv8aivh0yZ2MmVI9CNU8PodoHqyJyamhOXC1vj6RSeeNxnNFoWgPmxSlxkgoYTMDNKSyQjq5rvNs1eLzwDPkKEMMJeRWdR4ABcY7xw0goj/s1600/DSC_8934.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-browed Scrub-robin</td></tr>
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We therefore decided to pack up and do a bit of birding around the gardens. A huge fig tree was fruiting, attracting dozens of Dark-capped Bulbul, Purple-crested Turaco and African Green-pigeon, plus a few Whyte's Barbet. Sunbirds were around but hard to pin down as the aloes were not in bloom.<br />
Near the front gate a Southern White-faced Owl had a nest in the hollow of a dead branch only two meters off the ground! (Photos in upcoming post...)<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1y0vcboQG9KXBniv1XM4AK0y-SZY9lQupGYb_FEj4GVdNe0hXfi9qfiFohyy8KJX8fHxDukA4AWEKJZ1Ykz_rR_AS1IGXPu4w-wnofvePxR375GPISl4C1vupwOlOuP7OmO2IRJSqGiu/s1600/DSC_8950.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl1y0vcboQG9KXBniv1XM4AK0y-SZY9lQupGYb_FEj4GVdNe0hXfi9qfiFohyy8KJX8fHxDukA4AWEKJZ1Ykz_rR_AS1IGXPu4w-wnofvePxR375GPISl4C1vupwOlOuP7OmO2IRJSqGiu/s1600/DSC_8950.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Green-pigeon</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQ_8VPqLfpE-wCE8arOnM7gzYsNlSmG_KcDphDVowPSKB6ftRnYCK0FQpkNjtKli2XawOW24Q_4gqJwMGy1606yRujiSQDMBvAI-2JD2RoAWRJa3zj9J1tkqxanNjxtY7XAsKpd_lJAIb/s1600/DSC_8955.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCQ_8VPqLfpE-wCE8arOnM7gzYsNlSmG_KcDphDVowPSKB6ftRnYCK0FQpkNjtKli2XawOW24Q_4gqJwMGy1606yRujiSQDMBvAI-2JD2RoAWRJa3zj9J1tkqxanNjxtY7XAsKpd_lJAIb/s1600/DSC_8955.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Grey Hornbill</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAfATFoS7tpZIXJw-zECwzTqOE-UofFa_G2ycg6mVjUC7tB_RIRARR7Gomhz6uCBZeJqsYfiEI59HW95C5gLuS75z3DQVviWhisvqyPeeOLwD5Mpm6TJFmZrUeu4dCBschG6INgbW7Lzo/s1600/DSC_8961.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeAfATFoS7tpZIXJw-zECwzTqOE-UofFa_G2ycg6mVjUC7tB_RIRARR7Gomhz6uCBZeJqsYfiEI59HW95C5gLuS75z3DQVviWhisvqyPeeOLwD5Mpm6TJFmZrUeu4dCBschG6INgbW7Lzo/s1600/DSC_8961.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Copper Sunbird, a species sought-after by visiting birders, as it doesn't occur in South Africa.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGEydscRZfMTxdWQjKWbig8i-DG8NG9oQ0iEwCW_-wtHH7LpsPDY0KmsdSbGSfTiKYjTZIjdXKsyTeWwiAoH1hbHZfafUjlEr0WZeIC-3PWhKIvPXj8Eu6nTt74sQMmDiqcQFO8l_qM1q/s1600/DSC_8943.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCGEydscRZfMTxdWQjKWbig8i-DG8NG9oQ0iEwCW_-wtHH7LpsPDY0KmsdSbGSfTiKYjTZIjdXKsyTeWwiAoH1hbHZfafUjlEr0WZeIC-3PWhKIvPXj8Eu6nTt74sQMmDiqcQFO8l_qM1q/s1600/DSC_8943.JPG" height="400" width="265" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Even at the driest, hottest time of year, the gardens are a haven of greenery.</td></tr>
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A quick inspection of the underside of loose rocks in the aloe gardens produced a couple of small scorpions.<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC65OtvGF_c7Le4vYYYqP3KV0kd9n501t3pXbLSPeGqTD0hMNZ1Un0Crg0Q_ikrxtCLN8EGLJASybIGh119BrCCBsKXHyiN6v-Ql2MFilBmF94eAcIxdt_CfzUXrXkXKvxUGvsErzdq_Bx/s1600/DSC_8978.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgC65OtvGF_c7Le4vYYYqP3KV0kd9n501t3pXbLSPeGqTD0hMNZ1Un0Crg0Q_ikrxtCLN8EGLJASybIGh119BrCCBsKXHyiN6v-Ql2MFilBmF94eAcIxdt_CfzUXrXkXKvxUGvsErzdq_Bx/s1600/DSC_8978.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Uroplectes flavoviridis</i></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<u>Borrowdale Brooke and Greystone Park atlassing, 09-27 September:</u></div>
<div>
I spent much of my free time atlassing the pentad square where I was staying. This square included Greystone Park, Borrowdale Brooke and my parents' houses, so it was very convenient for me!</div>
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<div>
I completed three cards (each covering 5 days) between these dates, with 85-110 species noted for each card.</div>
<div>
Some of the more interesting sightings were;</div>
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African Black Duck, Little Egret, Marabou Stork, Ovambo Sparrowhawk, African Cuckoo-hawk, Wood Sandpiper, African Cuckoo, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Miombo Tit, Southern Hyliota, Yellow-breasted Apalis (at Greystone Park, where it has not been seen before, to my knowledge), nesting Fork-tailed Drongo, Magpie Shrike (resident in BB, but always nice to see), Black-crowned Tchagra, Copper Sunbird Red-throated Twinspot and Black-throated Canary (first one I've personally seen in BB).</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQV9X6nQdtBEaz521agryCm9shUqovszwmicD2RDlfCJIxMnoiW4XPbEUfmqgSrz4yQSZK9iq8LQNm3cRIijP8VYuTPJ1iYlR4HrxxIAMPwhfSrJhsadcCF-t1eqPdcnstjORKSCJZtxSo/s1600/Blue+Waxbill04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQV9X6nQdtBEaz521agryCm9shUqovszwmicD2RDlfCJIxMnoiW4XPbEUfmqgSrz4yQSZK9iq8LQNm3cRIijP8VYuTPJ1iYlR4HrxxIAMPwhfSrJhsadcCF-t1eqPdcnstjORKSCJZtxSo/s1600/Blue+Waxbill04.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Waxbill in Borrowdale Brooke</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKPmSnuHqYCQIQD9IOwmThkVteW4MYlQEniRy2tLtHiVWHHaJhRbVRPUqPMMl8RQELcKmoQjKdJ98o2Xp8ZEz26-Ss74D_GHKENzIpBkijMAbVBeTV4rqVgN220OizHYyai4Ag3rZkUAR/s1600/Black-throated+Canary01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIKPmSnuHqYCQIQD9IOwmThkVteW4MYlQEniRy2tLtHiVWHHaJhRbVRPUqPMMl8RQELcKmoQjKdJ98o2Xp8ZEz26-Ss74D_GHKENzIpBkijMAbVBeTV4rqVgN220OizHYyai4Ag3rZkUAR/s1600/Black-throated+Canary01.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-throated Canary singing in Borrowdale Brooke</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RI5dy2opH2RKumPvqPD9i3LOgwYuAzCT2FSBHpqi3uE-ODZq7eSaAzqmTOtDuBP8kpm-tO4wfnxWn1ysnWy5cQkpZ_Z0PccHD7qNj-W0qnPrN1CCvynTtr3G12t8lavz9qFkw8bCYLKa/s1600/DSC_9125.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1RI5dy2opH2RKumPvqPD9i3LOgwYuAzCT2FSBHpqi3uE-ODZq7eSaAzqmTOtDuBP8kpm-tO4wfnxWn1ysnWy5cQkpZ_Z0PccHD7qNj-W0qnPrN1CCvynTtr3G12t8lavz9qFkw8bCYLKa/s1600/DSC_9125.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-shouldered Kite, Borrowdale Brooke</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBj3TCcr2rxjzece0eUxfsvJ5Yn-ZjUV5vW1Q_U6vsYYFW69z_hKtzU1CoKwtexQGXsg5qsg-xK5ahs92W04EgpnS2MU9iHe_AlnsjwP-3C2d3HEfWHBCE1Z525-VAW4_vLJbqwxCg_-h/s1600/DSC_9226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBj3TCcr2rxjzece0eUxfsvJ5Yn-ZjUV5vW1Q_U6vsYYFW69z_hKtzU1CoKwtexQGXsg5qsg-xK5ahs92W04EgpnS2MU9iHe_AlnsjwP-3C2d3HEfWHBCE1Z525-VAW4_vLJbqwxCg_-h/s1600/DSC_9226.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Fork-tailed Drongo on recently constructed nest, Greysone Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wJ5R2UMWXwL0MNW1Di-8t22osJ8Ksb7OfvOK4g57YoYrlX2nfYM1yi6-fR6IzfMZ9BSAUG0lBr_SCALxTnxfH3eiXm8-nUYM6wI3JZWIgelcDQCbyI1IegyFdU4dk-1lKgcqOXfkoGcb/s1600/DSC_9245.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9wJ5R2UMWXwL0MNW1Di-8t22osJ8Ksb7OfvOK4g57YoYrlX2nfYM1yi6-fR6IzfMZ9BSAUG0lBr_SCALxTnxfH3eiXm8-nUYM6wI3JZWIgelcDQCbyI1IegyFdU4dk-1lKgcqOXfkoGcb/s1600/DSC_9245.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-breasted Apalis at Greysone Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQMVxCBLBJRUDT-E5zZIc6e5eZp9qYT7763jLrB0mE4z755Zr0sY9UiXsW5vvUZ3M7e8l6Nmeel6FpmRvE1RBw6YVy4BUyrCexG17-ZBTKAUNbZFIITVsmA8km7YA94MvunSbt5vUbYtC/s1600/DSC_9321.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGQMVxCBLBJRUDT-E5zZIc6e5eZp9qYT7763jLrB0mE4z755Zr0sY9UiXsW5vvUZ3M7e8l6Nmeel6FpmRvE1RBw6YVy4BUyrCexG17-ZBTKAUNbZFIITVsmA8km7YA94MvunSbt5vUbYtC/s1600/DSC_9321.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Masked-weaver male, Borrowdale Brooke</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGD3h270vSxbMth_Hl5sD6jzdfH_d5mA3_psdppz-6Sxye4iBILqjASQv-Zsd2vlb2JrPErf8GxT9dJf9nBy_gLSKrVYFTkzSS1pzjxLOphb90v0EuSM7unqx6Txr-0Nz1DIlwNrmg0h6X/s1600/DSC_9324.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGD3h270vSxbMth_Hl5sD6jzdfH_d5mA3_psdppz-6Sxye4iBILqjASQv-Zsd2vlb2JrPErf8GxT9dJf9nBy_gLSKrVYFTkzSS1pzjxLOphb90v0EuSM7unqx6Txr-0Nz1DIlwNrmg0h6X/s1600/DSC_9324.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Purple-crested Turaco (finally got one in flight!), Greystone Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zJwh14wv28rm1f7NS8uvkSR2kSR_8H_sOJ3XLaOw5NjjkmI796pi4xYW6WjYfx0F4J5s2DnE_hcnIcGrZHDPRQpVBoH01jxAL6jPSYg1g8BOdVywL_eDMp8AySb6jZ3j0So-F1EScJ4k/s1600/DSC_9350.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2zJwh14wv28rm1f7NS8uvkSR2kSR_8H_sOJ3XLaOw5NjjkmI796pi4xYW6WjYfx0F4J5s2DnE_hcnIcGrZHDPRQpVBoH01jxAL6jPSYg1g8BOdVywL_eDMp8AySb6jZ3j0So-F1EScJ4k/s1600/DSC_9350.JPG" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Paradise-flycatcher male, Greystone Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46y2SYPH1s0ozGtL8YoKOaLTTT5ZBG0nVBTBdGmTsl5l2XiYYliezXmQdgqTWUhW-hrxaDIBku4x3KZHmZxx3ZkBtCW0svbrIRNuiwqrooXnu7PVAHiJI_Q22nURvYE7205g-3sPlHEeU/s1600/DSC_9374.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg46y2SYPH1s0ozGtL8YoKOaLTTT5ZBG0nVBTBdGmTsl5l2XiYYliezXmQdgqTWUhW-hrxaDIBku4x3KZHmZxx3ZkBtCW0svbrIRNuiwqrooXnu7PVAHiJI_Q22nURvYE7205g-3sPlHEeU/s1600/DSC_9374.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of my favourites - African Stonechat female at Borrowdale Brooke.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZKyajH0Nvn7AawZEfK-e7auKSRV42pUguKw_as9FspG4kdXbsZPhrU-MyEHpDka6zV-6bIsIxuSEMRaPZA-n7m1tRSznErriXPZJ1yTgbM8klaZT5XD26LA32sFAUwOSzf97fWIvf2ZM/s1600/DSC_9410.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZKyajH0Nvn7AawZEfK-e7auKSRV42pUguKw_as9FspG4kdXbsZPhrU-MyEHpDka6zV-6bIsIxuSEMRaPZA-n7m1tRSznErriXPZJ1yTgbM8klaZT5XD26LA32sFAUwOSzf97fWIvf2ZM/s1600/DSC_9410.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I have very few nice Pied Crow pictures, despite them being common as dirt in Harare. This one's perched on someone's satellite dish in Borrowdale Brooke</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGoe1zvKeJf_-KFAbXXyyhO2PzAm67wYldsl6XOkdZhNSW5H6tbPRnJvNDVxdoRQUqFXS7ileyovJutkuKGAbSiBLmNsm_j4ud1VUbgKQcn4tkzQUiP_woqj7-sVgiMrRFR0UGOwNxEEz/s1600/DSC_9493.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRGoe1zvKeJf_-KFAbXXyyhO2PzAm67wYldsl6XOkdZhNSW5H6tbPRnJvNDVxdoRQUqFXS7ileyovJutkuKGAbSiBLmNsm_j4ud1VUbgKQcn4tkzQUiP_woqj7-sVgiMrRFR0UGOwNxEEz/s1600/DSC_9493.JPG" height="265" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Waxbill, Greystone Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxl-Qr9grbfAdB2gBuieB0AJDZXPp-0cb_OVIcV3jlPmPMoQ71DHzwM6rS35kYSKleUQDFSklJtLD0z-fJs13USYxnOxbvkhDHPcNpvDrkjZjbFQi2xM89Wk_U8ikpHq3FKltMyIF1VXo/s1600/DSC_9545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSxl-Qr9grbfAdB2gBuieB0AJDZXPp-0cb_OVIcV3jlPmPMoQ71DHzwM6rS35kYSKleUQDFSklJtLD0z-fJs13USYxnOxbvkhDHPcNpvDrkjZjbFQi2xM89Wk_U8ikpHq3FKltMyIF1VXo/s1600/DSC_9545.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kurrichane Thrush (with a rather dirty ring on its leg) collecting food for its chicks at Greystone Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4t67d5wnLUtiUcOET5Y7dqNBIKAP5YB56mmhJSiiEAV4AP5nM3azb4y_Oq0CT6TZpNVe32RgqyVcjGpwva3equxkWPCKXgtgc2ng5mRhe1IV2Z-si0m94_an9UCNT2tXDR648dzfAH7SK/s1600/Laughing+Dove04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4t67d5wnLUtiUcOET5Y7dqNBIKAP5YB56mmhJSiiEAV4AP5nM3azb4y_Oq0CT6TZpNVe32RgqyVcjGpwva3equxkWPCKXgtgc2ng5mRhe1IV2Z-si0m94_an9UCNT2tXDR648dzfAH7SK/s1600/Laughing+Dove04.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Recently fledged Laughing Dove, Borrowdale Brooke</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPm1tZsn0bLH8vFlVM6RnziNhCslpuRqU8O7UEqI9MF4Qes8DDidOAY9R3PNiNyXrjacu_DcGtXMVz_uRkZHovmDbRh7U8zNO0WDPY-c3m85MOKPFbTToC6yfBqqpfdCDP99oxWQLX-wx/s1600/Ovambo+Sparrowhawk05.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaPm1tZsn0bLH8vFlVM6RnziNhCslpuRqU8O7UEqI9MF4Qes8DDidOAY9R3PNiNyXrjacu_DcGtXMVz_uRkZHovmDbRh7U8zNO0WDPY-c3m85MOKPFbTToC6yfBqqpfdCDP99oxWQLX-wx/s1600/Ovambo+Sparrowhawk05.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Immature Ovambo Sparrowhawk, Borrowdale Brooke</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
I'm always keeping my eye out for other interesting critters whilst birding, and I do find a few occasionally.<br />
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvZc3tPtpeoPHgWG_uaTVCuq5ubjgUOEle4RDih6x0i0IETIwCOcRxLRelCxJinS6MsEqYkiscvvSKsaN93CO7EbF0JQLHGpZcOgk5fY1hdL1v2-rQiv2khLZqKtNwDFuWcIMCUfeMdwA/s1600/DSC_9575.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxvZc3tPtpeoPHgWG_uaTVCuq5ubjgUOEle4RDih6x0i0IETIwCOcRxLRelCxJinS6MsEqYkiscvvSKsaN93CO7EbF0JQLHGpZcOgk5fY1hdL1v2-rQiv2khLZqKtNwDFuWcIMCUfeMdwA/s1600/DSC_9575.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Angoni Vlei Rat, rescued from a cat in Borrowdale Brooke. The rat seemed to be uninjured.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6FCAzmGX4xL3u8bOwMZSyIDXgylBN0Cn1jsApYjBiUG6stgqNoUmX2V_oPysUP8uwHfce0u-a_Fowup9JNNr0M3kTik5Gu4mvNZVibu5vsDXRVY6KlGlkIvdX073POiWlTiLPfYBsFww/s1600/DSC_9752.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgn6FCAzmGX4xL3u8bOwMZSyIDXgylBN0Cn1jsApYjBiUG6stgqNoUmX2V_oPysUP8uwHfce0u-a_Fowup9JNNr0M3kTik5Gu4mvNZVibu5vsDXRVY6KlGlkIvdX073POiWlTiLPfYBsFww/s1600/DSC_9752.JPG" height="212" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern (Blue-headed) Tree Agama in Helensvale</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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<div>
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</div>
Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-76829364928517429632013-09-12T05:08:00.001-07:002013-09-12T05:08:09.827-07:00Ringing on the 7th to the 11th SeptemberA 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.<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-5qarMmAplG-hZTT2SAjJkNgBWa62-8pHoRY11VfOieeEii3p6WX7lULlIm4ZG5JfYNYCU-24ay49Eyqa5_cDlebqG4P6VLX6nXGu0vWBAQhKFaGaWq_YI4mWd_2NKgl-EFncRWBQCvI/s1600/DSC_8545.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-5qarMmAplG-hZTT2SAjJkNgBWa62-8pHoRY11VfOieeEii3p6WX7lULlIm4ZG5JfYNYCU-24ay49Eyqa5_cDlebqG4P6VLX6nXGu0vWBAQhKFaGaWq_YI4mWd_2NKgl-EFncRWBQCvI/s320/DSC_8545.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Three-banded Plover</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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.</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickpQ6MA6fXj547FzWGc_bydvfyb3_1t7iQLPUYvevif4MbNLaeExnCyk_jkvY1WYfXWSNrfoI93x8DmQwJ2c61NXgDLVU-AucJ-IJZexpaM8BRCRMfz6XeoawG3ZjyUKqR-62iN5tDovh/s1600/DSC_8560.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEickpQ6MA6fXj547FzWGc_bydvfyb3_1t7iQLPUYvevif4MbNLaeExnCyk_jkvY1WYfXWSNrfoI93x8DmQwJ2c61NXgDLVU-AucJ-IJZexpaM8BRCRMfz6XeoawG3ZjyUKqR-62iN5tDovh/s320/DSC_8560.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-throated Longclaw</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTJZSv4N_0Bn8IKTVMnGH4rBN5uCjaZVhmrqdxL8_rTt6QkrHaddsbvu-G9IGbE-CWsULO23xVSok-U8soPLkw199Ba2El8kCX-ga8YK0_NQF5KeXIdfzyKT1jLuDpEbwyHwu_y04P5w7/s1600/DSC_8559.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJTJZSv4N_0Bn8IKTVMnGH4rBN5uCjaZVhmrqdxL8_rTt6QkrHaddsbvu-G9IGbE-CWsULO23xVSok-U8soPLkw199Ba2El8kCX-ga8YK0_NQF5KeXIdfzyKT1jLuDpEbwyHwu_y04P5w7/s320/DSC_8559.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">If you're wondering why they are called Longclaws...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNvuT9CQBGpdrgvqNC17I4cIGApefseDG4nTBbny-E5BqAcHBuB6NvWoyYLL9LF8M5EMijG1JGVAjGpuu165JXGOtr2kQmiTJ5WpjUqpeD9BgNeUBvONY6FA5koH_skpiTgAr4BuUhzny/s1600/DSC_8564.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMNvuT9CQBGpdrgvqNC17I4cIGApefseDG4nTBbny-E5BqAcHBuB6NvWoyYLL9LF8M5EMijG1JGVAjGpuu165JXGOtr2kQmiTJ5WpjUqpeD9BgNeUBvONY6FA5koH_skpiTgAr4BuUhzny/s320/DSC_8564.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-collared Barbet having a good chew on my finger.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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<div>
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.</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOYUBCsHEGzfJj4TwdOEunpPzPfFViiQJMKSduDbqOvh_jpkMgxb4JWpVdz1pfFkq-pS8PbYrd8fCTsDX_6Ok__gPwt943B02or_EUumh1M4PuQ99ZUsLSwdvn3ghDq1FOrMpheiAi5ix/s1600/DSC_8795.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZOYUBCsHEGzfJj4TwdOEunpPzPfFViiQJMKSduDbqOvh_jpkMgxb4JWpVdz1pfFkq-pS8PbYrd8fCTsDX_6Ok__gPwt943B02or_EUumh1M4PuQ99ZUsLSwdvn3ghDq1FOrMpheiAi5ix/s320/DSC_8795.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Black-crowned Tchagra</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQ_qfqmRQhbl9pVNWR95NrHu9qAmfFdbkTqmOS7hl5JmzFOFb2wbMjBkM8m_iVatQ5EUF5tBzuSVHUfDCLjE-IVjeblRr8dRjOsXOsc6PnyUBWgJCMuxgBcuIGWOAu6UfwedPvOALcc8f/s1600/DSC_8824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRQ_qfqmRQhbl9pVNWR95NrHu9qAmfFdbkTqmOS7hl5JmzFOFb2wbMjBkM8m_iVatQ5EUF5tBzuSVHUfDCLjE-IVjeblRr8dRjOsXOsc6PnyUBWgJCMuxgBcuIGWOAu6UfwedPvOALcc8f/s320/DSC_8824.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow-throated Petronia. Even in the hand, the yellow is difficult to see.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiag4hdxf0-NX5N1NL9Ubrxdhrqm8d33Wk2T5r_ko1KKWVYMxCYIoekApI9117pvdncfXreas7TflugvriQbU7ajneY-1vCrfJmA8eLQSHGPaxqA0qowoUrvsdUUA43D3L1-JyZQNfbhnH/s1600/DSC_8764.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiag4hdxf0-NX5N1NL9Ubrxdhrqm8d33Wk2T5r_ko1KKWVYMxCYIoekApI9117pvdncfXreas7TflugvriQbU7ajneY-1vCrfJmA8eLQSHGPaxqA0qowoUrvsdUUA43D3L1-JyZQNfbhnH/s320/DSC_8764.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Smith's Bush Squirrel at Haka Park</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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.<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGmv4k2WIfZ0QU9smxUp2khZCfeRVo-hdOuIy5pwyMQ7hG6nMchMceFs4KPq176mhfJNRbzeyJ0U006msOdHU_HL9ZJdkf9Wb87imT8RDoXeesbu1pSCs4ywCm7XorhQ2zqfwVeyaVtiV/s1600/DSC_8837.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIGmv4k2WIfZ0QU9smxUp2khZCfeRVo-hdOuIy5pwyMQ7hG6nMchMceFs4KPq176mhfJNRbzeyJ0U006msOdHU_HL9ZJdkf9Wb87imT8RDoXeesbu1pSCs4ywCm7XorhQ2zqfwVeyaVtiV/s320/DSC_8837.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Fiery-necked Nightjar</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-51305868485735890282013-09-05T02:05:00.002-07:002013-09-05T02:05:52.243-07:00Back in ActionI'm back in Zimbabwe (on holiday) for a couple of months, so watch this space for new posts, coming soon.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqU_uBlY1cgmDHXLb8ugj5GfZNKa1xIgzFM1XUWZd4G-aTQbGF7KFHhalVNUuBCd96sAb_YillgAUAKkMtoVZjtg1yi9LmVhD6ofIOaBk86VHsgDSquYbWVir2nUYUH3pgg2PV_N7CAI8/s1600/DSC_8136.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYqU_uBlY1cgmDHXLb8ugj5GfZNKa1xIgzFM1XUWZd4G-aTQbGF7KFHhalVNUuBCd96sAb_YillgAUAKkMtoVZjtg1yi9LmVhD6ofIOaBk86VHsgDSquYbWVir2nUYUH3pgg2PV_N7CAI8/s400/DSC_8136.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-crested Helmet-shrike at Haka Park</td></tr>
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Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-44136370385512639222013-02-10T06:18:00.000-08:002013-04-17T05:31:40.934-07:00The 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.<br />
<br />
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 <b>this link</b> to view the new blog (coming soon).Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-13856986109642972102013-01-15T12:45:00.001-08:002013-01-15T12:45:38.031-08:00Nyanga, January 2013The first trip of 2013 - two nights in Nyanga.<br />
It was very wet and misty for much of the time, unsurprisingly.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4jC1C0RbaJYLyMNE7C_kE6OQgIMBH9GqNwu8uaYT6VX05aOXqVCDv33uQ-zxmAaASbOfQ1PHWB-vIOtvJbN6seLvdmO-zgTLXjCy6FQMIVlyX7ahjg3g0eKy40u1Y4HyevKa9onx-aPZ/s1600/DSC_0670-DSC_0672.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="111" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE4jC1C0RbaJYLyMNE7C_kE6OQgIMBH9GqNwu8uaYT6VX05aOXqVCDv33uQ-zxmAaASbOfQ1PHWB-vIOtvJbN6seLvdmO-zgTLXjCy6FQMIVlyX7ahjg3g0eKy40u1Y4HyevKa9onx-aPZ/s400/DSC_0670-DSC_0672.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mist rolling in towards Troutbeck</td></tr>
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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.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhMCpfAS6XpyIY9-TT9h9s1a5Hzzap31f7QXLxUrTPQ1DKgrU_UtctI5y7fp7_6RNEPvaJ2MmLosPSGRg9p_5Y6w-JZnodRvIDEmad7n83TEgTOibngeERzqcwBQBM2ycf-oelCDYPxNq/s1600/DSC_0835.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhMCpfAS6XpyIY9-TT9h9s1a5Hzzap31f7QXLxUrTPQ1DKgrU_UtctI5y7fp7_6RNEPvaJ2MmLosPSGRg9p_5Y6w-JZnodRvIDEmad7n83TEgTOibngeERzqcwBQBM2ycf-oelCDYPxNq/s320/DSC_0835.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-throated Swallow</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqtBpw9lgKNmQ0i1wyZuHmXP6Fm8OXliCJwUBWkT_6fXUg5wf1fVR6U9ceKRLHGl-FezCiZv74xbV0wMcr6NsftKHctO7C2GBK81Ot5jXp-mAYpJZEwj1qA7KSsAsBgU7zl0Xf08NVS9P/s1600/DSC_0841.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqtBpw9lgKNmQ0i1wyZuHmXP6Fm8OXliCJwUBWkT_6fXUg5wf1fVR6U9ceKRLHGl-FezCiZv74xbV0wMcr6NsftKHctO7C2GBK81Ot5jXp-mAYpJZEwj1qA7KSsAsBgU7zl0Xf08NVS9P/s320/DSC_0841.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-winged Starling</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfqQmkXLofSzdLWRyi8BMSlTgwKTEX_uVORAGnU1d-_Xw9etnwwTG4BkNx1ISEmwkBGVlb94EoKG_5DDCGzq04XzbU4bJOxf8wGizmaYM4JoetY0plqx8qFqEBT7Kss3jRD52SdlEPoTu/s1600/DSC_0970.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNfqQmkXLofSzdLWRyi8BMSlTgwKTEX_uVORAGnU1d-_Xw9etnwwTG4BkNx1ISEmwkBGVlb94EoKG_5DDCGzq04XzbU4bJOxf8wGizmaYM4JoetY0plqx8qFqEBT7Kss3jRD52SdlEPoTu/s320/DSC_0970.JPG" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Immature Common Fiscal</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
There was an incredible amount of frogs on the edges of the dams, plus a bunch of African Striped Skinks in the rocky areas.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjQk9yoGtisrZj8Uyy5NpxhrTFrI-Er8TC3ZRngEi0X81lKuDe5_I5GBJtOeIinGQEUh9oo7w7lGZbX256yHuIEEdYrDx0-vpaYLEvnjMApGxRsnutkNFo0kLkEk3Kz_Ay4wc03i65xqT/s1600/DSC_0986.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfjQk9yoGtisrZj8Uyy5NpxhrTFrI-Er8TC3ZRngEi0X81lKuDe5_I5GBJtOeIinGQEUh9oo7w7lGZbX256yHuIEEdYrDx0-vpaYLEvnjMApGxRsnutkNFo0kLkEk3Kz_Ay4wc03i65xqT/s320/DSC_0986.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sharp-nosed Reed Frog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgscrSOtH5gPJSLSpTIVsfYXomn83ZGpMc3Z9g7c69iDAjI5ECQufoR5Vv82iMBiFcTSSbEYoRtsSjp9gG7sCexyppj2Oz6wsDiaAGpnknutveOk0IRgCwhv-JuHyOQLxydO_UHr-rJznM/s1600/DSC_0907.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgscrSOtH5gPJSLSpTIVsfYXomn83ZGpMc3Z9g7c69iDAjI5ECQufoR5Vv82iMBiFcTSSbEYoRtsSjp9gG7sCexyppj2Oz6wsDiaAGpnknutveOk0IRgCwhv-JuHyOQLxydO_UHr-rJznM/s320/DSC_0907.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swynnerton's Reed Frog</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Swynnerton's Reed Frog immature</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Striped Skink</td></tr>
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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.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Swallow habitat</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Swallow</td></tr>
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Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-9417884758629083582013-01-06T10:29:00.004-08:002013-01-06T10:32:59.916-08:00Bumi HillsI recently got to spend three wonderful days at Bumi Hills, on Lake Kariba.<br />
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The view from Bumi Hills lodge was quite spectacular. In fact, most of the scenery around Bumi Hills was pretty excellent.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View of the bay from Bumi Hills harbour</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A HDR image of the sunrise</td></tr>
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Animal viewing was great, with elephants and hippos very close, plus plenty of other game. We even had Lion on the first afternoon!<br />
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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...<br />
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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.<br />
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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.<br />
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.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown-hooded Kingfisher</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crested Barbet</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bateleur flying past Bumi Hills</td></tr>
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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.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVb7-RP90yO8aC1UB06Hvt51JZg2Bt9sDvfPraB8ZKsuH0kSOnEA9jnMp-CYQbVGysRh3y9xX__BxzTJSabfZrVmktAFxwR71S4lBjhYkyV1GjVgcLjWFQ-hhSnjdZS7W-4rQA3TzmFZ-/s1600/DSC_0455.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDVb7-RP90yO8aC1UB06Hvt51JZg2Bt9sDvfPraB8ZKsuH0kSOnEA9jnMp-CYQbVGysRh3y9xX__BxzTJSabfZrVmktAFxwR71S4lBjhYkyV1GjVgcLjWFQ-hhSnjdZS7W-4rQA3TzmFZ-/s320/DSC_0455.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green-backed Heron</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiAzOWZFv_P10JybdmyzxkHq075JhUN-ruwWdYEb2MARJQjKr2I-D5wsOhnRpZAGxvZD2r48_6CQ9_aGKPTuZMAnQVMMUAowIyLuveiM92dD8sOCcSuctOpjYpWzLi1DUEVNvLNiTPGMZ/s1600/DSC_0385.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdiAzOWZFv_P10JybdmyzxkHq075JhUN-ruwWdYEb2MARJQjKr2I-D5wsOhnRpZAGxvZD2r48_6CQ9_aGKPTuZMAnQVMMUAowIyLuveiM92dD8sOCcSuctOpjYpWzLi1DUEVNvLNiTPGMZ/s320/DSC_0385.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reed Cormorants, with White-crowned Lapwing in the background</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZqeUZCCx1aDWeY8cif8hGTaBI__tMVAPz9IeAXO48KafGqXAXW8WKmm8HtI1YsJ76ZFUg9_MVRYTd2KxF4Hbg82oBC48AyAhWbVbe-z7jJ7s5VPPOResXnsFkv4PzwAEItws7xNyQO5h/s1600/DSC_0427.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-ZqeUZCCx1aDWeY8cif8hGTaBI__tMVAPz9IeAXO48KafGqXAXW8WKmm8HtI1YsJ76ZFUg9_MVRYTd2KxF4Hbg82oBC48AyAhWbVbe-z7jJ7s5VPPOResXnsFkv4PzwAEItws7xNyQO5h/s320/DSC_0427.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Darter</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPlt_057yRvfdFjNEVoU0EXkA3X65x10FqKmoACFl8FqeuVk_k43_YilluRvE4POo2t_6XSYPXXtfzGGZlg0ZY91ZaEV7pZCyRuGfQQ4WSSjPUNf1idStTcuNH4eI2L_kFeOOAcwA6X17/s1600/DSC_0138.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyPlt_057yRvfdFjNEVoU0EXkA3X65x10FqKmoACFl8FqeuVk_k43_YilluRvE4POo2t_6XSYPXXtfzGGZlg0ZY91ZaEV7pZCyRuGfQQ4WSSjPUNf1idStTcuNH4eI2L_kFeOOAcwA6X17/s320/DSC_0138.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Fish-eagle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFFGq9UAxi8bOk7SUZW9P1zO-MR-bVf19z-xNPDHV43ur9tjXzBknZaNuxV9td7z868iFUC_QcSGRNJ5qBMv7WjqjCeIUBEaD-gT7SrZRIOV5a7xyxZLhYJoI2vDmIJanofN4r24BYUyP/s1600/DSC_0219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTFFGq9UAxi8bOk7SUZW9P1zO-MR-bVf19z-xNPDHV43ur9tjXzBknZaNuxV9td7z868iFUC_QcSGRNJ5qBMv7WjqjCeIUBEaD-gT7SrZRIOV5a7xyxZLhYJoI2vDmIJanofN4r24BYUyP/s320/DSC_0219.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Carmine Bee-eater</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb71LIkC5nE6zNBZtjj1c6yuKVlPoIr3tDqcUf0IlYYUwYAjrZ0Nk-z5B68m2TXZWwLp_qDXe2FBpatiSIE-a5S6kF0zJQbVvv9iMDA9jAxJMjRNdf7tAETtcyWWmsDwl8z_5NoVD4X0se/s1600/DSC_0122.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb71LIkC5nE6zNBZtjj1c6yuKVlPoIr3tDqcUf0IlYYUwYAjrZ0Nk-z5B68m2TXZWwLp_qDXe2FBpatiSIE-a5S6kF0zJQbVvv9iMDA9jAxJMjRNdf7tAETtcyWWmsDwl8z_5NoVD4X0se/s320/DSC_0122.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lilac-breasted Roller</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdbU6wZrAC3BpjAwQT88xEZ09w4ulFy9bwp19N-wB0mv6KUjnu6gmMMprZpT6au3Del2_mTce6t2J_TmiOyDxSleIxrLl1vgwszpL95EOIQAXc11zdtgNujN6NN9gn4aArEVKENwkPABp/s1600/DSC_0535.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkdbU6wZrAC3BpjAwQT88xEZ09w4ulFy9bwp19N-wB0mv6KUjnu6gmMMprZpT6au3Del2_mTce6t2J_TmiOyDxSleIxrLl1vgwszpL95EOIQAXc11zdtgNujN6NN9gn4aArEVKENwkPABp/s320/DSC_0535.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark, on the airstrip</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8p7klro71skM3_gtekVhrLB30GX7E4Fyq9-MXUkdxdgPX56oUVw5PUHONR2B7sCt1i2mhYtteem0oyeZKZwu0qlNeOu8R9SoY23uO5h8nwbRRfJ18EqnLC56sbbgJqu1DKTAd9uRVFSp1/s1600/DSC_0314-DSC_0317.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="65" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8p7klro71skM3_gtekVhrLB30GX7E4Fyq9-MXUkdxdgPX56oUVw5PUHONR2B7sCt1i2mhYtteem0oyeZKZwu0qlNeOu8R9SoY23uO5h8nwbRRfJ18EqnLC56sbbgJqu1DKTAd9uRVFSp1/s400/DSC_0314-DSC_0317.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and how could I not miss a view like this one?</td></tr>
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<br />Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-23723786704663870222012-12-31T02:41:00.001-08:002012-12-31T02:41:10.263-08:00Hippo Pools, December 2012I'm getting a bit behind on my blog posts! I went on a birding trip with a photographer friend to Hippo Pools for two nights on the 19th of December.<br />
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The weather stayed dry the whole time we were there, but on the two previous days 60mm of rain had fallen. All the little tributaries were trickling, and there were puddles of water all over the place.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYL7n8JgiBeVjbJCU1sD3zM-y9-1emqCWrKabVHoSFP8uUdA9qbgnNNVaNkWyrgOUG4S4aQExeURJ6KwoYea5R7VVyb999E9IYCQGBbtWLRGe5D0C1_o4ZxosB4Eq_FGov5WOl9gHvcgA/s1600/DSC_9461.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbYL7n8JgiBeVjbJCU1sD3zM-y9-1emqCWrKabVHoSFP8uUdA9qbgnNNVaNkWyrgOUG4S4aQExeURJ6KwoYea5R7VVyb999E9IYCQGBbtWLRGe5D0C1_o4ZxosB4Eq_FGov5WOl9gHvcgA/s320/DSC_9461.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mazowe River</td></tr>
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<div>
There were a bunch of reptiles and frogs around:</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZZCw-hpdI5si7dJpF3MW0jZ4ggIakKNnvONOpR4UKsl5LkOsiv4VeFgCQuFq2PWsYT9JgnWl7bju2128AvugnyGeVxob0PiRBYWCEPwINXXFPkLCykh31zI61JpDM7VRS3TnbrABx3Qn/s1600/DSC_0203.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKZZCw-hpdI5si7dJpF3MW0jZ4ggIakKNnvONOpR4UKsl5LkOsiv4VeFgCQuFq2PWsYT9JgnWl7bju2128AvugnyGeVxob0PiRBYWCEPwINXXFPkLCykh31zI61JpDM7VRS3TnbrABx3Qn/s320/DSC_0203.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Serrated Hinged Terrapin</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNBy6AdggdC0zb7l4khA8EvFSgQnxP8ZSK-GLrORdczAz7E00LiO9czmqdb-EBULKIkwjgOf_34aB7q5QOfWmLaYsAny_K5H5QuGv2zq4QrQN9wNkHyN-_f4s7H8ITWMh50R-GK9MzDFp/s1600/DSC_0242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQNBy6AdggdC0zb7l4khA8EvFSgQnxP8ZSK-GLrORdczAz7E00LiO9czmqdb-EBULKIkwjgOf_34aB7q5QOfWmLaYsAny_K5H5QuGv2zq4QrQN9wNkHyN-_f4s7H8ITWMh50R-GK9MzDFp/s320/DSC_0242.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Russet-backed Sand Frog</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJO-NLAHzjy_WvHo5hS0A3eh3kEx4s2_zuSNn_cIIO_nlkKeBT18r7s8YFWr0GIE_qsw8BWu8ptGYk4CKY8Lrgoua6blLttMy4-oXdVvJ4nR6OSywoDTx-udkxR3P_omYYdcx_t1D7lJJX/s1600/DSC_0250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJO-NLAHzjy_WvHo5hS0A3eh3kEx4s2_zuSNn_cIIO_nlkKeBT18r7s8YFWr0GIE_qsw8BWu8ptGYk4CKY8Lrgoua6blLttMy4-oXdVvJ4nR6OSywoDTx-udkxR3P_omYYdcx_t1D7lJJX/s320/DSC_0250.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Southern Foam-nest Frog</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieio6o96Fk2_jKcq1ronsWkCFgsJAr-kkjallQXrE-_9yljwBjko1rcGrgPxhYtAfOYUsr4izR6tNXVranXhVb3XCRNPKBOvDsToAbxygfzuc_MFymqgqWC-3L6gG4IRRS8zn_61z1KolB/s1600/DSC_0272.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieio6o96Fk2_jKcq1ronsWkCFgsJAr-kkjallQXrE-_9yljwBjko1rcGrgPxhYtAfOYUsr4izR6tNXVranXhVb3XCRNPKBOvDsToAbxygfzuc_MFymqgqWC-3L6gG4IRRS8zn_61z1KolB/s320/DSC_0272.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Leopard Tortoise - just a baby!</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1OiJ8pkGUEWWq7N0GLhfIJ_HMwLC7S8BTZFI1rtsd82C9JCqlPDc6RePLP6_jESXOCycJgxe0eGPpLuEETD6Gt8XhFRn5VsccXAJa9U5ExcjdmTM1SY5BQMF0TJGVrSuHwNQ0p6Fgv70/s1600/DSC_9780.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp1OiJ8pkGUEWWq7N0GLhfIJ_HMwLC7S8BTZFI1rtsd82C9JCqlPDc6RePLP6_jESXOCycJgxe0eGPpLuEETD6Gt8XhFRn5VsccXAJa9U5ExcjdmTM1SY5BQMF0TJGVrSuHwNQ0p6Fgv70/s320/DSC_9780.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Rainbow Skink</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIeyDt-SG4Ix1DUpBahJhII8kYeDBTSPk3HCG6L5KeEUjAMCmI1pbbuGUUSh1MKuqlyR6dhshAP0uDql8jVlzEz6QVSfA8HPH-G82e02Ea3ZDB55ygaTVrVYjoGc3Y-g7wE204Do_qdtL/s1600/DSC_9790.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVIeyDt-SG4Ix1DUpBahJhII8kYeDBTSPk3HCG6L5KeEUjAMCmI1pbbuGUUSh1MKuqlyR6dhshAP0uDql8jVlzEz6QVSfA8HPH-G82e02Ea3ZDB55ygaTVrVYjoGc3Y-g7wE204Do_qdtL/s320/DSC_9790.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Kirk's Rock Agama</td></tr>
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The birds were brilliant as usual. We close to camp most of the time and picked up many birds, including White-backed Night-heron, African Black Duck, African Goshawk, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Thick-billed and African Emerald Cuckoos, African Wood-owl, Narina Trogon, Half-collared Kingfisher, Trumpeter and Crowned Hornbills, African Broadbill, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Bearded Scrub-robin, Yellow-breasted Apalis, Black-throated Wattle-eye, Livingstone's Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike, Collared Sunbird and Red-throated Twinspot.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmQ9oGyXJik-XkxTZJx8FfHxuCt4_LU2VXKDSnuV8IpaFD0wheGYapWlSVX9-b1Ta8bvmXILgohzn33hF1mTbXlyAbmWs53LzyLWIgq3z1vqLXXDqWER-mq5F9hMf5Y4tsPgSAk8wUToO/s1600/DSC_9505.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzmQ9oGyXJik-XkxTZJx8FfHxuCt4_LU2VXKDSnuV8IpaFD0wheGYapWlSVX9-b1Ta8bvmXILgohzn33hF1mTbXlyAbmWs53LzyLWIgq3z1vqLXXDqWER-mq5F9hMf5Y4tsPgSAk8wUToO/s320/DSC_9505.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-backed Night-heron</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLn6J96acauCoaguQJpkozHBAcSwChptShn3gTllBfbl_D9x1pas-KottpnUV7TOb3EY0Nwel3Ii9-XHqNFa81XLC-l2Hm5D74-y3GWp_QEzugM0AEgqBg-1l0Zzjs3Cu2UeYCfLnoJFY/s1600/DSC_9595.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPLn6J96acauCoaguQJpkozHBAcSwChptShn3gTllBfbl_D9x1pas-KottpnUV7TOb3EY0Nwel3Ii9-XHqNFa81XLC-l2Hm5D74-y3GWp_QEzugM0AEgqBg-1l0Zzjs3Cu2UeYCfLnoJFY/s320/DSC_9595.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Broadbill</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKg9h9uEsbEgtv9hYOr3Vkoz20SP_FLbNfTyfRgg1AhvXbNhBA2vJljuY_heQ7W_KUlaoouJNZXCZj8mWOUrno5O2rH6CDw-2g90e0VSFhSH3ARw82xCVbOt2idCNPH9kFdQlUz0Y2g7c/s1600/DSC_9669.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFKg9h9uEsbEgtv9hYOr3Vkoz20SP_FLbNfTyfRgg1AhvXbNhBA2vJljuY_heQ7W_KUlaoouJNZXCZj8mWOUrno5O2rH6CDw-2g90e0VSFhSH3ARw82xCVbOt2idCNPH9kFdQlUz0Y2g7c/s320/DSC_9669.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Half-collared Kingfisher</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhECiJwWbEVJVM0sQXcSojCjBVHtUFbYdZeRDgFpU4wEVTRh15T0wYGYvgkwGnM7tzfP01dNbOlDawSxUsclmJTbo0rHE1HN577P44GnEcNXjucZs2dM4RRWv0sb3RLLhLS_k3AcD7rKUy/s1600/DSC_9719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhECiJwWbEVJVM0sQXcSojCjBVHtUFbYdZeRDgFpU4wEVTRh15T0wYGYvgkwGnM7tzfP01dNbOlDawSxUsclmJTbo0rHE1HN577P44GnEcNXjucZs2dM4RRWv0sb3RLLhLS_k3AcD7rKUy/s320/DSC_9719.JPG" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Narina Trogon, female</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqY9SW_CYOl5SmYcZY09vlbZzllJp91Z-XFJhio_9lzG09vabknIyFR9RiS2KRRvGe76uErSR4S26iFjywRKZjkS6-tnEveiNVJbjGtsJGoMx7Jh3UugZOE0a3DuQ3g3CGXAT_AxsLHAe2/s1600/DSC_9824.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqY9SW_CYOl5SmYcZY09vlbZzllJp91Z-XFJhio_9lzG09vabknIyFR9RiS2KRRvGe76uErSR4S26iFjywRKZjkS6-tnEveiNVJbjGtsJGoMx7Jh3UugZOE0a3DuQ3g3CGXAT_AxsLHAe2/s320/DSC_9824.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green-backed Heron</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWEveWcGL1B01WbbYeWNb3t1etyv-7Leutu4hplFTO_Wy-bPYOw6RmONiqJTo0gg-BRPHFPnRYAO7sCqglxvfAmgbE2sGox_MME_0Caa6BVkUB7eEf5Nv5kilS1VlNqjV-k1qegnxnFMj/s1600/DSC_9840.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivWEveWcGL1B01WbbYeWNb3t1etyv-7Leutu4hplFTO_Wy-bPYOw6RmONiqJTo0gg-BRPHFPnRYAO7sCqglxvfAmgbE2sGox_MME_0Caa6BVkUB7eEf5Nv5kilS1VlNqjV-k1qegnxnFMj/s320/DSC_9840.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Male Red-throated Twinspot</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
We did one short drive to the Umfurudzi River to search for the Pel's Fishing-owl, and find it we did!</div>
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Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-77980644942111019332012-12-14T10:35:00.004-08:002012-12-14T10:40:18.220-08:00Searching for the African PittaThis post is about a birding trip to find a rather special bird; the African Pitta.<br />
<br />
I joined seven other birders on this trip into the Dande area of the Zambezi Valley, roughly 170km north of Harare in a straight line. Of course, going in a straight line was not an option, and our 280km drive took around five hours to complete, thanks to the condition of the gravel roads. One good bird we saw whilst driving through the mopane woodlands was a Dusky Lark.<br />
We arrived at Murara Camp in the late afternoon on Monday, where we unpacked the vehicles before going to meet the local guide, Mackenzie, to arrange the next morning's activities.<br />
That night I spent some time examining my chalet and the dining room for interesting critters. I found a few things, notably Bibron's Geckos, which are surprisingly large.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBdQPIEqRjkmpdmtHFYyLEUVnqXRzzLtOiY0DiqwJT6fGfeuhmtMQyI_gpLgr9x2AkN8uQdRom9gXTwNBapfqUWiChssomJT5FgHvTW_6G_3dS172pwlqTB6acYM1xzQggjrs8WOnxNhi/s1600/DSC_8699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizBdQPIEqRjkmpdmtHFYyLEUVnqXRzzLtOiY0DiqwJT6fGfeuhmtMQyI_gpLgr9x2AkN8uQdRom9gXTwNBapfqUWiChssomJT5FgHvTW_6G_3dS172pwlqTB6acYM1xzQggjrs8WOnxNhi/s320/DSC_8699.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dusky Lark</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0TiAk1zk1OYG5qiM_5uyO-hnIuG53F2TI_3CH6VyBUUXPDK_Lgl4q7ePQ7iH6w9iJWvVsO4yqCuWQk3ykgRjRI05LTSSM6-XqGgW_Yqld_cMpUwpsxXIkUb-U0tNMESyu2EQB8ACuhGI/s1600/DSC_0145.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj0TiAk1zk1OYG5qiM_5uyO-hnIuG53F2TI_3CH6VyBUUXPDK_Lgl4q7ePQ7iH6w9iJWvVsO4yqCuWQk3ykgRjRI05LTSSM6-XqGgW_Yqld_cMpUwpsxXIkUb-U0tNMESyu2EQB8ACuhGI/s320/DSC_0145.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bibron's Gecko</td></tr>
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In the middle of the night a storm rolled in and dumped a whole lot of rain upon us; luckily it had cleared by the time we wanted to set off. So set off we did, slipping and sliding on the muddy road, and splashing through the puddles that had collected. Only when we reached a stream crossing did we have to stop; the stream was suddenly a waist-deep, fast-flowing river! Too deep and fast to cross safely, we turned back and searched for the Pitta in some riverine thicket on the Manongora River, closer to Murara Camp. Eventually, one calling Pitta was heard, but not nearby, and we weren't able to locate it. There was no lack of bird life though; Narina Trogon, Eastern Nicator, Red-capped Robin-chat, African Emerald-cuckoo, Crested Guineafowl, Livingstone's Flycatcher, Hadeda Ibis, Bohm's Spinetail, Red-throated Twinspot and Yellow-breasted Apalis were among the birds seen at this particular spot.<br />
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A couple of hours later the stream had flushed out, and was crossable. We picked up Mackenzie and headed to Masoka Camp on the Angwa River - the most popular destination for people seeking the African Pitta. The rain started again during the short drive, and by the time we got there it was bucketing down. We sheltered under the dining area, sitting on Africa's most uncomfortable chairs, for a while, waiting for the rain to let up. Finally, it did, and we started walking through the riverine thicket around camp, led by Mackenzie.<br />
But we still couldn't find the Pitta! I don't know why, but they just seemed to be missing at that particular time. Maybe it was getting too late in the morning, or maybe the rain had something to do with it.<br />
Other birds seen included a very wet Western Banded Snake-eagle, Crested Guineafowl, six different cuckoos, African Wood-owl, Common Swift, Crowned Hornbill, Eastern Nicator, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, and Burnt-necked Eremomela.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXjxFo4nYIcs3sNHmppkjBFJUUJUxnvJOrpsTH7DYlqr5c_gZXglGFnUBFyye_9PvFY4yaYT4s2g5Q40DSF8lEAx8_Z84jn5ovYPe9BF45ZCyeHXOiHA7gm8WrE3Qks6rdT2cJmWvIJfI/s1600/DSC_8913.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqXjxFo4nYIcs3sNHmppkjBFJUUJUxnvJOrpsTH7DYlqr5c_gZXglGFnUBFyye_9PvFY4yaYT4s2g5Q40DSF8lEAx8_Z84jn5ovYPe9BF45ZCyeHXOiHA7gm8WrE3Qks6rdT2cJmWvIJfI/s320/DSC_8913.JPG" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Wood-owl</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRg9lzFpADX8LuWkzRvKND2JrHBXRvpS-f3liaxcvbsjAW18VO4YjLg45CC06X0P-vSBbz8x9yMnmwy2Q53fd41t2SS87dLkD5HYlFpn9RLGjjBq23geXyXbrkqw7Or3EMK0sLpsWgHkh/s1600/DSC_8934.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDRg9lzFpADX8LuWkzRvKND2JrHBXRvpS-f3liaxcvbsjAW18VO4YjLg45CC06X0P-vSBbz8x9yMnmwy2Q53fd41t2SS87dLkD5HYlFpn9RLGjjBq23geXyXbrkqw7Or3EMK0sLpsWgHkh/s320/DSC_8934.JPG" width="243" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Western Banded Snake-eagle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Next we headed towards an abandoned camp upstream from Masoka. Once again, we searched hard and still didn't find any Pittas. Birds here were much the same as other spots, with nothing exceptional. We continued south from here, heading towards a Baobab tree where Mottled Spinetails lived, stopping near a river to search the thickets on the way there. The Mottled Spinetail spot was a success; we saw a number of the birds quite well.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1_lUZ6vXHw32QX7wd_kjLjlTD0MI-f7m0BDhaZ7VZmL7iwS9nUMhlfFjc-ljpy7moRRqWz-v3kAqCC3qnuq_4skomZIRgh9p-OpX27bfT2QsAHG4PtqdiXrLpnck3syeIpI5ZxaUJhTz/s1600/DSC_0149.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgH1_lUZ6vXHw32QX7wd_kjLjlTD0MI-f7m0BDhaZ7VZmL7iwS9nUMhlfFjc-ljpy7moRRqWz-v3kAqCC3qnuq_4skomZIRgh9p-OpX27bfT2QsAHG4PtqdiXrLpnck3syeIpI5ZxaUJhTz/s320/DSC_0149.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Driving through African Pitta habitat</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOQxB0O5p1K01zGbybcsl1qji3cHy8am1FpICpzLjdEf0JQK2yvwbzFCJ8bntd-rSfLkg29FDTYdjtLGeJcoQLiReTo8N4wr28iCF4bU9YtbZFIHXLtHM4Ka8DoLukCy9rYmVFyBDaa6V/s1600/DSC_8871.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPOQxB0O5p1K01zGbybcsl1qji3cHy8am1FpICpzLjdEf0JQK2yvwbzFCJ8bntd-rSfLkg29FDTYdjtLGeJcoQLiReTo8N4wr28iCF4bU9YtbZFIHXLtHM4Ka8DoLukCy9rYmVFyBDaa6V/s320/DSC_8871.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">On the way to the baobab, we found a Tawny Eagle feasting upon a frog of some sort</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJrSu7hM5bVzezspKqB13L91QwUy6aubQobSpcFT3sYvsGh2q0IVWqREssirL-qAVpqb6SEyvU_ApPcJYhKue5aPDTyyIfYWHfLOYSB8fRCL6Kz2Gq27soZDU-TTAKtUt9eulYrGuD81E/s1600/DSC_8896.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLJrSu7hM5bVzezspKqB13L91QwUy6aubQobSpcFT3sYvsGh2q0IVWqREssirL-qAVpqb6SEyvU_ApPcJYhKue5aPDTyyIfYWHfLOYSB8fRCL6Kz2Gq27soZDU-TTAKtUt9eulYrGuD81E/s320/DSC_8896.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mottled Spinetail</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We headed back to Masoka for the day's last attempt at finding the bird. Still no luck, but the Western Banded Snake-eagle and the African Wood-owl were still there, and we did manage to <i>hear</i> a Pitta...<br />
Tired and frustrated, we headed back to Murara for the night. Flying ants were erupting in full force that evening, so there were a few more creatures about. I found a scorpion chewing on a flying ant, and also found a rather huge Baboon Spider running on the floor under peoples' chairs!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-KW8OFLirICX3eV-ZZyO_-fV2IIED481-jKnNLVc08LgVr_H_eAeJBstTtEfDASkmuGU2OG06vtkMnBRUh_ImD1y41HGzSpfjHrmQumWW_-MjWdSt9AUM6zQxjD5rOwprIVJJKJzhfEc/s1600/DSC_8956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX-KW8OFLirICX3eV-ZZyO_-fV2IIED481-jKnNLVc08LgVr_H_eAeJBstTtEfDASkmuGU2OG06vtkMnBRUh_ImD1y41HGzSpfjHrmQumWW_-MjWdSt9AUM6zQxjD5rOwprIVJJKJzhfEc/s320/DSC_8956.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Baboon Spider</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwYV3xc81_k7rRa7uM2IeLLklhtdxJE-DdZS6avw5GqBobG3MJvkUVdZDiECWvOjqtgQoJ36QY1kgnviZ_wGiA7wrYV9AqlvWt7vw0Z_Mhkt8RhMae0IbiahaSQczATvqZ6fSEAImTKob/s1600/DSC_8969.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZwYV3xc81_k7rRa7uM2IeLLklhtdxJE-DdZS6avw5GqBobG3MJvkUVdZDiECWvOjqtgQoJ36QY1kgnviZ_wGiA7wrYV9AqlvWt7vw0Z_Mhkt8RhMae0IbiahaSQczATvqZ6fSEAImTKob/s320/DSC_8969.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Scorpion glowing under a UV light</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
We awoke the next morning to dry, but overcast weather. We had out last chance to find the bird, as we had to leave that day. We spent the morning looking in the thickets on the Manongora River, and eventually we got lucky! A bird was calling, and another was responding. We could follow the calls roughly to the bush where the bird was hiding, but seeing it was another matter entirely! Finally we were treated to some brief views of the birds, before they disappeared once again into the bush. The views were fleeting and partly obstructed - not good for photos - but at least we saw it. On the way back to Murara we found some Double-banded Sandgrouse.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JGEoZ1zIxAq098HH88TVLLnDeXS3rD4cYOLgpoiDHa4PWak6-OeUAG94nuMESVD3T-qZKM7BTrNMMbdnIK81YYtzdGzC5giYtm0Fsj-QMs4fmsrQsPc0gYJynSmumAWfpi4ZMBYANyDg/s1600/DSC_9013.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0JGEoZ1zIxAq098HH88TVLLnDeXS3rD4cYOLgpoiDHa4PWak6-OeUAG94nuMESVD3T-qZKM7BTrNMMbdnIK81YYtzdGzC5giYtm0Fsj-QMs4fmsrQsPc0gYJynSmumAWfpi4ZMBYANyDg/s320/DSC_9013.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The African Pitta didn't stay in the open for long, making photography a nightmare. This was the best I could manage</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_DQPK4fGR8jJvcJGy8u-5Y1CeKrfD6NQQe_c0hGVBG5ofZT1IH0vKPW_29Y4FaipBH7Io7tI9GskaLqVgVcCovoca8kx8VYXXU78mHu3Labg1g__krO9nun2g9XkLB4dY-BPyDzE1oqo/s1600/DSC_9031.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjj_DQPK4fGR8jJvcJGy8u-5Y1CeKrfD6NQQe_c0hGVBG5ofZT1IH0vKPW_29Y4FaipBH7Io7tI9GskaLqVgVcCovoca8kx8VYXXU78mHu3Labg1g__krO9nun2g9XkLB4dY-BPyDzE1oqo/s320/DSC_9031.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Double-banded Sandgrouse female</td></tr>
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We were met with good news when we got back to camp; a few of the birders had stayed behind whilst the rest of us were searching the Manongora River, and those few had seen African Pitta near the Murara camp. All that effort, and we could have just walked around Murara all weekend instead! I did a bit of a walk around, managing to photograph a few birds, but couldn't find the Pitta.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1Lz2e-v1U7W7Y5-jvnuDnQ4GeL6Bm8nI9-3TtWB5bJ0xJ4WBvzSmJEItj9g4WrQl0F_jW6ucMBvd0gUk4NVbKb417Ryc2P0gaav1NPLpj_aQsKl0FuyNVzAaBANaTIaTItDzgw8kNcsx/s1600/DSC_9043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht1Lz2e-v1U7W7Y5-jvnuDnQ4GeL6Bm8nI9-3TtWB5bJ0xJ4WBvzSmJEItj9g4WrQl0F_jW6ucMBvd0gUk4NVbKb417Ryc2P0gaav1NPLpj_aQsKl0FuyNVzAaBANaTIaTItDzgw8kNcsx/s320/DSC_9043.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Livingstone's Flycatcher. One stick is all it takes to spoil an otherwise good picture</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQAqITuc4i9IzN-ISozNRvfdV1vcOhDxlYA03jWPPBYQsE6cUc2o3t0HAQyaGkv2NEZmnHidbpyAyV90ihwECnGk1_4_otUTIHbcoGGM4gCvlAYmXWqMnSQ0lGy46H6p7BOWnW92et7Qx/s1600/DSC_9060b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizQAqITuc4i9IzN-ISozNRvfdV1vcOhDxlYA03jWPPBYQsE6cUc2o3t0HAQyaGkv2NEZmnHidbpyAyV90ihwECnGk1_4_otUTIHbcoGGM4gCvlAYmXWqMnSQ0lGy46H6p7BOWnW92et7Qx/s320/DSC_9060b.jpg" width="242" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Bearded Scrub-robin - beautiful!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJv5rAxV9AzCU92RjlVm70fL95C3TGg3NYtd6LNc0yCIAe98mlv4Fnp8bA0Go26CsnLPwoZ7kVZGN8gHrrYnAqTYDI4VlFYJWsjA23yXNK_rS5ahS1_PnpKdx93ttrunpedfQK7nLdximl/s1600/DSC_9108.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJv5rAxV9AzCU92RjlVm70fL95C3TGg3NYtd6LNc0yCIAe98mlv4Fnp8bA0Go26CsnLPwoZ7kVZGN8gHrrYnAqTYDI4VlFYJWsjA23yXNK_rS5ahS1_PnpKdx93ttrunpedfQK7nLdximl/s320/DSC_9108.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Brown-hooded Kingfisher</td></tr>
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And so we packed up and went home. We had all seen the African Pitta at some point, which was wonderful. I just would have liked to get a better photograph...<br />
The trip out was mostly uneventful. A couple of the gulleys were difficult to cross, owing to very muddy slopes, but it was not too difficult. We had stopped for a break by one of these gulleys, and someone decided to check the riverine thicket. Not a minute later, he had found a couple! The birds flew back across the river, and I had to scramble up a steep slope and through thickets to keep up with them, and eventually I was rewarded. One perched in the open for a few seconds - just enough to get the camera on it and clicking away.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9kOyE6eB38Up7mMezvYHgufzkskOjnRsH-b_3-LwcpUxaahjvnzt3HHYSyF4vZ2x4YIXikkE-kS_xSOXkWEH4FuVd8ROxtqTIh6sgUvhtV9EHcucDN1iNM8JDQxwn0gfIl3q2cbZOeRW/s1600/DSC_9159.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt9kOyE6eB38Up7mMezvYHgufzkskOjnRsH-b_3-LwcpUxaahjvnzt3HHYSyF4vZ2x4YIXikkE-kS_xSOXkWEH4FuVd8ROxtqTIh6sgUvhtV9EHcucDN1iNM8JDQxwn0gfIl3q2cbZOeRW/s400/DSC_9159.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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A rewarding end to a difficult and frustrating search. The trip was most enjoyable, and the bird life in general was excellent, even aside from the African Pitta.Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-40819611607008354062012-11-27T05:27:00.000-08:002012-11-27T05:27:14.515-08:00Big Birding Day 2012On the 24th and 25th of November was the annual Big Birding Day - which is a challenge to see how many different bird species you can find in 24 or 36 hours.<div>
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I took part in the 24 hour count, with three other birders. We visited eight different sites during the 24 hours, on top of all the driving!</div>
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Obviously, we saw too many birds to list them all, so I will go through the highlights:</div>
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Darwendale Dam: We started at 9 am on Saturday at Darwendale Dam. There was not much shoreline or weed, so there were not as many waterbirds as we had hoped. Goliath Heron, Glossy Ibis, Fulvous Duck, Cape Teal, Grey-headed Gull, Red-breasted and Greater Striped Swallows and Brown-throated Martin were among the birds seen. We didn't spend too long at this spot.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbRycbzRIbeByNp_Uc2H8ga9ElPS3X5rveWmQsPXL6QeVFVAKjyQPNmPOeqwqdbsgw_xiaqTyseW-nOa9gwR4azElUsK_qbUhNLa2hJw-0vFNW9vEdW2lcofotnfI4aO4SKImPveHX00A/s1600/Cape+Teal01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvbRycbzRIbeByNp_Uc2H8ga9ElPS3X5rveWmQsPXL6QeVFVAKjyQPNmPOeqwqdbsgw_xiaqTyseW-nOa9gwR4azElUsK_qbUhNLa2hJw-0vFNW9vEdW2lcofotnfI4aO4SKImPveHX00A/s320/Cape+Teal01.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">There was a single Cape Teal present.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZ_Aw05YDcjvyWjzEIw414bCxynxEeusRvov4X4gPTCqZGpBI8V_DKIrXJkMTO0nG-xVN10SWEwOvegkDbgjVdU6F4yE6sY6lAImxhpCD0ZoYw9bMc62GHXmoLUcZqgxNQET5W1z2Rn2o/s1600/Glossy+Ibis06.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZ_Aw05YDcjvyWjzEIw414bCxynxEeusRvov4X4gPTCqZGpBI8V_DKIrXJkMTO0nG-xVN10SWEwOvegkDbgjVdU6F4yE6sY6lAImxhpCD0ZoYw9bMc62GHXmoLUcZqgxNQET5W1z2Rn2o/s320/Glossy+Ibis06.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Glossy Ibis.</td></tr>
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<div>
Next up was Chivero National Park. We spent quite some time there, as we had a large area to cover. We got White-backed Vulture, African Cuckoo-hawk, Water Thick-knee, Grey-headed Kingfisher, Broad-billed Roller, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Stierling's Wren-warbler, White-crested Helmet-shrike, Lesser Masked-weaver, Red-headed Weaver and many more...</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBAVdZZSZqT74WDC8mpnMktBk_ShVduQPwN8-npbcQGgLoRJ5rR7RiFAcT-0DqkPOE9FQVDWb3ligQ2Xqk16ic-4NrL-PINSFzqK6sjZgGrX3ThpG89xdfm8v-SjbmAmFquNAk9vgsC85/s1600/DSC_7940.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvBAVdZZSZqT74WDC8mpnMktBk_ShVduQPwN8-npbcQGgLoRJ5rR7RiFAcT-0DqkPOE9FQVDWb3ligQ2Xqk16ic-4NrL-PINSFzqK6sjZgGrX3ThpG89xdfm8v-SjbmAmFquNAk9vgsC85/s320/DSC_7940.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Broad-billed Roller.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88kDcj9XUgJrHJBXua2vqyPk5ssAQS8ETdh0s4TWLoXkJoLSY-te3uxaKnryacpwZ-a5qKVI68HE5lXe3OTnk9BaRIKFpShe0FVO24ataSP47fxQIiocEOoeC1M96hlGaWQCUp9LwUwsM/s1600/DSC_7976.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh88kDcj9XUgJrHJBXua2vqyPk5ssAQS8ETdh0s4TWLoXkJoLSY-te3uxaKnryacpwZ-a5qKVI68HE5lXe3OTnk9BaRIKFpShe0FVO24ataSP47fxQIiocEOoeC1M96hlGaWQCUp9LwUwsM/s320/DSC_7976.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Lesser Masked-weaver. Notice the greyish legs and pale eye.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LQ0b5HEZzfYrUlnbbvcbyG_aG5IY_svmRKTEfB_EhECoQHr3kgviFRqSxdpf5h3AxfalN8rvtAcBTt-Gjt0hJXiW6GdYJS7phLeDaoXmjBz5KCDCvTrWsyPgS0HTcHwngIbtdt4gt7MN/s1600/DSC_7985b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9LQ0b5HEZzfYrUlnbbvcbyG_aG5IY_svmRKTEfB_EhECoQHr3kgviFRqSxdpf5h3AxfalN8rvtAcBTt-Gjt0hJXiW6GdYJS7phLeDaoXmjBz5KCDCvTrWsyPgS0HTcHwngIbtdt4gt7MN/s320/DSC_7985b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Grey-headed Kingfisher - a new one for me.</td></tr>
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Crowborough Sewage Works was the next stop on the list. This place has some usually has lots unusual birds around, and this time was no different. Many Abdim's Storks were on the fields, whilst hundreds of Barn Swallows whizzed around, and a few Magpie Shrikes and Amur Falcons were nearby. Kittlitz's Plover, Capped Wheatear, Rosy-throated Longclaw and Yellow Wagtail were also on the fields, whilst Wood Sandpiper and Little Stint were at the ponds along with Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet and a few other waterbirds.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHjaLfS3fm-z1wM_CIh49jSfXKIQuEBP2o_zG4Zfs4IWuU8sTpiVtZuDZhm0R_e3xOTUDFyJltkX7BeZKwRv5KdAAnGEzV9jvf57X6V1KY7C5mbuVBugXMZ5BtY88W5eJHRI4Ds-Y5qYw/s1600/Pied+Avocet,+Reed+Cormorant,+Blacksmith+Lapwing01.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMHjaLfS3fm-z1wM_CIh49jSfXKIQuEBP2o_zG4Zfs4IWuU8sTpiVtZuDZhm0R_e3xOTUDFyJltkX7BeZKwRv5KdAAnGEzV9jvf57X6V1KY7C5mbuVBugXMZ5BtY88W5eJHRI4Ds-Y5qYw/s320/Pied+Avocet,+Reed+Cormorant,+Blacksmith+Lapwing01.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Reed Cormorant, Blacksmith Lapwing and Pied Avocet.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBysLNPNVn0I86ksIgQ73HVxgMTPKVpMQpTdrzjnRRY_lgb90cvrMWH1u9_ETZov57dNdzGpuzdmSi-F74voBzy4uJZRC7MsTDeradhgK7iF20sLYpvFUw97yBv3zM4Cyi13q6x2lrXiX9/s1600/Yellow+Wagtail06.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBysLNPNVn0I86ksIgQ73HVxgMTPKVpMQpTdrzjnRRY_lgb90cvrMWH1u9_ETZov57dNdzGpuzdmSi-F74voBzy4uJZRC7MsTDeradhgK7iF20sLYpvFUw97yBv3zM4Cyi13q6x2lrXiX9/s320/Yellow+Wagtail06.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Wagtail.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoudI6IKpgB14Mt67vMLP7jI52b6TEctbKRuN4tVBaTDX5kHrSkp6pdfyUU0PoAyfd2YcHWS1o_Wo35uGUp9qbHAEkxbih1G31Pqj0eBdPsOom0RFsNiBZFZCG5NIbuUTI09HsidbCKwFw/s1600/Yellow+Wagtail07.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoudI6IKpgB14Mt67vMLP7jI52b6TEctbKRuN4tVBaTDX5kHrSkp6pdfyUU0PoAyfd2YcHWS1o_Wo35uGUp9qbHAEkxbih1G31Pqj0eBdPsOom0RFsNiBZFZCG5NIbuUTI09HsidbCKwFw/s320/Yellow+Wagtail07.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Yellow Wagtail.</td></tr>
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Back in Harare by 3 pm, we visited the Harare Botanical Gardens. Klaas's Cuckoo, Black Cuckooshrike, Red-backed Shrike, Grey-headed Bush-shrike and Green-winged Pytilia were all good.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiFuP868rituTcHt9-6tlHiD4y3znihSk1eQ3aiJtDz8G2AU39_50Z8zSoWT5u9NMpATegH7gTl_hFNAI57pKCjPtk4-1T7HGKXS6xhUbr-l2waRzL9hyphenhyphen_KwLBCaHkvARrM14rQHBvpYZ/s1600/Red-backed+Shrike01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSiFuP868rituTcHt9-6tlHiD4y3znihSk1eQ3aiJtDz8G2AU39_50Z8zSoWT5u9NMpATegH7gTl_hFNAI57pKCjPtk4-1T7HGKXS6xhUbr-l2waRzL9hyphenhyphen_KwLBCaHkvARrM14rQHBvpYZ/s320/Red-backed+Shrike01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-backed Shrike.</td></tr>
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After that we made a quick stop at Haka Park. Black-chested Snake-eagle, African Wattled Lapwing, Woodland Kingfisher, African Hoopoe, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Miombo Tit, Broad-tailed Warbler, Yellow-throated Longclaw.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUmOnVUfAOQ2AixncfZwhpmA2r1wKnCWxSGtiZMLcB2sz5Nno-HZc87XkGh7syEWB2L7z0ChUBweaUGwyXyBCHXpn3f3mf9uUdnIyh1QHNA8Eu-Rs4IahS1R41zJxq9WVOk-DaiJuw9Gb/s1600/Broad-tailed+Warbler5.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdUmOnVUfAOQ2AixncfZwhpmA2r1wKnCWxSGtiZMLcB2sz5Nno-HZc87XkGh7syEWB2L7z0ChUBweaUGwyXyBCHXpn3f3mf9uUdnIyh1QHNA8Eu-Rs4IahS1R41zJxq9WVOk-DaiJuw9Gb/s320/Broad-tailed+Warbler5.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This Broad-tailed Warbler came into the open just long enough for me to take photographs.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxTNAtOaYbEtCVbJdYxtGTM9TgOhr9N8zOV4FjHgibc3FSL6pWSrSxTCLvSeZTr4D5ks11ADSC3dw2b98L3u77MK3RZRk-Z06F8x1vH3dVfxNQJ3wy1ZFuIC2srW9SydYPY1x9VH8Il_Y/s1600/Red-collared+Widowbird01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYxTNAtOaYbEtCVbJdYxtGTM9TgOhr9N8zOV4FjHgibc3FSL6pWSrSxTCLvSeZTr4D5ks11ADSC3dw2b98L3u77MK3RZRk-Z06F8x1vH3dVfxNQJ3wy1ZFuIC2srW9SydYPY1x9VH8Il_Y/s320/Red-collared+Widowbird01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-collared Widowbird moulting into breeding plumage.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3-sUlTGN_5oMNG3zd-eELees70eYKmR9Ov963a_mwNoUfwPnbS5nhriJXFdDSLG9CaHKyl7frpc3YOU7kZuULhGPbNVTIjkOndu4W1-Rw5wbFIs2s_B1opAZWmsH9M4Qdg7D_LO1JqAT/s1600/Woodland+Kingfisher04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh3-sUlTGN_5oMNG3zd-eELees70eYKmR9Ov963a_mwNoUfwPnbS5nhriJXFdDSLG9CaHKyl7frpc3YOU7kZuULhGPbNVTIjkOndu4W1-Rw5wbFIs2s_B1opAZWmsH9M4Qdg7D_LO1JqAT/s320/Woodland+Kingfisher04.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Woodland Kingfisher - beautiful!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
To finish off the day we stopped at Greengrove Dam. We saw Black-crowned Night-heron, Amur Falcon, Three-banded Plover, Marsh Owl, Common Swift, Whyte's Barbet and Orange-breasted Waxbill, to name a few.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div>
The next morning came all too soon, and we were at Mukuvisi Woodlands before the sun came up, waiting for the dawn chorus. We managed to find a bunch of birds here, including African Black Duck (on the river, and later being chased by a Black Sparrowhawk!), Wahlberg's Eagle, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Eastern Saw-wing, Miombo Tit, Spotted Creeper, Southern Hyliota, Grey-backed Camaroptera and Miombo Blue-eared Starling. We even saw a Bush-pig in running through the woodlands.</div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTOxtzLQDH0MZMAWwVCWpHOIgtlL6hTD6bN4oMNPA2BPxSDlXfjXX2e7Dq451aIhCZHFzrdNtlsQs0z30-jEZ4RFCn4wUDzbiIuGZKuTuTvdy0lKpFtU24dEAzR9iLD1Gr3ByEx8RSOAO/s1600/Whyte's+Barbet04.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkTOxtzLQDH0MZMAWwVCWpHOIgtlL6hTD6bN4oMNPA2BPxSDlXfjXX2e7Dq451aIhCZHFzrdNtlsQs0z30-jEZ4RFCn4wUDzbiIuGZKuTuTvdy0lKpFtU24dEAzR9iLD1Gr3ByEx8RSOAO/s320/Whyte's+Barbet04.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Whyte's Barbet.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
The last spot we visited in the 24 hours was Ewanrigg Botanical Gardens. Regular ringing here came in handy, as we knew exactly where to find some birds, such as Brown-crowned Tchagra and Long-billed Crombec. We also saw White Stork, Wahlberg's Eagle, Emerald-spotted Wood-dove, Lilac-breasted Roller, Rufous-naped Lark, Grey Penduline-tit, Ashy Flycatcher, Red-backed Shrike, various Sunbirds and Weavers, Red-throated Twinspot and Red-backed and Magpie Mannikins. At this point, we hadn't seen a single Firefinch, but luckily we managed to pick up Red-billed and Jameson's at Ewanrigg.</div>
<div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_RYp3CMs9zVc8TECsWgJKBz8W0ayJxWYsjMbbz89zzb5eLl4uDn0wkbwvgZ6TDoXJ5Q_-y0K2EVJDQs4QcrVFZ7NaqVg73cEjMDQW72fUnteYR7II5A0V7W7NNAvd9GFou1xoWnZ-PDk/s1600/White+Stork02.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhS_RYp3CMs9zVc8TECsWgJKBz8W0ayJxWYsjMbbz89zzb5eLl4uDn0wkbwvgZ6TDoXJ5Q_-y0K2EVJDQs4QcrVFZ7NaqVg73cEjMDQW72fUnteYR7II5A0V7W7NNAvd9GFou1xoWnZ-PDk/s320/White+Stork02.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A White Stork circled over our heads at Ewanrigg.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div>
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<div>
Big Birding Day is hard work, and rather tiring, but at the end of it all we had managed to see some exciting birds.</div>
Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-80915905004421172122012-11-11T23:40:00.001-08:002012-11-11T23:40:48.074-08:00Twinspot Ringing and More...Ringing at Greystone Park on the 10th was quite good, with three Red-throated Twinspots caught, along with a Cardinal Woodpecker and more. There were a few re-traps; two fairly recent Spectacled Weavers, a Tawny-flanked Prinia and a Lesser Swamp-warbler from about a year ago.<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxhdbRNCj0R6sM1BnrLBq5hxnAEChRCt0tpS2o2WbDPDkjWyBOvJOLRVuV3uJ7iNL4iTZ9XnFjDLPYnIt4jqEE30MTpptkUPLcEJXQtVTRMuGgHNkp4ftQYUD15dKPHVzwwQhxNF2MyRh/s1600/DSC_7219.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisxhdbRNCj0R6sM1BnrLBq5hxnAEChRCt0tpS2o2WbDPDkjWyBOvJOLRVuV3uJ7iNL4iTZ9XnFjDLPYnIt4jqEE30MTpptkUPLcEJXQtVTRMuGgHNkp4ftQYUD15dKPHVzwwQhxNF2MyRh/s320/DSC_7219.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Female Red-throated Twinspot...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIy5j_vGJVxFbDIKMSy_6AZRkqHsZbLE1qbygIhMYXtZKYtD_7k4wy6JLQE4IPF5xip8ET9qVCuon6yJGr3gjvOgkduViWM8Ez248KEoNsmiKYcO78cN5F62sIbYD7A9uQ5yk56YQp_uVZ/s1600/DSC_7226.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIy5j_vGJVxFbDIKMSy_6AZRkqHsZbLE1qbygIhMYXtZKYtD_7k4wy6JLQE4IPF5xip8ET9qVCuon6yJGr3gjvOgkduViWM8Ez248KEoNsmiKYcO78cN5F62sIbYD7A9uQ5yk56YQp_uVZ/s320/DSC_7226.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">...and the male.</td></tr>
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<br />
Ringing at Haka Park was very slow, but I was kept busy by dung beetles, which were constantly getting stuck in our nets. There were also nice birds around, except they weren't flying into our nets!<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMfy4xxnmEI_kaCvRwTN6QPxSJ_OmnRrF9jPH4XdevaqIHZwW_jhcCZveDasFSsee_8joJD_hFUBKYUzPeh1Sx4LTaO2Yu74XpZD5NPWplMbAQWUiHp_Dx238fTbSfzbpL0aMdFG_2seu/s1600/DSC_7115.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkMfy4xxnmEI_kaCvRwTN6QPxSJ_OmnRrF9jPH4XdevaqIHZwW_jhcCZveDasFSsee_8joJD_hFUBKYUzPeh1Sx4LTaO2Yu74XpZD5NPWplMbAQWUiHp_Dx238fTbSfzbpL0aMdFG_2seu/s320/DSC_7115.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">African Cuckoo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkSlV4yseDvp_oooTRxJUzgxIl4_8tKgIz7YoHVWgOUCOsqsuZVHImRKzGibTECQAQTaLYm0YU3_rSv-ube1fDGr7IKcVSMH3tCXUs0GV7hVVX6LvDPHrzEvcwIMrdxiTB_5A4v8ZbZYC/s1600/DSC_7173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVkSlV4yseDvp_oooTRxJUzgxIl4_8tKgIz7YoHVWgOUCOsqsuZVHImRKzGibTECQAQTaLYm0YU3_rSv-ube1fDGr7IKcVSMH3tCXUs0GV7hVVX6LvDPHrzEvcwIMrdxiTB_5A4v8ZbZYC/s320/DSC_7173.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">White-breasted Cuckooshrike.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6Qpvz2fuBujfb0PMRbE_adczqcvKCsppMFLgWdaIeLL3XlAdh8RbUN_djdTOXB2lsviUjg8-Idhi-7ME5X7RRQyznnolv3ehM0TBbDeOYJi8yMlxkMvwekPMsmy3ZMb17bBxb8xQsobz/s1600/DSC_7193.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhi6Qpvz2fuBujfb0PMRbE_adczqcvKCsppMFLgWdaIeLL3XlAdh8RbUN_djdTOXB2lsviUjg8-Idhi-7ME5X7RRQyznnolv3ehM0TBbDeOYJi8yMlxkMvwekPMsmy3ZMb17bBxb8xQsobz/s320/DSC_7193.JPG" width="230" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dung beetles.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
On Sunday (the 11th) I went rock climbing in Christon Bank Nature Reserve, with a little bit of birding on the side. Retz's Helmet-shrike, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Familiar Chat, Red-chested Cuckoo, Mocking Cliff-chat and Red-winged Starling were some of the birds I saw.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNliLfb4TLGsYA3uNvO7j2nXv5wp7ppPOBshARLMuZzE1RezwlJtY3s1xsltbdR4_5w-_EIXNkeZX1W4XybdhMX3iwIgdgqnAiuQu5lQ8PCP5ABeDq_BSgTboFx9R9TjrBVsJb1RnB8EN/s1600/DSC_7264.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUNliLfb4TLGsYA3uNvO7j2nXv5wp7ppPOBshARLMuZzE1RezwlJtY3s1xsltbdR4_5w-_EIXNkeZX1W4XybdhMX3iwIgdgqnAiuQu5lQ8PCP5ABeDq_BSgTboFx9R9TjrBVsJb1RnB8EN/s320/DSC_7264.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The climbing spot.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetrku-KewN43Rv33jGtuvNNv5nMYfunYosGm-qQ34ByYGw7ycazeoAjOP0MUlQvvMYvfOBwi_Mf6dRTPNBNeaP21G9tGZ663hS63CXz9XiYXP1SOxwZswcocnPq-7P1Oy9sglRmlJGnlY/s1600/DSC_7302.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgetrku-KewN43Rv33jGtuvNNv5nMYfunYosGm-qQ34ByYGw7ycazeoAjOP0MUlQvvMYvfOBwi_Mf6dRTPNBNeaP21G9tGZ663hS63CXz9XiYXP1SOxwZswcocnPq-7P1Oy9sglRmlJGnlY/s320/DSC_7302.JPG" width="241" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A gorgeous male Violet-backed Starling.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YQ8e1ttnWQXxRZ29_jJ8Zalt1EOGeeClc1frifpy0RFLCJHFpf6vbN_r6UzE5SrA2yvnzwKy9nKazTopihYT24hmgK-qk0X609B5MxBHfsOj_qWUNJfTKsvwhClNyWwG9m6LFeSPtwR8/s1600/DSC_7329.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7YQ8e1ttnWQXxRZ29_jJ8Zalt1EOGeeClc1frifpy0RFLCJHFpf6vbN_r6UzE5SrA2yvnzwKy9nKazTopihYT24hmgK-qk0X609B5MxBHfsOj_qWUNJfTKsvwhClNyWwG9m6LFeSPtwR8/s320/DSC_7329.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">This baby Familiar Chat was hanging around near the climbing spot with its family.</td></tr>
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To finish off the weekend I went to Greengrove Dam, and was quickly chased away by a thunderstorm! During the 30 minutes I managed to spend there, there were four Black-crowned Night-herons out in broad daylight - a real treat!<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsP8vRg5kbaVIUGo2_LQ5Z6byNDZj1KbhlapogltcUQkF-Fo_qcQiQlaPd97Zuc_3DBQe_DApVPXPY1g5DGESngB_A83NQBidGNSlbYCfp15EVrHC0YFYvcTYc1wKK2Zs3xTKJO4m7WwD/s1600/DSC_7361b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPsP8vRg5kbaVIUGo2_LQ5Z6byNDZj1KbhlapogltcUQkF-Fo_qcQiQlaPd97Zuc_3DBQe_DApVPXPY1g5DGESngB_A83NQBidGNSlbYCfp15EVrHC0YFYvcTYc1wKK2Zs3xTKJO4m7WwD/s320/DSC_7361b.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A trio of adult Black-crowned Night-herons. There was also a juvenile nearby.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-799281648092989454.post-4668115295358366452012-11-04T01:49:00.001-08:002012-11-04T01:49:22.446-08:00Marlborough Vlei and Other StuffDuring the week I went birding at Marlborough Vlei and Marlborough Sewage Works with a friend. The vlei was dry, yet there were still loads of birds, especially warblers, cisticolas and weavers. We even saw about eight Marsh Owls in one area.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRWaoQsb_Q0FPWkn99k1oVZDFKZJPhpaARQ876NlaQ-GJwxMrMgA4ACz5sSFT2GDCiSk5UBnxDArIKV96_CZ5i0loGKRw_jOAUgpPxeRXUUyULl4I5mzAhE5vhhTop4vrGKbIgSVFH6IB/s1600/DSC_6697.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRWaoQsb_Q0FPWkn99k1oVZDFKZJPhpaARQ876NlaQ-GJwxMrMgA4ACz5sSFT2GDCiSk5UBnxDArIKV96_CZ5i0loGKRw_jOAUgpPxeRXUUyULl4I5mzAhE5vhhTop4vrGKbIgSVFH6IB/s320/DSC_6697.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Marsh Owl</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-_kS-T1cQ_dUUoDehS3BVHwzuULIuD_egtski9oUK7hkXD7ekAdGhZ8-QEiwHbTGN-UKN8tV1ItApfAfLfX2BoPXMq2I181sVYfxt0HOlXI7lK1LR75skVZUtNMB0QwE5m3nMCN_9ck2/s1600/DSC_6700.JPG" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1-_kS-T1cQ_dUUoDehS3BVHwzuULIuD_egtski9oUK7hkXD7ekAdGhZ8-QEiwHbTGN-UKN8tV1ItApfAfLfX2BoPXMq2I181sVYfxt0HOlXI7lK1LR75skVZUtNMB0QwE5m3nMCN_9ck2/s320/DSC_6700.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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The sewage works were mostly dried up, but one pond still held some water. There were about 15 Wood Sandpipers, plus Blacksmith Lapwings, Three-banded Plovers and even a Common Ringed Plover. Barn Swallows were flying very low over the mud, and a Red-breasted Swallow flew past.<br />
Below the ponds was a very wet, marshy area, with Black Crake, Common Moorhen and African Rail.<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0rnNw5xUMVhBt7wFWrv3CxWzOfsIecR9M5sqDcSG-5sIF95kcb4hn0B0lcMQRIhsg05TNlcj5VexYbw6GlqMVY21fILo4RlBFnQmyt9JL4XnCsG2BpkpiVN8GZggKYDU9OkeoU-ChLSY/s1600/untitled_pregamma_1_mantiuk06_contrast_mapping_0.1_saturation_factor_1.69_detail_factor_1blog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="215" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhu0rnNw5xUMVhBt7wFWrv3CxWzOfsIecR9M5sqDcSG-5sIF95kcb4hn0B0lcMQRIhsg05TNlcj5VexYbw6GlqMVY21fILo4RlBFnQmyt9JL4XnCsG2BpkpiVN8GZggKYDU9OkeoU-ChLSY/s320/untitled_pregamma_1_mantiuk06_contrast_mapping_0.1_saturation_factor_1.69_detail_factor_1blog.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">HDR image of Marlborough Sewage Works</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlgbk7KQHvp-YUZ6ug9eAXDzwvdiNKP4v7x9U6tIFFM_NEnzpn_kgzIMINCkDZsLQzzVW3Ajoj06t80ZrngWCzT9eroyupcSzITfE7cG_9eNT2Ody_2YjB4dHR-ORKKcZa6i5rjt6MoeO/s1600/DSC_6827.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="127" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWlgbk7KQHvp-YUZ6ug9eAXDzwvdiNKP4v7x9U6tIFFM_NEnzpn_kgzIMINCkDZsLQzzVW3Ajoj06t80ZrngWCzT9eroyupcSzITfE7cG_9eNT2Ody_2YjB4dHR-ORKKcZa6i5rjt6MoeO/s400/DSC_6827.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Wood Sandpipers</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gGvA0KSJQReF2eP4NgHYfB8HqFpVIkHPD7aPVk9cys5dBlDBGES6Dgg-4WQzd4GphtZr6xu_TG6rSPVAYWgDD5D8LdG3j6UGACEW8MhZlTyM4b1AsEJ4_93hizXiYQTlRHw13WFciTjc/s1600/DSC_6777.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0gGvA0KSJQReF2eP4NgHYfB8HqFpVIkHPD7aPVk9cys5dBlDBGES6Dgg-4WQzd4GphtZr6xu_TG6rSPVAYWgDD5D8LdG3j6UGACEW8MhZlTyM4b1AsEJ4_93hizXiYQTlRHw13WFciTjc/s320/DSC_6777.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Common Ringed Plover</td></tr>
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Yesterday (3 Nov) we ringed at Ewanrigg Botanical Gardens. We caught 20 birds, including Crested Barbet, Black-backed Puffback, Southern Black Flycatcher, Red-chested Cuckoo and a Bronze Mannikin re-trap from early 2012.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkYMCFgENUR7Ag_fRxNpZ9QlEFZO3ncL-kFRPvlZs3FZFRPQ3PCn2CMym3kSqkosa92xYdsdxr62O1IkkWKclULHEQiOfXT-07oDJBiwK-57Pxpk8XJngNL8Hudl1KNopLI54cq93UKCh/s1600/DSC_6872.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPkYMCFgENUR7Ag_fRxNpZ9QlEFZO3ncL-kFRPvlZs3FZFRPQ3PCn2CMym3kSqkosa92xYdsdxr62O1IkkWKclULHEQiOfXT-07oDJBiwK-57Pxpk8XJngNL8Hudl1KNopLI54cq93UKCh/s320/DSC_6872.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Red-chested Cuckoo</td></tr>
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118 bird species were seen this morning on the BirdLife Zimbabwe walk in Mukuvisi Woodlands, including some exciting things like Yellow-breasted Apalis, Broad-billed Roller, Cuckoo-finch and Spotted Creeper.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJ8VY-3iFpxbdMiP9wC1A-S7BTIlHn2JTiQvnBlaljO6eOeQa6s3hEmhqXA8keqEcuL7PfJS-PvZzSVyOr5uf-FDbWa69a38PnTep-FTsKummnpeJsAM8bweKQpoSVkNWI-XUemnMuxIn/s1600/DSC_6942.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirJ8VY-3iFpxbdMiP9wC1A-S7BTIlHn2JTiQvnBlaljO6eOeQa6s3hEmhqXA8keqEcuL7PfJS-PvZzSVyOr5uf-FDbWa69a38PnTep-FTsKummnpeJsAM8bweKQpoSVkNWI-XUemnMuxIn/s320/DSC_6942.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted Creeper</td></tr>
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Nickhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14957753307500790244noreply@blogger.com1