Around the Highveld

I arrived at Anne's house mid afternoon on 7th April. Rosemary was there & I met her boyfriend Manny for the first time. We all went out for a meal at a local restaurant & had a very good time.

Parys

Myself & Anne.

Parys is trying to turn itself into a little 

arty/craft kind of stop over.

Rosemary & Manny.

Lunch at Parys.

Olive Pigeon in Anne's garden!

Didn't do much over the next few days but we all went to Parys for a day out &Anne & I went out to the casino & Stonehaven on another day.

Anne at the Vaal River.

The entrance to Stonehaven.

It could only be in South Africa!

My first ever selfie!

Upland grasslands predominate 

over much of the reserve.

The reserve is very scenic

Black shouldered Kite

Cape Longclaw

Mountain Wheatear

Wailing Cisticola

I think this is Cloud Cisticola.

Comments welcome.

Black headed Heron

White browed Sparrow Weaver

Thick billed Weaver

Yellow Canary

Fiscal Flycatcher

I left on 11th April & spent most of the day birding around Suikerbostrand Nature Reserve. It was a very dull, overcast day, not good for birding or photography at all. I entered at the Diepkloof Gate & drove slowly around the 67 km game drive.

Best birds were:

Black headed Heron; Black chested Snake-eagle; Black shouldered Kite; Acacia Pied Barbet; Red eyed Bulbul; Mountain Wheatear; Familiar Chat; Ant-eating Chat; Cloud Cisticola; Wailing Cisticola; Fiscale Flycatcher; Cape Longclaw; Yellow Canary & Cape Bunting.

African Stonechat

There are several good hides on this reserve.

Little Grebe

Immature

Egyptian Goose

Hottentot Teal

Red Knobbed Coot

Common Moorhen

Little Stint

Three banded Plover

Pied Kingfisher

Red eyed Dove

Laughing Dove

White throated Swallow

Common Fiscal

Orange breasted Waxbill

There is a very nice picnic site here.

Spent the night in Heidelberg & birded Marievale on 12th, (which is my birthday)! The place was partially flooded & birding wasn't great. Did manage to see 2 Squacco Heron & a Little Bittern (but no photos of either)!

The view from their house!

Jurgen & Carolina

The night of my 62nd birthday!

Arrived at Carolina & Jurgen's house early evening & we all went out for a meal. The next day it just poured with rain & stopped me from doing anything meaningful. I left for the long drive back to Sabie Park on 14th April. It was great to see the guys again.