TPC Birding

The pools with the Blue Mountains in the background. 

In February we had a couple of trips to TPC (TPC I, TPC II, TPC III, Trip IV). We love TPC as a local birding spot because depending on what part we go to it's only a 30-45 minute drive for us making it the nearest spot we can go for a walk.

Tanganyika Planting Company (TPC) has over 8,000 ha (20,000 acres) of sugar cane, though the area of land it manages is so large that multiple villages are within the vast expanse. There are also fallow patches, reservoir that attract birds,  and a river that runs along the west border, which allows for some pretty decent birding and short hikes. We know most of the "spots" that one can either walk or birdwatch and we've recently befriended someone that is a new birder and has lived there for 15 years. She's showed us a ton of new places that we didn't know of and we've helped her on bird identification.

One of the most awesome birds we have gotten to see there is called the Darter. A typically elusive bird, we have found a reservoir with nine of them living in a tree. They have long necks and they hunt for fish by diving and spearing them with their beak. They are also known as the "snake bird" because when they swim their entire body is submerged and only their neck is visible.

African Darter, flying

African Darter with a fish!

We continue to enjoy TPC for the birding and we're also happy to have a friend to join us on our excursions. Now that we know ALL the spots we have many options; walking along the north river, walking along the south river, visiting different reservoirs, hiking/driving the conservation area, or visit the pools in the south. I'm sure there will be many more visits to TPC!

Zebra Waxbill

European Bee-eater

Carmine Bee-eater