Namibia - October/November

Just back from a three week self drive holiday in Namibia with my wife. This was not a birding trip per se so stopping for roadside raptors and spending time on LBJs wasn't part of our routine.  Although our route included some of the major birding spots we found that Namibia is so birdy that nearly every place we stayed at turned up surprises.

Namibia is a fantastic country to visit. Amazing wildlife and excellent tourist infrastructure. The lodges and campsites were of a very high standard. Erongo Wilderness Lodge, Shamvura, Shametu, !Uris, Tokolapa and Weaver's Rock Farm were particularly noteworthy. Mahango and Bwabwata Reserves easily outshone Etosha. Drives were long - about 400 km in one day is just about manageable but better to stay in one area for a few days rather than spend every day driving long distances. We covered c. 3,500 km in 20 days using c. 460 L diesel, mostly on tar or well maintained gravel roads. 290 (299 including lay-over in Addis Ababa) species for an ostensibly non birding trip was a pretty good count.

We flew from Tel Aviv to Windhoek via Addis Ababa with Ethiopian Airways (really good!) and decided to break the trip with a night in Addis. Clearing immigration/customs was smooth and straightforward and we were soon waiting outside the airport under an overcast sky for a non-existent shuttle to take us to our hotel. Pied Crows and Yellow-billed Kites patrolled overhead while Swainson's Sparrows, Spectacled Pigeons, Dusky Turtle Doves searched for seeds on the grass. Four White-throated Pigeons flew past, white wing flashes obvious against their dark bodies. Heard a musical trilling and two Superb Starlings flew in and started feeding with the sparrows. Absolutely stunning birds! A few Streaked Seedeaters joined the party and a couple of Sacred Ibis flew overhead. The threatening clouds finally opened and, as the rain started, we gave up on the hotel shuttle and gave in to the taxi touts. Common Fiscal on the way to the hotel and, once we were ensconced, from the 10th floor, wonderful views of a pair of Hooded Vultures. Looking down on neighbouring gardens in the late afternoon light I also saw Abyssian Thrush and Brown-rumped Seedeaters. Many hirundines circled overhead and many other birds flitted around the undergrowth, unidentified but giving a taste of Ethiopian birding potential. Must return!

Arrived in Windhoek early afternoon after another comfortable flight and took a taxi to Swiss Chalets Guesthouse close to Avis Dam. Bradfield's, White-rumped, Pallid and Little Swifts on the way into town. Took a short walk to Avis Dam - White-browed Sparrow Weaver, Common Scimitarbill, 

Fork-tailed Drongos, Mountain Wheatear, Scaly-feathered Weaver, African Hoopoe, Fork-tailed Drongo, Groundscraper Thrush, Marico Flycatcher, Green-winged Pytilia, 

Acacia Pied Barbet, 

Pale-winged and Cape Glossy Starlings, Black-chested Prinia, 

Greater Striped Swallows among the other hirundines,

Red-billed Spurfowl, White-backed Mousebird, African Pipit, Bearded Woodpecker

and a singing Rockrunner were among the first birds I saw. Most of these were common throughout the trip but great to see. The next morning I did a pre-breakfast jaunt back to the Dam and picked up Blue Waxbill, Golden-breasted Bunting, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Yellow-billed Kite, Black-headed Heron, Black-chested Prinia, Zitting and

Grey-backed Cisticolas.

Quick breakfast then off to pick up the car. Camping Car Hire (http://www.camping-carhire.com/) were superb. Efficient and utterly trustworthy. Every aspect of the car was described to us so we knew exactly what we had and there was no room for squabbles on return. The vehicle was obviously well maintained and we had zero trouble with it on the 3,500-4000 km we drove. 100% recommend! We took the main road to Walvis Bay picking up Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk

and Tawny Eagle on the way.

Arrived and checked in to the delightful Oyster Box Hotel. Greater and Lesser Flamingos,

Pelican, Avocet, Kelp, Hartlaub's and Grey Headed Gulls,

Caspian, Sandwich and Swift Terns, Ringed, White-fronted

and Chestnut-banded Plovers,

Greenshank, Common, Green and Curlew Sandpipers, Turnstone, Whimbrel, Grey Plover, Sanderling,  Bar-tailed Godwit, Cape Sparrow, Cape Wagtail and Common Waxbill were all easily seen on our walk along the promenade.

The next day we were picked up at 08:00 by Steve Braine of Batis Birding (http://batisbirdingsafaris.com/) for a half day Dune Lark tour. Steve is the owner of the company and a superb guide with a vast knowledge of the natural history and geology of the area. We drove out to Rooibank and quickly found Dune Lark. Extraordinary views of one displaying 2 m from the car.

Steve took us a bit further into the dunes for a glimpse of the dune magic. Magical indeed! He pointed out Ludwig's Bustard tracks and Golden Mole signs. A true naturalist and one the best. Trac-trac Chat, Rock Kestrel, Black-chested Snake Eagle, Red-faced Mousebird and Dusky Sunbird were seen on the way back to the main road. We stopped at the Bird Sanctuary just off the C14 seeing Kittlitz's Plover,

a couple of African Shelduck, Sacred Ibis, Red-knobbed Coot, Cape Teals before heading to the salt pans to look for Damara Terns. Huge numbers of waders were present but with time pressing we couldn't check them for oddities.

We found Damara Tern - a beautiful little tern - calling and feeding close to the track.

A raft of Black-necked Grebes completed our trip. I would definitely do a full day or more tour with Steve.

A long and uneventful drive got us to Erongo Wilderness Lodge. What a place! Luxurious chalet tents set amongst vast boulders on the hillside. Fantastic birding too - Hartlaub's Spurfowl, Freckled Nightjar in the evening while we were eating a delicious supper, White-tailed Shrike,  a party of Carp's Tit, Rockrunner (in the early morning light), 

a pair of Verreaux's Eagles, Augur Buzzard, 

Peregrine, Ruppell's Parrot, 

Monteiro's and African Grey Hornbills, Rosy-faced Lovebirds, 

Familiar Chat, Southern Grey-headed and Great Sparrows, 

Common Scimitarbill, Violet-eared Waxbill, Grey-backed Camaroptera, Cinnamon-breasted, 

 Golden Breasted

 and Lark-like Buntings,

Pririt Batis, 

Yellow and Black-throated Canaries, 

Red-headed Finch, 

Barn Owl, Grey-Go-away Birds made this a wonderful place to stay. Sadly we had to leave as another long day of driving faced us. On the way north we picked up Crowned Lapwing and Steppe Buzzard. We broke our trip at Roy's Rest Camp. It was cold and raining so booked into one of their rooms rather than camp. Three Hartlaub's Spurfowl wandered across the track by the restaurant - not such an elusive bird after-all. Black-faced Babbler, 

Southern Red-billed

and Yellow-billed Hornbills were easily seen

as well as Black-backed Puffback,  Southern Black Tit, White-bellied Sunbird, Long-billed Crombec, Crimson-breasted Shrike, 

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, 

Red-billed Buffalo Weaver, 

White-browed Scrub-robin

and a cracking Red-headed Weaver. 

Continuing north up the B8 the next morning we stopped off at Mangetti Reserve which was a little disappointing in terms of wildlife but we did see our first party of White-crested Helmet Shrikes,

Red-breasted Swallows 

and White-backed Vultures. Our next stop was at Mark and Charlie Paxton's famed Shamvura Camp overlooking the Okavango River. This was birding heaven and, following Mark's recommendation, I opted for the tasting menu of general birding rather than looking specifically for Souza's Shrike. What a day it was! 92 species in total - personal highlights being the incredible Southern Carmine Bee-eaters, 

Wood Owl, 

Hartlaub's Babbler, 

Bradfield's Hornbill, 

Coppery-tailed Coucal, 

Meyer's Parrots 

and a flock of eight Grey-headed Parrots (increasingly rare birds),

Sharp-tailed Starling, 

Kurrichane Thrush, Brown Firefinch, Violet-backed Starling, 

Paradise Flycatcher, 

Shikra, Golden Weaver, 

Luapula Cisticola, and a nice  Black Cuckooshrike.

In the afternoon Mark took us out for a river cruise for a new suite of species - Grey-rumped Swallow, African Skimmer, 

Giant Kingfisher, 

Pied and Malachite Kingfishers, Jacana, 

Black Crakes, Purple Swamphen, 

Little Bittern, 

Collared Pratincole, African Fish Eagle were great to see but the breeding colony of Southern Carmine Bee-eaters was the cherry on top of an already sweet cake. One of the great birding experiences. We had our sundowners on a sandbank looking towards Angola with the call of Square-tailed Nightjar coming over the water.

A short drive the next morning took us past Popa Falls (first view of Rock Pratincole and a fleeting glimpse of Grey-headed Kingfisher) to Shametu. This is an up market lodge but with reasonably priced camp sites. Our site was superb - large shade tree, kitchen and spotless ablutions. Our welcome from the staff there was so charming we decided to extend our stay to three nights. Garden birds here were the gorgeous Orange-breasted Bush-shrike, 

Yellow-breasted Apalis, 

Golden Weaver, Senegal Coucal (basking in the morning sun),

and White-browed Robin-chat.

Sundowners over looking the river with hippos wallowing and Rock Pratincoles flitting by. Wonderful. Took a river cruise and picked up Wire-tailed Swallow,

White-fronted Bee-eater

and more Rock Pratincoles.

Shametu is an easy 20 minute drive to the Mahango Reserve on the south side of the river or Bwabwata on the north side. Both reserves are superb and packed with birds and animals. So many highlights that it is difficult to choose but African Cuckoo-hawk, 

African Openbill, 

Klaas's Cuckoo

and Long-toed Lapwing 

were my favourites. Hippo with Yellow-billed Oxpecker, shrugging off a Great White Egret.

Bwabwata was equally good with a superb African Harrier Hawk wheeling above us as we entered the park.

A Barred Owlet gave stunning views

but most surprising bird for me was a female Olive Woodpecker. It flew up in front of the car and perched briefly on a trackside tree before flying off. Large numbers of buffalo nearby persuaded me not to give chase for a better view.

It would have been very easy to spend more time in this amazing area but we had other places to visit so the following morning we packed up and left the riverine woodlands for the drier south. There are many rest areas by the road (clean and litter free) usually with a shade tree and whenever we stopped we saw birds - Chin-spot Batis, Brown Snake Eagle, Ashy Tit and Wattled Starling for example. This was a long day driving - 6 h and c.530 km - and we were rather tired by the time we arrived !Uris. This was another upmarket lodge with camp pitches nearby. !Uris has perfected 'olde mining chic' and our campsite was charmingly furnished with re-purposed tools and equipment. Highlights here were the very pretty African Green Pigeons,

Black Cuckoo (in the early morning light)

and Damara Hornbills.

All conveniently found near our shade tree. Wildlife also includes scorpions - this beast nearly ran onto my foot. Looks like an opistothalmus species - not very venomous.

Good job we brought along a UV torch - much easier to see when they fluoresce.

In the entire trip the only arachnids we saw were two scorpions and one snake (Puff-adder at a waterhole in Etosha). We took the long and dusty C39 fom Otavi to Outjo and on to the Ijaba Lodge at Buschveld Park where Bare-cheeked Babblers took exception to their reflections in our car wing mirrors. 

Chestnut-vented Tit-babblers, 

Brown-crowned Tchagras,

Blue Waxbills

Violet-eared Waxbills (males staying in the shade),

Carp's Tits,

Golden-breasted Buntings, Green-winged Pytilias and a Spotted Flycatcher were all found in the gardens while Damara, African Grey and Yellow-billed Hornbills flew around the peripheral trees. Great site!

On to Tokolapa Lodge a little to the south of Etosha (Southern Pale Chanting Goshawks, Wahlberg's Eagle and Southern White-crowned Shrikes on the way)

where our campsite was a 5 km drive from the lodge. Very secluded and very large. A nearby tree had Sociable Weaver colony - amazing sight.

Here I learnt that goat cooked on the braai is inedible. Luckily the game sausage was delicious. A cattle water trough near the campsites brought hosts of birds. Red-billed Qualeas by the 100s, Black-faced Waxbills,

Wattled and Cape Glossy Starlings, Red-headed Finches, the usual trio of buntings, pytilias all squabbling for space around the water. The starlings won. Back at the camp a party of White-tailed Shrikes came to visit.

Namaqua Sandgrouse, Northern Black Koorhan, 

Little Grebe at a water hole, Spike-heeled and Sabota Larks on the fence posts on the way out to the main road.

Driving out the next morning we saw a large flock of Banded Martins (seen before at Shamvura),

The next four nights were spent in Etosha, staying at Oliphantsrus, Okaukuejo, Halali and Namutoni as we made our way from west to east. As in Mahango/Bwabwata the wildlife was incredible. Birding highlights were Double-banded Courser, 

Burchill's Courser (what a bird!),

Southern White-faced Owl, Grey-backed 

and Chestnut-backed Sparrowlarks

and the improbably large Kori Bustard.

From a virtually lark free trip they suddenly made themselves visible - Sabota, 

Red-capped, 

Pink-billed, 

Spike-heeled 

and Rufous-naped were all seen over the four days. The best moment by far though was our final afternoon in Etosha. I'd virtually given up hope of seeing the not uncommon Secretary Bird and the localised population of Blue Crane. We arrived at Namutoni and, in blistering heat, wandered up to the water hole just in case something was happening. Happening it was - four Blue Cranes were feeding by the water's edge,

a Secretary Bird flew low overhead and then I noticed a distinctive bill shape on a mostly hidden wader.

 Greater Painted Snipe!

Three lifers in 30 minutes including one (GPS) that was near the top of my most wanted. Eventually the GPS started to feed and, despite the horrible heat haze, I managed to get reasonable views. An afternoon drive around Anderson's Pan was rewarded with a pair of Secretary Birds hunting through the grass. Their hunting line took them across the road 10 m in front of us giving amazing views of these extraordinary birds.

That evening nature put on a sound and light show - a huge storm to the east. Lucky to catch the lightning strike!

We left Etosha the next morning through Lindquist Gate where our farewell bird was a superb Martial Eagle.

We headed south passed Lake Oshikoto (Ruppell's Parrot, Long-tailed Paradise Whydah, Red-backed Shrike) through Otjiwarongo and on to Weaver's Rock Farm off the C22 towards Waterberg. This was an utterly charming place with stunning views and birds to rival Waterberg. From the comfort of my camp chair, beer /coffee to hand, I watched a pair of African Hawk-eagles hunt along the hillside opposite,

home to least two Rockrunners and Freckled Nightjar, Short-toed Rockthrush,

Pririt Batis, Familiar Chat, Cardinal Woodpecker,

Groundscraper Thrush, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Carp's Tit, pytilias, buntings, Violet-eared and Black-faced Waxbills, Paradise Flycatcher, Brubru,

Long-billed Crombec, Yellow-bellied Eremomela,

Bare-cheeked and Southern Pied Babblers,

Black-backed Puffback, White-bellied and Marico Sunbirds, Brown-crowned Tchagra and some familiarity in the form of Spotted Flycatcher and Willow Warbler. Low-energy, high-return birding at its best.

Our plan of spending the day at the Waterberg (a pair of Verreaux's Eagles peeking over the edge of the cliff were the only birds of note)

was disrupted by a pulled ligament but it was no hardship to return to Weaver's Rock Farm and do some more chair-based birding.

After two nights at the farm we headed back to Windhoek and Daan Viljoen Reserve. The campsite was expensive compared to previous sites but well worth it. Excellent braai with tap and sink, electricity points and shower/toilets that wouldn't have been out of place in a top hotel. Plus, of course, Ostriches, wildebeest and warthogs roaming freely around us. The morning brought a swift-fest (Bradfield's, Palm, White-rumped, Alpine), Lilac-breasted Roller, Little Bee-eater, a stunning Crimson-breasted Sunbird

and my final lifer - Lesser-masked Weaver (unaccountably not seen until now).

We dropped the car back at Camping Car Hire, had lunch at Joe's Beerhouse and checked into the Thule Hotel. This was a great place to finish the trip - sundowners on the deck overlooking the city and hills.

Mustn't forget the obligatory Lilac-breasted

and Purple Rollers.

Namibia was a fantastic place to holiday and with some degree of patience from my wife I managed to do some very satisfying birding. LBJs that went to ground were mostly ignored in the interests of keeping harmony. No bad thing. We're now planning a return trip . . . .

Acknowledgements to Anke at Cardboard Box for all her help with booking, Angelika and Manuela at Camping Car Hire - a good, trustworthy car is the backbone of the trip, Steve Braine at Batis Birding, all at Erongo Wilderness Lodge for a wonderful stay, Mark and Charlie Paxton at Shamvura, Laura at Shametu. We were made to feel welcome everywhere we stayed so thanks to all we met. Thanks also to Andy Mears who kindly helped with lark id.

Full species list

Bird Name	Location first/mostly seen
Common Ostrich	Common on reserves
Hartlaub's Spurfowl	Erongo Wilderness Lodge and Roy’s Rest Camp
Red-billed Spurfowl	Common everywhere
Helmeted Guineafowl	Common everywhere
White-faced Whistling Duck Knob-billed Duck	Mahango and Bwabwata Mahango
Egyptian Goose	Most places with water
South African Shelduck	Walvis Bay
Spur-winged Goose	Shamvura and Mahango
Cape Teal	Walvis Bay
Red-billed Teal	Etosha
Lesser Honeyguide	Mahango
Golden-tailed Woodpecker	Shamvura
Cardinal Woodpecker	Weaver’s Rock Farm
Bearded Woodpecker	Avis Dam, Windhoek
Olive Woodpecker	Bwabwata
Acacia Pied Barbet	Avis Dam and Erongo Wilderness Lodge
Monteiro's Hornbill	Seen most days
Southern Red-billed Hornbill	Seen most days
Damara Red-billed Hornbill	Seen most days
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill	Seen most days
Bradfield's Hornbill	Shamvura and Mahango
African Grey Hornbill	Seen most days
African Hoopoe	Seen most days
Violet Wood-hoopoe	Shamvura and Halali Camp, Etosha
Common Scimitarbill	Seen most days
Lilac-breasted Roller	Seen most days
Purple Roller	Seen most days
Malachite Kingfisher	Shamvura
Grey-headed Kingfisher	Popa Falls
Giant Kingfisher	Shamvura and Shametu
Pied Kingfisher	Shamvura and Shametu
White-fronted Bee-eater	Shamvura and Shametu/Mahango
Swallow-tailed Bee-eater	Seen most days
European Bee-eater	Seen most days
Southern Carmine Bee-eater	Shamvura
White-backed Mousebird	Avis Dam
Red-faced Mousebird	Walvis Bay
Black Cuckoo	!Uris
Klaas's Cuckoo	Mahango
Coppery-tailed Coucal	Shamvura
Senegal Coucal	Shamvura
Grey-headed Parrot	Shamvura
Meyer's Parrot	Shamvura
Ruppell's Parrot	Erongo Wilderness Lodge and Oshitoko Lake
Rosy-faced Lovebird	Erongo Wilderness Lodge and Waterberg
African Palm Swift	Seen most days
Alpine Swift	Windhoek area
Common Swift	Windhoek area
Pallid Swift	Windhoek area
Bradfield's Swift	Windhoek area
Little Swift	Windhoek area
White-rumped Swift	Windhoek area
Grey Go-away-bird	Seen most days
Western Barn Owl	Erongo Wilderness Lodge and Tokolapa
Southern White-faced Owl	Olifantsrus Camp, Etosha
African Wood Owl	Shamvura
African Barred Owlet	Bwabwata
Rufous-cheeked Nightjar	Etosha camps
Freckled Nightjar	Erongo Wilderness Lodge and Weaver’s Rock Farm
Square-tailed Nightjar	Shamvura
Speckled Pigeon	Seen most days
Laughing Dove	Seen most days
Cape Turtle Dove	Seen most days
Emerald-spotted Wood Dove	Seen most days
Namaqua Dove	Seen most days
African Green Pigeon	!Uris
Kori Bustard	Etosha
Northern Black Korhaan	Etosha and Tokolapa
Blue Crane	Etosha
Wattled Crane	Mahango
Black Crake	Shamvura
African Swamphen	Shamvura
Common Moorhen	Walvis Bay, Etosha
Red-knobbed Coot	Walvis Bay
Namaqua Sandgrouse	Tokolapa and Etosha
Double-banded Sandgrouse	Etosha
Bar-tailed Godwit	Walvis Bay
Whimbrel	Walvis Bay
Common Greenshank	Walvis Bay
Green Sandpiper	Walvis Bay
Common Sandpiper	Walvis Bay
Ruddy Turnstone	Walvis Bay
Sanderling	Walvis Bay
Curlew Sandpiper	Walvis Bay
Greater Painted-snipe	Namutoni, Etosha
African Jacana	Shamvura and Mahango
Water Thick-knee	Shametu
Spotted Thick-knee	Olifantsrus Camp, Etosha
Black-winged Stilt	Walvis Bay
Pied Avocet	Walvis Bay
Grey Plover	Walvis Bay
Common Ringed Plover	Walvis Bay
Kittlitz's Plover	Walvis Bay and Shamvura
Three-banded Plover	Shamvura
Chestnut-banded Plover	Walvis Bay
White-fronted Plover	Walvis Bay
Long-toed Lapwing	Mahango
Blacksmith Lapwing	Seen most days
African Wattled Lapwing	Shamvura
Crowned Lapwing	Seen most days
Double-banded Courser	Etosha
Burchell's Courser	Etosha
Collared Pratincole	Shamvura
Rock Pratincole	Popa Falls and Shametu
African Skimmer	Shamvura
Kelp Gull	Walvis Bay
Grey-headed Gull	Walvis Bay
Hartlaub's Gull	Walvis Bay
Caspian Tern	Walvis Bay
Swift Tern	Walvis Bay
Sandwich Tern	Walvis Bay
Common Tern	Walvis Bay
Arctic Tern	Walvis Bay
Damara Tern	Walvis Bay
White-winged Tern	Shametu
African Cuckoo Hawk	Mahango
Black-shouldered Kite	Etosha
African Fish Eagle	Shamvura, Shametu, Mahango
White-backed Vulture	Mahango and Etosha
Lappet-faced Vulture	Mahango and Etosha
Black-chested Snake Eagle	Walvis Bay
Brown Snake Eagle	Rundu area
Bateleur	Common in north
African Harrier-Hawk	Bwabwata
Pale Chanting Goshawk	Common everywhere
African Goshawk? (possible)	Mahango
Shikra	Shamvura
Common (Steppe) Buzzard	roadside
Augur Buzzard Jackal Buzzard	Erongo Wilderness Lodge Waterberg
Tawny Eagle	several along roads
Verreaux's Eagle	Erongo Wilderness Lodge and Waterberg
Wahlberg's Eagle	near Kamanjab
African Hawk Eagle	Weaver’s Rock Farm
Martial Eagle	Etosha, on road to Tsumeb
Secretarybird	Namutoni, Etosha
Rock Kestrel	Walvis Bay
Greater Kestrel	Etosha
Peregrine Falcon	Erongo Wilderness Lodge
Black-necked Grebe	Walvis Bay
African Darter	Shametu
Reed Cormorant	Shamvura
Cape Cormorant	Walvis Bay
Little Egret	Walvis Bay
Grey Heron	Walvis Bay
Black-headed Heron	Avis Dam
Great Egret	Shamvura and Mahango
Yellow-billed Egret	Shamvura
Western Cattle Egret	Mahango
Squacco Heron	Mahango
Green-backed Heron	Shamvura
Little Bittern	Shamvura
Hamerkop	Shametu
Lesser Flamingo	Walvis Bay
Glossy Ibis	Walvis Bay
African Spoonbill	Mahango
Great White Pelican	Walvis Bay
Yellow-billed Stork	Mahango
African Openbill	Mahango
Marabou Stork	Mahango
Red-backed Shrike	Oshitoko Lake
Lesser Grey Shrike	Mahango
Common Fiscal	Shamvura
Magpie Shrike	Shamvura
Southern White-crowned Shrike	near Kamanjab, Etosha
Cape Crow	Etosha
Pied Crow	Windhoek area
African Golden Oriole	Halali Camp, Etosha
Black-headed Oriole	Shamvura
Fork-tailed Drongo	Seen most days
White-tailed Shrike	Erongo Wilderness Lodge, Topolaka
Brubru	Common in woodland
Black-backed Puffback	Erongo Wilderness Lodge and Shamvura
Brown-crowned Tchagra Black-crowned Tcagra	Common everywhere Mahango
Swamp Boubou	Shamvura
Crimson-breasted Shrike	Common everywhere
Orange-breasted Bushshrike	Shametu and Mahango
White-crested Helmet-Shrike	Mangetti and Shamvura
Chinspot Batis	Roadside rest area near Rundu
Pririt Batis	Widespread
Short-toed Rock Thrush	Etosha and Weaver’s Rock Farm
Groundscraper Thrush	Widespread
Kurrichane Thrush	Shamvura
Chat Flycatcher	Etosha
Marico Flycatcher	Widespread
Southern Black Flycatcher	Shamvura
Spotted Flycatcher	Buschveld Camp
Ashy Flycatcher	Shamvura
White-browed Robin-Chat	Shametu
White-browed Scrub Robin	Roy’s Rest Camp
Kalahari Scrub Robin	Mahango
Mountain Wheatear	Avis Dam, Erongo Wilderness Lodge
Capped Wheatear	Etosha
Tractrac Chat	Walvis Bay
Familiar Chat	Widespread
Ant-eating Chat	Etosha
Pale-winged Starling	Erongo Wilderness Lodge
Cape Glossy Starling	Common everywhere
Sharp-tailed Starling	Shamvura
Burchell's Starling	Shamvura
Meves's Starling	Mahango
Violet-backed Starling	Shamvura
Wattled Starling	Roadside near Rundu and Topolaka
Yellow-billed Oxpecker	Mahango
Red-billed Oxpecker	Mahango
Southern Black Tit	Roy’s Rest Camp and Shamvura
Carp's Tit	Erongo Wilderness Lodge and Weaver’s Rock Farm
Brown-throated Martin	Shamvura
Banded Martin	Shamvura and Topolaka
Grey-rumped Swallow	Shamvura
Rock Martin	Seen most days
Wire-tailed Swallow	Shametu
Pearl-breasted Swallow	Shamvura
Greater Striped Swallow	Avis Dam
Lesser Striped Swallow	Etosha
Red-breasted Swallow	Widespread
Dark-capped Bulbul	Shamvura
African Red-eyed Bulbul	Widespread
Yellow-bellied Greenbul	Shamvura and Shametu
Rattling Cisticola	Etosha
Grey-backed Cisticola	Avis Dam
Luapula Cisticola	Shamvura
Zitting Cisticola	Avis Dam
Tawny-flanked Prinia	Shamvura
Black-chested Prinia	Avis Dam
Yellow-breasted Apalis	Shametu
Grey-backed Camaroptera	Widespread
African Yellow White-eye	Shamvura
Rockrunner	Widespread in suitable habitat
African Reed Warbler	Shamvura
Greater Swamp Warbler	Shamvura
Yellow-bellied Eremomela	Shametu
Burnt-necked Eremomela	Mahango
Long-billed Crombec	Widespread
Willow Warbler	Weaver’s Rock Farm
Black-faced Babbler	Roy’s Rest Camp
Hartlaub's Babbler	Shamvura
Southern Pied Babbler	Roadsides and Weaver’s Rock Farm
Arrow-marked Babbler	Mahango
Bare-cheeked Babbler	Buschveld Camp and Weaver’s Rock Farm
Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler	Mahango
Rufous-naped Lark	Etosha
Fawn-coloured Lark	Etosha
Sabota Lark	Tokolapa and Etosha
Dune Lark	Walvis Bay
Spike-heeled Lark	Tokolapa and Etosha
Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark	Etosha
Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark	Etosha
Red-capped Lark	Etosha
Pink-billed Lark	Etosha
Collared Sunbird	Shamvura
Amethyst Sunbird	Shamvura
Scarlet-chested Sunbird	Shamvura
White-bellied Sunbird	Widespread
Dusky Sunbird	Walvis Bay
Marico Sunbird	Widespread
House Sparrow	Avis Dam
Great Sparrow	Erongo Wilderness Lodge
Cape Sparrow	Walvis Bay
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow	Erongo Wilderness Lodge
African Pied Wagtail	Shametu
Cape Wagtail	Avis Dam
African Pipit	Avis Dam
Red-billed Buffalo Weaver	Roy’s Rest Camp
Scaly-feathered Finch	Avis Dam
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver	Avis Dam
Sociable Weaver	Tokolapa
Lesser Masked Weaver	Daan Viljoen Reserve
African Golden Weaver	Shamvura and Shametu
Southern Masked Weaver	Widespread
Village Weaver	Shamvura
Red-headed Weaver	Roy’s Rest Camp
Red-billed Quelea	Widespread
Black cuckooshrike	Shamvura
Green-winged Pytilia	Widespread
Brown Firefinch	Shamvura
Red-billed Firefinch	Shamvura
Blue Waxbill	Widespread
Violet-eared Waxbill	Widespread but not seen every day
Common Waxbill	Walvis Bay
Black-faced Waxbill	Tokolapa, Waterberg
Red-headed Finch	Widespread
Long-tailed Paradise Whydah	Mahango and Oshitoko Lake
Black-throated Canary	Widespread
Yellow-fronted Canary	Shamvura
Yellow Canary	Daan Viljoen Reserve
Lark-like Bunting	Erongo Wilderness Lodge
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting	Widespread
Golden-breasted Bunting	Widespread