The previous evening we had managed to arrange a (slightly expensive) lift to the town of Belo, where we would meet our actual driver and we would continue our trip from there. However, since our lift would not be leaving until midday, we had some time in the morning around Bekopaka to try and find some birds to fill the time with. Helpfully, about a 45-minute walk from our accommodation was a medium-sized wetland with a few records of interesting species, so we decided to spend our few hours of morning birding there.
And it paid off big time, with five new birds in and around
the lake. The main target we hoped to find here was Madagascar Jacana, and we
quickly found a pair although they remained pretty distant throughout our time
there. Madagascar Pratincole was a nice addition, with a few individuals flying
around over the lake and the nearby river. Humblots Heron was good to get out
of the way, as was Grey-headed Lovebird, and African Pygmy Goose was a nice
bonus. Considering our visit here was rather off-the-cuff, we actually had a
phenomenal morning birding.
The rest of the day was spent in transit, as we headed south
with a car that had some spaces available, on the now-dry road. In the town of
Belo we met up with our actual driver, and after making some arrangements to
cross the river, we managed to make it to the Kirindy Forest Reserve for about 20:30,
where we got a room and immediately crashed!
Bekopaka: White-faced Whistling Duck, Fulvous Whistling Duck, Knob-billed Duck, African Pygmy Goose, Malagasy Coucal, Malagasy Black Swift, Common Moorhen, Black-winged Stilt, Madagascar Jacana, Madagascar Pratincole, Dimorphic Egret, Squacco Heron, Western Cattle Egret, Great Egret, Grey Heron, Humblot's Heron, Madagascar Harrier-Hawk, Yellow-billed Kite, Malagasy Kingfisher, Olive Bee-eater, Broad-billed Roller, Malagasy Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, Greater Vasa Parrot, Lesser Vasa Parrot, Grey-headed Lovebird, Crested Drongo, Pied Crow, Madagascar Cisticola, Mascarene Martin, Malagasy Bulbul, Common Myna, Madagascar Magpie-Robin, Souimanga Sunbird, Sakalava Weaver,
Tsiribihina River: White-faced Whistling Duck, Red-billed Teal, Black-winged Stilt, Common Sandpiper, Grey-hooded Gull, Western Cattle Egret, Pied Crow, Common Myna,
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