Volume 50 No 1 January 2017 About the Namibia Club The Namibia Bird Club was founded in 1962 and has been active since then. The club’s mission is to contribute to Namibian ornithology by, amongst other things, arranging regular birding outings, conducting bird ringing and atlasing excursions and educating the public about the value of . To achieve this, we organize monthly visits to interesting birding sites around Windhoek as well as regular visits to Avis Dam and the Gammams Sewage Works and occasional weekend trips further afield. Bird club members also participate in the African Waterbird Census twice a year.

Experienced birders are more than happy to help beginners and novices on these outings. If you have a transport problem or would like to share transport please contact a committee member. Depending on the availability of speakers and suitable material we present occasional lecture or video evenings at the Namibia Scientific Society premises. Members receive a digital newsletter, Namibia Bird News, which includes a programme of forthcoming events and the Bird Club journal, Lanioturdus.

The Namibia Bird Club is not affiliated to any global or regional organization and relies entirely on members’ subscriptions and donations to fund its activities.

The opinions expressed in this journal are those of the authors and not necessarily those of the Namibia Bird Club or its committee.

Instructions to Authors

Lanioturdus is a journal dedicated to birds and birding. Although the journal’s primary focus is on Namibia, articles from other geographical parts of the globe will also be considered for publication. Authors should use common and scientific names of southern African birds as published in Roberts’ VII. For other regions, English and scientific names following BirdLife International’s list (http://www.birdlife.org/datazone/species) should be used. Text should be submitted as a MS Word document. Photos, maps and figures should be sent as separate jpeg images, graphs as MS Excel charts or jpeg images and tables as MS Word or Excel documents. Please indicate in the article text where these should be placed.

Lanioturdus 50(1) i January 2017 LANIOTURDUS Vol. 50 (1) 2017 January 2017 www.namibiabirdclub.org

CONTENTS

KOLBERG H Editorial ...... 1

EDMUNDS T Goshawk and Lions ...... 2

SACK J Ringers’ Get-together 2016 ...... 6

KOLBERG H Status assessment of Namibia’s vultures ..... 9

DEMASIUS E Bird Atlasing in the Hardap and //Karas Regions of Namibia, July 2016 ...... 18

OSCHADLEUS HD Weaver longevity records from Namibia ...... 25

THOMSON N Rarities and Interesting Observations ...... 26

KOLBERG H Bird Atlas Update ...... 32

Lanioturdus 50(1) ii January 2017

Editorial Holger Kolberg [email protected]

Fifty and counting! Indeed, your There are so many interesting things journal is into its 50th volume and as going on that not many people know you will have noticed, we have about. Like the nest box study decided to celebrate by giving it a new mentioned by Jessica in her article. look. Never mind the scientific part of it (which has been reported in this This issue’s cover page is the front journal), but so many other page of the first ever Lanioturdus, interesting things have been observed then, of course, still known as the during that study which should be Mitteilungen. It was roneoed on recorded and published. foolscap paper and posted to members – how things have changed How many people have observed since! Village Indigobirds in their Windhoek gardens? What about Okahandja or I am hoping to continue to provide Otjiwarongo? Remember, if you talk our members with a high quality about it, it is a story, if you write it publication throughout this down, its history! anniversary year and beyond. This, of course, depends on you sending me Your contributions will not only keep contributions and I am very grateful this journal going but also contribute to the two stalwarts Eckart and Neil to the knowledge base of ornithology for providing me with enough in Namibia and southern Africa and material to keep going. You do not ultimately that is what it’s all about. need to be a Shakespeare, Goethe or Or not? Pierneef to contribute. A simple photographic essay, like Tony’s in Keep birding! this issue (admittedly with wow! photographs), will do.

Lanioturdus 50(1) Page 1 January 2017 Bird Atlasing in the Hardap and //Karas Regions of Namibia, July 2016 Eckart Demasius [email protected] All photographs in this article are © Eckart Demasius

We, (that is my wife, Birgit, and I), We stayed at the beautifully alternatively known as Team renovated bungalows at Hardap; Demasius, planned a tour to the sadly the large trees around the south of Namibia to visit some bungalows are slowly dying on historical sites which, at the same account of not being watered time, was ideal for bird atlasing as we sufficiently. The dam water seems to covered a great area and a large part be too far away to help them. of it had hardly been atlased before. Fortunately some fig trees next to the perimeter wall were in fine shape and Atlasing was done along the roads on starting to bear fruit, which attracted an ad-hoc basis and we chose to many birds. This was perfect for early primarily make use of lesser travelled morning birding. routes such as district roads. Our goal was to reach our overnight stop The highlight was a Fairy Flycatcher at least an hour before sunset to (ORF) which came to inspect the tree enable us to get in an hour’s birding and a Caspian Tern flying over the before lighting the fire and pouring dam in search of food. the drinks. In the mornings I was up by six o’clock, armed with camera, After breakfast we chose the northern binoculars and coffee doing early route to the fishing spots, all of which morning birding. On “rest days”, i.e. we visited. Some of the “roads” going days where we spent a second night down to the fishing areas had a at our destination the aim was to add distinct Kaokoveld character and it two, possibly three additional full was only with my low range engaged protocol lists for neighbouring that I managed to reach the plateau pentads. again. The dam itself had few birds; larks and other Nama-Karoo birds on On 12 July we travelled along the the plateau made up a handsome C23 and C15 via Dordabis to tally though. Birgit spotted some Uhlenhorst until finally the MR 41 vultures which were identified as brought us to the C20 between Lappet-faced and White-backed Mariental and Stampriet from where Vultures, both of which turned out to we took the tar road to the Hardap be full out of range. Dam. We covered 37 pentads before we reached Hardap; on three of these In the late morning we drove into the we saw no identifiable birds while the Game Park, which is no longer highest count was eight species. I accessible via the dam wall. stopped along the B1 to take some photographs of Kori on We crossed the Fish River below the freshly ploughed fields and while wall where we saw a beautiful African doing so we found a dead owl next to Purple Swamphen and entered the the road. We could easily identify it park. The water level of the dam was as a Spotted Eagle-Owl, for which I low at 37% so the water’s edge was got an ORF (Out of Range Form).

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some distance away at the Bird But my luck improved soon Paradise. afterwards when a Layard’s Tit- Babbler made its appearance followed shortly afterwards by a Karoo Eremomela which afforded me good photographic opportunities. Both species turned out to be full out of range, the latter being a lifer for me and consequently I was quite chuffed.

Figure 1: African Purple Swamphen

An interesting route led to a nearby thicket of camelthorn trees, unfortunately it was marked “No Entry”. I think it would benefit the atlasing exercise if atlasers were allowed to enter at least some of Figure 2: Layard’s Tit-Babbler these “No Entry” roads. There was a different habitat there and certainly a That day’s destination was Anib handful of species could have been Lodge and as we had plenty of time to added to the overall list for the get there we chose to visit Kalahari pentad. Nevertheless I could add Farmhouse at Stampriet and to do Kalahari Scrub-Robin to pentad some serious atlasing along the way. 2430_1750. The non-birding Pentad 2420_1815, a virgin pentad, highlight was a good view of an turned out to be very productive and African Wild Cat as I followed some we added Chat Flycatcher, Common birds on foot. Fiscal, Scaly-feathered Finch, Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk, The road took us in a northerly Red-headed Finch, Marico Flycatcher, direction west of the dam into the Fork-tailed Drongo, Laughing Dove, next pentad, 2430_1745, where we Anteating Chat, Pygmy Falcon, Kori diligently atlased and were able to , Lappet-faced and White- add Short-toed Rock-Thrush, Pale- backed Vulture to the list, all not winged Starling, Ashy Tit and recorded previously under SABAP1. Kalahari Scrub-Robin to the list. As The Lappet-faced Vulture was full out the sun was setting we returned to of range. camp completing a successful day of birding at Hardap.

Early in the morning on 14 July I was at my station next to the perimeter wall wishing to obtain a photograph of the Caspian Tern, which was very special to me. Instead, while taking a sip of coffee an Osprey flew past me at eye level – what a wonderful view, sadly though I had the coffee instead of my camera in my hand!! Figure 3: Red-headed Finch

Lanioturdus 50(1) Page 19 January 2017 Kalahari Farmhouse is a green oasis MR29 to Keetmanshoop. On this 280 with wonderful gardens. Here meat kilometre stretch we saw very few and vegetables are produced for the birds. After Keetmanshoop we Gondwana Lodges and the followed the tar road to Grünau. At agricultural land attracted a number Keetmanshoop I recorded Swallow- of species. We enjoyed a scrumptious tailed Bee-eater and along the road to meal and were thoroughly Grünau Pied Crow twice, all of which entertained by a Karoo Thrush with turned out to be full out of range. its lovely song. Short-toed Rock- Thrush, Gabar Goshawk (a We settled in at Vastrap Guest Farm melanistic bird), Pygmy Falcon and for our excursions for the week. The Dusky Sunbird were all full out of first day was a day of “rest”, so we range. Wattled Starling at the atlased along the D270, the D208 camping area was likewise full out of and the B3 for the day, starting at range. Grünau. Here we saw a Common Peafowl and I am never sure whether At Anib Lodge we elected to go on a to record this species as it was kept game drive as I was hoping to enter as a pet, but then all other Common an additional pentad which we would Peafowl in Namibia are in the same otherwise not be able to access. I took position. Anyway, it was full out of my GPS along and soon we were range and so were the Short-toed rewarded for the expense. Crowned Rock-Thrush and Sabota Lark. Lapwing, Lappet-faced and White- backed Vulture, Yellow Canary and Along the Great //Karas Mountains Pygmy Falcon increased the list for we saw another Lappet-faced and the pentad. In to make this White-backed Vulture. Both turned pentad a full protocol pentad, we out to be full out of range and by spent the money and went on the then I was convinced that something game drive the next afternoon as well. drastic must have happened to Very kindly the same guide took us vulture distribution since SABAP1!!! on another road and was rewarded Admittedly, this was the southern seeing his first Pygmy Falcon which I trip on which I have seen the most could point out. vultures; I was previously under the impression one does not find them in At the lodge I spent quite some time the south. As we were atlasing a lot of at the waterhole where a number of new pentads we spent the maximum Kalahari species came to drink. My time out there before returning to our highlight was a Red-capped Lark of base after sunset. the southern race which is much more intensely coloured. Shortly On 18 July we left for Velloorsdrif thereafter I heard a Pearl-spotted and travelled towards Warmbad and Owlet calling, but when atlasing I do Karasburg. We informed our landlady not rely on calls for identification. So accordingly – just as well as there Birgit called it and it responded was hardly any traffic all day – and immediately by flying low over us. the only comment she had about Both these species were full out of Karasburg was “dis nie ‘n plek waar range for the pentad. Later in the day jy wil bly nie”. As we would pass we atlased along the D1268 in the through this town daily for the next Anib pentad to further augment it. few days we made a special effort to look for birds in all areas of the town The next day we travelled further every time we went through but it south and elected to drive along the

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seemed that most birds shared our not produce many birds for me it was landlady’s opinion. still a worthwhile walk, especially as I saw an African Fish-Eagle perched We continued along the MR21 to the above me on a cliff on my way back. most historic town in Namibia, Warmbad – it appeared to look like it We returned to Karasburg via the had two hundred years ago, only with C10 recording very few birds; in fact tin shanties replacing the wattle and three pentads in a row produced not daub structures. The old churches a single bird, no doubt a sign of lack are still kept in a very good condition. of food on account of the drought. This was the first stop over for most Karasburg is spread over two pentads travellers, explorers and missionaries and when we entered “Karasburg 2” venturing into Namibia. One of the from the C10 the only Namaqua earliest travellers to Namibia, Sandgrouse recorded was sitting on Francois Levaillant, is said to also the road crossing of the MR21, have visited Warmbad. We were probably considering settling “in die greeted by a Karoo Long-billed Lark plek waar jy nie wil bly nie”!! in the “main road”. Birdlife was remarkably good and we stayed for a Early on 19 July we were on our way long time visiting the different sites through Karasburg following the and wherever we went there were footsteps of Francois Levaillant, the birds. No doubt it is the attraction of destination being his “Camp du the spring water, although it was also Giraffe”, Ramansdrif, on the Orange running very low. We ended up with a River. tally of fifteen species, many, many more than we had seen along the After leaving Karasburg we did not road to Warmbad. meet a single vehicle or see a person until we reached the drift opposite Goodhouse!!!

Figure 4: Karoo Long-billed Lark

Continuing along the D206 amongst splendid scenery we recorded yet another Lappet-faced Vulture, and Figure 5: Ramansdrif on the Orange River yes, again it was full out of range!!! Returning on the D292 towards the Apart from this, the dominant species D208 we saw our first eagle of the were Common Fiscal and Sociable trip, a , drawing its Weaver. circles majestically in the sky, totally oblivious of the fact that it was fully Arriving at Velloorsdrif I walked down out of range!!! Would it care? to the river from the border post for some birding and was greeted by the And so we carried on to the next drift southern race of the Spur-winged along the D208 through the Goose. Although the Orange River did

Lanioturdus 50(1) Page 21 January 2017 Goodhouse Poort Pass opposite Ramansdrif the day before we had Goodhouse in South Africa. Here a noticed that pentad 2805_1840, very enterprising individual is south-west of Karasburg, was more investing millions of dollars to productive than others, so we establish date plantations on an travelled there and spent another enormous scale. We saw only three hour in the pentad and “bagged” people; everything was either another five species. We left rather mechanized or computerized. It was satisfied with fifteen species being interesting to record both Cape registered in the most barren White-eye and Orange River White- landscape yet encountered on our eye at the same location. trip. Surprisingly, Common Moorhen on the river was fully out of range. And Our additional visit to Karasburg also for a time Red-eyed Dove had me resulted in an additional species, foxed!!! Scaly-feathered Finch, which brought the final tally for the pentad to fifteen. We were now actively birding in the Karas Region for the third day and we On Thursday, 21 July, we departed still had not encountered Karoo from Vastrap, where we had recorded Korhaan. Driving back on the D208 thirty five species, and headed for towards Karasburg very little was Klein Aus Vista, choosing the scenic added to our lists. Double-banded Orange River route. Along the C10 Courser (ORF) did lift our spirits towards Ai-Ais we usually have good which probably contributed to an sightings of raptors but this time excellent sighting of the much longed there were none to be seen. Instead I for Karoo Korhaan shortly afterwards earned some ORF’s for Spike-heeled in pentad 2805_1840 on one of the Lark, Bokmakierie and Karoo Long- barest patches of ground encountered billed Lark. all day. Along the MR66 from the C37 to Aussenkehr we were hoping for Ludwig’s Bustard which we have always seen along this route. However, this time, the area was so dry and barren with no sign of vegetation at all that travelling across the red basalt gravel plains was like driving on Mars. What a welcome sight it was therefore to see the lush green and the water of the Orange Figure 6: Karoo Korhaan River. Here we were greeted by Sacred Ibis, Cormorants and an On 20 July we rested once more and African Darter. because the wind was not blowing we decided to revisit the D270 and Further west along the River, we saw Grünau, where we added Sabota Yellow-billed Duck, a bird we had not Lark, a new species for the list, and seen on the river before. At Karoo Chat. Leaving Vastrap a Sendelingsdrif we saw our only threesome of Karoo Korhaan kindly Goliath Heron whilst an African Fish- showed up. Along the D270 only Eagle was circling above us wishing Karoo and Familiar Chat were added us well on our journey further north to our list. Whilst traveling to along the C13 to Aus. Crossing the

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Rekvlakte where the highest density ORF’s. We atlased each pentad by of Barlow’s Lark has been recorded driving very slowly and stopping not a sign of life could be seen on the frequently and in this manner we endless barren plains. managed to find up to twelve species per pentad.

At the junction of the D727 we turned right and followed this beautiful winding road through the Huib Plateau. This road is also known as the “Kyk-in-die-pot Road”. Well, we looked everywhere but there was no pot to be found; instead we found more ORF’s - Rosy-faced Lovebird, Acacia Pied Barbet and Figure 7: Orange River Cape Bunting. Again we painstakingly atlased each pentad In the meantime we contemplated and the maximum tally on this what to do on our day of rest the stretch of road was only five species, following day. As we had atlased the the highlight being another three road to Lüderitz two years in a row, Karoo Korhaan. we needed some new destination. We chose the Huib Plateau. We returned along the C13 to Aus, again crossing the Rekvlakte, but it First we travelled eastwards for some felt more like the vrekvlakte as for 30 kilometers along the B4, before five consecutive pentads we only turning onto the D446, also known registered one Karoo Chat and that at as the “Schakalskuppe Road”. a maximum speed of 40 km/h!!! Anteating Chat, twice, and Brown Getting closer to Aus our fortunes Snake-Eagle earned us our first changed for the better as we found ORF’s. some Greater Kestrels and a beautiful pair of Lanner Falcons perched on the telephone poles. Where will they perch one day when all the old telephone poles are removed? And then came the highlight for the C13, two Ludwig’s Bustards, our first for this trip.

The day was closed by spending the last hours in the Garub pentad where Common Fiscal and Speckled Pigeon Figure 8: Verreaux’s Eagle were added to the list.

A majestic Verreaux’s Eagle on a cliff Our next destination was the Namib next to the road was no doubt our Desert Lodge. We travelled along the highlight on this road. Passing a little scenic D707, this time the sand was farm house further on I registered a so heavy that I preferred to travel Rock Dove (Feral Pigeon) at the water with 4x4 engaged. Rüppell’s Korhaan trough, which was marginally out of was seen twice and we now knew that range!! Rosy-faced Lovebird and slowly we were on our way back Fork-tailed Drongo also generated home. Along the D827 we were very

Lanioturdus 50(1) Page 23 January 2017 lucky with raptors. Starting off with Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk, of which we saw at least seven pairs, and followed by Verreaux’s Eagle (ORF), Pygmy Falcon, Greater Kestrel, Lappet-faced Vulture (no ORF!!),

Secretarybird and Rock Kestrel. North of Hammerstein an Augur Figure 10: Pied Crow Buzzard was circling above the road, another ORF for the day. Returning to Sesriem Camp I registered Scarlet-chested Sunbird, which was also an ORF.

Figure 9: Augur Buzzard

We had one more day of rest and Birgit wanted to go to Sossusvlei. As Figure 11: Scarlet-chested Sunbird luck would have it the east wind was blowing strongly but I ventured on in On Monday 25 July we returned the hope the wind would die down – home to Swakopmund driving on, no such luck!! But once we left the amongst others, the MR1998, dust at Sesriem Camp the air was through the Namib-Naukluft Park. A clean despite the strong wind. green shimmer of grass from a rain Accordingly few birds were seen, but shower that fell in early June Rüppell’s Korhaan and Ludwig’s attracted many Springbok and Bustard seemed quite unperturbed Mountain Zebra and never before had by the wind and went on foraging, we seen herds of thousands of while a Pied Crow was seen seeking Springbok and hundreds of Zebra shelter from the wind behind a little elsewhere in the Namib. What a bush. stunning end to a 4400 kilometre trip through the Hardap and //Karas Regions of Namibia.

Note: My gratitude and appreciation to Neil Thomson for editing the text.

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