Army Ornithological SocietySouth Africa
I have a signal once again but I am now in Kwa-Zulu Natal. I travelled back to Johannesburg once again dipping on the Taita Falcon as the female died and the malehad disappeared. The next day I visited the Bird Reserve at Marievale. This desolate spot next to a mine where a gale was blowing introduced me to water birds including Hottentot Teal, Levaillant's Cisticola, a range of Bishops, White-bellied Duck and Marsh Warbler. The next day was adrive to Wakkerstroom on the border with KZN. There was time before last light to visit the lakes and reeds after picking up African Darter and Caspian Tern at the lunch stop. There were South African Cliff Swallows nesting under the bridge. An African Marsh Harrier swept the reedbeds and a pair of Black-crowned Night Herons were a star with some other birders. I was more interested in the Long-tailed Widowbird and African Rail. The next day we went out with a guide named Lucky. We did quite a few miles on dirt roads but we did see some nice birds including to start with Denham's and White-bellied Bustard. All 4 Ibises were seen; Hadeda, Sacred, Bald and Glossy. In addition we saw Botha's, Red-naped, Red-capped, Rudd's, Clapper and Spike-heeled Larks. There were Secretarybird, Blue Khoran, Blue Crane, Grey-crowned Crane, Yellow-breasted Pipit, Cape Longclaw and Ground Woodpecker. Back at the water I saw Black Crake and African Swamphen. The birds came thick and fast and it was wonderful weather. This morning was a quick visit to the water where a Red-chested Flufftail appeared out of the reeds. It was then a drive south to Howick where a new set of birds awaited including an African Harrier Hawk, Dark-capped Yellow Warbler, Southern Boubou, Spectacle Weaver and White-rumped Swallow. I am now at 202 species for the trip and will be leaving at 5.45 to go out for a couple of hours before it gets too hot. Once again the weather has been kind and Wakkerstroom will be remembered as a birder's paradise.
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