For this year’s trip my brother and I decided on South Africa and Lesotho. We organized a self guided trip (we drove ourselves around) through Birding Africa who made rental car, sleeping accommodations, some guide and internal flight arrangements for us. Our international flight took us from Detroit - Amsterdam – Johannesburg and was uneventful. We arrived late in the evening Nov 18, 2011 in Joburg and stayed at the Garden Court a few minutes from the airport. The next morning the life birds started tallying. Having never been to Africa nearly everything was new and the hour or so in the hotel courtyard provided some time to get accustomed to the new locals. We ended up with about 15 birds before breakfast and our flight to Durban. The only birds we saw there that weren’t seen again were Karoo Thrush and Red headed Finch. Throughout the trip report I will mention specific species if they are specialties or if they were seen only on one day or very infrequently.
Once in Durban we gathered our luggage and rental car. Our tour organizer had requested a high clearance vehicle and we were given a Toyota Avanza - Challenge number one. It was a right hand drive manual transmission. We managed but it made for some interesting moments. Our itinerary had us driving to Underberg so we started off in the pouring rain for the 3.5 hour drive. Right about dusk we pulled into Marutswa Reserve and were fortunate to see 3 Cape Parrots perched up in a dead tree visible from the parking lot. We ended the day at the Cedar Gardens B&B in Underberg having seen 40 some life birds. It should be noted that throughout our trip swallows, swifts, weavers, canaries, and doves were prevalent and day totals for these species may not be very accurate especially as the trip progressed.
Birds seen and abundancy
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris 1
White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata 4
Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis 9
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca 20
South African Shelduck Tadorna cana 2
Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata 15
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 1
African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus 20
Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash 10
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 7
Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis A
Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus 1
Yellow billed Kite Milvus parasitus 1
Jackal Buzzard Buteo rufofuscus 2
Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis 1
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 2
Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata 10
Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum 5
Common Pigeon Columba livia A
African Olive Pigeon Columba arquatrix 3
Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola 5
Laughing Dove Stigmatopelia senegalensis 4
Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus 3
Grey Go-away-bird Corythaixoides concolor 3
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus 3
Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii 1
Common Fiscal Lanius collaris 10
Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus 1
Cape Crow Corvus capensis A
Pied Crow Corvus albus 7
Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor 10
Levaillant's Cisticola Cisticola tinniens 2
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 5
Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio 3
Karoo Thrush Turdus smithii 7
Cape Robin-Chat Cossypha caffra 5
African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus 1
Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis 30
Southern Masked Weaver Ploceus velatus A
Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus 10
Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix 1
Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne 1
Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis 6
Forest Canary Crithagra scotops 2
November 20, we were met by Stuart McLean at 5:45 am and we (along with 2 Swedes) made our way up the Sani Pass. What an incredible place. The birding was great and we got all the target species for the area: Ground Woodpecker, Bearded Vulture, Drakensberg Rockjumper, Siskin, and Prinia, Barratt’s Warbler, Bush Blackcap, Layard’s Tit-babbler, Cape and Sentinel Rock Thrush, Mountain Pipit, and with some work, outstanding looks at Rock Pipit. We had our lunch along the road below an active Bearded Vulture nest on one cliff and a Cape Vulture nest on the other. Between the bird activity and the flocks of sheep and goats being herded down the road it was a very memorable lunch. A little after noon we started down the mountain and tried for Red winged Francolin to no avail. Having a couple of hours before sunrise we dashed over to a stake out location Stuart had for Wattled Crane. We got lucky and had distant but clear views of a family group of 3 birds. A little more work birding the ara around Underberg and we rounded out our Crane hat trick for the day, seeing Blue, Gray crowned and Wattled. I would highly recommend Stuart and a trip up Sani Pass to anyone considering it.
Birds seen Nov 20
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris A
Grey-winged Francolin Scleroptila africana 2
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca A
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 1
Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus 15
Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash 2
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala 5
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 2
Yellow billed Kite Milvus parasitus 1
Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus 3
Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres 4
Jackal Buzzard Buteo rufofuscus 5
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis 1
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 4
Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata 3
Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum 6
Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus 2
Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus 3
Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea 10
Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata 4
Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola 5
Jacobin Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus 2
Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius 1
Common Swift Apus apus 3
White-rumped Swift Apus caffer 2
Red-throated Wryneck Jynx ruficollis 1
Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus 4
Bokmakierie Telophorus zeylonus 2
Southern Boubou Laniarius ferrugineus 5
Common Fiscal Lanius collaris A
Cape Crow Corvus capensis A
White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis 10
Drakensberg Rockjumper Chaetops aurantius 5
Fairy Warbler Stenostira scita 4
Grey Tit Parus afer 8
Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea 2
Large-billed Lark Galerida magnirostris 1
Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor A
Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera 5
Brown-throated Martin Riparia paludicola 1
Banded Martin Riparia cincta 1
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 1
White-throated Swallow Hirundo albigularis 6
Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula A
Greater Striped Swallow Cecropis cucullata A
South African Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon spilodera 10
Dark-capped Yellow Warbler Chloropeta natalensis 1
Barratt's Warbler Bradypterus barratti 2
Wailing Cisticola Cisticola lais 1
Levaillant's Cisticola Cisticola tinniens 10
Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis 1
Drakensberg Prinia Prinia hypoxantha 1
Karoo Prinia Prinia maculosa 1
Layard's Tit-babbler Parisoma layardi 5
Bush Blackcap Lioptilus nigricapillus 2
Cape White-eye Zosterops capensis 5
Gurney's Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi 10
Pied Starling Lamprotornis bicolor 6
Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio A
Cape Robin-Chat Cossypha caffra A
African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus 10
Buff-streaked Chat Campicoloides bifasciata 5
Mountain Wheatear Oenanthe monticola 2
Sickle-winged Chat Cercomela sinuata A
Ant-eating Chat Myrmecocichla formicivora 1
Cape Rock Thrush Monticola rupestris 10
Sentinel Rock Thrush Monticola explorator 5
Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa A
Southern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris chalybeus 1
House Sparrow Passer domesticus 10
Cape Sparrow Passer melanurus 10
Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis A
Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix A
Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis 3
Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne A
Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild 10
Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura 2
Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis A
Mountain Wagtail Motacilla clara 2
African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus 2
African Rock Pipit Anthus crenatus 1
Cape Canary Serinus canicollis A
Yellow Canary Crithagra flaviventris A
Drakensberg Siskin Crithagra symonsi A
Cape Bunting Emberiza capensis A
Nov 21, Stuart met us at 4 a.m. and we headed to Xumeni for some forest birding. On the way we spotlighted some telephone poles and found a Cape Eagle Owl sitting on top of one of them. At Xumeni we dipped on Orange Ground Thrush (although we heard several, we never saw one). Birds of note in the forest were Knysna Turaco, African Emerald Cuckoo, Black Cuckoo, Cape Batis, Crowned Hornbill, Yellow throated Woodland Warbler and fly over Cape Parrot. Things started getting a little slow so we headed over to Marutswa where things were even slower and we were unable to add much. Since it was heating up we decided to start the drive to Eshowe. En route we decided to swing by the place for Blue Swallow. We didn’t call beforehand and when we arrived no one was around to give us the key to the gate or directions. We birded around the grounds a little and it started to rain so we moved on to Eshowe. It rained pretty much the whole drive and not much was added to our growing list. In general the weather was unseasonably cool and somewhat rainy the majority of the trip and we only really had two hot days in Kruger where it reached 90F plus. We made it to Eshowe B&B and were shown our accommodations. Throughout the trip all the accommodations were simple and clean. The 2 standouts being the iGwalagwala Guest House in St Lucia and Wetlands Country House in Wakerstroom.
Birds seen Nov 21
Red-necked Spurfowl Pternistis afer 2
Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash 1
Yellow billed Kite Milvus parasitus 1
African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro 1
Forest Buzzard Buteo trizonatus 1
Jackal Buzzard Buteo rufofuscus 3
Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis 2
African Olive Pigeon Columba arquatrix 4
Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata 4
Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola 10
Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus 5
Knysna Turaco Tauraco corythaix 2
African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus 1
Black Cuckoo Cuculus clamosus 1
Cape Eagle-Owl Bubo capensis 1
Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina 2
Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris 1
Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima 1
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis 1
Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus 1
Crowned Hornbill Tockus alboterminatus 1
Olive Woodpecker Dendropicos griseocephalus 1
Cape Batis Batis capensis 1
Olive Bushshrike Chlorophoneus olivaceus 1
Grey Cuckooshrike Coracina caesia 1
Common Fiscal Lanius collaris A
Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus 4
Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis 10
African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis 4
Southern Black Tit Parus niger 1
Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor A
Sombre Greenbul Andropadus importunus 2
Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera 1
Greater Striped Swallow Cecropis cucullata A
Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler Phylloscopus ruficapilla 3
Dark-capped Yellow Warbler Chloropeta natalensis 2
Levaillant's Cisticola Cisticola tinniens 4
Drakensberg Prinia Prinia hypoxantha 2
Bar-throated Apalis Apalis thoracica 1
Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida 1
Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura 1
Cape White-eye Zosterops capensis A
Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus 4
African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus 7
Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris 1
Southern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris chalybeus 5
Greater Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris afer 5
Cape Sparrow Passer melanurus A
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus 1
Dark-backed Weaver Ploceus bicolor 2
Fan-tailed Widowbird Euplectes axillaris A
Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens 2
African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus 1
Cape Canary Serinus canicollis A
Forest Canary Crithagra scotops A
Nov 22, we got a late start at 7 am with our local guide Sakhamuzi. We headed to Dlinza and picked up the requisite specialities in about 30 minutes (Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon, Spotted Ground Thrush, Chorister Robin-Chat, Crowned Eagle Owl). We then headed over to Mtunzini and had found Palm nut Vulture before I could get the scope set up. After checking out the vulture we started the arduous drive to Ongoye for Green Barbet. As stated before, there had been a lot of rain and the road was very rough. Note about rental choice: we had requested a high clearance vehicle but it wasn’t 4x4 and it had 14 inch tires which made driving on the rough roads of South Africa that much more rough. If I had it to do again I would have paid the extra for a full size 4x4, the extra space and comfort would have been worth it. Back on the road to Ongoye we were just about ready to pull into the park when 3 guys came walking up the road and informed us their car was stuck and was blocking the road. After some grumbling we turned around and started back down the road. On the way back we took a little more time and racked up a very impressive number of species with the standouts being about 30 Red headed Quela. We then worked our way up to the other entrance of Ongoye and had no sooner got out of the car and Sakhamuzi heard the Barbet and we took off running up the road to get great looks at a pair of Green Barbet. We gave the rest of the area a quick perusing and paid the park fee and then headed to Mtunzini (tidal area). At Mtunzini we picked up a few species (Gray Sunbird, Hamerkop, Striated heron, White bellied Sunbird and a pair of Willow Warbler) that weren’t seen elsewhere on the trip or were in small numbers. The guide called it quits around 3 so we went to Goedertrou Dam and found White-crested Helmetshrike on the drive there. Back at the B&B, Hugh Chittenden, owner of the B&B gave me a sneak peek into his upcoming bird guide to the subspecies of Southern Africa. It was a very memorable experience sitting there with the author of one of our guide books looking at original plate artwork.
NOTE about guide books. My brother bought Roberts Bird Guide by Hugh Chittenden and I had the Sasol guide. All of our local guides carried the Sasol if they had a guide book. Both books were functional but I gave a big advantage to Sasol in that they had all the raptors, shorebirds and many other species with in flight illustrations where the Roberts did not have inflight illustrations - a major disadvantage, especially for the raptors. If you are only taking one guide I would buy the Sasol, that being said it was nice to have the two together so we could compare illustrations and often the Crittendon text would give us a clue not included in Sasol that would confirm a particular identification.
NOTE about guides (excepting Stuart who was what I expect from a professional guide). There were some good attributes and some not so good attributes about our local guides on the trip. All of them were outstanding birding by ear and were able to get us on countless species that we would have lost in the clutter of Canaries, Bulbuls, Camaroptera and White Eyes. They all also seemed to know their respective geographic areas pretty well. Where I felt they were lacking was in identifying shorebirds and raptors. We speculated that it was because most of the guides had modest binoculars and none had scopes. My other biggest critique was that they were very quick to call it a day at 3 o’clock or so 2-3 hours before sunset. I don’t get to Africa very often and when I do I like to make use of every hour of daylight. If it was a matter of rate we could have negotiated an extended day rate but there didn’t seem much interest. As for rates we did a terrible job negotiating (we basically said how much do we owe you at the end of the day) and the response was around 800 Rand give or take ($100 USD at the time). The suggested rate was about 600 Rand from the tour organizer. The short of the local guides, you will get a ton more birds with one than without one, but they may be less professional than guides you have had elsewhere.
Birds seen Nov 22
Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis 3
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca 2
South African Shelduck Tadorna cana 2
Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus 2
Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash 8
Striated Heron Butorides striata 1
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 1
Hamerkop Scopus umbretta 1
Reed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus 3
African Darter Anhinga rufa 1
Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus 1
Yellow billed Kite Milvus parasitus 10
African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer 3
Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis 2
African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro 1
Jackal Buzzard Buteo rufofuscus 1
Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus 1
Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata 1
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula 15
White fronted Plover Charadrius marginatus 1
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 2
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 5
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 4
Little Stint Calidris minuta 1
Ruff Philomachus pugnax 2
Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon Columba delegorguei 3
Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata A
Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Turtur chalcospilos 1
Purple-crested Turaco Tauraco porphyreolophus 4
Burchell's Coucal Centropus burchelli 3
African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus 20
Little Swift Apus affinis A
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus 2
Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris 3
Trumpeter Hornbill Bycanistes bucinator 5
White-eared Barbet Stactolaema leucotis 5
Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus 3
Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii 1
Green Barbet Stactolaema olivacea 2
Olive Woodpecker Dendropicos griseocephalus 1
White-crested Helmetshrike Prionops plumatus 6
Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus cubla 1
Grey Cuckooshrike Coracina caesia 1
Common Fiscal Lanius collaris A
Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus 2
Square-tailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii 4
Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis 6
African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis 3
Cape Crow Corvus capensis 3
Pied Crow Corvus albus 4
Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana 1
Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor A
Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera 20
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica A
Lesser Striped Swallow Cecropis abyssinica A
Red-breasted Swallow Cecropis semirufa 2
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus 2
Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana 1
Neddicky Cisticola fulvicapilla 4
Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura 2
Cape White-eye Zosterops capensis 5
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 10
Black-bellied Starling Notopholia corruscus 10
Cape Starling Lamprotornis nitens 5
Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster 2
Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio 3
Spotted Ground Thrush Zoothera guttata 2
Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus 3
Red-capped Robin-Chat Cossypha natalensis 4
Chorister Robin-Chat Cossypha dichroa 3
White-browed Scrub Robin Erythropygia leucophrys 1
Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea 1
Grey Sunbird Cyanomitra veroxii 3
Amethyst Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystina 1
White-bellied Sunbird Cinnyris talatala 1
House Sparrow Passer domesticus 4
Thick-billed Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons 1
Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis A
Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus A
Dark-backed Weaver Ploceus bicolor 1
Red-headed Quela Quelea erythrops 30
Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix 5
Fan-tailed Widowbird Euplectes axillaris 10
Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens 5
Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne 2
African Firefinch Lagonosticta rubricata 1
Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata 2
Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura 1
Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis 1
Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus 5
Forest Canary Crithagra scotops 4
Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambica A
Nov 23, We met Sakhamuzi at a gas station at 6am to start the day. None of the local guides had a car and relied on “public buses” (minivans randomly picking people up on the road with no apparent schedule) to get to where they were going so we did a fair amount of picking up and dropping off at random locations. Today we were after shorebirds and our first stop was Grass for Africa, a sod farm, somewhere near Richard’s Bay. We had good numbers of birds here with the stand outs being 30 or so Collared Pratincoles. Next we went to Richard’s Bay. Sakhamuzi had arranged entrance for us into the restricted part of the reserve and thankfully he had. We had good but distant views of Swift Tern, both species of pelican, Greater Flamingo, 3 Crab Plover, and a closer Terek Sandpiper. A note about this location, even with permission to get in, the actual pan viewing area was behind a closed gate that appeared to be locked, but was actually open, and down a severally overgrown 2 track road. Some very specific directions would be required to get there on your own. While still in the reserve we hit a couple of blinds looking for Lesser Jacana but didn’t have any luck. Next we hit another preserve that was through/inside/next to some sort of wood chip processing plant. We were able to pish up African Reed Warbler and to get Southern Brown-throated Weaver. At our next location we dipped on Finfoot and our guide made an early departure so we headed to St Lucia early. We made last minute guide reservations for the afternoon through Themba (to be clear, Themba himself wasn’t the guide) and this is the only time that I didn’t think we were better off with a guide than without. We birded the iGwalagwala trail without much luck and then picked up African Pygmy Goose on the river before it started raining hard for the rest of the night. That night we had a nice evening socializing with some workers who were staying at the guest house and were having a braai (cookout). They introduced us to twisted pork and I introduced them to Cuban cigars. I didn’t get sick, not sure they can say the same.
Birds seen Nov 23
White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata 5
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca 1
African Pygmy Goose Nettapus auritus 5
Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus 30
Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus 2
Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash A
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides 6
Goliath Heron Ardea goliath 3
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 2
Little Egret Egretta garzetta 10
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus 15
Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens 1
Reed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus 3
African Darter Anhinga rufa 1
Western Osprey Pandion haliaetus 1
Yellow billed Kite Milvus parasitus 10
African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer 1
Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostra 4
African Swamphen Porphyrio madagascariensis 4
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 7
Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata 8
Water Thick-knee Burhinus vermiculatus 3
Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus 10
Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus 10
African Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus 4
Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola 6
Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius A
Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris 4
White fronted Plover Charadrius marginatus 3
Greater Sand Plover Charadrius leschenaultii 1
Crab Plover Dromas ardeola 3
African Jacana Actophilornis africanus A
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus A
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 6
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 5
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea 3
Ruff Philomachus pugnax 10
Sanderling Calidris alba 5
Bar tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica 1
Terek Sandpiper Xenus cinerus 1
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola 40
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 5
Common Tern Sterna hirundo 2
Swift Tern Sterna bergii 3
African Olive Pigeon Columba arquatrix 3
Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata A
Laughing Dove Stigmatopelia senegalensis 2
Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Turtur chalcospilos 1
African Green Pigeon Treron calvus 1
Livingstone's Turaco Tauraco livingstonii 7
Burchell's Coucal Centropus burchelli 1
African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus 5
Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina 1
Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris 5
Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima 1
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis 4
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus 1
Trumpeter Hornbill Bycanistes bucinator 3
White-eared Barbet Stactolaema leucotis A
Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus bilineatus 4
Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii 2
Scaly throated Honeyguide Indicator variegatus 1
Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus cubla 3
Southern Boubou Laniarius ferrugineus 1
Grey Cuckooshrike Coracina caesia 1
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio 1
Common Fiscal Lanius collaris 5
Square-tailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii 5
Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis 2
Cape Crow Corvus capensis 2
Pied Crow Corvus albus 6
Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor A
Sombre Greenbul Andropadus importunus 2
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica A
Lesser Striped Swallow Cecropis abyssinica A
Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus 2
African Reed Warbler Acrocephalus baeticatus 1
Rufous-winged Cisticola Cisticola galactotes 1
Cape White-eye Zosterops capensis 2
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis A
Red-capped Robin-Chat Cossypha natalensis 3
White-browed Scrub Robin Erythropygia leucophrys 1
Southern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis pammelaina 1
Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris 1
Grey Sunbird Cyanomitra veroxii 1
Amethyst Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystina 1
Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis A
Yellow Weaver Ploceus subaureus 10
Southern Brown-throated Weaver Ploceus xanthopterus 5
Lesser Masked Weaver Ploceus intermedius A
Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix 5
Fan-tailed Widowbird Euplectes axillaris 6
Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild 2
Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata 10
Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura 1
Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis 4
African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp 5
Cape Longclaw Macronyx capensis 1
Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus 2
African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus 2
Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambica 5
Nov 24, Begi, another of Themba’s associates, met us at 5:30 a.m. at the guest house and we hit Igwalagwala trail again with a little better results. We were able to find Rudd’s Apalis, waited out ok views on a Gourgeous Bushshrike, and picked up Lemon and Tambourine Dove. We also saw more Livingstone’s Turaco but were unable to find Green Malkoha or Woodward's Batis which we dipped on for the trip. The rain kicked in again and we made our way out to Cape Vidal where we finally saw some animals that made us feel like we were in Africa (Cape Buffalo, Rhinoceros, and several types of antelope). The bird life was less exciting but we were able to pick up a few species including Green Twinspot out by the cottages. We spent some time looking for Southern Banded Snake Eagle but were unsuccessful. We returned to St Lucia and took the river tour to look at the hippo and crocodile. It was pouring and cold, we saw lots of hippo, only one croc. The only avian sighting of interest was our closest view of a Goliath Heron – they are huge, and a Malachite Kingfisher. After the boat trip we headed to Bonamanzi and were resting when someone knocked on our chalet door. It was Themba who said he decided to stay at the lodge another day take us out the next day. I kind of got the feeling it was to make up for the guide he set us up with the day before as I had texted him and mentioned I wasn’t very happy with his guide. Note: we rented a Vodaphone cell at the Joburg airport. Rental and a dozen calls/texts cost about 50 USD for the 2 weeks – a very good insurance policy if nothing more. There were a couple of guide miscommunications and the cell proved invaluable.
Birds seen Nov 24
Crested Guineafowl Guttera pucherani 10
White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata 10
Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis 3
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca 5
African Pygmy Goose Nettapus auritus 3
Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis 3
Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus 5
Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash A
African Spoonbill Platalea alba 2
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides A
Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 5
Goliath Heron Ardea goliath 1
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 2
African Darter Anhinga rufa 1
Yellow billed Kite Milvus parasitus 10
African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer 2
Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostra 6
African Swamphen Porphyrio madagascariensis 3
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus A
Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata A
Water Thick-knee Burhinus vermiculatus 10
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 3
Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus 4
Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris 1
African Jacana Actophilornis africanus A
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 2
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 1
Grey-hooded Gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus 3
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 6
Common Tern Sterna hirundo A
White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus 10
Swift Tern Sterna bergii A
Lemon Dove Columba larvata 1
Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata A
Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Turtur chalcospilos 1
Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria 2
African Green Pigeon Treron calvus 5
Livingstone's Turaco Tauraco livingstonii 7
Burchell's Coucal Centropus burchelli 1
Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris 5
Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata 2
Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima 3
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis A
Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus 2
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus 2
Trumpeter Hornbill Bycanistes bucinator 3
White-eared Barbet Stactolaema leucotis 2
Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus 1
Chinspot Batis Batis molitor 2
Black-throated Wattle-eye Platysteira peltata 1
Gorgeous Bushshrike Chlorophoneus viridis 1
Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus cubla 1
Southern Boubou Laniarius ferrugineus 1
Square-tailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii 2
Eastern Nicator Nicator gularis 1
Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana 1
Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor A
Yellow-bellied Greenbul Chlorocichla flaviventris 2
Terrestrial Brownbul Phyllastrephus terrestris 2
Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera 1
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica A
Greater Striped Swallow Cecropis cucullata A
Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana 2
Rudd's Apalis Apalis ruddi 2
Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida 2
Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura 2
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 5
Black-bellied Starling Notopholia corruscus 2
Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster 1
Red-capped Robin-Chat Cossypha natalensis 2
Brown Scrub Robin Erythropygia signata 2
Southern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis pammelaina 2
Grey Tit-Flycatcher Myioparus plumbeus 1
Grey Sunbird Cyanomitra veroxii 1
Thick-billed Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons 10
Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis 5
Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis A
Southern Brown-throated Weaver Ploceus xanthopterus 5
Lesser Masked Weaver Ploceus intermedius A
Dark-backed Weaver Ploceus bicolor 2
Green Twinspot Mandingoa nitidula 2
African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp 3
Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus 1
African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus 2
Nov 25, We met Themba at 6 a.m. and birded around Bonamanzi for a few hours picking up Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher, Ashy Flycatcher, but missing African Broadbill. We also picked up ticks by the dozen. At one point I picked 16 ticks off Themba’s fleece jacket. We kept a close eye on them and none actually bit us but they were everywhere. Next we went to a park (forgot the name), and after a little work, finally got satisfactory looks at Neergard’s Sunbird. We then headed to Hluluwe flood plain. This is another location that unless you had very specific good directions you probably would never find. Luckily, Themba knew the area well and we found Rosy throated, Cape, and Yellow-throated Longclaw, both species of Flamingo, both species of Pelican, Purple Heron, and Pied Avocet. After a little pushing to get the car going, it was pretty wet at the bottom of the hill, we were on our way bumping and rattling along the 2 track road. Driving back the tree limbs and weeds were rubbing the side of the car so the windows were up and Themba says “stop I heard Pink-throated Twinspot” We got out and my brother spotted a female Pink-throated Twinspot, how Themba heard that bird over the rattling hatch lid, and limbs scrapping down the side of the car I will never know but there it was. On the way back to the tar road (paved road) we made a couple of stops and picked up Black-winged Lapwing, Black-chested Snake Eagle, and Lemon-breasted Canary. We dropped Themba off back at Bonamanzi about 3 and rested for a while before we took a night drive at the park. We were hoping for an owl or nightjar but missed both. Our truck did get stuck and needed towed out and we found two Bushbabies.
Birds seen Nov 25
Crested Guineafowl Guttera pucherani 15
Crested Francolin Dendroperdix sephaena 3
White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata 10
Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis 2
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca 1
Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor A
Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis 5
Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus 5
African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus 3
Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash A
African Spoonbill Platalea alba 2
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides 5
Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis A
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala 2
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 2
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea A
Little Egret Egretta garzetta A
Hamerkop Scopus umbretta 1
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus A
Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens 4
Reed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus 2
White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus 1
Yellow billed Kite Milvus parasitus A
African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer 1
Black-chested Snake Eagle Circaetus pectoralis 1
Brown Snake Eagle Circaetus cinereus 1
African Marsh Harrier Circus ranivorus 1
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis 1
Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis 1
African Swamphen Porphyrio madagascariensis 3
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 10
Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata 3
Water Thick-knee Burhinus vermiculatus 10
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 8
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta A
Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus 10
Black-winged Lapwing Vanellus melanopterus 15
Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus 6
African Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus 2
Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula 1
Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius 10
Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris 5
White fronted Plover Charadrius marginatus 3
African Jacana Actophilornis africanus 3
Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 8
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 2
Little Stint Calidris minuta A
Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea 10
Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola 8
Grey-hooded Gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus 10
Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 10
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida 4
Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata A
Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Turtur chalcospilos A
Purple-crested Turaco Tauraco porphyreolophus 1
Dideric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius 1
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus 1
Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris 2
Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis 1
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster 2
African Hoopoe Upupa africana 3
White-eared Barbet Stactolaema leucotis 1
Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus pusillus 1
Golden-tailed Woodpecker Campethera abingoni 1
Orange-breasted Bushshrike Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus 1
Gorgeous Bushshrike Chlorophoneus viridis 1
Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis 1
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio 1
Common Fiscal Lanius collaris 2
Square-tailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii 3
Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis 3
Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher Trochocercus cyanomelas 1
Pied Crow Corvus albus 1
Southern Black Tit Parus niger 1
Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor A
Sombre Greenbul Andropadus importunus 2
Yellow-bellied Greenbul Chlorocichla flaviventris 3
Terrestrial Brownbul Phyllastrephus terrestris 4
Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera 1
Sand Martin Riparia riparia 2
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica A
Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii 1
Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana 1
Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava 3
Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida 1
Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura 2
Long-billed Crombec Sylvietta rufescens 2
African Yellow white-eye Zosterops senegalensis 1
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis 4
Cape Starling Lamprotornis nitens 7
Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster 5
White-browed Scrub Robin Erythropygia leucophrys 1
Southern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis pammelaina 1
Ashy Flycatcher Muscicapa caerulescens 1
Grey Tit-Flycatcher Myioparus plumbeus 1
Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris 4
Neergaard's Sunbird Cinnyris neergaardi 2
Purple-banded Sunbird Cinnyris bifasciatus 2
House Sparrow Passer domesticus 8
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus 1
Thick-billed Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons 2
Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis 3
Dark-backed Weaver Ploceus bicolor 2
Pink-throated Twinspot Hypargos margaritatus 1
Blue Waxbill Uraeginthus angolensis 4
Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild 1
Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata 5
Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura 1
African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp 2
Cape Longclaw Macronyx capensis 2
Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus 2
Rosy-throated Longclaw Macronyx ameliae 5
Lemon-breasted Canary Crithagra citrinipecta 3
Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambica A
Nov 26, We met Jabulani at 7 at Muzi Pan. There wasn’t anything of note at the pan and we didn’t want to head south so we parted ways with Jabulani after an hour( he charged us 400 Rand for the hour) and we headed north to Mkhuze. In Mkhuze we had a great time and for the first time really felt like we were in the Africa you see on Discovery Chanel. There were lots of rhino, giraffe, antelope and a couple of elephant. Birds of note included Black-bellied Bustard, Red-faced Mousebird, Purple Roller, Green Wood Hoopoe, Common Scimitarbill, Olive-tree Warbler, and Pale Flycatcher. We spent the entire afternoon in Mkhuze and made a late drive back to Bonamonzi tired but happy.
Birds seen Nov 26
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris 10
Crested Francolin Dendroperdix sephaena 2
White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata A
Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis 5
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca A
Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata 8
Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis 5
Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus 2
African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus 2
Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash A
Striated Heron Butorides striata 1
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides 4
Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis A
Goliath Heron Ardea goliath 3
Grey Heron Ardea cinerea 1
Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca 2
Little Egret Egretta garzetta A
Hamerkop Scopus umbretta 1
Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus A
Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens 5
Reed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus 5
White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus 1
African Darter Anhinga rufa 1
Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus 1
Yellow billed Kite Milvus parasitus A
African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer 1
White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus 2
African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus 1
Steppe Buzzard Buteo vulpinus 4
Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis 1
Black-bellied Bustard Lissotis melanogaster 1
Water Thick-knee Burhinus vermiculatus 4
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 1
Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus 3
Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus 3
Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius 1
African Jacana Actophilornis africanus A
Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola 10
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 1
Ruff Philomachus pugnax 1
Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida 2
White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus 2
Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata 3
Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Turtur chalcospilos A
Purple-crested Turaco Tauraco porphyreolophus 1
Burchell's Coucal Centropus burchelli 1
Dideric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius 2
Little Swift Apus affinis 3
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus 3
Red-faced Mousebird Urocolius indicus 5
Purple Roller Coracias naevius 2
Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris 5
Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata 1
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster 8
African Hoopoe Upupa africana 2
Green Wood Hoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus 6
Common Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas 5
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus leucomelas 1
Trumpeter Hornbill Bycanistes bucinator 1
Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus 2
Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii 3
Golden-tailed Woodpecker Campethera abingoni 3
Brubru Nilaus afer 1
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio A
Common Fiscal Lanius collaris 5
Square-tailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii A
Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis A
African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis 1
Cape Crow Corvus capensis 1
Southern Black Tit Parus niger 3
Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor A
Lesser Striped Swallow Cecropis abyssinica A
Olive-tree Warbler Hippolais olivetorum 1
Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava 2
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis A
Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea 6
Black-bellied Starling Notopholia corruscus A
Cape Starling Lamprotornis nitens 5
Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster 15
Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus 1
Kurrichane Thrush Turdus libonyanus 1
White-browed Scrub Robin Erythropygia leucophrys 1
Pale Flycatcher Bradornis pallidus 2
Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris 2
Grey Sunbird Cyanomitra veroxii 1
House Sparrow Passer domesticus 5
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus 6
Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis 5
Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus 5
Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea A
Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix 3
Blue Waxbill Uraeginthus angolensis 8
Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura 4
African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp 2
African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus 2
Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambica 8
Nov 27 Slept in until 8 then started the long drive to Wakerstroom. We detoured through Ithala game preserve but it was very slow and our energy reserves were low. We picked up a few birds enroute but only ended up with 5 new species for the day. The most memorable event of the day was after I had popped the hatch lid and we were driving down the road. I told my brother I would remember to shut it completely the next time we stopped. About 15 minutes later we went over a large bump causing the hatch to fly open and both of our suitcases to fly out of the car onto the road. They both slid a fair distance and garnered a lot of road rash but were still functional for the most part.
Birds seen Nov 27
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris 6
Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis 5
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca 5
Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata A
Cape Shoveler Anas smithii 2
Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma 2
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 2
Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus 2
Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash A
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala 1
Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 1
Little Egret Egretta garzetta A
Reed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus 10
Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus 1
Yellow billed Kite Milvus parasitus A
Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres 1
Jackal Buzzard Buteo rufofuscus 1
Steppe Buzzard Buteo vulpinus A
Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata A
Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus A
Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus A
Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata 4
Little Swift Apus affinis 10
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus 2
Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris 2
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster 3
Trumpeter Hornbill Bycanistes bucinator 1
Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus 4
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio 1
Common Fiscal Lanius collaris A
Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus 1
Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis A
White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis 10
Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana 2
Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor A
Banded Martin Riparia cincta 2
White-throated Swallow Hirundo albigularis 12
African Yellow white-eye Zosterops senegalensis 2
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis A
Cape Starling Lamprotornis nitens A
Pied Starling Lamprotornis bicolor 12
Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster 3
Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio 4
Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus 1
Cape Robin-Chat Cossypha caffra 1
Familiar Chat Cercomela familiaris 3
Mocking Cliff Chat Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris 1
Pale Flycatcher Bradornis pallidus 1
Fiscal Flycatcher Sigelus silens 1
Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix A
Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne A
Blue Waxbill Uraeginthus angolensis 4
Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild 2
Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura 2
Cape Longclaw Macronyx capensis 1
Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus 1
Nov 28 Met Lucky, our new guide, at the Wakerstroom Post office and started ticking off specialties within 5 minutes. A little south of town we got Eastern Clapper Lark, Eastern Long-billed Lark, Spike-heeled Lark, Buff-streaked Chat and Mountain Wheatear. We then headed out for Pink billed Lark but missed it. We then headed for Rudd’s and Botha’s lark and were able to get Botha’s but not Rudd’s. Next we started focusing on Bustards and we were able to get Denham's Bustard and Blue Korhaan. We worked the area hard for the remainder of the day compiling an impressive list of specialties. It started to rain in the afternoon and we found Barrow's Korhaan running on the road in the pouring rain and capped the day off on a large bridge East of town were we found African Black Duck.
Birds seen Nov 28
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris A
Grey-winged Francolin Scleroptila africana 6
Swainson's Spurfowl Pternistis swainsonii 2
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca A
African Black Duck Anas sparsa 2
Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata A
Red-billed Teal Anas erythrorhyncha 2
White Stork Ciconia ciconia 10
Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus 11
Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash 10
African Spoonbill Platalea alba 1
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides 2
Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis A
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala 5
Reed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus 2
Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus 2
Jackal Buzzard Buteo rufofuscus 1
Steppe Buzzard Buteo vulpinus A
Denham's Bustard Neotis denhami 6
Barrow's Korhaan Eupodotis barrowii 2
Blue Korhaan Eupodotis caerulescens 4
Black-bellied Bustard Lissotis melanogaster 3
Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata A
Grey Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum 2
Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus 4
Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus A
Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus A
African Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus 8
Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata 8
Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola A
Laughing Dove Stigmatopelia senegalensis A
Dideric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius 1
White-rumped Swift Apus caffer 5
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus 2
Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata 1
Bokmakierie Telophorus zeylonus 1
Common Fiscal Lanius collaris 10
Cape Crow Corvus capensis 3
White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis 4
Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana 2
Eastern Clapper Lark Mirafra fasciolata 1
Eastern Long-billed Lark Certhilauda semitorquata 1
Spike-heeled Lark Chersomanes albofasciata 5
Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea 2
Botha's Lark Spizocorys fringillaris 10
Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor A
Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne pristoptera 1
Banded Martin Riparia cincta 8
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica A
Wailing Cisticola Cisticola lais 1
Levaillant's Cisticola Cisticola tinniens 3
Pale-crowned Cisticola Cisticola cinnamomeus 1
Wing-snapping Cisticola Cisticola ayresii 1
Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava 2
Drakensberg Prinia Prinia hypoxantha 1
Cape Grassbird Sphenoeacus afer 3
Common Myna Acridotheres tristis A
Pied Starling Lamprotornis bicolor A
Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio 5
African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus A
Buff-streaked Chat Campicoloides bifasciata 2
Mountain Wheatear Oenanthe monticola 4
Ant-eating Chat Myrmecocichla formicivora A
Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa 2
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus 7
Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis A
Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea 5
Yellow-crowned Bishop Euplectes afer 1
Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix A
Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis 2
Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens A
Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne A
Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild 4
African Quail-Finch Ortygospiza fuscocrissa 2
Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura 4
Cape Longclaw Macronyx capensis 9
Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus 4
African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus A
Yellow-breasted Pipit Anthus chloris 2
Nov 29 We hit a water treatment plant pond practically across the street from the B&B and had Red billed and Hottentot Teal before we picked up Lucky for a morning of birding. With Lucky we went back to the lark spot and finally got acceptable looks at Botha’s lark before they flew up into their high calling “display”. Remember to look way up in the sky when searching for this bird. We spent the remainder of the time driving a loop around town and filling in some misses from the previous day including Secretary Bird, Long billed Pipit, Lazy Cisticola, Croaking Cisticola, and as we headed back into town a Red-winged Francolin walked across the road. We ate a late breakfast at the B&B (the second sit down breakfast of the trip) and started the drive to Kruger. We made it to Kruger about 3:30 got checked into the Berg en Dal camp and headed out for a few hours to see what we could find. Right outside the camp we ran across a herd of 25 elephants. We drove a loop around the camp and found, what we learned later, was a pretty rare find of 2 Sooty Falcons which we photographed and had validated by some local birders.
Birds seen Nov 29
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris A
Grey-winged Francolin Scleroptila africana 8
Red-winged Francolin Scleroptila levaillantii 2
Natal Spurfowl Pternistis natalensis 4
Swainson's Spurfowl Pternistis swainsonii 2
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca A
Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata A
Hottentot Teal Anas hottentota 4
Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma 2
Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 3
Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumeniferus 5
African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus 3
Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash 3
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 1
African Spoonbill Platalea alba 1
Striated Heron Butorides striata 4
Western Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis A
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala 3
Yellow-billed Egret Egretta intermedia 1
Reed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus 5
White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus 1
Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius 2
Steppe Buzzard Buteo vulpinus A
Sooty Falcon Falco concolor 2
African Swamphen Porphyrio madagascariensis 5
Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 2
Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata A
Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus 2
Water Thick-knee Burhinus vermiculatus 5
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 2
Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta 1
Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus A
African Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus 3
Grey Go-away-bird Corythaixoides concolor 8
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus 5
Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus 2
Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis 1
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster A
African Hoopoe Upupa africana 1
African Grey Hornbill Tockus nasutus 2
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus leucomelas 2
Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii 2
Brown-backed Honeybird Prodotiscus regulus 1
Chinspot Batis Batis molitor 2
Brubru Nilaus afer 1
Magpie Shrike Urolestes melanoleucus 6
Common Fiscal Lanius collaris 7
Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis 15
African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis 2
Cape Crow Corvus capensis 3
White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis 4
Rudd's Lark Heteromirafra ruddi 3
Eastern Long-billed Lark Certhilauda semitorquata 1
Botha's Lark Spizocorys fringillaris 4
Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor A
Sombre Greenbul Andropadus importunus 1
Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica A
Red-breasted Swallow Cecropis semirufa 1
Lazy Cisticola Cisticola aberrans 1
Croaking Cisticola Cisticola natalensis 1
Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii 2
Pied Starling Lamprotornis bicolor A
Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster 2
Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus 3
Cape Robin-Chat Cossypha caffra 2
Mountain Wheatear Oenanthe monticola 1
Ant-eating Chat Myrmecocichla formicivora 10
Pale Flycatcher Bradornis pallidus 1
Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis A
Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix A
Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis 2
Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne 10
Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura 2
Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis 1
Cape Longclaw Macronyx capensis 2
Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus 2
African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus 4
Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis 1
Nov 30, We started the day at 5 a.m. and worked our way haphazardly to Skukuza. The best find of the day for me was a Leopard we found resting in a tree about 75 yards from the road. From an avian perspective we spotted Marabou Stork, Batteleur, African Pygmy Kingfisher, Bearded Woodpecker, Eurasian Golden Oriole, a single Marico sunbird at Tshokwane Picnic Site, Yellow throated Petronia, and a single Red headed weaver at a site found in South African Birdfinder book. We were checking out a large congregation of Buffalo Weaver when we noticed a baby Verreaux's Eagle-Owl in a nest right by the weaver nest.
Birds seen Nov 30
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris A
Crested Francolin Dendroperdix sephaena 1
Natal Spurfowl Pternistis natalensis 2
White-faced Whistling Duck Dendrocygna viduata 6
Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumeniferus 4
Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides 1
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala 1
Reed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus 1
Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus 1
African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer 1
Brown Snake Eagle Circaetus cinereus 1
Batteleur Terathopius ecuadatus 3
Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax 1
Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis 1
Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus 1
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis 2
Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostra 5
Water Thick-knee Burhinus vermiculatus 1
Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus 5
Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola A
Laughing Dove Stigmatopelia senegalensis A
Grey Go-away-bird Corythaixoides concolor A
Dideric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius 2
Verreaux's Eagle-Owl Bubo lacteus 1
White-rumped Swift Apus caffer A
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus 4
Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus 10
Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis 3
African Pygmy Kingfisher Ispidina picta 1
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster A
Common Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas 4
African Grey Hornbill Tockus nasutus 3
Southern Red-billed Hornbill Tockus rufirostris 10
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus leucomelas 10
Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii 1
Golden-tailed Woodpecker Campethera abingoni 2
Bearded Woodpecker Dendropicos namaquus 1
Chinspot Batis Batis molitor 1
Orange-breasted Bushshrike Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus 1
Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis 3
Magpie Shrike Urolestes melanoleucus 3
Southern White-crowned Shrike Eurocephalus anguitimens 1
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio A
Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor 1
Eurasian Golden Oriole Oriolus oriolus 2
Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus 1
Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis A
African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis 1
Cape Crow Corvus capensis 1
Southern Black Tit Parus niger 3
Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor A
Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava 2
Long-billed Crombec Sylvietta rufescens 1
Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii 8
Cape Starling Lamprotornis nitens 15
Greater Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus 3
Burchell's Starling Lamprotornis australis 8
Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus 8
White-browed Scrub Robin Erythropygia leucophrys 1
Mocking Cliff Chat Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris 1
Southern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris chalybeus 1
Marico Sunbird Cinnyris mariquensis 1
House Sparrow Passer domesticus 1
Yellow-throated Petronia Gymnoris superciliaris 5
Red-billed Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis niger 20
Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis 10
Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes melanotis 1
Blue Waxbill Uraeginthus angolensis 5
African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp 1
Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambica 10
Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris 10
Dec 1, Skukuza to Satara Found us up at 4 am so we could be ready when the camp gate opened at 4:30. Lucky for us we decided to make the early adventure because not a mile outside the camp gate were 3 male lions lounging around on the road. We watched them for half an hour or so and decided to not let any more prime birding slip by and we headed out. We were driving over the Sabie river when I spotted a leopard in the river bottom as it lay there and watched us. Once on the other side of the bridge we found some Jameson’s Firefinch pretty close to the road. We wandered our way toward Satara and saw hyena, elephant, giraffe, buffalo (and a single yellow billed Oxpecker on one of the buffalo) We also stopped by most of the water holes where we saw a fly over Knob billed Duck and a Saddle billed Stork. That night we took the evening drive and saw some more lion, jackal, and some unidentified nightjars that took off in our floodlights
Birds seen Dec 1
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris A
Crested Francolin Dendroperdix sephaena 1
Swainson's Spurfowl Pternistis swainsonii 10
Knob-billed Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos 1
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca A
Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis 1
Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis 1
Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumeniferus 4
Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala 1
Hamerkop Scopus umbretta 1
African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer 1
Lappet-faced Vulture Gyps coprotheres 1
Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax 1
Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostra 2
Mourning Collared Dove Streptopelia decipiens 5
Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Turtur chalcospilos A
Brown-headed Parrot Poicephalus cryptoxanthus 5
Grey Go-away-bird Corythaixoides concolor A
Dideric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius 2
White-rumped Swift Apus caffer A
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus 7
Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus 2
Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis A
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster 7
African Hoopoe Upupa africana 3
Common Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas 4
Southern Red-billed Hornbill Tockus rufirostris 5
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus leucomelas 5
Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus 1
Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii 4
Bennett's Woodpecker Campethera bennettii 1
Chinspot Batis Batis molitor 5
Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis 1
Magpie Shrike Urolestes melanoleucus 6
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio A
Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor 2
Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus 2
Southern Black Tit Parus niger 2
Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor 10
Red-breasted Swallow Cecropis semirufa 5
Long-billed Crombec Sylvietta rufescens 1
Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii 2
Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea A
Cape Starling Lamprotornis nitens 10
Greater Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus 10
Burchell's Starling Lamprotornis australis 10
Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster 2
Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus 1
White-throated Robin-Chat Cossypha humeralis 1
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata 3
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus A
Jameson's Firefinch Lagonosticta rhodopareia 5
Long-tailed Paradise Whydah Vidua paradisaea 5
African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp 2
Dec 2, Today we worked our way east and north making a large loop from Satara on the s-90. We saw Red-crested Korhaan, Kori Bustard, Greater Honey guide, Sabota Lark, Amur Falcon, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting. Working our way to Olifants we found our first Ground Hornbill and after checking out Olifants camp, we drove down by the river and found a lone White-crowned Lapwing and a Brimstone Canary. Working our way back to Satara on H1-3 we found 3 more Ground Hormbill on the road and a resting Temminck’s Courser seeking shade under a bush near one of the water holes. We spent the heat of the day resting and then worked our way down H6 in the afternoon. At the corner of H1-3 and H6 we found a few Senegal Lapwing and further down the road a den of hyena. That night we took a night drive where we saw a soaked Verreaux's Eagle-Owl the rain diminished our chances at any nightjars but we were able to see Lion, African wildcat, Genet, and Porcupine.
Birds seen Dec 2
Common Ostrich Struthio camelus 6
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris A
Crested Francolin Dendroperdix sephaena 8
Natal Spurfowl Pternistis natalensis 1
Swainson's Spurfowl Pternistis swainsonii A
Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca 5
Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis 4
Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumeniferus 4
Yellow-billed Egret Egretta intermedia 1
Yellow billed Kite Milvus parasitus 1
African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer 1
Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres 1
Brown Snake Eagle Circaetus cinereus 1
Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar 1
Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax 2
Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus 2
Amur Falcon Falco amurensis 20
Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori 2
Red-crested Korhaan Lophotis ruficrista 2
Black-bellied Bustard Lissotis melanogaster 4
Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 1
Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus 4
White-crowned Lapwing Vanellus albiceps 1
Senegal Lapwing Vanellus lugubris 4
Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris 1
Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 2
Temminck's Courser Cursorius temminckii 1
Mourning Collared Dove Streptopelia decipiens 1
Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola A
Grey Go-away-bird Corythaixoides concolor 5
Levaillant's Cuckoo Clamator levaillantii 2
Jacobin Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus 1
Dideric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius 1
Verreaux's Eagle-Owl Bubo lacteus 1
White-rumped Swift Apus caffer A
Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus 12
Purple Roller Coracias naevius 1
Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus A
Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis 5
White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides 3
European Bee-eater Merops apiaster 5
Southern Red-billed Hornbill Tockus rufirostris 5
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus leucomelas 5
Southern Ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri 8
Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator 1
Chinspot Batis Batis molitor 1
Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis 1
Magpie Shrike Urolestes melanoleucus A
Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio A
Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor 5
Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis 5
Sabota Lark Calendulauda sabota 3
Dark-capped Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor A
Lesser Striped Swallow Cecropis abyssinica 5
Red-breasted Swallow Cecropis semirufa 3
Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii 3
Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea 4
Burchell's Starling Lamprotornis australis 5
Pied Starling Lamprotornis bicolor 5
Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata 1
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus A
Southern Masked Weaver Ploceus velatus 2
Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala 3
Blue Waxbill Uraeginthus angolensis 4
Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild 4
African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp 3
Brimstone Canary Crithagra sulphurata 2
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi 1
Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris 1
Dec 3, Today was our last day in Africa and we had to work our way back to Joburg for a late night flight. We did this via the Taita Falcon location but before we left the camp we were able to get a Black-crowned Tchagra and Ground Hornbill again on the way to Orpen gate. At the Taita location we arrived about noon and waited 30-45 minutes for a single falcon to put in an appearance for about 5 minutes. The trip back to the airport was uneventful and we mostly focused on driving and started dreading the long trip home.
Birds seen Dec 3
Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris A
Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar 1
Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax 2
Taita Falcon Falco fasciinucha 1
Southern Ground Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri 3
Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegalus 1
In all we saw about 385 species, 340ish of them were life birds for me and almost all were lifers for my brother. I think I would do the trip the same way if I had it to do again except I would have padded in a couple of non-birding rest/sightseeing days for variety and to recharge our energy reserves. I also would have opted for a full size 4x4 to make things a little more comfortable. Other than these minor modifications it was a great trip that Birding Africa put together for us.
Common Ostrich
Helmeted Guineafowl
Crested Guineafowl
Grey-winged Francolin
Red-winged Francolin
Crested Francolin
Natal Spurfowl
Red-necked Spurfowl
Swainson's Spurfowl
White-faced Whistling Duck
Spur-winged Goose
Knob-billed Duck
Egyptian Goose
South African Shelduck
African Pygmy Goose
African Black Duck
Yellow-billed Duck
Cape Shoveler
Red-billed Teal
Hottentot Teal
Southern Pochard
Little Grebe
Greater Flamingo
Lesser Flamingo
Yellow-billed Stork
Woolly-necked Stork
White Stork
Saddle-billed Stork
Marabou Stork
African Sacred Ibis
Southern Bald Ibis
Hadada Ibis
Glossy Ibis
African Spoonbill
Striated Heron
Squacco Heron
Western Cattle Egret
Black-headed Heron
Goliath Heron
Purple Heron
Grey Heron
Yellow-billed Egret
Black Heron
Little Egret
Hamerkop
Great White Pelican
Pink-backed Pelican
Reed Cormorant
White-breasted Cormorant
African Darter
Secretarybird
Western Osprey
Black-winged Kite
Yellow billed Kite
African Fish Eagle
Palm-nut Vulture
Bearded Vulture
White-backed Vulture
Cape Vulture
Lappet-faced Vulture
Black-chested Snake Eagle
Brown Snake Eagle
African Marsh Harrier
Batteleur
African Harrier-Hawk
Gabar Goshawk
African Goshawk
Forest Buzzard
Jackal Buzzard
Steppe Buzzard
Tawny Eagle
Steppe Eagle
Martial Eagle
Long-crested Eagle
Crowned Eagle
Amur Falcon
Taita Falcon
Sooty Falcon
Kori Bustard
Denham's Bustard
Barrow's Korhaan
Blue Korhaan
Red-crested Korhaan
Black-bellied Bustard
Black Crake
African Swamphen
Common Moorhen
Red-knobbed Coot
Grey Crowned Crane
Blue Crane
Wattled Crane
Water Thick-knee
Black-winged Stilt
Pied Avocet
Blacksmith Lapwing
White-crowned Lapwing
Senegal Lapwing
Black-winged Lapwing
Crowned Lapwing
African Wattled Lapwing
Grey Plover
Common Ringed Plover
Kittlitz's Plover
Three-banded Plover
White fronted Plover
Greater Sand Plover
Crab Plover
African Jacana
Whimbrel
Common Greenshank
Wood Sandpiper
Common Sandpiper
Little Stint
Curlew Sandpiper
Ruff
Sanderling
Bar tailed Godwit
Terek Sandpiper
Temminck's Courser
Collared Pratincole
Grey-hooded Gull
Caspian Tern
Common Tern
Whiskered Tern
White-winged Tern
Swift Tern
Common Pigeon
Speckled Pigeon
African Olive Pigeon
Eastern Bronze-naped Pigeon
Lemon Dove
Mourning Collared Dove
Red-eyed Dove
Ring-necked Dove
Laughing Dove
Emerald-spotted Wood Dove
Tambourine Dove
African Green Pigeon
Cape Parrot
Livingstone's Turaco
Knysna Turaco
Purple-crested Turaco
Grey Go-away-bird
Burchell's Coucal
Levaillant's Cuckoo
Jacobin Cuckoo
Dideric Cuckoo
African Emerald Cuckoo
Black Cuckoo
Red-chested Cuckoo
Cape Eagle-Owl
Verreaux's Eagle-Owl
African Palm Swift
Common Swift
Little Swift
White-rumped Swift
Speckled Mousebird
Red-faced Mousebird
Narina Trogon
Purple Roller
Lilac-breasted Roller
Brown-hooded Kingfisher
Woodland Kingfisher
African Pygmy Kingfisher
Malachite Kingfisher
Giant Kingfisher
Pied Kingfisher
Little Bee-eater
White-fronted Bee-eater
Blue-cheeked Bee-eater
European Bee-eater
African Hoopoe
Green Wood Hoopoe
Common Scimitarbill
Crowned Hornbill
African Grey Hornbill
Southern Red-billed Hornbill
Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill
Trumpeter Hornbill
Southern Ground Hornbill
White-eared Barbet
Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird
Red-fronted Tinkerbird
Black-collared Barbet
Crested Barbet
Green Barbet
Brown-backed Honeybird
Greater Honeyguide
Scaly throated Honeyguide
Red-throated Wryneck
Bennett's Woodpecker
Golden-tailed Woodpecker
Ground Woodpecker
Bearded Woodpecker
Olive Woodpecker
Cape Batis
Chinspot Batis
Black-throated Wattle-eye
White-crested Helmetshrike
Olive Bushshrike
Orange-breasted Bushshrike
Gorgeous Bushshrike
Bokmakierie
Brown-crowned Tchagra
Black-crowned Tchagra
Black-backed Puffback
Southern Boubou
Brubru
Grey Cuckooshrike
Magpie Shrike
Southern White-crowned Shrike
Red-backed Shrike
Lesser Grey Shrike
Common Fiscal
Eurasian Golden Oriole
Black-headed Oriole
Square-tailed Drongo
Fork-tailed Drongo
Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher
African Paradise Flycatcher
Cape Crow
Pied Crow
White-necked Raven
Drakensberg Rockjumper
Fairy Warbler
Southern Black Tit
Grey Tit
Eastern Nicator
Rufous-naped Lark
Eastern Clapper Lark
Rudd's Lark
Sabota Lark
Eastern Long-billed Lark
Spike-heeled Lark
Red-capped Lark
Botha's Lark
Large-billed Lark
Dark-capped Bulbul
Sombre Greenbul
Yellow-bellied Greenbul
Terrestrial Brownbul
Black Saw-wing
Brown-throated Martin
Sand Martin
Banded Martin
Barn Swallow
White-throated Swallow
Wire-tailed Swallow
Rock Martin
Greater Striped Swallow
Lesser Striped Swallow
Red-breasted Swallow
South African Cliff Swallow
Yellow-throated Woodland WarblerPhylloscopus
Willow Warbler
African Reed Warbler
Dark-capped Yellow Warbler
Olive-tree Warbler
Barratt's Warbler
Lazy Cisticola
Rattling Cisticola
Wailing Cisticola
Rufous-winged Cisticola
Levaillant's Cisticola
Croaking Cisticola
Neddicky
Zitting Cisticola
Pale-crowned Cisticola
Wing-snapping Cisticola
Tawny-flanked Prinia
Drakensberg Prinia
Karoo Prinia
Bar-throated Apalis
Rudd's Apalis
Yellow-breasted Apalis
Green-backed Camaroptera
Cape Grassbird
Layard's Tit-babbler
Long-billed Crombec
Arrow-marked Babbler
Bush Blackcap
Cape White-eye
African Yellow white-eye
Gurney's Sugarbird
Common Myna
Wattled Starling
Black-bellied Starling
Cape Starling
Greater Blue-eared Starling
Burchell's Starling
Pied Starling
Violet-backed Starling
Red-winged Starling
Yellow-billed Oxpecker
Red-billed Oxpecker
Spotted Ground Thrush
Kurrichane Thrush
Olive Thrush
Karoo Thrush
Cape Robin-Chat
White-browed Robin-Chat
Red-capped Robin-Chat
Chorister Robin-Chat
Brown Scrub Robin
White-browed Scrub Robin
African Stonechat
Buff-streaked Chat
Mountain Wheatear
Sickle-winged Chat
Familiar Chat
Ant-eating Chat
Mocking Cliff Chat
Cape Rock Thrush
Sentinel Rock Thrush
Southern Black Flycatcher
Pale Flycatcher
Fiscal Flycatcher
Spotted Flycatcher
Ashy Flycatcher
Grey Tit-Flycatcher
Collared Sunbird
Olive Sunbird
Grey Sunbird
Amethyst Sunbird
Malachite Sunbird
Southern Double-collared Sunbird
Neergaard's Sunbird
Greater Double-collared Sunbird
Marico Sunbird
Purple-banded Sunbird
White-bellied Sunbird
House Sparrow
Cape Sparrow
Southern Grey-headed Sparrow
Yellow-throated Petronia
Red-billed Buffalo Weaver
Thick-billed Weaver
Spectacled Weaver
Cape Weaver
Yellow Weaver
Southern Brown-throated Weaver
Lesser Masked Weaver
Southern Masked Weaver
Village Weaver
Dark-backed Weaver
Red-headed Weaver
Red-billed Quelea
Red-headed Quela
Yellow-crowned Bishop
Southern Red Bishop
Yellow Bishop
Fan-tailed Widowbird
Red-collared Widowbird
Long-tailed Widowbird
Green Twinspot
Pink-throated Twinspot
Red-billed Firefinch
African Firefinch
Jameson's Firefinch
Blue Waxbill
Common Waxbill
African Quail-Finch
Bronze Mannikin
Pin-tailed Whydah
Long-tailed Paradise Whydah
Cape Wagtail
Mountain Wagtail
African Pied Wagtail
Cape Longclaw
Yellow-throated Longclaw
Rosy-throated Longclaw
African Pipit
Long-billed Pipit
African Rock Pipit
Yellow-breasted Pipit
Cape Canary
Forest Canary
Lemon-breasted Canary
Yellow-fronted Canary
Yellow Canary
Brimstone Canary
Drakensberg Siskin
Cinnamon-breasted Bunting
Cape Bunting
Golden-breasted Bunting