Photos with this report (click to enlarge) | |||
 Burchell’s Sandgrouse |
 African Pygmy Goose |
 Slaty Egret |
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 Collared Pratincoles |
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Overview
This custom tour was the second of two back-to-back tours which were run through the Golden Gate Audubon Society. After finishing with the previous group in Maun we essentially did the same itinerary as the previous tour but in reverse. The tour was a great success, and we managed 255 species (plus an additional three species that were heard only) in the twelve days, which included some impressive species such as African Pygmy Goose, Hartlaub’s Spurfowl, Rüppell's Korhaan, Cape Gannet, Slaty Egret, White-backed Night Heron, Cape Cormorant, Lappet-faced Vulture, African Oystercatcher, Damara Tern, Wattled Crane, Burchell’s and Double-banded Coursers, African Skimmer, Burchell’s Sandgrouse, Pel’s Fishing Owl, African Barred Owlet, South African Cliff Swallow, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Damara Red-billed, Bradfield’s, and Monteiro’s Hornbills, Carp’s Tit, White-tailed Shrike, Cape Penduline Tit, Dune and Stark’s Larks, Rockrunner, Bare-cheeked and Hartlaub’s Babblers, Orange River White-eye, and many others.
As always on trips through Namibia and Botswana we made sure we never ignored any of the large numbers of mammals and managed to see 40 species, including the likes of Lion, African Elephant, Black Rhinoceros, Cheetah, Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra, African Buffalo, Sable Antelope, Gemsbok, Sitatunga, Red Lechwe, Kirk’s Dik-dik, Kaokoland Slender Mongoose, Dassie Rat, Bushveld Sengi (Elephant-shrew), Spotted-necked Otter, and Humpback Whale.
Detailed Report
Day 1, 6th September 2019. Maun to Shakawe
As everybody had arrived in Maun the previous day we could get in some early-morning birding before breakfast and then hit the road to Shakawe soon afterwards. We walked around the hotel grounds and got the trip list off to a good start with Purple and Lilac-breasted Rollers, Magpie Shrike, African Hoopoe, Red-billed Spurfowl, African Green Pigeon, Grey Go-away-bird, African Grey Hornbill, Swamp Boubou, Black-collared Barbet, Red-billed Oxpecker, Hamerkop, Wattled Starling, and a few Common Mynas (unfortunately they are quickly expanding their range through Botswana!).
The long (and at times bumpy) drive to Shakawe passed fairly uneventfully. En route we did see our first African Elephant of the trip as well as a few Common Ostriches and many White-browed Sparrow-Weavers near their scruffy straw nests.
We arrived at Shakawe in the early afternoon, and while we waited for our boat transfer to Xaro Lodge we picked up a few good ‘garden’ birds. The bird feeder was busy with Southern Brown-throated and Holub’s Golden Weavers, Red-billed Quelea, Hartlaub’s and Arrow-marked Babblers, and Meves’s and Burchell’s Starlings, with a party of Green Wood Hoopoes seen in the nearby woodland.
The boat trip on the Okavango River to Xaro Lodge delivered a few good birds, despite the heat, including White-fronted, Little, and Southern Carmine Bee-eaters, African Pygmy Goose, and a distant flock of Marabou Storks. After a long day we enjoyed a cold beer, overlooking the Okavango River while watching African Skimmers fishing in the dying light, followed by an amazing meal.
Day 2, 7th September 2019. Okavango birding
This morning we were looking forward to the exciting prospect of a full morning on a boat cruise along the Okavango River, and it certainly didn’t fail to meet (and exceed) expectations. The trip started well with White-backed Night Heron being seen just outside of camp. We then headed downstream, where we encountered a few more pairs of African Pygmy Geese with Squacco, Grey, Goliath, and Striated Herons, African Darter, Great and Little Egrets, and Hamerkop all seen along the various channels of the river. We stopped at a vast floodplain to look for Slaty Egret, and it didn’t take long until one flew by and proceeded to fish not far from us. The floodplain was alive with waterbirds, and we soon added Intermediate Egret, Black Heron, Hadada, African Sacred, and Glossy Ibis, African Spoonbill, White-faced Whistling Duck, Yellow-billed Stork, African Openbill, Black Crake, Long-toed Lapwing, and Pied Kingfisher, as well as a number of swallows and martins such as White-throated Swallow and Banded and Brown-throated Martins. A male Sitatunga was seen briefly before it vanished back into the thick papyrus on our way back to the lodge, and more new birds made an appearance, such as Black-winged Kite, African Fish Eagle, African Marsh Harrier, Whiskered Tern, and Water Thick-knee.
After lunch back at the lodge we went for an afternoon walk in the tall, broadleaf woodland nearby. Our main target was the huge Pel’s Fishing Owl; however, we were hoping for a number of other important species. The walk started well with African Barred Owlet seen on the edge of camp before we heard the excited chattering of a Greater Honeyguide that was trying to attract our attention. Greater Honeyguides make a specific noise when they want to guide people to bee hives (hence the common name). This is a mutualistic relationship between humans and honeyguides; the humans break open the bee hive and are rewarded with honey and then leave honeycombs for the honeyguide to eat. Unfortunately we were not keeping up with the honeyguide, and it soon lost interest in us. Farther into the woodlands we came upon our target bird, a pair of Pel’s Fishing Owls, which provided fantastic and prolonged scope views. Nearby we found Cape Penduline Tit, Retz’s Helmetshrike, Grey Tit-flycatcher, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Crested Barbet, Meyer’s Parrot, and Southern Black Tit. Overhead we saw a number of hirundines, including Greater Striped, Lesser Striped, Wire-tailed, Pearl-breasted, and South African Cliff Swallows. As we came back into camp we were shown a pair of roosting African Wood Owls before we enjoyed another delicious meal under the stars.
Day 3, 8th September 2019. Shakawe to the Mahango area.
We woke up early for a walk around camp before breakfast, which proved fairly productive with a number of new birds added to our growing list. In the early-morning light we managed to see Black-backed Puffback, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Yellow-bellied Greenbul, Long-billed Crombec, Yellow-breasted Apalis, and Yellow-billed Oxpecker.
After breakfast we caught the boat transfer back upstream (enjoying Collared Pratincole, African Skimmer, and Malachite Kingfisher en route) and made our way to the Namibian border. The border was its usual hassle-free self, and we then made our way to the Mahango National Park for our lunch stop along the edge of the floodplain. Along the floodplain there were large numbers of game, including African Buffalo, Red Lechwe, Impala, Waterbuck, Greater Kudu, and Hippopotamus, and we also had distant views of a pair of Wattled Cranes. On the floodplain we watched a Great Egret as it caught and ate a rather large Brown House Snake, while other birds seen in the floodplain included Glossy Ibis, Yellow-billed Stork,Western Cattle Egret, and Long-toed Lapwing. Nearby we had our first looks at an adult Bateleur.
We arrived at Ngepi Camp late in the afternoon and settled into our accommodation before a quick walk around camp and into the neighboring woodland. On our walk we saw large numbers of Burchell’s, Meves’s and Greater Blue-eared Starlings (unfortunately no Sharp-tailed Starlings among them), African Openbill, Bradfield’s Hornbill, and White-fronted Plover. After another successful day we fell asleep to the sounds of African Elephants, Hippopotamuses, and calling Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl, African Scops Owl, and Fiery-necked Nightjar (we managed good views of this one).
Day 4, 9th September 2019. Mahango area to Mokuti Etosha Lodge
Today was mostly a transfer day, as we had a large distance to cover to the eastern edge of Etosha National Park. However, we still managed to fit in some birding before breakfast. On our early-morning walk we found a few new birds such as Bennett’s and Cardinal Woodpeckers, Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Brubru, and Black-faced Waxbill. During breakfast we had a few mammal distractions, including a magnificent Sable Antelope across the river, and a couple of Spotted-necked Otters were seen by some of the group. Once we were done with breakfast we hit the long road west with not too much of interest seen along the drive besides a few Pale Chanting Goshawks, Magpie Shrikes, and Lilac-breasted Rollers.
Day 5, 10th September 2019. Etosha birding
This morning we had an early breakfast so that we could get into the park soon after opening time and have the morning to enjoy one of Africa’s top wildlife areas. We came across a number of interesting bird species on our drive, including Common Ostrich, Kori Bustard, Northern Black and Red-crested Korhaans, White-backed Vulture, Bateleur, Tawny Eagle, Double-banded Courser, Kittlitz’s Plover, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Southern Red-billed and Southern Yellow-billed Hornbills, and Red-headed Finch, with the highlight being a flock of Burchell’s Sandgrouse coming to drink at a waterhole near Namutoni Camp. We also saw large numbers of game this morning, including the likes of Springbok, Red Hartebeest, Plains Zebra, Giraffe, African Elephant, Gemsbok, Steenbok, and the diminutive Kirk’s Dik-dik.
We came back for lunch to Mokuti Etosha Lodge and became a little distracted when a Pearl-spotted Owlet flew by and gave us good looks as it was mobbed by a number of agitated woodland birds. There were also hordes of Banded Mongooses around our feet as we enjoyed lunch. After lunch we headed back into the park on the back of an open-top safari vehicle; the outing again proved productive with more good bird- and mammal sightings. We saw a pair of Burchell’s Sandgrouse right next to the vehicle, which gave better views than we had had in the morning, along with Red-breasted Swallow, Acacia Pied Barbet, Southern White-crowned Shrike, Kalahari Scrub Robin, Marico Flycatcher, and Violet-eared Waxbill. The drive ended with a few impressive male Greater Kudus and Common Eland seen in the beautiful later-afternoon light.
Day 6, 11th September 2019. Transfer through Etosha
This morning we had a walk around the grounds at Mokuti before breakfast and found some good birds, including Bearded Woodpecker, a fly-by Shikra, Long-billed Crombec, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Yellow-breasted Apalis, White-browed Scrub Robin, Marico and White-bellied Sunbirds, and Brown-crowned Tchagra, as well as a showy Common Duiker.
Today we spent most of the day traveling through the park and enjoying the birds and animals that were on offer. We had good views of a few Lappet-faced Vultures as they flew low overhead along with more Namaqua Sandgrouse, Kori Bustards, and Northern Black Korhaans. We enjoyed lunch at Halali Camp while watching a myriad of birds trying their luck with our lunch, including African Grey and Southern Red-billed Hornbills, Cape Starlings, Groundscraper Thrush, and Black-throated Canary.
After lunch we carried on through the park and came across some more great desert birds such as Namaqua Sandgrouse, Chat Flycatcher, Spike-heeled, Sabota, Red-capped, and Stark’s Larks, Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark, Great Sparrow, and Greater Kestrel, and the highlight for the afternoon was a small group of Burchell’s Coursers.
Day 7, 12th September 2019. Etosha birding
We were in another open-top safari vehicle this morning, and we had a fantastic morning’s drive with some great animal sightings. The trip started well for us with a distant Black Rhinoceros, next we saw a couple Black-backed Jackals, good numbers of African Elephants, another Black Rhinoceros that showed better, and last, but certainly not least, a huge male Lion sheltering in the shade of a tree.
The afternoon was spent back in the park, and it again proved to be incredibly productive. We had a number of new bird species including Southern Fiscal, Sociable and Scaly-feathered Weavers, Yellow Canary, Double-banded Sandgrouse, Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark, and Cape Crow. The best sighting of the afternoon, however, was amazing views of a Cheetah that had recently brought down a Springbok. We watched the Cheetah for a while as it first caught its breath in the shade of a bush and then started eating its prey.
Day 8, 13th September 2019. Etosha to Erongo
We had a wander around the lodge grounds this morning and managed some good birds such as Bare-cheeked Babbler, Short-toed Rock Thrush, Southern Grey-headed Sparrow, and Familiar Chat.
Our next stop on the itinerary was at Erongo Wilderness Lodge near Omaruru. The lodge is in a beautiful setting with the luxury tents built into huge boulders that litter the landscape. The afternoon’s birding immediately produced the goods with a very obliging Rockrunner (see cover photo) as well as Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Peregrine Falcon, Carp’s Tit, Mountain Wheatear, and lots of Pale-winged Starlings. A number of Dassie Rats were seen among the boulders around the lodge. We enjoyed a great dinner under the stars, with Freckled Nightjars showing well on nearby boulders.
Day 9, 14th September 2019. Full day at Erongo
After a few busy days of birding we had a more relaxed day. Erongo, however, still had some great birds in the general area. On our morning walk we had amazing views of a pair of Peregrine Falcons as they dropped and recaptured their prey while flying close to their nest on a rocky ledge. Other birds seen on the walk included Monteiro’s Hornbill, Short-toed Rock Thrush, Rosy-faced Lovebird, Black-chested Prinia, Mountain Wheatear, Cape Starling, Great Sparrow, and Cape Bunting. After an enjoyable breakfast a few of us went for a drive into the conservation area, which, despite the heat, still produced a pair of White-tailed Shrikes.
We had an early dinner (briefly interrupted by a Southern African Python) so that we could do a night drive through the conservation area. On the night drive we saw many Kirk’s Dik-diks and Cape Hares as well as a lone Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra.
Day 10, 15th September 2019. Erongo to Walvis Bay
After missing Hartlaub’s Spurfowl yesterday morning we decided this was the species to target on our early-morning walk around Erongo. Thankfully it didn’t take long until we saw a group of at least five Hartlaub’s Spurfowl as they scurried between the boulders. We also managed brief views of Rockrunner and prolonged views of a Bushveld Sengi (Elephant-shrew). As we left the lodge we saw a fantastic pair of African Hawk-Eagles perched on a nearby koppie.
En route to Walvis Bay we stopped at Spitzkoppe for lunch, with the hope of finding Herero Chat. After wandering around the area in the heat of the day and almost giving up, suddenly a single Herero Chat appeared and showed well for us. On the drive out of Spitzkoppe Jenn’s sharp eyes picked out a single Rüppell's Korhaan standing in the shade of a tree, and we also saw a couple of Tractrac Chats. As we drove into Walvis Bay in the late afternoon we were greeted by the familiar sight of thousands of flamingos feeding right in front of our accommodation; a great way to end the day!
Day 11, 16th September 2019. Boat cruise and Walvis Bay birding
This morning we had a boat cruise around Walvis Bay, which is always good fun with some great birds and mammals to be seen. Today was no different as we enjoyed the sights and sounds of the massive Cape Fur Seal as well as brief views of Humpback Whale. Birds included Wilson’s Storm Petrel, Southern Giant Petrel, Great White Pelican (literally eating out of our hands!), White-breasted and Cape Cormorants, Damara, Arctic, and Sandwich Terns, Greater and Lesser Flamingos, Cape Gannet, and African Oystercatcher.
After our lunch back at the lodge (while enjoying Orange River White-eye and Dusky Sunbird) we headed to the Walvis Bay salt works, which is always a spectacle with tens of thousands of birds around! Besides the thousands of Greater and Lesser Flamingos we also picked out Cape Teal, Grey, White-fronted, and Chestnut-banded Plovers, Whimbrel, Ruddy Turnstone, Curlew and Marsh Sandpipers, Little Stint, Common Greenshank, Sanderling, Ruff, and Grey-headed Gull.
To finish our final afternoon we headed to the red dunes of Rooibank, where we were targeting Namibia’s only endemic bird species, Dune Lark. As usual the site did not disappoint, and we were rewarded with great views of a pair of the larks as they went about their business.
Day 12, 17th September 2019. Departure from Walvis Bay
As most flights were around midday, we did not have a great deal of time for birding this morning. However, we still managed to squeeze in some wader watching along the mud flats in front of the esplanade. New birds included Bar-tailed Godwit and Common Ringed Plover, while the usual suspects were seen too, along with Cape Cormorant, Grey Heron, and Little Egret, as well as a very cold Black-backed Jackal.
This last morning of birding ended a fun and highly successful 12 days through Botswana and Namibia, with many lifers and great memories added by all!
Bird List - Following IOC (9.1)
Birds ‘heard only’ are marked with (H) after the common name, all other species were seen.
The following notation after species names is used to show conservation status following BirdLife International: CE = Critically Endangered, EN = Endangered, VU = Vulnerable, NT = Near Threatened.
Common name / Scientific name
Ostriches (Struthionidae)
Common Ostrich /Struthio camelus
Ducks, Geese and Swans (Anatidae)
White-faced Whistling Duck/Dendrocygna viduata
Spur-winged Goose/Plectropterus gambensis
Egyptian Goose/Alopochen aegyptiaca
African Pygmy Goose/Nettapus auritus
Cape Teal/Anas capensis
Guineafowl (Numididae)
Helmeted Guineafowl/Numida meleagris
Pheasants and allies (Phasianidae)
Hartlaub's Spurfowl/Pternistis hartlaubi
Red-billed Spurfowl/Pternistis adspersus
Austral Storm Petrels (Oceanitidae)
Wilson's Storm Petrel/Oceanites oceanicus
Petrels, Shearwaters & Diving Petrels (Procellariidae)
Southern Giant Petrel/Macronectes giganteus
Flamingos (Phoenicopteridae)
Greater Flamingo/Phoenicopterus roseus
Lesser Flamingo - NT/Phoeniconaias minor
Storks (Ciconiidae)
Yellow-billed Stork/Mycteria ibis
African Openbill/Anastomus lamelligerus
Marabou Stork/Leptoptilos crumenifer
Ibises, Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae)
African Sacred Ibis/Threskiornis aethiopicus
Hadada Ibis/Bostrychia hagedash
Glossy Ibis/Plegadis falcinellus
African Spoonbill/Platalea alba
Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae)
White-backed Night Heron/Gorsachius leuconotus
Black-crowned Night Heron/Nycticorax nycticorax
Striated Heron/Butorides striata
Squacco Heron/Ardeola ralloides
Western Cattle Egret/Bubulcus ibis
Grey Heron/Ardea cinerea
Black-headed Heron/Ardea melanocephala
Goliath Heron/Ardea goliath
Purple Heron/Ardea purpurea
Great Egret/Ardea alba
Intermediate Egret/Ardea intermedia
Black Heron/Egretta ardesiaca
Slaty Egret - VU/Egretta vinaceigula
Little Egret/Egretta garzetta
Hamerkop (Scopidae)
Hamerkop/Scopus umbretta
Pelicans (Pelecanidae)
Great White Pelican/Pelecanus onocrotalus
Gannets, Boobies (Sulidae)
Cape Gannet - EN/Morus capensis
Cormorants, Shags (Phalacrocoracidae)
Reed Cormorant/Microcarbo africanus
White-breasted Cormorant/Phalacrocorax lucidus
Cape Cormorant - EN/Phalacrocorax capensis
Anhingas, Darters (Anhingidae)
African Darter/Anhinga rufa
Kites, Hawks and Eagles (Accipitridae)
Black-winged Kite/Elanus caeruleus
African Harrier-Hawk/Polyboroides typus
White-backed Vulture - CE/Gyps africanus
Lappet-faced Vulture - EN/Torgos tracheliotos
Bateleur - NT/Terathopius ecaudatus
Tawny Eagle - VU/Aquila rapax
African Hawk-Eagle/Aquila spilogaster
Pale Chanting Goshawk/Melierax canorus
Shikra/Accipiter badius
African Marsh Harrier/Circus ranivorus
Yellow-billed Kite/Milvus aegyptius
African Fish Eagle/Haliaeetus vocifer
Bustards (Otididae)
Kori Bustard - NT/Ardeotis kori
Rüppell's Korhaan/Eupodotis rueppelii
Red-crested Korhaan/Lophotis ruficrista
Northern Black Korhaan/Afrotis afraoides
Rails, Crakes and Coots (Rallidae)
Black Crake/Amaurornis flavirostra
Common Moorhen/Gallinula chloropus
Cranes (Gruidae)
Wattled Crane - VU/Grus carunculata
Stone-curlews, Thick-knees (Burhinidae)
Water Thick-knee/Burhinus vermiculatus
Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae)
African Oystercatcher/Haematopus moquini
Stilts, Avocets (Recurvirostridae)
Black-winged Stilt/Himantopus himantopus
Pied Avocet/Recurvirostra avosetta
Plovers (Charadriidae)
Long-toed Lapwing/Vanellus crassirostris
Blacksmith Lapwing/Vanellus armatus
Crowned Lapwing/Vanellus coronatus
Grey Plover/Pluvialis squatarola
Common Ringed Plover/Charadrius hiaticula
Kittlitz's Plover/Charadrius pecuarius
Three-banded Plover/Charadrius tricollaris
White-fronted Plover/Charadrius marginatus
Chestnut-banded Plover - NT/Charadrius pallidus
Jacanas (Jacanidae)
African Jacana/Actophilornis africanus
Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae)
Whimbrel/Numenius phaeopus
Ruddy Turnstone/Arenaria interpres
Ruff/Calidris pugnax
Curlew Sandpiper - NT/Calidris ferruginea
Sanderling/Calidris alba
Little Stint/Calidris minuta
Common Sandpiper/Actitis hypoleucos
Marsh Sandpiper/Tringa stagnatilis
Wood Sandpiper/Tringa glareola
Common Greenshank/Tringa nebularia
Coursers, Pratincoles (Glareolidae)
Burchell's Courser/Cursorius rufus
Double-banded Courser/Rhinoptilus africanus
Collared Pratincole/Glareola pratincola
Gulls, Terns and Skimmers (Laridae)
African Skimmer - NT/Rynchops flavirostris
Grey-headed Gull/Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus
Hartlaub's Gull/Chroicocephalus hartlaubii
Kelp Gull/Larus dominicanus
Caspian Tern/Hydroprogne caspia
Greater Crested Tern/Thalasseus bergii
Sandwich Tern/Thalasseus sandvicensis
Damara Tern - VU/Sternula balaenarum
Common Tern/Sterna hirundo
Arctic Tern/Sterna paradisaea
Whiskered Tern/Chlidonias hybrida
Sandgrouse (Pteroclidae)
Namaqua Sandgrouse/Pterocles namaqua
Double-banded Sandgrouse/Pterocles bicinctus
Burchell's Sandgrouse/Pterocles burchelli
Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae)
Rock Dove/Columba livia
Speckled Pigeon/Columba guinea
Mourning Collared Dove/Streptopelia decipiens
Red-eyed Dove/Streptopelia semitorquata
Ring-necked Dove/Streptopelia capicola
Laughing Dove/Spilopelia senegalensis
Emerald-spotted Wood Dove/Turtur chalcospilos
African Green Pigeon/Treron calvus
Turacos (Musophagidae)
Grey Go-away-bird/Corythaixoides concolor
Owls (Strigidae)
African Scops Owl (H)/Otus senegalensis
Verreaux's Eagle-Owl (H)/Bubo lacteus
Pel's Fishing Owl/Scotopelia peli
African Wood Owl/Strix woodfordii
Pearl-spotted Owlet/Glaucidium perlatum
African Barred Owlet/Glaucidium capense
Nightjars (Caprimulgidae)
Fiery-necked Nightjar/Caprimulgus pectoralis
Freckled Nightjar/Caprimulgus tristigma
Square-tailed Nightjar/Caprimulgus fossii
Swifts (Apodidae)
African Palm Swift/Cypsiurus parvus
Mousebirds (Coliidae)
Red-faced Mousebird/Urocolius indicus
Rollers (Coraciidae)
Purple Roller/Coracias naevius
Lilac-breasted Roller/Coracias caudatus
Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)
Malachite Kingfisher/Corythornis cristatus
Giant Kingfisher/Megaceryle maxima
Pied Kingfisher/Ceryle rudis
Bee-eaters (Meropidae)
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater/Merops hirundineus
Little Bee-eater/Merops pusillus
White-fronted Bee-eater/Merops bullockoides
Southern Carmine Bee-eater/Merops nubicoides
Hoopoes (Upupidae)
African Hoopoe/Upupa africana
Wood Hoopoes (Phoeniculidae)
Green Wood Hoopoe/Phoeniculus purpureus
Hornbills (Bucerotidae)
Damara Red-billed Hornbill/Tockus damarensis
Southern Red-billed Hornbill/Tockus rufirostris
Monteiro's Hornbill/Tockus monteiri
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill/Tockus leucomelas
Bradfield's Hornbill/Lophoceros bradfieldi
African Grey Hornbill/Lophoceros nasutus
African Barbets (Lybiidae)
Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird/Pogoniulus chrysoconus
Acacia Pied Barbet/Tricholaema leucomelas
Black-collared Barbet/Lybius torquatus
Crested Barbet/Trachyphonus vaillantii
Honeyguides (Indicatoridae)
Greater Honeyguide (H)/Indicator indicator
Woodpeckers (Picidae)
Bennett's Woodpecker/Campethera bennettii
Golden-tailed Woodpecker/Campethera abingoni
Bearded Woodpecker/Chloropicus namaquus
Cardinal Woodpecker/Dendropicos fuscescens
Caracaras, Falcons (Falconidae)
Rock Kestrel/Falco rupicolus
Greater Kestrel/Falco rupicoloides
Peregrine Falcon/Falco peregrinus
African & New World Parrots (Psittacidae)
Meyer's Parrot/Poicephalus meyeri
Old World Parrots (Psittaculidae)
Rosy-faced Lovebird/Agapornis roseicollis
Wattle-eyes, Batises (Platysteiridae)
Chinspot Batis/Batis molitor
Pririt Batis/Batis pririt
White-tailed Shrike/Lanioturdus torquatus
Helmetshrikes (Prionopidae)
Retz's Helmetshrike/Prionops retzii
Bushshrikes (Malaconotidae)
Brown-crowned Tchagra/Tchagra australis
Black-backed Puffback/Dryoscopus cubla
Swamp Boubou/Laniarius bicolor
Crimson-breasted Shrike/Laniarius atrococcineus
Brubru/Nilaus afer
Shrikes (Laniidae)
Magpie Shrike/Urolestes melanoleucus
Southern White-crowned Shrike/Eurocephalus anguitimens
Southern Fiscal/Lanius collaris
Drongos (Dicruridae)
Fork-tailed Drongo/Dicrurus adsimilis
Crows, Jays (Corvidae)
Cape Crow/Corvus capensis
Pied Crow/Corvus albus
Tits, Chickadees (Paridae)
Southern Black Tit/Melaniparus niger
Carp's Tit/Melaniparus carpi
Penduline Tits (Remizidae)
Cape Penduline Tit/Anthoscopus minutus
Larks (Alaudidae)
Spike-heeled Lark/Chersomanes albofasciata
Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark/Eremopterix leucotis
Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark/Eremopterix verticalis
Sabota Lark/Calendulauda sabota
Dune Lark/Calendulauda erythrochlamys
Stark's Lark/Spizocorys starki
Red-capped Lark/Calandrella cinerea
Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae)
African Red-eyed Bulbul/Pycnonotus nigricans
Dark-capped Bulbul/Pycnonotus tricolor
Yellow-bellied Greenbul/Chlorocichla flaviventris
Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae)
Brown-throated Martin/Riparia paludicola
Banded Martin/Riparia cincta
White-throated Swallow/Hirundo albigularis
Wire-tailed Swallow/Hirundo smithii
Pearl-breasted Swallow/Hirundo dimidiata
Rock Martin/Ptyonoprogne fuligula
Common House Martin/Delichon urbicum
Greater Striped Swallow/Cecropis cucullata
Lesser Striped Swallow/Cecropis abyssinica
Red-breasted Swallow/Cecropis semirufa
South African Cliff Swallow/Petrochelidon spilodera
Crombecs, African Warblers (Macrosphenidae)
Rockrunner/Achaetops pycnopygius
Long-billed Crombec/Sylvietta rufescens
Cisticolas and allies (Cisticolidae)
Rattling Cisticola/Cisticola chiniana
Desert Cisticola/Cisticola aridulus
Tawny-flanked Prinia/Prinia subflava
Black-chested Prinia/Prinia flavicans
Yellow-breasted Apalis/Apalis flavida
Grey-backed Camaroptera/Camaroptera brevicaudata
Yellow-bellied Eremomela/Eremomela icteropygialis
Laughingthrushes & allies (Leiothrichidae)
Arrow-marked Babbler/Turdoides jardineii
Hartlaub's Babbler/Turdoides hartlaubii
Bare-cheeked Babbler/Turdoides gymnogenys
Sylviid Babblers (Sylviidae)
Chestnut-vented Warbler/Sylvia subcoerulea
White-eyes (Zosteropidae)
Orange River White-eye/Zosterops pallidus
Starlings, Rhabdornis (Sturnidae)
Common Myna/Acridotheres tristis
Wattled Starling/Creatophora cinerea
Cape Starling/Lamprotornis nitens
Greater Blue-eared Starling/Lamprotornis chalybaeus
Meves's Starling/Lamprotornis mevesii
Burchell's Starling/Lamprotornis australis
Pale-winged Starling/Onychognathus nabouroup
Oxpeckers (Buphagidae)
Yellow-billed Oxpecker/Buphagus africanus
Red-billed Oxpecker/Buphagus erythrorynchus
Thrushes (Turdidae)
Groundscraper Thrush/Turdus litsitsirupa
Chats, Old World Flycatchers (Muscicapidae)
Kalahari Scrub Robin/Cercotrichas paena
White-browed Scrub Robin/Cercotrichas leucophrys
Grey Tit-Flycatcher/Myioparus plumbeus
Chat Flycatcher/Melaenornis infuscatus
Marico Flycatcher/Melaenornis mariquensis
White-browed Robin-Chat/Cossypha heuglini
Short-toed Rock Thrush/Monticola brevipes
Tractrac Chat/Emarginata tractrac
Mountain Wheatear/Myrmecocichla monticola
Familiar Chat/Oenanthe familiaris
Herero Chat/Namibornis herero
Sunbirds (Nectariniidae)
Collared Sunbird/Hedydipna collaris
Amethyst Sunbird/Chalcomitra amethystina
Marico Sunbird/Cinnyris mariquensis
White-bellied Sunbird/Cinnyris talatala
Dusky Sunbird/Cinnyris fuscus
Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches (Passeridae)
House Sparrow/Passer domesticus
Great Sparrow/Passer motitensis
Cape Sparrow/Passer melanurus
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow/Passer diffusus
Weavers, Widowbirds (Ploceidae)
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver/Plocepasser mahali
Sociable Weaver/Philetairus socius
Scaly-feathered Weaver/Sporopipes squamifrons
Holub's Golden Weaver/Ploceus xanthops
Southern Brown-throated Weaver/Ploceus xanthopterus
Lesser Masked Weaver/Ploceus intermedius
Southern Masked Weaver/Ploceus velatus
Red-billed Quelea/Quelea quelea
Fan-tailed Widowbird/Euplectes axillaris
Waxbills, Munias and allies (Estrildidae)
Green-winged Pytilia/Pytilia melba
Red-headed Finch/Amadina erythrocephala
Blue Waxbill/Uraeginthus angolensis
Violet-eared Waxbill/Uraeginthus granatinus
Common Waxbill/Estrilda astrild
Black-faced Waxbill/Estrilda erythronotos
Wagtails, Pipits (Motacillidae)
Cape Wagtail/Motacilla capensis
Plain-backed Pipit/Anthus leucophrys
Finches, Euphonias (Fringillidae)
Black-throated Canary/Crithagra atrogularis
Yellow Canary/Crithagra flaviventris
Buntings (Emberizidae)
Lark-like Bunting/Emberiza impetuani
Cape Bunting/Emberiza capensis
Total seen 255
Total heard only 3
Total recorded 258
Mammal List
Common name/Scientific name
Dogs, Wolves, Foxes (Canidae)
Black-backed Jackal/Canis mesomelas
Mustelids (Mustelidae)
Spotted-necked Otter/Hydrictis maculicollis
Cats (Felidae)
Lion/Panthera leo
Cheetah/Acinonyx jubatus
Mongooses (Herpestidae)
Banded Mongoose/Mungos mungo
Common Slender Mongoose/Herpestes sanguineus
Kaokoland Slender Mongoose/Herpestes flavescens
Eared Seals (Otariidae)
Cape Fur Seal/Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus
Bovids (Bovidae)
Impala/Aepyceros melampus
Red Hartebeest/Alcelaphus buselaphus caama
Springbok/Antidorcas marsupialis
Blue Wildebeest/Connochaetes taurinus taurinus
Sable Antelope/Hippotragus niger
Waterbuck/Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Gemsbok/Oryx gazella
Sitatunga/Tragelaphus spekii
Red Lechwe/Kobus leche leche
Kirk's Dik-dik/Madoqua kirkii
Steenbok/Raphicerus campestris
Common Duiker/Sylvicapra grimmia
African Buffalo/Syncerus caffer
Common Eland/Tragelaphus oryx
Bushbuck/Tragelaphus scriptus
Greater Kudu/Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Giraffes, Okapis (Giraffidae)
Giraffe/Giraffa camelopardalis
Hippopotamuses (Hippopotamidae)
Hippopotamus/Hippopotamus amphibius
Hogs, Pigs (Suidae)
Common Warthog/Phacochoerus africanus
Hyraxes (Procaviidae)
Rock Hyrax/Procavia capensis
Rabbits, Hares (Leporidae)
Cape Hare/Lepus capensis
Elephant Shrews (Macroscelididae)
Bushveld Sengi (Elephant-shrew)/Elephantulus intufi
Horses, Asses, Zebras (Equidae)
Hartmann’s Mountain Zebra/Equus zebra hartmannae
Plains Zebra/Equus quagga
Rhinoceroses (Rhinocerotidae)
Black Rhinoceros/Diceros bicornis
Old World Monkeys (Cercopithecidae)
Vervet Monkey/Chlorocebus pygerythrus/Chacma Baboon/Papio ursinus
Elephants (Elephantidae)
African Elephant/Loxodonta africana
Dassie Rat (Petromuridae)
Dassie Rat/Petromus typicus
Squirrels, Chipmunks, Marmots, Prairie Dogs (Sciuridae)
Smith’s Bush Squirrel/Paraxerus cepapi
South African Ground Squirrel/Xerus inauris
Rorquals (Balaenopteridae)
Humpback Whale/Megaptera novaeangliae
Total seen 40
Reptile List
Common Name/Scientific Name
Side-necked Terrapins (Pelomedusidae)
Marsh Terrapin/Pelomedusa subrufa
Boas and Pythons (Boidae)
Southern African Python/Python natalensis
Typical Snakes (Colubridae)
Brown House Snake/Boaedon fuliginosus
Monitors (Varanidae)
Nile Monitor/Varanus niloticus
Agamas (Agamidae)
Namib Rock Agama/Agama planiceps
True Crocodiles (Crocodylidae)
Nile Crocodile/Crocodylus niloticus
Total seen 6