Searching for Amphibian's

10 January 2025 - Northern Farm

I had made arrangements with a team from Johannesburg Zoo to conduct an Amphibian Survey on the Farm. I was at the gate before Mhandlo arrived and picked up a Spotted Fly on the road to the parking area in the pre-dawn gloom

Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)

I chased this Grass Yellow for sometime, before it finally settled in the thick new grass where it would have rested until the sun came out and warmed up the day

African Grass Yellow (Eurema h. solifera)

Once the team of 2 arrived, we headed to the first wetland where they donned their waders. I wasnt quite as properly equipped, so walked the edges of the wetland. I didnt find any frogs, although I did hear a few - but did find some other interesting invertebrate species, of which this small and delicate Lacewing was tough to locate and then photograph

Lacewing

A pretty interesting Caterpillar

Afromurzinia lutescens

and a couple of Levaillant's Cisticola's after flushing a male Red-chested Flufftail from almost under my feet.

Levaillant's Cisticola (Cisticola tinniens)

Back at the car, there were many Banded Groundling on the road after the sun had risen a little in the sky

Female Banded Groundling (Brachythemis leucosticta)

Male Banded Groundling (Brachythemis leucosticta)

We then moved to another wetland further down the valley with the team only recording Common River Frog in the first wetland. At the next, stop we found a dead Bullfrog in the road which was sad, but also encouraging to note that they probably occur in this wetland. No other amphibians here, but I had my first record of Cape Weaver for the farm and outside of Kyalami Estates where they do breed - I was pretty chuffed with that. 

Here 4 species in one bush, including the single Cape Weaver along with Thick-billed Weaver, Southern Masked Weaver and Red-billed Quelea

Male Cape Weaver (Ploceus capensis)

In the same wetland and same bush, a few Red-billed Quelea's too

Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea)

In the adjacent grassland, Red-veined Dropwing

Red-veined Dropwing (Trithemis arteriosa)

and this pretty cool Solitary Wasp with a distinctive yellow abdomen

Solitary Wasp

The last stop was one of the grey water dams where nothing was found in and around the reed fringes - amphibians prefer clean water! But, I did get a small flock of Black-throated Canaries

Black-throated Canary (Crithagra atrogularis)

Sadly the survey didnt produce what we had hoped, but if somehow we can improve the water quality from Johannesburg Water and City of Johannesburg coming out of the treatment plant, then life will return to these once thriving dams.

Putting a Bogey to Bed

04 January 2025 - Glen Austin

Happy New Year to all - may 2025 be everything we wish for and more!

I have searched seriously for a River Warbler for the past 8-years. The first 4 in Kuwait where it occurs infrequently as a passage migrant and then for the past 4-years since returning back to South Africa for good, in December 2020.

For us Gauteng based birders, the most reliable site in the short 3-week window in March is a pre-dawn stakeout somewhere along the course of the Pienaars River, but for most birders it is the Pepper Tick infested habitat on the Zaagkuilsdrift Road. Every year is different and dependent on the summer rainfall, which adds to the guessing game.

This Warbler is a master skulker and is skilled in the art of elusiveness whilst on its summer wintering grounds - although, some may say, almost mythical.

I struggle to even hear its call, as it has the same tone or frequency of the tinnitus that I suffer with. I have not even had a glimpse of it in all the times I have been out, so it has proven to be very frustrating. Of course, the more frustrating or elusive, the more of a bogey it becomes.

The unexpectedly and out of the blue, this myth is discovered in a private garden in Midrand - my home patch, now way!

Together with my good birding mates Selwyn Rautenbach and Richard Crawshaw, we managed to arrange and secure an afternoon slot at Christo Swart's home. We met at Glen Austin Pan and managed to bag a single Lesser Flamingo amongst the Greater's - a really good record for the Pan and perhaps a good omen for the afternoon?

Greater Flamingo (Phoenicopterus roseus)

Lesser Flamingo (Phoeniconaias minor)

Whilst waiting, a Lesser Honeyguide put in an appearance. We were all worried about taking images, in case the shutter noise spooked our target bird

Lesser Honeyguide (Indicator minor)

We arrived at Christo's house along with 3 others who were already there, including Rob Cliff and sat quietly inside the lounge waiting and watching for any movement in his dense and indigenous garden. After a quiet and nervous 2-hours filled with trepidation and doubt, this skulker suddenly appeared from the gloom below and perched briefly on a branch of its favourite Wild Dagga shrub as the light started fading.

River Warbler (Locustella fluviatilis)

Well, calm mayhem prevailed as we all tried to get onto it with bins and camera's. In the short time it was uncharacteristically out of cover, it appeared unphased by the increased heart rates of the assemble group as it hopped around the garden path, had a drink from the bird bath and then crept and disappeared back into the dense shrub where it is more comfortable

River Warbler (Locustella fluviatilis)

The relief and elation was palpable with high fives all round. Finally, I have put this bogey to bed. 

Thanks again to Christo and his wife for hosting, accommodating and tolerating all of the birders that came to his house to enjoy this remarkable bird in his unspoilt indigenous garden. 

What an awesome start to the year!

Kyalami Estates December Round-up

31 December 2024 - Kyalami Estates

Despite being on holiday for 2-weeks in December, I still managed to record 59 species which was 1 short of the highest December count since 2011.

Not much from my garden, but the main park was abuzz with the male Red Bishops in their vibrant summer plumage

Southern Red Bishop (Euplectes orix)

African Wattled Lapwings have made the main park their territory, but it is reluctantly shared with the pair of Blacksmith's

African Wattled Lapwing (Vanellus senegallus)

Karoo Thrush are abundant residents

Karoo Thrush (Turdus smithii)

I did have an African Harrier-Hawk pass by overhead near my house, dwarfing the Swift

African Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides typus)

St Ledger Dam still seems to most productive part of our Estates, probably because of the big stands of mature Blue Gum and Poplar Trees. 

I did find another African Harrier-Hawk, but this one quietly perched and not being harassed by other species. I was hoping for the facial skin to turn pink, but only had a glimpse of that

African Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides typus)

More exciting for me was finally seeing the part time resident Ovambo Sparrowhawk out in the open - that was a real treat

Ovambo Sparrowhawk (Accipiter ovampensis)

The male Cape Weaver was still in full swing, building new nests

Cape Weaver (Ploceus capensis)

As are the cool Thick-billed Weaver's

Thick-billed Weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons)

Whilst the Common Reed Warbler was far more unobtrusive

Common Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus)

I did also record some invertebrates - this Skipper, I still need to ID as there are quite a few that are familiar looking 

Skipper sp.

An Epaulet Skimmer

Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma)

And I spent quite some time watching this strange and almost synchronised dance between these two male Carpenter Bees inside the darkness of the Poplar Forest

Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa caffra)

Well that's a wrap for 2024 which was a good year overall even though I only managed to record 404 species in the year, for the trips I did. This is my lowest total since 2011, so it can hopefully improve in 2025 (my target is 500 in a year).

And, finally by the end of June 2025, I have caught up the processing of my 2024 image backlog. But, that also means I am already 6-months behind on processing my 2025 images - stay tuned! 

And a new years resolution to make more of an effort to learn the names of Dragonflies and Damselflies in my Estate! 

Wishing all that know and follow me a rewarding and exciting 2025 to you and your families, may 2025 be all that you wish for and more!