Northern Cape & North West 2010
I was on a birding trip with clients from Cape Town to Marakeleand Thabazimbi during the last week of May 2010. We saw 249 species with the main target some of the Karoo / Kalahari species.
Starting in Stellenbosch we looked for Karoo specials like Karoo Longbilled Lark, Karoo Chat and others. We were lucky to get these and other like Spikeheeled Lark, Larklike Bunting, Rufouseared Warbler and lots of Sth Pale Chanting Goshawk.
Between Beaufort West and Victoria West we saw the normal "road birds" which include Jackal Buzzard, Greybacked Cisticola and 3 Blue Cranes. About 10 km south of Victoria West we were surprised to see a lonely Forktailed Drongo on the telephone wire. While watching the drongo, we picked up some Karoo Korhaans, more Blue Cranes, Largebilled Lark and Larklike Bunting. We had breakfast at Victoria West Dam which is still almost full. It hosts a good number of water birds including Greater Flamingoes, Pied Avocet, Blacknecked Grebe, Cape Shoveller and Little Grebe. A lonely Secretaybird was strolling on the edge of the dam and an Afr Rock Pipit was calling from the surrounding hills.
Just north of V/west a few Blackeared Sparrowlarks flew across the road and further north we found some Ludwig's Bustards, Sicklewinged Chat, Chat Flycatcher and Greater Kestrel.Just south of Hopetown we got our first Sociable Weavers at the nests. We stayed our first night at the new gem of Sanparks, Mokala. Between the N12 and the entrance gate we had 2 Pygmy Falcons perching on the telephone wire. Contacted details for Mokala arewww.sanparks.org/mokala.
We entered Mokala and on the way to the office we had a lovely bird party consisting of Common Fiscal (subsp subcoronatus), Cape Penduline ***, Yellow Canary, Chestnutvented Titbabbler, Yellowbellied Eremomela, Blackchested Prinia, Goldenbreasted Bunting, Familiar Chat and Swallowtailed Bee-eater. The personnel at the office are excellent, helpful and knowledgeable. After downloaded the entire luggage we drove further north into the park and picked up Helmeted Guineafowl, Sabota Lark and a Kimberley Pipit. During the nightwe heard Spotted Eagle Owl calling. The next morning on our way outwe saw Cardinal Woodpecker, Eastern Clapper Lark, Pririt Batis, Fairy Flycatcher, Ashy *** and Longbilled Pipit.
Just outside the park we had a male Shorttoed Rock Thrush. Our next stop was near the Big Hole in Kimberley andwe picked up some Bradfield's Swifts quicklyas well as Alpine, Whiterumped and Little Swift. Mark's Lesser Flamingoes are still in huge numbers at KamfersDam despite the very high level of the water. A quick count gave us 19999 of them. Just beyond Dronfield's entrance we spotted a Whitebacked Vulture with a juvenile on a nest. At the crossing of the Vaal River some Pied Kingfishers were fishing in the river with Purple Heron and Afr Darter.
We stayed at Sandveld NR which is a birding mecca. The chalets will be upgraded in the next couple of months. The reserve can be contacted at tel 053 4331702 fax 053 4331090.A group of Redcapped Larks awaited us on the bridge across the Bloemhof Dam; don't know why it was sitting here. There were a lot of birds around the camp including Orange River White-eye, Blackfaced Waxbill, Ashy *** and Kalahari Scrub-robin. Over the dam we picked up Whiskered Tern, Afr Darter and Great Crested Grebe.A drive into the reserve produced Pririt Batis, Magpie Shrike, Brubru, Cape Penduline *** and Cardinal Woodpecker. We heard Orange River Francolin but it would not show itself. Of concern is the amount of Common (Indian) Mynahs all over the Northern Cape, Northwest and Free State.
The next morning we were out early in search for the OR Francolins. In the meantime we could tick Gabar Goshawk, Redcrested Korhaan and Whitefronted Bee-eater for the Sandveld list. A callof the OR Francolins was immediately answered and a pair rushes through the vegetation to the road and gave brilliant views. We drove to the furthest end of the reserve and collected along the way Violeteared Waxbill, Green Woodhoopoe,Rufousnaped Lark, Crested Barbet, Redheaded Finch, Redbilled Firefinch, Squacco Heron, more Magpie Shrikes, Goldenbreasted Bunting and Sociable Weaver. The surprise was when a pair of Burchell's Sandgrouse landed at the waterhole where the hide is.
The afternoon was spent in the adjacent Bloemhof Dam NR which has a complete different habitat then Sandveld. Birds which we got here include Greenwinged Pytilia, Secretarybird, Doublebanded Courser,Lesser Flamingoes, Plainbacked Pipit, Blackthroated Canary, Afr Jacana, Great White & Yellowbilled Egret, Caspian Tern and Yellow Canary.
From Sandveld we movedto the Pilanesberg area. Along the way we saw 2 Secretarybirds circling just south of Koster before we hit the Bushveld birds north of Koster.We stayed at Leisure Farms between Rustenburg and Pilanesberg which is a very comfortable accommodation to explore the surroundings area. The owners and personnel are very helpful to birders (arranging early breakfast, etc) and can be contacted at www.leisurefarms.co.za.; e-mail:eleisure@mweb.co.za; tel 014 5733174; cell 083 2343735. At Leisure Farms we were greeted by Arrowmarked Babblers, Greybacked Camaroptera, Blackheaded Oriole, Marico & WhitebelliedSunbird, Puffback and Lesser Honeyguide. At the little dam were Greenbacked Heron and a Pied Kingfisher.
I contacted Stuart Groom about the Yellowthroated Sandgrouse and organized with him to meet him the next morning. If you want to see YT Sandgrouse, get in contacted with Stuart as he has the best places to see this elusive birds. After met up with Stuart we located the YT Sandgrouse within 10 minutes with beautiful sightings of a male and female. Other birds in the same area were Chestnutbacked Sparrowlarks, Lanner Falcon and Tinkling Cisticola.
We headed to Pilanesberg to spend the rest of the day birding in the reserve. We entered through Bakubung gate and at the first dam we were surprised to still see a good number of Pearlbreasted Swallows feeding over the water. Other birds around here include Afr Black Duck, Burchell's Coucal, Afr Palm Swift and Whitebrowed Scrub-robin. Further along the Mankwe road we met up with a bird party that included Jameson's & Redbilled Firefinches, Sth Black Flycatcher, Ashy ***, Chinspot Batis, Fairy Flycatcher, Speckled Mousebird and Cape White-eye. Along the road to the Fish Eagle picnic site we could tick Tinkling Cisticola, Sabota Lark, Plainbacked Pipit, Streakyheaded Seedeater, Flappe Lark, Marico Flycatcher and Buffy Pipit. At the picnic site we were greeted by Whitethroated Robin-chat, Yellowthroated Petronia, Shorttoed Rock Thrush and a lot of naughty Vervet Monkeys.
The vulture restaurant in Pilanesberg does not exist anymore, but on the road to Bakgatla we saw Lilacbreasted Roller, Redbilled Hornbill, Redbilled Oxpecker on some game, Common Moorhen and some of Pilanesberg elephants. A few Lazy Cisticolas were seen along the road. We had a good day in Pilanesberg.
Stuart phoned and told me he discovered a new drinking place for the YTSandgrouse. He wanted that I check it for him the next morning as he wasn't able to check it himself. I found the place near a mine with ease and what a sighting?!! As we arrived about 50 sandgrouses flew off, but there was still about another 50 at the water. More sandgrousescameto drink. Hopefully Stuart can organize with the mine to makewater available for the sandgrouses at the site. Thanks Stuart!!
After all the excitement of the YT Sandgrouses we headed for Borakalalo Game Res. for birding. Near the Atlanta Holiday Resort on the road between Brits and Thabazimbi we saw 40+ White Storks feeding on a newly ploughed field. After we turned off the road towards Borakalalo at Assenwe had an unexpected Sth Pale Chanting Goshawk, Gabar Goshawk, Purple Roller and a beautiful pair of Afr Hawk Eagles. Must warn people that parts of the gravel road are in a very bad condition, but it seems nothing new for SA.
Borakalalo delivered good birds as always with inter alia Goldentailed Woodpecker, Fairy Flycatcher, Goliath Heron, Burntnecked Eremomela, Afr Wattled Lapwing, Tawnyflanked Prinia, Redbilled Firefinch and Brubru. Unfortunately, no Afr Finfoot, only large Water Leguanes.
On the way to Thabazimbi we had a female YT Sandgrouse on the edge of the road just to keep us awake for the unexpected. We stayed at Mongatane Lodge next to Marakele Nat Park. The lodge has excellent facilities and can be recommended to birders. Contact at www.placesforafrica.com/mongatane ; e-mail: tbztrophies@mweb.co.za; cell 082 9650002. Birds around the lodge were inter aliaBarn Owl, Bearded Woodpecker, Crimsonbreasted Shrike, Groundscraper Thrush, Chinspot Batis and Yellowfronted Canary.
The next morning we paid a visit to Marakele and started off with Orangebreasted Bush Shrike, Sth Whitecrowned Shrike and Redbilled Oxpeckers on giraffes. We first tackled the road up to the towers and along it we saw Jameson's Firefinch, Cape Vulture soaring overhead, a pair of Blackchested Snake Eagles and Greenspotted Dove. On top of the mountain we had lovely views of the Cape Vultures soaring low over our heads, a pair of Peregrine Falcons swooping through the sky and trying to get some Rock Martins, Longbilled Pipit, Lazy Cisticola, tame Buffstreaked & Mocking Chats, Cape Rock Thrush and Cape Bunting. Add the amazing panoramic views from here and it is a MUST visit place. Down hill we found a swooping Black Eagle, Barthroated Apalis and Sth Black ***.
Theopen veld below the mountain gave us some Whitecrested Helmet Shrike,Grey ***-Flycatcher, Goldentailed Woodpecker, Browncrowned Tchagra and Burntnecked Eremomela.
It was our last day and dropped off our clients who got a good number of lifers. On the way back we stopped at Potchefstroombird sanctuary where we saw Hottentot Teal, Blackcrowned Night Heron, Southern Pochard, Afr Purple Swamphen and Thickbilled Weaver which were not recorded earlier on the trip. The long road backdelivered a few sightings of Blue Korhaans around Edenburg and Hanover as well as a Black Harrier between Colesberg and Hanover.
~ Japie Claassen
Starting in Stellenbosch we looked for Karoo specials like Karoo Longbilled Lark, Karoo Chat and others. We were lucky to get these and other like Spikeheeled Lark, Larklike Bunting, Rufouseared Warbler and lots of Sth Pale Chanting Goshawk.
Between Beaufort West and Victoria West we saw the normal "road birds" which include Jackal Buzzard, Greybacked Cisticola and 3 Blue Cranes. About 10 km south of Victoria West we were surprised to see a lonely Forktailed Drongo on the telephone wire. While watching the drongo, we picked up some Karoo Korhaans, more Blue Cranes, Largebilled Lark and Larklike Bunting. We had breakfast at Victoria West Dam which is still almost full. It hosts a good number of water birds including Greater Flamingoes, Pied Avocet, Blacknecked Grebe, Cape Shoveller and Little Grebe. A lonely Secretaybird was strolling on the edge of the dam and an Afr Rock Pipit was calling from the surrounding hills.
Just north of V/west a few Blackeared Sparrowlarks flew across the road and further north we found some Ludwig's Bustards, Sicklewinged Chat, Chat Flycatcher and Greater Kestrel.Just south of Hopetown we got our first Sociable Weavers at the nests. We stayed our first night at the new gem of Sanparks, Mokala. Between the N12 and the entrance gate we had 2 Pygmy Falcons perching on the telephone wire. Contacted details for Mokala arewww.sanparks.org/mokala.
We entered Mokala and on the way to the office we had a lovely bird party consisting of Common Fiscal (subsp subcoronatus), Cape Penduline ***, Yellow Canary, Chestnutvented Titbabbler, Yellowbellied Eremomela, Blackchested Prinia, Goldenbreasted Bunting, Familiar Chat and Swallowtailed Bee-eater. The personnel at the office are excellent, helpful and knowledgeable. After downloaded the entire luggage we drove further north into the park and picked up Helmeted Guineafowl, Sabota Lark and a Kimberley Pipit. During the nightwe heard Spotted Eagle Owl calling. The next morning on our way outwe saw Cardinal Woodpecker, Eastern Clapper Lark, Pririt Batis, Fairy Flycatcher, Ashy *** and Longbilled Pipit.
Just outside the park we had a male Shorttoed Rock Thrush. Our next stop was near the Big Hole in Kimberley andwe picked up some Bradfield's Swifts quicklyas well as Alpine, Whiterumped and Little Swift. Mark's Lesser Flamingoes are still in huge numbers at KamfersDam despite the very high level of the water. A quick count gave us 19999 of them. Just beyond Dronfield's entrance we spotted a Whitebacked Vulture with a juvenile on a nest. At the crossing of the Vaal River some Pied Kingfishers were fishing in the river with Purple Heron and Afr Darter.
We stayed at Sandveld NR which is a birding mecca. The chalets will be upgraded in the next couple of months. The reserve can be contacted at tel 053 4331702 fax 053 4331090.A group of Redcapped Larks awaited us on the bridge across the Bloemhof Dam; don't know why it was sitting here. There were a lot of birds around the camp including Orange River White-eye, Blackfaced Waxbill, Ashy *** and Kalahari Scrub-robin. Over the dam we picked up Whiskered Tern, Afr Darter and Great Crested Grebe.A drive into the reserve produced Pririt Batis, Magpie Shrike, Brubru, Cape Penduline *** and Cardinal Woodpecker. We heard Orange River Francolin but it would not show itself. Of concern is the amount of Common (Indian) Mynahs all over the Northern Cape, Northwest and Free State.
The next morning we were out early in search for the OR Francolins. In the meantime we could tick Gabar Goshawk, Redcrested Korhaan and Whitefronted Bee-eater for the Sandveld list. A callof the OR Francolins was immediately answered and a pair rushes through the vegetation to the road and gave brilliant views. We drove to the furthest end of the reserve and collected along the way Violeteared Waxbill, Green Woodhoopoe,Rufousnaped Lark, Crested Barbet, Redheaded Finch, Redbilled Firefinch, Squacco Heron, more Magpie Shrikes, Goldenbreasted Bunting and Sociable Weaver. The surprise was when a pair of Burchell's Sandgrouse landed at the waterhole where the hide is.
The afternoon was spent in the adjacent Bloemhof Dam NR which has a complete different habitat then Sandveld. Birds which we got here include Greenwinged Pytilia, Secretarybird, Doublebanded Courser,Lesser Flamingoes, Plainbacked Pipit, Blackthroated Canary, Afr Jacana, Great White & Yellowbilled Egret, Caspian Tern and Yellow Canary.
From Sandveld we movedto the Pilanesberg area. Along the way we saw 2 Secretarybirds circling just south of Koster before we hit the Bushveld birds north of Koster.We stayed at Leisure Farms between Rustenburg and Pilanesberg which is a very comfortable accommodation to explore the surroundings area. The owners and personnel are very helpful to birders (arranging early breakfast, etc) and can be contacted at www.leisurefarms.co.za.; e-mail:eleisure@mweb.co.za; tel 014 5733174; cell 083 2343735. At Leisure Farms we were greeted by Arrowmarked Babblers, Greybacked Camaroptera, Blackheaded Oriole, Marico & WhitebelliedSunbird, Puffback and Lesser Honeyguide. At the little dam were Greenbacked Heron and a Pied Kingfisher.
I contacted Stuart Groom about the Yellowthroated Sandgrouse and organized with him to meet him the next morning. If you want to see YT Sandgrouse, get in contacted with Stuart as he has the best places to see this elusive birds. After met up with Stuart we located the YT Sandgrouse within 10 minutes with beautiful sightings of a male and female. Other birds in the same area were Chestnutbacked Sparrowlarks, Lanner Falcon and Tinkling Cisticola.
We headed to Pilanesberg to spend the rest of the day birding in the reserve. We entered through Bakubung gate and at the first dam we were surprised to still see a good number of Pearlbreasted Swallows feeding over the water. Other birds around here include Afr Black Duck, Burchell's Coucal, Afr Palm Swift and Whitebrowed Scrub-robin. Further along the Mankwe road we met up with a bird party that included Jameson's & Redbilled Firefinches, Sth Black Flycatcher, Ashy ***, Chinspot Batis, Fairy Flycatcher, Speckled Mousebird and Cape White-eye. Along the road to the Fish Eagle picnic site we could tick Tinkling Cisticola, Sabota Lark, Plainbacked Pipit, Streakyheaded Seedeater, Flappe Lark, Marico Flycatcher and Buffy Pipit. At the picnic site we were greeted by Whitethroated Robin-chat, Yellowthroated Petronia, Shorttoed Rock Thrush and a lot of naughty Vervet Monkeys.
The vulture restaurant in Pilanesberg does not exist anymore, but on the road to Bakgatla we saw Lilacbreasted Roller, Redbilled Hornbill, Redbilled Oxpecker on some game, Common Moorhen and some of Pilanesberg elephants. A few Lazy Cisticolas were seen along the road. We had a good day in Pilanesberg.
Stuart phoned and told me he discovered a new drinking place for the YTSandgrouse. He wanted that I check it for him the next morning as he wasn't able to check it himself. I found the place near a mine with ease and what a sighting?!! As we arrived about 50 sandgrouses flew off, but there was still about another 50 at the water. More sandgrousescameto drink. Hopefully Stuart can organize with the mine to makewater available for the sandgrouses at the site. Thanks Stuart!!
After all the excitement of the YT Sandgrouses we headed for Borakalalo Game Res. for birding. Near the Atlanta Holiday Resort on the road between Brits and Thabazimbi we saw 40+ White Storks feeding on a newly ploughed field. After we turned off the road towards Borakalalo at Assenwe had an unexpected Sth Pale Chanting Goshawk, Gabar Goshawk, Purple Roller and a beautiful pair of Afr Hawk Eagles. Must warn people that parts of the gravel road are in a very bad condition, but it seems nothing new for SA.
Borakalalo delivered good birds as always with inter alia Goldentailed Woodpecker, Fairy Flycatcher, Goliath Heron, Burntnecked Eremomela, Afr Wattled Lapwing, Tawnyflanked Prinia, Redbilled Firefinch and Brubru. Unfortunately, no Afr Finfoot, only large Water Leguanes.
On the way to Thabazimbi we had a female YT Sandgrouse on the edge of the road just to keep us awake for the unexpected. We stayed at Mongatane Lodge next to Marakele Nat Park. The lodge has excellent facilities and can be recommended to birders. Contact at www.placesforafrica.com/mongatane ; e-mail: tbztrophies@mweb.co.za; cell 082 9650002. Birds around the lodge were inter aliaBarn Owl, Bearded Woodpecker, Crimsonbreasted Shrike, Groundscraper Thrush, Chinspot Batis and Yellowfronted Canary.
The next morning we paid a visit to Marakele and started off with Orangebreasted Bush Shrike, Sth Whitecrowned Shrike and Redbilled Oxpeckers on giraffes. We first tackled the road up to the towers and along it we saw Jameson's Firefinch, Cape Vulture soaring overhead, a pair of Blackchested Snake Eagles and Greenspotted Dove. On top of the mountain we had lovely views of the Cape Vultures soaring low over our heads, a pair of Peregrine Falcons swooping through the sky and trying to get some Rock Martins, Longbilled Pipit, Lazy Cisticola, tame Buffstreaked & Mocking Chats, Cape Rock Thrush and Cape Bunting. Add the amazing panoramic views from here and it is a MUST visit place. Down hill we found a swooping Black Eagle, Barthroated Apalis and Sth Black ***.
Theopen veld below the mountain gave us some Whitecrested Helmet Shrike,Grey ***-Flycatcher, Goldentailed Woodpecker, Browncrowned Tchagra and Burntnecked Eremomela.
It was our last day and dropped off our clients who got a good number of lifers. On the way back we stopped at Potchefstroombird sanctuary where we saw Hottentot Teal, Blackcrowned Night Heron, Southern Pochard, Afr Purple Swamphen and Thickbilled Weaver which were not recorded earlier on the trip. The long road backdelivered a few sightings of Blue Korhaans around Edenburg and Hanover as well as a Black Harrier between Colesberg and Hanover.
~ Japie Claassen
