Avis Dam - The End

Before breakfast we paid a visit to Avis Dam on the outskirts of Windhoek and managed to pick up a few new trip birds: Great White Egret, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting and Red-billed Firefinch. 

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

We also had views of White-breasted Cormorant, Great White Pelican, Hammerkop, 2 Pearl-spotted Owlets, Black-faced, Common and Violet-eared Waxbills, Green-winged Pytilia, Acacia Pied Barbet, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Familiar Chat and White-backed Mousebird. 

Violet-eared Waxbill - a particular favourite of mine

Black-faced Waxbill

But all too soon it was time to leave and head back to the hotel, have breakfast, load the luggage and set off to the airport where we said our goodbyes to my good friend Charly. He had been a phenomenal guide, had looked after us extremely well and is about as good a guide as I have had the fortune to meet over the years. I look forward to many, many tours over the coming years with him. Thanks Charly

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.