Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
A Tropical Birding set departure tour South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger Main Tour: 10th – 24th January 2020 Eastern Endemics and Drakensberg Extension: 24th January – 1st February 2020
Tour Leader: Emma Juxon All photographs in this report were taken by Emma Juxon, species depicted in photographs are named in BOLD RED
Gurney’s Sugarbird seen on our day exploring the Sani Pass during the Drakensberg Extension www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
Introduction
South Africa has it all, from mind-blowing wildlife to incredible scenery to fantastic people and cultures, not to mention the delicious food! This tour really gives clients a wonderful insight into life in this fantastic and varied country. We cover a huge area of the country, taking us through many different habitats and thus allowing us the opportunity to enjoy large species numbers. This tour follows our tried and tested route through the rugged Western Cape and along the south coast into the Garden Route. From there we move inland to the arid landscapes of the Karoo and Tankwa Karoo before hopping across country via airplane to Johannesburg and exploring the world-famous Kruger National Park. Then back to Johannesburg before winding our way through the mid-altitude grasslands of Wakkerstroom to Zululand, visiting Mkhuze Game Reserve, the St. Lucia estuary, the montane forests of Eshowe and oNgoye and the agricultural lands of Howick and Underberg. A final adventurous ascent takes us into the striking high- altitude vistas of Lesotho before winding our way back down to the tropical Indian Ocean shores of Durban.
This particular tour was very much treated as a custom tour due to there being just two participants, so there were times where we took things a little easier than on a hard-core birding trip. This along with the weather being against us for most of the tour, extremely strong winds most days and also heavy rains, meant that at times birding was challenging. Our trip numbers show that pure enthusiasm and perseverance prevailed and we encountered a brilliant 479 species of bird, 60 mammal species and 23 herptile species throughout the whole trip, making it a truly unforgettable tour.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
Fairest Cape to Kruger
January 10 – Arrival, Cape Peninsula
Today was supposed to be the arrival day, where we would usually kick-off the tour with an evening meal, but both of the participants had arrived a day early which allowed us to start as we meant to go on – birding! After a great breakfast at a very reasonable hour, we began our sojourn of the Cape Town area, first visiting the world-famous Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens. Situated at the eastern foot of the majestic Table Mountain, the botanical gardens make home for some fantastic species for participants to start checking off their lifers. A short woodland trail gave us fantastic views straight off the bat of Lemon Dove, almost at our feet! Walking further around the gardens we enjoyed our first views of Cape Batis, Speckled Pigeon, Red-eyed Dove, Southern Boubou, Karoo Prinia, Sombre Greenbull, Cape Bulbul, Cape White-
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020 eye, Southern Double-collared Sunbird and Olive Thrush. As we neared the Protea area of the gardens, we found our most wanted endemics, Cape Sugarbird (previous page) and the glorious Orange-breasted Sunbird. As we admired these protea specialists, we were also captivated by soaring Yellow-billed Kite, Black Sawwing and White-necked Raven. A family of Cape Francolin comically foraged in the undergrowth joined by Cape Robin-Chat, as African Dusky Flycatcher perched above. Some of our favorites of the morning included the very sweet Swee and Common Waxbill, the chunky Brimstone Canaries and localized introduced Common Chaffinch.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
With lunch time growing near, we made our way to the coast and one of my favorite restaurants overlooking False Bay. Here we enjoyed some fantastic seafood as we watched Kelp and Hartlaub’s Gull, African Oystercathcer and Cape Wagtail.
After lunch we headed for the very tip of the Cape peninsula, Cape Point and the Cape of Good Hope. Greeted by the infamous Cape Point Southern Chacma Baboons we also caught sight of some very brief Cape Siskin, patrolling Peregrine Falcon, Cape Bunting and skeins of Cape Gannet out to sea. At the sea level of the Cape of Good Hope, the plentiful rocks made great places for Crowned, White-breasted and Cape Cormorant to dry their wings, whilst Great Crested and Sandwich Terns rested alongside them. The afternoon was drawing to an end but there was just one more stop to make on our way back to our delightful guesthouse. As we pulled into the carpark of Boulder’s Beach the participants could immediately see why we were here, African Penguins! Everyone loves penguins and once we’d had our fill of them bizarrely hanging out near the cars, we took the boardwalk to the colony, adding Amethyst Sunbird to our growing list. Here we had exceptional views and were able to observe their sometimes-comical behavior; we were also treated to Cape Fur Seal and Rock Hyrax amongst the penguins. It had been a fantastic first day of the tour and we finished off with a great meal at a local restaurant to our guesthouse.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
January 11 – Cape Peninsula
We started our day bright and early with a packed breakfast over-looking Zeekoe vlei, a large lake just outside of Cape Town. Treated to Greater Flamingo and Great White Pelican fly-bys as we ate, amongst many others, we were keen to start our mornings birding proper, at the Strandfontein Sewer Works. This fantastic wetland is second to none in the area had some brilliant sightings throughout the morning. The first lakes we came across had several duck species including, White-faced Whistling Duck, South African Shelduck, Cape Shoveler, African Black, Yellow-billed and Red-billed Duck. Other smaller lakes gave us cracking views of Sothern Pochard, a single White-backed Duck and stunning Hottentot Teal. Little and Eared Grebes dotted the waters as Southern Masked-Weaver, Levaillant’s Cisticola, Lesser Swamp- Warbler, Little Rush-Warbler and Cape Weaver worked the reeds. The shores of the various ponds and waterways were lined with species such as Blacksmith Plover, Black-winged Stilt, Pied Avocet, Water Thick-knee and beautifully patterned Three-banded Plover.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
Once we had had a fill of Strandfontein, we headed over to the other side of Cape Town where we found the urban oasis of Intaka Island. This small series of wetlands amidst the built-up area of Century City is a fantastic little spot to get up-close and personal with some great species. Straight away, we were enjoying Purple, Grey and Black-headed Herons as well as Blacksmith Lapwing (next page), Eurasian Moorhen, Red-knobbed Coot and African Swamphen. The reeds were filled with female and immature male Southern Red Bishops, but we didn’t have to walk far before the participants were treated to the absolutely stunning males in full breeding plumage. Both Cape and Forest Canary foraged in the shrubs and small trees alongside common, but equally attractive, Cape Sparrow and a gorgeous male Pin-tailed Whydah. A structure in the middle of the www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020 water was adorned with African Sacred, Glossy and Hadada Ibis, Long-tailed Cormorant and African Darter. We were soon distracted by movement in the reeds right beside us and after some bending and twisting to get a view, we had ourselves a very colorful Little Bittern! Taking shade in one of the hides, we had our first brilliant views of Pied Kingfisher as a pair perched beautifully in front of us. We also had a fleeting glimpse of Malachite Kingfisher as it returned to its nest site in the opposite bank.
With the heat rising and our tummies rumbling, we made our way to a local restaurant for lunch. The participants had decided that they were happy with the birds that they had seen during the morning and with jetlag and general tiredness setting in, we headed back to our lovely guesthouse where they took the rest of the afternoon off to relax and enjoy the garden birds.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
January 12 – West Coast
We left Cape Town behind us today and took a trip to the scenic West Coast National Park. With a packed breakfast in hand we stopped at spot known for its Southern Black Korhaan or Black Bustard as they are also known. Within moments of turning the corner we had one! A stunning male. Almost immediately after we found ourselves surrounded by our endemic targets, Black Harrier worked the grasslands, Protea Canary fed on their namesake, a family of elegant Blue Crane walked the pastures and Jackal Buzzards watched from their posts. Other great birds included Pearl-breasted Swallow, African Pied Starling, characterful White-backed Mousebird, Southern Anteater-Chat, Karoo Scrub-Robin and Cape, Cape
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
Clapper and Large-billed Lark. It was a pair of Bokmakierie that stole the show for the clients though, along with some particularly showy European Bee-eaters, Malachite Sunbird and sweet Namaqua Dove. A quick stop at an estuary before lunch produced some great shorebirds including Whimbrel, Little Stint, Common Greenshank and Marsh Sandpiper. As it was the weekend the West Coast was fairly busy so we opted to take lunch before we entered the park in nearby Langebaan, where we had some lovely food overlooking the beach and ocean.
Driving through the park we had excellent views of the megafauna that make it their home, Common Ostrich and Common Eland, one of the world’s largest antelope species. Although the water levels weren’t ideal, we visited a hide to see if we could pick up any new shorebird species. Taking the boardwalk to the hide we saw Bar-throated Apalis and Chestnut-vented Warbler in the fynbos. There were many terns resting on a sandbank including, Little, Caspian, Great Crested and Sandwich Tern. We also picked up some new plovers, White-fronted, Kittlitz’s and Common Ringed Plover. We spent the www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020 afternoon birding the fynbos habitat of the park and saw Eurasian Hoopoe (previous page), Rock Kestrel, Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Yellow Canary, Black-winged Kite and Cape Penduline-Tit.
I had heard that a rare bird for South Africa had turned up at a nearby town, which was also very good for other birds, so as the participants had had their fill of the park, we headed back up the coast to track down the rare bird. After a little searching we had it! Wilson’s Phalarope! Now I understand this isn’t a rarity for North American birders for on our side of the pond this is a pretty big deal and we were delighted to have some great views before it flushed up river. This area also provided us with Ruff, Curlew Sandpiper, Lesser Flamingo and the much sought after Chestnut-banded Plover. It had been a long day, made even longer by our phalarope twitch but we were all elated with the lifers we had seen and enjoyed the twinkling lights over the city as we made our way back to Cape Town.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
January 13 – Cape Peninsula to Rooi Els
After our very long day yesterday, we took an ever so slightly more respectable breakfast time and left for our first destination at 8 o’clock. We were leaving Cape Town behind us and followed the rugged coastline through mountains and quaint little coastal villages. We spent the morning birding Harold Porter Botanical Gardens where we enjoyed close views of Amethyst, Malachite and Southern Double-Collared Sunbirds, Cape Batis, Cape White-eyes, Cape Sugarbirds, African Dusky and Spotted Flycatchers. The canaries were out in force too and we were treated to more Forest, Cape and Brimstone Canaries as well at Cape Siskins. As we took a pathway alongside some water, it was here that we were treated to a very showy African Crested Flycatcher and the beautifully rufous African Paradise Flycatcher. A pair of Verreaux’s Eagles flew overhead and a secretive Victorin’s Warbler called from ferns on the other side of the gully, but refused to show itself.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
It had been a great way to start the day and in the late morning we headed to our second birding site of the day. We pulled up at Stoney Point in Betty’s Bay, another penguin colony but we weren’t here for the penguins this time. Within seconds we had our target, the endemic Bank Cormorant, jet black and showing beautifully. There were also Crowned, Great and Cape Cormorant, Kelp and Hartlaub’s Gulls, African Oystercatchers and of course African Penguin. The participants decided that they had had good enough views of the present species already and so we made way to our next hotel and had lunch.
After a short break we were back down to business and birding an idyllic coastal village at the foot of some very impressive mountains, Rooi Els. The wind was relentless and it wasn’t long before it became apparent how difficult our search was going to be because of it. We were in search of one of our biggest targets of the trip, Cape Rockjumper. After searching high and low for it, scanning every nook and cranny, they just weren’t to be seen and who can blame them in those gusting high winds. We managed to hear one call briefly but it was near impossible to tell which direction it came from! All was not lost though and we had terrific views of Cape Rock-Thrush and more Orange-breasted Sunbird as they clung on to the fynbos in the winds. With the Cape Rockjumper refusing to show themselves, the clients decided they had endured enough and we made our way back to Gordon’s Bay where we enjoyed a lovely dinner at a local restaurant.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
January 14 – Hottentot’s Holland Mountains to De Hoop Nature Reserve
We had a long drive ahead of us today, leaving at the crack of dawn, it wasn’t long before we found ourselves in the mountains and enjoying views of Common and Jackal Buzzard, White Stork, Cape Crow and a stunning male Malachite Sunbird as we stopped for a Caracal that I saw slinking off over a hill.
After a delicious breakfast, we were headed towards the Agulhas plains and as the landscape changed as did the birds. We came across a small flock of Grey-winged Francolin, Blue Crane were everywhere, Capped Wheatear and Red-capped, Large-billed and Agulhas Larks could be seen in the few fields with short grass. African Stonechat, Familiar Chat, Southern Red and Yellow Bishops were common and we saw a gorgeous pair of fox-like Yellow Mongoose. It was a kettle of Cape Griffon that really stole the show though.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
As we entered the De Hoop Nature Reserve, we saw Common Ostrich, Helmeted Guineafowl, Crowned Lapwing and Red-backed and Lesser Grey Shrike. Common Eland and striking Bontebok were grazing and a small waterhole gave us great views of Wood Sandpiper, Three-banded Plover, African Pipit and a single Namaqua Sandgrouse, that took off almost as soon as we parked up. We took lunch outside overlooking the water and had scope views of African Spoonbill, Spur-winged Goose, Greater Flamingo and Little Egret. Plain Martin, White-throated and Greater Striped Swallow flew all around us and a very tame Cape Francolin was curious of our lunch choice! A short walk to over-look more of the water lead us to Fiscal Flycatchers, Grey-hooded Gull and rafts of Great Crested Grebe. We then visited the campsite where we had our first views of Speckled Mousebird, Olive Bushshrike and Fork-tailed Drongo, Southern Fiscal and Southern Boubou were also seen here. On the way to our lodge we finally saw a distant Denham’s Bustard, after much scanning as we passed through the habitat. Our wonderful lodge
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020 for the evening was the perfect place to watch the various hirundines fly catch across the meadows as Cattle Egret and Hadada Ibis foraged amongst the dairy cows.
January 15 – Bontebok National Park to Wilderness
Our comfortable lodge is superbly situated just 15 minutes away from the Bontebok National Park and so we visited the park for some pre-breakfast birding. Once the entrance formalities were completed, we made our way to a picnic site that overlooks the river Breede. A fruiting tree was full of life and species such as Pied Barbet, African Paradise-Flycatcher, Bar-throated Apalis and Streaky-headed Seedeater were all busy chattering and feeding away. The reeds along the river bank were perches for Yellow Bishops and Cape Weavers but unfortunately hid a calling Burchell’s Coucal. Driving further into the park we came across our first large mammals, Cape Mountain Zebra, Red Haartebeest and of course Bontebok. A stunning Orange-throated Longclaw was spotted at the roadside and Red-headed Cisticola perched in the grasses, but it was an incredible Secretarybird hunting that was without doubt bird of the morning! I think we could have stayed with it all morning but time waits for no birder and after breakfast we packed up the car and made way for our next destination.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
We were making good time to be in Wilderness for lunchtime and took a quick detour to see if we could pick up the endemic Knysna Warbler in Victoria Bay. Unfortunately, it wasn’t calling so after a while of trying for it we headed for a delicious seafood lunch. After lunch, we went to our amazing B&B and that’s where the magic really began. Our host waited for us to settle into our rooms then gave us some tea and biscuits as she filled her feeders. It wasn’t long before we were surrounded by a menagerie of ‘garden’ birds. Knysna Turaco came within touching distance, Mouse-coloured, Greater Double-collared and Amethyst Sunbirds squabbled over the sugar feeders, Fiscal Flycatchers sat beside us and a Chorister Robin-Chat foraged below as Forest Canaries, Swee and Common Waxbills politely ate their seeds. It was absolutely fantastic! So much so that the participants didn’t want to go out birding anywhere else for the afternoon and instead we stayed at the feeders, admiring the incredible species at such close range.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
January 16 – Wilderness National Park
We started the day with some pre-breakfast birding in the Wilderness National Park and followed the Half-collared Kingfisher Trail up river. Knysna Warbler called from the bushes right at the entrance of the trail but out-right refused to show itself, typical of this skulking species. We left it behind to try again a little later. We had some nice birds along the trail including Terrestrial Brownbul at our feet, Sombre Greenbul, Black-backed Puffback, Green-backed Cameroptera, Bar-throated Apalis, African Crested Flycatcher, Black Swawing, Yellow-throated Wood-Warbler and an African Goshawk! As we reached the
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020 river crossing, Charlene was up for birding from the pontoon with me and we had fabulous views of the iconic African Fish Eagle! Back at the beginning of the trail we managed a quick view of the Knysna Warbler in a tiny window of a bush, but the participants were more than ready for their morning tea and coffee so we returned to our B&B for a delicious breakfast. All of the usual suspects were at the feeders as we ate our breakfast, Knysna Turaco, Cape Weaver, Forest Canary, Swee and Common Waxbill, Amethyst, Mouse-colored and Greater Double-collared Sunbird (previous page) and Southern Grey- headed Sparrow.
After breakfast we visited another part of the park, Big Tree, no points for guessing what it’s named after. Shortly after passing the ‘Big Tree’ and away from people, I heard a little rustling in the bushes beside us. Crouching down we could see an amazing bird, Buff-spotted Flufftail! A very secretive species, it skulked
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020 off into the thicker undergrowth, but what a bird! The trail was surprisingly quiet with very little calling but we did have a very tame Chorister Robin-Chat (previous page) who came to sit with us for a while.
We had lunch at a great restaurant in Wilderness and were treated to a Knysna Warbler right next to us, of course deep inside one of the bushes. After lunch we visited the Rondevlei and Malachite Bird Hides where we enjoyed great views of numerous water birds. We saw Greater Flamingo and African Spoonbill that fed at the shores, Red-knobbed Coot, Eurasian Moorhen, noisy African Swamphen, Little, Great Crested and Eared Grebes, Common Greenshank, Long-tailed Cormorant, Gull-billed Tern, Pied Kingfisher and a pair of stunning Malachite Kingfisher! In nearby bushes we also had great views of Piping Cisticola, Speckled Mousebird, very cute Four-striped Grass Mouse and Cape Grey Mongoose. We had had a nice relaxed day of birding and enjoyed dinner at another great restaurant in Wilderness.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
January 17 – Garden Route to Karoo National Park
We left Wilderness early to take the Swartberg Pass en route to the Karoo National Park. The Swartberg Pass is full of breathtaking views as it crosses the UNESCO World Heritage Site of the Groot Swartberg Nature Reserve, with incredible geology and beautiful wildlife. The weather was grey and drizzling first thing, reminding me of the Scottish Highlands, however in stead of Red Deer we had Klipspringer. Making periodic stops, we had views of Sentinel Rock-Thrush, Piping Cisticola, Karoo Prinia, both Common and Jackal Buzzard and a fabulous African Harrier-Hawk. Rock Hyrax peppered the rock formations and a shrubby kloof made home for a fantastic Victorin’s Warbler that we managed to coax out of hiding for great views. As the weather cleared a little, we were treated to more great views of Cape
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
Sugarbird and Orange-breasted Sunbird as they fed on the flowering Proteas. Cape Bunting and Southern Grey-headed Sparrow hopped about the rocks and Laughing Dove drank from the flowing streams.
We soon left the damp mountains behind us and were well and truly in the Karoo. Southern Fiscal could be seen dotted on telephone wires and African Stonechat on what seemed like every post. The drive to the Karoo National Park gave us our first amazing views of Pale Chanting-Goshawk and the incredibly well camouflaged and beautiful Namaqua Sandgrouse.
Once in the Karoo National Park, we were greeted by Springbok, Cape Mountain Zebra, Red Haartebeest, Common Eland and a family of Southern Chacma Baboons. After checking in to our lovely bungalows we took a short drive to acquaint ourselves with the avian residents of the camp. Rock Martin and White-throated Swallow soared and whipped past us, Common Ostrich could be seen towering over www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020 the short thickets and the camp ground gave us brilliant views of Fairy Flycatcher, Chestnut-vented Warbler, White-backed Mousebird and Malachite Sunbird. There were also lots of huge Leopard Tortoise around seeking shade in the hot afternoon sun. We took refuge from the sun in a hide near a small pond and enjoyed watching the Southern Masked Weavers (next page) as they built their incredible nests in the reeds. There were also Eurasian Moorhen, Pin-tailed Whydah, Southern Red Bishops, Lesser Striped Swallow and Black-headed Heron around the water too. We enjoyed a lovely meal as the sunset over the Karoo that evening, serenaded by Mountain Wheatears.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
January 18 – Karoo National Park
We woke early to a very wet Karoo that morning, but with packed breakfast in hand we headed away from camp and into the park to see what we could find. A few Sickle-winged Chat sat atop of bushes and the beautiful Karoo Gold, a bright yellow wildflower, did its best to brighten up a dull morning as it carpeted the grey land. Our morning was completely brightened up when we came across a mother and calf Black Rhinoceros (next page) grazing amongst the flowers. We were so incredibly lucky to have such an amazing few moments with these critically endangered animals. Not wanting to out stay our welcome with the mother and calf pair, we left them to their breakfast and saw Bokmakierie, Red-winged Starling www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020 and Black-fronted Bulbul. The rains were getting heavier and the participants decided that taking the rest of the morning off to bird from their bungalows suited them better. As we made our way back to camp, we came across yet another Black Rhinoceros (next page), this time a large male; despite the weather it had been a fantastic morning for the Rhinos alone. From our bungalows we saw Mountain Wheatear, Karoo Prinia, White-necked Raven, Pied Crow, Namaqua Sandgrouse and Cape Scrub Hare.
We took lunch in the nearby town of Beaufort West and drove some back roads in search of bustards and other specialties afterwards. The bustards remained aloof but we did muster up some more Sickle-winged Chat, Karoo Lark and Karoo Long-billed Lark. Back in the National Park, we drove the Klipspringer Pass taking us into the mountains. We saw Horus Swift, a migratory Booted Eagle, Greater Kestrel, Namaqua Warbler, Chat Flycatcher, Long-billed Pipit and added Gemsbok (next page) to our mammal list. Another highlight was having incredibly close views of Cape Cobra from our vehicle. We also had more views of Klipspringer and a family of Vervet Monkeys emerged from the bushes as we came back to camp.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
January 19 – Karoo National Park to Johannesburg
Today was a travel day from the west to east of South Africa, but on our long jaunt back to Cape Town we made a stop near the Tankwa Karoo National Park. Despite the weather being a little wet to say the least, we still had good sightings of Pale Chanting- Goshawk, Alpine Swift, Karoo Scrub-Robin, Karoo, Tractrac, Familiar and Sickle-winged Chat and Southern Anteater-Chat. We stopped at the roadside where I could see a Cardinal Woodpecker working some trees and subsequently found its nest. The same area also gave us great views of Yellow and White- throated Canary, Cape Bunting, Black-fronted Bulbul and Namaqua Dove. It was time to head back to Cape Town, but not without stopping for Lanner Falcon along the way. Our last bird of the Western Cape was House Crow whilst we refilled the hire car, but as we touched down in Johannesburg our first was White-winged Widowbird; whetting our appetite for what the east had in store for us. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
January 20 – Johannesburg to Kruger National Park
We had an early flight out of Johannesburg this morning, but it was completely worth it as we were heading to one of my favorite places in the world, the Kruger National Park. As we touched down in Nelspruit, Charlene and I already had our first mammals, a pair of Side-striped Jackal at the edge of the airstrip. Driving towards the Malelane Gate of southern Kruger, African Palm Swift were soaring and we made a stop at the bridge over the Crocodile River to see what new birds we could find. Our first new species was a stunning Saddle-billed Stork, next the world’s largest heron, Goliath Heron towering over the Great and Little Egrets that stalked next to it. Blacksmith Plover and Wattled Lapwing stood on the shores and Common Sandpiper pumped its tail. We also saw White-faced Whistling Duck, Pied Cuckoo, White-rumped Swift, Striated Heron, White-fronted Bee-eaters, a flyby Gray-headed Kingfisher, Lesser Striped Swallows and our first Nile Crocodile. After making a quick stop at the park gates to obtain our permit, we were in and excitedly making our way through the park! We were picking up new birds left, right and centre. We saw plenty of Swainson’s Francolin, Gray-go- away-bird a relative of the Knysna Turaco, Magpie, Red-backed and White-crowned Shrike, Cape Crombec, Zitting, Red-faced and Rock-loving Cisticola and a fleeting but beautiful Southern Cordonbleu. There were also plenty of larger species too, like the unmistakable Marabou Stork, Lappet-faced and Hooded www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
Vultures, Wahlberg’s Eagle, Gabar Goshawk, Trumpeter Hornbill and also a firm favorite, Bateleur. As we continued, we spooked a Sooty Falcon from its perch when we stopped for a herd of Impala, one of which had a Red-billed Oxpecker clinging on to it, much to the excitement of the participants. There are many incredibly colorful birds in the area, perhaps most popular, the Lilac-breasted Roller and they didn’t disappoint! Another beauty, Little Bee-eater sat dwarfed beside more White-fronted Bee-eaters. Kruger National Park is by no means just about the birds though and we were rattling through our mammal list too. From the immensely impressive and spiritual African Elephant, elegant Giraffe, comical Common Warthog, Plains Zebra, Greater Kudu, Common Waterbuck, to the teeny Common Dwarf Mongoose.
As lunch time was approaching, we made our way to check in to our camp for the night, Berg-en-dal and have a great meal. After a break during the heat of the day, we spent some time birding the camp, which is always worth it in Kruger. One of the participants had described a bird that she had seen near her www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020 bungalow so we went to check it out and see if we could track it down. I heard it call and knew instantly what she had seen, Purple-crested Turaco! It was up in the canopy just above us and giving great views. The camp had lots more to offer though, Woodland Kingfisher were seemly everywhere, calling constantly, Southern Yellow-billed and Southern Red-billed Hornbills were almost tame, Black-collared Barbet perched in the trees and Burchell’s Starling and Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling showed off their iridescence in the sunlight. It was the impressive male Violet-backed Starlings that got everyone really excited though! We came across a fruiting tree where a flock of Brown-headed Parrots were feeding and giving us amazing views, a Red-chested Cuckoo called nearby and allowed a brief view before it made off. Other favorites of the camp were a family of Retz’s Helmetshrike (next page), African Black-headed Oriole and African Gray Hornbill. We spent some time over looking the water as the light
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020 was beginning to fade and enjoyed views of African Golden Weaver, Giant and Pied Kingfisher, African Fish Eagle, Green-backed Cameroptera and Bushbuck. It had been a fantastic introduction to the national park and we had an early night in preparation of our even earlier morning.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
January 21 – Kruger National Park
We were up before sunrise to leave the camp as soon as the gates opened; this is a fantastic cross-over time of day to be in the park, the nocturnal animals are just finishing up their business and the diurnal animals are getting ready to start their day. We had only just left the camp gates when we had our first nocturnal species, Fiery-necked Nightjar! I spotted an Eastern Rock Sengi at the side of the road, but a Leopard walking along the road ahead of us completely distracted us! We were able to watch the Leopard go about her business, sniffing, scent marking and then eventually finding just the right length of grass to lie down in for her to completely disappear. We were so incredibly fortunate to have such a fantastic sighting of this majestic creature all to ourselves. We were picking up new birds everywhere too, Natal, Crested and Shelley’s Francolin, Great Spotted and Levaillant’s Cuckoo, Red-faced Mousebird, Black- crowned Tchagra, Southern Black Tit, Mariqua Flychatcher, Thursh Nightingale, Parasitic Weaver, stunning African Green Pigeon and Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove. We had our breakfast near a waterhole where were enjoyed watching the Red-billed Buffalo Weavers attend their nests, stunning Southern Carmine Bee-eaters, Marabou Storks, Three-banded Plover, Wood Sandpiper, Woolley- necked Stork and Hippopotamus.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
We were making our way north towards Skukuza Camp, where we would stop for lunch. Along the way we saw plenty of soaring birds, Martial Eagle, White-backed, Lappet-Faced and Hooded Vultures and a Eurasian Hobby. The roadside grasses and thickets were filled with Red-billed Quelea, as well as Chinspot Batis, Grosbeak Weaver, Village and Variable Indigobird, Yellow-crowned Bishops, Golden- and Cinnamon-breasted Bunting and Arrow-marked Babblers. Throughout the drive we were seeing large mammals such as Blue Wildebeest, Plains Zebra, African Elephant, Greater Kudu, Common Waterbuck, Common Duiker and African Buffalo. A river crossing gave us great views of African Pied Wagtail, Hamerkop and White-winged Widowbird. Just before we reached the Skukuza area we picked up some distant Common Scimitarbill and a pair of incredibly close Tawny Eagle.
Before we entered Skukuza Camp, we visited a hide at Lake Panic; a great hide that’s very close to the water and birdlife within it. There was an enormous Nile Crocodile hauled out on the bank of the island opposite us, with Grey and Striated Heron walking around it. A pair of African Jacana seemingly walked
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020 on water in front of us and we saw four species of kingfisher, Malachite, Brown-hooded, Pied and a tiny African Pygmy Kingfisher. We enjoyed a great lunch at Skukuza, looking out over the river where we could see a large bull African Buffalo, Nile Monitor and Lesser Masked Weavers.
The Habitat began to change as we headed further north towards our camp for the next two nights, Satara. Along the way we saw Double-banded Sandgrouse, White-headed and Senegal Lapwing, a wintering Eurasian Marsh-Harrier, Flappet Lark and Southern Chacma Baboons (next page). We were in search of Southern Ground Hornbill, but unfortunately, they just weren’t anywhere to be seen. A quick detour to a waterhole gave us great views of Knob-billed Duck, but sighting of the day came as we were getting closer to our destination. I could see a mammal lying at the side of the road ahead of us, I came to a stop to get it in my binoculars for a better look… African Wild Dog!!! I could not believe our luck!
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
This beautiful and very rare animal was just chilling at the side of the road, completely content and not bothered by our presence in the slightest. As we got a little closer, we could see the rest of the pack lying under a bush and in the long grass. It was amazing to see these animals, let alone so close, a lifer for me despite how much time I’ve spent in Kruger National Park. An unforgettable experience for us all.
That evening Charlene and I took an organized night drive from our camp, an experience that I always recommend when coming to Africa. We saw some wonderful animals that would usually be very secretive or indeed sleeping during the day, such as African Civet, Common Genet, African Wild Cat, Black- backed Jackal, Spotted Hyena and a pride of Lion with eight cubs right next to us! We also saw Square- tailed Nightjar and African Grass Owl, what a mega!
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
January 22 – Kruger National Park
With tiredness setting in amongst the group, we had breakfast at the camp this morning at a later time than we usually would with the aim to bird the camp afterwards. After hearing of our successful night drive the evening before, Ronna insisted that we head out into the bush in search of game instead of birding the camp. We left camp and had fabulous Green-winged Pytilia, Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark, Sabota Lark and White-headed Vulture to our list. As we neared the Olifants Camp, we had great views of Red-crested and Kori Bustard, African Cuckoo and Steppe Eagle. At lunch we were treated to more Arrow-marked Babblers and Yellow-billed Stork.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
On the way back to Satara Camp we saw plenty of African Elephant, Giraffe, Common Warthog, Steenbok and Common Slender Mongoose, as well as adding Fawn-colored and Melodious Lark to our bird list. Back at camp we took a short break before birding the camp ground. We had a fabulous haul consisting of Crested Barbet (next page), Lilac-breasted Roller, Southern Carmine Bee-eater, Woodland Kingfisher, Southern Yellow- and Red-billed Hornbills, Mourning Collared Dove, Eurasian Hoopoe, Green Woodhoopoe, Gray-go-away-bird, Little Swifts, Cape and Burchell’s Starlings, Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling, a migratory Willow Warbler and bird of the evening, Cut-throat!
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
January 23 – Kruger National Park to Johannesburg
It was our final morning in Kruger National Park, so we left camp early to make the most of the wildlife before heading back to Johannesburg this afternoon. Leaving camp, we watched a herd of Giraffe (next page) as the sun rose and we were greeted by the ever present Swainson’s Francolin and Helmeted Guineafowl, a Brown Snake-Eagle perched in a dead tree and couple of European Roller could be seen atop of thickets. I saw a pair of Spotted Hyena lying in the grass of a plain, their behavior suddenly changed and I could tell something else, something bigger, was around. I could see a heard of Blue Wildebeest and Plains Zebra a little further down, that were now surrounding their young. Scanning the distance, I got it, in between two shrubs stood a huge male Lion! Continuing towards our breakfast stop, we saw Magpie Shrike, Brown-crowned Tchagra, Tawny Eagle, Sabota Lark, Yellow Fronted Canary, www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
Bush Pipit and more Green-winged Pytilia. A pair of Gray-headed Bushshrike flew past but they were too quick for the participants to get on them. We arrived at the Tshokwane Pinic Site, where we enjoyed a nice hot breakfast and some great birds. We saw a gorgeous male Diderick Cuckoo, African Fish-Eagle, Village Weaver, Black Crake, Wire-tailed Swallow and White-browed Coucal, which is sometimes known as Burchell’s Coucal.
After a delicious breakfast we continued to make our way through the surrounding area and visited on of the highest points in the park, the Nkumbe Viewpoint. We saw Red-crested Bustard, Natal and Crested Francolins and I briefly saw a Coqui Francolin that refused to come out of hiding in the long grasses. We spent some time at the viewpoint watching the various animals on the savannah below, African Elephant, Giraffe, Common Ostrich and Saddle-billed Stork, then started to make our way back to Skukuza Camp. Along the way we made a stop at a waterhole with Black-winged Stilt, Crowned and Blacksmith Lapwing, Egyptian and Spur-winged Goose, Dwarf Bittern and a pair of African Pygmy Goose.
We had lunch at Skukua Camp over looking the water again, watching Red-collared Widowbirds and Southern Cordonbleu before heading to the small airport nearby, saying our goodbyes to Kruger National Park as we made way for the big city, Johannesburg.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
Eastern Endemics & Drakensberg Extension
January 24 – Johannesberg to Wakkerstroom
We had an early start this morning to try and escape the inevitable traffic of Johannesburg, once we were out of the city, we found ourselves alone on the roads. We had a great birding stop along a road near the Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve, we drove slowly, stopping periodically to take in all of its great birds. Most striking of all were the male Long-tailed Widowbirds in all their breeding glory, we also saw Red-collared and White-winged Widowbirds, Pin-tailed Whydah, African Stonechat, Common Waxbill, African Pipit, Black-throated and Yellow Canary, Klaas’s Cuckoo and two of our targets, Eastern Clapper and Eastern Long-billed Lark. The grasses were filled with Yellow-crowned and Southern Red Bishops, Red-billed Quelea and we also saw Zitting and Wailing Cisticola. As we reached the end of the road, we were met by a flurry of European Bee-eaters and a sweet Black-chested Prinia.
Our next birding stop of the morning was to the Marievale Bird Sanctuary, a great wetlands area that’s full to the brim with birds. We tallied up quite the bird list as we drove around the various lakes and stopped at hides. Duck species included Hottentot Teal, Cape Shoveler, Yellow-billed and Red-billed Ducks. There were plenty of shorebirds too, Ruff, Kitlitz’s, Common Ringed and Three-banded Plovers, Little Stint, Black-winged Stilt, Red Knot and Sanderling. Black Crake, African Swamphen and Eurasian Moorhen slinked in the reeds and gorgeous Squacco and Black Herons could be seen beside them. An www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
African Marsh-Harrier worked the reedbeds as Whiskered and a single White-winged Tern looked for fish. We also had great views of Fan-tailed Widowbird and Little Bittern; this time much more visible.
We made way for Wakkerstroom where the grasslands opened up and it wasn’t long before we had our first Southern Bald Ibis right at the roadside. A herd of Blesbok grazed in a nearby field and Orange- throated Longclaw and Yellow Mongoose dashed about whilst Wing-snapping Cisticola perched in the grasses. It had been a long drive for the participants so they decided to relax at our lovely hotel for the late afternoon and save the birding for tomorrow.
January 25 – Wakkerstroom
We had a full day of birding the Wakkerstroom area today and were in the hands of our local guide, Lucky. Meeting us early, we headed out for some pre-breakfast birding visiting local sites that he knew very well. Driving along the vast grasslands we saw some distant Gray-crowned and Blue Cranes. We www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
made our way up into the hills where after some searching, we had ourselves Yellow Breasted Pipit, another large flock of Southern Bald Ibis, Lanner Falcon and finally White-bellied Bustard; they had given us quite the run around! Another area we visited was home to nesting South African Swallows, we heard Cape Grassbird here too and saw Black-winged Lapwing amongst a flock of Wattled Lapwing. A roadside stop gave us fantastic views of Bush Blackcap and a Drankensberg Prinia called from a bush up the hillside. There were plenty of African Stonechat, Southern Anteater- Chat, Yellow-crowned Bishop and a few Rufous- napped Lark. On our way back to our hotel for breakfast we passed a wetland where we saw South African Shelduck, Whiskered Terns and Banded Martins.
We had a great breakfast and with one participant deciding to stay behind at the hotel, we headed back out into the vast countryside in search of our targets. There were plenty of raptors around including Common and Jackal Buzzards, African Marsh-Harrier, Black-winged Kite, but most impressively, tens of Amur Falcon (next page), we saw at least 60 in one spot alone! Checking out some trees, we had great views of a very unique bird, Rufous-necked Wryneck. Heading further into the hills we were picking up new birds all around, Spike-heeled Lark (page after next), Cloud Cisticola, we heard Pale-crowned Cisticola but www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
couldn’t track it down in the wind, Buff-streaked Chat and a family of delightful Meerkat! We carried on though in search of our main targets and it wasn’t long before we had them in the bag. At one stop near a village, we walked out into the grasslands and had our target within minutes, Rudd’s Lark. Next up was a small reserve in the middle of some quiet grasslands. Taking the marked out tracks we got out of the vehicle and could hear our target, then there it was flying up in front of us, Botha’s Lark! These grasslands also gave us great views of Quailfinch and a fleeting glimpse of Common Quail. We headed back to the hotel for a delicious lunch.
Back out for one final stint that afternoon, we were in search of more bustards, namely the Blue Bustard, but unfortunately it wasn’t to be. We did have scope views of Denham’s Bustard, more Eastern Clapper Lark, Mountain Wheatear, Long-tailed and Red-collared Widowbirds, Red-capped Lark and Wing- snapping Cisticola. There were lots of mammals around too, including Steenbok, Blesbok, Black Wildebeest, Sable Antelope and Yellow Mongoose. With the participants happy with their days haul, we www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020 said our goodbyes to Lucky and made our way back to the hotel for a lovely meal out on the porch as the sun set.
January 26 – Wakkerstroom to Mkhuze
We had some pre-breakfast birding to do this morning and made our way to a local wetland. Lesser Swamp and African Reed Warblers called from the reedbeds, Banded Martin, White-throated and Barn Swallows soared and we could see African Black and Yellow-billed Duck from the hide. Our main target here though was African Rail and after a little patience we had it in the bag with fantastic views of this elusive bird.
We had ourselves another long drive on the cards today as we were heading for the Mkuze Game Reserve in the province of KwaZulu-Natal. As we nearer the reserve, a garden which appeared like an oasis in an www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020 arid land had attracted Yellow-throated Longclaw, Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Common Bulbul, Black-bellied Starling and White-browed Robin-Chat. After arriving into the reserve, we were soon picking up new species, White Helmetshrike, Eastern Paradise-Whydah was a firm favorite, as was Striped kingfisher that appeared for the clients when I went into reception to check us in. There were Impala and Nyala all throughout the camp too. We settled into our shared cottage, it was extremely hot outside and the participants decided that they were done birding for the day. So, with a few errands to run, I set off to the shop and reception and added a few species to the trip list in doing so. I saw Yellow- throated Bush Sparrow, Rudd’s Apalis, Common Square-tailed Drongo and also saw Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove, Black-collared Barbet and Golden-breasted Bunting and an extremely shy Suni. With no one attending a night drive that evening, we tried for any owls that may have been hanging around but with no response, but instead I found a Little Free-tailed Bat that had somehow found herself in our bathtub; I promptly released her!
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
January 27 – Mkhuze Game Reserve to St Lucia
We started our morning by birding around the Mantuma Camp, as for most of our tour, it was incredibly windy and birds seemed to be laying low. We had fabulous views of a flock of Violet-backed Starlings, who appeared to be following us around the camp. Next, we enjoyed watching a family of noisy Green Woodhoopoe, Pale Flycatcher, Yellow-fronted Canary and the endemic Rudd’s Apalis were also seen. We found Red- fronted Tinkerbird in one of the thickets and a pair of Golden- tailed Woodpecker were working the tree trunks. We also had good views of the usually difficult Woodward’s Batis, a fleeting Grey Tit-Flycatcher, Southern Tchagra and everyone’s favorite, Southern Cordonbleu. We made our way to the Ensumo Pan, the wind was relentless by now so we took shelter in the vehicle for our packed breakfast. Whilst eating though we saw African Pied Wagtail, Red-backed Scrub-Robin, www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
Sombre and Yellow-bellied Greenbul. As we walked down towards the pan, we were gratefully distracted by beautiful male Neergaard’s Sunbird. A single Collared Pratincole flew over and as we reached the pan it looked more like the ocean with waves cresting across it. A pod of Hippopotamus could be seen in the distance and African Jacana danced on the lily pads. We also had great views of Pink-backed Pelican through the telescope. Retreating from the wind we headed for a sheltered hide to see if any other species would turn up there. Along the way we saw Scarlet-chested Sunbird, Southern Black Flycatcher, Sabota Lark and Rattling Cisticola. Settling in to the hide, a Purple-crested Turaco was sat on the edge of a bush before squirrelling up the trunk of a near tree, out of sight. The shore of the waterhole was littered with Emerald-spotted Wood-Doves, Black-bellied Starlings, Yellow-fronted Canaries, Red-billed Oxpeckers and Three-banded Plovers (next page). We also saw Plains Zebra, Common Warthog, Impala and Nyala whilst driving through the park.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
We were on the road to south to St Lucia, an idyllic town renowned for it’s fabulous birding. The weather had taken a turn for the worst and we were met with torrential rains, this didn’t stop us spotting some African Golden Weaver as we crossed the river though. We settled into our hotel and waited for the weather to improve a little. Later in the afternoon we took a drive out to the boardwalk at the beach to see what we could pick up. Driving with the window down I caught the end of an interesting call, pulling over and looking up into the tropical forest backdrop, we had our second turaco of the day, Livingstone’s Turaco; what a fantastic bird! A couple of Red Duiker grazed nearby and as we pulled into the carpark, we saw a family of Banded Mongoose. The rains were starting to return but we made our way along the walk, opening out towards the beach we could see Caspian Terns patrolling and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters foraging. We decided to call it a day and enjoyed watching the Red Bush Squirrels and White-eared Barbets from dinner. www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
January 28 – St Lucia to Eshowe We visited the wonderful Gwala-gwala trail for some pre-breakfast birding, just a short drive from our hotel, I can’t think of a better way to start a day. On the way, we spotted Crowned Hornbill atop a fruiting tree, as it took off, we were distracted by a group of Crested Guineafowl with their extravagant top-knots. The forest was alive with birds and as we took the relatively short trail, we were racking up our birds for the day. Trumpeter Hornbills called from the treetops, we only heard Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike but had great views of Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird and White-eared Barbet. Another family of Crested Guineafowl, this time with chicks, lead the way for us and we caught up with mixed flocks as we turned the corner. The flocks were alive with duetting Southern Boubou, Black-backed Puffback, Common Square-tailed Drongo, Green-backed Camaroptera, Yellow-bellied Greenbul and Brubru. As we continued to walk, we had wonderful views of Collared Sunbird, Forest Weaver and Red-capped Robin-Chat. In the undergrowth we found Terrestrial Brownbul, Sombre Greenbul called from the canopy and we were delighted to see more Livingstone’s Turaco.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
After a good breakfast back at our lodge, we checked out and made our way to the eastern shores section of the isiMangaliso Wetland Park. It was already very hot and the birds seemed to be lying low, our main target was Black-breasted Snake- Eagle but unfortunately, we couldn’t see it anywhere. From the hide at the now dried-up pan, we did see a surprise immature Crowned Eagle soaring, there were very little other birds there due to it being so dry but we did see African Buffalo, Plains Zebra, Blue Wildebeest, Impala and Greater Kudu. As we moved through the park, we saw more European and Blue- cheeked Bee-eaters, Ashy Flycatcher and a big surprise Mangrove Kingfisher! A very rare bird. We headed down to Mission Rocks where we could get out and stretch our legs a little, with the participants not wanting to walk in the heat we sat in a shaded picnic site and heard Brown Scrub-Robin and had wonderful views of male Collared Sunbird and an almost tame Yellow-billed Kite. We drove back to town where we had a tasty www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020 seafood lunch, then hit the road to make it to our base for the next two nights, Eshowe. Along the way we saw the usual roadside suspects as well as Striped Pipit and a perched African Hawk-Eagle.
We were greeted by a flock of Bronze Mannikin as we turned the corner to our accommodation. The long days were catching up with us so instead of going out birding for the late afternoon we opted to bird the beautiful gardens of our guesthouse. We saw Purple-crested Turaco, Trumpeter Hornbill, Speckled Mouse-bird, African Palm Swift, Black-collared Barbet, Olive Woodpecker, Cape White-eye, red-backed Black-and-white Mannikin and a gorgeous pair of Woolley-necked Storks. We enjoyed a fantastic home cooked meal that evening with great company.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
January 29 – oNgoye Forest, Umalazi Nature Reserve and Dlinza Forest
We left with our packed breakfast early and headed to the oNgoye Forest Reserve, this is a remnant patch of coastal forest surrounded by grasslands and home to one of our main targets. We were unable to penetrate the forest due to the uneven ground not being suitable for some of the group, so instead took the much easier option and birded from the flat road. We had fantastic views of Samango Monkey as the troop fed in the fruiting trees. A mixed flock gave us great views of Golden-tailed Woodpecker, White- eared and Black-collared Barbet, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird, Common Square-tailed Drongo, Common Bulbul and Black-bellied Starling and we could hear a Green Malkoha calling. Our target for this forest is the Green Barbet, we could hear it calling clearly in the forest but with us being unable to approach and it not coming closer we had to make do with it being heard only. We enjoyed watching a small flock of Trumpeter Hornbill (next page) whilst we ate our breakfast and decided to make way for the town of
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
Mtunzini shortly afterwards. On the way we saw our daily Barn Swallow, Lesser Striped Swallow, Pied Crow and Southern Tchagra.
We visited the Raffia Palms and took the boardwalk in search of the famed Palm-nut Vultures; they are the most southernly population in the world. The walk was weirdly almost void of birds, we did see some Collared Sunbird, Cape White-eye and Sombre Greenbul but no vultures. We met some other birders along the way who were equally bemused about how quiet it was. We had a delicious lunch at a local restaurant, made even better by an African Fish-Eagle flying by. After lunch we visited the Umlalazi Nature Reserve where we hoped to find another target, Black-throated Wattle-eye. We had no luck with the wattle-eye but as we were about to step back into the car, I saw something fly into the trees, something big! We walked into the forest to investigate and I couldn’t believe our luck, a Palm-nut
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
Vulture had flown in just yards from us! It flushed almost as quickly as it had entered but we were delighted with our sighting!
With time to spare this afternoon, we headed to the Dlinza Forest Nature Reserve, situated very close to our B&B. Taking the aerial boardwalk we saw Purple-crested Turaco, an all too brief Yellow-streaked Greenbul and heard Red-chested Cuckoo. We then spent some time in the bird hide where we were treated to fabulous views of Tambourine Dove, Black-and-white Mannikin (Red-backed) and an absolutely gorgeous Green-backed Twinspot. We enjoyed another delicious homecooked meal at our guesthouse that evening.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
January 30 – Dlinza Forest to Underberg
We were back at Dlinza Forest for opening time for some pre-breakfast birding. It was a very wet morning but we made our way across the aerial boardwalk and up the viewing tower. Despite the now torrential rain, we saw Rameron Pigeon and our main target, Delegorgue’s Pigeon just across the forest from us. The rain was keeping most things a bay but a fruiting tree next to us contained Common Bulbul and a lovely Grey Cuckooshrike. We could hear a Narina Trogon calling across the forest but despite our best efforts couldn’t find it through the foliage and rain. Purple-crested Turaco and Trumpeter Hornbill called and went to find shelter in the nearby bird hide. Here we saw six Lemon Dove all feeding and displaying, not a bad way to start the day. We enjoyed another great breakfast at our guesthouse, said our goodbyes to the garden Woolley-necked Storks and Violet-backed Starlings and headed on our way to our final destination of the tour, the Drakensberg.
We stopped for lunch in the town of Howick and drove some back roads in search of cranes. One loop gave us cracking views of Grey-crowned Crane, 30 in a field, Blue Crane, Red-winged Cisticola, White www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
Stork, Common and Jackal Buzzards, Black-winged Kite and a troop of Vervet Monkeys. We also visited a conservation centre with wetland hides, where our first Long- crested Eagle perched atop of a telegraph pole. As we approached the hide, I could hear a Red-chested Flufftail calling from the reeds in front of us. After it little coaxing it showed itself briefly before dropping back into the reeds, what a fantastic bird! From the hides we also saw Egyptian and Spur-winged Goose, South African Shelduck, Yellow- and Red-billed Ducks, Little Grebe, Black Crake, Red-knobbed Coots, African Darter, African Spoonbill and outstanding views of African Snipe as it foraged on the shore. Fan- tailed, White-winged and Red- collared Widowbird and Forest and Yellow-fronted Canaries were also seen in the surrounding grasses. After a great afternoon it was time to press on to Underberg, as we entered our wonderful guesthouse grounds, we saw Amethyst Sunbird and a chirpy Cape Robin-Chat.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
January 31 – Sani Pass, Lesotho
Today is one of the best days of the tour, for the scenery, the birds and adventure! We were picked up early by our local guide in his 4x4 and started our morning’s birding at a nearby river. We soon saw African Black and Yellow-billed Duck, Long-tailed Cormorant, Long-crested Eagle and our target, a pair of stunning Half-collared Kingfishers. We made a couple more stops along the road and saw Rufous- chested Sparrowhawk, Horus Swift, Bush Blackcap and heard Red-necked Francolin and African Firefinch. As we began to climb the Sani Pass road, we had great views of African Yellow-Warbler, Cape Grassbird, fleeting Barratt’s Warbler, Rock Martin, Cape Bunting and Rufous-throated Wryneck. Flowering Proteas provided food for Malachite and Southern Double-collared Sunbirds and we completed a family with Gurney’s Sugarbird, what a corker it was. We enjoyed their presence whilst eating our packed breakfast and enjoying the amazing views. Rock Hyrax hopped over the rocks and we had fantastic views of one of our main targets, Drakensberg Rockjumper! Further along the breathtaking pass we saw Cape Rock-Thrush, Drakensberg Prinia, Cape Griffon and Buff-streaked Chat. As we
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020 passed the South African border into Lesotho, we were treated to families of Ground Woodpecker (next page), Sentinal Rock-Thrush and sweet Drakensberg Siskin. At the top of the mountain pass, we had our passports stamped and were able to stretch our legs, watching the Drakensberg Siskins feed on the Red- hot Poker flowers along with Cape Sparrow and Red-winged Starlings. The Sloggett’s Ice Rat (next page), an endemic mammal species was also seen scurrying around between the rocks, resembling a Pika. The vast grasslands were filled with Southern Bald Ibis and as we entered further into the mountain kingdom, we found a nesting Gray Tit, Familiar Chat, Southern Anteater-Chat, Brimstone, Yellow and Cape Canaries and after a short walk, Layard’s Warbler. We found a great spot to stop for lunch where a pair of Verreaux’s Eagles were seeming searching for a nesting site and were displaying overhead. We also saw a distant Bearded Vulture and had telescope views of Yellow-tufted Pipit. It’s not just wildlife in the mountains here and we were able to have an insight into how the people live here, seeing the small chalets that the Sheppard boys call home and what a truly difficult and sometimes lonely life they must live up on the mountains.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
The road takes a skilled driver to navigate and we couldn’t have asked for a better one, we took our time, stopping for better views of Barratt’s Warbler as we went. When we stopped at the South African border crossing, we treated to a much closer view of Bearded Vulture, one of our top targets. With some time to spare, we made our way into the lowlands to clean up on any missing species. We tried and tried to catch up with a pair of Wattled Crane but they had already moved on. We saw lots of Yellow and Southern Red Bishops, Long- and Fan-tailed Widowbirds, Wailing and Pale-crowned Cisticola, African Marsh-Harrier, Grey-crowned and Blue Cranes and a new mammal for us, Common Reedbuck. It had been an incredible day and we celebrated with a lovely meal at a local restaurant.
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
February 1 – Marutswa Forest to Durban
For our final morning of the tour, we left our lovely guesthouse early and headed to the Marutswa Forest in the Natal Midlands. Reaching the abandoned visitor centre, we parked up set up the telescope whilst we ate our packed breakfast. When scanning the nearby by forest I spotted a pair of Peregrine Falcons, fantastic birds but I was worried that they may keep our target species a bay. Then suddenly, I heard their distinctive calls, a flock of ten Cape Parrots came flying overhead with two perching perfectly atop of a dead tree ahead of us. It was a great way to eat our breakfast, we also had more excellent views of Rameron Pigeon, with their bright yellow beaks shining in the early morning sun. Tiredness had well and truly set in for the group, so instead of taking the longer walk into the forest for species such as Orange
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Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
Ground-Thrush, we just walked a short way along the trail. We were very happy with the species we did see though and it was fantastic to see Knysna Turaco again, African Paradise-Flycatcher, Sombre Greenbul, Common Bulbul and Brimstone Canary.
As we drove through Howick one last time, we decided to try for the aloof Wattle Crane again, but instead saw White Stork, Gray-crowned and Blue Crane, Black-headed Heron, Speckled Mousebird (previous page), Fork-tailed Drongo and of course the ever present Hadada Ibis. It was time to make our way to Durban and say our goodbyes as we enjoyed a lovely lunch to end an unforgettable tour.
The magnificent Sani Pass, descending from Lesotho www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
Bird List
The taxonomy of the bird list follows: Clements, James F., White, Anthony W., and Fitzpatrick, John W. The Clements Checklist of Birds of the World. Cornell, 2007. This list is up to date with the major changes published by Cornell up until August 2019.
Regional endemic species are indicated in column 4 with an E (endemic), NE (near-endemic), E* (endemic if split) and I (introduced). In column 5 species IUCN Red List status is indicated with CR (Critically Endangered), EN (Endangered) or NT (Near Threatened). Column 6 indicated if species were heard only (H) or seen only by the guide (G).
Ostriches (Struthionidae) 1 Common Ostrich Struthio camelus Ducks, Geese and Waterfowl (Anatidae) 2 White-faced Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna viduata 3 White-backed Duck Thalassornis leuconotus 4 Knob-billed Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos 5 Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca 6 South African Shelduck Tadorna cana E 7 Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis 8 African Pygmy-Goose Nettapus auritus 9 Hottentot Teal Anas hottentota 10 Cape Shoveler Anas smithii NE 11 African Black Duck Anas sparsa 12 Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata 13 Cape Teal Anas capensis 14 Red-billed Duck (Teal) Anas erythrorhyncha 15 Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma Guineafowl (Numididae) 16 Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris 17 Crested Guneafowl Guttera pucherani Pheasants, Grouse and Allies (Phasianidae) 18 Common Quail Coturnix coturnix 19 Cape Francolin (Spurfowl) Francolinus capensis E 20 Natal Francolin (Spurfowl) Francolinus natalensis NE 21 Swainson's Francolin (Spurfowl) Francolinus swainsonii www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
22 Red-necked Francolin (Spurfowl) Francolinus afer H 23 Crested Francolin Francolinus sephaena 24 Coqui Francolin Francolinus coqui 25 Red-winged Francolin Scleroptila levaillantii 26 Gray-winged Francolin Scleroptila afra E 27 Shelley's Francolin Scleroptila shelleyi Flamingos (Phoenicopteridae) 28 Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus 29 Lesser Flamingo Phoenicopterus minor NT Grebes (Podicipedidae) 30 Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis 31 Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus 32 Eared (Black-necked) Grebe Podiceps nigricollis Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae) 33 Rock Pigeon Columba livia I 34 Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea 35 Rameron (African Olive) Pigeon Columba arquatrix Delegorgue's (E. Bronze-naped) 36 Pigeon Columba delegorguei 37 Lemon Dove Columba larvata 38 (African) Mourning Collared-Dove Streptopelia decipiens 39 Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata 40 Ring-necked (Cape Turtle-) Dove Streptopelia capicola 41 Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis 42 Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove Turtur chalcospilos 43 Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria 44 Namaqua Dove Oena capensis 45 African Green-Pigeon Treron calvus Sandgrouse (Pteroclidae) 46 Namaqua Sandgrouse Pterocles namaqua NE 47 Double-banded Sandgrouse Pterocles bicinctus NE Bustards (Otididae) 48 Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori NT 49 Stanley (Denham's) Bustard Neotis denhami E* NT Eupodotis senegalensis 50 White-bellied (Barrow's) Bustard (barrowii) E* 51 Red-crested Bustard (Korhaan) Eupodotis ruficrista NE 52 (Southern) Black Bustard (Korhaan) Eupodotis afra E VU Turacos (Musophagidae) 53 Livingstone's Turaco Tauraco livingstonii 54 Knysna Turaco Tauraco corythaix E 55 Purple-crested Turaco Tauraco porphyreolophus 56 Gray Go-away-bird Corythaixoides concolor Cuckoos (Cuculidae) www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
57 White-browed (Burchell's) Coucal Centropus superciliosus E* 58 Green Malkoha Ceuthmochares australis H 59 Great Spotted Cuckoo Clamator glandarius 60 Levaillant's Cuckoo Oxylophus levaillantii 61 Pied (Jacobin) Cuckoo Clamator jacobinus 62 Diderick Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius 63 Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas 64 Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius 65 African Cuckoo Cuculus gularis Nightjars and Allies (Caprimulgidae) 66 Fiery-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus pectoralis 67 Square-tailed Nightjar Caprimulgus fossii Swifts (Apodidae) 68 Alpine Swift Apus melba 69 Common Swift Apus apus 70 African (Black) Swift Apus barbatus 71 Little Swift Apus affinis 72 Horus Swift Apus horus 73 White-rumped Swift Apus caffer 74 African Palm-Swift Cypsiurus parvus Flufftails (Sarothruridae) 75 Buff-spotted Flufftail Sarothrura elegans 76 Red-chested Flufftail Sarothrura rufa Rails, Gallinules and Coots (Rallidae) 77 African Rail Rallus caerulescens 78 Eurasian Moorhen Gallinula chloropus 79 Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata 80 African Swamphen Porphyrio madagascariensis 81 Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostra Cranes (Gruidae) 82 Gray Crowned-Crane Balearica regulorum EN 83 Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus E VU Thick-knees (Burhinidae) 84 Water Thick-knee Burhinus vermiculatus 85 Spotted Thick-knee Burhinus capensis Stilts and Avocets (Recurvirostridae) 86 Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus 87 Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta Oystercatchers (Haematopodidae) 88 African Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini NE NT Plovers and Lapwings (Charadriidae) 89 Blacksmith (Plover) Lapwing Vanellus armatus 90 White-headed (-crowned) Lapwing Vanellus albiceps 91 Senegal Lapwing Vanellus lugubris www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
92 Black-winged Lapwing Vanellus melanopterus 93 Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus 94 (African) Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus 95 Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius 96 Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula 97 Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris 98 White-fronted Plover Charadrius marginatus 99 Chestnut-banded Plover Charadrius pallidus NT Jacanas (Jacanidae) 100 African Jacana Actophilornis africanus Sandpipers and Allies (Scolopacidae) 101 Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 102 Red Knot Calidris canutus 103 Ruff Calidris pugnax 104 Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea 105 Sanderling Calidris alba 106 Little Stint Calidris minuta 107 African Snipe Gallinago nigripennis 108 Wilson's Phalarope Phalaropus tricolor 109 Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos 110 Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia 111 Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis 112 Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola Practincoles and Coursers (Glareolidae) 113 Temminck's Courser Cursorius temminckii 114 Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola Gulls, Terns and Skimmers (Laridae) 115 Gray-hooded Gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus 116 Hartlaub's Gull Chroicocephalus hartlaubii E 117 Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus 118 Little Tern Sternula albifrons 119 Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica 120 Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 121 White-winged Tern Chlidonias leucopterus 122 Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida 123 Great Crested (Swift) Tern Thalasseus bergii 124 Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis Penguins (Spheniscidae) 125 African Penguin Spheniscus demersus E EN Storks (Ciconiidae) 126 Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus VU 127 White Stork Ciconia ciconia www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
Ephippiorhynchus 128 Saddle-billed Stork senegalensis 129 Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumenifer 130 Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis Boobies and Gannets (Sulidae) 131 Cape Gannet Morus capensis BE EN Anhingas (Anhingidae) 132 African Darter Anhinga rufa Cormorants and Shags (Phalacrocoracidae) 133 Long-tailed (Reed) Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus 134 Crowned Cormorant Phalacrocorax coronatus E NT 135 Great (White-breasted) Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo (lucidus) 136 Cape Cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis NE EN 137 Bank Cormorant Phalacrocorax neglectus E EN Pelicans (Pelecanidae) 138 Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus 139 Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens Hamerkop (Scopidae) 140 Hamerkop Scopus umbretta Herons, Egrets and Bitterns (Ardeidae) 141 Little Bittern Ixobrychus minutus 142 Dwarf Bittern Ixobrychus sturmii 143 Gray Heron Ardea cinerea 144 Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala 145 Goliath Heron Ardea goliath 146 Purple Heron Ardea purpurea 147 Great Egret Ardea alba 148 Intermediate (Yellow-billed) Egret Mesophoyx intermedia 149 Little Egret Egretta garzetta 150 Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca 151 Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 152 Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides 153 Striated Heron Butorides striata 154 Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Ibises and Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae) 155 Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus 156 African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus 157 Southern Bald Ibis E VU 158 Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash 159 African Spoonbill Platalea alba Secretarybird (Sagittariidae) www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
160 Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius VU Hawks, Eagles and Kites (Accipitridae) 161 Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus 162 African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus 163 Palm-nut Vulture Gypohierax angolensis 164 Bearded Vulture (Lammergier) Gypaetus barbatus 165 White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis CR 166 Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus EN 167 Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus CR 168 White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus CR 169 Cape Griffon (Vulture) Gyps coprotheres E EN 170 Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus NT 171 Brown Snake-Eagle Circaetus cinereus 172 Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus NT 173 Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus VU 174 Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis 175 Wahlberg's Eagle Hieraaetus wahlbergi 176 Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus 177 Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax VU 178 Steppe Eagle Aquila nipalensis 179 Verreaux's Eagle Aquila verreauxii 180 African Hawk-Eagle Aquila spilogaster G 181 Pale Chanting-Goshawk Melierax canorus NE 182 Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar 183 Eurasian Marsh-Harrier Circus aeruginosus 184 African Marsh-Harrier Circus ranivorus 185 Black Harrier Circus maurus E EN 186 African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro 187 Rufous-chested Sparrowhawk Accipiter rufiventris 188 Black (Yellow-billed) Kite Milvus migrans (parasitus) 189 African Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer 190 Common (Steppe) Buzzard Buteo buteo (vulpinus) 191 Jackal Buzzard Buteo rufofuscus E Barn-Owls (Tytonidae) 192 African Grass-Owl Tyto capensis Owls (Strigidae) 193 Southern White-faced Owl Ptilopsis granti H Mousebirds (Coliidae) 194 Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus 195 White-backed Mousebird Colius colius E 196 Red-faced Mousebird Urocolius indicus Trogons (Trogonidae) 197 Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina H www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
Hoopoes (Upupidae) 198 Eurasian (African) Hoopoe Upupa epops (africana) Woodhoopoes and Scimitarbills (Phoeniculidae) 199 Green Woodhoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus 200 Common Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas Hornbills (Bucerotidae) 201 Crowned Hornbill Tockus alboterminatus 202 African Gray Hornbill Tockus nasutus 203 Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus leucomelas NE 204 Southern Red-billed Hornbill Tockus rufirostris 205 Trumpeter Hornbill Ceratogymna bucinator Kingfishers (Alcedinidae) 206 Half-collared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata 207 Malachite Kingfisher Corythornis cristatus 208 African Pygmy Kingfisher Ispidina picta 209 Gray-headed Kingfisher Halcyon leucocephala 210 Woodland Kingfisher Halcyon senegalensis 211 Mangrove kingfisher Halacyon senegaloides 212 Brown-hooded kingfisher Halcyon albiventris 213 Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti 214 Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maximus 215 Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis Bee-eaters (Meropidae) 216 White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides 217 Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus 218 Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus 219 European Bee-eater Merops apiaster 220 Southern Carmine Bee-eater Merops nubicoides Rollers (Coraciidae) 221 European Roller Coracias garrulus 222 Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus African Barbets (Lybiidae) 223 Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii 224 White-eared Barbet Stactolaema leucotis 225 Green Barbet Stactolaema olivacea H 226 Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus bilineatus 227 Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus pusillus 228 (Acacia) Pied Barbet Tricholaema leucomelas NE 229 Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus Woodpeckers (Picidae) 230 Rufous-necked Wryneck Jynx ruficollis 231 Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens 232 Bearded Woodpecker Dendropicos namaquus G 233 Olive Woodpecker Dendropicos griseocephalus www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
234 Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus E 235 Golden-tailed Woodpecker Campethera abingoni Falcons (Falconidae) 236 Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni 237 Rock Kestrel Falco rupicolus 238 Greater Kestrel Falco rupicoloides 239 Amur Falcon Falco amurensis 240 Sooty Falcon Falco concolor 241 Eurasian Hobby Falco subbuteo 242 Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus 243 Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus African Parrots (Psittacidae) 244 Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus E VU 245 Brown-headed Parrot Poicephalus cryptoxanthus Cuckooshrikes (Campephagidae) 246 Gray Cuckooshrike Coracina caesia Old World Orioles (Oriolidae) 247 African Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus Wattle-eyes and Batises (Platysteiridae) 248 Cape Batis Batis capensis E 249 Woodward's Batis Batis fratum 250 Chinspot Batis Batis molitor NE Vangas, Helmetshrikes and Allies (Vangidae) 251 White Helmetshrike Prionops plumatus 252 Retz's Helmetshrike Prionops retzii Bushshrikes and Allies (Malaconotidae) 253 Brubru Nilaus afer 254 Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus cubla 255 Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegalus 256 Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis 257 Southern Tchagra Tchagra tchagra E 258 Southern Boubou Laniarius ferrugineus E 259 Bokmakierie Telophorus zeylonus E Sulphur (Orange)-breasted 260 Bushshrike Telophorus sulfureopectus H 261 Olive Bushshrike Telophorus olivaceus NE 262 Gray-headed Bushshrike Malaconotus blanchoti G Drongos (Dicruridae) 263 Common Square-tailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii 264 Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis Monarch Flycatchers (Monarchidae) www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
African (Blue-mantled) Crested- 265 Flycatcher Trochocercus cyanomelas 266 African Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis Shrikes (Laniidae) 267 Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio 268 Lesser Grey Shrike Lanius minor 269 Southern (Common) Fiscal Lanius collaris 270 Magpie Shrike Corvinella melanoleuca 271 (Southern) White-crowned Shrike Eurocephalus anguitimens NE Crows, Jays and Magpies (Corvidae) 272 House Crow Corvus splendens I 273 Cape Crow Corvus capensis 274 Pied Crow Corvus albus 275 White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis Rockjumpers (Chaetopidae) 276 Cape Rockjumper Chaetops frenatus E H 277 Drakensberg Rockjumper Chaetops aurantius E Fairy Flycatchers (Stenostiridae) 278 Fairy Flycatcher Stenostira scita E Tits, Chickadees and Titmice (Paridae) 279 Southern Black-Tit Melaniparus niger 280 (Southern) Gray Tit Melaniparus afer E Penduline-Tits (Remizidae) 281 Southern (Cape) Penduline-Tit Anthoscopus minutus NE Larks (Alaudidae) 282 Spike-heeled Lark Chersomanes albofasciata NE 283 Karoo Long-billed Lark Certhilauda subcoronata E 284 Eastern Long-billed Lark Certhilauda semitorquata E 285 Cape (Long-billed) Lark Certhilauda curvirostris E 286 Agulhas (Long-billed) Lark Certhilauda brevirostris E 287 Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix leucotis 288 Sabota Lark Calendulauda sabota NE 289 Fawn-coloured Lark Calendalauda africanoides NE 290 Karoo Lark Calendulauda albescens E 291 Rudd's Lark Heteromirafra ruddi E EN 292 Cape Clapper Lark Mirafra apiata E 293 Eastern Clapper Lark Mirafra fasciolata NE 294 Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana 295 Flappet Lark Mirafra rufocinnamomea 296 Monotonous Lark Mirafra passerina 297 Latakoo (Melodious) Lark Mirafra cheniana E NT 298 Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea 299 Botha's Lark Spizocorys fringillaris E EN www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
300 Large-billed (Thick-billed) Lark Galerida magnirostris E Nicators (Nicatoridae) 301 Eastern Nicator Nicator gularis H African Warblers (Macrosphenidae) 302 Cape (Long-billed) Crombec Sylvietta rufescens 303 Cape Grassbird Sphenoeacus afer E 304 Victorin's Warbler Cryptillas victorini E Cisticolas and Allies (Cisticolidae) 305 Yellow-bellied Eremomela Eremomela icteropygialis G 306 Green-capped Eremomela Eremomela scotops 307 Namaqua Warbler Prinia substriata E 308 Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura 309 Bar-throated Apalis Apalis thoracica 310 Rudd's Apalis Apalis ruddi E 311 Black-chested Prinia Prinia flavicans 312 Karoo Prinia Prinia maculosa E 313 Drakensberg Prinia Prinia hypoxantha E 314 Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops 315 Rock-loving (Lazy) Cisticola Cisticola abberans 316 Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana 317 Red-headed (Grey-backed) Cisticola Cisticola subruficapilla NE 318 Wailing Cisticola Cisticola lais 319 Rufous-winged Cisticola Cisticola galactotes NE 320 Levaillant's Cisticola Cisticola tinniens 321 Piping Cisticola (Neddicky) Cisticola fulvicapilla 322 Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis 323 Cloud Cisticola Cisticola textrix NE 324 Pale-crowned Cisticola Cisticola cinnamomeus 325 Wing-snapping Cisticola Cisticola ayresii Reed Warblers and Allies (Acrocephalidae) 326 African Yellow-Warbler Iduna natalensis 327 African Reed-Warbler Acrocephalus baeticatus 328 Lesser Swamp-Warbler Acrocephalus gracilirostris 329 Great Reed Warbler Acrocephalus arundinaceus Grassbirds and Allies (Locustellidae) 330 Barratt's Warbler Bradypterus barratti E 331 Knysna Warbler Bradypterus sylvaticus E VU 332 Little Rush-Warbler Bradypterus baboecala Swallows (Hirundinidae) 333 Plain (Brown-throated) Martin Riparia paludicola 334 Bank Swallow Riparia riparia 335 Banded Martin Riparia cincta 336 Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
337 Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 338 White-throated Swallow Hirundo albigularis 339 Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii 340 Pearl-breasted Swallow Hirundo dimidiata 341 Greater Striped-Swallow Cecropis cucullata 342 Lesser Striped-Swallow Cecropis abyssinica 343 South African (Cliff) Swallow Petrochelidon spilodera BE 344 Common House Martin Delichon urbicum 345 Black Sawwing Psalidoprocne pristoptera 346 Gray-rumped Swallow Pseudhirundo griseopyga Bulbuls (Pycnonotidae) 347 Sombre Greenbul Andropadus importunus 348 Yellow-bellied Greenbul Chlorocichla flaviventris 349 Terrestrial Brownbul Phyllastrephus terrestris 350 Yellow-streaked Greenbul Phyllastrephus flavostriatus 351 Common (Dark-capped) Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus Black-fronted (African Red-eyed) 352 Bulbul Pycnonotus nigricans NE 353 Cape Bulbul Pycnonotus capensis E Leaf Warblers (Phylloscopidae) 354 Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus 355 Yellow-throated Wood-Warbler Phylloscopus ruficapilla Sylviid Warblers and Allies (Sylvidae) 356 Bush Blackcap Sylvia nigricapillus E VU 357 Layard's Warbler (Tit-Babbler) Sylvia layardi E Chestnut-vented Warbler (Tit- 358 Babbler) Sylvia subcaerulea NE White-eyes and Allies (Zosteropidae) 359 Cape White-eye Zosterops pallidus E Laughingthrushes and Allies (Leiothrichidae) 360 Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii Oxpeckers (Buphagidae) 361 Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus Starlings (Sturnidae) 362 European Starling Sturnus vulgaris I 363 Common Myna Acridotheres tristis I 364 Violet-backed Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster 365 Pale-winged Starling Onychognathus nabouroup NE 366 Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio 367 Black-bellied Starling Notopholia corusca 368 Burchell's Starling Lamprotornis australis NE 369 African Pied Starling Spreo bicolor E 370 Greater Blue-eared Glossy-Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus 371 Cape (Glossy) Starling Lamprotornis nitens www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
Thrushes and Allies (Turdidae) 372 Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus 373 Karoo Thrush Turdus smithi E G Old World Flycatchers (Muscicapidae) 374 African Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta 375 Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata 376 Mariqua (Marico) Flycatcher Bradornis mariquensis NE 377 Pale Flycatcher Bradornis pallidus 378 Chat Flycatcher Bradornis infuscatus NE 379 Gray Tit-Flycatcher Myioparus plumbeus G 380 Ashy Flycatcher Muscicapa caerulescens 381 Fiscal Flycatcher Sigelus silens E 382 Southern Black-Flycatcher Melaenornis pammelaina 383 Karoo Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas coryphaeus E 384 Brown Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas signata E H Red-backed (White-browed) Scrub- 385 Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys 386 Cape Robin-Chat Cossypha caffra 387 White-throated Robin-Chat Cossypha humeralis E H 388 White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha heuglini 389 Red-capped Robin-Chat Cossypha natalensis 390 Chorister Robin-Chat Cossypha dichroa E 391 Thrush Nightingale Luscinia luscinia 392 Sentinel Rock-Thrush Monticola explorator E 393 Cape Rock-Thrush Monticola rupestris E 394 African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus 395 Buff-streaked Chat Campicoloides bifasciatus E 396 Sicklewing Chat Cercomela sinuata E 397 Karoo Chat Cercomela schlegelii NE 398 Tractrac Chat Cercomela tractrac NE 399 Southern Anteater-Chat Myrmecocichla formicivora E 400 Mountain Wheatear Oenanthe monticola NE 401 Capped Wheatear Oenanthe pileata 402 Familiar Chat Cercomela familiaris Sugarbirds (Promeropidae) 403 Gurney's Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi E 404 Cape Sugarbird Promerops cafer E Sunbirds and Spiderhunters (Nectariniidae) 405 Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris 406 Orange-breasted Sunbird Anthobaphes violacea E 407 Mouse-colored (Grey) Sunbird Cyanomitra veroxii 408 Amethyst Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystina 409 Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
410 Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa 411 Southern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris chalybeus E 412 Neergaard's Sunbird Cinnyris neergaardi E 413 Greater Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris afer E Weavers and Allies (Ploceidae) 414 Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver Bubalornis niger 415 Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis 416 Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis E 417 African Golden-Weaver Ploceus subaureus 418 Southern Brown-throated Weaver Ploceus xanthopterus 419 Lesser Masked-Weaver Ploceus intermedius 420 Southern Masked-Weaver Ploceus velatus 421 Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus 422 Forest Weaver Ploceus bicolor 423 Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea 424 Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix 425 Yellow-crowned Bishop Euplectes afer 426 Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis 427 White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albonotatus 428 Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens 429 Fan-tailed Widowbird Euplectes axillaris 430 Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne 431 Grosbeak (Thick-billed) Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons Waxbills and Allies (Estrildidae) 432 Swee Waxbill Coccopygia melanotis E 433 Green-backed Twinspot Mandingoa nitidula 434 Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild 435 Southern Cordonbleu (Blue Waxbill) Uraeginthus angolensis 436 Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba 437 African Firefinch Lagonosticta rubricata H 438 Cut-throat Amadina fasciata 439 (African) Quailfinch Ortygospiza fuscocrissa 440 Bronze Mannikin Spermestes cucullatus Black-and-white (Red-backed) 441 Mannikin Spermestes bicolor nigriceps Indigobirds (Viduidae) 442 Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura Eastern (Long-tailed) Paradise- 443 Whydah Vidua paradisaea 444 Village Indigobird Vidua chalybeata 445 Variable (Dusky) Indigobird Vidua funerea 446 Parasitic Weaver (Cuckoo Finch) Anomalospiza imberbis Old World Sparrows (Passeridae) 447 House Sparrow Passer domesticus I www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
448 Great Rufous Sparrow Passer motitensis NE 449 Cape Sparrow Passer melanurus NE 450 Southern Gray-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus Yellow-throated (Petronia) Bush 451 Sparrow Gymnoris superciliaris G Wagtails and Pipits (Motacillidae) 452 Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis 453 African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp 454 African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus 455 Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis 456 Plain-backed Pipit Anthus leucophrys 457 Striped Pipit Anthus lineiventris 458 Yellow-tufted (African Rock) Pipit Anthus crenatus E 459 Bush (Bushveld) Pipit Anthus caffer 460 Yellow-breasted Pipit Hemimacronyx chloris E VU 461 Orange-throated (Cape) Longclaw Macronyx capensis E 462 Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus Finches and Allies (Fringillidae) 463 Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs I 464 Yellow-fronted Canary Serinus mozambicus 465 Forest Canary Serinus scotops E 466 Black-throated Canary Serinus atrogularis 467 Brimstone Canary Serinus sulphuratus 468 Yellow Canary Serinus flaviventris NE 469 White-throated Canary Serinus albogularis NE 470 Protea Canary Serinus leucopterus E 471 Streaky-headed Seedeater Serinus gularis 472 Cape Siskin Pseudochloroptila totta E 473 Drakensberg Siskin Crithagra symonsi E 474 Cape Canary Serinus canicollis E 475 Black-headed Canary Alario alario E Old World Bunting (Emberizidae) 476 Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris 477 Cape Bunting Emberiza capensis NE 478 Lark-like Bunting Emberiza impetuani NE 479 Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi
MAMMALS Sengis (Macroscelididae) 1 Eastern Rock Sengi Elephantulus myurus NE Free-tailed Bats (Molossidae) 2 Little Free-tailed Bat Chaerephon pumila www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
Old World Monkeys (Cercopithecidae) 3 Southern Chacma Baboon Papio ursinus ursinus NE 4 Vervet Monkey Cercopithecus aethiops 5 Sykes's (Samango) Monkey Cercopithecus alboguaris Hares and Rabbits (Lagomorpha) 6 Cape Scrub Hare Lepus saxatilis E Squirrels (Sciuridae) 7 Red Bush Squirrel Paraxerus palliatus 8 Tree Squirrel Paraxerus cepapi 9 Grey Squirrel Sciurus carolinensis I Muridae: Rats & Mice 10 Four-Striped Grass Mouse Rhabdomys pumilio E 11 Sloggett's (Vlei) Ice Rat Otomys sloggetti E Foxes, Jackals and Wild Dogs (Canidae) 12 Black-backed Jackal Canis mesomelas 13 Side-striped Jackal Canis adustus 14 African Wild Dog Lycaon pictus EN Mongooses (Herpestidae) 15 Banded Mongoose Mungos mungo 16 Cape (Small) Grey Mongoose Galerella pulverulenta E 17 Common Slender Mongoose Galerella sanguinea 18 Marsh (Water) Mongoose Atilax paludinosus 19 Common Dwarf Mongoose Helogale parvula 20 Yellow Mongoose Cynictis penicillata E 21 Meerkat (Suricate) Suricata suricatta E Genets & Civets (Viverridae) 22 Common (Small-spotted) Genet Genetta genetta 23 African Civet Civettictis civetta Hyaenas (Hyaenidae 24 Spotted Hyena Crocuta crocuta Cats (Felidae) 25 Southern African Wild Cat Felis lybica cafra 26 Caracal Caracal caracal 27 Lion Panthera leo VU 28 Leopard Panthera pardus VU Elephants (Elephantidae) 29 African Elephant Loxodonta africana VU Hyraxes (Procavidae 30 Rock Dassie (Hyrax) Procavia capensis Horses (Equidae) 31 Cape Mountain Zebra Equus z. zebra E 32 Plains (Burchell's) Zebra Equus quagga NT www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
Rhinoceroses (Rhinocerotidae) 33 Southern White Rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum NT 34 Black Rhinoceros Diceros bicornis CR Pigs and Hogs (Suidae) 35 Common Warthog Phacochoerus aethiopicus Hippopotamuses (Hippopotamidae) 36 Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius VU Giraffes (Giraffidae) 37 Giraffe Giraffa camelopardalis VU Bovids (Bovidae) 38 African (Cape) Buffalo Syncerus caffer NT 39 Common Eland Taurotragus oryx 40 Greater Kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros 41 Nyala Tragelaphus angasii NE 42 Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus 43 Gemsbok (Southern Oryx) Oryx gazella E 44 Common Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus 45 Sable Antelope Hippotragus niger NE 46 Common (Southern) Reedbuck Redunca arundinum 47 Grey Rhebok Pelea capreolus E NT 48 Black Wildebeest Connochaetes gnou E 49 Blue (Common) Wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus 50 Red Haartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus 51a Bontebok Damaliscus p. pygargus E VU 51b Blesbok Damaliscus p. phillipsi E 52 Impala Aepyceros melampus 53 Springbok Antidorcas marsupialis E 54 Suni Neotragus moschatus NE 55 Klipspringer Oreotragus oreotragus 56 Steenbok Raphicerus campestris 57 Cape Grysbok Raphicerus melanotis E 58 Red Duiker Cephalophus natalensis 59 Common (Bush) Duiker Sylvicapra grimmia Sea Lions (Otariidae) 60 Cape Fur Seal Arctocephalus p. pusillus E
Herptiles Crocodiles (Crocodylidae) 1 Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus Chameleons (Chamaeleonidae) 2 Flap-neck Chameleon Chamaeleo dilepis Agamas (Agamidae) www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]
Tropical Birding Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger - January 2020
3 Ground Agama Agama aculeata NE 4 Southern Rock Agama Agama atra E 5 Southern Tree Agama Acanthocercus atricollis Geckos (Geckonidae) 6 Moreau's Tropical House Gecko Hemidactylus mabouia True Lizards (Lacertidae) 7 Blue-tailed Sandveld Lizard Nucras caesicaudata NE Monitors (Varanidae) 8 Nile Monitor Varanus niloticus 9 Rock Monitor Varanus albigularis Crag Lizards (Pseudoocordylus) 10 Drakensberg Crag Lizard Pseudocordylus subviridis E Skinks (Scincidae) 11 Cape Skink Mabuya capensis E 12 Red-sided Skink Mabuya homalocephala E 13 Striped Skink Mabuya striata African Elapids (Elapidae) 14 Cape Cobra Naja nivea E Colubrid Snakes (Colubridae) 15 Olive Grass Snake Psammophis mossambicus 16 Boomslang Dispholidus typus Sand Snakes (Psammophinae) 17 Rhombic Skaapsteker Psammophylax rhombeatus Tortoises (Testudinidae) 18 Leopard Tortoise Geochelone pardalis 19 Angulate Tortoise Chersina angulata E African Side-necked Turtles (Pelomedusidae) Marsh (South African Helmeted) 20 Terrapin Pelomedusa subrufa E Toads 21 Raucous Toad Sclerophrys capensis NE Frogs 22 Clicking (Gray's) Stream Frog Stongylopus grayii E 23 Drakensberg River Frog Amietia dracomontana E
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