Gaborone
Birding Sites and Area Bird List
by Andrew Hester, Stephanie J. Tyler &
Dragan
Simic
(all: BirdLife Botswana, Private Bag 00300,
Gaborone, Botswana)
Compiled and edited by Dragan Simic, goingbirding@yahoo.com
Copyright ©2001-2003 BirdLife
Botswana
2.1. In Gaborone2.1.1. Gaborone Game Reserve
2.1.2. Tsholofelo Sewage Ponds
2.1.3. Kgale Hill
2.1.4. Ngotwane Sewage Ponds
2.1.5. Gaborone Dam
2.2 North - Francisown Road3. Gaborone Area Bird List with Statuses2.2.1. Phakalane Sewage Lagoons2.3 South - Lobatse Road
2.2.2. Bokaa Dam2.3.1. Mogobane Dam
2.3.2. Mannyelanong Hill Cape Griffon Vultury
Approximately the size of France or
Texas and land-locked in the heart of southern Africa, Botswana has about
560 bird species (320 non-passerines and 240 passerines), with more than
500 being regular - as well as 12 globally Important Bird Areas (IBA) covering
130,000 km2 or 25% of the country's territory!
There are no endemic bird species in Botswana.
Country's only near-endemic is Short-clawed Lark with the major global
stronghold in the grasslands of the southeast, Gaborone to Ramatlabama,
widespread and locally abundant in the area. Populations of globally threatened
Wattled Crane and Slaty Egret in the north (mainly Okavango Delta) are
of great importance. Lesser and Greater Flamingo, and White Pelican breed
in large numbers on the Makgadikgadi Pans when conditions are suitable
- such as after the rich rainy season of 1999-2000, when more than 200,000
flamingos concentrated
to breed in shallow saline lake formed
on the pans.
Most birders live in Gaborone and Francistown in the southeast, along the border with South Africa. This area is mainly avoided by tourists but visited by business people - sometimes birders themselves, but often lacking the time and/or the information where to go and what to look for.
IBAs close to Gaborone are:
However, real centers of avian diversity
are the northern IBAs close to the tourist towns of Maun and Kasane where
only a few birders live, but numerous tour-operators offer bird walks,
drives and digout canoe trips with knowledgeable guides.
IBAs close to Maun are:
Two remaining IBAs are in the central
and southwest parts of Botswana:
The Gaborone area, roughly defined
as an area within a radius of some 50 km around the town, lies between
900 and 1100 meters asl. While most of the countryside has been cleared
for agricultural purposes, remaining areas are covered by open Acacia savanna
with additional woody plants covering the hills (e.g. Ficus spp., Aloe
marlothii) and providing the birder with an opportunity to pick up many
of the typical bushveld species as well as numerous Kalahari specials.
Mean minimum and maximum temperature ranges
are approximately 18°C to 32°C in January (wet summer season) and
5°C to 23°C in July (dry winter season). November to February are
not just the hottest and the wettest months, but also the best time for
a birder to visit the area since most of the Palaearctic and intra-African
migrants are present and resident species are in breeding plumage. However,
an early start to any summer birding day is essential, since mid-day temperatures
often climb into the forties (°C). Depending on rainfall, with a knowledgeable
local guide you may tick 100 species per day in winter, and even 200 species
in summer!
The following places are known to be productive
and may be worth a visit if you are passing through or have a day to spend
in Gaborone.
2.1.1. Gaborone Game Reserve (GPS co-ordinates 24.38 S, 25.57 E)
The Gaborone Game Reserve is situated
very close to the town center. To reach the Game Reserve, go along Nyerere
Drive, heading east from Nelson Mandela road. Go straight on after the
large cross-junction and follow the road as it veers left. Continue to
the sign to Gaborone Game Reserve and bear right for 1 km. The Reserve
is at the end of the road. It is open daily from 6.30 am to 18.30 pm.
The Gaborone Game Reserve is an excellent
spot to visit, especially after heavy rains. Large Numbers of Wood and
Common Sandpiper move into the area as well as impressive flocks of White-faced
Duck which fill the air with their calls. Painted Snipe as well as African
Crake may be seen with a little luck in the flooded areas. Look out for
Marsh Owl late in the afternoon. Red-crested Korhaan is a certain tick
for the Game Reserve, listen out for its characteristic call. Little, European
and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters can be seen hawking insects. Yellow-billed
Kite have been known to breed along the river which forms the eastern boundary,
and Little Sparrowhawk has also been seen in the large Cambretum trees
along the river course. Black-breasted Snake Eagle may be seen sitting
on the electricity power lines, while Crimson-breasted Shrike is really
common in the Reserve.
2.1.2. Tsholofelo Sewage Ponds (GPS co-ordinates 24.37 S, 25.57 E)
For the Tsholofelo Sewage Ponds take
the same route as for the Gaborone Game Reserve (see above), but continue
after the reserve signboard over the Segoditshane River to a roundabout.
Go right at this roundabout and continue until you reach the Botswana Power
Corporation National Control Center and Segoditshane Sub-station on your
right. Turn right immediately after these buildings onto a good dirt road,
signed to Glen Valley Treatment Works and follow this road until you reach
the sewage ponds to your left.
At rectangular concrete lagoons of Tsholofelo
Sewage Ponds, fringed with vegetation and often offering shallows with
exposed mud, 67 waterbird species are recorded, among them Purple Heron,
both flamingo species, 13 ducks and geese, African Rail, Painted Snipe,
Black-tailed Godwit, African and Spotted Crakes, European Marsh Harrier
and Wooly-necked and
Saddle-billed Storks and Allen’s (Lesser)
Gallinule.
This hill is a landmark in Gaborone, lying at the southern end of the western by-pass and accessible on foot from the Lobatse road. Kgale provides a totally different habitat to the surrounding areas and is well worth a stop. From the car park near the Lobatse road, two paths lead up the Kgale Hill - the one on the western side is more productive and not as steep. It is advisable to leave somebody at your car as break-ins are sometimes reported. Once over the stile, follow the signboards to the2.1.3. Kgale Hill (GPS co-ordinates 24.43 S, 25.52 E)
Passing through some of the thicker bush
at the base of the hill, listen out for the two-syllable call of the Fan-tailed
Flycatcher and the "squeaky windmill" call of the White-throated Robin.
In summer, the beautiful Plum-coloured Starling may be seen feeding in
small flocks at the base of the hill. Also look out for Kalahari Robin,
Yellow Canary, Southern Black Tit and the ever-present Black-chested Prinia.
Black Eagles breed on Kgale, while Lanner Falcon, African Hawk Eagle and
Booted Eagle
may be seen circling around Kgale and
the adjacent hills. Some of the interesting species that can be seen while
moving up the slopes include Short-toed Rock Thrush, Natal Francolin, Lazy
Cisticola, Red-eyed Bulbul, Bar-throated Apalis, Cape White-eye, Mocking
Chat and Striped Pipit, which can be heard calling near the top. In summer
look out for Garden Warbler
and Yellow-throated Sparrow in the trees
towards the top of Kgale.
Ngotwane Sewage ponds are located 200 m behind ‘Game’ and ‘Spar’ stores at the Tlokweng road; take a rough track between the stores and the petrol station and keep left (if you keep right, you may scope the ponds from the overlooking hill). At these rectangular concrete-sided lagoons 43 waterbird species are recorded, among them Maccoa Duck, African Jacana and even a vagrant African Skimmer. Watch out for lovely Little Bee-eaters all around you.2.1.4. Ngotwane Sewage Ponds (GPS co-ordinates 24.41 S, 25.56 E)
To reach the Gaborone Dam, take the Yacht Club entrance from the road into Gaborone from the Lobatse road/Kgale roundabout. This is a large dam 10 km in length by 2 to 3 km in width, deep clear water with emergent vegetation and sandy/rocky shores, with rocky islets, larger vegetated island and numerous bays. Word of warning: although low in numbers, crocodiles are present in the dam.2.1.5. Gaborone Dam (GPS co-ordinates 24.43 S, 25.54 E)
The dam includes an overflow area with
open water and reedmace Typha beds. To reach the overflow, go along the
Samora Machel Drive, take the dirt road turn-off marked for “Sanitas Gardens”
and continue past the Gardens. The overflow is on your left. At the
dam itself, 71 waterbird species are recorded, among them 13 species of
herons and bitterns, 4 storks, 10 ducks and geese, 4 rails and 20 waders.
Site important for Great Crested Grebe, also recorded Purple Heron, Great
White Egret, Intermediate Egret, White-backed Night Heron, Yellow-billed
Stork, both flamingos, Purple Swamphen (Gallinule) and Giant Kingfisher.
In the surrounding Acacia erubescens and A. tortilis savanna, in the early
hours of the morning you can expect Pearl-spotted and Barn Owl, and Rufous-cheeked
Nightjar. After down, Scimitar-billed Woodhoopoe, Pied Barbet, Ashy Tit,
Brubru, Great Sparrow, Marico Sunbird, Crimson-breasted Shrike, White-backed
Mousebird and Titbabbler, as well as both Kalahari and White-browed Robins
are common and may be heard calling. In short grass/bare ground areas keep
your eyes open for Short-clawed Lark. Pin-tailed, Shaft-tailed and Paradise
Whydah can be seen flying above the treetops or sitting on the power lines.
Phakalane Sewage Lagoons, about 20 km north of Gaborone, is an excellent spot to see many of the waterbirds of the area. Take the Phakalane turning some 7 km north of the ‘Airport Roundabout’ along the A1. At the roundabout beyond the railway crossing, take the right turn past garages and ‘Spar’ supermarket. Continue along the tar road to where it becomes a dirt road. Continue for a further 200 m and take a right turn into the bush. Follow this track that turns to the left and takes you straight to2.2.1. Phakalane Sewage Lagoons (GPS co-ordinates 24.34 S, 25.58 E)
Constructed in 1990, Phakalane is now one of the most important wetlands for waterbirds (notably Maccoa Duck) in southeast Botswana: 70 species of waterbirds are recorded here; among them 11 species of herons and bitterns, 16 species of ducks and geese, 7 rails and 17 species of waders. Phakalane Sewage Lagoons are large irregular-shaped ponds with rocky and muddy edges and extensive fringes of reedmace Typha. Narrow fringes of reed Phragmites are occasional, and small trees and bushes voerhang the water in places.
A walk around the ponds in summer may yield
a variety of species. Species regularly recorded on the Phakalane SL include
Black-necked Grebe, Maccoa, Fulvous and White-backed Duck, Cape, Red-billed
and Hottentot Teal, Black Crake and Purple Swamphen (Gallinule). Pygmy
Goose, Lesser Moorhen and Spotted Crake are a few of the more unusual species
to have been recorded in the last several years. Both Lesser and Greater
Flamingo are seen regularly at Phakalane as well as the occasional African
Fish Eagle. Waders are well represented with Common, Wood and Marsh Sandpiper,
Ruff, Greenshank, Little Stint and Three-banded Plover all being recorded
regularly. Keep your eyes open for Jacobin and Black Cuckoo as well as
Striped and Woodland Kingfisher, which may be seen in the bushveld surrounding
the ponds. Carefully watch all of the telephone lines for Marico Flycatcher,
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Sabota Lark and White-crowned Shrike.
Bokaa Dam, north of Gaborone, can be a very good spot depending on the level of the water. Take the A1 north from Gaborone towards Mochudi. Some 7.5 km after the Odi turnoff bear left at a sign marked Bokaa Dam. From the main road to the shore of the dam, keep your eyes open on bare ground in-between stands of Acacia for the Short-clawed Lark, which has been recorded here in the past. Follow the dirt road for 3.5 km, crossing the pipeline road to a gate into some buildings behind a fence. Before the gate, bear left but keep close to the fence, which you should follow for 1 km until there is a gap in it (there is a "Private Property" sign just to the right of the gap). Bear right through the gap and meander along the bush track (it forks but either turn goes to the dam) to the water's edge. An ever-expanding village on the northern shore of the dam has had a large2.2.2. Bokaa Dam (GPS co-ordinates 24.28 S, 25.55 E)0
The reservoir was constructed in 1990 by
damming the Motsemotlhaba River just south of Bokaa village. The body of
open water stretches for some 6 km or more and is over 0.5 km in width
at its maximum. Being shallow and rich in nutrients, this dam attracts
large numbers of waterbirds: 78 species are recorded here, among them 10
species of herons and egrets, 16
species of ducks and geese and 24 species
of waders.
When you approach the dam the area is covered
by Acacia tortilis thickets and is excellent for many of the migrant warblers.
A variety of waterbirds can be seen on the dam but this depends to a large
extent on the level of the water. The dam supports small numbers of Pink-backed
Pelican and Greater Flamingo. Black-winged Pranticoles can be seen as well
as White-backed Duck, Grey Plover, Fulvous Duck and South African Shelduck.
A European Marsh Harrier was recorded recently while the level of the dam
was low.
To reach Mogobane Dam drive south from Gaborone towards Lobatse. Take the right turn marked for ‘Mogobane’ village and the ‘Police College’ after 42 km, just before the 1489 m asl high Otse Hill on the right side of the road - the highest peak of Botswana (climbing forbidden due to the local superstitions). After 1.3 km the tar road turns to dirt. Continue for another 5.3 km until you see the dam on your left. You can bird from here, or you may turn left toward the village and find access to the water (most of the reservoir is fenced) or find a good viewpoint in the village up on the cliff overlooking the dam - the shallows in particular.2.3.1. Mogobane Dam (GPS co-ordinates: 24.58 S, 25.41 E)
The dam is most productive when half-full.
Shallows where the river enters the dam (southern end, opposite from the
dam wall) are worth looking for waders in summer. At various times, 70
waterbird species are recorded, among them 11 species of herons and egrets,
14 species of ducks and geese and 24 species of waders. When surrounded
by water, the reedbeds in the
middle of the shallows are the site of
the breeding colony of Black-headed and Grey Herons, Cattle Egret, Reed
Cormorant and African Spoonbill. The damp grass and reeds around
reservoir and in the vlei downstream are good for Orange-breasted Waxbill
and Fan-tailed Cisticola, overgrazed short-grass areas for Short-clawed
Lark and stands of Acacias for a variety of widows and whydahs.
Mannyelanong Hill lies behind the village of Otse, nearly 50 km south of Gaborone on the left side of the Lobatse road. Follow the main dirt road through the village. Breeding colony is on the kopi east of the village, on the southern cliff face. Visitors must sign in at the Department of Wildlife and National Parks center (on the right side of the road).2.3.2. Mannyelanong Hill Cape Griffon Vultury (GPS co-ordinates 25.05 S, 25.45 E)
Keep in mind that you are visiting the ‘nursery’ of a globally threatened species and behave appropriately. Don't enter the gate by car since the birds are very vulnerable to disturbance. Park by the gate and walk the last 50 meters to the good viewing clearing by the inner fence. Don't try to come closer by climbing the fence - the inner area is off-limits. Having picnics close to the hill is forbidden. Noise levels and general disturbance near the perimeter fence should be kept to a minimum.
The kopi itself is a sandstone hill, one
of the only two localities currently regularly used by Cape Griffon Vulture
in Botswana. After a period of decline, the population has stabilized at
around 50 pairs breeding per season. A pair of Black Stork also breeds
on the cliffs, as well as one pair of Black Eagle together with Lanner
Falcon and Rock Kestrel.
Approximately 430 bird species were recorded from 1989 to 1999 in area within a radius of some 50 km around the Gaborone, Botswana. However, for practical purposes of having a comprehensive list of birds likely to be seen on a summer day outing, this list notices only 283 regularly occurring species (66% of all recorded species), thus excluding rare and vagrant birds (34%).
Reference numbers and bird names follow
Robert’s Birds of Southern Africa (Sixth Edition). Common English name
of each bird is fallowed by a letter A, C, F or U, standing for, respectively,
abundant, common, frequent and uncommon species. Sometimes “l” is added,
to show that particular species is locally abundant (lA), locally common
(lC) or locally frequent (lF).
Birds marked with asterisk (*), as well
as birds observed in the area but not mentioned on this list should be
reported to the Records Sub-committee of the BirdLife Botswana at the address
bellow (see Birding Contacts).
001 Ostrich (Restricted to reserves.)
006 Great Crested Grebe (U*)
007 Black-necked Grebe (U*)
008 Little Grebe or Dabchick (C)
055 White-breasted Cormorant (C)
058 Reed Cormorant (C)
060 Darter (F)
062 Grey Heron (C)
063 Black-headed Heron (C)
065 Purple Heron (U)
066 Great White Egret (U)
067 Little Egret (U)
068 Yellow-billed (Intermediate) Egret
(U*)
069 Black Egret (U*)
071 Cattle Egret (C)
072 Squacco Heron (U)
074 Green-backed Heron (F)
076 Black-crowned Night Heron (U)
078 Little Bittern (U*)
081 Hamerkop (F)
085 Abdim’s Stork (U)
090 Yellow-billed Stork (U)
091 Sacred Ibis (C)
093 Glossy Ibis (F)
094 Hadeda Ibis (C)
095 African Spoonbill (U)
096 Greater Flamingo (U*)
097 Lesser Flamingo (U*)
099 White-faced Duck (C)
100 Fulvous Duck (U*)
102 Egyptian Goose (C)
103 Cape (South African) Shellduck (U)
104 Yellow-billed Duck (C)
105 African Black Duck (F*)
106 Cape Teal (C)
107 Hottentot Teal (U)
108 Red-billed Teal (C)
112 Cape Shoveler (C)
113 Southern (Red-eyed) Pochard (C)
115 Knob-billed Duck (U)
116 Spur-winged Goose (C)
117 Maccoa Duck (lA*)
122 Cape (Griffon) Vulture (F*)
123 White-backed Vulture (F)
124 Lappet-faced Vulture (F*)
126 Yellow-billed Kite (C)
127 Black-shouldered Kite (F)
131 Black Eagle (U)
132 Tawny Eagle (U)
135 Wahlberg’s Eagle (C)
137 African Hawk Eagle (U)
142 Brown Snake Eagle (U)
143 Black-breasted Snake Eagle (F)
148 African Fish Eagle (U)
149 Steppe Buzzard (F)
157 Little Sparrowhawk (U)
159 Little Banded Goshawk (U)
161 Gabar Goshawk (C)
169 Gymnogene (F)
172 Lanner Falcon (F)
181 Rock Kestrel (U)
182 Greater Kestrel (U)
189 Crested Francolin (C)
196 Natal Francolin (F)
199 Swainson’s Francolin (C)
201 Harlequin Quail (U)
203 Helmeted Guineafowl (F)
205 Kurrichane Buttonquail (U)
213 Black Crake (C)
223 Purple Gallinule (lC)
226 Moorhen (C)
228 Red-knobbed Coot (C)
237 Red-crested Korhaan (U)
239 Northern Black (White-winged) Korhaan
(U*)
240 African Jacana (F)
242 Painted Snipe (U)
245 Ringed Plover (U)
248 Kittlitz’s Plover (C)
249 Three-banded Plover (C)
254 Grey Plover (U*)
255 Crowned Plover (C)
258 Blacksmith Plover (C)
264 Common Sandpiper (C)
266 Wood Sandpiper (C)
269 Marsh Sandpiper (C)
270 Greenshank (C)
272 Curlew Sandpiper (U)
274 Little Stint (C)
284 Ruff (C)
294 Avocet (U)
295 Black-winged Stilt (lC)
297 Spotted Dikkop (U)
298 Water Dikkop (U)
300 Temminck’s Courser (U)
315 Grey-headed Gull (U)
339 White-winged Tern (C)
347 Double-banded Sandgrouse (U*)
348 Feral Pigeon (C)
349 Rock (Speckled) Pigeon (C)
352 Red-eyed Dove (lC)
354 Cape Turtle Dove (C)
355 Laughing Dove (C)
356 Namaqua Dove (C)
358 Green-spotted Dove (F)
373 Grey Lourie (C)
375 African Cuckoo (U)
377 Red-chested Cuckoo (F)
378 Black Cuckoo (F)
381 Striped Cuckoo (F)
382 Jacobin Cuckoo (C)
385 Klaas’s Cuckoo (F)
386 Diedrik Cuckoo (C)
391 Burchell’s Coucal (U)
392 Barn Owl (F)
395 Marsh Owl (F)
398 Pearl-spotted Owl (F)
401 Spotted Eagle Owl (lF)
406 Rufous-cheeked Nightjar (C)
408 Freckled Nightjar (lC)
411 European Swift (C)
415 White-rumped Swift (C)
417 Little Swift (C)
418 Alpine Swift (U*)
421 Palm Swift (F)
425 White-backed Mousebird (F)
426 Red-faced Mousebird (C)
428 Pied Kingfisher (F)
431 Malachite Kingfisher (U)
433 Woodland Kingfisher (C)
435 Brown-hooded Kingfisher (C)
438 European Bee-eater (F)
440 Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (C)
441 Carmine Bee-eater (U)
444 Little Bee-eater (F)
445 Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (U)
447 Lilac-breasted Roller (F)
449 Purple Roller (U)
451 Hoopoe (F)
452 Red-billed Woodhoopoe (U)
454 Scimitar-billed Woodhoopoe (U)
457 Grey Hornbill (C)
458 Red-billed Hornbill (F)
459 Yellow-billed Hornbill (C)
464 Black-collared Barbet (U)
465 Pied Barbet (C)
473 Crested Barbet (C)
474 Greater Honeyguide (U)
476 Lesser Honeyguide (U)
483 Golden-tailed Woodpecker (F)
486 Cardinal Woodpecker (F)
487 Bearded Woodpecker (U)
494 Rufous-naped Lark (F)
498 Sabota Lark (A)
501 Short-clawed Lark (U*)
507 Red-capped Lark (U)
515 Chestnut-backed Finchlark (F)
518 European Swallow (A)
520 White-throated Swallow (U)
523 Pearl-breasted Swallow (U*)
524 Red-breasted Swallow (F)
526 Greater Striped Swallow (C)
527 Lesser Striped Swallow (C)
529 Rock Martin (F)
530 House Martin (U)
532 (European) Sand Martin (U)
533 Brown-throated (African Sand) Martin
(U*)
538 Black Cuckooshrike (U)
541 Fork-tailed Drongo (C)
543 European Golden Oriole (U)
545 Black-headed Oriole (F)
548 Pied Crow (F)
552 Ashy Tit (U)
554 Southern Black Tit (F)
557 Cape Penduline Tit (U)
560 Arrow-marked Babbler (F)
563 Pied Babbler (F)
567 Red-eyed Bulbul (C)
576 Kurrichane Thrush (C)
577 Olive Thrush (F)
580 Groundscraper Thrush (F)
583 Short-toed Rock Thrush (lF)
587 Capped Wheatear (U)
589 Familiar Chat (F)
593 Mocking Chat (lF)
595 Ant-eating Chat (U)
596 Stonechat (U)
602 White-throated Robin (U)
613 White-browed Robin (C)
615 Kalahari Robin (C)
620 Whitethroat (U)
621 Titbabbler (C)
625 Icterine Warbler (F)
626 Olive-tree Warbler (C*)
628 Great Reed Warbler (U)
630 European Reed Warbler (U*)
631 African Marsh (Reed) Warbler (lA)
633 European Marsh Warbler (U*)
634 European Sedge Warbler (F)
635 Cape Reed (Lesser Swamp) Warbler (F)
638 African Sedge (Little Rush) Warbler
(U*)
643 Willow Warbler (C)
645 Bar-throated Apalis (lF)
651 Long-billed Crombec (C)
653 Yellow-bellied Eremomela (U)
656 Burnt-necked Eremomela (U)
657 Bleating Warbler (C)
658 Barred Warbler (F)
664 Fan-tailed Cisticola (C)
665 Desert Cisticola (F)
672 Rattling Cisticila (A)
679 Lazy Cisticola (lF*)
681 Neddicky (U)
683 Tawny-flanked Prinia (C)
685 Black-chested Prinia (A)
689 Spotted Flycatcher (C)
693 Fan-tailed Flycatcher (U)
695 Marico Flycatcher (C)
698 Fiscal Flycatcher (F)
701 Chin-spot Batis (C)
706 Fairy Flycatcher (U*)
710 Paradise Flycatcher (F)
713 Cape Wagtail (C)
716 Grassveld (Richard’s) Pipit (F)
719 Buffy Pipit (U)
720 Striped Pipit (U)
731 Lesser Grey Shrike (F)
732 Fiscal Shrike (U)
733 Red-backed Shrike (C)
735 Long-tailed Shrike (U)
736 Southern Boubou (U*)
739 Crimson-breasted Shrike (C)
740 Puffback (C)
741 Brubru (F)
743 Three-streaked (Brown-headed) Tchagra
(C)
753 White Helmet Shrike (U)
756 White-crowned Shrike (U)
760 Wattled Starling (F)
761 Plum-coloured Starling (C)
764 Glossy Starling (C)
769 Red-winged Starling (C)
772 Red-billed Oxpecker (U)
779 Marico Sunbird (C)
787 White-bellied Sunbird (C)
792 Black Sunbird (U)
796 Cape White-eye (F)
798 Red-billed Buffalo Weaver (lF)
799 White-browed Sparrow Weaver (C)
801 House Sparrow (C)
802 Great Sparrow (U)
803 Cape Sparrow (F)
804 Grey-headed Sparrow (C)
805 Yellow-throated Sparrow (U)
806 Scaly-feathered Finch (C)
814 Masked Weaver (A)
815 Lesser Masked Weaver (F)
821 Red-billed Quelea (C)
824 Red Bishop (C)
826 Golden Bishop (F)
829 White-winged Widow (C)
832 Long-tailed Widow (U*)
834 Melba Finch (C)
841 Jameson’s Firefinch (F)
842 Red-billed Firefinch (F)
844 Blue Waxbill (A)
845 Violet-eared Waxbill (C)
846 Common Waxbill (C)
847 Black-cheeked Waxbill (F)
852 Quail Finch (U)
854 Orange-breasted Waxbill (lF*)
855 Cut-throat Finch (U)
856 Red-headed Finch (C)
857 Bronze Mannikin (U*)
860 Pin-tailed Whydah (F)
861 Shaft-tailed Whydah (F)
862 Paradise Whydah (C)
865 Purple Widowfinch (U)
867 Steel-blue Widowfinch (U)
869 Yellow-eyed Canary (C)
870 Black-throated Canary (C)
878 Yellow Canary (F)
884 Golden-breasted Bunting (C)
886 Rock Bunting (F)
887 Lark-like Bunting (U)
Regular talks and walks are organized by Francistown and Maun groups. For information on Francistown group please contact Guy Brina at +267 212913 or gltm@botsnet.bw; for Maun group, please contact Roger Hawker at +267 663057 or 662257.
Field Camps are organized approximately
every three months at weekends. Membership fee includes a free copy
of biannual journal Babbler with papers and notes on birds and reports
of rarities and interesting sightings, and quarterly popular newsletter
Familiar Chat. Field Cards, Nest Record Cards and Migrant Forms available
upon request. Birdlife Botswana also produces books, like Birds in the
Gaborone Area and where to find them by Stephanie J. Tyler and Wendy D.
Borello, or A Review of
Waterbird Counts in Botswana, 1991-2000
by Stephanie J. Tyler.
For information, please write to:
Postal address: BirdLife Botswana,
IUCN Private Bag 00300, Gaborone, Botswana
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