F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 0 | V O L U M E 1 FOUNTAINHILL
A Birding couple's report of their adventures in Fountainhill Estate.
B I R D I N G H I G H L I G H T S
Palm-Nut Vulture Black Kite Martial Eagle Lesser-Spotted Eagle Eurasian Golden Oriole Red-Billed Oxpecker Orange-Breasted Waxbill Crowned Eagle Shelleys Francolin
Black Kite (milvus migrans)
FOUNTAINHILL ESTATE, A HIDDEN GEM!
We have been very fortunate to have had the opportunity to bird at Fountainhill Estate a number of times. This hidden gem of a private farm is situated a couple of km's outside of Wartburg, KZN.
This farm has an incredible diversity of habitat. The farm is mainly open acacia savanna however there are nice patches of grassland, there are a number of dams which overflow into wetland, there are also nice areas of thick bush clumps, forest and developed woodland in the valley which is surrounded by cliff faces and rocky outcrops. Below in the valley the farm has lovely riverine habitat.
This diversity aids in this farm being an incredible birding hot spot. In particular birds of prey. To date we have seen a total of 21 species of raptors, highlights being the incredible population of Yellow-Billed Kite around 500 birds with the odd Black Kite dotted in amongst them. A high number of Lesser-Spotted Eagle sometimes 30 in a group. A nesting Crowned Eagle and out of range Palm-Nut Vulture.
The total list of raptors we have seen include: Secretary Bird, Western Osprey, African Fish Eagle, Brown Snake Eagle, Lesser-Spotted Eagle, Martial Eagle, Crowned Eagle, Tawny Eagle, Booted Eagle, Long-Crested Eagle, Wahlbergs Eagle, Lanner Falcon, Peregrine Falcon, Black Sparrowhawk, African Goshawk, Yellow- Billed Kite, Black Kite, Common Buzzard,Palm-Nut Vulture, Western Barn Owl and Spotted Eagle Owl. There is potential to see a few more species. When one enters the reserve they traverse One then can travel down into the valley where through a section of acacia savanna where there is great birding to be had, with the chance one can easily observe various species such of seeing Honeyguides, Tchagras, Bushshrikes, as Violet-Backed Starlings, Black-Crowned Narina Trogan, Tinkerbirds, Lemon Dove, Tchagra, Fiscal Flycatcher, Fork- Tambourine Dove, various Cuckoos, Trumpeter Tailed Drongo, Rufous-Naped Lark, Crested Hornbill, Crowned Hornbill, Woodpeckers and Barbet, Golden-Breasted Bunting amongst many more in the diverse habitat. others. Along the river section one has the chance of The road then draws near to a dam where seeing Mountain Wagtail, African Finfoot, Palm-Nut Vulture there is often African Fish Eagle, Pied Kingfihers and Weavers. Kingfisher, African Jacana, White-Throated Swallow, African Pied Wagtail and if one is There are also a few Swift species which breed fortunate Western Osprey. Also of interest by in the cliffs, Southern Bald Ibis also breed on the this dam is a yearly returning pair of African cliff faces. Mocking Cliff Chat can also be easily Pygmy Kingfisher. seen along this cliff face and one should look carefully for the Striped Pipits. The road then splits, traveling left one travels through more acacia savanna dotted with Throughout the reserve one should look out on rocky outcrops and the occasional broad- all the bigger animals for Red-Billed Oxpeckers. leaved tree. These areas are particularly good Yellow-Throated Longclaw for one to see Shelley's Francolin and Striped Other special birds that one can connect with Pipit. There are a few sunbird species that on the reserve include; Blue Crane, Crowned should be observed but can be seen Crane, Common Quail, Fiery-Necked Nightjar, throughout the reserve. Black-Bellied Starling and many more. We have seen over 200 species of birds in the few times Along this route one travels past 2 more dams we have been to this beautiful hidden gem. where African Darter, Reed Cormorant, Malachite Kingfisher, African Black Duck and Besides the birds there is healthy popultions of Black Crake can be seen. Below the dam wall game such as Nyala, Blesbok, Wildebeest, of the 3rd dam one can have a good vantage Impala, Kudu and Giraffe. point of the below grassland and wetland.
This area is particularly good to see Dark- Southern Double-Collared Capped Yellow Warbler, Little Bee-Eaters, Sunbird Cape Grassbird, Yellow-Throated Longclaw , Broad-Tailed Warbler and for the patient birder the chance of seeing Red-Chested Flufftail which can be often heard but seldom seen.
Continuing on one travels on a loop around the grassland where a number of grassland species can be seen such as Red-Collared Widowbird, Fan-Tailed Widowbird, African Pipit, Canaries, Cisticolas and the chance of seeing the secretive Orange-Breasted Black Sparrowhawk Waxbills.