Southern African Forum (1 Viewer)

[Dryocopus]

Allan

Short-toed Eagle

see here

http://www.mangoverde.com/birdsound/picpages/pic30-59-5.html


or as in SA
Black-chested Snake -Eagle


PS - I really will finish my adventures...trouble is the migrants are returning here and there are so many places to go and birds to see!

We are expecting rain from Sunday afternoon for a few days so I might get some time to continue!

Great tales Allan :t:

 

[Dryocopus]

Apologies to all- who have been following my adventures in SA!

Its raining here and all day so as I cant get to the coast for any sea watcing today - I shallwite up another day!

Sunday 9th November St Lucia Wetland Park

I started this day post 778 - shows how long ago it was!

Back to the Hotel and a pit stop and then on to the reserve!

Mammals spotted - Zebras, Waterbuck, Greater Kudu, Warthog, Blue Wldebeest and Vervet Monkeys.
Yellow billed Kites aplenty, Fan-tailed Widowbirds and Pin-tailed Whydahs in the grassland - very attractive they made the scenery, with their zitting in and out and the movements, almost balletlike!
Kingfishers on roadsidewires...Brownhooded and Striped.
We soon left the main roadway and turned onto a dirt road. Here we saw Reedbuck, Red Duiker and Bushbuck. O the track we saw Burchell's Coucal and Little Beeeaters perched while a Jackal Buzzard circled above.

Hundreds of Barn Swallows (our swallows!!!) were festing on the hatchlings from a termite mound - it was swarming and they were enjoying a feeding frenzy! Here too were several Woolly-necked Storks on theground and in the air were 5 Yellow-billed Kites.Everyneappeared to have plenty - wonder if any termite young got out alive?
A Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher was spotted within a patch of woodland and then in a somewhat cleared area perched atop a dead tree was the BOP!

Mark - our birding guru was delighted to see a juvenile Banded Snake Eagle.
I managed to get distant shots andwl find them later! On the bird list it says Souther Banded Snake Eagle....the Field Guide says its an uncommon resident. I was very impressed!

We aproached the beach area and stoped for our picnic lunch - the Samango Monkeys were bit too interested in our lunch- needless to say we were too!
They gained nothing from there artful ways.

Here we saw another Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher(like a small Blue Jay - my notes recall) and enjoyed rather better views than before.In a wooded area near the beach we saw some really good birds, Tawny-flanked Prinia and Green Twinspot - I was rather pleased with myself here as I spotted the male and female before anyone else - it took time and effort but when has birding really been easy for the good birds?(but I had been put on to them by the males call- recognised by Mark!) and was able to get Mike and Jan on to them as well!
On the beach we saw Grey-headed gulls , Cape Wagtails and a fantastic White-fronted Plover. Fantastic as it was very showy and allowed lots of pics and I even got a couple of good photos!
Jan couldn't resist a paddle in the Indian Ocean ando our walk back to the minibus we saw Samango and Vervet Monkeys and some Banded Mongoose.

I have a Crowned Eagle next in my notes - and there were many mammal sightings of the Antelope variety and then we reached a platform over shallow wetland. Here we spied Little Stint, BW Stilt, Wood and Curlew Sandpipers, Greenshank and Ruff, Ringed and Blacksmiths Plovers. An Osprey
flew in, dived, caught a fish and flew off all under the nose of an African Fish Eagle. Distant were african white pelicans, Greater Flamngos, Grey herons, Little and Great Egrets and some Saddle-billed Storks.
A juvenile Martial Eagle soared over us as well.
Lazing in the water were Hippos and then we saw the Crocs!

Back to St Lucia and I went out to the estuary again more crocs again- lots of Grey-headed gulls, Yellow-billed Storks, Caspian and Swift Terns, here were lots of waders - all named before!

We had another fine evening meal in town and slept soundly that night. Again no sound from the local Leopard!

 

[Dryocopus]

Whilst I am on a roll - I will move on to the Monday. 10th November.

St Lucia, Durban, Scottville and Himeville. A travelling day but with several stops that made the journey thoroughly interesting!

Leaving St Lucia at 7.30 we bagan our journey.
On route Cattle Egrets, Common Fiscals, Woolly- necks, Pied Crows and 3 Longcrested Eagles (great!) and a Steppe Buzzard - the latter bop were really good clear sightings...

We reached the umgeni River and some new species put in appearances.
Common Tern, Kelp Gulls, and Bronze Mannikins - plus here were Goliath Herons, Sacred Ibis, Grey Herns, Swift terns, Marsh Sandpipers, GH Gulls, Black-collared Barbet and Red-eyed Dove. A good birding local patch!

One thing was clear after my SA trip I would be very good at iding Wood and Marsh Sandpipers! (Not so common in the UK!)

Now we had a highlight- Durban and the Botanical Gardens. Well worth a visit!
Palm Swifts and African Flycatchers were nesting in the palms, surprisingly...not!
Southern Masked Village and thick-billed Weavers were weaving, Red Bishops aglowingand the taller trees around the lake were full of nesting Pink-backed Pelicans, Black-headed Herons, Sacred Ibises, African Spoonbills - and Egyptian Geese, Olive sunbirds and lots of Hadeda Ibises including a tame version of our Robin (a Hadeda really - but as we ate our lunch they were acting just as our Robins do...hanging about and scrounging titbits!) Rather appealing I thought atho I think some visitors thought them a bit apalling!

We enjoyed a detour on route for the Drakensburg Mountains to Scottsburg for close up pics of the weavers weaving and displaying. Here were Yellow-billed Kites and Red-winged Starlings. A stop at an interesting small church all securely locked up and electric wired(sad), produced a new species - a Lesser Honeyguide as well as a Southern Black Tit and a couple of Black-headed Orioles.

Nearing Himeville we stopped for some pics of the spectacular Mountains - on route past some lakes holding Red-knobbed coots and then after African Olive pigeons it was the raptors again....Jackal Buzzards and Long Crested Eagles.

We arrived at the farmhouse we were staying at -a very old building with lots of wings and interesting rooms. The owner was an interesting woman (they lived up the road in the modern farmhouse) whose father had been an important birder in Zimbabwe before they moved back to SA.

Jan and Mike and I had a little wing to ourselves -

the evening meal taken up the road was one of Jean goodies...we walked back in the dark after the instructions for the next days birding whizzing around my head. It proved to be even better than I had anticipated!


Just for the locals....the next day Sani Pass to Lesotho and back!


Later.....Buff spotted flufftail heard in the garden...altho I had to wait until the morning to find out what it was I had heard! The place gets better and better!

 

[Sal]

Great stuff Dryocopus, I was so delighted to read the next two episodes! You saw some really good birds at St Lucia and I went a bit green when I read about the Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher and the Osprey. Glad you enjoyed the Durban Bot Gardens - it is one of my birding haunts when I go down there and I am usually torn between birding and taking pics. I'm waiting to hear what birds you saw in the Drakensberg - hearing a Buff-spotted Flufftail is a pretty good start! Thanks for posting this.

 

[Dryocopus]

A few pics - Southern Banded Snake Eagle - a tree (cant remember what - Jan and Mike wanted a pic of one of these!)- olde farm house and White-fronted Plover.

 

[Dryocopus]

a few more pics

waterfall - cant remember where? and one of the Woolley necked Storks at the feeding frenzy!

others failed to load - too big...later!

 

[Dryocopus]

Tuesday 11th November

Well it was the day! A day I had looked forward to but it was even better than I had dreamed. We were driven by and birded with a class act- Stuart McLain.

Two 4x4 turned up after our breakfast and we were off on another adventure.I was very lucky as I was asked to keep the list in our car/jeep and Stuart was driving, and I got to sit in the front passenger seat.

Jan and Mike were in the other vehicle with Mike and their driver - who turned out to have been born in Lesotho of missionary parents, so he spoke the lingo which was very useful as can be seen later.

Lesotho is over 3000 feet - the whole place!

On our journey just out of town we saw 30 possibly more Grey Crowned Cranes- what a start!

A stop by a golf course and we saw Jackal Buzzard, \long-crested Eagle, White necked Ravens and Sacred Ibis. Cape Robin Chat, a couple of Red-throated Wrynecks, Streaky headed Seed eater, heard Common Quail (nothing new there then!) and Redchested and Black Cuckoo alng with Drakensberg Prinia.

There were rough tracks to cross as the road all seemed to be in repair mode and it was interesting that much rougher tracks were to come.

Further into the journey we had seen Olive Thrush, Bush Blackcap and heard a Dark-capped Yellow Warbler.As we climbed higher we saw many Proteas where the birds included Buff-streaked Robin Chat, Ground Woodpecker, Gurney's Sugarbird - really happy with that one! Malachite Sunbirds. the weather was virtually cloudless, so really good visibility.

We reached the South African border post at 9.30am -

My head was full of imformation from Stuart - altho behind us their driver was giving detailed flower names of almost every plant - just as well for me I was in the birders car - or i never would have remembered much!

The scenery is/was spectacular ....we had a coffeee break on the way up and saw Bokmakierie, Rock Martins, Drakensberg Siskin and a Southern Rock Agama.

Many hairpin bends later on a very bumpy track we reached the top of the Sani Passat 2873 metres and we visited the Lesotho Border post to have the stamp entered into our passport!

The lateau we then travelled through held Sloggett's Ice Rats which I at first had real difficulty seeing as they whizzed about up and out of burrows! Here were some Sickle-winged Chats and aBlack-headed Heron.Then it was Mountain Pipit and Largebilled Larkand 2 Lanner Falcons were seen in the distant and a Jackal Buzzard.

Sentinel RockThrush, Cape Bunting and some Cape Vultures before
Lammergeier! Then it was into a long a winding valley where we eventually stopped for lunch.On the way down we saw Layard's Titbabbler, Rock Jumpers,Ground Woodpeckers and Grey-winged Francolin.

Stuart's eyesight must be brilliant as he was always onto the birds- on the way up along with the driving which i wouldn't have wanted to do he was able to spot birds out of his eyeline - unless of course they were just where they had been always!

The Grey-winged Francolin were called in by Stuart he spotted one a long way off and I saw it - but Stuart called and in they came and as you may remember from ages ago I got some coolpics!

The lunch stop was across a valley to an occupied Lammergeiers nest, and I nearly forgot to eat so entranced I was with watching through my scope.
As I had brought one of the three scopes others shared in watching - but it was briliant when they concntrated on their eating as I just watched and watched and even got blobs as pics! On the nest an adult was feeding a well grown chic.The adult bird took off and landed on a ciff where it joined a 2-3 yr old juvenile! It was then chased off!
The two birds flew and gave us fab views of their flying feats. The adult would flip itself upside down before stooping on to the juv - fantastic!

We also spotted Fairy Flycatcher and Grey Tits.

Stuart is an exceptional birder and guide and I was in my element as he called birds right left and centre andif we didn't see one he would do his best to ensure all got to see the endemic and rarer birds. I was rigjt beside him or next t him the entire time when I could as I didn't want t miss anything and just sometimes I would see a bird immediatly and at the same time!

What I would do for a Bird Race with Stuart in my crew! Totally amazing!

Well then it was time to repeat our journey back to the Border post. We saw many of the same birds on our return but the stunning Ground Woodpeckers perched up close to the road and the Rockjumpers were specially photogenic!

A Spotted Skaapster snake was seen and we were a little more careful where we put our feet after this!

We stopped at a small village to chat to the locals via some translation from our driver and the fact that one of the young women had learnt English at school and proudly stated it was her favourite subject at school!

The basic accomodation was partly due to the nomadic existence of the shepherds but also the fact was it is a very poor country and we had been given strict instructions as to only tip if they didn't ask for any money, tip that was for photos...and the chat!
Oh their bread was very tasty altho the smokey atmosphere in the huts I could have done without!

We then broke our journey at Sani TopChalet, the highest pub in Africa at 2874 metres. Here we enjoyed chocholate, Lesotho Beer then it was the descent around the 27 airpin bends!

By now the cloud had closed in and there was rain but the rain didn't clear the cloud and we descended with me keeping a look out down below each hairpin as Stuart skillfully negotiated each bend...what was I looking out for - the large lorries that continuously ferried whatever up and down the pass plus the huge coaches of locals.....a sight to behold....I didn't fancy the drive up (in clear sunlight) as to the journey down lets say it was an unforgetable adventure!

We stopped a couple of times brief and we heard again the Dark-capped Yellow Warbler , Bar-throated Apalis and a Barrat's Warbler were seen while others were watching a group of Baboons.

An outstanding birding day and experience!

I shallpost up some photos later and I will wite out alist for today's birding.

Truely stunning!

The evening meal was the very best not sure though whether it was the best or just as I had had a top day! :t:

 

[Dryocopus]

Quick tot up - 76 species seen 25 (26) new birds for the Bird list!

Common Quail (H)
Grey-winged Francolin
Lammergeier (6 different birds!)
Lanner Falcon
Black Cuckoo
Drakensberg Rockjumper
Grey Tit
Large-billed Lark
Karoo Prinia
Drakensberg Prinia
Bar-throated Apalis
Fairy Flycatcher
Barrat's Warbler
Cape Grassbird
Dark-capped Yellow Warbler (H)
Layard's Tit Babbler
Bush Blackcap
Buff streaked Chat
Sickle winged Chat
Sentinel Rock Thrush
Yellow Bishop
Mountain Pipit
Yellow Canary
Drakensberg Siskin
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting
Streaky headed Seedeater
Not bad!

 

[Dryocopus]

Just for Sal - the other species seen

Golden-breasted Bunting
(Streaky headed Seed eater missing from above!) so thats 76 species and 26 nes birds!
Cape Canary
African Rock Pipit (H)
Cape Wagtail
Pin-tailed Whydah
Common Waxbill
House Sparrow
Cape Sparrow
Cape Weaver
African Dusky Flycatcher(H)
Malachite Sunbird
Greater Double collared Sunbird
African Stonechat
Southern Black Flycatcher
Red-winged Starling
Kurrichane Thrush
Cape Robin chat
Cape White eye
Common Myna
Darkcapped Bulbul
Barn Swallow
White-throated Swallow
Rock Martin
Greater striped Swallow
Red-capped lark
Wailing Cisticola
Cape Crow
White-necked Raven
Common Fiscal
Fork-tailed drongo
Bokmakierie
Southern Boubou
Ground Woodpecker
Red-throated Wryneck
African hoopoe
Dideric Cuckoo
Red-chested Cuckoo
African Black Swift
Little Swift
Speckled Mousebird
Speckled Pigeon
Red-eyed Dove
Long-crested Eagle
Southern Grey Crane
Black-winged kite
Cape Vulture
Black-crowned night Heron
Egyptian Goose
African Sacred Ibis
Hadeda Ibis

E

 

[Dryocopus]

Some pics

 

[Dryocopus]

some more - thats Stuart above.

 

[Dryocopus]

birds

 

[Sal]

YOU SAW LAMERGEIER! Sorry about the shout, but that was so exciting! And not just one - SIX! Wow. The Ground woodpecker was areally nice sighting too, and nice pics of them. What a fantastic trip and a brilliant bird list, thanks for posting the others. I'm kind of running out of adjectives here. As always, I enjoyed looking at the photos and the views up the pass are beautiful

I think the tree is a jacaranda tree? And did you stop at the Howick Falls? I like the look of the farmhouse where you stayed,old and pretty.

Thanks for yet another great post.

 

[Dave Kennedy]

Quick tot up - 76 species seen 25 (26) new birds for the Bird list!

Drakensberg Rockjumper
Barrat's Warbler
Dark-capped Yellow Warbler (H)
Layard's Tit Babbler
Bush Blackcap
Sickle winged Chat
Sentinel Rock Thrush
Drakensberg Siskin
Not bad!

"Not bad" must be the understatement of the year. That lot above have eluded me to this day, and I can only applaud your success. Well done!

I'm back at last, and hoping to catch up again with the SA birding scene. Seems like everybody has been keeping the flag flying, so thanks to all.

Nice to be back, and great to see everyone again.
Best wishes to you all,
Dave Kennedy

 

[Sal]

I'm back at last, and hoping to catch up again with the SA birding scene. Seems like everybody has been keeping the flag flying, so thanks to all.

Nice to be back, and great to see everyone again.
Best wishes to you all,
Dave Kennedy

Welcome back Dave! Hope all is well. Where have you/will you have posted re your trip to the islands?

 

[Dave Kennedy]

Welcome back Dave! Hope all is well. Where have you/will you have posted re your trip to the islands?

Hi Sal!

I only managed 2 days in Islay - much of the rest of the trip involved relatives etc - so I have posted a couple of things in Your Local Patch/Scotland/Birding in Islay.

I will be posting other stuff shortly (especially on Kintyre), but it wasn't really a birding trip, more's the pity.

Our SA birds seem to have become bolder - the woodhoopoes have started coming to the bird table, which is a first. Just this morning in the garden there were Grey Lourie, Fiscal Flycatcher, Black-collared Barbet, Cape Turtle Dove, Cape Robin, Glossy Starling, Red-headed Finch and the Woodhoopoes.

Best wishes,
Dave

 

[Dryocopus]

For Sal and Dave in particular

My Southern Africa Bird list minus a couple of species that Clement doesn't seem to recognise is now on here

http://www.bubo.org/listing/

You might have to register - but you dont have to do anything - not necessary to fill in any lists unlessyou would like to ...a friend filled in the last birds for me then managed to delete the places - so i will have to re-edit the gaps at some point!

You will have to fiddle around to find the list probably easier to find me first
under

Corinna Smart



Cant complain since I was out birding at the time - seeing a UK lifer!

 

[Martin Hobbs]

Just arrived back from Kosi Bay.
Spent a day in Tembe and a very short day in Ndumo (Karen was not well that day) but most of the time was spent at Kosi Bay, driving (and getting lost) and walking in the coastal and dune forests, the grasslands and wetlands.
A total of 9 new sightings for me:

Palm-nut Vulture
Black Saw-winged Swallow
Starred Robin
Rudd's Apalis
Pale-crowned Cisticola
Black-bellied Starling
Grey Sunbird
Purple-banded Sunbird
Brown-throated Weaver

I will give more details about each location later.

Martin

 

[Sal]

Hi Dave, Dryocopus and Martin I've been away - not birding unfortunately - will get to your posts Dave as I catch up with everything; and to your bird list Dryocopus - thanks for that. Martin - look forward to the posts, Purple-banded Sunbird - great!

 

[Dave Kennedy]

Hi Dave, Dryocopus and Martin I've been away - not birding unfortunately - will get to your posts Dave as I catch up with everything; and to your bird list Dryocopus - thanks for that. Martin - look forward to the posts, Purple-banded Sunbird - great!

Hi, Sal,

Until today I had only posted the Islay information from my overseas trip. Today I have started posting Kintyre information. If you're interested, it's in Your Local Patch/Scotland/Kintyre Birds.

best wishes,
Dave