[Jan Van den Broeck]

I had a life list of about 1200 but lost everything when my computer crashed.
Don't feel like re-constituting it right now - maybe later. I will rather start a new one: much more fun because more birds to add more often Will also post some pictures along the way


Cork, Ireland, 7dec08 and 14dec08, The Lough and along river Lee:

0001: Magpie - Pica pica
0002: Robin - Erithacus rubecula
0003: Jackdaw - Corvus monedula
0004: Rook - Corvus frugilegus
0005: Long-tailed Tit - Aegithalos caudatus
0006: Blue Tit - Parus caeruleus
0007: Black-headed Gulll - Larus ridibundus
0008: Blackbird - Turdus merula
0009: Shag - Phalacrocorax aristotelis
0010: Grey Heron - Ardea cinerea
0011: Wood Pigeon - Columba palumbus
0012: Eurasian Collared Dove - Streptopelia decaocto
0013: White Wagtail - Motacilla alba yarrellii
0014: Eurasian Coot - Fulica atra
0015: Common Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus
0016: Common Pochard - Aythya ferina
0017: Tufted Duck - Aythya fuligula
0018: Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata
0019: Mute Swan - Cygnus olor
0020: Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos
0021: Canada Goose - Branta canadensis
0022: Greylag Goose - Anser anser
0023: Chaffinch - Fringilla coelebs
0024: Goldfinch - Carduelis carduelis
0025: Durmock - Prunella modularis
0026: Feral Pigeon - Columba livia domestica
0027: Greenfinch - Carduelis chloris
0028: House Sparrow - Passer domesticus
0029: Winter Wren - Troglodytes troglodytes
0030: Lesser Black-backed Gull - Larus fuscus
0031: European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris
0032: Herring Gull - Larus argentatus
0033: Treecreeper - Certhia familiaris
0034: Song Thrush - Turdus philomelos
0035: Kingfisher - Alcedo atthis
0036: Grey Wagtail - Motacilla cinerea

[Jan Van den Broeck]

Let me tell you about my day trip into the Andes mountains last month. I was in Santiago de Chile for a short public health conference in a hotel in the busy city centre. Not many birds there. After the conference I managed to go out for one day to the nearby El Yeso river valley. My excellent guide was Michel Sallaberry, a professor in ornithology at the Universidad de Chile, msallabe@uchile.cl , and it was a wonderful day. Absolute highlight was a single pair of near-threatened Diademed Sandpiper-Plover with two chicks (see picture attached). Also nice was Moustached Turca, a Chilean endemic and a funny bird to watch, and Crag Chilia, another endemic. Birds for my new life list are:

0037: Austral Blackbird - Curaeus curaeus
0038: Austral Thrush - Turdus falcklandii
0039: Kelp Gull - Larus dominicanus
0040: Rufous-collared Sparrow - Zonotrichia capensis
0041: Black-chinned Siskin - Carduelis barbatus
0042: Bar-winged Cinclodes - Cinclodes fuscus
0043: Gray-flanked Cinclodes - Cinclodes oustaleti
0044: Mountain Parakeet - Psilopsiagon aurifrons
0045: Greater Yellowfinch - Sicalis auriventris
0046: Grey-hooded Sierra-finch - Phrygilus gayi
0047: California Quail - Callipepla californica
0048: Andean Condor - Vultur gryphus
0049: Chimango Caracara - Milvago chimango
0050: Eared Dove - Zenaida auriculata
0051: Shiny Cowbird - Molothrus bonariensis
0052: Southern Lapwing - Vanellus chilensis
0053: Chilean Swallow - Tachycineta meyeni
0054: Chilean Mockingbird - Mimus thenca
0055: Tufted Tit-tyrant - Anairetes parulus
0056: Diademed Sandpiper-plover - Phegornis mitchellii
0057: Crag Chilia - Chilia melanura
0058: Moustached Turca - Pteroptochos megapodius
0059: Plumbeous Sierra-finch - Phrygilus unicolor
0060: Southern House Wren - Troglodytes musculus
0061: Baird's Sandpiper - Calidris bairdii
0062: White-browed Ground-tyrant - Muscisaxicola albilora
0063: American Kestrel - Falco sparverius
0064: Blue-and-white Swallow - Notiochelidon cyanoleuca
0065: White-sided Hillstar - Oreotrochilus leucopleurus
0066: Common Diuca-finch - Diuca diuca
0067: White-crested Elaenia - Elaenia albiceps
0068: Grey-breasted Seedsnipe - Thinocorus orbignyianus
0069: Cattle Egret - Bubulcus ibis
0070: Giant Hummingbird - Patagona gigas
0071: Cinereous Ground-tyrant - Muscisaxicola cinereus
0072: Rufous-tailed Plantcutter - Phytotoma rara

[Jan Van den Broeck]

In March 2008 I attended a four-day conference in Kampala, Uganda, on human resources in health. Knowing that Uganda is a birdwatcher's paradise I tried to fit in as much birding as I could both during the conference and the two days after it. Uganda did not disappoint. Even though I was only able to bird in Kampala and surroundings the number of birds seen and put on photo was very exciting for me. I was happy with the local trips and guides arranged by Mr.Emmanuel from Birdwatch Uganda, tel (256)782-88403. Some interesting pictures are attached. I note:


Airport to Hotel - Sat 1 March am
0073: Speckled Pigeon - Columba guinea
0074: Angola Swallow - Hirundo angolensis
0075: Viellot's Black Weaver - Ploceus nigerrimus
0076: Marabou Stork - Leptopilos crumeniferus
0077: Spurwinged Lapwing - Vanellus spinosus
0078: Isabelline Shrike - Lanius isabellinus
0079: Saddle-billed Stork - Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
0080: Hammerkop - Scopus umbretta
0081: Broadbilled Roller - Eurystomus glaucurus
0082: Yellow-billed Kite - Milvus aegyptius
0083: Barn Swallow - Hirundo rustica
0084: Pied Crow - Corvus albus
0085: Woodland Kingfisher - Halcyon senegalensis
0086: African Palm Swift - Cypsiurus parvus
0087: Dark-capped Bulbul - Pycnonotus tricolor
0088: Northern Grey-headed Sparrow - Passer griseus

Entebbe Botanical Gardens 1 March pm
0089: Little Egret - Egretta garzetta
0090: Hadeda Ibis - Bostrychia hagedash
0091: Palmnut Vulture - Gypohierax angolensis
0092: Splendid Glossy Starling - Lamprotornis splendidus
0093: Black-headed Heron - Ardea melanocephala
0094: Scarlet-chested Sunbird - Chalcomitra senegalensis
0095: Crowned Hornbill - Tockus alboterminatus
0096: Egyptian Goose - Alopochen aegyptiaca
0097: African Paradise Flycatcher -Terpsiphone viridis
0098: Grey-backed Camaroptera - Camaroptera brevicaudata
0099: Double-toothed Barbet - Lybius bidentatus
0100: Helmeted Guineafowl - Numida meleagris
0101: Black-and-white-casqued Hornbill - Bycanistes subcylindricus
0102: Eastern Grey Plantain-eater - Crinifer zonurus
0103: Bronze Mannikin - Spermestes cucullata
0104: Spotted Flycatcher - Muscicapa striata
0105: African Yellow White-eye - Zosterops senegalensis
0106: African Thrush - Turdus pelios
0107: Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird - Pogoniulus bilineatus
0108: Little Swift - Apus affinis
0109: Red-chested Sunbird - Cinnyris erythrocercus
0110: Klaas's Cuckoo - Chrysococcyx klaas
0111: Pink-backed Pelican - Pelecanus rufescens
0112: Pied Kingfisher - Ceryle rudis
0113: Golden-backed Weaver - Ploceus jacksoni
0114: Swamp Flycatcher - Muscicapa aquatica
0115: African Openbill - Anastomus lamelligerus
0116: Reed Cormorant - Phalacrocorax africanus
0117: Black Crake - Amaurornis flavirostris
0118: Marsh Sandpiper - Tringa stagnatilis
0119: Black-winged Stilt - Himantopus himantopus
0120: Gull-billed Tern - Sterna nilotica
0121: Wood Sandpiper - Tringa glareola
0122: African Fish Eagle - Haliaeetus vocifer
0123: Yellow-billed Duck - Anas undulata
0124: Senegal Coucal - Centropus senegalensis
0125: Blue-spotted Dove - Turtur afer
0126: Grey Woodpecker - Dendropicos goertae
0127: African Grey Parrot - Psittacus erithacus
0128: Northern Black Flycatcher - Melaenornis edolioides

Mabamba Swamp 2 March
0129: Common Kestrel - Falco tinnunculus
0130: Whinchat - Saxicola rubetra
0131: Diderick Cuckoo - Chrysococcyx caprius
0132: Copper Sunbird - Cinnyris cupreus
0133: Blue-headed Coucal - Centropus monachus
0134: Brimstone Canary - Serinus sulphuratus
0135: Ross' s Touraco - Musophaga rossae
0136: Lesser Striped Swallow - Hirundo abyssinica
0137: White-rumped swift - Apus caffer
0138: Purple Heron - Ardea purpurea
0139: African Green Pigeon - Treron calvus
0140: Village Weaver - Ploceus cucullatus
0141: African Pied Wagtail - Motacilla aguimp
0142: Yellow Wagtail - Motacilla flava
0143: African Pied Hornbill - Tockus fasciatus
0144: Blue-cheeked Bee-eater - Merops persicus
0145: Malachite Kingfisher - Alcedo cristata
0146: Great Blue Turaco- Corythaeola cristata
0147: Fan-tailed Widowbird - Euplectes axillaris
0148: White-faced Whistling Duck - Dendrocygna viduata
0149: Long-toed Lapwing - Vanellus crassirostris
0150: Lesser Jacana - Microparra capensis
0151: Yellow-throated Longclaw - Macronyx croceus
0152: Blue-breasted Bee-eater - Merops variegatus
0153: Cape Wagtail - Motacilla capensis
0154: Sand Martin - Riparia riparia
0155: Little Bittern -Ixobrychus minutus
0156: Shoebill - Balaeniceps rex
0157: Stonechat - Saxicola torquata
0158: Black-chested Snake Eagle - Circaetus pectoralis
0159: Mosque Swallow - Hirundo senegalensis
0160: Speckled Mousebird - Colius striatus
0161: Red-headed Lovebird - Agapornis pullarius
0162: Red-eyed Dove - Streptopelia semitorquata
0163: Black-throated Wattle-eye - Platysteira peltata
0164: Red-billed Firefinch - Lagonosticta senegala
0165: Sooty Chat - Myrmecocichla nigra
0166: African Harrier-hawk - Polyboroides typus
0166: Hooded Vulture - Necrosyrtes monachus
0167: Tawny-flanked Prinia - Prinia subflava
0168: Yellow-fronted Canary - Serinus mozambicus
0169: Tambourine Dove - Turtur tympanistria
0170: White-headed Sawwing - Psalidoprocne albiceps
0171: Black-necked Weaver - Ploceus nigricollis
0172: Wahlberg's Eagle - Aquila wahlbergi
0173: Slender-billed Weaver - Ploceus pelzelni
0174: Western Banded Snake Eagle - Circaetus cinerascens
0175: Grey Kestrel - Falco ardosiaceus
0176: African March Harrier - Circus ranivorus
0177: Red-chested Cuckoo - Cuculus solitarius
0178: Common Sandpiper - Actitis hypoleucos
0179: Orange Weaver - Ploceus aurantius
0180: Northern Brown-throated Weaver - Ploceus castanops
0181: Black-headed Weaver - Ploceus melanocephalus
0182: White-winged Black Tern - Chlidonias leucopterus
0183: Bat Hawk - Macheiramphus alcinus
0184: Superb Sunbird - Cinnyris superbus

Munyonyo Speke Resort 3-7 March
0185: Grey-backed Fiscal - Lanius excubitoroides
0186: Crimson-rumped Waxbill - Estrilda rhodopyga
0187: African Wattled Lapwing - Vanellus senegallus
0188: Black Kite - Milvus migrans
0189: Black-crowned Waxbill - Estrilda nonnula
0190: Barn Owl - Tyto alba
0191: Grey Crowned Crane - Balearica regulorum

Mpanga Forest 5 March pm
0192: Little Greenbul - Andropadus virens
0193: Narina Trogon - Apaloderma narina
0194: Green hylia - Hylia prasina
0195: Green-throated Sunbird - Chalcomitra rubescens
0196: Magpie Mannikin - Spermestes fringilloides
0197: Black-throated Canary - Serinus atrogularis
0198: Pin-tailed Whydah - Vidua macroura
0199: Violet-backed Starling - Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
0200: Black-and-white Mannikin - Spermestes bicolor
0201: Grey-headed Nigrita - Nigrita canicapillus
0202: Lizard Buzzard - Kaupifalco monogrammicus

Mabira Forest 7 March
0203: Ruppell's Starling - Lamprotornis purpuropterus
0204: Willow Warbler - Phylloscopus trochilus
0205: Yellow-throated Tinkerbird - Pogoniulus subsulphureus
0206: Slender-billed Greenbul - Andropadus gracilirostris
0207: Scaly-breasted Illadopsis - Illadopsis albipectus
0208: Forest Wood-hoopoe - Phoeniculus castaneiceps
0209: African Emerald Cuckoo - Chrysococcyx cupreus
0210: Red-headed Malimbe - Malimbus rubricollis
0211: Western Black-headed Oriole - Oriolus brachyrhynchus
0212: Yellow-billed Barbet - Trachyphonus purpuratus
0213: Eastern Forest Robin - Stiphrornis xanthogaster
0214: Buff-spotted Woodpecker - Campethera nivosa
0215: Western Nicator - Nicator chloris
0216: Laughing Dove - Streptopelia senegalensis
0217: Woolly-necked Stork - Ciconia episcopus

[Jan Van den Broeck]

From April 2006 till December 2008 I have worked at the University of the West Indies in Jamaica. During that period I was a member of BirdLife Jamaica, participated with nearly all Birdlife outings on the island. Among the best birding areas to visit in Jamaica are Portmore Ponds, Yallahs Pond, Treasure Beach, Hardwar Gap, Ecclesdown, Hector's River Cliffs, Black River Lower Morass and Cockpit Country (e.g. Barbecue Bottom, Windsor Caves area, and Quickstep). I saw all the endemics several times except the Jamaican Elaenia which I saw only once. Some pictures are attached. The endemics for my life list:


0218: Ring-tailed Pigeon - Columba caribaea
0219: Crested Quail-dove - Geotrygon versicolor
0220: Yellow-billed Parrot - Amazona collaria
0221: Black-billed Parrot - Amazona agilis
0222: Jamaican Lizard-cuckoo - Saurothera vetula
0223: Chestnut-bellied Cuckoo - Hyetornis pluvialis
0224: Jamaican Owl - Pseudoscops grammicus
0225: Jamaican Mango - Anthracothorax mango
0226: Red-billed Streamertail - Trochilus polytmus
0227: Black-billed Streamertail - Trochilus scitulus
0228: Jamaican Tody - Todus todus
0229: Jamaican Woodpecker - Melanerpes radiolatus
0230: Jamaican Elaenia - Myiopagus cotta
0231: Jamaican Pewee - Contopus pallidus
0232: Sad Flycatcher - Myiarchus barbirostris
0233: Rufous-tailed Flycatcher - Myiarchus validus
0234: Jamaican Becard - Pachyramphus niger
0235: Jamaican Crow - Corvus jamaicensis
0236: White-eyed Thrush - Turdus jamaicensis
0237: White-chinned Thrush - Turdus aurantius
0238: Jamaican Vireo - Vireo modestus
0239: Blue Mountain Vireo - Vireo osburni
0240: Arrow-headed Warbler - Dendroica pharetra
0241: Jamaican Spindalis - Spindalis nigricephala
0242: Yellow-shouldered Grassquit - Loxipasser anoxanthus
0243: Orangequit - Euneornis campestris
0244: Jamaican Euphonia - Euphonia jamaica
0245: Jamaican Blackbird - Nesopsar nigerrimus

[Jan Van den Broeck]

Of course, during my stay in Jamaica (2006-2008) I have seen and photographed many other interesting birds than the 28 endemics reported above. Among my favorites were the Northern Potoo, the Vervain Hummingbird, and the Jamaican Oriole (see pictures). The Jamaican Oriole is a near-endemic as it also occurs on the tiny island of San Andres. The Vervain Hummingbird is the second smallest bird in the world after the Cuban Bee Hummingbird. For my new life list I note:

0246: Northern Potoo - Nyctibius jamaicensis
0247: Vervain Hummingbird - Mellisuga minima
0248: Jamaican Oriole - Icterus leucopteryx
0249: White-tailed Tropicbird - Phaeton lepturus
0250: Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis
0251: Red-footed Booby - Sula sula
0252: Magnificent Frigatebird - Fregata magnificens
0253: Laughing Gull - Larus atricilla
0254: Caspian Tern - Sterna caspia
0255: Royal Tern - Sterna maxima
0256: Sandwich Tern - Sterna sandvicensis
0257: Common Tern - Sterna hirundo
0258: Little Blue Heron - Egretta caerulea
0259: Tricolored Heron - Egretta tricolor
0260: Snowy Egret - Egretta thula
0261: Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias
0262: Reddish Egret - Egretta rufescens
0263: Great Egret - Ardea alba
0264: Least Bittern - Ixobrychus exilis
0265: Yellow-crowned Night-heron - Nyctanassa violacea
0266: Black-crowned Night-heron - Nycticorax nycticorax
0267: Limpkin - Aramus guarauna
0268: Green Heron - Butorides virescens
0269: White Ibis - Eudocimus albus
0270: Glossy Ibis - Plegadis falcinellus
0271: Semi-palmated Plover - Charadrius semipalmatus
0272: Wilson's Plover - Charadrius wilsonia
0273: Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus
0274: Black-bellied Plover - Pluvialis squatarola
0275: Solitary Sandpiper - Tringa solitaria
0276: Dunlin - Calidris alpina
0277: Semipalmated Sandpiper - Calidris pusilla
0278: Western Sandpiper - Calidris mauri
0279: Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla
0280: Sanderling - Calidris alba
0281: Spotted Sandpiper - Actitis macularia
0282: Willet - Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
0283: Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca
0284: Lesser Yellowlegs - Tringa flavipes
0285: Ruddy Turnstone - Arenaria interpres
0286: Black-necked Stilt - Himantopus mexicanus
0287: Sora Rail - Porzana carolina
0288: Clapper Rail - Rallus longirostris
0289: Northern Jacana - Jacana spinosa
0290: American Coot - Fulica americana
0291: Caribbean Coot - Fulica caribaea
0292: American Purple Gallinule - Porphyrio martinica
0293: Least Grebe - Tachybaptus dominicus
0294: Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps
0295: American Wigeon - Anas americana
0296: Blue-winged Teal - Anas discors
0297: Lesser Scaup - Aythya affinis
0298: West Indian Whistling-Duck - Dendrocygna arborea
0299: Ruddy Duck - Oxyura jamaicensis
0300: Masked Duck - Nomonyx dominicus
0301: Peregrine Falcon - Falco peregrinus
0302: Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis
0303: Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura
0304: Osprey - Pandion haliaetus
0305: White-crowned Pigeon - Columba leucocephala
0306: White-winged Dove - Zenaida asiatica
0307: Ruddy Quail-dove - Geotrygon montana
0308: Caribbean Dove - Leptotila jamaicensis
0309: Zenaida Dove - Zenaida aurita
0310: Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura
0311: Olive-throated Parakeet - Aratinga nana
0312: Green-rumped Parrotlet - Forpus passerinus
0313: Mangrove Cuckoo - Coccyzus minor
0314: Smooth-billed Ani - Crotophaga ani
0315: Antillean Nighthawk - Chordeiles gundlachii
0316: White-collared Swift - Streptoprocne zonaris
0317: Black Swift - Cypseloides niger
0318: Antillean Palm Swift - Tachornis phoenicobia
0319: Belted Kingfisher - Ceryle alcyon
0320: Stolid Flycatcher - Myiarchus stolidus
0321: Gray Kingbird - Tyrannus dominicensis
0322: Loggerhead Kingbird - Tyrannus caudifasciatus
0323: Greater Antillean Elaenia - Elaenia fallax
0324: Caribbean Martin - Progne dominicensis
0325: Cave Swallow - Pterochelidon fulva
0326: Gray Catbird - Dumetella carolinensis
0327: Bahama Mockingbird - Mimus gundlachii
0328: Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos
0329: Rufous-throated Solitaire - Myadestes genibarbis
0330: Black-whiskered Vireo - Vireo altiloquus
0331: Black-and-white Warbler - Mniotilta aria
0332: Northern Waterthrush - Seiurus noveboracensis
0333: Louisiana Waterthrush - Seiurus motacilla
0334: Ovenbird - Seiurus aurocapillus
0335: Prairie Warbler - Dendroica discolor
0336: Yellow-throated Warbler - Dendroica dominica
0337: Yellow-rumped Warbler - Dendroica coronata
0338: Cape May Warbler - Dendroica tigrina
0339: Black-throated Green Warbler - Dendroica virens
0340: Hooded Warbler - Wilsonia citrina
0341: Common Yellowthroat - Geothlypis trichas
0342: Yellow Warbler - Dendroica petechia
0343: Northern Parula - Parula americana
0344: Blue-winged Warbler - Vermivora pinus
0345: American Redstart - Setophaga ruticilla
0346: Black-throated Blue Warbler - Dendroica caerulescens
0347: Bay-breasted Warbler - Dendroica castanea
0348: Chestnut-sided Warbler - Dendroica pensylvanica
0349: Swainson's Warbler - Limnothlypis swainsonii
0350: Worm-eating Warbler - Helmitheros vermivorus
0351: Bananaquit - Coereba flaveola
0352: Greater Antillean Grackle - Quiscalus niger
0353: Great-tailed Grackle - Quiscalus mexicanus
0354: Yellow-faced Grassquit - Tiaris olivacea
0355: Black-faced Grassquit - Tiaris bicolor
0356: Saffron Finch - Sicalis flaveola
0357: Greater Antillean Bullfinch - Loxigilla violacea
0358: Orange Bishop - Euplectes franciscanus
0359: Yellow-crowned Bishop - Euplectes afer
0360: Nutmeg Mannikin - Lonchura punctulata
0361: Chestnut Mannikin - Lonchura atricapilla

[Jan Van den Broeck]

In 2007 and 2008 I had the opportunity to travel to Nassau, capital of the Bahamas, on six different weekends, mainly to teach a short course on epidemiology. I have managed to enrich the experience by squeezing out half a day of birdwatching now and then, in the good company of Predensa Moore denmor@coralwave.com and Carolyn Wardle cwardle@batelnet.bs two of the top-birders of the Bahamas. Nassau is located on the tiny New Providence Island and most of the island has been developed for housing and tourism. Only a few interesting birding spots remain but this has allowed me to see some birds that I had not seen anywhere else in the Caribbean (see attached pictures of Bahama Woodstar, La Sagra's Flycatcher and White-cheeked Pintail) up till then. For my life list I note:

0362: Red-legged Thrush - Turdus plumbeus
0363: Cuban Grassquit - Tiaris canora
0364: Thick-billed Vireo - Vireo crassirostris
0365: Yellow-throated Vireo - Vireo flavifrons
0366: La Sagra's Flycatcher - Myiarchus sagrae
0367: Least Tern - Sterna antillarum
0368: Bahama Woodstar - Calliphlox evelynae
0369: Western Spindalis - Spindalis zena
0370: Pine Warbler - Dendroica pinus
0371: Ring-necked Duck - Aythya collaris
0372: Neotropic Cormorant - Phalacrocorax brasilianus
0373: Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus
0374: Red-breasted Merganser - Mergus serrator
0375: Blackpoll Warbler - Dendroica striata
0376: Western Kingbird - Tyrannus verticalis
0377: Scarlet Tanager - Piranga olivacea
0378: Veery - Catharus fuscescens
0379: Bobolink - Dolichonyx oryzivora
0380: Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis
0381: Anhinga - Anhinga anhinga
0382: White-cheeked Pintail - Anas bahamensis
0383: Merlin - Falco columbarius
0384: Northern Bobwhite - Colinus virginianus
0385: Hairy Woodpecker - Picoides villosus
0386: Palm Warbler - Dendroica palmarum
0387: Indigo Bunting - Passerina cyanea

[Jan Van den Broeck]

To complete my Caribbean report I should add my lifers seen in Barbados in November 2007. I was in Barbados for my work and did only a few hours of birdwatching: a 1-hour walk on the beach and 2 hours in the Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary at walking distance from my hotel. I attach pictures of Carib Grackle, my first ever White-rumped Sandpiper and the Barbados Bullfinch.

0388: White-rumped Sandpiper - Calidris fuscicollis
0389: Scaly-naped Pigeon - Columba squamosa
0390: Antillean Crested Hummingbird - Orthorhyncus cristatus
0391: Green-throated Carib - Eulampis holosericeus
0392: Carib Grackle - Quiscalus lugubris
0393: Barbados Bullfinch - Loxigilla noctis

[Jan Van den Broeck]

In 2002 and 2003 a consultancy brought me to Dehli and a diarrheal disease conference to Dhaka, Bangladesh. Both places are obviously overcrowded with very little nature left. In Dehli I found reasonably good places to see some wild birds were the Zoo and along te Yamuna river. In Dhaka it was the Botanical Garden. After the Dhaka conference I visited a health centre in Matlab, a densely populated but rural area for 1 day and after that I traveled north to Srimangal by train (6h) to visit a small remaining patch of original forest called Lawacharra Forest as well as some wetlands around Srimangal.
Some birds for my lifelist:

Lodi Garden, Dehli, 2 December 2002
0394: Rose-ringed Parakeet - Psittacula krameri
0395: Indian Grey Hornbill - Ocycerus birostris
0396: Rufous Treepie - Dendrocitta vagabunda
0397: Oriental Magpie-robin - Copsychus saularis
0398: Red-vented Bulbul - Pycnonotus cafer
0399: Common Tailorbird - Orthotomus sutorius

New Dehli Zoo, 3 December 2002
0400: Spot-billed Duck - Anas poecilorhyncha
0401: Northern Pintail - Anas acuta
0402: Black-rumped Flameback - Dinopium benghalense
0403: Common Hoopoe - Upupa epops
0404: Green Sandpiper - Tringa ochropus
0405: Eurasian Thickknee - Burhinus oedicnemus
0406: Red-wattled Lapwing - Vanellus indicus
0407: Little Cormorant - Phalacrocorax niger
0408: Indian Pond Heron - Ardeola grayii
0409: House Crow - Corvus splendens
0410: Small Minivet - Pericrocotus cinnamomeus
0411: Black Drongo - Dicrurus macrocercus
0412: Brahminy Starling - Sturnus pagodarum
0413: Asian Pied Starlig - Sturnus contra
0414: Common Myna - Acridotheres tristis
0415: Bank Myna - Acridotheres ginginianus
0416: Red-whiskered Bulbul - Pycnonotus jocosus
0417: Yellow-bellied Prinia - Prinia flaviventris
0418: Jungle Babbler - Turdoides striatus
0419: Purple Sunbird - Nectarinia asiatica

Sanjay Van Park, Dehli, 5 December 2002
0420: Grey Francolin - Francolinus pondicerianus
0421: Indian Peafowl - Pavo cristatus
0422: White-throated Kingfisher - Halcyon smyrnensis
0423: Dabchick - Tachybaptus ruficollis
0424: Indian Robin - Saxicoloides fulicata
0425: Rufous-tailed Wheatear - Oenanthe xanthoprymna
0426: White-eared Bulbul - Pycnonotus leucotis
0427: Large Grey Babbler - Turdoides malcolmi
0428: Indian Silverbill - Lonchura malabarica

Yamuna River, Dehli, 6 December 2002
0429: Greater Coucal - Centropus sinensis
0430: White-breasted Waterhen - Amaurornis phoenicurus
0431: Purple Gallinule - Porphyrio porphyrio
0432: Common Redshank - Tringa totanus
0433: Bronze-winged Jacana - Metopidius indicus
0434: Great Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo
0435: Asian Openbill - Anastomus oscitans

Dhaka Botanical Gardens, Bangladesh, 9 December 2003
0436: Lesser Whistling Duck - Dendrocygna javanica
0437: Coppersmith Barbet - Megalaima haemacephala
0438: Asian Palm Swift - Cypsiurus balasiensis
0439: Brahminy Kite - Haliastur indus
0440: Brown Shrike - Lanius cristatus
0441: Large-billed Crow - Corvus macrorhynchos
0442: Black-hooded Oriole - Oriolus xanthornus
0443: Ashy Drongo - Dicrurus leucophaeus
0444: Common Iora - Aegithina tiphia
0445: Grey-headed Canary-flycatcher - Culicicapa ceylonensis
0446: Chestnut-tailed Starling - Sturnus malabaricus
0447: Blyth's Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus dumetorum
0448: Olive-backed Pipit - Anthus hodgsoni

Matlab, Bangladesh, 11 December 2003
0449: Fulvous-breasted Woodpecker - Dendrocopos macei
0450: Oriental Turtle Dove - Streptopelia orientalis
0451: Red-throated Flycatcher - Ficedula parva
0452: Jungle Myna - Acridotheres fuscus
0453: Purple-rumped Sunbird - Nectarinia zeylonica

Srimangal, Bangladesh, 13 December 2003
0454: Red Junglefowl - Gallus gallus
0455: Greater Yellownape - Picus flavinucha
0456: Greater Flameback - Chrysocolaptes lucidus
0457: Indian Roller - Coracias benghalensis
0458: Chestnut-headed Bee-eater - Merops leschenaulti
0459: Red-breasted Parakeet - Psittacula alexandri
0460: Spotted Owlet - Athene brama
0461: Spotted Dove - Streptopelia chinensis
0462: Pintail Snipe - Gallinago stenura
0463: White-rumped Vulture - Gyps benghalensis
0464: Pied Harrier - Circus melanoleucos
0465: Blue-winged Leafbird - Chloropsis cochinchinensis
0466: Long-tailed Shrike - Lanius schach
0467: Maroon Oriole - Oriolus traillii
0468: Large Cuckooshrike - Coracina macei
0469: Rosy Minivet - Pericrocotus roseus
0470: Scarlet Minivet - Pericrocotus flammeus
0471: Bronzed Drongo - Dicrurus aeneus
0472: Greater Racket-tailed Drongo - Dicrurus paradiseus
0473: Black-crested Bulbul - Pycnonotus malanicterus
0474: White-throated Bulbul - Alophoixus flaveolus
0475: Grey-breasted Prinia - Prinia hodgsonii
0476: Oriental White-eye - Zosterops palpebrosus
0477: Striated Grassbird - Megalurus palustris
0478: Yellow-browed Warbler - Phylloscopus inornatus
0479: Golden-spectacled Warbler - Seicercus burkii
0480: Lesser Necklaced Laughingthrush - Garrulax monileger
0481: Striated Babbler - Turdoides earlei
0482: Rufous Sibia - Heterophasia capistrata
0483: Pale-billed Flowerpecker - Dicaeum erythrorynchos
0484: Little Spiderhunter - Arachnothera longirostra
0485: Citrine Wagtail - Motacilla citreola

[Jan Van den Broeck]

Unlike The Gambia, surrounding Senegal is not very popular as a birding destination for the obvious reason that the Senegalese do not speak a word of English and the English often don't speak French. Yet Senegal has a much longer birdlist than The Gambia thanks to a greater diversity of habitats ranging from semi-desert to tropical forest. For those who dare, Senegal unfolds as hospitable and the birding fun begins already in the capital city Dakar where the excellent birding spots are Technopole, Madeleines and Parc de Hann. I am starting with Parc de Hann, visited on 1 and 4 July 2007. About 50 species were seen there. Some pictures are attached. I mention only those for my life list:

0486: Blue-naped Mousebird - Urocolius macrourus
0487: Common Bulbul - Pycnonotus barbatus
0488: Black Scrub-robin - Cercotrichas podobe
0489: Red-billed Quelea - Quelea quelea
0490: Yellow-crowned Gonolek - Laniarius barbarus
0491: Squacco Heron - Ardeola ralloides
0492: Striated Heron - Butorides striata
0493: Yellow-billed Egret - Egretta intermedia
0494: Western Reef Heron - Egretta gularis
0495: Black Egret - Egretta ardesiaca
0496: Spur-winged Goose - Plectropterus gambensis
0497: Senegal Thickknee - Burhinus senegalensis
0498: African Mourning Dove - Streptopelia decipiens
0499: Black-billed Wood Dove - Turtur abyssinicus
0500: Yellow-billed Shrike - Corvinella corvina
0501: Western Grey Plantain-eater - Crinifer piscator
0502: African Grey Hornbill - Tockus nasutus
0503: Western Red-billed Hornbill - Tockus kempi
0504: Northern Crombec - Sylvietta brachyura
0505: Long-tailed Starling - Lamprotornis caudatus
0506: Pygmy Kingfisher - Ispidina picta
0507: Splendid Sunbird - Cinnyris coccinigastrus
0508: Green Wood-hoopoe - Phoeniculus purpureus
0509: Sudan Golden Sparrow - Passer luteus
0510: Yellow-bellied Eremomela - Eremomela icteropygialis
0511: Senegal Parrot - Poicephalus senegalensis
0512: African Silverbill - Euodice cantans

[Jan Van den Broeck]

Technopole is an area within Dakar set aside for industrial development by the Senegalese authorities. Fortunately for the birds, not the whole area has been developed. Actually very little construction has taken place. Apart from a few buldings the area is composed of a seasonal wetland, a permanent wetland, a golf course and some drier areas. The number of birds is impressive and parts of the place are worth protecting, but that is unlikely to happen as unfortunately the Senegalese are not very interested in environmental protection. For the time being the area is still worth visiting. I was there on 3 and 8 July 2007 and I only mention some birds for my life list. Pictures are attached.

0513: Great White Pelican - Pelecanus onocrotalus
0514: Greater Flamingo - Phoenicopterus ruber
0515: Sacred Ibis - Threskiornis aethiopicus
0516: Painted Snipe - Rostratula benghalensis
0517: African Jacana - Actophilornis africanus
0518: Red-winged Pratincole - Glareola pratincola
0519: Kittlitz's Plover - Charadrius pecuarius
0520: Black-tailed Godwit - Limosa limosa
0521: Common Greenshank - Tringa nebularia
0522: Slender-billed Gull - Larus genei
0523: Whiskered Tern - Chlidonias hybrida
0524: Black Tern - Chlidonias niger
0525: African Cuckoo - Cuculus gularis
0526: Grey-headed Kingfisher - Halcyon leucocephala
0527: Little Bee-eater - Merops pusillus
0528: Crested Lark - Galerida cristata
0529: African Reed Warbler - Acrocephalus baeticatus
0530: Zitting Cisticola - Cisticola juncidis
0531: Croaking Cisticola - Cisticola natalensis
0532: Plain-backed Pipit - Anthus leucophrys
0533: European Spoonbill - Platalea leucorodia
0534: Ruff - Philomachus pugnax

[Jan Van den Broeck]

There is a Senegalese national park in Popenguine (Parc National des falaises de Popenguine). I have visited it several times over the years and witnessed its decline. It used to be a place where you could see herds of antelope and baboons. My last visit was on 5 July 2007. No antelopes or baboons left in the entire park, probably extirpated. Poor park management? Hunting by surrounding populations? Anyway a disaster. Still a good place though to see some smaller birds. The list below is birds for my life list only. I am attaching some pictures.

0535: Greater Blue-eared Starling - Lamprotornis chalybeus
0536: Red-cheeked Cordonbleu - Uraeginthus bengalus
0537: Beautiful Sunbird - Cinnyris pulchellus
0538: Namaqua Dove - Oena capensis
0539: Mottled Spinetail - Telecanthura ussheri
0540: Village Indigobird - Vidua chalybeata
0541: Red-chested Swallow - Hirundo lucida
0542: White-billed Buffalo-weaver - Bubalornis albirostris
0543: White-rumped Seedeater - Serinus leucopygius
0544: Black-shouldered Kite - Elanus caeruleus
0545: Singing Bush Lark - Mirafra cantillans
0546: Chestnut-bellied Starling - Lamprotornis pulcher
0547: Yellow-billed Oxpecker - Buphagus africanus
0548: Kurrichane Buttonquail - Turnix buttonquail
0549: Brown Snake-eagle - Circaetus cinereus
0550: Dark Chanting Goshawk - Melierax metabates
0551: Anteater Chat - Myrmecocichla aethiops
0552: Rufous-tailed Scrub-robin - Cercotrichas galactotes
0553: Desert Cisticola - Cisticola aridulus
0554: Black-crowned Tchagra - Tchagra senegalus
0555: Sahel Paradise-whydah - Vidua orientalis
0556: Melba Finch - Pytilia melba
0557: Little Weaver - Ploceus luteolus
0558: Southern Masked Weaver - Ploceus velatus
0559: Cut-throat Finch - Amadina fasciata
0560: Lesser Blue-eared Starling - Lamprotornis chloropterus

[Jan Van den Broeck]

Yet another Senegalese national park that has declined in the past years, Langue de Barbarie is located at the mouth of the Senegal River and is accessible via the village of Gandiol near Saint-Louis. Due to water works upstream one arm of the river has been blocked and the impact on the national park is quite substantial and negative with loss of some of the suitable bird habitats. Who cares? Very few people in Senegal do...
Some birds for my bird list, all seen on 11 July 2008 at Langue de Barbarie and near Bango.

0561: African Darter - Anhinga rufa
0562: Yellow-billed Stork - Mycteria ibis
0563: Pygmy Goose - Nettapus auritus
0564: African White-backed Vulture - Gyps africanus
0565: Double-spurred Francolin - Pternistes bicalcaratus
0566: Eurasian Curlew - Numenius arquata
0567: Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus
0568: Grey-headed Gull - Larus cirrocephalus
0569: African Skimmer - Rynchops flavirostris
0570: Little Tern - Sterna albifrons
0571: Vinaceous Dove - Steptopelia vinacea
0572: Abyssinian Roller - Coracias abyssinicus
0573: Rufous-crowned Roller - Coracias naevius
0574: Striped Kingfisher - Halcyon chelicuti
0575: White-throated Bee-eater - Merops albicollis
0576: Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird - Pogoniulus chrysoconus
0577: Senegal Batis - Batis senegalensis
0578: Pygmy Sunbird - Hedydipna platurus
0579: Orange-breasted Waxbill - Amandava subflava

[Jan Van den Broeck]

My in laws live in Ziguinchor, I have worked two years in Ziguinchor (1987-1988) and visited Ziguinchor many times. Good places to bird are Colobane rice fields, Diefaye, Djifangor, Cap Skirring. Most other places are dangerous because of mine fields (there is a separatist war opposing Diola rebels and the Senegalese state). I have accumulated a few lifers there over the times.

0580: Red-headed Quelea - Quelea erythrops
0581: Orange-cheecked Waxbill - Estrilda melpoda
0582: African Golden Oriole - Oriolus auratus
0583: Green Crombec - Sylvietta virens
0584: Fanti Sawwing - Psalidoprocne obscura
0585: Wire-tailed Swallow - Hirundo smithii
0586: Red-faced Cisticola - Cisticola erythrops
0587: Long-crested Eagle - Lophaetus occipitalis
0588: Winding Cisticola - Cisticola marginatus
0589: Piapiac - Ptilostomus afer
0590: Red-winged Warbler - Heliolais erythropterus
0591: Black Crowned Crane - Balearica pavonina
0592: Blue-bellied Roller - Coracias cyanogaster
0593: Common Ringed Plover - Charadrius hiaticula
0594: Curlew Sandpiper - Calidris ferruginea
0595: Levaillant's Cuckoo - Clamator levaillantii
0596: Giant Kingfisher - Megaceryle maximus
0597: Brown Babbler - Turdoides plebejus
0598: White-crowned Robin-chat - Cossypha albicapilla
0599: Northern Puffback - Dryoscopus gambensis
0600: Collared Sunbird - Hedydipna collaris
0601: Yellow-mantled Widowbird - Euplectes macrourus
0602: Cardinal Woodpecker - Dendropicos fuscescens

[Jan Van den Broeck]

In 1988 I visited Niokolo Koba national park with my mother. The park's guest centre infrastructure in Simenti was reasonably good and the park had lions and elephant. I went back to Niokolo Koba 15 years later, in 2003 with my family. Simenti was totally degraded and whether or not there were still any lions or elephant in the park regrettably had become a matter of debate!! Yet another sad chapter in the story of the mismanaged Senegalese national parks... Still, the 2003 visit was memorable, especially our encounter with the Dwarf Bittern, one of God's most elusive creatures (see my picture), and a few other lifers:

0603: Dwarf Bittern - Ixobrychus sturmii
0604: Scissor-tailed Kite - Chelictinia riocourii
0605: Tawny Eagle - Aquila rapax
0606: Lanner Falcon - Falco biarmicus
0607: Black-bellied Bustard - Eupodotis melanogaster
0608: White-crowned Lapwing - Vanellus albiceps
0609: Abyssinian Ground Hornbill - Bucorvus abyssinicus
0610: Giant Eagle Owl - Bubo lacteus
0611: Red-shouldered Cuckooshrike - Campephaga phoenicea
0612: White-breasted Cuckooshrike - Coracina pectoralis
0613: Red-throated Bee-eater - Merops bulocki
0614: Northern Carmine Bee-eater - Merops nubicus
0615: Brown-throated Martin - Riparia paludicola
0616: Knob-billed Duck - Sarkidiornis melanotos
0617: Violet Turaco - Musophaga violacea
0618: Blackcap Babbler - Turdoides reinwardtii

[Jan Van den Broeck]

In June 2005 my family and I traveled over land from Dakar to Ziguinchor, crossing The Gambia near Banjul. There are many interesting birding stops along that route that I will mention here. There are also good spots near Banjul but I will report those separately. The route, starting from Dakar (pictures attached, the Bateleur picture was taken in South Africa):

Dakar - Madeleines and Parc de Hann
0619: Spanish Sparrow - Passer hispaniolensis
0620: Red-billed Tropicbird - Phaethon aethereus
0621: Bridled Tern - Sterna anaethetus
0622: Senegal Eremomela - Eremomela pusilla
0623: Pallid Swift - Apus pallidus

Popenguine
0624: Spotted Thick-knee - Burhinus capensis
0625: Black Scimitarbill - Rhinopomastus aterrimus

Mbour - Sentier Ecologique
0626: Lavender Waxbill - Estrilda caerulescens
0627: Viellot's Barbet - Lybius vieilloti
0628: Pearl-spotted Owlet - Glaucidium perlatum

Bandia Nature Reserve
0629: Rueppell's Vulture - Gyps rueppellii
0630: Bearded Barbet - Lybius dubius

Golf course of Saly
0631: Black-rumped Waxbill - Estrilda troglodytes

Somone Plains
0632: Temminck's Courser - Cursorius temminckii

Fatala Forest and Toubacouta
0633: Bruce's Green Pigeon - Treron waalia
0634: Purple Glossy Starling - Lamprotornis purpureus
0635: White Helmet-shrike - Prionops plumatus
0636: Greater Honeyguide - Indicator indicator
0637: Grasshopper Buzzard - Butastur rufipennis
0638: Snowy-crowned Robin-chat - Cossypha niveicapilla
0639: Ovambo Sparrowhawk - Accipiter ovampensis
0640: Swallow-tailed Bee-eater - Merops hirundineus

Diouloulou
0641: Bateleur - Terathopius ecaudatus

Ziguinchor
0642: Lesser Honeyguide - Indicator minor
0643: Bar-tailed Godwit - Limosa lapponica

[Jan Van den Broeck]

These birds seen in July 2003 complete my report on Senegal in terms of additions to my new life list

0644: Great Spotted Cuckoo - Clamator glandarius
0645: Little Ringed Plover - Charadrius dubius
0646: Bronze-tailed Starling - Lamprotornis chalcurus
0647: Pied Avocet - Recurvirostra avosetta
0648: Lesser Flamingo - Phoenicopterus minor
0649: Egyptian Vulture - Neophron percnopterus
0650: Lappet-faced Vulture - Torgos tracheliotus
0651: White-fronted Plover - Charadrius marginatus
0652: Shikra - Accipiter badius

[Jan Van den Broeck]

To complete my list of lifers from West Africa, there are a few birds to mention that I have seen in The Gambia, during a one-and-a-half-day passage on my way from Dakar to Ziguinchor in Senegal

Abuko Forest 10 July 2005
0653: Yellow-breasted Apalis - Apalis flavida
0654: Variable Sunbird - Cinnyris venustus
0655: White-backed Night-heron - Gorsachius leuconotus
0656: Guinea Turaco - Tauraco persa
0657: Brown-throated Wattle-eye - Platysteira cyanea
0658: Red-bellied Paradise-flycatcher - Terpsiphone rufiventer
0659: Blue-spotted Wood-dove - Turtur afer

Bijilo Forest 11 July 2005
0660: Oriole Warbler - Hypergerus atriceps
0661: Ahanta Francolin - Pternistes ahantensis

[Jan Van den Broeck]

If I don't continue then I am never going to finish (that sounds logical doesn't it?). So let's continue with lifers seen in South Africa. I lived and worked in Mtubatuba in the middle of the game reserves of Zululand from 2001 till 2006 with Naomi, Wim and Yacine, my family and fellow birders. Zululand has a list of over 500 and I have seen almost all of them, so this is going to take a while. Let's start with lifers from Umfolozi-Hluhluwe Game Reserve...

0662: Black Stork - Ciconia nigra
0663: White-headed Vulture - Trigonoceps occipitalis
0664: Martial Eagle - Polemaetus bellicosus
0665: Eurasian Hobby - Falco subbuteo
0666: Crested Francolin - Dendroperdix sephaena
0667: Natal Spurfowl - Pternistes natalensis
0668: African Finfoot - Podica senegalensis
0669: Lesser Moorhen - Gallinula angulata
0670: Crowned Lapwing - Vanellus coronatus
0671: African Olive-pigeon - Columba arquatrix
0672: Cape Turtle Dove - Streptopelia capicola
0673: Emerald-spotted Wood-dove - Turtur chalcospilos
0674: Jacobin Cuckoo - Clamator jacobinus
0675: Black Cuckoo - Cuculus clamosus
0676: Square-tailed Nightjar - Caprimulgus fossii
0677: Red-faced Mousebird - Urocolius indicus
0678: African Hoopoe - Upupa africana
0679: Common Scimitarbill - Rhinopomastus cyanomelas
0680: Lilac-breasted Roller - Coracias caudatus
0681: Southern Ground-hornbill - Bucorvus leadbeateri
0682: Southern Red-billed Hornbill - Tockus rufirostris
0683: Crested Barbet - Trachyphonus vaillantii
0684: Brown-backed Honeybird - Prodotiscus regulus
0685: Bearded Woodpecker - Dendropicos namaquus
0686: Sabota Lark - Calendulauda sabota
0687: South African Cliff-swallow - Hirundo spilodera
0688: Striped Pipit - Anthus lineiventris
0689: Bushveld Pipit - Anthus caffer
0690: White-necked Raven - Corvus albicollis
0691: Southern Black Tit - Parus niger
0692: Arrow-marked Babbler - Turdoides jardinei
0693: White-throated Robin-chat - Cossypha humeralis
0694: Bearded Scrub-robin - Cercotrichas quadrivirgata
0695: White-browed Scrub-robin - Cercotrichas leucophrys
0696: Mocking Cliff-chat - Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris
0697: Rattling Cisticola - Cisticola chiniana
0698: Bar-throated Apalis - Apalis thoracica
0699: Long-billed Crombec - Sylvietta rufescens
0700: Southern Black Flycatcher - Melaenornis pammelaina
0701: African Dusky Flycatcher - Muscicapa adusta
0702: Cape Batis - Batis capensis
0703: Chinspot Batis - Batis molitor
0704: Red-backed Shrike - Lanius collurio
0705: Brown-crowned Tchagra - Tchagra australis
0706: Brubru - Nilaus afer
0707: Orange-breasted Bush-shrike - Telophorus sulfureopectus
0708: Gorgeous Bush-shrike - Telophorus quadricolor
0709: Cape Glossy Starling - Lamprotornis nitens
0710: Red-winged Starling - Onychognathus morio
0711: Red-billed Oxpecker - Buphagus erythrorhynchus
0712: White-bellied Sunbird - Cinnyris talatala
0713: Southern Grey-headed Sparrow - Passer diffusus
0714: Yellow-throated Petronia - Petronia superciliaris
0715: Yellow-rumped Widow - Euplectes capensis
0716: Jameson's Firefinch - Lagonosticta rhodopareia
0717: Blue Waxbill - Uraeginthus angolensis
0718: Variable Indigobird - Vidua funerea
0719: Eastern Paradise-whydah - Vidua paradisaea
0720: Streaky-headed Seed-eater - Serinus gularis
0721: Golden-breasted Bunting - Emberiza flaviventris

[Jan Van den Broeck]

Wakkerstroom and wider area is one of the birding hotspots in Southern Africa. I visited the place four times in the period 2001-2005 when I worked in South Africa. Here are some of the birds you can see there (because I saw them)

0722: Black-necked Grebe - Podiceps nigricollis
0723: Great Crested Grebe - Podiceps cristatus
0724: Southern Bald Ibis - Geronticus calvus
0725: White Stork - Ciconia ciconia
0726: Maccoa Duck - Oxyura maccoa
0727: Eurasian Marsh-harrier - Circus aeroginosus
0728: Long-legged Buzzard - Buteo rufinus
0729: Red-winged Francolin - Scleroptila levaillantii
0730: Swainson Francolin - Pternistes swainsonii
0731: Common Quail - Coturnix coturnix
0732: White-winged Flufftail - Sarothrura ayresi
0733: African Rail - Rallus caerulescens
0734: African Snipe - Gallinago nigripennis
0735: Ground Woodpecker - Geocolaptes olivaceus
0736: Botha's Lark - Spizocorys fringillaris
0737: Rudd's Lark - Heteromirafra ruddi
0738: Spike-heeled Lark - Chersomanes albofasciata
0739: Red-capped Lark - Calandrella cinerea
0740: Banded Martin - Riparia cincta
0741: Greater Striped Swallow - Hirundo cucullata
0742: Cape Longclaw - Macronyx capensis
0743: Yellow-breasted Pipit - Anthus chloris
0744: Long-billed Pipit - Anthus similis
0745: Cape Rock-thrush - Monticola rupestris
0746: Sentinel Rock-thrush - Monticola explorator
0747: Southern Ant-eating Chat - Myrmecocichla formicivora
0748: Little Rush Warbler - Bradypterus baboecala
0749: Lesser Swamp Warbler - Acrocephalus gracilirostris
0750: Lazy Cisticola - Cisticola aberrans
0751: Levaillant's Cisticola - Cisticola tinniens
0752: Pale-crowned Cisticola - Cisticola cinnamomeus
0753: Bokmakierie - Telophorus zeylonus
0754: Wattled Starling - Creatophora cinerea
0755: Malachite Sunbird - Nectarinia famosa
0756: Southern Double-collared Sunbird - Cinnyris chalybeus
0757: Long-tailed Widowbird - Euplectes progne
0758: White-winged Widowbird - Euplectes albonotatus
0759: African Quailfinch - Ortygospiza atricollis
0760: Forest Canary - Serinus scotops

[Jan Van den Broeck]

This is a huge coastal area South of the border with Mozambique. For me also includes the Mkuze Game Reserve. The St-Lucia estuary has a length of about 60 km. It is surrounded by dunes, coastal forest, coastal grassland and some drier wooded savannah. The beaches are pristine. The diversity of birdlife is stunning. Recommended places to visit include: Ngwala Ngwala forest, Iphiva trail and the mouth of the estuary in St-Lucia, Maphelane, Lake Teza, Lake Mavuya, Cape Vidal, Hell's Gate, Mkuze Game Reserve, Kosi Bay, Umfolozi commonage game reserve, and many other. Here is a selection of the birds I have seen there:

0761: White-breasted Cormorant - Phalacrocorax lucidus
0762: Goliath Heron - Ardea goliath
0763: Cape Gannet - Morus capensis
0764: Brown Booby - Sula leucogaster
0765: African Spoonbill - Platalea alba
0766: Fulvous Duck - Dendrocygna bicolor
0767: White-backed Duck - Thalassornis leuconotus
0768: Cape Shoveler - Anas smithii
0769: Hottentot Teal - Anas hottentota
0770: Red-billed Teal - Anas eryhtrorhyncha
0771: Southern Pochard - Netta erythrophthalma
0772: Little Stint - Calidris minuta
0773: Southern Banded Snake-eagle - Circaetus cinerascens
0774: African Cuckoo Hawk - Aviceda cuculoides
0775: Great Sparrowhawk - Accipiter melanoleucus
0776: African Goshawk - Accipiter tachiro
0777: Little Sparrowhawk - Accipiter minullus
0778: European Honey Buzzard - Pernis apivorus
0779: Steppe Buzzard - Buteo vulpinus
0780: African Crowned Eagle - Stephanoaetus coronatus
0781: Sooty Falcon - Falco concolor
0782: Crested Guineafowl - Guttera pucherani
0783: Shelley's Francolin - Scleroptila shelleyi
0784: Buff-spotted Flufftail - Sarothrura elegans
0785: African Crake - Crecopsis egregia
0786: African Purple Swamphen - Porphyrio madagascariensis
0787: Red-knobbed Coot - Fulica cristata
0788: Crab Plover - Dromas ardeola
0789: Eurasian Oystercatcher - Haematopus ostralegus
0790: Water Thick-knee - Burhinus vermiculatus
0791: Three-banded Plover - Charadrius tricollaris
0792: Blacksmith Lapwing - Vanellus armatus
0793: Senegal Lapwing - Vanellus lugubris
0794: Black-winged Lapwing - Vanellus melanopterus
0795: Terek Sandpiper - Xenus cinerea
0796: Cape Gull - Larus vetula
0797: Swift Tern - Sterna bergii
0798: Purple-crested Turaco - Gallirex porphyreolopha
0799: Livingstone's Turaco - Tauraco livingstonii
0800: Black Coucal - Centropus grillii
0801: Green Malkoha - Ceuthmochares australis
0802: Burchell's Coucal - Centropus burchelli
0803: African Grass Owl - Tyto capensis
0804: African Wood-owl - Strix woodfordii
0805: Spotted Eagle-owl - Bubo africanus
0806: Fiery-necked Nightjar - Caprimulgus pectoralis
0807: Narina Trogon - Apaloderma narina
0808: Mangrove Kingfisher - Halcyon senegaloides
0809: Brown-hooded Kingfisher - Halcyon albiventris
0810: White-fronted Bee-eater - Merops bullockoides
0811: Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill - Tockus leucomelas
0812: Trumpeter Hornbill - Bycanistes bucinator
0813: White-eared Barbet - Stactolaema leucotis
0814: Red-fronted Tinkerbird - Pogoniulus pusillus
0815: Black-collared Barbet - Lybius torquatus
0816: Scaly-throated Honeyguide - Indicator variegatus
0817: Golden-tailed Woodpecker - Campethera abingoni
0818: African Broadbill - Smithornis capensis
0819: Rufous-naped Lark - Mirafra africana
0820: Black Saw-wing - Psalidoprocne pristoptera
0821: Grey-rumped Swallow - Pseudohirundo griseopyga
0822: Rosy-breasted Longclaw - Macronyx ameliae
0823: African Pipit - Anthus cinnamomeus
0824: Black Cuckooshrike - Campephaga flava
0825: Square-tailed Drongo - Dicrurus ludwigii

[Jan Van den Broeck]

Hold on, it's not finished yet...


0826: Grey Penduline Tit - Anthoscopus caroli
0827: Yellow-streaked Greenbul - Phyllastrephus flavirostris
0828: Terrestrial Brownbul - Phyllastrephus terristris
0829: Sombre Greenbul - Andropadus importunus
0830: Yellow-bellied Greenbul - Chlorocichla flaviventris
0831: Eastern Nicator - Nicator gularis
0832: Groundscraper Thrush - Psophocichla litsipsirupa
0833: Kurrichane Thrush - Turdus libonyanus
0834: Red-capped Robin-chat - Cossypha natalensis
0835: White-browed Robin-chat - Cossypha heuglini
0836: White-starred Robin - Pogonocichla stellata
0837: Brown Scrub-robin - Cercotrichas signata
0838: Icterine Warbler - Hippolais icterina
0839: Olive-tree Warbler - Hippolais olivetorum
0840: Great Bittern - Botaurus stellaris
0841: Garden Warbler - Sylvia borin
0842: Neddicky - Cisticola fulvicapilla
0843: Rufous-winged Cisticola - Cisticola galactotes
0844: Rudd's Apalis - Apalis ruddi
0845: Burnt-necked Eremomela - Eremomela usticollis
0846: Green-backed Camaroptera - Camaroptera brachyura
0847: Pallid Flycatcher - Bradornis pallidus
0848: Ashy Flycatcher - Muscicapa caerulescens
0849: Grey Tit-flycatcher - Myioparus plumbeus
0850: Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher - Trochocercus cyanomelas
0851: Zululand Batis - Batis fratrum
0852: Common Fiscal - Lanius collaris
0853: Black-backed Puffback - Dryoscopus cubla
0854: Southern Boubou - Laniarius ferrugineus
0855: Olive Bush-shrike - Telophorus olivaceus
0856: Grey-headed Bush-shrike - Malaconotus blanchoti
0857: Black-bellied Starling - Lamprotornis corruscus
0858: Olive Sunbird - Cyanomitra olivacea
0859: Grey Sunbird - Nectarinia veroxii
0860: Purple-banded Sunbird - Cinnyris bifasciatus
0861: Cape White-eye - Zosterops capensis
0862: Yellow Weaver - Ploceus subaureus
0863: Southern Brown-throated Weaver - Ploceus xanthopterus
0864: Spectacled Weaver - Ploceus ocularis
0865: Forest Weaver - Ploceus bicolor
0866: Thick-billed Weaver - Amblyospiza albifrons
0867: Southern Red Bishop - Euplectes orix
0868: Red-collared Widowbird - Euplectes ardens
0869: Lesser Masked Weaver - Ploceus intermedius
0870: Green Twinspot - Mandingoa nitidula
0871: Red-backed Mannikin - Spermestes nigriceps
0872: Grey Waxbill - Estrilda perreini
0873: Common Waxbill - Estrilda astrild

[Jan Van den Broeck]

This is a selection of the birds I have seen in the Drakensberg mountains in South Africa, still in in period 2001-2006 when I lived in KwaZulu-Natal and visited the Drakensbergen on five occasions. I am adding them to my new life list.

0874: South African Shelduck - Tadorna cana
0875: African Black Duck - Anas sparsa
0876: Lammergeier - Gypaetus barbatus
0877: Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk - Accipiter rufiventris
0878: Forest Buzzard - Buteo trizonatus
0879: Jackal Buzzard - Buteo rufofuscus
0880: Rock Kestrel - Falco rupicolus
0881: Amur Falcon - Falco amurensis
0882: Red-necked Spurfowl - Pternistes afer
0883: Marsh Owl - Asio capensis
0884: Horus Swift - Apus horus
0885: Alpine Swift - Tachymarptis melba
0886: African Black Swift - Apus barbatus
0887: Half-collared Kingfisher - Alcedo semitorquata
0888: Rufous-breasted Wryneck - Jynx ruficollis
0889: Rock Martin - Hirundo fuligula
0890: White-throated Swallow - Hirundo albigularis
0891: Grey Cuckooshrike - Coracina caesia
0892: Cape Crow - Corvus capensis
0893: Bush Blackcap - Lioptilus nigricapilla
0894: Olive Thrush - Turdus olivaceus
0895: Cape Robin-chat - Cossypha caffra
0896: Chorister Robin-chat - Cossypha dichroa
0897: Buff-streaked Chat - Oenanthe bifasciata
0898: Familiar Chat - Cercomela familiaris
0899: Mountain Wheatear - Oenanthe monticola
0900: Barratt's Warbler - Bradypterus barratti
0901: Dark-capped Yellow Warbler - Chloropeta natalensis
0902: Wailing Cisticola - Cisticola lais
0903: Drakensberg Prinia - Prinia hypoxantha
0904: Fiscal Flycatcher - Sigelus silens
0905: African Pied Starling - Spreo bicolor
0906: Gurney's Sugarbird - Promerops gurneyi
0907: Greater Double-collared Sunbird - Cinnyris afrea
0908: Cape Sparrow - Passer melanurus
0909: Cape Weaver - Ploceus capensis
0910: Cape Canary - Serinus canicollis
0911: Black-headed Canary - Serinus alario

[Jan Van den Broeck]

December 2005 we spend our family X-mas break in the Northwest of South Africa, in Augrabies NP and in a virtually deserted Kalahari-Gemsbok NP (apparently people don't like the desert in mid-summer, strange: it's nice and warm then ). Not many waders seen there.

0912: Gabar Goshawk - Melierax gabar
0913: Greater Kestrel - Falco rupicoloides
0914: African Pygmy Falcon - Polihierax semitorquatus
0915: Kori Bustard - Ardeotis kori
0916: Northern Black Korhaan - Eupodotis afraoides
0917: Burchell's Sandgrouse - Pterocles burchelli
0918: Bradfield's Swift - Apus Bradfieldi
0919: European Bee-eater - Merops apiaster
0920: Common Ostrich - Struthio camelus
0921: Secretarybird - Sagittarius serpentarius
0922: Acacia Pied Barbet - Tricholaema leucomelas
0923: Grey-backed Sparrowlark - Eremopterix verticalis
0924: Ashy Tit - Parus cinerascens
0925: African Red-eyed Bulbul - Pycnonotus nigricans
0926: Kalahari Scrub-robin - Cercotrichas paena
0927: Chestnut-vented Tit-babbler - Parisoma subcaeruleum
0928: Black-chested Prinia - Prinia flavicans
0929: Chat Flycatcher - Bradornis infuscatus
0930: Pririt Batis - Batis pririt
0931: Pale-winged Starling - Onychognathus nabouroup
0932: Dusky Sunbird - Cinnyris fusca
0933: Orange River White-eye - Zosterops pallidus
0934: Red-headed Finch - Amadina erythrocephala
0935: Scaly-feathered Finch - Sporopipes squamifrons
0936: White-browed Sparrow-weaver - Plocepasser mahali
0937: Sociable Weaver - Philetairus socius
0938: White-throated Canary - Serinus albogularis

[Jan Van den Broeck]

In the Easter holidays of 2004 the four of us (wife and 2 kids) travelled along the 'Garden Route' to Cape Town, spent a few days in and around Cape Town and then headed back to Durban via the Karoo and Johannesburg. A lot of kilometers of driving (my back is still hurting). This resulted in some more birds for my life list:

0939: African Penguin - Spheniscus demersus
0940: Cape Cormorant - Phalacrocorax capensis
0941: Crowned Cormorant - Phalacrocorax coronatus
0942: Cape Teal - Anas capensis
0943: Cape Vulture - Gyps coprotheres
0944: Pallid Harrier - Circus macrourus
0945: Montagu's Harrier - Circus pygargus
0946: Black Harrier - Circus maurus
0947: Pale Chanting Goshawk - Melierax canorus
0948: Booted Eagle - Aquila pennatus
0950: Lesser Kestrel - Falco naumanni
0951: Grey-winged Francolin - Scleroptila africanus
0952: Cape Spurfowl - Pternistes capensis
0953: Blue Crane - Anthropoides paradiseus
0954: Denham's Bustard - Neotis denhami
0955: Southern Black Korhaan - Eupodotis afra
0956: African Black Oystercatcher - Haematopus moquini
0957: Hartlaub's Gull - Larus hartlaubi
0958: Sabine's Gull - Xema sabini
0959: Knysna Turaco - Tauraco corythaix
0960: White-backed Mousebird - Colius colius
0961: Karoo Long-billed Lark - Certhilauda subcoronata
0962: Large-billed Lark - Galerida magnirostris
0963: Cape Bulbul - Pycnonotus capensis
0964: Karoo Thrush - Turdus smithi
0965: Karoo Scrub-robin - Cercotrichas coryphaeus
0966: Sickle-winged Chat - Cercomela sinuata
0967: Capped Wheatear - Oenanthe pileata
0968: Cape Grassbird - Sphenoeacus afer
0969: Grey-backed Cisticola - Cisticola subruficapilla
0970: Karoo Prinia - Prinia maculosa
0971: Rufous-eared Warbler - Malcorus pectoralis
0972: Southern Tchagra - Tchagra tchagra
0973: Cape Sugarbird - Promerops cafer
0974: Amethyst Sunbird - Chalcomitra amethystina
0975: Swee Waxbill - Coccopygia melanotis
0976: Yellow Canary - Serinus flaviventris
0977: Cape Bunting - Emberiza capensis

[Jan Van den Broeck]

Pelagic from Richards Bay in 2003
0978: Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross - Thalassarche carteri
0979: Great-winged Petrel - Pterodroma macroptera
0980: White-chinned Petrel - Procellaria aequinoctialis
0981: Wilson's Storm-petrel - Oceanites oceanicus
0982: Lesser Crested Tern - Sterna bengalensis
0983: Arctic Tern - Sterna paradisaea

Eshowe Dlinza Forest and Ongoye Forest, 2005
0984: Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon - Columba delegorguei
0985: European Roller - Coracias garrulus
0986: Green Barbet - Stactolaema olivacea
0987: Olive Woodpecker - Dendropicos griseocephalus
0988: Mountain Wagtail - motacilla clara
0989: Fork-tailed Drongo - Dicrurus adsimilis
0990: Eastern Black-headed Oriole - Oriolus larvatus
0991: Spotted Ground-thrush - Zoothera guttata
0992: Yellow-throated Woodland-warbler - Phylloscopus ruficapillus

Kruger Park 2004
0993: Verreaux's Black Eagle - Aquila verreauxii
0994: African Hawk Eagle - Aquila spilogaster
0995: Brown-headed Parrot - Poicephalus cryptoxanthus
0996: Grey Go-away-bird - Corythaixoides concolor
0997: Lesser Grey Shrike - Lanius minor
0998: Meves's Starling - Lamprotornis mevesii
0999: Marico Sunbird - Cinnyris mariquensis
1000: Red-billed Buffalo-weaver - Bubalornis niger

Ndumo Game Reserve, 2005
1001: Retz's Helmet-shrike - Prionops retzii
1002: Pink-throated Twinspot - Hypargos margaritatus

Tembe Game Reserve, 2004
1003: Neergaard's Sunbird - Cinnyris neergaardi
1004: Lemon-breasted Canary - Serinus citrinipectus

Swaziland, 2003
1005: Common House Martin - Delichon urbicum
1006: Magpie Shrike - Corvinella melanoleuca
1007: African Blue-billed Firefinch - Lagonosticta rubricata
1008: Cinnamon-breasted Rock Bunting - Emberiza tahapisi

Gabarone, Botswana 2002
1009: Southern White-crowned Shrike - Eurocephalus anguitimens
1010: Crimson-breasted Shrike - Laniarius atrococcineus

West Africa: Senegal, 2005, (forgot to mention earlier)
1011: Black-headed Lapwing - Vanellus tectus
1012: African Collared Dove - Streptopelia roseogrisea
1013: Blue-breasted Kingfisher - Halcyon malimbica
1014: Little Green Bee-eater - Merops orientalis
1015: Fine-spotted Woodpecker - Campethera punctuligera
1016: Red-breasted Swallow - Hirundo semirufa

Ghana, Accra, 2004
1017: Green-headed Sunbird - Cyanomitra verticalis