We have just completed the latest EcoTraining Advanced Birding Course held in Mashatu Game Reserve in Botswana. Although the birding was excellent throughout the course, we experienced one day filled with mammal encounters. We witnessed a leopard kill, a sighting of four cheetahs and too many elephants to count. These were a few highlights over and above the many smaller animals we were fortunate to encounter on our drive.
The birding highlights were equally enthralling as we managed to spot the Namaqua Sandgrouse, Ovambo Sparrowhawk, Horus Swift, Southern Pied Babbler, Kalahari Scrub Robin, Barred Wren Warbler and many others.
My personal best sighting was a pair of Verreaux’s Eagles spotted on the aptly named Verreaux’s Ridge. The female caught a Rock Hyrax right in front of us with the utmost ease and then proceeded to take it down to her nest after their share of the feed.
While she was doing this, a Spotted Hyaena in search of food appeared on the top of the cliff nearby the nest. The male eagle then swooped down and almost bulldozed the Hyaena off the cliff. The startled hyaena then ran off to nurse its wounded ego.
Click here for more information about our upcoming Birding in the Bush courses or Advanced Birding courses or email our Sales department directly at [email protected]
