14-16 May 2019: Kumbira Forest

The calls of numerous Yellow-throated Nicators greeted me as I ventured on the forest paths surrounding my campsite. Birding in the half-light of the deep forest was a challenge as the birds flitted high in the canopy or remained hidden behind the abundant foliage. Forest birding has its own special techniques and most of the birds are found by identifying the bird calls of the area. One of the consequences of forest birding, I soon realised, is a stiff neck, as you are constantly craning your neck at a ninety-degree angle while scanning the canopy.

By this time I had mastered the greetings of Bom Dia, Boa Tarde and Boa Noite and in return received big smiles and greetings from all the machete carrying locals on the narrow forest paths. I never felt threatened or unsafe, or concerned about leaving my vehicle unattended for a whole day; a far cry from birding in similar circumstances in South Africa.

Lizard Buzzard, Kumbira

An Angola Batis, calling high in a forest thicket, alerted me to a bird party in the vicinity. Soon a Yellow-necked Greenbul, some Black-necked Weavers and Grey-headed Nigritas were ticked as they gleaned leaves in the canopy. While looking for a very noisy, but inconspicuous, Yellow-throated Nicator I accidentally found a Black Cuckooshrike sitting motionless behind some leaves in a dark recess of a tree. A Lizard Buzzard was located by following a plaintive call sounding like a mournful child lost in the forest. Later, a yellow eye staring out of a thicket revealed a male Vieillot’s Weaver.

Another tactic that worked well was to make myself comfortable at a viewpoint and monitor the avian traffic at the edge of the forest. In this manner I ticked a Dark-backed Weaver, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, African Green Pigeon, African Broadbill, Pink-footed Puffback, Long-crested Eagle and Crowned Hornbill. The calls of the Forest Scrub Robin and Red-chested Turaco were identified, but they remained safely hidden in the forest.

Small patches of grassland next to a forest stream delivered Ludwig’s Double-collared Sunbird, Northern Grey-headed Sparrow, Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Black-and-white Mannikin, a single Red-headed Bluebill and an African Pygmy Kingfisher.

Orange-cheeked Waxbill, Kumbira

The evenings were spent in the excellent company of Captain Morgan…