BONPO MARSH –
PIRANG SHRIMP FARM - FARA BANTA TRACK
As the tour
approaches its end we now struggle to see new species so we have to target
specific areas to find them. Today we set off to the southeast to a small marsh
area in the hope of finding Yellow-throated
Longclaw. We walked through very boggy areas without success but we did find a Yellow-mantled Widowbird a very good
bird for our tally. A Goliath Heron was
another good find along with several other ‘nice to look at birds’ such as Northern Red-bishop, we also found two
species of Cisticola, Zitting and Black-backed and a brightly coloured Yellow Wagtail. Our raptor-watchers
enjoyed great views of Grey Kestrel and Long-crested Eagle.
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| Yellow-mantled Widowbird |
As we were
very close to Pirang Shrimp farm we decided to make a quick visit there. A
while back you were able to walk around the huge pools there but now you are
restricted to looking into the farm from a dirt track, nevertheless the pools
were covered in birds and it was great birding.
 |
| Northern Red-Bishop |
A channel ran
along one side of the track whilst a mangrove swamp was on the other. The
channel held several species including a
Green Sandpiper which some of the
group hadn’t caught up with yet. The sky was full of swifts and swallows: Mosque, Red-chested and Wire-tailed Swallows with Palm and Little Swifts. Both the Malachite
and the Pied Kingfisher were
present.
 |
| Chestnut-crowned Sparrow-Weaver |
It was the
main pools that held masses of birds, there was gulls, terns, egrets, herons, pelicans and
storks. Also many waders and a few ducks, two good sightings were African Spoonbill (we had only seen
this species in flight up until now) and Eurasian
Spoonbill a new bird for the trip.
 |
| Masked (Vitelline) Weaver |
After our
visit to Pirang we spent the rest of the day at the Fara Banta Bush Track. First
we had our picnic lunch a the make-shift shelter then we spent almost 3 hours
in the new bird hide erected close to a couple of purpose built watering troughs, just
for the birds. It was amazing there, constant bird activity and over 20 species
coming to drink. We particularly wanted to see Black-faced Firefinch but that little blighter (which had been seen
already that morning) failed to turn up!
 |
| Lavender Waxbill |
A Pygmy
Kingfisher was delightful, it perched very close to the hide and made
several dash-and-splash soiree’s into the drinking troughs.
 |
| Pygmy Kingfisher |
Another nice bird to
see was the Red-winged Pytilia we
had had scant views of this bird at Tendaba but now we had them in full view
and very close. The Chestnut-crowned
Sparrow-Weaver also delighted the group, a superbly marked bird and called
‘Weaver’ because of the its nest building method.
 |
| Red-winged Pytilia |
 |
| Red-cheeked Cordonbleu |
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| Yellow-fronted Canary |
At 4pm we
decided to go in search of the elusive Firefinch but after an hours in the
afternoon sunshine we failed to find one, we enjoyed the time though seeing
many other species. We ended the day with only two new species, I said it was
going to be tough!
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