Birding is a huge component of a wilderness experience, or at least it should be.
With almost 350 bird species having been recorded at Londolozi, it’s safe to say that you’re going to be seeing more than your fair share of little feathered creatures when you come on safari here. Although it’s invariably the Big 5 that steal the show, the day-to-day life of a bird is every bit as danger-fraught as that of a lion – perhaps more so – and by just taking a small amount of time to stop, look and observe the behaviours of some of the more common avian inhabitants when out on a game drive, you will likely develop a far greater appreciation of what the area has to offer.
Some of the birds occurring in the region are unmistakeable, like the Ostrich (the world’s largest bird), or the Martial Eagle, an incredibly impressive raptor weighing 4 kilograms and with a wingspan of over 2 metres that is capable of catching and killing small antelope.
One of the favourite prey items of Martial Eagles is monitor lizards, as evidenced by this picture by ranger Pete Thorpe.
At the other end of the ease-of-identification spectrum are the smaller nondescript species. The LBJs (little brown jobs) make up a significant number of these but dotted amongst them are the females and juveniles of some of the more obvious species (which often look very different to the archetypal males), some obscure migrants, and the occasional vagrant that flaps in from where it usually occurs. Every month or so a cryptic bird rears its head that has the rangers and trackers arguing for a morning about what species it is. A quality photograph usually helps the identification process, but sometimes a slightly obscured picture of a few feathers through the branches are all we have to go on. And thankfully the bird world – indeed the natural world in general – is full of surprises.
White-browed Sparrow-Weavers, usually found far to the west of Londolozi in much more arid areas, have recently been discovered nesting near the Sand River. Their arrival is almost certainly a result of the drier times experienced in the wake of the drought of 2015 and 2016.
When the drought was actually upon us, a flock of flamingoes flew over one afternoon, and if my memory serves me correctly, some pelicans were seen resting on a clearing in the heart of Londolozi, although I didn’t see them myself.
My point is that one should never just rush into an identification as the bird world can throw anything at you. Take the time; look at the beak, the leg colour, the size, the feathers… there are many, many factors to take into consideration before finally pronouncing on a species, especially if one isn’t 100% sure..
Which brings me to the real point of all this.
Every few weeks we are going to be posting a Bird Challenge. We will post a photograph of a bird that is readily identifiable, and you have to tell us what it is in the comments section. We’ll reveal the bird’s ID in The Week in Pictures on the Friday after it was posted.
Today’s opener is a fairly simple one that most birders will be able to get. Waterbirds can be fairly tricky, but today’s bird is one of only three members of its family that have officially been recorded at Londolozi:
Mystery Bird #1
Have a crack at it, let us know in the comments section below what you think it is.
We’ll have some more cryptic ones over the next couple of months. There’s one in particular that I’m looking forward to posting some time in the next few weeks that needed a lot of referencing to arrive at an identification that we still aren’t 100% convinced of!
Start with the one above though, and we’ll go from there.
Good luck…
Sandpiper
This is exciting. A great idea. I am just an ameteur birder but I will give it a try. I think it is a Wood Sandpiper.
Green Sandpiper would be my guess.
Wood Sandpiper.
Is it a common sandpiper?
This is fun…
Wood Sandpiper
A wood sandpiper? Love guessing on birds! Makes me get my book out and search through the pages! ?
It looks like a plover of some sort.
Caspian plover?
Wood Sandpiper
Wood Sandpiper ?
I’m terrible about bird identification, so I won’t even hazard a guess. But I want to echo your remarks about the importance of birding in the wilderness experience. When I was at Londolozi, I think the comment I wrote as I was leaving was “Came for the leopards. Stayed for the birds.” And I LOVE the leopards!
I think this is a
Ruff (Philomachus pugnax)
Could it be a Pectoral Sandpiper, maybe?
This should be the “Long-toed Stint” but I confess that I find it difficult to distinguish between this and the “Little Stint”. Very interesting post and we look forward to the next few weeks. Thanks also for all the wonderful stories and photos. We have just returned from Botswana and is now planning our Londolozi visit.
This should be the “Long-toed Stint” but I confess that I find it difficult to distinguish between this and the “Little Stint”. Very interesting post and we look forward to the next few weeks. Thanks also for all the wonderful stories and photos. We have just returned from Botswana and is now planning our Londolozi visit.
Wood Sandpiper
It’s a Wood Sandpiper (Tringa glareola)
I think it’s Temmicks Stint.
Looks like a wood sandpiper
Hi James!
So fun with a Bird Challenge! I think the Mystery Bird #1 is Wood Sandpiper (Bosruiter). Thank you and your colleagues for a very interesting blog! September last year me and my husband visit Londolozi it was such a fantastic experience!
Great concept … We are going with Wood Sandpiper
I believe it might be a Wood sandpiper!
Is it a wood sandpiper?
My guess is the Wood Sandpiper.
Is it a wood sandpiper?
It looks like a plover?
Temminck’s Stint
I’d have to say a Common Sandpiper , i think the white shoulder patch is being obscured in this photo
Hi everyone,
Great to see how many people submitted their answers. I’m happy to report that a good number of you got the correct answer. We’ll reveal what it is in TWIP on Friday…
Now sure of the type….but think this is a Sandpiper. One of my favorite birds years ago. This is a great idea. Sure I will learn a lot. Especially looking forward to that mystery bird! lol
For some reason my reply didn’t post for approval. So I will repeat: Sandpiper.
I confess I’ve never been much of a birder but am eager to learn. This is most likely the wood sandpiper according to the Audoban guide. Yes, I cheated ……
Haha Denise the next one is going to be way more cryptic…
Wood Sandpiper
Ok, I would say that that bird is likely either a common, green, or wood sandpiper. If I’d have to make an educated guess (sandpiper id’s are always tricky), I’d have to go with wood sandpiper.
I guessed on the 10th but somehow my post didn’t go through. My guess is a Wood Sandpiper…?
Hi Holly.
It may well be. We’ll reveal the answer in Friday’s TWIP…
Wood sandpiper
Now I think it is a Wood Sandpiper
Now think it is a Wood Sandpiper after seeing one on SafariLive
is it not a grey plover?
WOOD SANDPIPER.
Wood sandpiper