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Home , Anjouan scops owl, Mascarene Islands, Moheli scops owl, Seychelles scops owl

BIRDING THE AFRICA SPECIALISTS

Indian Ocean Special

Tour Leaflet 2022 © Colin Rogers

Barau's Petrel

23 October - 11 November 2022 Special Moheli Scops Tour leader: Michael Mills BIRDING AFRICA THE AFRICA SPECIALISTS Birding Africa Tour Summary Tour Africa Birding Summary Tour Africa Birding

Indian Ocean • Back-to-back tours covering virtually all the non- Madagascan endemics of the western Indian Ocean • Visit all four the

Islands, including Mills © Michael Michael's incredible focus, dedication and ability to • See the Granitic and locate and show Africa's toughest is probably unequalled on the continent. He has led dozens of Our back-to-back tours, one to Comoros two endemics, before we move onto the Seychelles. Mascarene Islands (Reunion, tours across Africa and his experience in locating and one to Seychelles and the Mascarene Islands, Th e highlands of Mahé hold the greatest number and ) birds on just the soft est of calls or briefest of views off er a unique opportunity to see virtually all non- of endemics here, but we will also visit La Digue, impresses those who travelled with him. endemic birds of the western Indian Cousin, Aride and Praslin, in search of all of the • Pink Pigeon, Seychelles Kestrel, Ocean Islands. Th e only island group with endemics endemics of the granitic Seychelles. Mauritius Kestrel, 5 scops , Dates not covered is the far-fl ung Aldabra Group. Humblot's Flycatcher, seabirds Comoros 23-31 Oct 2022 In Comoros we start off on Tour Focus Island, where most of our time will be spent on Seychelles and Mascarenes the impressive of Mount Karthala with its Th e Comoros, Mascarenes and Seychelles Islands 1-11 Nov 2022 endemic-rich . A short plane-hop to Moheli off er a total of more than 50 endemics, Madagascar 13-29 Nov 2022 allows us to target all the single-island endemics plus impressive seabird spectacles, spectacular during the two-night stay, before we take a boat landscapes, unique plants and varied cultures, © Colin Rogers trip to Island for two more nights and off ering ample for both the world lister and more Pro�isional Prices (+ Single) several more endemics. Finally we end on Mayotte, generalist birders. Comoros $3495 + $450 politically part of , where we hope to see our Th is trip has a strong focus on watching birds, Seychelles and Mascarenes fourth . but there are opportunities too for some $5695 + $595 Regular fl ights between Mayotte and Reunion make watching and very good chances for photography. Both $9495 + $995 it easy for us to get to the start of the Seychelles and We will also take a few pelagic/seabird trips. Mascarenes Tour. We start off in the highlands of Let us know if you have target species or want to Includes numerous internal flights. Reunion, and also watch fl ocks of Barau's Petrels know more about the species we might encounter. coming near inshore in the evening. A species list will be handed out to you at the start of the tour and is available beforehand upon request. Book online A short fl ight brings us to Mauritius, where our birding focuses on the famous Black River Gorges Th e tour is timed to coincide with the peak time for Visit www.birdingafrica.com and Ile Aigrettes, and we take a pelagic trip to birding across the region as a whole. We expect to Deposit ($150) by credit card Round Island with its unique hybrid swarm of encounter a small amount of rain. Most days will petrels. A day trip to Rodrigues sees us making the be warm and tropical, although the highlands in Pink Pigeon Email [email protected] short fl ight there and back in search of the island's Reunion can be cool.

2 | Indian Ocean Special 2022 Indian Ocean Special 2022 | 3 Accommodation and meals International flights INTRODUCTION Accommodation and meals are generally of a good Please plan to arrive by the night of the following international standard, although they are a bit dates: The numerous islands of the western Indian Ocean, volcanic landscape on Reunion is spectacular, and more basic on the Comoros islands of Moheli and surrounding Madagascar, together hold more than the highlands steep. We start off in the highlands of • Comoros: 23 October on Grande Comore Anjouan. All rooms have private ablutions. We plan 50 endemic birds. Each set of islands has a unique northern Reunion looking for the rarest endemic, Island. to do no camping on the Comoros. and distinctive evolutionary and human history, Reunion Cuckooshrike, alongside Reunion Bulbul, • Seychelles and Mascarenes: 1 November at St which together make for a fascinating region to Reunion, Grey White-eye, Reunion White-

Birding Africa Tour Leaflet Tour Africa Birding Meals are generally Western-style. Please advise if Leaflet Tour Africa Birding Denis on Reunion visit. We offer two back-to-back tours, the first to eye, Reunion Stonechat, Mascarene Paradise you are vegetarian and what foods you enjoy, so that Comoros and the second to Reunion, Mauritius, Flycatcher and Mascarene Swiftlet. Reunion Harrier we can cater for you. Departure at the end of the trip not before the Rodrigues and the granitic Seychelles, allowing you is more common in the lowlands, and offshore we'll following dates. Water is not safe to drink so we supply to sample the entire region in one go. watch for Barau's Petrel and Tropical Shearwater, but the very rare Mascarene Petrel being the only complimentary bottled water throughout the trips. • Comoros: the night of 31 October from The four main islands of the Comoros lie to the endemic that we are unlikely to see. Mayotte north-west of Madagascar, between Madagascar and the African mainland. Three islands form the Mauritius and Rodrigues island together hold • Seychelles: the afternoon of 11 November Walking Republic of Comoros, whereas Mayotte is part of another ten endemics. In the forests of the famous from Victoria on Mahé The Comoro Islands require a moderate degree France. They are a chain of volcanic islands, with Black River Gorges we should encounter Pink of fitness, with one tougher walk. The Seychelles Please email [email protected] a copy Grande Comore in the west the youngest (and Pigeon, , Mauritius Cuckooshrike, and Mascarene Islands Tour requires very little of your proposed flight details for approval before possessing the highest mountain, Mount Karthala) Mauritius Bulbul, Mauritius Grey White-eye and walking, with one slightly longer hike on Reunion. paying for your ticket. and Mayotte in the east the oldest and flattest. Mauritius . Mauritius Kestrel is harder to track Conditions underfoot can be muddy at times. Each island has it's own endemics, but it is the down and will require a special outing to find, and largest, Grande Comore, which holds the greatest a visit to Ile Aigrettes is likely to turn up Mauritius Group size number of species. We spend two nights on each Olive White-eye which is now very rare on the Maximum 10 participants. of the Comoro Islands, except Mayotte where the mainland. A day trip to Rodrigues island will enable endemic scops owl is easily seen in the day, and aim us to look for Rodrigues Warbler and Rodrigues to see all endemic birds of the region, of which there Fody. We'll also take a pelagic trip off northern are more than 20, plus many other potential splits Mauritius to Round Island, where a hybrid swarm currently recognised as endemic subspecies. Each of petrels breed known as Round Islands Petrels, island has an endemic scops owl, and other diverse and other seabirds include Masked Booby, Wedge- groups represented on all or most islands include tailed Shearwater and Red-tailed Tropicbird. white-eyes, drongos, thrushes, sunbirds, fodies, Finally, the granitic Seychelles are the most remote bulbuls and paradise flycatchers. Top birds include islands of the region, lying more than 1000 km Humblot's Flycatcher on Mount Karthala, Comoros north-east of Madagascar. The main island of Mahé Cuckooshrike, Comoro Blue Cuckooshrike, holds the greatest number of endemics, and in it's Cuckoo Roller, Comoros , Comoros highland forests we will search for Seychelles Blue Green Pigeon and Comoros Olive Pigeon. Pigeon, Seychelles Scops Owl, Seychelles Swiftlet, The Mascarene Islands and Seychelles are oceanic Seychelles Kestrel, Seychelles Bulbul, Seychelles islands, located south-east and north-east of White-eye and Seychelles Sunbird. The remaining Madagascar, respectively. The Mascarene Islands, endemics are confined either to single islands sadly, are more famous for the birds they have lost (Seychelles Black Parrot on Praslin and Seychelles ( and Solitaire) than the birds they still hold, on La Digue), or several small but some of the greatest conservation successes islands such as Cousin and Aride (Seychelles globally mean that it is still possible to see Pink Warbler, Seychelles Magpie-Robin and Seychelles Pigeons and Mauritius Kestrels, birds that were Fody), where spectacular seabird colonies are an teetering on the brink of 50 years ago. added feature, with hoards of breeding Lesser Similar successes have saved many of the remaining Noddy, Brown Noddy, and Sooty Tern, landbirds on the Seychelles. smaller numbers of Bridled Tern, and a roost of Greater Frigatebird. We will also look for Crab The three main Mascarene Islands are Reunion, Plover on Mahé. © Colin Rogers White Tern part of France, Mauritius and Rodrigues. The active

4 | Indian Ocean Special 2022 Indian Ocean Special 2022 | 5 DAY-BY-DAY ITINERARY 28 Oct: Moheli to Anjouan 31 Oct: Mayotte Today we transfer to the second largest island, Our final day in the Comoros will be split between Anjouan, some 60 km east of Moheli. We will the highlands and lowlands of Mayotte. Near the 23 Oct: Arrive Grande Comore The rest of our time will be spent on the mountain either take a flight back to Grande Comore and on coast we will search for Comoro Fody, Mayotte itself, where we plan to drive in 4x4s to 1600 m Welcome to the Comores! After a half-hour to Anjouan, or, if at all possible, use a good quality White-eye and Mayotte Sunbird, and other species altitude and then continue to walk up to search drive from the airport you will be dropped at our fishing boat to make the journey, which would allow we may find include Allen's Gallinule, Madagascar for Karthala White-eye in the upper heathlands. comfortable hotel in Moroni town, for an overnight us to look for the local race of Persian Shearwater. Pond Heron and Madagascar Paradise Flycatcher.

Birding Africa Tour Leaflet Tour Africa Birding Overhead we'll watch for the endemic form of Leaflet Tour Africa Birding stay. Arriving at Anjouan we'll search for Anjouan Scops The tour ends after lunch for those not joining Madagascar Spinetail. Lower down the forests Owl in the evening. Night on the south-western the Seychelles and Mascarenes Tour. Overnight in become lusher and taller, and it is here that we'll coast of Anjouan. coastal Mayotte 24-25 Oct: Grande Comore search for Comoro Fody (ESS), Grande Comore We have two full days to explore forests of Grande Brush Warbler, Comoro Blue Pigeon, Comoro 29 Oct: Anjouan Comore Island. All birds except Grande Comore Olive Pigeon, Humblot's Sunbird, Madagascar Drongo are best seen on Mount Karthala, and we'll Paradise Flycatcher (ESS), Lesser Vasa Parrot (ESS), We have a full day to bird make a special detour on our first morning to the Madagascar Green Sunbird (ESS), Cuckoo Roller Anjouan, and will focus on north-east of the island to search for it. (ESS), Comoro Cuckooshrike, Grande Comore searching for birds in the Mills © Michael Bulbul, Humblot's Flycatcher and Comore Thrush. western and central forests. Staying after dark we will search for Karthala Scops Comoro Fody, Crested Drongo Owl, before driving back to Moroni in the evening.. (ESS), Anjouan Sunbird, Nights in Moroni Greater Vasa Parrots, Comoro Blue Pigeons, Comoros Thrush,

© Michael Mills © Michael 26 Oct: Grande Comore to Moheli Anjouan Brush Warbler and Madagascar Turtle Dove will Some 40 km south-east of Grande Comore lies the all be on our radars. Along smallest island of the region, Moheli. We'll take a the coast we hope to find two short flight to Moheli, visiting the central highlands local forms of Striated Heron in the afternoon to search for our first endemic and Madagascar Malachite forms, namely Comoro Thrush, Humblot's Sunbird, Kingfisher. Night on the north Madagascar Green Sunbird and Madagascar coast of Anjouan. Paradise Flycatcher, with Moheli Brush Warbler the most widespread endemic species. As it gets 30 Oct: Anjouan to Mayotte dark we'll search for Moheli Scops Owl, before descending to our basic seaside hotel on the coast. Leaving Anjouan by air we'll Night in coastal Moheli. touch down on the nearby island of Mayotte, much 27 Oct: Moheli more developed than the other Comoros islands and We have a full day to explore the best forests located politically part of France. A on the south-west of the island. The rarest bird is short drive will bring us to Comoro Green Pigeon, which we hope to find lower our accommodation in the down not far from the coast. A small climb will start central highlands, surrounded getting us into suitable habitat for Moheli Bulbul by where Mayotte and Comoro Blue Vanga, Comoro Fody and Cuckoo Scops Owl, Mayotte Drongo, Roller. Those that wish to continue higher stand the Mayotte Sunbird and Mayotte chance to see the very rare local forms of Comoro White-eye are found. Frances's Cuckooshrike and Madagascar Brush Warbler, but Sparrowhawk is especially the climb is steep so most people will probably elect common, and Cuckoo Roller to return to the hotel early for a relaxed time at the conspicuous by voice. Night in coast. Night in coastal Moheli. the highlands of Mayotte Anjouan Scops Owl Frances's Sparrowhawk

6 | Indian Ocean Special 2022 Indian Ocean Special 2022 | 7 1 Nov: Mayotte to Reunion//arrive Reunion islands rarest endemic, the and return in the late afternoon, Reunion Cuckooshrike, of which a few pairs which should give us ample time Those joining both tours today take the flight from occur along the trail. As we climb we'll watch out to find the two endemics of the Mayotte to St Denis on Reunion Island, where those for Reunion Grey White-eye, Mascarene Paradise island, now fortunately much more joining only the Seychelles and Mascarenes Tour Flycatcher and Reunion Bulbul. Overhead we'll © Colin Rogers common than they were some 20 will join us. Overnight in St Denis. watch out for Reunion Harrier and Mascarene years ago. Both Rodrigues Fody Swiftlet. In the afternoon we'll visit some different and Rodrigues Warbler are rather 2 Nov: Reunion parts of the island before an evening seawatch common in patches of native forest, Birding Africa Tour Leaflet Tour Africa Birding to see thousands of Barau's Petrels and Tropical and we'll visit two of the best sites Leaflet Tour Africa Birding With a full day on Reunion we'll start off with an Shearwaters, coming ashore. Night in St Denis. during our visit. early drive into the highlands above St Denis. All the endemic land birds of Reunion occur here and it should not take long before we find our first 3 Nov: Reunion to Mauritius 6 Nov: Mauritius Reunion Stonechat and Reunion Olive White-eyes We have a second morning on Reunion to find any We have a second full day on around the famous a Roche Écrite trail head. Our species that may be missing, before taking a short Mauritius, during which we plan to main reason for visiting this area is to search for the flight to Mauritius Island. Night near Mahenbourg. track down Mauritius Kestrel and visit Ile Aigrettes which is being restored by the Mauritian Wildlife Foundation. At the latter site we hope to see Mauritius Olive White- eye and Mauritius Fody. We will © Colin Rogers also revisit Black River Gorges if we are missing any species from here.

4 Nov: Mauritius With a full day on Mauritius, we'll first head to the island's premier wildlife destination, the Black River Gorges. We'll focus our efforts on two areas, the Maccabee Trail where we will search for Mauritius © Colin Rogers Grey White-eye, Mauritius Fody, Mauritius Cuckooshrike and Echo Parakeet. Around Pigeon Wood we should see good numbers of Pink Pigeon In the afternoon we'll drive to the north of the island for a pelagic trip to Round Island. Here we will study the Round Island Petrels, which are a hybrid swarm composed of Trinidade Petrel, Kermadec Petrel and Herald Petrel, no doubt debating what can and can't be ticked. Other seabirds likely to be encountered include Masked Booby and Wedge- tailed Shearwater..

5 Nov: Rodrigues The far-flung island of Rodrigues lies some 600 km east of Mauritius. Fortunately there are several flights per day between the main islands, making it possible to visit Rodrigues as a day trip. We'll take an Barau's Petrel early morning flight lasting 1h 40 min to the island Mauritius Kestrel

8 | Indian Ocean Special 2022 Indian Ocean Special 2022 | 9 9 Nov: Mahé to Praslin to Cousin of seabirds including Sooty Tern, Bridled Tern, Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Tropical Shearwater, This morning we take an early flight to neighbouring Greater Frigatebird and Lesser Frigatebird. We also Praslin Island, where an early morning outing to have a second chance to see Seychelles Magpie- © Colin Rogers forests of the central highlands should allow us to Robin, Seychelles Fody and Seychelles Warbler. find Seychelles Black Parrot. Later in the morning Second visits to search for Seychelles Black Parrot we'll take a boat trip to nearby Cousin Island, where and Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher will be made if impressive numbers of Lesser Noddy, Brown Noddy necessary. In the late afternoon we will return by Birding Africa Tour Leaflet Tour Africa Birding and White Tern breed, and Seychelles Magpie- air to Mahé Island. We have another chance for Leaflet Tour Africa Birding Robin, Seychelles Fody and Seychelles Warbler can Seychelles Scops Owl this evening, if necessary. usually be found with ease. In the afternoon we'll Night near Victoria. visit the adjacent Island of La Digue where the striking Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher is found. Night on Praslin Island. 11 Nov: Mahé We have a final morning in the highlands of Mahé 10 Nov: Praslin to La Digue to Aride to Mahé to look for any species we may be missing. The tour ends at midday, after lunch. Our final day in the Seychelles see us take a morning trip to Aride Island, with spectacular numbers © Colin Rogers

Seychelles Kestrel

7 Nov: Mauritius to Seychelles National Park. The rarest of the landbirds is the highly threatened Seychelles White-eye, and we Today we fly from Mauritius to Victoria on Mahé hope to find a few pairs of this scarce species. Other island in the Seychelles. Depending on our time birds we will watch out for in the surrounding of arrival we will ascend into the central highlands forest include Seychelles Sunbird, Seychelles Bulbul, for some diurnal birding, and after dark search for Seychelles Blue Pigeon and Seychelles Swiftlet. Seychelles Scops Owl. Night near Victoria. White-tailed Tropicbird is usually conspicuous too. Seychelles Kestrel is one of the more widespread 8 Nov: Mahé Island endemics and we may need to visit several sites to find this scarce species. Some time will also be spent We have a full day to explore the island of Mahé, wader watching, where we hope to see Crab Plover, the largest of the granitic Seychelles. The focus of and we may have time to look for Yellow Bittern. our day will the be forests of Morne Seychellois Seychelles Paradise Flycatcher Night near Victoria

10 | Indian Ocean Special 2022 Indian Ocean Special 2022 | 11 BOOKLET AND CHECKLIST Birding Africa provides: © Colin Rogers © Colin Rogers 1. Tour Details leaflet with detailed itinerary (this document). 2. Tour Information Pack, emailed to you. Birding Africa Tour Leaflet Tour Africa Birding Leaflet Tour Africa Birding 3. Tour Booklet with checklists, provided in hard copy at the start of the tour.

QUESTIONS? Email Michael at [email protected] and copy [email protected].

HOW TO BOOK 1. Complete our easy online booking form. 2. Secure your booking deposit by credit card on our 3D secure online payment site ($150) 3. Settle the balance by bank transfer 150 days before the tour. We will email you a reminder and the banking details.

Seychelles Blue Pigeon Seychelles Fody

INCLUDED IN THE PRICE OF THE TOUR Mills © Michael • services of Birding Africa tour leader and local guides • entry fees and activities as per itinerary • ground transport on all islands • accommodation and all meals starting with dinner on the first night and ending with lunch on the last day • internal flights and airport transfers • bottled water in the vehicle • one soft drink per meal • general tips Mayotte Scops Owl

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