We met up with our guide, Andrema, at 05:15 and headed to the Ankarafantsika National Park for what would be our last full-on day of birding in Madagascar. We had only limited targets to find, but expected them to be a challenge, so were prepared to spend the full day exploring the dry forest of the park, before continuing to the city of Mahajanga, where we would end our tour.
We started birding the forest north of the large lake in the park. The parks most well-known target is the Schlegels Asity, but we had already seen this species in the Tsingy National Park, so decided to search for other targets here and leave the Asity in peace. Birding in this section was more limited than we expected, but did manage acceptable views of White-breasted Mesite, a nest of Madagascar Green Pigeon, plus a new Lemur species for us with frustratingly brief Mongoose Lemur.
After breakfast at the park headquarters, we headed into the woods behind the offices. Here we had a little more success with our targets, soon finding a pair of our last Vanga species on the trip, with Van Dams Vanga. There was also our final Coua, albeit just a subspecies, with Red-capped Coua. Initially, we just had a single Coua running away, but not long after we had a confiding pair apparently building a nest next to the path. Overhead we photographed our first-ever Eleanoras Falcons, and we topped it off with brilliant views of Coquerel's Sifaka.
Perhaps the highlight of this time and possibly the whole day, were the multiple Giant Hognose Snakes that we found, as well as a Blonde Hognose Snake. In the end possibly three individuals of the former, each longer than a meter just by the side of the path. They seemed so docile that we were even able to touch the last individual. A Night Snake sp. was also a nice surprise, dangling from the canopy, but we could not work out the species. And of course, there were multiple species of Lizards with Cuvier's Madagascar Swift, Western Girdled Lizard and a new Day Gecko species with Madagascar Giant Day Gecko.
After lunch we took a boat trip around the park's lake. Here we had only one real target, the Madagascar Fish Eagle, which we managed to see easily, with a bird sat out conspicuously on a dead tree, that we were able to approach with ease. We also had nice views of an African Darter and Madagascar Jacana, as well as other common wetland species. A short search in the woods nearby produced a smart Frances Sparrowhawk.
By 14:30, satisfied with our day, we drove on to the city, where we rented a nice hotel for our last few nights, to spend some time actually relaxing in Madagascar and enjoying the delights of a tropical country.
Ankarafantsika National Park: White-faced Whistling Duck, Malagasy Turtle Dove, Madagascar Green Pigeon, White-breasted Mesite, Crested Coua, Red-capped Coua, Malagasy Coucal, Madagascar Cuckoo, Common Moorhen, Madagascar Jacana, African Darter, Striated Heron, Squacco Heron, Malagasy Pond Heron, Western Cattle Egret, Purple Heron, Madagascar Ibis, Frances's Sparrowhawk, Yellow-billed Kite, Madagascar Fish Eagle, Madagascar Buzzard, Cuckoo-roller, Madagascar Hoopoe, Malagasy Kingfisher, Olive Bee-eater, Broad-billed Roller, Eleonora's Falcon, Madagascar Cuckooshrike, Common Newtonia, Rufous Vanga, Sickle-billed Vanga, Van Dam's Vanga, Crested Drongo, Malagasy Paradise Flycatcher, Pied Crow, Common Jery, Long-billed Bernieria, Malagasy Bulbul, Madagascar Magpie-Robin, Souimanga Sunbird,
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