Cool new Hawkmoth

A couple of cool new moths today plus some others not yet identified. Awesome looking Hawk!

Chrysopoloma pallens, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Acanthosphinx guessfeldtii, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Grey Plovers - yesterday

Due to a lightning related power cut I didn't have time to write up my blog last night.

I started the morning with a customary check for moths and came up a couple of new species on the security guards hut at the entrance to camp.

Dichocrocis polystidzalis, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Anaphosia cyanogramma, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

I headed straight out to the tailings as usual stopping to photograph a single Sand Martin perched on wires with large numbers of Barn Swallow. There was the usual assortment of waders and waterbirds but three Southern Pochard were the first returning for the wet season. A small flock of seven White-winged Tern were flying around and I thought I could hear Grey Plover calling. Sure enough I picked up two birds in flight and they landed for scope views. Another new species for the site but not wholly unexpected.

Sand Martin, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Southern Pochard, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

White-winged Tern, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Back in the camp I started with a very approachable Red-eyed Dove, a bit strange as they're normally timid and then, on the walls of one the accommodation blocks, found a fine new moth.

Red-eyed Dove, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Hampsonita esmeralda, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

After a failed attempt to pull in a calling African Broadbill I stopped to enjoy the Pelican flock wheeling low overhead in bright blue skies whilst nearby a Red-backed Shrike posed on top of a small tree.

Great White Pelican, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Red-backed Shrike, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

The Boehm's Flycatchers were still feeding young in the next but I expect to see fledgelings next week. I also found a Miombo Tit nest hidden behind a piece of loose bark and saw a brief Cabanis's Bunting. In the long grass there was a new Noctuid, surprisingly active in the daytime.

Boehm's Flycatcher, Sakania, DR Congo

Chaetostephana rendalli, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

I found a beautiful pair of butterflies happily chewing on some shit in the track a bit further on. I had no idea what they were and after going through my references in the evening I still had no clue but thankfully I got some assistance from a Flick ID help group and now I have a name.

Spotted Lilac Tree Nymph (Sevenia pechueli rhodesiana), Frontier Mine, DR Congo

One of the big gaps on my photo list are Cuckoos, they're hard to see and even harder to approach. I've made a conscious effort this rainy season to try and get some shots and when I heard a Black Cuckoo call not to far off I set my iPod to work. The bird came in quickly and landed in a nearby tall tree and began to sing enthusiastically. With a fair bit of careful creeping I finally got into position and managed to fire off a few shots through the swaying branches.

Black Cuckoo, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

The dambo had good numbers of waterbirds and a little more water at last. Three Sacred Ibis, two Woolly-necked Stork and five White-faced Whistling-Duck were the best birds. Four of the male Kudus were present and I fired off a headless shot of the upperwing of a female Bateleur.

Greater Kudu, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

female Bateleur, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

In the late afternoon I tried a different patch of woodland on site but failed to find anything of great note. Some responsive Greencap Eremomelas came in for best ever photos but despite getting a Red-chested Cuckoo to come into playback he remained obstinately unphotographable despite some stall speed tantalising flypasts - another time for that one.

Greencap Eremomela, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

With gathering thunderstorms I finished off the day on the causeway in the tailings watching the various herons, egrets and storks coming in to roost. Quite a sight as birds were obviously arriving from further afield than the local dambos. I estimated 300-400 Cattle Egrets and must go back soon to try to do a proper count.

Birds and thunderstorms

With the rainy season well and truly arrived I headed out after lunch following yet another brief downpour. Lots of winged ants were hatching out which often creates feeding frenzies. I was hoping for an improvement in the light but ominous grumbles of thunder indicated it probably wouldn't be long before another storm rolled in. It was very much birding from the vehicle in order to cover as much ground as possible. First of all I came upon a group of Impala with a few youngsters.

Imapala, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

An adult Martial Eagle flying over was a good record for the site, only the second ever of an adult. Next I flushed a pair of African Hoopoe from the side of the road and fortunately one landed nearby in a tree. It's a shy species locally and one I rarely photograph.

African Hoopoe, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

As lightening crackled close by I found a rather bemused looking Senegal Coucal perched up. Locally known as the 'rain bird' it was pretty apt as spots began to fall. This is only the second time I've seen this species here but as it was in the same spot I suspect it's the same individual.

Senegal Coucal, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Driving around in the rain actually proved profitable as I found several perched raptors more approachable than usual and unwilling to fly in the wet conditions. This included a fine female Bateleur and the breeding pair of Wahlberg's Eagle.

female Bateleur, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Wahlberg's Eagle, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Wahlberg's Eagle, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

After the rain stopped I surprised a group of three Southern Reedbuck well away from the dambo where they usually frequent and I took a photograph of a young male before they scarpered into the bush.

Souther Reedbuck, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

On the way back home I stopped for a pretty male Namaqua Dove, although the razor wire spoils the photo and back at the house an approachable Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove was sitting in a tree in good light showing off the emerald spots for once.

male Namaqua Dove, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

A walk along the dambo did not yield too much apart from exceptional numbers of Great White Pelican, I think 63 of them breaking the previous site record of 20. Goodness knows what they find to eat as there isn't much water or fish left I think.

Great White Pelican, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

New moth subfamily (for me)

Chrysopoloma restricta, Frontier Mine, Dr Congo

A new subfamily for me (Chrysopolominae), a very large and distinctive Limacodid, distinctive that is once I'd tracked it down in the available literature.

Camerunia flava, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

 Cool moth and a new genus for me.

Chrysotypus dawsoni, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

An enormous Thyridid, biggest I've seen by a mile.

Phryganopsis angulifascia, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

And a small and understated Arctiinae to finish.

Rains and moths

After what seems like an eternal build up the rains seem to have finally arrived, better late than never I guess. Moth numbers have been steadily declining since the short, early rains three weeks previous so hopefully the downpours of the last two days will now see the main influx appearing fairly soon. The flow of new species is fairly easy to deal with currently in terms of ID but I'm steering well clear of Noctuids or anything else that looks remotely tricky! Here's a selection of a few new ones from the last few days.

Phiala simplex, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Polyptychus coryndoni, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Trimetopia aetheraria, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Antheua simplex (white form), Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Mentaxya albifrons, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

More juveniles

After yesterdays lone Sand Martin I was surprised to find at least ten with Barn Swallows over the Tailings just after dawn. Also on the Tailings were single White-winged Tern and Grey-headed Gull and the usual assortment of waders whilst a Sedge Warbler was singing somewhere in the distance. The Black-winged Stilt was not sitting and I was a bit worried the nest had been predated so I went to take a look, I found three eggs much to the consternation of about 20 Stilts so I beat a hasty retreat to leave them to it.

Hamerkop, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Black-winged Stilt, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

It was another good day for evidence of breeding in the woodlands around camp with recently fledged Brown-hooded Kingfisher and Greencap Eremomela seen and photographed.

juvenile Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

adult and juvenile Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

juvenile Greencap Eremomela, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Good birds which I infrequently observe included Reichard's Seedeater and Levaillant's Cuckoo. The former scarpered before I could fire off a shot and the latter was difficult to get a clear line of sight too and photos were somewhat disappointing. I was more pleased with my first decent shot of a Green Woodhoopoe as well as upgrades to my existing Rufous-bellied Tit, Brubru, Meyer's Parrot and Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird amongst others.

Rufous-bellied Tit, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Brubru, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Meyer's Parrot, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Levaillant's Cuckoo, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Green Woodhoopoe, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

female Chinspot Batis, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

male Yellow-bellied Hyliota, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

The rest of the walk around the dambo proved fairly quiet, most of the waterbirds from the previous afternoon were still present with another Sand Martin noted. Two herds of Kudu were visible, the usual five bulls and a group of ten females and well grown (probably last years) calves. I rarely see this group so it was a surprise to see them in open ground in the middle of the day. They were very skittish compared to the bulls who are now as used to me as I am to them I think. Fruiting trees near the camp were alive with birds including a couple of Garden Warblers, the heat of the day wasn't the best of times though so I made a mental note to return late in the afternoon.

Greater Kudu, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

I headed out again mid-afternoon with the intention of looking again for Thursday's Lesser Kestrel. It was a bit of a forlorn hope and despite checking a few decent areas as well as the original spot I came up blank. Some showy and approachable Barn Swallow posed for photos and I also managed my best shots thus far of Broad-billed Roller but nothing of real note was seen.

Barn Swallow, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Broad-billed Roller, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

Back at the camp dambo the late afternoon light was stunning with the sun now low in the sky lighting up heavy black clouds, I was searching furiously for something to turn my lens on but even the fruiting trees, busy at midday, were now quiet. Eventually I stumbled on a couple of Banded Snake-Eagles perched in a low dead tree but even they were more into the light than lit by it. One was an adult and the other appeared to be a scruffy younger bird, perhaps last years offspring surprisingly not yet given the boot.

adult Banded Snake-Eagle, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

immature Banded Snake-Eagle, Frontier Mine, DR Congo

I headed back to the tailings in a last ditch attempt to use the light to my advantage but arrived too late as the sun ducked behind a thunder cloud and the light died instantly. I sat and watched lightning all around as the wind whipped up thick clouds of dust. The rain still failed to come however. Four Marabous dropped in for the night and as I left the Saddle-billed Storks came in to roost for the night.