Bird Guides of the World: Nick Buys, Namibia

September 18, 2024
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What is your favorite bird species?

Rockrunner, a Namibian near endemic

What is your name, and where do you live?

Nick Buys. living in Windhoek, Namibia

What are the main regions or locations you cover as a bird guide?

I mainly guide in Namibia, Botswana, Zambia and South Africa but also East Africa

How long have you been a bird guide?

14 years

How did you get into bird guiding?

Having grown up in the African bush I was always exposed to birds and other wildlife and when I was asked to help out with a day trip in Namibia’s Zambezi region I really enjoyed showing clients the specials and target birds and it just took off from there.

What are the aspects of being a bird guide that you like best? Which aspects do you dislike most?

I love finding a specific target bird or sharing a milestone moment with a client. Most of our birding tips are tailor-made or private so we get to know the clients very well and they always leave as friends. Not really any part I don’t like.

What are the top 5-10 birds in your region that you think are the most interesting for visiting birders?

Pel’s Fishing-Owl, Dune Lark, Monteiro’s Hornbill, Ruppell’s Korhaan, Kori Bustard, African Skimmer, Rockrunner, Hartlaub’s Spurfowl, Ruppell’s Parrot, Herero Chat and Slaty Egret

Dune Lark

Can you outline at least one typical birdwatching trip in your area? Please briefly describe the locations, the key birds, and the approximate duration of such a trip

Our main and most popular tour is our Namibia, Botswana, and Victoria Falls (Zambia) tour which is a 14-day tour:

Victoria Falls – Schalow’s Turaco, Rock Pratincole, White-backed Night-Heron, African Skimmer, White-browed Coucal, Collared Palm-Thrush and Bearded Scrub-Robin. Other highlights include visiting the mighty Victoria Falls (one of the 7 wonders of the world) and a sundowner boat cruise on the Zambezi River with herds of Elephant and Buffalo drinking

The Zambezi River (Namibian side) – Racket-tailed Roller, Yellow-throated Leaf-love, Shelley’s Sunbird, Trumpeter Hornbill, Luapula Cisticola, Rufous-bellied Heron. Other nightlights include a day trip through Chobe National Park with sightings of wild dogs, lions, and elephants

The Okavango River with a combination of both the Namibia side and the Panhandle in Botswana – Pel’s Fishing Owl, Black-faced Babbler, Chirping Cisticola, Southern Brown-throated Weaver, Coppery-tailed Coucal, Brown Firefinch Lesser Jacana, African Pygmy-Goose. Other highlights include game viewing in Bwabwata National Park with plenty of hippos, crocodiles, cape buffalo, elephants, sable, roan, and Tsessebe.

Pel’s Fishing Owl

Etosha National Park – Kori Bustard, Northern Black Korhaan, Southern White-faced Owl, Common Ostrich, Greater Kestrel, Pink-billed Lark, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Double-banded Courser, Rufous-eared Warbler. Etosha is one of the great game reserves in Africa with incredible wildlife viewing including Lion, Cheetah, Leopard, Black Rhino, White Rhino, Elephant, and Spotted Hyena.

Damaraland – Burchell’s Courser, Ruppell’s Parrot, Violet Woodhoopoe, Carp’s Tit, Namaqua Sandgrouse, Herero Chat and Bare-cheeked Babbler. Seeing the desert-adapted Elephants is always a highlight.

Ruppell’s Parrot

Erongo Mountains – true endemic hotspot with Rockrunner, White-tailed Shrike, Rosy-faced Lovebird, Hartlaub’s Spurfowl, Damara Red-billed Hornbill, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Mountain Wheatear, and mammals such as Black Mongoose, Dassie Rat, Klipspringer and Rock Hyrax.

Hartlaub’s Spurfowl

We finish at the Skeleton Coast with Dune Lark, Gray’s Lark, Damara Tern, Greater and Lesser Flamingo. Massive sand dunes, shipwrecks, and beautiful Atlantic sunsets are a highlight.

What other suggestions can you give to birders interested in your area?

This trip can be done year-round. In the summer all the migrants are around and in winter the mammals are fantastic. Perfect tip for families and non-birding partners with so many other attractions to see.

Etosha Scenery