The 1st September is considered the first day of spring here in South Africa. As dawn unfolded, it didn't feel very spring like, as it was cool, windy & overcast. However as the morning progressed it got brighter & we enjoyed a very pleasant 5km walk around Sabie Park, as always ending at the picnic site.
It proved to be good for birds as well with 79 species recorded in a few hours. The highlight being our first Klaas's Cuckoo of the season.
Little Sparrowhawk
Conducted a bird walk around Sabie Park on the morning of the 5th September. We walked just over 5kms. It got hot very quickly. Highlights were a pair of Little Sparrowhawks mating; Piping Cisticola (rare actually inside SP); Yellow bellied Eremomela; great views of Lesser Honeyguide & very close & prolonged views of two Klaas's Cuckoos at the picnic site.
9th September saw us birding the park early morning & we spent the afternoon at the picnic site.
On 11th September I did a bird walk in the morning ending up at the picnic site. Nothing rare seen, but 91 species recorded during the morning. Both weather & birding was great!
The afternoon was spent at home watching lots of Elephants in the shade from the hot sun & a couple of Cape Buffalo passed by as well. It was a very pleasant afternoon, spent doing very little!
On 12th September I set out early to beat yesterday's total & I did, just, scoring 92 species! Again nothing unusual seen, but lots of great birds noted included Bush Pipit.
In the afternoon we birded the picnic site but it was very quiet.
Up early on the 13th September & did a nine kilometer bird walk. The first couple of hours was very good but then the heat built up & the bushland became dead very quickly. Nothing calling & nothing moving! Highlights were actually finding the Little Sparrowhawks nest & the female was sitting. You can't see inside the nest as too high up in the tree.
African Harrier Hawk displaying high up & it looks like the local pair of African Hawk Eagles are prospecting in one of my fig trees along the river.
The 15th September was mainly spent packing but we did manage two visits to the picnic site, once in the morning & once in the afternoon. Both were productive.
Our final full day in Sabie Park was on the 16th September, but we were busy cleaning & closing the house down. Late in the afternoon we paid a quick visit to the picnic site & struck gold! As dusk approached I spotted a male African Finfoot! This was the perfect way to end our two month visit here. We left early morning on 17th & Delana received her second jab in Nelspruit & then we headed for Pretoria. it had been a fabulous two month stay at the house. Can't wait until the next time!
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