2013: - 800 Challenge [2nd Quarter review - Stats, sundries & other.]

When you look at this map of Africa from up here, our efforts, down there, seem disappointingly insignificant! Then again, our adventure is, in fact, conducted from down there rather than from up here & down there we covered some ground this 2nd quarter .. a great deal of ground!

Africa [Southern Africa - 2nd quarter 'Look & Feel'] 

Here's our report card - 

A. - Result 698

• 800 Challenge: Target by end of 2nd Quarter - 725 
• Actual species seen year to date: end of 2nd Quarter - 698 
• Remarks - could do better; lacks concentration - remedial work recommended

Southern Africa - 2nd quarter routes / road-map

B. - Outcomes based review

• Successful twitches; rarities & vagrants - 2 [Greater Sheathbill & Green Tinkerbird]
• Unsuccessful twitches; rarities & vagrants - 2 [Egyptian Vulture & Franklin's Gull]
• Lifers - [Species we recorded for the first time, ever] - 6 
• River Warbler
• Wood Pipit
• Green Tinkerbird
• Olive-headed Weaver
• Mascarene Martin
• Greater Sheathbill
• Potential lifers sought in the correct habitat - [unsuccessful]: 3
• Malagasy Pond Heron
• Souza's Shrike
• Broad-tailed Paradise Whydah
• Unusual sightings - aberrations: 3
• Xanthochroic Black-collared Barbet - Johannesburg South Africa
• Leucistic Karoo Thrush
• Leucistic Cape Wagtail
• Persistent dips ie: common species not recorded to date for the 800 Challenge
• African Broadbill - 5 separate attempts across 2 countries.
• Victorin's Warbler - 2 separate attempts
• Knysna Woodpecker - 2 separate attempts
• Hottentot Buttonquail - 2 separate attempts

C. - Excuses & other insignificant sundry moans & groans

• Winter pelagic cruise - postponed to mid-July [Inclement weather]
• Early departure of summer migrants - [Inclement weather]
• Body Mass Index data suggests an increase in weight [Inclement weather] 

D. - Milestones - Lifetime [achieved during the 2nd Quarter]

• 800th species photographed in the sub-region (June) - Schalow's Turaco
• 830 species seen in the sub-region

E. - 800 Challenge year to date: a synopsis (Target: end of year)

• Southern Africa 698 species recorded (seen) [Target: year-end 801]
• South Africa 668 species recorded (seen) [Target: year-end 701]
• 74% species seen year to date have been photographed [Target: year-end 85%]

3rd Quarter - Forward-looking statement

Three trips are planned for the quarter ending September 2013.

• Continental-shelf pelagic cruise - South of Cape Town
• Central & northern Namibia including western Caprivi
• Pan-handle - Okavango Delta, Botswana