Another special morning at the Farm

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

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

Grey-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus)

Hadeda's are pretty common all round the farm

Hadeda Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash)

A Goliath Heron came flying in and landed in one of the bare Willow Trees

Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath)

There was a pair of Three-banded Plovers on the exposed mud of the pond

Three-banded Plover (Charadrius tricollaris)

The Wild Dagga did not have any flowers, but still there was a White-bellied Sunbird around

Male White-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris talatala)

I then headed toward the cow pens, finding African Stonechat

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

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

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

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

Lesser Swamp Warbler (Acrocephalus gracilirostris)

A few Blue-billed Teal were feeding in the shallows

Blue-billed Teal (Spatula hottentota)

Yellow-billed Duck had bred successfully

Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata)

Whilst this pair gave a great fly by, showing off the distinctive green speculum

Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata)

The Black-headed Heron's have started nesting in the tall Pine Tree

Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala)

Whilst below, White-breasted Cormorants are doing the same. Their droppings have almost turned the dead tree white

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?

White-breasted Cormorant (Phalacrocorax lucidus)

Whilst watching the Cormorant, a Black Sparrowhawk made a dash across the dam

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

Kurrichane Thrush (Turdus libonyanus)

A regional rarity

06 August 2023 - Bapsfontein

A Lesser Jacana had been found at a pan in Bapsfontein which is a great record for Gauteng Province, so Richard Crawshaw and I decided to drive out to see if we could photograph this species.

We thought we were at the site early, but there were already a few other birders who were also keen to see this great record. It was a pretty large pan with a few open bodies of water, but predominantly covered in low grass and other vegetation - it was going to be the proverbial needle-in-a-haystack search.

We opted to park the car and walk along the edges, whilst keeping an eye on the other birders on the opposite side of the pan to us. We had a fly by Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus)

Followed by this Grey-headed Gull flying straight toward us from the middle of the pan screaming blue murder - I love these pics though; angry bird!

Grey-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus)

We then saw some excitement from the other birders and walked over to join them. They had located the Jacana, but with a scope, as it was almost in the middle of the Pan - no award winning images this time, rather spot the speck!

Lesser Jacana (Microparra capensis)

We didnt have time to wait it out, but heard that later in the afternoon it was seen again at the edge of the pan, giving much better views and photo opportunities. We explored the surrounding grassland, picking up African Pipit - although heat haze was now becoming a factor

African Pipit (Anthus cinnamomeus)

Red-capped Lark

Red-capped Lark (Calandrella cinerea)

and Capped Wheatear, before heading back home in time for brunch

Capped Wheatear (Oenanthe pileata)

Kyalami Estates - July Round-up

31 July 2023 - Kyalami Estates

We are now in mid-winter, but I still had a decent count of 46 species for the Estate, but it was still down compared to the two previous years.

Despite being mid-winter, there was already signs of breeding preparation with Blacksmith Lapwings seen mating

Blacksmith Lapwing (Vanellus armatus)

Southern Masked Weavers in almost full breeding plumage, nests completed and competing for females. The theory for early breeding is to get in one or two clutches before the Cuckoo's arrive

Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus)

In and around the main Park, Karoo Thrushes are plentiful

Karoo Thrush (Turdus smithii)

Reed Cormorants also occasionally drop in

Juvenile Reed Cormorant (Microcarbo africanus)

Down at St Ledger Dam, I recorded Little Grebe, which was my first record for the Estate

Little Grebe (Tachybaptus ruficollis)

The resident Malachite Kingfisher is not always easy to pick-up, especially since the reeds have been cut back

Malachite Kingfisher (Corythornis cristata)

Tawny-flanked Prinia's are present around the fringes of the dam

Tawny-flanked Prinia (Prinia subflava)

But the highlight was Little Sparrowhawk in the Bluegum's

Little Sparrowhawk (Accipiter minullus)

and then later three birds providing some aerial acrobatics as they interacted with each other. I suspect it was a juvenile, together with the adults

Little Sparrowhawk (Accipiter minullus)

GECKO Survey

28 July 2023 - GECKO Conservancy

Together with the monitoring team, we conducted a survey at one of the sites on private land in the GECKO Conservancy.

We were thrilled to find A34, but also disappointed not to find a second bird. 

African Grass Owl (Tyto capensis) - A34

Hopefully, a little later in the season when we check again, it will have been joined by a mate.

Heading home

25 July 2023 - Roodewal, KNP - Day 4

We had packed the night before, but still got an early start after saying our goodbyes. We headed south on the Timbavati Road where we managed to see a pair of Klipspringer in a rocky outcrop, exactly where you would expect to see them.

Klipspringer (Oreotragus oreotragu)

It was an overcast morning and game was somehow quite scarce. We had a quick stop at the picnic site, which also has an iconic Baobab on the road leading in

Baobab (Adansonia digitata)

From there we continued to Orpen gate seeing very little. It was still quite gloomy, but before the gate we had a Tawny Eagle

Tawny Eagle (Aquila rapax)

Which was followed by a single African Hawk Eagle

African Hawk-Eagle (Aquila spilogaster)

Once we completed the formalities at the gate, it was the long drive home - getting stuck in a monster traffic jam, which resulted in us taking a sand road detour to escape what would have been a 2.5 hour delay. Once past this, it was plain sailing all the way back to Midrand after a thoroughly enjoyable few days with good friends in Roodewal.