Lochinvar National Park, Zambia: Southern Lechwe

Where the Kafue River spills across a broad, seasonally flooded plain, a mosaic of grassland, termite-mound woodland and oxbow lagoons spreads beneath an immense sky. This is a landscape shaped by the rhythm of a Cwa climate: warm, wet summers that drown the flats in standing water, and a dry winter that slowly drains them, exposing glistening mudflats and pushing the water table back into scattered pools. The vegetation tells the same story — open grasslands on the floodplain, thicker woodland on higher ground, and palm-fringed channels threading between them. Wildlife follows the water. Herds of large grazing mammals move across the grass in the wet months, while the shrinking lagoons of the dry season concentrate waterbirds, waders and wildfowl into dense, restless flocks. Birds of prey work the thermals above the plain, and small mammals and reptiles retreat into the termite mounds and woodland edge as the ground hardens.

For the photographer and the birdwatcher, the appeal lies in that seasonal transformation and the light that comes with it. The dry winter months bring clear skies, low golden light and open sightlines across the floodplain, when concentrations of waterbirds and grazing herds gather at the remaining water and dust and haze soften the horizon at dawn and dusk. The wet season offers a different drama: storm light, saturated greens and the spectacle of the plain filling again. Access is by road through the surrounding farmland and settlements, with the best viewing on foot and by vehicle along the margins of the floodplain. Come for the birds and the big grazing herds, stay for the quiet — this is a place where patience, a long lens and an eye for the shifting waterline reward the visitor far more than a checklist ever could.

Southern Ground Hornbill

Bucorvus leadbeateri

African Fish Eagle

Icthyophaga vocifer

White-faced Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna viduata

Spur-winged Goose

Plectropterus gambensis

Alopochen aegyptiaca

African Pygmy Goose

Nettapus auritus

Blue-billed Teal

Spatula hottentota

Yellow-billed Duck

Red-billed Teal

Anas erythrorhyncha

Helmeted Guineafowl

Numida meleagris

Swainson's Spurfowl

Pternistis swainsonii

Square-tailed Nightjar

Caprimulgus fossii

Black-bellied Bustard

Lissotis melanogaster

Diederik Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx caprius

Yellow-throated Sandgrouse

Pterocles gutturalis

Streptopelia semitorquata

Ring-necked Dove

Streptopelia capicola

Emerald-spotted Wood Dove

Turtur chalcospilos

African Green Pigeon

Crecopsis egregia

Gallinula chloropus

Grey Crowned Crane

Balearica regulorum

Greater Flamingo

Phoenicopterus roseus

Black-winged Stilt

Himantopus himantopus

Common Ringed Plover

Charadrius hiaticula

Long-toed Lapwing

Vanellus crassirostris

Blacksmith Lapwing

Vanellus armatus

Crowned Lapwing

Vanellus coronatus

African Wattled Lapwing

Vanellus senegallus

Greater Painted-snipe

Rostratula benghalensis

Actophilornis africanus

Gallinago nigripennis

Marsh Sandpiper

Tringa stagnatilis

Tringa glareola

Calidris pugnax

Curlew Sandpiper

Calidris ferruginea

Three-banded Courser

Rhinoptilus cinctus

Temminck's Courser

Cursorius temminckii

Collared Pratincole

Glareola pratincola

Hydroprogne caspia

Chlidonias hybrida

White-winged Tern

Chlidonias leucopterus

Grey-headed Gull

Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus

African Openbill

Anastomus lamelligerus

Leptoptilos crumenifer

Yellow-billed Stork

Saddle-billed Stork

Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis

Microcarbo africanus

African Sacred Ibis

Threskiornis aethiopicus

Plegadis falcinellus

African Spoonbill

Egretta garzetta

Ardeola ralloides

Black-headed Heron

Ardea melanocephala

Great White Pelican

Pelecanus onocrotalus

Pink-backed Pelican

Pelecanus rufescens

African Harrier-Hawk

Polyboroides typus

Terathopius ecaudatus

Black-chested Snake Eagle

Circaetus pectoralis

Brown Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinereus

Long-crested Eagle

Lophaetus occipitalis

African Hawk-Eagle

Aquila spilogaster

Kaupifalco monogrammicus

African Marsh Harrier

Circus ranivorus

Verreaux's Eagle-Owl

Southern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus rufirostris

Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill

Tockus leucomelas

African Grey Hornbill

Lophoceros nasutus

Coracias naevius

Lilac-breasted Roller

Coracias caudatus

Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Halcyon albiventris

Striped Kingfisher

Halcyon chelicuti

Pied Kingfisher

Cardinal Woodpecker

Dendropicos fuscescens

Red-necked Falcon

Falco chicquera

Falco amurensis

Poicephalus meyeri

Black-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra senegalus

Retz's Helmetshrike

Prionops retzii

Fork-tailed Drongo

Dicrurus adsimilis

Urolestes melanoleucus

Lesser Grey Shrike

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark

Eremopterix leucotis

Red-capped Lark

Calandrella cinerea

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Prinia subflava

Yellow-breasted Apalis

Burnt-necked Eremomela

Eremomela usticollis

Arrow-marked Babbler

Turdoides jardineii

Wattled Starling

Creatophora cinerea

Meves's Starling

Lamprotornis mevesii

Swamp Flycatcher

Muscicapa aquatica

Capped Wheatear

Oenanthe pileata

Collared Sunbird

Hedydipna collaris

Scarlet-chested Sunbird

Chalcomitra senegalensis

White-bellied Sunbird

Cinnyris talatala

Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow

Gymnoris superciliaris

White-browed Sparrow-Weaver

Plocepasser mahali

Red-billed Quelea

Yellow-crowned Bishop

Fan-tailed Widowbird

Euplectes axillaris

Cut-throat Finch

Amadina fasciata

Green-winged Pytilia

Red-billed Firefinch

Lagonosticta senegala

Village Indigobird

Vidua chalybeata

Western Yellow Wagtail

Motacilla flava

Fulvous Whistling Duck

Dendrocygna bicolor

White-backed Duck

Thalassornis leuconotus

Knob-billed Duck

Sarkidiornis melanotos

Spatula smithii

Southern Pochard

Netta erythrophthalma

Crested Francolin

Ortygornis sephaena

Harlequin Quail

Coturnix delegorguei

Pternistis natalensis

Red-necked Spurfowl

Pternistis afer

Rufous-cheeked Nightjar

Caprimulgus rufigena

Fiery-necked Nightjar

Caprimulgus pectoralis

African Palm Swift

Cypsiurus parvus

Denham's Bustard

Centropus senegalensis

Coppery-tailed Coucal

Centropus cupreicaudus

White-browed Coucal

Centropus superciliosus

Centropus grillii

Great Spotted Cuckoo

Clamator glandarius

Levaillant's Cuckoo

Clamator levaillantii

Clamator jacobinus

Chrysococcyx klaas

African Emerald Cuckoo

Chrysococcyx cupreus

Cuculus clamosus

Red-chested Cuckoo

Cuculus solitarius

Double-banded Sandgrouse

Pterocles bicinctus

Mourning Collared Dove

Streptopelia decipiens

Spilopelia senegalensis

Rallus caerulescens

Paragallinula angulata

Red-knobbed Coot

Fulica cristata

Allen's Gallinule

Porphyrio alleni

Aenigmatolimnas marginalis

Tachybaptus ruficollis

Common Buttonquail

Turnix sylvaticus

Spotted Thick-knee

Burhinus capensis

Water Thick-knee

Burhinus vermiculatus

Recurvirostra avosetta

Pluvialis squatarola

Pacific Golden Plover

Pluvialis fulva

White-crowned Lapwing

Vanellus albiceps

Anarhynchus asiaticus

Microparra capensis

Eurasian Whimbrel

Numenius phaeopus

Eurasian Curlew

Numenius arquata

Bar-tailed Godwit

Limosa lapponica

Black-tailed Godwit

Terek Sandpiper

Common Sandpiper

Actitis hypoleucos

Green Sandpiper

Tringa ochropus

Common Greenshank

Tringa nebularia

Ruddy Turnstone

Arenaria interpres

Calidris minuta

Pectoral Sandpiper

Calidris melanotos

Bronze-winged Courser

Rhinoptilus chalcopterus

Black-winged Pratincole

Glareola nordmanni

African Skimmer

Rynchops flavirostris

Sternula albifrons

Gull-billed Tern

Gelochelidon nilotica

Lesser Black-backed Gull

Ciconia abdimii

African Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia microscelis

Great Cormorant

Phalacrocorax carbo

Black-crowned Night Heron

Nycticorax nycticorax

Egretta vinaceigula

Egretta ardesiaca

Rufous-bellied Heron

Ardeola rufiventris

Western Cattle Egret

Scopus umbretta

Sagittarius serpentarius

Black-winged Kite

Elanus caeruleus

European Honey Buzzard

Pernis apivorus

White-headed Vulture

Trigonoceps occipitalis

Lappet-faced Vulture

Torgos tracheliotos

Necrosyrtes monachus

White-backed Vulture

Western Banded Snake Eagle

Circaetus cinerascens

Polemaetus bellicosus

Wahlberg's Eagle

Hieraaetus wahlbergi

Micronisus gabar

Circus macrourus

Montagu's Harrier

Circus pygargus

Western Barn Owl

Pearl-spotted Owlet

Glaucidium perlatum

African Scops Owl

Otus senegalensis

Southern White-faced Owl

Ptilopsis granti

Spotted Eagle-Owl

African Wood Owl

Strix woodfordii

Red-faced Mousebird

Urocolius indicus

Green Wood Hoopoe

Phoeniculus purpureus

Common Scimitarbill

Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

Crowned Hornbill

Lophoceros alboterminatus

Racket-tailed Roller

Coracias spatulatus

European Roller

Coracias garrulus

Broad-billed Roller

Eurystomus glaucurus

Grey-headed Kingfisher

Halcyon leucocephala

Woodland Kingfisher

Halcyon senegalensis

Malachite Kingfisher

Corythornis cristatus

Giant Kingfisher

Megaceryle maxima

Swallow-tailed Bee-eater

Merops hirundineus

Little Bee-eater

Merops pusillus

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater

Merops persicus

European Bee-eater

Merops apiaster

Trachyphonus vaillantii

Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird

Pogoniulus chrysoconus

Black-collared Barbet

Lybius torquatus

Lesser Honeyguide

Indicator minor

Greater Honeyguide

Indicator indicator

Golden-tailed Woodpecker

Campethera abingoni

Bearded Woodpecker

Chloropicus namaquus

Dickinson's Kestrel

Falco dickinsoni

Red-footed Falcon

Falco vespertinus

Falco biarmicus

Grey-headed Bushshrike

Malaconotus blanchoti

Orange-breasted Bushshrike

Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus

Brown-crowned Tchagra

Tchagra australis

Black-backed Puffback

Dryoscopus cubla

Tropical Boubou

Laniarius major

Black Cuckooshrike

Campephaga flava

Black-headed Oriole

Oriolus larvatus

African Golden Oriole

Oriolus auratus

African Paradise Flycatcher

Terpsiphone viridis

Northern Fiscal

Lanius humeralis

Red-backed Shrike

Lanius collurio

Southern Black Tit

Melaniparus niger

Grey Penduline Tit

Anthoscopus caroli

Pinarocorys nigricans

Sombre Greenbul

Andropadus importunus

Yellow-bellied Greenbul

Chlorocichla flaviventris

Terrestrial Brownbul

Phyllastrephus terrestris

Pycnonotus barbatus

Grey-rumped Swallow

Pseudhirundo griseopyga

Neophedina cincta

Brown-throated Martin

Riparia paludicola

Riparia riparia

Pearl-breasted Swallow

Hirundo dimidiata

Hirundo rustica

White-throated Swallow

Hirundo albigularis

Wire-tailed Swallow

Hirundo smithii

Western House Martin

Delichon urbicum

Red-breasted Swallow

Cecropis semirufa

Long-billed Crombec

Sylvietta rufescens

Phylloscopus trochilus

Greater Swamp Warbler

Acrocephalus rufescens

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Acrocephalus gracilirostris

Great Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus arundinaceus

Acrocephalus schoenobaenus

Common Reed Warbler

Acrocephalus scirpaceus

Acrocephalus palustris

Olive-tree Warbler

Hippolais olivetorum

Icterine Warbler

Hippolais icterina

Little Rush Warbler

Bradypterus baboecala

Red-faced Cisticola

Cisticola erythrops

Rattling Cisticola

Cisticola chiniana

Luapula Cisticola

Cisticola luapula

Croaking Cisticola

Cisticola natalensis

Cisticola fulvicapilla

Zitting Cisticola

Cisticola juncidis

Desert Cisticola

Cisticola aridulus

Green-backed Camaroptera

Camaroptera brachyura

Common Whitethroat

Curruca communis

Hartlaub's Babbler

Turdoides hartlaubii

Acridotheres tristis

Greater Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chalybaeus

Lesser Blue-eared Starling

Lamprotornis chloropterus

Violet-backed Starling

Cinnyricinclus leucogaster

Kurrichane Thrush

Turdus libonyana

Bearded Scrub Robin

Tychaedon quadrivirgata

White-browed Scrub Robin

Cercotrichas leucophrys

Pale Flycatcher

Agricola pallidus

Grey Tit-Flycatcher

Fraseria plumbea

Ashy Flycatcher

Fraseria caerulescens

Southern Black Flycatcher

Melaenornis pammelaina

Spotted Flycatcher

Muscicapa striata

White-browed Robin-Chat

Cossypha heuglini

Collared Palm Thrush

Cichladusa arquata

Thrush Nightingale

Luscinia luscinia

African Stonechat

Saxicola torquatus

Amethyst Sunbird

Chalcomitra amethystina

Variable Sunbird

Cinnyris venustus

Cinnyris cupreus

Northern Grey-headed Sparrow

Southern Grey-headed Sparrow

Passer diffusus

Passer domesticus

Thick-billed Weaver

Amblyospiza albifrons

Spectacled Weaver

Ploceus ocularis

Holub's Golden Weaver

Ploceus xanthops

Lesser Masked Weaver

Ploceus intermedius

Southern Masked Weaver

Ploceus velatus

Ploceus cucullatus

Red-headed Weaver

Anaplectes rubriceps

Southern Red Bishop

Euplectes capensis

Yellow-mantled Widowbird

Euplectes macroura

White-winged Widowbird

Euplectes albonotatus

Bronze Mannikin

Spermestes cucullata

Estrilda astrild

Ortygospiza atricollis

Orange-breasted Waxbill

Amandava subflava

Uraeginthus angolensis

Orange-winged Pytilia

Red-throated Twinspot

Hypargos niveoguttatus

Jameson's Firefinch

Lagonosticta rhodopareia

Purple Indigobird

Vidua purpurascens

Pin-tailed Whydah

Long-tailed Paradise Whydah

Vidua paradisaea

Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah

Motacilla capensis

African Pied Wagtail

Motacilla aguimp

Rosy-throated Longclaw

Macronyx ameliae

Anthus cinnamomeus

Anthus vaalensis

Plain-backed Pipit

Anthus leucophrys

Yellow-fronted Canary

Crithagra mozambica

Brimstone Canary

Crithagra sulphurata

Red-chested Flufftail

Sarothrura rufa

Baillon's Crake

Zapornia pusilla

American Flamingo

Phoenicopterus ruber

Asian Woolly-necked Stork

Ciconia episcopus

Butorides striata

African Barred Owlet

Glaucidium capense

Northern Red-billed Hornbill

Tockus erythrorhynchus

White-fronted Bee-eater

Merops bullockoides

Cinnamon-breasted Bunting

Emberiza tahapisi

Golden-breasted Bunting

Emberiza flaviventris

Southern Lechwe

Orycteropus afer

Malbrouck Monkey

Chlorocebus cynosuros

Hystrix africaeaustralis

Mellivora capensis

Side-striped Jackal

Lupulella adusta

Civettictis civetta

Southern Bushbuck

Tragelaphus sylvaticus

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