Systemmatic list - part 4: Raptors (1)
Osprey Pandion haliaetus [1]
1 Liwonde 26th and 27th. Although this species is primarily a migrant and winter visitor from the Palaearctic, a few do over-summer regularly in Malawi.
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Osprey, Liwonde, 27th May 2011
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African Cuckoo-Hawk Aviceda cuculoides [1]
I took a few quick shots of an interesting-looking raptor flying away from us at Liwonde on 27th - they're not good, but I think they show this species - let me know if you agree or disagree!
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African Cuckoo-Hawk, 27th May 2011
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Black-shouldered Kite (Black-winged Kite) Elanus caeruleus [3]
Ones and twos at a few places with evidence of breeding:
1 between Blantyre and Zomba 14th, 2 Lake Chilwa (nesting?) 15th, 1 entrance to Lengwe 21st, 1 between Blantyre and Lilongwe 22nd and 2 copulating Chongoni 25th.
Birds in Africa belong to the nominate race caeruleus, the same as in southern Europe.
African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer [22]
Common in the main wetland areas:
2 immature birds Lake Chilwa 15th, 1 between Malosa and Cape Maclear 15th, about 4 around Cape Maclear and Otter Point 18th, 7 between Cape Maclear and Mangochi 19th and up to 8 Liwonde 26th-27th.
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African Fish Eagles, Liwonde, 26th May 2011
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African Fish Eagles (with African Marsh Harrier), Lake Chilwa, 15th May 2011
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Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis [1]
1 Liwonde 25th.
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Palm-nut Vulture, Liwonde, 25th May 2011
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White-backed Vulture Gyps africamus [2-3]
1 Lengwe 20th and 2 there on 21st, including one sitting in a nest visible from the camp.
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White-backed Vulture, Lengwe, 21st May 2011
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White-backed Vulture, Lengwe, 20th May 2011
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Black-chested Snake-Eagle (Black-breasted Snake-Eagle) Circaetus pectoralis [3]
2 adults along the exit road from Cape Maclear on 19th followed by a juvenile between here and Mangochi the same day.
The latter stubbornly refused to fly and thus presented a significant identification challenge. I tentatively identified it as immature Western Banded Snake-Eagle, but Niall Perrin kindly got in touch suggesting it may in fact be juvenile Black-chested... and now I think he's probably right.
Western Banded Snake-Eagle Circaetus cinerascens [1]
1 Lengwe 20th.
Like the juvenile Snake-Eagle above this bird was similarly uncooperative when it came to flying and was also identified retrospectively from photos - thanks this time to some help from Duncan!
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Western Banded Snake-Eagle, Lengwe, 20th May 2011
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Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus [6]
Up to 5 Lengwe 20th-21st and 1 Liwonde 27th.
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Bateleurs, Lengwe, 20th May 2011
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Bateleur, Lengwe, 21st May 2011
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Bateleur, Lengwe, 21st May 2011
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Or here to return to the start of the sytemmatic list
