Thursday, 18 October 2018

A day trip to Lesotho!

My 140th country!

We met up with Drew in Zastron, it was a grueling 1,080 kms drive & on the 18th October we were up early & crossed the border into Lesotho! This was my 140th country! Delana & Drew had some work to do surveying a river. I went along to help, by carrying things & asking irritating questions!

The Makhaleng River.

Overgrazed & terrible water erosion.

This river is at 4,745 feet asl.

The work was for environmental flow requirements for the Lesotho Highlands Water Project. 



Drew, thinking about work!


Delana





Delana & Drew measuring 
river flow.

A beautiful looking river, but lots of slit
 due to constant erosion.


Egyptian Goose


African Spoonbill

Brown throated Martin

This species was common along the river,
 breeding in sandy banks.

Cape Robin

Familiar Chat


African Pipit

Common here. Mountain Pipit had yet to arrive
 on their breeding grounds.


Chestnut backed Finch-lark


Lazy Cisticola

Southern Grey headed Sparrow

Common on the hillsides & abandoned buildings

Male Red headed Finch

Flocks of up to 50 birds seen.

Bully Canary

Black throated Canary




Cinnamon breasted Rock Bunting

There were many old abandoned buildings,
 which suits this species just fine.




Enjoying a drink at Mohale's Hoek

 While they were working I did a bit of birding in the area but it was all very low key & we returned to Zastron (South Africa) late in the day. It was a very enjoyable day out though.


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