Maputo Birdwatching area, its isolated patches and more...

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 Area near Costa do Sol Restaurant. 

As birdless as Maputo City can appear to be given its bustling city life, where the crowds on the Avenidas seem to be competing with endless automobiles pouring on either directions of the lanes, Costa do Sol Beach has got the feathered tenants in the name of an assortment of waders. One will always catch sight of local women harvesting clams at low tide, alongside foraging waders. It is safe, to walk, but wearing something on your feet is recommended.

 Shoreline area near Pescador Fish Market 

At low tide, should one continue leisurely walking eastwards along the beach from Costa do Sol restaurant, getting to Fish Market Patch should take a mere half an hour at most. One can as well, drive and park vehicle at Pescador Fish Market. This patch is largely dominated by Gulls, Herons and Crows among other occasional waders of sort.

Who are we to write or talk about Macaneta without mentioning the name of “Gary Allport"?  Macaneta is a name already found on the Global Birding Map – thanks to the staunch birders like Gary Allport who by searching, from dawn to dusky, brought public attention to some rarities found in this birder's paradise. Every year, twitchers, nature enthusiasts as well as dedicated local birders of all levels, flock Macaneta Hotspot in hope of ticking a rarity or spotting some uncommon Lifers.

Katembe Wetland Patch, south of  first tollgate after crossing Africa's longest suspension bridge. Home to Herons, Teals, Ducks and Geese. A perfect stopover for a leg stretch or organizing yourself (setting up or getting gear handy etc.) before heading to Matutuine District Birding Area Capital – Bela Vista.

Home to Black-bellied Bustards, Cape Teals, Shovelers and Chestnut Banded Plovers.

Access is via the little town of Bela Vista which is the Matutuine District’s administrative and commercial centre. A network of tracks leads to lakes, pans, canals surrounded by open grassland. Maputo River flanks the eastern boundary of Bela Vista Central Birdwatching patches. 

Home to Lesser Jacanas, Three Snake Eagle species, Yellow-billed Ducks and Southern Pochards. As water bodies dry out through non-rain season, an assortment of waders remain together in more or less compact flocks at isolated patches South of Bela Vista. Trills and chirps dominate the air. For much of the time, there is no one disturbing them except for the occasional local cattle going for a late afternoon drink.

Licuati Forest Reserve is home to Neergard’s Sunbird, Eastern Nicator and Pink-throated Twinspots. A rare sand and dry forest type dominated by endemic vegetation typical of Maputaland Centre for plant endemism.

Home to Raptors, Livingstone’s Turaco, Narina Trogon, Green Malkoha, Rudd's Apalis, you name it.

Home to Cape Longclaw, Denham's Bustard, Larks, you name it.

Locally common resident of forest edge, thicket and dense woodland.

Locally common  resident, nomad and intra-African migrant found in dry, sparsely grassed and recently burnt areas.

Locally common resident in moist savanna and forest  clearings. Usually encountered singly, perched unobtrusively on branch below the canopy of a tall tree.