Rufous Chatterer in the Selous

> Hi Onesmo
>
> Not at home so no books with me.
>
> Rufous Chatterer occurs along the coast near Dar so could well just about
> reach the Selous.
>
> Need to check Birds of Africa for details of coastal race. imm birds may
> well have dark eyes.
>
> Paul, you online at home, can you check this race for Onesmo.
>
> More soon, when time to check.
>
> Neil
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Onesmo Jacob" <onesmojacob@gmail.com>
> To: "tanzaniabirdatlas" <tzbirdatlas@yahoo.co.uk>
> Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 12:04 PM
>
>
> > Hi Neil Sacha saw Rufous Chatterer along the Beho Beho river.
> > Isnot a common one around is may be the second sight we have had for
> > the last fiveyears.
> > The strange thing is the colour of the eyes which is dark instead of pale.
> > Any comment on this?
> > onesmo.
> Neil and Liz Baker, Tanzania Bird Atlas, P.O. Box 1605, Iringa, Tanzania.
> Mobiles: 0776-360876 and 0776-360864.
> http://tanzaniabirdatlas.com
> Subscribe to: tanzaniabirds-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
>

blue swallow

Dear Liz & Neil

Mark just rang to say he saw a Female Blue Swallow at Ungars Bridge this morning.

Shanna

Secretary Bird Mikumi

Secretary Bird
>
> another record from Mikumi, most probably the same bird. could well be a
> regular dry season visitor.
>
> thanks Martin, some records from you please....................... THEY ALL
> COUNT.
>
> Neil
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Martin Perks" 27, 2009 11:44 AM
> Subject: Secretary Bird
>
>
> > Hi Neil
> >
> > Secretary Bird at Mikumi also sighted by one of our friends about 1km from
> > the Millennium Dam (coming from the main entrance) on 21st Sept,
> >
> > All the best,
> >
> > Martin

Uhehe Fiscal on nest

Uhehe Fiscal
These may well be the first ever photos of chicks in the nest for this Southern Highlands endemic.
>
> David, Leo, just a reminder that photos as they grow older would be good and esp pics after they leave the nest.
>
> Nice one.
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: liz baker
> To: tzbirdatlas@yahoo.co.uk
> Sent: Sunday, November 01, 2009 7:54 AM
> Subject: Fwd: Uhehe Fiscal
>
>
>
>
>
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> From: David Lloyd-Jones <dlloydjones@gmail.com>
> Date: Wed, Oct 28, 2009 at 10:30 AM
> Subject: Uhehe Fiscal
> To: tzbakers <tzbakers@gmail.com>
>
>
>
> Hope these are satisfactory. No doubt Leons has let you know the other data, I have other photos at different angles if needed.
> Leons and I got them yesterday and in addition saw another Uhehe at a different location.
> The insect was a grasshopper but also chicks were fed a groundworm.
> Saw both male and female together at nest and there was very little discernible difference in the short time they were together.
> Cheers
>
>
>
> Neil and Liz Baker, Tanzania Bird Atlas, P.O. Box 1605, Iringa, Tanzania.
> Mobiles: 0776-360876 and 0776-360864.
> http://tanzaniabirdatlas.com
> Subscribe to: tanzaniabirds-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Long-legged Buzzard in Ruaha NP

Long-legged Buzzard in Ruaha NP
>
> A call just in from Rob Glen. An adult Long-legged Buzzard low over his camp this morning.
>
> and a pause while writing this as we watch a pale phase Booted Eagle being mobbed by House Crows over Kunduchi.
>
> Neil
> Neil and Liz Baker, Tanzania Bird Atlas, P.O. Box 1605, Iringa, Tanzania.
> Mobiles: 0776-360876 and 0776-360864.
> http://tanzaniabirdatlas.com
> Subscribe to: tanzaniabirds-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

Dar birding past week oct09

just a few obs from this past week or so in Dar.

Black Heron. the flock roosting on Pangavini and feeding in the Jangwani-Kunduchi salt pans is at least 35 birds, quite good for Dar. Worn primaries on many birds, could they be breeding on Pangavini ? JD ? no regular movement between shore and island at the mo but not much time spent looking.

Honey Buzzard, a single bird being mobbed by House Crows (inevitably) last week.

Collared Sunbird, nest building on the Peninsular in a garden that has 2 crow traps, a very good sign. Also 2 Spectacled Weavers in the same garden.

Osprey, a single bird over the Jangwani - Kunduchi salt pans on Sunday.

Black Kite (no bins, not sure if black or yellow-billed) quite a rare bird in Dar these days.

Black Cuckoo Shrike, a female on Sunday at Kunduchi.

White-browed Robin Chat, singing from many gardens, quite remarkable that this and the Spotted Morning Thrush do so well.

Blue-naped Mousebird. I suspect this Dar population is a result of escapees / releases from the bird trade. Often seen in the Kunduchi Salt Pans area.

helps to keep one sane in this mad mad city...............

Neil

Neil and Liz Baker, Tanzania Bird Atlas, P.O. Box 1605, Iringa, Tanzania. Mobiles: 0776-360876 and 0776-360864. http://tanzaniabirdatlas.com Subscribe to: tanzaniabirds-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

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White-headed Vulture and Kingani wetlands

White-headed Vulture/Kingani wetlands, Bagamoyo

Once stirred from my slumber there is no stopping me...

Forgot to tell you that I saw a White-headed Vulture in Mikumi two weeks ago, sitting on a nest high in a baobab close to Wanambogo Dam. This might be a big yawn to you bird fundis but just in case you're interested, I am letting you know...

On a more important matter, re. Fiona Reid's recent email about the desecration of the wetlands just beyond Bagamoyo, the area, as well as being an important bird habitat, is (or ought to be) of some historic importance. One of the two main trade/exploration routes between Bagamoyo and the Lakes passed through the area. Outbound caravans, once porters had been hired in Bagamoyo, would get them all out of town while they were still sober and set up camp three miles beyond the town, close to the Kingani as the Ruvu was (is?) known there. They camped in a place called Gonera's Shamba, after the Indian widow who owned it. Henry Morton Stanley, one of various explorers who stayed there, writes:

"On the north, just behind the house, winds a black quagmire, a sinuous hollow, which in its deepest parts always contains water — the muddy home of the brake-and-rush-loving “kiboko” or hippopotamus. Its banks, crowded with dwarf fan-palm, tall water-reeds, acacias, and tiger-grass, afford shelter to numerous aquatic birds, pelicans, &c".

Stanley also writes, after crossing the Kingani:

"At our approach fled in terror flocks of green pigeons, jays, ibis, turtledoves, golden pheasants, quails and moorhens, with crows and hawks, while now and then a solitary pelican winged its way to the distance".

He was obviously almost as good a birder as I am (I still use his bins, incidentally...)

Seriously, the area is important and if possible should be saved. Imagine bird walks in the footsteps of HM Stanley & Co... Bagamoyo (which as we know is pretty dear to the President's heart) is hoping to be classed as a World Heritage Site by the UN. It will probably only be seriously considered in conjunction with the trade/exploration routes I have just mentioned. And a prime birding habitat on its outskirts would surely help.


Graham