Chatters,SA Birdnetters and Tweeters,

A 6 week journey (July 9th-August19th,2000) through Western S. Africa,
Namibia, Botswana, the Victoria Falls area of Zimbabwe and a quick 2 day
stop in Kruger produced many wonderful birds, mammals, sights, and
memories. For those who have never visited this part of the world, it is
simply amazing . It felt like being on the Animal Channel, only we were
the directors. The hospitality and friendship we experienced made this
trip that much more enjoyable. Much thanks goes out to SA Birdnet,
whose members were a rich source of information. We received great
offers from people we had never met to help us along. Hopefully we will
be able to return the favo(u)r some day. The list of helpful friends is
long, so I will add it at the end of this post .
Below is a list of birds with locations . All nomenclature is taken
from Newman's book "
C = Capetown area (includes Sir Lowry's Pass,Karoo,Simonstown Pelagic)
D = De Hoop area
H = Hardap Dam, Namibia area
E = Etosha (includes Waterberg area)
NB= Caprivi Strip/N. Botswana
VF = Vic. Falls area (includes Kazungula area)
O = Okavango Delta
N = Nata, Botswana area
K = Kruger (includes area SW of the park to Nelspruit)
Species Seen
Jackass Penguin C
Shy Albatross C
Black-browed Albatross C
Yellow-nosed Albatross C
White-chinned Petrel C
Pintado Petrel C
Antarctic Prion C
Manx Shearwater C
Shooty Shearwater C
Leach's Storm Petrel C
Wilson's Storm Petrel C
Cape Gannet C
South Polar Skua C
Subantarctic Skua C
Hautlaub's Gull C
Grey-headed Gull E
Kelp Gull C
African Skimmer VF
Caspian Tern D
Swift Tern C
Whiskered Tern NB
E. White Pelican C
Cape Cormorant C
Bank Cormorant C
Crowned Cormorant C
Reed Cormorant D
White-breasted Cormorant C
Darter D
Little Bittern D
Green-backed Heron NB
Squacco Heron VF
Black Egret NB
Slaty Egret NB
White-backed Night Heron VF
Black-crowned Night Heron VF
Cattle Egret C
Little Egret C
Great White Heron VF
Grey Heron C
Purple Heron D
Goliath Heron O
Black-headed Heron C
Saddle-billed Stork NB
Marabou Stork NB
Black Stork VF
Yellow-billed Stork VF
Woolly-necked Stork VF
Open-billed Stork NB
Hamerkop D
Lesser Flamingo N
Greater Flamingo N
African Spoonbill D
Sacred Ibis C
Hadeda Ibis C
Glossy Ibis NB
African Finfoot VF
White-faced Duck VF
Fulvous Duck VF
Pygmy Goose VF
South Afr. Shelduck C
Egyptian Goose C
Spur-winged Goose D
Hottentot Teal NB
Red-billed Teal D
S. Pochard N
Cape Shoveler C
Cape Teal H
African Black Duck N
Yellow-billed Duck D
Knob-billed Duck VF
Dabchick C
Black-necked Grebe D
Great Crested Grebe D
Red-knobbed Coot C
Purple Gallinule C
Lesser Moorhen C
Black Crake D
Chestnut-banded Plover E
Three-banded Plover D
Kittlitz's Plover C
White-fronted Plover H
Greenshank VF
Little Stint D
Common Sandpiper VF
Wood Sandpiper VF
Afr. Jacana VF
Lesser Jacana O
Black-winged Plover D
Long-toed Plover VF
Blacksmith Plover C
Crowned Plover D
Wattled Plover VF
White-crowned Plover VF
Afr. Black OystercatcherC
Avocet C
Black-winged Stilt D
Spotted Dikkop K
Water Dikkop D
Red-winged Pratincole VF
Bronze-winged Courser E
Double-banded Courser H
Three-banded Courser E
Red-crested Korhaan E
Black Korhaan D
White-winged Korhaan H
Karoo Korhaan D
Stanley's Bustard D
Black-bellied Korhaan NB
Kori Bustard E
Blue Crane D
Wattled Crane O
Common Quail D
Coqui Francolin K
Red-billed Francolin E
Cape Francolin C
Grey-winged Francolin C
Swainson's Francolin E
Natal Francolin VF
Kurrichane Button Quail O
Helmeted Guineafowl C
Ostrich D
Secretarybird E
White-backed Vulture E
Cape Griffon Vulture D
Hooded Vulture E
White-headed Vulture E
Lappet-faced Vulture E
Yellow-billed Kite K
W. Banded Snake Eagle VF
Batteleur NB
Black-breasted Snake Eagle H
Brown Snake Eagle H
Booted Eagle C
Wahlberg's Eagle NB
Tawny Eagle E
Afr. Hawk Eagle H
Afr. Fish Eagle D
Martial Eagle NB
Black Eagle C
Steppe Eagle C
Jackal Buzzard C
Augur Buzzard VF
Lizard Buzzard VF
Black-shouldered Kite C
Little Sparrowhawk VF
Little-banded Goshawk E
Gabar Goshawk H
Ovambo Sparrowhawk E
Afr. Goshawk K
Pale Chanting Goshawk C
Dark Chanting Goshawk NB
Afr. Marsh Harrier NB
Osprey H
Gymnogene VF
Pygmy Falcon E
Red-necked Falcon E
Peregrine Falcon VF
Lanner Falcon H
Greater Kestrel C
Dickinson's Kestrel O
Rock Kestrel C
Double-banded Sandgrouse E
Burchell's Sandgrouse E
Namaqua Sandgrouse H
Afr. Mourning Dove VF
Red-eyed Dove C
Cape Turtle Dove C
Laughing Dove C
Namaqua Dove C
Green Pigeon O
Cinnamon Dove C
Rock Pigeon C
Emerald-spotted Dove E
Feral Pigeon C
Rameron Pigeon C
Meyer's Parrot E
Ruppell's Parrot E
Rosy-faced Lovebird H
Grey Lourie E
Knysna Lourie VF
Purple-crested Lourie K
Klaas's Cuckoo (heard) K
Senegal Coucal VF
Coppery-tailed Coucal VF
Burchell's Coucal D
White-browed Coucal VF
Marsh Owl N
Barn Owl E
Afr. Scops Owl E
White-faced Owl E
Pearl-spotted Owl O
Barred Owl NB
Giant Eagle Owl VF
Spotted Eagle Owl C
Pel's Fishing Owl VF
Fiery-necked Nightjar (heard) VF
Mozambique Nightjar O
Red-breasted Swallow VF
Lesser Striped Swallow VF
Wire-tailed Swallow NB
Pearl-breasted Swallow H
Grey-rumped Swallow NB
Black Saw-winged Swallow K
Brown-throated Martin D
Banded Martin VF
Rock Martin C
Palm Swift E
Bradfield's Swift E
Little Swift D
Alpine Swift C
Black Swift VF
Speckled Mousebird C
White-backed Mousebird C
Red-faced Mousebird C
Swallow-tailed Bee-eaterH
Little Bee-eater NB
White-fronted Bee-eater VF
Giant Kingfisher D
Pied Kingfisher C
Brown-hooded Kingfisher NB
Striped Kingfisher NB
Half-collared KingfisherVF
Malachite Kingfisher VF
Lilac-breasted Roller H
Purple Roller E
Red-billed Wood Hoopoe E
Scimitar-billed Wood Hoopoe E
Hoopoe C
S. Yellow-billed Hornbill E
Red-billed Hornbill E
Crowned Hornbill VF
Grey Hornbill E
Monteiro's Hornbill E
Bradfield's Hornbill E
Trumpeter Hornbill VF
Ground Hornbill NB
Pied Barbet E
Black-collared Barbet VF
Crested Barbet VF
Yellow-fronted Tinker Barbet E
Cardinal Woodpecker E
Golden-tailed Woodpecker VF
Bennet's Woodpecker NB
Bearded Woodpecker E
Knysna Woodpecker D
Lesser Honeyguide H
Scaly-throated Honeyguide K
Greater Honeyguide NB
Sharp-billed Honeyguide K
Monotonous Lark E
Rufous-naped Lark E
Fawn-coloured Lark E
Sabota Lark E
Karoo Lark C
Flappet Lark E
Clapper Lark H
Red-capped Lark C
Spike-heeled Lark H
Thick-billed Lark C
Long-billed Lark C
Pink-billed Lark E
Chestnut-backed Finchlark E
Black-eared Finchlark H
Grey-backed Finchlark H
Long-billed Pipit D
Buffy Pipit N
Grassveld Pipit C
Plain-backed Pipit E
Wood Pipit NB
Pink-throated Longclaw O
Cape Wagtail C
Afr. Pied Wagtail VF
Fork-tailed Drongo C
Black Flycatcher K
Black Cuckooshrike K
Pied Crow C
Black Crow C
White-necked Raven C
Black-headed Oriole D
Sombre Bulbul D
Yellow-bellied Bulbul NB
Terrestrial Bulbul VF
Black-eyed Bulbul NB
Red-eyed Bulbul H
Cape Bulbul C
S. BlackTit VF
Carp's Black Tit E
S. Grey Tit C
Ashy Tit E
Arrow-marked Babbler VF
Pied Babbler E
Bare-cheeked Babbler E
Hartlaub's Babbler VF
Black-faced Babbler E
Groundscraper Thrush E
Kurrichane Thrush VF
Olive Thrush C
Short-toed Rock Thrush E
Cape Rock Thrush C
Cape Rockjumper C
Mountain Chat C
Arnot's Chat NB
Capped Wheatear D
Sickle-winged Chat D
Familiar Chat C
Tractrac Chat C
Karoo Chat C
Ant-eating Chat H
Stonechat C
Cape Robin C
White-throated Robin VF
Heuglin's Robin VF
Chorister's Robin K
Natal Robin K
White-browed Scrub Robin E
Bearded Robin VF
Karoo Robin C
Kalahari Robin E
Collared Palm Thrush VF
Knysna Warbler(heard then seen)D
Victorin's Warbler C
Cape Reed Warbler C
Afr. Sedge Warbler C
Greater Swamp Warbler VF
Bar-throated Apalis K
Yellow-breasted Apalis VF
Long-billed Crombec C
Layard's Titbabbler C
Titbabbler C
Cape Penduline Tit C
Grey Penduline Tit NB
Burnt-necked Eremomela E
Yellow-bellied Eremomela H
Cinnamon-breasted Warbler C
Green-backed Bleating Warbler K
Grey-backed Bleating Warbler E
Grassbird C
Rockrunner E
Fan-tailed Cisticola E
Neddicky C
Chirping Cisticola O
Grey-backed Cisticola C
Black-backed Cisticola O
Levaillant's Cisticola C
Rattling Cisticola E
Tinkling Cisticola E
Lazy Cisticola (heard) K
Red-faced Cisticola VF
Black-chested Prinia E
Tawny-flanked Prinia E
Karoo Prinia C
Namaqua Warbler C
Rufous-eared Warbler C
Pallid Flycatcher K
Fan-tailed Flycatcher K
Blue-grey Flycatcher VF
Chat Flycatcher E
Marico Flycatcher E
Fiscal Flycatcher C
Pririt Batis E
Cape Batis D
Chin-spot Batis E
Fairy Flycatcher C
Long-tailed Shrike NB
White-crowned Shrike E
Fiscal Shrike C
Brubru E
Puffback E
Southern Boubou C
Swamp Boubou VF
Tropical Boubou VF
Crimson-breasted Shrike H
Three-steaked Tchagra E
Black-crowned Tchagra NB
Olive-bush Shrike D
Orange-breasted Bush Shrike VF
Bokmakierie C
Grey-headed Bush Shrike VF
Red-billed Helmet ShrikeVF
White Helmet shrike E
Wattled Starling C
Red-winged Starling C
Pale-winged Starling E
Pied Starling C
European Starling C
Long-tailed Glossy Starling NB
Burchell's Glossy Starling E
Greater Blue-eared Glossy Starling E
Cape Glossy Starling H
Cape Sugarbird C
Yellow-billed Oxpecker VF
Red-billed Oxpecker NB
Malachite Sunbird C
Lesser Double-collared Sunbird C
Greater Double-collared Sunbird K
White-bellied Sunbird E
Collared Sunbird VF
Scarlet-chested Sunbird E
Black Sunbird VF
Marico Sunbird VF
Purple-banded Sunbird VF
Dusky Sunbird E
Orange-breasted Sunbird C
Cape White-eye C
Yellow White-eye VF
Yellow-throated Sparrow VF
S. Grey-headed Sparrow E
House Sparrow C
Red-billed Buffalo Weaver E
Red-billed Quelea E
Scaly-feathered Finch H
Sociable Weaver E
Cape Sparrow H
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver E
Cape Weaver C
Spectacled Weaver VF
Golden Weaver VF
Masked Weaver C
Lesser Masked Weaver K
Spotted-backed Weaver E
Red-headed Weaver E
Red-shouldered Widow VF
White-winged Widow K
Yellow-rumped Widow C
Melba Finch E
Brown Firefinch NB
Red-billed Finch VF
Jameson's Firefinch NB
Quail Finch O
Black-cheeked Waxbill E
Blue Waxbill E
Common Waxbill C
Violet-eared Waxbill H
Swee Waxbill K
Red-headed Finch H
Bronze Manikin VF
Red-backed Manikin K
Pin-tailed Whydah C
Paradise Whydah E
Shaft-tailed Whydah E
Steel-blue Widow Finch VF
Yellow-eyed Canary NB
Cape Canary C
Bully Canary C
Black-headed Canary H
White-throated Canary D
Protea Canary D
Black-throated Canary E
Cape Siskin C
Lark-like Bunting E
Rock Bunting E
Golden-breasted Bunting E
Cape Bunting C


As for particulars, we rented a car from Budget in Capetown for an
excellent price of $800 US for the 6 week period. We camped for most of
the 6 week period and bought supplies at supermarkets that were
conveniently located along the journey. The few meals that were eaten
out seemed to be between 1/3-1/4 the price of expensive Seattle (where
we live). The weather was superb for the most part, with only a few
rainy days (to be expected) in the Capetown area. I was surprised at
how many days seemed to be almost too hot, considering that this was
winter. Though we did see snow in the hills above Capetown as well. This
is a trip that can be done on your own, though to get into some of the
bush a 4 wheel drive vehicle is a necessity. This probably would have
made the trip prohibitive for us, but it would have allowed us to do
more in Chobe in Botswana. Overall, we did not feel that that impeded
our progress to the point that we wished we would have approached things
differently.
If anyone would like more details feel free to E-Mail me.

Thanks to:

Andrew Hester, who helped us get started by guiding us in the Capetown
area for a few days. Andrew's birding and people skills are
exceptional. Andrew is starting up a guiding business in the area and we
would strongly recommend him.
Judy and Chris New, who invited us out to their farm for an incredible
day at Slent.
Mike and Debby Calvin, who helped us get set up with a nice hotel in
Haut Bay, a day of birding in Kirstenbosch and a lovely dinner at their
place.
Trevor Hardacker, Anne and the rest of the crew for the great
pelagic trip and information on where to find some of the birds.
Chris Pollard, for the friendship and guiding during some wonderful
days in the Victoria Falls area.
Richard Randall, for all his help in Kasane.
Hans Meevis, for the day spent in the forests around Kasane.
In Kruger, Duan Biggs, who like Andrew, amazed us with his skill at
such a (relatively) young age.