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Written by Jason Anderson
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Friday, 03 September 2010 |
Following my fantastic weekend's birdwatching last week, I decided to head down to Rusumo, on the Rwanda-Tanzania border on Sunday to see if the dry weather had changed the species complexion down there.
On arrival I spent some time observing the recently-arrived House Sparrows (Rwanda's first records are only a couple of years ago). They were nesting in one of the local restaurants, and feeding alongside the N. Grey-headed Sparrows, with no apparent conflict. I got some nice pics, esp. of one proud couple on the porch of their new bijou residence. http://kilnsey.tripod.com/house_sparrow.jpg
After this I headed down towards the papyrus swamp just upstream of the falls. Due to low water levels, much of the papyrus and scrub had been cut back and replaced by sweet potato, but the birds were still fairly plentiful. White-browed Coucal, Winding Cisticola, African Yellow Warbler and Swamp Flycatcher (including juv.) were some of the first species seen. As I followed a dodgy path into some remaining papyrus I heard White-winged Warbler, then saw Blue-headed Coucal. Playback of Papyrus Gonolek didn't elicit any response initially, but after some time a distant bird on the Tanzanian side started up, which inspired a much closer couple, just across the river to call back. One of them came into view for a few minutes.
Nearby Holub's Golden Weaver, Woodland Kingfisher (2 presumed separate records), non-breeding Fan-tailed Widowbird, Black-crowned Waxbill, Laughing Dove (incl. 2 juv.), Bronzy Sunbird, and Yellow-throated Longclaw were all about. The only bit of overgrown cultivation was looking after Western Citril, Brimstone Canary, Common Waxbill, Thick-billed Weaver and Red-faced Cisticola. The walk back to the village produced Augur Buzzard and Long-crested Eagle, as well as Ruppell's Starling and Grey-backed Fiscal.
I headed up the hill that led downstream of the falls, hoping that the strong wind would turn up some nice raptors or even migrants. By the time I got up to the hilltop, the winds were getting stronger. As well as the ubiquitous Black (presumed Yellow-billed) Kites and common Augur Buzzards, I spotted what I suspect to be the resident pair of peregrines whipping up and over the hilltop on an invisible conveyor belt of wind. I suspect that this pair might be nesting on the cliffs on the Tanzanian side, just downstream of the falls. I've seen them previously and the habitat seems good for them.
Little and Cinnamon-chested Bee-eaters were in the mixed eucalypt and scrub nearby. A (possibly family?) group of 4 Familiar Chats posed co-operatively for photos ( http://kilnsey.tripod.com/familiar_chat.jpg ) followed by a party of Green-winged Pytilia. I seem to have a lot more records of these 2 species since July. I stopped and sat down for a break overlooking the river valley for half an hour. A couple of distant raptors didn't come close enough for ID. Down by the river, three African Fish Eagles were waiting patiently for any casualties of the falls to surface, belaying their presence with their remarkably camp calls. (How can such a majestic bird have such a silly call?) A large white stork disappearing to the west didn't give good enough views, but seemed to have the jizz of White Stork, rather than Yellow-billed – but far from confirmed; shame. A lone female Bateleur cheered me back up as it yawed and drifted weightlessly up into the clouds, again on the Tanzanian side.
Further up the path I bumped into a pair of African Firefinch as well as Scarlet-chested and Marico Sunbirds. I had lunch on a hilltop, watched suspiciously by a tetchy gang of Trilling Cisticola, and decided to head along the ridge to a patch of eucalypt forest further west (I'm best friends with eucalypt after last weekend). Tropical Boubou was unexpected but welcome along the way. When I got there I soon located a mini-feeding party including Fork-tailed Drongo, Red-faced Crombec, Yellow Bishop (male non-breeding), Red-cheeked Cordon-Bleu, and most significantly of all 2 Pale (aka Miombo) Wren-Warblers, most probably all on a day trip from the fantastic Miombo Woodland that I envy so much on the Tanzanian side. Pale Wren-Warbler is another species that has been more apparent since the start of the dry season.
From this point on I managed to screw up several raptor sightings. A melanistic mid-sized accipter that was bugging a band of Speckled Mousebirds was probably Gabar, but it seemed to have a pale cere and (again, seemed to have) horizontal grey bars across the upper tail. Didn't get good enough views to confirm ID. Further along I found some very degraded scrub, and decided to take a shin-scratching detour across it. The two peregrines came whizzing by again, followed by another raptor so fast I couldn't even get my bins on it. Soon after, two Augur Buzzards suddenly appeared before me, utterly motionless, hanging in the prevailing north-westerly winds, as if they'd been there all afternoon. Then further away another dark raptor, larger, that had light brown on the upper coverts, as per Booted Eagle. But, this bird, as others today, seemed to have instructions to steer well clear of Homo sapiens, and it didn't come any closer. Unidentified. Shame.
Tawny-flanked Prinia and a paranoia of Arrow-marked Babblers (did you know that that's the correct collective noun for babblers?) cheered me up a bit, and then on the way back I was bowled over by a party of gracious Mosque Swallows gliding and hawking bee-eater-like over the hilltop.
I got back to Rusumo slightly annoyed by what I hadn't been able to confirm, and feeling that I'd had a quiet day. Then on return home I compared it with 3 other full days I'd had at Rusumo, and found that I'd seen more today than on any of the previous occasions. Just goes to show; familiarity can breed contempt. I hope it never does, though.
Jason
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Written by Michel Gutierrez
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Friday, 03 September 2010 |
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Names: Tangara gyrola, Bay-headed Tanager, Tangara Lacrada, Tangara Cabecicastaña.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/aralcal/4374852862/
Photo of Julian Londono About the picture:
I took this photo in "The Coffee Forest" Manizales, Colombia.
I usually put hangers in the garden of the farm to photograph the birds that perch on them.
I took the photos when he was convalescent...I felt much better when I saw the pictures on the pc LOL
This species of tanager is discreet and shy, it leaves little opportunity to focus it and their appearances are sporadic.
On that occasion I got about 20 shots of good quality.
About the Bay-headed Tanager
The Bay-headed Tanager, is a medium-sized passerine bird ( length 13.5 cm. and weight 23 grs). It is mainly green apart from a chestnut head, a blue belly, and a thin gold collar on the hind neck. Sexes are similar, but immatures are duller with chestnut-flecked green heads.This tanager is a resident breeder in Costa Rica, Panama, Ecuador, Bolivia,Brazil and Trinidad.
It occurs in forests, particularly in wetter areas. The bulky cup nest is built in a tree and the normal clutch is 2 brown-blotched white eggs.
These are social birds which eat mainly fruit, usually swallowed whole. Insects are also taken, mainly from the underside of branches.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bay-headed_Tanager
http://darnis.inbio.ac.cr/ubisen/FMPro?-DB=UBIPUB.fp3&-lay=WebAll&-error=norec.html&-Format=detail.html&-Op=eq&id=3422&-Find
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Written by globalbirdtrekkers.org
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Friday, 03 September 2010 |
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...and the Theme of The Week for this week is...A Bird in Silhouette! You can submit your photos in either the Trekkie's Forums or in the relevant GBT Flickr Group Discussion . Remember a winner is selected each month end.
Goliath Heron_MG_5844 by jackie.during, on Flickr
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Written by Laine
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Friday, 03 September 2010 |
Tomorrow 4 September 2010 is IVAD - International Vulture Awareness Day! Check the link for more about Vultures! 
(Photo: Ramkat)
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Written by Candice Swarts
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Thursday, 02 September 2010 |
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On arrival, a Red-winged Starling flew over head - flashing its bright rusty feathers. We had stopped at Manyane’s reception on the morning of the 27th of August. The ever present pair of Groundscraper Thrush frolicked about on the green lawn just outside reception along with a Kurrichane Thrush pair. The temperature was already soaring close to 30°C, it was going to be a hot weekend! The Speckled Pigeons (whom have made themselves quite at home at the restaurant) watched me from the roof’s rafters as I fetched our parking permit. The trio that peered over the rafter looked somewhat comical with their bulging, yellow eyes and scrawny neck. 
Shortly after putting up our make-shift home for the next few days, a Golden-breasted Bunting appeared followed by Hornbills showing off their characteristic bill shape. The drumming of Cardinal Woodpeckers against aged tree trunks could be heard in the distance. Bird watching in the camp site was productive, regardless of all the odd looks you tend to get when lying on your belly in the sand, attempting to photograph a ‘little brown job’ as far as the tourists are concerned. 
One encounter in the camp site was that of a Familiar Chat. It all began with me following the Chat around but after a while, I wasn’t to sure who was following who? The Chat repeatedly made journeys between a perch above me and a few centimetres next to where I was sitting: inspecting my gadgets on each visit. 
 Our weekend’s expeditions revolved around Mankwe Dam, the largest body of water in the park. The dam itself has a well positioned hide, with plenty activity in and around the hide (including the two-legged kind with cameras slung around their necks). Pied Kingfishers darted back and forth across the dam while a Malachite Kingfisher also put in an odd appearance. The water’s edge was lined with white birds ranging from Great White Egrets to the smaller Black-winged Stilts.
It was great to see a flock of Red-billed Oxpeckers, scaling up and down the long necks of healthy Giraffes with great agility. Amidst all the gleaning for ticks, a scorpion was tactfully devoured by a Lilac-breasted Roller! Amazing how such a beautiful bird can eat such a lethal creature…
  
It was clearly evident that it was nearly spring: from birds singing duets to building nests! A Kalahari Scrub-Robin spent time collecting fine pieces of grass for its cupped nest, located 50cm off the ground in a low bush. After adding the grass, the Scrub-Robin sat in the cup, bouncing around whilst rotating clockwise in an attempt to hollow out the cup.
A platform of untidy sticks staged an interesting interaction between an African Fish-Eagle and two Vervet Monkies. The Monkey had launched itself on to the Eagle’s nest only to find the Eagle displaying an impressive wingspan! After a ‘hand-to-hand’ combat scene, the Vervet left (tail still intact).  
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.gif "Africa Birds and Birding Magazine")
