The Big Bird Challenge

14 June 2025 - Aloe Farm

Its always fun to set yourself a new goal or objective and to this end I entered myself in the 365-day Big Bird Challenge. In essence a photographic big year with entrance fees going to a conservation initiative. Of course, with the available time I have and the few trips I have planned, I set myself a target to photograph 400 species in a calendar year.

It seems a little low, but only once you start, do you realise its perhaps not as easy or straight forward as you think. It will certainly give my birding a whole new perspective, as normally birds you see or hear, you just check off on your list for the day, weekend or holiday/outing - now you actually have to track each one down and for me get a decent image.

Obviously I started in my Estate and will post those at the end of this month, but for the first weekend, a morning at the Aloe Farm in Magaliesberg seemed a reasonable place to start, as the Aloes were in full flower and spectacular.

The main attraction of course is the myriad of Sunbirds, predominantly made up of White-bellied and Amethyst who seem to fight over certain Aloe species when there is more than enough for all. The Amethyst's were stunning in amongst the assault of colours

Male Amethyst Sunbird (Chalcomitra amethystina)

As were the White-bellied

Male White-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris talatala)

A Neddicky also enjoyed the Aloes

Neddicky (Cisticola fulvicapilla)

In previous visits last year, I never connected with Marico, so I was on a mission to find one today. Nowhere to be seen on the Aloe, but I did finally find a few away from the Aloes altogether, but enjoying the Wild Dagga in natural habitat - they are really cool

Male Marico Sunbird (Cinnyris mariquensis)

A dark form Brown-throated Martin on the telephone line was unexpected

Brown-throated Martin (Riparia paludicola)

Of course there are many other species on the Farm/Nursery, including Cape Weaver

Cape Weaver (Ploceus capensis)

And Southern Masked Weaver's

Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus)

Southern Boubou's are quite confiding at the Farm, not so in the Estate where I live

Southern Boubou (Laniarius ferrugineus)

A lone Kurrichane Thrush in the leaf litter was good to see

Kurrichane Thrush (Turdus libonyanus)

Numbers of Red-faced Mousebird's hanging around and enjoying the early morning rays

Red-faced Mousebird (Urocolius indicus)

The Skeerpoort Vulture Colony is on the south side of the Magaliesberg, but one or two were seen from the Farm

Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres)

Before leaving to The Mill for some supplies followed by Hoogland Spa, a Tree Squirrel caught my eye - good to see, but doesn't count for the challenge

Tree Squirrel (Paraxerus cepapi)

My challenge has now truly started and it is a matter of just keeping up the cadence and not forgetting the common species whilst also chasing those that you may miss in the coming months