Birding in Tanzania?

Bring with you a checklist containing 1105 species found in this magnificent birding location!
You find it here as PDF

Roughwing, Kilimanjaro South Photo: Stein Ø. Nilsen

Levant Sparrowhawk - observed in Ngorongoro,Tanzania

The 22nd November 2011 me and my family was heading for Ndutu lodge via the Ngorongoro crater. Due to heavy rain the days before the road conditions were so and so, and we were quite alone in the crater. Doing our way over the bottom of the crater we stopped for a lone elephant bull, and there to the left of us we observed a slimlooking young hawk perched in a thorn bush. 6-7 quick photos and the bird was gone, no views of the front and just knowing this was something we never saw before.

On our return to Northern Norway a quick look at the photos I was still uncertain of the ID and sent 2 photos to Ron Eggert tanzaniabirds.com and he sent it further to africanraptors and Rob Davies.
They concluded this is a fine young Levant Sparrowhawk A. brevipes. Thanks to Ron and Rob for the help with checking this out!

Checking Britton 1980 I soon found out this is a mega finding for Tanzania, 1-one historic record in W Tanzania only, and only four for Kenya! Only a handful records for Tanzania the last years (one Jan 2010, Neil and Liz Baker) and East-Africa makes this a very nice bird to see.
Observers: Stein Ø. Nilsen, Tone Malm and Stine Malm Nilsen
See all the photos at tromsofoto.net 
Copyright: Stein Ø. Nilsen 2011

Great news for TZ Wildlife!

Natural Resources and Tourism minister Ezekiel Maige (September 2011)

The government has banned the capture, importation and exportation of wild animals with effect from this month, specifying that the order does not cover insects.

A December 9, 2011 Government Notice, copies of which were distributed to the media yesterday by the Natural Resources and Tourism ministry, requires all licensed traders whose permits were still valid by August 18 this year to make sure that they exported their animals within three months from the date of the notice.

A press statement issued by the ministry in Dar es Salaam yesterday said the move is in partial implementation of The Wildlife Conservation (Capture of Animals) (Prohibition) Order, 2011.

It however said Tanzanians remain at liberty to use wild animals and related products for non-business activities including research in the national interest.

According to the statement, the timeframe provided to businesspersons to sell wildlife animals they legally own was in accordance with the Wild animals Capture Regulations of 2010 as published in issue No. 244 (July 2, 2010) of the Government Gazette.

It said sections 12 (4) and (5) of the regulations state that all captured animals ought to be sold within a period not exceeding 90 days since their capture.

Meanwhile, the ministry said it is still investigating the circumstances of late last year’s illegal shipping of 116 wild animals to foreign countries.

The saga over the scandal, which revolves around the controversial transportation of four giraffes and 16 wild birds worth some 170.57m/- aboard a Qatari military plane, unfolded on November 24 last year.

The government subsequently suspended Wildlife Division Director Obeid Mbangwa to pave the way for investigations into the scandal.

Natural Resources and Tourism minister Ezekiel Maige was later quoted as telling the National Assembly that two other senior officials in the division were sent on paid leave pending investigations into their alleged involvement in the scam.

He said the ministry intervened after failing to get satisfactory explanation on the manner in which the shady shipment of the wild animals was handled.

Prime Minister Mizengo Pinda later told the National Assembly that the government had slapped a ban on the export of live wild animals.

He said that was meant to allow the government time to devise new procedures and conditions governing export trade in live animals export trade, including a thorough review of the relevant fees.

The PM explained the move was necessary because it was apparent that dishonest animal dealers were routinely short-changing the government and ending up with windfall profits.

He said the government would also draw up a list of wild animals which could be exported.

The clandestine export of live wild animals was the subject of heated debate as Members of Parliament deliberated on the 2011/2012 Budget estimates of the Natural Resources and Tourism ministry, with the parliamentary Lands, Natural Resources and Environment committee saying the government was shielding those behind the illegal business.

Grey-breasted Spurfowl is endemic to Tanzania, maybe it now is safe for beeing traded?
Photo: Stein Ø. Nilsen

Madagascar Bee-eaters Usambara Foothills 2 Dec 2011

These 3 Mad. Bees were captured feeding actively near a riverbed in the Usambara foothills

Booted Eagle Usambara Foothills 2 Dec 2011

This Booted Eagle (Dvergørn) Light phase was observed near Mombo viewpoint.

Swifts from Usambara foothills 2. Dec 2011

These 3 series of swift photos from the foothills below Mambo viewpoint were taken early in the morning with Canon 7D and 300/2.8L IS. Please comment on photos!

Swift 2

Swift3

Rare TZ species -5 individuals or less

This shows rare species in Tanzania with 5 or less observations. If YOU have seen one of them please tell us when and where!

Britton no		species
6	1	Jouanin's Petrel
15	1	Brown Booby
16	1	Red-footed Booby
273	1	Long-toed Stint
302	1	Long-tailed Skua
308	1	Slender-billed Gull
319	1	Black Tern
421	1	Sokoke Scops Owl
428	1	Long-tailed Nightjar
511	1	White-thighed Hornbill
711	1	Joyful Greenbul
923	1	White-browed Crombec
9001	1	Shy Albatross
9005	1	Black-naped Tern
9082	1	Black-collared Eremomela
9086	1	Masked Shrike
9087	1	Rubeho Sunbird
9090	1	Black-bellied Storm Petrel
9092	1	Wedge-tailed Shearwater
9096	1	Wilson's Storm Petrel
9097	1	Great Skua
9098	1	Cape Gull
37	2	Western Reef Heron
74	2	Tufted Duck
141	2	Swallow-tailed Kite
192	2	Black-rumped Button Quail
209	2	Striped Flufftail
212	2	Long-toed Flufftail
251	2	Black-headed Plover
269	2	Red Knot
303	2	Arctic Skua
842	2	Papyrus Yellow Warbler
877	2	Yellow-vented Eremomela
1063	2	Chestnut-winged Starling
1093	2	Orange-tufted Sunbird
1247	2	White-breasted Negrofinch
1252	2	Red-fronted Ant-pecker
9002	2	Giant Petrel
9071	2	Cape Shoveler
9094	2	Malagasy Heron
108	3	Eurasian Sparrowhawk
157	3	Barbary Falcon
266	3	Jack Snipe
304	3	Pomarine Skua
440	3	Standard-winged Nightjar
446	3	Forbes-Watson's Swift
533	3	Grey-throated Barbet
676	3	Mountain Illadopsis
684	3	Brown Babbler
926	3	Sooty Flycatcher
959	3	Yellow-bellied Wattle-eye
1234	3	Black-rumped Waxbill
9020	3	Angola Lark
9023	3	Jackson's Pipit
9043	3	Southern Black Tit
73	4	Northern Pochard
103	4	Levant Sparrowhawk
191	4	Quail Plover
638	4	Mascarene Martin
956	4	Shrike Flycatcher
1097	4	Blue-throated Brown Sunbird
1174	4	Black-billed Weaver
9013	4	European Scops Owl
9083	4	Rubeho Akalat