7-9 Sep 2019: Dzalanyama Forest Reserve

Situated 58 km south-west of Lilongwe along the Mozambique border, Dzalanyama is one of the premier birding sites in Malawi. The Dzalanyama Forest Lodge, where we camped for two nights, was used as a base to explore the miombo forests and dambos of the region. Frackson, the lodge manager, is also the local birding guide and helped tremendously to find all the specials of the area.

Dzalanyama

Grey-olive Greenbul, Dzalanyama

Miombo birding can be very frustrating, and this was no exception. One can walk in the forest for hours without finding any activity until you come across a bird party. Then usually the action becomes fast and furious, with various species popping up at the same time. One such a mixed-species foraging flock delivered Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Black-eared Seedeater, Böhm’s Flycatcher, Miombo Scrub Robin, Reichard’s Seedeater, Red-capped Crombec, Stierling’s Wren Warbler, White-breasted Cuckooshrike and White-tailed Blue Flycatcher. We worked very hard to find Stierling’s Woodpecker, which we only tracked down in the late morning of the second day. New species for the year list also included Pale-billed Hornbill, Anchieta’s Sunbird, Rufous-bellied Tit, Violet-backed Sunbird and Grey-Olive Greenbul. On one of the granite outcrops a pair of Boulder Chats posed for photos.

Pale-billed Hornbill, Dzalanyama

Striped Pipit, Dzalanyama

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