Waterberg - Windhoek

Well you cant get much better than a party of Violet Wood-Hoopoes being the first birds you see outside your front door and that’s exactly what happened top us this morning. There were at least 9 birds foraging amongst the acacia trees and flying aver our cabins on several occasions, giving great views. 

Really enjoyed these views of Violet Wood-hoopoe outside our cabins this morning 

So after breakfast we packed up and drove down to the reception, where a Golden-tailed Woodpecker showed nicely, and there were some more Rosy-faced Lovebirds flying over as well. Driving back towards the main road we connected with a few Crested Francolins, one of which ran across the road and stayed out in the open for a while. 

Then we hit a purple patch with a bunch of raptors showing nicely above an escarpment with White-backed and Lappet-faced Vultures, African Hawk-eagle, Brown Snake-eagle, Booted Eagle and a superb Verreaux’s Eagle as well.

This Verreaux's Eagle flew right over us - wow!

After lunch in our hotel in Windhoek we visited the local sewage pools where several Hottentot Teal, African Darter, Lesser Swamp and both African Reed Warblers were the highlights. We also enjoyed scope views of Red-knobbed Coot, African Swamphen, Cape Shoveler, Three-banded Plover and others before returning for our last dinner together.