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Best of South – Cape & Kruger III Trip Report 4th to 14th December 2015

Lion by Wayne Jones

Trip report by tour leader Wayne Jones

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In the first week of the last month of the year, we began our 10-day exploration of ’s most popular destinations, the and . Everyone had arrived the day before, which afforded us an extra morning – an opportunity we couldn’t pass up! After a scrumptious breakfast overlooking False Bay we followed the south along the Cape Peninsula until we reached Nature Reserve (Cape Point). We had hardly entered the park when a splendid male Cape Sugarbird grabbed our attention as he sat feeding on big orange “pincushions” and a male Orange- breasted sat nicely for pictures before realising he needed another nectar fix. Cape Siskin and Common also gave good views nearby, along with a number of spiky, pitch- coloured Black Girdled .

After turning towards Olifantsbos we happened upon four (Cape) Mountain Zebra right alongside the road. This is not common in the park so we Mountain Zebra by Wayne Jones were very fortunate to have such excellent views of these beauties. Equally beautiful and scarce were the Blesbok (Bontebok) we found closer to the beach. But back to the , which were surprisingly plentiful and easy to see, probably thanks to the lack of strong winds that one is normally blasted away by, in the area! Grey-backed and Levaillant’s , Cape Grassbird, Cape , Fiscal Flycatcher, Alpine , Rock Kestrel, Peregrine , White-necked Raven, , Malachite Sunbird and Yellow Bishop showed well in the areas while African , Greater Crested, Common and Sandwich , and Hartlaub’s , Egyptian Goose, White-breasted and Sacred were found along the shoreline. When we arrived at the hilltop lighthouse, it was shrouded in mist (a good demonstration of why a more effective lighthouse was later built closer to sea level!) so we forfeited the scenic hike to the top and headed, instead, to Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens.

The gardens were beautiful but sun was beating down. Consequently, the birding wasn’t as rewarding as we’d hoped but we still enjoyed looks at

Southern Boubou, Cape Spurfowl, Cape by Markus Lilje delightful , , Cape White-eye, African Dusky Flycatcher, Cape Robin- and a pretty male Common Chaffinch. We called it a day and returned to our luxurious guesthouse in Simon’s Town.

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We were up a bit earlier the following day passing early morning anglers along sand-blasted Baden- Powell Drive. At Gordon’s Bay, on the other side of False Bay, we drove up to a viewing area for breakfast but the wind was gusting so strongly that none of us wanted to stay long, despite the magnificent vista. We tucked into our packed breakfasts close to the main road where there was less chance of us being blown off the side of the mountain! This wind was the reason our pelagic boat trip was postponed for a day, and it was toying with our attempts at terrestrial birding as well. In a relatively sheltered gully, we managed to locate a shy Victorin’s Warbler, which allowed brief looks as it darted back and forth in the shrubbery.

Further along at Rooi Els – the spot to find Cape – the wind still howling, scuppering any realistic attempt to find our company namesake, although we did see , many Cape Siskins, Cape Bunting, Rock

Martin and a lovely pair of Cape Rock by Markus Lilje Thrushes. Just around the mountain was Betty’s Bay where we stopped in at Stony Point, one of only two mainland African Penguin colonies in the world. There were thousands of these little black and white characters, much to everyone’s delight. Many were moulting, suffering varying degrees of losses to their dignity. All four of South Africa’s marine were present – Crowned, White-breasted, Cape and Bank. The latter two were nesting and there was a constant stream of birds flying back to the boulder-top nests with mouthfuls of seaweed for lining.

With our penguin lust well and truly sated we returned to Rooi Els to have another go at the Rockjumper. Instead, we found another type of “rockjumper”, a lovely male Klipspringer which peacefully sat on a boulder while we admired him through the scope. We started making our way back to , a little deflated at not finding this special . The wind had died down by the time we reached Gordon’s Bay so we decided to give it one last shot… and there it was! We found a pair of Cape right on top of the mountain and scoped them for about five minute until they dropped out of Klipspringer by Adam Riley view.

We arrived at Strandfontein Sewage Works in high spirits and almost didn’t move from the entrance area as there was just so much about! Greater Flamingos, Yellow-billed , Red-billed and Cape

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Teals, Southern Pochard, Cape Shoveler, Black-headed , Red-knobbed Coot, Common Moorhen and Levaillant’s all showed well in the late afternoon light. A little down the road we enjoyed close looks at Maccoa Duck, breeding-plumaged Black-necked Grebe, Blacksmith Lapwing, Black- winged Stilt and a Grey-headed . Trailing an inquisitive Cape Grey , we moved further into the massive treatment works, finding , Great White , African Swamphen, Pied Avocet, Common Ringed Plover, Brown- throated Martin, White-throated and Common Waxbill. All too soon, the sun dipped behind the mountains of the peninsula, signalling time to head home.

By the Sunday, the wind had died down enough for our pelagic to go ahead. We set course for the continental shelf about 25km offshore, hoping to find a trawler Maccoa Duck by Markus Lilje that our guides knew was in the area, thanks to a new phone app. After passing through a thick blanket of fog we finally started picking up a few pelagic species: White-chinned , Cape , Sooty Shearwater, Arctic , Parasitic Jaeger and Cory’s Shearwater. Careful scanning of the horizon revealed the location of the trawler, which had, by this stage, switched off its tracking software. Bird activity picked up and by the time we were a few hundred metres behind the trawler, birds were swirling all around us. Shy and the occasional young Indian Yellow- nosed soared past on unmoving wings while Wilson’s and European Storm tip-toed on the water. We passed a Great Shearwater sitting on the water close to the boat, a couple of Great-winged Petrels dashed past, both Northern and Southern Giant Petrels gave us multiple excellent views and at one stage a few Long-beaked Common Dolphins played in our wake. Other highlights included a beautifully patterned Oceanic Sunfish, a leaping Blue Shark and good looks at Afro- Australian Fur Seals. Once we were confident that we’d seen all there was to see around the trawler we began the long ride back to Simon’s Town where Shy Albatross by Glen Valentine we savoured a delicious dinner at our guesthouse that night.

Early the next morning we took a scenic diversion along South Africa’s most famous coastal route, Chapman’s Peak Drive, along the stunning Atlantic Seaboard and down into the colourful Cape Malay

RBT Trip Report Best of SA – Cape & Kruger III 2015 5 suburb of Bo-Kaap. At Dolphin Beach Ponds we weaved between the cars stalled in the morning rush-hour, to have a look at White-backed Duck, and a few other waterbird species we’d seen the afternoon before. Only a kilometre or so further on we pulled over at Bloubergstrand and ate our picnic breakfasts facing Table Mountain in all its glory, with Robben Island – where Nelson Mandela spent 18 years in prison – off to the side. Cape Canary, Cape Sparrow and three lost- looking Black-crowned Night ensured we could count this as a birding stop! Once our tummies were full we continued north to the Darling area. A side road leading through fynbos and Capped by Glen Valentine wheatfields provided sightings of , Pearl-breasted Swallow, -eating Chat, European Bee-eater, White-backed Mousebird, Capped Wheatear and a of four Blue Cranes, two of which were chicks only a foot-tall.

Joining the main road once again, we were soon at . The low, densely packed strandveld vegetation held Chestnut-vented Warbler, Common Ostrich, Grey , Bar-throated Apalis, Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Karoo Lark, Banded Martin, Grey-backed Cisticola, , Karoo , Cape Robin-Chat, , Lark-like Bunting and Southern Black Korhaan. Angulate were out on the roads en masse – we stopped counting individuals after reaching 20! At the bird hides situated on the edge of the lagoon we saw Greater and Lesser Flamingos, Grey Plover, Kittlitz’s Plover, Whimbrel, Common Greenshank, Sanderling, Little Stint, Sandpiper and Caspian, Greater Crested, Common, Sandwich and Little Terns. It was a very windy day and we watched a tiny White-fronted Plover chick scuttle along the dune in front of us. It was just a cute ball of fluff leaning into the wind on outsized legs! As we left the park we had one more bit of excitement – a large, black Mole in the road – before setting course for Ceres, a couple of hours away. Our route proved pretty good for raptors with an out-of-range near Darling, a young Martial , a Lanner Falcon and a pair of majestic Verreaux’s sailing back and forth along a cliff-face just before Ceres.

The following morning was another early start so that we could bird the semi-desert Tanqua Karoo before the heat became overbearing. We saw Pin- Lanner Falcon by Markus Lilje tailed Whydah, Common Waxbill, Blue

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Crane, Spur-winged Goose, , African Reed Warbler, Pied Starling and endemic Grey Rhebok antelope along the way. The most memorable bird of the early morning, though, was the unassuming little Zitting Cisticola, a bogey bird for some.

Once in the Karoo the species seemed to flow in, thick and fast: Pale Chanting Goshawk, Namaqua Dove, , Karoo Lark, Yellow-bellied and Karoo Eremomelas, Karoo Scrub Robin, Karoo, Familiar and Tractrac Chats, , , Yellow and White-throated Canaries and Rufous-eared Warbler. We popped in at the local farm shop where the farmer’s wife was only too happy to chat with us for a while. By this stage, the mercury had risen and the bird activity had taken a dip although we were thrilled with a fantastically close sighting of a Secretarybird, some

Yellow Canary by Glen Valentine Springbok and an Emu, which was interesting to look at even if it didn’t count towards the checklist! Our lunch stop was quiet except for Fairy Flycatcher so we began the scenic but uneventful drive home over the Roggeveld Mountains. Closer to Ceres we finally found South African Shelduck (for which we’d been searching all day), got great looks at Southern Red Bishop and other euplectids and also better looks at a Booted Eagle, which we’d seen poorly earlier in the day.

We began our last day in the Cape with an early-ish breakfast and drove to Cape Town airport, stopping to admire the view from Du Toitskloof Pass. Two and a half hours later, we landed in the baking heat of Kruger National Park. Our driver collected us in our open safari vehicle and transferred us to , the park’s headquarters and its largest camp. This short drive gave us a wee taste of what to expect over the next few days, with sightings of Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Red-billed Oxpecker, Greater Blue-eared Starling, Common Scimitarbill and like Impala, Greater Kudu, Bushbuck and Vervet Monkey. Red-billed Oxpecker by Wayne Jones

By the time we embarked on our first proper “game drive” that afternoon, the heat had abated a bit and we even experienced some light rain. Thanks to info from a fellow park visitor, we located a Black Rhino walking around in the open for quite some time. This, the smaller of the two African rhino

RBT Trip Report Best of SA – Cape & Kruger III 2015 7 species, is usually found in much thicker so we were really lucky with our sighting. On the way to the rhino we found a young Lion toying with a Leopard and we had super looks at a pair of scarce Coqui , one of the prettiest gamebirds in the park. Other avian delights included Southern Red-billed and Southern Yellow-billed , , Grey Go-away-bird, Golden-breasted Bunting, Southern Grey-headed Sparrow, Red-crested Korhaan, Crested , Knob- billed Duck. Returning to Skukuza we climbed out at the Stevenson-Hamilton Memorial lookout point where a pair of responsive Mocking Cliff Chats Black Rhinoceros by Wayne Jones entertained us and dainty Yellow-breasted Apalises moved in for a closer look at these tall strangers in their territory. Back at Skukuza we squeezed in a last little bit of wildlife time when we spotlighted a Thick-tailed Galago on the way to dinner and found impressive Wahlberg’s Velvet Geckos hunting around our cabin lights.

The next morning, we embarked on a long triangular loop, south to Lower Sabie, up to Tshokwane picnic site and back down to Skukuza. Aside from another pair of Coqui Francolins one of our first sightings was a lovely African Barred Owlet perched out in the open – not a common sight! Sometime later we came upon a large African Elephant bull. We parked a safe distance away and sat spellbound (and possibly a little nervous!) as he sauntered along the road to within a couple of metres of the vehicle. He was clearly relaxed and obviously not in musth (when testosterone levels in male elephants increase, causing extremely aggressive behaviour) so we let him go about his business, and he slowly carried on past us. It was an absolutely magical experience. Not long after, a soft rustling in the scrub, alongside the African Barred Owlet by Adam Riley vehicle, revealed a pair of Southern Boubou males engaged in a fierce battle. Despite the ferocity of the skirmish, both the victor and the defeated still looked clean and crisp in their black and white , in the end.

Nkuhlu Picnic Site, situated along the Sabie River, gave us sightings of Goliath Heron, White-crowned Lapwing, Ashy Flycatcher, Saddle-billed and Willow Warbler.

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We eventually reached Lower Sabie for a delicious breakfast which, combined with nearby Sunset Dam, held White-faced Duck, Knob-billed Duck, Yellow-billed Stork, African , Black Crake, White-fronted Plover, Three-banded Plover, African Jacana, Ruff, three Diederik Cuckoos hanging around the edge of a Lesser Masked Weaver colony, White-browed Robin-Chat, Red-billed Buffalo Weaver, Spectacled Weaver, Southern Masked Weaver, Hippopotamus, Nile Monitor and massive Nile Crocodiles.

A late-morning leg-stretch at Orpen Dam was surprisingly productive with , Black Cuckooshrike, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Green-backed Camaroptera, , Blue Waxbill and, best of all, five Retz’s Helmetshrikes. Other great birds seen Southern Yellow-billed by Adam Riley throughout the drive included Woolly- necked and Marabou , Hooded, White-backed and White-headed , Hamerkop, Bateleur, Lesser Spotted and Wahlberg’s Eagles, African Eagle, Helmeted , Common Buttonquail, Mourning Collared Dove, , Pearl-spotted Owlet, Red-faced Mousebird, Purple, Lilac-breasted and European Rollers, Water Thick-knee, Giant and Pied Kingfisher, White- fronted and European Bee-eaters, African Hoopoe, African Grey Hornbill, Crested Barbet, Golden- tailed and Bearded , White-crested Helmetshrike, Brown- crowned and Black-crowned Tchagras, Black-backed Puffback, Lesser Grey , African Paradise Flycatcher, Southern Black Tit, Grey Penduline Tit, Sabota and Rufous-naped Larks, Lesser Striped and Red-breasted , Long-billed Crombec, Rattling and Croaking Cisticolas, amazingly plumaged Wattled Starlings, Burchell’s Starling, White-browed Scrub Robin, Southern black Flycatcher, Village Weaver, African Pied Wagtail and Yellow-fronted Canary.

One of the day’s highlights was not a bird at all, but an elegant that Cheetah by Wayne Jones gave us distant but unobstructed views. What a beautiful, beautiful creature! Mammals are, of course, Kruger’s claim to fame and we saw Black-backed Jackal, two Spotted Hyena, four Klipspringers sitting picture-perfectly on a shaded granite boulder, an exceptionally long-horned White Rhino cow keeping guard over her calf, Common Wildebeest, Waterbuck, Steenbok, Common Duiker, African Buffalo, Bushbuck, Greater Kudu, Giraffe, Common Warthog and Plains Zebra.

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After a lot of time confined to the vehicle the previous day, our second morning in Kruger saw us doing two pleasant walks. The first was through well-wooded Skukuza camp, where we admired African Green Pigeon, beautiful Purple-crested Turaco, Red-faced and Speckled Mousebirds, Yellow-bellied and Sombre Greenbuls, Grey-Tit- Flycatcher, White-throated Robin-Chat, Collared Sunbird, Garden Warbler and even a troop of Banded Mongoose. Next up was the indigenous nursery bordering the unfenced golf course. Here we found Red-faced Cisticola, Broad-billed Roller and Wire-tailed Swallow, with the omnipresent trill of Woodland Kingfisher ringing in the background. And at Lake Panic we had great sightings of African Jacana and Water Thick-knee at the hide.

We headed south but were waylaid by a report of two leopards, the only member Black-collared Barbet by Adam Riley of the Big Five, we had yet to see. After a few kilometres, the cluster of vehicles told us we were in the right place. The mother was apparently resting out of sight in a culvert under the road but we were afforded terrific looks at the teenaged Leopard cub, which periodically got up and moved around. Our revised route then took us to Pretoriuskop, the oldest camp in Kruger. We lunched at Wimpy, bought beaded Christmas tree decorations at the camp shop and saw Black-collared Barbet, Kurrichane , Yellow-throated Petronia some very obliging Brown-headed and Red- headed Weaver in the garden.

We had more quality birds beyond the camp boundaries, with new additions to the checklist including White Stork, Squacco Heron, Buzzard, , Black and Red-chested Cuckoos, Striped and Malachite Kingfishers, Southern , Crowned Hornbill, Cardinal , Orange-breasted , Scarlet-chested Sunbird and Monotonous Lark.

Pushing further south, we made a welcome ice-cream stop Afsaal Picnic Site. Not far down the road we completed the Ultimate Magnificent Seven Grand Slam – a group of nine African Wild trying to cool down in the shade of small thorn trees right next to the road. We had cracking views, especially when one of the dogs got up and walked, showing its African Wild by Wayne Jones beautifully patterned coat that inspired

RBT Trip Report Best of SA – Cape & Kruger III 2015 10 the species’ alternative name of Painted Wolf. Not only had we seen all of the Big Five plus Cheetah and Wild Dog, we had also seen both Rhino species in just two days in Kruger!

The following morning we found a cute Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird at Kruger Gate, before breakfast at the deck at Skukuza. Then it was time to head north to Satara, our base for the next two nights. On the way, we found no less than 11 Leopard Tortoises as well as , Lappet-faced , Steppe Eagle, Black-bellied , Lapwing, Emerald-spotted Wood Dove, Burchell’s Courser, Southern White-faced , Little Bee- eater, Grey-headed Bushshrike, Brubru, Burnt-necked Eremomela, Marico Sunbird, Village Indigobird and Long- tailed Paradise Whydah. Our afternoon drive was unsurprisingly quiet, given the heat, but we did see Crowned Lapwing, Yellow-billed Oxpecker, Red-billed Quelea, and, a real treat, Bronze-winged Courser. We even continued the “birding” into dinner when we spotted a Jackal Buzzard and a Rock Kestrel on the restaurant big-screen during the broadcast of the Rugby Sevens World Bronze-winged Courser by Glen Valentine Cup in Cape Town!

During the course of the day, we had various Lion sightings totalling 22 ! It got even better that evening when, on our guided night drive, we visited the Waterbuck carcass where we’d seen four Lions earlier in the day and found four cubs along with the adults. We also saw slinky Common and Central African Large-spotted Genets, Scrub , Cape Porcupine and a Spitting Cobra.

For our final full day in Kruger, we ventured north towards Olifants camp. The terrain gradually changed from woodland to more open savannah – good habitat for the collection of large ground birds we saw along the way: Common Ostrich, Secretarybird, , Black- bellied Bustard, Spotted Thick-knee and . We also enjoyed lengthy looks at two separate Honey Badgers, for which the Satara area is well-known. Closer to Olifants camp, we paused on the Olifants River Bridge, where one is allowed to alight from one’s vehicle. Here we found Goliath Heron, African Openbill, Yellow-billed and Woolly-necked Storks and a group of distant Collared Pratincoles. Olifants itself was very Kori Bustard by Adam Riley productive: the view down over the

RBT Trip Report Best of SA – Cape & Kruger III 2015 11 river took our stork tally for the day up to six species: Saddle-billed, Marabou and a far-off Black Stork!

Our return crossing of the river over a low-level bridge provided much excitement in the form of a male Greater Painted-snipe. The Common and Wood Sandpipers also present simply couldn’t command the same attention as this skulking shorebird! A few metres further along a beautiful Klaas’s Cuckoo, Brown-hooded Kingfisher and a group of Little Bee-eaters also made their appearances. Game, including Common Wildebeest, Waterbuck, Steenbok and African Buffalo were the main attractions on our way back, although we did see the lovely Meadowlark-like Yellow-throated

Longclaw. Following a take-out lunch Greater Painted Snipe by Adam Riley and farewells to our driver we boarded our newly delivered minibus and made a late afternoon drive to Sweni Bird Hide and N’wanetsi Picnic Site. Both sites were rather quiet, although we did see a female Nyala at the latter. While driving back to Satara we gawked at a massive Verreaux’s Eagle Owl and some had brief glimpses of a pair of Trumpeter Hornbills flying along the riparian line.

We celebrated our final night in Kruger with a night walk through Satara camp. Before setting off, the sight of a large centipede, a large-enough solifuge and a small, but thick-tailed prompted those of us wearing sandals to change quickly into closed shoes! We were hunting for African and African Wild Cat but the wind was blowing strongly and seemed to have killed any activity. This was somewhat compensated for when one of the sharp- eyed guests spotted an attractive Banded Rubber – South Africa’s only poisonous frog (don’t lick your hands after handling it!). While we missed out on our larger targets, at least the smaller (mostly toxic!) creatures kept us Banded Rubber Frog by Wayne Jones entertained.

Before leaving Satara on the last morning, we made up for the night before by locating a resting African Scops Owl near the office. We had a long drive ahead of us, so we left this cutie behind and made for the entrance gate. A pair of Lions in the road caused a minor traffic jam but we made it

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through and on to Hoedspruit for breakfast. Once we’d passed over the Mountains on to the plateau we came upon quite a few different species – a flock of our eighth stork species, Abdim’s Stork, Bronze Mannikin, White-browed Sparrow- Weaver and an assortment of widowbirds in full breeding regalia: White-winged, Red-collared and Fan- tailed. With time until the airport running out and stormy weather not helping things, we made one last stop for our final new bird of the trip: a splendid Long-tailed Widowbird alongside the freeway – better than a cisticola any day, and an appropriate Long-tailed Widowbird by Adam Riley conclusion to our birding tour of this beautiful country.

Annotated

Nomenclature and follows Gill, F and D Donsker (Eds). 2014. IOC World Bird List (v 4.3) Birds of the World: Recommended English Names (2006) Princeton University Press.

Notes are provided where Clements differs.

Total species recorded: 355 (353 seen, 2 heard only)

E = South African Endemic, RE = Regional Endemic to , RNE = Regional Near- Endemic, BE = Breeding Endemic

NP = National Park, GR = Game Reserve, BG = Botanical Garden, SW = Sewage Works, NR = Nature Reserve

Common Ostrich [Common] Ostrich Struthio camelus The largest extant bird species was seen at Cape Point, West Coast NP, Tanqua Karoo and in Kruger NP.

Swans, Geese & White-faced Dendrocygna viduata Seen in Kruger NP. White-backed Duck Thalassornis leuconotus Two were seen at Dolphin Beach Ponds. Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis This large goose was seen near Ceres. Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca

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Widespread, seen almost every day. Knob-billed Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos We saw impressive male birds in Kruger NP. South African Shelduck (RE) Tadorna cana Finally seen on a farm dam outside Ceres. Cape Teal Anas capensis Seen well at Strandfontein SW. Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata Seen best at Strandfontein SW. Cape Shoveler (RE) Anas smithii Seen at Strandfontein SW and Dolphin Beach Ponds. Red-billed Teal Anas erythrorhyncha Seen well at Strandfontein SW. Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma This species showed nicely at Strandfontein SW. Maccoa Duck Oxyura maccoa We had good views of this handsome duck at Strandfontein SW.

Guineafowl Numididae Numida meleagris Recorded on many occasions during the tour.

Pheasants & Coqui Francolin Peliperdix coqui Pairs were seen on two occasions in Kruger NP. Crested Francolin Dendroperdix sephaena Seen in Kruger NP. Cape Spurfowl capensis We encountered this almost daily in fynbos habitat in the Western Cape. (RNE) Pternistis natalensis Common in Kruger NP. Swainson’s Spurfowl (RNE) Pternistis swainsonii Seen in Kruger NP.

Penguins Spheniscidae African Penguin Spheniscus demersus We saw thousands at Stony Point and a few during our pelagic.

Austral Storm Petrels Oceanitidae Wilson’ Storm Petrel Oceanites oceanicus Seen on our pelagic.

Albatrosses Diomedeidae Shy Albatross Thalassarche cauta We had good views on the pelagic. Indian Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche carteri We saw a few immature individuals on the pelagic.

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Northern Storm Petrels Hydrobatidae European Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus A handful seen during our pelagic.

Petrels, Shearwaters Procellariidae Southern Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus We had good views on the pelagic. Northern Giant Petrel Macronectes halli We had an abnormally good number of sightings of this species. Great-winged Petrel Pterodroma macroptera A single bird showed briefly twice during the pelagic. White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis Abundant out near the continental shelf. Cory’s Shearwater Calonectrus borealis We saw good numbers of these on the pelagic. Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus Also very common out on the pelagic. Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis One bird was seen on our pelagic.

Grebes Podicipedidae [Little Grebe] (Dabchick) Tachybaptus ruficollis Common at Strandfontein SW. [Black-necked] (Eared) Grebe Podiceps nigricollis Breeding and non-breeding birds were found at Strandfontein SW.

Flamingos Phoenicopteridae Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus These beauties were present at Strandfontein SW and West Coast NP. Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor Just two of these smaller flamingoes were seen at West Coast NP.

Storks Ciconidae Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis We had various sightings in Kruger NP. African Openbill Anastomus lamelligerus We saw four birds along the Olifants River in Kruger NP. Black Stork Ciconia nigra A very distant individual was observed in Kruger NP. Abdim’s Stork Ciconia abdimii A medium-sized flock was seen on our drive to on the last day. Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus We saw this species on four of our days in Kruger NP. White Stork Ciconia ciconia Kruger NP provided sightings of this species. Saddle-billed Stork Epippiorhynchus senegalensis We enjoyed almost daily viewings of this lovely bird. Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumenifer

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Also found almost daily in Kruger NP.

Ibises & [African] Sacred Ibis aethiopicus Common at wetlands in the Western Cape. hagedash Seen almost every day. Glossy Ibis falcinellus We saw this species at Strandfontein SW and Dolphin Beach Ponds. Platalea alba Seen in Kruger NP.

Bitterns & Herons Ardeidae Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Three flew past us along Bloubergstrand beach. Striated Heron Butorides striata Seen well in Kruger NP. Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides We saw one at Lake Panic Bird Hide in Kruger NP. [Western] Bubulcus ibis Seen often during the Cape half of the tour. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea Recorded often at wetlands both down in the Cape and up in Kruger NP. Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala We had superlative views at Strandfontein SW. Goliath Heron Ardea goliath This huge heron was seen in Kruger NP. Great Egret Ardea alba Seen in Kruger NP. Little Egret Egretta garzetta Most sightings were from Kruger NP.

Hamerkop Scopidae Hamerkop Scopus umbretta We had good sightings in Kruger NP.

Pelicans Pelecanidae Pelecanus onocrotalus We saw this large pelican at Strandfontein SW.

Gannets & Morus capensis Plentiful out at sea on our pelagic and in front of our hotel overlooking False Bay.

Cormorants & Shags Phalacrocoracidae [Reed] (Long-tailed) Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus This small cormorant was seen at Dolphin Beach Ponds, near Ceres and in Kruger NP. Crowned Cormorant Phalacrocorax coronatus

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We had excellent views at Stony Point, also seen at Cape Point. Phalacrocorax neglectus Seen well at Stony Point. [White-breasted] (Great) Cormorant Phalacrocorax lucidus Seen well at Cape Point, Stony Point and in Kruger NP. Phalacrocorax capensis Common in offshore waters around the Cape and abundant at Stony Point.

Secretarybird Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius We had a great sighting in the Tanqua Karoo, with two distant birds seen later in Kruger NP.

Kites, & Eagles Black-[winged] (shouldered) Elanus caeruleus Seen in and near West Coast NP. Necrosyrtes monachus This small vulture was seen on three occasions in Kruger NP. White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus The most common vulture in Kruger NP. White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis We had two great sightings of this scarce vulture in Kruger NP. Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos Seen well in Kruger NP. Brown Snake Eagle Circaetus cinereus We saw a total of four birds in Kruger NP. Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus Seen daily in Kruger NP. Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus Glimpsed near Darling and later seen better in Kruger NP. Lesser Spotted Eagle Clanga pomarina One seen in Kruger NP. Wahlberg’s Eagle Hieraaetus wahlbergi Seen almost daily in Kruger NP. Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus Two pale morph birds were seen in the Tanqua Karoo. Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax We had a number of sightings in Kruger NP. Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis We saw two birds in Kruger NP. Verreaux’s Eagle Aquila verreauxii We had lovely views of a pair of birds near Ceres. Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus A singleton was seen in Kruger NP. Dark Chanting Goshawk metabates Two birds gave good views in Kruger NP. Pale Chanting Goshawk Melierax canorus A single sub-adult was seen near Darling; all our other sightings came from the Tanqua Karoo. African Marsh Circus ranivorus

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We saw one bird quite far off at Strandfontein SW. Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptius Seen on most days of the tour. Haliaeetus vocifer We had daily sightings of this iconic bird in Kruger NP. buteo Our first sighting was at Cape Point; seen again in Kruger NP and around the Western Cape. Jackal Buzzard (RE) Buteo rufofuscus This handsome raptor was seen at Rooi Els and en route to and from Ceres.

Bustards Otididae Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori We found one of these large birds north of Satara in Kruger NP. Red-crested Korhaan Lophotis ruficrista Seen a couple of times in Kruger NP. Southern Black Korhaan Afrotis afra We saw three splendid males in West Coast NP. Black-bellied [Bustard] (Korhaan) Lissotis melanogaster We saw a total of seven birds, mostly males, in Kruger NP.

Rails, Crakes & Coots Rallidae Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostra Seen in Kruger NP. [African] (Purple) Swamphen Porphyrio madagascariensis This colourful species showed nicely at Strandfontein SW. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Seen at Strandfontein SW and Dolphin Beach Ponds. Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata Common on wetlands in the Western Cape.

Cranes Gruidae Blue (RE) Grus paradisea We had great views of birds near Darling and Ceres.

Thick-knees Burhinidae Water [Thick-knee] (Dikkop) Burhinus vermiculatus This cryptic species was seen in Kruger NP.

Oystercatchers Haematopidae African Oystercatcher Haematopus himantopus Seen often along the Cape coast.

Stilts & Avocets Recurvirostridae Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Strandfontein SW and West Coast NP provided sightings. Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta We saw this elegant at Strandfontein SW.

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Plovers & Lapwings Charadriidae Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus Recorded on most days, usually near wetlands. White-crowned Lapwing Vanellus albiceps We found this attractive lapwing along the Sabie and Olifants Rivers in Kruger NP. Senegal Lapwing Vanellus lugubris We found a group of 8 birds in Kruger NP. Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus Seen near West Coast NP, with better looks later in Kruger NP. Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola We saw one at West Coast NP. Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Seen at Strandfontein SW. Kittlitz’s Plover Charadrius pecuarius This little wader was seen at West Coast NP. Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris This species was common in Kruger NP. White-fronted Plover Charadrius marginatus We found this plover at West Coast NP and a single bird in Kruger NP.

Painted Snipes Rostratulidae Greater Painted-snipe Rostratula benghalensis We found one male hiding in marsh vegetation in Kruger NP.

Jacanas Jacanidae African Jacana Actophilornis africanus Seen a few times in Kruger NP.

Sandpipers & Allies Scolopacidae Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus One bird was seen at West Coast NP. Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia We had scattered sightings in West Coast Np and around the Western Cape. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Seen on several occasions along rivers in Kruger NP. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Seen in Kruger NP. Sanderling Calidris alba We saw this pale wader in West Coast NP. Little Stint Calidris minuta We had sightings at West Coast NP, Strandfontein SW and in Kruger NP. Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Seen at Strandfontein SW and West Coast NP. Ruff Philomachus pugnax We found a couple of birds in Kruger NP.

Coursers & Pratincoles Glareolidae Bronze-winged Courser Rhinoptilus chalcopterus

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We were lucky to find one in Kruger NP. Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola We saw around 20 birds in Kruger NP.

Gulls, Terns & Skimmers Sabine’s Gull Xena sabini We saw a number of these pretty gulls on the pelagic trip. Grey-headed Gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus A singleton was seen at Strandfontein SW. Hartlaub’s Gull Chroicocephalus hartlaubii This species was plentiful along the Cape coast. Larus dominicanus Also very common along the Cape coast. Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia We saw this large tern at Strandfontein SW and West Coast NP. bergii Seen daily around the Cape coast. Thalasseus sandvicensis Also seen daily around the Cape coast. Sternula albifrons Seen at West Coast NP. Common Tern Sterna hirundo Our best looks were at birds in West Coast NP. Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Seen on our pelagic. Little Tern Sternula albifrons Seen at West Coast NP. Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida We saw this tern at Strandfontein SW.

Skuas Stercoraridae Brown Stercorarius antarcticus We came across a couple of these birds on the pelagic. Parasitic Jaeger Stercorarius parasiticus Seen on the pelagic.

Pigeons & Doves Rock [Dove] (Pigeon) Columba livia Seen in urban areas in the Western Cape. [Speckled] (Rock) Pigeon Columba guinea Seen in mountainous and urban areas around the Western Cape. (African) Mourning [Collared] Dove Streptopelia decipiens We had good views at Tshokwane picnic site in Kruger NP. Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata We saw this large dove in Kirstenbosch BG and around Ceres. [Ring-necked] (Cape Turtle) Dove Streptopelia capicola Seen on most days in Kruger NP. Streptopelia senegalensis

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Seen almost daily in Kruger NP and around Ceres. Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Turtur chalcospilos This pretty little dove showed nicely for us in Kruger NP. Namaqua Dove Oena capensis A male bird whizzed past us in the Tanqua Karoo. African Green Pigeon Treron calvus We enjoyed multiple views of this lovely bird in Kruger NP.

Turacos Musophagidae Purple-crested Turaco Tauraco porphyreolophus What a stunner! We saw this in Skukuza in Kruger NP. Grey Go-away-bird Corythaixoides concolor Very common in Kruger NP.

Cuckoos Cuculidae [Burchell’s] (White-browed) Coucal Centropus superciliosus We had two sightings in Kruger NP. Levaillant’s Cuckoo Clamator levaillantii Seen quite often in Kruger NP. Jacobin Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus We had one sighting in Kruger NP. Chrysococcyx caprius We saw three of these beautiful cuckoos near Lower Sabie in Kruger NP. Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas A gorgeous male was seen in Kruger NP. Cuculus clamosus Glimpsed in Kruger NP. Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius One bird gave us a few fly-bys in Kruger NP.

Typical Strigidae African Scops Owl Otus senegalensis We found one on our last morning in Kruger NP. Southern White-faced Owl Ptilopsis granti We saw one of these scarce owls in Kruger NP. Verreaux’s Eagle Owl Bubo lactus Seen in Kruger NP. Pearl-spotted Owlet Glaucidium perlatum This tiny owl was seen in Kruger NP. African Barred Owlet Glaucidium capensis Another scarce owl that we had good views of in Kruger NP.

Swifts Apodidae African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus Seen in Kruger NP. Alpine Swift Tachymarptis melba Seen at Cape Point and the Tanqua Karoo. African [Black] Swift barbatus

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Seen at various locations in the Western Cape. Little Swift Apus affinis Seen almost daily in Kruger NP. White-rumped Swift Apus caffer Seen often in Kruger NP and also widespread in the Western Cape.

Mousebirds Coliidae Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus Seen in Kruger NP. White-backed Mousebird Colius colius We had good views near Darling and in the Tanqua Karoo. Red-faced Mousebird Urocolius indicus Seen many times in Kruger NP.

Rollers Coraciidae Purple Roller Coracias naevius This large roller was seen in Kruger NP. Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus We saw this colourful species daily in Kruger NP. European Roller Coracias garrulus Also seen nin Kruger NP. Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus This beautiful bird was seen near Skukuza in Kruger NP.

Kingfishers Alcedinidae Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris Seen well in Kruger NP. Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti We had brief views in Kruger NP. Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis This beautiful bird was seen – and heard – daily in Kruger NP. Malachite Kingfisher Corythornis cristatus We saw this tiny jewel in Kruger NP. Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima This massive kingfisher was seen in Kruger NP. Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Common on rivers in Kruger NP.

Bee-eaters Meropidae Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus Showed well in Kruger NP. White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides This multi-coloured species was seen in Kruger NP. European Bee-eater Merops apiaster We encountered this gorgeous species in Kruger NP and near Darling.

Hoopoes Upupidae [African] (Eurasian) Hoopoe Upupa africana

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We found this characterful species in Kruger NP.

Wood Hoopoes Phoeniculidae [Green] (Red-billed) Wood Hoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus Seen in Kruger NP Common Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas Everyone eventually had nice views of this in Kruger NP.

Ground Hornbills Bucorvidae Southern Ground Hornbill Bucorvis leadbeateri We two sightings totaling 10 birds in Kruger NP.

Hornbills Bucerotidae [Southern] Red-billed Hornbill Tockus rufirostris Common in Kruger NP. Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill (RNE) Tockus leucomelas Seen daily in Kruger NP. Crowned Hornbill Tockus alboterminatus We saw two birds in Kruger NP. African Grey Hornbill Tockus nasutus Seen in Kruger NP. Trumpeter Hornbill Bycanistes bucinator Some had a very brief look at two birds in Kruger NP.

Barbets Ramphastidae Yellow-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus chrysoconus This cute little bird was seen in Kruger NP. [] Pied Barbet (RNE) Tricholaema leucomelas Heard only in the Tanqua Karoo. Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus We had good looks in Kruger NP. Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii We saw this species in Kruger NP.

Honeyguides Indicatoridae Greater Honeyguide Indicator indicator A female was seen in Kruger NP.

Woodpeckers & Allies Picidae Golden-tailed Woodpecker Campethera abingoni We saw two birds in Kruger NP. Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens We saw this small woodpecker in Kruger NP. Bearded Woodpecker Dendropicos namaquus Also seen in Kruger NP.

Falcons & Caracaras [Rock] (Eurasian/Common) Kestrel Falco rupicolus

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Seen well at Cape Point and West Coast NP. Amur Falcon Falco amurensis We found quite a few birds in Kruger NP. Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus We had great looks at a bird between Darling and Malmesbury. Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus We had brief looks at a bird before it flew off into the mist.

Parrots Psittacidae Brown-headed Poicephalus crytpoxanthus We had terrific, close looks at birds in Kruger NP.

Wattle-eyes and Batises Platysteiridae Cape Batis (RE) Batis capensis Three birds showed well in Kirstenbosch BG. Chinspot Batis Batis molitor Seen a few times in Kruger NP. Pririt Batis Batis pririt This showed nicely in the Tanqua Karoo.

Helmetshrikes Prionopidae White-crested Helmetshrike Prionops plumatus We saw seven birds in Kruger NP. Retz’s Helmetshrike Prionops retzii Much scarcer than the previous species, five were seen in Kruger NP.

Bushshrikes & Allies Malaconotidae Grey-headed Bushshrike Malaconotus blanchoti Seen in Kruger NP. [Orange] (Sulphur)-breasted Bushshrike Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus We had good views in Skukuza camp, in Kruger NP. Bokmakierie (RNE) Telophorus zeylonus We had sightings at Cape Point, near Darling and in the Tanqua Karoo. Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis Seen in Kruger NP. Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegalus Also seen in Kruger NP. Black-backed Puffback cubla We had multiple sightings in Kruger NP. Southern Boubou (RE) ferrugineus First seen in Kirstenbosch BG and later we had a pair of males fighting in Kruger NP. Brubru Nilaus afer One showed well in Kruger NP.

Cuckooshrikes Campephagidae Black Cuckooshrike Campephaga flava We enjoyed good sightings of this species in Kruger NP.

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Shrikes Laniidae [Magpie] (Long-tailed) Shrike Urolestes melanoleucus Seen daily in Kruger NP. Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio Also seen daily in Kruger NP. Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor Common in Kruger NP. [Southern] (Common) Fiscal Lanius collaris Seen in Cape Point and Simon’s Town.

Figbirds, Orioles Oriolidae (African) Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus We had splendid views of a bird in Satara camp in Kruger NP.

Drongos Dicruridae Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis A ubiquitous species in Kruger NP.

Monarchs Monarchidae African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis This was a trip favorite, seen in Kruger NP.

Crows & Jays Corvidae Pied Crow albus Seen daily in the Western Cape, apart from our pelagic day. White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis We had great views at Cape Point and Gordon’s Bay.

Rockjumpers Chaetopidae Chaetops frenatus After much searching, we finally found a pair high up the mountain above Gordon’s Bay.

Fairy Flycatchers Fairy Flycatcher Stenostira scita We saw this dainty bird in the Tanqua Karoo.

Tits Paridae Southern Black Tit niger Seen in Kruger NP. Grey Tit Melaniparus afer This showed well in West Coast NP.

Penduline Tits Remizidae Grey Penduline Tit Anthoscopus minutus We found this tiny species in Kruger NP.

Larks Alaudidae

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Sabota Lark (RNE) Mirafra sabota Seen in Kruger NP. Karoo Lark (E) Calendulauda sabota We saw this lark in West Coast NP and the Tanqua Karoo. Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana Seen in Kruger NP. Monotonous Lark Mirafra passerina We had great views in Kruger NP.

Bulbuls Pycnonotidae capensis Common in the Western Cape. [Dark-capped] (Common) Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor Seen every day in Kruger NP. Sombre Greenbul Andropadus importunus First seen in Kirstenbosch BG and later in Kruger NP. Yellow-bellied Greenbul Chlorocichla flaviventris Seen in Kruger NP.

Swallows & Martins Hirundinidae Grey-rumped Swallow Pseudhirundo griseopyga We saw this swallow in Kruger NP. [Brown-throated] (Plain) Martin Riparia paludicola We saw this drab swallow at Strandfontein SW and near Ceres. Banded Martin Riparia cincta Seen in West Coast NP. Hirundo rustica Seen throughout the tour. White-throated Swallow Hirundo albigularis This pretty swallow gave us good views at Strandfontein SW and West Coast NP. Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii Seen in Kruger NP. Pearl-breasted Swallow Hirundo dimidiata A single bird was seen near Darling. Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula This species was seen at Rooi Els. Greater Striped Swallow Cecropis cucullata We found this swallow at scattered sites throughout the Western Cape. Lesser Striped Swallow Cecropis abyssinica Seen in Kruger NP. Red-breasted Swallow Cecropis semirufa This lovely swallow was seen in Kruger NP.

Crombecs & African Warblers Cape Grassbird (RE) Sphenoeacus afer We had superb looks at Cape Point. [Long-billed] (Cape) Crombec Sylvietta rufescens This almost tailless species was seen in Kruger NP.

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Victorin’s Warbler (E) Cryptillas victorini We found a single bird, who gave us reasonable views, en route to Betty’s Bay.

Leaf Warblers Phylloscopidae Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus We saw this in Kruger NP.

Reed Warblers & Allies Acrocephalidae African Reed Warbler Acrocephalus baeticatus Seen near Karoopoort.

Cisticolas & Allies Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops We found this cisticola near Skukuza in Kruger NP. Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana Seen often in Kruger NP. Grey-backed Cisticola Cisticola subruficapilla We encountered this species at Cape Point, West Coast NP and the Tanqua Karoo. Levaillant’s Cisticola Cisticola tinniens Best views were at Strandfontein SW. Croaking Cisticola Cisticola natalensis Seen in Kruger NP. [Neddicky] (Piping Cisticola) Cisticola fulvicapilla A pair was seen at Rooi Els. Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis We had good looks at birds outside of Ceres. Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava Seen in Kruger NP. Karoo Prinia (RE) Prinia maculosa This species was common in fynbos in the Western Cape. Namaqua Warbler (RE) Phragmacia substriata Seen near Karoopoort. Bar-throated Apalis Apalis thoracica We had delightful views in West Coast NP. Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida Seen wonderfully well in Kruger NP. Rufous-eared Warbler Malcorus pectoralis These pretty little guys were common in the Tanqua Karoo. Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura Seen in Kruger NP. Stierling’s Wren-Warbler Calamonastes stierlingi Heard only in Kruger NP. Yellow-bellied Eremomela Eremomela icteropygialis Seen in the Tanqua Karoo. Karoo Eremomela Eremomela gregalis We found a party of four in the Tanqua Karoo. Burnt-neck[ed] Eremomela Eremomela usticollis Seen in Kruger NP.

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Babblers & Parrotbills Timaliidae Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii Commonly seen in Kruger NP.

Sylviid Babblers Garden Warbler Sylvia borin Seen in Kruger NP. Chestnut-vented Warbler Sylvia subcaerulea We had super views in the Tanqua Karoo and West Coast NP.

White-eyes Zosteropidae Cape White-eye (RE) Zosterops capensis Seen most days in the Western Cape, also once up in Kruger NP.

Sugarbirds & Allies Promeropidae Cape Sugarbird (RE) Promerops cafer Common at Cape Point and Rooi Els.

Starlings Sturnidae Common Myna Acridotheres tristis We had a single unfortunate sighting of this invasive species in Kruger NP. Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea We saw many great examples of this species in Kruger NP. Cape (Glossy-) Starling (RNE) Lamprotornis nitens Seen in Kruger NP. Greater Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus Seen on most days in Kruger NP. Burchell’s Starling Lamprotornis australis Fairly common in Kruger NP. Pied Starling (E) Spreo bicolor Seen near Darling and Ceres. Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster We saw this gorgeous bird in Kruger NP. Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio Seen at Cape Point, Rooi Els and later in Kruger NP.

Oxpeckers Buphagidae Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus africanus Seen once in Kruger NP. Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus Seen daily in Kruger NP.

Thrushes Turdidae Kurrichane Thrush Turdus libonyanus Seen well at Pretoriuskop in Kruger NP. Olive Thrush (RE) Turdus olivaceus We saw this at Kirstenbosch BG and Ceres.

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Chats & Flycatchers Muscicapidae Karoo Scrub Robin Cercotrichas coryphoeus Common in West Coast NP and the Tanqua Karoo. White-browed Scrub Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys Seen in Kruger NP. [Grey Tit-] (Fan-tailed) Flycatcher Myioparus plumbeus Also seen in Kruger NP. Southern Black Flycatcher pammelaina Seen in Kruger NP. Fiscal Flycatcher (RE) Melaenornis silens We found this at Cape Point. Spotted Flycatcher striata Seen often in Kruger NP. Ashy Flycatcher Muscicapa caerulescens Seen in Kruger NP. African Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta We saw some confiding individuals in Kirstenbosch BG. Cape Robin-Chat Cossypha caffra Common in fynbos vegetation and gardens in the Western Cape. White-throated Robin-Chat (RE) Cossypha humelaris Seen very well in Kruger NP. White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha heuglini This impressive songster showed nicely at Lower Sabie in Kruger NP. Cape (E) Monticola rupestris We saw a pair at Rooi Els. African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus Seen near Ceres. schlegelii This proved quite common in the Tanqua Karoo. Emarginata tractrac We found this very upright chat in the Tanqua Karoo. Mocking Cliff Chat Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris A pair of these striking chats was seen in Kruger NP. (Southern) Ant-eating Chat (RNE) formicivora We saw these fat chats near Darling. Mountain Wheatear (RNE) Oenanthe monticola Seen in the Tanqua Karoo. Capped Wheatear Oenanthe pileata These handsome birds were observed near Darling. Familiar Chat Oenanthe familiaris Seen at Cape Point, Rooi Els and the Tanqua Karoo.

Sunbirds & Spiderhunters Nectariniidae Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris Seen in Kruger NP. Orange-breasted Sunbird (E) Anthobaphes violacea This avian jewel showed to perfection at Cape Point.

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Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis Seen in Kruger NP, as well as a single male presumed to be a hybrid with a Marico Sunbird. Malachite Sunbird famosa This species dazzled us at Cape Point. Southern Double-collared Sunbird (E) Cinnyris chalybeus Common in the Western Cape, but sadly all the males were in transitional plumage. Marico Sunbird Cinnyris mariquensis We found this beauty in Kruger NP.

Old World Sparrows Passeridae White-browed Sparrow-Weaver Plocepasser mahali A singleton was seen on our drive from Kruger to Johannesburg. domesticus This introduced species was seen around human habitation in the Western Cape. Cape Sparrow (RNE) Passer melanurus Seen around Bloubergstrand, Ceres and Karoopoort. Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus Seen daily in Kruger NP. Yellow-throated [Petronia] (Sparrow) superciliaris We had good views in Kruger NP.

Weavers & Allies Red-billed Buffalo Weaver Bubalornis niger Seen in Kruger NP. Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis This bright weaver was seen in Kruger NP. Cape Weaver (E) Ploceus capensis We saw this very well at West Coast NP. Lesser Masked Weaver Ploceus intermedius Colonies were seen in Kruger NP. Southern Masked Weaver Ploceus velatus We found this species near Ceres and in Kruger NP. Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus Seen in Kruger NP. Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps We found a pair at their nest in Kruger NP. Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea We saw only a few of this normally plentiful bird in Kruger NP. Southern Red Bishop orix Seen near Ceres and between Kruger and Johannesburg. [Yellow Bishop] (Yellow-rumped Widow) Euplectes capensis We saw this species at Cape Point and near Ceres. [Fan-tailed] (Red-shouldered) Widowbird Euplectes axillaris Seen en route from Kruger to Johannesburg. White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albonotatus Seen en route from Kruger to Johannesburg. Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens Seen en route from Kruger to Johannesburg.

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Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne Seen en route from Kruger to Johannesburg.

Waxbills & Allies Estrildidae [Blue Waxbill] (Blue-breasted Cordonbleu) Uraeginthus angolensis Seen a few times in Kruger NP. Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild We found this cute species at Strandfontein SW and near Ceres. Bronze [Mannikin] (Munia) Lonchura cucullata We saw a single bird en route from Kruger to Johannesburg.

Wagtails & Pipits Motacillidae Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis We saw this species at Cape Point, Strandfontein SW and West Coast NP. African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp Seen in Kruger NP. Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus Seen in Kruger NP. [African] (Grassveld) Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus Seen in Kruger NP, Strandfontein SW and West Coast NP.

Finches & Allies Fringillidae Common Chaffinch coelebs A handsome male bird showed well in Kirstenbosch BG. Yellow-fronted Canary mozambica Seen almost daily in Kruger NP. Cape Siskin (E) Crithagra totta We had multiple good views in Cape Point, at Rooi Els and near Ceres. Yellow Canary Crithagra flaviventris This super-saturated canary really stood out in the dull-coloured landscape of the Tanqua Karoo. Streaky-headed Canary Crithagra gularis One bird was seen near Ceres. White-throated Canary Crithagra albogularis Seen well in the Tanqua Karoo. Cape Canary canicollis We enjoyed excellent looks at this species with Table Mountain as a backdrop.

Buntings Emberizidae Lark-like Bunting Emberiza impetuani Found at West Coast NP. Cape Bunting Emberiza capensis Most common around Rooi Els. Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris We saw this lovely bird in Kruger NP.

Annotated List of Species recorded

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Nomenclature and taxonomy follows The Field Guide to the Mammals of Southern Africa by Chris & Tilde Stuart (2007).

Total species recorded: 48

Old World Fruit Bats Pteropodidae Peter’s Epauletted Fruit Bat Epomophorus crypturus We saw these cool-looking bats in Skukuza camp in Kruger NP.

Baboons & Monkeys Cercopithecidae Chacma Baboon Papio ursinus Seen in Kruger NP, with singletons in the Western Cape near Ceres. Vervet Monkey Cercopithecus aethiops Seen almost daily in Kruger NP.

Bushbabies Galagonidae Greater Galago (Thick-tailed Bushbaby) Otolemur crassicaudatus We had wonderful views in Kruger NP.

Hares & Rabbits Leporidae Scrub Hare Lepus saxatilis Seen on our night drive in Kruger NP.

Old World Porcupines Hystricidae Cape Porcupine Hystrix africaeaustralis We found one on our night drive in Kruger NP.

True Mice & Rats Muridae Four-striped Grass Rhabdomys pumilio This attractive was seen in West Coast NP. Acacia Rat Thallomys paedulcus This species inhabited the roofs of some huts in Kruger NP.

Squirrels Sciuridae Smith's Bush Squirrel Paraxerus cepapi Seen in Kruger NP. Eastern Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis We had two brief sightings of this introduced species around Cape Town.

Dogs & Allies Canidae Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas We saw this species twice in Kruger NP. African Wild (Painted/Cape Hunting) Dog Lycaon pictus We had excellent looks at nine animals in Kruger NP.

Mongooses Herpestridae Slender Mongoose Galerella sanguinea

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Seen briefly by some in Kruger NP. Dwarf Mongoose Helogale parvula These cuties were seen in Kruger NP. Cape Grey Mongoose (RE) Herpestes pulverulentus We found these at Strandfontein SW. Banded Mongoose Mungos mungo We found a large family group in Kruger NP.

Hyaenas Hyaenidae Spotted Hyena Crocuta crocuta We had multiple sightings in Kruger NP.

Weasels, Skunks & Otters Mustelidae Mellivora capensis We saw two in Kruger NP.

Sea Lions Otariidae Afro-Australian Fur Seal Arctocephalus pusillus Seen off the Cape coast, and on our pelagic.

Civets & Genets Viverridae Common Genet Genetta genetta Seen on our night drive in Kruger NP. Central African Large-spotted Genet Gentta maculata Also seen on the night drive in Kruger NP.

Cats Felidae Cheetah Acinonyx jubatus We saw one in Kruger NP. Lion Panthera leo We had several sightings totaling 32 animals in Kruger NP. Leopard Panthera pardus A young female provided great looks in Kruger NP.

Elephants Elephantidae African Elephant Loxondonta africana Seen daily in Kruger NP.

Hyraxes Procaviidae Rock Hyrax Procavia capensis We got very close looks at Stony Point.

Zebras Equidae Common (Burchell's/Plains) Zebra Equus quagga burchelli Seen in Kruger NP. Mountain Zebra Equus zebra We were lucky to find four animals at Cape Point.

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Rhinoceroses Rhinocerotidae Square-lipped (White) Rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum We found seven animals in Kruger NP. Hook-lipped (Black) Rhinoceros Diceros bicornis We had an amazing – and lucky – sighting in Kruger NP.

Oceanic Dolphins Delphinidae Long-beaked Common Dolphin Delphinus capensis We had a brief sighting during our pelagic.

Hippopotami Hippopotamidae Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius Seen in Kruger NP.

Pigs Suidae Common Warthog Phacochoerus africanus Seen daily in Kruger NP.

Giraffes Giraffidae (Southern) Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis These great animals were seen in Kruger NP.

Bovids & Horned Ungulates Bovidae African (Cape) Buffalo Syncerus caffer Seen daily in Kruger NP. Greater Kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros This magnificent antelope was common in Kruger NP. Nyala Tragelaphus angasii We saw a lone female in Kruger NP. (Cape) Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus This pretty antelope was seen a few times in Kruger NP. (Common) Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus ellipsiprymnus Seen in Kruger NP. Grey Rhebok (E) Pelea capreolus We saw a dozen animals near Ceres. Common/Blue Wildebeest (Brindled Gnu) Connochaetes taurinus Seen in Kruger NP. Blesbok (E) Damaliscus pygargus We saw the southern , known as Bontebok, in West Coast NP. Impala Aepyceros melampus Plentiful in Kruger NP. Springbok Antidorcas marsupialis We saw some in the Tanqua Karoo. Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus Seen very well in Kruger NP and at Rooi Els. Steenbok Raphicerus campestris Common in Kruger NP, West Coast Np and the Tanqua Karoo.

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Common (Grey/Bush) Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia Seen in Kruger NP.

Annotated List of Total species recorded: 19

Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus Seen in Kruger NP. Nile Monitor Varanus niloticus Seen in Kruger NP. Southern Rock Agama Agama atra Seen at Cape Point and Rooi Els. Dispholidus typus Seen in Kruger NP. Cape Girdled Lizard Cordylus cordylus Seen at Stony Point. Black Girdled Lizard Cordylus niger Seen at Cape Point. Mozambique Spitting Cobra Naja mossambica Seen in Kruger NP. House Gecko Hemidactylus mabouia Seen in Kruger NP. Wahlberg’s Velvet Gecko Homopholis walbergii Seen in Kruger NP. Cape Dwarf Gecko Lygodactylus capensis Seen in Kruger NP. Giant Plated Lizard validus Seen in Kruger NP. Pseudaspis cana Seen just outside West Coast NP. African Five-lined Skink Trachylepis quinquetaeniata Seen in Kruger NP. African Striped Skink Trachylepis striata Seen in Kruger NP. Variable Skink Trachylepis varia Seen in Kruger NP. Angulated Tortoise Chersina angulata Many seen in West Coast NP and at Cape Point. Speke’s Hinged Tortoise Kinixys spekii Many seen in Kruger NP. Geochelone pardalis Many seen in Kruger NP. Marsh/Helmeted Terrapin Pelomedusa subrufa Seen well in Kruger NP.

Annotated List of Amphibians Total species recorded: 2

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Flat-backed Toad Amietophrynus maculatus Seen in Kruger NP. Banded Rubber Frog Phrynomantis bifasciatus Seen in Kruger NP.

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