This report covers three tours I guided in Madagascar from November 1st through December 28th. I’ve covered the first tour in detail but the second tour covered the exact same areas so I just did a short summary. The third tour covered several areas not visited on the first two tours so I’ve added some detail to them and surmised areas covered in the first tour. As many of the birds in the second tour were skipped as it was a photo tour I’ve not done a species list for that tour.
Tour one: November 1st-November 14th
This was a custom tour for 14 members of the Birdlife Northern Gauteng group and we had a blast. The group dynamics were great as the group all knew each other before the trip which made for some great camaraderie and with both Chris and myself plus our local guides we were never short of eyes and help for such a large group and as a group we only missed three birds that the group didn’t all get onto so it worked out well. Special thanks have to go to Philip Calinikos for arranging the group and making it all happen.
Our tour started with a long drive to Andasibe but along the way we were able to pick up common species like Madagascan Wagtail and Dimorphic Egret from the bus. Our comfortable accommodations awaited us upon arrival and we got settled in after a wonderful dinner.
Our first full day in Madagascar was greeted by the wailing sounds of Indri coming from the surrounding forest while Madagascan Stonechats sang in the garden. For a few who also woke early the sounds and sightings of Stripe-throated Jery and Madagascan Coucal greeted us. A Blue Coua was also seen and while enjoying breakfast a Madagascan Magpie-Robin burst into song.
We arrived at the park to a Crested Drongo on the nest and met our local park guides and were soon into the forest. The trails through the primary forest gave us great chances at some fantastic birds and our first day was highlighted by Madagascan Cuckoo-Roller circling overhead while in a small open patch where some water collected we enjoyed the brightly colored Madagascan Kingfisher while a Rand’s Warbler sang overhead. Several Vangas were found including Madagascan Blue and Nuthatch as well as Madagascan Cuckoo-Shrike. We also hiked up to find the nest of the illusive Collared Nightjar with its cryptic camouflage. Madagascan Cuckoo called constantly from the canopy and was eventually scoped while Madagascan Paradise Flycatchers showed well near our lunch stop.
After lunch we walked one of the roads next to the park picking up Ward’s Vanga, Madagascan Buzzard and a quick flyby of France’s Sparrowhawk. From the road we took a path into the forest to catch up with the skulking Crossley’s Vanga and were treated to some crippling views of this bird singing.
While circling a small pond a booming chorus of sound came from some close Indri and we got some great looks at the lovely lemurs while also enjoying Chabert Vanga. A fruiting tree nearby also gave us a chance for Madagascan Blue Pigeon and we found a pair enjoying some of the fruits.
The next morning we drove deep into the park and upon arrival were greeted by two Broad-billed Rollers and a Madagascan Starling. Once geared up we began our hike through the pristine forest here. We first came across a nesting Tylas Vanga shortly followed by some Red-bellied Lemurs foraging in a nearby tree. Another short hike eventually led us to our first main target the Scaly Ground Roller. After some hurried uphill hiking we managed to catch up with two birds for some cracking views of this stunning bird.
Buoyed by the success of this hike we continued through the forest till we came across another uphill stretch that led us to three Black-and-white Ruffed Lemurs foraging in some flowering trees above us. We sat and enjoyed these fantastic animals for quite a while before making our way back down to the main trail to catch our breath and get ready for the next stunning find, which came shortly after when our top local guide found a Short-legged Ground Roller, which again was up another trail. We all trudged uphill towards our target and it was made all the better by the fact that the bird was waiting for us and that it was in such close proximity.
From here we made our way back to the van taking in Nuthatch Vanga in the process. In the van we traveled for a short while and hiked up to a small pond where we found Madagascan Grebe and the rare Meller’s Duck. Though the ducks hid at the back of the pond the two grebes ventured quite close and we got some fantastic looks at them. While taking in the water birds we also enjoyed a nice pair of Broad-billed Rollers sitting astride a dead snag overlooking the lake. Madagascan Swamp Warbler also put in an appearance and several species of brightly colored dragonflies hovered around the scene.
While taking all this in a sudden commotion above us drew our attention to a rather low flying Madagascan Buzzard with a snake draped from its talons. It was being mobbed by a Crested Drongo that would swoop down and at one point landed on the back of the Buzzard and proceeded to peck away at it for a brief second before flying off.
From here we ventured back into the dark forest to find our last local target the Pitta-like Ground Roller and shortly after some searching we found a pair of these stunning birds foraging through the undergrowth. Though moving quickly through the undergrowth we managed some great looks the wonderful, blue, green, buff plumage of this stunning pair before they moved off where we could no longer see them.
From the forest here we drove back to our lodge for the evening to get some well-earned rest.
The next day we began a long drive to Ranomofana broken by an overnight stay in Ansirabe. Along the drive we stopped for White-throated Rail feeding in a roadside paddy and our lunch stop was punctuated by Common Jery. Eventually in the afternoon of the second day we made it to our lodge at Ranomofana. We then spent the afternoon looking for Madagascan Snipe but came up with Greater Painted Snipe instead. Our luck did better with Forest Rock Thrush close to the waterfalls before heading to the lodge for the night.
The next day started with a hike into the forest to look for our next Ground Roller the Rufous-headed which took some coaxing but good looks were had by all of this fantastic species. This left the rest of the morning open to look for other great species like Pitta-like Ground Roller singing from a low tree. Blue Coua along one of the waterways, Madagascan Cuckoo-Shrike, Velvet Asity and a long hike up to see Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity.
In the afternoon we headed for an open marshy area where we found Grey Emutail but the singing Madagascan Flufftail didn’t show itself.
The next day we had only just begun our drive to the park when we pulled up to check out some Nelicorvi Weavers next to the road with a male showing well. We then continued to the main park entrance and walked the trails here finding the lek of a very cooperative Velvet Asity that showed particularly well with a female in attendance the male was quite vocal. The trails here also gave us Wedge-tailed and Green Jery, a nesting Rufous Vanga and after a bit of a hike we got to the nest of a Henst’s Goshawk that we were finally able to get everyone onto. Common Newtonia were seen quite a few times and the common four note call of Madagascan Cuckoo provided musical accompaniment most of the day.
We left Ranomofana the next morning and began the long drive west to Isalo picking up species like Madagascan Lark and some rather obliging Marsh Owls next to the road as well as the first of many Pied Crows. We did a short stop for the now lumped Benson’s Rock Thrush and managed to pick up Madagascan Hoopoe in the process before arriving at our lodge for the night.
The next day began with a two hour drive to Zombitsie where we birded the dry thorn scrub and thick bush here. Our first foray into the park took us to a pair of roosting White-browed Hawk Owls where we managed some cracking views of the pair in a tree cavity. We also had our first flyby of a Crested Coua before we headed for the main trails. As we were about the enter the park we spotted a Madagascan Buzzard being harried by a Madagascan Kestrel which provided some epic air battles reminiscent of some WWII footage of a slow bomber being strafed by the much quicker fighter. Once the Kestrel had seen off the Buzzard we entered the park with both Common Jery and Newtonia seen quickly before we began our quest for the local specialty the Coquerrel’s Coua which called quite often but was tough to track down. Finally we all got good looks at this bird before lunch. We also managed some great views of Verreaux’s Sifaka with several in close attendance just off the trail. We did hear Giant Coua on our morning walk and found another nesting Rufous Vanga. Banded Kestrel was seen by a few people and the constant wailing of Cuckoo-Roller was heard as several birds circled overhead.
Our lunchtime break was interrupted by a very close Giant Coua that came to investigate us while we ate our sandwiches. This provided some great photo opportunities as it skulked close to the benches grabbing a quick discarded sandwich morsel before fleeing back into the brush. From here we continued west to Tulear for the night.
Our next day began early with some excitement as we drove to the beach and boarded Zebu carts to wade out to our boat for our hour long trip to Nosy Ve. The sea was calm and a few un-IDed terns along the way was all we saw till the small island began to loom in the distance. Once close to shore we picked out our first main target which were some Crab Plovers. Standing tall in the morning light along the beach they were a welcome sight and once we were all on land we were able to scope them along with some Greater and Lesser Crested Terns. We also found some White-fronted Plovers along the beach and a surprising find was a Madagascan Cisticola walking the sand in between flat vegetation. It was barely concealed by short grasses and looked quite out of place.
We began our walk down the beach picking up some Whimbrel that flew long before we got there and when the Crab Plovers flushed they flew out to sea and back along the island to the point at the far end. Since they were in good light I decided to head back and grab a quick photo before I returned to the group. Once back we began to check the large bushes at the center of the island where we found our first Red-tailed Tropicbirds, some on the nest and a few juveniles waiting for food to be brought back to them. There were also a group of Ruddy Turnstone and Grey Plovers along with a rather noisy colony of Dimorphic Egrets. A lone Kelp Gull made an appearance along the coast as we walked further until we got to one of the shelters where we plopped down only to find another Tropicbird nesting right next to us. We watched for a while as several adults and first year birds circled around the brush here and while the group did some snorkeling I took pictures of these beautiful birds.
When the wind picked up the snorkeling got a bit tiring so everyone returned to the boat and headed for shore to change for our trip across to Anakao where we were to have lunch. Once across we headed for the restaurant which is home to several target species of which Littoral Rock Thrush is probably highest priority in this narrow stretch of habitat that it prefers. Thankfully we had timed our stop right and a pair had built a nest in one of the small bushes next to the restaurant so we were able to get great looks at the pair feeding their chicks.
After lunch we walked around the grounds and the small shrubby trees behind the restaurant held a large group of Sakalava Weavers and scurrying below some of the smaller bushes was an obliging pair of Madagascan Buttonquail. Some searching at the back of the foliage in a more open area turned up Subdesert Brush Warbler and a lone Kestrel feasting on a lizard.
We returned to the boat for a rather more wavy afternoon ride back to Tulear and relaxed round the pool for the afternoon.
The next morning we headed for an open area of grassland to search for another Madagascar endemic and while waiting picked up Kittlitz’s Plover and a nice pair of Grey-headed Lovebirds. Eventually a small group of large birds settled on the other side of the field and once we had our bins on them we could see they were Madagascan Sandgrouse. A group of several males and females gathered together in the grass and we were able to creep quite close and get some great looks at these fantastic birds. A local passing by on the trail sent them all into flight and we watched as they disappeared along the grassy area to a pool to collect water for the day.
Once we’d gotten our target here we headed to the bus and to the small hill reminiscent of Table Mountain in Cape Town here called La Table. Behind here is a small area of scrubby forest where we searched out the now famous Red-shouldered Vanga, the last lifer Phoebe Snetsinger saw before she was killed in a car accident, and the localized Verreaux’s Coua. We located both as well as Lafresnaye’s Vanga which was nice. From here we headed back to Tulear for lunch before loading up the bus and taking a long and bumpy ride to Ifaty.
We arrived to our lovely lodge overlooking the ocean and settled in for the evening to the sounds of Madagascan Nightjar and the rolling waves. A nice cool breeze made for a very pleasant night.
We were up early though the next morning to get the spiny forest as it gets hot early and the birds become quiet so an early start saw us at the park at 5:00am. The walk in through the soft sand was a bit tough first thing out of the blocks but once into the park proper the trails were more firm and we were soon birding. Crested Drongo, Common Newtonia and Common Jery were all frequently seen before our local guides located our first target. After working our way through some underbrush we came across the amazing site of seven Subdesert Mesites on their roost from the previous evening. We happily snapped away as they all sat motionless before we quickly moved off for another target heard quite close, Archbold’s Newtonia, another spiny forest specialty.
Our local guides spotted a Green-capped Coua which we managed to chase down and get a look at while it moved through the underbrush proving an elusive target but all managed to get a look at it before it wandered off into the thick, dry understory.
From here we continued on finding a Hook-billed Vanga on the nest in a cavity in one of the massive Baobab trees here. We also found a pair of Banded Kestrel and watched as a male brought his larger mate a Hissing Cockroach for breakfast that she proceeded to consume in front of us atop a tall, spiny trunk.
More targets awaited us so we carried on with the superb birding here latching onto yet another target bird and possibly the most desired, the Long-tailed Ground Roller and as it was our last in the family it was on everyone’s want list. Thankfully our local help managed to usher one towards our large group and as it walked out across the trail in front of us there was an audible intake of breath as this stunning bird wowed the crowd gathered to witness it. Nonchalantly it strutted up the trail away from us and we watched as it disappeared into the undergrowth and we all quickly followed. Once passed it we all scanned up and down both sides until it popped out again behind us for another look before again waltzing down the trail and hopping off into the brush not to be seen again. Our last Ground Roller done we all sighed with relief and moved on to other interesting birds, this time in the odd Thamnornis, one of the members of the Malagasy Warblers and though the first bird didn’t play along we soon bumped into another group that had tracked one down and got great close looks at this rather drab but unique warbler.
A short while later the wailing call of Sickle-billed Vanga got our attention and we managed to track down the culprit and get some good views of this amazing looking Vanga. As the heat was beginning to rise we headed back to the entrance but not before picking up a very close and obliging Crested Coua feeding in a Baobab right next to the trail head. A nice end to the mornings birding here.
We had given a brief try the evening before for another target but the wind was quite bad and we had no luck so we headed back to an open area to look for Madagascan Plover. Once driving around the area we noticed another group of birders all looking through scopes and figured they must have located one and sure enough they had. Made it easy for us thankfully. At first only a single bird was seen but it was soon joined on a bank by another and we enjoyed great looks at the pair before heading back to the van. As we were doing that a pair of Madagascan Harrier-Hawks did a flyover for us.
Back at the lodge I headed out behind the bungalows to some low, thick scrub to look for Madagascan Nightjar on day roost as I’d heard so many the night before I figured they must be here roosting and soon enough located several. I was able to approach a few birds and get some decent photos and after lunch took a few of the group who wanted pictures out to get some snaps. The rest of the afternoon was spent relaxing round the lodge as the wind and heat had picked up and made birding impossible. After dinner though we headed back to the spiny forest for one last target.
As it was now quite dark we proceeded with torches into the forest listening to the chorus of Nightjars till we got to the desired location and tried for Torotoroko Scops Owl. After a short while we could hear the soft call of a bird near us and with some stumbling round in the dark through some brush we managed to locate the bird and with some torchlight were all able to get some great looks at this magic little scops owl. It was our last bird of the trip as we were flying back to Tana the next morning, sadly, very early, so we all packed off to bed early to make the bumpy ride back to Tulear the next morning.
Back in Tana we had a fantastic farewell dinner and reminisced about the great birds we’d seen and what an amazing place Madagascar is. Overall this was a great trip with loads of success on many of the desired target birds, lemurs and sights and sounds.
Tour two: November 15th-28th
My second tour started the next day when I collected a group of Chinese photographers from the main airport. We covered the exact same places as the tour above and did very well getting great photographs of all the Ground Rollers, many of the Couas, Vangas, three Asities, both Kingfishers and Madagascan Paradise Flycatchers among the main targets they were looking for. Lugging huge cameras round the rainforests presented a challenge but we set up some blinds for the Ground Rollers. With many species nesting we were able to find quite a few we could get great shots of.
Tour Three: November 29th – December 28th
My last tour of Madagascar for 2013 involved trying to photograph all of the endemics and regional specialties with one photographer and his girlfriend. We had a month to do this and with some internal flights we were able to get to most of the major birding areas.
We started with a flight to Mahajanga where we spent the night. The next day we took a boat to the Betsiboke Delta where we got good looks at Humblot’s Heron, Saunder’s Tern, Bernier’s Teal, Malagasy Sacred Ibis and Dimorphic Egret. We spent the afternoon driving to Ankarafantsika where we took an afternoon boat ride on a small lake where we got great looks at Madagascan Fish Eagle, Purple and Humblot’s Heron and Allen’s Gallinule.
The remainder of our time here was spent in the Ampijora Forest where we targeted the local endemics like Van Dam’s Vanga, Schlegel’s Asity, Red-capped Coua, White-breasted Mesite and Madagascan Jacana. We also picked up some of the more widespread but no less impressive species like Sickle-billed Vanga, Grey-headed Lovebird, Coquerel’s Coua, Frances’s Sparrowhawk and Madagascan Hoopoe.
A return flight to Tana saw us the day after flying north again to Maroantsetra where we caught a boat across Antongila Bay. The water was quite rough and we got soaked as our boatman and boat weren’t up to the challenge of the three meter swells. We did eventually arrive at our lodge soaked but alive. We spent the next three days birding the fantastic forest here picking up megas like Helmet Vanga, Bernier’s Vanga, Short-legged Ground Roller, Red-breasted Coua, Brown Mesite, Madagascan Wood Rail, a Blue Coua that landed in front of us outside the lodge seemingly totally afraid, Madagascan Pygmy Kingfisher, Rainforest Scops Owl and White-throated Oxylabes.
We also visited another spot down the beach where we managed great shots of Madagascan Crested Ibis after waiting for it to pop up from feeding in the flooded forest. It landed quite close where we could see it really well.
Other great birds here included Spectacled Tetraka, Long-billed Bernieria, Rufous Vanga, Madagascan Starling and Madagascan Spinetail.
Thankfully a morning water crossing meant more gentle seas and we arrived back in Maroantsetra dry and with some great shots of Sooty Terns.
Another overnight and flight down to Berenty the next day plus a long drive to the lodge meant we were quite spent when we arrived. A good night’s rest helped out and the next day we were ready to tackle some birds. The dry habitat here was good for a few species and we tried for Giant, Green-capped and Crested Coua and White-browed Hawk-Owl. Sub-desert Brush Warbler proved to be more challenging but we managed a few shots of this skulking bird. Some of the stars down here were the Ring-tailed Lemurs and Verreaux’s Sifakas that showed really well especially watching their sideways hopping as they crossed the paths. We also found Sooty Falcon, Lesser Vasa Parrot and Crested Drongo while we were here.
We headed back to Fort Dauphin for the night and took a 4 x 4 up to Andohahela National Park the next day to look for the localized endemic Red-tailed Newtonia. After some searching we finally heard one and tracked it down but the shots were not the most satisfying but we were lucky to track down this mega rarity confined to this corner of Madagascar.
An early flight the next day enabled us to drive straight from the airport north to Mananara. The comfortable lodges were set amongst the cool hills here and the habitat was fantastic. We spent three days here searching for our targets picking up Madagascan Rail, Snipe, Brush Warbler, Swamp Warbler and Cuckoo-Hawk. We also managed other fantastic birds like Dark Newtonia, Grey Emutail, Wedge-tailed Tetraka, Red-fronted Coua and yet another subspecies of Spectacled Tetraka. We also got some superb looks at Madagascan Flufftail.
With our time here done we drove back to Tana and onwards to Andasibe for the night. The lodge here is very good and we enjoyed our time here. We spent the next three days birding through the primary forest of Mantadia and the secondary forest of Andasibe for such mega birds as Collared Nightjar, Scaly and Pitta-like Ground Roller, Common Sunbird-Asity and Meller’s Duck . We also picked up shots of Madagascan Grebe, Rand’s Warbler and Green Jery.
We next spent a long day driving to Ranomafana where we had the next four days plagued by rain but we still managed to get shots of Velvet and Yellow-bellied Sunbird Asity, Henst’s Goshawk, Pollen’s Vanga, Madagascan Green Sunbird, Grey-crowned Tetraka, Brown Emutail and Forest Fody.
With our time expired here we had to move on even though we’d added two days due to rain which finally ended ironically the day we left.
A long drive across the barren dry west slope of Madagascar brought us to Ifaty where we stopped for Benson’s Rock Thrush and Madagascan Partridge and a very odd Christmas in the heat of the desert.
We continued on from here to Zombitse where we picked up the mega rare Appert’s Tetraka which performed amazingly well once we found one. It sat perched close to the ground for an age and we got some great shots. We continued on from here to the coast and spent the afternoon at La Table trying to find Red-shouldered Vanga eventually finding a nesting pair where we got some shots of the male.
The next day we took a boat to Nosy Ve where we spent the morning getting shots of Crab Plover, Sooty Gull, Lesser Crested Tern, Red-tailed Tropicbird and Madagascan (Kelp) Gull.
We then crossed over to Anakao where we got some shots of Littoral Rock Thrush, Sakalava Weaver and Madagascan Buttonquail. The sea was a little rough on the way back but still enjoyable and we arrived in time to drive out to Ifaty for the afternoon. We spent some time around the open fields near the village where we tracked down Madagascan Plover before continuing on to our lodge for the night.
We spent the next two days in Parc Mosa in the spiney forest picking up the local specialties like Thamnornis, Madagascan Harrier Hawk, Madagascan Sparrowhawk, Archbold’s Newtonia, Banded Kestrel and Running Coua . We spent some extra time seeking out some skulking Long-tailed Ground Rollers and very difficult Lafresnaye’s Vanga’s which gave us the runaround. We also tracked down a nice Red-tailed Vanga which seemed out of place in the dry forest.
After a very tiring month of constant photography it was time to say goodbye to the birding and head back to Tana. Our flight the next day was delayed for hours but we made it back through a heavy bouncing rain storm into Tana. We had the next morning to do some souvenir shopping before catching our flights to Johannesburg and onwards home.
After two months in Madagascar I’d racked up almost all of the endemic bird species and many of the Lemurs. The state of much of Madagascar is depressing with the amount of habitat destruction and deforestation but small pockets of habitat and parks remain which are strongholds for the many unique and fascinating species that still exist here.
You can see photos from this tour in my Flickr Madagascar Album as well as listen to all the recordings I made in my xeno-canto Madagascar recording set.
Tour one: November 1st-November 14th
1 Helmeted Guineafowl (i) Numida meleagris
2 Madagascan Partridge Margaroperdix madagarensis
3 White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata
4 Knob-billed Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos
5 Meller's Duck Anas melleri
6 Red-billed Teal Anas erythrorhyncha
7 Hottentot Teal Anas hottentota
8 Madagascan Grebe Tachybaptus pelzelnii
9 Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda
10 Madagascan Ibis Lophotibis cristata
11 Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
12 Malagasy Pond Heron Ardeola idae
13 Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
14 Humblot's Heron Ardea humbloti
15 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
16 Great Egret Ardea alba
17 Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca
18 Dimorphic Egret Egretta dimorpha
19 Hamerkop Scopus umbretta
20 Madagascan Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides radiatus
21 Frances's Sparrowhawk Accipiter francesiae
22 Madagascan Sparrowhawk Accipiter Madagascaniensis
23 Henst's Goshawk Accipiter henstii
24 Malagasy Harrier Circus macrosceles
25 Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptius
26 Madagascan Buzzard Buteo brachypterus
27 Malagasy Kestrel Falco newtoni
28 Banded Kestrel Falco zoniventris
29 Brown Mesite Mesitornis unicolor
30 Subdesert Mesite Monias benschi
31 Madagascan Flufftail (H) Sarothrura insularis
32 Madagascan Wood Rail Canirallus kioloides
33 Madagascan Rail (H) Rallus Madagascaniensis
34 White-throated Rail Dryolimnas cuvieri
35 Madagascan Buttonquail Turnix nigricollis
36 Crab-plover Dromas ardeola
37 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
38 Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
39 Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
40 Madagascan Plover Charadrius thoracicus
41 Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius
42 Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris
43 White-fronted Plover Charadrius marginatus
44 Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis
45 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
46 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
47 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
48 Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres
49 Sanderling Calidris alba
50 Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
51 Madagascan Pratincole Glareola ocularis
52 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus
53 Greater Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii
54 Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis
55 Madagascan Sandgrouse Pterocles personatus
56 Rock Dove (i) Columba livia livia; C.l.feral
57 Malagasy Turtle Dove Nesoenas picturata
58 Namaqua Dove Oena capensis
59 Madagascan Green Pigeon Treron australis
60 Madagascan Blue Pigeon Alectroenas Madagascaniensis
61 Grey-headed Lovebird Agapornis canus
62 Greater Vasa Parrot Coracopsis vasa
63 Lesser Vasa Parrot Coracopsis nigra
64 Malagasy Coucal Centropus toulou
65 Crested Coua Coua cristata
66 Verreaux's Coua Coua verreauxi
67 Blue Coua Coua caerulea
68 Red-fronted Coua Coua reynaudii
69 Coquerel's Coua Coua coquereli
70 Running Coua Coua cursor
71 Giant Coua Coua gigas
72 Green-capped Coua Coua olivaceiceps
73 Madagascan Cuckoo Cuculus rochii
74 Torotoroka Scops Owl Otus Madagascaniensis
75 Rainforest Scops Owl Otus rutilus
76 White-browed Hawk-Owl Ninox superciliaris
77 Madagascan Owl Asio Madagascaniensis
78 Marsh Owl Asio capensis
79 Collared Nightjar Gactornis enarratus
80 Madagascan Nightjar Caprimulgus Madagascaniensis
81 Madagascan Spinetail Zoonavena grandidieri
82 African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus
83 Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba
84 Malagasy Black Swift Apus balstoni
85 Cuckoo Roller Leptosomus discolor
86 Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus
87 Short-legged Ground Roller Brachypteracias leptosomus
88 Scaly Ground Roller Geobiastes squamiger
89 Pitta-like Ground Roller Atelornis pittoides
90 Rufous-headed Ground Roller Atelornis crossleyi
91 Long-tailed Ground Roller Uratelornis chimaera
92 Madagascan Pygmy Kingfisher Corythornis Madagascaniensis
93 Malagasy Kingfisher Corythornis vintsioides
94 Olive Bee-eater Merops superciliosus
95 Madagascan Hoopoe Upupa marginata
96 Velvet Asity Philepitta castanea
97 Common Sunbird-Asity Neodrepanis coruscans
98 Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity Neodrepanis hypoxantha
99 Red-tailed Vanga Calicalicus Madagascaniensis
100 Red-shouldered Vanga Calicalicus rufocarpalis
101 Hook-billed Vanga Vanga curvirostris
102 Lafresnaye's Vanga Xenopirostris xenopirostris
103 Pollen's Vanga Xenopirostris polleni
104 Sickle-billed Vanga Falculea palliata
105 White-headed Vanga Artamella viridis
106 Chabert Vanga Leptopterus chabert
107 Blue Vanga Cyanolanius Madagascaninus
108 Rufous Vanga Schetba rufa
109 Tylas Vanga Tylas eduardi
110 Nuthatch Vanga Hypositta corallirostris
111 Dark Newtonia (H) Newtonia amphichroa
112 Common Newtonia Newtonia brunneicauda
113 Archbold's Newtonia Newtonia archboldi
114 Ward's Vanga Pseudobias wardi
115 Crossley's Vanga Mystacornis crossleyi
116 Madagascan Cuckooshrike Coracina cinerea
117 Crested Drongo Dicrurus forficatus
118 Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone mutata
119 Pied Crow Corvus albus
120 Madagascan Lark Mirafra hova
121 Malagasy Bulbul Hypsipetes Madagascaniensis
122 Mascarene Martin Phedina borbonica
123 Malagasy Brush Warbler Nesillas typica
124 Madagascan Swamp Warbler Acrocephalus newtoni
125 Brown Emutail Bradypterus brunneus
126 Grey Emutail Amphilais seebohmi
127 White-throated Oxylabes Oxylabes Madagascaniensis
128 Long-billed Bernieria Bernieria Madagascaniensis
129 Wedge-tailed Jery Hartertula flavoviridis
130 Thamnornis Thamnornis chloropetoides
131 Spectacled Tetraka Xanthomixis zosterops
132 Appert's Tetraka Xanthomixis apperti
133 Grey-crowned Tetraka Xanthomixis cinereiceps
134 Rand's Warbler Randia pseudozosterops
135 Common Jery Neomixis tenella
136 Green Jery Neomixis viridis
137 Stripe-throated Jery Neomixis striatigula
138 Madagascan Cisticola Cisticola cherina
139 Malagasy White-eye Zosterops maderaspatanus
140 Common Myna (i) Acridotheres tristis
141 Madagascan Starling Hartlaubius auratus
142 Madagascan Magpie-Robin Copsychus albospecularis
143 Madagascan Stonechat Saxicola sibilla
144 Littoral Rock Thrush Monticola imerina
145 Forest Rock Thrush Monticola sharpei
146 Souimanga Sunbird Cinnyris sovimanga
147 Malagasy Green Sunbird Cinnyris notatus
148 House Sparrow (i) Passer domesticus
149 Nelicourvi Weaver Ploceus nelicourvi
150 Sakalava Weaver Ploceus sakalava
151 Red Fody Foudia Madagascaniensis
152 Forest Fody Foudia omissa
153 Madagascan Mannikin Lemuresthes nana
154 Madagascan Wagtail Motacilla flaviventris
Tour Three: November 29th – December 28th
1 Helmeted Guineafowl (i)* Numida meleagris
2 Madagascan Partridge Margaroperdix madagarensis
3 White-faced Whistling Duck* Dendrocygna viduata
4 African Pygmy Goose* Nettapus auritus
5 Meller's Duck Anas melleri
6 Bernier's Teal Anas bernieri
7 Madagascan Grebe Tachybaptus pelzelnii
8 Greater Flamingo* Phoenicopterus roseus
9 Red-tailed Tropicbird Phaethon rubricauda
10 Malagasy Sacred Ibis Threskiornis bernieri
11 Madagascan Ibis Lophotibis cristata
12 Squacco Heron* Ardeola ralloides
13 Malagasy Pond Heron Ardeola idae
14 Western Cattle Egret* Bubulcus ibis
15 Grey Heron* Ardea cinerea
16 Humblot's Heron Ardea humbloti
17 Purple Heron* Ardea purpurea
18 Great Egret* Ardea alba
19 Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca
20 Dimorphic Egret Egretta dimorpha
21 Hamerkop* Scopus umbretta
22 Madagascan Cuckoo-Hawk Aviceda Madagascaniensis
23 Madagascan Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides radiatus
24 Frances's Sparrowhawk Accipiter francesiae
25 Madagascan Sparrowhawk Accipiter Madagascaniensis
26 Henst's Goshawk Accipiter henstii
27 Yellow-billed Kite* Milvus aegyptius
28 Madagascan Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vociferoides
29 Madagascan Buzzard Buteo brachypterus
30 Malagasy Kestrel Falco newtoni
31 Banded Kestrel Falco zoniventris
32 Sooty Falcon Falco concolor
33 White-breasted Mesite Mesitornis variegatus
34 Brown Mesite Mesitornis unicolor
35 Subdesert Mesite Monias benschi
36 Madagascan Flufftail Sarothrura insularis
37 Madagascan Wood Rail Canirallus kioloides
38 Madagascan Rail Rallus Madagascaniensis
39 White-throated Rail Dryolimnas cuvieri
40 Allen's Gallinule Porphyrio alleni
41 Common Moorhen* Gallinula chloropus
42 Madagascan Buttonquail Turnix nigricollis
43 Crab-plover Dromas ardeola
44 Black-winged Stilt* Himantopus himantopus
45 Common Ringed Plover* Charadrius hiaticula
46 Madagascan Plover Charadrius thoracicus
47 Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius
48 Three-banded Plover* Charadrius tricollaris
49 Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii
50 Madagascan Jacana Actophilornis albinucha
51 Madagascan Snipe Gallinago macrodactyla
52 Common Greenshank* Tringa nebularia
53 Ruddy Turnstone* Arenaria interpres
54 Madagascan Pratincole Glareola ocularis
55 Sooty Gull Ichthyaetus hemprichii
56 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus
57 Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia
58 Lesser Crested Tern Thalasseus bengalensis
59 Saunders's Tern Sternula saundersi
60 Sooty Tern Onychoprion fuscatus
61 Black-naped Tern Sterna sumatrana
62 Madagascan Sandgrouse Pterocles personatus
63 Malagasy Turtle Dove Nesoenas picturata
64 Namaqua Dove Oena capensis
65 Madagascan Green Pigeon Treron australis
66 Madagascan Blue Pigeon Alectroenas Madagascaniensis
67 Grey-headed Lovebird Agapornis canus
68 Greater Vasa Parrot Coracopsis vasa
69 Lesser Vasa Parrot Coracopsis nigra
70 Malagasy Coucal Centropus toulou
71 Crested Coua Coua cristata
72 Verreaux's Coua Coua verreauxi
73 Blue Coua Coua caerulea
74 Red-capped Coua Coua ruficeps
75 Green-capped Coua Coua olivaceiceps
76 Red-fronted Coua Coua reynaudii
77 Coquerel's Coua Coua coquereli
78 Running Coua Coua cursor
79 Giant Coua Coua gigas
80 Red-breasted Coua Coua serriana
81 Madagascan Cuckoo Cuculus rochii
82 Torotoroka Scops Owl Otus Madagascaniensis
83 Rainforest Scops Owl Otus rutilus
84 White-browed Hawk-Owl Ninox superciliaris
85 Collared Nightjar Gactornis enarratus
86 Madagascan Nightjar Caprimulgus Madagascaniensis
87 Madagascan Spinetail Zoonavena grandidieri
88 Malagasy Black Swift Apus balstoni
89 Little Swift Apus affinis
90 Cuckoo Roller Leptosomus discolor
91 Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus
92 Short-legged Ground Roller Brachypteracias leptosomus
93 Scaly Ground Roller Geobiastes squamiger
94 Pitta-like Ground Roller Atelornis pittoides
95 Rufous-headed Ground Roller Atelornis crossleyi
96 Long-tailed Ground Roller Uratelornis chimaera
97 Madagascan Pygmy Kingfisher Corythornis Madagascaniensis
98 Malagasy Kingfisher Corythornis vintsioides
99 Olive Bee-eater Merops superciliosus
100 Madagascan Hoopoe Upupa marginata
101 Velvet Asity Philepitta castanea
102 Schlegel's Asity Philepitta schlegeli
103 Common Sunbird-Asity Neodrepanis coruscans
104 Yellow-bellied Sunbird-Asity Neodrepanis hypoxantha
105 Red-tailed Vanga Calicalicus Madagascaniensis
106 Red-shouldered Vanga Calicalicus rufocarpalis
107 Hook-billed Vanga Vanga curvirostris
108 Bernier's Vanga Oriolia bernieri
109 Lafresnaye's Vanga Xenopirostris xenopirostris
110 Van Dam's Vanga Xenopirostris damii
111 Pollen's Vanga Xenopirostris polleni
112 Sickle-billed Vanga Falculea palliata
113 White-headed Vanga Artamella viridis
114 Chabert Vanga Leptopterus chabert
115 Blue Vanga Cyanolanius Madagascaninus
116 Rufous Vanga Schetba rufa
117 Helmet Vanga Euryceros prevostii
118 Tylas Vanga Tylas eduardi
119 Nuthatch Vanga* Hypositta corallirostris
120 Dark Newtonia Newtonia amphichroa
121 Common Newtonia Newtonia brunneicauda
122 Archbold's Newtonia Newtonia archboldi
123 Red-tailed Newtonia Newtonia fanovanae
124 Ward's Flycatcher Pseudobias wardi
125 Crossley's Vanga Mystacornis crossleyi
126 Madagascan Cuckooshrike Coracina cinerea
127 Crested Drongo Dicrurus forficatus
128 Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone mutata
129 Pied Crow Corvus albus
130 Madagascan Lark Mirafra hova
131 Malagasy Bulbul Hypsipetes Madagascaniensis
132 Mascarene Martin Phedina borbonica
133 Malagasy Brush Warbler Nesillas typica
134 Madagascan Swamp Warbler Acrocephalus newtoni
135 Brown Emutail Bradypterus brunneus
136 Grey Emutail Amphilais seebohmi
137 White-throated Oxylabes Oxylabes Madagascaniensis
138 Long-billed Bernieria Bernieria Madagascaniensis
139 Cryptic Warbler Cryptosylvicola randrianasoloi
140 Wedge-tailed Tetraka Hartertula flavoviridis
141 Thamnornis Thamnornis chloropetoides
142 Spectacled Tetraka Xanthomixis zosterops
143 Appert's Tetraka Xanthomixis apperti
144 Grey-crowned Tetraka Xanthomixis cinereiceps
145 Madagascan Yellowbrow* Crossleyia xanthophrys
146 Rand's Warbler Randia pseudozosterops
147 Common Jery Neomixis tenella
148 Green Jery Neomixis viridis
149 Stripe-throated Jery Neomixis striatigula
150 Madagascan Cisticola Cisticola cherina
151 Malagasy White-eye Zosterops maderaspatanus
152 Madagascan Starling Hartlaubius auratus
153 Madagascan Magpie-Robin Copsychus albospecularis
154 Madagascan Stonechat Saxicola sibilla
155 Littoral Rock Thrush Monticola imerina
156 Amber Mountain Rock Thrush Monticola erythronotus
157 Forest Rock Thrush Monticola sharpei
158 Souimanga Sunbird Cinnyris sovimanga
159 Malagasy Green Sunbird Cinnyris notatus
160 Nelicourvi Weaver Ploceus nelicourvi
161 Sakalava Weaver Ploceus sakalava
162 Red Fody Foudia Madagascaniensis
163 Forest Fody Foudia omissa
164 Madagascan Mannikin Lemuresthes nana
165 Madagascan Wagtail Motacilla flaviventris
i = introduced
H = heard only
* = not photographed (only refers to third tour)