Tom & myself in the bar.
I drove from Sabie Park to Maun to pick up Tom on 25th January & was two hours late as I had a damaged tyre due to hitting a pothole. Large sections of the road were in really poor condition. We quickly moved into Maun Lodge & spent the evening in the bar overlooking the river, where we saw some great birds.
African Pygmy Goose
Lesser Moorhen
Surprisingly common in Maun.
African Pygmy Goose; Bat Hawk; Lesser Moorhen & Coppery-tailed Coucal. With brief views of a flying Striped Crake! Frustrating!
Birding was top class close to the Lodge.
Great White Egret
Intermediate Egret
Immature Black crowned Night-heron
Long toed Lapwing.
We were up early birding along the river by the lodge. It was very birdy & an excellent couple of hours.
Best birds:
White backed Duck 3; Jacobin Cuckoo; Great spotted Cuckoo + many of the water birds from the previous day.
Best birds:
White backed Duck 3; Jacobin Cuckoo; Great spotted Cuckoo + many of the water birds from the previous day.
Large sections of the road were like this,
often for many kilometers at a stretch.
The main road goes straight through
the national park.
Elephant by the side of the main road!
Several Ostrich were seen from the road.
A flock of migratory Abdim's Storks.
Tom at the very comfortable Nata Lodge.
Great Spotted Cuckoo
We left Maun at 11am for Nata. The road was in poor condition & birding was limited as we had to drive through a tremendous rain storm. Late afternoon we birded around the grounds of the Nata Lodge, which was quite good.
Best birds:
Ostrich 15; Marabou Stork 7; Abdim's Stork 250+; African Spoonbill 7; White backed Vulture 60; Tawny Eagle; Steppe Buzzard 3; Pale Chanting Goshawk 3; Shikra 1; Lesser Kestrel 55; Greater Kestrel; Amur Falcon 3; Pied Avocet; Marsh Sandpiper; Wood Sandpiper 60; Ruff 350; Pennant winged Nightjar; Meyer's Parrot 4; Kalahari Scrub Robin 2 & Marico Sunbird.
Best birds:
Ostrich 15; Marabou Stork 7; Abdim's Stork 250+; African Spoonbill 7; White backed Vulture 60; Tawny Eagle; Steppe Buzzard 3; Pale Chanting Goshawk 3; Shikra 1; Lesser Kestrel 55; Greater Kestrel; Amur Falcon 3; Pied Avocet; Marsh Sandpiper; Wood Sandpiper 60; Ruff 350; Pennant winged Nightjar; Meyer's Parrot 4; Kalahari Scrub Robin 2 & Marico Sunbird.
Very wet, but at first the track was OK.
Big sky country here!
There were a few Blue Wildebeast
dotting the landscape.
The very uncommon Black Kite
dotting the landscape.
It is 18kms to the pan, but we had to turn around
because of the wet conditions.
Black Korhaan
Black winged Pratincole
Fawn coloured Lark
On 27th we were up very early & drove the short distance to the Nata Sanctuary. The main road was partially flooded & after a couple of kilometers we had to turn around. Birding was excellent for an hour & we had a great taste of what it could be like. This whole area looks brilliant, I need to go back & cover the area properly.
Best birds:
Lesser Flamingo 45; Pallid Harrier adult male; Grey headed Gull 15; Wahlberg's Eagle 3; Steppe Buzzard 7; Abdim's Stork 300 + all the species mentioned above.
The road to Kasane was good & quite birdy in places:
Black chested Snake Eagle 2; Wahlberg's Eagle; Steppe Buzzard 5; Bateleur 5; Pale Chanting Goshawk; Black winged Pratincole 150+ & 35 White Stork.
Best birds:
Lesser Flamingo 45; Pallid Harrier adult male; Grey headed Gull 15; Wahlberg's Eagle 3; Steppe Buzzard 7; Abdim's Stork 300 + all the species mentioned above.
The road to Kasane was good & quite birdy in places:
Black chested Snake Eagle 2; Wahlberg's Eagle; Steppe Buzzard 5; Bateleur 5; Pale Chanting Goshawk; Black winged Pratincole 150+ & 35 White Stork.
Only found in mature riparian forest
along major rivers.
the hotel grounds.
around the campsite.
around the camp.
We then drove to the Chobe Safari Lodge at Kasane. The campsite here was superb & the facilities at the nearby lodge even better! We spent the evening in the bar overlooking the river & birding.
Mowena Lodge
The view of the Chobe River
Malachite Kingfisher
Nice ribbon of woodland along
the banks of the river.
Ayre's Hawk Eagle
An uncommon to rare species,
but regular here.
but regular here.
Birding was good here & nice & cool!
Collared Palm Thrush
A pair were breeding in the
hotel grounds.
hotel grounds.
The freshwater pool & marsh where we flushed
an African Crake!
Thick billed Weavers were nesting next to the pond.
The road to the lodge was also very birdy,
going through much drier woodland.
Steel Blue Widowfinch
Red billed Firefinch
Blue Waxbill
Scaly feathered Finch
Steel Blue Widowfinch
The next day 28th, we birded the campsite grounds early, then drove to the Mowena Lodge & birded the grounds. it was very birdy & we saw some great species.
Best birds:
Western banded Snake Eagle (my first for many years); Black Sparrowhawk; African Crake (flushed); Lesser Moorhen; African Wood Owl (heard); Tropical Boubou; Hartlaub's Babbler 4; Collared Palm Thrush; Northern Grey headed Sparrow 2 & Yellow Wagtail.
African Darter
White crowned Lapwing
African Jacana
Water Dikkop
Broad billed Roller
Water Monitor
Nile Crocodile
Plentiful along the river.
Small boats are the best way to explore the area.
Best birds:
Western banded Snake Eagle (my first for many years); Black Sparrowhawk; African Crake (flushed); Lesser Moorhen; African Wood Owl (heard); Tropical Boubou; Hartlaub's Babbler 4; Collared Palm Thrush; Northern Grey headed Sparrow 2 & Yellow Wagtail.
The mighty Chobe River.
A photographic safari on the Chobe River.
Tom, ready for the off!
At first it looked like a storm approaching.
This is a fabulous way to see
the wildlife of the river.
Myself & Tom.
This channel is very wide at this point.
It looked like we were in for a drenching!
Looking into the Chobe National Park.
Riverbank birding was excellent.
Immature Black crowned Night-heron
Adult Striated Heron
Immature
Reed Cormorant
Pied Kingfisher
Many tourist boats ply the river in the afternoons
because the herds of Elephants come to drink & play!
A young male with attitude!
Just mucking around in the mud!
Even though there is plenty of mud,
they like a bit of dust as well!
they like a bit of dust as well!
Some Elephants go far out into the marshes.
African Darter, drying its plumage.
Reed Cormorant
Great White Egret
The very uncommon Black Heron
Black Heron & Jacanas
Squacco Heron
African Open billed Stork
Sacred Ibis
Spur winged Goose
African Marsh Harrier
Is a common species here in the swamps.
Long toed Lapwing
A major river flood plain specialist.
Water Dikkops were quite a
long way from land.
Yellow Wagtail
Some of these were absolute monsters!
Not a view that one sees very often!
Hippos feeding.
With attendant Cattle Egrets.
Watching from a boat gives close up views!
Only a few Waterbuck were seen, which is surprising
as the habit looks just right for them.
Red Lechwe
This was a new mammal for me.
Males
Superb!
Female.
as the habit looks just right for them.
Looking back towards the lodge.
Squacco Heron flying past the boat
in the evening light.
in the evening light.
The lodge from the river.
Sunset over the Chobe, with a cold beer
in your hand!
The end of a fabulous day.
In the afternoon we went on the famous Chobe River Cruise & it didn't disappoint. We enjoyed fabulous close of views of both birds & mammals. We saw over 90 species off bird (from a boat)! A really wonderful experience.
Best birds:
African Marsh Harrier 20; Water Dikkop 12; Long toed Lapwing 15; White crowned Lapwing 12; African Jacana 80; Collared Pratincole 5; White winged Black tern 60; Whiskered tern 6; Broad billed Roller 12; 5 species of Kingfisher including Half collared Kingfisher; 5 species of bee-eater including Olive Bee-eater.
Best mammals:
Elephant 130+; Cape Buffalo 6; Hippo 40; Red Lechwe 35; Puka 4; Impala 300+; Giraffe 3 & many huge Crocodiles!
Baboon
They were very common on the flood plains.
Interaction between immature White headed Vulture
& immature Lappet faced Vulture.
The smaller species got the spot!
On the other side of the river
outside of the national park cattle were common!
White backed Vulture
A Cape Vulture circled overhead.
With all this Vulture activity, there must be
something about!
But where is the carcass?
A dead Elephant provides meat for all!
Five species of Vulture were on
or around this carcass.
Hooded Vulture
Denham's Bustard were on the grasslands.
Best birds:
African Marsh Harrier 20; Water Dikkop 12; Long toed Lapwing 15; White crowned Lapwing 12; African Jacana 80; Collared Pratincole 5; White winged Black tern 60; Whiskered tern 6; Broad billed Roller 12; 5 species of Kingfisher including Half collared Kingfisher; 5 species of bee-eater including Olive Bee-eater.
Best mammals:
Elephant 130+; Cape Buffalo 6; Hippo 40; Red Lechwe 35; Puka 4; Impala 300+; Giraffe 3 & many huge Crocodiles!
The view from land looking over the Chobe River.
Impala with Yellow billed Oxpeckers.
Unusual to see them on this species.
A more normal host!
Adult & immature birds.
Unusual to see them on this species.
The track was rough in places.
Giraffe
Kudu
Red Lechwe
A breakfast stop.
Birding was excellent!
Lovely grasslands right down to the edge of the
Chobe River.
Yellow billed Storks, African Spoonbills &
Little Egret among others.
Immature Black crowned Night-heron
On one of these freshwater ponds, there was this!
Slaty Egret!
Never common, even in its restricted range.
Whiskered Tern
These species were seen in small freshwater pools
on the flood plain.
Lesser Moorhen
Male Yellow Wagtail coming into summer plumage.
A few Impala were feeding on the flood plain.
Chobe River.
Little Egret among others.
on the flood plain.
& immature Lappet faced Vulture.
outside of the national park cattle were common!
African Fish Eagle
A beautiful setting.
The migratory European Roller was common.
Lilac breasted Roller
Brown hooded Kingfisher
Southern Carmine Bee-eaters were common
on the flood plain.
Red backed Shrike
on the flood plain.
something about!
or around this carcass.
Up early again & all day in the Chobe National Park. It was a full on day, with some quite tough driving but a very memorable one, with a long list of birds & mammals. In the early morning we stuck to the edge of the river channel but then struck out across country to get back to Kasane. This is a huge park & we barely scratched the surface of it. Lots still to explore!
Best birds:
Slaty Egret 1; 5 species of Vulture; Pallid Harrier, another stunning adult male! Lesser Kestrel; Amur falcon 2; Denham's Bustard; Kori Bustard; African Crake; Lesser Moorhen 5; Square tailed Nightjar 2; African Golden Oriole; Fan tailed Widowbird & Yellow Wagtail. 109 species for the day!
Mammals:
Elephant 50; Zebra 350; Giraffe 35; Waterbuck 6; Impala 1,000; Kudu 25; Cape Buffalo 25; Red Lechwe; Banded Mongoose 60 & Hippo.
This proved to be an excellent place to stay.
Tom, on the track to the lodge.
Sandy track, but OK.
The view from the camp.
Very close!
From the hide one can look up to an Elephant!
See what I mean?
Amazing!
This youngster had been dust bathing.
We then drove the short distance to Senyati Lodge & spent the evening at the waterhole.
Striped Cuckoo
On 30th we spent three hours birding around the area & it was quite fruitful with a surprising number of species seen. (102 species)!
Later in the day we drove into Kasane & birded a degraded area close to the river. 102 species seen in the day. Found quite a few Quail Finches.
Holub's Golden Weaver
Best birds:
Red billed Spurfowl; Knob billed Duck 6; Marabou Stork 35; Glossy Ibis 4; Osprey; Wahlberg's Eagle; African Marsh Harrier; Senegal Coucal; African Scops Owl; Pearl Spotted Owlet; Woodland Kingfisher; Bradfield's Hornbill; Tropical Boubou; African Golden Oriole; Common House Martin; Burnt necked Eremomela; Holub's Golden Weaver; Quailfinch 25; Village Indigobird; Long tailed Paradise Whydah 10; African Pipit & Black throated Canary.
Mammals:
Elephant 200; Eland 50; Giraffe 35; Impala 300+; Warthog 5; Zebra 40; Side Striped Jackal; Spotted Hyena 2; Hippo 3.
Evening watching Elephants at the waterhole! Magic!
The last day of January was a travel day crossing into Namibia, arriving at Mubala River Camp mid afternoon. More on this in the next post.
The last day of January was a travel day crossing into Namibia, arriving at Mubala River Camp mid afternoon. More on this in the next post.
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