Back to the Kruger Park

15 July 2022 - Midrand to Roodewaal, KNP; Day 1

We were invited by our good friends Eric and Kari to join them along with our kids at the stunning Roodewaal Camp in the Central Kruger for a few days. We thought it would be a good idea to enter at Phabeni Gate near Hazyview and enjoy the drive up to Roodewaal. So after an early start from Midrand, we made it to Phabeni Gate by 9:30am, missing out on the planned breakfast at Kruger Park Lodge, since the restaurant was closed/under renovation.

It was a little overcast, so conditions should have been ideal for game watching - unfortunately this was not the case. However, we stopped at Skukuza for breakfast before our stomach's started eating us from the inside. From Skukuza we passed by Leeupan but the expected targets were nowhere to be seen.

It was then a long drive to Satara, where we had to check in and which was packed when we arrived. I managed to take my first photograph of the trip in the car park of a Greater Blue-eared Starling feeding on a flowering Aloe, but still in gloomy conditions

Greater Blue-eared Starling (Lamprotornis chalybaeus)

The last stretch was to Roodewaal camp itself and this was probably the most productive section of the drive where we had some decent game and bird sightings. Aside from a family of Southern Ground Hornbill we enjoyed watching a Secretarybird actively hunting in the late hours of the day

Secretarybird (Sagittarius serpentarius)

By the time we made it to Roodewaal, we had been going over 12-hours, so it was a long day with not much seen which was really surprising, but it does happen. After arriving we had a quick catch-up with our friends then unpacked into one of the spacious chalets. Once unpacked, we could then unwind around a fire with a few cold beverages, good banter and later food with the sounds of the bush all around us to create that authentic ambience.

A dash to Glen Austin

01 July 2022 - Glen Austin Pan

I have fallen a little behind with my Blog posts, but I have a few to update in the coming days/weeks

I had a brief early morning visit to Glen Austin Pan to see if there were perhaps any winter visitors around - no luck with those. Overall activity was quite subdued, but I guess this is expected in the middle of winter

However, the were good numbers of the vocal Grey-headed Gulls

Grey-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus)

A small flock of Southern Pochard

Female Southern Pochard (Netta erythrophthalma)

A couple of Western Cattle Egrets

Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)

and I managed a record shot with an urban backdrop of a Pied Kingfisher that I have not encountered that frequently at this site

Pied Kingfisher (Ceryle rudis)

Kyalami Estates - June Round-up

30 June 2022 - Kyalami Estates

Winter is truly upon us with blue skies and cold mornings and nights - typical of the Gauteng Highveld. As is expected, a fairly low count of the resident birds with only 49 species recorded.

As usual, there were some highlights with species that are not recorded on a regular or daily basis like, African Black Duck, Arrow-marked Babbler, Streaky-headed Seedeater, Burchell's Coucal and African Green Pigeon which has been scarce this winter.

However, the highlight for me this month was finally catching a Southern Boubou out in the open one early morning. They are vocal in the estate and I hear them almost every day, but finally after 18-months, I managed to get images of this skulker (at least in our Estate they are)

Female Southern Boubou (Laniarius ferrugineus)

I did manage to get a few images, some from my garden and balcony included; Dark-capped Bulbul

Dark-capped Bulbul (Pycnonotus tricolor)

Amethyst Sunbird

Male Amethyst Sunbird (Chalcomitra amethystina)

Red-eyed Dove

Red-eyed Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata)

And Sacred Ibis

African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus)

At the main park where much of the reed cover has been cut-back or removed for the winter, I had Reed Cormorant

Immature Reed Cormorant (Microcarbo africanus)

Both Blacksmith

Blacksmith Lapwing (Vanellus armatus)

and Wattled Lapwing

African Wattled Lapwing (Vanellus senegallus)

Hadeda Ibis foraging in the park

Hadeda Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash)

Along with African Hoopoe

African Hoopoe (Upupa africana)

and Thick-billed Weaver

Thick-billed Weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons)

I had a pair of Spotted Thick-knee in amongst the flower beds on the pavement

Spotted Thick-knee (Burhinus capensis)

At the St Ledger Dam, there was a single Black Duck

African Black Duck (Anas sparsa)

Winter in the Highveld grasslands

26 June 2022 - Suikerbosrand

Hilton Thompson and I planned a winter morning outing to Suikerbosrand to try and pick up a few species that visit the reserve in the winter.

It was a relatively early start to arrive at sunrise, but after stopping for a Mugg and Bean coffee on route. We made a stop just before the reserve, adding Capped Wheatear amongst a number of other species

Capped Wheatear (Oenanthe pileata)

Once inside the reserve, we walked around the car park and Admin Building and finally connected with the Ashy Tit, that I had missed on previous visits.

Ashy Tit (Melaniparus cinerascens)

As well as a winter plumage White-winged Widow

White-winged Widowbird (Euplectes albonotatus)

We then headed into the reserve and had some luck with Mountain Wheatear early on in the drive

Pied Morph Mountain Wheatear (Myrmecocichla monticola)

Dark Morph Mountain Wheatear (Myrmecocichla monticola)

We stopped in the location where Sickle-winged Chat was seen earlier in the week, but only came away with a distant Familiar Chat

Familiar Chat (Oenanthe familiaris)

A little further on, a Plain-back Pipit 

Plain-backed Pipit (Anthus leucophrys)

I saw Rock Thrush some distance away, but it was too skittish for photographs but through the bins we could confirm it was Sentinel - a good winter species for the reserve. Later we did pick up another that was a little more obliging

Male Sentinel Rock Thrush (Monticola explorator)

Whilst watching the Rock Thrush, a Rock Kestrel passed by overhead

Rock Kestrel (Falco rupicolus)

Near the picnic spot, we picked up Ant-eating Thrush

Ant-eating Chat (Myrmecocichla formicivora)

At the picnic spot which is no longer accessible, we spotted a shy Mountain Reedbuck

Mountain Reedbuck (Redunca fulvorufula)

Very few birds were seen in the Thornveld part of the reserve which was strange, but we did pick up a pair of duetting Bokmakierie's - I just love their call

Bokmakierie (Telophorus zeylonus)

We then headed back to the Admin Building where we were able to connect with Fairy Flycatcher - but it was too active for any pics. In the same tree was a Chestnut-vented Warbler with its pale eyes - but also not very obliging

Chestnut-vented Warbler (Sylvia subcoerulea)

However the Mocking Cliff Chats were quite happy to pose for pics - stunning birds to end an enjoyable winters morning out

Male Mocking Cliff Chat (Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris)