Soil Hill birding; February

  February was never going to be the liveliest month on Soil Hill, but having not spent much time on the site at this time of year, I was pleasantly surprised by some of the birds that I managed to find since my return from Malawi.

  On the 22^nd there was a skein of 57 Pink-footed Geese that flew northwest over the Hill, the only skein during the month, and on the 28^th a small flock of eight Whooper Swans flew north far over Keighley, possibly the same eight birds that had been seen earlier in the morning at Wintersett. Finally on the wildfowl front, there have been up to seven Teal on the NK Pond, with birds being seen on most dates.

  Despite searching on most dates, the only Jack Snipe of the month was flushed on the 21^st. The final birds of interest during the month was the surprise of four Long-tailed Tit in the North Slope Tree-Line on the 22^nd, the first time I have recorded this species here in the first half of the year.

  In terms of migrants, there were good numbers of Fieldfare throughout the month, with a scattering of Redwing mixed in as well. The first spring migrants had already begun to return, with Eurasian Curlew and Oystercatcher both appearing in the Bottom Cattle Fields, although not lingering particularly long.  

-Pink-footed Goose

-Whooper Swan

-Long-tailed Tit

Species List:
Soil Hill: Pink-footed Goose, Canada Goose, Whooper Swan, Mallard, Eurasian Teal, Grey Partridge, Common Pheasant, Red-legged Partridge, Feral Pigeon, Stock Dove, Common Wood Pigeon, Eurasian Collared Dove, Common Moorhen, Eurasian Oystercatcher, Northern Lapwing, Eurasian Curlew, Jack Snipe, Common Snipe, Black-headed Gull, Common Gull, European Herring Gull, Lesser Black-backed Gull, Great Cormorant, Grey Heron, Eurasian Sparrowhawk, Common Buzzard, Little Owl, Common Kestrel, Eurasian Magpie, Western Jackdaw, Rook, Carrion Crow, Northern Raven, Coal Tit, Eurasian Blue Tit, Great Tit, Eurasian Skylark, Long-tailed Tit, Goldcrest, Eurasian Wren, Common Starling, Mistle Thrush, Song Thrush, Redwing, Common Blackbird, Fieldfare, European Robin, European Stonechat, Dunnock, House Sparrow, Pied Wagtail, Meadow Pipit, Common Chaffinch, European Greenfinch, Common Linnet, European Goldfinch, Eurasian Siskin, Common Reed Bunting,

Malawi; Day 17 - Luwawa Forest Lodge & Chimaliro Forest Reserve

 Unbelievably, today was our last full day in Malawi. Sadly it did not start well, with my tent being flooded during the nights heavy rainfall, and subsequently leaving me awake from the early hours of darkness. Once the rain finally ceased at around 07:00 we set off to bird the Miombo woodland not far from the Luwawa Lodge that we were staying in.

The woodland here was very lively with some good birds, but we failed to find our missing species for this habitat. That said, we still enjoyed many of the range-restricted species we had become familiar with over the last weeks, including Red-capped Crombec and Greencap Eremomela, as well as a few European migrants such as Collared and Spotted Flycatcher, as well as Tree Pipit. We also stumbled across a day-roosting African Wood Owl, discreetly tucked away in the woodland but betrayed by a mob of sunbirds and willow warblers.

In the afternoon we stopped off at another patch of forest called the Chimaliro Forest Reserve which we hoped to have one final shot at our missing species. While the flocks were impressive and lively, featuring species such as Whytes Barbet, Miombo Scrub Robin and Stierlings Wren Warbler, we didn’t find our missing birds. And due to the car being left in a rather vulnerable position, and us still needing to drive almost three hours south, we could not spend more than an hour in this otherwise very promising location.

We called off at the Chiete/Kabvunguti Dam on our way south, the same we had visited on our journey north, but the birds were still all distant. A flyby Lesser Moorhen was nice, and the plentiful Southern Pochard were good to see again. It provided a nice break on our journey back to the capital before our flight tomorrow, rounding off an excellent trip back in Africa. 

-Blue-spotted Wood Dove

-Yellow-bellied Hyliota

-Southern Black Flycatcher

-Bearded Woodpecker

-African Golden Oriole

-Red-capped Crombec

-Chinspot Batis

 -Stierling's Wren-Warbler

Species List:
Perekezi Forest Reserve: Red-eyed Dove, Ring-necked Dove, Schalow's Turaco, Common Swift, Common Buzzard, African Wood Owl, Crowned Hornbill, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, African Golden Oriole, Black-headed Oriole, Chinspot Batis, Brubru, Black-backed Puffback, Fork-tailed Drongo, African Paradise Flycatcher, White-tailed Crested Flycatcher, Red-capped Crombec, Green-capped Eremomela, Dark-capped Bulbul, Willow Warbler, Southern Yellow White-eye, African Dusky Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, White-browed Scrub Robin, Cape Robin-Chat, Collared Flycatcher, Amethyst Sunbird, Eastern Miombo Sunbird, Forest Double-collared Sunbird, Variable Sunbird, Tree Pipit,
Chimaliro Forest Reserve: Red-eyed Dove, Wahlberg's Eagle, Common Buzzard, Green Wood Hoopoe, Common Scimitarbill, Whyte's Barbet, Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Cardinal Woodpecker, Bearded Woodpecker, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, White-breasted Cuckooshrike, Black Cuckooshrike, Chinspot Batis, Black-crowned Tchagra, Fork-tailed Drongo, Rufous-bellied Tit, Miombo Tit, Red-capped Crombec, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Green-capped Eremomela, Stierling's Wren-Warbler, Willow Warbler, African Spotted Creeper, Kurrichane Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher, Southern Black Flycatcher, Miombo Scrub Robin, Collared Flycatcher, Western Violet-backed Sunbird, Red-headed Weaver,
Chitete/Kabvunguti Dam: White-faced Whistling Duck, Southern Pochard, Lesser Moorhen, Red-knobbed Coot, African Jacana, 

Malawi; Day 16 - Luwawa Forest Lodge

 Our penultimate full day in Malawi was spent birding around the Luwawa lodge. The morning started with heavy rain, so after an hour or so at the marsh, we returned to the lodge restaurant and saw out the rest of the morning in the garden there. The marsh had much of the same species as the previous night, but once again I got absolutely nothing on the rails, except to hear their raucous calls in response to my various methods to get to see them. The garden was nice, with good views of Bronzy and Forest Double-collared Sunbird on the flowers, and a palearctic migrant tick with a moulting Garden Warbler.

Once the rain had ceased and we had eaten a short lunch at the restaurant we headed out. There is an area that has been replanted by the lodge a couple of kilometres away, restored from plantation to native vegetation, that we wanted to check out. Sadly we got lost on the way, but this detour took us right into the path of an Isabelline/Red-tailed Shrike. Although we only saw the bird for a few minutes, we were able to document it fully and it could well be the first record of this species for Malawi, time will tell.

Once we arrived at the small indigenous woodland, we did find a few nice species, including our first Whinchat of the trip, and a smart Whytes Barbet perched up in the canopy. Generally, though the woodland was quiet, although this was probably not helped by the time of day, coinciding perfectly with the mid-afternoon lull. A few common Miombo species were around, like Miombo Rock Thrush, and the dembos nearby had plenty of small estrilid finches, although nothing out of the ordinary.

At the end of the afternoon we returned to the marsh where I finally got all of about a second of an African Rails head as it emerged from the reeds, only to quickly dart back in. Relief but frustration at the same time, for the amount of effort put in, it would have been good to see it better for sure. As dusk fell we were treated to a really special experience as all the Red-collared Widdowbirds from the surrounding fields descended into the reeds to roost. There could well have been 200 of them, the males dragging their spectacular tail getup behind them as they came.

After dark we checked a few areas for birds, but did not find much. A Genet was seen distantly and we had a few frogs. There was also a new bird for me, when we picked up a high-flying Pennant-winged Nightjar. This is one of the most spectacular nightjars in the world, so it was frustrating to see it so poorly. But that said, the pattern on the wings was unmistakable. 

-Isabelline/Red-tailed Shrike

-African Yellow Warbler

-Copper Sunbird

-Whytes Barbet

-Whinchat

-Bronze Mannikin

-Abdims Stork

-Red-collared Widowbird

-Rusty-spotted Genet

-Common River Frog

-Natal Acraea

-Marsh Patroller

-Brown Playboy

-Potamonautes sp.

Species List:
Luwawa Forest Lodge: African Olive Pigeon, Red-eyed Dove, Ring-necked Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Blue-spotted Wood Dove, Schalow's Turaco, Burchell's Coucal, Red-chested Cuckoo, Pennant-winged Nightjar, Common Swift, African Rail, Black Crake, Abdim's Stork, Black-headed Heron, Black-winged Kite, Long-crested Eagle, African Marsh Harrier, Speckled Mousebird, Malachite Kingfisher, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, European Bee-eater, Whyte's Barbet, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Eurasian Hobby, Chinspot Batis, Black-crowned Tchagra, Tropical Boubou, Fülleborn's Boubou, Red-backed Shrike, Northern Fiscal, White-tailed Crested Flycatcher, Moustached Grass Warbler, Bar-throated Apalis, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Red-winged Prinia, Singing Cisticola, Trilling Cisticola, Short-winged Cisticola, African Yellow Warbler, Fan-tailed Grassbird, Little Rush Warbler, Black-browed Greenbul, Dark-capped Bulbul, Eurasian Blackcap, Garden Warbler, Southern Yellow White-eye, African Dusky Flycatcher, Spotted Flycatcher, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Collared Flycatcher, Miombo Rock Thrush, Whinchat, African Stonechat, Bronzy Sunbird, Forest Double-collared Sunbird, Variable Sunbird, Copper Sunbird, Bertram's Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, Holub's Golden Weaver, Yellow Bishop, Red-collared Widowbird, Thick-billed Weaver, Bronze Mannikin, Common Waxbill, African Firefinch, Pin-tailed Whydah, Tree Pipit, Yellow-fronted Canary, Southern Citril, Brimstone Canary, 

Malawi; Day 15 - Vwaza Marsh National Park & Luwawa Forest Lodge

 Having travelled down from Nykia the previous day, and having basically completed our itinerary, we were at something of a loose end today, trying a few other sites that might yield new birds for us.

The first site we tried was the National Park at Vwaza Marsh, but the south gate, as opposed to the north gate we had visited the previous day. Sadly this really did not come to much, as the road was badly damaged and we could not enter the park to any great distance. The bush was overwhelmed with horseflies that infested the car whenever we opened the window, and to top it off, the birding was slow. Although Helmeted Guineafowl was always good to see, all the other species were common. We had just as many interesting species on the drive to the reserve, with Broad-tailed Paradise-Whyda and Southern Red Bishop.

After a lunch of Pizza and Ice Cream in Mzuzu, we headed south to the Luwawa Forest Lodge on the edge of the Viphya forest. Although there was nothing super important to see here, it offered some nice birding and comfortable settings for our final few days. Once we arrived and set up our tents it was already mid-afternoon, so we set off to try to find some birds. I had a couple of new species with Lesser Swamp Warbler and Little Scrub Warbler, but the fact that we heard multiple African Rails but failed to see any, despite being close to numerous, certainly put a dampener on proceedings.

After dark we returned to the marsh briefly, where we had a spectacular show of fireflies, while African Wood Owls sang in the background. We also had a few potentially interesting mammals, with a nice Genet running across the campsite, a probable bushbaby in the trees adjacent to the restaurant, and a medium-sized rat in the canopy. 

-Abdims Stork

-Moustached Grass Warbler

-Brimstone Canary

-Burchell's Coucal

-African Marsh Harrier

-Broad-tailed Paradise Whyda

Species List:
Vwaza Marsh Wildlife Reserve: White-faced Whistling Duck, Egyptian Goose, Helmeted Guineafowl, Red-necked Spurfowl, Ring-necked Dove, Laughing Dove, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Purple-crested Turaco, Common Swift, African Palm Swift, Water Thick-knee, African Jacana, Common Sandpiper, Little Egret, Palm-nut Vulture, Speckled Mousebird, Common Scimitarbill, African Grey Hornbill, Southern Red-billed Hornbill, Pied Kingfisher, European Bee-eater, Black-collared Barbet, African Golden Oriole, Chinspot Batis, Black-backed Puffback, Tropical Boubou, Wire-tailed Swallow, Common House Martin, Willow Warbler, Spotted Flycatcher, Collared Palm Thrush, Holub's Golden Weaver, Lesser Masked Weaver, Black-winged Red Bishop, Bronze Mannikin, Blue Waxbill, Northern Grey-headed Sparrow, African Pied Wagtail, Yellow-fronted Canary,
Luwawa Forest Lodge: African Olive Pigeon, Emerald Spotted Wood Dove, Schalow's Turaco, Burchell's Coucal, Red-chested Cuckoo, Black Crake, African Marsh Harrier, Speckled Mousebird, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Eurasian Hobby, Tropical Boubou, Moustached Grass Warbler, Lesser Swamp Warbler, Little Rush Warbler, Black Saw-wing, Dark-capped Bulbul, African Stonechat, Bronzy Sunbird, Variable Sunbird, Holub's Golden Weaver, Red-collared Widowbird, Yellow Bishop, Thick-billed Weaver, Common Waxbill, African Pied Wagtail, Southern Citril, Brimstone Canary, 

Malawi; Day 14 - Nykia National Park & Vwaza Marsh Reserve

 Due to the pressure on our cars fuel situation, we decided to descend a day earlier from the Nykia National Park than we had originally planned. We planned to use this descent to visit the patches of forest that dot the uplands, especially around the Zambian border and even within Zambia itself. In particular, we were hoping to arrange access to Mulanjere forest in Zambia, but were unsure about how to arrange access with a ranger, due to the bureaucratic issues involving crossing the border. Fortunately were given clear instructions from the Malawi rangers about where to collect a guard, at the Zambian guesthouse, and when we arrived there early in the morning, the ranger came and immediately offered to take us. Good job!

On the way we stopped off at just one forest where we could hear a few birds calling, but we struggled to see anything in the gloom. There was a new bird with Chapins Apalis for us, including a juvenile that appeared to have jumped the nest too early. A Bar-tailed Trogon was also nice to see, for our trip list. On the main road we also encounter the same dozy Spotted Eagle Owl, sat in almost the same area of the road, and had a nice Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk perch in front of us.

The road to Mulnajere forest was an absolute joke, so overgrown, our car became incredibly scratched and at one point myself and the ranger had to leave the vehicle in order to ensure it didn’t go tumbling down the hillside. Once we eventually made it to the forest however we did have some nice birding. Our key target here was the Sharpes Akalat, which is a small robin-like bird. After much searching we did finally hear a bird, and then I managed to get good but brief views before it left not to be seen by anyone else. Fortunately, to compensate for this we did manage all our other targets here; White-breasted Alethe, Olive-flanked Ground-Robin and Moustached Tinkerbird, so it worked out nicely in the end. Also along the drive through the vegetation that was apparently a road, we had good views of Fan-tailed Grassbird.

Having wrapped up our time in Nyika nicely, only missing a couple of very difficult species and almost no mammals (that we could have really seen) we left the site. The drive down took us until mid-afternoon before we headed to another nearby site that we wanted to check before driving to fill the car. We had a fantastic encounter with a Chameleon in the middle of the road, almost as soon as we left the park, which we photographed before moving to a more secure location.

Our final stop of the day was the Vwaza National Park northern gate, where it is possible to find a range-restricted starling. We were not sure how to approach this, but the ranger explained that we would be fine to walk through the scrub, and that the animals don’t venture into this part of the park. Fantastic! So that’s what we did. We did not find the starling but had nice views of Meyers Parrot and our first Lesser Honeyguides of the trip, so it was absolutely not a complete loss.

We ended the day driving back to the town of Rhumpi to get some fuel. The drive was uneventful, except for a Barn Owl that crossed the road at one point. And then, once we found some accommodation within the town, we could hear another Barn Owl calling nearby. 

-Spotted Eagle Owl

-Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk

-Fan-tailed Grassbird

-Sharpe's Greenbul

-Chapin's Apalis

-Olive-flanked Ground Robin

-Moustached Tinkerbird

-Bar-tailed Trogon

-Black-and-red Bush Squirrel

-Flap-necked Chameleon

-Meyer's Parrot

-Lesser Honeyguide

Species List:
Nyika National Park: Hildebrandt's Spurfowl, Tambourine Dove, Schalow's Turaco, Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk, Spotted Eagle-Owl, Speckled Mousebird, Bar-tailed Trogon, Moustached Tinkerbird, Eurasian Hobby, Black Cuckooshrike, Cape Batis, Fork-tailed Drongo, White-tailed Crested Flycatcher, Bar-throated Apalis, Chapin's Apalis, Churring Cisticola, Croaking Cisticola, Fan-tailed Grassbird, Blue Swallow, Black-browed Greenbul, Sharpe's Greenbul, Dark-capped Bulbul, Southern Yellow White-eye, Kurrichane Thrush, White-eyed Slaty Flycatcher, Olive-flanked Ground Robin, White-starred Robin, White-chested Alethe, Sharpe's Akalat, African Stonechat, Malachite Sunbird, Red-collared Widowbird, Yellow-bellied Waxbill, African Pipit, Yellow-browed Seedeater,
Vwaza Marsh Reserve: Ring-necked Dove, Red-chested Cuckoo, Green Wood Hoopoe, Lesser Honeyguide, Eurasian Hobby, Black Cuckooshrike, Black-backed Puffback, Fork-tailed Drongo, Black Saw-wing, Kurrichane Thrush, Spotted Flycatcher, Collared Flycatcher, Blue Waxbill,