What’s your favourite hen species?
Rockrunner, a Namibian close to endemic
What’s your title, and the place do you reside?
Nick Buys. dwelling in Windhoek, Namibia
What are the primary areas or places you cowl as a hen information?
I primarily information in Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and South Africa but additionally East Africa
How lengthy have you ever been a hen information?
14 years
How did you get into hen guiding?
Having grown up within the African bush I used to be all the time uncovered to birds and different wildlife and after I was requested to assist out with a day journey in Namibia’s Zambezi area I actually loved displaying shoppers the specials and goal birds and it simply took off from there.
What are the elements of being a hen information that you just like finest? Which elements do you dislike most?
I really like discovering a particular goal hen or sharing a milestone second with a consumer. Most of our birding suggestions are tailored or non-public so we get to know the shoppers very properly they usually all the time go away as mates. Not likely any half I don’t like.
What are the highest 5-10 birds in your area that you just assume are essentially the most fascinating for visiting birders?
Pel’s Fishing-Owl, Dune Lark, Monteiro’s Hornbill, Ruppell’s Korhaan, Kori Bustard, African Skimmer, Rockrunner, Hartlaub’s Spurfowl, Ruppell’s Parrot, Herero Chat and Slaty Egret
Dune Lark
Are you able to define at the least one typical birdwatching journey in your space? Please briefly describe the places, the important thing birds, and the approximate period of such a visit
Our major and hottest tour is our Namibia, Botswana, and Victoria Falls (Zambia) tour which is a 14-day tour:
Victoria Falls – Schalow’s Turaco, Rock Pratincole, White-backed Evening-Heron, African Skimmer, White-browed Coucal, Collared Palm-Thrush and Bearded Scrub-Robin. Different highlights embody visiting the mighty Victoria Falls (one of many 7 wonders of the world) and a sundowner boat cruise on the Zambezi River with herds of Elephant and Buffalo consuming
The Zambezi River (Namibian facet) – Racket-tailed Curler, Yellow-throated Leaf-love, Shelley’s Sunbird, Trumpeter Hornbill, Luapula Cisticola, Rufous-bellied Heron. Different nightlights embody a day journey via Chobe Nationwide Park with sightings of untamed canine, lions, and elephants
The Okavango River with a mixture of each the Namibia facet and the Panhandle in Botswana – Pel’s Fishing Owl, Black-faced Babbler, Chirping Cisticola, Southern Brown-throated Weaver, Coppery-tailed Coucal, Brown Firefinch Lesser Jacana, African Pygmy-Goose. Different highlights embody recreation viewing in Bwabwata Nationwide Park with loads of hippos, crocodiles, cape buffalo, elephants, sable, roan, and Tsessebe.
Pel’s Fishing Owl
Etosha Nationwide Park – Kori Bustard, Northern Black Korhaan, Southern White-faced Owl, Frequent Ostrich, Larger Kestrel, Pink-billed Lark, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Double-banded Courser, Rufous-eared Warbler. Etosha is without doubt one of the nice recreation reserves in Africa with unimaginable wildlife viewing together with Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Black Rhino, White Rhino, Elephant, and Noticed Hyena.
Damaraland – Burchell’s Courser, Ruppell’s Parrot, Violet Woodhoopoe, Carp’s Tit, Namaqua Sandgrouse, Herero Chat and Naked-cheeked Babbler. Seeing the desert-adapted Elephants is all the time a spotlight.
Ruppell’s Parrot
Erongo Mountains – true endemic hotspot with Rockrunner, White-tailed Shrike, Rosy-faced Lovebird, Hartlaub’s Spurfowl, Damara Crimson-billed Hornbill, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Mountain Wheatear, and mammals comparable to Black Mongoose, Dassie Rat, Klipspringer and Rock Hyrax.
Hartlaub’s Spurfowl
We end on the Skeleton Coast with Dune Lark, Grey’s Lark, Damara Tern, Larger and Lesser Flamingo. Large sand dunes, shipwrecks, and delightful Atlantic sunsets are a spotlight.
What different recommendations are you able to give to birders taken with your space?
This journey will be performed year-round. In the summertime all of the migrants are round and in winter the mammals are incredible. Excellent tip for households and non-birding companions with so many different sights to see.
Etosha Surroundings
If any reader of 10,000 Birds is taken with birding with you, how can they finest contact you?
They’re welcome to take a look at our web site www.naturetravelbirding.com and phone me through e mail at nick@naturetravelbirding.com
