The long drive north!

 We left early on the morning of 11th January. It is just over 1,700 kms drive, so we undertook it in two days. On the first day we drove through the Swartberg Mountains, mainly along the incredibly scenic Route 62. We ended the day just north of Hanover at a farm called New Holme. It proved to be an excellent stop-over & we really enjoyed our time here. 

Meanwhile in the UK on 10th January

it was Rowan's birthday!

Here they are enjoying a meal.

We were up early the next day & the 8 km drive out of the farm, back to the main road, proved to be quite birdy. Then it was a long drive home to Pretoria.

Adult male Lesser Kestrel.

We saw over 100 birds in the area.

Immature male.

Female.

Many Barn Swallows were hawking over the veldt.

Ant-eater Chats were quite common here.

Sabota Lark

Eastern Clapper Lark

Rarely seen perched out in the open.

Therefore difficult to get a photo of this species!

We arrived home at Burkea Park (Pebble Rock Village) late on 12th January. The tenants had moved out of the house & there was quite a bit of work to do. We had to get workmen in the next day to start fixing stuff. We are basically indoor camping at the moment, as we have little furniture. But it is OK. It is nice to have the house back & no barking dogs! 

Chestnut vented Warbler

Grosbeak Weaver

White-winged Widowbird

I manage to sneak out in the late afternoon for a short walk around the area. It was very pleasant. 

Roodepoort Dam

The roads are good around the reserve.

There is a wide variety of open grasslands.

There are a couple of hides in the reserve

And a very nice picnic site.

Giraffe

Banded Mongoose

Very inquisative

African Wattled Lapwing

Crowned Lapwing

Red-backed Shrike

Spotted Flycatcher

Quite a common & widespread summer migrant.

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Piping Cisticola

Willow Warbler

Green-backed Camaroptera

Burnt-necked Eremomela

On the 15th January I spent the morning at the nearby Roodepoort Dam Nature Reserve. It was a great morning, notching up 73 species in three hours birding. We are lucky to have this place basically on our doorstep.

Having a meal after we had just met up.

Clare & Saleh enjoying the pool.

The next day I spent the morning at Pretoria East Hospital having an MRI scan.  The results were not great. After the hospital visit, it was time to meet up with Clare, Ahmed & my latest grandson Saleh. They are visiting from Abu Dhabi for the next nine days. Great to have them over here!

Red-chested Cuckoo

Grey-headed Bushshrike in the garden.

We spent the next eo days around the house & on the 18th packing, as we are going to Mabula Game Reserve for five nights. Really looking forward to this little trip, as it is a new area for both Delana & myself.