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.