Moordenaars Karoo 2005
Just returning from a birding weekend (8 - 10 April 2005) at the edge of the Moordenaars Karoo.
24 birders turned out and they enjoyed it throughout. When I arrived Friday
evening some birders already got a few lifers.
Saturday morning we decided to bird the Moordenaars Karoo north of
Laingsburg. The area has not received it annual rains yet, but we picked up
Yellowbellied Eremomela, Karoo Longbilled & Karoo Larks, beautiful
Rufouseared Warblers and Spurwinged Geese in the early stages.
The bridge over the Buffels River delivered Hamerkop, Namaqua Dove, Common
Waxbill, Malachite Kingfisher, Karoo Prinia and Namaqua Wabler. Up into the
Moordenaars Karoo Karoo Chats were everywhere, we were pleased to see a lot
of Pale Chanting Goshawks (and some pairs are preparing for the coming
breeding season), Karoo Korhaan, Alpine Swifts, Jackal Buzzard, 2 times
Black Eagles and Karoo Robins. Where the road crosses the rivers we had
Pririt Batis, Fiscal Flycatcher, Namaqua Warbler often, lots of Fairy Flycatchers and Acacia Pied Barbet.
On the detour to the Sutherland tar road we saw Longbilled Pipit, Southern Grey Tit, Thickbilled Lark, Greybacked Cisticola and lots of Yellow and
Whitethroated Canaries.
Saturday evening we had the priviledge to have the Director of Birdlife SA, Gerhard Verdoorn, with us. A few of the surrounding farmers were also present and all enjoyed Gerhard's talk on the conservation of birds.
Sunday morning we birded the guest farm on which we stayed and added Karoo Eremomela, Black Eagle which nest on the farm, Namaqua Sandgrouse and Layard's Titbabbler.
The total of species seen were 85.
The guestfarm Josephskraal about 40 km outside Laingsburg can be highly recommended for birding. The farm has a good variety of birds and is a good place to use as a basis for birding towards Sutherland and into the Moordenaars Karoo. If you want further details of it, please contact me directly.
~ Japie
24 birders turned out and they enjoyed it throughout. When I arrived Friday
evening some birders already got a few lifers.
Saturday morning we decided to bird the Moordenaars Karoo north of
Laingsburg. The area has not received it annual rains yet, but we picked up
Yellowbellied Eremomela, Karoo Longbilled & Karoo Larks, beautiful
Rufouseared Warblers and Spurwinged Geese in the early stages.
The bridge over the Buffels River delivered Hamerkop, Namaqua Dove, Common
Waxbill, Malachite Kingfisher, Karoo Prinia and Namaqua Wabler. Up into the
Moordenaars Karoo Karoo Chats were everywhere, we were pleased to see a lot
of Pale Chanting Goshawks (and some pairs are preparing for the coming
breeding season), Karoo Korhaan, Alpine Swifts, Jackal Buzzard, 2 times
Black Eagles and Karoo Robins. Where the road crosses the rivers we had
Pririt Batis, Fiscal Flycatcher, Namaqua Warbler often, lots of Fairy Flycatchers and Acacia Pied Barbet.
On the detour to the Sutherland tar road we saw Longbilled Pipit, Southern Grey Tit, Thickbilled Lark, Greybacked Cisticola and lots of Yellow and
Whitethroated Canaries.
Saturday evening we had the priviledge to have the Director of Birdlife SA, Gerhard Verdoorn, with us. A few of the surrounding farmers were also present and all enjoyed Gerhard's talk on the conservation of birds.
Sunday morning we birded the guest farm on which we stayed and added Karoo Eremomela, Black Eagle which nest on the farm, Namaqua Sandgrouse and Layard's Titbabbler.
The total of species seen were 85.
The guestfarm Josephskraal about 40 km outside Laingsburg can be highly recommended for birding. The farm has a good variety of birds and is a good place to use as a basis for birding towards Sutherland and into the Moordenaars Karoo. If you want further details of it, please contact me directly.
~ Japie
