10 August 2023 - Northern Farm
I spent a few hours on the Farm arriving just after sunrise and headed down to my first stop at the quarry hoping to hear or see a bird that is special and now synonymous with this site on the farm. I was not disappointed, as a single African Yellow Warbler was singing from the top of the tree I saw it on my previous visit - it was joyful
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0XvgM8cEBYm_1N1RY_vWIUeaXfLHSGmcgTUC_Pn_xwF9bYsyqRMy3uA5J4UK1fwMa9sUkhTwiQyKwj0mggrAXnEed-4x5o56yby2lVdEIIFBHhU57gcASenayX0d7BHoUGG4hBBGfLqKKwbedqf0QABB08QrsjT_0FOvjjEVQNJRuKh6xTWooy9KREDE7/w640-h426/AYWarbler_H2I8474.jpg) |
African Yellow Warbler (Iduna natalensis) |
I always end up spending more time than planned at the quarry and added Grey-headed Gull above the small pond. I love how Gulls extend their necks in flight - part of a display, I guess
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikqy0u-bQDXBuPzaDREiirhCX7gWLiVQX-0RjztOTbUkjMtyLrNEj-TEPS2-5TPlhxr4HU1K5KjpcHM2iUgZzMJVbYhGjrAbeWZpAqwwLQGQgKQ3ojCH43QWyACvk7oHBxPEaaLe83gIuZh9VrtMh2lB7tkJfzXIAI6MO3ir_KrO264E3K6UI485HF4SY9/w640-h426/GHGull_H2I8484.jpg) |
Grey-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus) |
Hadeda's are pretty common all round the farm
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmQqNQHniZDSyCL-NfZLr7-ar-Y0xCYZUqNY0euFsScf7HCe0GANgB0R0QoYrrajOUrlmfg7QmyDYicFOjrnMQIb5WM2beOxcc0klMwX_OrO7J7LTU-OfjIg8CF6ldX6Z5SPC2j88SoNBP1_51P-iRiDSgCe8GmVaa6EV1EISUO9G9lnTY16LDze58zT_w/w640-h426/HIbis_H2I8501.jpg) |
Hadeda Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash) |
A Goliath Heron came flying in and landed in one of the bare Willow Trees
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVDy0ZUmEM2QxGCmcJXuOoIGFM-1oaB-zPoTNOwUm18XC04ywAIBbyYAF2rgkv9R7xXcWhZpl4Rk-Zq27hS_IdyTRTdBKCBmat9nTfHPTHSteLFTGNcvs_G2MwTfLJNVZZG5HzRAN3fhk8S5BQiN-a1ywLWD5cm7OWoUlJXjycYc-pAN2csRxieFA0lhXP/w640-h426/GolHeron_H2I8503.jpg) |
Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath) |
There was a pair of Three-banded Plovers on the exposed mud of the pond
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2c1gRcJUIGcXG7BzIesEIMVBsIaGDWRRzvNRJmJEwx2jX1tPVxJ1VOkvsjvyZbUaffu0gCSfxm_FSl-Yy52Ui2J8hiH4MP4vNpcobEyJz0-L4yiPR9qz-Xn97dwBdoju5oChsTB-K5Qpw9PcJhE9brteobLZ2Aa_lz0wrnHs4skjz89NGYaHBj2LUR3N5/w640-h426/TBPlover_H2I8492.jpg) |
Three-banded Plover (Charadrius tricollaris) |
The Wild Dagga did not have any flowers, but still there was a White-bellied Sunbird around
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhogEckqZ1ERBy5JHdaZ_dMAhO0QoypgDtNOQX8lylPVFU92sCZk5T23aWenP1udeQe7iRtkr6DuLMMeRhac2sq9Mr3lPJ_uzJH_GvhbUkOICWPxDfYCrKF_dQlxXerzuG-7cCC6_bxPFrMM9OaaBKu7fKl-OKlD-zJpDs8D5Zj2cQoABKhloS6NzLCnMKy/w640-h426/WBSunbird_H2I8482.jpg) |
Male White-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris talatala) |
I then headed toward the cow pens, finding African Stonechat
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-5rhajmn783FtrL5yT8Za9AzwjGgSBZ8bRw8-YRu0svFzkTaB13KwjbkJXeNk2E5n1THoM9iQohwewfdf13HxhVs-tCvQg9kI64gpK9qsumO9d-9rYrkhyphenhypheneu-P-0ZNRtuxoKc4FHZfH1jdQHu_ebxOJG7Yjecoo-ds_zMUFiitiMfaktXOoYDlwVN8nQE/w534-h640/AStonechat_H2I8597.jpg) |
Male African Stonechat (Saxicola torquatus) |
And a few Common Starling on the overhead lines, not really welcome - but also a good record for the Pentad
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb0F6YUCf-q4qh3EbUvncxLTM7QzjBqbti6zKg6W8a6-i7kKMVRxrj1EJ-0wpFStNNGEOSCoiPHEWjl0NbMrEu6iFhGWq64kivDLDj-YVjX4dipm4X50mOVn7npUjZcf1C9vLiP4sI_HGOv-F-9dJRSfcDPhiYTpUTzQ-AbapnHN4Fn5pOrcMUf6In8ocH/w640-h426/CStarling_H2I8515.jpg) |
Common Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) |
Continuing on my circular route, a smaller dam had a number of Red-knobbed Coot with young - probably one of the ugliest baby birds you could see, in my opinion
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkQJAHPtzXpl-9qrjg2Kk8HzUuJejpxZNaqTF7eCWFsvKs8dTE-wIZDyhgpNL_s9bu2UzPkCY3GrZbiCiV6zMOxveDyMVoaTHqZ0xMuOQGJ_fu3ZdTh7kXVGZrffGoy6FjW1U5eZ4zon4s1uHNpGk-pPdzNi8uBxf_eqimKx16fcVqDIVbk2wAQdMZWBkz/w640-h426/RKCoot_H2I8519.jpg) |
Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata) |
In the grassland, I found a small flock of Orange-breasted Waxbill, a really good record for this Pentad - but only managed an image of the juvenile
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS6iaH3p40uUzh1HoO0jdZNDlFQDKd-CHwB1gdw-7JZTzDSZk7rGiPWRcpKOGyyTDjAJ454P_Q8cXAqkVKEOvshkbcjlzh5MZAcNVmALv8zhld6d2hvX9gURG1pwXW8Tqe-L_DZdm8b7qwd9nzgPsPe75OOeCaz-PWnUJmoFEdwaUPWh1NjjrhiKUeGhZ_/w640-h426/OBWaxbill_j_H2I8598.jpg) |
Juvenile Orange-breasted Waxbill (Amandava subflavus) |
My last stop was at the main dam, where I had an obliging Lesser Swamp Warbler feeding in and around the spillway
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPBD0fhdFUzZGa6vmuMLpj1EKupZn3nDhHwyRL2HOn2xTZC6Yt0LVlDwPmK3tEEQLJkC-PjPf9ELQr9QwavGOwqh2mfTLX4y0PwuwiHJbpqq89OFhXZoS4HAEloC6L0yWbUahWwsszgsIUT5vyFfbQtg5sIO9NCKSY6zw1V_VCyPnM_uP42PrsxwC1O-R0/w534-h640/LSWarbler_H2I8529.jpg) |
Lesser Swamp Warbler (Acrocephalus gracilirostris) |
A few Blue-billed Teal were feeding in the shallows
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMuSE6gkbLeYxnVLF8aybIrbnMrOsQCrm-Ou1vMhJPKIlrMhxvM_nptJJ2KPWM8GCdTOMq8INI3PUmd5v-QycR5j4Lu9Kzva1IOIZ0jT2vo4MdA1iFqfDkYib90bHESTdUZGmbCMeVy2N4kS9wS5aNEEVbmsqY0gnOK8o5D9KDjje1UR67rRDwZOpX95jP/w640-h426/BBTeal_H2I8623.jpg) |
Blue-billed Teal (Spatula hottentota) |
Yellow-billed Duck had bred successfully
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfQljBcZg2js7LXOvLJu_qmGFXM-_QcaWf84-u0z9SPEa2Xki6-fASwDhGBXJ3lDKfrkms75k11ERl_T4OCG3WLGW5x5gz4sHoxXT1INv3QBbQ9Nwb78NGeBfqIuegwDKduPc0hBx5ek2LWCA5uqbfVcSIdjtA55YJTJsk2w48E7mQND2eDjnBPK2t5vVx/w640-h426/YBDuck_H2I8608.jpg) |
Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata) |
Whilst this pair gave a great fly by, showing off the distinctive green speculum
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7Y_Q2YjUp1OUadcu5z4Zw51wEcxZ49dkjKSH3-yltI_jka47_j4kki8GNWX3E2iy30tBb_eU8PBMyAzxwsr2cA4G-zt0I0b3sy_IPio4wgU0V4gVO65fDnFgBKZB9f__hGnwJNmzW-NUyEOvLokG2ic0ZERqOQ57h_CvegcsFYovyzA-5yu9Y3W00Uctr/w640-h426/YBDuck_H2I8552.jpg) |
Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata) |
The Black-headed Heron's have started nesting in the tall Pine Tree
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5lLD0N8V3uNbB0uzrTZW93VK9TQar8l_PcRNeVij9wcDiHnPQsr561IN5QMBdb4BoXLjmE0CAFK8t_3dCMZrBch-ElvGdj-zsDQQ-qkEDlviTlgGXAQQjmR7ClVDrROhBMqWQ6fvi5F9chuYkZVr8HyhvGf2pUztXfLnNpGQjDnGalsS0v0ukO6O36DPU/w640-h426/BHHeron_H2I8567.jpg) |
Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala) |
Whilst below, White-breasted Cormorants are doing the same. Their droppings have almost turned the dead tree white
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguCEEvhsY5dnjW4hLhhTgvWZrpTt563A91_J3cEFL1uo9D7DQ2jWRr9XdihzHr57GIMKyaiA9nY3ozWJ3r72pRQXzsRkWc_tr6AHstPjFSF0UkLSfokdMNA6K4h_zEBnd0cNV7zG_Qh49yvu8rzrbbzhTkHPbkSr7fprT2G9EXO1hcYgD7iaw__0onuRiy/w640-h426/WBCormorant_H2I8582.jpg) |
White-breasted Cormorant (Phalacrocorax lucidus) |
Across the dam, this Cormorant had caught a sizable Barbel and it took quite some time before it eventually swallowed it - not sure how long that meal lasts before it needs to feed again?
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjde8O2NQqFW2iuVQFwBzc1ZAyXRGzvtqI7VTMBGdoQonvbCj89MK2xHPoyNOqGeEDyhPRPuQtLiJdXpynhphCJRwdKXbu6zFtPm6XzhS9wrfDe3__9wk0uepeOsfTaVuz_ltS3e7mB70hwfj3RiwXiAC2oVsvp0VB7F3lQC43Fi4zDtf9xYy94f_gy3xPB/w640-h426/WBCormorant_H2I8638.jpg) |
White-breasted Cormorant (Phalacrocorax lucidus) |
Whilst watching the Cormorant, a Black Sparrowhawk made a dash across the dam
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVO3l7-WPOpB4VTfzqpO0aUlUXbsis0BUMu5PMwh0rckKlhGZRDYinDPLjXa0y1Rgy30b_teYKaDoqHlH4HNvOEGLZBxXoBiXuHS9jvVYUkW1_LUVLcYSYN7rlZPcDCd5rk-AXIMVNxVJeNY93j06ejveqwLJXQZTV7dX3j35voleqCACmpz8mB1QyKDN3/w640-h426/BSparrowhawk_H2I8558.jpg) |
Black Sparrowhawk (Accipiter melanoleucus) |
It was then time to head home, but had a quick stop at the restaurant area where I found the Kurrichane Thrush. It seems to be an occasional visitor and is by no means guaranteed
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_Z0USQ_2iottG4ehOxgGLLX6hLwX7PDq3_iP8Eiu2FExSKLTGE23l6_YrqqG7w1ZVPpkaQj2dj38QzXWIWLRlOplRfJKpLo8XQzYEA6wqmj8rG5w4-Cwaf7aDASnAB_9tC9PzFVLzLo8tCzfUgJmxmEAJ0LuiKvkTn3PmUXWN4_zQjdkwHBo88ltUme7U/w640-h426/KurThrush_H2I8679.jpg) |
Kurrichane Thrush (Turdus libonyanus) |