Driving with the two cats is surprisingly easy!
Delana & I reluctantly left Pearly Beach on 11th January. We had enjoyed a lovely five weeks there, but it all felt far too short a time! We didn't do a lot of what we wanted to do around there. So we set off early & drove to Jacobsdral where we spent the night & carried on the next day arriving mid afternoon.
Getting myself sorted!
The all important leg brace!
The next few days were spent running around Pretoria; me going to the hospital & Delana trying to get her UK visa. I had fallen off a step back in August in Etosha National Park & had been limping along very since. I should have gone to the hospital straight away but I didn't & things went from bad to worse. I had chipped a bone in my left foot & it is now suffused into my foot, nothing can be done about that. But I had also torn my ankle ligaments & this was what the brace is for. I immediately felt much better & had more confidence in my leg. Lots of physiotherapy exercises to do as well! Lets see how it goes.
Delana owns a house in Burkia Park which is in a nice secluded bushveld/golf estate, with still some wilder habitats left. The birding is surprisingly good. The following list is a combined list of birds recorded during our stay here from 12th - 28th January.
Birds:
White breasted Cormorant; Reed Cormorant; African Darter; African Sacred Ibis; Hadeda Ibis; Black headed Heron; Little Egret; Cattle Egret; Black Shouldered Kite; Gabar Goshawk; Helmeted Guineafowl; Crested Francolin; Natal Spurfowl; Swainson's Spurfowl; Spotted Dikkop; Blacksmith Plover; Crowned Plover; Speckled Pigeon; Red eyed Dove; Cape Turtle Dove; Laughing Dove; African Green Pigeon (unusual here); Grey Lourie; Red chested Cuckoo; Black Cuckoo; Jacobin Cuckoo; Dideric Cuckoo; Klaus's Cuckoo; Barn Owl; Fiery necked Nightjar; African Black Swift; Little Swift; White rumped Swift; African Palm Swift; Speckled Mousebird; Red faced Mousebird; European Bee-eater; African Hoopoe; Black Collared Barbet; Acacia Pied Barbet; Crested Barbet; Barn Swallow; Lesser Striped Swallow; Greater Striped Swallow; African Rock Martin; Pied Crow; Ashy Tit; Arrow marked Babbler; Dark capped Bulbul; Olive Thrush; Familiar Chat; Cape Robin Chat; Long billed Crombec; Willow Warbler; Neddicky; Bar throated Apalis; Fiscal Flycatcher; Spotted Flycatcher; African Paradise Flycatcher; Cape White-eye; Cape Wagtail; Common Fiscal Shrike; Black backed Puffback; Southern Boubou; Crimson breasted Boubou; Brown crowned Tchagra; Black crowned Tchagra; Orange breasted Bushshrike; Cape Glossy Starling; Common Mynah; Scarlet chested Sunbird; White bellied Sunbird; Cape Sparrow; Southern Grey headed Sparrow; Southern Masked Weaver; White winged Widowbird; Red collared Widowbird; Pin tailed Whydah; Dusky Indigobird; African Firefinch; Cut-throat Finch; Blue Waxbill; Cinnamon breasted Bunting.
83 species.
The view from a hill close to the house.
Lots of semi-wild habitat still here!
Delana's house.
Delana owns a house in Burkia Park which is in a nice secluded bushveld/golf estate, with still some wilder habitats left. The birding is surprisingly good. The following list is a combined list of birds recorded during our stay here from 12th - 28th January.
Black shouldered Kite
Helmeted Guineafowl
African Wattled Plover
Nesting in the grassy areas.
Crowned Plover
Blacksmith Plover, even found on lawns in gardens!
Grey Lourie
Jacobin Cuckoo
Crimson breasted Boubou
White browed Robin Chat
Long billed Crombec
Chinspot Batis
Bar throated Apalis
Neddicky, surprisingly common
on the estate.
Birds:
White breasted Cormorant; Reed Cormorant; African Darter; African Sacred Ibis; Hadeda Ibis; Black headed Heron; Little Egret; Cattle Egret; Black Shouldered Kite; Gabar Goshawk; Helmeted Guineafowl; Crested Francolin; Natal Spurfowl; Swainson's Spurfowl; Spotted Dikkop; Blacksmith Plover; Crowned Plover; Speckled Pigeon; Red eyed Dove; Cape Turtle Dove; Laughing Dove; African Green Pigeon (unusual here); Grey Lourie; Red chested Cuckoo; Black Cuckoo; Jacobin Cuckoo; Dideric Cuckoo; Klaus's Cuckoo; Barn Owl; Fiery necked Nightjar; African Black Swift; Little Swift; White rumped Swift; African Palm Swift; Speckled Mousebird; Red faced Mousebird; European Bee-eater; African Hoopoe; Black Collared Barbet; Acacia Pied Barbet; Crested Barbet; Barn Swallow; Lesser Striped Swallow; Greater Striped Swallow; African Rock Martin; Pied Crow; Ashy Tit; Arrow marked Babbler; Dark capped Bulbul; Olive Thrush; Familiar Chat; Cape Robin Chat; Long billed Crombec; Willow Warbler; Neddicky; Bar throated Apalis; Fiscal Flycatcher; Spotted Flycatcher; African Paradise Flycatcher; Cape White-eye; Cape Wagtail; Common Fiscal Shrike; Black backed Puffback; Southern Boubou; Crimson breasted Boubou; Brown crowned Tchagra; Black crowned Tchagra; Orange breasted Bushshrike; Cape Glossy Starling; Common Mynah; Scarlet chested Sunbird; White bellied Sunbird; Cape Sparrow; Southern Grey headed Sparrow; Southern Masked Weaver; White winged Widowbird; Red collared Widowbird; Pin tailed Whydah; Dusky Indigobird; African Firefinch; Cut-throat Finch; Blue Waxbill; Cinnamon breasted Bunting.
83 species.
View of the dam, close to the main road,
looking into Sable Hills Estate.
Roodeplaat is a local nature reserve.
The nature reserve is centered around the dam.
Unfortunately alien plants like Water Hyacinth
have taken hold.
Female Kudu
There are several hides which are quite good.
Little Grebe
African Darter & Reed Cormorant
White breasted Cormorant
Black Crake
Blacksmith Plover
White winged Black Tern
26 were hawking insects over the dam.
Pied Kingfisher
It caught a fish!
White throated Swallow
Pairs nest close to the dam.
Southern Red Bishop
Male displaying.
The reserve is mainly bushveld but with some nice
patches of grassland.
One can walk anywhere & some good woodland
species may be seen.
There is a very pleasant picnic site which is
quite good for birding.
Common Fiscal Shrike
Lesser Masked Weaver
Juvenile
Juvenile
Immature
Immature
patches of grassland.
species may be seen.
quite good for birding.
After all the running around, we were up for a bit of birding & on 16th January we visited Roodeplaat Dam Nature Reserve, which is very close to Delana's house. And what a great little place it turned out to be! Apart from the open water of the huge dam & associated water edge habitats there is a variety of both broad leaved & acacia type woodlands, with large grassy areas. There are a couple of bird hides & you can get out & walk wherever you want. We both enjoyed our morning there.
Birds:
White breasted Cormorant 70; Reed Cormorant 12; African Darter 5; Hadeda Ibis 3; Goliath Heron 1; Grey Heron 10; Purple Heron; Great Egret 1; Little Egret 3; Cattle Egret 1; Black crowned Night Heron 1; Green backed Heron 1, Little Grebe 4; Spur winged Goose 1; Egyptian Goose 35; Yellow billed Duck 6; Black shouldered Kite 2; European Honey Buzzard 1 adult; Helmeted Guineafowl 5; Shelly's Francolin 1; Natal Spurfowl 2; Swainson's Spurfowl 2; Black Crake 1; Red knobbed Coot 14; Spotted Dikkop 1; Blacksmith Lapwing 4; Crowned Lapwing 7; African Wattled Lapwing 2; Grey Headed Gull 3; White winged Black Tern 26; Red eyed Dove; Cape Turtle Dove; Laughing Dove; Grey Lourie; Red chested Cuckoo 2; Black Cuckoo 1; Jacobin Cuckoo 1; Dideric Cuckoo 2; Klaus's Cuckoo 1; Fiery necked Nightjar 1; African Black Swift; White rumped Swift 10; African Palm Swift 25; Speckled Mousebird 2; Red faced Mousebird 6; Giant Kingfisher 1; Pied Kingfisher 1; Brown Hooded Kingfisher 1; European Bee-eater 2; African Grey Hornbill; Green Wood-Hoopoe 3; Black collared Barbet; Crested Barbet; Acacia Pied Barbet; Yellow fronted Tinkerbird; Sabota Lark 1; Rufous naped Lark 4; Barn Swallow; White throated Swallow 1; Lesser Striped Swallow 2; Greater Striped Swallow 12; Fork tailed Drongo; Ashy Tit; Dark capped Bulbul; Olive Thrush; White browed Scrub Robin; Cape Robin Chat; White throated Robin Chat; Long billed Crombec; Common Whitethroat 1; Willow Warbler 15; Zitting Cisticola 7; Neddicky 8; Rattling Cisticola; Tawny flanked Prinia; Grey backed Camoroptera; Bar throated Apalis; Spotted Flycatcher 4; Chinspot Batis; Cape White-eye; Cape Wagtail; Red backed Shrike 9; Lesser Grey Shrike 1; Common Fiscal Shrike; Common Puffback; Southern Boubou; Brown Crowned Tchagra; Black Crowned Tchagra; Orange breasted Bushshrike; Crimson breasted Bush Shrike; Cape Glossy Starling; Common Myna; Amethyst Sunbird; White bellied Sunbird; Cape Sparrow; House Sparrow; Southern Grey headed Sparrow; Village Weaver; Southern Masked Weaver; Red Headed Weaver; Red billed Quelea 10; Yellow Crowned Bishop 6; Southern Red Bishop; White Winged Widowbird 6; Red collared Widow 1; Pin tailed Whydah; Blue Waxbill; African Firefinch 1; Streaky headed Seedeater; Yellow fronted Canary; Black throated Canary 2; Cinnamon breasted Rock Bunting 4.
112 species.
Mammals:
Burchell's Zebra 25; Kudu 35; Impala 5; Warthog 2; Banded Mongoose 10.
On 17th January we spent the day around the house. I tried to work on my blog, but had a little difficulty!
We chose Saturday 18th January to visit Rietvei Nature Reserve which is about 40 kms from Burkia Park. It is mainly a grassland biome reserve of about 3,870 hectares. It is an amazing place to visit right on the edge off a major African city.
Unfortunately it was a dark grey dawn when we arrived at the gate & it soon started raining. We had showers throughout the morning, but just after mid-day the heavens opened up & it poured down. Considering the conditions, we had a brilliant mornings birding. We covered most of the tar road network & a little of the dirt roads which quickly turned to very slippy mud with the heavy rain. It was a new venue for me & I was yet again pleasantly surprised by the quality of the facilities: nice hides, picnic sites & toilet facilities. It would definitely repay a further visit, hopefully when the conditions are more favourable.
Birds:
White breasted Cormorant 75; Reed Cormorant 30; African Darter 25; African Sacred Ibis; Hadeda Ibis; Little Egret; Cattle Egret; Little Bittern 1 male; Green backed Heron; Egyptian Goose; Yellow billed Duck 4; Steppe Buzzard 1; Black Shouldered Kite 1; Ostrich 15; Helmeted Guineafowl; Swainson's Spurfowl; Common Moorhen; Black Crake; African Crake 1; Northern Black Korhaan; Spotted Dikkop 6; Blacksmith Plover; Crowned Plover; African Wattled Plover; Red eyed Dove; Cape Turtle Dove; Laughing Dove; Grey Lourie; Red chested Cuckoo; Diederic Cuckoo; Burchell's Coucal; White Rumped Swift 40; African Palm Swift; Speckled Mousebird; Red faced Mousebird; European Bee-eater 4; African Hoopoe; Black collared Barbet; Crested Barbet; Rufous naped Lark; Barn Swallow; White throated Swallow 2; Greater Striped Swallow; Banded Martin 5; Fork tailed Drongo; Pied Crow; Arrowmarked Babbler; Dark capped Bulbul; Familiar Chat; African Stonechat; Cape Robin Chat; Lesser Swamp Warbler; Zitting Cisticola; Neddicky; Little Rush Warbler; Fiscal Flycatcher; Cape White-eye; Cape Wagtail; Cape Longclaw; Plain backed Pipit; African Pipit; Lesser Grey Shrike 3; Common Fiscal Shrike; Southern Boubou; Orange breasted Bushshrike; Cape Glossy Starling; Pied Starling; Common Mynah; Scarlet chested Sunbird; Marico Sunbird; White bellied Sunbird; Cape Sparrow; Southern Grey headed Sparrow; Cape Weaver; Southern Masked Weaver; Yellow crowned Bishop; Southern Red Bishop; Long tailed Widowbird; White winged Widowbird; Red collared Widow; Quail Finch 1; Common Waxbill; Black throated Canary; Cinnamon breasted Bunting.
84 species.
Mammals:
Eland; Black Wildebeest; Plains Zebra; Red Hartebeest; Springbok; Blesbok.
On 25th January we went for a walk around the estate & then went to the nearby pub for sundowners.
We were away from Pretoria until we came back on 16th February & early the next morning the birds were going mad & this was the reason why! I nice addition o the garden list!
Am doing my best!
Cat rules!
This reserve is mainly high altitude grassland.
Good for LBJ's!
We chose Saturday 18th January to visit Rietvei Nature Reserve which is about 40 kms from Burkia Park. It is mainly a grassland biome reserve of about 3,870 hectares. It is an amazing place to visit right on the edge off a major African city.
African Black Duck
A localised species, confined to
rivers & nearby ponds.
Reitvelei Dam
There are several nice hides which give good views
of waterbirds.
A poor shot in bad light of a nice male
Little Bittern
Most of the reserve looks like this.
African Crake
A real early morning prize emerging
from the wet grasslands!
African Wattled Plover
Spotted Dikkop
This bird was a little wet from the rain.
Crowned Plover bathing in a puddle.
Burchell's Coucal
Cape Longclaw
Common in the grasslands.
African Pipit singing.
Rufous naped Lark
Pied Starling
Common on the highveld grasslands.
Long tailed Widow
Male displaying.
Amazing display!
Male Southern Red Bishop
Levaillant's Cisticola
Locally common along watercourses
in high altitude grassland.
Zitting Cisticola
Abundant in the grasslands.
Male African Stonechat
Fiscal Flycatcher
Birds:
White breasted Cormorant 75; Reed Cormorant 30; African Darter 25; African Sacred Ibis; Hadeda Ibis; Little Egret; Cattle Egret; Little Bittern 1 male; Green backed Heron; Egyptian Goose; Yellow billed Duck 4; Steppe Buzzard 1; Black Shouldered Kite 1; Ostrich 15; Helmeted Guineafowl; Swainson's Spurfowl; Common Moorhen; Black Crake; African Crake 1; Northern Black Korhaan; Spotted Dikkop 6; Blacksmith Plover; Crowned Plover; African Wattled Plover; Red eyed Dove; Cape Turtle Dove; Laughing Dove; Grey Lourie; Red chested Cuckoo; Diederic Cuckoo; Burchell's Coucal; White Rumped Swift 40; African Palm Swift; Speckled Mousebird; Red faced Mousebird; European Bee-eater 4; African Hoopoe; Black collared Barbet; Crested Barbet; Rufous naped Lark; Barn Swallow; White throated Swallow 2; Greater Striped Swallow; Banded Martin 5; Fork tailed Drongo; Pied Crow; Arrowmarked Babbler; Dark capped Bulbul; Familiar Chat; African Stonechat; Cape Robin Chat; Lesser Swamp Warbler; Zitting Cisticola; Neddicky; Little Rush Warbler; Fiscal Flycatcher; Cape White-eye; Cape Wagtail; Cape Longclaw; Plain backed Pipit; African Pipit; Lesser Grey Shrike 3; Common Fiscal Shrike; Southern Boubou; Orange breasted Bushshrike; Cape Glossy Starling; Pied Starling; Common Mynah; Scarlet chested Sunbird; Marico Sunbird; White bellied Sunbird; Cape Sparrow; Southern Grey headed Sparrow; Cape Weaver; Southern Masked Weaver; Yellow crowned Bishop; Southern Red Bishop; Long tailed Widowbird; White winged Widowbird; Red collared Widow; Quail Finch 1; Common Waxbill; Black throated Canary; Cinnamon breasted Bunting.
84 species.
Mammals:
Eland; Black Wildebeest; Plains Zebra; Red Hartebeest; Springbok; Blesbok.
The Burkia Park/Pebble Rock Estate.
Sunset over the Roodeplaat Dam
On 25th January we went for a walk around the estate & then went to the nearby pub for sundowners.
Pearl spotted Owlet.
We were away from Pretoria until we came back on 16th February & early the next morning the birds were going mad & this was the reason why! I nice addition o the garden list!
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