Finally International: Makgadikgadi Pans, Botswana

I have traveled widely in South Africa, and this year I got the opportunity to broaden my horizons and go international, so on the 16th of October I flew from Johannesburg to Maun, Botswana. I was picked up at Maun by my friend and we traveled to the Makgadikgadi Pans National Park. We were to spend the next few days driving up and down the river photographing birds.

The park is composed of arid savannah and is the heart of the Kalahari region. The desert stretches out in all directions, but the Boteti River brings moisture deep into the desert and this attracts many animals. Huge herds of Zebra and Wildebeest are constantly coming to the water to drink, all around the the surrounding area there are zebra carcasses attracting hundreds of vultures including the mighty Lappet-faced Vulture. The zebras probably succumbed to anthrax which is prevalent in the area. There are also many elephants and it is a pleasure to watch them playing in the water, getting respite from the dry heat of the Kalahari.

I saw a great variety of birds and was pleased with my first international birding foray. What struck me was the variety of families and not just species. Below is the list generated for the few days we were in the park and photographs.

Double-banded Sandgrouse (Pterocles bicinctus subsp. bicinctus)

Crimson-breasted Shrike (Laniarius atrococcineus)

Common Greenshank (Tringa nebularia)

Swalow-tailed Bee-eater (Merops hirundineus subsp. hirundineus)

Common Sandpiper (Actitis hypoleucos)

Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus subsp. tracheliotus)

Whiskered Tern (Chlidonias hybrida subsp. sclateri)

Southern Black Tit (Parus niger subsp. xanthostomus)

Golden-tailed Woodpecker (Campethera abingoni subsp. abingoni)

Meyer's Parot (Poicephalus meyeri subsp. damarensis)

Black-Chested Snake-Eagle (Circaetus pectoralis)

Kalahari Scrub-Robin (Cercotrichas paena subsp. paena)

Pied Crow (Corvus albus)

Lamprotornis chalybaeus subsp. sycobius

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (Tockus leucomelas subsp. leucomelas)

Red-billed Spurfowl (Pternistis adspersus subsp. adspersus)

African Spoonbill (Platalea alba)

White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus)

Lappet-faced Vulture (Torgos tracheliotus subsp. tracheliotus)

Black-winged Stilt (Himantopus himantopus subsp. himantopus)

Black Heron (Egretta ardesiaca)

Squacco Heron (Ardeola ralloides subsp. paludivaga)

Green-backed Heron (Butorides striata subsp. atricapilla)

Cape Turtle-Dove (Streptopelia capicola subsp. damarensis)

Kori Bustard (Ardeotis kori subsp. kori)

Red-billed Hornbill (Tockus erythrorhynchus subsp. rufirostris)

Zebra carcasses littered the area, no doubt they were victims of anthrax.

African Fish-Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer)

Red-billed Spurfowl (Pternistis adspersus subsp. adspersus)

Bird list

Red-Billed Spurfowl; Crested Francolin; Helmeted Guineafowl; Egyptian Goose; Spur-winged Goose; Golden-tailed Woodpecker; Bearded Woodpecker; Acacia Pied Barbet; Red-billed Hornbill; Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill; African Grey Hornbill; Southern Ground Hornbill; Common Scimitarbill; Lilac-breasted Roller; Malachite Kingfisher; Woodland Kingfisher; Brown-hooded Kingfisher; Grey-headed Kingfisher; Giant Kingfisher; Pied Kingfisher; Little Bee-eater; Swallow-tailed Bee-eater; European Bee-eater; Klaas’s Cuckoo; Senegal Coucal; Meyer’s Parrot; African Palm Swift; Grey Go-away Bird; Southern White-faced Scops-owl; African Scops-owl; Pearl-breasted Owlett; Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl; Fiery-necked Nightjar; Freckled Nightjar; Laughing Dove; Cape Turtle-Dove; Emerald-spotted Wood-dove; Kori Bustard; Northern Black Korhaan; Double-banded Sandgrouse; Common Greenshank; Ruff; Wood Sandpiper; Common Sandpiper; Black-winged Stilt; African Jacana; Water Thick-knee; Three-banded Plover; Blacksmith Lapwing; Crowned Lapwing; Whiskered Tern; Black Shouldered Kite; Yellow-billed Kite; African Fish-Eagle; White-backed Vulture; Lappet-faced Vulture; White-headed Vulture; Black-chested Snake Eagle; Brown Snake-Eagle; Bateleur; Wahlberg’s Eagle; African Darter; Little Grebe; Black Heron; Little Egret; Yellow-billed Egret; Squacco Heron; Cattle Egret; Grey Heron; Green-backed Heron; Hamerkop; Glossy Ibis; African Spoonbill; Fork-tailed Drongo; Brubru; Black-backed Puffback; Brown-crowned Tchagra; Crimsom-Breasted Shrike; Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike; Cape Crow; Pied Crow; Magpie Shrike; Southern Black Tit; Lesser-striped Swallow; African Red-eyed Bulbul; Long-billed Crombe; Southern Pied Babbler; Cape White-eye; Rattling Cisticola; Black-chested Prinia; Yellow-breasted Apalis; Grey-backed Camaroptera; Ground-scraper Thrush; Marico Flycatcher; White-browed Scrub-Robin; Kalahari Scrub-Robin; Burchell’s Starling; Greater Blue-eared Starling; Wattled Starling; Red-billed Oxpecker; White-bellied Sunbir; Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver; Lesser Masked-WeaverRed-headed Quelea; Green-winged Pytilia; Violet-eared Waxbill; Blue Waxbill; Red-billed Firefinch; Southern Grey-headed Sparrow; African Pipit

News from the SCBC September 10 - October 1

Dancing Jewel (Platycypha caligata subsp. caligata) a striking predator.

This was the first month of SCBC operations in the area and it was a productive month. The weather was hot and dry, often with a warm desiccating wind, interspersed with cool overcast days. The dry veld exposed the landscape making the beauty of the underlying rocks and contours of the mountain visible.

Colours at sunset

 During the month, in anticipation of the wet season, many plants began to flower. Most notable were the Albizia trees, Cassia trees and Combretum creepers. The Ficus ingens trees also put on an impressive display of red leaves.

Albizia anthelmintica in bloom.

The activities during the month were varied. Biodiversity hikes took up the majority of the time, these were done in the day as well as a few night hikes. There was alien invasive clearing and some horticulture. Another successful activity was snare removal, many of these nasty contraptions were picked up. The idea with the removal of snares is to try and stay ahead of the poachers until they give up putting them up on the property.

A good days hunting - seven snares picked up in thick bush.

 During the month contact was made with Lajuba and Ian Gaigher and we spoke about the Vhembe Biosphere Reserve, conservation in the area now and the future and also different projects and needs in the surrounding area. It is my hope that the SCBC can be an energetic force in the area.

The Dassie, also known as Rock Hyrax (Procavia capensis), a heavily targeted animal for bush meat.

 The month provided some excellent animal sightings, the highlights were a nocturnal observation of a Cape Clawless Otter (Aonyx capensis) and an amphisbaenian (worm lizard).  Looking forward to getting camera traps to begin monitoring the larger mammals in the area.

Soutpansberg Wormlizard (Chirindia langi subsp. occidentalis)

Walking in the drying out river I saw high concentrations of fish. At the moment the fish are being fished out by people coming on to the property. As long as they fish using rods it is fine, but we will not tolerate fish traps and nets because they are indiscriminate.

Tilapia one of the native fish species that occurs on the property

Soutpansberg Flat Lizard (Platysaurus relictus), a Soutpansberg endemic, abundant on the property

BIRD LIST FOR THE MONTH

Natal Spurfowl; Crested Francolin; Crested Guinea fowl;  African Black Duck; Golden-tailed Woodpecker; Cardinal Woodpecker; Bearded Woodpecker; Black-collared Barbet; Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird; Acacia Pied Barbet; Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill; African Grey Hornbill; African Hoopoe; Green Wood-hoopoe; Malachite Kingfisher; Brown-hooded Kingfisher; Giant Kingfisher; Pied Kingfisher; Little Bee-eater; European Bee-eater; Narina Trogon; Red-faced Mousebird; Speckled Mousebird; Red-chested Cuckoo; Klaas's Cuckoo; Burchell's Coucal; Alpine Swift; African Black Swift; Little Swift; Purple-crested Turaco; Barn Owl; Spotted Eagle Owl; Fiery-necked Nightjar; Freckled Nightjar; Speckled Pigeon; Laughing Dove; Red-eyed Dove; Emerald-spotted Wood-dove; Tambourine Dove; Three-banded Plover; African Fish Eagle; Cape Vulture; African Goshawk; Verreaux's Eagle; African Hawk Eagle; Green-backed Heron; Hammerkop; Hadeda Ibis; Black Stork; Black-headed Oriole; African Paradise Flycatcher; Fork-tailed Drongo; Brown-crowned Tchagra; Black-back Puffback; Southern Boubou; Orange-breasted Bushshrike; Gorgeous Bushshrike; Grey-headed Bushshrike; Retz's Helmet-shrike; Cape Batis; Chinspot Batis; Pied Crow; Black Cuckooshrike; Southern Black Tit; Lesser-striped Swallow; Rock Martin; Dark-capped Bulbul; Terrestrial Brownbul; Sombre Greenbul; Yellow-bellied Greenbul; Long-billed Crombec; Cape White-eye; Rattling Cisticola; Tawny-flanked Prinia; Bar-throated Apalis; Yellow-throated Apalis; Grey-backed Cameroptera; Kurrichane Thrush; Ashy Flycatcher; White-throated Robin-chat; Red-capped Robin-chat; White-browed Robin-chat; Bearded Scrub-robin; White-browed Scrub-robin; Familiar Chat; Mocking Cliff-chat; Red-winged Starling; Red-billed Oxpecker; Amethyst Sunbird; Collared Sunbird; White-bellied Sunbird; Red-headed Weaver; Lesser-masked Weaver; Spectacled Weaver; Swee Waxbill; Blue Waxbill; Jameson's Firefinch; Bronze Mannikin; SouthernGrey-headed Sparrow; African Pied Wagtail; Cape Wagtail; Yellow-fronted Canary; Golden-breasted Bunting.

Yellow-bellied Greenbul (Chlorocichla flaviventris subsp. flaviventris), a bird whose call can be likened to sarcastic laughing, always a delight to hear.

MAMMAL LIST FOR THE MONTH

Rock Hyrax; Sharpe's Grysbok; Klipspringer; Kudu; Bush Buck; African Civet; Cape Clawless Otter; Slender Mongoose; Dwarf Mongoose; Water Mongoose; Large-spotted Genet; Leopard; Baboon; Vervet Monkey; Thick-tailed Bushbaby; Tree Squirrel; Porcupine; Jameson's Red Rock Rabbit; Spiny Mouse; Pouched Mouse; Senghi.

(Note on list - list was compiled using visual observations of the animal itself or track and sign. Many animals (rodents and bats) were left out due to unsatisfactory identification.)

Saccostomus campestris, Pouched Mouse.

 REPTILE LIST FOR THE MONTH

Agama atra - Peter's Ground Agama

Chirindia langi occidentalis - Soutpansberg Worm Lizard

Aparallactus capensis - Cape Centipede Eater

Philothamnus semivariegatus - Spotted Bush Snake

Psammophis subtaeniatus - Western Yellow-bellied Sand Snake

Platysaurus relictus - Soutpansberg Flat Lizard

Smaug warreni depressus - Flat Dragon Lizard

Dendroaspis polylepis - Black Mamba

Homopholis wahlbergii - Wahlberg's Velvet Gecko

Afroedura - Flat Gecko (Taxonomy unresolved)
Chondrodactylus turneri - Turner's Gecko

Hemidactylus mabouia - Common Tropical House Gecko

Lygodactylus capensis - Common Dwarf Gecko

Broadleysaurus major - Rough-scaled Plated Lizard

Gerrhosaurus flavigularis - Yellow-throated Plated Lizard

Matobosaurus validus - Giant Plated Lizard

Afroablepharus maculicollis - Spotted-neck Snake-eyed Skink

Scelotes limpopoensis limpopoensis - Limpopo Dwarf Burrowing Skink

Trachylepis varia - Variable Skink

Trachylepis margaritifer - Rainbow Skink

Varanus nilotica - Nile Monitor

Pelusios sinuatus - Serrated Hinged Terrapin

 

Nile Monitor (Varanus niloticus), a massive reptile.

 Keywords for the month: Horticulture, Carnivore, Snare, Baobab, Night Animal.

Introducing the Soutpansberg Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation

Located in the Soutpansberg on the banks of the Sand River, the Soutpansberg Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation has founded in order to progressively change the trajectory of conservation in the Soutpansberg in the context of the greater Vhembe Biosphere Reserve; to catalogue the biodiversity of the Soutpansberg; to reconnect people with the natural world; and to develop proactive environmentalists who will impact their world.

 

View of the Sand River Gorge, home of the Soutpansberg Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation.

The Soutpansberg is a mountain range in the far north of South Africa and is close to the town of Louis Trichard. The mountains are renowned for their beauty and high species endemism. The role of the Soutpansberg Centre for Biodiversity and Conservation is to catalogue this biodiversity, collect data and be a conservational presence in the region. 

The endemic Soutpansberg Flat Lizard (Platysaurus relictus) one of the most colourful animals in the area.

The SCBC is an experimental and independent space for the exchange of ideas, biodiversity research and the practice of conservation. Through approaching conservation from an inclusive rather than exclusive position, our goal is to become a model for eco-tourism and conservation in the area In terms of research, our aim is to collect information on biodiversity in the Soutpansberg and contribute this knowledge to a greater scientific community.

A mountain stream; a hotspot for biodiversity.

Our primary objective in these early stages of development is to begin with research on ecosystems – cataloguing the biodiversity of reptiles, birds, plants, arachnids and insects, and monitoring the larger mammals in the area such as leopards, brown hyeanas, aardvarks and antelope. 

Giant Plated Lizard (Matabosaurus validus), a lizard which can grow to just under a metre in length.

Biodiversity research will be accomplished by actively searching for organisms and setting pit-fall and/or camera traps. All records and documentation will be uploaded to the South African National Biodiversity (SANBI) database, making them accessible to the general public and scientists alike. The SCBC will also engage with other conservationists within the area, sharing research and raising awareness of the project within a broader community.

A community of lichen growing on a rock on a mountain summit.

The Soutpansberg Centre For Biodiversity and Conservation is an independent, not-for-profit research and conservation organization based in the Soutpansberg range to the west of Louis Trichard, Limpopo Province, South Africa and we are currently looking for volunteers to assist us with our project.

Lygus Acraea (Acraea lygus) one of the many species of butterfly found in the Soutpansberg. 

Individuals from all walks of life are invited to participate, specifically those that have a strong link to the natural world and want to be part of a new venture (for more information see soutpansbergcbc.blogspot.com).