Southern African Forum (1 Viewer)

[Sal]

Hi Bill,
Of our 956 species in Southern Africa, around 700 are resident, 174 of these are endemic,and so there is always something to see! Also many are over-wintering now as well.
It does of course depend on where you are.
Gauteng, North West, Limpopo, Free State, Northern Cape and parts of Mpumalanga the rains have stopped and so everything turns brown and bare. It makes birding easier, however, when not in breeding colours identifying some of our LBJ (Little Brown Jobs) can be challenging! However, there is no confusion over juveniles/immature's to contend with!
In the Cape it is the opposite and Winter is the rainy season, and so it goes greener, and the migrant coastal birds have gone of course.

This region is a great birding area any time of the year. Sitting around a water hole in the northern dry winter months can be extremely rewarding as many birds will visit the water holes sometime during the day, but also bigger things visit water holes in the winter as well....variety of Buck, Elephant, Buffalo and of course Lion. Winter is the best time of year for Game viewing.

Martin

Hi Bill

KZN is also still good for birding in the winter; I have seen great birds in Hluhluwe/Imfolozi in July/August. Around here (the Midlands of KZN) still plenty to see now.

 

[Sal]

Hi Sal,
There is good and not so good news regarding our last visit to Marloth Park.
The good news is we had a great weekend with Allan & Catherine, and my wife's Brother & wife (they have retired to MP now).
We had a great Saturday braai and then sat around the fire after dark talking about all sorts of things...including lots of birding stories!
The not so good news is that we didn't leave there until after midnight and so I didn't get up for my early morning walk :-C
I am getting too old to stay up so late :eek!:
What I did do in the morning was to open all the patio doors and while packing ready to take the usual long and sad drive home, I listened to the birds around the house.
I heard the following:
Spurfowl Natal
Helmeted Guineafowl
African Mourning Dove
Laughing Dove
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
Red-billed Hornbill
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
Crested Barbet
Fork-tailed Drongo
Black-headed Oriole
Dark-capped Bulbul
Tawny-flanked Prinia
White-crested Helmet-shrike
Retz's Helmet-shrike
Blue Waxbill
The squeaking sound of a Gabor Goshawk flying over being harassed by 3 Bulbuls did get me racing out the open door though. He alighted in a tree in our empty plot next door and continued to complain to the Bulbuls. After maybe a minute he decided he had had enough and continued to fly on down the valley. The Bulbuls seemed satisfied and flew back up the ridge.

So no pics or sightings, but still nice to hear all the above...

Martin

Ah well, sounds like the evening was worth it! Retz's Helmet-Shrike - nice one. Thanks for posting the list and description of the Gabar Goshawk being mobbed, interesting. We have only 13 sleeps left so life is getting exciting!

 

[Sal]

It is definitely winter here now and I have noticed a couple of changes in the bird population. One is that the Red-billed Queleas are flocking into the garden. I didn't see them in the summer, but now they come to my seed tray and clear it in short order, much to the indignation of the various weavers who, up till now, have been able to control traffic to the seed to their liking. Now, when twenty Queleas drop onto the swinging tray , bills at the ready, the weavers , although they dart menacingly at one or two can't deal with the numbers. Another interesting thing is that the Fork-tailed Drongoes have started to come to my nectar-feeder. I'm not entirely sure whether this is because they didn't discover it before or because they need more carbs in the winter! They come in pairs, and one sits waiting whilst the other drinks. Then they swap. But one of them will sometimes perch there meditatively, holding up the queue; not drinking, but just looking around. No-one challenges them. There are fewer White-eyes. Maybe this is because the insect life is dying off so they have gone further south.

 

[Martin Hobbs]

It is definitely winter here now and I have noticed a couple of changes in the bird population. One is that the Red-billed Queleas are flocking into the garden. I didn't see them in the summer, but now they come to my seed tray and clear it in short order, much to the indignation of the various weavers who, up till now, have been able to control traffic to the seed to their liking. Now, when twenty Queleas drop onto the swinging tray , bills at the ready, the weavers , although they dart menacingly at one or two can't deal with the numbers. Another interesting thing is that the Fork-tailed Drongoes have started to come to my nectar-feeder. I'm not entirely sure whether this is because they didn't discover it before or because they need more carbs in the winter! They come in pairs, and one sits waiting whilst the other drinks. Then they swap. But one of them will sometimes perch there meditatively, holding up the queue; not drinking, but just looking around. No-one challenges them. There are fewer White-eyes. Maybe this is because the insect life is dying off so they have gone further south.

Hi Sal,
I totally agree with you, winter is here.....however, we had a thunderstorm here last night, with plenty of rain!!!
I know winter is coming when I start seeing Amethyst Sunbirds feeding at the Wild Dagga and Cape Rattle Pod.
A great sight with the black of the Sunbird against the striking orange of the Dagga bracts or the bright yellow of the Rattle Pod flowers.

Of course the terrorist has also left the bird feeder....the Pin-tailed Whydah :-O

The Crested Barbet is also more vocal in the winter and visits the fruit more often.

Martin

 

[Martin Hobbs]

Ah well, sounds like the evening was worth it! Retz's Helmet-Shrike - nice one. Thanks for posting the list and description of the Gabar Goshawk being mobbed, interesting. We have only 13 sleeps left so life is getting exciting!

Hi Sal,
We see Retz's Helmet-shrike quite often, and they have a very distinctive call as well.
As with the White-crested Helmet-shrike always in parties of 5 - 8 of them, sometimes many more, especially in the winter.
This one was taken close to the house.
I often see them in the company of White-crested Helmet-shrike and Fork-tailed Drongo's in birding parties.

Martin

 

[Martin Hobbs]

Ah well, sounds like the evening was worth it! Retz's Helmet-Shrike - nice one. Thanks for posting the list and description of the Gabar Goshawk being mobbed, interesting. We have only 13 sleeps left so life is getting exciting!

Hi Sal,
You must be getting excited...only 13 sleeps away....
Allan saw Wild Dog on 2 separate occasions in the south of KNP.
Looking forward to another batch of your superb descriptive reports that give so much atmosphere to enhance your birding experiences.

Martin

 

[Sal]

Hi Sal,
I totally agree with you, winter is here.....however, we had a thunderstorm here last night, with plenty of rain!!!
I know winter is coming when I start seeing Amethyst Sunbirds feeding at the Wild Dagga and Cape Rattle Pod.
A great sight with the black of the Sunbird against the striking orange of the Dagga bracts or the bright yellow of the Rattle Pod flowers.

Of course the terrorist has also left the bird feeder....the Pin-tailed Whydah :-O

The Crested Barbet is also more vocal in the winter and visits the fruit more often.

Martin

Sorry, been having major connectivity problems and have received no notifications from BirdForum . . . . Great pic of the Amethyest Sunbird. I have a lot of immatures here and they spend much time on my wild dagga, but it's only come into flower in the last couple of weeks. They also spend a lot of time on the nectar feeder but have great competition from the bulbuls, weavers, drongoes and white-eyes. I've seen Crested Barbet here, but intermittently. i also have a couple of ringed weavers visiting my feeder, but I cant get close enough to photograph the rings clearly enough to read . . .yet.

 

[Sal]

Hi Sal,
We see Retz's Helmet-shrike quite often, and they have a very distinctive call as well.
As with the White-crested Helmet-shrike always in parties of 5 - 8 of them, sometimes many more, especially in the winter.
This one was taken close to the house.
I often see them in the company of White-crested Helmet-shrike and Fork-tailed Drongo's in birding parties.

Martin

Thanks for posting the pic. Funny that I've never seen them in Kruger although I see plenty of White-crested Helmet-shrike. Must keep a closer eye out this year. It will be a new tick for me!

 

[Sal]

Hi Sal,
You must be getting excited...only 13 sleeps away....
Allan saw Wild Dog on 2 separate occasions in the south of KNP.
Looking forward to another batch of your superb descriptive reports that give so much atmosphere to enhance your birding experiences.

Martin

Four sleeps Martin! Am in the midst of packing up boxes and bags. Chaos, but lovely chaos. I see there is a Grey-crowned Crane at Nsemani at the moment - unfortunately we wont be there for another week or so but I'd love to see on in Kruger! Not long ago, and Egyptian Vulture was spotted on the S28! Maybe it will take a trip to Mopani . . . .

 

[Dave Kennedy]

Back In The Land Of The Living!

At last!
Reconnected today. I wouldn't want to wish the last couple of months on my worst enemy.

Hopefully, I can now get back to some birding.
Best wishes to all,
Dave

 

[Martin Hobbs]

Thanks for posting the pic. Funny that I've never seen them in Kruger although I see plenty of White-crested Helmet-shrike. Must keep a closer eye out this year. It will be a new tick for me!

Hi Sal,
Look out for Retz's Helmet-Shrike in mixed woodland areas rather than Thornveld. We have a lot of Bushwillow surrounding our house which is why we get so many of them.

Martin

 

[Martin Hobbs]

Four sleeps Martin! Am in the midst of packing up boxes and bags. Chaos, but lovely chaos. I see there is a Grey-crowned Crane at Nsemani at the moment - unfortunately we wont be there for another week or so but I'd love to see on in Kruger! Not long ago, and Egyptian Vulture was spotted on the S28! Maybe it will take a trip to Mopani . . . .

Hi Sal,
The Grey-crowned Crane and the Egyptian Vulture would be new sightings for me.....I hope you get to see them while you are there...

Have a great trip

Look forward to hearing all about it with your reports.

Martin

 

[Martin Hobbs]

At last!
Reconnected today. I wouldn't want to wish the last couple of months on my worst enemy.

Hopefully, I can now get back to some birding.
Best wishes to all,
Dave

Hi Dave,
Welcome back!!
Glad to hear you are now connected finally again.

Martin

 

[SawlehaK]

Hi fellow South Africans. It's so nice to find others who are interested in our avian friends. My name is Sawleha, and I'm from the Free State. I'm a beginner birder (possibly even pre-beginner), but I love birding and am looking to learn more about our birds as well as about where to see them. It will be great to share my interest with other's who enjoy the same thing.

 

[Martin Hobbs]

Hi fellow South Africans. It's so nice to find others who are interested in our avian friends. My name is Sawleha, and I'm from the Free State. I'm a beginner birder (possibly even pre-beginner), but I love birding and am looking to learn more about our birds as well as about where to see them. It will be great to share my interest with other's who enjoy the same thing.

Hi Sawleha,
Welcome to Birdforum SA.
I am sure you will enjoy reading and writing about our beloved birds as much as we do on this forum.
Please feel free to ask any questions you have about anything and also to write and let us know what you have seen and where.
We haven't got a regular birder in the Free State so we look forward to reading about birds from your area that we don't normally see.

Please do not feel embarrassed about any question you want to ask....we all started at some time, and we only learn by asking questions and advice from others.

Martin

 

[Sal]

At last!
Reconnected today. I wouldn't want to wish the last couple of months on my worst enemy.

Hopefully, I can now get back to some birding.
Best wishes to all,
Dave

Welcome back again!! :-O Since I moved I have only partial connectivity so I feel your frustration. Not sure mine is going to improve though . . . .

 

[Sal]

Hi fellow South Africans. It's so nice to find others who are interested in our avian friends. My name is Sawleha, and I'm from the Free State. I'm a beginner birder (possibly even pre-beginner), but I love birding and am looking to learn more about our birds as well as about where to see them. It will be great to share my interest with other's who enjoy the same thing.

A warm welcome Sawleha (love the term pre-beginner!). Waiting to hear what you have seen in your own patch.

 

[Sal]

OK, there are two clues above which may tell you that I am back. For now, I will say that we had a fantastic trip (to Kruger) and some amazing sightings which rather dragged my attention away from birds . . . . Have just downloaded photos and am still busy unpacking. Will get onto a report back as soon as I can.

 

[delia todd]

Welcome back Sal... looking forward to the photos!

Long may your lum reek* (as they say here).... or I hope your internet connections get sorted.

*.. "lum" = chimney, "reek" = smoke

 

[Dave Kennedy]

Welcome back again!! :-O Since I moved I have only partial connectivity so I feel your frustration. Not sure mine is going to improve though . . . .

Glad to be back, Sal. For give or take three months it felt like something had been amputated. I hope you can find some way of improving your connectivity. Your postings have been a constant delight, and I, for one, would hate to miss them!

The other problem with moving was it took us almost a year from decision to move to completion, during which time we hardly had any quality birding or other personal time. It was all agents, lawyers, plumbers, painters, electricians, choosing tiles, curtains, kitchen decor, paints: I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.

We have a tentative 3-day trip planned to Singita in early July, so maybe I'll get lucky, although not so lucky as my two daughters who went there in December and got a great Lesser Spotted Eagle. Mind you, I think I would be hard pushed to recognise a Lesser Spotted Eagle if it bit me in the bum. Nevertheless, that was a bird I have yet to see, so I am still gnashing my teeth, because when we get to Singita in July the Lesser Spotted Eagles will all be in Russia. Anyway, since I wouldn't dream of being a dog in the manger I have attached the girls' LSE for you and everyone else to see.
Best wishes,
Dave

PS The wee tight 'trouser-legs' are a good field mark - or so I have been told!