10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 23, 2021

One in November 2018 included a one-day birding trip in the Drakensberg area, a mountain range in the border area between South Africa and Lesotho. Pretty pointless, I guess, if it wasn’t for the birds – though it seems some tourists take the same tour just to get the Lesotho stamp into their passport.

South Africa 221

South Africa Africa Lesotho Nigeria 221

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2015

But I have visited Guatemala, Lesotho and Zimbabwe to actually visit them and count them, even though I spent less time in them than I did Zurich. Perched high above the river were a number of birds of prey, including the one with the most evocative call of the African bush, the African Fish-eagle.

Botswana 162

Botswana Birds Lesotho Elephants 162

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2013

Albeit currently a rugged 4×4-only road, Sani Pass is the most accessible route from KwaZulu-Natal into the Mountain Kingdom of Lesotho. The final southern African stronghold of this species is the high Drakensberg mountains in Lesotho. Image by Adam Riley.

Lesotho 163

Lesotho Africa Birds Rats 163

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 4, 2014

This immature Verreaux’s Eagle-owl was one of the first birds I saw at Kruger, on the introductory afternoon ride through the park. Verreaux’s Eagle-Owls are amongst the heaviest and longest owls in the world. The small group was a good counterpart to the large, convivial ABA Safari group of 98 birders.

South Africa 251

South Africa Africa Leopards Penguins 251

10,000 Birds

MAY 8, 2012

Sometimes they have to protect their catches from piratic African Fish Eagles who swoop down as soon as they that see a Saddle-bill has successfully caught a fish. Saddle-bills are more strictly restricted to wetland environments where they are adept at catching their own fish with their enormous upturned bills.

Africa 232

Africa Tanzania South Africa Uganda 232

10,000 Birds

MARCH 13, 2012

This image shows Sani Pass, a rough 4×4 track leading into the mountain kingdom of Lesotho. Sundevall named Wahlberg’s Eagle and Wahlberg’s Honeyguide in his memory. Image by Adam Riley. With this quote I have the pleasure of introducing my home province (state) for this month’s 10,000 Bird’s Africa Beat.

Mozambique 182

Mozambique South Africa Africa Collecting 182

10,000 Birds

MAY 31, 2011

This ruled out some excellent species like Cape Eagle Owl, Violet Wood-hoopoe, African Finfoot and Half-collared Kingfisher and I was still left with 36 species. This was tough because this excluded species that occur in two countries within South Africa’s geographical area, Lesotho and Swaziland.

South Africa 224

South Africa Africa Parrots Swaziland 224