What great people! What great birds! And what a trip! Just returned yesterday from a most exhilarating birding trip through Mozambique. I managed to get 8 new birds with African Pitta being without a doubt the best of them all. This is a bird Ive wanted to see since before I was a birdwatcher. Ive tried for it before and Ive dipped so I went in there with a certain sense of apprehension. No sooner had we arrived though than we bumped into Etiennes group who had just located and seen a Pitta some 50m from the access road to Mphingwe - Catapu. We promptly went in on their directions and had eyes on a displaying Pitta no more than 5 minutes later. It was ridiculous! I am still buzzing. Other lifers seen on the trip included: Eurasian Bittern - a bird thats been eluding me for years Green Tinkerbird - a bird that had been considered extinct in Southern Africa until its dramatic rediscovery last year Böhms Bee-eater - a bird that had been considered an extremely rare vagrant to Southern Africa with only three prior records, until January when a small resident population was discovered just south of the Zambezi (and by just south, I literally mean some 20m south of it) Blue Quail - a bird that I never really quite expected to ever have on my list East Coast Akalat - a bird that I have heard before but failed to get visuals of Speckle-throated Woodpecker - a bird that I had actually seen before but failed to observe the diagnostic identification features Barred Long-tailed Cuckoo And numerous other good birds which I have seen before but certainly worthy of a mention, such as Olive-headed Weaver, White-chested Alethe, Great Snipe, Locustfinch and too many more to list. But on a trip like this the birds are only one part of the thrill. The people I came into contact with was every bit as wonderful. My travelling convoy consisting of Johnny Wilson, Justin Rhys Nicolau, Niel Cillié and Burger Cillié were top class. These guys are exceptional birders, exceptional photographers and have knowledge of raptors that leaves me humble. Moreover, theyre just generally all round good guys and fun to be around with. Etienne Marais, a gentleman and a scholar. The assistance that he volunteered to help us connect with some key species, not least of which was the Pitta, was more than any birder could ask for. And finally, if ever you were so unfortunate to pick up vehicle problems some 1700km and two international border crossings from home, like I dont know, lets say your clutch failing, you will be fortunate if it happens in the proximity of the Van Zyls of Gorongosa. These people went out of their way to help me find solutions to the problem and provided some emotional support when my nerves were stretched to breaking point. The world needs more people like these.
Posted on: Thu, 18 Dec 2014 10:41:26 +0000
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