[PeterBird]

In January my wife and I set out on our first trip to South Africa. The first five days it would be just the two of us, later we would be joined by my sister and brother and their partners. This means that the focus was not completely on birds, though they, too, enjoyed the great variety in birds the country has to offer.
Places we visited:
Wakkerstroom (Wakkerstroom Country Inn)
St Lucia (Umlilo Lodge)
Sabi Sands (Umkumbe Game Lodge)
Balule (Amukela Game Lodge)
Entabeni (Wildside Tented Camp)
We used the Sasol field guide, both the book and the iphone version. A minivan was rented through Herz.

15 januari

We picked up our rental car at Johannesburg airport and started on our drive to Wakkerstroom. On approaching our destination we were amazed at the number of Amur Falcons we saw. We checked in at the Wakkerstroom Country Inn and took a short walk through the wetland reserve. Due to extensive rainfall the days before, walking involved some wading through flooded footpaths, but we did see some birds, too: Marsh Harrier, Sacred Ibis, African Stonechat, Black-headed Heron, Black-shouldered Kite, Common Fiscal, Greater striped Swallow, Grey crowned Crane, Hadeda Ibis, Grey Heron, Cattle Egret, Long-tailed Widowbird, Pied Starling, Red-Collared Widowbird, Red-winged Starling, Reed Cormorant, Southern Red Bishop, Speckled Pigeon, Spur-winged Goose, Swainson’s Spurfowl, White-throated Swallow, Yellow-billed Duck, Yellow-crowned Bishop
Some photos:
1.Pin-tailed Whydah
2.Cape Longclaw
3.Pale-crowned Cisticola
4.Amur Falcon (fenale)
5. Greater Striped Swallow

[Dave Kennedy]

Excellent photos, Peter.
Thank you.
Dave

[Sal]

Great pics. thanks for posting, keep it coming!

[PeterBird]

I don't know if I'll manage to do a day by day account for the whole trip, but here's the next day:

16 januari 2012
At 6 a.m. we were picked up by our guide for the day: Lucky. With him we travelled various roads around Wakkerstroom. The weather was grey, with rain in the afternoon, which prevented us from trying for the endemic lark species. Even so Lucky managed to find us a lot of interesting birds, many of which were lifers for us. We started out by taking the road to Piet Retief and turn left after a couple of miles to see some forest species. Beautiful scenery, in spite of the weather and a short stop produced: Cape White-eye, Dark-capped yellow warbler, Drakensberg Prinia, Groundscraper Thrush, Olive Woodpecker and Black Saw-wing. Later on we travelled up and down the Amersfoort road with several turn-offs, where we managed to spot some local specialties like: Black-bellied Bustard, Blue Korhaan, Denham’s Bustard, Blue Crane, White-bellied Bustard. Other new birds for the trip were: African Pipit, Banded Martin, Bar-throated Apalis, Black Saw-wing,Cape Grassbird, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Hamerkop, Levaiilant’s Cisticola, Southern Masked Weaver, Yellow-billed duck, Montagu’s Harrier. Towards the end of the afternoon we took the Utrecht Road and explored the area there for an hour: Southern Bald Ibis, Red-capped Lark, Rufous-naped Lark, Long-billed Pipit, Rock Kestrel, Buff-streaked Chat.
Photos:
1. Banded Martin
2. Yellow-billed Duck
3. Grey Crowned Crane
4. Spur-winged Goose
5. Blue Crane

[Sal]

Thanks Peter, more great pics; sounds as though you had a good day with bustards, korhaans, cranes, Montague's Harrier, Buff-streaked Chat and bald Ibis.

[PeterBird]

We certainly had a good time, Sal. It is an area we'll definitely come back to!
Peter

[Sal]

Hope you'll have time to post a little more . . . .

[MKinHK]

Some wonderful pictures, bringing back happy memories of Wakkerstroom.

Cheers
Mike

[PeterBird]

As before, it was a grey and later rainy day. Just outside the Inn we were greeted by a male Malachite Sunbird and both Pied and Red-wingend Starlings were present. We went out for a drive ourselves and decided to take the Old Staasie road to the wetlands at the junction with the Amersfoort road. We got some good views of the Cape Longclaw and Levaillant Cisticola. At the wetland we saw African Swamphen, Whiskered Tern, Purple Heron, Red-knobbed Coot, Hottentot Teal, Pin- tailed Whydah. We then took the Amersfoort road, with lots of Amur Falcon. Turned left after the second ( disused) railway crossing. A potentially nice road but very slippery because of the rain. Even so we saw Pale-crowned Cisicola, Golden, Yellow-crowned Bshop, Southeren Red Bishop, Rattling Cisticola and Anteating Chat. On the way back we met Lucky again with another group, headed for the same road to look for the endemic larks. On their invitation we followed them there again, but after a few kilometres the road got so bad, we turned back. So no larks again, but we did see a Secretary bird. An hour in the area around Utrecht Road produced: Ground Woodpecker, Sentinel Rock thrush, Spike-heeled Lark. Before returning to the Inn late afternoon we parked on near the Wetlands on the Amersfoort road again and enjoyed the last birds of the day: Little Grebe, Cape Shoveler, Pied Kingfisher and an African Darter

Photos:
1. Cape Longclaw (no doubt...)
2. Yellow-crowned Bishop
3. Anteating Chat
4. Spike-heeld Lark
5. Rattling Cisticola (I think)


18 januari
Rather long drive from Wakkerstroom to St Lucia., where we had booked accommodation at Umlilo Lodge. On approaching the town we made a stop at the bridge, where we saw Brown throated weaver, Squacco Heron, Little Swift, Horus swift, Red breasted Swallow and Yellow- billed Kite. A short walk along the Estuary brought Black-winged Stilt, Great Egret and Yellow Weaver.

[Sal]

LOL that Cape Longclaw is certainly well-named - best pic I've seen of its claws!

Now St Lucia is closer to home for me although I haven't been there for a while. We tend to go to Hluhluwe-Imfolozi if we go up that way. Its a good area for birds though.

[PeterBird]

We had been wanting to visit Hluhluwe-Imfolozi, but we were told many of the roads were flooded at the time, so it will have to wait till next time...
Peter

[PeterBird]

19 januari
We had arranged for a guide walk early in the morning with Themba (http://zulubirding.jimdo.com/). Unfortunately it was grey again and and later it started to rain, so we had to cut short the walk, but it was still quite productive. As was the case with Lucky, Themba proved to be an excellent guide and good company. We hand decided to walk the iGwalagwala forest adjacent to St Lucia. In fact we spent the first 45 minutes in open area near our B&B as it produced quite a few birds we had not seen before: Livingstone’s Turaco, with its distinct call, White-eared Barbet, Sombre Greenbul, Olive Sunbird, Black-bellied Starling, African Hoopoe, Fork-tailed Drongo, Square-tailed Drongo, Yellow Weaver, Brown-hooded Kingfisher, Scarlet-chested Sunbird. On the trail we spotted Yellow-breasted Apalis, Lemon Dove, Klaas’s Cuckoo, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Cape Robin Chat, Brown Scrub Robin, Black-backed Puffback. Grey and rainy perhaps, but a good morning all the same.
Later that morning we drove to Richards bay to get our tyre fixed. On the way we saw a beautiful Long-crested Eagle perched in a tree.
In the afternoon we spent some time at the estuary shore and walked along the boardwalk: Lesser Masked Weaver, Thick-billed weaver, Yellow Weaver, Little Bittern, Pink- backed Pelican, Yellow-billed Stork, Goliath Heron, Grey-headed Gull, Caspian Tern, Little Egret, Orange-breasted Bushshrike, Swift Tern, White-fronted Plover, Western Osprey, Blacksmith Lapwing and a distant African Fish Eagle.

20 januari.
We picked up rest of the famiIly in Richard's Bay. Near the airport we saw quite a few Woolly-necked Storks.
In the afternoon we did a boat cruise on the river. Apart from the Hippos an Crocodiles we saw: Pied Kingfisher, Little Bittern, Yellow-billed Kite, African Spoonbill, Squacco Heron, Goliath Heron, Black-chested Snake Eagle, Trumpeter Hornbill and Water Thick-knee

1. Brown-throated Weaver
2. Yellow Weaver
3. Thick-billed Weaver
4. White-fronted Plover
5. Pink-backed Pelican

[MKinHK]

The pelican over the sea is terrific!

Mike

[PeterBird]

21 January
In the morning we had another outing with Themba, now with the six of us.
We parked near the entrance to the reserve and walked from there. Mammals we saw included Waterbuck, Bushbuck and a Hippo, which caused us to take a detour, so the walk took longer than planned. Birds we spotted were:. Crowned Hornbill, Yellow throated Longclaw, a distant Martial Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Scartel-chested Sunbird, Fan-tailed Widowbird, Jacana, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird.
A few spots along the Estuary provided: Red-breasted Swallow, Black-winged Stil, Three-banded Plover, Cattle Egret, Sacred Ibis.
In the afternoon we went into the reserve, where we got close-up views of a White Rhino with young, Bushbuck, Reedbuck, Waterbuck, Kudu, Impala, Warthog, Buffalo and Wildebeest. Birds included Southern Banded Snake Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Dideric cuckoo, Flamingo, Senegal Lapwing, Trumpeter Hornbill

22 January
I paid an early morning visit to the bridge, where, apart from the usual weavers and swifts I encountered a beautiful African Harrier Hawk.
Later on we made a drive trhough the reserve to Cape Vidal. Again we saw Rhino, Reedbuck, Bushbuck and Waterbuck. At Cape Vidal we saw quite a few Yellow-billed Kites and a Southern Black Flycatcher. Also we spotted, Crowned Hornbill, Black-backed Puffback, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Brown Snake Eagle, Black-chested Snake Eagle, African Hawk Eagle, Burchell’s Coucal, Cape Glossy Starling, Saddle-billed Stork, Woolly-necked Stork, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Rattling Cisticola.

23 january
This day involved a long drive to Swaziland, on our way to Sabi Sands. We stayed at Forester’s arms for the night, which has a nice garden with: Cape Weaver, Grey Sunbird, Southern Black Flycatcher.

1. White Rhino
2. African Harrier Hawk
3. Cape Glossy Starling
4. Reedbuck
5. Crowned Hornbill

[PeterBird]

1, Yellow-billed Kite
2. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
3. Cape Weaver
4. Southern Black Flycatcher
5. Dark-capped Bulbul

[Sal]

Lovely pics again Peter, especially the Pelican over the sea - excellent! Some great bird sightings too.

[PeterBird]

Sorry for the delay. Been too busy to finish the report, but I'll try to do better...


24 january
We left Swaziland again and entered the Kruger National Park through the Malelane Gate. Though some roads were blocked as a result from the floodings the week before, we had a pleasant drive to Paul Kruger Gate, after which we entered Sabi Sand Private Game Reserve. We were headed for Umkumbe lodge, on the banks of the Sand River. Kruger offered mammals like: Elephants, Giraffe, Kudu and even a Wild Dog, which I had never seen before. Birds included: Helmeted Guineafowl, Carmine Bee-eater, Dark Chanting Goshawk, Tawny Eagle, White-headed Vulture and Red-billed Oxpecker. We arrived at Umkumbe in time for the afternoon game drive, which brought: Little Bee-eater, Purple Roller, Southern Red-billed Hornbill, Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Crested Francolin, Kurrichane Thrush and a beautiful pair of Wahlberg’s Eagle. As darkness set in, our ranger manged to locate the male leopard again, which we had briefly spotted in the afternoon. We spent over an hour staying with him while he was stalking a group of Impala (walking within centimeters of the land rover and even using it as cover) and we even managed to witness the final attack, which resulted in a miss, unfortunately for the leopard. It was a close call, however and definitely the most exciting game drive experience of the whole trip!


25 january
We had a rather quiet morning game drive with: Green Pigeon,Wattled Lapwing and White-backed Vulture.
From the terrace at the lodge we had beautiful views of Blacksmith Plover and Pied Kingfisher and saw elephants crossing the river in the distance.
The afternoon drive was more productive: Giraffe, Elephant, Buffalo, Kudu, Impala, Warthog, Rabbit. Birds: African Hawk Eagle, Green Wood Hoopoe, Rattling Cisticola, Lilac -breasted Roller, Crested Barbet, Levaiilant’s Cuckoo, Golden-breasted Bunting, Grey Go-away bird, Southern White-crowned Shrike, Bateleur.

26 january
The morning drive took place with a bright blue sky. We managed to spot quite q few birds, including: Three- banded Plover, Purple-crested Turaco, Tawny Eagle, Wahlberg's Eagle, Bateleur, Hooded vulture, White backed vulture, Arrow- marked Babbler, Little bee eater, European Bee-eater, Lilac-breasted Roller, Woodland Kingfisher, Red- billed Buffalo Weaver. Mammals: the ever-present Impala, Warthog, Buffalo, Giraffe, Elephant, Wildebeest. While we were having a quiet siesta, the owner of the lodge, Herman, came up to us and asked in we were interested in another leopard hunt. A young male had been seen not too far from the lodge and two of our company had, unfortunately, not been able to take part in the first drive and had thus missed seeing a leopard. Within minutes we had all joined him in the landrover and, after an intense search party, managed to find the leopard again. We saw it walking past us and lying in the shade of a tree and got wonderful views and great photos. They are impressive and beautiful animals! All of us were very grateful to Herman for offering us this great opportunity,

The afternoon drive was rather quiet in comparison. The most exciting part was getting stuck in the mud after sunset and waiting beside the car at the very spot where we had seen the leopard in the afternoon. After our rescue by another landrover, we drove back and had a wonderful spotlight view of a lonely giraffe walking in the road.

1. White-headed Vulture
2. Blacksmith Plover
3. Helmeted Guineafowl
4. Pied Kingfisher
5. Yellow-billed Hornbill

[PeterBird]

1. Leopard
2. African Hawk Eagle
3. Green Pigeon
4. Little Bee-eater
5. Wahlberg's Eagle

[Sal]

This is a great report! Glad you've returned with more! I spent some time in Sabie Sands a couple of years ago; we also managed to spend up-close and personal time with a magnificent male leopard, and we also got stuck in the mud, driving after wild dog one evening, and had to be rescued. Whilst we were waiting (quite a long time), we tried to get the vehicle out, collecting branches, jacking it up etc - then suddenly noticed that we were being circled by the wild dogs! They were going round and round us, slowly moving in closer. Three of our rescue vehicles got themselves mired in the mud and only the fourth reached us. Wonderful evening. Your photos, as always, are great.

[PeterBird]

Thanks for the comments, Sal. Your experience with the wild dogs sounds pretty scary! Sabie Sands is beautiful territory and I would love to return some day.

Peter

[PeterBird]

27 january,
We had a last morning game drive with Jason and spent some wonderful moments in the early morning light with Giraffes and Zebras. We saw Buffalo, Wildebeest, Kudu, Reedbuck and a distant view of two white Rhinos. Said goodbye to the Wahlberg’s Eagle and had views of a European Roller, African Paradise Flycatcher, Burchell’s Coucal, Purple Roller, Natal Spurfowl, Cape Glossy Starling and Violet-backed Starling

We then drove to Amukela Lodge in the Balule reserve. A pleasant lodge with a nice, relaxed atmosphere. The small drinking pool was usually quiet during our stay, but a lone Black-backed jackal showed itself briefly the first evening. From the terrace we had great views of the resident Woodland Kingfishers. A dark bird turned out to be a Village Indigobird.

28 january
I got up at half past six and sat on the terrace overlooking the small drinking pool and some Masked Weaver's nests. I took some pictures of the Grey Go-awaybird and the Red-billed Hornbill. As we had come here to relax for a few days, that is what we did.

In the afternoon we arranged game drive in the neighbouring Tshkudu game reserve. We had preferred a drive in Balule itself, but we couldn’t find a guide. After Jason any guide would probably disappoint, but, having said that, the guide did not impress us and seemed more interested in chatting with the onwer of the neugbouring lodge than spotting animals. The proceeds mere rather meagre: Warthog, Wildebeest, Impala, and a Steenbok. Birds included Swainson’s Spurfowl and Crowned Lapwing. They did have a leopard in an enclosure and she offered to show us the lion in the other enclosure, but we politely declined. The sundowner spot with the hippos leaving the pool at dusk, was a nice touch, though.

29 january
We had decided to do a drive in the Kruger park ourselves, so we left at five for the one and half hour drive to Orpen Gate. When we were almost there we were met by some Wild Dogs in the middle of the road.At the gate it took another incredible 40 minutes to get our permits, even when there were only six people in the queue! Our target for luch at Olifant’s camp and then back through Phalaborwa Gate proved too ambitious. So much driving was involved that we sometimes had the feeling we were rushing through the park, instead of taking the time to explore it at leisure. Damaged bridges and undrivable roads told the story of the recent floodings. We did see Steenbok, Giraffe, Buffalo and quite a few Elephants, but on the whole a somewhat disappointing day. Birds included: Pearl spotted Owlet (at the Timbavati picnic site), Namaqua Dove, Red-billed Oxpecker, Lesser Grey Shrike, Dideric Cuckoo, Bateleur, White-headed Vulture, Tawny eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Southern Ground Hornbill and Crested Barbet.

30 january
We spent most of the day relaxing at the lodge. Late in the afternoon I decided to make use of the beautiful light and try and take some photos. I drove up and down the 5 km gravel road form the gate to the lodge. I was rewarded with beautiful views of the Lilac-breasted Roller, Pied Crow, White-crowned Shrike, Red-backed Shrike, Yellow- and Red-billed Hornbill and Swainson’s Spurfowl. One of the Spurfowl wandered up to a Black-backed Jackal, which was lying in the road and I expected the Jackal to pounce on the Spurfowl at any moment. To my amazement it ignored the bird completely and I could even take a picture of the two, staring into the bushes side by side. Magical moments!

1. Burchell's Coucal
2. Purple Roller
3. Masked Weaver
4. Red-billed Hornbill
5. Grey- Go-awaybird

[PeterBird]

1. Crowned Lapwing
2. Red-billed Oxpecker
3. African Scops Owl
4. Crested Barbet
5. Brown Snake-eagle

[PeterBird]

1. Green-backed Heron
2. Lilac-breasted Roller
3. Pied Crow
4. Swainson's Spurfowl
5. Jackal and Spurfowl

[Farnboro John]

Originally Posted by PeterBird

1. Crowned Lapwing
2. Red-billed Oxpecker
3. Pearl-spotted Owlet
4. Crested Barbet
5. Brown Snake-eagle

Surely number 3 is an African Scops Owl, sin't it?

John

[PeterBird]

You're absolutely right, John. Wrong caption. Thanks for pointing it out!
Peter