Southern Malawi header: Lilian's Lovebirds

Systemmatic list - part 27: Weavers, Queleas and Bishops

 

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver Plocepasser mahali [>90]

2 near Cape Maclear 18th, 9 between Cape Maclear and Mangochi 19th and up to c80 Liwonde 25th-27th.

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White-browed Sparrow-Weaver, Liwonde, 25th May 2011

 

Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps [1]

1 Lengwe 21st, a female-type bird.

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Red-headed Weaver, Lengwe, 21st May 2011

 

Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis [12]

Seen at several locations:

2 Malosa 14th, 2 Zomba Plateau 16th and 17th, 1 Lengwe 21st, 2 Dzalanyama 23rd and 24th and 1 Liwonde 27th.

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Spectacled Weavers, Zomba Plateau, 17th May 2011 (left) and Lengwe, 21st May 2011 (right)

 

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Spectacled Weaver, Liwonde, 27th May 2011

 

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Spectacled Weaver, Dzalanyama, 23rd May 2011

 

Southern Brown-throated Weaver Ploceus xanthopterus [20]

Up to c20 daily at Liwonde 25th-27th. These were very easy to see around Mvuu Camp, even visiting the tables and chairs at the restaurant to find crumbs after the paying guests had finished eating!

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Southern Brown-throated Weavers, Liwonde, 26th May 2011

 

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Southern Brown-throated Weavers, Liwonde, 27th May 2011

 

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Southern Brown-throated Weavers, Liwonde, 25th May 2011 - I'm happy with the ID of the lower one but I'm not completely sure about the upper bird shown here - there were also Lesser Masked Weavers Ploceus intermedius at this location during my 2008 visit and this individual seems to have duller wings (lacking the broad bright tertial fringes compared to the birds above, for example) - let me know what you think!

 

Weaver sp. Ploceus sp. [-]

2 unidentified Weavers were seen at Lengwe 21st but were certainly not any of the above species. Although most weavers at Liwonde appeared to be Southern Brown-throated, a minority were suspected as being something else.

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unidentified Weaver, Lengwe, 21st May 2011 - if you are able to identify this I'd be interested to hear from you!

 

Forest Weaver (Dark-backed Weaver) Ploceus bicolor [4]

Up to 4 in John Wilson's garden at Zomba 15th and 17th.

 

Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea [c100]

A flock of c100 birds at Lengwe 21st consisted mostly of this species; also 2-3 away from this flock.

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Red-billed Queleas, Lengwe, 21st May 2011

 

Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix [50+]

A flock of c50 Lake Chilwa 15th. In addition, flocks of up to about 20 female-type Bishops were seen at Lengwe 20th-21st thought most likely to be this species, as were 2-3 Zomba Platuea 16th.

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Southern Red Bishops, Lake Chilwa, 15th May 2011

 

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possible Southern Red Bishops, Lengwe, 20th May 2011 - I thought these looked best for Southern Red but if so then why were none of the flock breeding plumage males whereas 5 days earlier at Chilwa there were several males in breeding plumage - comments welcome!

 

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possible Southern Red Bishops, Lengwe, 21st May 2011 - see previous comment - opinions welcome!

 

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possible Southern Red Bishop, Zomba Plateau, 16th May 2011

 

Yellow Bishop (Yellow-rumped Bishop) Euplectes capensis [3]

1 Zomba Plateau 16th and 2 flew across the road between Malosa and Blantyre 28th.

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Yellow Bishop, Zomba Plateau, 16th May 2011

 

Red-collared Widowbird (Red-collared Whydah) Euplectes ardens [1]

1 Dzalanyama 23rd, in the dambo with a Broad-tailed Paradise-Whydah.

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Red-collared Widowbird, Dzalanyama, 23rd May 2011

 

 

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