Critter News

SEPTEMBER 2, 2011

Each year, up to 85,000 seals are killed in Namibia to make just a few dollars from their furs, when they would be worth so much more to the Namibian economy alive," said Claire Bass, WSPA International Oceans Campaign Leader. Excerpted from PR Newswire.

Seals 100

Seals WSPA World Society For The Protection Of Animals Namibia 100

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 11, 2012

Prime destinations for seeing African Elephant in the wild include Botswana, Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Uganda. Black Rhinos are best sought in South Africa, Namibia and Tanzania. Lions are most easily found in South Africa, Namibia, Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Rhinoceros 199

Rhinoceros Buffalo Leopards Elephants 199

10,000 Birds

MAY 4, 2023

Some birders from outside of Europe were quick to jump the train and show the very best of their countries, so we have quite detailed coverage of birding areas in e.g. little-visited Cuba or endemics-rich Namibia, as well as the well-known New Zealand. What is hiding in the future?

Europe 201

Europe Netherlands Namibia Cuba 201

10,000 Birds

MAY 27, 2015

Across the Chobe River from Kasane, overlooking the Caprivi Strip of Namibia. This fledgeling was trapped in the lobby, but we were able to guide it back outside. The family reunited in safety. Collared palm-thrushes are rather fine birds.

Mozambique 163

Mozambique Zambia Zimbabwe Namibia 163

10,000 Birds

JULY 10, 2012

Image by Adam Riley African Penguin Also known as the Jackass (from its braying call) or Black-footed Penguin, Africa’s only penguin is restricted to the cooler southern section of the continent, breeding at 25 offshore and 4 mainland colonies in South Africa and Namibia.

Endangered Species 187

Endangered Species Species Morocco South Africa 187

10,000 Birds

JULY 6, 2024

My wife and I had breakfast with Yellow-bellied Greenbul in Namibia. Like I said, the little [ expletive deleted yet again ]. Dissing Dad shouldn’t even be the sole reason to like common. They were ubiquitous, common and delightful. Undoubtedly a trash bird?

Lions 201

Lions Birds Namibia Portugal 201

Critter News

AUGUST 16, 2008

It will allow China to bid for more than 100 tonnes of ivory stockpiled in Botswana, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe through culling and natural deaths. The UN Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) meeting in Geneva voted in favour of China becoming a licensed importer.

Elephants 100

Elephants China Zimbabwe Namibia 100

10,000 Birds

JULY 9, 2013

People are often surprised that large predators kills smaller species but its actually a common phenomenon and I have previously seen a Leopard carrying a dead African Wild Cat at Punda Maria in Kruger National Park and Lions killing a Black-backed Jackal in Namibia’s Etosha National Park.

Leopards 162

Leopards Cats Namibia Botswana 162

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 10, 2016

Of those range states, opposed were South Africa, Namibia and, not surprisingly, Zimbabwe. Last month in Johannesburg, the vast majority of the elephant-range states (30) were for the up-listing and total ban on any international trade.

Elephants 183

Elephants Botswana Zimbabwe Africa 183

4 The Love Of Animals

JULY 11, 2011

Steve travels to Namibia, a land of rolling dunes, sand and plenty of dangerous wildlife. Monday, July 11 at 10PM ET/PT on Nat Geo WILD! Africa’s big cats are among the most iconic predators. Steve dons a camouflage suit for a once-in-a-lifetime experience that gets him closer to a wild leopard than he ever hoped.

Cats 100

Cats Leopards Namibia Lions 100

10,000 Birds

JUNE 3, 2015

Leaving from the border town of Kasane we meandered westwards along the northern edge of the massive Chobe National Park to our left and the far eastern tip of Namibia’s Caprivi Strip. I bring this up because birding the Chobe River in northern Botswana gave me the interesting opportunity to bird a country I technically wasn’t in.

Botswana 162

Botswana Lesotho Elephants Bald Eagle 162

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 12, 2017

Tourist-friendly, but no endemics, hence serious birders visit it for a few add-on days to a trip to neighbouring Namibia, recommendable for a casual birder/nature lover not on a tight budget. Since I used to live in and know Botswana, let’s see what the guide says on that country in one and a half pages. Well, I have to agree.

Africa 168

Africa Botswana Nigeria Namibia 168

10,000 Birds

MARCH 14, 2022

Birdlife South Africa has previously done two of these types of trips before, previously called Flock to Sea – Namibia in 2013 and Flock to Nowhere in 2017, in partnership with MSC Cruises. It is an extremely popular fundraising project with an almost cult-like following.

South Africa 263

South Africa Mice Albatross Africa 263

10,000 Birds

MARCH 2, 2011

Hes previously poked albatrosses with sticks in Hawaii, provided target practice for gulls in California, chased monkeys up and down hills Uganda, wrestled sharks in the Bahamas and played God with grasshopper genetics in Namibia. He came into studying birds rather later in life, and could quit any time he wants to. That is all.

New Zealand 174

New Zealand Albatross 2011 Cooking 174

10,000 Birds

MARCH 30, 2017

A few years back, I birded northern Greece with a couple from Namibia. Noisy wing beats, heavy landing behind the stern, water splashing everywhere and then, a hit of a heavy wing on my upper arm…. It had been a while since I saw Greater Flamingoes and was thrilled to see them again.

Birds 120

Birds Namibia Greece Feral 120

10,000 Birds

MARCH 16, 2011

Hes previously poked albatrosses with sticks in Hawaii, provided target practice for gulls in California, chased monkeys up and down hills Uganda, wrestled sharks in the Bahamas and played God with grasshopper genetics in Namibia. He came into studying birds rather later in life, and could quit any time he wants to.

New Zealand 144

New Zealand 2011 Deer Namibia 144

10,000 Birds

AUGUST 22, 2022

As the national bird of Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe, the African Fish Eagle is usually very busy whenever it stays in these countries, giving speeches, opening shopping centers, etc. Letaba is a largish rest camp in the North central part of the park. It is near a river, attracting some birds that like to eat wet food.

Zimbabwe 147

Zimbabwe Benin South Africa Birds 147

10,000 Birds

MARCH 5, 2017

In this treaty, the Germans ceded control over some of their colonial territories in East Africa to the British in return for the Caprivi Strip (now Namibia) and, surprise, the island of Heligoland.

Germany 100

Germany Denmark Namibia Breeding 100

10,000 Birds

MARCH 21, 2011

Where do you charge your batteries in Namibia’s Kaokoveld during a longer trip away from lodges and hotels? Where is your internet access along the upper reaches of the Rio Negro? How do you operate a tiny touch screen in -13°F with your numb fingers stuck in thick gloves?

Burkina Faso 156

Burkina Faso 2011 Deer Birds 156

10,000 Birds

MARCH 18, 2015

African Pygmy-goose ( Nettapus auritus ); Caprivi Strip, Namibia, 1 January. Long-tailed Cormorant, or Reed Cormorant ( Microcarbo africanus ); Caprivi Strip, Namibia, 2 January. African Darter ( Anhinga rufa ); Caprivi Strip, Namibia, 2 January. Hamerkop ( Scopus umbretta ); Caprivi Strip, Namibia, 1 January.

2015 177

2015 South Africa Botswana Singapore 177

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 9, 2012

Image by Adam Riley in Namibia. Image taken by Felicity Riley in Namibia. Image taken by Adam Riley in Namibia. Image taken in Namibia by Adam Riley. They both build large scruffy grass nests with side entrances, and are usually found in small flocks foraging for seeds in grassy areas of Acacia savanna.

Tanzania 218

Tanzania Buffalo Kenya Namibia 218

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 20, 2024

For number three we need to travel to Mahango Park in Namibia. This is a small and very interesting park in northern Namibia. Still, I have some stories of my own and you may find them amusing, or just a reason to say “ Peter, you idiot ” or learn how to avoid a similar fate.

Mozambique 215

Mozambique Ghana Namibia Birds 215

10,000 Birds

APRIL 9, 2013

A family of Red-faced Mousebirds take a drink in Namibia. Always occurring in family groups, they are fond of creeping about thick bushes and this habit, combined with their gray plumage, has coined their appropriately given name of mousebird. Image by Adam Riley. Wood Hoopoes.

Papua New Guinea 236

Papua New Guinea South Africa Africa Zimbabwe 236

10,000 Birds

JULY 19, 2018

401-600 sp: Honduras, Guatemala, Guyana, Suriname and French Guyana, Chile, Paraguay, Uruguay; the Sahel countries (Africa), Namibia and Botswana; Central Asian countries and Cambodia. Shown as a list, it looks like this: Less than 200 bird species: Antarctica; oceanic islands. 801-1000 sp. – 1201-1400 sp: Venezuela; China.

Equatorial Guinea 193

Equatorial Guinea Costa Rica Central African Republic Guyana 193

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 19, 2020

And so, back to political entities, this field guide covers Namibia , Botswana , Zimbabwe , the southern half of Mozambique (south of the Zambezi River), South Africa , Lesotho and Eswatini ( Swaziland ). Yet, unless you live in the region, you are likely to have a vague idea where the Zambezi flows and no idea where Kunene is.

Africa 264

Africa South Africa Swaziland Lesotho 264

10,000 Birds

MAY 28, 2014

There were opportunities to go to far flung places like the islands of the Pacific or the coast of Canada or the Yorkshire Dales… Anyway, as I was obsessed by Africa at the time, I leapt at the opportunity to go to Namibia to collect samples of bat DNA for a biogeography project.

Bats 154

Bats Vanuatu Birds Namibia 154

10,000 Birds

MARCH 9, 2011

Hes previously poked albatrosses with sticks in Hawaii, provided target practice for gulls in California, chased monkeys up and down hills Uganda, wrestled sharks in the Bahamas and played God with grasshopper genetics in Namibia. He came into studying birds rather later in life, and could quit any time he wants to.

New Zealand 148

New Zealand 2011 Deer Cats 148

10,000 Birds

NOVEMBER 7, 2023

Growing up in Namibia, South Africa, and Sri Lanka provided the perfect setting for this interest. By Luca Feuerriegel Family holidays to nature reserves and the abundance of nature books including bird guides at home paved the way for Luca to be a committed birder by the time he was in his early teens.

Sri Lanka 208

Sri Lanka Netherlands Namibia South Africa 208

10,000 Birds

OCTOBER 6, 2011

One of Africa’s unique birds, a Secretarybird photographed in Etosha National Park, Namibia The Cape Rockjumper belongs to an African endemic family comprising of 2 species Madagascar, oft termed the 8th continent, has her own attractions.

Papua New Guinea 216

Papua New Guinea Equatorial Guinea Madagascar Tanzania 216

10,000 Birds

APRIL 10, 2012

This image was taken in Namibia’s Erongo Mountains. Acacia Pied Barbet is a Southern African near-endemic and is replaced to the north by Miombo Pied Barbet, which is itself replaced further north by Red-fronted Barbet. Notice the attractive spotted flanks of this Spot-flanked Barbet. Image taken in Selous Game Reserve, Tanzania.

Ethiopia 228

Ethiopia Tanzania Uganda Africa 228

10,000 Birds

JANUARY 8, 2017

It is therefore only on my list because it used to be a bit of a nemesis for me during the 1980s and 1990s, and I only ever saw it once in Namibia in 1999. I grabbed my binoculars and ran to the window but to no avail: the bird neither showed itself nor called again. Great Bustard , Havelland, Germany.

2016 101

2016 Germany Italy Netherlands 101

10,000 Birds

DECEMBER 8, 2022

Strangely, the Latin name of the Hair-crested Drongo is Dicrurus hottentottus – Hottentot is a name previously given to the Khoikhoi, a nomad pastoral people of Namibia and South Africa, far away from where this drongo lives.

Eggs 203

Eggs Birds Bangladesh China 203