Sunday, October 29, 2017

South Africa: Index and Trip List

COMMON OSTRICH, Wakkerstroom
Why just yesterday, I shot an elephant in my pajamas. How he got in my pajamas I'll never know.
                          --Groucho Marx

On October 10, Mike & I left for South Africa for a birding trip of eastern part of the country, including 5 nights at Kruger National Park, guided by our friend, Kim Risen of NatureScape Tours. Shari had already been in the country for a couple of weeks, participating in the pre-tour around Cape Town. We all met up in Durban and traveled in a zig-zag manner north to Kruger.

The emphasis, of course, was on birds, but many mammals (and even a few snails, lizards, insects and wild melons) were seen at our various stops. The entries are organized in larger blocks than usual because the number of life birds this trip was overwhelming. In around 20 years of listing I have compiled a US life list of 545 species. In just under 2 weeks in South Africa, I saw/heard 324 species, of which 294 were life birds.

It was a good but exhausting trip--every day was like doing a World Series of Birding--we'd start at 5:30 AM and often go until 10 PM with night drives. But then, how many times am I going to be in South Africa?

Protea Hotel, Johannesburg
Eshowe & Dlinza Forest
St. Lucia & iSimagaliso Wetland Park
Warning Signs
Mkhuze Game Reserve
Wakkerstroom
The Adventures of the Wawa Cups
Kruger NP 10/20-10/21
The Big Five (+ One)
Kruger NP 10/22-10/24
Gallery

Trip List: Key: LIFE BIRD, Year Bird, Rarity
COMMON OSTRICH   Teza
WHITE-FACED WHISTLING-DUCK   Mkhuze Game Reserve
COMB DUCK   Kruger NP
Egyptian Goose   iSimangaliso
SOUTH AFRICAN SHELDUCK   Wakkerstroom
SPUR-WINGED GOOSE   St. Lucia
GARGANEY   St. Lucia
HOTTENTOT TEAL   St. Lucia
CAPE SHOVELER   Wakkerstrom Wetland Reserve
YELLOW-BILLED DUCK   St. Lucia
RED-BILLED DUCK   St. Lucia
Helmeted Guineafowl   iSimangaliso
CRESTED GUINEAFOWL   Ndiza Inn, St Lucia
NATAL FRANCOLIN   Kruger NP
SWAINSON'S FRANCOLIN   Eastvaal District Council
RED-NECKED FRANCOLIN   Eastvaal District Council
CRESTED FRANCOLIN   Mkhuze Game Reserve
RED-WINGED FRANCOLIN   Wakkerstroom
LITTLE GREBE   Wakkerstroom Wetland Reserve
Greater Flamingo   Ermelo
AFRICAN OPENBILL   Kruger NP NP
WOOLLY-NECKED STORK   Eshowe
SADDLE-BILLED STORK   Mkhuze Game Reserve
MARABOU STORK   Kruger NP
YELLOW-BILLED STORK   St. Lucia
LONG-TAILED CORMORANT   iSimangaliso
AFRICAN DARTER   St. Lucia
PINK-BACKED PELICAN   St. Lucia
HAMERKOP   Kruger NP
LITTLE BITTERN   Mkhuze Game Reserve
Gray Heron   iSimangaliso
BLACK-HEADED HERON   Ndiza Inn, St Lucia
GOLIATH HERON   Mkhuze Game Reserve
PURPLE HERON   Mkhuze Game Reserve
Great Egret   iSimangaliso
INTERMEDIATE EGRET   St. Lucia estuary
Little Egret   iSimangaliso
Cattle Egret   Protea Hotel
Squacco Heron   Mkhuze Game Reserve
Striated Heron   Kruger NP
Black-crowned Night-Heron   Wakkerstrom Wetland Reserve
Glossy Ibis   Protea Hotel
Sacred Ibis   Mkhuze Game Reserve
SOUTHERN BALD IBIS   Mpumalanga
HADADA IBIS   Protea Hotel
AFRICAN SPOONBILL   St. Lucia
SECRETARYBIRD   Wakkerstroom
Osprey   Mkhuze Game Reserve
BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE   Wakkerstroom
PALM-NUT VULTURE   Umalazi
WHITE-HEADED VULTURE   Kruger NP
LAPPET-FACED VULTURE   Kruger NP
HOODED VULTURE   Kruger NP
WHITE-BACKED VULTURE   Mkhuze Game Reserve
CAPE GRIFFON   Mkhuze Game Reserve
BATELEUR   Mkhuze Game Reserve
BLACK-BREASTED SNAKE-EAGLE   Mkhuze Game Reserve
BROWN SNAKE-EAGLE   Mkhuze Game Reserve
FASCIATED SNAKE-EAGLE   Ndiza Inn, St Lucia
MARTIAL EAGLE   Kruger NP
LONG-CRESTED EAGLE   Dlinza Forest
WAHLBERG'S EAGLE   Mkhuze Game Reserve
TAWNY EAGLE   Mkhuze Game Reserve
GABAR GOSHAWK   Kruger NP
AFRICAN MARSH-HARRIER   Mkhuze Game Reserve
BLACK HARRIER   Wakkerstroom
SHIKRA   Kruger NP
LITTLE SPARROWHAWK   Dlinza Forest
BLACK GOSHAWK   Mkhuze Game Reserve
Black Kite   Teza
AFRICAN FISH-EAGLE   iSimangaliso
COMMON BUZZARD   Mpumalanga
KORI BUSTARD   Kruger NP
WHITE-BELLIED BUSTARD   Eastvaal District Council
BLUE BUSTARD   Wakkerstroom
RED-CRESTED BUSTARD   Kruger NP
BLACK-BELLIED BUSTARD   Mkhuze Game Reserve
AFRICAN RAIL   Wakkerstroom Wetland Reserve
BLACK CRAKE   Kruger NP
AFRICAN SWAMPHEN   Wakkerstroom Wetland Reserve
EURASIAN MOORHEN   Mkhuze Game Reserve
RED-KNOBBED COOT   Wakkerstroom Wetland Reserve
WATER THICK-KNEE   iSimangaliso
SPOTTED THICK-KNEE   iSimangaliso
Black-winged Stilt   St. Lucia
Pied Avocet   St. Lucia
BLACKSMITH LAPWING   Muzi Pan
WHITE-HEADED LAPWING   Kruger NP
CROWNED LAPWING   Mkhuze Game Reserve
WATTLED LAPWING   Mkhuze Game Reserve
KITTLITZ'S PLOVER   St. Lucia
COMMON RINGED PLOVER   iSimangaliso
THREE-BANDED PLOVER   St. Lucia
WHITE-FRONTED PLOVER   St. Lucia
GREATER PAINTED-SNIPE   Mkhuze Game Reserve
LESSER JACANA   Mkhuze Game Reserve
AFRICAN JACANA   iSimangaliso
Ruddy Turnstone   St. Lucia
Ruff   St. Lucia
Curlew Sandpiper   St. Lucia
LITTLE STINT   St. Lucia
AFRICAN SNIPE   Wakkerstroom Wetland Reserve
COMMON SANDPIPER   St. Lucia estuary
COMMON GREENSHANK   Mkhuze Game Reserve
MARSH SANDPIPER   Mkhuze Game Reserve
WOOD SANDPIPER   Mkhuze Game Reserve
SMALL BUTTONQUAIL   Mkhuze Game Reserve
COLLARED PRATINCOLE   iSimangaliso
Gray-hooded Gull   St Lucia--bridge
Caspian Tern   St Lucia--bridge
Whiskered Tern   Mkhuze Game Reserve
GREAT CRESTED TERN   St. Lucia
DOUBLE-BANDED SANDGROUSE   Kruger NP
Rock Pigeon   Protea Hotel
SPECKLED PIGEON   Protea Hotel
RAMERON PIGEON   Dlinza Forest
DELEGORGUE'S PIGEON   Dlinza Forest
MOURNING COLLARED-DOVE   Kruger NP
RED-EYED DOVE   Protea Hotel
RING-NECKED DOVE   Mkhuze Game Reserve
LAUGHING DOVE   Protea Hotel
EMERALD-SPOTTED WOOD-DOVE   Mkhuze Game Reserve
NAMAQUA DOVE   Mkhuze Game Reserve
AFRICAN GREEN-PIGEON   Kruger NP
LIVINGSTONE'S TURACO   St. Lucia
KNYSNA TURACO   Ndiza Inn, St Lucia
PURPLE-CRESTED TURACO   Eshowe
GRAY GO-AWAY-BIRD   Kruger NP
WHITE-BROWED COUCAL   St. Lucia
DIDERIC CUCKOO   Mkhuze Game Reserve
KLAAS'S CUCKOO   Kruger NP
AFRICAN EMERALD CUCKOO   Dlinza Forest
BLACK CUCKOO   Kruger NP
RED-CHESTED CUCKOO   Dlinza Forest
AFRICAN GRASS-OWL   Wakkerstroom
Barn Owl   Kruger NP
AFRICAN SCOPS-OWL   Mkhuze Game Reserve
SPOTTED EAGLE-OWL   Mkhuze Game Reserve
PEARL-SPOTTED OWLET   Kruger NP NP
FIERY-NECKED NIGHTJAR   iSimangaliso
SQUARE-TAILED NIGHTJAR   Kruger NP
Alpine Swift   Mpumalanga
LITTLE SWIFT   St Lucia--bridge
HORUS SWIFT   Mkhuze Game Reserve
WHITE-RUMPED SWIFT   Protea Hotel
AFRICAN PALM-SWIFT   Protea Hotel
SPECKLED MOUSEBIRD   Protea Hotel
RED-FACED MOUSEBIRD   Mkhuze Game Reserve
NARINA TROGON   Dlinza Forest
Eurasian Hoopoe   iSimangaliso
GREEN WOODHOOPOE   Mkhuze Game Reserve
COMMON SCIMITARBILL   Mkhuze Game Reserve
SOUTHERN GROUND-HORNBILL   Kruger NP
CROWNED HORNBILL   St. Lucia
AFRICAN GRAY HORNBILL   Kruger NP
SOUTHERN YELLOW-BILLED HORNBILL   Mkhuze Game Reserve
SOUTHERN RED-BILLED HORNBILL   Kruger NP
TRUMPETER HORNBILL   Eshowe--Birds of Paradise B&B
MALACHITE KINGFISHER   Mkhuze Game Reserve
AFRICAN PYGMY-KINGFISHER   iSimangaliso
BROWN-HOODED KINGFISHER   iSimangaliso
STRIPED KINGFISHER   Kruger NP
GIANT KINGFISHER   Outside Waakerstroom
PIED KINGFISHER   iSimangaliso
WHITE-FRONTED BEE-EATER   Kruger NP
LITTLE BEE-EATER   Mkhuze Game Reserve
European Bee-eater   Mkhuze Game Reserve
LILAC-BREASTED ROLLER   Kruger NP
RUFOUS-CROWNED ROLLER   Kruger NP
CRESTED BARBET   Mkhuze Game Reserve
WHITE-EARED BARBET   Eshowe
YELLOW-RUMPED TINKERBIRD   Eshowe
PIED BARBET   Mkhuze Game Reserve
BLACK-COLLARED BARBET   iSimangaliso
LESSER HONEYGUIDE   Mkhuze Game Reserve
BENNETT'S WOODPECKER   Kruger NP
GOLDEN-TAILED WOODPECKER   Kruger NP
CARDINAL WOODPECKER   Mkhuze Game Reserve
BEARDED WOODPECKER   Mkhuze Game Reserve
LANNER FALCON   Kruger NP
BROWN-HEADED PARROT   Kruger NP
BLACK-THROATED WATTLE-EYE   A1147 Rd Kwazulu-Natal
WOODWARD'S BATIS   iSimangaliso
CHINSPOT BATIS   Mkhuze Game Reserve
WHITE HELMETSHRIKE   Mkhuze Game Reserve
RETZ'S HELMETSHRIKE   Kruger NP
BRUBRU   Mkhuze Game Reserve
BLACK-BACKED PUFFBACK   iSimangaliso
BLACK-CROWNED TCHAGRA   iSimangaliso
BROWN-CROWNED TCHAGRA   Mkhuze Game Reserve
SOUTHERN TCHAGRA   Dlinza Forest
SOUTHERN BOUBOU   Dlinza Forest
SULPHUR-BREASTED BUSHSHRIKE   Mkhuze Game Reserve
FOUR-COLORED BUSHSHRIKE   iSimangaliso
GRAY-HEADED BUSHSHRIKE   Mkhuze Game Reserve
GRAY CUCKOOSHRIKE   Dlinza Forest
BLACK CUCKOOSHRIKE   Kruger NP
SOUTHERN FISCAL   Protea Hotel
MAGPIE SHRIKE   Kruger NP
WHITE-CROWNED SHRIKE   Kruger NP
AFRICAN GOLDEN ORIOLE   Kruger NP P
AFRICAN BLACK-HEADED ORIOLE   Kruger NP
SQUARE-TAILED DRONGO   Dlinza Forest
FORK-TAILED DRONGO   Dlinza Forest
AFRICAN CRESTED-FLYCATCHER   iSimangaliso
AFRICAN PARADISE-FLYCATCHER   Dlinza Forest
CAPE CROW   Eastvaal District Council
PIED CROW   Protea Hotel
EASTERN NICATOR   Mkhuze Game Reserve
SPIKE-HEELED LARK   Wakkerstroom
SABOTA LARK   Mkhuze Game Reserve
RUDD'S LARK   Wakkerstroom
RUFOUS-NAPED LARK   iSimangaliso
FLAPPET LARK   Mkhuze Game Reserve
RED-CAPPED LARK   Wakkerstroom
LARGE-BILLED LARK   Wakkerstroom
PLAIN MARTIN   Mkhuze Game Reserve
Barn Swallow   iSimangaliso
WHITE-THROATED SWALLOW   Wakkerstroom Wetland Reserve
WIRE-TAILED SWALLOW   St. Lucia estuary
GREATER STRIPED-SWALLOW   Eastvaal District Council
LESSER STRIPED-SWALLOW   St. Lucia
RUFOUS-CHESTED SWALLOW   iSimangaliso
SOUTH AFRICAN SWALLOW   Eastvaal District Council
SOUTHERN BLACK-TIT   Mkhuze Game Reserve
SOMBRE GREENBUL   Dlinza Forest
YELLOW-BELLIED GREENBUL   St. Lucia
TERRESTRIAL BROWNBUL   Dlinza Forest
COMMON BULBUL   Protea Hotel
BLACK-FRONTED BULBUL   Protea Hotel
CAPE CROMBEC   Mkhuze Game Reserve
LITTLE RUSH-WARBLER   Wakkerstroom Wetland Reserve
BAR-THROATED APALIS   St. Lucia
YELLOW-BREASTED APALIS   St. Lucia
RUDD'S APALIS   St. Lucia
GREEN-BACKED CAMAROPTERA   Dlinza Forest
MIOMBO WREN-WARBLER   Kruger NP
RATTLING CISTICOLA   iSimangaliso
LEVAILLANT'S CISTICOLA   Wakkerstroom Wetland Reserve
CROAKING CISTICOLA   Mkhuze Game Reserve
CLOUD CISTICOLA   Wakkerstroom
PALE-CROWNED CISTICOLA   iSimangaliso
WING-SNAPPING CISTICOLA   Mkhuze Game Reserve
TAWNY-FLANKED PRINIA   Mkhuze Game Reserve
BURNT-NECK EREMOMELA   Kruger NP
CAPE WHITE-EYE   Protea Hotel
ARROW-MARKED BABBLER   Kruger NP
DUSKY-BROWN FLYCATCHER   Dlinza Forest
GRAY TIT-FLYCATCHER   Mkhuze Game Reserve
ASHY FLYCATCHER   Ndiza Inn, St Lucia
SOUTHERN BLACK-FLYCATCHER   Mkhuze Game Reserve
BEARDED SCRUB-ROBIN   Mkhuze Game Reserve
RED-BACKED SCRUB-ROBIN   iSimangaliso
WHITE-BROWED ROBIN-CHAT   Mkhuze Game Reserve
RED-CAPPED ROBIN-CHAT   Ndiza Inn, St Lucia
CHORISTER ROBIN-CHAT   Dlinza Forest
SENTINEL ROCK-THRUSH   Wakkerstroom
AFRICAN STONECHAT   Wakkerstroom
BUFF-STREAKED BUSHCHAT   Wakkerstroom
SOUTHERN ANTEATER-CHAT   Eastvaal District Council
MOCKING CLIFF-CHAT   Kruger NP
MOUNTAIN WHEATEAR   Wakkerstroom
CAPPED WHEATEAR   Wakkerstroom
GROUNDSCRAPER THRUSH   Kruger NP
KURRICHANE THRUSH   Mkhuze Game Reserve
KAROO THRUSH   Protea Hotel
WATTLED STARLING   Kruger NP
COMMON MYNA   Protea Hotel
VIOLET-BACKED STARLING   Mkhuze Game Reserve
RED-WINGED STARLING   King Shaka Intl Airport
BLACK-BELLIED STARLING   St. Lucia
BURCHELL'S STARLING   Kruger NP
AFRICAN PIED STARLING   Eastvaal District Council
GREATER BLUE-EARED STARLING   Kruger NP
CAPE STARLING   Eshowe
RED-BILLED OXPECKER   Mkhuze Game Reserve
YELLOW-BILLED OXPECKER   Kruger NP
COLLARED SUNBIRD   St. Lucia
OLIVE SUNBIRD   Dlinza Forest
MOUSE-COLORED SUNBIRD   iSimangaliso
SCARLET-CHESTED SUNBIRD   Kruger NP
NEERGAARD'S SUNBIRD   Mkhuze Game Reserve
MARIQUA SUNBIRD   iSimangaliso
PURPLE-BANDED SUNBIRD   Mkhuze Game Reserve
WHITE-BREASTED SUNBIRD   Mkhuze Game Reserve
CAPE WAGTAIL   Protea Hotel
AFRICAN PIED WAGTAIL   St Lucia--bridge
AFRICAN PIPIT   Wakkerstroom
STRIPED PIPIT   Wakkerstroom
BUSH PIPIT   iSimangaliso
ORANGE-THROATED LONGCLAW   Wakkerstroom
YELLOW-THROATED LONGCLAW   iSimangaliso
CINNAMON-BREASTED BUNTING   Kruger NP
GOLDEN-BREASTED BUNTING   Mkhuze Game Reserve
YELLOW-FRONTED CANARY   St. Lucia
CAPE CANARY   Protea Hotel
House Sparrow   Protea Hotel
CAPE SPARROW   Protea Hotel
SOUTHERN GRAY-HEADED SPARROW   Mkhuze Game Reserve
YELLOW-THROATED PETRONIA   Mkhuze Game Reserve
RED-BILLED BUFFALO-WEAVER   Kruger NP
RED-HEADED WEAVER   Kruger NP
SPECTACLED WEAVER   Eshowe
CAPE WEAVER   Wakkerstroom
AFRICAN GOLDEN-WEAVER   St. Lucia
SOUTHERN BROWN-THROATED WEAVER   St Lucia--bridge
LESSER MASKED-WEAVER   St. Lucia
SOUTHERN MASKED-WEAVER   Protea Hotel
VILLAGE WEAVER   Eshowe
FOREST WEAVER   Dlinza Forest
RED-BILLED QUELEA   Waakerstrom
SOUTHERN RED BISHOP   Waakerstrom
FAN-TAILED WIDOWBIRD   iSimangaliso
LONG-TAILED WIDOWBIRD  Mpumalanga
GROSBEAK WEAVER   iSimangaliso
BLACK-TAILED WAXBILL   St. Lucia
COMMON WAXBILL   Mkhuze Game Reserve
SOUTHERN CORDONBLEU   Mkhuze Game Reserve
GREEN-WINGED PYTILIA   Mkhuze Game Reserve
AFRICAN FIREFINCH   Dlinza Forest
JAMESON'S FIREFINCH   Kruger NP
BLACK-AND-WHITE MANNIKIN   Dlinza Forest
Pin-tailed Whydah   iSimangaliso
VILLAGE INDIGOBIRD   Kruger NP