1 BIRDING BRIEFS 1 2 3 2 4 5 Tailorbirds ‘rediscovered’ in Mozambique 3 6 7 ailorbirds (Orthotomus spp.) belong north-west of Unango, but in 1945 he agreed to join us and act as interpreter, We finally found a pair of Long-billed 4 8 T to a largely Asian genus renowned sent his collector, Makawa, who spent and we drove north to Unango on a Tailorbirds the following morning, 9 for sewing leaves together to form the 16 days in the area. Makawa collected good tar road. creeping quietly through the forest 5 nest. However, two African species are 13 bird species in the forest, four species It was exciting to see Serra Jeci in the canopy. Jali Makawa reported that this often placed in this genus: the African in the adjacent grassland, and a further distance, but it was too far to walk there, was the habitat of the birds he collected, 6 Tailorbird or Red-capped Forest Warbler 12 species on the hill slopes as well as in given our tight schedule. Fortunately, but the species only occurs in the forest O. metopias and the Long-billed Tailor the miombo woodland. In addition to with Fred’s aid, we were able to discover edge and understorey in Tanzania, which 7 bird O. moreaui. They are probably the two tailorbirds, he also obtained the a track leading to a recently-established led Benson to wonder whether a mistake closely related to the camaropteras, first specimen of the African Hill- farm. We followed this track through had been made. One possible reason for 8 which also sew leaves together to make Babbler Pseudoalcippe abyssinica found 18 kilometres of stunning, untouched it occurring in the canopy at Serra Jeci is their nests. in Mozambique. miombo woodland, and arrived at a the presence there of African Tailorbirds 9 Both African species of tailorbird are We decided to try and revisit Serra small compound to be greeted by some and Green-backed Camaropteras, both restricted to the montane forests of Jeci during a trip in June/July 2001 to rather surprised farm workers. Fred duly of which are virtually absent from the 10 Tanzania’s Eastern Arc Mountains and collect blood from various warblers in explained our mission, and they agreed area where Long-billed Tailorbirds occur Serra Jeci (Njesi Plateau) in northern south–central Africa. Just getting to the to lead us the remaining five kilometres in Tanzania. 11 Mozambique. The Mozambican records area was interesting in itself. The Niassa or so to the mountains. The first part of We didn’t have time to explore the date to 1945, when seven birds of each Province, nestled on the eastern shore the trail ran through miombo wood area thoroughly. To the north of the 12 species were shot by Jali Makawa, Con of Lake Malawi, is Mozambique’s for land, with bird parties containing specials rather scrubby forest patch we visited Benson’s collector. In Tanzania, the gotten province (see Africa – Environ such as Stierling’s Woodpecker was a large patch of forest that may 13 African Tailorbird is fairly common at ment & Wildlife, vol.6, no.5). Until Dendropicos stierlingi and Olive-headed well support other interesting birds. several mountains, but the Long-billed recently there was limited road access Weaver Ploceus olivaceiceps. However, we now know that both species 14 Tailorbird is known only from the East to the area, and during the 20-year civil After a stiff climb, we arrived at a small of tailorbirds still occur at Serra Jeci. Usambara Mountains, where it is scarce war, dissidents were flown into Lichinga, forest patch where we set up camp. Human disturbance is minimal. The 15 and apparently decreasing in numbers. the provincial capital, and left there, Within only a few minutes of erecting only trails on the mountain were game It is listed as Critically Endangered in because there was little chance of them the first mist-net, we’d seen a pair of tracks, with a major elephant route 16 the latest global Red Data book, so ever making their way back to Beira African Tailorbirds in the dense forest along the mountain crest. The locals there is a pressing need to reassess its and Maputo! understorey – the first Mozambican told us that lions, leopards, sable and 17 status in Mozambique. Since the cessation of hostilities, the records for more than 50 years! Other zebra were regular in the area. The Serra Jeci is a range of hills covered in infrastructure has improved signific interesting birds included the Ever- forests are protected by the local Yao 18 a mosaic of grassland and forest that antly, and the worst section of road was green Forest Warbler Bradypterus lopezi, peoples’ belief that evil spirits inhabit rises above the miombo (Brachystegia) in fact in Malawi, between Mangoche Eastern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris the mountain peaks, as well as rumours 19 claire spottiswoode (4) woodland that clothes most of Mozam and the border town of Mandimba. mediocris , Black-headed Apalis Apalis of the odd landmine. Consequently, 10 Above The forest interior at Serra Jeci. bique’s Niassa Province. Con Benson Once we were in Mozambique, there melanocephala and Orange Ground- Serra Jeci probably is the most important 20 11 saw the area in 1942 during a visit to was a good road all the way through to Thrush Zoothera gurneyi. The scrub at the site for Long-billed Tailorbirds, and Below Black-headed Apalis, an inhabitant 12 Unango, a remote outpost north of Lichinga. Here we enlisted the aid of forest edge had Bertram’s Weaver Ploceus further visits may well see the species 21 13 of Mozambique’s miombo woodland. Lichinga. He was unable to visit the Fred Berrington, a South African mis bertrandi and Miombo Double-collared reassigned from Critical to merely hills, which lie some 20 kilometres sionary with an interest in birds. He Sunbird Cinnyris manoensis. Endangered. 22
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Serra Jeci, looking south towards the plateau and Benson’s site. The African Tailorbird – ‘rediscovered’ in Mozambique after 50 years. 33
africa – birds & birding OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2001