Northern Cape / North West / Free State 2010
On Friday 5 March 2010 I left with some clients on a trip through the Northern Cape and Free State to look especially for larks and pipits.
About 30 km out of Beaufort West towards Kimberley, we had our first surprise when a group of Greywinged Francolins were feeding on the side of the N1 andgave us excellent views. Just before Three Sisters we had a group of Karoo Korhaans next to the road and after the turn off to Victoria West we found several White Storks and
Ludwig's Bustards. About 10 km before Victoria West, we saw a Black Harrier hovering in the easterly wind. While we were waiting at the road works before Victoria West we could watch a displaying Eastern Clapper Lark and a calling Desert Cisticola.
We stopped at the Victoria West Dam (just outside the town towards Loxton) for Breakfast. The dam is full for the first time in several years and we could mark off Amur Kestrel (not normally common here, but an influx after all the good rains), Little Grebe, Common Moorhen, SA Shellduck, Yellowbilled Duck, Blackwinged Stilt, Sacred Ibis,
Redbilled Teal, Blue Crane, Lesser Swamp-Warbler and a few others.
Proceeding north of Victoria West we stopped at the SA Cliff Swallow colony at the Klein Brak River (most southerly colony on the N12 - not in W Cape) where there were also Little and White-rumped Swifts. Along the road we saw Greybacked Sparrowlarks, Greater Kestrel and Chat Flycatcher. Just before Strydenburg a magnificient Martial Eagle sat on a pylon next to the road, giving good views. As we nearer Hopetown we found some Sociable Weavers, but no Pygmy Falcon, and our first Lesser Grey Shrike.
At Modder River a flock of Abdim's Storks were feeding in the lucerne field. We stayed in Dronfield outside Kimberley and were welcomed by Black-chested Prinia, Brubru, Crested Barbet and Marico Flycatcher, just to mentioned a few.
Day 2(Saturday) we picked up Henry van Wyk, the local guide, to explore Benfontein. We arrived at Benfontein but couldn't go far as the road was filled with water after the week's rain. Nevertheless we picked up 67 species in about 2 hours including Redbreasted Swallow, Desert Cisticola, Rufous-naped Lark, Double-banded Courser, Afr Palm Swift, Largebilled & Fawncoloured Larks, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Buffy Pipit and Bradfield's Swift.
We went back to Dronfield where we birded the rest of the day and saw Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Kalahari Scrub-robin, Common Scimitarbill, Magpie Shrike, Eur Bee-eater, Ashy ***, Plain-backed Pipit, Secretarybird, Pririt Batis and Violet-eared Waxbill. A visit to a drinking trough during midday rewards us with 100+ White-backed Vultures bathing and a few Lappet-faced Vultures. A Lanner Falcon was teasing the local flock of Crowned Lapwings around the waterhole. Spotted Flycatchers were all over the place and during the night a Barn Owl was calling. No nightjars heard. We stayed again at Dronfield.
The overnight facilities at Dronfield are excellent and can be recommended. Henry is also a very knowledgeable guide who knows the areas birds. Contact them at www.diamondbirdingroutes.co.za ; e-mail: cindy.carls@debeersgroup.com ; tel 053 8388223 fax 053 8388225. Dronfield has a good variety of game like Gemsbuck, Burchell's Zebra, Sable, Red Hartebeest, Blackbacked Jackal, etc.
Day 3(Sunday) we departured for Bloemhof, but first paid a visit to the Big Hole to look for the Bradfield's Swifts. On the way out of Dronfield we saw Cape Penduline ***, Yellowbellied Eremomela and Brown-crowned Tchagra.
We found the Bradfield's easily, flying in a flock over the Big Hole with Alpine and other swifts. Kamfersdam is still very full and it seems that a large part of the breeding island is flooded. Lesser Flamingoes are still there in its thousands, but you can't really get close to the dam from the N1. Halfway towards Warrenton we had another Black Harrier hunting over the grassveld. We saw a flock of Redheaded Finches on the telephone line and several White Storks were in the adjacent veld.
We turned off to the Vaalharts Weir in the Vaal River. The facilities around the weir are very much neglected, but saw birds like Afr Jacana, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Scaly-feathered Finch, Brownthroated Martin, White-winged Tern and Sth Pale Chanting Goshawk.
We proceeded to Bloemhof where we stayed at the chalets in Bloemhof Dam Nat Res. The chalets are well equipped, but short some maintenance and the management is not that good. Bloemhof Dam NR can be contacted at www.tourismnorthwest.co.za/ bloemhofdam ; e-mail: bloemhofdam@cybertrade.co.za; tel 053 4331706; fax 053 4331705. We took a drive along the shores ofthe dam inside the reserve and except the common species saw Goliath Heron, Squacco Heron, Caspian Tern, Great White Egret and Greyheaded Gull. In the grassveld we saw Blackthroated Canary, Rufousnaped, Spikeheeled & Redcapped Larks, Orange River Francolin and Redbreasted Swallow. An unforgettable sighting was 27 Doublebanded Coursers on a 1 km stretch of road. Never saw so many DB Coursers together.
The bridge over the dam still hosts thousands of Little Swifts and SA Cliff Swallows. On the Free State side of the dam was Eur Roller, Barred Wren-Warbler, Glossy Ibis, etc. While relaxing at the chalet just after sunset, an Afr Grass Owl flew in and landed on the fence a few meters away. It uses the post until it was dark, hunting over the grass and revisit us the next evening again.
Day 4 (Monday) we visited the Sandveld NR early morning and were shortly surprise with a bird party consisted off Cape Penduline ***, Willow & Icterine Warbler, Black-chested Prinia and Brubru. The party suddenly dispersed when an adult and juvenile Gabar Goshawks flew in. The road along the river delivered Pririt Batis, Rattling Cisticola, Ashy ***, Osprey, Barred Wren-Warbler, Groundscraper Thrush, Red-crested Korhaan, Sociable Weaver, Shaft-tailed Whydah, Paradise Whydah, Afr Quailfinch and Village Indigobird. A drive along the angling spots next to the dam gave Green Woodhoopoe and Common Sandpiper.
Day 5 (Tuesday), we travelled to Barberspan and were surprised by all the Greater Flamingoes on the pans. There were thousands of them feeding in the pans. Birding at Wentzel Dam outside Schweizer - Reneke delivered Afr Fish Eagle, Yellow-crowned Bishop, Southern Pochard, Redheaded Finch, Greenbacked Heron, Whitefronted Bee-eater, White-winged & Whiskered Terns all turning into its breeding plumage, Whitefaced Duck and Ruff.
Towards Delareyville we saw Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark along the road and Lesser Flamingoes on some of the pans. After all the rain, Barberspan's water level is still low. Interesting is that there is not many waders along the shore and even the other waterfowl was present in low numbers. We stayed at the Barberspan Hotel and Resort (tel 053 9481930; cell 082 7818872) which has good facilities. They are busy with upgrading of the facilities and it has a "waterfront" on the pan.
Day 6 (Wednesday), we explored the area around the pan and saw most of the common grassveld birds. Leeupan, just north of Barberspan roams with thousands of Greater Flamingoes. The southern part of the pan had Great Crested Grebe, Ruff, Kittlitz's Plover, Great White Egret, Black Heron, Osprey, Pinkbacked Pelican, Whiskered Tern and
Greyheaded Gull. In the adjacent grassveld we found Chestnutbacked Sparrowlark, Swainson's Spurfowl and Cape Longclaw, while the bonus was 2 Yellow Wagtails of 2 different subspecies, M.f.flava and M.f.feldegg. The wagtails were very skittish.
The eastern shoreline hosted lots of Redknobbed Coot and Egyptian Geese with some Afr Purple Swamphen, Curlew Sandpiper, Yellowbilled Stork and Little Bittern. The western shore hosted Goliath Heron, Common Greenshank, Squacco Heron, Common Ringed Plover, Fulvous Duck and a Black Heron which often open its umbrella. In the grassveld
we saw Afr Quailfinch, Spikeheeled & Pinkbilled Lark, Yellow-crowned Bishop and Desert & Tinkling Cisticola. Late afternoon we also saw Marsh Owl hunting along the pan.
Day 7 (Thursday) we returned to the Free State. On the way between Delareyville and Ottosdal we spotted a Pallid Harrier and a large flock of Blackwinged Pratincoles. Nearby where you cross the Vaal River at Greylingsdrif we found another flock of Blackwinged Pratincoles and in a pan close to the river we found our first Purple Heron.
At a small dam just outside Wesselsbron we had a good concentration of waterfowl which includes Whitefaced Duck, Purple Heron, Comb Duck, Fulvous Duck and Yellowbilled Egret. The adjacent pan once again hosts thousands of Greater Flamingoes.
Next stop was Soetdoring Nat Res although it was a bad time of the day for birding. The most interesting birds were Ashy ***, Longbilled Pipit, lots of Desert Cisticolas, Doublebanded Courser, Green Woodhoopoe, Marico Flycatcher, Afr Quailfinch, Whitefronted Bee-eater and Rufousnaped Lark.
We overnight at Glen Country Lodge along the Modder River, which is very comfortable. (www.africaninvitation.co.za/glencountrylodge ; e-mail:glenlodg@mweb.co.za ; tel/fax 051 8612042; cell 082 3502858) The lodge has some river frontage where you can find Namaqua Warbler, Village Indigobird, Blackcrowned Night Heron, Willow Warbler, Barn Owl, Afr Paradise-Flycatcher, Orange River White-eye, Giant Kingfisher and Lesser Honeyguide. The lodge can be recommended.
Day 8 (Friday), we had to head for Garingboom Guest Farm, but first decided to go to the Krugersdrif Dam. We were not sorry about it and first we could release a young Helmeted Guineafowl which was trapped in some fish line. The area along the dam hosted some Goliath Heron, a large flock of Fulvous Duck, Pearlbreasted Swallow, Afr Jacana, Great White Egret and Squacco Heron. The cherry was a juvenile Montagu's Harrier flying along the shore. In the grassveld we found some more Rufousnaped Lark, Afr Quailfinch and Yellow Canary.
Along the way to Garingboom we stopped at the dam at Edenburg. Here we got Pintailed Whydah, Greater Flamingo, Curlew Sandpiper and Hottentot Teal. We overnight at Garingboom Guest Farm which is brilliant as always.(www.garingboom.co.za ; e-mail: aloe@vodamail.co.za ; tel 051 7830203; fax 086 5195421; cell 082 9009888)
Day 9 (Saturday) we were out on Garingboom to explore the farm. We could add Kimberley, Buffy & Longtailed Pipit, Burchell's Courser, Blue Korhaan, Cloud, Desert & Zitting Cisticola, Layard's Titbabbler, Greybacked Cisticola, Ludwig's Bustard, Orange River Francolin, Greater Honeyguide and Redthroated Wryneck. Garingboom is highly
recommended to any birder.
In the afternoon we visit Tussen-die-Riviere Nat Res and were quiet surprise with the amount of birds we saw. We found several Melodious Larks displaying and some landed in the road after been called. There were also Cinnamon-breasted Buntings, Spikeheeled, Largebilled, Redcapped & Eastern Longbilled Lark, Afr, Buffy, Longbilled & Kimberley Pipit, Common Quail, Grey ***, Fairy Flycatcher, Orange River Francolin and Namaqua Warbler. We were very happy to find an Afr Rock Pipit in the mountainous area along the Caledon River. A Martial Eagle was soaring in the sky, while Greywinged Francolins were calling near the eastern gate.
Day 10 (Sunday) was our last day en route to Beaufort West. A turn off to the beautiful Gariep Dam brought Afr Palm Swift, Orange River White-eye, Cape Rock Thrush, a female Dusky Sunbird and Palewinged Starling. Between Colesberg and Hanover 2 Black Storks were feeding in a marshy area. We arrived safely in Beaufort West and for last I could show the clients some Blackheaded Canary, Namaqua Sandgrouse and Karoo Chat.
We ended the trip with 263 species which includes 14 species of larks, 7 species of pipits and 7 species of cisticolas. Interesting facts of the trip were very few raptors except kestrels, no Yellowbilled Kites & Booted Eagles, absence of cuckoo species except Diederik, no nightjars heard calling, lack of sunbirds and absence of small seed feeders like Melba Finch and firefinches.
~ Japie Claassen
About 30 km out of Beaufort West towards Kimberley, we had our first surprise when a group of Greywinged Francolins were feeding on the side of the N1 andgave us excellent views. Just before Three Sisters we had a group of Karoo Korhaans next to the road and after the turn off to Victoria West we found several White Storks and
Ludwig's Bustards. About 10 km before Victoria West, we saw a Black Harrier hovering in the easterly wind. While we were waiting at the road works before Victoria West we could watch a displaying Eastern Clapper Lark and a calling Desert Cisticola.
We stopped at the Victoria West Dam (just outside the town towards Loxton) for Breakfast. The dam is full for the first time in several years and we could mark off Amur Kestrel (not normally common here, but an influx after all the good rains), Little Grebe, Common Moorhen, SA Shellduck, Yellowbilled Duck, Blackwinged Stilt, Sacred Ibis,
Redbilled Teal, Blue Crane, Lesser Swamp-Warbler and a few others.
Proceeding north of Victoria West we stopped at the SA Cliff Swallow colony at the Klein Brak River (most southerly colony on the N12 - not in W Cape) where there were also Little and White-rumped Swifts. Along the road we saw Greybacked Sparrowlarks, Greater Kestrel and Chat Flycatcher. Just before Strydenburg a magnificient Martial Eagle sat on a pylon next to the road, giving good views. As we nearer Hopetown we found some Sociable Weavers, but no Pygmy Falcon, and our first Lesser Grey Shrike.
At Modder River a flock of Abdim's Storks were feeding in the lucerne field. We stayed in Dronfield outside Kimberley and were welcomed by Black-chested Prinia, Brubru, Crested Barbet and Marico Flycatcher, just to mentioned a few.
Day 2(Saturday) we picked up Henry van Wyk, the local guide, to explore Benfontein. We arrived at Benfontein but couldn't go far as the road was filled with water after the week's rain. Nevertheless we picked up 67 species in about 2 hours including Redbreasted Swallow, Desert Cisticola, Rufous-naped Lark, Double-banded Courser, Afr Palm Swift, Largebilled & Fawncoloured Larks, Swallow-tailed Bee-eater, Buffy Pipit and Bradfield's Swift.
We went back to Dronfield where we birded the rest of the day and saw Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Kalahari Scrub-robin, Common Scimitarbill, Magpie Shrike, Eur Bee-eater, Ashy ***, Plain-backed Pipit, Secretarybird, Pririt Batis and Violet-eared Waxbill. A visit to a drinking trough during midday rewards us with 100+ White-backed Vultures bathing and a few Lappet-faced Vultures. A Lanner Falcon was teasing the local flock of Crowned Lapwings around the waterhole. Spotted Flycatchers were all over the place and during the night a Barn Owl was calling. No nightjars heard. We stayed again at Dronfield.
The overnight facilities at Dronfield are excellent and can be recommended. Henry is also a very knowledgeable guide who knows the areas birds. Contact them at www.diamondbirdingroutes.co.za ; e-mail: cindy.carls@debeersgroup.com ; tel 053 8388223 fax 053 8388225. Dronfield has a good variety of game like Gemsbuck, Burchell's Zebra, Sable, Red Hartebeest, Blackbacked Jackal, etc.
Day 3(Sunday) we departured for Bloemhof, but first paid a visit to the Big Hole to look for the Bradfield's Swifts. On the way out of Dronfield we saw Cape Penduline ***, Yellowbellied Eremomela and Brown-crowned Tchagra.
We found the Bradfield's easily, flying in a flock over the Big Hole with Alpine and other swifts. Kamfersdam is still very full and it seems that a large part of the breeding island is flooded. Lesser Flamingoes are still there in its thousands, but you can't really get close to the dam from the N1. Halfway towards Warrenton we had another Black Harrier hunting over the grassveld. We saw a flock of Redheaded Finches on the telephone line and several White Storks were in the adjacent veld.
We turned off to the Vaalharts Weir in the Vaal River. The facilities around the weir are very much neglected, but saw birds like Afr Jacana, Crimson-breasted Shrike, Scaly-feathered Finch, Brownthroated Martin, White-winged Tern and Sth Pale Chanting Goshawk.
We proceeded to Bloemhof where we stayed at the chalets in Bloemhof Dam Nat Res. The chalets are well equipped, but short some maintenance and the management is not that good. Bloemhof Dam NR can be contacted at www.tourismnorthwest.co.za/ bloemhofdam ; e-mail: bloemhofdam@cybertrade.co.za; tel 053 4331706; fax 053 4331705. We took a drive along the shores ofthe dam inside the reserve and except the common species saw Goliath Heron, Squacco Heron, Caspian Tern, Great White Egret and Greyheaded Gull. In the grassveld we saw Blackthroated Canary, Rufousnaped, Spikeheeled & Redcapped Larks, Orange River Francolin and Redbreasted Swallow. An unforgettable sighting was 27 Doublebanded Coursers on a 1 km stretch of road. Never saw so many DB Coursers together.
The bridge over the dam still hosts thousands of Little Swifts and SA Cliff Swallows. On the Free State side of the dam was Eur Roller, Barred Wren-Warbler, Glossy Ibis, etc. While relaxing at the chalet just after sunset, an Afr Grass Owl flew in and landed on the fence a few meters away. It uses the post until it was dark, hunting over the grass and revisit us the next evening again.
Day 4 (Monday) we visited the Sandveld NR early morning and were shortly surprise with a bird party consisted off Cape Penduline ***, Willow & Icterine Warbler, Black-chested Prinia and Brubru. The party suddenly dispersed when an adult and juvenile Gabar Goshawks flew in. The road along the river delivered Pririt Batis, Rattling Cisticola, Ashy ***, Osprey, Barred Wren-Warbler, Groundscraper Thrush, Red-crested Korhaan, Sociable Weaver, Shaft-tailed Whydah, Paradise Whydah, Afr Quailfinch and Village Indigobird. A drive along the angling spots next to the dam gave Green Woodhoopoe and Common Sandpiper.
Day 5 (Tuesday), we travelled to Barberspan and were surprised by all the Greater Flamingoes on the pans. There were thousands of them feeding in the pans. Birding at Wentzel Dam outside Schweizer - Reneke delivered Afr Fish Eagle, Yellow-crowned Bishop, Southern Pochard, Redheaded Finch, Greenbacked Heron, Whitefronted Bee-eater, White-winged & Whiskered Terns all turning into its breeding plumage, Whitefaced Duck and Ruff.
Towards Delareyville we saw Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark along the road and Lesser Flamingoes on some of the pans. After all the rain, Barberspan's water level is still low. Interesting is that there is not many waders along the shore and even the other waterfowl was present in low numbers. We stayed at the Barberspan Hotel and Resort (tel 053 9481930; cell 082 7818872) which has good facilities. They are busy with upgrading of the facilities and it has a "waterfront" on the pan.
Day 6 (Wednesday), we explored the area around the pan and saw most of the common grassveld birds. Leeupan, just north of Barberspan roams with thousands of Greater Flamingoes. The southern part of the pan had Great Crested Grebe, Ruff, Kittlitz's Plover, Great White Egret, Black Heron, Osprey, Pinkbacked Pelican, Whiskered Tern and
Greyheaded Gull. In the adjacent grassveld we found Chestnutbacked Sparrowlark, Swainson's Spurfowl and Cape Longclaw, while the bonus was 2 Yellow Wagtails of 2 different subspecies, M.f.flava and M.f.feldegg. The wagtails were very skittish.
The eastern shoreline hosted lots of Redknobbed Coot and Egyptian Geese with some Afr Purple Swamphen, Curlew Sandpiper, Yellowbilled Stork and Little Bittern. The western shore hosted Goliath Heron, Common Greenshank, Squacco Heron, Common Ringed Plover, Fulvous Duck and a Black Heron which often open its umbrella. In the grassveld
we saw Afr Quailfinch, Spikeheeled & Pinkbilled Lark, Yellow-crowned Bishop and Desert & Tinkling Cisticola. Late afternoon we also saw Marsh Owl hunting along the pan.
Day 7 (Thursday) we returned to the Free State. On the way between Delareyville and Ottosdal we spotted a Pallid Harrier and a large flock of Blackwinged Pratincoles. Nearby where you cross the Vaal River at Greylingsdrif we found another flock of Blackwinged Pratincoles and in a pan close to the river we found our first Purple Heron.
At a small dam just outside Wesselsbron we had a good concentration of waterfowl which includes Whitefaced Duck, Purple Heron, Comb Duck, Fulvous Duck and Yellowbilled Egret. The adjacent pan once again hosts thousands of Greater Flamingoes.
Next stop was Soetdoring Nat Res although it was a bad time of the day for birding. The most interesting birds were Ashy ***, Longbilled Pipit, lots of Desert Cisticolas, Doublebanded Courser, Green Woodhoopoe, Marico Flycatcher, Afr Quailfinch, Whitefronted Bee-eater and Rufousnaped Lark.
We overnight at Glen Country Lodge along the Modder River, which is very comfortable. (www.africaninvitation.co.za/glencountrylodge ; e-mail:glenlodg@mweb.co.za ; tel/fax 051 8612042; cell 082 3502858) The lodge has some river frontage where you can find Namaqua Warbler, Village Indigobird, Blackcrowned Night Heron, Willow Warbler, Barn Owl, Afr Paradise-Flycatcher, Orange River White-eye, Giant Kingfisher and Lesser Honeyguide. The lodge can be recommended.
Day 8 (Friday), we had to head for Garingboom Guest Farm, but first decided to go to the Krugersdrif Dam. We were not sorry about it and first we could release a young Helmeted Guineafowl which was trapped in some fish line. The area along the dam hosted some Goliath Heron, a large flock of Fulvous Duck, Pearlbreasted Swallow, Afr Jacana, Great White Egret and Squacco Heron. The cherry was a juvenile Montagu's Harrier flying along the shore. In the grassveld we found some more Rufousnaped Lark, Afr Quailfinch and Yellow Canary.
Along the way to Garingboom we stopped at the dam at Edenburg. Here we got Pintailed Whydah, Greater Flamingo, Curlew Sandpiper and Hottentot Teal. We overnight at Garingboom Guest Farm which is brilliant as always.(www.garingboom.co.za ; e-mail: aloe@vodamail.co.za ; tel 051 7830203; fax 086 5195421; cell 082 9009888)
Day 9 (Saturday) we were out on Garingboom to explore the farm. We could add Kimberley, Buffy & Longtailed Pipit, Burchell's Courser, Blue Korhaan, Cloud, Desert & Zitting Cisticola, Layard's Titbabbler, Greybacked Cisticola, Ludwig's Bustard, Orange River Francolin, Greater Honeyguide and Redthroated Wryneck. Garingboom is highly
recommended to any birder.
In the afternoon we visit Tussen-die-Riviere Nat Res and were quiet surprise with the amount of birds we saw. We found several Melodious Larks displaying and some landed in the road after been called. There were also Cinnamon-breasted Buntings, Spikeheeled, Largebilled, Redcapped & Eastern Longbilled Lark, Afr, Buffy, Longbilled & Kimberley Pipit, Common Quail, Grey ***, Fairy Flycatcher, Orange River Francolin and Namaqua Warbler. We were very happy to find an Afr Rock Pipit in the mountainous area along the Caledon River. A Martial Eagle was soaring in the sky, while Greywinged Francolins were calling near the eastern gate.
Day 10 (Sunday) was our last day en route to Beaufort West. A turn off to the beautiful Gariep Dam brought Afr Palm Swift, Orange River White-eye, Cape Rock Thrush, a female Dusky Sunbird and Palewinged Starling. Between Colesberg and Hanover 2 Black Storks were feeding in a marshy area. We arrived safely in Beaufort West and for last I could show the clients some Blackheaded Canary, Namaqua Sandgrouse and Karoo Chat.
We ended the trip with 263 species which includes 14 species of larks, 7 species of pipits and 7 species of cisticolas. Interesting facts of the trip were very few raptors except kestrels, no Yellowbilled Kites & Booted Eagles, absence of cuckoo species except Diederik, no nightjars heard calling, lack of sunbirds and absence of small seed feeders like Melba Finch and firefinches.
~ Japie Claassen
