The Ankoririka Circuit, Ankarafantsika

Posted on March 22, 2015 by Tara

I’m going to qualify this post with a caution that I think this is the circuit we did the 2nd morning. It could also have been the Retendrika Circuit as that one seems to be in the same area. I am going from the description of the birds we saw there and the one from the website. If you tell them you want to see the Schlegel’s Asity, they will take you to this place.

Duration : 3h
Distance : 9 km (Don’t panic, you won’t have to walk that far if you are only after the Schlegel’s Asity)!

Guidance :
Ar 25,000 for 1 to 5 persons/day
Ar 37,000 for more than 7 persons / day

Another birding group was also looking for the bird. That was a good thing as their guide found the Asity first and alerted our guide. It’s nice how they work together!

The nest of the Schlegel’s Asity

And there he is, in all his glory! This Schlegel’s Asity was super-cool and he knew it! He posed for the whole group, turning his profile both ways and just showing off!

The group moved off through the bush, the next target would be a White-breasted Mesite.

We did eventually find one in the bush but he scurried off before I could get a decent shot. You can’t win ’em all!

Malagasy Bulbul

Malagasy Coucal

The Birds Of Pretoriuskop Restcamp

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Tara

As promised, here are some of the amazing birds of Pretoriuskop Restcamp. I was thrilled to see so many Brown-headed Parrots which were my main target bird, but there were lots of other great birds too!

This first batch of photos was taken near the laundry room in the late afternoon.

Helmeted Guinea-fowl

African Green Pigeon

Purple-crested Turaco – stunning bird, photos don’t do them justice!

Black-collared Barbet

These remaining photos were taken early in the morning. We were up around 5:30 and we spent a good 3 hours just wandering around following the birds (especially the parrots) as they went about their daily activities.

Grey-headed Bush-shrike

Finally! A flock of Brown-headed Parrots!

They really like the trees just outside cabin 124!

African Mourning Dove

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Meanwhile back at the cabin, Ina was watching the Crested Guinea-fowls who came right up to us and the monkeys who were trying to rob some campers of breakfast.

The Brown-headed Parrots beckoned again and we were off chasing them as they flew from tree to tree.

We also saw several Purple-headed Turacos!

The Grey Go-away Bird told me to g’wayyyyyyyy……………so I did and kept following the parrots.

Black-collared Barbet

G’waaayyyyyyyyyy!

Crested Barbet

Dark-capped Bulbul

Blue Waxbill

Southern Black Flycatcher

Red-headed Weaver

Black-backed Puffback

Yellow-fronted Canary

As we were pulling out of the camp, I spotted this Purple Crested Turaco and anther Bulbul in the trees outside reception.

Obviously this is not a complete list of all the birds you can find here, this is just what we saw on one particular early November morning.

Birding In Satara Restcamp

Posted on January 14, 2015 by Tara

Following on from my review of the restcamp, I thought the birds deserved their own post as there were so many! Just get up at first light and wander around, you will probably see these birds as they were found all over the camp. I started in the circle where our hut was, then followed my ears as more birds made their presence known.

Red-billed Hornbill