Tanzania Day 11 - BIRDING MIOMBO HABITAT NEAR MIKUMI NP

After a fine buffet breakfast at one of those typical safari lodges we birded the miombo habitat at the edge of Mikumi National Park. Bur first of all we had a date with a pair of Peter’s (red-throated) Twinspots that inhabit the gardens and these deliciously superb little gems didn’t disappoint. 

Peter's (Red-throated) Twinspot

We also found a Collared Palm-Thrush, as well as Grey-olive Greenbul, Spotted Mourning-Thrush, Eastern Black-headed Batis and a few others before driving around 20 minutes and began birding. 

Collared Palm-Thrush

At first the forest seemed a little quiet, apart from a calling immature Eastern Chanting-Goshawk from a nearby tree. Then we hit a run of new birds starting with a Yellow-throated Bush-Sparrow calling away from the top a tree, followed by the first of several superb-looking Arnot’s Chats. 

Arnot's Chat

Abdul then spotted a Stierling’s Wren-Warbler feeding close to the forest floor, with a Piping Cisticola (Neddicky) nearby. Peter picked up a Black-hooded Oriole, and we scoped a Miombo Starling (just a Lesser Blue-eared Starling if you follow Clements!). 

Miombo Starling

Our first Cinnamon-chested Tit (or just a Rufous-bellied Tit if you follow Clements) then appeared, and some delightful Green-capped Eremomelas were picked up feeding at the top of a tree right in front of us. As we were watching them, Abdul saw a Yellow-bellied Hyliota next to the eremomelas, but only a few in the group were lucky enough to get on it. Suddenly a Speckle-throated (Reichenow’s) Woodpecker began calling and it eventually showed pretty well. 

Reichenow's Woodpecker

New birds kept appearing and we were on a roll….. Next up was a flock of Pale-billed Hornbills flying over the road and a couple of them lingered at the top of a close tree and showed incredibly well, allowing great views in the scope and time for plenty of photos to be taken.

Pale-billed Hornbill

The next stop a few kilometres further along the road was notable for flyover White-backed Vulture and Bataleur, or should I say the awesome views of a displaying pair of Racket-tailed Rollers we watched for ages. At one stage they alighted on the top of a near tree, unfortunately right into the sun but nevertheless still looking awesome in the Swarovski scope. 

Racket-tailed Roller

A pair of Speckle-throated Woodpeckers showed at the same spot and allowed much better views than the previous sighting, with some reasonable photos being taken of this localised miombo specialist. A flock of White-crested Helmetshrikes had a Common Scimitarbill following them and once they’d crossed the road a fantastic White-breasted Cuckooshrike was picked up in the flock as well. Wow! We also had better views of Cinnamon-chested Tit, had a Red-faced Crombec, Little Bee-eater, another Arnot’s Chat, Amethyst and Scarlet-chested Sunbirds, Golden-breasted Bunting and eventually found the localised Hofmann’s Sunbird too. 

 

The third stop produced better Hofmann’s Sunbird views in the scope, as well as Pale Batis and a non-breeding Southern Red-headed Weaver – look at the yellow primaries… And our last stop before lunch gave us a delightful Livingstone’s Flycatcher feeding quietly in a nearby tree, followed by Crowned Eagle, Cardinal Woodpecker, as well as a distinctive female Purple-throated Cuckooshrike. After our picnic lunch we drove about an hour and a half to the wonderful Hondo Hondo Tented Camp, located at the base of the foothills of the Udzungwa Mountains. 

 

We had the luxury of an hour off after lunch before checking out the nearby ricefields where large flocks of Bronze Mannikins were accompanied by several Black-and-white Mannikins and some huge Magpie Mannikins. A few Brown-hooded Kingfishers were seen, along with Little Bee-eaters, Blue-spotted Wood-Dove, and an Ayres’s Hawk-Eagle flew over. We then drove a short distance and checked more ricefields where we found at least four Lesser Seedcrackers being rather surreptitious in the long grass. There was also Blue Waxbill, Grosbeak Weaver, and Yellow-fronted Canary. Then we drove to a different forested area and along the way found a few delightful Orange-breasted (Zebra) Waxbills. 

African Openbill

Driving further we saw flocks of African Openbills and a few herons and egrets, Brown-headed Parrot and some Crimson-rumped Waxbills. Our destination was a patch of forest where, after a bit if a wait, after sunset we located a pair of totally awesome Pel’s Fishing Owls perched right at the top of a tall tree beside the railway track we’d been walking along! 

Staking out the Pel's Fishing Owl site

Pel's Fishing Owl

It’s a pretty special bird and they weren’t bothered by us at all and I can tell you, the scope views were awesome!