Mashatu, A Birding Haven

When one thinks of Mashatu, they think leopards, lion, elephant and cheetah! Its time to officially add birds to your list of highlights at Mashatu. Not only are the birds here so diverse they are extremely photogenic. Perched on almost every dead Mopane stump you are bound to find a rainbow coloured Lilac-breasted roller or perhaps on of the 6 different species of bee-eaters that have been recorded on the reserve.

Just the other day we decided to take the true test, we conducted our very own Birding Big Day at Mashatu, with one team of three extremely keen birders setting out to every corners, crevice and biome on the reserve. The results… astounding! In one day we managed to record 140 different species of birds on the reserve. Included in the list where some very special sightings that where the highlights of the day, these included: Osprey, Grey Tit-flycatcher, Barred Owlet, Greater Painted-snipe, Horus Swift, Kittlit’s Plover, Blue-cheecked Bee-eater, Hottentot Teal and Three-banded Courser to name a few.

April is the month of transition for the birds of Mashatu, with the majority of the migrant species beginning their journey north to warmer regions, as winter sets in here. For now however, we still have the shrill of the Monotonous Lark tweeting away when driving through the bush, once that disappears we know winter has arrived for certain.