Tanqua Karoo 2007
I paid a visit to the Tankwa Karoo Nat Park park during the weekend (23 & 24 July 2007) and birding was exceptionately well. Although the area received good early rains, the flowers are not as good as last year. The area up to Skitterykloof is very good and will have a good spell of flowers. The section from Skitterykloof to the Tanqua River is dry at the moment and if rain is not coming quickly, there will be very little flowers. From the Tanqua River the veld becomes better and as soon as you enter the park on the Middelpos road, the veld is more greener with more flowers. The area around the office at Roodewerf, Maansedam and Gannaga Pass is lush and there will be a lot of flowers in August.
Well, birding was very good. The Ongeluks River was in flood sometime ago and large pans of water are along the road. On Saturday morning hundreds of Namaqua Sandgrouses gathered here to drink. A few Blackheaded Canaries came to drink as well and in the pan was a very early Common Greenshank. Further along the road we saw some Greybacked Sparrowlarks and some more Blackheaded Canaries along the Tanqua River.
Soon after we entered the park we had a interesting juvenile Black Harrier sitting on a telephone pole with a black chest and whitish belly which first gave the impression of a Black-chested Snake-Eagle. When looking through the binocs, we saw that it was indeed a Black Harrier. Other raptors were Greater Kestrel and Pale Chanting Goshawk. Around Roodewerf and Maansedam Ludwig's Bustards are abundant, flying in groups of up to 10 birds. Larks are displaying like mad and Karoo, Largebilled and Spikeheeled Larks are every where. Karoo Korhaan is often heard calling and the other "normal" Karoo species are also enjoying the lush vegetation. This morning we also saw a Secretarybird.
The park's new wilderness camp at Elandsberg will be a good venue for birders and anyone who would like to see what it looks like can contact me direct for photos.
Unfortunately, we didn't see any coursers or Blackeared Sparrowlarks.
~ Japie
Well, birding was very good. The Ongeluks River was in flood sometime ago and large pans of water are along the road. On Saturday morning hundreds of Namaqua Sandgrouses gathered here to drink. A few Blackheaded Canaries came to drink as well and in the pan was a very early Common Greenshank. Further along the road we saw some Greybacked Sparrowlarks and some more Blackheaded Canaries along the Tanqua River.
Soon after we entered the park we had a interesting juvenile Black Harrier sitting on a telephone pole with a black chest and whitish belly which first gave the impression of a Black-chested Snake-Eagle. When looking through the binocs, we saw that it was indeed a Black Harrier. Other raptors were Greater Kestrel and Pale Chanting Goshawk. Around Roodewerf and Maansedam Ludwig's Bustards are abundant, flying in groups of up to 10 birds. Larks are displaying like mad and Karoo, Largebilled and Spikeheeled Larks are every where. Karoo Korhaan is often heard calling and the other "normal" Karoo species are also enjoying the lush vegetation. This morning we also saw a Secretarybird.
The park's new wilderness camp at Elandsberg will be a good venue for birders and anyone who would like to see what it looks like can contact me direct for photos.
Unfortunately, we didn't see any coursers or Blackeared Sparrowlarks.
~ Japie
