Grey-backed Cisticola: Photo Essay

 

Grey-backed Cisticola

The Grey-backed Cisticola (Cisticola subruficapilla) is a near endemic to Southern Africa. It is found in the Cape & Karoo regions of South Africa, (where it is common in suitable habitat) & an isolated uncommon population in central Namibia. Some authorities refer to this species as the Red-headed Cisticola.

There are seven subspecies. All of these photographs are of the C.s. subruficapilla race. It is quite common along the coast in lowland fynbos & strandveld vegetation. It has also adapted well to the edge of exotic thickets of which there are plenty in the Cape region. It reaches high in the mountains (provided fynbos vegetation is present) & in these habitats is found alongside the Piping Cisticola (Cisticola fulvicapilla), formerly known as Neddicky.

It is a small cisticola, with a weak fluttering flight, often flitting from bush to bush,  can be very confiding & responds well to phishing. It has a longish tail & a weak looking, slightly downward curved bill. The plumage is variable among the races, but in the south-west it is grey both above & below. In the Cape region birds show dark weak breast streaking.

Showing the indistinct breast streaking.

This feint breast streaking is unique to

 the extreme south-western race.

It has a dull rufous brown crown, rufous wing panel & tail. The above individual is singing from a low bush & this is typical of the species. However, they can also have a short song flight, rising up to around ten meters & descending in a series of jerks to land back on top of a bush.

Showing the rufous crown, wing panel & tail.

From above, little white or pale tail tips are visible.

The underside of the tail is cream,

 with several black lateral bars.

The upperparts & crown are

 heavily streaked black.

Stony Point Penguin Colony

Stony Point

Stony Point is a small village just to the west of Kleinmond, close to Betty's Bay. African Penguins only started nesting here in 1982 & this was the impetus to designate it as a protected area. It is only one of three mainland nesting locations on the mainland. Currently there are around 2,000 pairs nesting here, which makes it a significant site.

Looking east from Stony Point.

Looking toward the point, 

the boardwalk is on the right.

Delana on the boardwalk.

Rock Hyrax are common along this coastline

At this time of year, numbers of Penguins are low.

Birds are just loafing on the beach 

& some are moulting.

Cape Fur Seal.

Adult African Penguin

Adults are quiet this time of year.

This colony is increasing year on year.

Cape Nature have provided artificial

 nesting chambers & this has been

 a great success.

Even though it is the non breeding season

 some birds are paired up.

There are many moulting individuals.

This location is also an important breeding site

 for Cormorants, with four species breeding.

The dominant species is Cape Cormorant.

Cape Cormorant

Immature 

Bank Cormorant

There is a small colony of Bank Cormorants 

on the outer rocks.

We counted 43 birds here.

This species has undergone a

 catastrophic decline in the

 last two decades.

Breeding adults show a conspicuous white patch

 on the back in flight.

This species can be difficult to identify at distance.

This species appears to be fickle in habits,

only found in small flocks & breeding in

 unhospitable locations.

Nice to photograph this species.

We enjoyed ourselves here. Cape Nature have done a great job in both conserving this location & increasing numbers of Penguins breeding here. African Penguin is a very localized species & has several major threats to its existence being located in major shipping lanes & along a densely populated coastline. The colony of Bank Cormorants is also significant as this species is declining at an alarming rate.

Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve

 We left Pearly Beach on the morning of 25th January, for a three night stay in the Kogelberg. This is a place we had both wanted to visit for quite some time. 

The coastline at Onrus.

Birding in these strange times!

Plenty of birds loafing in the bay.

Great crested & Sandwich Terns

with Hartlaub's Gull.

Hartlaub's Gull

Sacred Ibis.

Quite common along the foreshore.

Cape Wagtail

We first called in at Onrus, on the outskirts of Hermanus & enjoyed a walk around the coast, which was very pretty. There was a nice selection of the commoner gulls & terns loafing around in the bay.

Vermont Salt Pan.

Lesser Flamingo

Pied Avocet

We then made a quick visit to Vermont Pan, which is on the edge of town. This is a nice piece of wetland habitat amid suburbia. It seems to be managed as a local nature reserve. Two Lesser Flamingoes were the highlights. Although other nice birds included 42 Pied Avocet.

Looking away from Stony Point.

We did & there weren't any!

African Penguins.

Immature

Moulting individual.

Egyptian Goose, surprisingly common

 along the coast.

African Black Oystercatcher.

This species is doing well these days, 

due to conservation measures.

In the early afternoon we made a lightning visit to Stony Point Penguin Colony. This was really a recce for a future trip. But it was scenic & interesting. 

The road into the mountains.

This area is quite stunning.

The view from our cabin.

Our Eco-Pod!

Beautiful on the inside as well!

We were very impressed with our home

 away from home.

Then we climbed up into the mountains & arrived at our destination, which turned out to be superb!

We set about exploring the area.

Delana went for a swim! mad girl!

Cape Francolin were around the

 accommodation area.

Fiscal Flycatcher on our cabin.

Cape Robin Chat

Karoo Prinia

The nest which contained chicks. 

I could hear them!

Neddicky

Grey-backed Cisticola

Quite common in the highland fynbos.

Orange-breasted Sunbird

Locally common.

The road up into the mountains.

Superb, pristine habitat.

Looking back towards the coast.

On the 27th January we drove along the coast & into the mountains again at Buffelstal. One of the Cape Nature guys had told us it was a nice area to visit & so it proved to be.

Orange breasted Sunbird

Quite common here.

Piping Cisticola (Neddicky)

Grey-backed Cisticola

Common here.

Cape Bunting

We enjoyed exploring this area, but we failed to find both our target species: Ground Woodpecker & Cape Rockjumper. There is always the next time!

The mountains come right down to the coast here

 in spectacular fashion.

This area is protected especially

 for the Cape Rockjumper

Looking for the Rockjumper!

Red-winged Starling

Familiar Chat

Cape Bunting

In the afternoon we visited the small coastal village of Rooi-Els. This is a very scenic area & prime spot for Cape Rockjumper. However, we yet again failed to find it, despite a lot of effort. It was a lovely walk along the coast though but birds were in short supply.

Smith's Red Rock-rabbit

Ventured out at dusk.

The area  around the accommodation area

 is irrigated, making for a good food source.

We spent a lovely evening back at our cabin in the mountains. And we had a visitor! Smith's Red Rock-rabbit! It was a new mammal for the both of us & it was wonderful to get such close, prolonged views. Rock-rabbits are nocturnal & therefore may be difficult to see.

Palmeit River Lagoon.

A mixture of Harlaub's Gulls, Common & 

Sandwich Terns

Great crested Tern

On 28th January we reluctantly left our mountain hideaway & drove to the Palmeit River Lagoon. This is the same river that we walked along in the mountains. It was a pretty little spot with a good selection of Gulls & Terns on show.

Water Thick-knee

We then drove back to Pearly Beach & made a very quick stop at the Gansbaii Water Treatment Plant, where we saw 6 Water Thick-knee. It had been an excellent few days away.

Birds:

Blue Crane 2; Grey Plover 27; Common Ringed Plover 135; White fronted Plover 14; Whimbrel 112; Curlew Sandpiper 5; Little Stint 160, Common Greenshank 19; Great crested Tern 640.