The Trekkie's Forum

Lucky devil!!!

Niall told me that the Harare vleis and the miombo woodlands in Harare is a must!

I am so jealous! Don't you need a secretary?

Trevor, the birdng in and around Harare is very good, but it is a pity that you cant get around. Haka Park south of Harare is very good for Miombo birds, but depending on where you are staying you should have a chance of seeing Miombo Double-collared Sunbird, Spotted Creeper, Green-backed Honeybird, Whyte's Barbet, Red-faced Crombec, Southern Hyliota, and various other species.
Yellow-mantled Widowbird can be seen at Monovale Vlei.

Got back yesterday from my brief business trip to Harare and considering there was no real time for birding I got really lucky and somehow managed to pick up 6 lifers in a total of about 3 hours of birding

The first was Abdim’s Stork seen from the plane at Harare airport while still taxing towards the main building - was a group of around 20 birds right next to the runway – I could not believe my luck
This bird has always evaded me in South Africa. Unfortunately no camera on hand for a photo at the time, but got this terrible picture on my way to the hotel - not even sure if this is an Abdim’s


Abdim's Stork by trevor.charters, on Flickr

Had an hour before dinner to explore the hotel gardens and I managed to pick up another 2 lifers within 15 minutes - Variable Sunbird and Miombo Double-collared Sunbird. The gardens were crawling with sunbirds. Got these few proof shots during my stay.


Male Variable by trevor.charters, on Flickr


Female by trevor.charters, on Flickr


Miombo Double-collared Sunbird by trevor.charters, on Flickr

After the first day of the conference I had an hour or two to explore the neighborhood and found an extremely well wooded but seriously overgrown stand. In quick succession I picked up another 2 lifers - Tropical Boubou and African Yellow White-Eye. Got this blurry shot of the White-Eye but unfortunately the Boubou was moving around too much in the thick dark undergrowth so I did not even manage a proof shot.
I then thought I had may have seen a Southern Hyliota but could not get a good enough view to confirm – was probably just a Puffback.


African Yellow White-eye by trevor.charters, on Flickr

Then the next day as we were leaving the hotel I heard a strange call - looked up and saw this fellow. Was quite far off so I snapped a few shots on maximum zoom and when I checked these out later I could not believe my luck – Whyte’s Barbet. This was the best of some very bad shots I could get


Whyte's Barbet by trevor.charters, on Flickr


Also saw lots of Golden Weavers and various other weavers and sparrows, Purple Crested Turaco and hordes of Manikins, Babblers and Waxbills. Got another photo lifer in White-browed Robin-Chat although it is a terrible one – here are a few more birds seen.


White-browed Robin-Chat by trevor.charters, on Flickr


AM Babbler by trevor.charters, on Flickr


BB Puffback by trevor.charters, on Flickr


I really could not believe how lucky I was – I would hate to know how many lifers I could get in Harare on a proper birding trip. Would love to do all the vleis in the area and the proper Miombo woodland areas

Thanks Sue

Yes I am - look forward to seeing you and Big O there. Hopefully a whole lot more lifers for me on this weekend

WOW Trevor, congratulations on the lifers, some fantastic photo's there

I am so jealous I can hardly say anything now.