16-18 Apr 2019: Running Down the Rockrunner

Mark Boorman had given me a fail-safe place to find the Herero Chat near Karibib, so off I went and failed majestically in my quest. All I found on this rocky outcrop was a mild case of sunstroke, severe muscle strain, a Familiar Chat that tried its very best to look like a Herero Chat, and a Short-toed Rock Thrush. The Herero Chat was fast becoming my new bogey bird. Somehow one feels that there needs to be an adequate return if one puts in the kilometres, hours and effort to find a specific species. But birds have wings – will fly!

The next two evenings I camped at Mara Camp, opposite the Erongo Wilderness Lodge. The helpful manager and staff at the lodge allowed this uncouth camper to have breakfast amongst their esteemed guests and gave me unlimited access to look for the Hartlaub’s Spurfowl and the Rockrunner. An additional treat was watching the Rosy-faced Lovebirds also having breakfast at the restaurant. By late morning I had managed to track down the Rockrunner, but the Hartlaub’s remained its elusive self. The Violet Wood Hoopoe was ticked that afternoon while birding the dry riverbed of the Omaruru River near Mara Camp, but the Rüppell’s Parrots I was hoping to find, stayed away.

Rosy-faced Lovebirds, Erongo

An unplanned rest day ensured when I did some shopping in Omaruru the following morning. I enstooled myself on the garden veranda of a lovely restaurant and enjoyed the local cuisine and hops while updating my photos and blog. Just another day in paradise!