Page 18 - Dainfern Precinct Living Issue 11 2022

Travel

estuary took us to yet more sand the top of a bush, for all of us to see. Every half hour or so we drove
bars where we observed African Furthermore, another elusive bird, through a police checkpoint, but
Oystercatcher, as well as many more the Eastern Nicator, was unusually mostly all three vehicles were waved
terns and another look at the very sighted in the open, offering a fine through. Radio communication
special Saunder’s Tern. We decided to opportunity for photos. Another between all the vehicles helped to
return to our lodge at low tide, which highlight was the sighting of a keep us all together.
involved motoring out to sea to go Red-throated Twinspot. We then
around the sand bars. Humpbacked travelled south again for some six On our last day driving back to South
dolphins that inhabit the estuary hours to our next overnight stop at Africa, we stopped outside Xai-Xai,
were seen and a flock of Greater the very splendid Zona Braza Beach where Etienne pointed out African
Flamingos flew overhead. Resort. We dined at the restaurant, Hobby atop a radio tower. As the
sampled some Portuguese wines and African Hobby is rarely seen in the
One could feel the pull of the ocean celebrated the great bird sightings Southern Africa region, this was a
as Rashid, our pilot, guided the boat seen over the past eight days. major sighting.
through the breakers. The boat rose
up on the waves and then crashed The EN1 main road is a single Etienne’s bird knowledge is
down into a trough only to rise up carriageway and as there are many phenomenal, as is his knowledge of
again on the next wave and drop small settlements and schools along the particular location of the birds
down again. Gradually, we eased our the road, the maximum speed limit of we hoped to see and his ability to
way out beyond the breakers but 100km/h is very frequently reduced find them. His planning of the trip
could still feel the power of the open to 80km/h, and then 60km/h. was excellent, and this contributed
ocean. Interesting sightings out at sea Vendors selling cashew nuts, clay to a very successful and memorable
included humpbacked whales and pots, fruit and home-made pickles birding experience in southern
bottlenose dolphins. The boat ride line the road at each settlement. Mozambique.
back to our lodge took about an hour
with the ride becoming smoother as
we entered the calmer water of the
estuary.
The following day, on our way out
of The Sanctuary, we saw another
Mozambique special i.e. a flock of
Olive Bee-eaters, as well as Red-
necked Spurfowl, Swallow–tailed
Bee-eater, African Marsh Harrier and
African Cuckoo Hawk. On the sand
road leading back to the EN1 main
road, Etienne spied a Mascarene
Martin, a mega sighting as this bird
is a winter visitor to Mozambique,
which then flies across to Madagascar
during the spring months. Our
overnight stop was at a comfortable
small lodge at Inhassoro, the furthest Palm-fringed beaches Palm-
point north on our trip. fringed

The next morning was spent in the beach-
es
Save Woodlands, 90 minutes’ drive
west of the EN1. Again, our target
bird was the elusive Green Tinkerbird
but in spite of Etienne’s best efforts,
we came up short. Nevertheless,
other great sightings included
Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike,
Eastern bearded Scrub-robin,
Spinetails and Grey Penduline Tit.
We then headed south for some five
hours and stayed once again at the
Morrungulo Beach Lodge.
The next morning, we decided to
try one more time for the Green
Tinkerbird. After about an hour, we
finally spotted this most elusive of
Mozambique specials, as it posed at Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike

16 DPL issue 9 2022 Chestnut-fronted Helmetshrike
16 DPL issue 11 2022