What’s your favourite fowl species?
Rockrunner, a Namibian close to endemic
What’s your title, and the place do you reside?
Nick Buys. residing in Windhoek, Namibia
What are the primary areas or areas you cowl as a fowl information?
I primarily information in Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and South Africa but additionally East Africa
How lengthy have you ever been a fowl information?
14 years
How did you get into fowl guiding?
Having grown up within the African bush I used to be at all times uncovered to birds and different wildlife and once I was requested to assist out with a day journey in Namibia’s Zambezi area I actually loved displaying purchasers the specials and goal birds and it simply took off from there.
What are the facets of being a fowl information that you simply like greatest? Which facets do you dislike most?
I like discovering a particular goal fowl or sharing a milestone second with a consumer. Most of our birding suggestions are tailored or non-public so we get to know the purchasers very effectively and so they at all times depart as associates. Probably not any half I don’t like.
What are the highest 5-10 birds in your area that you simply assume are probably the most attention-grabbing 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 not less than one typical birdwatching journey in your space? Please briefly describe the areas, the important thing birds, and the approximate period of such a visit
Our fundamental 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 Night time-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 ingesting
The Zambezi River (Namibian aspect) – Racket-tailed Curler, Yellow-throated Leaf-love, Shelley’s Sunbird, Trumpeter Hornbill, Luapula Cisticola, Rufous-bellied Heron. Different nightlights embody a day journey by way of Chobe Nationwide Park with sightings of untamed canines, lions, and elephants
The Okavango River with a mix of each the Namibia aspect 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 sport 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, Better Kestrel, Pink-billed Lark, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Double-banded Courser, Rufous-eared Warbler. Etosha is among the nice sport 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 at all times 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, Better and Lesser Flamingo. Huge sand dunes, shipwrecks, and exquisite Atlantic sunsets are a spotlight.
What different solutions are you able to give to birders inquisitive about your space?
This journey might be finished year-round. In the summertime all of the migrants are round and in winter the mammals are implausible. Good tip for households and non-birding companions with so many different points of interest to see.
Etosha Surroundings
If any reader of 10,000 Birds is inquisitive about birding with you, how can they greatest contact you?
They’re welcome to take a look at our web site www.naturetravelbirding.com and get in touch with me through e-mail at nick@naturetravelbirding.com
