MalaMala Birdwatching

This was Mark’s first trip to Africa. Kate and Meg have been trying to get me to go for a few years now. I finally succumbed. The trip was planned to spend 13 days in and around Kruger National Park in South Africa. We went to four different Safari camps. MalaMala is a private game reserve in the Sabi Sands game reserve adjacent to Kruger National Park. We spent our first four days there.

There are over six hundred different species of birds in Kruger. We set an initial goal of identifying one sixth of the species or 100 different bird species. We are very much amateur birders and one of the goals is to provide pictures for our family blog. As such, a picture was required as proof of siting. I took 1800 pictures during our first four days and 3500 overall. The ladies likely took considerably more. There was a wide variety in picture quality. The lowest quality would be what we called a ‘proof’ picture. Good enough to do an ID but not worth sharing. We did not count birds identified by call.

My primary camera for this endeavor was a Nikon P1000. It is 18 Mega pixel 125X superZoom camera. The cost of the high zoom is a high f stop and so the camera underperforms in low light. Meg and Kate used Nikon P900 cameras. Meg and Mark’s alternate cameras were their Google Pixel 7 Pro phones. The phone was good for close up and low light pictures. They have 48 Mega Pixels and a 5X optical zoom. It has built in 30X digital zoom that reduces the resolution but can be useful. I shot in RAW format and post processed with Corel Aftershot Pro and saved results at 50% quality in jpeg. This was a compromise between space and image quality, a judgement call.

I was not as prepared as I should have been. Kate had Roberts Birds of South Africa. I got Merlin for South Africa. Unfortunately Merlin can only identify about 15% of South African birds by call. To use Merlin photo ID, I had to transfer the picture to my phone, awkward. I did not bring my laptop due to weight limits on the RJ flight into Kruger. This was an error. The two guides that were interested in birding had field guide to SA birds. Kate was tasked with keeping track of sightings.

It is imperative to get a guide that is interested in birding or the quality of the event is significantly degraded. If you really want to bird, you should insist on a private drive. It can be challenging balancing the wants of typical safari patrons with the demands of birding. Also the private concessions allow off roading that is very helpful in getting good pictures of the wildlife. In all four camps we identified birding as desirable.

In MalaMala the pace was brutal. We got up at 4:30, got coffee and light snack and were on the trail at 5:00 AM. We got back to the lodge by nine and had a big brunch at 10 AM. There was a snack at 3:30 PM and we were back on the trail by 4:00 PM. We were back around 8:00 PM and had dinner at 9:00 PM falling into bed around 10:00 PM. An afternoon nap was essential but there was downtime that could have been used to process pictures.

Our guide for MalaMala was Lauren…………..

When you are bird watching it is important not to be distracted by incidental sightings.

Bird Sightings in no particular order:

There are at least nine varieties of kingfisher in Kruger. The one we saw the most was the woodland kingfisher.

The oxpeckers were a delight although sometimes it was easy to be distracted by their hosts! There were two species; yellow billed oxpecker and red billed oxpecker.

The hornbills were another group of birds we regularly saw including the Southern Yellow Billed Hornbill, African Grey Hornbill and Ground Hornbill. We saw several behaviors of the Southern Yellow Billed Hornbill including courting and nesting. The males seal the females in the nests with the eggs and cater to them until the young are fledged.

Robert Bird Guide 2

Mark’s African Bird collection:

English	Afrikaans	Place	Date
African Firefinch	Kaapse Vuurvinkie	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
African Fish Eagle	Visarend	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
African Goshawk	Afrikaanse Sperwer	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
African Green Pigeon	Papegaaiduif	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
African Grey Hornbill	Grysneushoringvoël	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
African Hawk-Eagle	Grootjagarend	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
African Hoopoe	Hoephoep	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
African Jacana	Grootlangtoon	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
African Pied Wagtail	Bontkwikkie	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
African Sacred Ibis	Skoorsteenveër	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
African Spoonbill	Lepelaar	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
African Wattled Lapwing	Lelkiewiet	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
African Woolly-necked Stork	Wolnekooievaar	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Arrow-marked Babbler	Pylvlekkatlagter	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Barn Swallow	Europese Swael	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Bateleur	Berghaan	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Bearded Woodpecker	Baardspeg	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Black Crake	Swartriethaan	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Black Cuckoo	Swartkoekoek	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Black-backed Puffback	Sneeubal	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Black-bellied Bustard	Langbeenkorhaan	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Black-collared Barbet	Rooikophoutkapper	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Black-headed Oriole	Swartkopwielewaal	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Black-winged Kite	Blouvalk	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Blacksmith Lapwing	Bontkiewiet	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Blue Waxbill	Gewone Blousysie	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Brown Snake Eagle	Bruinslangarend	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Brown-crowned Tchagra	Rooivlerktjagra	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Brown-headed Parrot	Bruinkoppapegaai	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Brown-hooded Kingfisher	Bruinkopvisvanger	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Burchell’s Coucal	Gewone Vleiloerie	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Burchell’s Starling	Grootglansspreeu	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Cape Starling	Kleinglansspreeu	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Cape Vulture	Kransaasvoël	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Chinspot Batis	Witliesbosbontrokkie	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting	Klipstreepkoppie	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Common Moorhen	Grootwaterhoender	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Common Ostrich	Volstruis	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18

Common Sandpiper	Gewone Ruiter	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Common Scimitarbill	Swartbekkakelaar	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Common Waxbill	Rooibeksysie	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Crested Barbet	Kuifkophoutkapper	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Crested Francolin	Bospatrys	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Crowned Lapwing	Kroonkiewiet	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Dark-capped Bulbul	Swartoogtiptol	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Diederik Cuckoo	Diederikkie	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Double-banded Sandgrouse	Dubbelbandsandpatrys	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Egyptian Goose	Kolgans	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Emerald-spotted Wood Dove	Groenvlekduifie	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
European Bee-eater	Europese Byvreter	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Fiery-necked Nightjar	Afrikaanse Naguil	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Fiscal Flycatcher	Fiskaalvlieëvanger	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Fork-tailed Drongo	Mikstertbyvanger	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Goliath Heron	Reusereier	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Great Egret	Grootwitreier	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Green Wood Hoopoe	Rooibekkakelaar	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Grey Go-away-bird	Kwêvoël	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Grey Heron	Bloureier	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Hadada Ibis	Hadeda	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Helmeted Guineafowl	Gewone Tarentaal	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Hooded Vulture	Monnikaasvoël	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Jacobin Cuckoo	Bontnuwejaarsvoël	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Laughing Dove	Rooiborsduifie	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Lesser Striped Swallow	Kleinstreepswael	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Lilac-breasted Roller	Gewone Troupant	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Little Bee-eater	Kleinbyvreter	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Little Egret	Kleinwitreier	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Little Sparrowhawk	Kleinsperwer	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Lizard Buzzard	Akkedisvalk	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Magpie Shrike	Langstertlaksman	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Marabou Stork	Maraboe	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Martial Eagle	Breëkoparend	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Mosque Swallow	Moskeeswael	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Natal Spurfowl	Natalse Fisant	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Orange-breasted Bushshrike	Oranjeborsboslaksman	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Pearl-spotted Owlet	Witkoluil	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Pied Kingfisher	Bontvisvanger	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Rattling Cisticola	Bosveldtinktinkie	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Red-backed Shrike	Rooiruglaksman	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Red-billed Buffalo Weaver	Buffelwewer	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Red-billed Firefinch	Rooibekvuurvinkie	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Red-billed Oxpecker	Rooibekrenostervoël	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Red-breasted Swallow	Rooiborsswael	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18

Red-chested Cuckoo	Piet-my-vrou	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Red-crested Korhaan	Boskorhaan	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Red-faced Cisticola	Rooiwangtinktinkie	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Red-winged Starling	Rooivlerkspreeu	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Retz’s Helmetshrike	Swarthelmlaksman	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Ring-necked Dove	Gewone Tortelduif	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Saddle-billed Stork	Saalbekooievaar	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Senegal Lapwing	Kleinswartvlerkkiewiet	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Sombre Greenbul	Gewone Willie	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Southern Black Tit	Gewone Swartmees	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Southern Boubou	Suidelike Waterfiskaal	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Southern Doublecollared Sunbird	Klein- rooibandsuikerbekkie	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow	Gryskopmossie	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Southern Ground Hornbill	Bromvoël	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Southern Masked Weaver	Swartkeelgeelvink	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Southern Red-billed Hornbill	Rooibekneushoringvoël	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Southern Whitecrowned Shrike	Kremetartlaksman	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill	Geelbekneushoringvoël	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Speckled Mousebird	Gevlekte Muisvoël	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Spectacled Weaver	Brilwewer	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Spotted Thick-knee	Gewone Dikkop	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Spur-winged Goose	Wildemakou	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Square-tailed Nightjar	Laeveldnaguil	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Striated Heron	Groenrugreier	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Swainson’s Spurfowl	Bosveldfisant	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Tawny Eagle	Roofarend	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Thick-billed Weaver	Dikbekwewer	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Three-banded Plover	Driebandstrandkiewiet	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Trumpeter Hornbill	Gewone Boskraai	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl	Reuse-ooruil	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Village Weaver	Bontrugwewer	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Violet-backed Starling	Witborsspreeu	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Wahlberg’s Eagle	Bruinarend	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Water Thick-knee	Waterdikkop	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Western Cattle Egret	Veereier	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
White-backed Vulture	Witrugaasvoël	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
White-breasted Cormorant	Witborsduiker	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
White-browed Scrub Robin	Gestreepte Wipstert	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
White-crested Helmetshrike	Withelmlaksman	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18

White-faced Whistling Duck	Nonnetjie-eend	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
White-fronted Beeeater	Rooikeelbyvreter	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Woodland Kingfisher	Bosveldvisvanger	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Yellow-billed Egret	Geelbekwitreier	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Yellow-billed Kite	Geelbekwou	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Yellow-billed Oxpecker	Geelbekrenostervoël	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Yellow-billed Stork	Nimmersat	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18
Yellow-fronted Canary	Geeloogkanarie	MalaMala and Kruger	19/11/2024 10:57:18

So we only saw 98 different bird species in our first four days. There were still nine more days to find two more bird species.

Mark, Wink, Meg and Kate-Lynne