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.
