Worldbirder: Zambezi Mubala Camp

The view of the Zambezi River from our camp.

We left Dan's Camp around noon on 13th November. We had really enjoyed our stay here. We drove the realtively short distance to Katimo Mulilo & on to Zambezi Mubala Camp, our home for the next three nights. We have stayed here several times before & it is always a pleasant experience. The campsites are shaded & grassed (a rarity in Africa)! One has your own private bathrooms & we were lucky enough to get a prime spot overlooking the river. This was our third mighty river on this trip after the Okavango (Kavango) & Kwando Rivers.

Our very nice camp!

Looking out over the river.

We spent the afternoon setting up camp & then went to the bar. While talking to the barman I saw this happen over his shoulder, in the river. A large Croc leapt out of the water & took a big Tiger Fish in mid air! The leap was incredibly high, only the lower portion of its tail remaining in the water. I then ran for my camera & grabbed a few photos.

And so the story unfolds!

Shaking its head from side to side to break up

the fish.

Suddenly a Yellow billed Kite appeared

to scavenge for scraps.

It gave superb views!

Then it was time for a

celebratory drink!

Rustling up eggs in my new

Masterchef Pan!

Southern Carmine Bee-eater

Star bird!

Crested Barbet

Swamp Boubou

Pied Kingfisher

African Pied Wagtail

Up early on 14th November to bird around the camp. But first up, breakfast! Birding in the camp is easy & a pleasure. A surprising number of species are found in the remnant patches of woodland here. Also the river is good for fly overs. We spent the rest of the morning relaxing & getting ready for the afternoon boat trip down the Zambezi.

We are off! This is one of the great river trips!

I am ready!

This is the same croc that ate the fish!

A different, much smaller croc,

further down the river.

A bit of a festive croc this one!

African Openbill

Long tailed Cormorant

White faced Whistling Duck

We saw 275 birds on this stretch of river.

Knob-billed Duck

Greater Flamingo

African Skimmer

Skimmers are quite common along

this stretch of river.

I never get tired of looking at these amazing birds!

Two chicks were seen on a sandbank.

Well camouflaged.

The bill is not quite fully formed yet.

Large groups of both Whiskered &

White winged Black Terns were seen.

White winged Black Terns are

newly arrived migrants.

Whiskered Terns in smart summer plumage.

Both species for comparison.

Black winged Stilt

Pied Avocet

I don't normally associated this species

with large river systems.

Common Greenshank

Ruff

Little Stint

Getting off the boat to walk to the

Carmine Bee-eater colony.

Strangely the birds nest on the ground,

not in a riverbank!

It is about a 600m walk.

We took chairs to place around the

edge of the colony.

Southern Carmine Bee-eaters

All the birds were catching large prey items

to feed to the young.

Amazing birds!

We spent about an hour with the colony.

It was an incredible experience.

We then motored back to the camp & enjoyed a nice evening meal in the restaurant alongside the river, with Black crowned Night-Herons flying by.

Schalow's Turaco

Three were in the general area.

Sorry about the over-kill in the

number of photos!

But they are great birds!

Yellow-throated Leaf-love

Tricky to get good views of,

& the light was terrible.

This is an incredible record

as the nearest populations

are a long way north.

Delana having just ticked the leaf-loves!

Male Jameson's Firefinch

Female

On 15th November we drove into Katimo to find the Yellow-throated Leaf-loves. Which we did without too much trouble. The three birds were very active but gave us the run around for a bit as we failed to get reasonable views even though we could hear them! However, in the end patience paid off & both of us saw the birds well. It was a new bird for Delana.