BIRDING AFRICA THE AFRICA SPECIALISTS

Angola

2018 Tour Report

Angolan White-headed Barbet/White-bellied Barbet

Text by tour leader Michael Mills Photos by tour leader Tertius Gous SUMMARY ESSENTIAL DETAILS The third ever all-hotel-accommodated tour of was an overwhelming success, and like our previous hotel-based trips brought a Dates 9 Sep: Kalandula to N'dalatando. level of comfort that we could not imagine just a few years ago; for all 5-22 September 2018 10 Sep: N'dalatando to Muxima via northern escarpment forests of Tombinga Pass. 17 nights of the trip we enjoyed good accommodation and food. It was Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding a pleasure returning to clean, comfortable hotel rooms each night, with Leaders 11 Sep: Dry forests in Muxima area. Report Tour Africa Birding 12 Sep: Muxima to Conda via mangroves at the running water and electricity (with the occasional exception); quite a change Michael Mills assisted by Tertius Gous from our earlier trips where camping in dusty and windy conditions was Kwanza River mouth. 13 Sep: Kumbira Forest. the order of the day. And all this extra comfort came without compromising Participants on the . Certainly, Angola can no longer be regarded as a 'hardcore' 14 Sep: Conda to Mount Moco region. Nick Davies birding destination. 15 Sep: Miombo woodlands, and Chuck Probst montane forest at Mount Moco. Jacqui Probst 16 Sep: Dambos and miombo woodlands in the Bob French Mount Moco region. Sue French 17 Sep: Montane forests and grasslands at Mount Moco. John Lobel 18 Sep: Mount Moco to Benguela area via wetlands Les Holliwell of Lobito. Markus Lagerqvist 19 Sep: Benguela to Lubango via rocky hillsides with Namibian escarpment birds. Itinerary 20 Sep: Day trip to Namibe via escarpment thickets, Brazza's Martin arid savannas and coastal deserts. 5 Sep: Luanda to Uíge. 21 Sep: Montane forests and grasslands at Tundavala 6 Sep: Northern escarpment forest near Uíge. Besides the logistics running very smoothly we the top five. Lower honours went to Locust Finch, near Lubango. fared exceptionally well on the birds, enjoying good which gave exceptional views on the ground, the 7 Sep: Uíge to Kalandula. 26 Sep: Tour ends with flights out of Lubango. views of all of Angola’s endemic (including striking Braun's Bushshrike at seven, super views 8 Sep: Woodlands and gallery forests at Kinjila. all BirdLife splits) and a whole host of other goodies of Margaret's Batis tied with Schalow's Turaco at among the 550 species logged. This was the first eight, and Red-crested Turaco and Bocage's Akalat ever tour to see Angola White-throated Greenbul/ sharing tenth. Angola Greenbul and Angola White-headed Barbet/ There were many other great birds seen too, and White-bellied Barbet, both newly recognised the impressive diversity of habitats on offer meant endemics. The charts were topped by excellent that we logged over 550 species in the 18 days of views of a pair of Angola White-headed Barbet/ birding. While most of the endemics and specials White-bellied Barbet, only the third time the species are associated with the dry forests of the Angolan has been seen since 1971. A usually-secretive male escarpment and montane habitats of the western Finsch's Francolin that stood in the open for at least highlands, a good diversity of miombo specials is 10 minutes was voted number two, followed by the on offer too, plus Congo Basin forest birds along the attractive White-headed Robin-Chat at three. The northern escarpment, mesic birds in the surprise of the trip, the first Congo Serpent Eagle highlands, and desert and Namibian escarpment for the country in 50 years, came in at four, with a species in the far south. cooperative pair of Gabela Bushshrike rounding out Congo Serpent Eagle

2 | Angola 2018 Angola 2018 | 3 REPORT Angola White-throated Greenbul

We started off in Luanda, Angola's colossal and The following day-and-a-half in the northern scarp chaotic capital city, with our first stop to have a forests of Uíge province produced an impressive look at the large, dark Mottled Swifts that breed in list of species, with special mention deserved by buildings along the 'marginal' (they have been called Angola White-throated Greenbul that teased us Fernando Po Swift in the past). However, we didn't for a while before it was seen by all. It is only the

Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding pause for long as we wanted to escape the growing third time that this threatened endemic has been Report Tour Africa Birding mass of traffic before it swallowed us. Our first real seen since the early 1970s, and the first bird tour to stop was in some dry thickets near Caxito on our enjoy the privilege. Pigeons behaved well, with both way north to Uíge, where a very productive walk Western Bronze-naped Pigeon and Afep Pigeon turned up some exceptional views of Monteiro's sitting up for good scope views. Tit Hylia was a Bushshrike and a party of Endangered Gabela pleasant surprise. Yellow-spotted Barbet was seen Helmetshrike, along with Hartert's Camaroptera, for the first time in Angola-outside-Cabinda. And Grey Waxbill, and Angola we studied a small, plain-faced in the Batis. Lunch, further north, produced Red- scope, the olive wash across the breast suggesting rumped Tinkerbird and our first Naked-faced Willcocks's Honeyguide, which would be a first for Barbets, a roadside stop at a police check Cassin's the country. Other highlights along the northern Grey Flycatcher, and our final stop of the day near escarpment included Brown-backed Scrub Quitexe rewarded us with excellent views of the Robin, Compact Weaver, Blue-breasted Bee- striking Braun's Bushshrike. Not bad for a first day eater, African Yellow Warbler, Red-faced (Lepe) of birding in Angola! Cisticola, Moustached Grass Warbler, White- winged Black Tit, Red-necked Buzzard, Brown From the northernmost point of the trip, near Uíge, Twinspot, Marsh Tchagra, Bubbling Cisticola, we turned south-eastwards to the Kalandula Falls Black-collared Bulbul and Orange-tufted area with its broad-leafed woodlands and gallery Sunbird (briefly) in mesic savannas bordering forests. En route we did well to find Anchieta's forest, and a good variety of forest species such as Barbet, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Rufous-bellied Piping Hornbill, African Pied Hornbill, Bristle- Tit, Ross's Turaco, Pale-billed Hornbill, Brown- nosed Barbet, Hairy-breasted Barbet, Speckled headed Apalis, Senegal Lapwing, Green-backed Tinkerbird, Great Blue Turaco, Guinea Turaco, , Gorgeous/Perrin's Bushshrike and Forest Chestnut-winged Starling, Swamp Palm our first Red-crested Turaco. The main birding Bulbul, Yellow-mantled Weaver, Yellow-browed area at Kalandula is 40 km to the north of the falls Camaroptera, Rufous-crowned Eremomela, Buff- themselves, near Kinjila Village, and we spent the throated Apalis, Black-throated Apalis, Dusky- better part of a day and half here. The gallery forests blue Flycatcher, Banded Prinia, White-chinned held the star attraction, and although it wasn't long Prinia, Velvet-mantled Drongo, Green Hylia, before the striking White-headed Robin-Chat Black-winged Oriole, Black Bee-eater, Purple- showed itself, it took a few tries before everyone throated Cuckooshrike, Pink-footed Puffback, had enjoyed satisfactory views. The supporting cast Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher, Dark-backed included Black-backed Barbet (macclounii), Black- Weaver, Red-headed Malimbe, Black-faced throated Wattle-eye, Grey-winged Robin-Chat/ Canary, African Shrike-Flycatcher, Black-and- Akalat, Cabanis’s Greenbul, Lemon Dove (heard), white Shrike-Flycatcher, Chestnut Wattle-eye, Bates’s Sunbird, Square-tailed Drongo, Landana Yellow-crested Woodpecker, Red-fronted Parrot, Firefinch and African Broadbill. Bannerman’s Narrow-tailed Starling, White-tailed Ant , Sunbird was very tricky this year, possibly due to a the little-known Pallid Honeyguide, Bocage's lack of flowering, and was greatly outnumbered by Bushshrike, Olive-bellied Sunbird, Blue-throated the very similar Green-headed Sunbird; eventually Brown Sunbird, Narina Trogon, Rufous-vented some of the group spotted and photographed a Paradise Flycatcher, Blue Malkoha, Sooty distinctive female. Surrounding woodlands were Flycatcher, Yellow-throated Nicator and Lowland home to Sharp-tailed Starling, curious affinis Braun's Bushshrike Masked Apalis. form of Brubru, Miombo Wren-Warbler, Green-

4 | Angola 2018 Angola 2018 | 5 backed Honeybird, Orange-winged Pytilia, in detail, Rufous-tailed Palm Thrush put in Meyer's Parrot, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, several appearances, Red-backed Mousebird was Cabanis's Bunting, African Barred Owlet, a trio numerous, a pair of White-fronted Wattle-eye was of Thick-billed Cuckoos, Miombo Scrub Robin coaxed from the thickets, and Forest Scrub Robin and Whistling Cisticola. and Pale-olive Greenbul showed exceptionally well. More widespread highlights included Olive We broke our journey to Muxima with an overnight Bee-eater, Brown-backed Honeybird, Little stay at N'dalatando, finding Rock Pratincole and Sparrowhawk, African Cuckoo-Hawk, Mottled

Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding Giant Kingfisher en route. The next morning Report Tour Africa Birding Spinetail, Böhm's Spinetail, Scaly-throated we birded the northern escarpment forests near Honeyguide, Swamp Boubou, Long-billed N'dalatando, at Tombinga pass. The open forest was Crombec (ansorgei), Purple-banded Sunbird and quite birdy and we notched up Superb Sunbird, Angola Batis, among a diversity of other savanna Yellow-billed Barbet, Cassin's Honeybird, and and woodland species. Along the river a trio of Blue-throated Roller. The undoubted highlight Egyptian Plover was the most notable sighting, of the morning, however, was first hearing and here right at the southern edge of its range, and then locating a perched Congo Serpent Eagle other wetland birds included Goliath Heron, which gave excellent views in the scope and then African Openbill and Spur-winged Goose. After flew directly overhead. Not only is it Africa's most dark an African Scops Owl gave incredible views. secretive raptor, but the first record in Angola for 50 years! Leaving Muxima for the Kumbira area we first made a detour to the Kwanza River mouth for Mangrove/ Moving on, in the Muxima area we had a day-and-a- Brown Sunbird, Blue-breasted Kingfisher, Long- half to bird the endemic-rich dry forests of the area. legged Pipit, Western Osprey, Collared Pratincole Grey-striped Francolin showed well for everyone, and a tern roost at the river mouth included Royal non-breeding Golden-backed Bishop was studied Tern, with Cape Gannet fishing offshore.

Grey-striped Francolin

The Kumbira area and surrounding central Moving on to the highlands of Huambo province, escarpment near Conda village is arguably the we were now headed for the Mount Moco region. highest priority for conservation in Angola, but The greater Mount Moco area holds a diverse array is also one of the most rapidly disappearing areas of habitats; most of the area is blanketed in miombo of habitat thanks to slash-and-burn cultivation. woodland, unfortunately quite degraded now by Having struggled to find Gabela Bushshrike clearing for agriculture and charcoal production, last year we went straight to the site where we but significant areas of montane grassland can also eventually found it in 2017, and within 15 minutes be found, numerous rivers and associated dambo were watching a pair of Gabela Bushshrikes calling grasslands criss cross the area, and very small from some dry tangles. They stayed in the scope patches of montane forest exist on Mount Moco for some 10 minutes! Pulitzer’s Longbill was also itself. found in short time, and was seen again the next In these forests we first turned our attention to day, and Gabela Akalat was persuaded to leave its the small patch of forest and scrubby habitat thickets after a couple of attempts. Other species above the village of Kanjonde (seeing one all- of interest along the central escarpment included dark Horus Swift among the white-rumped birds Falkenstein’s Greenbul, two lovely Yellow-bellied in the village), which is the main focus of a forest Wattle-eye, a low-flying Crowned Eagle, Petit's rehabilitation project that I run at the mountain. Cuckooshrike, Brown-eared Woodpecker at the It was pleasing to see that the firebreaks installed nest, the curious local form of Southern Hyliota earlier in the year had successfully stopped a (slatini), Dusky Tit, Carmelite Sunbird, Yellow- fire from entering the forest patch, and that the throated Nicator, Fraser's Rufous Thrush, Brown Red-crested Turaco trees in it were growing well. Forest and forest- Illadopsis, African Wood Owl and Gabon Coucal.

6 | Angola 2018 Angola 2018 | 7 The miombo woodlands also turned up some found here. A male Hartlaub’s Spurfowl was good birds, including Anchieta's Barbet, African persuaded to sit up on a rock for good views, Cuckoo-Hawk, Salvadori’s Eremomela, Souza's but Orange River Francolin stayed out of sight Shrike, Red-capped Crombec, Western Miombo despite being heard. White-tailed Shrike was quite Sunbird, Miombo Scrub Robin, Wood Pipit, conspicuous and we also enjoyed good views of the snazzy Black-necked Eremomela at the nest, Rockrunner, Rüppell’s Parrot, Cape Penduline , Pearl-breasted Swallow, Tit, Pririt Batis, Grey Go-away-bird, Pied Red-throated Cliff Swallow, Western Violet- Barbet, Carp's Tit, Böhm's Spinetail, Verreaux's Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding backed Sunbird, Black Cuckoo, African Golden Eagle, Bare-cheeked Babbler, Southern White- Report Tour Africa Birding Oriole, African Cuckoo, White-fronted Bee- crowned Shrike, Damara Red-billed Hornbill, eater, Green-capped Eremomela, Grey Penduline Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Monteiro's Tit (of the green ansorgei race) and Miombo Hornbill, Barred Wren-Warbler, Yellow-bellied Wren-Warbler. After dark Square-tailed Nightjar Eremomela, Black-chested Prinia, Rosy-faced showed at point-blank range and an excitable Lovebird and Kalahari Scrub Robin. More open Pennant-winged Nightjar dazzled us! areas held Sabota Lark, Double-banded Courser, Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark, Stark's Lark, White- Heading back to the coast again, the Lobito/Benguela browed Sparrow-Weaver, Great Sparrow, Ashy area was our next major focus. The coastal wetlands Tit, , Scaly-feathered Finch at Lobito allowed us to do some list padding, with and Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler. more interesting species including Cape Teal, Lesser Flamingo, Greater Flamingo, Water Thick- Finally we moved onto the Lubango area, where we Locust-Finch knee and Black Heron. However, most of our time birded two rather different habitats, separated by the was spent in an area of arid hills and scrubland spectacular southern escarpment. On our first full some 40 kilometres inland of Benguela, with several day around Lubango we descended the escarpment edge birds here included Huambo Cisticola The rest of our time was spent in the habitats around species characteristic of the Namibian escarpment at Leba Pass, running a transect across the ever-drier (not related to Rock-loving Cisticola, with which the base of the mountain, and further afield across previously lumped), White-tailed Blue Flycatcher, the greater region. Grassland and shrubland species Ludwig’s Double-collared Sunbird, Angola Swee included Tinkling Cisticola, Oustalet’s Sunbird, Fülleborn’s Longclaw Waxbill, Black-collared Bulbul, Western Green Black-bellied Bustard, Capped Wheatear, Angola Tinkerbird, Angola Slaty Flycatcher, African Hill Lark and a surprise Secretarybird. In damper Babbler, Grey Apalis, Olive Woodpecker, Dusky areas of dambo grassland (dry at this time of the Twinspot, Schalow's Turaco, Evergreen Forest year) we found several Fülleborn's Longclaw, Warbler, and an exceptionally confiding Bocage's good numbers of Locust Finch that showed very Akalat. Swierstra's Francolin was also present, well on the ground, Quail-finch on the ground (if although only Markus managed to set eyes on one split, African Quail-Finch at the mountain itself here. Also around this forest patch we enjoyed and Black-chinned Quail-Finch further afield) views of a male Black-chinned Weaver, and in the and the sought-after Black-and-rufous Swallow. nearby burnt grasslands a Finsch’s Francolin was Areas of rank growth, mostly around rivers, held persuaded to show itself for some 10 minutes! On Fan-tailed Grassbird, Half-collared Kingfisher, our second day at the mountain the fit and brave Brown Firefinch, Chirping Cisticola, Coppery- made the big hike to the largest forest patch on the tailed Coucal, Hartlaub's Babbler, Orange- mountain. En route we paused for the local race breasted Waxbill, Fawn-breasted Waxbill, Marsh of Mountain Wheatear (nigricauda) and Long- Widowbird, Stout Cisticola and Bocage's Weaver billed Pipit (moco), plus Wing-snapping Cisticola, in full breeding plumage. A pair of Brazza's Martin Striped Pipit and Miombo Rock Thrush. At our gave excellent views near their nest, but this year target destination we quickly heard and then found Bocage's Sunbird gave us a real run around. Margaret’s Batis, which gave exceptional views at Michael almost certainly saw a male in flight, but eye level. Other highlights of the outing included we only confirmed the species thanks to a female Thick-billed Seedeater, African Spotted Creeper, seen by everyone that was photographed by Nick Booted Eagle, Augur Buzzard, Fernando Po Swift and Markus. and Yellow-crowned Canary.

8 | Angola 2018 Angola 2018 | 9 landscape towards the coast. Our first stop is some Our second full day was spent at Tundavala at the top Angola Slaty Flycatcher Black-and-rufous swallow dry woodlands produced our main target after some of the escarpment, where montane grasslands and time, a pair of localised Cinderella Waxbill tracked shrublands and remnant patches of Afromontane down where they were preening after drinking. In forest produced some of the best birding of the trip the same general area we found the benguellensis in impressive surrounds. Angola White-headed race of Meves’s Starling (now split by BirdLife as Barbet was certainly the most spectacular find, Benguela Long-tailed Starling), Swallow-tailed and constituted only the third record of the species Bee-eater, Little Sparrowhawk and distinctive since 1971. Swierstra’s Francolin was well-enjoyed Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding capricorni subspecies of Bennett's Woodpecker. too, with a pair watched on and off by all for several Report Tour Africa Birding Further towards the coast the habitat became drier minutes. Rocky areas were home to Rockrunner, and we found Crimson-breasted Shrike, Grey- striking Angola Cave Chat, Miombo Rock Thrush backed Cisticola, Red-headed Finch, Karoo Chat, and Short-toed Rock Thrushand Striped Pipit, Chat Flycatcher, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Pale- and other goodies included Jameson's Firefinch winged Starling, Benguela Long-billed Lark, (Ansorge's Firefinch), Violet-eared Waxbill, Lark-like Bunting, Bokmakierie, Monteiro's Buffy Pipit, Angolan Slaty Flycatcher, Wailing Hornbill and Dusky Sunbird. In the sparser areas Cisticola, Freckled Nightjar, Rufous-cheeked still we found two groups of Rüppell’s Korhaan, a Nightjar, Fiery-necked Nightjar, Spotted Eagle- pair of skittish Ludwig's Bustard, a single Tractrac Owl, Angola Swee Waxbill, Bradfield’s Swift, Chat and Spike-heeled Lark. Alpine Swift, Red-capped Crombec and African Black Duck.

Benguela Long-billed Lark

Black-collaredMiombo Pied Barbet Bulbul Black-necked Eremomela

10 | Angola 2018 Angola 2018 | 11 Gabela Bushshrike Egyptian Plover Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding Report Tour Africa Birding

Western Green Tinkerbird Finsch's Francolin Margaret's Batis

12 | Angola 2018 Angola 2018 | 13 Sulidae Gannets, Boobies Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus - Great ANNOTATED SPECIES LIST flight views of a young bird at Kumbira. Also in the Cape Gannet Morus capensis - Seen offshore from northern scarp. Anatidae Ducks, Geese & Swans Ciconiidae Storks Kwanza River Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis - A few White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna African Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus - Seen in Phalacrocoracidae Cormorants, shags sightings viduata - Seen along the Kwanza River the coastal wetlands (lamelligerus) Reed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus - Seen Wahlberg's Eagle Hieraaetus wahlbergi - Seen en Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis - Seen Threskiornithidae Ibises, Spoonbills mainly along the coast (africanus) route to Lubango

Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding near Muxima (gambensis) Report Tour Africa Birding African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus -Most White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus - One pale- Cape Teal Anas capensis - Several seen at Lobito conspicuous at Lobito - Seen at Lobito phase bird seen at Mt Moco, where a new record African Black Duck Anas sparsa - Two on a dam African Spoonbill Platalea alba - Seen at Lobito Anhingidae Anhingas, darters Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax - Two seen between near Tundavala (leucostigma) Ardeidae Herons, Bitterns African Darter Anhinga rufa - A couple of Benguela and Lubango (rapax) Red-billed Teal Anas erythrorhyncha - Seen at sightings (rufa) Striated Heron Butorides striata - Seen at Lobito Verreaux's Eagle Aquila verreauxii - Great views of Lobito (atricapilla) Sagittariidae Secretarybird two inland of Benguela Phasianidae Pheasants, Fowl & Allies Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides - Seen a few Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius - Seen at Mt Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus - Seen Finsch's Francolin Scleroptila finschi - Incredible times Moco, where a new record a few times (meridionalis) views at Mt Moco Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis - Seen often Pandionidae Ospreys Dark Chanting Goshawk Melierax metabates - A Orange River Francolin Scleroptila gutturalis - couple were seen in the Mt Moco area (mechowi) Grey Heron Ardea cinerea - Seen quite often Heard inland of Benguela (jugularis) Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus - Two along the (cinerea) Kwanza River (haliaetus) Pale Chanting Goshawk Melierax canorus - Seen Grey-striped Francolin Pternistis griseostriatus - in the coastal deserts Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala - Seen Seen very well near Muxima (endemic) Accipitridae Kites, Hawks & Eagles once African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro - A couple of Swierstra's Francolin Pternistis swierstrai - Brief Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus - Seen sightings (sparsimfasciatus) Goliath Heron Ardea goliath - Seen well near views for Markus at Mt Moco, and both the male regularly (caeruleus) Muxima Shikra Accipiter badius - A couple of sightings and female were seen quite well by everyone at African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus - Seen (polyzonoides) Tundavala (endemic) Purple Heron Ardea purpurea - Seen a few times quite often (typus) (purpurea) Little Sparrowhawk Accipiter minullus - Seen well Hartlaub's Spurfowl Pternistis hartlaubi - Good Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis - The at Muxima and the bottom of Leba Pass (minullus) views inland of Benguela (hartlaubi, endemic) Great Egret Ardea alba - Fairly common in coastal most commonly-seen raptor wetlands (melanorhynchos) Black Sparrowhawk Accipiter melanoleucus - One Red-necked Spurfowl Pternistis afer - Seen in African Cuckoo-Hawk Aviceda cuculoides - Two seen and photographed at Tundavala (temminckii) Kissama and elsewhere along the coastal plain Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia - Seen twice good sightings, one at Muxima and one in the Mt (afer), and at Kalandula (cranchii, Cranch's (brachyrhyncha) Moco region (verreauxii) African Marsh Harrier Circus ranivorus - Seen a Spurfowl) few times on the plateau Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca - Seen at Lobito Black-chested Snake Eagle Circaetus pectoralis - Harlequin Quail Coturnix delegorguei - Seen by Seen twice Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptius - Seen in small Little Egret Egretta garzetta - Seen in coastal Chuck at Mt Moco (delegorguei) numbers (parasitus) wetlands (garzetta) Brown Snake Eagle Circaetus cinereus - Seen a few Podicipedidae Grebes times African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer - Seen along Scopidae Hamerkop the Kwanza River Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis -Good number Western Banded Snake Eagle Circaetus Hamerkop Scopus umbretta - Two sightings at Lobito, and seen elsewhere too (capensis) cinerascens - Brief views at Kalandula Red-necked Buzzard Buteo auguralis - A few good (umbretta) sightings Phoenicopteridae Flamingos Congo Serpent Eagle Circaetus spectabilis - Pelecanidae Pelicans Augur Buzzard Buteo augur - Seen several times Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus - Seen at Incredible perched and flight views at Tombinga Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus - Good (batesi). The surprise of the trip; last seen in Lobito Otididae Bustards numbers at Lobito Angola >50 years ago. Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor - Seen at Ludwig's Bustard Neotis ludwigii - Two seen in the Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus - One of the more Lobito coastal deserts in flight commonly-seen raptors

14 | Angola 2018 Angola 2018 | 15 Rüppell's Korhaan Eupodotis rueppelii - Two good Jacanidae Jacanas Columbidae Pigeons, Doves Grey Go-away-bird Corythaixoides concolor - Seen sightings in the coastal deserts (rueppelii) along the coastal plain (pallidiceps) African Jacana Actophilornis africanus - Several Rock Dove Columba livia - Feral Pigeons were Red-crested Korhaan Lophotis ruficrista - Heard sightings common in the towns and villages Cuculidae Cuckoos in the south-west Scolopacidae Sandpipers, Snipes Afep Pigeon Columba unicincta - Good views of Gabon Coucal Centropus anselli - Almost Black-bellied Bustard Lissotis melanogaster - perched birds on the northern escarpment everyone enjoyed brief views at Kumbira Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus - Seen along the Nice views of two males in flight at Mt Moco coast (phaeopus) African Olive Pigeon Columba arquatrix - Seen in (melanogaster) Blue-headed Coucal Centropus monachus - Heard

Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding good numbers at Mt Moco in the north Report Tour Africa Birding Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis - Seen along Sarothruridae Flufftails the coast Western Bronze-naped Pigeon Columba Coppery-tailed Coucal Centropus cupreicaudus White-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura pulchra - iriditorques - Good views of a perched bird on the - Seen in good numbers in the Mt Moco region Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia - Seen Heard at Kalandula and on the northern scarp northern escarpment (cupreicaudus) along the coast (centralis) Lemon Dove Columba larvata - Heard at White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus - Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola - Seen at Lobito Red-chested Flufftail Sarothrura rufa - Heard only Kalandula, a new site for it in Angola (samaliyae) Several were seen (loandae) (rufa) Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos - Seen a Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata - Blue Malkoha Ceuthmochares aereus - Seen in the few times Rallidae Rails, Crakes & Coots Common northern forests (aereus) Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres - Seen at Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostra - Seen a couple Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola - Thick-billed Cuckoo Pachycoccyx audeberti - Lobito (interpres) of times Common; damarensis in the south-west and Three flew straight over us, calling, at Kalandula Little Stint Calidris minuta - Seen at Lobito tropica elsewhere Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus - Seen by Diederik Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius - Heard Michael and Tertius (meridionalis) Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea - Seen at Laughing Dove Spilopelia senegalensis - Seen only Lobito regularly (senegalensis) Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata - Seen at Lobito Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas - Seen and Glareolidae Coursers, Pratincoles Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Turtur chalcospilos - heard on several dates Burhinidae Stone-curlews, Thick-knees Common in the drier areas Double-banded Courser Rhinoptilus africanus Black Cuckoo Cuculus clamosus - Seen in the Mt Water Thick-knee Burhinus vermiculatus - Seen at - Fantastic views of three inland of Benguela Blue-spotted Wood Dove Turtur afer - Common Moco region (clamosus) Lobito (vermiculatus) (bisignatus, endemic) in the moister areas Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius - Heard Recurvirostridae Stilts, Avocets Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola - Seen Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria - Seen in only Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus - Seen along the Kwanza River (riparia) the northern forests African Cuckoo Cuculus gularis - Seen in the Mt a few times Rock Pratincole Glareola nuchalis - Seen on the Namaqua Dove Oena capensis - Seen a few times Moco area and at Kalandula Charadriidae Plovers Lucala River (nuchalis) (capensis) Tytonidae Barn Owls Senegal Lapwing Vanellus lugubris - A pair with Laridae Gulls, Terns & Skimmers African Green Pigeon Treron calvus - Seen on Western Barn Owl Tyto alba - Seen by some near chicks seen near Kalandula several dates (calvus and ansorgei) Grey-headed Gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus - Huambo (affinis) African Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus - Seen at Lobito (poiocephalus) Musophagidae Turacos Strigidae Owls Seen in the Mt Moco region (lateralis) Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus - Seen along the Great Blue Turaco Corythaeola cristata - Seen in African Scops Owl Otus senegalensis - Superb Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola - Seen along the coast (vetula) the northern scarp forests views near Muxima (senegalensis) coast (squatarola) Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia - Seen along the Guinea Turaco Tauraco persa - Seen in the Spotted Eagle-Owl Bubo africanus - A nice Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius - Seen along coast northern scarp forests (zenkeri) encounter with a pair at Tundavala (africanus) the coast Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus - Seen along the Schalow's Turaco Tauraco schalowi - Good views African Wood Owl Strix woodfordii - Excellent Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris - Seen coast (albididorsalis) in the Mt Moco region views near Conda (nuchalis) at Lobito (tricollaris) Common Tern Sterna hirundo - Seen along the Red-crested Turaco Tauraco erythrolophus - Great Pearl-spotted Owlet Glaucidium perlatum - A few Egyptian Plover Pluvianus aegyptius - It was a real coast views en route to and at Kalandula good sightings during the day (licua) surprise to see three along the Kwanza River Ross's Turaco Musophaga rossae - Seen well en route to Kalandula

16 | Angola 2018 Angola 2018 | 17 African Barred Owlet Glaucidium capense Coliidae Mousebirds Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis - Several sightings African Pied Hornbill Lophoceros fasciatus - Seen - Prolonged day-time views at Kalandula (rudis) in the northern scarp forests (fasciatus Congo Pied Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus - Seen near (ngamiense) Hornbill) Quitexe and in the Moco region (nigricollis) Meropidae Bee-eaters Caprimulgidae Nightjars Pale-billed Hornbill Lophoceros pallidirostris - Red-backed Mousebird Colius castanotus - Seen Black Bee-eater Merops gularis - Seen in the Good views en route to Kalandula (pallidirostris) Rufous-cheeked Nightjar Caprimulgus rufigena - often along the coastal plain northern scarp forests (australis) Incredible views at Tundavala (rufigena) Piping Hornbill Bycanistes fistulator -Seen in the Red-faced Mousebird Urocolius indicus - Seen Swallow-tailed Bee-eater Merops hirundineus - northern scarp forests (sharpii Eastern Piping

Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding Fiery-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus pectoralis along the southern coastal plain (lacteifrons) Seen at the bottom of Leba Pass (hirundineus) Report Tour Africa Birding Hornbill) - Very good views near Lubango and Huambo Trogonidae Trogons Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus - Seen regularly (fervidus) Lybiidae African barbets (meridionalis) Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina - Seen in the Freckled Nightjar Caprimulgus tristigma - Good Bristle-nosed Barbet Gymnobucco peli - Seen well northern scarp forests and at Kumbira (narina) Blue-breasted Bee-eater Merops variegatus - Seen but brief views at Tundavala (lentiginosus) in the northern scarp forests near Quitexe (variegatus) Coraciidae Rollers Square-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus fossii - Point- Naked-faced Barbet Gymnobucco calvus - Seen in White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides - A blank views near Huambo (welwitschii) Purple Roller Coracias naevius - Seen a couple of the northern escarpment forests (congicus) and at couple of sightings in the Mt Moco region and near times, including at Mt Moco (mosambicus) Kumbira (vernayi Angola Naked-faced Barbet/ Pennant-winged Nightjar Caprimulgus vexillarius Uíge Pale-throated Barbet) - A displaying male danced around us near Mt Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus - Seen Olive Bee-eater Merops superciliosus - Seen in the Moco near the Kwanza River (caudatus) Anchieta's Barbet Stactolaema anchietae - Several Muxima area (alternans) good sightings at Kalandula and one at Mt Moco Apodidae Swifts Blue-throated Roller Eurystomus gularis - Perched European Bee-eater Merops apiaster - Recorded (rex) views of a pair at Tombinga Mottled Spinetail Telacanthura ussheri - Some twice Speckled Tinkerbird Pogoniulus scolopaceus - Seen good views along the coastal plain (benguellensis) Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus - Seen Upupidae Hoopoes in the northern scarp forests (flavisquamatus) at Kalandula (suahelicus) Böhm's Spinetail Neafrapus boehmi - Some good African Hoopoe Upupa africana - Seen a few Western Tinkerbird Pogoniulus coryphaea - views along the coastal plain (boehmi) Alcedinidae Kingfishers times An excellent sighting at Mt Moco (angolensis, African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus - Common Grey-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala - endemic) Phoeniculidae Wood Hoopoes (hyphaenes) Seen a few times (pallidiventris) Red-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus atroflavus - Green Phoeniculus purpureus - Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba - Seen at Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris - Seen in the northern scarp forests Seen near Quitexe (angolensis) Tundavala (africanus) Seen at the bottom of Leba Pass (prentissgrayi) Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus bilineatus - Black Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus aterrimus - Seen Mottled Swift Tachymarptis aequatorialis - Seen Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti - Seen a few Seen in the northern forests (all leucolaimus) near Quitexe and Muxima (anchietae) regularly (aequatorialis), including in Luanda times (chelicuti) Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus Common Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas Common Swift Apus apus - Just a few seen (apus) Blue-breasted Kingfisher Halcyon malimbica - - Seen a few times (extoni Miombo Tinkerbird) - Seen a couple of times in the south (cyanomelas) Seen along the Kwanza River (malimbica) Fernando Po Swift Apus sladeniae - One swift at Yellow-spotted Barbet Buccanodon duchaillui - Bucerotidae Hornbills Mt Moco among several other species appeared to Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis - Seen Seen near Uíge. This is the first record for Angola be this a few times in the north (fuscopileus) Damara Red-billed Hornbill Tockus damarensis - excluding Cabinda. Seen well in the south-west Bradfield's Swift Apus bradfieldi - Seen at African Pygmy Kingfisher Ispidina picta - Seen a Hairy-breasted Barbet hirsuta - Seen Tundavala (bradfieldi) few times (ferrugina) Monteiro's Hornbill Tockus monteiri - Seen well in in the northern scarp forests (angolensis) the coastal deserts, and inland of Benguela Little Swift Apus affinis - Seen a few times Malachite Kingfisher Corythornis cristatus - Seen Miombo Pied Barbet Tricholaema frontata - A (theresae) along the Kwanza River (galeritus) Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus good encounter in the Mt Moco region leucomelas - Seen several times along the coastal Horus Swift Apus horus - One dark-rumped bird Half-collared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata - Acacia Pied Barbet Tricholaema leucomelas - plain (elegans) (toulsoni) was seen among the normal white- Seen briefly at Mt Moco Several sightings along the coastal plain (centralis) rumped birds at Mt Moco (horus) Crowned Hornbill Lophoceros alboterminatus - Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima - Seen along Seen several times (alboterminatus) White-rumped Swift Apus caffer - Seen a few the Lucala River times

18 | Angola 2018 Angola 2018 | 19 White-headed Barbet Lybius leucocephalus - A Golden-tailed Woodpecker Campethera abingoni Eurylaimidae Broadbills Many-colored Bushshrike Chlorophoneus pair was seen at Tundavala (leucogaster Angola - See a few times (abingoni) multicolor - Heard in the northern escarpment African Broadbill Smithornis capensis - Great White-headed Barbet/White-bellied Barbet). (batesi) Green-backed Woodpecker Campethera cailliautii views at Kalandula (albigularis) This is the third time it has been seen since 1971 - Seen well in the Kalandula area (permista) Bocage's Bushshrike Chlorophoneus bocagei - Seen and is the fist time ever seen on a birding tour. Platysteiridae Wattle-eyes, Batises in the northern scarp forests (bocagei) Buff-spotted Woodpecker Campethera nivosa - Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus - Seen a African Shrike-flycatcher Megabyas flammulatus - John saw one at Kalandula (nivosa) Orange-breasted Bushshrike Chlorophoneus few times Seen in the northern scarp forests (aequatorialis) sulfureopectus - Heard only (similis)

Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding Brown-eared Woodpecker Campethera caroli - A Report Tour Africa Birding Black-backed Barbet Lybius minor - Seen well Black-and-white Shrike-flycatcher Bias musicus - super encounter at Kumbira (caroli) Gorgeous Bushshrike Telophorus viridis - Nice at Kalandula (macclounii Eastern Black-backed Seen in the northern scarp forests (musicus) views en route to Kalandula and at Tundavala Barbet/White-faced Barbet) Bearded Woodpecker Chloropicus namaquus - Margaret's Batis Batis margaritae - Fantastic views (viridis Perrin's Bushshrike) Seen at Muxima Yellow-billed Barbet Trachyphonus purpuratus of a male at Mt Moco (margaritae) Bokmakierie Telophorus zeylonus - Seen well in - Seen well at Tombinga (purpuratus Eastern Yellow-crested Woodpecker Chloropicus Chinspot Batis Batis molitor - Seen a few times the coastal deserts (phanus) Yellow-billed Barbet) xantholophus - Seen in the northern scarp forests (pintoi) Marsh Tchagra Bocagia minuta - Nice views on the Indicatoridae Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens - Pririt Batis Batis pririt - Good views inland of northern scarp (anchietae Anchieta's Tchagra) Seen regularly Cassin's Honeybird Prodotiscus insignis - Studied Benguela (affinis) Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis - Seen at length at Tombinga (insignis) Elliot's Woodpecker Dendropicos elliotii - Seen by Angolan Batis Batis minulla - Good views near a few times (ansorgei in the south and souzae in the Michael at Kumbira (gabela, endemic) Green-backed Honeybird Prodotiscus zambesiae Quitexe and at Muxima and Kumbira north) - Seen displaying at Kalandula and in the Moco Olive Woodpecker Dendropicos griseocephalus - White-tailed Shrike Lanioturdus torquatus - Good Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegalus - Seen a region (zambesiae) Seen at Mt Moco (ruwenzori) looks in the Benguela and Leba areas few times (armenus) Brown-backed Honeybird Prodotiscus regulus - Falconidae Falcons Seen well at Muxima and also at Tundavala Chestnut Wattle-eye Platysteira castanea - Seen in Pink-footed Puffback Dryoscopus angolensis - Rock Kestrel Falco rupicolus - Seen a couple of the scarp forests Seen a few times in the scarp forests (angolensis) Willcocks's Honeyguide willcocksi - One times in the south small, plain-faced honeyguide seen In the northern Black-throated Wattle-eye Platysteira peltata - Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus cubla - Seen scarp forests had an olive wash on the breast and Grey Kestrel Falco ardosiaceus - One good sighting Seen at Kalandula (mentalis) regularly (hamatus) in the Mt Moco region appeared to be this species. It would constitute a White-fronted Wattle-eye Platysteira albifrons - A Braun's Bushshrike Laniarius brauni - Good views new country record Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus - Seen a couple of pair was seen at Muxima (endemic) in the Quitexe area (endemic) times (biarmicus) Pallid Honeyguide Indicator meliphilus - Scoped Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye Platysteira concreta - Gabela Bushshrike Laniarius amboimensis on its song post in the northern scarp forests Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus - One near Fantastic views at Kumbira (ansorgei, endemic) - Fantastic views of a pair along the central Lobito (minor) escarpment (endemic) Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor - Seen near Mt Prionopidae Helmetshrikes Moco Psittacidae African & New World Parrots Tropical Boubou Laniarius major - Seen on the White-crested Helmetshrike Prionops plumatus - plateau (major) Scaly-throated Honeyguide Indicator variegatus - Red-fronted Parrot Poicephalus gulielmi - Several Seen several times (poliocephalus) Good views at Muxima in flight in the northern scarp forests (gulielmi) Swamp Boubou Laniarius bicolor - Seen a few Retz's Helmetshrike Prionops retzii - Seen only by Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator - Seen a times on the coastal plain (guttatus Gabon Meyer's Parrot Poicephalus meyeri - Seen well at Michael at Kalandula (nigricans) Boubou) few times Kalandula (reichenowi) Gabela Helmetshrike Prionops gabela - Three Picidae Crimson-breasted Shrike Laniarius atrococcineus Rüppell's Parrot Poicephalus rueppellii - Good good sightings near Caxito and Muxima (endemic) - Seen on the Namibe Day Trip Red-throated Wryneck Jynx ruficollis - Nice looks views inland of Benguela Malaconotidae Bushshrikes Brubru Nilaus afer - Good views of the unusual at Kalandula and Mt Moco (ruficollis) Psittaculidae Old World Parrots Monteiro's Bushshrike Malaconotus monteiri - affinis subspecies in the Mt Moco area and at Bennett's Woodpecker Campethera bennettii - Rosy-faced Lovebird Agapornis roseicollis - Scope Superb views in the Quitexe area (endemic) Kalandula, and brubru along the coastal plain Seen well below Leba Pass (capricorni Capricorn views inland of Benguela (catumbella) Woodpecker) Grey-headed Bushshrike Malaconotus blanchoti - Campephagidae Cuckooshrikes Seen at Kalandula (interpositus) White-breasted Cuckooshrike Coracina pectoralis - Seen at Kalandula

20 | Angola 2018 Angola 2018 | 21 Black Cuckooshrike Campephaga flava - Seen a Bates's Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone batesi - A Benguela Long-billed Lark Certhilauda Yellow-throated Leaflove Atimastillas flavicollis few times paradise flycatcher seen briefly at Kumbira was benguelensis - Several good sightings in the coastal - Seen a few times (flavigula Pale-throated probably this species (bannermani) deserts (benguelensis) Leaflove) Petit's Cuckooshrike Campephaga petiti - Seen at Kumbira African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis - Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix verticalis Swamp Palm Bulbul Thescelocichla leucopleura - Seen regularly (plumbeiceps) - Good views in the south-west (damarensis) Seen near Quitexe Purple-throated Cuckooshrike Campephaga quiscalina - Seen in the northern scarp forests Corvidae Crows Sabota Lark Calendulauda sabota - Seen in the Pale-olive Greenbul Phyllastrephus fulviventris - (quiscalina) coastal deserts (ansorgei) Seen well at Muxima and again below Leba Pass

Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding Cape Crow Corvus capensis - Seen in the Mt Moco Report Tour Africa Birding Laniidae Shrikes region Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana - Seen at Cabanis's Greenbul Phyllastrephus cabanisi - Seen Tundavala (occidentalis) at Kalandula (cabanisi) Southern White-crowned Shrike Eurocephalus Pied Crow Corvus albus - Common anguitimens - Seen a couple of times along the Flappet Lark Mirafra rufocinnamomea - Seen in White-throated Greenbul Phyllastrephus Stenostiridae Fairy Flycatchers coastal plain (anguitimens) the Mt Moco area (fischeri) albigularis - Seen by everyone near Quitexe African Blue Flycatcher Elminia longicauda - Seen (viridiceps Angola White-throated Greenbul/ Souza's Shrike Lanius souzae - Fantastic views of a Angolan Lark Mirafra angolensis - Great views in in the scarp forests (teresita) Angola Greenbul), the first time this endemic pair in the Mt Moco region (souzae) the Mt Moco region (angolensis) taxon has been seen on a bird tour White-tailed Blue Flycatcher Elminia albicauda - Northern Fiscal Lanius humeralis - Seen regularly Stark's Lark Spizocorys starki - Excellent views Seen at Mt Moco Red-tailed Bristlebill Bleda syndactylus - Heard on the plateau (capelli) inland of Benguela and on the Namibe Day Trip only (woosnami) Paridae Tits Southern Fiscal Lanius collaris - Seen in the south- Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea - Seen in the Black-collared Bulbul Neolestes torquatus - Seen west (aridicolus) Mt Moco region and at Tundavala (spleniata) White-winged Black Tit Melaniparus leucomelas - near Quitexe and at Mt Moco Seen a few times (insignis) Oriolidae Orioles Pycnonotidae Bulbuls Hirundinidae Swallows, martins Carp's Tit Melaniparus carpi - Seen a few times in African Golden Oriole Oriolus auratus - Some African Red-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus nigricans - the south Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera - Several good looks in miombo woodlands (notatus) Seen in the south-west (nigricans) sightings (reichenowi) Dusky Tit Melaniparus funereus - Seen at Kumbira Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus - Seen Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor - (gabela, endemic) Grey-rumped Swallow Pseudhirundo griseopyga - several times (angolensis) Common (tricolor) Several good views, especially in the Mt Moco area Rufous-bellied Tit Melaniparus rufiventris - Seen Black-winged Oriole Oriolus nigripennis - Seen in Slender-billed Greenbul Stelgidillas gracilirostris - (griseopyga) en route to Kalandula (rufiventris) the northern scarp forests Seen in the northern scarp forests (gracilirostris) Brazza's Martin Phedina brazzae - Excellent views Ashy Tit Melaniparus cinerascens - Seen well Dicruridae Drongos Little Greenbul Eurillas virens - Seen in the north in the Mt Moco area inland of Benguela (benguellensis) (virens) Square-tailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii - Seen Angolan Swallow Hirundo angolensis - Common Remizidae Penduline Tits near Conda, and at Kalandula (saturnus Sharpe's Plain Greenbul Eurillas curvirostris - Seen in the White-throated Swallow Hirundo albigularis - Drongo) northern scarp and heard at Kumbira (curvirostris) Grey Penduline Tit Anthoscopus caroli - Seen in Seen in the highlands the Mt Moco area (ansorgei African Penduline Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis - Seen Yellow-whiskered Greenbul Eurillas latirostris - Tit) Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii - Seen along regularly (apivorus) Seen in the scarp forests (latirostris) the coast (smithii) Cape Penduline Tit Anthoscopus minutus - Good Velvet-mantled Drongo Dicrurus modestus - Seen Honeyguide Greenbul Baeopogon indicator - Brief views inland of Benguela (damarensis) Black-and-rufous Swallow Hirundo nigrorufa - along the northern escarpment and at Muxima views in the north (indicator) Some good looks in the Mt Moco region (coracinus) Nicatoridae Nicators Yellow-bellied Greenbul Chlorocichla flaviventris - Pearl-breasted Swallow Hirundo dimidiata - Seen Monarchidae Monarchs Several good views (occidentalis) Yellow-throated Nicator Nicator vireo - A few in the Mt Moco area (marwitzi) good sightings along the escarpment Blue-headed Crested Flycatcher Trochocercus Falkenstein's Greenbul Chlorocichla falkensteini Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula - Seen south- nitens - Seen near Quitexe (nitens) - Seen at Kumbira and along the northern Alaudidae Larks west and at Mt Moco (anderssoni Southern Rock escarpment Rufous-vented Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone Spike-heeled Lark Chersomanes albofasciata - Martin/Large Rock Martin) rufocinerea - Seen in the northern scarp Simple Greenbul Chlorocichla simplex - Heard on Seen on the Namibe Day Trip (obscurata) Common House Martin Delichon urbicum - Some the northern escarpment early migrants seen at Mt Moco

22 | Angola 2018 Angola 2018 | 23 Greater Striped Swallow Cecropis cucullata - Seen African Yellow Warbler Iduna natalensis - Seen Neddicky Cisticola fulvicapilla - Seen on the Yellow-bellied Eremomela Eremomela at Mt Moco and Tundavala near Quitexe and at Mt Moco (major) plateau (dispar) icteropygialis - Seen in the south-west (puellula) Lesser Striped Swallow Cecropis abyssinica - Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina - Seen in Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis - Seen near Mt Salvadori's Eremomela Eremomela salvadorii - Common (unitatis) Lubango Moco (terrestris) Seen a few times in the Mt Moco region Mosque Swallow Cecropis senegalensis - Seen a few Locustellidae Grassbirds and allies Wing-snapping Cisticola Cisticola ayresii - Seen at Green-capped Eremomela Eremomela scotops - times (monteiri) Mt Moco and Tundavala (ayresii) Seen several times in miombo (pulchra) Little Rush Warbler Bradypterus baboecala - Seen

Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding Red-throated Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon rufigula in the Mt Moco region (benguellensis) Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava - Rufous-crowned Eremomela Eremomela badiceps Report Tour Africa Birding - Many seen on the plateau Widespread (graueri and bechuanae) - Good looks in the northern scarp forests Evergreen Forest Warbler Bradypterus lopezi - Macrosphenidae Crombecs, African warblers Seen by some at Mt Moco (boultoni) Black-chested Prinia Prinia flavicans -Seen in the Black-necked Eremomela Eremomela atricollis - south-west (ansorgei) Good views of this smart species in the Mt Moco Moustached Grass Warbler Melocichla mentalis - Fan-tailed Grassbird Schoenicola brevirostris - region, where found breeding A few good sightings (mentalis) Excellent views in the Mt Moco region (alexinae) Banded Prinia Prinia bairdii - Good looks in the northern scarp forests (heinrichi, endemic) Pellorneidae Ground-Babblers Rockrunner Achaetops pycnopygius - Good views Cisticolidae Cisticolas and allies inland of Benguela and at Tundavala (spadix) White-chinned Prinia Schistolais leucopogon - Scaly-breasted Illadopsis Illadopsis albipectus - Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops - Seen a Seen on the northern scarp (leucopogon) Heard on the northern scarp (trensei, endemic) Yellow Longbill Macrosphenus flavicans -Heard few times (lepe) along the northern scarp (flavicans) Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida - Seen a Brown Illadopsis Illadopsis fulvescens - Seen at Whistling Cisticola Cisticola lateralis - Seen at couple of times along the coastal plain (flavida) Kumbira (dilutior, endemic) Pulitzer's Longbill Macrosphenus pulitzeri - Two Kalandula (modestus) good sightings along the central escarpment Lowland Masked Apalis Apalis binotata - Seen Leiothrichidae Typical Babblers Bubbling Cisticola Cisticola bulliens - Seen along (endemic) near Quitexe the coastal plain and escarpment (septentrionalis Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii - Seen Long-billed Crombec Sylvietta rufescens - Seen and bulliens) Black-throated Apalis Apalis jacksoni - Seen on at Kalandula (hyposticta) near Muxima (ansorgei) and at Tundavala (flecki) the northern scarp (jacksoni) Rock-loving Cisticola Cisticola emini - The Hartlaub's Babbler Turdoides hartlaubii - Seen in Red-capped Crombec Sylvietta ruficapilla - Nice endemic Huambo Cisticola Cisticola bailunduensis Buff-throated Apalis Apalis rufogularis - the Mt Moco region (hartlaubii) looks in the Mt Moco region and at Tundavala was seen well at Mt Moco. It is not related to Rock- Seen along the central (brauni) and northern Bare-cheeked Babbler Turdoides gymnogenys - (ruficapilla) loving Cisticola, although this is not yet widely escarpment (angolensis) Seen well inland of Benguela and below Leba pass recognised Green Crombec Sylvietta virens - Common along Grey Apalis Apalis cinerea - Seen at Mt Moco (gymnogenys, endemic) the escarpment (tando) Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana - Seen at Leba (grandis) Sylviidae Sylviid Babblers (smithersi) Cettiidae Cettia bush warblers and allies Brown-headed Apalis Apalis alticola - Seen en African Hill Babbler Pseudoalcippe abyssinica - Tinkling Cisticola Cisticola rufilatus - Seen well in route to Kalandula (alticola) Green Hylia Hylia prasina - Seen along the Seen well at Mt Moco (ansorgei) the Mt Moco region (ansorgei) escarpment (prasina) Grey-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera Chestnut-vented Warbler Sylvia subcaerulea - Grey-backed Cisticola Cisticola subruficapilla - brevicaudata - Seen in the south (sharpei) Tit Hylia Pholidornis rushiae - Great views near Seen inland of Benguela (ansorgei, endemic) Seen on the Namibe Day Trip (newtoni) Quitexe Hartert's Camaroptera Camaroptera harterti - Zosteropidae White-eyes Wailing Cisticola Cisticola lais - Common at Seen several times (endemic) Phylloscopidae Leaf warblers and allies Tundavala and Mt Moco (namba) African Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis - Yellow-browed Camaroptera Camaroptera Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus - Seen at Many seen (heinrichi in Uíge, quanzae at Kumbira Chirping Cisticola Cisticola pipiens - Seen several superciliaris - Seen well in the northern scarp Lubango and anderssoni at Lubango) times in the Mt Moco region (pipiens) forests Acrocephalidae Reed warblers and allies Hyliotidae Hyliotas Stout Cisticola Cisticola robustus - Seen in the Mt Miombo Wren-Warbler Calamonastes undosus - Greater Swamp Warbler Acrocephalus rufescens - Moco region (angolensis) Several good sightings at Kalandula (cinereus) and Yellow-bellied Hyliota Hyliota flavigaster - Three Seen at the Keve River (ansorgei) in the Mt Moco region (huilae) sightings in Miombo (barbozae) Croaking Cisticola Cisticola natalensis - Seen in Lesser Swamp Warbler Acrocephalus gracilirostris the Mt Moco region (huambo) Barred Wren-Warbler Calamonastes fasciolatus - Southern Hyliota Hyliota australis - Seen at - Seen very briefly in the Mt Moco region Seen inland of Benguela (pallidior, endemic) Kumbira (slatini, Forest Hyliota) Short-winged Cisticola Cisticola brachypterus - (winterbottomi) Common on the plateau (loanda)

24 | Angola 2018 Angola 2018 | 25 Certhiidae Treecreepers Muscicapidae Chats, Old World Flycatchers White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha heuglini - Western Violet-backed Sunbird Anthreptes Heard often and seen occasionally (subrufescens) longuemarei - Seen a few times in miombo African Spotted Creeper Salpornis salvadori - Forest Scrub Robin Cercotrichas leucosticta - (angolensis) Seen at Mt Moco (salvadori) Super views at Muxima (reichenowi, endemic) White-headed Robin-Chat Cossypha heinrichi - Reasonable views at Kalandula Little Green Sunbird Anthreptes seimundi - Seen at Sturnidae Starlings Miombo Scrub Robin Cercotrichas barbata - Nice Kumbira and in the northern escarpment (minor) views at Kalandula and in the Mt Moco region Snowy-crowned Robin-Chat Cossypha niveicapilla Cape Starling Lamprotornis nitens - Common - Seen briefly by some near Quibaxe Grey-chinned Sunbird Anthreptes rectirostris - along the coastal plain (nitens) Kalahari Scrub Robin Cercotrichas paena - Seen Seen in the northern scarp forests (tephrolaemus)

Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding inland of Benguela (benguellensis) Bocage's Akalat Sheppardia bocagei - Amazing Report Tour Africa Birding Splendid Starling Lamprotornis splendidus - Seen views at Mt Moco (bocagei) Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris - Seen along in the north (splendidus) Brown-backed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas hartlaubi the escarpment (somereni) - Seen near Quibaxe Gabela Akalat Sheppardia gabela - Amazing views Meves's Starling Lamprotornis mevesii - Seen well at Kumbira Green-headed Sunbird Cyanomitra verticalis near Leba (benguelensis Benguela Long-tailed White-browed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas - Seen along the escarpment and at Kalandula Starling, endemic) leucophrys - Seen a few times, including near Rufous-tailed Palm Thrush Cichladusa ruficauda - (cyanocephala) Quitexe (munda) and inland of Benguela A few good sightings along the coastal plain Sharp-tailed Starling Lamprotornis acuticaudus - (ovamboensis) Bannerman's Sunbird Cyanomitra bannermani Many good sightings in the miombo woodlands, Collared Flycatcher Ficedula albicollis - Tertius - Just one female seen and photographed by at Kalandula and in the Mt Moco region Grey-throated Tit-Flycatcher Myioparus saw one at Tundavala some of the group at Kalandula, where it was well (acuticaudus) griseigularis - Heard only Short-toed Rock Thrush Monticola brevipes - Nice outnumbered by Green-headed Sunbird Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster - Grey Tit-Flycatcher Myioparus plumbeus - Seen at looks at Tundavala (brevipes) Blue-throated Brown Sunbird Cyanomitra Many seen (verreauxi) Muxima and Kalandula (catoleucus) Miombo Rock Thrush Monticola angolensis - Nice cyanolaema - Seen in the northern scarp forests Chestnut-winged Starling Onychognathus fulgidus Angolan Slaty Flycatcher Melaenornis brunneus - views at Tundavala and Mt Moco (angolensis) (octaviae) - Some good views along the northern escarpment Good looks at Tundavala and Mt Moco (endemic) African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus - Regular in Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea - Common in (intermedius) Southern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis the highlands (stonei) forest (cephaelis) Pale-winged Starling Onychognathus nabouroup - pammelaina - Several sightings (pammelaina) Karoo Chat Emarginata schlegelii - Several seen in Carmelite Sunbird Chalcomitra fuliginosa - Nice Seen in the south-west Pale Flycatcher Melaenornis pallidus - Seen several on the Namibe Day Trip (benguellensis). May prove looks at Kumbira (fuliginosa) Narrow-tailed Starling Poeoptera lugubris - Seen times (murinus) to be a distinct species from the South African Green-throated Sunbird Chalcomitra rubescens - in the northern scarp forests birds Chat Flycatcher Melaenornis infuscatus - Common Seen in the northern scarp forests (rubescens) Buphagidae Oxpeckers in the south-west (benguellensis) Tractrac Chat Emarginata tractrac - One seen on Amethyst Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystina - Seen the Namibe Day Trip (hoeschi) Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus - A Ashy Flycatcher Muscicapa caerulescens - Seen in miombo (deminuta) few seen in the south-west (langi) along the escarpment (impavida) Sooty Chat Myrmecocichla nigra - Several seen in Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis - the highlands Turdidae Thrushes Cassin's Flycatcher Muscicapa cassini - Seen on Several seen (saturatior) the drive to Uíge Mountain Wheatear Myrmecocichla monticola - White-tailed Ant Thrush Bocage's Sunbird Nectarinia bocagii - Michael Seen along the coastal plain (albipileata, endemic) poensis - Seen briefly in northern scarp forests Dusky-blue Flycatcher Muscicapa comitata - Seen almost certainly saw a male at Mt Moco in flight, and at Mt Moco (nigricauda, endemic) (praepectoralis) in the Quitexe area (comitata) but it could not be relocated. Everyone saw a Capped Wheatear Oenanthe pileata - Seen at Mt female at Mt Moco which was later identified from Fraser's Rufous Thrush Stizorhina fraseri - Seen a Sooty Flycatcher Muscicapa infuscata - Seen in the Moco (neseri) photos few times in the scarp forests (rubicunda) northern scarp forests (infuscata) Familiar Chat Oenanthe familiaris - Seen a few Bronzy Sunbird Nectarinia kilimensis - Good Groundscraper Thrush Turdus litsitsirupa - Seen Brown-chested Alethe Pseudalethe poliocephala - times in the south (angolensis) views in the Mt Moco region (gadowi, endemic) in the south (pauciguttatus) Heard at Kumbira (hallae, endemic) Nectariniidae Sunbirds Olive-bellied Sunbird Cinnyris chloropygius - Seen African Thrush Turdus pelios - Seen several times Angolan Cave Chat Cossypha ansorgei - Superb along the escarpment (orphogaster) (bocagei) views at Tundavala Mangrove Sunbird Anthreptes gabonicus - Good views at the Kwanza River Miombo Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris Kurrichane Thrush Turdus libonyana - Seen at Grey-winged Robin-Chat Cossypha polioptera - manoensis - Good views in the Mt Moco region Lubango (verreauxii) Seen well at Kalandula (polioptera). Now called (pintoi, Western Miombo Sunbird) Grey-winged Akalat.

26 | Angola 2018 Angola 2018 | 27 Ludwig's Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris Scaly-feathered Weaver Sporopipes squamifrons - Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis - Quite common Jameson's Firefinch Lagonosticta rhodopareia - ludovicensis - Seen well at Tundavala and Mt Moco Seen inland of Benguela (squamifrons) in the highlands (angolensis) Seen at Tundavala (ansorgei, Ansorge's Firefinch) (endemic) Thick-billed Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons - Seen Fan-tailed Widowbird Euplectes axillaris - A few Blue Waxbill Uraeginthus angolensis - Common Purple-banded Sunbird Cinnyris bifasciatus - Seen near Quitexe (tandae) seen in the highlands (bocagei) along the coastal plain (angolensis) along the length of the coastal plain (bifasciatus) Black-chinned Weaver Ploceus nigrimentus - Seen Yellow-mantled Widowbird Euplectes macroura Violet-eared Waxbill Uraeginthus granatinus - Orange-tufted Sunbird Cinnyris bouvieri - One twice at the nest at Mt Moco - Non-breeding males seen along the northern Seen at Tundavala (siccatus) male seen fairly briefly along the northern escarpment (macroura)

Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis - Several Report Tour Africa Birding escarpment Angolan Waxbill Coccopygia bocagei - Nice looks sightings (crocatus) Marsh Widowbird Euplectes hartlaubi - Several at Mt Moco and Tundavala (endemic) Superb Sunbird Cinnyris superbus - Several seen non-breeding males seen well in the Mt Moco Black-necked Weaver Ploceus nigricollis - Most Grey Waxbill Estrilda perreini - Seen a few times along the escarpment (superbus) region (hartlaubi) common at Kumbira (nigricollis) in the north Oustalet's Sunbird Cinnyris oustaleti - Nice looks White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albonotatus Bocage's Weaver Ploceus temporalis - Great views Cinderella Waxbill Estrilda thomensis - Good in the highlands, especially in the Mt Moco region - Non-breeding males seen at Muxima of a lovely male in the Mt Moco region views of a pair below Leba pass (oustaleti) (asymmetrurus) Holub's Golden Weaver Ploceus xanthops - Several Fawn-breasted Waxbill Estrilda paludicola - White-bellied Sunbird Cinnyris talatala - Seen in Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens - Seen sightings Several sightings (benguellensis) the southern lowlands (talatala) at Mt Moco Southern Masked Weaver Ploceus velatus - Non- Orange-cheeked Waxbill Estrilda melpoda - Seen Variable Sunbird Cinnyris venustus - Seen at Mt Estrildidae Waxbills, Munias & Allies breeding birds seen in the south (velatus) Moco and Tundavala (falkensteini) a few times in the Mt Moco region (melpoda) White-breasted Nigrita Nigrita fusconotus - Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus - Fairly common Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild - Several Dusky Sunbird Cinnyris fuscus - Seen in the Common along the northern scarp (fusconotus) and seen in breeding plumage in the north coastal deserts (inclusus) sightings (angolensis in the north, jagoensis in the (collaris) and below Leba Pass (nigriceps, Spotted- Grey-headed Nigrita Nigrita canicapillus - Seen south) Bates's Sunbird Cinnyris batesi - Seen at Kalandula backed Weaver) along the escarpment (angolensis) Orange-breasted Waxbill Amandava subflava Copper Sunbird Cinnyris cupreus - A few seen Vieillot's Black Weaver Ploceus nigerrimus - Seen Orange-winged Pytilia Pytilia afra - A couple of - A couple of sightings in the Mt Moco region (chalceus) in the northern areas (nigerrimus) sightings in the Mt Moco region and at Kalandula (niethammeri) Passeridae Old World Sparrows Yellow-mantled Weaver Ploceus tricolor - Seen in Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba - Seen along Quailfinch Ortygospiza atricollis - Seen at Mt the northern scarp forests (interscapularis) the coastal plain (melba) Moco (muelleri African Quailfinch) and in the White-browed Sparrow-Weaver Plocepasser surrounding region (fuscata Black-chinned mahali - Seen in the south-west (ansorgei) Compact Weaver Ploceus superciliosus - Seen near Red-headed Finch Amadina erythrocephala - Seen Quailfinch) Quibaxe on the Namibe Day Trip House Sparrow Passer domesticus - In many towns Locust Finch Paludipasser locustella - Good views and villages Dark-backed Weaver Ploceus bicolor - Seen in the Red-headed Bluebill Spermophaga ruficapilla - of males and females on the ground in the Mt scarp forests (amaurocephalus) Heard at Kumbira and seen briefly near Quitexe Great Sparrow Passer motitensis - Several seen Moco region (uelensis) (ruficapilla) inland of Benguela (benguellensis) Red-headed Malimbe Malimbus rubricollis - Seen Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata - Seen well in the scarp forests (praedi) Brown Twinspot Clytospiza monteiri - Seen near Cape Sparrow Passer melanurus - Seen in the several times (scutata) Quibaxe south-west (damarensis) Crested Malimbe Malimbus malimbicus - One Black-and-white Mannikin Lonchura bicolor - seen by Tertius along the northern escarpment Dusky Twinspot Euschistospiza cinereovinacea - Northern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer griseus - Seen along the escarpment (woltersi) (malimbicus) Good looks at Mt Moco (cinereovinacea, endemic) Seen from Muxima northwards (ugandae) Viduidae Indigobirds, Whydahs Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea - Seen along the Brown Firefinch Lagonosticta nitidula - Good Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus - coastal plain (lathamii) views in the Mt Moco region Dusky Indigobird Vidua funerea - Seen at Seen in the south (diffusus) Kalandula (nigerrima). Identification based on it Black-winged Red Bishop Euplectes hordeaceus - Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala - Seen Yellow-throated Petronia Gymnoris superciliaris - being the only indigobird there Seen on the drive to Uíge (hordeaceus) at Leba (rendalli) Seen in miombo (rufitergum) Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura - Only non- Golden-backed Bishop Euplectes aureus - Non- Landana Firefinch Lagonosticta landanae - Seen in Ploceidae Weavers, Widowbirds breeding birds seen breeding birds seen well at Muxima the Mt Moco region and at Kalandula Red-billed Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis niger - Seen Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah Vidua obtusa - inland of Benguela (niger) Seen at Kalandula in non-breeding plumage

28 | Angola 2018 Angola 2018 | 29 Motacillidae Wagtails, Pipits Black-throated Canary Crithagra atrogularis - Seen in the Mt Moco region (lwenarum) Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis - Seen by Michael and Tertius en route to Huambo (simplicissima) Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambica - Several sightings (tando in the north, samaliyae in African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp - Seen on the south) the drive to Uíge (vidua) Brimstone Canary Crithagra sulphurata - Seen a Fülleborn's Longclaw Macronyx fuelleborni - Seen few times (sharpii)

Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding a few times in the Mt Moco area and at Tundavala Report Tour Africa Birding (ascensi) White-throated Canary Crithagra albogularis - Seen in the south-west (crocopygia) African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus - Seen a few times (bocagei) Thick-billed Seedeater Crithagra burtoni - Seen at Mt Moco (tanganjicae) Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis - Seen on top of Mt Moco (moco) Yellow-crowned Canary Serinus flavivertex -Seen at Tundavala and Mt Moco (huillensis, endemic) Wood Pipit Anthus nyassae - Seen a few times in the Mt Moco region (schoutedeni) Emberizidae Buntings Buffy Pipit Anthus vaalensis - Seen at Tundavala Lark-like Bunting Emberiza impetuani - Seen in (neumanni) the coastal deserts (eremica) Plain-backed Pipit Anthus leucophrys - Several Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi - sightings (bohndorffi) Seen at Tundavala and Mt Moco (nivenorum) Long-legged Pipit Anthus pallidiventris - One at Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris - the Kwanza River Seen at Tundavala (princeps) Angola Naked-faced Barbet/Pale-throated Barbet Striped Pipit Anthus lineiventris - Seen very well at Cabanis's Bunting Emberiza cabanisi - Seen at Mt Moco and Tundavala Kalandula (orientalis) Gabela Helmetshrike Fringillidae Finches Black-faced Canary Crithagra capistrata - Good sightings on several occasions (hildegardae at Moco, capistratus elsewhere)

Angola Cave Chat

30 | Angola 2018 Angola 2018 | 31 Angola Lark Birding Africa Tour Report Tour Africa Birding Report Tour Africa Birding

Monteiro's Bushshrike

Pale-olive Greenbul Gabela Akalat

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