06 May 2023 - Mabusa Nature Reserve
Richard Crawshaw, Selwyn Rautenbach and I were up early to depart for a half-days birding to Mabusa Nature Reserve just outside the Gauteng border in Mpumalanga. We arrived just after sunrise on a crisp winters morning and checked a road on the south side of the reserve.
We heard Shelley's Francolin, but no visuals. Whilst having a quick coffee this Streaky-headed Seedeater flew in - great golden light against a winter background of dry highveld grasslands
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCidlM6yuBaJ1EeS56kWH0TrqrP-PjmqQRYyJklv_nLcOVUrK4sxnxE_4CD23MNYc7dTUopVoVaJL5yJFJJso8N-ErHQhJj07H7aFgq5NP_1n483TneQlSV0Of7jzWyC4EZ_fkAHp1ubuxFFDy4u9olPIxK0mVFJ2EIQd3aUpefRzu7INrKZL9eFxSJ6hd/w640-h426/SHSeedeater_H2I3926.jpg) |
Streaky-headed Seedeater (Crithagra gularis) |
We then headed through the gate of the reserve and picked up a few Larks. A Fawn-coloured Lark was seen, but it was off again before we could capture it in pixels, but there were a few Rufous-naped were around
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyS-3-6u0PnfUKqqZh8-aaSwgMZF-WFMPp4Vjqym4dbWatYIUH8J8_OOSqxEFUhRZxDab4z-_fUgrZNOBhjnENFW4He-Kx7So-b4CO3oKsyp7TaQ-6xpQ_ISQd5hTqAUdqDVDq9vp9LOhrRyrWqO9Fs_5SPf1sOm9gbnmJAtqWu66rh6ItMp7nk2OxzsC3/w640-h426/RNLark_H2I3959.jpg) |
Rufous-naped Lark (Mirafra africana) |
Then surprisingly, a displaying Flappet Lark
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVuQaaOJx8cEaux-ahwg8DRERxcNWtipbEsS3omBD47YlCUn_4kBBbgiZyFrDP8XVAzd-Whzs1UKeOiIQwGf8ee7_JqVBQzIFhWWzwOobK5erz9KA1oZMfrh9twaXqibpOKiM4Il0kn6C0pMmD7hKberg5mJWhhc8mjQT0k4x16yaGEM57Ku7Cy91B6QnZ/w640-h426/FLark_H2I3939.jpg) |
Flappet Lark (Mirafra rufocinnamomea) |
We stayed on the main road through the reserve, stopping and birding different habitats. We had good sightings of Green-capped Eremomela
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinqFxgrrNHWzZgutSkkz83QNqse1EGKlFIA3JS9Wda_cw66uaxK6KCZ8_Z6iwxwbFt4eJM_6XyyviEQqYbv49ez3bAruYv0Wi4zrGfzUcfOJmK6AXuJXXxOi4L73BR0Hld7K7rPztpPZuXkPVQ12KrNsimlKBJuIAm648ZIw9U626U9Zerj_Xo8Wztz0Yp/w640-h426/GCEremomela_H2I3963.jpg) |
Green-capped Eremomela (Eremomela scotops) |
and a little further a pair of obliging Lazy Cisticola's
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE50ShwWq7lDPf8NO0ZbLkCwZpVi1YgBpJ46d248_dfN5s__RfpiwzDJekZ4tqszrtRX0N53flNEmETtLSwh192v_X_5NkkukPguuTP5NZY8FDDoBJga7FpA6xBDnpSibd6BzCdR17T9VjZ2wjDsudqj49DurBY_4FDKCWqjFQPGB753nRxlbV7iGyH9BZ/w640-h426/LCisticola_H2I3993.jpg) |
Lazy Cisticola (Cisticola aberrans) |
Whilst watching the Cistics and Orange-breasted Bushshrike made a brief appearance, so had to take this 'through' the habitat
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjywqoJm7GA3QtUmYDiSXx8oZMrX4K9h8iEt-c7I0wsqpJjre6pvuzpRfH_9GQhmWpUP-wEu4WQsWlShWjSgEkWcK7WmI2CV6cwIFHai9RfpqLadZ9n_b__FsjUikkaJCYJCcbw3dH220YjWtVza9A_vH0TvBWzWDh3X9XPg7Th9O2QsOB1mXR_S2AJsBRM/w640-h426/OBBShrike_H2I3987.jpg) |
Orange-breasted Bushshrike (Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus) |
Selwyn mimicked the call of a Pearly and we were all surprised when one actually flew in, obviously causing mayhem with the other bushveld birds. Check out the 'false' eyes on the back of it's head
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxmHRnyse5HoV5B-vcnFnNrVyE3JL62J0gylupFP8hWsNogCvbqfVKHsKIbmguSJLGhOHnYWYL0KXm4BEELU03lzOKW8bdqAQWiPmAGYPEglRnel8qvQLoniKqqjkhQ53HIAUKlB2bOUoQ7qLRN2HoGBluQ5WIvv7ObBrysPfDMySztk56oSwyhrAz4pW0/w640-h426/PSOwlet_H2I4025.jpg) |
Pearl-spotted Owlet (Glaucidium perlatum) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz5y8lNWhP2jDtmwD1Jvnjx1Jm-8gpD8X2EYDPm_ixKDkhrdNZM1SCk7WXq_x12thoTPqxcubmozig3kYqRez49I4y_xpE6a7WsneqRGwwA4cp5h_cAU2Y6jAVkxJ5Dza4JvcoXNPgyxnEjyOl6Cy9Er623WBuH986U6Loy9wRJTiqkVqZIvVbqazbHCs0/w640-h426/PSOwlet_H2I4041.jpg) |
Check the 'false' eyes |
A Grey Hornbill casually flew by
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGjHnLtOvvOesrAMLU8TNpvY5Qf3-vlCE8Cuuu0yrqcSJ8fMbfD7P9qvRS6Z3WdgnyGt8Ck-IP-xjdcLjTz3izqZzfFiPt9YND2dAGGP1B8Icar-RUEE4-5eQfU15gIJLZ94W6g5QB5cgjZTd-CCydHnW8ptMlwyU5CWmHqRLRN8tBf3dL7WCaVvBGl_by/w640-h426/AGHornbill_H2I4051.jpg) |
African Grey Hornbill (Lophoceros nasutus) |
We noticed a pair of African Hawk-Eagle's thermalling overhead
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9FmPziILX2IL0Bl284rGzYUTcQTaz5oW9ANOiGUzMF3nMjPI0BcUe3M8LkTNHJU84Q243RkSobWOVs4RRZzxgTBQ5jbhupGlVyOBaf7omngftnyLg81c6p5GtMjeGv1ewb9cc0o-GLdJy-KC4yvyDZEMOqJYPVdPIaE0gz9Z-tI-w_FowFoEWzUzeoj7A/w640-h426/AHEagle_H2I4057.jpg) |
African Hawk-Eagle (Aquila spilogaster) |
Down at a river crossing, we heard Red-faced Cisticola in the reedbed, a good record for the morning. We then walked along the river, trying to locate the Heron. First up was a pair of Black Duck on the river
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMnZnjjYhH6KfD7eScek9cMrrLkcuKdnLObdC0axOf5M8kU_4HiLnSBVDfJUoqRyhrmM9bj_cS1esopw4g_pCGv0DRU19fBxKr-LI4nk7wS38vDfV8YiET3Jec7FTTCBAMf6J6ERZn98l_-laOGL6QbUGi5X9dRedQgAg5muNHzeTfmK4xgW-ibmpEyW7b/w640-h426/ABDuck_H2I4059.jpg) |
African Black Duck (Anas sparsa) |
Then the White-backed Night Heron flushed out of a tree on the river bank, but rather than fly toward us, it flew in the opposite direction which was frustrating - but a tough bird to generally connect with. I was happy to at least get a record image and the way my older DSLR tracked the last image through the foliage.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0VhNDEJeB_ZpgA12Lvh8fxnn4ZA1Kp9mqg2HDVhIH9kFAnp04Dp7qunTc2P-CrVjiSWXZcL2WsIikg7tu0W1WEjdU2hUhzH1IcKBvOHeD7QIf2ELUmWgtf45BiwU93ZxFx6_0oiILYIQu8bh7uwNzM-I2SHsQI-TVFzRuVcQuk4jTPTXLoE0pn9fdN-3u/w640-h426/WBNHeron_H2I4066.jpg) |
White-backed Night Heron (Gorsachius leuconotus) |
Walking back to the car, we had a pair of Bushveld Pipit's that were also quite obliging and allowed me to take a variety of images as I slowly walked closer. Which is your favourite - more or less habitat?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSdDCj0ai7MLJFwwA4AcNReLLXUj9TS3fQYpJomrAjSaMNoDSIZ_pbaF6OaUPfBGWhP8PCmDaJx2BOwlNFXsmBfuDozY03qpVO1qL-eu8CaZR-8nLdv_exaEa6FnV22kZqU5rb_JaiE9YdRGE5AQLJOueic7_LJ3ke4VMU6NFOuDo3qRTYgt2QeO3UqUCd/w640-h426/BushPipit_H2I4081.jpg) |
Bushveld Pipit (Anthus caffer) |
By now it was time to start heading home. On the freeway near Tukkies we spotted a soaring raptor and managed to get into the emergency lane to grab a few pics out of the window - juvenile African Hawk Eagle to end off a great mornings birding in an area I had not visited before
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij_FTMFKgV1IQb9L1DB7yadNAO6QeLqRlYkzVmVYGzit92zyOU-SB_Gx-mW9HtexTnMFzPycHXGE44ynD8Wm0ffawWF_KQ70f8AzTtF-3OCJWzGk817O1w4coeiEv2ZgT-iPkr5PaREd-qRp5w17vNexH0DmXC47abx0ViZ160_C28LFtTQ6cwIimiIxJ2/w640-h426/AHEagle_j_H2I4117.jpg) |
Juvenile African Hawk-Eagle (Aquila spilogaster) |