Rundu to Botswana
The day started as I finished off yesterday, at the wonderful Rundu Sewage Works. I wanted better views of the African Rail that I saw briefly last night. Much better views were had this morning as well as a superb Painted Snipe showing well, although my camera was frustratingly in my bag. Back at the lodge there were birds everywhere and so I missed breakfast and enjoyed adding many trip ticks to the ever growing list, and walking along the river where I was pleased to see a Magpie Shrike. At some woodland roughly 20km south of Rundu I came across what I presume is a Woodland Pipit, although I’m still awaiting further literature into this as the photos aren’t great, but it’s unlikely to be anything else.
After stocking up it was time to head into Botswana, and after a thankfully swift process, Botswana was also on the list. My first bird upon entering this country was a Southern Carmine Bee-Eater, which was surely a good sign of things to come. Birds then came thick and fast and at Drotsky’s Cabins the gardens were alive with birds. The wait for a boat taxi was around half hour and it was then time to cruise up the Okavango to the spectacular Xaro Lodge, and although expensive to stay at, its certainly worth every penny. I had organised a boat tour to hopefully find Slaty Egret and Lesser Jacana. Despite finding three of the former, the latter once again evaded me (Uganda being the last time I dipped this species). There was great consolation with hundreds of water birds, especially Herons and Egrets which are always good value, and a bonus Coppery-tailed Coucal. The cruise back to Xaro was perfect with another lovely sunset, and a couple of beers at hand.
Fingers crossed in the morning a certain orange Owl can be found (it was).
Highlights are as follows:
Hottentot Teal - 4
African Openbill - 2
Saddle-billed Stork - 1
Little Bittern - 1
Goliath Heron - 2
Black Heron - 75
SLATY EGRET - 3
African Harrier Hawk - 2
African Marsh Harrier - 1
African Rail - 1
Long-toed Lapwing - 20
Greater Painted Snipe - 2
Collared Pratincole - 25
Whiskered Tern - 1
COPPERY-TAILED COUCAL - 1
Malachite Kingfisher - 10
Giant Kingfisher - 1
SOUTHERN CARMINE BEE-EATER - 5
Crested Barbet - 2
Magpie Shrike - 1
Black-headed Oriole - 2
Yellow-bellied Greenbul - 2
Mosque Swallow - 2
MEVE’S STARLING - 20
Holub’s Golden Weaver - 4
SOUTH. BROWN-THROATED WEAVER - 1
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| African Rail at Rundu Sewage Works |
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| Hottentot Teals |
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| Swamp Boubous at Tambuti Lodge |
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| African Fish Eagle |
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| African Skimmer along the Okavango |
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| Crested Barbet at Xaro Lodge |
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| Malachite Kingfisher along the Okavango |
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| Goliath Heron |
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| Black Heron |
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| African Pygmy Goose |
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| Slaty Egret |
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| The Okavango Panhandle |
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| The banks of Xaro Lodge |
