Birds and wildlife of Serranía de Ronda

Winter is always a hard time for wildlife, even in the more temperate climes of the Serranía de Ronda. January has been a real mixed bag in terms of the weather, rain (although insufficient for now), snow, high winds and blue sunny days, although our nighttimes have been plagued by more than our fair share of frosts even at night temperatures above freezing! Whatever the weather, whatever the time of year, getting up and into my mountains is just so rewarding and my local scenery always amazing.

Tim Appleton birding the Serrania de Ronda

My month has been hectic, sorting out tours, finishing outstanding trip reports, preparing for another journey to Costa Rica, getting fellow travellers up to speed and informed on all the details of the tour they need in order to prepare. Yet, the call of my mountains beckoned on several occasions and not least taking a very old friend with me to share and indulge in the amazing wildlife of the Serranía de Ronda. It was great to see Tim Appleton and spend time together searching for and finding a large list of target birds, although we did dip on Alpine Accentor!

Dartford Warbler putting on a fine show whilst impressing his mate

High points for January were finding one of my resident pairs of Bonelli’s Eagle back on territory (they were displaced by Griffon Vulture last year) and displaying, nest building and generally giving me some real thrills and memorable moments. Another was setting out with Brenda, my wife, to find early signs of Giant Orchid; we were successful and enjoyed many other flowering plants on the day. Finding very showy Dartford Warbler and Rock Bunting also made my journeys rewarding, funny how Rock Bunting are so obvious right now, they become a fairly difficult bird later in the year.

Stunning views from our 'new' photography hide near Ronda

It was also great to see our ‘new’ photography hide welcome it’s first client. The hide has been a long time in the making, complete with interior toilet and wash basin. Set in an ancient oak forest and standing within a clearing it provides amazing scenery from the hide windows and of course has a water feature for all the resident and visiting birds. I can’t wait until the Spring and see some of the summer visitors coming to feed and drink in front of this luxury facility, Sub-alpine, Bonelli’s and Orphean Warbler are just some we expect on a regular basis, with Nightingale and Iberian Chiffchaff a couple of others I particularly want to photograph. The woodland holds a few pairs of Booted Eagle and a nesting site close-by for Short-toed Eagle, so expectations are running high!

Bonelli's Eagle male fly by, not a brilliant photo, but a brilliant bird!

Hopefully my upcoming tour to Costa Rica will be as productive as my last visit, I have led 10 tours there previously, but even as an exotic destination as this will not dampen my yearning to return to my mountains and experience its wonderful wildlife.

Rock Bunting has been another showy bird during January.

Some snaps from January and hope you will enjoy them.

Broad-leafed Iris an abundant winter bloom

White Wagtail are a very common winter visitor, but scarce in summer.

Paperwhite Narcissus is a very common winter bloom 

Our scenery here can be so beautiful

Little Egret adds a touch of elegance to the shores of our lakes

Chiffchaff provides winter entertainment in abundance!

Red Deer and also Ibex can be more obvious in winter

Libar track can be such a rewarding route in winter

Griffon Vulture flies over the 'new' photography hide near Ronda

To see other destinations I visit, please see our main website. Thank you

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Birding Málaga - Andalucia Spain

Of the 8 provinces that make-up Andalucia, the most southern region in Spain, Málaga has the greatest diversity for its range of habitats and of course this translates into a huge abundance of wildlife. It represents a remarkable area for visiting naturalists and in particular birdwatchers / birders. There are very few bird species recorded in the entire Iberian Peninsula, which have not occurred in Andalucia, with Málaga Province the birding epicentre and prime site for both resident and visiting birdwatchers.

The website Birding Málaga is a portal for assisting those visiting the area for wildlife and particularly birds. The website is full of useful information for finding specific species, prized birding sites and routes designed to help you get the most out of a visit. The campaign, not just to promote nature in the province, but also to inform likely interested groups or individuals, is organised by the Diputación de Málaga.

Birding in Málaga opens up a world full of possibilities, the diversity of habitats translates into a wide range of bird species. From high mountains and rocky crags, to stunning saline lagoons to open countryside, we have it all. We have Fuente de Piedra, the largest inland salt lake in Spain, where a huge population of Greater Flamingo reside and is a must visit area to see wetland birds of the region. Travel just a short distance and you are surrounded by high limestone mountains, the realm of our most emblematic bird the Bonelli’s Eagle. In fact, the changes in habitat and scenery are always a constant surprise to visitors; you can be in green rolling hillsides one minute and in a forested area the next. From the endemic forests of El Pinsapo (Spanish fir) you pass into oak forests, where many different species of oak can be present. Remarkably these oak forests hold good numbers of birds normally associated with coniferous woodlands such as Crested Tit. Just to add to the attraction of this wonderful province, access is available from any major airport in Europe, to the international Málaga Airport, making a visit inexpensive and very easy.

This year, at the upcoming Fitur 2015 exhibition for tourism, it has been decided to enter Birding Málaga for the prize of the best product for Nature Tourism active during the course of Fitur 2015, the competition is organised by the magazine Open Air. Birding Málaga are in the third category Nature Tourism. You can vote on this link http://airelibre.eu/outside/Fitur2015/fiturconcurso10.php and at the same time participate in the 'sorteo' for a prize of two nights free in a hotel. Voting will take no more than 5 minutes and it will be of great help to promote wildlife/bird tourism in our province. Thank you so much for your indulgence.

We have recently created a new 'Facebook' page to help us inform people of the rich bird life Málaga Province has to offer. Here we can answer queries or questions about wildlife in general as well as guide you to the best birding sites in the region. Why not join our group page? Please request membership to this public group by clicking here.

From us all here in Málaga Province, we look forward to welcoming you to our home!

South Africa Birds and Mammals (Part 5)

The last episode in my series of the trip reports come blogs for our South African tour. Here you will find the list of bird species and mammals, which excludes other wildlife such as flowers, reptiles and some spectacular insects. Maybe that is a reason to return later with another blog on the tour! Our final tally for birds seen was around 470 species and a count of 52 mammal species, an excellent return and proved to me the worth of visiting this great destination for those interested in wildlife. I hope you enjoy scanning through the lists and of course photos.

South Africa THE tour: Part 5 of the trip report/blog a systematic list of bird and mammal species

Tour Leader: Peter Jones (Worldwide Birding Tours, Co-author and Editor)

                              Dylan Vasapolli (Bird Guide and Main Author)

Blue-cheeked Bee Eater

Preface. Because of the length of this tour, 3 weeks, there is so much to tell you and thus I have broken this blog, or more correctly Trip Report, into 5 parts! The final part will be a bird species list and a mammal list. I hope you can forgive the drawn out nature of these information packed day by day accounts of my tour. This comprehensive tour of South Africa by Worldwide Birding Tours undertook a 3-week journey across eastern South Africa, and down into the Western Cape of South Africa. Starting in Durban on the scenic Kwazulu-Natal coast, we slowly worked our way northwards taking in the rolling hills and forests of Eshowe down to the coastal forest and bushveld of the greater Isimangaliso Wetland Park, before heading up to the high-altitudinal grasslands surrounding the endemic hotspot of Wakkerstroom. Kruger was next on the agenda, where a few days were spent enjoying this true natural side of Africa, before heading onto Cape Town and the Western Cape via Dullstroom. Some time was spent on the Cape Peninsula itself, before heading up the west coast to the sleepy village of Langebaan, thereby bring the tour to an end some three weeks later. Due to the length of the tour, and variety of habitats taken in, a mammoth total of nearly 470 species of bird were found on the tour!

Lizard Buzzard

Common name                                                    Scientific name

SRTUTHIONIFORMES                                        

Ostriches (Struthionidae)

Common Ostrich                                                   Struthio camelus

                                                                                  

ANSERIFORMES                                                  

Ducks, Geese and Swans (Anatidae)

White-faced Whistling Duck                                 Dendrocygna viduata

Spur-winged Goose                                              Plectropterus gambensis

Knob-billed Duck                                                 Sarkidiornis melanotos

Egyptian Goose                                                    Alopochen aegyptiaca

South African Shelduck                                        Tadorna cana

Cape Teal                                              Anas capensis

African Black Duck                                              Anas sparsa

Yellow-billed Duck                                               Anas undulata

Cape Shoveler                                         Anas smithii

Red-billed Teal                                                     Anas erythrorhyncha

Hottentot Teal                                                     Anas hottentota

Southern Pochard                                                Netta erythrophthalma

Maccoa Duck                                                      Oxyura maccoa

                                                                                  

GALLIFORMES                                                     

Guineafowl (Numididae)

Helmeted Guineafowl                                         Numida meleagris

Crested Guineafowl                                            Guttera pucherani

                                                                                  

Pheasants and allies (Phasianidae)

Grey-winged Francolin                                       Scleroptila afra

Crested Francolin                                                Dendroperdix sephaena

Cape Spurfowl                                       Pternistis capensis

Natal Spurfowl                                                   Pternistis natalensis

Swainson's Spurfowl                                          Pternistis swainsonii

Common Quail                                                   Coturnix coturnix

                                                                                  

SPHENISCIFORMES                                           

Penguins (Spheniscidae)

African Penguin                                                  Spheniscus demersus

                                                                                  

PROCELLARIIFORMES                                      

Albatrosses (Diomedeidae)

Black-browed Albatross                                     Thalassarche melanophris

Shy Albatross                                                     Thalassarche cauta

Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross                       Thalassarche chlororhynchos

Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross                          Thalassarche carteri

                                                                                  

Petrels, Shearwaters (Procellariidae)

Southern Giant Petrel                                          Macronectes giganteus

Northern Giant Petrel                                          Macronectes halli

White-chinned Petrel                                           Procellaria aequinoctialis

Cory's Shearwater                                               Calonectris borealis

Sooty Shearwater                                                Puffinus griseus

Great Shearwater                                                 Puffinus gravis

                                                                                  

Storm Petrels (Hydrobatidae)

Wilson's Storm Petrel                                          Oceanites oceanicus

                                                                                  

PODICIPEDIFORMES                                          

Grebes (Podicipedidae)

Little Grebe                                                         Tachybaptus ruficollis

Great Crested Grebe                                           Podiceps cristatus

Black-necked Grebe                                            Podiceps nigricollis

                                                                                  

PHOENICOPTERIFORMES                                

Flamingos (Phoenicopteridae)

Greater Flamingo                                                 Phoenicopterus roseus

Lesser Flamingo                                                  Phoeniconaias minor

                                                                                  

CICONIIFORMES                                                  

Storks (Ciconiidae)

Yellow-billed Stork                                              Mycteria ibis

African Openbill                                                  Anastomus lamelligerus

Black Stork                                                          Ciconia nigra

Abdim's Stork                                                      Ciconia abdimii

Woolly-necked Stork                                           Ciconia episcopus

Saddle-billed Stork                                               Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

Marabou Stork                                                    Leptoptilos crumenifer

Hadeda Ibis

PELECANIFORMES                                             

Ibises, Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae)

African Sacred Ibis                                              Threskiornis aethiopicus

Southern Bald Ibis                                               Geronticus calvus

Hadada Ibis                                                          Bostrychia hagedash

Glossy Ibis                                                          Plegadis falcinellus

African Spoonbill                                                Platalea alba

                                                                                  

Herons, Bitterns (Ardeidae)

Striated Heron                                                     Butorides striata

Squacco Heron                                                    Ardeola ralloides

Western Cattle Egret                                           Bubulcus ibis

Grey Heron                                                         Ardea cinerea

Black-headed Heron                                            Ardea melanocephala

Goliath Heron                                                     Ardea goliath

Purple Heron                                                      Ardea purpurea

Great Egret                                                         Ardea alba

Intermediate Egret                                              Egretta intermedia

Little Egret                                                         Egretta garzetta

                                                                                  

Hamerkop (Scopidae)

Hamerkop                                                          Scopus umbretta

                                                                                  

Pelicans (Pelecanidae)

Great White Pelican                                           Pelecanus onocrotalus

Pink-backed Pelican                                           Pelecanus rufescens

                                                                                  

SULIFORMES                                                        

Gannets, Boobies (Sulidae)

Cape Gannet                                        Morus capensis

                                                                                  

Cormorants, Shags (Phalacrocoracidae)

Reed Cormorant                                                Microcarbo africanus

Crowned Cormorant                                         Microcarbo coronatus

Bank Cormorant                                               Phalacrocorax neglectus

White-breasted Cormorant                               Phalacrocorax lucidus

Cape Cormorant                                   Phalacrocorax capensis

                                                                                  

Anhingas, Darters (Anhingidae)

African Darter                                                  Anhinga rufa

                                                                                  

ACCIPITRIFORMES                                             

Secretarybird (Sagittariidae)

Secretarybird                                                    Sagittarius serpentarius

                                                                                  

Ospreys (Pandionidae)

Western Osprey                                              Pandion haliaetus

Jackal Buzzard

Kites, Hawks and Eagles (Accipitridae)

Black-winged Kite                                           Elanus caeruleus

African Harrier-Hawk                                     Polyboroides typus

Palm-nut Vulture                                            Gypohierax angolensis

European Honey Buzzard                             Pernis apivorus

Hooded Vulture                                              Necrosyrtes monachus

White-backed Vulture                                     Gyps africanus

Cape Vulture                                      Gyps coprotheres

White-headed Vulture                                     Trigonoceps occipitalis

Lappet-faced Vulture                                      Torgos tracheliotos

Black-chested Snake Eagle                              Circaetus pectoralis

Brown Snake Eagle                                         Circaetus cinereus

Southern Banded Snake Eagle                        Circaetus fasciolatus

Bateleur                                                           Terathopius ecaudatus

Crowned Eagle                                                Stephanoaetus coronatus

Martial Eagle                                                   Polemaetus bellicosus

Long-crested Eagle                                          Lophaetus occipitalis

Lesser Spotted Eagle                                       Clanga pomarina

Wahlberg's Eagle                                              Hieraaetus wahlbergi

Booted Eagle                                                    Hieraaetus pennatus

Tawny Eagle                                                    Aquila rapax

Steppe Eagle                                                    Aquila nipalensis

Verreaux's Eagle                                               Aquila verreauxii

African Hawk-Eagle                                        Aquila spilogaster

Lizard Buzzard                                                Kaupifalco monogrammicus

African Goshawk                                             Accipiter tachiro

Little Sparrowhawk                                         Accipiter minullus

Black Sparrowhawk                                         Accipiter melanoleucus

African Marsh Harrier                                      Circus ranivorus

Black Harrier                                                    Circus maurus

Montagu's Harrier                                            Circus pygargus

Yellow-billed Kite                                            Milvus aegyptius

African Fish Eagle                                            Haliaeetus vocifer

Common Buzzard                                            Buteo buteo

Jackal Buzzard                                                 Buteo rufofuscus

                                                                                  

OTIDIFORMES                                                      

Bustards (Otididae)

Kori Bustard                                                    Ardeotis kori

Denham's Bustard                                           Neotis denhami

White-bellied Bustard                                      Eupodotis senegalensis

Blue Korhaan                                                   Eupodotis caerulescens

Red-crested Korhaan                                        Lophotis ruficrista

Southern Black Korhaan                                  Afrotis afra

Black-bellied Bustard                                       Lissotis melanogaster

                                                                                  

GRUIFORMES                                                       

Rails, Crakes and Coots (Rallidae)

African Rail                                                      Rallus caerulescens

Black Crake                                                      Amaurornis flavirostra

African Swamphen                                           Porphyrio madagascariensis

Common Moorhen                                           Gallinula chloropus

Red-knobbed Coot                                            Fulica cristata

                                                                                  

Cranes (Gruidae)

Grey Crowned Crane                                        Balearica regulorum

Blue Crane                                                        Grus paradisea

                                                                                  

CHARADRIIFORMES                                          

Stone-curlews, Thick-knees (Burhinidae)

Water Thick-knee                                              Burhinus vermiculatus

Spotted Thick-knee                                           Burhinus capensis

                                                                                  

Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae)

African Oystercatcher                                       Haematopus moquini

                                                                                  

Stilts, Avocets (Recurvirostridae)

Black-winged Stilt                                             Himantopus himantopus

Pied Avocet                                                       Recurvirostra avosetta

African Wattled Lapwing

Plovers (Charadriidae)

Blacksmith Lapwing                                         Vanellus armatus

White-crowned Lapwing                                  Vanellus albiceps

Senegal Lapwing                                               Vanellus lugubris

Black-winged Lapwing                                     Vanellus melanopterus

Crowned Lapwing                                             Vanellus coronatus

African Wattled Lapwing                                  Vanellus senegallus

Grey Plover                                                        Pluvialis squatarola

Common Ringed Plover                                     Charadrius hiaticula

Kittlitz's Plover                                                 Charadrius pecuarius

Three-banded Plover                                          Charadrius tricollaris

White-fronted Plover                                         Charadrius marginatus

Greater Sand Plover                                           Charadrius leschenaultii

Caspian Plover                                                   Charadrius asiaticus

                                                                                  

Jacanas (Jacanidae)

African Jacana                                                     Actophilornis africanus

                                                                                  

Sandpipers, Snipes (Scolopacidae)

Bar-tailed Godwit                                               Limosa lapponica

Whimbrel                                                           Numenius phaeopus

Eurasian Curlew                                                Numenius arquata

Marsh Sandpiper                                               Tringa stagnatilis

Common Greenshank                                        Tringa nebularia

Green Sandpiper                                                Tringa ochropus

Wood Sandpiper                                                Tringa glareola

Terek Sandpiper                                                Xenus cinereus

Common Sandpiper                                          Actitis hypoleucos

Ruddy Turnstone                                              Arenaria interpres

Red Knot                                                           Calidris canutus

Sanderling                                                          Calidris alba

Little Stint                                                         Calidris minuta

Curlew Sandpiper                                             Calidris ferruginea

Ruff                                                                   Philomachus pugnax

                                                                                  

Coursers, Pratincoles (Glareolidae)

Collared Pratincole                                            Glareola pratincola

                                                                                  

Gulls, Terns and Skimmers (Laridae)

Sabine's Gull                                                      Xema sabini

Grey-headed Gull                                              Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus

Hartlaub's Gull                                                  Chroicocephalus hartlaubii

Kelp Gull                                                           Larus dominicanus

Caspian Tern                                                     Hydroprogne caspia

Greater Crested Tern                                        Thalasseus bergii

Sandwich Tern                                                  Thalasseus sandvicensis

Little Tern                                                         Sternula albifrons

Common Tern                                                    Sterna hirundo

Arctic Tern                                                         Sterna paradisaea

Whiskered Tern                                                 Chlidonias hybrida

                                                                                  

Skuas (Stercorariidae)

Brown Skua                                                       Stercorarius antarcticus

Parasitic Jaeger                                                  Stercorarius parasiticus

                                                                                  

COLUMBIFORMES                                              

Pigeons, Doves (Columbidae)

Rock Dove                                                        Columba livia

Speckled Pigeon                                                Columba guinea

African Olive Pigeon                                         Columba arquatrix

Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon                           Columba delegorguei

Mourning Collared Dove                                  Streptopelia decipiens

Red-eyed Dove                                                 Streptopelia semitorquata

Ring-necked Dove                                             Streptopelia capicola

Laughing Dove                                                  Spilopelia senegalensis

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove                           Turtur chalcospilos

Tambourine Dove                                              Turtur tympanistria

Namaqua Dove                                                  Oena capensis

African Green Pigeon                                         Treron calvus

                                                                                  

MUSOPHAGIFORMES                                        

Turacos (Musophagidae)

Livingstone's Turaco                                         Tauraco livingstonii

Knysna Turaco                                                  Tauraco corythaix

Purple-crested Turaco                                       Tauraco porphyreolophus

Grey Go-away-bird                                           Corythaixoides concolor

African Emerald Cuckoo

CUCULIFORMES                                                 

Cuckoos (Cuculidae)

Burchell's Coucal                                                Centropus burchellii

Green Malkoha                                                  Ceuthmochares australis

Levaillant's Cuckoo                                            Clamator levaillantii

Jacobin Cuckoo                                                  Clamator jacobinus

Diederik Cuckoo                                                Chrysococcyx caprius

Klaas's Cuckoo                                                   Chrysococcyx klaas

African Emerald Cuckoo                                    Chrysococcyx cupreus

Black Cuckoo                                                     Cuculus clamosus

Red-chested Cuckoo                                           Cuculus solitarius

African Cuckoo                                                  Cuculus gularis

                                                                                  

STRIGIFORMES                                                    

Owls (Strigidae)

African Scops Owl                                              Otus senegalensis

Spotted Eagle-Owl                                               Bubo africanus

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl                                           Bubo lacteus

African Wood Owl                                              Strix woodfordii

Pearl-spotted Owlet                                            Glaucidium perlatum

African Barred Owlet                                          Glaucidium capense

                                                                                  

APODIFORMES                                                    

Swifts (Apodidae)

African Palm Swift                                               Cypsiurus parvus

Alpine Swift                                                         Tachymarptis melba

African Black Swift                                              Apus barbatus

Little Swift                                                           Apus affinis

White-rumped Swift                                             Apus caffer

                                                                                  

COLIIFORMES                                                      

Mousebirds (Coliidae)

Speckled Mousebird                                           Colius striatus

White-backed Mousebird                                   Colius colius

Red-faced Mousebird                                         Urocolius indicus

                                                                                  

TROGONIFORMES                                              

Trogons (Trogonidae)

Narina Trogon                                                     Apaloderma narina

                                                                                  

CORACIIFORMES                                                

Rollers (Coraciidae)

Purple Roller                                                      Coracias naevius

Lilac-breasted Roller                                          Coracias caudatus

European Roller                                                 Coracias garrulus

Broad-billed Roller                                             Eurystomus glaucurus

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Kingfishers (Alcedinidae)

Brown-hooded Kingfisher                                  Halcyon albiventris

Striped Kingfisher                                              Halcyon chelicuti

Woodland Kingfisher                                         Halcyon senegalensis

African Pygmy Kingfisher                                 Ispidina picta

Malachite Kingfisher                                         Corythornis cristatus

Giant Kingfisher                                                Megaceryle maxima

Pied Kingfisher                                                  Ceryle rudis

                                                                                  

Bee-eaters (Meropidae)

Little Bee-eater                                                  Merops pusillus

White-fronted Bee-eater                                    Merops bullockoides

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater                                     Merops persicus

European Bee-eater                                           Merops apiaster

Southern Carmine Bee-eater                             Merops nubicoides

                                                                                  

BUCEROTIFORMES                                            

Hoopoes (Upupidae)

African Hoopoe                                               Upupa africana

                                                                                  

Wood Hoopoes (Phoeniculidae)

Green Wood Hoopoe                                      Phoeniculus purpureus

Common Scimitarbill                                      Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

                                                                                  

Hornbills (Bucerotidae)

Crowned Hornbill                                           Tockus alboterminatus

African Grey Hornbill                                    Tockus nasutus

Southern Red-billed Hornbill                          Tockus rufirostris

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill                     Tockus leucomelas

Trumpeter Hornbill                                        Bycanistes bucinator

                                                                                  

Ground Hornbills (Bucorvidae)

Southern Ground Hornbill                              Bucorvus leadbeateri

                                                                                  

PICIFORMES                                                         

African Barbets (Lybiidae)

White-eared Barbet                                         Stactolaema leucotis

Green Barbet                                                   Stactolaema olivacea

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird                             Pogoniulus bilineatus

Red-fronted Tinkerbird                                   Pogoniulus pusillus

Acacia Pied Barbet                                          Tricholaema leucomelas

Black-collared Barbet                                      Lybius torquatus

Crested Barbet                                                Trachyphonus vaillantii

                                                                                  

Honeyguides (Indicatoridae)

Lesser Honeyguide                                          Indicator minor

Scaly-throated Honeyguide                             Indicator variegatus

                                                                                  

Woodpeckers (Picidae)

Red-throated Wryneck                                    Jynx ruficollis

Golden-tailed Woodpecker                             Campethera abingoni

Ground Woodpecker                                      Geocolaptes olivaceus

Cardinal Woodpecker                                      Dendropicos fuscescens

Bearded Woodpecker                                      Dendropicos namaquus

Olive Woodpecker                                           Dendropicos griseocephalus

                                                                                  

FALCONIFORMES                                               

Caracaras, Falcons (Falconidae)

Lesser Kestrel                                                  Falco naumanni

Rock Kestrel                                                    Falco rupicolus

Amur Falcon                                                    Falco amurensis

Eurasian Hobby                                               Falco subbuteo

Lanner Falcon                                                  Falco biarmicus

                                                                                  

PSITTACIFORMES                                               

Parrots (Psittacidae)

Brown-headed Parrot                                      Poicephalus cryptoxanthus

Rose-ringed Parakeet                                       Psittacula krameri

                                                                                  

Cape Batis

PASSERIFORMES                                               

Wattle-eyes, Batises (Platysteiridae)

Cape Batis                                          Batis capensis

Woodward's Batis                                            Batis fratrum

Chinspot Batis                                                 Batis molitor

Black-throated Wattle-eye                                Platysteira peltata

                                                                                  

Helmetshrikes (Prionopidae)

White-crested Helmetshrike                              Prionops plumatus

                                                                                  

Bushshrikes (Malaconotidae)

Grey-headed Bushshrike                                   Malaconotus blanchoti

Olive Bushshrike                                               Chlorophoneus olivaceus

Orange-breasted Bushshrike                              Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Four-colored Bushshrike                                   Telophorus quadricolor

Bokmakierie                                                       Telophorus zeylonus

Southern Tchagra                                               Tchagra tchagra

Black-crowned Tchagra                                      Tchagra senegalus

Black-backed Puffback                                       Dryoscopus cubla

Southern Boubou                                                Laniarius ferrugineus

Brubru                                                                Nilaus afer

                                                                                  

Cuckooshrikes (Campephagidae)

Grey Cuckooshrike                                           Coracina caesia

Black Cuckooshrike                                          Campephaga flava

                                                                                  

Shrikes (Laniidae)

Magpie Shrike                                                  Urolestes melanoleucus

Southern White-crowned Shrike                      Eurocephalus anguitimens

Red-backed Shrike                                            Lanius collurio

Lesser Grey Shrike                                           Lanius minor

Southern Fiscal                                                  Lanius collaris

                                                                                  

Figbirds, Orioles (Oriolidae)

Eurasian Golden Oriole                                    Oriolus oriolus

Black-headed Oriole                                         Oriolus larvatus

                                                                                  

Drongos (Dicruridae)

Square-tailed Drongo                                        Dicrurus ludwigii

Fork-tailed Drongo                                           Dicrurus adsimilis

                                                                                  

Monarchs (Monarchidae)

Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher                     Trochocercus cyanomelas

African Paradise Flycatcher                             Terpsiphone viridis

                                                                                  

Crows, Jays (Corvidae)

House Crow                                                     Corvus splendens

Cape Crow                                                       Corvus capensis

Pied Crow                                                        Corvus albus

White-necked Raven                                        Corvus albicollis

                                                                                  

Rockjumpers (Chaetopidae)

Cape Rockjumper                                 Chaetops frenatus

                                                                                  

Tits, Chickadees (Paridae)

Southern Black Tit                                          Melaniparus niger

Grey Tit                                                          Melaniparus afer

                                                                                  

Penduline Tits (Remizidae)

Cape Penduline Tit                                         Anthoscopus minutus

                                                                                  

Nicators (Nicatoridae)

Eastern Nicator                                               Nicator gularis

Rufous-naped Lark

Larks (Alaudidae)

Spike-heeled Lark                                           Chersomanes albofasciata

Eastern Long-billed Lark                                Certhilauda semitorquata

Cape Long-billed Lark                                    Certhilauda curvirostris

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark                      Eremopterix leucotis

Sabota Lark                                                     Calendulauda sabota

Rudd's Lark                                                     Heteromirafra ruddi

Eastern Clapper Lark                                      Mirafra fasciolata

Rufous-naped Lark                                         Mirafra africana

Botha's Lark                                                    Spizocorys fringillaris

Large-billed Lark                                             Galerida magnirostris

Red-capped Lark                                            Calandrella cinerea

                                                                                  

Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae)

Cape Bulbul                                       Pycnonotus capensis

Dark-capped Bulbul                                       Pycnonotus tricolor

Sombre Greenbul                                            Andropadus importunus

Yellow-bellied Greenbul                                 Chlorocichla flaviventris

Terrestrial Brownbul                                       Phyllastrephus terrestris

                                                                                  

Swallows, Martins (Hirundinidae)

Black Saw-wing                                               Psalidoprocne pristoptera

Brown-throated Martin                                   Riparia paludicola

Banded Martin                                                 Riparia cincta

Sand Martin                                                      Riparia riparia

Barn Swallow                                                   Hirundo rustica

White-throated Swallow                                  Hirundo albigularis

Wire-tailed Swallow                                         Hirundo smithii

Rock Martin                                                     Ptyonoprogne fuligula

Greater Striped Swallow                                  Cecropis cucullata

Lesser Striped Swallow                                    Cecropis abyssinica

Red-breasted Swallow                                      Cecropis semirufa

South African Cliff Swallow                             Petrochelidon spilodera

                                                                                  

Crombecs, African Warblers (Macrosphenidae)

Cape Grassbird                                     Sphenoeacus afer

Long-billed Crombec                                         Sylvietta rufescens

Victorin's Warbler                                              Cryptillas victorini

                                                                                  

Leaf Warblers and allies (Phylloscopidae)

Willow Warbler                                                 Phylloscopus trochilus

                                                                                  

Reed Warblers and allies (Acrocephalidae)

Lesser Swamp Warbler                                     Acrocephalus gracilirostris

African Yellow Warbler                                     Iduna natalensis

Olive-tree Warbler                                              Hippolais olivetorum

Icterine Warbler                                                  Hippolais icterina

                                                                                  

Grassbirds and allies (Locustellidae)

Little Rush Warbler                                            Bradypterus baboecala

Levaillant's Cisticola

Cisticolas and allies (Cisticolidae)

Red-faced Cisticola                                             Cisticola erythrops

Lazy Cisticola                                                     Cisticola aberrans

Rattling Cisticola                                                 Cisticola chiniana

Grey-backed Cisticola                                         Cisticola subruficapilla

Rufous-winged Cisticola                                     Cisticola galactotes

Levaillant's Cisticola                                            Cisticola tinniens

Croaking Cisticola                                                Cisticola natalensis

Neddicky                                                             Cisticola fulvicapilla

Zitting Cisticola                                                   Cisticola juncidis

Pale-crowned Cisticola                                        Cisticola cinnamomeus

Wing-snapping Cisticola                                     Cisticola ayresii

Tawny-flanked Prinia                                         Prinia subflava

Karoo Prinia                                                        Prinia maculosa

Drakensberg Prinia                                              Prinia hypoxantha

Bar-throated Apalis                                            Apalis thoracica

Rudd's Apalis                                                     Apalis ruddi

Yellow-breasted Apalis                                      Apalis flavida

Green-backed Camaroptera                                Camaroptera brachyura

Stierling's Wren-Warbler                                     Calamonastes stierlingi

Burnt-necked Eremomela                                    Eremomela usticollis

                                                                                  

Laughingthrushes (Leiothrichidae)

Arrow-marked Babbler                                       Turdoides jardineii

                                                                                  

Sylviid Babblers (Sylviidae)

Chestnut-vented Warbler                                   Sylvia subcaerulea

                                                                                  

White-eyes (Zosteropidae)

Cape White-eye                                     Zosterops virens

                                                                                  

Sugarbirds (Promeropidae)

Cape Sugarbird                                      Promerops cafer

Gurney's Sugarbird                                            Promerops gurneyi

                                                                                  

Starlings, Rhabdornis (Sturnidae)

Common Myna                                                 Acridotheres tristis

Common Starling                                               Sturnus vulgaris

Wattled Starling                                                 Creatophora cinerea

Black-bellied Starling                                         Notopholia corrusca

Cape Starling                                        Lamprotornis nitens

Greater Blue-eared Starling                                Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Burchell's Starling                                              Lamprotornis australis

Pied Starling                                                       Lamprotornis bicolor

Violet-backed Starling                                        Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Red-winged Starling                                           Onychognathus morio

                                                                                  

Oxpeckers (Buphagidae)

Red-billed Oxpecker                                         Buphagus erythrorhynchus

                                                                                  

Thrushes (Turdidae)

Spotted Ground Thrush                                   Geokichla guttata

Groundscraper Thrush                                     Turdus litsitsirupa

Kurrichane Thrush                                           Turdus libonyana

Olive Thrush                                                    Turdus olivaceus

White-browed Robin Chat

Chats, Old World Flycatchers (320) (Muscicapidae)

Karoo Scrub Robin                                           Cercotrichas coryphoeus

Bearded Scrub Robin                                        Cercotrichas quadrivirgata

White-browed Scrub Robin                              Cercotrichas leucophrys

Brown Scrub Robin                                          Cercotrichas signata

Grey Tit-Flycatcher                                         Myioparus plumbeus

Southern Black Flycatcher                               Melaenornis pammelaina

Fiscal Flycatcher                                              Melaenornis silens

Spotted Flycatcher                                          Muscicapa striata

Ashy Flycatcher                                              Muscicapa caerulescens

African Dusky Flycatcher                               Muscicapa adusta

Cape Robin-Chat                                             Cossypha caffra

White-throated Robin-Chat                             Cossypha humeralis

White-browed Robin-Chat                              Cossypha heuglini

Red-capped Robin-Chat                                  Cossypha natalensis

Chorister Robin-Chat                                       Cossypha dichroa

Cape Rock Thrush                                            Monticola rupestris

Sentinel Rock Thrush                                        Monticola explorator

African Stonechat                                              Saxicola torquatus

Buff-streaked Chat                                            Campicoloides bifasciatus

Sickle-winged Chat                                            Emarginata sinuata

Mocking Cliff Chat                                            Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris

Ant-eating Chat                                                 Myrmecocichla formicivora

Mountain Wheatear                                          Myrmecocichla monticola

Capped Wheatear                                             Oenanthe pileata

Familiar Chat                                                    Oenanthe familiaris

                                                                                  

Sunbirds (Nectariniidae)

Collared Sunbird                                               Hedydipna collaris

Orange-breasted Sunbird                                  Anthobaphes violacea

Olive Sunbird                                                   Cyanomitra olivacea

Grey Sunbird                                                   Cyanomitra veroxii

Amethyst Sunbird                                           Chalcomitra amethystina

Scarlet-chested Sunbird                                   Chalcomitra senegalensis

Malachite Sunbird                                           Nectarinia famosa

Southern Double-collared Sunbird                  Cinnyris chalybeus

Greater Double-collared Sunbird                     Cinnyris afer

Marico Sunbird                                               Cinnyris mariquensis

Purple-banded Sunbird                                    Cinnyris bifasciatus

White-bellied Sunbird                                      Cinnyris talatala

                                                                                  

Old World Sparrows, Snowfinches (Passeridae)

House Sparrow                                                Passer domesticus

Cape Sparrow                                      Passer melanurus

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow                       Passer diffusus

Yellow-throated Petronia                                 Gymnoris superciliaris

                                                                                  

Weavers, Widowbirds (Ploceidae)

Red-billed Buffalo Weaver                               Bubalornis niger

Thick-billed Weaver                                         Amblyospiza albifrons

Spectacled Weaver                                           Ploceus ocularis

Cape Weaver                                       Ploceus capensis

Eastern Golden Weaver                                    Ploceus subaureus

Southern Brown-throated Weaver                   Ploceus xanthopterus

Lesser Masked Weaver                                     Ploceus intermedius

Southern Masked Weaver                                 Ploceus velatus

Village Weaver                                                   Ploceus cucullatus

Dark-backed Weaver                                         Ploceus bicolor

Red-headed Quelea                                            Quelea erythrops

Red-billed Quelea                                              Quelea quelea

Yellow-crowned Bishop                                    Euplectes afer

Southern Red Bishop                                         Euplectes orix

Yellow Bishop                                                    Euplectes capensis

Fan-tailed Widowbird                                         Euplectes axillaris

White-winged Widowbird                                   Euplectes albonotatus

Red-collared Widowbird                                     Euplectes ardens

Long-tailed Widowbird                                       Euplectes progne

Jameson's Firefinch

Waxbills, Munias and allies (Estrildidae)

Green-winged Pytilia                                           Pytilia melba

Pink-throated Twinspot                                      Hypargos margaritatus

Red-billed Firefinch                                             Lagonosticta senegala

African Firefinch                                                  Lagonosticta rubricata

Jameson's Firefinch                                             Lagonosticta rhodopareia

Blue Waxbill                                                        Uraeginthus angolensis

Swee Waxbill                                                       Coccopygia melanotis

Common Waxbill                                                Estrilda astrild

Quailfinch                                                           Ortygospiza atricollis

Bronze Mannikin                                                Lonchura cucullata

Red-backed Mannikin                                         Lonchura nigriceps

                                                                                  

Indigobirds, Whydahs (Viduidae)

Dusky Indigobird                                                Vidua funerea

Pin-tailed Whydah                                              Vidua macroura

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah                             Vidua paradisaea

Cuckoo-finch                                                      Anomalospiza imberbis

                                                                                  

Wagtails, Pipits (Motacillidae)

Western Yellow Wagtail                                     Motacilla flava

Cape Wagtail                                        Motacilla capensis

African Pied Wagtail                                          Motacilla aguimp

Cape Longclaw                                      Macronyx capensis

Yellow-throated Longclaw                                 Macronyx croceus

African Pipit                                                       Anthus cinnamomeus

Plain-backed Pipit                                               Anthus leucophrys

Yellow-breasted Pipit                                         Anthus chloris

                                                                                  

Finches (Fringillidae)

Common Chaffinch                                            Fringilla coelebs

Forest Canary                                                    Crithagra scotops

Black-throated Canary                                       Crithagra atrogularis

Lemon-breasted Canary                                    Crithagra citrinipectus

Yellow-fronted Canary                                      Crithagra mozambica

Cape Siskin                                          Crithagra totta

Yellow Canary                                                   Crithagra flaviventris

Brimstone Canary                                              Crithagra sulphurata

Streaky-headed Seedeater                                  Crithagra gularis

White-throated Canary                                      Crithagra albogularis

Cape Canary                                         Serinus canicollis

                                                                                  

Buntings, New World Sparrows and allies (Emberizidae)

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting                              Emberiza tahapisi

Cape Bunting                                       Emberiza capensis

Golden-breasted Bunting                                  Emberiza flaviventris

Cheetah

Mammal List (South Africa)

Worldwide Birding Tours - SA Comprehensive - Dec 2014

Roberts VII Name                                                          Scientific Name

                                                                                                       

Striped Field Mouse                                                      Rhabdomys pumilio

Tree Squirrel                                                                  Paraxerus cepapi

Scrub Hare                                                                     Lepus saxatilis

Jameson's Red Rock Rabbit                                          Pronolagus randensis

Rock Hyrax (Dassie)                                                     Procavia capensis

African Elephant                                                            Loxodonta africana

Burchell's (Plains) Zebra                                                Equus burhcelli

White Rhino                                                                    Ceratotherium simum

Black Rhino                                                                    Diceros bicornis

Hippoptamus                                                                 Hippoptamus amphibius

Bushpig                                                                           Potamochoerus porcus

Warthog                                                                           Phacochoerus aethiopicus

Giraffe                                                                             Giraffa camelopardalis

Blue Wildebeest                                                             Connochaetes taurinus

Red Hartebeest                                                              Alcelaphus buselaphus

Blesbok                                                                           Damalascus dorcas phillipsi

Blue Duiker                                                                     Philantomba monticola

Red Duiker                                                                      Cephalophus natalensis

Common (Grey) Duiker                                                 Sylvicapra grimmia

Steenbok                                                                         Raphicerus campestris

Impala                                                                             Aepyceros melampus

Grey Rhebok                                                                  Pelea capreolus

African Buffalo                                                               Syncerus caffer

Greater Kudu                                                                  Tragelaphus strepsiceros

Nyala                                                                               Tragelaphus angasii

Bushbuck                                                                        Tragelaphus scriptus

Eland                                                                               Taurotragus oryx

Reedbuck                                                                        Redunca arundinum

Waterbuck                                                                       Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Spotted Hyena                                                               Crocuta crocuta

Cheetah                                                                          Acinonyx jubatus

Leopard                                                                           Panthera pardus

Lion                                                                                  Panthera leo

Bat-eared Fox                                                                 Otocyon megalotis

African Wild Dog                                                           Lycaon pictus

Cape Fox                                                                        Vulpes chama

Black-backed Jackal                                                       Canis mesomelas

African Civet                                                                   Civettictis civetta

Suricate (Meerkat)                                                         Suricata suricata

Yellow Mongoose                                                          Cynictis penicillata

Slender Mongoose                                                         Galerella sanguinea

Small Grey Mongoose                                                  Galerella pulverulenta

Water Mongoose                                                           Atliax paludinosus

Banded Mongoose                                                        Mungos mungo

Dwarf Mongoose                                                           Helogale parvula

Thick-tailed Bushbaby                                                  Otolemur crassicaudatus

Lesser Bushbaby                                                          Galago moholi

Chacma Baboon                                                           Papio cyanocephalus ursinus

Vervet Monkey                                                               Cercopithecus aethiops

Cape Fur Seal                                                                Arctocephalus pusillus

Common Dolphin                                                         Delphinus delphis

Bottlenose Dolphin                                                       Tursiops truncatus

Banded Mongoose

And so ends this mammoth blog with this, part 5, of an extensive listing of birds and mammals seen during our time in South Africa. What an amazing and thoroughly enjoyable tour, so much accomplished in so short a time. Perhaps 3 weeks seems a long tour, but for such a country to be appreciated I certainly think another tour is required! And so I look forward to spending more time in this wonderful country and perhaps welcome you on our next visit planned for November 2015, to get an idea of the itinerary click on this link

African Locust

To see other destinations we visit, please see our main website. Thank you

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