Namibia – the living deserts
1-16 July 2004
The
Northern Black Korhaan, a spectacular bustard species always seen on our trips
to arid but spectacular Namibia
Trip summary and checklist
Leaders: Patrick Cardwell & Duan Biggs
Participants: WBST group of 14
Namibia in the winter months with its warm dry days and cool still nights is indeed ‘ Big Sky ‘ country. Wide horizons of sprawling savanna and seemingly endless desertscapes set against azure skies by day and a kaleidoscope of stars at night. Such is the scenic mood that characterizes this sparsely populated country.
Namibia, even in the austral winter months when many of the intra-African and palearctic migrants have departed, is a delight for the intrepid naturalist in search of something new and exciting within what is essentially an arid land of geological contrast and great many photo opportunities.
And so it was for the 14 members of the WBST who notched up 40 mammals and 334 bird species , including all of the Namibian endemics, as well as a significant proportion of Southern Africa’s near-endemics confined to the arid west.
From close up views of African Elephant, Black Rhino, Lion, Zebra, Giraffe and a wide range of antelope in Etosha to the progressive thrill of ‘collecting’ Namibia’s Big Five birds – Martial Eagle, Saddle-billed Stork, Pel’s Fishing Owl, Lappet-faced Vulture and Kori Bustard – along with the visual delights of diminutive Pygmy Falcons in duetting display, the action was continuous and varied as habitats gave way to biomes anew.
Aside from the thrill of the larger raptors
and bustards the group successfully located all of the babbler species
including the highly localized Black-faced Babbler and the striking Pied
Babbler. Due to the characteristically dry winter conditions concentrations
of game and birdlife constitute a rolling progression of sightings around
perennial water points providing unrestricted views of Namaqua and Double-banded Sandgrouse along with flocks of passerines, including Chestnut Weaver, Red-headed Finch,
Green-winged Pytilia, Blue Waxbill, Black-faced Waxbill and the visually stunning Violet-eared Waxbill. Beyond the salt pans Double-banded and Burchell’s Coursers scroll in stop-start motion across the veld
amongst flocks of Grey-backed Finch
Lark and Red-capped Lark while the fringing acacia thickets support Barred Warbler, Sabota and Rufous-naped Lark.
Delights encountered in the continuous belt
of woodland along the Caprivi Strip to the north included Dark Chanting Goshawk,
Arnot’s Chat, Striped Kingfisher, Meyer’s Parrot, Golden-breasted Bunting and Bradfield’s Hornbill. Beyond, the Kavongo floodplain yielded views
of Red Lechwe,
Cape Buffalo and Hippopotamus in the company of Goliath Heron, Wattled
Crane, Rufous-bellied Heron, Long-toed Plover, African Jacana, Slaty Egret,
Yellow-billed Stork and
African Skimmer over
the river itself. Highlight of the riverine bush was unquestionably a pair of Pel’s Fishing Owls sunning themselves in full view
providing multiple exposure opportunities for the photo record…..
For most the successful search for Hartlaub’s Francolin amongst the massive granite domes
of the Erongo mountains was unquestionably a highlight that was further
complemented by multiple sightings of Rosy-faced Lovebirds, Damara Rockrunner, Augur
Buzzard, White-tailed Shrike, Carp’s Black Tit and Pirit Batis - all before breakfast !
Finally the dune fields around Walvis Bay
provided close up views of Dune Lark and Ashy
Tit while the bay
and salt pans added White-chinned Petrel, Caspian, Swift and Damara terns,
Chestnut-banded Sandplover, Kittlitz Sandplover, Pied Avocet, Black Heron, Cape
Teal, Cape Shoveler and African
Black Oyster-catcher. Undulating flight-lines of Lesser and Greater
Flamingoes in
vivid pink glided across the sunset over the
Atlantic ocean to bring to an end another perfect birding day in the outback of
Namibia.
Triplist of
birds according to Roberts VII.
Common Ostrich Struthio
camelus
Crested Francolin Dendroperdix
sephaena
Orange River Francolin Scleroptila levaillantoides
Hartlaub's Spurfowl Pternistis
hartlaubi
Red-billed Spurfowl Pternistis
adspersus
Natal Spurfowl Pternistis
natalensis
Swainson's Spurfowl Pternistis
swainsonii
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida
meleagris
White-faced Duck Dendrocygna
viduata
Maccoa Duck Oxyura maccoa
Egyptian Goose Alopochen
aegyptiaca
South African Shelduck Tadorna cana
Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus
gambensis
Comb Duck Sarkidiornis
melanotos
African Pygmy-goose Nettapus
auritus
Cape Teal Anas capensis
Cape Shoveler Anas smithii
Red-billed Teal Anas
erythrorhyncha
Hottentot Teal Anas
hottentota
Kurrichane Buttonquail Turnix
sylvaticus
Lesser Honeyguide Indicator
minor
Bennett's Woodpecker Campethera
bennettii
Golden-tailed Woodpecker Campethera
abingoni
Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos
fuscescens
Bearded Woodpecker Dendropicos
namaquus
Acacia Pied Barbet Tricholaema
leucomelas
Black-collared Barbet Lybius
torquatus
Crested Barbet Trachyphonus
vaillantii
Monteiro's Hornbill Tockus
monteiri
Red-billed Hornbill Tockus
erythrorhynchus
Damara Hornbill Tockus
damarensis
Southern Yellow-billed
Hornbill Tockus leucomelas
Bradfield's Hornbill Tockus
bradfieldi
African Grey Hornbill Tockus
nasutus
African Hoopoe Upupa
africana
Green Wood-Hoopoe Phoeniculus
purpureus
Violet Wood-Hoopoe Phoeniculus
damarensis
Common Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus
cyanomelas
Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias
caudatus
Purple Roller Coracias
naevius
Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo
cristata
Striped Kingfisher Halcyon
chelicuti
Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle
maximus
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
White-fronted Bee-eater Merops
bullockoides
Little Bee-eater Merops
pusillus
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater Merops
hirundineus
White-backed Mousebird Colius colius
Red-faced Mousebird Urocolius
indicus
Coppery-tailed Coucal Centropus
cupreicaudus
Senegal Coucal Centropus
senegalensis
Meyer's Parrot Poicephalus
meyeri
Rüppell's Parrot Poicephalus
rueppellii
Rosy-faced Lovebird Agapornis
roseicollis
African Palm-Swift Cypsiurus
parvus
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis
melba
African Black Swift Apus barbatus
Bradfield's Swift Apus
bradfieldi
Little Swift Apus affinis
Grey Go-away-bird Corythaixoides
concolor
Barn Owl Tyto alba
African Scops-Owl Otus
senegalensis
Southern White-faced
Scops-Owl Ptilopsus granti
Verreaux's Eagle-Owl Bubo lacteus
Pel's Fishing-Owl Scotopelia
peli
African Wood-Owl Strix
woodfordii
Pearl-spotted Owlet Glaucidium
perlatum
African Barred Owlet Glaucidium
capense
Fiery-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus
pectoralis
Freckled Nightjar Caprimulgus
tristigma
Swamp Nightjar Caprimulgus
natalensis
Rock Dove Columba livia
Speckled Pigeon Columba
guinea
Laughing Dove Streptopelia
senegalensis
African Mourning Dove Streptopelia
decipiens
Cape Turtle-Dove Streptopelia
capicola
Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia
semitorquata
Emerald-spotted
Wood-Dove Turtur chalcospilos
Namaqua Dove Oena capensis
African Green-Pigeon Treron calvus
Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori
Red-crested Korhaan Lophotis
ruficrista
Northern Black Korhaan Afrotis
afraoides
Rüppell's Korhaan Eupodotis
rueppellii
Wattled Crane Bugeranus
carunculatus
African Rail Rallus
caerulescens
Black Crake Amaurornis
flavirostris
African Purple Swamphen Porphyrio
madagascariensis
Common Moorhen Gallinula
chloropus
Red-knobbed Coot Fulica
cristata
Namaqua Sandgrouse Pterocles
namaqua
Double-banded Sandgrouse Pterocles bicinctus
African Snipe Gallinago
nigripennis
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa
lapponica
Common Whimbrel Numenius
phaeopus
Eurasian Curlew Numenius
arquata
Common Redshank Tringa
totanus
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa
stagnatilis
Common Greenshank Tringa
nebularia
Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria
interpres
Sanderling Calidris alba
Little Stint Calidris
minuta
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris
ferruginea
Ruff Philomachus
pugnax
Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula
benghalensis
African Jacana Actophilornis
africanus
Spotted Thick-knee Burhinus capensis
African Black
Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus
himantopus
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra
avosetta
Grey Plover Pluvialis
squatarola
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius
hiaticula
Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius
pecuarius
Three-banded Plover Charadrius
tricollaris
Chestnut-banded Plover Charadrius
pallidus
White-fronted Plover Charadrius
marginatus
Long-toed Lapwing Vanellus
crassirostris
Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus
armatus
Crowned Lapwing Vanellus
coronatus
Double-banded Courser Rhinoptilus
africanus
Burchell's Courser Cursorius
rufus
African Skimmer Rynchops
flavirostris
Kelp Gull Larus
dominicanus
Grey-headed Gull Larus
cirrocephalus
Hartlaub's Gull Larus
hartlaubii
Caspian Tern Sterna caspia
Swift Tern Sterna bergii
Sandwich Tern Sterna
sandvicensis
Common Tern Sterna
hirundo
Damara Tern Sterna
balaenarum
White-winged Tern Chlidonias
leucopterus
Bat Hawk Macheiramphus
alcinus
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus
caeruleus
Black Kite Milvus
[migrans] migrans
African Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer
Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes
monachus
White-backed Vulture Gyps
africanus
Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos
tracheliotus
Black-chested
Snake-Eagle Circaetus pectoralis
Brown Snake-Eagle Circaetus
cinereus
Bateleur Terathopius
ecaudatus
African Marsh-Harrier Circus
ranivorus
African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides
typus
Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax
metabates
Southern Pale Chanting
Goshawk Melierax canorus
Gabar Goshawk Melierax
gabar
Shikra Accipiter
badius
Augur Buzzard Buteo augur
Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax
Verreaux's Eagle Aquila
verreauxii
Booted Eagle Aquila
pennatus
Martial Eagle Polemaetus
bellicosus
Secretarybird Sagittarius
serpentarius
Pygmy Falcon Polihierax
semitorquatus
Rock Kestrel Falco
rupicolus
Greater Kestrel Falco
rupicoloides
Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus
Peregrine Falcon Falco
peregrinus
Little Grebe Tachybaptus
ruficollis
Black-necked Grebe Podiceps
nigricollis
Cape Gannet Morus
capensis
African Darter Anhinga rufa
Reed Cormorant Phalacrocorax
africanus
Crowned Cormorant Phalacrocorax
coronatus
White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax
lucidus
Cape Cormorant Phalacrocorax
capensis
Slaty Egret Egretta
vinaceigula
Black Heron Egretta
ardesiaca
Little Egret Egretta
garzetta
Great Egret Egretta alba
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala
Goliath Heron Ardea goliath
Purple Heron Ardea
purpurea
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Squacco Heron Ardeola
ralloides
Rufous-bellied Heron Ardeola
rufiventris
Green-backed Heron Butorides
striata
Black-crowned
Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
Hamerkop Scopus
umbretta
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus
ruber
Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus
minor
African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis
aethiopicus
Great White Pelican Pelecanus
onocrotalus
Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis
African Openbill Anastomus
lamelligerus
Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus
senegalensis
White-chinned Petrel Procellaria
aequinoctialis
African Golden Oriole Oriolus
auratus
Black-headed Oriole Oriolus
larvatus
Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus
adsimilis
African
Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis
Brubru Nilaus afer
Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus
cubla
Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra
australis
Swamp Boubou Laniarius
bicolor
Crimson-breasted Shrike Laniarius
atrococcineus
Bokmakierie Telophorus
zeylonus
White-crested
Helmet-Shrike Prionops plumatus
White-tailed Shrike Lanioturdus
torquatus
Chinspot Batis Batis molitor
Pririt Batis Batis pririt
Cape Crow Corvus
capensis
Pied Crow Corvus albus
Common Fiscal Lanius
collaris
Magpie Shrike Corvinella
melanoleuca
Southern White-crowned
Shrike Eurocephalus anguitimens
Southern Black Tit Parus niger
Carp's Tit Parus carpi
Ashy Tit Parus
cinerascens
Brown-throated Martin Riparia
paludicola
Banded Martin Riparia
cincta
Grey-rumped Swallow Pseudhirundo
griseopyga
Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo
smithii
Pearl-breasted Swallow Hirundo
dimidiata
Lesser Striped Swallow Hirundo
abyssinica
Mosque Swallow Hirundo
senegalensis
Rock Martin Hirundo
fuligula
Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus
tricolor
African Red-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus
nigricans
Cape Bulbul Pycnonotus
capensis
Yellow-bellied Greenbul Chlorocichla
flaviventris
Terrestrial Brownbul Phyllastrephus
terrestris
Rockrunner Achaetops
pycnopygius
Long-billed Crombec Sylvietta
rufescens
Yellow-bellied Eremomela Eremomela
icteropygialis
Burnt-necked Eremomela Eremomela
usticollis
Little Rush-Warbler Bradypterus
baboecala
Marsh Warbler Acrocephalus
palustris
Lesser Swamp-Warbler Acrocephalus
gracilirostris
Black-faced Babbler Turdoides
melanops
Hartlaub's Babbler Turdoides
hartlaubii
Southern Pied Babbler Turdoides
bicolor
Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides
jardineii
Bare-cheeked Babbler Turdoides
gymnogenys
Chestnut-vented
Tit-Babbler Parisoma subcaeruleum
African Yellow White-eye Zosterops
senegalensis
Rattling Cisticola Cisticola
chiniana
Tinkling Cisticola Cisticola
rufilatus
Grey-backed Cisticola Cisticola
subruficapilla
Chirping Cisticola Cisticola
pipiens
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola
juncidis
Desert Cisticola Cisticola
aridulus
Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia
subflava
Black-chested Prinia Prinia
flavicans
Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis
flavida
Grey-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera
brevicaudata
Barred Wren-Warbler Calamonastes
fasciolatus
Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra
africana
Sabota Lark Calendulauda
sabota
Fawn-coloured Lark Calendulauda
africanoides
Dune Lark Calendulauda
erythrochlamys
Gray's Lark Ammomanopsis
grayi
Spike-heeled Lark Chersomanes
albofasciata
Chestnut-backed
Sparrowlark Eremopterix leucotis
Grey-backed Sparrowlark Eremopterix
verticalis
Red-capped Lark Calandrella
cinerea
Stark's Lark Spizocorys
starki
Short-toed Rock-Thrush Monticola
brevipes
Groundscraper Thrush Psophocichla
litsipsirupa
Kurrichane Thrush Turdus
libonyanus
Pale Flycatcher Bradornis
pallidus
Chat Flycatcher Bradornis
infuscatus
Marico Flycatcher Bradornis
mariquensis
Ashy Flycatcher Muscicapa
caerulescens
White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha
heuglini
White-browed Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas
leucophrys
Kalahari Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas
paena
Karoo Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas
coryphoeus
Herero Chat Namibornis
herero
African Stonechat Saxicola
torquatus
Mountain Wheatear Oenanthe
monticola
Capped Wheatear Oenanthe
pileata
Karoo Chat Cercomela
schlegelii
Tractrac Chat Cercomela
tractrac
Familiar Chat Cercomela
familiaris
Anteating Chat Myrmecocichla
formicivora
Arnot's Chat Myrmecocichla
arnoti
Pale-winged Starling Onychognathus
nabouroup
Cape Glossy Starling Lamprotornis
nitens
Greater Blue-eared
Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus
Burchell's Starling Lamprotornis
australis
Meves's Starling Lamprotornis
mevesii
Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus
leucogaster
Wattled Starling Creatophora
cinerea
Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus
africanus
Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus
erythrorhynchus
Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra
senegalensis
White-bellied Sunbird Cinnyris
talatala
Dusky Sunbird Cinnyris
fuscus
Marico Sunbird Cinnyris mariquensis
Red-billed
Buffalo-Weaver Bubalornis niger
Scaly-feathered Finch Sporopipes
squamifrons
White-browed
Sparrow-Weaver Plocepasser mahali
Sociable Weaver Philetairus
socius
Lesser Masked-Weaver Ploceus
intermedius
Golden Weaver Ploceus
xanthops
Southern Masked-Weaver Ploceus
velatus
Chestnut Weaver Ploceus
rubiginosus
Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes
rubriceps
Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea
Southern Red Bishop Euplectes
orix
Fan-tailed Widowbird Euplectes
axillaris
Red-headed Finch Amadina
erythrocephala
Black-faced Waxbill Estrilda
erythronotos
Common Waxbill Estrilda
astrild
Violet-eared Waxbill Granatina
granatina
Blue Waxbill Uraeginthus
angolensis
Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba
Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta
senegala
Brown Firefinch Lagonosticta
nitidula
Jameson's Firefinch Lagonosticta
rhodopareia
Village Indigobird Vidua
chalybeata
Shaft-tailed Whydah Vidua regia
Long-tailed
Paradise-Whydah Vidua paradisaea
House Sparrow Passer
domesticus
Great Sparrow Passer
motitensis
Cape Sparrow Passer melanurus
Southern Grey-headed
Sparrow Passer diffusus
Northern Grey-headed
Sparrow Passer griseus
Yellow-throated Petronia Petronia
superciliaris
African Pied Wagtail Motacilla
aguimp
Cape Wagtail Motacilla
capensis
African Pipit Anthus
cinnamomeus
Long-billed Pipit Anthus
similis
Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra
mozambicus
Black-throated Canary Crithagra
atrogularis
Yellow Canary Crithagra
flaviventris
White-throated Canary Crithagra
albogularis
Lark-like Bunting Emberiza
impetuani
Cinnamon-breasted
Bunting Emberiza tahapisi
Cape Bunting Emberiza
capensis
Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza
flaviventris
MAMMALS LIST
Peter’s Epauletted Fruit Bat ( Epomophous
crypturus )
Ground Squirrel ( Xerus inauris )
Tree Squirrel ( Paraxerus cepapi )
Scrub Hare ( Lepus saxatillus )
Rock Hyrax ( Procavia capensis )
African Elephant ( Loxodonta africana )
Burchell’s Zebra ( Equus burchelli )
Black Rhinocerus ( Diceros bicornis )
Hippopotamus ( Hippopotamus amphibius )
Warthog ( Phacochoerus aethiopicus )
Giraffe ( Giraffa camelopardalis )
Black Wildebeest ( Connochaetes gnou )
Blue Wildebeest ( Connochaetes taurinus )
Red Hartebeest ( Alcelaphus buselaphus)
Blesbok ( Damaliscus dorcas dorcas phillipsi )
Tsessebe ( Damaliscus lunatus )
Common Duiker ( Sylvicapra grimmia )
Springbok ( Antidorcas marsupialis )
Klipspringer ( Oreotragus oreotragus )
Damara Dik Dik ( Madoqua kirkii )
Steenbok ( Raphicerus campestris )
Impala ( Aepyceros melampus melampus )
Black-faced Impala ( Aepyceros melampus petersi )
Roan ( Hippotragus equines)
Gemsbok (Oryx)
( Oryx gazella)
African Buffalo ( Syncerus caffer )
Kudu ( Tragelaphus strepsiceros)
Eland ( Taurotragus oryx )
Reedbuck ( Redunca arundinum )
Red Lechwe ( Kobus leche )
Spotted Hyaena ( Crocuta crocuta
Lion ( Panthera leo )
Caracal ( Felis caracal )
Black-backed Jackal ( Canis mesomelas )
Spotted-necked Otter ( Lutra maculicollis )
Yellow Mongoose ( Cynictis penicillata )
Banded Mongoose ( Mungos mungo )
Chacma Baboon ( Papio cynocephalus ursinus )
Vervet Monkey ( Cercopithecus aethiops)
Cape Fur Seal ( Arctocephalus pusillus )