Where to Watch birds on Mohéli Please click on the map at left to jump to detailed accounts of some birding sites on Mohéli. Remember also to have a look at the summarised table of bird abundance at each of these sites! This should give you a good idea of the relative chance of seeing each species at each site.

MIRINGONI TO THE CHALET ST ANTOINE

Summary This area provides some of the finest birding on the whole archipelago. Much of Mohéli's intact forest remains relatively inaccessible to short-term visitors, and there are few easy footpaths to the island's crest. However, Mr Bernard Legrand maintains a footpath leading from the village Miringoni, on the south coast of the island, to the Chalet St. Antoine on the island's crest. The superb birding in the forest along this path includes near-certainty of finding the truly spectacular and endemic Comoro sub-species of (Comoro) Blue Vanga Cyanolanius (madagascarinus) comorensis, and unique access to the endemic and localised Benson's Brush Warbler Nesillas mariae. Excellent birding - including access to the Vanga - may be had below 350 altitude, thus making a relatively easy morning's walk from Miringoni.

View to southwards onto the islets from the Chalet St Antoine.

The Chalet St Antoine, perched on top of the forested ridge of Mohéli.

However, the path is very steep and the final few hundred metres altitude to the crest of the island at 700m are hence strenuous. It is here, at higher altitudes, that Benson's Brush Warbler Nesillas mariae and Mohéli Scops Owl Otus moheliensis are found. Finding the latter species involves an overnight stay in the rustic Chalet St Antoine (owned and maintained by Mr Legrand - but please contact him in Miringoni first) on the crest of the island. Even then, however, this species is by no means guaranteed!

Access
A good-quality surfaced road leads from Fomboni to Mirongoni (there is no accommodation at the latter). This drive takes approximately 90 minutes. Geographically, the closest tourist accommodation may be found at Mohéli Bungalows at Nioumachioua; however, the road from Nioumachioua to Miringoni is accessible by four-wheel-drive vehicle only. Please obtain permission to walk to St Antoine from Mr Legrand at Miringoni! A small fee is charged for use of the Chalet and provision of porters/guides.

Specials
Please see the Table for a summary of the relative abundances of bird specials. The superb Blue Vanga Cyanolanius (madagascarinus) comorensis is not uncommon above 280m altitude, and is relatively easy to find with knowledge of its calls. The two true Mohéli endemics, Benson's Brush Warbler Nesillas mariae and Mohéli Scops Owl Otus moheliensis, occur only in the moss-clad forest in excess of 500m altitude. The former is fairly common and easy to find, and the latter extremely difficult. Consequently, the owl probably does not pose a realistic target for the short-term visitor. If formally elevated to species level, the Comoro Green Pigeon Treron (australis) griveaudi will also constitute a Mohéli endemic, and is fairly common in both mature forest at higher-altitudes, and forest/cultivation mosaic down to 200m a.s.l.

Other attractions
A great attraction of the Miringoni - St. Antoine walk is the scenery, which is nothing short of spectacular. From the summit, there is a superb 300° view over the island and associated islets, and indeed Grande Comore and Anjouan are also visible at dawn on clear days. Brown Lemurs Lemur fulvus occur at high densities in the forest, as evidenced by their night-time calls, but are nocturnal and hence rarely seen.

OUALLAH

The forested crest of Mohéli rises sharply from the coast between Nioumachoua and Ouallah.

Summary The main ecotouristic attraction of the Ouallah area is relatively easy access to a roosting colony of the endemic and spectacular giant Livingstone's Fruit Bat Pteropus livinstonei in a forested gorge at about 240m altitude, below which plantations predominate. In addition, there is good birding to be had, although no species are restricted to or unusually easy to find here.

Specials Please see the Table for a summary of the relative abundances of bird specials. The spectacular Reunion Harrier Circus mailliardi was especially numerous and conspicuous at this site. There is also pleasant and scenic birding along the beach at Nioumachioua, where Madagascar Bee-eaters Merops superciliosus and Madagascar Kingfishers Alcedo vintsioides may be seen feeding.

Young mangroves along the beach near Nioumachoua.

Livingstone's Fruit Bats roosting above Ouallah.

Other attractions In addition to their superb scenery, the beaches at Nioumachioua and surrounds host small numbers of nesting Green Turtles Caretta caretta, although being able to see them strongly dependent on season and lunar cycles. From the hotel at Nioumachioua it is possible to take turtle-watching trips to Itsamia at the eastern tip of the island, where greater numbers of turtles nest, and with greater reliability. Naturally, the Livingstone's Fruit Bat colony near Ouallah is also well worth a visit. Text by Claire Spottiswoode