We spent the last blog with folk travelling large distances to see rare and unexpected vagrants to southern Africa. If you recall, these two were the Spur-winged Lapwing and a very lonely Red-rumped Swallow.
But what about birds that are resident in the region ? Resident birds that are just plain difficult to see ? Or those that are difficult to access ? Or the nomads that drift around, well, nomadically, and are therefore unpredictable ?
A number spring to mind. Cardinal and Red-headed Quelea, Thick-billed Cuckoo, Marsh Tchagra. Even quite common species like Horus Swift and Racquet-tailed Roller are not guaranteed ticks for one’s list.
So, my long time buddy and faithful client PR has been birding for decades and realises that his very substantial southern African bird list has reached the critical number of – wait for it – 899 !
Of that huge number there is only one resident bird that he has not photographed or, even, seen !!
He contacts me and we decide to ‘give it a bash’.
He has Covid19 tests. He buys air tickets. Packs a suitcase and gets airborne.
So this is twitching with serious intent ! Fraught with problems and difficulties.
Think about it – the LAST southern African resident bird that he needs !! Wowser !
We depart for Zimbabwe’s eastern highlands – well, lowlands, actually because we are aimed at the Honde Valley where we will spend 3 nights at the fabulous Aberfoyle Lodge.
We arrive safely having successfully avoided being harassed by the police road blocks for breaking lock down rules. Which we haven’t, as tourism is ‘open’. We check in and are quickly found by the local guide, Morgan, and informed that the quest must get underway as soon as possible. To achieve this we are back on the road barely minutes after arriving – this time heading for Katiyo Estates on the Moçambique border.
Katiyo is an old tea estate dating back into the ’70’s but has recently changed hands and is being re-purposed for Macadamia and Avocado plantations so we were awe struck when, on arrival, we witnessed the changed landscape.
It looks like devastation but it is, in its own way, progress.
Now to birding. After passing Katiyo forest we arrive at an area of grassland, probably not more than 4 or 5 hectares in extent. We park, alight and commence birding.
This area is very, very special place indeed because we picked up the following quite quickly.
Now things really started to get going with the specials………
Those last two were in the same bush !! We also saw Short-winged Cisticola, Marsh Tchagra (used to be Anchieta’s) and loads of Common Waxbills.
Then ……………………………………………………..
much gesticulating by Morgan in the distance …………………………………………..
and a very rapid walk/trot/trip by PR and me ……………………………………………..
seedcracker !!!!!!!
This is the last southern African resident species that PR was looking for !! We had cracked it !! (Pun intended)
There was much excitement and merriment for some time after that. Hugely exciting with plenty of high fives going around between the grinning participants !!
I had actually seen one of these before but that was as long ago as 1993 and not a sighting since !!
Well, that was well done ! What are we going to do for the next two full days of our planned trip ?
Not a problem because PR needs to up the quality of his photo’s of a few more of the special species in the area and searching these out was our next priority but only after suitable celebrations had taken place.
With a strategy of search and photograph then search again the game was on …………..
And finally the most difficult of all ………….
Oh ! By the way, PR is only the 15th person to ever reach the southern African 900 milestone !
And he says he is not coming back !!!
So that’s it for now folks. Keep well in these trying Covid19 times and let’s hope we can all go birding again as soon as possible.
Cheers
Tony
