Page 40 - Waterfall City Issue 2 February 2023

Waterfall City Birding

between all the vehicles helped to
keep us all together.

On our last day driving back to South
Africa, we stopped outside Xai-Xai,
where Etienne pointed out an African
Hobby atop a radio tower. As the
African Hobby is rarely seen in the
Southern Africa region, this was a

Palm-fringed beaches major sighting.
Etienne’s bird knowledge is
phenomenal, as is his knowledge of
Furthermore, another elusive bird, the The EN1 main road is a single the particular location of the birds
Eastern Nicator, was unusually sighted carriageway and as there are many we hoped to see and his ability to
in the open, offering a fine opportunity small settlements and schools along find them. His planning of the trip
for photos. Another highlight was the the road, the maximum speed limit of was excellent, and this contributed
sighting of a Red-throated Twinspot. 100km/h is very frequently reduced to a very successful and memorable
We then travelled south again for to 80km/h, and then 60km/h. Vendors birding experience in southern
about six hours to our next overnight selling cashew nuts, clay pots, fruit and Mozambique.
stop at the very splendid Zona home-made pickles line the road at
Braza Beach Resort. We dined at the each settlement. Every half hour or so For more information contact
restaurant, sampled some Portuguese we drove through a police checkpoint, Etienne Marais Birding
wines and celebrated the great bird but mostly all three vehicles were Eco Tour Agency
sightings seen over the past eight days. waved through. Radio communication 063 360 4916

Saunders’ Tern Red-necked Spurfowl Steppe Whimbrel

38 Waterfall City Issue 2 2023