The opening of the Alte Kalköfen Bird Observatory provided an opportunity for several days of ringing by a BDI team at the lodge, between Keetmanshoop and Aus in southern Namibia. Days were over 40°C, meaning we could only ring in the mornings and evenings. Fortunately there was a wonderful reservoir swimming pool to cool off in. While swimming at various times, Little Swifts and Rock Martins came to drink while in flight. Placing nets at two sides of the round pool caught many Little Swifts. Rock Martins flew slowly and were not caught.
During an evening swim, I noticed Rufous-cheeked Nightjar Caprimulgus rufigena coming to drink in flight. This nightjar was found to be common at Alte Kalköfen Lodge, with birds calling and flitting about the lodge at dusk and dawn. Putting up nets and calling them up did not work on one evening, mainly because it was too windy. So I decided to open my pool nets before dawn on the last morning of ringing. While still dark, a nightjar hit the net and bounced out. Some flew around the pool slowly, continuing to drink and deftly avoiding the nest. As it bacame light, I thought there was no more chance of catching a nightjar, when one flew into one nest, and before I could extract it, another flew into the other net!
More Rufous-cheeked Nightjars have been ringed with SAFRING rings than any other nightjar (Fiery-necked takes second place), but even this species has less than 1000 ringed in the SAFRING database. This species also has the greatest longevity for a nightjar, at over 16 years!
Fact sheet:
Number ringed to date (SAFRING): 955 [1948-2024]
Longevity: 16y 10m
Trip report: ebird
Reason special: ringing lifer for me
