DOCSLIB.ORG

Promerops 296.Cdr

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Promerops 296.Cdr PO BOX 2113 CLAREINCH 7740 Website : www.capebirdclub.org.za TEL: 021 559 0726 E-mail : [email protected] THE CAPE BIRD CLUB IS THE WESTERN CAPE BRANCH OF BIRDLIFE SOUTH AFRICA Members requiring information should NOTICE TO note the following telephone numbers : CONTRIBUTORS Hon. President Peter Steyn 021 674 3332 Promerops, the magazine of the Cape Bird Club, is published four times a COMMITTEE MEMBERS: year. It is meant to be by all the Chairman Vernon Head 076 569 1389 members, for all the members. So it Vice-Chairman, Club is YOUR magazine to use. Many Meetings Heather Howell 021 788 1574 members submitted interesting items 021 686 8437 Treasurer Julian Hare for this issue ofPromerops and the Deputy Treasurer Mary Debrick 021 531 4783 editors convey their sincere thanks to Hon. Secretary Helen Fenwick 082 705 1536 all concerned. Conservation Dave Whitelaw 021 671 3714 Fundraising, Functions Anne Gray 021 713 1231 Contributions are invited from Courses Priscilla Beeton 021 789 0382 members in English or Afrikaans on Outings Mike Saunders 082 882 8688 birdwatching, bird sightings, bird E-newsletter Mervyn Wetmore 021 788 1259 observations, news, views, projects, International trips Johan Schlebusch 021 685 7418 etc., particularly in the southwestern Cape. The abbreviations to use are: OTHER OFFICE BEARERS: Information Sylvia Ledgard 021 559 0726 Roberts’ Birds of Southern Africa (2005) -Roberts’7 Membership Secretary Joan Ackroyd 021 530 4435 Promerops Otto Schmidt 021 674 2381 Atlas of the Birds of the Promerops, CBC smalls Jo Hobbs 021 981 1275 Southwestern Cape (Hockey et al. Camps Charles Saunders 082 578 5236 1989) - SW Cape Bird Atlas. Scientific, Rarities Callan Cohen 083 256 0491 English names should be those used in SABAP coordinator Peter Nupen 083 407 4362 Roberts’ 7, Afrikaans names as in CBC webmaster Gavin Lawson 021 705 5224 Roberts’ 6. Receipt of contributions Book sales Gavin & Anne Greig 021 794 7791 will generally not be acknowledged Slide library John Fincham 021 919 4069 and they may or may not be used at the CBC Shop Des & Mary Frylinck 021 761 7244 sole discretion of the editors. Promerops contributions may be sent by e-mail to EDITING & PRODUCTION : [email protected] or [email protected] Otto Schmidtl Jo Hobbs or fax to (021) 981-1275 or by post to PO Box 8, Brackenfell, 7561 Deadline forMarch issue - 15 January 2014 FRONT COVER: During our recent wet winter, Greater Flamingos became a regular sight at many temporary wetlands in the greater Cape Townarea. Photo: Otto Schmidt December 2013 2 PROMEROPS 296 he conservation focus in this issue is on the Philippi Horticultural Area (PHA) and Dave TWhitelaw has written an insightful article on the many problems such as crime, illegal dumping, water pollution and others which are affecting this important vegetable- producing area near the False Bay coast-line. Birders have of course become familiar with a part of the PHA now commonly referred to as the Philippi Wetlands. To assist the local farmers' groups in their efforts at preserving and conserving what remains as both industrial and other developments erode it ever further, the Conservation Committee in conjunction E with the ADU has started monthly waterbird counts during the winter season when flooded farmlands make the “wetlands” a birding paradise. Regional rarities regularly make their D appearance here, and the most recent is an African Jacana which has attracted a number of birders - see Margaret Maciver's photograph on page 11. On the day of the October club outing, a howling I south-easter kept the jacana out of sight, but we did see the first returning Whiskered Terns, an erratic breeder in the Western Cape. With luck the high water levels following the wet winter will T provide the right conditions for this attractive bird to breed here this season. O Many of you will have enjoyed the annual Save our Seabirds Festival in early October. Entertaining lectures and a display of the best images entered in the photographic competition at a R great venue - the Whale Well at the Iziko Museum - made this year's event a most successful one. The photographic competition is attracting top international entries, and it is heartening that the I three winners this year all hailed from Cape Town. As 2013 draws rapidly to a close, and the familiar south-easter replaces our winter rains, many A of you may be heading north to the summer rainfall birding areas. By the time this magazine reaches you, a group of club members will be returning from their Ghanaian birding adventure, no doubt L with many stories to tell. Please keep us in mind with regard to your birding experiences, be it locally or farther afield. And, wherever you happen to be over this year's Festive Season, your editors wish you a VERY HAPPY CHRISTMAS, and a HAPPY NEW YEAR. Otto Schmidt CAPE BIRD CLUB AGM JAN HOFMEYR Jan Hofmeyr, former club chairman, Honorary Life Member and stalwart of the THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF THE club, passed away after a long battle with CAPE BIRD CLUB will take place at 20h00 cancer on 23 October. Our thoughts are on THURSDAY 6 MARCH 2014 at the with his family at this sad time. A full tribute Nassau Centre, Groote Schuur High will be published in our next issue. School, Palmyra Road, Newlands. Please note that this date has been brought forward by one week to avoid clashing with IN THIS ISSUE BirdLife SA's “Flock in the 'Berg” the Club news ........................................... 5-7 following week. Secretarybird research ....................... 8 Conservation news and report on We do hope some new committee members the Philippi wetlands ...................... 9-11 will come on board in 2014. We are not looking Black Harriers, majestic for expert birders. All we need are enthusiastic and mysterious ............................... 12-13 people with new ideas and good organisational Members' observations ...................... 14-19 ability. If you would like to get more involved Sightings ............................................. 20 with the running of the club, please let us know. Contact numbers are all listed opposite. See Club activities, bird counts ................. 21-24 page 4 for Agenda and nomination form. Programme ........................................ 25-29 3 December 2013 PROMEROPS 296 CAPE BIRD CLUB AGM NOMINATION FORM I am a member of the Cape Bird Club and am prepared to stand for election to the AGM AGENDA Committee of the Club for the year 2013/14. 1. Apologies. NAME OF NOMINEE 2. Confirmation of the Minutes of the (Block letters) .................................................. previous AGM held in March 2013. (Signed) .......................................................... 3. Matters arising from the Minutes. NAME OF PROPOSER 4. Chairman's Report for the period March 2013 to February 2014. (Block letters) .................................................. 5. Financial Report for the year ended (Signed) .......................................................... 31 December 2013. NAME OF SECONDER 6. Election of Committee Members for 2014/2015. (Block letters) .................................................. 7. Appointment of Auditor. (Signed) .......................................................... 8. General/Any other business. COME JOIN US In terms of the CBC constitution, nominations for office bearers (Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Hon. Treasurer and Hon. Secretary) and six FOR A YEAR END Committee Members must reach the Hon. CELEBRATION Secretary not later than 28 February 2014. They EVENING must be signed by the Proposer and Seconder, and countersigned by the Nominee. Please utilise a copy of the form above to send in nominations. Date: Thursday 5 December 2013 Please note that, in order to shorten the Time: 18h30 for 19h00 meeting, an abridged version of the Chairman's Place: Nassau Centre, Report and Conservation Committee Report may Groote Schuur High School be read at the meeting. The report will, however, Palmyra Road, Newlands be printed in full in the June issue of Promerops Come and join us for a glass of sherry on arrival, and can also be read on our website followed by a show of members' slides and www.capebirdclub.org.za video clips and a quiz. After the activities, enjoy After the business of the meeting there will a glass of wine or fruit juice and pizzas. be a short presentation by Dave Whitelaw on Cost: R55 per person, payable at the door. “Twenty five years of conservation and what we RSVP: Joan Ackroyd at Tel/Fax 021 530 4435 have learnt”. This talk will highlight the highs and or [email protected] lows of the Cape Bird Club Conservation Committee's efforts over the 25 years that it has been in existence. This is an on-going endeavour PLEASE REMEMBER TO QUOTE YOUR to inform members of the “Watch-dog” aspects of MEMBERSHIP NUMBER WHEN PAYING our club as it seeks to preserve and protect the YOUR SUBSCRIPTION BY EFT OR DIRECT avifauna of the Western Cape. DEPOSIT December 2013 4 PROMEROPS 296 CLUB NEWS SUMMER CWAC AND CAR COUNTS This is a reminder that the summer CWAC counts take place from mid-January to mid-February NEW MEMBERS every year. For the information of our newer Please join us in welcoming the following new members, CWAC stands for Coordinated members to the Club: Waterbird Counts. These twice-yearly counts Willem Oosterbaan, Pinelands have been organised for more than 20 years and Hazel & Richard Carolin, Constantia are still on-going at the major wetlands throughout the country. The data collected is Alison & Miles Pietersen, TableView processed by the Animal Demography Unit at Tim & Mayilyn Noakes, Constantia UCT and is proving immensely valuable for Lou & Ronel Pistorius, Panorama research and conservation purposes. The dates Allison Ballard, Rondebosch and locations of the counts in our area are given in Tercia& Yan Bathfield our January and February Programme on pages Barbara Stephenson, Tokai 26/27. Please assist with these counts if you Lydia McIntosh, Pinelands possibly can.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Freshwater Fishes
    WESTERN CAPE PROVINCE state oF BIODIVERSITY 2007 TABLE OF CONTENTS Chapter 1 Introduction 2 Chapter 2 Methods 17 Chapter 3 Freshwater fishes 18 Chapter 4 Amphibians 36 Chapter 5 Reptiles 55 Chapter 6 Mammals 75 Chapter 7 Avifauna 89 Chapter 8 Flora & Vegetation 112 Chapter 9 Land and Protected Areas 139 Chapter 10 Status of River Health 159 Cover page photographs by Andrew Turner (CapeNature), Roger Bills (SAIAB) & Wicus Leeuwner. ISBN 978-0-620-39289-1 SCIENTIFIC SERVICES 2 Western Cape Province State of Biodiversity 2007 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Andrew Turner [email protected] 1 “We live at a historic moment, a time in which the world’s biological diversity is being rapidly destroyed. The present geological period has more species than any other, yet the current rate of extinction of species is greater now than at any time in the past. Ecosystems and communities are being degraded and destroyed, and species are being driven to extinction. The species that persist are losing genetic variation as the number of individuals in populations shrinks, unique populations and subspecies are destroyed, and remaining populations become increasingly isolated from one another. The cause of this loss of biological diversity at all levels is the range of human activity that alters and destroys natural habitats to suit human needs.” (Primack, 2002). CapeNature launched its State of Biodiversity Programme (SoBP) to assess and monitor the state of biodiversity in the Western Cape in 1999. This programme delivered its first report in 2002 and these reports are updated every five years. The current report (2007) reports on the changes to the state of vertebrate biodiversity and land under conservation usage.
    [Show full text]
  • Malawi Trip Report 12Th to 28Th September 2014
    Malawi Trip Report 12th to 28th September 2014 Bohm’s Bee-eater by Keith Valentine Trip Report compiled by Tour Leader: Keith Valentine RBT Malawi Trip Report September 2014 2 Top 10 Birds: 1. Scarlet-tufted Sunbird 2. Pel’s Fishing Owl 3. Lesser Seedcracker 4. Thyolo Alethe 5. White-winged Apalis 6. Racket-tailed Roller 7. Blue Swallow 8. Bohm’s Flycatcher 9. Babbling Starling 10. Bohm’s Bee-eater/Yellow-throated Apalis Top 5 Mammals: 1. African Civet 2. Four-toed Elephant Shrew 3. Sable Antelope 4. Bush Pig 5. Side-striped Jackal/Greater Galago/Roan Antelope/Blotched Genet Trip Summary This was our first ever fully comprehensive tour to Malawi and was quite simply a fantastic experience in all respects. For starters, many of the accommodations are of excellent quality and are also situated in prime birding locations with a large number of the area’s major birding targets found in close proximity. The food is generally very good and the stores and lodges are for the most part stocked with decent beer and a fair selection of South African wine. However, it is the habitat diversity that is largely what makes Malawi so good from a birding point of view. Even though it is a small country, this good variety of habitat, and infrastructure that allows access to these key zones, insures that the list of specials is long and attractive. Our tour was extremely successful in locating the vast majority of the region’s most wanted birds and highlights included Red-winged Francolin, White-backed Night Heron, African Cuckoo-Hawk, Western Banded Snake
    [Show full text]
  • South Africa Mega Birding Tour I 6Th to 30Th January 2018 (25 Days) Trip Report
    South Africa Mega Birding Tour I 6th to 30th January 2018 (25 days) Trip Report Aardvark by Mike Bacon Trip report compiled by Tour Leader: Wayne Jones Rockjumper Birding Tours View more tours to South Africa Trip Report – RBT South Africa - Mega I 2018 2 Tour Summary The beauty of South Africa lies in its richness of habitats, from the coastal forests in the east, through subalpine mountain ranges and the arid Karoo to fynbos in the south. We explored all of these and more during our 25-day adventure across the country. Highlights were many and included Orange River Francolin, thousands of Cape Gannets, multiple Secretarybirds, stunning Knysna Turaco, Ground Woodpecker, Botha’s Lark, Bush Blackcap, Cape Parrot, Aardvark, Aardwolf, Caracal, Oribi and Giant Bullfrog, along with spectacular scenery, great food and excellent accommodation throughout. ___________________________________________________________________________________ Despite havoc-wreaking weather that delayed flights on the other side of the world, everyone managed to arrive (just!) in South Africa for the start of our keenly-awaited tour. We began our 25-day cross-country exploration with a drive along Zaagkuildrift Road. This unassuming stretch of dirt road is well-known in local birding circles and can offer up a wide range of species thanks to its variety of habitats – which include open grassland, acacia woodland, wetlands and a seasonal floodplain. After locating a handsome male Northern Black Korhaan and African Wattled Lapwings, a Northern Black Korhaan by Glen Valentine
    [Show full text]
  • Zambia and Zimbabwe 28 Ovember – 6 December 2009
    Zambia and Zimbabwe 28 ovember – 6 December 2009 Guide: Josh Engel A Tropical Birding Custom Tour All photos taken by the guide on this tour. The Smoke that Thunders: looking down one end of the mile-long Victoria Falls. ITRODUCTIO We began this tour by seeing one of Africa’s most beautiful and sought after birds: African Pitta . After that, the rest was just details. But not really, considering we tacked on 260 more birds and loads of great mammals. We saw Zambia’s only endemic bird, Chaplin’s Barbet , as well as a number of miombo and broad-leaf specialties, including Miombo Rock-Thrush, Racket-tailed Roller, Southern Hyliota, Miombo Pied Barbet, Miombo Glossy Starling, Bradfield’s Hornbill, Pennant-winged ightjar, and Three-banded Courser. With the onset of the rainy season just before the tour, the entire area was beautifully green and was inundated with migrants, so we were able to rack up a great list of cuckoos and other migrants, including incredible looks at a male Kurrichane Buttonquail . Yet the Zambezi had not begun to rise, so Rock Pratincole still populated the river’s rocks, African Skimmer its sandbars, and Lesser Jacana and Allen’s Gallinule its grassy margins. Mammals are always a highlight of any Africa tour: this trip’s undoubted star was a leopard , while a very cooperative serval was also superb. Victoria Falls was incredible, as usual. We had no problems in Zimbabwe whatsoever, and our lodge there on the shores of the Zambezi River was absolutely stunning. The weather was perfect throughout the tour, with clouds often keeping the temperature down and occasional rains keeping bird activity high.
    [Show full text]
  • The Diep River Catchment Management
    BACKGROUND 1 BACKGROUND This information will contribute towards the initial development of a 1.1 INTRODUCTION management plan for the water resources in the Diep River Catchment. The Diep River drains into Table Bay, north of Cape Town (Figure 1). The This study will later on be followed by the “Reserve” determination that will Diep River has been subject to deterioration in water quality over decades be considered as part of the second phase of the project. due to bad farming practices and other landuses. Landuse in the upper catchment is predominantly agriculture, while in the lower catchment it is 1.2 APPROACH TO WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT largely residential (formal and informal settlements) and industrial. The National Water Act (Act No 36 of 1998), hereafter referred to as “the Act”, states that “National Government, acting through the Minister, is This study originated as a result of a request from the Western Cape responsible for the achievement of fundamental principles in accordance Region of the Department of Water Affairs and Forestry (DWAF) in 1997 to with the Constitutional mandate for water reform.” The fundamental the Institute for Water Quality Studies (IWQS), to conduct a situation principles are sustainability and equity in the protection, use development, assessment of the Diep River catchment. The main objective of this study conservation, management, and control of water resources. was to provide a situational assessment of the water quality, quantity, and the aquatic ecosystem health for the surface, ground, and coastal waters Uniform Effluent Standards were used up to the late 1980’s in an attempt of the Diep River catchment.
    [Show full text]
  • Kenya - 14-21 October 2011
    KENYA - 14-21 OCTOBER 2011 TSAVO REGION AND COASTAL KENYA by Bob Biggs Background I decided to take the opportunity to visit Kenya again when I saw the price of the Thomson flight from Manchester to Mombasa had reduced to £500. If I’d have waited a few more weeks, I could have got it for less than £300. I suppose the actions of the Somali pirates caused that. I can understand why people are nervous in such circumstances but the Somali border is a very long way from the areas frequented by most British tourists. Anyway, £500 is pretty good for a direct flight so off I went on the evening of 13 October, having driven from Northumberland earlier in the afternoon. 14 OCTOBER Arrived a few minutes late [missing Libyan airspace] and got a flyer. I was outside within 25 minutes and met by my friend Jonathan Baya [see www.tracktours.weebly.com for all the details]. Unfortunately, it had been raining very hard in the previous few days and roads were difficult. Heavy lorries have a tendency to tip over in such conditions and we got caught up in two long traffic jams, which cost us the best part of two hours. Eventually, we got going and we made our way towards Voi, and Sagala Lodge, where we were staying for the first night. We didn’t see much en route, Tawny Eagle and Pale Chanting Goshawk being the pick of a small bunch. We arrived at Sagala at 1pm and quickly got into our stride. There were several Pink Breasted Larks in the bushy areas alongside the road and a few Golden Breasted Starlings and White Browed Sparrow Weavers.
    [Show full text]
  • Species Recorded KENYA (Main & Kakamega)
    SPECIES SEEN in KENYA (Mai(Main + Kakamega)) 2002005-2018-2018 Kenya Main = the safari includes Mt. Kenya, SambSamburu NR, Nakuru NP, Lake BaringBaringo, Lake ke NaNaivasha,sha, MaMaasaii Mara NR Main +L Feb 2017 - included Laikipia PlateaPlateau instead of Maasai Mara X* = as shown on Kenya Main + Kakamega, meanmeans that it was only seen in KakameKakamega & KisuKisumu (Weste(Western Kenya) on that at trip Kenya Nairobi & Nav. Aug 2015 - 2 daysys prepre-trip Nairobi NP, Lake Naivashavasha & Kiambet mbethu Farmrm Kenya Nak. & Mara Aug 2015 - 7 daysys NakuNakuru NP, MaasaI Mara NR & LimuLimuru Marsh Kenya Kenya Kenya Kenya Kenya Kenya Kenya Kenya Kenya Kenya Kenya Kenya MaMain + Kak* Main +L Main + Kak* Nak & Mara Nairobi & Nav Main Main Main + Kak* Main + Kak* Main + Kak* Main + Kak* Main + Kak* Aug Feb Aug-Sept Aug Aug Aug Oct-Nov Sept-Oct Aug Aug-Sept Aug-Sept Aug-Sept BIRDS 2018 2017 2015 2015 2015 2013 2009 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 Ostrich : Struthionidae ENDEMIC Common Ostrich Struthio camelus X X X X X X X X X X X X Somali Ostrich Struthio molybdophanes X X X X X X X X X X Grebes : Podicipedidae Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis X X X X X X X X X X X X Black-necked (Eared) Grebe Podiceps nigricollis X X X X Cormorants & Darters: Phalacrocoracidae Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo X X X X X X X X X X X X Reed (Long-tailed) Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus X X X X X X X X X X X X African Darter Anhinga rufa X X X X X X X X X X Pelicans: Pelecanidae Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus X X X X X X X X X X X X Pink-backed Pelican
    [Show full text]
  • Growing Passion Creating Eco-Literate Communities
    5 Growing Passion Creating eco-literate communities You cannot love something you don’t know. If you love it you will protect it. - Xola Mkefe, Park Manager, SANParks One fancies a heart like our own must be beating in every crystal and cell, and we feel like stopping to speak to the plants and animals as fellow mountaineers. - John Muir, American conservationist, (1838-1914)1 I never used to think about nature the way I do now. I just used to throw papers if I was walking along eating. Now I know that if you throw anything, like a cigarette butt or a plastic bag, a wild animal or bird may eat it and die. - Grant Revell, contract worker, Zeekoevlei Nature Reserve I would like to discover it and be part of it. Find out what I’ve been missing out on this 17 years and also interpreting it. - Hout Bay teenager, survey by Alice Ashwell I think the reason our people don’t take an interest in nature is that nature was just a playground for us… no-one taught us anything about nature and then we could not teach our children… we used to enjoy chasing the rabbits and the buck, but no one explained that it was causing damage, these things For our ancestors, understanding the ecosystem was as are endangered, you must leave them alone… now we are natural as breathing, and as critical to their survival. People concerned, when there is nothing left. Now it is so important to might not have known the Latin terms for plants, but they knew hold on to everything because everything is dying out...
    [Show full text]
  • Zimbabwe & Botswana TRIP REPORT Nov 2017 Summary
    ZIMBABWE & BOTSWANA WILDLIFE SAFARI November 3-15, 2017 TRIP REPORT Summary by Adrian Binns Mana Pools, Zimbabwe Our 12-day African safari began on the eastern edge of Mana Pools National Park in northern Zimbabwe. From our bush camps at Ruckomechi and neighbouring Little Ruckomechi, we enjoyed exploring a range of habitats teeming with wonderful wildlife. Elephants were among the first to greet us, as they roamed freely near the tents, even venturing next to the swimming pool! We kept a watchful eye and careful distance, in awe of the giant pachyderms. What a welcome treat! Our camps overlooked the mighty Zambezi river towards Zambia’s Rift Valley escarpment, providing excellent opportunity for relaxing afternoon boat rides. We drifted slowly up to wallowing pods of hippos, basking crocodiles, and African Skimmers loafing on exposed narrow sand strips. In steeply-eroded river banks, White- fronted and Southern Carmine Bee-eaters excavated their tunnel nests. The location helps keep predators at bay, but not all of them! On two consecutive afternoons we watched a Nile Water Monitor dig into the tunnels with its long sharp claws, and come out with a youngster, much to the chagrin of the parents. We watched elephants trek through tall grasses of river islands, and cross channels to reach the opposite bank. We cheered when one struggling baby elephant finally made it across. One evening we were moored on a riverbank enjoying sundowners, when an inquisitive elephant approached to within feet of Jane who was seated at the front of the boat. It was a heart-stopping moment to be face-to-face with such a huge animal – so close we could count the eyelashes – but we had nowhere to go.
    [Show full text]
  • Zambia & Malawi
    Zambia & Malawi - The Best of Africa Naturetrek Tour Report 2 - 9 October 2016 Red-billed Oxpeckers on Kudu in middle of breeding herd of Elephants Red-necked Spurfowl Looking at African Skimmers near Mwalasi Enjoying Sable Antelopes Report and images by Samuel Lenard Chihana Naturetrek Mingledown Barn Wolf's Lane Chawton Alton Hampshire GU34 3HJ UK T: +44 (0)1962 733051 E: [email protected] W: www.naturetrek.co.uk Tour Report Zambia & Malawi - The Best of Africa Tour participants: Samuel Lenard Chihana (Local Guide) with four Naturetrek Clients Please note that this tour report only covers the first part of the tour, in Malawi, that was led by Samuel Lenard Chihana. We do not have reports from the other Local Guides. Day 1 Sunday 2nd October In flight to Kamuzu International Airport. Day 2 Monday 3rd October Weather: overcast and cloudy. We met at Kamuzu International Airport and, having sorted immigration formalities, changed their money and loaded the vehicle, we started our drive to Mvuu around 2.35pm. Along a Forest Reserve at Linthipe I offered them a packed lunch and they had an opportunity to walk around and stretch their legs. During our lunch break we saw Southern Citril and Bronze Manikin, flying and perched. On our way from the airport and just before stopping we saw Pied Crows, Lilac-breasted Rollers and House Sparrows. We also saw White-necked Ravens as we passed Dedza. We arrived at around 7.45pm. I gave them a briefing during check in, mentioning all activities offered in the Camp, including Village Tours, Rhino tracking, Sanctuary Drives and Hides, Help Malawi and School Visiting, and also the opportunity to visit or participate in Bat or Carnivore Research, if interested.
    [Show full text]
  • Ultimate Kenya
    A pair of fantastic Sokoke Scops Owls. (DLV). All photos taken by DLV during the tour. ULTIMATE KENYA 1 – 20 / 25 APRIL 2017 LEADER: DANI LOPEZ-VELASCO Kenya lived up to its reputation of being one of the most diverse birding destinations on our planet. Once again, our Ultimate Kenya recorded a mind-boggling total of more than 750 species. This was despite the fact that we were prioritizing Kenyan specialities (a task in which we were extremely successful) rather than going all out for a huge list! 1 BirdQuest Tour Report: Ultimate Kenya www.birdquest-tours.com The first leg of our epic adventure saw us focusing on the Arabuko-Sokoke Forest where the birding is tough but the rewards are great. Over the course of the two and a half days our talented local guide helped us find all of the main specialities, with the exception of the difficult Clarke’s Weavers, which were presumably on their recently discovered breeding grounds in marshes to the north. Crested Guineafowl and Northern Carmine Bee-eater. We spent much time creeping along sandy tracks, gradually finding our targets one by one. We succeeded in getting great views of a number of skulkers, including a rather showy East Coast Akalat on our last afternoon, some reclusive Eastern Bearded Scrub Robins, a very obliging Red-tailed Ant Thrush and skulking Fischer’s and Tiny Greenbuls. Once in the Brachystegia we kept our eyes and ears open for roving flocks of flock-leader Retz’s and Chestnut-fronted Helmet Shrikes, and with these we found awkward Mombasa Woodpeckers and a single Green-backed Woodpecker, and a variety of smaller species including Black-headed Apalis, Green Barbet, Eastern Green Tinkerbird, dainty Little Yellow Flycatchers, Forest Batis, Pale Batis, cracking little Amani and Plain-backed Sunbirds and Dark-backed Weaver.
    [Show full text]
  • City of Cape Town
    “Caring for the City’s nature today, for our children’s tomorrow” CITY OF CAPE TOWN ENVIRONMENTAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT DEPARTMENT – BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT BRANCH STRATEGIC PLAN 2009 - 2019 TO BE EVALUATED ANNUALLY, AND REVISED BY 2014 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Special thanks go to the entire Biodiversity Management Branch who have aided (in many different ways) in the development of the City of Cape Town’s biodiversity scope of work. Particular thanks go to the following people who assisted in providing information to be used in order to collate this document, edited various sections and brainstormed ideas in its conception. Adele Pretorius Julia Wood; Cliff Dorse; Amy Davison; Gregg Oelofse; Louise Stafford; Dr Pat Holmes 2 ACRONYMS AND ABREVIATIONS APO Annual Plan of Operation BCA Blaauwberg Conservation Area C.A.P.E Cape Action Plan for People and the Environment CAPENATURE Western Cape Provincial Conservation Authority CCT City of Cape Town CFR Cape Floristic Region CPPNE Cape Peninsula Protected Natural Environment CWCBR Cape West Coast Biosphere Reserve DEAD&P Department of Environmental Affairs and Development Planning DME Department of Minerals and Energy EIA Environmental Impact Assessment ERMD Environmental Resource Management Department (CCT) IAA Invasive Alien Animals IAP Invasive Alien Plants IAS Invasive Alien Species IDP Integrated Development Plan METT Management Effectiveness Tracking Tool MOSS Metropolitan Open Space System PA Protected Area SANPARKS South African National Parks SDF Spatial Development Framework SWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats DEFINITIONS ALIEN SPECIES Species that were introduced to areas outside of their natural range. Invasive alien species are alien species whose establishment and spread modify habitats and/or species BIODIVERSITY Biodiversity (biological diversity) is the totality of the variety of living organisms, the genetic differences among them, and the communities and ecosystems in which they occur.
    [Show full text]