Sighting:  Amazing aerial displays at Chelinda
Location:  Chelinda Camp, Nyika National Park, Malawi
Date:  March 2010
Observer: Dana Allen
Photographer: Dana Allen

The open grassland habitat surrounding Chelinda Camp is an ideal display ground for a plethora or raptorial birds like falcons, buzzards, eagles, kites and harriers. While on a photo trip to Chelinda Camp in late March we took the opportunity to photograph some of these over the few days we were there.

A termite emergence out on the grasslands brought a host of lesser kestrels into range and we managed to get pics of a finely barred female (see at left with beetle prey) and a more dapper male with his handsome grey cap and rusty underparts. Weaving in amongst these European migrants was a handful of Eurasian hobbies that also swooped in on the termites and fed while on the wing. On occasion these birds can be seen in large migratory flocks here and their aerial displays and impressive speed and maneuverability delight observers.

Like the ubiquitous black kite, the harriers – we saw mainly Montagu’s – are impressive in a different sense with their buoyancy and slow control low over grassland their special skill. One male plucked an unidentified chameleon from a low bush and flew past us with the poor reptile wriggling in its talons.

Less maneuverable and more prone to soaring are a suite of buzzard species that we managed to observe on the edge of the pine plantation at Chelinda itself. The steppe buzzard is a common summer migrant, while the honey buzzard is an enigmatic and less commonly seen visitor from Europe. The augur buzzard, resplendent with its white breast contrasting with charcoal upperparts and a rusty vent, is a year round resident. We even recorded the less common melanistic form with its all black underparts.