Big Year – end.

Juvenile Pygmy Sunbird found around Quagadougou
in Burkina Faso

Well the year of birding for the 500 mark came to an end and much to my disappointment I was stuck on 367... a total I am familiar with if my annual tallies over the years have produced. This year I thought that in travelling to a new area a different result would be produced. However sadly I have learnt that if a decent total is to be chase then chasing is required.

Speckle-fronted Weaver, In Burkina Faso

It was not all dismal birding despite not coming very close to the 500 mark. I added 87 news birds to my African list and saw some really great areas and birds. Highlights included Abyssinian Ground-hornbills, Denham's Bustard, Standard-winged Nightjar and Northern Crowned Cranes among many. There is very little greater birding moments than when you step into an area your unfamiliar with, and many ways unfamiliar to the birding fraternity, and start ticking off species that confuse you or flutter past without a great glimpse thinking you may have missed a speciality for the area. The excitement of seeing completely different variations of the same species or seeing a different species filling the exact same niche. I think we (including myself) birders in SA take this for granted as the diversity across South Africa is so great, we expect the difference. But West Africa in comparison to South Africa one would think greater differences being a greater distance away. Yet the West African Thrush or the Common Bulbul take up the exact same niche as their Southern counterparts much like the Karoo Thrush versus the Olive Thrush or Kurrichane Thrush, same as to the three bulbul species (Red-eyed, Cape and Dark-capped Bulbul).

Northern Red Bishop

Although short of being added to the big year total, I was fortunate to find the Standard-winged Nightjar in the beginning of this year. To true remark and as that of the reputation of the Pennant-winged Nightjar the Standard-winged Nightjar is as remarkable and beautiful to watch as it displays to its mates. I was fortunate to view a few males courting the females while flying low over Lake Bature. The year started well with a visit from a pair of Red-throated Pipits spending the time away from the Cold European winter.

Thus despite the Big Year ending on 367 different bird species It has been a great year regarding Birding and I have spent much of that time in places I thought to never go and where very few birds dare to venture. The amount of new species and the experienced gain in birding in West Africa was well worth it. Often thought to be predominantly a rain forest area, it is seemingly more savanna with forest patches. no doubt closer to the coast and the more West the rain forest has a greater extend however one does not have to go far north to get out into a savanna dominated ecosystem. This also meant that there is a huge cross-over with bird species from other African savanna ecosystems.

Senegal Parrots at Serarou

Red-throated bee-eater at Nazinga Game Ranch

The ever presence Laughing Dove