The Dune Lark, found only in western Namibia, lives in scrub growth between the sand dunes of the Namib Desert. Only the extreme northern and southern limits of its range are accessible by motor vehicle.
With less than two weeks remaining in Namibia, we drove to Walvis Bay, on Namibia's Atlantic coast. Early on the morning of July 19, 1998, we loaded up our 4x4 and ventured southeast through the desert toward the settlement of Rooibank. Based on a tip from a friend, we parked near a nursery in the Kuiseb river bed and began hiking through the dune field in search of the lark. Nearly an hour passed with virtually no bird sightings. After sweeping the area in a large circular path, Karen and I had given up on the Dune Lark, and decided to head back to town for breakfast.
On our way back to the Jeep, we began to hear several familiar birds. First, a Titbabbler, then a Black-Chested Prinia, then a Cape Sparrow. We followed the Sparrow in our binoculars as it ran behind a dune. From behind the same dune, we caught a flash of orange as a larger bird darted off behind the next hill. Hearts pounding, we gave chase until we captured a picture-perfect Dune Lark squarely in our binoculars.
Though we only saw one, the Dune Lark was definitely the most rewarding, and rarest, addition to our life lists.