Tantabane: Francistown

The small hill in the background is where the 

Boulderchats are.

Up early on 7th October & we set out for our Boulderchat twitch. We went to the spot in the Birdfinder but we drew a blank, so we went to the Tantabane Game Ranch a little further down the road. First impressions were good & we saw a couple of distant kopjies in the distance. We enjoyed a nice relaxed breakfast by the side of the dam & then a short walk to the top of the kopjie & within minutes were enjoying great views of a pair of Boulderchats, sometimes at point blank range. We also saw an African Cuckoo up close, but I couldn't get any photos!

Boulderchat

I haven't seen this species since 1989,
 when I lived in Zimbabwe.

Once thought to be a Zimbabwean endemic, 
now known to be present on kopjies in extreme
 eastern Botswana north of Francistown.

Burnt necked Eremomela

Common in acacia woodland.

Looking across the dam towards the restaurant.

Saddle billed Stork

Grey Heron

Green backed Heron

African Fish Eagle

Baillon's Crake

What a great find!

This is a rarely recorded species in Botswana.

Greenshank

Wood Sandpiper

Pied Kingfisher

We then returned by a rather circular route & checked out another dam before birding the original dam again. A Wood Sandpiper flew by & in the distance I could see a tiny crake feeding. It was a Baillon's Crake! This is a very rare bird in southern Africa & extremely rare in Botswana, with less than 20 records. We manage to stalk the bird down to 20-30 feet but it was very happy to play hide & seek in the rocks & tiny bits of vegetation by the side of the dam. At its closest, it was around 15 feet away but I couldn't get any shots then as it was very quick, in & out of the available vegetation & rocks.

Southern Ground Hornbill

This dam close to the main road proved a popular
 afternoon spot for Vultures & Storks.

We were both surprised to see such numbers
 in what is basically cattle country.

White backed Vulture

Their crops were full, so they had recently fed 
on a carcass somewhere.

Marabou Stork

Lappet faced Vulture

Yellow billed Kite

Southern Yellow billed Hornbill

Emerald Spotted Wood Dove

Brown hooded Kingfisher

European Bee-eater

Crested Barbet

Groundscraper Thrush

Chinspot Batis

On our way out we checked out a dam close to the main road as Marabou Storks & various Vultures were drinking & resting. It was an incredible site & we managed to get quite close to get some photos.

Best birds:

Little Grebe; Grey Heron; Green backed Heron; Marabou Stork 15; Saddle billed Stork 1; African Spoonbill 5; Sacred Ibis; Hadeda Ibis; Egyptian Goose; Red billed Teal; Lappet faced Vulture 8; White headed Vulture 1; White backed Vulture 95; African Fish Eagle 2; Tawny Eagle 1; Gymnogene 1; Yellow billed Kite; Swainson's Francolin; African Jacana 3; Black Crake 4; Baillon's Crake 1; Greenshank1; Wood Sandpiper 3; Common Sandpiper 1; Blacksmith Plover; Emerald Spotted Wood Dove; African Cuckoo; Pied Kingfisher; Brown hooded Kingfisher 3; European Bee-eater 5; Lilac breasted Roller; Southern Ground Hornbill 3; African Grey Hornbill; Southern Yellow Billed Hornbill; Common Scimitabill 2; Crested Barbet; Lesser Striped Swallow 2; Fork tailed Drongo; Black Headed Oriole; Southern Black Tit; Arrow marked Babbler; Groundscraper Thrush; Boulderchat 2; Familiar Chat 4; Burnt necked Eremomela 3; Long billed Crombec; Rattling Cisticola; Chinspot Batis; African Pied Wagtail; Tropical Boubou; Southern White crowned Shrike; White crested Helmetshrike; Common Puffback; Cape Glossy Starling; White bellied Sunbird; Marico Sunbird; Blue Waxbill.

Mammals:

Giraffe; Waterbuck; Impala; Klipspringer; Tree Squirrel.

The gang from Francistown!

We then returned home to Riccus & Shallene's home & enjoyed burgers & beer in their garden. A lovley ending to a very fruitful & unexpected day.