Crystal Springs Mountain Resort

Crystal Springs Mountain Resort.

The view from our chalet.

 We drove the short distance (30kms) from Mount Sheba to Crystal Springs Mountain Resort, arriving late afternoon on 14th April. Although only separated by a short distance, they are very different places to bird. Crystal Springs is on the drier side of the mountains & is more rocky & open, having some good upland grasslands. Plantations dominate, but there are some dry forest patches in the valley bottoms & some largely inaccessible montane forest, in deep kloofs.

Blue Wildebeast

They were feeding around our accomodation.

Side-striped Jackal seen from our chalet at dusk.

Nicholson's Pipit

At least two pairs were present 

on the edge of the gorge.

Golden-breasted Bunting

After unpacking & settling in to our temporary home I went for a short walk just before dusk & saw four Nicholson's (Long-billed) Pipits on the rocks, at the edge of the gorge. In fact, this locality proved to be one of the very best locations for seeing this species.

Plains Zebra

Delana at the trail head.

African Dusky Flycatcher

Pin-tailed Whydah

Young Rufous naped Lark

Common around the

 accommodation areas.

On 15th April we took a mornings drive around the reserve. It was very scenic & enjoyable, although few birds of note recorded.

Yellow-streaked Greenbul in the mist!

Barratt's Warbler. Can you see it?

The next day due to the lack of birds seen the previous day we drove to Graskop & visited God's Window & Lisbon Falls. Unfortunately we picked a really drab & foggy day, so birding was difficult & slow going. We arrived at God's Window in thick fog & birding was only possible around the car park. Five Barratt's Warblers were singing, but proving almost impossible to see.

The top of Lisbon Falls

Lisbon Falls

Lanner Falcon

Young Cape Rock Thrush

The bad weather settled in again, so we ended up in the old pub in Pilgrim's Rest! We left the resort after breakfast on 17th for the drive to Dullstroom.