2-3 Sep 2019: Zomba Plateau

A quick drive south-eastward to Mount Mulanje showed that the mountain slopes were too deforested for serious forest birding. A policeman at a roadblock tried various tactics to get a bribe which we refused to pay. In the end I gave him a Coke for excellent effort and we departed with smiles all-round. A scenic backroad took us halfway around Mulanje and then northwards to the Zomba Plateau where we found a beautiful campsite next to a stream in the forest. Alas, severe deforestation was also taking its toll and the constant smell of wood being burnt for charcoal was a stark reminder that the forests of Africa are living on borrowed time.

Yellow-throated Apalis, Zomba

A local guide, Sosten, showed us the hotspots and we soon found the Evergreen Forest Warbler, a Malawi Batis on a nest, as well as the very localised Yellow-throated Apalis which is endemic to southern Malawi. Mountain Wagtails inspected the grass around our camp for insects and Forest Double-collared Sunbirds were frequent visitors in the gardens of a nearby lodge. Red-faced Crimsonwing showed themselves in the tangles on the banks of a stream about twenty yards from our campsite. The fruiting wild fig tree under which we camped delivered numerous White-tailed Crested Flycatchers, Southern Mountain Greenbuls and Olive-headed Greenbuls. We dipped on the Olive-flanked Robin-Chat in the thick tangles and found numerous White-browed Robin-Chats in its stead.

Starred Robin, Zomba

On our way down the mountain we birded the lower slopes and Placid Greenbuls were quick to respond to the played call. Near some granite outcrops we found a strange looking bunting which Maans then identified as Vincent’s Bunting, an uncommon bunting endemic to Malawi, Zambia and northern Mozambique. The Zomba Plateau was an excellent montane forest birding experience!