Next up wonderful Morocco

Currently my days are spent in 'my' mountains here in the Serrania de Ronda, days and more spent with intrepid explorers on wildlife adventures, but next up for me is a Moroccan Safari and I am already excited! I will be leading a group that is made-up of folk from Canada and New Zealand, it will be a challenge for me to ensure they share my love affair and will also fall in love with Morocco. Of course I will also be showing them Morocco's rich and diverse birds too.

It is actually very difficult to sit down and write an article about the birds of Morocco without also waxing lyrical regarding the scenery, people and history of this mystical country. I guess, for the uninitiated, Morocco most probably conjures-up visions of just sand and dust. Nothing could be further from the truth! Conditions here, despite its close proximity to Europe, are very different with wadis, deserts, plains, forest, mountains, coasts and islands. The diversity of these habitats are reflected in the number of bird species found in this most exotic of North African countries, with over 450 species it is a must visit country for any with a passion for our feathered friends.

Morocco has both Mediterranean and Atlantic coasts, but the Atlantic side is rightly renowned for both wintering and migrant waders and gulls. The coastal wetlands are spread along the Atlantic coast and have such great birding sites as Larache marshes, Merja Zerga, the Souss and Massa estuaries, in addition to the Khnifiss lagoon and Dakhla Bay on the Saharan coast. During the summer months a visit to Essaouira can produce spectacular views of Eleonora’s Falcon Falco eleonorae as any number of over 600 pairs breeding on the nearby islets can be seen close to shore. Along the cliffs between El-Jadida and Essaouira Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus, Barbary Falcon Falco pelegrinoides as well as Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus can be seen playing in the up-draughts on the high bluffs that protect the headlands from the ravages of the ocean. Of course other notable and sought after species on this coastal stretch include Marsh Owl Asio capensis, Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegala and Bald Ibis Geronticus eremita. The reasons are many and varied for visiting the Atlantic coast and that is why we journey to this region with tours every September (see our autumn tour here).

Forming the backbone of Morocco is her mountain ranges. The mountains are a dominant feature that forms an almost ever presence on the visual landscape, starting in the northeast with the High Plateau bordering the Mediterranean coast, the mountains rise to form the impressive Rif range (2,456m) and further south are softened by the Central Plateau (1,627m). Dramatically the mountains climb majestically from the Central Plateau and to the south they create the High Atlas (4,167m) where the snow lingers into the summer months. As the mountains march towards the Atlantic coast another range, the Anti-Atlas (3,304m), reaches into the cold ocean waters north of Agadir. Throughout the mountain ranges, from the northeast to the southwest, many large forests survive the pressures of man and their animals. Both the forests and surrounding steppe type habitats create niches for several interesting bird species. Throughout the entire range, cliff-loving species such as Bonelli’s Eagle Hieraaetus fasciatus and Golden Eagle Aquila chrysaetos occur, whilst the highly prized Dupont’s Lark Chersophilus duponti can be very local in the Central Plateau. We can find many specialities in the forested areas and Levaillant’s Woodpecker Picus vaillantii is probably the most notable of these. Scrubby slopes are always worth exploring and can produce Tristram’s Warbler Sylvia deserticola, whilst the common Moussier’s Redstart Phoenicurus moussieri always reward the patient explorer. There are a number of areas in higher elevations that are accessible and a visit to the ski resort of Oukaimeden can produce good views for Atlas Shore (Horned) Lark Eremophila alpestris, Alpine Chough Pyrrhocorax graculus and the very local Crimson-winged Finch Rhodopechys sanguinea. We always include visits to the mountain areas during our main tours and during our spring safari tours we pass over the High Atlas using the spectacular Tizi-n-Tichka pass.

South of the High and Anti-Atlas Mountain ranges lies the area of Saharan Morocco. The landscape here is varied and beautiful, not at all what one might expect whilst imagining an endless desert plain! The desert areas are largely pebble, but are interspersed by river courses whose green palms and gardens contrast with their surroundings. The sand deserts, more in keeping with our own imaginings of desert, are found in the areas of Mhamid in the extreme south of the Draa Valley and to the east close to Merzouga (Erg Chebbi). The desert areas also have their share of mountains and the Jbel Sarhro (2,712m) range captures the area surrounding the Vallee du Dades, separating it from the more southerly desert region. Most notable from a bird perspective in the Dades area is the famous Tagdilt Track. Larks, wheatears, sandgrouse and many desert loving species are widespread throughout the deserts of Morocco. Birds can be hard to find on occasion, but those that are found can reward the effort with such species as Cream-coloured Courser Cursorius cursor, Hoopoe Lark Alaemon alaudipes, Blue-cheeked Bee Eater Merops persicus, Fulvous Babbler Turdoides fulvus, Houbara Bustard Chlamydotis undulata and Egyptian Nightjar Caprimulgus aegyptius all good examples of what makes these deserts worthwhile for the visiting birdwatcher. Spring migration through the desert areas can be spectacular especially where wadis provide food and shelter for many species such as Rufous Bush Robin Cercotrichas galactotes, both eastern and western Olivaceous Warbler Hippolais pallida/opaca (the former breeds in the desert areas), Subalpine Warbler Sylvia cantillans and Red-throated Pipit Anthus cervinus. Searching the deserts and scrub can also produce real Moroccan specialities such as Brown-necked Raven Corvus ruficollis, Desert Sparrow Passer simplex, Desert Warbler Sylvia nana and Scrub Warbler Scotocerca inquieta, whilst the ever present Desert Wheatear Oenanthe deserti provides the constant reminder that the wheatear family is represented here by no less than 8 of their number. To add to the feeling of wonder you can also witness the somewhat bizarre sight of the desert lake at Merzouga, although temporary the lake has appeared in recent years. Here it is strange to see large numbers of waders and ducks with Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber also appearing as if summoned by some unheard whisper of water.

To present all the birds and their habitats in Morocco would require several pages and although there are so many not included in my brief introduction, I hope you will at least be tempted to visit this wonderful destination at least once in your lifetime. For as the famous American author Paul Bowles said, when describing the Sahara in Morocco:

“Why go? The answer is that when man has been there and undergone the baptism of solitude he can’t help himself. Once he has been under the spell of the vast, luminous, silent country, no other place is quite strong enough for him, no other surroundings can provide the supremely satisfying sensation of existing in the midst of something that is absolute. He will go back, whatever the cost in comfort or money, for the absolute has no price.” Paul Bowles

If you would like to join me on future tours to Morocco, then Worldwide Birding Tours have a selection of dates and tours to choose from on this link. It would be great to have you come along on one of my Moroccan adventures.

South Africa 2016 - Trip Report Part 5

The final trip report, Part 5 is all about our species list for birds and mammals seen during the tour. So here I present the finale to this rather long and drawn out trip report with part 5 for this blog/trip report. I hope you can forgive the drawn out nature of these information packed day by day accounts of my tour. I apologise for the time taken to finish up the report, but I have been kept busy guiding friends on my own patch, more of that in a later blog!  😘

Tour Leaders: Peter Jones (Worldwide Birding Tours § Co-Author, Editor) and  Wian van Zyl (Birding Guide, Main Author)

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 420 species of bird were found on the tour!

BIRD LIST SOUTH AFRICA: WESTERN CAPE AND SUB-TROPICAL 2016

      Common Name                           Scientific Name

                                                    

      African Penguin                            Spheniscus demersus

      Black-browed Albatross                Thalassarche melanophrys

      Shy Albatross                               Thalassarche cauta

      Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross   Thalassarche chlororhynchos

      Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross     Thalassarche carteri

      Northern Giant Petrel                   Macronectes halli

      Southern Giant Petrel                  Macronectes giganteus

      Spectacled Petrel                        Procellaria conspicillata

      White-chinned Petrel                   Procellaria aequinoctialis

      Sooty Shearwater                        Puffinus griseus

      Cory's Shearwater                        Calonectris borealis

      Great Shearwater                         Puffinus gravis

      Great-winged Petrel                     Pterodroma macroptera

      European Storm Petrel                Hydrobates pelagicus

      Cape Gannet                               Morus capensis

      Greater Flamingo                        Phoenicopterus roseus

      Lesser Flamingo                          Phoeniconaias minor

      Great White Pelican                    Pelecanus onocrotalus

      Pink-backed Pelican                    Pelecanus rufescens

      Bank Cormorant                          Phalacrocorax neglectus

      Cape Cormorant                         Phalacrocorax capensis

      Crowned Cormorant                   Phalacrocorax coronatus

      Reed Cormorant                          Phalacrocorax africanus

      White-breasted Cormorant           Phalacrocorax lucidus

      African Darter                              Anhinga rufa

      African Sacred Ibis                      Threskiornis aethiopicus

      Glossy Ibis                                    Plegadis falcinellus

      Hadeda Ibis                                 Bostrychia hagedash

      Southern Bald Ibis                      Geronticus calvus

      African Spoonbill                         Platalea alba

      Black-headed Heron                    Ardea melanocephala

      Goliath Heron                              Ardea goliath

      Grey Heron                                  Ardea cinerea

      Purple Heron                               Ardea purpurea

      Great Egret                                  Egretta alba

      Little Egret                                   Egretta garzetta

      Western Cattle Egret                    Bubulcus ibis

      Black Heron                                 Egretta ardesiaca

      Squacco Heron                           Ardeola ralloides

      Black-crowned Night Heron         Nycticorax nycticorax

      Green-backed Heron                    Butorides striata

      White Stork                                  Ciconia ciconia

      Woolly-necked Stork                    Ciconia episcopus

      Yellow-billed Stork                       Mycteria ibis

      Hamerkop                                    Scopus umbretta

      African Openbill                           Anastomus lamelligerus

      Marabou Stork                             Leptoptilos crumeniferus

      Saddle-billed Stork                      Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

      Great Crested Grebe                   Podiceps cristatus

      Little Grebe                                 Tachybaptus ruficollis

      White-backed Duck                      Thalassornis leuconotus

      White-faced Whistling Duck         Dendrocygna viduata

      Egyptian Goose                           Alopochen aegyptiaca

      Spur-winged Goose                     Plectropterus gambensis

      South African Shelduck               Tadorna cana

      African Black Duck                      Anas sparsa

      Yellow-billed Duck                       Anas undulata

      Southern Pochard                       Netta erythrophthalma

      Cape Shoveler                            Anas smith

      Maccoa Duck                              Oxyura maccoa

      Cape Teal                                   Anas capensis

      Hottentot Teal                             Anas hottentota

      Red-billed Teal                           Anas erythrorhyncha

      Cape Vulture                              Gyps coprotheres

      White-backed Vulture                  Gyps africanus

      Hooded Vulture                           Necrosyrtes monachus

      Lappet-faced Vulture                   Torgos tracheliotos

      White-headed Vulture                  Aegypius occipitalis

      Palm-nut Vulture                         Gypohierax angolensis

      Bateleur                                       Terathopius ecaudatus

      African Fish Eagle                       Haliaeetus vocifer

      Western Osprey                            Pandion haliaetus

      Crowned Eagle                            Stephanoaetus coronatus

      Martial Eagle                               Polemaetus bellicosus

      Verreauxs' Eagle                          Aquila verreauxii

      Tawny Eagle                               Aquila rapax

      Wahlberg’s Eagle                         Hieraaetus wahlbergi

      African Hawk Eagle                     Aquila spilogaster

      Long-crested Eagle                     Lophaetus occipitalis

      Brown Snake Eagle                     Circaetus cinereus

      Black-chested Snake Eagle         Circaetus pectoralis

      Southern Banded Snake Eagle   Circaetus fasciolatus

      European Honey Buzzard            Pernis apivorus

      Yellow-billed Kite                        Milvus aegyptius

      Jackal Buzzard                            Buteo rufofuscus

      Common (Steppe) Buzzard          Buteo buteo

      African Marsh Harrier                   Circus ranivorus

      Black Harrier                                Circus maurus

      Black-shouldered Kite                  Elanus caeruleus

      African Goshawk                          Accipiter tachiro

      Little Sparrowhawk                       Accipiter minullus

      African Harrier-Hawk                    Polyboroides typus

      Lanner Falcon                              Falco biarmicus

      Lesser Kestrel                               Falco naumanni

      Rock Kestrel                                 Falco rupicolus

      Amur Falcon                                Falco amurensis

      Crested Guineafowl                     Guttera pucherani

      Helmeted Guineafowl                  Numida meleagris

      Common Ostrich                          Struthio camelus

      Crested Francolin                        Dendroperdix sephaena

      Grey-winged Francolin                Scleroptila africana

      Red-winged Francolin                 Scleroptila levaillantii

      Cape Spurfowl                            Pternistis capensis

      Natal Spurfowl                            Pternistis natalensis

      Swainson’s Spurfowl                   Pternistis swainsonii

      Common Quail                            Coturnix coturnix

      Red-knobbed coot                       Fulica cristata

      Common Moorhen                       Gallinula chloropus 

      Black Crake                                  Amaurornis flavirostra

      African (Purple) Swamphen         Porphyrio madagascariensis

      Buff-spotted Flufftail                     Sarothrura elegans

      Blue Crane                                   Anthropoides paradiseus

      Grey Crowned Crane                   Balearica regulorum

      Secretarybird                               Sagittarius serpentarius

      Denham’s Bustard                        Neotis denhami

      Black-bellied Bustard                   Lissotis melanogaster

      Northern Black Korhaan              Afrotis afraoides

      Red-crested Korhaan                  Lophotis ruficrista

      Southern Black Korhaan             Afrotis afra

      White-bellied Korhaan                 Eupodotis senegalensis

      Pied Avocet                                 Recurvirostra avosetta

      Black-winged Stilt                        Himantopus himantopus

      African Jacana                            Actophilornis africanus

      African Black Oystercatcher       Haematopus moquini

      Spotted Thick-knee                      Burhinus capensis

      Water Thick-knee                         Burins vermiculatus    

      Collared Pratincole                     Glareola pratincola

      Blacksmith Lapwing                     Vanellus armatus  

      White-crowned Lapwing              Vanellus albiceps  

      African Wattled Lapwing             Vanellus senegallus

      Crowned Lapwing                        Vanellus coronatus 

      Senegal Lapwing                        Vanellus lugubris

      Grey Plover                                  Pluvialis squatarola

      Kittlitz’s Plover                             Charadrius pecuarius

      White-fronted Plover                    Charadrius marginatus

      Common Ringed Plover              Charadrius hiaticula

      Three-banded Plover                   Charadrius tricollaris

      American Golden Plover             Pluvialis dominica

      African Snipe                              Gallinago nigripennis

      Eurasian Curlew                           Numenius arquata

      Common Whimbrel                      Numenius phaeopus

      Bar-tailed Godwit                         Limosa lapponica

      Common Greenshank                  Tringa nebularia

      Marsh Sandpiper                         Tringa stagnatilis

      Common Sandpiper                    Actitis hypoleucos

      Pectoral Sandpiper                     Calidris melanomas

      Wood Sandpiper                          Tringa glareola

      Ruff                                              Philomachus pugnax

      Ruddy Turnstone                         Arenaria interpres

      Red Knot                                     Calidris canutus

      Sanderling                                   Calidris alba

      Curlew Sandpiper                        Calidris ferruginea

      Little Stint                                    Calidris minuta

      Temminck's Stint                         Calidris temminckii

      Red-necked Phalarope                Phalaropus lobatus

      Pomarine Skua                            Stercorarius pomarinus

      Subantarctic Skua                       Stercorarius antarctica

      Kelp Gull                                     Larus dominicanus

      Sabine’s Gull                               Xema sabini

      Grey-headed Gull                        Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus

      Hartlaub's Gull                            Chroicocephalus hartlaubii

      Caspian Tern                               Sterna caspia

      Lesser Crested Tern                     Thalasseus bengalensis

      Sandwich Tern                            Thalasseus sandvicensis

      Swift Tern                                    Thalasseus bergii

      Common Tern                             Sterna hirundo

      Little Tern                                    Sterna albifrons

      Whiskered Tern                            Chlidonias hybrida

      Lemon Dove                                Aplopelia larvata

      Rock Dove                                   Columba livia

      African Olive Pigeon                   Columba arquatrix

      Speckled Pigeon                         Columba guinea

      African Mourning Dove                Streptopelia decipiens

      Cape Turtle Dove                        Streptopelia capicola

      Laughing Dove                            Streptopelia senegalensis

      Red-eyed Dove                            Streptopelia semitorquata

      Emerald-spotted Wood Dove       Turtur chalcospilos

      Namaqua Dove                            Oena capensis

      Tambourine Dove                        Turtur tympanistria

      African Green Pigeon                  Treron calvus

      Brown-headed Parrot                   Poicephalus cryptoxanthus

      Grey Go-away-bird                       Corythaixoides concolor

      Livingstone’s Turaco                    Touraco livingstonii

      Purple-crested Turaco                 Tauraco porphyreolophus

      African Cuckoo                            Cuculus gularis 

      Red-chested Cuckoo                    Cuculus solitarius

      Black Cuckoo                               Cuculus clamosus

      Jacobin Cuckoo                           Clamator jacobinus

      Levaillant's Cuckoo                      Clamator levaillantii

      African Emerald Cuckoo              Chrysococcyx cupreus

      Diederik Cuckoo                           Chrysococcyx caprius

      Klaas's Cuckoo                             Chrysococcyx klaas

      Green Malkoha                            Ceuthmochares australis

      Burchell’s Coucal                         Centropus burchellii

      Marsh Owl                                    Asio capensis

      Spotted Eagle-Owl                      Bubo africanus

      Swamp Nightjar                           Caprimulgus natalensis

      African Black Swift                      Apus barbatus

      Common Swift                             Apus apus

      African Palm Swift                       Cypsiurus parvus

      Little Swift                                   Apus affinis

      White-rumped Swift                     Apus caffer

      Red-faced Mousebird                  Urocolius indicus

      Speckled Mousebird                    Colius striatus

      White-backed Mousebird            Colius colius

      Narina Trogon                             Apaloderma narina

      African Pygmy Kingfisher            Ispidina picta

      Giant Kingfisher                           Megaceryle maxima

      Malachite Kingfisher                   Alcedo cristata

      Pied Kingfisher                            Ceryle rudis

      European Bee-eater                    Merops piaster

      Brown-hooded Kingfisher             Halcyon albiventris

      Striped Kingfisher                        Halcyon chelicuti

      Woodland Kingfisher                   Halcyon senegalensis

      Blue-cheeked Bee-eater              Merops persicus

      White-fronted Bee-eater               Merops bullockoides

      Little Bee-eater                            Merops pusillus

      Broad-billed Roller                      Eurystomus glaucurus

      European Roller                          Coracias garrulus

      Lilac-breasted Roller                   Coracias caudatus

      Purple Roller                               Coracias naevius

      African Grey Hornbill                   Tockus nasutus

      Southern Ground-Hornbill            Bucorvus leadbeateri

      Southern Red-billed Hornbill   Tockus rufirostris

      Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus leucomelas

      Trumpeter Hornbill                      Bycanistes bucinator

      Crowned Hornbill                         Tockus alboterminatus

      African Hoopoe                           Upupa africana

      Green Wood-hoopoe                   Phoeniculus purpureus

      Black-collared Barbet                  Lybius torquatus

      Crested Barbet                             Trachyphonus vaillantii

      Green Barbet                               Stactolaema olivacea

      White-eared Barbet                      Stactolaema leucotis

      Acacia Pied Barbet                      Tricholaema leucomelas

      Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird             Pogoniulus chrysoconus

      Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird            Pogoniulus bilineatus

      Golden-tailed Woodpecker          Campethera abingoni

      Cardinal Woodpecker                  Dendropicos fuscescens

      Ground Woodpecker                   Geocolaptes olivaceus

      Olive Woodpecker                       Dendropicos griseocephalus

      Red-throated Wryneck                 Jynx ruficollis

      Red-capped Lark                         Calandrella cinerea

      Sabota Lark                                 Calendulauda sabota

      Spike-heeled Lark                        Chersomanes albofasciata

      Karoo Lark                                  Calendulauda albescens

      Cape Clapper Lark                     Mirafra apiata

      Eastern clapper Lark                   Mirafra fasciolata

      Rufous-naped Lark                     Mirafra africana

      Eastern Long-billed Lark            Certhilauda semitorquata

      Botha’s Lark                               Spizocorys fringillaris

      Barn Swallow                               Hirundo rustica

      White-throated Swallow               Hirundo albigularis

      Wire-tailed Swallow                     Hirundo smithii

      Greater Striped Swallow              Cecropis cucullata

      Lesser Striped Swallow                Cecropis abyssinica

      Red-breasted Swallow                 Cecropis semirufa

      South African Cliff Swallow         Petrochelidon spilodera

      Common House Martin                Delichon urbicum

      Banded Martin                             Riparia cincta

      Brown-throated Martin                 Riparia paludicola

      Rock Martin                                 Hirundo fuligula

      Sand Martin                                 Riparia riparia

      Black Cuckooshrike                      Campephaga flava

      Grey Cuckooshrike                       Coracina caesia

      Fork-tailed Drongo                       Dicrurus adsimilis

      Square-tailed Drongo                  Dicrurus ludwigii

      Black-headed Oriole                    Oriolus larvatus

      Cape Crow                                   Corvus capensis

      Pied crow                                    Corvus albus

      White-necked Raven                    Corvus albicollis

      Southern Black Tit                       Parus niger

      Arrow-marked Babbler                  Turdoides jardineii

      Terrestrial Brownbul                     Phyllastrephus terrestris

      Cape Bulbul                                 Pycnonotus capensis

      Dark-capped Bulbul                     Pycnonotus tricolor

      Sombre Greenbul                        Andropadus importunus

      Yellow-bellied Greenbul              Chlorocichla flaviventris

      Eastern Nicator                            Nicator gularis

      Karoo Thrush                              Turdus smith

      Kurrichane Thrush                       Turdus libonyanus

      Olive Thrush                                Turdus olivaceus

      Spotted Ground Thrush               Zoothera guttata

      Cape Rock Thrush                      Monticola rupestris

      Sentinel Rock Thrush                 Monticola explorator

      Cape Rockjumper                       Chaetops frenatus

      Familiar Chat                               Cercomela familiaris

      Southern Ant-eating Chat            Myrmecocichla formicivora

      Buff-streaked Chat                      Campicoloides bifasciata

      Mountain Wheatear                     Oenanthe monticola

      Capped Wheatear                        Oenanthe pileata

      African StoneChat                       Saxicola torquatus

      Bearded Scrub Robin                  Erythropygia quadrivirgata

      Brown Scrub Robin                     Erythropygia signata

      Karoo Scrub Robin                      Erythropygia coryphoeus

      White-browed Scrub Robin          Erythropygia leucophrys

      Cape Robin-Chat                         Cossypha caffra

      Chorister Robin-Chat                  Cossypha dichroa

      Red-capped Robin-Chat              Cossypha natalensis

      White-browed Robin-Chat          Cossypha heuglini

      White-throated Robin-Chat         Cossypha humeralis

      Cape Grassbird                          Sphenoeacus afer

      Long-billed crombec                   Sylvietta rufescens

      Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler        Sylvia subcaerulea

      Little Rush Warbler                      Bradypterus baboecala

      Willow Warbler                             Phylloscopus trochilus

      African Reed Warbler                  Acrocephalus baeticatus

      Lesser Swamp Warbler               Acrocephalus gracilirostris

      Cloud Cisticola                            Cisticola textrix

      Wing-snapping Cisticola              Cisticola ayresii

      Zitting Cisticola                           Cisticola juncidis

      Pale-crowned Cisticola                Cisticola cinnamomeus

      Neddicky                                      Cisticola fulvicapilla

      Croaking Cisticola                        Cisticola natalensis

      Rattling Cisticola                         Cisticola chiniana

      Levaillant’s Cisticola                    Cisticola tinniens

      Rufous-winged Cisticola              Cisticola galactotes

      Grey-backed Cisticola                  Cisticola subruficapilla

      Wailing Cisticola                         Cisticola lais

      Karoo Prinia                                Prinia maculosa

      Tawny-flanked Prinia                   Prinia subflava

      Green-backed Camaroptera         Camaroptera brachyura

      Rudd’s Apalis                               Apalis ruddy

      Yellow-breasted Apalis                Apalis flavida

      Southern Black flycatcher           Melaenornis pammelaina

      African Dusky Flycatcher             Muscicapa adusta

      Grey Tit-flycatcher                       Myioparus plumbeus

      Spotted flycatcher                       Muscicapa striata

      African Paradise Flycatcher        Terpsiphone viridis

      Blue-mantled Crested-Flycatcher Trochocercus cyanomelas

      Cape Batis                                   Batis capensis

      Chinspot Batis                              Batis molitor

      Woodwards’ Batis                         Batis fratrum

      Cape White-eye                          Zosterops virens

      African Pied Wagtail                   Motacilla aguimp

      Cape Wagtail                               Motacilla capensis

      Cape Longclaw                           Macronyx capensis

      Yellow-throated Longclaw           Macronyx croceus

      Yellow-breasted Pipit                  Anthus chloris

      African Pipit                                Anthus cinnamomeus

      Southern (Common) Fiscal          Lanius collars

      Lesser Grey Shrike                       Lanius minor

      Magpie Shrike                             Corvinella melanoleuca

      Red-backed Shrike                       Lanius collurio

      White-crested Helmet-Shrike        Prionops plumatus

      Black-backed Puffback                Dryoscopus cubla

      Southern Boubou                        Laniarius ferrugineus

      Bokmakierie                                Telophorus zeylonus

      Black-crowned Tchagra               Tchagra senegalus

      Brown-crowned Tchagra              Tchagra australis

      Gorgeous Bush-Shrike                Chlorophoneus viridis

      Grey-headed Bush-Shrike           Malaconotus blanchoti

      Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike     Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

      Black-bellied Starling                  Notopholia corrusca

      Cape Glossy Starling                  Lamprotornis nitens

      Greater Blue-eared Starling         Lamprotornis chalybaeus

      Burchell’s Starling                       Lamprotornis australis

      Pied Starling                                Lamprotornis bicolor

      Red-winged Starling                    Onychognathus morio

      Violet-backed Starling                 Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

      Common Myna                            Acridotheres tristis

      Common Starling                        Sturnus vulgaris

      Red-billed Oxpecker                    Buphagus erythrorhynchus

      Wattled Starling                           Creatophora cinerea

      Cape Sugarbird                           Promerops cafer

      Malachite Sunbird                       Nectarinia famosa

      Orange-breasted Sunbird            Anthobaphes violacea

      Amethyst Sunbird                        Chalcomitra amethystina

      Grey Sunbird                               Cyanomitra veroxii

      Olive Sunbird                              Cyanomitra olivacea

      Scarlet-chested Sunbird              Chalcomitra senegalensis

      Greater Double-collared Sunbird  Cinnyris afer

      Neergaard's Sunbird                   Cinnyris neergaand

      Purple-banded Sunbird               Cinnyris bifasciatus

      Southern Double-collared Sunbird  Cinnyris chalybeus

      Collared Sunbird                         Anthodiaeta collaris

      White-bellied Sunbird                  Cinnyris talatala 

      House Sparrow                           Passer domesticus

      Cape Sparrow                             Passer melanurus

      Southern Grey-headed Sparrow   Passer diffusus

      Dark-backed Weaver                    Ploceus bicolor

      Red-billed Buffalo Weaver           Bubalornis niger

      Thick-billed Weaver                     Amblyospiza albifrons

      Cape Weaver                               Ploceus capensis

      Southern Brown-throated Weaver   Ploceus xanthopterus

      Yellow Weaver                             Ploceus subaureus

      Lesser Masked Weaver               Ploceus intermedius

      Southern Masked Weaver            Ploceus velatus

      Spectacled Weaver                     Ploceus ocularis

      Village Weaver                            Ploceus cucullatus

      Southern Red Bishop                   Euplectes orix

      Yellow-crowned Bishop               Euplectes afer

      Red-billed Quelea                       Quelea quelea

      Red-headed Quelea                    Quelea erythrops

      Yellow Bishop                              Euplectes capensis

      Fan-tailed Widowbird                   Euplectes axillaris

      Long-tailed Widowbird                 Euplectes progne

      Red-collared Widowbird              Euplectes ardens

      White-winged Widowbird             Euplectes albonotatus

      Long-tailed Paradise Whydah      Vidua paradisaea

      Pin-tailed Whydah                       Vidua macroura

      Bronze Mannikin                          Lonchura cucullata

      Magpie Mannikin                         Lonchura fringilloides

      Blue Waxbill                                Uraeginthus angolensis

      Common Waxbill                         Estrilda astrild

      Green-winged Pytilia                   Pytilia melba

      Orange-winged Pytilia                 Pytilia afra

      African Quail-finch                      Ortygospiza fuscocrissa

      Orange-breasted Waxbill             Amandava subflava

      Green Twinspot                           Mandingoa nitidula

      Pink-throated Twinspot                Hypargos margaritatus

      Brimstone Canary                        Crithagra sulphurata

      White-throated Canary                 Crithagra albogularis

      Streaky-headed Seedeater          Crithagra gularis

      Black-throated Canary                 Crithagra atrogularis

      Cape Canary                                Serinus canicollis

      Forest Canary                             Crithagra scoops

      Yellow Canary                             Crithagra flaviventris

      Yellow-fronted Canary                Crithagra mozambica

      Drakensberg Siskin                    Crithagra symonsi

      Cape Bunting                              Emberiza capensis

      Cinnamon-breasted Bunting        Emberiza tahapisi

      Golden-breasted Bunting             Emberiza flaviventris

      Lark-like Bunting                          Emberiza impetuani

                                                                                                                                          TOTALS                              423

Mammal List: South Africa

Common Name                              Scientific Name

Karoo Bushrat                                Otomys unisulcatus

Tree Squirrel                                   Paraxerus cepapi

Rock Hyrax (Dassie)                       Procavia capensis

African Elephant                             Loxodonta africana

Burchell’s (Plains) Zebra                 Equus burhcelli

White Rhino                                    Ceratotherium simum

Hippoptamus                                  Hippoptamus amphibius

Warthog                                          Phacochoerus aethiopicus

Giraffe                                            Giraffa camelopardalis

Black Wildebeest                           Connochaetes gnou

Blue Wildebeest                             Connochaetes taurinus

Blesbok                                            Damalascus dorcas phillipsi

Blue Duiker                                     Philantomba monticola

Red Duiker                                      Cephalophus natalensis

Common Duiker                             Sylvicapra grimmia

Springbok                                        Antidorcas marsupialis

Klipspringer                                    Oreotragus oreotragus

Steenbok                                         Raphicerus campestris

Impala                                              Aepyceros melampus

African Buffalo                                 Syncerus caffer

Greater Kudu                                  Tragelaphus strepsiceros

Nyala                                                Tragelaphus angasii

Bushbuck                                        Tragelaphus scriptus

Eland                                                Taurotragus oryx

Reedbuck                                        Redunca arundinum

Mountain Reedbuck                      Redunca fulvorufiula

Waterbuck                                       Kobus ellipsiprymnus

Spotted Hyena                                Crocuta crocuta

Leopard                                           Panthera pardus

Lion                                                   Panthera leo

Side-striped Jackal                        Canis adustus

Black-backed Jackal                     Canis mesomelas

Yellow Mongoose                          Cynictis penicillata

Slender Mongoose                        Galerella sanguinea

Water Mongoose                            Atliax paludinosus

Banded Mongoose                        Mungos mungo

Dwarf Mongoose                            Helogale parvula

Thick-tailed Bushbaby                  Otolemur crassicaudatus

Chacma Baboon                            Papio cyanocephalus ursinus

Vervet Monkey                                 Cercopithecus aethiops

Samango Monkey                          Cercopithecus mitis

Cape Fur Seal                                Arctocephalus pusillus

Common Dolphin                          Delphinus delphis

Bryde’s Whale                                Balaenoptera edeni

Total        44

Well the 5th and final installment is finished, so I am hoping you might follow this blog and read about my many other adventures touring various parts of our natural world. If the idea appeals to you, why not consider joining me and Wian later this year on another of our South African adventure tours? 

Details of the South Africa tour and itinerary can be found on this link

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