Page 37 - Waterfall City Issue 2 February 2023

BIRDING IN

MOZAMBIQUE

Text and Photos by Anthony Cavanagh

At San Sebastian estuary

A number of birds in the Southern African region of the five sub-species of Whimbrel,
are found only in Mozambique, and it was which was thought to be extinct before
being rediscovered in 1997. The Steppe
with great anticipation therefore that Sue and I Whimbrel can be identified by its white
underwings and axillaries.
together with seven other members of the Wits
Morrungulo Lodge is situated on a
Bird Club set off with our guide, Etienne Marais, palm-fringed beach which gives it
a tropical ambiance. Mosquito nets
to see as many of these special birds as possible. over the beds added to the exotic

atmosphere and were essential to
keep the many mosquitos at bay.
The next morning, again at first light,
we set off for the woodlands west of
A so doing we flushed the Great Bittern, Unguane. Our target bird was the Green
delay at the Ressano Garcia
one of our target birds, which we all saw.
Tinkerbird, which is extremely rare
border post obtaining
visas for the non-SADC
and found in only a few small patches
We then drove on to the woodlands in
members of our party
searched for a few hours, the Green
resulted in our arriving late at our the Panda area where Etienne pointed of coastal scrub-thicket. Although we
out other specials such as Olive-headed
first overnight stop at the Pousada Weaver, Mashona Hyliota, Pale Batis, and Tinkerbird eluded us on this occasion.
Jolly Roger Lodge in Inharrime, Racquet-tailed Roller. Nevertheless, we sighted Livingstone’s
some 380km north of Maputo. Flycatcher, Neergard’s Sunbird and
En route to our next stop at Morrungulo Blue-throated Sunbird. Baobab trees are
Next morning at first light, our three Lodge, some 170km north of Inharrime, common in this part of Mozambique
vehicles departed and headed for the we stopped at the Inhambane and around the baobabs Etienne
wetlands to the west of Inharrime. estuary where, amongst a number of identified both Bohm’s Spinetail and
Etienne had us walking abreast in a Whimbrels, Etienne identified a single Mottled Spinetail and highlighted the
long line through the wetland and in Steppe Whimbrel. This is the rarest differences between the two species.

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