Southern African Forum (1 Viewer)

[Matt Prince]

I've been following this thread lately with much interest as I'll also be in Eastern SA shortly (for a second visit). Last time had brilliant birding at Waakerstroom (picking up most of the higland specials) and a fantastic time at Biyamiti in the south of the Kruger (plus forays for blue swallow and taita falcon).

This time around I'm intending on 10~12 days in November, travelling up from Joburg, maybe visiting Dullstroom on the way trhough, maybe a quick foray into the Southern Park and then going into the KNP around the Satara level and heading on up through an intermediate point to Punda Maria staying for a couple of nights at each camp. Then I was thinking of spending a couple of nights at Pafuri River Camp and maybe having some time to spare on the way back from the North to Joburg.

Questions.. I have lots

Does anyone have any experience on looking for Wattled Crane in the Dullstroom area?
Or any experience of staying at Pafuri River Camp?
Whats the best area/strategy for finfoot?
Southern Carmine bee-eater? (I know its easier elsewhere, but the wife has her heart set on this one for some reason...)

Many thanks (and thanks to all the discussion thats gone before - much useful info ! )

Cheers,
Matt

 

[birdboybowley]

Ads,
Whilst we are on the subject of mammals, look out for the Thick-Tailed Bush-Babies at Punda Maria camp.
If you eat at the camp restaurant, sit outside and listen to the Nightjars and the Scops Owls, and maybe, as we heard earlier this year, you will hear a hysterical child like screaming from the tree tops....it will be the Thick-Tailed bush-Baby. It really is quiet alarming...

Martin

Cheers Martin - will do!!

 

[Martin Hobbs]

We are booked into Shimuwini for two nights and Mopane for three before going south next year, but I guess this is not far enough north to see a difference . . . .

Sal,
It depends on what you want to see. You could make Shingwedzi area and back to Mopane in a day. Much of the area is Mopane, which you wouldn't have seen further south, and may give you sightings that you may not have seen before. We have seen Secretary Birds between Mopane and Shingwedzi each time we have travelled the tar H1-6.
You should see more Raptors in this area than in the south as well.

Martin

 

[Sal]

Sal,
You could make Shingwedzi area and back to Mopane in a day.

Martin

Not at the speed we travel . . . . :-O But I really want to get up to Red Rocks.

 

[Martin Hobbs]

Not at the speed we travel . . . . :-O But I really want to get up to Red Rocks.

Sal,
If you don't get to Shingwedzi, you would be missing out on being dissapointed in not spotting the Collared-Palm Thrush near hut 25!!!!.....:eek!:


Martin

 

[Sal]

Sal,
If you don't get to Shingwedzi, you would be missing out on being dissapointed in not spotting the Collared-Palm Thrush near hut 25!!!!.....:eek!:


Martin

There speaks bitter experience . . . .

 

[Allan Hobbs]

Sal,
If you don't get to Shingwedzi, you would be missing out on being dissapointed in not spotting the Collared-Palm Thrush near hut 25!!!!.....:eek!:


Martin

I'm up for the challenge :t:

Allan

14 days to go

 

[Dave Kennedy]

Questions.. I have lots

Does anyone have any experience on looking for Wattled Crane in the Dullstroom area?
Or any experience of staying at Pafuri River Camp?
Whats the best area/strategy for finfoot?
Southern Carmine bee-eater? (I know its easier elsewhere, but the wife has her heart set on this one for some reason...)

Many thanks (and thanks to all the discussion thats gone before - much useful info ! )

Cheers,
Matt

Hi, Matt, do not despair, for I'm working on responses to at least some of your questions. Hope to have some info soon.
Best wishes,
Dave

 

[Dave Kennedy]

Does anyone have any experience on looking for Wattled Crane in the Dullstroom area?
Or any experience of staying at Pafuri River Camp?
Whats the best area/strategy for finfoot?
Southern Carmine bee-eater? (I know its easier elsewhere, but the wife has her heart set on this one for some reason...)

Cheers,
Matt

Okay, Matt,
Let me try to answer some of your questions
1) Wattled Crane, Dullstroom area.
Wattled Cranes are now very rare in South Africa, but I have had two or three sightings over a few years, all at the same place on the Belfast-Dullstroom road. A small stream and associated marshland cross the road at this point. I have also seen (Dec 2009) Crowned Crane at this point, which is approximately 12km out of Belfast on the Dullstroom road. Stop and scan the marshland. I have seen them on both sides of the road
I have attached two Google Earth pics pinpointing the location.
Best wishes,
Dave

 

[Sal]

Questions.. I have lots

Does anyone have any experience on looking for Wattled Crane in the Dullstroom area?
Or any experience of staying at Pafuri River Camp?
Whats the best area/strategy for finfoot?
Southern Carmine bee-eater? (I know its easier elsewhere, but the wife has her heart set on this one for some reason...)

Many thanks (and thanks to all the discussion thats gone before - much useful info ! )

Cheers,
Matt

Sorry Matt, your queries got a bit lost, I'm afraid I didn't focus on them very well. Mainly because I don't know the answers. But I can tell you that Carmine Bee-eaters can be see in fairly large numbers in Kruger as a rule. I have seen them as far south as Satara, and further north of that, all over the road. However, I have a feeling that they only return to the park at the end of November/ start of December and are there till end March so you may not be lucky.

Finfoot are very shy. Noise and movement will send them rapidly into hiding. They can be found in the Blyde River (I've seen them here) and in the Sabie and Olifants Rivers in Kruger park. They tend to keep to the sides of the rivers so that they can hide in the vegetation. You may be able to spot one from the Olifants camp or the bridge over the river. Skukuza camp waterfront is another place (I've seen them here too), or the high or low-level bridges over the Sabie near Skukuza. No guarantees - entirely serendipity and some quiet observation.

Good luck and enjoy the trip! Please visit here and let us know if you were lucky when you return!

 

[Dave Kennedy]

Or any experience of staying at Pafuri River Camp?
Whats the best area/strategy for finfoot?
Southern Carmine bee-eater? (I know its easier elsewhere, but the wife has her heart set on this one for some reason...)

Cheers,
Matt

2) Pafuri River Camp

I have no experience of Pafuri River Camp, but I have visited the area, staying at Pafuri Lodge on the Luvuvhu River. I think Pafuri River Camp is close to the Pafuri Gate into KNP.
Bird specials in the area include Bohm's and Mottled Spinetails, Grey-headed Parrot (look in flowering Terminalia prunioides), Three-banded Courser, Pel's Fishing Owl, Ayres' Hawk-eagle, Stierling's Wren-warbler. On my last visit to the area we saw, inter alia, two Pel's Fishing Owls, Wood Owl, and Dwarf Bittern. There may be Finfoot, but I have no personal knowledge of this.
Lanner Gorge and Crooks' Corner are worth visiting. The latter, where the boundaries of South Africa, Zimbabwe and Mozambique meet, was much favoured as a hideout by assorted villains who, on observing the approach of the Law, would check which country they were from and simply hop over the appropriate frontier to safety. On the way to Crooks' Corner is a strange, and spectacular Fever Tree (Acacia xanthophloea forest.
Pel's might be encountered anywhere along the Luvuvhu, and we have watched Mottled Spinetails from the road bridge across the Luvuvhu. The Pafuri Picnic Site (turn left after crossing to the south side of the Luvuvhu) is well worth a visit. The attendant there is very knowledgeable about the local birds, and will tell you what is around.
Once again I have attached the relevant Google Earth prints.
Best wishes,
Dave

 

[Dave Kennedy]

Questions.. I have lots

Whats the best area/strategy for finfoot?
Southern Carmine bee-eater? (I know its easier elsewhere, but the wife has her heart set on this one for some reason...)

Many thanks (and thanks to all the discussion thats gone before - much useful info ! )

Cheers,
Matt

3) Last one, Matt - Finfoot and Carmine Bee-eater

For Finfoot habitat is everything. They like moving, relatively deep water, and river banks overhung with dense vegetation (reeds, sedges, creepers etc) under which the bird can hide, for they are great lurkers. I don't think they are really uncommon - just very shy. On finding a suitable place, patience may be required. You must hope to find a finfoot which, for whatever reason, has decided to emerge from its sheltering vegetation into open water. Keep your camera ready, for they rarely show themselves for more than a few seconds before darting back undercover.
The main Kruger camp. Skukuza, is a good place to see Finfoot. I have seen them twice there in the Sabie River, right in front of the camp restaurant area. If you visit Skukuza, you should also go to the bird hide at Lake Panic, where, with any luck, you should find good water birds.
Another excellent place for Finfoot is the Moretele River above the Klipvoor Dam in Borakalalo National Park, NW of Pretoria. I have had several sightings from the camping area there. In case you will be in that area I have attached a couple of location shots.
Re Carmine Bee-eaters......at the time of your visit you should have no trouble finding them in northern Kruger National Park.
Have a great trip. Looking forward to hearing about it.
Dave

 

[Matt Prince]

Thanks guys - very useful information.

I'll give Dullstroom (another!) go - we had a quick look on the way back from our last trip and all we had was a secretary bird (when I say all - I was very happy to see that!) I'll concentrate on the marsh area you've pinpointed - sounds like its a long shot on a single visit but we'll give it a go.

Sounds like we have better chances of the carmine than I thought (the Sasol where2watch doesn't give much info on them in SA itself, implying that they are easier in late summer). We'll (hopefully) be staying at Punda Maria and Pafuri River Camp to work the far north of the Kruger.

Finfoot - ah, yes, patience, that will explain why I haven't seen one yet ! Sounds like we need to put some quiet time in at a couple of suitable waterbodies and hope for the best.

Bohm's and Mottled Spinetails, Grey-headed Parrot (look in flowering Terminalia prunioides), Three-banded Courser, Pel's Fishing Owl, Ayres' Hawk-eagle, Stierling's Wren-warbler. On my last visit to the area we saw, inter alia, two Pel's Fishing Owls, Wood Owl, and Dwarf Bittern.

:t:

Sounds good! Looking forward to seeing the North of the Park.

Thanks Again

Matt

 

[Dave Kennedy]

SW Cape: Episode the Eighth – Homeward Bound

On the penultimate day of our holiday we drove from Velddrif south-west to Paternoster, a coastal fishing village deep in the throes of totally OTT, whitewashed, and instead-of-gnomes-you -need-a-redundant-traditional-fishing-boat-in-your-front-yard development. Wherever you go, you see this kind of soulless enterprise taking place right around our coasts.

Immediately south of Paternoster lay Cape Columbine, with its lighthouse high on its towering cliff. Just at the entrance to the Cape Columbine Reserve was a small rocky bay much favoured by terns. Being poor at small tern ID, especially in mid-winter (28th July), I took the best photos I could manage with my equipment, and submitted them to Bird Identification Q&A, where some kind souls suggested that most were Antarctic Terns, with a smaller number of Swift Terns. The latter I can confirm, for I know Swift Terns well. If any of you have different opinions on the terns, please let me know.

Climbing the steep road up to the lighthouse we were thrilled to spot this fine Black Harrier hunting low over the fynbos.

On the following day, our last, we set off for Cape Town, the airport and a flight back to Joeys, but since the flight was not scheduled until late afternoon we drove via Langebaan and the West Coast National Park. Half-way down the hill leading from Langebaan to the northern entrance to the West Coast National Park I stopped so that my wife could photograph some flowers. As she clicked away, I dropped my eyes to the roadside opposite the car and nearly had a heart attack. There on the roadside, preening without a care in the world, was a pair of Grey-winged Francolins. We had been seeking these little guys, a lifer for both of us, since we had arrived in the Western Cape, and never a trace had we seen. Yet here they were, and we hadn’t even spotted them. We had stopped to look at the flowers. Sometimes you get lucky.
The southern part of the Langebaan lagoon was full of Greater Flamingo and Great White Pelican. The latter could be seen climbing thermals, circling in lazy swirls as the rising columns of air bore them higher and higher.
And that was as much as we could manage. We drove to Cape Town and flew home after an enjoyable visit to an area previously unknown to us, but which turned out to be a great birding destination.

Best wishes,
Dave

 

[Sal]

And that was as much as we could manage. We drove to Cape Town and flew home after an enjoyable visit to an area previously unknown to us, but which turned out to be a great birding destination.

Best wishes,
Dave

Wonderful. Thanks for such a detailed,descriptive trip report - very useful information included and gives one a strong desire to make a similar journey. You certainly saw some great bird life and brought back lovely pics. I like the description of Paternoster - can just imagine it!

 

[ngonyama]

Matt/Dave,

I did some atlassing in the area about a year ago (November) and recorded wattled cranes at 25 deg 33'47" S 30 deg 07 ' 38" E also a large group of grey crowned cranes and blue cranes at a small teemporary wetland at about 25 deg 29'35" S 30 deg 05' 14 " E . If you look at my sightings they fall on the outside of a route that you can follow on good dirt roads that runs around the perimeter of the wetlands described by Dave . So if I were looking to find these birds I would plan myself a route on public roads around the periphery of the wetland area to the east of the main road and take a drive. If you are unclear of what I mean please advise and I will get back to you with more details.

Regards,

Bruce

 

[birdboybowley]

Hey guys - a quick question on mosquitoes. Been advised that would need to take malaria pills if in Kruger for more than 4 days.....so for the sake of one dayshould I bother?? Don't fancy taking them for 4 weeks afterwards for just one day! Do you guys take anything? Read in another report that mozzies are quite rare in October....?

 

[Dave Kennedy]

Hey guys - a quick question on mosquitoes. Been advised that would need to take malaria pills if in Kruger for more than 4 days.....so for the sake of one dayshould I bother?? Don't fancy taking them for 4 weeks afterwards for just one day! Do you guys take anything? Read in another report that mozzies are quite rare in October....?

We probably wouldn't for a short visit, but it is fair to say that the risk, while perhaps low, is always there. It can be minimised by wearing long trousers, socks and shoes, and long-sleeved shirts in the evening, and using a good proprietary mosquito repellent. Note that, should you wish to take malaria prophylaxis, some of the current medications have had unpleasant side-effects with some people. Chat to any dept of tropical medicine, or a British Airways travel clinic. They should be able to give you the best advice. If we decide to take anti-malarials we often use Doxycyclin, an antibiotic which seems effective against malaria.
Note that South African doctors are used to malaria,and take it more or less in their stride. British doctors are not, and will not be expecting it if you trot up to discuss your symptoms. Make a point of telling any British doctor that you have been in a malarial area - then at least you should receive the correct tests for what you might be carrying.
Best wishes,
Dave

 

[Matt Prince]

I were looking to find these birds I would plan myself a route on public roads around the periphery of the wetland area to the east of the main road and take a drive. If you are unclear of what I mean please advise and I will get back to you with more details.

Regards,

Bruce

Bruce - ta, makes sense, its encouraging that you and Dave have had success here, so I'll give it another crack.

@Birdboybowley - last time the wife and I took malarone - it's expensive but you don't need to take it for very long before/after as compared with doxy etc. Of course like all the anti-malarials, there can be side effects...

 

[birdboybowley]

Cheers Dave/Matt - Doxy is my choice usually...spent 6 months on the stuff before with no ill-effects. Jus weighing up whether it's worth a risk for the sake of a couple of days (famous last words them...!)
Also...I know it's a long shot, but am I gonna be too early for Blue Swallow (as I was in Uganda...)