Systemmatic list - part 3: Hamerkop, Herons and Ibises
Hamerkop Scopus umbretta [19+]
One or two seen in many places, often while driving:
1 between Blantyre and Zomba 14th, 2 between Malosa and Chilwa and 4 Lake Chilwa 15th, c4 around Cape Clear/Otter Point 18th-19th, 2 between Mangochi and Malosa and 2 Blantyre 19th, singles Liwonde 25th & 26th and 2 between Malosa and Blantyre 28th.
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Hamerkop, Lake Chilwa, 15th May 2011
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Hamerkops, Cape Maclear, 18th May 2011
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Hamerkop, Liwonde, 25th May 2011
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Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus [1]
1 Liwonde 26th - a female-type that quickly disappeared into the reeds.
Although the nominate Palaearctic race does occur in Malawi, this bird, with its rich russet neck visible even in this poor photo, belonged to the locally breeding race payesii.
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Little Bittern, Liwonde, 26th May 2011
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Grey Heron Ardea cinerea [4+]
2+ Lake Chilwa 15th and singles Liwonde 26th and 27th.
Birds in Malawi and most of Africa belong to the racecinerea, the same as in Europe.
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Grey Heron, Lake Chilwa, 15th May 2011
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Grey Heron, Liwonde, 26th May 2011
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Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala [17]
Ones and twos at several locations:
1 Lake Chilwa 15th, c6 Liwonde Highway 17th, 2 between Blantyre and Lengwe 20th, 2 between Blantyre and Lilongwe 22nd, 1 Chongoni 24th, 2 Dedza 25th, 2 Blantyre Airport and 1 Johannesburg Airport 28th.
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Black-headed Herons, Dedza, 25th May 2011
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Purple Heron Ardea purpurea [4+]
2+ Lake Chilwa 15th and 2 Liwonde 27th.
Birds in continental Africa belong to the race purpurea, the same as in Europe.
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Purple Heron, Lake Chilwa, 15th May 2011
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Purple Heron, Liwonde, 27th May 2011
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Great White Egret Ardea alba [4+]
1 Lake Chilwa 15th and 3 Liwonde on each day 25th-27th.
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Great White Egret, Lake Chilwa, 15th May 2011
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Great White Egrets, Liwonde, 26th May 2011
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Little Egret Egretta garzetta [9]
Fairly common:
4 Lake Chilwa 15th, 1 Otter Point 18th, 2 Cape Maclear 19th and 2 Liwonde 26th.
Black Heron (Black Egret) Egretta ardesiaca [1]
Just 1 seen this time, in flight at Liwonde 27th.
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Black Heron, Liwonde, 27th May 2011
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Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis [>300]
Easily the most numerous heron seen, though only within the Shire valley:
40+ near Lake Malombe 18th, 12 Cape Maclear 18th-19th, 90 between Cape Maclear and Mangochi 19th, 120+ between Blantyre and Lengwe 20th-21st and up to 40 Liwonde 25th-27th.
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Cattle Egret, Nyala Park entrance, 21st May 2011
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Cattle Egret, Liwonde, 26th May 2011
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Cattle Egrets, Cape Maclear, 18th May 2011
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Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides [c20]
Common at Lake Chilwa and Liwonde:
10+ Lake Chilwa 15th, 1 Mangochi 19th, 3-6 Liwonde 25th-27th and 1 Liwonde town 27th.
Birds breeding in Africa belong to the race paludivaga but this is hardly distinct from the Palaearctic race ralloides which winters in Africa but has not been confirmed in Malawi.
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Squacco Herons, Lake Chilwa, 15th May 2011
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Squacco Herons, Liwonde, 26th May 2011
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Striated Heron (Green-backed Heron) Butorides striata [2-3]
At Liwonde 1 26th and 2 27th.
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Striated Heron, Liwonde, 27th May 2011
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Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax [8]
3 Liwonde 27th.
Birds here and elsewhere in Africa belong to the race nycticorax, the same as in Europe.
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Black-crowned Night Heron, Liwonde, 27th May 2011
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Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus [1]
1 Liwonde 26th - only seen in flight this time.
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Sacred Ibises, Liwonde, 24th September
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Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash [30+]
Up to 24 Johannesburg Airport 15th and 28th, up to 6 Liwonde 25th-27th.
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Hadada Ibises, Liwonde, 27th (left) and 26th (right) May 2011
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