Robin & Anne Willbond (old friends from Abu Dhabi) arrived on time at Windhoek Airport just as we were dropping off Maarten & Rob for their flight to Jo'berg.
We drove to Urban Camping in Windhoek & enjoyed a nice evening at Joe's Beerhouse, just down the road.
The safari tents are very comfortable here.
We drove to Urban Camping in Windhoek & enjoyed a nice evening at Joe's Beerhouse, just down the road.
A timely warning!
A birthday breakfast for Anne.
The next day, 1st March, was Anne's birthday & we had a celebratory breakfast before fixing my tyre & doing a bit of last minute shopping.
Bateleur
Steppe Buzzard
A common migrant to Namibia.
Then it was driving north to the Waterberg Plateau Wilderness where we stayed at a lovely campsite for the next thee nights. The area is 50 kms long & 16 kms wide & gets its name from the springs found along its south east face.
Rain in the distance.
The road was in good condition.
Some nice views of the plateau along the way.
Then it was driving north to the Waterberg Plateau Wilderness where we stayed at a lovely campsite for the next thee nights. The area is 50 kms long & 16 kms wide & gets its name from the springs found along its south east face.
Waterberg Plateau.
The whole area is very scenic.
Sunsets were spectacular.
Robin, Anne & myself at the lodge.
with a small piece of bread in its bill!
I had long wanted to visit this site & it was beautiful scenery. Birding was a bit thin, but the place itself was spectacular.
Days were hot, but one morning we hiked the Anderson Trail which was quite spectacular.
Best birds:
Ostrich; Red billed Spurfowl; Lappet faced Vulture; Bateleur; African Harrier Hawk; Verreaux's Eagle; Ruppell's Parrot; Black Cuckoo; Barn Owl; African Scops Owl; Pearl spotted Owlet; Freckled Nightjar; Bradfield's Swift; Grey headed Kingfisher; Common Scimitarbill; Acacia Pied Barbet; Golden tailed Woodpecker; Pririt Batis; Crimson breasted Shrike; Brubru; Red backed Shrike; Lesser Grey Shrike; African Paradise Flycatcher; Carp's Tit; Ashy Tit; Black chested Prinia; Pale winged Starling; White browed Scrub Robin; Familiar Chat & Green winged Pytitia.
Verraux's Eagle
A pair regularly patrolled the
edge of the escarpment.
The girls & myself hiking the Anderson Trail.
Carp's Tit
Quite common here, even around the camp.
Ashy Tit
This is a species which I don't see very often.
Crimson breasted Bush Shrike
Familiar Chat
White browed Scrub Robin.
This is of the ovamboensis race, which is a little
different in plumage to what I am used to.
Days were hot, but one morning we hiked the Anderson Trail which was quite spectacular.
Best birds:
Ostrich; Red billed Spurfowl; Lappet faced Vulture; Bateleur; African Harrier Hawk; Verreaux's Eagle; Ruppell's Parrot; Black Cuckoo; Barn Owl; African Scops Owl; Pearl spotted Owlet; Freckled Nightjar; Bradfield's Swift; Grey headed Kingfisher; Common Scimitarbill; Acacia Pied Barbet; Golden tailed Woodpecker; Pririt Batis; Crimson breasted Shrike; Brubru; Red backed Shrike; Lesser Grey Shrike; African Paradise Flycatcher; Carp's Tit; Ashy Tit; Black chested Prinia; Pale winged Starling; White browed Scrub Robin; Familiar Chat & Green winged Pytitia.
View from the tower, late afternoon.
Myself & Delana in the tower at sunset.
Anne & Robin.
We left on 4th March for Delana's Bush Camp. The rest of the day was driving & then setting up the camp. Everything was in order & we enjoyed sun-downer's in the tower.
Covering the entire property can be tricky,
as some of the tracks need maintenance.
Early morning birding.
She was here too!
Bateleur
Wahlberg's Eagle
A common migrant to this area.
A terrible photo of a sub adult
Ovambo Sparrowhawk.
Male Double banded Sandgrouse
Female
African Cuckoo
It is not often you get one out in the open.
Pririt Batis
Golden breasted Bunting
Did a little exploring the next day but it was very hot so quite a bit of time spent in the small plunge pool.
A night out!
Robin & Anne left for a couple of nights in Etosha on 6th March & we drove to Tsumeb to meet up with Arthur & Connie, enjoying a nice evening out & staying the night.
The next day we visited Erica & Marcus's farm where they are setting up a camping site for tourists. We then returned to the bush camp.
Spent the next few days birding on the ranch. It was very hot but productive.
It was quite a crowd
for a walk!
The next day we visited Erica & Marcus's farm where they are setting up a camping site for tourists. We then returned to the bush camp.
Delana on the boundary of her ranch.
Spent the next few days birding on the ranch. It was very hot but productive.
Waiting!
Me, with both Bertha's!
Immature Gabar Goshawk
Grey Lourie
Emerald Spotted Wood Dove
Chestnut Weaver
Localised & nomadic.
These factors make it hard to predict where
it will turn up.
Blue Waxbill, Southern Masked Weaver &
Lark-like Bunting.
Black cheeked Waxbill
Long tailed Paradise Whydah
Females.
Shaft tailed Whydah.
Females.
On the 9th we spent the morning at the big waterhole photographing birds that came down to drink & we both enjoyed an excellent few hours. Robin & Anne returned & told us about their adventures in Etosha & the next morning we left early for the long drive to Botswana.
These factors make it hard to predict where
it will turn up.
Lark-like Bunting.
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