21 June 2022 - Northern Farm
I thought it would be interesting to have a mornings birding on the shortest day of the year in the southern hemisphere. Northern Farm has a decent habitat diversity, so that was the choice. Unfortunately, Andre couldn't join, so it was to be a solo effort.
I arrived at 7am, just as the sun was rising and headed to the quarry where there is a large stand of Wild Dagga, although the peak flowering has since passed. I was keen to see if the Yellow Warblers were still around, but whilst waiting I did find White-bellied
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-0lbCefU4dF8ew8QT68KW9k7kL6O3QzJSftIiqaJl2cfrprHx6jTSME2ivIk5_ALNaIqwEkmmeNInR2fRs6G3GSe0m3AUVwIFGzIi7igIGMZ6jSaYQvrehKL9Dx9puyhP1_YzIBbQnQC8UdEumxPQnOHKyS44v2imogBNIfUy6_EUihsG-7l7aGEgyA/w640-h426/WBSunbird_fem_H2I2080.jpg) |
Female White-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris talatala) |
and Amethyst Sunbird
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEisXtZZH3Y_etyAZpbsfLlKJNRAxflqH_MwHUJiNGbRFI9JLb9NQ8OBC5h3M3q8AYwxUSl9cH9WTnGZ8G3L0phL4v5aHq6v7Jmnzi-5RRrGNSi4pl7LjZIla-PGf2YAXZUj3HL1NLc0pgtA9eqaa2Sd37DVDS2iE3NpZ4w_xnpgZJSCf_RP8EqhemrxxQ/w640-h426/ASunbird_male_H2I2142.jpg) |
Male Amethyst Sunbird (Chalcomitra amethystina) |
I then heard the distinctive call of the Warbler and managed to track down two birds, which were a little more elusive than on our last visit. It is a great bird for this site and Gauteng
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXvf2Y-72FGYAkWza2-iKjzn4TzOxL2lShOFaBfphfvuV5qitinbonMShlmIzKzmiLyaBR8xBds2vmS-KSb3yOnz92i7G9qYVtacOxiQQ19Kzl-sQyPH1neR7uOWccVSENbzg5rkksfqTjqcJw_DfNkKeHXvLRuIonOtCRFjxerGJIlOh0lObpauRd7A/w640-h426/AYWarbler_H2I2069.jpg) |
African Yellow Warbler (Iduna natalensis) |
A couple of Sacred Ibis passed by overhead - these are common at this farm
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcT2Eixu0twNlPKjNiqT6b5mDDNmNTYGRbJYH2NLkppAfAbfyQ5APthqh8vDEEhTwNt2ITD1BmgPMfqoQCsOiq5MlP_H6TsUJGs7TBqFiLS8_FzysMA0B7UZqOQDjDxV7_ouQ5NNmxfvopji3P7QNUgQL_QXSm77DyG9z3iRxWx4Yyc3IRp98t6J_HQw/w640-h426/ASIbis_H2I2091.jpg) |
African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) |
A trio of Blacksmith Lapwing were vocal on the top of sand bank
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4qL4_ShC7RTkbE2vBaoWONTq9QYgJW9ANCq_Lz29tnzk82rIs9ZhtIE2EJveQ0gBxnpBo9ReNoH5ogZnNrGy1LoJ5JJV5dmYMO5bnME_abs2znF2_TEOAtsBgbw9ZCtOrKwczA_epqhI9vBzVuvwYf9IPea9OI8kHirqkyZ3h453BRujA31tNaeRSWQ/w640-h426/BLapwing_H2I2090.jpg) |
Blacksmith Lapwing (Vanellus armatus) |
A little further down the road, a female African Stonechat was soaking up the early morning sun
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo8cFQN2-I8mbEXRU4IrXDz70VF2C5gic6dUyInGEpaJzo6Y8blzvG8vt3qPWE3etZY3-w_bJqPIGXeTRqWP-ZuxL6pxPgh2Iq59s78Ab0K559YeE6nkbLtFLcek4mEZVivMfxJGwfL2qIzDh5P0R1pRJY6FdPvWvOIaIY939ZhZ-3X7c3FLoIPwwnow/w518-h640/AStonechat_fem_H2I2105.jpg) |
Female African Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus) |
I then drove to the cow pens and added African Pipit
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr2mPEwNK8fV29WFM_yeZdQpOYVrRvhQzgCIdAjPNMWa7lJoXgGwZ6CovWI2mNCYre4wvSyXiAzXlPmMy_v6cGBtb_yCFxOxtL0kR-pzNHRCYVsH6IFCdVcpjIpPb4ajqBvAWoFYagUEmktp-NcmNB4mDUiDDxbpEVitW8bzN40yZG9IQSoFu1jYaoSA/w640-h426/APipit_H2I2164.jpg) |
African Pipit (Anthus cinnamomeus) |
along with Common Starling, also a difficult species in Gauteng
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7bDVHdhRlsdg-72T9Q6IUZKpumtt8_ARZwXxkT0X8v-NI1Q7bXMMs1Nr_T-ctK_IyPT_bicjJBkiuhqLPO5D7D5EBCy8tGCzEAqjYPs97HeW0fmE0Qoz2-97TZf740t1_AB-HIgypR9hNI_CXohBMbkqG3cUBZpKX_LDjuoDwSxkUvgdIy16UslnjWg/w544-h640/CStarling_H2I2296.jpg) |
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) |
A Cape Turtle Dove was seen perched on the fence
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyaJwVDW5I7xOTNA5a6JmQlIX6F8-Oi-8kho1vnSKcQJ0dNl6WHqBksegigQ3sQ-SbcNko0ISmeGmm5y4MG-tGFwDPJv0POn4_ZnFH3RL27b2FBCUvJmk0Cgb-r56gCCM9ydBTp4sSPpHKJzUHdopXqUU5WCd44d_aRZeyK1Y_WUmS4Z6EKmr4nWAUrA/w640-h426/CTDove_H2I2295.jpg) |
Cape Turtle Dove (Streptopelia capicola) |
Down near the Jukskei River, a Long-crested Eagle was perched out in the open, but then departed
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaVvv1XCQAjHUcHea-S54S85D0Pvwmi7sE0AL6sRSt8dTMRrAUb7CSfHK_EvnhzH8uRGn4Dug-tZP_illBL7npafuB_IEBOVY-gTL6dof7_QirNLChtbEObTYc4Qj4knsEQ-GanM5hoNgxDSyu3tmifphwDVMDyspWxA0YHOkc9WZ_eyTnTxo0Wmk1LQ/w640-h426/LCEagle_H2I2165.jpg) |
Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis) |
A couple of Egyptian Geese flew by to head to one of the ploughed fields where many were seen later on my drive
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWnW0PknnFLA4j2bL8DRbwcmbdW7ijvJpoblwc0Utb4DBFpkkKIX4oHsJIHeOxg4HmDSFisaN_GM78z81aAb8kcBbdB336pMa-0mmGrGYFGSxpLZQWDym5c2-c7S9rg6qdR5cIu2Bd_E3W3UnmSbje5Qd5TOwJy9_j2dw8IYgGDBncMTAARGYh-jcdww/w640-h426/EGoose_H2I2179.jpg) |
Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca) |
There were many Black-winged Kites about - a mix of both adult and younger birds
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs4jTNHoyOPmfsTDvYqPRu4UFhU8Tn3xDsEDIaT6v0osuUQ_BIXfQmdZvtugXuFKrl1itt1sUrkwbvmujQHLNf4CNPc0vFj9PdatYqS86V9B1xvj0ejN2lY61tDEgSrb2oH6-V8BPdK4JvOuvQ43BWSYU_LD0Xv3a1cNv9dvMD29b7Ob_4xuyIYbEYvg/w534-h640/BWKite_H2I2152.jpg) |
Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus) |
During the morning I explored most of the farm adding species as I went along. A pair of Hamerkop were busy adding to their massive nest near one of the smaller dams
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5sRy_hybrIxbf-LjVNSUx-PH6fb2EGbVxqrD8vTWYs7JLQkaLZgEmezoMZIX9FiMmtWeH3-UhOKoU0u6VskY6rCUM4JUQ80hn_kZzRtbpHhS9ERNYZqHq47DNK7NvgorN0svFY2o9oaInecJBvAPoxb1g6evJyqwJ-kmFKMb04jyvZhW91tjgDUzKjQ/w640-h426/Hamerkop_H2I2199.jpg) |
Hamerkop (Scopus umbretta) |
Overhead I picked up a distant Black-chested Snake Eagle
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmeFB91ebuo28VLuJNSkaSkw3eWOa5c46dclJxrI6rAlG6iMMBFawiSPYYFlIFJuibzGu8YuZIKjkmtGSJd8612D4AdwHlGgZsszjcqY4tJeKUoPPspHKVaYG-QFp_ONfXMG3VS7Z0pFJVbT-noeStIw6EaXBRgvI7AROi_RoLYhpRgHv5vklCS0BU2A/w640-h426/BCSEagle_H2I2217.jpg) |
Black-chested Snake Eagle (Circaetus pectoralis) |
And later an even more distant African Fish Eagle
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtnUqyAeKRDim8vxmRmP4YhuS_F3NarE7yD7aT5-5co5Q7czYQhQorsTEjiJHvDKef7jHZGZi2MALOxGvJqkUh3I4Mf3J-oehNDXM7s1pe17jwCuQD-vnnRuRxM-lFpcmcfzq_2087u_DWxKPhPABvzC_RMemkO2bfpD0yKDBxTWhD4Lw1dnzXC7_fIg/w640-h426/AFEagle_H2I2220.jpg) |
Immature African Fish Eagle (Haliaeetus vocifer) |
In the grasslands, more African Stonechat
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxWXjra1jjFmtir3FDEErjqLnqdIF_BzgDr6ndr9_kx1r0QUXKULUBMbJM_exMlzLi56dsYuT7s0eMv_mTo8cdeyExC-4_bwOcmtbuSSG5ijNGkV0dELk4oPT8qSrsF498KlExKSSuQaUvP__GAgmmPgUMCcC_RXhfR4r9i8Is0SrZYDhO5lPGTIdJLg/w534-h640/AStonechat_male_H2I2257.jpg) |
Male African Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus) |
And Black-throated Canaries
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyEYApEkREWdmVoqKRnmpSpcsf01SuFAQl1So4v-mUivpfjED-MQovW2iW53bDyMfNCFYYYbJuZ36DE5x8JLwR8FP7cPY-9rqIoywDiqy-JFxpZVoLrGwEeg0VZDgXz0sVElJI1Jhg4vNPjW0Fw_j8jOF_yrVruOM8u09YnWx1rnkWRvf3t755HXdOZg/w640-h426/BTCanary_H2I2133.jpg) |
Black-throated Canary (Crithagra atrogularis) |
I headed back to the quarry to check on the small dam and this time was rewarded with Goliath Heron
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyjsqi6WejngfpzUA8T_0BK_5KngrsK1xf4OWMaebuowe8V3lRXPkU6SF8lipOWzxGuEI8Q1GbRLBndrCjdseF6xzBOhM1y8Hx2_Sg46z6x0930agVubyqIPLiXZpmFezkYLk4pWyQc_QOid8e9B9viblPpoywH1HuWfrJPOLkA6K4i2EGo1f-7-rfqg/w640-h426/GHeron_H2I2267.jpg) |
Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath) |
And the Blue-billed Teal that I had seen previously in the same location, along with White-faced Whistling Ducks
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpP5mChPWK2r7w8YHCumKRADA_d1jpLLQ85xRZE8RpFpv7UWUTv5gOXEGW-rrBZBlxLww8ct2wJvRTB_as7PYZDZbqLBXQuzUTTktRyS9MSYg5QR1Ofc9LUexgmd74WgN6xKUvDDxAfABK_guexxFf4PIoRs0WWh8XCSROPnrU65ebDYx_pA_ucFkuA/w640-h426/BBTeal_H2I2270.jpg) |
Blue-billed Teal (Spatula hottentota) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxoKM62PTsJ5k2N7F-nFZQpDfrxX3CqiipnySslSZf20aOXAapzUjDBME_nGZpvMPPDJf0EFyj9W9JT6n9Ya4J-jt7mlf9FsKTxSxYipaqC0KVRYp4nbHYpY9SJnWyqJPs474ur1x4XfLs8iuUUy5SNNBlmPDpexLXczDVV0PGamKBLW9fhXEPXMe4AQ/w640-h426/BBTeal_H2I2274.jpg) |
White-faced Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna viduata) and Blue-billed Teal |
My last stop was at the main dam and found a single Cape Teal which is an excellent species for Gauteng
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaAZHFsfIFpizA6QxvGhwkaARwiaQ6BJaaYkK-GFiH9fVUXAQL89ddT_k4sSZNbAIxKkczudmbH2klwZcsAaXbI92jmecmxYzqTowU3VZHKbsPOgVycZ6t3o0FDwZHAY8y34qUSuKXYdJCR1mD2Sl_AIonHeIPTWw4DQiQvNA0g98hy16zvGaPVzxbfg/w640-h426/CTeal_H2I2223.jpg) |
Cape Teal (Anas capensis) |
Along with a number of Southern Pochard
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoDzFLWYgDVsWO1qpjBiOSCukXXyK6cdTMpSjzc0vqmd9TUhKVl5XY09AlnX6YXy5VTxTdeb0qVzPEgrTLnBu7Gdta75NYVhjM16eTGmEEZ-sfwqt2XbfaIzn8x8IOGbR9xetzN0eJRkAhoAuHz5IC86aTdbURclRTCeoZE5KBpJd_ieBLLCXQ2L83hg/w640-h426/SPochard_H2I2255.jpg) |
Male Southern Pochard (Netta erythrophthalma) |
The Pied Crows were harassing the Heron colony, possibly trying to get to young chicks and this kept putting all the Herons up in the air
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDzeJ2ogXhyZ9HvAetJkaucQjOksqUNd6Je5ln-nlH_fXLEiEGImnHzYNHA0VnuLAs8Z-PDXGU8J_0p1RpcE5JHpSjUE5ankxbIqxe9BKAlXxGIGaKW7XXiCxPYE6eVLt9gcn1jQTOHKUxpb1e1PrC75i4p5Oq44Yk6SKPosc_-l2JDVcFLOERg-aulg/w640-h426/PCrow_BHHeron_H2I2241.jpg) |
Pied Crow (Corvus albus) |
Here, one of the Black-headed Heron's before heading back to the heronry.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKk-7OpGE_YRIfjV36kwcz85lDYgeDO8yzViWSXBofyYr9WDL7yakmiwgbQVus2AvmytS6uC0oqDs4Ve6Nh4_vLUoNM6ubL-G5qoec9jfeNCzpWP3EA2a4OlyJ9L16puOm2aeg9BVgzit-As6fMazrsIGtYgWVu-8NPZ_2NZqF3pQvK7sKYB5Ed-RThA/w640-h426/BHHeron_H2I2313.jpg) |
Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala) |
I had a quick stop in the parking area before heading home and ticked Green Wood-hoopoe that appeared to be feeding young
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeNnmwAIVlnvc8tOinWnr_MAHKKsmFtgzuWVMeR9pvFKZKrZ2sBx6V6Xz7n4xLMJ8FoIFjXTzF6aBWvI3YwmqSbeT8oNvDvGq64Fw6u2_OK5wXFPG07FLa9LbWAZD7BWxLJa4bem8t0xYKVMkAhQcVKrIjkXVz_Qo2ZapAepWu7jcuRHnjEgY-DhbadA/w534-h640/GWoodhoopoe_H2I2312.jpg) |
Green Wood-hoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus) |
and then checked on the White-browed Sparrow-Weaver colony in one of the Acacia Trees
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMTzvD2X0k2J5L28wpOt3f8-KacOojCxJiAMsnFo3WdhxXsWcGIgUqR1bYewHdTDc8EeBMzwudMhFDszhjtL0xgIdX56f7EdOJbDRjZUxKjixXC5YbpRHCnT7OJ1559hM4EOmWWYmSM8iTVNVF2heDQO5fDMeACnO93EuwsLsibTA77tVOktpumnv4fQ/w640-h426/WBSWeaver_H2I2305.jpg) |
White-browed Sparrow-Weaver (Plocepasser mahali) |
Despite the clear but blustery conditions, it was a successful morning and I recorded 78 species, with some good birds for the Pentad.