Cameroon: Wahlberg's Honeybird? (1 Viewer)

[cajanuma]

I took this photo about 10 days ago in the Bafut-Nguemba forest reserve above Lake Awing, near Bamenda, southwest Cameroon, at an altitude of about 2000 meters. The best I can come up with is an immature Wahlberg's Honeybird (Prodotiscus regulus), but this was my first African trip so I have precious little experience. Any help would be very useful!

 

[halftwo]

Hi Cajanuma.

The only other possibilty is Cassin's (both occur Cameroons.) It's one or the other (note two toes forward) - but I haven't seen either and can't say for sure which.

I hope an Africa expert comes along for you.
Don't suppose you have a rear view?

Good luck -

H

 

[birdboybowley]

Far from being an African expert....but, unders look wrong for Cassin's - not grey enough. The yellowish wash and white outertail would seem to point to an imm Wahlberg's. Agree seeing the wings at least would help!!

 

[cajanuma]

Don't suppose you have a rear view?

Thanks for the input. All the photos I have are pretty similar, the bird sat up in full view for about a minute or so, then managed to fly away right as I had my head turned.

 

[rockfowl]

I would agree with Wahlberg's Honeyguide and have seen the species in the area previously though it's a 'good' bird to see!

Hope you saw the Turaco? even though I find it very sad seeing very special montane endemics amongst trashed forest and Eucalyptus plantations. Hope things have improved!

Mark

 

[gambirder]

Looks good for a Wally's to me

 

[cajanuma]

Hope you saw the Turaco? even though I find it very sad seeing very special montane endemics amongst trashed forest and Eucalyptus plantations. Hope things have improved!

We did, they were rather vocal but took some time to see. I agree with you, although we did very well on our targets here the remaining habitat is so minuscule that I did not enjoy birding here nearly as much as on Mt Kupe. Hopefully the situation is better in more remote areas of the Bamenda highlands, it's hard to imagine many of these birds surving at Bafut-Nguemba for much longer...

Many thanks for the ID input, I have photos of a possible Scarce Swift from there that I will soon post as well.

 

[rockfowl]

We did, they were rather vocal but took some time to see. I agree with you, although we did very well on our targets here the remaining habitat is so minuscule that I did not enjoy birding here nearly as much as on Mt Kupe. Hopefully the situation is better in more remote areas of the Bamenda highlands, it's hard to imagine many of these birds surving at Bafut-Nguemba for much longer...

Many thanks for the ID input, I have photos of a possible Scarce Swift from there that I will soon post as well.

I'm pretty confident that the project is going well elsewhere in the Bamenda Highlands especially Oku/Kilim Ijim. Most birders end up at Bafut-Nguemba because its very focussed despite being depressing.
Glad to here you went to Kupe, my favourite and a place I've spent many months working on, its a very special forest. Hope my murals are still intact!
Look forward to seeing the Swift..

Mark