Woodlands North West of Kolwezi

Rebecca and I headed out north west of Kolwezi for a bit of birding, relaxing and exploration. We followed the main road westwards out of Kolwezi and then north past the Kanzenze turnoff. Soon after the 50 km peg, we pulled off into some interesting woodland, parked the car and had a look around. The original flora of this area would have been a rich mosaic of Evergreen Forest and Miombo Woodland. The forest canopy (of perhaps only a few years ago) would have stretched over a much larger area. However, today it is being logged at an alarming rate and has been reduced to a few relict patches. The logging is mostly of a subsistence nature and has left numerous roads which facilitate access for birders too. The difficult part is to find the patches as wherever there is a road, there is no longer a forest. More worrying are the rampant fires started by local farmers which further degrade the forest. Despite the logging and disturbance, the area still supports some interesting birdlife. Typical Zambeizan species dominate the site, but interestingly, there are still elements of the Guinea Congo forests as well.

It was just after 7 a.m. when we arrived and as we turned off the engine, we realised that a large group of Crested Guineafowl were feeding noisily in the scrub right next to the car. After they had moved away (and we still had not managed a great sighting), we ventured out of the car and further along the path on foot. We arrived at a small fragmented patch of forest and were met by a small flock of Cabanis's Greenbul and a pair of Chestnut Wattle-eye. In some of the denser thicket, a Red-tailed Bristlebill and African Broadbill called. Numerous Large False Mopane (Guibourtia coleasperma) were in full seed attracting birds and decorating the pathway. The canopy produced a very shy flash of red in the form of a Shallow's Turaco and a small group of Buff-throated Apalis. Other species in a mixed flock included Dark-backed Weaver, Black Cuckoo-shrike, Brubru, Black-backed Puffback, African Golden Oriole, Olive Sunbird, Honeyguide Greenbul and the ubiquitous Little Greenbul. High above a Western Banded Snake Eagle started to call. An African Goshawk caused quite a bit of stress while a distant Western Bronze-naped Pigeon called.

Leaving the forest patch we walked back into the woodland. This time of year, the woodland can be very quiet unless you chance upon a mixed flock working their way through the canopy. It was not long before we heard the distinctive call and then flyby of a Thick-billed Cuckoo, that was followed by a feeding group of Blue-Grey Flycatcher and a pair of Margaret's Batis.

In the next few hours we encountered a few mixed flocks which were typically dominated by species such as Green-capped and Black-throated Eremomela, Yellow White-Eye, Chin-spot Batis, Rufous-bellied Tit, Cabanis's Bunting, Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Red-capped Crombec, White-breasted Cuckoo-shrike and Pale-billed and Crowned Hornbills. Other species of interest included Spotted Creeper, Bohm's and Dusky Flycatchers, Pale Wren Warbler, Violet-backed Sunbird, Green-backed Woodpecker, Purple-banded Sunbird and Scimitarbill. By now the 'moisture flies' were finding us quite attractive in their thousands and we had little choice but to head back to the sanctuary of the car.

It was now hot and bird movement was slow. We decided to head back to Kolwezi. Stopping at an attractive bit of grassland we managed to find a small group of Tinkling Cisticola, a Flappet Lark a few flocks of Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah (in attractive 'dress code') and an African Marsh Harrier. The route home produced a magnificent Bateleur and a flash of a Shikra.


All in all an excellent day in the woodlands north west of Kolwezi.