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Species List with Carlos Sanchez, Marc Rabenandrasana, Expert Local Guides, and 7 Participants: Cathy, Sandy, Jeff, Eileen, Diane, Suzanne and Robert

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Species List with Carlos Sanchez, Marc Rabenandrasana, Expert Local Guides, and 7 Participants: Cathy, Sandy, Jeff, Eileen, Diane, Suzanne and Robert Nov. 26 – Dec. 10, 2018 Madagascar Birding and Wildlife Tour Species List With Carlos Sanchez, Marc Rabenandrasana, expert local guides, and 7 participants: Cathy, Sandy, Jeff, Eileen, Diane, Suzanne and Robert Compiled by Carlos Sanchez (HO)= Distinctive enough to be counted as heard only (E)= Endemic to Madagascar (RE)=Regionally endemic to the islands of the Indian Ocean (BrE)=Endemic breeder to Madagascar but migrates to Africa Summary: Isolated for nearly 80 million years, Madagascar boasts one of the most unique animals on Earth: lemurs, tenrecs, ground-rollers, mesites, asities and more are all endemic families to the island. Over the course of this tour, we sampled the southern two-thirds of the island from the otherworldly spiny forest at Ifaty to the lush montane forests of Ranomafana for lemurs, chameleons and endemic birds (we saw over 80 endemic birds, including the legendary Helmet Vanga!). Along the way, we laughed almost the entire time (it was an especially jovial group), made new friends and created incredible memories. BIRDS (154 species recorded, of which 6 were heard only): DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS: Anatidae (4) White-faced Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna viduata—large numbers of these attractive ducks at Lac Alarobia, where they were associating with large numbers of smaller dabbling ducks Hottentot Teal Spatula hottentota—we saw about a couple dozen of these little blue-billed ducks at Lac Alarobia plus a few more at the Belalanda Wetlands. Meller’s Duck Anas melleri (E)—an endemic duck that looks like a female Mallard but sporting a long gray bill. We saw one at Lac Alarobia. Red-billed Duck Anas erythrorhyncha—the most widespread and common waterfowl species on our route, recorded on four days. Good numbers at Lac Alarobia. GUINEAFOWL: Numididae (1) Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris (I)—a couple shy birds in the grasslands near Relais de la Reine. This species is thought to be an old introduction to Madagascar, brought to the island before the arrival of Europeans. Naturalist Journeys, LLC PO Box 16545 Portal, AZ 85632 PH: 520.558.1146 Toll free 866.900.1146 Fax 650.471.7667 www.naturalistjourneys.com Email [email protected] FLAMINGOS: Phoenicopteridae (1) Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus—a few drab, immature birds at Belalanda Wetlands en route to Ifaty GREBES: Podicipedidae (1) Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis —seen only once, a couple at the Belalanda Wetlands. Widespread but generally uncommon on the island. PIGEONS AND DOVES: Columbidae (5) Rock Pigeon Columba livia (I)—common feral bird in towns and cities Madagascar Turtle-Dove Streptopelia picturata (RE)—we saw this pretty and shy dove well on the grounds of Relais de la Reine, walking along on the ground under a lone tree. Widespread and common elsewhere but very shy due to hunting. Namaqua Dove Oena capensis—this elegant and pretty little dove was common in the dry southwest Madagascar Green-Pigeon Treron australis (RE)—several skittish birds feeding on figs near Ifaty one day Madagascar Blue-Pigeon Alectroenas madagascariensis (E)—we recorded this beautiful and unique fruit-eating pigeon in the rainforests of Ranomofana and Andasibe-Mantadia, including a nice perched individual in full sun. Not as common or as numerous as the previous year. The blue-pigeons of the Indian Ocean islands are most closely related to the Australian and Pacific Island fruit doves thousands of miles away! MESITES: Mesitornithidae (2) Brown Mesite Mesitornis unicolor (E) (HO)—a pair calling in an overgrown ravine at Ranomafana was heard by all but not in a place where we could pursue it, unfortunately Subdesert Mesite Monias benschi (E)—a male and then a female perched in a low tree at length for the group in Ifaty, allowing us to approach it to within a few feet. Really does not look like anything else! SANDGROUSE: Pteroclidae (1) Madagascar Sandgrouse Pterocles personatus (E)—nice flyover flock plus several birds walking along briskly through short grass on the way from Toliara to Relais de la Reine CUCKOOS AND ALLIES: Cuculidae(11) Crested Coua Coua cristata (E)—we saw a couple of these attractive, arboreal couas at Ifaty Verreaux’s Coua Coua verreauxi (E)—seen very well, albeit briefly, in the spiny forest of La Table. This coua has an extremely limited distribution in coastal southwest Madagascar. Blue Coua Coua caerulea (E)—this large, arboreal coua was not too uncommon in the rainforests of Ranomofana and Andasibe. This species resembles and behaves like mainland Africa’s colorful turacos. Red-capped Coua Coua ruficeps (E)—we saw the ‘Green-capped’ subspecies of this coua at Ifaty and La Table Red-fronted Coua Coua reynaudii (E)—beautiful and lengthy views of a very responsive individual at Andasibe-Mantadia National Park. This rainforest coua is normally shy and difficult to observe! Coquerel’s Coua Coua coquereli (E)—a terrestrial coua of drier, semi-deciduous forests – brief views of a skittish individual at Zombitse National Park as it crossed the trail in front of us Running Coua Coua cursor (E)—nice views of a pair feeding on a lizard at La Table, followed by excellent repeat views of another individual at Ifaty Naturalist Journeys, LLC PO Box 16545 Portal, AZ 85632 PH: 520.558.1146 Toll free 866.900.1146 Fax 650.471.7667 www.naturalistjourneys.com Email [email protected] Giant Coua Coua gigas (E)—the largest of all the couas and perhaps the most cooperative and tranquil; we observed one at close range at Zombitse National Park after a brief chase by an angry Appert’s Tetraka! Red-breasted Coua Coua serriana (E) (HO)---we tried our best at Andasibe with a calling bird, but it would just not move from its spot in dense rainforest undergrowth. This species is the hardest to see of all the couas. Madagascar Coucal Centropus toulou (RE)—a very common cuckoo of secondary growth and disturbed areas throughout Madagascar from cities to dry forest to rainforest Madagascar Cuckoo Cuculus rochii (BrE)—this is a common summer migrant to Madagascar, equally at home in both wet and dry forests. We had our best views of a perched bird at Zombitse National Park. NIGHTJARS: Caprimulgidae (2) Collared Nightjar Gactornis enarratus (E)—an adult and its nearly full grown offspring roosting in the leaf litter at Analamazaotra Reserve. No one knows what this species even sounds like, such are the gaps in our knowledge of Madagascar’s fauna. Madagascar Nightjar Caprimulgus madagascariensis (RE)—surprisingly common and tolerant of human disturbance, with sightings at our hotel in Toliara and Arboretum d’Antsokay SWIFTS: Apodidae (3) Malagasy Spinetail Zoonavena grandidieri (RE)—singles seen feeding over forest at Ifaty and Zombitse National Park Madagascar Swift Apus balstoni (RE)—our best views were at near the waterfall at Ranomafana National Park, where we saw about a dozen feeding over the valley African Palm-Swift Cypsiurus parvus—very common at Relais de la Reine and Hotel Thermal near Ranomafana, often in large flocks FLUFFTAILS: Sarothruridae (2) Madagascar Wood-Rail Canirallus kioloides (E)—beautiful views of three birds on our last morning at the Anamalazoatra Reserve near Andasibe, foraging in the leaf litter quite far from water. The flufftails and some of the rails have recently been split off as a new family, the Sarothruridae. Madagascar Flufftail Sarothrura insularis (E) (HO)—heard only on the Vohiparara Trail at Ranomafana and Anamalazoatra Reserve RAILS, COOTS AND ALLIES: Rallidae (4) Madagascar Rail Rallus madagascariensis (E) (HO)—we heard this species quite well in the same boggy highland wetland where we flushed Madagascar Snipe White-throated Rail Dryolimnas cuvieri (RE)—we observed this colorful rail on four days, including cooperative individuals at Relais de la Reine and Vakona Forest Lodge Eurasian Moorhen Gallinula chloropus—a few of these familiar birds at Lac Alarobia, very similar to the Common Gallinule found in the Americas Baillon’s Crake Zapornia pusilla (HO)—one heard well at the Belalanda Wetlands, a known site for this diminutive rail STILTS AND AVOCETS: Recurvirostridae (1) Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus—a couple dozen birds at the Belalanda Wetlands gave everyone great views Naturalist Journeys, LLC PO Box 16545 Portal, AZ 85632 PH: 520.558.1146 Toll free 866.900.1146 Fax 650.471.7667 www.naturalistjourneys.com Email [email protected] PLOVERS AND LAPWINGS: Charadriidae (7) Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola—rather common on the beaches at Nosy Ve, Toliara and Ifaty Greater Sand-Plover Charadrius leschenaultii—a few on the mudflats of the Toliara Harbor on a very windy late afternoon visit Kittlitz’s Plover Charadrius pecuarius—a common species in the arid southwest, filling a niche close to that of America’s Killdeer. One of the most numerous birds at the Belalanda Wetlands! Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula—reasonably common boreal migrant, with sightings at Toliara, Ifaty and the Belalanda Wetlands. Most of these birds migrate all the way from the Scandinavian and Russian tundra to spend the winter in Africa and Madagascar. Madagascar Plover Charadrius thoracicus (E)—a cooperative individual in highly degraded habitat just south of Ifaty, differentiated from Kittlitz’s Plover by its black breast band. The IUCN classifies this species as Vulnerable due to habitat loss in southwest Madagascar. Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris—one of these striking plovers at the Belalanda Wetlands, with two more at the roadside Madagascar Snipe spot White-fronted Plover Charadrius
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