I visited Rooikraal on the dates above, to participate in a hunting safari. While enjoying this marvelous adventure, I also took the opportunity to increase my life-list of birds seen. The abundance of bird life is impressive here, with the typical Camelthorn savannah species well represented. In addition, the presence of numerous water holes, a sizable lake and several smaller ponds provided habitat for water birds. Weather was mild, but progressively cooler mornings heralded the approach of winter. The vast majority of the species which are present only in their non breeding season had moved north at this point, leaving resident birds. Recent, heavier-than-normal rains had provided dense grass cover, abundant insects and the opportunity for a second or third nesting cycle of a number of birds, Francolin, Guineafowl and Sand Grouse in particular. The names used are as they appear in Sinclair’s Birds of Southern Africa.

Ostrich

Little Grebe

Green-backed (Striated) Heron

Great Egret

Hammerkop

African Spoonbill

Egyptian Goose

Red-billed Duck (Teal)

Tawny Eagle

Brown Snake-Eagle

Bataleur

Gabar Goshawk

Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk

Lesser Kestrel

Pygmy Falcon

Secretary Bird

Black-shouldered Kite

Lappet-faced Vulture

African White-backed Vulture

Red-billed Francolin

Orange River Francolin

Helmeted Guineafowl

Small (Kurrichane) Button-Quail

Northern Black Korhan (White-quilled Bustard)

Common Moorhen

Crowned Lapwing

Blacksmith Plover (Lapwing)

Double-banded Courser

Burchells’ Sandgrouse

Namaqua Sandgrouse

Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon) *

Cape Turtle Dove

Namaqua Dove

Laughing dove

Rosy-faced Lovebird

Gray Lourie (Go-away Bird)

Little Swift *

African Palm-Swift *

Red-faced Mousebird

White-backed Mousebird

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater

Lilac-breasted Roller

Purple Roller

African Gray Hornbill

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Common (Greater) Scimitarbill

African (Eurasian) Hoopoe

Acacia Pied Barbet

Rock Martin

Fork-tailed Drongo

Cape (Black) Crow

Ashy Tit

Southern Pied Babbler

African Red-eyed Bulbul

Groundscraper Thrush

Short-toed Rock Thrush

Mountain Wheatear

Familiar Chat

Ant-eating Chat

White-browed Scrub-Robin

Kalahari Scrub-Robin

Yellow-bellied Eremomela

Long-billed Crombec

Black-chested Prinia

Pririt Batis

Chinspot Batis **

Crimson-breasted Shrike (Gonolek)

Brubru

Cape Glossy Starling

Violet-backed Starling

Burchell’s Starling

Pale-winged Starling

Great Sparrow

House Sparrow *

Southern Gray-headed Sparrow

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Sociable Weaver

Southern Masked-Weaver

Red-billed Quelea

Pin-tailed Whydah

Shaft-tailed Whydah

Long-tailed Paradise-Whydah

Violet-eared Waxbill

Black-faced Waxbill

Red-headed Finch

Scaly-feathered Finch

Green-winged Pytilia

Yellow Canary

Black-throated Canary

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Golden-breasted Bunting

* These species were only observed in the Windhoek urban environment.

** The Pririt Batis is the common species at Rooikraal. However, the Chinspot Batis observed here, while a bit south of normal range, was a very well-marked and distinctive female bird, observed at length.

Note: The 91 species observed do not comprise a full list of species present. We did not have an opportunity to carefully study and key the several Larks and Pipits we saw briefly. In addition, we heard and saw at a distance at least two species of Woodpeckers which we could not closely observe. Our hosts saw Ruppell’s Parrots on one occasion, but I missed them. In addition, we heard but did not see Woodland Kingfisher, so I have not included it on the list. With a bit more time devoted to birding, I estimate that an additional 15-20 species are present and likely at this season. Conducting the observation a month earlier would likely have added at least an additional dozen species, so we plan to expand this list on future visits. The Lamprechts can provide significant assistance to visiting birders, as they know most of the birds well, and, as with most Professional Hunters, are keen observers of nature.

DICK MAY - KAPOLEI, HAWAII, USA
1-808-674-1287
Emails: richard.m.may@lmco.com or Richard.May@hickam.af.mil