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Birding Gaborone (Botswana)- Gaborone Birding Sites and Area Bird List,
by Andrew Hester, Stephanie J. Tyler & Dragan Simic (all: BirdLife Botswana, P/Bag 003, Suite 348, Mogoditshane, Gaborone, Botswana)
Compiled and edited by Dragan Simic, (C)2001-2003 BirdLife Botswana
Ten Good Reasons to Visit Gaborone
Great Crested Grebe
Maccoa Duck
Cape Griffon Vulture
Short-clawed Lark
Short-toed Rock Thrush
White-throated Robin
Icterine Warbler
Burnt-necked Eremomela
White-crowned Shrike
Cutthroat Finch
In an effort to answer the questions where to see the birds that epitomize the southeast Botswana, which sites should be visited and when is the best time to go there, this short guide describes 9 birding spots in and around Gaborone.
Contents:
1. Important Bird Areas of Botswana
2.1. In Gaborone
2.1.1. Gaborone Game Reserve
2.1.2. Tsholofelo Sewage Ponds
2.1.3. Kgale Hill
2.1.4. Ngotwane Sewage Ponds
2.1.5. Gaborone Dam
2.2 North - Francisown Road
2.2.1. Phakalane Sewage Lagoons
2.2.2. Bokaa Dam
2.3 South - Lobatse Road
2.3.1. Mogobane Dam
2.3.2. Mannyelanong Hill Cape Griffon Vultury
3. Gaborone Area Bird List with Statuses
1. Important Bird Areas of Botswana
Approximately the size of France or Texas and land-locked in the heart of southern Africa, Botswana has 577 bird species, with more than 500 being regular - as well as 12 globally Important Bird Areas (IBA) covering 130,000 km2 or 25% of the country's territory!
There are no endemic bird species in Botswana. Country's only near-endemic is Short-clawed Lark with the major global stronghold in the grasslands of the southeast, Gaborone to Ramatlabama, widespread and locally abundant in the area. Populations of globally threatened Wattled Crane and Slaty Egret in the north (mainly Okavango Delta) are of great importance. Lesser and Greater Flamingo, and White Pelican breed in large numbers on the Makgadikgadi Pans when conditions are suitable - such as after the rich rainy season of 1999-2000, when more than 200,000 flamingos concentrated to breed in shallow saline lake formed on the pans.
Most birders live in Gaborone and Francistown in the
southeast, along the border with South Africa. This area is mainly avoided by
tourists but visited by business people - sometimes birders themselves, but
often lacking the time and/or the information where to go and what to look for.
IBAs close to Gaborone are:
IBAs close to Francistown are:
However, real centers of avian diversity are the northern IBAs close to the tourist towns of Maun and Kasane where only a few birders live, but numerous tour-operators offer bird walks, drives and digout canoe trips with knowledgeable guides.
IBAs close to Maun are:
IBAs close to Kasane are:
Two remaining IBAs are in the central and southwest
parts of Botswana:
Central Kalahari (5 600 000 ha, fully protected, which is not going to stop
the Government starting diamond mining within the reserve)
Kgalagadi Transfrontier Park, former Gemsbok National Park (2 840 000 ha in
Botswana, fully protected)
The Gaborone area, roughly defined as an area within a radius of some 50 km around the town, lies between 900 and 1100 meters asl. While most of the countryside has been cleared for agricultural purposes, remaining areas are covered by open Acacia savanna with additional woody plants covering the hills (e.g. Ficus spp., Aloe marlothii) and providing the birder with an opportunity to pick up many of the typical bushveld species as well as numerous Kalahari specials.
Mean minimum and maximum temperature ranges are approximately 180C to 320C in January (wet summer season) and 50C to 230C in July (dry winter season). November to February are not just the hottest and the wettest months, but also the best time for a birder to visit the area since most of the Palaearctic and intra-African migrants are present and resident species are in breeding plumage. However, an early start to any summer birding day is essential, since mid-day temperatures often climb into the forties (0C). Depending on rainfall, with a knowledgeable local guide you may tick 100 species per day in winter, and even 200 species in summer!
Getting there: Gaborone can be reached by tarred roads from Francistown (430 km) or Lobatse (75 km); and from Johannesburg (about 400 km, depending on a route) either through Mmabatho/Ramatlhabama (open daily from 7.00 to 20.00h), Zeerust/Lobatse Pioneer Gate (7.00 to 19.00h) or Tlokweng border post (7.00 to 22.00h). It is also reachable by air from Johannesburg several times a day (Sir Seretse Khama international airport is 14 km from the center). Air Botswana operates scheduled domestic daily flights to Kasane, Maun and Francistown.
The following places are known to be productive and may be worth a visit if you are passing through or have a day to spend in Gaborone.
2.1. In Gaborone
2.1.1. Gaborone Game Reserve (GPS co-ordinates 24.38 S, 25.57 E) The Gaborone Game Reserve is situated very close to the town center. To reach the Game Reserve, go along Nyerere Drive, heading east from Nelson Mandela road. Go straight on after the large cross-junction and follow the road as it veers left. Continue to the sign to Gaborone Game Reserve and bear right for 1 km. The Reserve is at the end of the road. It is open daily from 6.30 am to 18.30 pm.
The Gaborone Game Reserve is an excellent spot to visit, especially after heavy rains. Large Numbers of Wood and Common Sandpiper move into the area as well as impressive flocks of White-faced Duck which fill the air with their calls. Painted Snipe as well as African Crake may be seen with a little luck in the flooded areas. Look out for Marsh Owl late in the afternoon. Red-crested Korhaan is a certain tick for the Game Reserve, listen out for its characteristic call. Little, European and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters can be seen hawking insects. Yellow-billed Kite have been known to breed along the river which forms the eastern boundary, and Little Sparrowhawk has also been seen in the large Cambretum trees along the river course. Black-breasted Snake Eagle may be seen sitting on the electricity power lines, while Crimson-breasted Shrike is really common in the Reserve.
2.1.2. Tsholofelo Sewage Ponds (GPS co-ordinates 24.37 S, 25.57 E) For the Tsholofelo Sewage Ponds take the same route as for the Gaborone Game Reserve (see above), but continue after the reserve signboard over the Segoditshane River to a roundabout. Go right at this roundabout and continue until you reach the Botswana Power Corporation National Control Center and Segoditshane Sub-station on your right. Turn right immediately after these buildings onto a good dirt road, signed to Glen Valley Treatment Works and follow this road until you reach the sewage ponds to your left.
At rectangular concrete lagoons of Tsholofelo Sewage Ponds, fringed with vegetation and often offering shallows with exposed mud, 67 waterbird species are recorded, among them Purple Heron, both flamingo species, 13 ducks and geese, African Rail, Painted Snipe, Black-tailed Godwit, African and Spotted Crakes, European Marsh Harrier and Wooly-necked and Saddle-billed Storks and Allens (Lesser) Gallinule.
2.1.3. Kgale Hill (GPS co-ordinates 24.43 S, 25.52 E) This hill is a landmark in Gaborone, lying at the southern end of the western by-pass and accessible on foot from the Lobatse road. Kgale provides a totally different habitat to the surrounding areas and is well worth a stop. From the car park near the Lobatse road, two paths lead up the Kgale Hill - the one on the western side is more productive and not as steep. It is advisable to leave somebody at your car as break-ins are sometimes reported. Once over the stile, follow the signboards to the walk. The walks up to the top may take anything up to a couple of hours, but it is very enjoyable and the view makes the trip worth it alone.
Passing through some of the thicker bush at the base of the hill, listen out for the two-syllable call of the Fan-tailed Flycatcher and the "squeaky windmill" call of the White-throated Robin. In summer, the beautiful Plum-coloured Starling may be seen feeding in small flocks at the base of the hill. Also look out for Kalahari Robin, Yellow Canary, Southern Black Tit and the ever-present Black-chested Prinia. Black Eagles breed on Kgale, while Lanner Falcon, African Hawk Eagle and Booted Eagle may be seen circling around Kgale and the adjacent hills. Some of the interesting species that can be seen while moving up the slopes include Short-toed Rock Thrush, Natal Francolin, Lazy Cisticola, Red-eyed Bulbul, Bar-throated Apalis, Cape White-eye, Mocking Chat and Striped Pipit, which can be heard calling near the top. In summer look out for Garden Warbler and Yellow-throated Sparrow in the trees towards the top of Kgale.
2.1.4. Ngotwane Sewage Ponds (GPS co-ordinates 24.41 S, 25.56 E) Ngotwane Sewage ponds are located 200 m behind Game and Spar stores at the Tlokweng road; take a rough track between the stores and the petrol station and keep left (if you keep right, you may scope the ponds from the overlooking hill). At these rectangular concrete-sided lagoons 43 waterbird species are recorded, among them Maccoa Duck, African Jacana and even a vagrant African Skimmer. Watch out for lovely Little Bee-eaters all around you.
2.1.5. Gaborone Dam (GPS co-ordinates 24.43 S, 25.54 E) To reach the Gaborone Dam, take the Yacht Club entrance from the road into Gaborone from the Lobatse road/Kgale roundabout. This is a large dam 10 km in length by 2 to 3 km in width, deep clear water with emergent vegetation and sandy/rocky shores, with rocky islets, larger vegetated island and numerous bays. Word of warning: although low in numbers, crocodiles are present in the dam.
The dam includes an overflow area with open water and reedmace Typha beds. To reach the overflow, go along the Samora Machel Drive, take the dirt road turn-off marked for Sanitas Gardens and continue past the Gardens. The overflow is on your left.
At the dam itself, 71 waterbird species are recorded, among them 13 species of herons and bitterns, 4 storks, 10 ducks and geese, 4 rails and 20 waders. Site important for Great Crested Grebe, also recorded Purple Heron, Great White Egret, Intermediate Egret, White-backed Night Heron, Yellow-billed Stork, both flamingos, Purple Swamphen (Gallinule) and Giant Kingfisher. In the surrounding Acacia erubescens and A. tortilis savanna, in the early hours of the morning you can expect Pearl-spotted and Barn Owl, and Rufous-cheeked Nightjar. After down, Scimitar-billed Woodhoopoe, Pied Barbet, Ashy Tit, Brubru, Great Sparrow, Marico Sunbird, Crimson-breasted Shrike, White-backed Mousebird and Titbabbler, as well as both Kalahari and White-browed Robins are common and may be heard calling. In short grass/bare ground areas keep your eyes open for Short-clawed Lark. Pin-tailed, Shaft-tailed and Paradise Whydah can be seen flying above the treetops or sitting on the power lines.
2.2. North - Francisown Road
2.2.1. Phakalane Sewage Lagoons (GPS co-ordinates 24.34 S, 25.58 E) Phakalane Sewage Lagoons, about 20 km north of Gaborone, is an excellent spot to see many of the waterbirds of the area. Take the Phakalane turning some 7 km north of the Airport Roundabout along the A1. At the roundabout beyond the railway crossing, take the right turn past garages and Spar supermarket. Continue along the tar road to where it becomes a dirt road. Continue for a further 200 m and take a right turn into the bush. Follow this track that turns to the left and takes you straight to the entrance gates.
Constructed in 1990, Phakalane is now one of the most important wetlands for waterbirds (notably Maccoa Duck) in southeast Botswana: 70 species of waterbirds are recorded here; among them 11 species of herons and bitterns, 16 species of ducks and geese, 7 rails and 17 species of waders. Phakalane Sewage Lagoons are large irregular-shaped ponds with rocky and muddy edges and extensive fringes of reedmace Typha. Narrow fringes of reed Phragmites are occasional, and small trees and bushes overhang the water in places.
A walk around the ponds in summer may yield a variety of species. Species regularly recorded on the Phakalane SL include Black-necked Grebe, Maccoa, Fulvous and White-backed Duck, Cape, Red-billed and Hottentot Teal, Black Crake and Purple Swamphen (Gallinule). Pygmy Goose, Lesser Moorhen and Spotted Crake are a few of the more unusual species to have been recorded in the last several years. Both Lesser and Greater Flamingo are seen regularly at Phakalane as well as the occasional African Fish Eagle. Waders are well represented with Common, Wood and Marsh Sandpiper, Ruff, Greenshank, Little Stint and Three-banded Plover all being recorded regularly. Keep your eyes open for Jacobin and Black Cuckoo as well as Striped and Woodland Kingfisher, which may be seen in the bushveld surrounding the ponds. Carefully watch all of the telephone lines for Marico Flycatcher, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Sabota Lark and White-crowned Shrike.
2.2.2. Bokaa Dam (GPS co-ordinates 24.28 S, 25.55 E) Bokaa Dam, north of Gaborone, can be a very good spot depending on the level of the water. Take the A1 north from Gaborone towards Mochudi. Some 7.5 km after the Odi turnoff bear left at a sign marked Bokaa Dam. From the main road to the shore of the dam, keep your eyes open on bare ground in-between stands of Acacia for the Short-clawed Lark, which has been recorded here in the past. Follow the dirt road for 3.5 km, crossing the pipeline road to a gate into some buildings behind a fence. Before the gate, bear left but keep close to the fence, which you should follow for 1 km until there is a gap in it (there is a "Private Property" sign just to the right of the gap). Bear right through the gap and meander along the bush track (it forks but either turn goes to the dam) to the water's edge. An ever-expanding village on the northern shore of the dam has had a large impact on the birding in the area, so the southern side is probably a lot more rewarding.
The reservoir was constructed in 1990 by damming the Motsemotlhaba River just south of Bokaa village. The body of open water stretches for some 6 km or more and is over 0.5 km in width at its maximum. Being shallow and rich in nutrients, this dam attracts large numbers of waterbirds: 78 species are recorded here, among them 10 species of herons and egrets, 16 species of ducks and geese and 24 species of waders.
When you approach the dam the area is covered by Acacia tortilis thickets and is excellent for many of the migrant warblers. A variety of waterbirds can be seen on the dam but this depends to a large extent on the level of the water. The dam supports small numbers of Pink-backed Pelican and Greater Flamingo. Black-winged Pranticoles can be seen as well as White-backed Duck, Grey Plover, Fulvous Duck and South African Shelduck. A European Marsh Harrier was recorded recently while the level of the dam was low.
2.3. South - Lobatse Road
2.3.1. Mogobane Dam (GPS co-ordinates: 24.58 S, 25.41 E)
To reach Mogobane Dam drive south from Gaborone towards Lobatse. Take the right turn marked for Mogobane village and the Police College after 42 km, just before the 1489 m asl high Otse Hill on the right side of the road - the highest peak of Botswana (climbing forbidden due to the local superstitions). After 1.3 km the tar road turns to dirt. Continue for another 5.3 km until you see the dam on your left. You can bird from here, or you may turn left toward the village and find access to the water (most of the reservoir is fenced) or find a good viewpoint in the village up on the cliff overlooking the dam - the shallows in particular.
The dam is most productive when half-full. Shallows where the river enters the dam (southern end, opposite from the dam wall) are worth looking for waders in summer. At various times, 70 waterbird species are recorded, among them 11 species of herons and egrets, 14 species of ducks and geese and 24 species of waders. When surrounded by water, the reedbeds in the middle of the shallows are the site of the breeding colony of Black-headed and Grey Herons, Cattle Egret, Reed Cormorant and African Spoonbill. The damp grass and reeds around reservoir and in the vlei downstream are good for Orange-breasted Waxbill and Fan-tailed Cisticola, overgrazed short-grass areas for Short-clawed Lark and stands of Acacias for a variety of widows and whydahs.
2.3.2. Mannyelanong Hill Cape Griffon Vultury (GPS co-ordinates 25.05 S, 25.45 E) Mannyelanong Hill lies behind the village of Otse, nearly 50 km south of Gaborone on the left side of the Lobatse road. Follow the main dirt road through the village. Breeding colony is on the kopi east of the village, on the southern cliff face. Visitors must sign in at the Department of Wildlife and National Parks center (on the right side of the road).
Keep in mind that you are visiting the nursery of a globally threatened species and behave appropriately. Don't enter the gate by car since the birds are very vulnerable to disturbance. Park by the gate and walk the last 50 meters to the good viewing clearing by the inner fence. Don't try to come closer by climbing the fence - the inner area is off-limits. Having picnics close to the hill is forbidden. Noise levels and general disturbance near the perimeter fence should be kept to a minimum.
The kopi itself is a sandstone hill, one of the only two localities currently regularly used by Cape Griffon Vulture in Botswana. After a period of decline, the population has stabilized at around 50 pairs breeding per season. A pair of Black Stork also breeds on the cliffs, as well as one pair of Black Eagle together with Lanner Falcon and Rock Kestrel.
3. Gaborone Area Bird List with Statuses *
* Compiled by Dragan Simic after Tyler & Borello (1998), first appeared in the Familiar Chat (September 2001).
Approximately 430 bird species were recorded from 1989 to 1999 in area within a radius of some 50 km around the Gaborone, Botswana. However, for practical purposes of having a comprehensive list of birds likely to be seen on a summer day outing, this list notices only 283 regularly occurring species (66% of all recorded species), thus excluding rare and vagrant birds (34%).
Reference numbers and bird names follow Roberts Birds of Southern Africa (Sixth Edition). Common English name of each bird is fallowed by a letter A, C, F or U, standing for, respectively, abundant, common, frequent and uncommon species. Sometimes l is added, to show that particular species is locally abundant (lA), locally common (lC) or locally frequent (lF). Birds marked with asterisk (*), as well as birds observed in the area but not mentioned on this list should be reported to the Records Sub-committee of the BirdLife Botswana at the address bellow (see Birding Contacts).
001 Ostrich (Restricted to reserves.)
006 Great Crested Grebe (U*)
007 Black-necked Grebe (U*)
008 Little Grebe or Dabchick (C)
055 White-breasted Cormorant (C)
058 Reed Cormorant (C)
060 Darter (F)
062 Grey Heron (C)
063 Black-headed Heron (C)
065 Purple Heron (U)
066 Great White Egret (U)
067 Little Egret (U)
068 Yellow-billed (Intermediate) Egret (U*)
069 Black Egret (U*)
071 Cattle Egret (C)
072 Squacco Heron (U)
074 Green-backed Heron (F)
076 Black-crowned Night Heron (U)
078 Little Bittern (U*)
081 Hamerkop (F)
085 Abdims Stork (U)
090 Yellow-billed Stork (U)
091 Sacred Ibis (C)
093 Glossy Ibis (F)
094 Hadeda Ibis (C)
095 African Spoonbill (U)
096 Greater Flamingo (U*)
097 Lesser Flamingo (U*)
099 White-faced Duck (C)
100 Fulvous Duck (U*)
102 Egyptian Goose (C)
103 Cape (South African) Shellduck (U)
104 Yellow-billed Duck (C)
105 African Black Duck (F*)
106 Cape Teal (C)
107 Hottentot Teal (U)
108 Red-billed Teal (C)
112 Cape Shoveler (C)
113 Southern (Red-eyed) Pochard (C)
115 Knob-billed Duck (U)
116 Spur-winged Goose (C)
117 Maccoa Duck (lA*)
122 Cape (Griffon) Vulture (F*)
123 White-backed Vulture (F)
124 Lappet-faced Vulture (F*)
126 Yellow-billed Kite (C)
127 Black-shouldered Kite (F)
131 Black Eagle (U)
132 Tawny Eagle (U)
135 Wahlbergs Eagle (C)
137 African Hawk Eagle (U)
142 Brown Snake Eagle (U)
143 Black-breasted Snake Eagle (F)
148 African Fish Eagle (U)
149 Steppe Buzzard (F)
157 Little Sparrowhawk (U)
159 Little Banded Goshawk (U)
161 Gabar Goshawk (C)
169 Gymnogene (F)
172 Lanner Falcon (F)
181 Rock Kestrel (U)
182 Greater Kestrel (U)
189 Crested Francolin (C)
196 Natal Francolin (F)
199 Swainsons Francolin (C)
201 Harlequin Quail (U)
203 Helmeted Guineafowl (F)
205 Kurrichane Buttonquail (U)
213 Black Crake (C)
223 Purple Gallinule (lC)
226 Moorhen (C)
228 Red-knobbed Coot (C)
237 Red-crested Korhaan (U)
239 Northern Black (White-winged) Korhaan (U*)
240 African Jacana (F)
242 Painted Snipe (U)
245 Ringed Plover (U)
248 Kittlitzs Plover (C)
249 Three-banded Plover (C)
254 Grey Plover (U*)
255 Crowned Plover (C)
258 Blacksmith Plover (C)
264 Common Sandpiper (C)
266 Wood Sandpiper (C)
269 Marsh Sandpiper (C)
270 Greenshank (C)
272 Curlew Sandpiper (U)
274 Little Stint (C)
284 Ruff (C)
294 Avocet (U)
295 Black-winged Stilt (lC)
297 Spotted Dikkop (U)
298 Water Dikkop (U)
300 Temmincks Courser (U)
315 Grey-headed Gull (U)
339 White-winged Tern (C)
347 Double-banded Sandgrouse (U*)
348 Feral Pigeon (C)
349 Rock (Speckled) Pigeon (C)
352 Red-eyed Dove (lC)
354 Cape Turtle Dove (C)
355 Laughing Dove (C)
356 Namaqua Dove (C)
358 Green-spotted Dove (F)
373 Grey Lourie (C)
375 African Cuckoo (U)
377 Red-chested Cuckoo (F)
378 Black Cuckoo (F)
381 Striped Cuckoo (F)
382 Jacobin Cuckoo (C)
385 Klaass Cuckoo (F)
386 Diedrik Cuckoo (C)
391 Burchells Coucal (U)
392 Barn Owl (F)
395 Marsh Owl (F)
398 Pearl-spotted Owl (F)
401 Spotted Eagle Owl (lF)
406 Rufous-cheeked Nightjar (C)
408 Freckled Nightjar (lC)
411 European Swift (C)
415 White-rumped Swift (C)
417 Little Swift (C)
418 Alpine Swift (U*)
421 Palm Swift (F)
425 White-backed Mousebird (F)
426 Red-faced Mousebird (C)
428 Pied Kingfisher (F)
431 Malachite Kingfisher (U)
433 Woodland Kingfisher (C)
435 Brown-hooded Kingfisher (C)
438 European Bee-eater (F)
440 Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (C)
441 Carmine Bee-eater (U)
444 Little Bee-eater (F)
445 Swallow-tailed Bee-eater (U)
447 Lilac-breasted Roller (F)
449 Purple Roller (U)
451 Hoopoe (F)
452 Red-billed Woodhoopoe (U)
454 Scimitar-billed Woodhoopoe (U)
457 Grey Hornbill (C)
458 Red-billed Hornbill (F)
459 Yellow-billed Hornbill (C)
464 Black-collared Barbet (U)
465 Pied Barbet (C)
473 Crested Barbet (C)
474 Greater Honeyguide (U)
476 Lesser Honeyguide (U)
483 Golden-tailed Woodpecker (F)
486 Cardinal Woodpecker (F)
487 Bearded Woodpecker (U)
494 Rufous-naped Lark (F)
498 Sabota Lark (A)
501 Short-clawed Lark (U*)
507 Red-capped Lark (U)
515 Chestnut-backed Finchlark (F)
518 European Swallow (A)
520 White-throated Swallow (U)
523 Pearl-breasted Swallow (U*)
524 Red-breasted Swallow (F)
526 Greater Striped Swallow (C)
527 Lesser Striped Swallow (C)
529 Rock Martin (F)
530 House Martin (U)
532 (European) Sand Martin (U)
533 Brown-throated (African Sand) Martin (U*)
538 Black Cuckooshrike (U)
541 Fork-tailed Drongo (C)
543 European Golden Oriole (U)
545 Black-headed Oriole (F)
548 Pied Crow (F)
552 Ashy Tit (U)
554 Southern Black Tit (F)
557 Cape Penduline Tit (U)
560 Arrow-marked Babbler (F)
563 Pied Babbler (F)
567 Red-eyed Bulbul (C)
576 Kurrichane Thrush (C)
577 Olive Thrush (F)
580 Groundscraper Thrush (F)
583 Short-toed Rock Thrush (lF)
587 Capped Wheatear (U)
589 Familiar Chat (F)
593 Mocking Chat (lF)
595 Ant-eating Chat (U)
596 Stonechat (U)
602 White-throated Robin (U)
613 White-browed Robin (C)
615 Kalahari Robin (C)
620 Whitethroat (U)
621 Titbabbler (C)
625 Icterine Warbler (F)
626 Olive-tree Warbler (C*)
628 Great Reed Warbler (U)
630 European Reed Warbler (U*)
631 African Marsh (Reed) Warbler (lA)
633 European Marsh Warbler (U*)
634 European Sedge Warbler (F)
635 Cape Reed (Lesser Swamp) Warbler (F)
638 African Sedge (Little Rush) Warbler (U*)
643 Willow Warbler (C)
645 Bar-throated Apalis (lF)
651 Long-billed Crombec (C)
653 Yellow-bellied Eremomela (U)
656 Burnt-necked Eremomela (U)
657 Bleating Warbler (C)
658 Barred Warbler (F)
664 Fan-tailed Cisticola (C)
665 Desert Cisticola (F)
672 Rattling Cisticila (A)
679 Lazy Cisticola (lF*)
681 Neddicky (U)
683 Tawny-flanked Prinia (C)
685 Black-chested Prinia (A)
689 Spotted Flycatcher (C)
693 Fan-tailed Flycatcher (U)
695 Marico Flycatcher (C)
698 Fiscal Flycatcher (F)
701 Chin-spot Batis (C)
706 Fairy Flycatcher (U*)
710 Paradise Flycatcher (F)
713 Cape Wagtail (C)
716 Grassveld (Richards) Pipit (F)
719 Buffy Pipit (U)
720 Striped Pipit (U)
731 Lesser Grey Shrike (F)
732 Fiscal Shrike (U)
733 Red-backed Shrike (C)
735 Long-tailed Shrike (U)
736 Southern Boubou (U*)
739 Crimson-breasted Shrike (C)
740 Puffback (C)
741 Brubru (F)
743 Three-streaked (Brown-headed) Tchagra (C)
753 White Helmet Shrike (U)
756 White-crowned Shrike (U)
760 Wattled Starling (F)
761 Plum-coloured Starling (C)
764 Glossy Starling (C)
769 Red-winged Starling (C)
772 Red-billed Oxpecker (U)
779 Marico Sunbird (C)
787 White-bellied Sunbird (C)
792 Black Sunbird (U)
796 Cape White-eye (F)
798 Red-billed Buffalo Weaver (lF)
799 White-browed Sparrow Weaver (C)
801 House Sparrow (C)
802 Great Sparrow (U)
803 Cape Sparrow (F)
804 Grey-headed Sparrow (C)
805 Yellow-throated Sparrow (U)
806 Scaly-feathered Finch (C)
814 Masked Weaver (A)
815 Lesser Masked Weaver (F)
821 Red-billed Quelea (C)
824 Red Bishop (C)
826 Golden Bishop (F)
829 White-winged Widow (C)
832 Long-tailed Widow (U*)
834 Melba Finch (C)
841 Jamesons Firefinch (F)
842 Red-billed Firefinch (F)
844 Blue Waxbill (A)
845 Violet-eared Waxbill (C)
846 Common Waxbill (C)
847 Black-cheeked Waxbill (F)
852 Quail Finch (U)
854 Orange-breasted Waxbill (lF*)
855 Cut-throat Finch (U)
856 Red-headed Finch (C)
857 Bronze Mannikin (U*)
860 Pin-tailed Whydah (F)
861 Shaft-tailed Whydah (F)
862 Paradise Whydah (C)
865 Purple Widowfinch (U)
867 Steel-blue Widowfinch (U)
869 Yellow-eyed Canary (C)
870 Black-throated Canary (C)
878 Yellow Canary (F)
884 Golden-breasted Bunting (C)
886 Rock Bunting (F)
887 Lark-like Bunting (U)
The BirdLife Botswana (former Botswana Bird Club) aims to conserve and protect birds and their habitats. Check their website www.birdlifebotswana.org.bw, or write to blb@birdlifebotswana.org.bw, or:
The Secretary,
BirdLife Botswana
Private Bag 003
Suite 348
Mogoditshane
Gaborone
BOTSWANA
Please also contact Guy Brina for Francistown information
(gltm@botsnet.bw) and Roger Hawker for
Maun Branch information (birdlifetours@dynabyte.bw)
or contact BLB (subject: Francistown/Maun Branch).
5. Extracted
from:
Barnes, K.N. (ed.), (1998). The Important Bird Areas of southern Africa. BirdLife
South Africa.
Hester, A., (1998). "Birding in and around Gaborone." Familiar Chat,
Newsletter of the Botswana Bird Club, September 1998. Botswana Bird Club, Gaborone.
Simic, D., (2001). "Gaborone Area Bird List with Statuses." Familiar
Chat, Newsletter of the BirdLife Botswana, September 2001. BirdLife Botswana,
Gaborone.
Tyler, S.J., (2001). A Review of Waterbird Counts in Botswana, 1991-2000. Babbler
Special Supplement No. 1. BirdLife Botswana, Gaborone.
Tyler, S.J. & Borello, W.D., (1998). Birds in the Gaborone Area and where
to find them. Botswana Bird Club, Gaborone.
Copyright Notice
Both bird list and all site guides contained within these pages are (copyright
) 2001-2003 BirdLife Botswana and its members. Permission to reproduce this
material in any manner must first be obtained in writing from the BLB, or the
author of a specific part.
=====
Dragan V. Simic
Please send comments, questions, or requests for republication to Dragan Simic.
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