EREMOMELA BIRDING

MUKUVISI WOODLANDS, ZIMBABWE

The Mukuvisi Woodlands are in Harare and thus are readily accessible to all birders visiting Harare. It is 270ha in extent and is predominantly Miombo woodland. At the main entrance there is a nominal entrance fee and there is also a public walk area that may be entered free of charge. This is the area I have visited five times and thus will be concentrating on this area.

My first three visits were during April of 1994. Streaky-headed canaries abound, and also black and Miombo double-collared sunbirds, tropical boubou and yellow white-eye. In birds parties I saw lesser blue-eared starling, African golden oriole, Sterling's barred warbler and black cuckoo-shrike. Then there are the really exciting species: Miombo rock thrush (one male), golden-backed pytilia (one highly active group), white-breasted cuckooshrike (seen twice), spotted creeper (seen twice in bird parties) and Whyte's barbet (seen twice).

My next two visits were during July 1995. Once again streak-yheaded canaries, black and Miombo double-collared sunbird and yellow white-eye were common. In bird parties I saw Sterling's barred warbler, mouse-coloured flycatcher, lesser blue-eared starling and bearded woodpecker. Swallow-tailed bee-eater, and yellowrumped widows were surprises. Then there were the specials again: Whyte's barbet (feeding in a common coral tree Erythrina lysistemon), red-faced crombec (a pair in a bird party, easily distinguished from long-billed crombec by its distinctly different contact call), green-capped eromomela (groups in bird parties, easily called up), slender-billed honeyguide (a pair in a bird party), Northern grey tits (in bird parties) and spotted creeper (in a bird party).

On three visits of about two hours each I have managed to locate most Miombo specials and about 75 species. There is also a good chance of seeing pennant-winged nightjar during the summer months.

To people visiting Mukuvisi my advice would be to walk and listen and try to locate a bird party. Spend about one hour in the party - even when you think you have seen it all, you probably haven't!