30 June 2021 - Kyalami Estates
We are now in mid-winter, so understandably the bird numbers reduce. However, even though I only recorded 58 species there were some notable species recorded, but not all photographed. Highlights included; Grey Hornbill, Purple Heron, African Darter, Cut-throat Finch, African Green Pigeon, African Harrier-hawk, Cardinal Woodpecker, Arrow-marked Babbler, Lesser Honeyguide, Helmeted Guineafowl, Swainson's Francolin, Yellow-fronted Canary and Common Waxbill.
As seen in my previous post, both Red-headed and Cut-throat Finch were seen in my garden and at the main park. In fact, I observed the Cut-throat Finch mating and also feathering an old Masked Weaver nest, as did the Red-headed Finches last month.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRvRJUvZL0nVb1uQoI4l1LepoFhYYSSNaVQVmC3YCkXzdONKoNxM0c6ZqA242yUWG1RNT26tb80deQHp_g9kLAmj9O22rhH1PSNumpVZO2LQTjPWYBbZU8sfSqgQlj2PhyphenhyphennPHZD_9iw4NJ/w640-h426/CTFinch_H2I2392.jpg) |
Male Cut-throat Finch (Amadina fasciata) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEittB2b6GAFD_o8LKI4B75IImNQhdoBUcTOA9lv_kSb71rSx_ep1K7BHg8vXO9IbpDSpem1XcwZ7ReAobmdrDgziZeUQgvH61_REAOvftA1lqVwIr2gLd-kCOU8nz6yh7RTqjq_nzfiG_EG/w640-h426/CTFinch_H2I2584.jpg) |
Male and Female Cut-throat Finch (Amadina fasciata) after mating |
af
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNL4ImHz1hHfNijgmkARXQPSGP4nbEN2BROFW5z54rKpo2LZTQbwgcju_K7ogDop95MRPzjzbHXOMv3D0PdMdxuMBqFe87K9g8VVIIAFK49Y6dcWtOoxQV1DSWzesvY3FrMqzFSQJlpclP/w640-h426/CTFinch_H2I2588.jpg) |
Female Cut-throat Finch (Amadina fasciata) |
A selection of Red-headed Finches
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYoIKwyyFtnIk18DUtKdU0KNYTLTFzQHtDYrW4XX8KPI-5ca4QUC7DXkErqOfk8qhiY2YbSnx5uPG1euqIkdmGXOH6bfNz_yEWS1xhwdEab-xjgoopgfSmZ4OByLNcy7ysBca9VzVveOtv/w640-h426/RHFinch_H2I2417.jpg) |
Male Red-headed Finch (Amadina erythrocephala) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFULNA-Iu9VtE_gln6UWe152WqR7g1cQd88UOD6KTcC2n9WxIFngCcxF0frWl6snLVeKy35Kcd3rRx1gm4Od1JJaU9B5vNJvmES68vT9_FD1vYojwDgjZRVYd6ZbYfExfpPHXKDFSfdpBT/w640-h426/RHFinch_H2I2965.jpg) |
Keeping guard at the Weaver nest |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT_Y4NW-Z8geNcj8WtVwu1t7pfssGzu5ALcsc75doK-ZudLJg4k64D6SiBM97esM0xd3q2lrmQa4BdEEF7mHQLsSlWLpvGmku5UoEy_CvSB6lVeze14OYxtfmG6PYXD8uJZyzBrV0jAYJu/w640-h426/RHFinch_H2I3098.jpg) |
Female Red-headed Finch (Amadina erythrocephala) |
After hearing their sporadic calls for the past 2-years, I finally found the African Green Pigeon roost and had up to 20 birds on some mornings, these found inland are the orientalis sub-species
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKu80P7XDD3yTwhi74LR2BMBdUEOcSI8Lk19fN2EuOFyMSatpSSlSaOGC2zRXQS00-DGOyGk4vdZrm391g7suclTEpgP_UiYKMHVg0g0DknfuQieiZ9gZMPUEgP3_BY8Uue9r_NOUfgB24/w640-h426/AGPigeon_H2I2734.jpg) |
African Green Pigeon (Treron calvus) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2KjwVWs0zQYtNBPgvXUB8PKGc64Yji7dhp8AxmckmwryZfWQ2O4ZmQtAxVE7qH8nJBXa9a5RXBFuZGLOscLNyfMSeOspfZtPlJ2deu2-am678rCnf04yRjmGBjEYJtx1c3_KqLoHE6Lb/w640-h426/AGPigeon_H2I2944.jpg) |
Size difference against African Olive Pigeon |
On morning my wife alerted me to a large grey bird on the roof of our neighours house, it turned out to be not one, but two African Harrier-Hawk's scoping the birds at my feeders. Luckily my camera was handy and I managed to get a few images.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJeVYaKOfWUXkoU67Q6ZlTnjUNTn9TNhdaMbuUZdEr2DyaSURtcGjPmSpCoT2-7TLCXrW1A-4kvjv9EvOkh7mvq19Fc0UIjswNaBpLQ50cs29Xkladw7BwVYKZpnauRdlcQTzu0V0bKqdo/w640-h426/AHHawk_H2I3299.jpg) |
African Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides typus) |
I had a bumper month with African Black Duck, with a max of 6 birds on one of my morning walks
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLr_aznkltU9XTme7E-OcQWwcnM3UP7vnsxOQuhH-nPyEC7ls52TPUElTvHoLRwsIi1tCjHd7Q5M9viVImRC2NDTj9LNpF8xWBIniyCKSLZKYtkXQO_JlLdG_VbcbggBQowQhKY4Qzw0R/w640-h426/ABDuck_H2I2676.jpg) |
A pair of African Black Duck (Anas sparsa) |
Another good bird was an obliging Purple Heron in the early morning winter sun at the main park dam
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqsKdF5yRbUfewKtqBfw9s5DP20n-b2jQPpCwtBxHRS2gx6I9qcOyQKYPr6aH8jazqpgdQS9IL8Zn8BAVeOHfnWMLFeyMnff-E1jbfpwIhebq64kfQtdkUWt2TEo1aDK3ZfRtNfOPk9X6C/w640-h426/PHeron_H2I3054.jpg) |
Purple Heron (Ardea purpurea) |
The Wattled Lapwing are still present in the park
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81Fia_CSHC-79yRGClqLQe-z4qGDSE9Z9GbE3iELl2bVFrI1yMF__a0VQGjQq7O1cKEJrJL2kq3lqoJurBFqmyfwXN-H2bA9N_x3wNV9yCnQg1-fL4kbtXf_fuKV9JSWp98Kzne7gOnsy/w640-h426/AWLapwing_H2I2581.jpg) |
African Wattled Lapwing (Vanellus senegallus) |
As are Fiscal Flycatcher's
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXdpD3xnlU0LoBfrJ1S7-k0mlmrlCyYl3O9GM-Al5f4AX81sAeCrGjtTID1-tKFLedYPxd1Vwd3QW9Oh6Bf-l5fE3v7F6cu8IGB2N8K-7HeGA58-AAsjW-YpKpJUGOQ7FPgObETubEf5bT/w640-h426/FFlycatcher_H2I2433.jpg) |
Female Fiscal Flycatcher (Melaenornis silens) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCwr-szMs3_tU3Zu2oZ-G9v3fXQDP0RpJ7GlfG3f6gR8cEwRm9kEfYKecynIgN_R9BZ1YM8BaLqG5USA4IQZyZKIwiArxRmnM84b8bISp4uMxD4GXhN7AtbSNod4ITnOis7_DSTjEjAXOD/w640-h426/FFlycatcher_H2I2595.jpg) |
Male Fiscal Flycatcher (Melaenornis silens) |
and Southern Fiscal
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpmVULYQ07ShYdLe1A6yPosQY5XkuTMsdMtawXpg1-68xYIqBjgutEOdgKhkBFcQqR7omed26VduUGeL4yAVxYo-Len05QriEuwEcMt_7i_7xuB8WYP7d_dhnWqGMhe2PGjdzuov9Ee5ix/w640-h426/FShrike_H2I2424.jpg) |
Southern Fiscal (Lanius collaris) on a cold morning |
and at the dam, Thick-billed Weaver
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_YlYJSzB_VrE-lwbbjvWKVmpexseotbR5wX4Qeyoxf_rCTYbB3rPdby_347QTua0aNMGPPwtf6zM-7qehGmxEQTrjT-HpDXG7Al2DcFoqYjelplp5kI_fNkW951XgAI-aYMgf-Pqf5YRz/w640-h426/TBWeaver_H2I2425.jpg) |
Male Thick-billed Weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons) |
Southern Red Bishop
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJkgIj2kN-pXZwCVYAJQere9XfAhXUtZolf0YBhmBAsL-Xv2hIviVoZi4nQKaNhK8DyDXqbayULsemiU2S2PKSji0g7H8gVKM_SlYyAElYTCm-p_m0aNm3SuSDVlTfA39tmM2avdDS_-5G/w640-h426/SRBishop_H2I2567.jpg) |
Winter plumage Southern Red Bishop (Euplectes orix) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjC8b93TlOw7wjo04z5tKq2P0FgFqnasDskcltQFZIu8f59RMrzblt3adtv_gWiogx3So9fvlTOE7T6ejVWhnHQ0hlbr1bN_jj4sG8r-ASLJztisyoWgNQIRWfG7VJYIDY2MimCpLeOu8Yw/w640-h426/SRBishop_H2I2579.jpg) |
Some colour coming through |
and Southern Masked Weaver are regulars
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEXdniQ5yJ6Vu2rHEPgtb6N3rFwJ0Lpy2AmU8QNXDM_7h5hiGXBZir02OCOyH_FlQnkrmvD0GwP5DRlilUhPCNB0iGZn0zyW0l0vKlxLAnd5PI572gN08OvxwByCCk3BYPOdn2LIuziSFG/w640-h426/SMWeaver_H2I3118.jpg) |
Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus) |
With Reed Cormorant sometimes dropping in
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2LCGHUuPYJMTvIsUFoU57DkY0mGZSqr1XbSTlTB7Qd1JshM7O4DOLFegpdyLzirrD5CC_S3yJg86U6N7RWBldJemYeEGGYZY_F2I7HEPoEfXaj3M5xo7Lrr-gbWJfoxszuuYI4LS2mnjh/w640-h426/RCormorant_H2I2563.jpg) |
Reed Cormorant (Microcarbo africanus) |
Occasionally we have Sacred Ibis passing by overhead
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVRHJ2BLvd5xY9QQC8W3cLbHseMm9ek8sVGVcpxmpZQ66rWE_m9ZH428gXA1BzM4Dnmab7aiPjMgBabOlDTdTHI8cz7V5uE3qBP66gbwwPaHOPtjZDcQ0cEcXdfFnUH3CrF2UjOfu_jGo/w640-h426/ASIbis_H2I2998.jpg) |
African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) |
In and around my house, Cape Robin Chat
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTOQXtGrA_-VcjNkFj11feg3fOfnvDADWqPgkWz1YQWTX2YIhBA1WcJPIblMHnjdxCo4N8oBnWoH2AmjeNBkbQbcDsfWRHWmF7KahTOiq-nGY1RVgPWnZ72flFEIw6IIfnaLxgKoDMvEym/w640-h426/CRChat_H2I3191.jpg) |
Cape Robin-Chat (Cossypha caffra) |
Karoo Thrush
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFBX49ouqGWlVGVKD4fEFTjaRGuCeRdrVTQ0GsMNqWCnSyCdq0KIUOBHHTjXmr37XivReLfqAuPo061tiaP7vNPXh5CKda5Qff5Fhh1T_uCfyDQq0JdxtT2QF_8AdZVC4TJlibrDKu3_VG/w640-h426/KThrush_H2I2714.jpg) |
Karoo Thrush (Turdus smithii) |
Both resident Sunbirds; Amethyst
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLp9UU4_KFGxypl622AZIcQrFjckb-FhjJ2hAr7O4St4BnxkfEgBgUb7syw2qcTAz5NDrgYX9rkCGqmJP2rcKhtl808GONAYvMeAiZkHt6ZIzKth8sT3rZIUFm13iSLu9kpz_NCmqi-iCl/w640-h426/ASunbird_H2I3032.jpg) |
Male Amethyst Sunbird (Chalcomitra amethystina) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5IvbRYTBA8zFfBzMpjgKSAFvVQnxkJfgtjn1aBfh61O2TWTqqaXUO61j-tPqhy07BELCnCYW7a_Un5IdRaXekNbWuV1f7ZkEFofh8WayTiPCiT5xrwVegJ7xav2QnOlg2VQs3HE2VsLCo/w640-h426/ASunbird_H2I3039.jpg) |
Female Amethyst Sunbird (Chalcomitra amethystina) |
and White-bellied
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-4r9Hbz-Fqo5zmGZTDL6TxheoUBkQkh-5hZwvQsjuErh0soLZpmfjLfFnhTYvwU2WIrSVs0sb0Owaicxpd69gRwxwn5wtkZlPARscaO2byAUMZX0LUPwzhlZ08opWSN1cleLd335dm6pP/w640-h426/WBSunbird_H2I3038.jpg) |
Male White-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris talatala) |
Green Wood-hoopoe's noisily announce their presence before you see them
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMPalCN4YvytGXg9hd44RGOvOL1WQcjP3HB4zUzWfXdyJgkBqlF40RLSUZbeYeC5n1u4pb82ffg295LaiZLojJ-OuLjAyrzXMXU2Tm6JSoBm9wTHa1lN_tVv_7u_5D5KDLEW3tT1e8U7ZA/w640-h426/GWHoopoe_H2I3182.jpg) |
Green Wood-hoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus) |
I get both Cape Sparrow
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTmYXC3FRcgqezoyPlzobjpY5bU3cGBzZGfTZXzMWlQQ2iN7O93M8ruE4y6mxFcpuQNoiille-ZMxJWYgvffiZlxv1MGt6eOigd-pkibMN9YT7VSl-7YIumhDXlXp0Wcxv0ws2Z5In3sBE/w640-h426/CSparrow_H2I3101.jpg) |
Male Cape Sparrow (Passer melanurus) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixQV8RFJbX6su8pFPDEEOPkm_PRsY9Ae2lzxztB3wxuHrv1aXo2-hQHHR1PvkAWL_rHWH6csk80YtsLYHqfay0UgVKOkTp8W4aor2pJPzwv7QvQ_hNSiI0kqeVhOjFvFuZiG1vVr0znsOi/w640-h426/CSparrow_H2I3108.jpg) |
Female Cape Sparrow (Passer melanurus) |
and Southern Grey-headed in the garden
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuDLjW-ocgYKRnfj8-rQvqbdH7DwN0GrsFUBPmBnXK4EW3MAG-AWqZjzuw-F9sT7W3BaD5zgfAuZtKvcETsRIaXsOs5bUPO3F7ngRE6iCN6kgP729ZWWSnBTPuGUtfrbcdfOzNn4q0m0dj/w426-h640/SGHSparrow_H2I2792.jpg) |
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow (Passer diffusus) |
Along with the Grey Go-away-birds
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHFL5QESXTeUSmkyBUhmbWnITs2mjRFcgV9sF_a7SYUZKGLTEaoTLcHvVBMOLW6lTzr7kEzUgcBK_K_WS1KBkYRoKboGdpQM3unzqXujdJtHDTLE_D2pI5558TA0qQW9dcTOrIHU65fWKR/w640-h426/GGABird_H2I2983.jpg) |
Grey Go-away-bird (Corythaixoides concolor) |
Red-eyed Dove
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0bLmL0lUw_k3mUHuECz5GfN7W1BPAe-tm1NOvMjrrkRJvvjIOH7oWqeIZQ7WO4OuG-aW7dyhNkYmBQRw5NpP07CLBvYFfIbBU4tKSo93gfROqVjLOpfcp9xWTDmlC8xv78czHLQr3TAIY/w640-h426/REDove_H2I2984.jpg) |
Red-eyed Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata) |
and Rose-ringed Parakeet's
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsvqRGQH4DqWs4CwevSo08RT3fggLcrUB3A1gOojCW1QHKYgqUhWTACR3qdEKYQ_tnKmsWuYj4mUCH3Etn6Pfg4rPoou3_rpr1YVZ6rV2NN-f3KWBBI7PB2V0ic_FS5TlQKvZda5BrfBV3/w640-h426/RRParakeet_H2I2875.jpg) |
Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) against a blue winter sky |
I see small flocks of Speckled and Red-faced Mousebird's regularly, but photographing the latter is not so easy - although I managed some this month.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX-krJKD3jOKuT0f_KGSqFtTZ4dbAgJIo7dJv7Oim8vKw6M4Db17MOr6_CvdFz5FSQyELcoKXztG9PboHtTmZ7Jh0QF-2yUbHfLdlw-48bZNaFvLGAhdlk8E3prRl7Ns56RjAKaRcyZbYx/w640-h426/RFMousebird_H2I3171.jpg) |
Red-faced Mousebird (Urocolius indicus) |
To end off, another early morning skyline of Sandton City with Jozi CBD in the background. While we braze ourselves for another cold month in July
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-FMk4C3ZeQ_CG7HYfqJCLeXRJhuH6kKseWuAozLfsPvVO6Yl2mucowPN6g2BGdH-aB59Jd8yUgY06fEuw-3arWIjvOzW7VwyBTYiTmgTlh980lZWegmG5c9vSjTFTe3rxn_jUNYY7G2FD/w640-h426/Skyline_H2I2943sepia.jpg) |
Sandton and Jozi Skyline |