Angola Cave Chat

ANGOLA CAVE CHAT MANY BIRDERS head for the I couldn’t have been more sur- Lubango most northerly reaches of Na- prised; I’d explored all the major Serra de Chela Mnts mibia to find the relatively easily mountain ranges in Namibia near seen near-endemics of the western the Kunene River and had never angola escarpment. They go too for the seen one here before. likes of Grey Kestrel Falco ardosia- Kunene Swartbooisdrif The bird perched just long Epupa falls ruacana ceus, the nominate afer subspecies enough for a photograph to be Zebra Mnts of Red-necked Spurfowl Pternistes taken and then flew off, presum- STAR afer, Rufous-tailed Palm Thrush ably towards its mate, which was Cichladusa ruficauda and the Cin- calling in the distance. During the Kunene Etosha national Park derella Waxbill Estrilda thomen- course of the day we encountered Region sis. The core distribution of these two more pairs. rockANGOLA CAVE CHAT: NEW SPECIES FOR NAMIBIA ATLANTIC O species, apart from the kestrel, lies in Angola; the birds enter Namibia ying just south of the namibia THE KUNENE REGION HAS LONG FEATURED as a ‘must do’ on the only marginally via the Kunene Kunene River between itinerary of birders planning a trip to Namibia, even though, tucked just River valley at the southern limit Swartbooisdrif and the Mof their distribution. LEpupa Falls, the Zebra Mountain below the Angolan border, it is one of the less accessible parts of the Since May 2012 there has been complex rises 300 to 600 metres CEAN country. Much of the attraction lies along the Kunene River and in the another bird to add to the list: above the surrounding mopane Swakopmund ana surrounding vegetation, especially between Ruacana and Epupa, where Angola Cave Chat Xenocopsychus landscape to an altitude of 1 500 Walvis Bay Windhoek sw ansorgei in the Zebra Mountains. to 1 700 metres. It consists of ig- ot there’s a very good chance of finding a number of species that cannot In the past, to see this enigmatic neous anorthosite rock, which B be seen elsewhere in southern Africa. Now a small black-and-white member of the Turdidae family weathers into boulders of dif- bird, previously thought to be endemic to Angola, provides yet another you had to travel to the escarp- fering shapes and sizes. In some mountain zebra that used to oc- below In the Zebra Mountains ment zone in Angola, where the places the thick and extensive cur in this region. the cave chat probably nests in reason to visit this beautiful north-western corner of Namibia. closest known population lies layers of bare rock and boulders It’s arid here, and extremely hot, cavi ties among the boulders. 240 kilometres to the north, near covering the steep mountain particularly on the scree slopes. TEXT & PHOTOGRAPHS WESSEL SwANEPOEL Lubango in Huila Province. But slopes alternate with bands of Rainfall in the area varies between opposite Angola Cave Chat in now you no longer have to cross vegetation, forming a pattern not 250 and 300 millimetres a year Namibia’s Zebra Mountains, an the Kunene River. unlike the vertical stripes of a ze- and the maximum day temperat- exciting new addition to the On 30 May I was on a botanical bra, particularly the Hartmann’s ure is usually high, reaching > southern African bird list. expedition in the Zebra Mountains with, among others, Ernst van Jaarsveld from Kirstenbosch Na- tional Botanical Garden in Cape Town, with whom I have explored several mountain peaks in the Kaokoveld and Angola. Shortly after sunrise we heard an unfamil- iar call from a distant bird. I know the birds of the Kaokoveld quite well but couldn’t place the call, so I knew it must be originating from something special. The extremely difficult terrain prevented us from following the sound, but about 15 minutes later, while traversing a scree slope, we heard the call again – and closer. Suddenly, a black- and-white bird similar in size to Mountain Wheatear Oenanthe monticola flew past at great speed and alighted on a nearby boulder. There it was: the first record of An- gola Cave Chat for Namibia – and for the whole of southern Africa. 30 african birdlife PETE MORGAN JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2013 ANGOLA CAVE CHAT 31 PETE MORGAN heat, perhaps deep in the cavities and tunnels formed by the piles of boulders? Is its breeding season similar to that of its An- golan neighbours (September to November), and does it also produce two broods in rapid above The combination of the upper 30s even in the dry the birds probably make use of succession? What does it feed scree slopes and alternating winter months. There is no open the cavities and overhangs in on? It has been seen foraging bands of vegetation that water in the complex, apart from the piles of boulders on the scree on the ground in the vegetated provide shelter and for aging two ephemeral rivers in the ex- slopes as nesting sites, although areas, but does it also find food grounds for the Angola Cave treme east and west. Vegetation no nest has yet been found to in the cavities and tunnels? Chat is unique to the Zebra comprises trees such as the Ka- verify this. It is remarkable that The three pairs initially seen Mountains. oko euphorbia, western woody such a conspicuous bird as the were on scree slopes alternat- milkbush and carrot tree, as well Angola Cave Chat could remain ing with vertical bands and above, right It is surprising as undergrowth that can be quite undetected in Namibia for so small patches of vegetation, but that a bird as conspicuous as dense in places. long, a circumstance that can be in parts of the mountains that the Angola Cave Chat could In Angola the cave chat oc- attributed only to the fact that in are difficult to access. Similar remain undetected for so long. curs along the western escarp- the Zebra Mountains the species habitat exists in more access- ment, where it is resident in four utilises niches among boulders ible areas of the mountain com- isolated areas. As well as scree on the scree slopes for shelter plex, and the good news is that slopes, it occupies rocky terrain and possibly breeding, and the Pete Morgan, from the nearby such as that found on the plateau alternating bands of vegetation Kunene River Lodge, has found of the Serra de Chela Mountains for foraging. It is absent from Angola Cave Chats in locations at Tundavala, near Lubango. The the other mountain ranges that that are relatively easy to reach. conditions in its Angolan range border the Kunene River valley To date a number of birders are more mesic than those in because they lack extensive areas have enjoyed seeing the species, the Zebra Mountains: the high- of scree. although satisfactory sightings altitude areas (up to 2 300 metres In the months since the are by no means easy or guar- A NUMBER OF at Tundavala) are much cooler Angola Cave Chat was found anteed. Usually a bird appears as BIRDERS HAVE and wetter. Even the patches of in Namibia, many aspects of its if from nowhere, perches briefly scree, with good grass cover, are biology there remain to be dis- on a boulder and flies quickly ENJOYED SEEING less harsh, whereas in the Zebra covered. It was seen in every into vegetation to forage, mov- THE SPECIES, Mountains they are completely month of the dry winter season ing through the undergrowth ALTHOUGH bare, except where the alternat- since May, but is it resident or with considerable agility. You ing vegetated bands occur. subject to movements? We know need a lot of patience, and must SATISFACTORY True to its name, the cave that it is active in the early morn- be able to search for the birds SIGHTINGS ARE BY chat in Angola nests on ledges ing and late afternoon, but what under a scorching sun. But the NO MEANS EASY in caves and under overhanging does it do to escape the harsh reward is worth it, and can only rocks. There are no real caves in conditions of the rest of the day? increase your admiration for OR GUARANTEED the Zebra Mountains and here Does it take refuge from the this special bird. 32 AFRICAN BIRDLIFE.

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