Mega Birding Tour III 2016
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South Africa Mega Birding Tour III 16th January to 9th February 2016 (29 days) Jackal Buzzard by Greg de Klerk Trip report compiled by tour leader: Greg de Klerk Top 10 birds as voted for by participants: 1. Secretarybird 6. Bokmakierie 2. Green Twinspot 7. Blue Crane 3. Martial Eagle 8. Gurney’s Sugarbird 4. Hamerkop 9. African Penguin 5. Cape Rockjumper 10. Drakensburg Rockjumper Top 5 mammals: 1. Cheetah 5. Meerkat 2. White Rhinoceros 3. Plains Zebra 4. African Wild Dog Trip Report – RBT SA Mega III 2016 2 Tour summary The Rockjumper South Africa Mega tour aims to find as many of the country’s endemic birds and special species as possible over the duration of three and a half weeks, while traversing most of the country’s diverse habitats. We travelled a whopping 6854 kilometres from our starting point in Johannesburg. During our travels we visited seven of South Africa’s nine provinces from Polokwane in Limpopo, Wakkerstroom in Mpumalanga, the dramatic Sani Pass in KwaZulu-Natal, Cape Town in the Western Cape, Port Nolloth in the far reaches of the Northern Cape and finally back to Johannesburg Green Twinspot by Markus Lilje in Gauteng. Although the tour was done at a brisk pace, we were still able to enjoy an excellent and fulfilling time in the areas visited, while covering all the habitats that this incredibly diverse country has to offer. We recorded 470 species of birds on the main tour. Add to this, a remarkable selection of mammal species and reptilian encounters, and it all contributed to this being an excellent tour! Beginning at our comfortable accomodation in Johannesburg, we were thrown into the deep end of introductory birding in South Africa, observing stunning flocks of Red-headed Finch, Southern Red Bishop and Red-billed Quelea, while Speckled Pigeon, Red-eyed, Laughing and Ring-necked Dove fed side by side, allowing us to easily observe their identification pointers. A confiding Karoo Thrush in the undergrowth allowed us to get some excellent views as it moved about feeding. A few of the more common species also grabbed our attention; Speckled and Red-faced Mousebirds accompanied a group of Southern Masked Weavers, a couple of Dark-capped Bulbul, a single Crested Barbet, a couple of Cape Wagtail searching for food on the lawn and an African Darter giving a flyover, kept us entertained. The afternoon’s birding quietened down as dusk fell and we settled in for a delicious dinner and a good night’s rest before the trip began in earnest. As our delicious breakfast concluded, we began our epic journey, heading north east of Pretoria toward the arid Acacia savanna along the 40km stretch of the Zaagkuildrift Road. Helmeted Guineafowl, African Sacred, Hadada and Glossy Ibis, Grey-headed Gull, Western Cattle Egret were all seen en route with large numbers of Yellow-billed Kite and Common Buzzard filling intervals between stops. A small waterhole not far from our birding hotspot produced Woodland Kingfisher, White- winged and Long-tailed Widowbirds and a flock of White-faced Ducks, before we Crimson-breasted Shrike by Greg de Klerk Trip Report – RBT SA Mega III 2016 3 moved on. Arriving at Zaagkuildrift it became evident they had been blessed with a fair amount of rain, with large puddles evident from the outset and lush green growth filling the landscape. Almost immediately a movement caught the attention of our team members. Within moments we were viewing a single Temminck’s Courser, often a difficult species to locate as a result of its nomadic behaviour. A short stop allowed us the opportunity to locate a displaying Northern Black Korhaan, a couple of Crowned Lapwings, Grey-go-away Birds calling in alarm as we moved about, scanning for species, as well as the first of many migrant Lesser Grey and Red-backed Shrikes. Further along the road, we found many new species for our list including Namaqua Dove, Southern Red-billed Hornbill, Magpie Shrike and one of the targets of the day, the striking Southern Pied Babbler. The wetlands which followed were very productive. Here we connected with Little Egret, Spur-winged Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler by Markus Lilje Goose, Knob-billed Duck, Egyptian Goose and Red-billed Teal, a flyby of a Eurasian Hobby, excellent views of both European and Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters and wonderful sightings of Levaillant’s, Diederik’s and Klaas’s Cuckoo kept the migrant numbers growing. After some careful puddle negotiation, we found a Crimson-breasted Shrike, a pair of Cape Penduline Tit and both Cardinal and Bearded Woodpeckers. A flooded plain allowed us easy access to a large number of Intermediate Egret, Yellow-billed and White Stork, while a Red-breasted Swallow passed close by, giving spectacular views to all. We finished off our birding with Scaly-feathered Weaver, White-browed Sparrow-Weaver and a fearlessly inquisitive Hamerkop hunting at a large puddle. A short stop for lunch allowed us to connect with a breeding colony of Southern Masked Weaver, a bird which we would encounter frequently during the tour. A short while later we continued north to Polokwane, where we retired to our guesthouse for dinner and a good night’s rest. The following morning, a visit to Polokwane Game Reserve allowed us to rack up a number of species. The morning began with excellent views of a pair of vocal Burnt-necked Eremomela, a breeding pair of African Paradise Flycatcher on a nest, a pair of Fiscal Flycatchers, a single Brubru and a Willow Warbler all before entering the reserve in earnest. Once in the park, we encountered a beautiful and very vocal male Coqui Francolin as well as both Natal and Swainson’s Spurfowl. Both Red-chested and African Cuckoo also performed acrobatically, flying into our path on several occasions giving us outstanding, if brief, views. Lesser Swamp Warbler, Brown-hooded and Pied Kingfisher were located at a small reed-fringed pan while Acacia Pied Barbet and Southern Yellow-billed Hornbills were White-throated Robin-Chat by easily located and provided excellent viewing. Male Violet-backed Adam Riley Trip Report – RBT SA Mega III 2016 4 Starlings, a White-throated Robin-Chat, a small flock of Bar-throated Apalis, Chinspot Batis and a relaxed Green winged Pytilia followed before we encountered an enormous group of mixed Marabou and White Storks in the company of a Common Greenshank, Wood Sandpiper and Little Egret. Back at the reception to the park we were rewarded with views of both Groundscraper and Kurrichane Thrushes, Marico Flycatcher and Brown-crowned Tchagra. Good selections of mammals were present but the prize sighting was of a majestic male Sable Antelope. After a wholesome lunch, we continued to the Mistbelt Forest of Magoebaskloof, with an afternoon of intense birding in the company of our local guide, David. Our first session of forest birding produced some serious highlights. Olive Woodpecker, elusive Black-fronted and Olive Bushshrike right out in the open, White-starred Robin, amazing views of Knysna Turaco, Grey Cuckooshrike, Forest Canary, Scaly-throated Honeyguide, Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler, Orange Ground Thrush, jaw-dropping Narina Trogon, Yellow-streaked Greenbul and, after missing it in Polokwane Game Swee Waxbill by Adam Riley Reserve, a pair of Short-clawed Larks near our accommodation, with the added bonus of a Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk flying by, as we watched the Larks. That evening we settled into our rustic accommodation with a lovely home cooked meal. The following morning started early with a visit to a productive sight for the skulking, secretive species of the forest. This immediately paid dividends as we encountered a single, shy Green Twinspot, a flock of African Firefinch mixed with the endemic Swee Waxbills and flocks of Red-backed Mannikin. Having had an excellent start to the day, we headed off in search of the crepuscular Bat Hawk which, sadly, remained elusive, however, we managed to connect with a couple of Magpie Mannikin and a single Lizard Buzzard. Continuing south we stopped at the Taita Falcon site in the hope of connecting with this increasingly difficult species. Unfortunately, luck was against us, yet we still recorded Amur Falcon, Lilac-breasted and European Rollers and Red-winged Starling. After a late lunch, we negotiated some interesting road conditions while connecting with Southern Bald Ibis and a single Red-footed Falcon female in flight. We also stopped at a very productive roadside pan where we found numerous water birds including dozens of Greater Flamingo, Squacco Heron and a flock of Southern Pochard. After some long hours on the road, we arrived at our accommodation for a much needed night’s rest. Blue Korhaan by Greg de Klerk Trip Report – RBT SA Mega III 2016 5 Our first morning in the Highveld grasslands of Wakkerstroom kicked off early, with the assistance of local guide, Lucky. Traversing the network of roads through the various wetlands, rocky hillsides and the rolling grasslands for which the area is famous, we began our search for some very rare and range restricted species in the area. Before departing our accommodations, we had added Malachite Sunbird and Amethyst Sunbird and, as the morning progressed, we were lucky to get excellent views of a pair of White-bellied Bustards, a brief and difficult view of Yellow-breasted Pipit in Southern Bald Ibis by Adam Riley flight, African Pipit, Pallid Harrier and South African Cliff Swallow. After a good breakfast we set off for a full day of birding. Memorable sightings included South African Shelduck, Maccoa Duck, peculiar Southern Bald Ibis, thousands of Amur Falcons, Blue Korhaan, Blue Crane, African Snipe, Montagu’s Harrier and the endangered Rudd’s and Botha’s Larks.