South Africa/NC: Birds of the Khalagadi Transfrontier Park
For an inhospitable desert environment that is the Khalagadi Transftontier Park, birdlife here is remarkably diverse – over 300 recorded species. There are plenty of raptors, starting with large raptors – like Pale Chanting Goshawks, Tawny Eagles, Black-chested Snake Eagles, Yellow-billed Kites, and Bateleurs; to small raptors – like Pygmy and Lanner Falcons and Southern White-crowned Shrikes; to vultures – White-backed, Lappet-faced, and Hooded. Beyond raptors, the Kgalagadi is home to a variety of terrestrial species – like ground-dwelling birds Kori Bustards, Northern Black Korhaans, and Ostriches, that thrive in the open desert and riverbed savannas, blending into the golden grasses. Another interesting species we saw were many Burchell’s Sandgrouse that can be seen gathering at waterholes, their specially adapted feathers soaking up water to carry back to their chicks. Then of course there are huge amount of endemic Sociable Weavers, famous for its massive communal nests, as well as similarly-sized Scaly-feathered Finches, Yellow Canaries, and other “dinky” birds like warblers, babblers, larks. . We also saw two owl species – Spotted Eagle-Owl and the Barn Owl, as well as Nightjars. Endemic Namaqua doves were beautiful as were the Swallow-tailed beeeater
