Photos with this report (click to enlarge) | |||
 Amur Falcon |
 Southern Bald Ibis |
 Brown Scrub-Robin |
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 Red-headed Quelea |
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Introduction
This was a custom tour, designed to maximize the number of endemic species seen. It was based on Tropical Birding’s usual Cape to Kruger itinerary, with several additional sites visited thanks to extra time and careful planning. With this itinerary we visited Brandvlei in the arid west for several local lark species, as well as St. Lucia Wetlands Park and Mkhuze Game Reserve in the east for eastern littoral species. The trip was a great success—we saw a total of 505 bird species and 49 mammals!
3 Feb: Cape Town to Lambert’s Bay. We left Cape Town and headed north along the coast. The day provided a great introduction into South African birding. We found two species of mousebirds, an African endemic family, a group of eight Cape Sugarbirds, a southern Africa endemic family, and a wide variety of typically African bird families, represented by the likes of South Black Korhaan, Cape Francolin, Yellow and Southern Red Bishops, fabulous male Pin-tailed Whydahs, and several larks and cisticolas. Black Harrier and Chestnut-banded Plover were real treats, and the 25,000 strong Cape Gannet colony at Lambert’s Bay followed by a dinner of local lobster was the perfect way to end the day.
4 Feb: Lambert’s Bay to Brandvlei. Although we started the day on the coast, it was the Karoo specialties that stole the show. The roadside birding was fantastic, and as often happens by simply getting out of the car great birds are found. A stop to look at swifts produced Layard’s Tit-babbler and Fairy Flycatcher; a stop to look at Southern Black Korhaan produced Karoo Lark; a stop to look at Spike-heeled Lark produced Karoo Eremomela. Raptors along the way included Booted Eagle, Jackal Buzzard, and Greater Kestrel. A first stab at Red Lark didn’t yield the intended quarry; instead we found a lovely pair of Double-banded Coursers. Ending the day of birding west of Brandvlei, we found several localized endemics: first Ludwig’s Bustard, then Black-eared Sparrowlarks, then, after much searching, excellent scope looks at the always difficult Sclater’s Lark.
5 Feb: Brandvlei area. We began the morning at a Red Lark stakeout near Brandvlei. We were momentarily distracted by calling Karoo Korhaans, and while we were trying to locate them we spotted a Red Lark running between the bushes. We got excellent views of this uncommon endemic, and shortly afterwards we located the family group of korhaans. After breakfast we headed north from Brandvlei. We soon found our first Namaqua Sandgrouse, followed not long after by a female Northern Black Korhaan. Staking out a water tank yielded the hoped for nomad Stark’s Lark among the throngs of Lark-like Buntings and Gray-backed Sparrowlarks. Stopping by a Sociable Weaver nest we found the desired Pygmy Falcon before we had even seen a weaver! An afternoon drive was rather slow birdwise, but a Kori Bustard, a male Northern Black Korhaan, and a nice flock of Black-eared Sparrowlarks livened things up. A night drive produced a stunning Spotted Eagle-Owl and a wonderful Zorilla (aka Striped Polecat), a rarely encountered mustelid.
6 Feb: Brandvlei to Karoo National Park. The day started with the long drive from Brandvlei to Karoo National Park. Along the way we found our first Black-chested Snake-Eagle, had brilliant views of two very cooperative Double-banded Coursers, and saw hundreds of Black-eared Sparrowlarks. We picked up take-aways for lunch and ate at the Karoo National Park campsite, one of the few areas with serious bird activity all day long thanks to the watering of its lawns. We quickly found Karoo Thrush and a couple other new species. Upon meeting Keith we set out to find three rock loving endemics: African Rock Pipit, Short-toed Rock Thrush, and Cinnamon-breasted Warbler. First we got out to try for Southern Gray Tit, but instead I noticed movement on the rocky hillside that turned out to be an African Rock Pipit which we chased down for great views. A short while later a female Short-toed Rock-Thrush flew across the valley and landed on a treetop where we had scope views; later we had great views of a male. Moments later we got out to try for the warbler and instead found a mixed flock with our first Southern Gray Tit. After a couple more stops for Cinnamon-breasted Warbler, we found an incredibly responsive individual that flew in giving us brilliant looks at this skulking endemic. Returning to the reception area we tracked down a covey of singing Gray-winged Francolins which provided us with excellent views. Throughout the afternoon we saw a number of mammals, including Burchells’ Zebra, Red Haartebeest, and Cape Gray Mongoose, plus some massive Leopard Tortoises.
7 Feb: Karoo National Park to Wilderness via Swartberg Pass. Given that we had scored most of the goodies in the Karoo, we were up early and off to the Swartberg. A participant suddenly remembered that he had forgotten his bins in the restaurant, so we waited patiently and were happy to retrieves them. While we were there we were quite enamoured of a very tame flock of Gray-winged Francolins that sauntered up to us and we also saw a superb Black-breasted Snake Eagle. This was a great day and we added many new species including scores of endemics. No sooner had we entered the spectacular Swartberg Pass had we scored our first target for the day, the endemic Cape Rock Thrush. We also nailed Neddicky and over 20 Cape Sugarbirds and a handful of very handsome Orange-breasted Sunbirds gorging on some recently flowered proteas close to the top. Shortly thereafter we got lucky with a pair of Cape Siskins arriving to land on a seeding Restio flowerhead where they fed and we got great scope views. A little further up the mountains we stopped at one of the stakeouts for Cape Rockjumper. It took us a little while, but we eventually located a group of these birds displaying with both males and females giving good looks. Having passed the spectacular viewpoint at the Top, we headed down and made way for a stake-out for Victorin’s Warbler. Initially hearing a bird calling a long way away Stuart made the brave call to go after it. After about 20 minutes of bush bashing we were close to the calling bird, but it took some coaxing to come out, eventually hopping about only a metre, or so, from our faces. On the other side of the mountain we stopped for a picnic lunch and no sooner had we left the car and we were adding another bird in the form of some Streaky-headed Seedeaters. Once over the pass we started seeing the moister vegetation of the Outeniqua Pass when we suddenly encountered a perched Forest Buzzard. Once in Wilderness we soon started encountering a bunch of new forest species and a brief wonder around our accommodation scored us a lot of forest endemics including a spectacular group of Knysna Turacos feeding in the garden of our lodge establishment. Other fun new species included Olive Woodpecker, Terrestrial Brownbul and Sombre Greenbul, Chorister Robin-chat, Black Sawwing, Yellow-throated Warbler, Green-backed Camaroptera, Tambourine Dove, Dusky Flycatcher, Cape Batis, Southern Boubou, Olive Bush-Shrike, Forest Canary, Greater Double-collared and Amethyst Sunbirds and Southern Grey-headed Sparrow. Having cleaned up for dinner we were surprised when on the way to the restaurant we scored a beautiful Peregrine Falcon of the resident calidus race.
8 Feb: Wilderness. Leaving the accommodation place we instantly had an exciting find in the form of a small family party of Red-necked Francolins. A Rameron Pigeon also made a brief flyby. Because we had scored most of the forest specialties yesterday we were able to concentrate on some difficult target birds. We started with one of the trickiest in the form of a Knysna Warbler that showed briefly after being lured into the tape. This locality also yielded our first Brown-hooded Kingfishers. We then headed to the Kaaiman’s River where we searched for a finfoot but instead came up trumps with the magnificent Giant and rare Half-collared Kingfishers. Later in the day we caught up with the sometimes temperamental Grey Cuckooshrike next to the road. The open roads got us a better look at the endemic Forest Buzzard. The lagoon wetlands gave us a few Anhinga a lone Osprey and a superb quartering African Marsh Harrier. A pair of African Black Oystercatchers surprised us when we noticed them tending to a small chick nearby. The wetlands also yielded a bevy of waders including some additions for the trip in the form of a Bar-tailed Godwit, Common Greenshank, Marsh Sandpiper and Ruff. After lunch we headed to Nature’s Valley to catch up with some remaining forest species and got lucky with Swee Waxbill, Blue-mantled and African Paradise Flycatchers, and White-starred Robin making an appearance. We were also lucky to see a few tame Bushbuck sloping around in the gardens here.
9 Feb: Wildeness to De Hoop. We were a bit disappointed with our forest walk when we were very close to a Knysna Woodpecker but the bird would not show itself. However, we did find a Green Woodhoopoe, Black-headed Oriole and Keith saw a Cinnamon Dove fly off the forest trail. Things picked up when we started scoping a few wetlands around Wilderness encountering a few new goodies such as Great crested Grebe, Glossy Ibis, Spur-winged Goose, Maccoa Duck, Black Crake and African Fish-Eagle. We then headed through to the Overberg region taking in the vast wheatbelts that surround this area. One of our first finds at a reliable stake-out was a pair of Agulhas Long-billed Larks that virtually walked up to us as we played the call. Also here was a Grassveld Pipit, the first of several on the day. Passing through the matrix of wheat and natural vegetation we started seeing what would end up being many White Storks at the end of the day, occasionally with parties of stately Blue Crane scattered in for good measure. A surprise find very close to the N2 highway was three Denham’s Bustards that were calmly standing next to the main drag. The pont at Malagas yielded our first Cape Canaries, in a flock of maybe 60 birds. Late in the day we thought we’d head to the Cape Vulture colony at Potberg. It rained incessantly and the vultures, understandably, were not flying. However the drenched Bontebok kept us company. The vultures kept us waiting nervously for a good hour before Stuart eventually asked “What’s this big whitish one up here”. In the end we had great views of two birds moving towards the colony after what was probably a miserable day out foraging. While we waited we were lucky to find a Grassbird that sat up and sung beautifully. As we were leaving we were really surprised to see a Honey Buzzard come swooping past at pretty close range and then on the way home we nailed an Amur Falcon in the wheatfields, this is about as far south as a few wanderers are prepared to venture. Also, the rain brought down some swifts and we were excited to find a handful of Horus Swifts amongst the more common species.
10 Feb: De Hoop to Cape Town. We spent the morning in the reserve and saw many species, but most were repeat views, with the exception of Spotted and Water Thick-Knees which were seen soon after one another. We also added Banded Martin here. The mammals at this reserve are great and we had many Bontebok and Eland and a handful of Cape Mountain Zebra and Grey Rhebok. The afternoon was spent at Betty’s Bay, where the Stony Point yielded a great look at some African Penguins as well as a quartet of cormorants in the form of White-breasted, Cape, Bank and Crowned Cormorants. The day also yielded a spectacular Secertarybird and the only other significant find on our drive back to Cape Town was a House crow as we sped past the airport.
11 Feb: Paarl and the Cape. Today was planned as a wild card day, for a combination of picking up missing species and seeing a sight or two around Cape Town. Protea Canary was one of the few possible birds missing, so we started out looking for this species near Paarl, where Tropical Birding trips had seen it several times recently. The stakeout came through again, with great views of an individual eating protea seeds (what else?). Afterwards we headed to the nearby Paarl Bird Sanctuary—which doubles as the local sewage ponds—to pick up some waterbirds. Before long we had African Marsh, Lesser Swamp, and Little Rush Warblers, plus Maccoa Duck, Southern Pochard, and White-winged Tern. We then headed back towards town to take in the breathtaking scenery of the Cape Peninsula. A brief seawatch yielded White-chinned Petrel and Cory’s and Sooty Shearwater. We then returned to the northern suburbs where White-backed Duck showed nicely, but Cape Penduline-Tits were again a no-show.
12 Feb: Cape Town to St. Lucia. We took a morning flight to Durban, arriving at midday. We immediately began the drive north, seeing Wooly-necked Stork soon out of Durban, and some excellent Palm-nut Vultures not much later. Our first planned stop was Mtunzini, where we quickly found a variety of common but wonderful eastern birds, including Purple-crested Turaco, Red-collared Widow, and Trumpeter Hornbill. While taking a stroll through some dense forest we found our main target, the beautiful and local Black-throated Wattle-eye (aka Wattle-eyed Flycatcher), along with other forest species such as Yellow-breasted Apalis and Collared Sunbird. We then continued north, stopping at a river to look for African Finfoot. After a bit of searching we had prolonged views of this secretive and uncommon species swimming across the river and foraging along its banks. We were finally on our way to our destination, St. Lucia, where a calling Greater Bushbaby near the hotel carpark heralded our arrival.
13 Feb: St. Lucia. St. Lucia is normally fantastic for birding, and today was no different. The drive to Cape Vidal was awesome—we saw many of the area’s specialties including Southern Banded-Snake Eagle, Gray Waxbill, Crested Guineafowl, Livonstone’s Turaco,and Rudd’s Apalis, and once to the campsite we quickly added Brown Scrub-Robin and Woodward’s Batis. In some local wetlands we found Southern Brown-throated Weaver in addition to numerous waterbirds, hippos, and crocodiles. In the afternoon we visited a nearby forest, which despite the heat of the day was very productive, producing Narina Trogon, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Long-crested Eagle, and African Pygmy-Goose. A drive soon after dark failed to turn up Swamp Nightjar, but we did find the migratory European Nightjar.
14 Feb: St. Lucia to Mkhuze Game Reserve. We departed early to maximize our time in Mkhuze, picking up a few bushveld species in between. It was going to prove to be a quiet day in the reserve, with few birds singing. Nonetheless we found birds like Dusky Indigobird, Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Orange-breasted and Gorgeous Bush-Shrikes, Little Sparrowhawk, Jameson’s Firefinch, African Cuckoo, and Pink-backed Pelican. We chased around a singing Pink-throated Twinspot, but we only ever got brief views.
15 Feb: Mkhuze to Eshowe. Starting birding in the hotel grounds, we quickly ticked White-browed Robin-Chat and Red-faced Cisticola, and nearby we found our first White-throated Robin-Chat. We were then off towards Eshowe, stopping at a pan en route where we picked up the uncommon Lesser Jacana as well as Rufous-winged Cisticola. Without further delay we went to the wonderful Dlinza forest, a renowned birding site that lived up to its reputation this afternoon. Before long we had great looks at Lemon Dove, and shortly after we picked up the mega-ticks that Dlinza is famous for, with incredible looks at the very shy Spotted Ground-Thrush and Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon in quick succession. After dinner we returned to the forest where we had great looks at a very responsive pair of African Wood Owls.
16 Feb: Eshowe to Creighton. We spent the early morning in the same forest as yesterday afternoon, hearing but never seeing our last target for the area, Green Malkoha. The diminutive Blue Duiker provided a highlight, and with a bit of local help we had great looks at Mountain Wagtail nearby. Our lunch stop along the drive to the Drakensberg foothills proved fortuitous—there was a very active colony of the uncommon Red-headed Queleas right next to the restaurant! We also saw Drakensberg Prinia in the nearby bushes. We spent the afternoon looking for Blue Swallows without success, but we did see Pale-crowned among several cisticola species, and our first Long-tailed Widows. We ended the day watching well over 1,000 Amur Falcons coming in to roost—a sight not soon to be forgotten.
17 Feb: Sani Pass. We met our local guide in the morning and after breakfast climbed into his 4x4 to head up Sani Pass into Lesotho. The ride up the beautiful valley was extremely productive with endemics like Gurney’s Sugarbirds, Barratt’s Warbler, Buff-streaked Chat, and Bush Blackcap among the highlights. Once into Lesotho we quickly found Southern Bald Ibis, and a short while later the very local Mountain Pipit, an unusual record of Cinnamon-breasted Bunting, and one of the day’s highlights—a pair of Drakensberg Rockjumpers. We had a nice chat with a local herdsman, and ate lunch across the valley from a Lammergeier nest, and on the way back down stopped at Africa’s highest elevation pub for a local Maputi Lager. After descending down the pass we still had enough time to search for Wattled Crane. While searching we turned up Pallid Harrier, Common Quail, and Gray Crowned Crane, and finally we found the star bird—a pair of gorgeous Wattled Cranes—with a juvenile! Our local guide was ecstatic to confirm local breeding of this endangered species, making a fantastic ending to a great day.
18 Feb: Underberg to Wakkerstroom. We needed to be at Xumeni forest before dawn for Orange Ground-Thrush, and sure enough one showed beautifully in the semi-darkness. We then waited only a short while before one pair, then another, of the critically endangered Cape Parrots flew over our lookout point. A walk in the surrounding scrub yielded our first Lazy Cisticola, while a stroll through the forest turned up a major surprise in the form of a glittering African Emerald Cuckoo. We then went to a nearby field where the endangered Blue Swallows were nesting and watched a male briefly foraging. We spent the middle of the day driving to Wakerstroom; upon arriving at the local wetlands Christian immediately screamed ‘Gray Phalaprope!’ and sure enough this rare vagrant was swimming briskly across the marsh, providing an all-too-rare South Africa tick for him. A bit of strategy worked perfectly to lure a Red-chested Flufftail out for nice views of this incredibly secretive marsh dweller, but the calling African Rails wouldn’t show themselves.
19 Feb: Wakkerstroom. We began this foggy morning with our first Golden Bishops for the trip, and were soon after looking for Red-winged Francolins, which never did show themselves. Things soon picked up however, with the endemic Barrow’s and Blue Korhaans, Orange-breasted Waxbill, and Brown-backed Honeyguide putting in star appearances. We were then off larking, which did not disappoint. With hardly any looking at all we had great looks at Pink-billed Lark from the road, then shortly afterwards the rare Botha’s Lark showed extremely well. We had to work harder for Rudd’s Lark, but eventually got good views, along with a beautiful Montague’s Harrier in the same field. We then went to look for another Wakkerstroom special, Yellow-breasted Pipit, again getting great looks at a rare bird right along the roadside. All-in-all it was a great day, frequently punctuated by birds like Denham’s Bustard, Gray Crowned Crane, Southern Bald Ibis, Amur Falcon, and an abundance of various widows and bishops.
20 Feb: Wakkerstroom to Kruger National Park. Our first priority this morning was Red-winged Francolin. It tried to give us the runaround, but we eventually a cow flushed a covey on a distant hillside and we had nice scope looks. After a great breakfast we were off to Kruger, stopping once for our first White-winged Widows of the trip. Both the birds and the temperature heated up upon arrival to Kruger. We quickly found several of our target species: Stierling’s Wren-Warbler, Brubru, Marico Flycatcher, Chinspot Batis, along with Lilac-breasted and European Rollers. We then had a look around camp, where Christian somehow picked out a sleeping White-backed Night-Heron, a rare species we were certainly not expecting in the park. We picked up several more typical birds as we walked around, like Gray Go-away-bird, Red-billed Hornbill, Natal Francolin, and another surprise, an African Pygmy Kingfisher. A night drive was excellent, but more for mammals then birds. Besides Fiery-necked Nightjar and Spotted Eagle-Owl, we had incredible views of serval, spotted hyena, white rhino, elephant, and others.
21 Feb: Kruger National Park. We spent the day driving around Kruger, one of the world’s great national parks. Even from the car the birding is fantastic, and among the new species for the trip were all of our missing vultures, including Hooded, Lappet-faced and White-headed, African Hawk-Eagle, Gray-headed Bush-Shrike, White-crowned Plover, Brown-headed Parrot, Burchell’s Starling, Great Spotted Cuckoo, Southern Carmine Bee-eater, Pearl-spotted Owl, and Gray Tit-Flycatcher. The big mammals that Kruger is famous for did not disappoint either, and we had fantastic views of lion, elephant, white rhino, giraffe, buffalo, hippo, wildebeest, and zebra, virtually all with youngsters. After having great looks at an African Scops-Owl and Square-tailed Nightjar in camp, we left on a nightdrive. We saw a few birds we had already seen, but saw some great mammals including a magnificent and bizarre springhare and a side-striped jackal.
22 Feb: Kruger to Misty Mountain. We had a short list of birds to look for on our last morning in the great park, and we were lucky to find many of them. Around the camp in the morning we found Burnt-necked Eremomela and Red-headed Weaver, and we watched a group of the fabulous Southern Ground Hornbills coming to have a drink in the river. Working our way slowly towards the exit we found yet more new birds, including Levaillant’s and Jacobin Cuckoos, the inconspicous Olive-tree Warbler, Gray-rumped Swallow, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Shaft-tailed Wydah, Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark, and an elephant with absolutely enormous tusks. Soon after leaving the park we found two more new birds: Southern White-crowned Shrike and Purple Roller. Our next stop was the famous Taita Falcon eyrie. After a brief wait we watched the pair of these diminutive falcons swoop in, and eventually we located one perched high on the cliff face for great scope looks. The next morning we woke up early, had breakfast, and made our way to Joburg after an awesome and memorable trip.
Common Ostrich Struthio camelus
Crested Francolin Dendroperdix sephaena
Grey-winged Francolin Scleroptila africanus
Red-winged Francolin Scleroptila levaillantii
Cape Spurfowl Pternistis capensis
Natal Spurfowl Pternistis natalensis
Red-necked Spurfowl Pternistis afer
Swainson's Spurfowl Pternistis swainsonii
Common Quail Coturnix coturnix
Crested Guineafowl Guttera edouardi
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris
White-faced Duck Dendrocygna viduata
White-backed Duck Thalassornis leuconotus
Maccoa Duck Oxyura maccoa
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca
South African Shelduck Tadorna cana
Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis
Comb Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos
African Pygmy-Goose Nettapus auritus
Cape Teal Anas capensis
African Black Duck Anas sparsa
Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata
Cape Shoveler Anas smithii
Red-billed Teal Anas erythrorhyncha
Hottentot Teal Anas hottentota
Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma
Scaly-throated Honeyguide Indicator variegatus
Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator
Brown-backed Honeybird Prodotiscus regulus
Red-throated Wryneck Jynx ruficollis
Golden-tailed Woodpecker Campethera abingoni
Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus
Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens
Bearded Woodpecker Dendropicos namaquus
Olive Woodpecker Dendropicos griseocephalus
White-eared Barbet Stactolaema leucotis
Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus bilineatus
Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus pusillus
Acacia Pied Barbet Tricholaema leucomelas
Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus
Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii
Red-billed Hornbill Tockus erythrorhynchus
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus leucomelas
Crowned Hornbill Tockus alboterminatus
African Grey Hornbill Tockus nasutus
Trumpeter Hornbill Bycanistes bucinator
Southern Ground-Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri
African Hoopoe Upupa africana
Green Wood-Hoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus
Common Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas
Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina
European Roller Coracias garrulus
Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus
Purple Roller Coracias naevius
Half-collared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata
Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata
African Pygmy-Kingfisher Ispidina picta
Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis
Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris
Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maximus
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis
White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster
Southern Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicoides
White-backed Mousebird Colius colius
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus
Red-faced Mousebird Urocolius indicus
Jacobin Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus
Levaillant's Cuckoo Clamator levaillantii
Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius
African Cuckoo Cuculus gularis
African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus
Diderick Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius
Green Malkoha Ceuthmochares aereus
Burchell's Coucal Centropus burchellii
Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus
Brown-headed Parrot Poicephalus cryptoxanthus
African Palm-Swift Cypsiurus parvus
Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba
African Black Swift Apus barbatus
Little Swift Apus affinis
Horus Swift Apus horus
White-rumped Swift Apus caffer
Livingstone's Turaco Tauraco livingstonii
Knysna Turaco Tauraco corythaix
Purple-crested Turaco Gallirex porphyreolophus
Barn Owl Tyto alba
African Scops-Owl Otus senegalensis
Spotted Eagle-Owl Bubo africanus
African Wood-Owl Strix woodfordii
Pearl-spotted Owlet Glaucidium perlatum
Fiery-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus pectoralis
Square-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus fossii
European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus
Rock Dove Columba livia
Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea
African Olive-Pigeon Columba arquatrix
Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon Columba delegorguei
Lemon Dove Aplopelia larvata
Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis
African Mourning Dove Streptopelia decipiens
Cape Turtle-Dove Streptopelia capicola
Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata
Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove Turtur chalcospilos
Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria
Namaqua Dove Oena capensis
African Green-Pigeon Treron calvus
Denham's Bustard Neotis denhami
Ludwig's Bustard Neotis ludwigii
Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori
Red-crested Korhaan Lophotis ruficrista
Southern Black Korhaan Afrotis afra
Northern Black Korhaan Afrotis afraoides
Karoo Korhaan Eupodotis vigorsii
Blue Korhaan Eupodotis caerulescens
White-bellied Korhaan Eupodotis senegalensis
Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum
Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus
Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus
African Finfoot Podica senegalensis
Red-chested Flufftail Sarothrura rufa
African Rail Rallus caerulescens
Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostris
African Purple Swamphen Porphyrio madagascariensis
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus
Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata
Namaqua Sandgrouse Pterocles namaqua
African Snipe Gallinago nigripennis
Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica
Common Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus
Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos
Sanderling Calidris alba
Little Stint Calidris minuta
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea
Ruff Philomachus pugnax
Red Phalarope Phalaropus fulicaria
African Jacana Actophilornis africanus
Lesser Jacana Microparra capensis
Water Thick-knee Burhinus vermiculatus
Spotted Thick-knee Burhinus capensis
African Black Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula
Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius
Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris
Chestnut-banded Plover Charadrius pallidus
White-fronted Plover Charadrius marginatus
Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus
White-crowned Lapwing Vanellus albiceps
African Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus
Senegal Lapwing Vanellus lugubris
Black-winged Lapwing Vanellus melanopterus
Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus
Double-banded Courser Rhinoptilus africanus
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola
Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus
Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus
Hartlaub's Gull Larus hartlaubii
Caspian Tern Sterna caspia
Swift Tern Sterna bergii
Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis
Common Tern Sterna hirundo
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida
White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus
Osprey Pandion haliaetus
African Cuckoo Hawk Aviceda cuculoides
European Honey-Buzzard Pernis apivorus
Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus
Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptus
African Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer
Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis
Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus
Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus
White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus
Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres
Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus
White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis
Black-chested Snake-Eagle Circaetus pectoralis
Brown Snake-Eagle Circaetus cinereus
Southern Banded Snake-Eagle Circaetus fasciolatus
Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus
African Marsh-Harrier Circus ranivorus
Black Harrier Circus maurus
Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus
Montagu's Harrier Circus pygargus
African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus
Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk Melierax canorus
Little Sparrowhawk Accipiter minullus
Black Sparrowhawk Accipiter melanoleucus
Steppe Buzzard Buteo vulpinus
Forest Buzzard Buteo trizonatus
Jackal Buzzard Buteo rufofuscus
Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax
Lesser Spotted Eagle Aquila pomarina
Verreauxs' Eagle Aquila verreauxii
African Hawk-Eagle Aquila spilogaster
Booted Eagle Aquila pennatus
Wahlberg's Eagle Aquila wahlbergi
Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus
Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis
African Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus
Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius
Pygmy Falcon Polihierax semitorquatus
Rock Kestrel Falco rupicolus
Greater Kestrel Falco rupicoloides
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis
Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus
Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus
Taita Falcon Falco fasciinucha
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis
Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus
Cape Gannet Morus capensis
African Darter Anhinga rufa
Reed Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus
Crowned Cormorant Phalacrocorax coronatus
White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus
Bank Cormorant Phalacrocorax neglectus
Cape Cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis
Little Egret Egretta garzetta
Yellow-billed Egret Egretta intermedia
Great Egret Egretta alba
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala
Goliath Heron Ardea goliath
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea
Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides
Green-backed Heron Butorides striata
Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax
White-backed Night-Heron Gorsachius leuconotus
Hamerkop Scopus umbretta
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus
Hadeda Ibis Bostrychia hagedash
Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus
African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus
African Spoonbill Platalea alba
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus
Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens
Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis
Black Stork Ciconia nigra
Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus
White Stork Ciconia ciconia
Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis
Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumeniferus
African Penguin Spheniscus demersus
White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis
Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea
Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus
Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus
Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus
Square-tailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii
Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis
Blue-mantled Crested-Flycatcher Trochocercus cyanomelas
African Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis
Brubru Nilaus afer
Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus cubla
Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegalus
Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis
Southern Boubou Laniarius ferrugineus
Bokmakierie Telophorus zeylonus
Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike Telophorus sulfureopectus
Olive Bush-Shrike Telophorus olivaceus
Gorgeous Bush-Shrike Telophorus viridis
Grey-headed Bush-Shrike Malaconotus blanchoti
White-crested Helmet-Shrike Prionops plumatus
Cape Batis Batis capensis
Woodwards' Batis Batis fratrum
Chinspot Batis Batis molitor
Pririt Batis Batis pririt
Black-throated Wattle-eye Platysteira peltata
House Crow Corvus splendens
Cape Crow Corvus capensis
Pied Crow Corvus albus
White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio
Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor
Common Fiscal Lanius collaris
Magpie Shrike Corvinella melanoleuca
Southern White-crowned Shrike Eurocephalus anguitimens
Grey Cuckooshrike Coracina caesia
Black Cuckooshrike Campephaga flava
Cape Rock-jumper Chaetops frenatus
Drakensberg Rock-jumper Chaetops aurantius
Southern Black Tit Parus niger
Grey Tit Parus afer
Brown-throated Martin Riparia paludicola
Banded Martin Riparia cincta
Grey-rumped Swallow Pseudhirundo griseopyga
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica
White-throated Swallow Hirundo albigularis
Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii
Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea
Pearl-breasted Swallow Hirundo dimidiata
Greater Striped Swallow Hirundo cucullata
Lesser Striped Swallow Hirundo abyssinica
Red-breasted Swallow Hirundo semirufa
South African Cliff-Swallow Hirundo spilodera
Rock Martin Hirundo fuligula
Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne holomelaena
Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor
African Red-eyed Bulbul Pycnonotus nigricans
Cape Bulbul Pycnonotus capensis
Sombre Greenbul Andropadus importunus
Yellow-bellied Greenbul Chlorocichla flaviventris
Terrestrial Brownbul Phyllastrephus terrestris
Fairy Flycatcher Stenostira scita
Cape Grassbird Sphenoeacus afer
Victorin's Warbler Cryptillas victorini
Long-billed Crombec Sylvietta rufescens
Yellow-bellied Eremomela Eremomela icteropygialis
Karoo Eremomela Eremomela gregalis
Burnt-necked Eremomela Eremomela usticollis
Broad-tailed Warbler Schoenicola brevirostris
Little Rush-Warbler Bradypterus baboecala
Knysna Warbler Bradypterus sylvaticus
Barratt's Warbler Bradypterus barratti
African Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus baeticatus
Lesser Swamp-Warbler Acrocephalus gracilirostris
Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum
Icterine Warbler Hippolais icterina
Dark-capped Yellow Warbler Chloropeta natalensis
Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler Phylloscopus ruficapilla
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus
Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii
Bush Blackcap Lioptilus nigricapillus
Layard's Tit-Babbler Parisoma layardi
Chestnut-vented Tit-Babbler Parisoma subcaeruleum
Garden Warbler Sylvia borin
African Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis
Cape White-eye Zosterops virens
Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops
Lazy Cisticola Cisticola aberrans
Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana
Grey-backed Cisticola Cisticola subruficapilla
Wailing Cisticola Cisticola lais
Rufous-winged Cisticola Cisticola galactotes
Levaillant's Cisticola Cisticola tinniens
Croaking Cisticola Cisticola natalensis
Neddicky Cisticola fulvicapilla
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis
Desert Cisticola Cisticola aridulus
Cloud Cisticola Cisticola textrix
Pale-crowned Cisticola Cisticola cinnamomeus
Wing-snapping Cisticola Cisticola ayresii
Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava
Black-chested Prinia Prinia flavicans
Karoo Prinia Prinia maculosa
Drakensberg Prinia Prinia hypoxantha
Namaqua Warbler Phragmacia substriata
Rufous-eared Warbler Malcorus pectoralis
Bar-throated Apalis Apalis thoracica
Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida
Rudd's Apalis Apalis ruddi
Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura
Stierling's Wren-Warbler Calamonastes stierlingi
Cinnamon-breasted Warbler Euryptila subcinnamomea
Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana
Eastern Clapper Lark Mirafra fasciolata
Rudd's Lark Heteromirafra ruddi
Sabota Lark Calendulauda sabota
Red Lark Calendulauda burra
Karoo Lark Calendulauda albescens
Spike-heeled Lark Chersomanes albofasciata
Agulhas Long-billed Lark Certhilauda brevirostris
Eastern Long-billed Lark Certhilauda semitorquata
Karoo Long-billed Lark Certhilauda subcoronata
Black-eared Sparrowlark Eremopterix australis
Chestnut-backed Sparrowlark Eremopterix leucotis
Grey-backed Sparrowlark Eremopterix verticalis
Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea
Stark's Lark Spizocorys starki
Pink-billed Lark Spizocorys conirostris
Botha's Lark Spizocorys fringillaris
Sclater's Lark Spizocorys sclateri
Large-billed Lark Galerida magnirostris
Cape Rock-Thrush Monticola rupestris
Sentinel Rock-Thrush Monticola explorator
Short-toed Rock-Thrush Monticola brevipes
Orange Ground-Thrush Zoothera gurneyi
Spotted Ground-Thrush Zoothera guttata
Groundscraper Thrush Psophocichla litsitsirupa
Kurrichane Thrush Turdus libonyanus
Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus
Karoo Thrush Turdus smithi
Pale Flycatcher Bradornis pallidus
Chat Flycatcher Bradornis infuscatus
Marico Flycatcher Bradornis mariquensis
Southern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis pammelaina
Fiscal Flycatcher Sigelus silens
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata
African Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta
Ashy Flycatcher Muscicapa caerulescens
Grey Tit-Flycatcher Myioparus plumbeus
White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata
Cape Robin-Chat Cossypha caffra
White-throated Robin-Chat Cossypha humeralis
White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha heuglini
Red-capped Robin-Chat Cossypha natalensis
Chorister Robin-Chat Cossypha dichroa
Bearded Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas quadrivirgata
Brown Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas signata
White-browed Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys
Karoo Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas coryphoeus
African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus
Buff-streaked Chat Oenanthe bifasciata
Mountain Wheatear Oenanthe monticola
Capped Wheatear Oenanthe pileata
Sickle-winged Chat Cercomela sinuata
Karoo Chat Cercomela schlegelii
Tractrac Chat Cercomela tractrac
Familiar Chat Cercomela familiaris
Ant-eating Chat Myrmecocichla formicivora
Pale-winged Starling Onychognathus nabouroup
Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio
Black-bellied Starling Lamprotornis corruscus
Cape Glossy Starling Lamprotornis nitens
Greater Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus
Burchell's Starling Lamprotornis australis
Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster
Pied Starling Spreo bicolor
Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea
Common Starling Sturnus vulgaris
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis
Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus
Orange-breasted Sunbird Anthobaphes violacea
Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea
Grey Sunbird Cyanomitra veroxii
Amethyst Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystina
Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis
Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa
Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris
Southern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris chalybeus
Greater Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris afer
White-bellied Sunbird Cinnyris talatala
Dusky Sunbird Cinnyris fuscus
Marico Sunbird Cinnyris mariquensis
Gurney's Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi
Cape Sugarbird Promerops cafer
Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver Bubalornis niger
Sociable Weaver Philetairus socius
Lesser Masked-Weaver Ploceus intermedius
Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis
Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis
Yellow Weaver Ploceus subaureus
Southern Brown-throated Weaver Ploceus xanthopterus
Southern Masked-Weaver Ploceus velatus
Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus
Dark-backed Weaver Ploceus bicolor
Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes melanotis
Red-headed Quelea Quelea erythrops
Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea
Yellow-crowned Bishop Euplectes afer
Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix
Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis
Fan-tailed Widowbird Euplectes axillaris
White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albonotatus
Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens
Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne
Thick-billed Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons
Orange-breasted Waxbill Amandava subflava
African Quailfinch Ortygospiza atricollis
Yellow-bellied Waxbill Coccopygia quartinia
Swee Waxbill Coccopygia melanotis
Green Twinspot Mandingoa nitidula
Grey Waxbill Estrilda perreini
Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild
Blue Waxbill Uraeginthus angolensis
Pink-throated Twinspot Hypargos margaritatus
Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba
African Firefinch Lagonosticta rubricata
Jameson's Firefinch Lagonosticta rhodopareia
Bronze Mannikin Spermestes cucullatus
Red-backed Mannikin Spermestes bicolor
Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura
Long-tailed Paradise-Whydah Vidua paradisaea
Shaft-tailed Whydah Vidua regia
Dusky Indigobird Vidua funerea
House Sparrow Passer domesticus
Cape Sparrow Passer melanurus
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus
Yellow-throated Petronia Petronia superciliaris
African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp
Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis
Mountain Wagtail Motacilla clara
Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus
Cape Longclaw Macronyx capensis
Yellow-breasted Pipit Anthus chloris
African Rock Pipit Anthus crenatus
African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus
Mountain Pipit Anthus hoeschi
Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis
Cape Canary Serinus canicollis
Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambicus
Black-throated Canary Crithagra atrogularis
Forest Canary Crithagra scotops
Yellow Canary Crithagra flaviventris
Brimstone Canary Crithagra sulphuratus
White-throated Canary Crithagra albogularis
Protea Seedeater Crithagra leucopterus
Streaky-headed Seedeater Crithagra gularis
Cape Siskin Crithagra totta
Drakensberg Siskin Crithagra symonsi
Lark-like Bunting Emberiza impetuani
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi
Cape Bunting Emberiza capensis
Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris
Mammals
Chacma Baboon Papio ursinus
Vervet Monkey Cercopithecus aethiops
Samango Monkey Cercopithecus mitis
Scrub Hare Lepus saxatilis
Tree Squirrel Paraxerus cepapi
Springhare Pedetes capensis
Striped Mouse Rhabdomys pumilio
Slogget's Rat Otomys sloggetti
Striped Polecat Ictonyx striatus
Banded Mongoose Mungos mungo
Small Grey Mongoose Galerella pulverulenta
Dwarf Mongoose Helogale parvula
Yellow Mongoose Cynictis penicillata
Suricate Suricata suricatta
Smallspotted Genet Genetta genetta
Largespotted Genet Genetta tigrina
Civet Civettictis civetta
Spotted Hyena Crocuta crocuta
Serval Felis serval
Lion Panthera leo
Elephant Loxodonta africana
Rock Dassie Procavia capensis
Cape Mountain Zebra Equus zebra
Burchell's Zebra Equus burchellii
White Rhino Ceratotherium simum
Warthog Phacochoerus aethiopicus
Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius
Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis
Buffalo Syncerus caffer
Eland Taurotragus oryx
Kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros
Nyala Tragelaphus angasii
Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus
Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus
Reedbuck Redunca fulvorufula
Mountain Reedbuck Redunca arundinum
Grey Rhebok Pelea capreolus
Blue Wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus
Red Haartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus
Bontebok Damaliscus dorcas
Blesbok Damaliscus phillipsi
Impala Aepyceros melampus
Springbok Antidorcas marsuplialis
Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus
Steenbok Raphicerus campestris
Oribi Ourebia ourebi
Red Duiker Cephalophus natalensis
Blue Duiker Philantomba monticola
Common Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia
Cape Fur Seal Arctocephalus pusillus