17 May 2025 - Suikerbosrand
This was my first and long overdue visit to this highveld reserve this year and I was hoping to catch some of the early winter visitors that can be recorded here.
As always, a stop at the Mugg & Bean on route to enjoy on Eendracht Road while the sun was rising. I just enjoyed the dawn chorus before heading to the gate where there was already a queue of cars with hikers and bikers waiting to get in.
Suikerbosrand has certainly picked up in popularity over the past year. Once through, I headed to Reception and enjoyed exploring the habitat on the various walking paths. Red-throated Wryneck's were calling close to the car park
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| Red-throated Wryneck (Jynx ruficollis) |
Around some of the picnic areas, Mocking Cliff Chats looking for scraps
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| Mocking Cliff Chat (Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris) |
Red-eyed Bulbul's are not as obliging as their cousins in urban Gauteng
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| African Red-eyed Bulbul (Pycnonotus nigricans) |
I also had Fiscal Flycatcher of which there are numerous around Reception
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| Fiscal Flycatcher (Sigelus silens) |
I lucked out with one of the winter specials - Fairy Flycatcher which are really tricky to photograph as they hardly ever stay still!
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| Fairy Flycatcher (Stenostira scita) |
There were a few Bar-throated Apalis around too
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| Bar-throated Apalis (Apalis thoracica) |
As usual, I spent more time than planned in and around the reception and as I was short of time, didnt have enough time to do the full circular route. So, I spent a little time on the dual track road, finding another winter special - Sentinel Rock Thrush against the sun
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| Sentinel Rock Thrush (Monticola explorator) |
Followed by a Cape Bunting
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| Cape Bunting (Emberiza capensis) |
There were a few of the resident reptiles warming up in the sun - I suspect this pair are Ground Agama's
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| Ground Agama (Agama Aculeata) |
These are the more common Highveld Crag Lizards
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| Highveld Crag Lizard (Pseudocordylus melanotus) |
While on this rock we also have Southern Rock Agama joining the Crag Lizards
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| Southern Rock Agama (Agama atra) with the Crag Lizards |
On the way home, I realised that this was the most reptiles I had seen on any previous visit - so that in itself was quite special
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