The Birdlife Polokwane Magazine 36, July/August 2021 Paradys indieLaeveld Mahela larks in the Eastern Cape • Short-clawed Lark longevity • Marabou Stork breeding in the Limpopo Province • A larks inthe Eastern Cape•Short-clawed Lark longevity • MarabouStork breedinginthe Limpopo Province •A plea for alist ofthebirds feeding at your birdfeeders •African Grey Hornbillpredation bya Honey Handicapped Olive Woodpecker • Cape Vulture resightings • Bird names in Northern Sotho • Long-billed Handicapped OliveWoodpecker •CapeVulture resightings •Birdnames inNorthern Sotho •Long-billed A ffiliated toBirdlifeSouth Africa Birding hotspot Limpokwena Mockford Farm Dap NaudeDam Club outings

miombo mania Badger Badger

The Lark is the newsletter of Birdlife Featured Polokwane and is published bimonth- 5 ly. It publishes reports of club activities, Mahela 5 The Lark 36 July/August 2021 trip reports, photographic contributions CONTENT Richter Van Tonder deel hulle and any natural history notes of birds or ervarings tydens 'n onlangse Editorial 4 klub uitstappie na dié prag plaas events involving birds. Contributions are naby Letsitele. accepted in English or Afrikaans and are Regulars 5 accepted at the discretion of the editors. Non-members are also welcome to con- Birds in Art 49 Miombo Mania tribute, especially if it is of relevance to 11 Crowned Eagle Don't believe everything you birds or birding in the Limpopo Prov- read or hear about Zimbabwe. ince. When submitting images, please Daniel Engelbrecht recently vis- submit high resolution images without Reflections 55 ited our northern neighbour and Maloutswa Hide – Celebrated says it is still a gold star birding any borders, frames or signatures. Schizophrenia destination. 11

The editors reserve the right to edit ar- Bird Briefs 65 Birding at Dap Naude Dam ticles as necessary. All images are copy- Handicapped Olive Wood- 27 right protected and the property of the pecker • Cape Vulture resight- New member Alan Harrison author/s of the article unless otherwise ings • The standardisation of thought Dap Naude Dam was bird names in Northern So- only good for fishing, until he stated. Please send all your contributions tho • Long-billed larks in the racked up a number of lifers dur- to the editors at [email protected]. Eastern Cape • Missing, pre- ing a recent club outing to the sumed dead: Mokgalaje the Northern Woodbush forests. Short-clawed Lark • Marabou 27 The opinions expressed by contributors Stork breeding in the Limpopo in this newsletter are not necessarily Province • A plea for a list of the birds feeding at your those of the editors, the Birdlife Polok- Limpokwena 2021 bird feeders • African Grey 33 wane committee or Birdlife South Africa. Hornbill predation by a Honey Derek Engelbrecht reports on a Badger field excursion with botany and DEADLINE FOR THE NEXT ISSUE: zoology students to this birding Interesting Sightings 101 paradise on the Limpopo River. 15 August 2021 33 Upcoming events 105 29 This newsletter is best read Mockford Vulture Restaurant 43 in a ‘two page view’ format. The annual mid-winter club outing to the Mockford Farms Vulture Restaurant delivered a number of uncommon species on the Polokwane Plateau. Rich- Cover Cape Starling © Joe Grosel ter Van Tonder reports back. 4323 1 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 2 For a lark ... Editors' chirps The winter solstice brings with it an air of excitement, of new beginnings, and, of course, warmer weather. There is something to be said for birding in winter. The birds seem to behave differently. There is always the chance of an unexpected surprise showing up in our region. In this regard, the talk of the town (or shall we say the SADC region) was the southern hemisphere's first record of a Lesser Whitethroat, which showed up in Marloth Park in Mpumalanga. This is probably a classic example of reverse migration because that bird should have been somewhere in the Palaearctic. It seems pretty iron- ic that Daniel twitched this Palaearctic giga rarity on the 21st of June, the winter solstice! Remember last year this time, we also had a local rarity in Namaqua Sandgrouse just outside Polokwane. That just goes to show that winter birding can be as exciting as in summer, so dress warmly and get out there. We are heading for an exciting time now as the first migrants, mainly in- © Hugh Chittenden tra-African ones at first, will start returning to our neck of the woods. August is a particularly good month for passage migrants, particularly for waders. So, keep a lookout for them and report it to our Birdlife Birdy Bouncers © Dawie De Swardt. Polokwane 100K WhatsApp group as soon as possible as P.O. Box 699 they don't tend to stay long. Fauna Park0787 A special word of thanks to Tel: 015 263 6473 www.birdlifepolokwane.co.za all our contributors to this www.facebook.com/birdlifepolokwane issue. If you haven't submit- ted something to The Lark as President Joe Grosel • Chairperson Jody De Bruyn • Deputy chairperson Mark Friskin • Secretary Marcia Van Tonder • Treasurers Nick Baglow and Julia yet, why not take a moment Friskin • Website and IT coordinator Jody De Bruyn • PRO and venue co- and share that interesting ordinator Lisa Grosel • Events co-ordinator Richter Van Tonder • Research observation with our readers. and monitoring Derek Engelbrecht • Newsletter editors Raelene Engelbrecht and Daniel Engelbrecht • Additional members Minkie Prinsloo, Conrad Van Raelene and Daniel Tonder, Willem Van der Merwe, Les Reynolds, Johan Janse van Vuuren Lesser Whitethroat © Daniel Engelbrecht 3 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 4 en winderige oggend by Mahela opgedaag. ‘n Skerp­bekheuningvoël (Brown-backed Honeybird) het ons naby die hek van die plaas ge- groet. Ons het besluit om tot in die digter bos te ry waar daar bietjie minder wind was en eers 'n koppie koffie te geniet. Hier het ons Geel­ vlekmossies (Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow) gekry. Dit was maar stil in dié gedeelte en nadat ons koffie gehad het, het ons aan beweeg na

Links Mahela is 'n pragtige stukkie bos in die Laeveld.

Onder 'n Akkedisvalk op sy pos by Mahela. Mahela

Teks Richter Van Tonder Fotos Marcia and Richter Van Tonder

at ‘n besonderse stuk ‘n groot verskil in die aantal voël grond! Van wat ons spesies wat in dié stukkie Laeveld kan sien word die gesien kan word. veld byW Mahela so entjie oos van Let- Ons klein groepie van 11 sitele baie goed bestu­ur­. Dit maak het so 7 uur se kant op 'n koel 5 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 6 'n oper stuk veld. Hier was die area Bo Geelborskleinjantjie (Yellow-breasted Apalis). Visvangers (Striped Kingfisher) soos ‘n stuk park gebied met baie gesien het en ook twee Bosveld- groot, breëblaar bome wat redelik koesters (Bushveld Pipit). Die plaas gespassieerd was en met kort gras het heelwat wild soos koedoes, tussen in. (Arnot's Chat)! Dié outjies het baie njalas, rooibokke, kameelperde, Dadelik kon mens optel dat mooi vir ons vertoon en was heel baie vlakvarke en seekoeie. Daar daar meer aktiwiteit was. Hier het bedrywig tussen die droeë bome. was ‘n geslote kamp met wilde- ons uitstekende laeveld spesie ge- Dit is meer bekend dat die Bont- honde ook! sien en gehoor, o.a. Grootblouoor- piek in die noorde van die Kruger glansspreeus (Greater Blue-eared Wildtuin gesien word. Hier was Starling), Geelborskleinjantjie hulle sommer naby ons en ons kon (Yellow-throated Apalis), Grys- hulle buite ‘n voertuig besigtig. Bo Die Bontpiek (Arnot's Chat) was kapokvoël (Grey Penduline Tit), Hierna het ons stadig aanbe- die hoogtepunt van die dag. Breëkoparend (Martial Eagle) en weeg, nogsteeds in dieselfde stuk Regs Mahela het 'n teelprogram vir die hoogtepunt - vier Bontpieke veld, waar ons heelwat Gestreepte die bedreigde Wildehond. 7 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 8 Daar is ‘n paar groot damme weeg en langs een van die damme op die plaas wat baie watervoëls te stop oppad uit. ‘n Groot seekoei lok. Ons het toe beweeg na die lapa het ons vermaak en hier het ons op die plaas en oppad soontoe het ook Visarende kon opteken. Ons ons Swarthelm- (Retz’s Helmet- totaal vir die dag was 105 spesies. shrike) en Withelmlaksmanne Baie dankie aan Edward Vor- (White-crested Helmetshrike) ster wat ons die geleentheid geb- gekry. Hier kon ons onder groot ied het om op sy wildsplaas te kon skadubome middagete geniet. Blou­ voëls kyk. Ook dankie aan almal grysvlieëvanger (Ashy Flycatcher) wat dit bygewoon het. Ons het dit en Papegaaiduiwe (African Green almal baie geniet. Pigeon) het hier mooi vertoon in Outeur se e-pos: [email protected] een van die groot vyebome by die lapa. Daar was besonder baie voël aktiwiteit rondom die lapa asook heelwat skoenlappers en akkedisse. Onder Almal teenwoordig was in hulle noppies met die Ons het toe besluit om terug te be- dag se voëllysie.

Seekoei

9 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 10 Reënboogakkedis - wyfie Below A male Buff-streaked Chat at La Fleur was one of the highlights of the week © Derek Engelbrecht. long-time family friend and a leg- end in Zimbabwean birding) and I developed a rough trip plan con- sisting of three core areas. Firstly, we would focus our attention on the Miombo wood- lands and wetlands surrounding the capital city of Zimbabwe – Ha- rare. We would then move north- east and spend a few nights along the banks of the Mazoe River in search of some woodland specials before heading back to Harare for one night. The final stretch would then consist of three nights birding the infamous Eastern Highlands. This area promised to deliver many a lifer. For ease of reading - and to assist anyone planning a trip to Zimbabwe - I provide a daily breakdown of the sites visited and the species encountered in each of the areas. March Miombo 8, 2021 After a short hour and a half flight from Johannesburg to Ha- rare, I met up with Tony Wood at African Spotted Creeper the arrivals terminal in Robert Ga- Mania briel Mugabe International Air- nonstop birding in this incredi- port. Upon arrival in Zimbabwe, Text and photos Daniel Engelbrecht ble country, I encountered a host you are immediately made aware of astonishing bird species and of the shocking quality of urban debunked some myths regard- roads within the city. Potholes olitical instability, fuel to mind when thinking of Zim- ing the situation on the ground. are everywhere, and caution is re- shortages and empty babwe. However, over the course Upon planning the trip, Tony quired whilst traversing the city's Pshelves tend to jump of 11 days (8-17 March 2021) of Wood (my guide for the journey, a extensive road network. We head- 11 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 12 ed for Tony's house and quick- ly picked up my first lifer in the March form of a Variable Sunbird in the garden. After unpacking, it was 9, 2021 all systems go, and we decided to Day two started at 6:30 am, visit Greystone Nature Reserve for and our plan was to spend the some late afternoon birding. morning birding Haka Game Park This reserve is located with- in search of several Miombo wood- in the suburbs of Harare. The trip land specials. For those unfamil- list quickly started growing with iar with the term Miombo, it is the sightings of Jameson's and Red- name given to the woodlands dom- billed Firefinch, African Yellow inated by trees of the genera Brachy- White-eye, African Yellow War- stegia and Julbernardia. On our way bler, Lesser Honeyguide and the to Haka, a quick stopover at Green- black-headed nigriceps race of Vil- grove Dam delivered improved lage Weaver. Amur Falcons flew views of Variable Sunbird, Senegal over the reserve in their hundreds Coucal and a small group of forag- as they returned to their nearby ing Orange-breasted Waxbills. At roosts. A pair of Long-crested Ea- Haka, Cleveland Dam's grasslands gles also offered splendid views. delivered one of the main targets, We returned for an early night with the prospect of excellent Mi- Rosy-throated Longclaw, along with Above Eastern Miombo Sunbird at Below Miombo woodland at Haka Game Park. ombo birding for the next day. Haka Game Park. both Yellow-throated and Cape Longclaws. We were also afforded great views of Pale-crowned Cisti- hawk also showed well briefly before cola, Cuckoo Finch, African Wat- darting off into the bush, and a Spot- tled Lapwing and yet another lifer ted Eagle-Owl sat watching us from – Yellow-mantled Widowbird. its daytime roost. With the temperature slowly It took over an hour to find our rising, Tony and I walked into the next bird party, which contained Miombo woodland and I was im- some cracking birds: Whyte's Barbet, mediately struck by the silence. The African Spotted Creeper and South- key to Miombo birding is finding ern Hyliota. We then headed into the bird parties. Luckily, we soon found Gusu woodland section of the park, our first party and added, amongst searching for Miombo Blue-eared others, Green-backed Honeybird, Starling. Alas, the starlings had other White-breasted Cuckoo­shrike, East- plans for us and proved to be quite ern Miombo Sunbird, Green-capped elusive, partly because the fruiting Eremomela and White-crested Hel- trees they feed on were out of the metshrike. An Ovambo Sparrow- fruiting season. 13 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 14 hens. She then ran into the thicker The road wound between the hills reeds and flushed something that east of Harare, and after half an looked like just another African hour, we had arrived at our destina- Crake. I took a few shots, and upon tion. We walked down a steep track closer inspection of a back-of-the- between several illegal gold mines camera view of the bird, I realised - which now threaten these spec- it was actually a Striped Crake! tacular woodlands - and picked up This scarce inhabitant of wetlands our first bird party. It was simply across east and central Africa im- astounding, with no less than 23 mediately became one of the trip species in a tiny area. Highlights highlights and was undoubtedly an included outstanding views of the unexpected bonus. Monavale add- uncommon Black-eared Seedeat- ed sightings of Croaking and Pale- er, Cabanis's Bunting, Red-capped crowned Cisticola, Yellow-mantled Crombec, White-breasted Cuckoo­ Widowbird, Cuckoo Finch, Great shrike, Green-backed Honeybird Reed Warbler and several vocal and Eastern Miombo Sunbird. Just Streaky-breasted Flufftails (which as quickly as the party arrived, it unfortunately couldn't be bothered to show themselves) to the trip list. After a quick discussion over Above After giving us the run-around We returned home for lunch Below You take what Striped lunch, we decided to head to yet at Haka, Miombo Blue-eared Starling before meeting up with Piet again, Crake offers you, and this was it. showed well at Mukuvisi Woodlands The inset shows a close-up of the another of Harare's splendid parks - in Harare. this time for more 'Miombo Magic'. Striped Crake seen at Monavale. the Mukuvisi Woodlands - to search for the starlings. Sure enough, after less than 10 minutes of walking city limits of Harare. Tony and I along the well-kept trails traversing met up with a local guide and av- the Miombo woodlands at Muku- id-birder, Piet Zwanikken. Piet visi, a large flock of Miombo Blue- knows the wetlands and vleis of eared Starlings flew into view and Harare like the back of his hand. started foraging around us, provid- To help us maximise our chances ing splendid photographic oppor- of success, he brought along Dol- tunities. ly, an English Pointer, trained to locate the elusive specials that in- habit the marshes and reeds. Sure March enough, Dolly ran out and, within seconds, flushed a pair of African 10, 2021 Crakes. As we traipsed through the After a successful day of Mi- shallow water and thick grass, Dol- ombo birding, it was time to tackle ly continued to flush several more the legendary wetlands within the African Crakes and Lesser Moor- 15 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 16 Above The breathtakingly beautiful vistas March at Christon Bank. Below Southern Hyliota at Christon Bank. 11, 2021 Day 4 started before 6 am and, once again, we were off into the Miombo woodlands. We had a tall order of a target list, but bird- ing alongside Tony and our local guide Jean-Michel Blake filled me with confidence. The serenity of Christon Bank was surreal. Mist hung between the Mountain Aca- cia trees, and we soon picked up Above Cabanis's Bunting near Harare dissipated, and silence descended Boulder Chat and Miombo Rock over the Brachystegia trees once Top Always a special bird to me. Thrush, two of our five targets for more. Another noteworthy sight- White-breasted Cuckooshrikes were the day. As we headed on through ing was a single Black Cuckoo, a quite common in the woodlands north the hills, we added Klaas's and rarity on the Mashonaland Plateau. of Harare. African Emerald Cuckoo, African

17 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 18 Left to right Boulder Chat, Au- Harrier-Hawk, Grey Penduline For the most part, the nation- March gur Buzzard and Whyte's Barbet, Tit, Stierling's Wren-Warbler, and al highways in Zimbabwe were of all recorded at Christon Bank, while three flycatcher species - Spot- good quality, but as we passed the Wood Pipits were common at Um- , 2021 ted, Pale and Grey Tit-Flycatcher town of Shamva on our way to the 12 furudzi National Park. to our trip list. Suddenly, a mas- Park, it all but fell apart. Progress The sun rose and revealed sive bird party livened the scene was slow as we drove on a narrow the prospect of yet another day of allowing for views of another strip road and dodged an endless excellent birding. Sure enough, us the silent treatment during the African Spotted Creeper, Caban- number of potholes. the list rocketed with sightings heat of the day. is's Bunting and Whyte's Barbet, At long last we arrived at Um- of Grey-headed, Pied, Giant, along with two more lifers, Mi- furudzi National Park. We were im- Brown-hooded and Half-collared ombo Tit and Wood Pipit. Both mediately greeted by several Wood Kingfisher, Crowned and Trum- March these species would prove to be Pipits foraging in the road on our peter Hornbill and Bearded Scrub regular sightings for the remain- way to Hippo Pools - a camp of- Robin - all within the camp! A 13, 2021 der of the trip. Bird of the day, fering a range of accommodation quick drive through the drier bush- however, came in the form of a options along the stunning Mazoe veld produced more Wood Pipit We woke to our final morn- single Augur Buzzard cruising River. The rest of the afternoon was sightings, Red-throated Twinspot ing in Umfurudzi National Park slowly overhead, an uncommon spent birding around the exquisite and Flappet Lark. I was blown away and decided to head back to an and certainly unexpected sight- camping grounds surrounded by by the sheer beauty and calibre of area lined with Lala Palm trees to ing for this part of Zimbabwe. lush lawns and towering riverine birding at Hippo Pools. I was told try again for the Collared Palm The remainder of the morning trees. Some notable species includ- that during the summer months, Thrush. Before we even had time to was spent searching unsuccess- ed Black-throated Wattle-eye (a African Broadbill and Narina Tro- lift our binoculars and start search- fully for Copper Sunbird before common species around the camp), gon are regulars around the chalets. ing, three individuals irrupted into returning to Harare, packing our Verreaux's Eagle-Owl and African We dedicated the remainder of the song and showed well in the morn- gear and heading north-east to Wood Owl, as well as our only Liv- day to searching for Collared Palm ing light. We also added Bateleur, Umfurudzi National Park. ingstone's Flycatcher for the trip. Thrush, which unfortunately gave Marsh Warbler and Village Indi- 19 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 20 Left We were treated to a ser- enade by three Collared Palm Thrushes on our last morning at Hippo Pools.

Roberts's Warbler are of particular interest on an international scale as their global ranges are restricted to these mountains. The drive from Harare to Mutare (the nearest lied Waxbill, Stripe- city to our accommo- cheeked Greenbul, dation in the Vhumba Olive Sunbird and region of the high- White-tailed Crest- lands) was predomi- ed Flycatcher. We nantly on single car- quickly picked up gobird to the list before encoun- riageway roads making progress slow the two highland tering several more Red-throated (5 hours in total to do 290 km). Yet, endemics, Chirin- Twinspots. We headed back to Ha- we arrived at our accommodation in da Apalis and Rob- rare for the night with the Eastern Seldomseen, eager as ever to get go- erts's Warbler, with Highlands due for the next day. ing with the birding. Seldomseen of- ease in the gardens! fers an excellent array of self-catering We crested one of cottages and camping opportunities, the hills overlooking March not to mention unrivalled birding the most breathtak- within the gardens. It is an absolute ingly beautiful view 14, 2021 must-stay when in the Vhumba. over Mozambique. Tony and I set off to bird the Here we scored with The Eastern Highlands form gardens, and our first bird turned Singing Cisticola and a mountain range running for ap- out to be an absolute screamer - the orientalis race of proximately 300 km along the bor- Red-faced Crimsonwing. The single Black Saw-wing with der of Zimbabwe and Mozambique. male foraged for about 5 minutes its silver underwings The area is well-renowned for its as we watched in complete awe be- (soon to be elevated exceptional biodiversity. For south- fore it darted off into the forest. The to full species status). Above and top How is this for a gar- ern African birders, the highlands list continued growing with good We tucked in for an early night in den bird? Red-faced Crimsonwing in are home to many range-restricted views of Yellow-throated Woodland preparation for an epic day birding the gardens at Seldomseen. species found nowhere else in the Warbler, Black-fronted Bushshrike, with Bulawezi - a legend of the East- sub-region. Chirinda Apalis and Livingstone's Turaco, Yellow-bel- ern Highlands. 21 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 22 low-lying Burma Valley and at- tempt to bag what was still left on the shopping list. Birding with local guides is a no-brainer for anyone visiting a foreign country and no- where was this more obvious than with Bulawezi Murambiwa. He knew all the spots and nailed each and every target species time after time. At our first stop in the Valley, we found one of our main targets, Black-winged Red Bishop, with- out hassle. We also added several other special birds here, including Grey Waxbill, Blue-spotted Wood Black-winged Red Bishop (Above left) was seen in maize fields in the Dove, Dark-backed Weaver and Burma Valley and Miombo Rock the dark form of Ayres's Hawk-Ea- Thrush (Above right) seen in gle. We continued our search for Miombo woodland in the Vhumba the second target species. After region. close to an hour of searching, we Right I was particularly thrilled to found a Zambezi Indigobird call- be able to add Swynnerton's Robin ing atop a dead Marula tree - target as my 700th southern African bird number two. Sightings of White- species. eared Barbet, Red-backed Manni- kin, Red-throated Twinspot and Grey Tit-Flycatcher soon followed. us, and so we set off after The road rewound up into the lunch to track it down. Vhumba, and we found ourselves After close to 3 hours of once again birding in Miombo. searching to no avail, we Chirinda Apalis (Above) and Roberts's We located a bird party, and sure eventually located a sin- Warbler (Top) were frequently seen at enough, Miombo delivered once gle Swynnerton's Robin, Seldomseen. more with African Golden Oriole, which became the 700th Collared Flycatcher, Scaly-throated species for my southern Honeyguide, Miombo Rock Thrush African list. Celebrations March and Red-faced Crombec showing were in order, and so well. Other noteworthy additions we retreated back to the included Red-necked Spurfowl, comfort of our cottage , 2021 15 Bronzy Sunbird and Garden War- at Seldomseen in prepa- Our plan for the day was sim- bler on our way back up to Seldom- ration for our last day ple, we would head down into the seen. One species was still eluding of birding the Vhumba.

23 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 24 naped Pigeon and Mottled Swift. I can only encourage anyone wishing March Bulawezi still had one last trick up March to visit this spectacular country to do his sleeve, and so we set off up a so without a second thought and ex- 16, 2021 winding track through the stunted 17, 2021 perience the incredible birding that Miombo where he had seen the elu- Zimbabwe has to offer first hand. The main target for day 3 of the sive tit before. We hiked for ages, and The trip back to Harare passed with- Bird of the trip, I hear you ask? highlands mission was Cinna- then, just as we were about to call it a out any hassle. It even provided a There were several contenders. The mon-breasted Tit, the last true day, a single Cinnamon-breasted Tit new trip bird in the form of a Lizard best we could do was come up with a miombo species that I needed for was spotted, offering mind-blow- Buzzard sitting on a telephone pole. top 5 in no particular order: Striped the trip. We spent most of the day ing views. The day was an over- A quick and final trip to Chikurubi Crake, Cinnamon-breasted Tit, Liv- attempting to find it but repeated- whelming success, and we set off Vlei in the newer suburbs of Hara- ingstone's Flycatcher, African Spot- ly failed at all of the spots where it early the following day for Harare. re provided the last lifer for the trip ted Creeper and Swynnerton's Robin. had been seen regularly before. Still, – a single male Copper Sunbird. It A special thank you needs to go out the birding was by no means dull, Below Perseverance pays. After a day felt great to finally see the sunbird to all the fantastic Zimbabwe birders and we managed to get sightings of of hiking through Miombo, we man- after searching for it at several sites whose help was invaluable, including Tree and Striped Pipit, Miombo Tit, aged to find this Cinnamon-breasted over the past few days. It was the Piet Zwanikken, Jean-Michel Blake Barratt's Warbler, Eastern Bronze- Tit late in the day. perfect end to an incredible trip. and Bulawesi Murambiwa. Lastly, to my hosts, the Woods, without whom this trip would not have been pos- To conclude, over 11 days, Tony sible, a massive thank you is due. I and I managed to record 246 species, have included Tony's details for any­ of which 38 were lifers for me. Zim- one keen on birding in Zimbabwe. babwe proved to be an excellent and Author e-mail: [email protected] easy country to travel through. Not once did I encounter issues with fuel Tony Wood or food shortages or feel remotely Birding in Zimbabwe unsafe at any of the sites we visited.

25 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 26 Prince of Wales viewpoint - Vhumba ellow birders, great ing on the 4th May 2021. There was my surprise as a and then we enrolled for our first newcomer to Birdlife birding excursion with the club to Polo­kFwane, when I received a Dap Naude Dam near Woodbush WhatsApp message on Saturday on the 15th May. Preparations were afternoon from our outing leader, made on Friday evening - batteries Richter Van Tonder, asking me to charged, lenses cleaned and 'pad write a report about our day's out- kos' delicacies made. Alarms were ing to the Dap Naude region. set and the excitement grew as the Being that this was my fa- new day broke. ther’s and my first incursion with We met on the Saturday morn- the club, I frantically requested ing and left in an orderly convoy to formats and examples on how to write such a trip report, remem- bering ‘sitrap' reports done in days Opposite The forest at Dap Naude gone by. The answer I received was Dam © Richter Van Tonder. ... ‘none, just write and send’. So, here we go. Jan Fourie and Below It was autumn alright © Rich- I attended our first birding meet- ter Van Tonder.

Birding at Dap Naude Dam

Alan Harrison

27 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 28 our destination. The tar road soon also heard strange calls other than ended with only Pied Crows and the ones of the Free State plains and Common Mynas seen. The gravel Vredefort dome areas he was famil- road led us through dark pine plan- iar with. ‘This could get very inter- tations with no birds or anything else esting’, I told my father as I have, up of interest. to now, only been concentrating on At last, the pines gave way to the identification of birds by sight beautiful indigenous forest and our and photos. first coffee break. As we sipped our Anyway, let’s get on with the coffee, we started to relax and got day, we wondered further into the chatting with our fellow birders. Im- indigenous forest with amazing mediately, Richter set off listening for Broad-leaved Yellowwood, Lem- bird calls sharing what he had heard onwood, Common Wild-quince, or seen, some familiar and some I have never heard of in my life before. Jan Fourie, an avid birdwatch- Below Birding the grasslands er, with over 50 years experience, at the inlet of Dam Naude Dam © Alan Harrison.

Strangler Figs and Sage Trees where I heard and saw my next lifers for my list: a Blue mantled Crested Flycatcher, Ol- ive Woodpecker, Yel- low-streaked Greenbul and a Dusky Flycatcher. Lunch was called for at the Dap Naude Dam and more lifers were seen by my father and I; for me an African

Above One of a number of lifers for me, Olive Wood- pecker © Richter Van Tonder.

Right Jackal Buzzard © Alan Harrison. 29 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 30 Goshawk and Yellow Bishop, for Olive Pigeon, Dark-capped Bul- my father, a Drakensberg Prinia. bul, Common Waxbill, Cape White We also noted a majestic Jackal -eye, Tawny-flanked Prinia, Afri- Buzzard and an African Fish Eagle. can Stonechat, the famous Red- During the latter part of our eyed Dove (for Mark) and another trip, we also saw Woolly-necked lifer for both my father and I, a Yel- Storks, Southern Double-collared low-throated Woodland Warbler. Sunbirds, Speckled Mousebirds, The trip was not only Brown-hooded and Malachite about birding, but being out in Kingfishers, Little Grebe, African nature with people with simi-

Above An African Dry-leaf Commodore © Richter Van Tonder.

Left Green Milkweed Locust © Alan Harrison.

lar interests. Insects, butterflies, and I thought the Dap Naude spiders and plants were also in- Dam was just for fishing! tently observed with a few high- From the eyes of both us ly scientific names given by Wil- newcomers, a huge shout out lie. and thank you from my father What inspired me the most and I. I’m not a writer but I have is that one must be like a hunter thoroughly enjoyed writing this using both auditory and visual trip report. Just a thought before Above Yet another lifer for the two cues, but most of all to enjoy I sign off. I spoke to one of my newbys, a stunning Yellow-throated oneself with nature. good friends yesterday, Jimmy Woodland Warbler © Richter Van Tonder. Summing up the day: we Neethling, and he mentioned were 14 people on the trip and at something so true about birders: Right Some serious birding was least 42 bird species were iden- ‘julle is eerlike, goeie mense’. done © Alan Harrison. tified. What an enjoyable outing Author e-mail: [email protected] 31 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 32 Limpokwena 2021

Biodiversity students get hands-on field training

Derek Engelbrecht

he Biodiversity Class serve earlier in the year to twitch a of 2021 made their Collared Flycatcher at their Island mark at the Limpokwe- Camp, and experiencing some of na NatureT Reserve this year. Each the other birding delights on offer, year, B.Sc Honours students in the I was particularly excited to return Department of Biodiversity at the to Limpokwena. This year's good University of Limpopo get the op- rains meant there were plenty of portunity to get their hands dirty pools for one of Limpokwena's star and feet wet as part of a field ex- attractions - Pel's Fishing Owl. cursion to learn different biodiver- Limpokwena Nature Reserve sity survey techniques. This year, is situated at the confluence of the the excursion took place from 18 Mogalakwena and the Limpopo to 21 May. Having been to the re- Rivers, a few kilometres down- 33 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 34 stream of the Platjan Border Post. it from the previous spread, Pel's Apart from a prolific bird list, there Fishing Owl - a pair. We were are also plenty of mammals to add treated to the near-constant boom- to the excitement, including a stun- ing call of a pair of Pel's through- ning, sunken photographic hide to out the night and into the early capture those magic moments. morning hours at the main lodge. While the students were at- We were soaking-in the moment tending survey sessions with the when a pair perched in a dead tree other specialists, I had the oppor- just outside the lodge's perimeter tunity to do some atlasing and bird fence, calling (in fact almost duet- ringing. I recorded a total of 109 ting) while we snapped away and I species during my 2-day stay, not made some voice recordings to my bad for winter. Some of the high- heart's content. It felt like a cardi- lights included a clean sweep of the nal sin when I finally decided to western Limpopo Valley specials: turn my back on such an epic bird Meyer's Parrot, White-crowned and a memorable sighting of a re- Lapwing, Meves's Starling, Tropi- laxed pair, still perched in the same cal Boubou and, yes you guessed tree and calling the night away. The

next evening they thrilled us again with their deep booming call, al- beit a little further from the lodge. The next morning I went to the area where I heard them calling from and, sure enough, there they were. Special birds!

Top White-crowned Lapwing, one of the Lim- popo River specials © Derek Engelbrecht.

Right Peek-a-boo-boo: Pel's Fishing Owl roosting in one of the giant Ana Trees at the lodge © Derek Engelbrecht.

Opposite A crocodile about to start feasting on a waterbuck © Derek Engelbrecht

Previous spread Special bird, special place. A pair of Pel's Fishing Owl calling at the Lim- pokwena River Lodge © Derek Engelbrecht.

35 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 36 Meves's Starling Grey-backed Camaroptera

The Pel's pair was undoubt- Above An adult Bronze-winged Courser Long-billed Crombec White-browed Scrub Robin edly the highlight by a country was a bit of a surprise given the time of the year © Derek Engelbrecht. mile, but there were lots of other nice sightings too: a Saddle-billed Stork fly-by at the viewing deck ble-banded Sandgrouse drinking on the Mogalakwena River, an at pools in the rivers, Grey Pen- adult Bronze-winged Courser, a duline Tit, White-crested and hunting pair of Verreaux's Eagle Retz's Helmetshrikes, to name at the Island Camp, seven owl but a few. species (Pearl-spotted -, Southern The ringing demonstration White-faced -, African Barred -, was done on the morning of the African Scops -, Western Barn -, 19th May. The nets were set up Spotted Eagle-Owl, and of course in a thicket on the banks of the the ginger one mentioned above) Mogalakwena River. Seventeen seen and heard at the lodge, Dou- birds, representing 13 species Southern Red-billed Hornbill Brown-hooded Kingfisher 37 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 38 Above Sunrise over the Limpopo River were ringed and released. Ring- ful birds at arms length, and er critters to keep the 'not-yet- © Derek Engelbrecht. ing highlights included a pair a few had the opportunity to a-birder' occupied. Elephants of Meves's Starling, South- release them. abound, especially in the drier ern Red-billed Hornbill, a Limpokwena Nature months, we heard Lions, a Leop- female Village Indigobird, Reserve is yet another ard and Spotted Hyaena, and Fork-tailed Drongo and one of those gems the Wild Dogs were seen near the On behalf of all of us, we Grey-backed Cama- Limpopo Province has lodge the week before. It is a true wish to thank our hosts Riley and roptera (just because to offer. From a bird- wilderness area with game freely Syanne for their hospitality and I love the camarop- ing point of view, the crossing the river between South willingness to bend over back- teras). The students area is top notch, Africa and Botswana's Masha- wards to accommodate all our were also able to but there is also tu Game Reserve. A place well crazy requests. see these beauti- plenty of oth- worth a visit! Author e-mail: [email protected] 39 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 40 Class of 2021

41 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 42 as history going to (apart from the vultures): Rock repeat itself? For Kestrel (Kransvalk), Secretary- the last two years, bird (Sekretarisvoël), Cape Teal the annualW visit to the Mockford (Teeleend), Cape Shoveler (Kaapse

Vulture Restaurant west of Polok- Slopeend) and White-fronted wane, didn't provide us with many Bee-eater (Rooikeelbyvreter). We vultures at this particular restau- were not disappointed this year Vulture restaurant rant. So, I decided to change our as we managed to see all of them strategy. In the past, we usually within a couple of hundred me- arrived before the carcasses were tres of each other. A particularly Menu dropped. This time around, how- memorable sighting was watch- Mockford Farms ever, we arrived at the restaurant ing a melanistic Gabar Goshawk 12 June 2021 about 15 minutes after the fact. (Witkruissperwer) chasing a dove We started our trip to the - both flying at break-neck speed! Mains restaurant 1.5 hours before. We Another special sighting, and a lif- Appetizers took it slowly and tried to record er for some of us, was a couple of Cape Shoveler all species seen and heard on the Bushveld Pipits (Bosveldkoester). Marabou Stork Cape Vulture farm. This particular outing is al- Bushveld Pipit White-backed Vulture ways good for some rarely seen Crimson-breasted Shrike birds in our Polokwane 100K Chal- Below The view of Mockford Farm African Wattled Lapwing from the vulture restaurant looking Hamerkop lenge. These local specials include north © Leonie Kellerman. Quailfinch Yellow-bellied Eremomela Specials Pearl-spotted Owlet Great Sparrow Cape Teal Pearl-breasted Swallow Rock Kestrel Black-chested Snake Eagle Secretarybird Cape Penduline Tit Lappet-faced Vulture Gabar Goshawk (melanistic) Hooded Vulture Long-crested Eagle Dips

Sides Palm-nut Vulture Jackal Buzzard Butterflies Glossy Ibis Black-backed Jackal African Hawk-Eagle

Text Richter Van Tonder 43 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 44 Above A pair of Bushveld Pipits showed Above We counted at least four Lappet-faced well © Richter Van Tonder. Vultures © Richter Van Tonder.

Left A single Secretarybird in one of the Right There were good numbers of White- fallow fields was certainly one of the high- backed Vultures, including several young birds lights of the day © Richter Van Tonder. © Richter Van Tonder.

Now back to the vultures… ed Vultures were counted! This is the We arrived about 9:45 at the restau- most we ever recorded at this restau- rant. As we approached the hide, large rant. Everyone managed excellent numbers of circling and descending views of Cape Vulture (Kransaasvoël), vultures suggested that the restaurant White-backed Vulture (Witrugaas- was a hive of activity. My plan worked, voël), Lappet-faced Vulture (Swartaas- and as we entered the hide, we were voël), Hooded Vulture (Monnikaas- greeted by lots of vultures on the voël) and Marabou Stork (Maraboe). ground. The closest vulture was about However, the local Palm-nut Vulture 5 meters away, and it was a special for (Witaasvoël) was MIA again and has the Polokwane Plateau - a Hooded been so for quite some time now. Two Vulture! No fewer than nine Hood- tagged vultures were seen.

45 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 46 Thanks to the six other peo- ple who joined this particular outing. Also, thank you to Peter Mockford for Bird of the Year 2021 allowing us to access his farm and the vulture restaurant. Our tally for the day was 124 species - a good haul for a mid-winter's day. Author e-mail: [email protected]

Left An uncommon resident elsewhere around Polokwane, Rock Kestrel is relatively reliable at Mockford Farms © Richter Van Tonder.

Below Hooded Vultures are a real rarity on the Polokwane Plateau, so to see nine on one day must make it the Bird of the Day. Interestingly, all were juvenile birds © Richter Van Tonder.

47 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 48 Regulars

n this issue, I share with you several distant glimpses of it but ha- a portrait of one of Africa's ven't yet been able to get a perfect, most magnificent bird spe- close view of one. The easiest way to cies, Ithe Crowned Eagle Stephanoae- locate it is by its display call. This is tus coronatus. The scientific name a rather high-pitched, whiny sound means 'crowned crown eagle'. It is uttered while the bird is flying above sometimes known as the Crowned the forest canopy. It can be heard Hawk-Eagle. This is one of Africa's even when the bird is too high up to largest eagle species, reaching 100 be seen with the naked eye. It's not a cm in total length and weighing single cry but a repeated 'yee-yip, yee- over 4 kg. It is not quite as heavy as yip, yee-yip' sound. At the same time the Martial Eagle but perhaps more as it is calling, the eagle will display powerful. This eagle is associated by first beating its wings to ascend with heavily wooded habitats in Af- vertically. At the apex, it will briefly rica, occurring from the Western stall before falling and gliding into a Cape Province northwards, through dive, repeating the climb again. The equatorial Africa and as far north as flight is conspicuous to other eagles, the highlands of Ethiopia. Its strong- helping them know who 'owns' what hold is the equatorial rainforest belt. patch of the forest. The Crowned Eagle is some- At other times, the Crowned what elusive and hard to see. I've had Eagle will be much less obvious. Its Crowned Eagle 49 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 50 plumage, dappled in rufous-brown, Most of its prey consists of dark brown and white, gives it ex- mammals such as monkeys, hyrax- cellent camouflage as it perches on es and small to even medium-sized a thick branch amidst the patches of antelope. The most significant re- sunlight penetrating the canopy. It corded kill was a bushbuck, which hunts by stealth and will spend a lot weighs six times as much as the of time just sitting and hiding while eagle. A pair will sometimes hunt spying out the environs using its together. One will fly above the keen eagle-eyes. It may drop down canopy, drawing the monkeys' at- onto prey on the ground or rapidly tention, while the other will sneak fly towards prey spotted in the tree- up on them from behind. A male tops. Its flight is silent, and it can and female may also work together sneak up to and snatch an oblivious to kill an antelope too large for just victim. Its wings are proportionally one. short and broad, enabling it to flit This eagle uses its incredibly through narrow gaps between tree huge and powerful talons for dis- trunks and branches. patching its prey. Grasping a mam-

Above During egg-laying and raising the mal by the torso, it sinks its claws chicks, the central platform is lined with in deep enough to pierce the vital fresh, leafy green twigs and shoots brought organs and kill its victim quickly. by both birds © Garth Batchelor. Left Legendary raptor biologist, It is also strong enough to fly off, the late Leslie Brown, showing carrying an animal up to about its some of the injuries sustained after own weight. Still bigger prey will be in urban areas will be happy to a Crowned Eagle attacked him as he tried to reach its nest. dragged over the ground towards hear that in one study, the ubiqui- cover. Once the prey is concealed, tous and noisy Hadada Ibis was the Below The incredibly large feet it will dismember it and carry bits dominant prey item after hyraxes. and long claws of a Crowned Eagle of the carcass to nearby trees. Here, Although attacks on people have © Hugh Chittenden. it will stash the meat in the forks of been recorded, these attacks are branches, safe from predators such rare and only occur when people as leopards that may otherwise are considered threats, especially stumble upon and take it. to their chicks. One man has been Mostly eating mammals, knocked out of a tree where he was Crowned Eagles nevertheless climbing up towards a Crowned sometimes diversify their diets to Eagle nest. They will also attack and include reptiles and birds. They've try to drive off monkeys and other been noted as catching domestic mammals they perceive as threats. animals such as chickens, cats or Crowned Eagles nest in large goat kids, but many people living forest trees, their nests typical 51 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 52 for large eagles, namely bulky af- performed on or close to it. The male eggs. She remains on the nest to in- ents taper off, and the chick also im- fairs built from sticks. They some- will bring food to the female to show cubate them while the male brings proves its own hunting expertise. By times collect fallen branches from that he will be a good provider. Oth- her food every few days. However, the age of 270 to 350 days, it becomes the forest floor but mostly break er displays include aerial flights, dur- some 'husbands' are not prudent fully independent. While in Eastern branches off trees, carrying them ing some of which the male and fe- providers, and one female has been Africa, Crowned Eagles breed main- to their nests in their feet or beaks. male may lock their feet together and recorded going without food for two ly every other year, in South Africa, The nests are typically situated at a tumble through the air head-over- weeks! they frequently breed yearly. They height 12−30 m from the ground heels. These cartwheeling displays But the male also sometimes live on average to 15 years, so each and very hard to access by humans are often misinterpreted by human incubates, with the female, in turn, couple has time to raise enough or leopards. It can be used year af- observers as attacks. Still, they're bringing him food. This is the only chicks to replace themselves. ter year; the pair keeps adding new actually occasions for the male and African eagle where the female as- Crowned Eagles are success- twigs and branches until it is enor- female to get attuned to each other, sists the male like this. The eggs ful when left alone and occur wide- mous, in some cases measuring 2.5 similar to human dancing. hatch after about fifty days. spread in Africa. They suffer pri- m across and 3 m deep. The record In South Africa, Crowned Ea- Although this eagle lays two marily from forest destruction and age for a nest thus far is 50 years! gles lay their eggs from late winter to eggs, only one chick ever survives to from humans over-hunting the same Sometimes a pair will have more spring. The female usually lays two be raised. In many eagles, the elder prey mammals they depend upon. than one nest, switching between chick kills the younger soon after it This is a huge concern in central them over different breeding years. hatches, a behaviour called Cainism, and western Africa, where the 'bush- The nest is a focal area for the Below An adult and a chick just about after the biblical Cain who killed meat' trade involves pretty much ready to fledge at their nest in the Sout- pair, and a lot of their bonding is pansberg © Derek Engelbrecht. his brother Abel. This occurs in the every kind of wild forest mammal Crowned Eagle too. The chick is in- from small to large, killed and sold itially covered in thick, white down. in markets to feed the burgeoning At first, its mother broods it continu- human population. Eagles are also ally as its father brings food for them sometimes hunted or killed on sus- both. The male delivers food to the picion of targeting domestic animals. female, who then gives it to the chick. But they do occur in several nature By the age of six weeks, the reserves and protected areas, and for chick can tear up and swallow prey now, their future is secure. itself, so the parents just fly in to de- Author e-mail: [email protected] posit food items on the nest. Its first proper feathers emerge at the age of View my gallery by clicking on the logo five weeks, and by the age of 60 days, below: its crest starts showing. By eleven weeks, it is fully feathered. At about a hundred days old, the chick attempts its first flight. It still remains dependent on its par- ents but starts making its own kills about two months after leaving the nest. Slowly the feeding by the par-

53 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 54

ing back in Camp. We were in the But readers may recall I am a Reflections Hide at dusk, in the hope of seeing wheelchair user, and the original Reflections something special, when a sound- structure of Maloutswa Hide was er of nine bushpigs came down to not very accessible. The viewing drink, certainly not something one slots were all too high (I was told normally sees at a waterhole. Then the Hide was originally built as a thrillingly, we heard the cough of a hunting Hide when the land was leopard, and the pigs all scattered. under private tenure and the slots Birding in SANParks Limpopo parks As we peered through the twilight were for rifle use from a standing we became aware of a big male leop- position). The pathway was also ard sitting on its haunches on the not suitably accessible. In the dry Maloutswa Hide – Celebrated Schizophrenia other side of the Pan, looking more season, the pathway was firm and like an Alsatian dog than a stealthy Chris Patton feline. His carefree attitude was most unusual. He remained in place Below The view from Maloutswa in the dry season. Note the criss-cross of game when we retreated from the Hide paths leading to the water’s edge, evidence back to our vehicle. From that mo- of the busy mammalian traffic that come apungubwe Nation- opened to the public, when this ment I was in love with Maloutswa. to quench their thirst © Chris Patton. al Park’s Maloutswa pan within the Limpopo River Hide in the west- floodplain was among the only ern sectionM of the Park I rate as standing water available… It was my favourite hide in all of SAN- incredible to witness the irresisti- Parks. Yet, it has two very distinct ble appeal of the waterhole not to personalities, but thankfully its birds, but to the mammals of the schizophrenic nature is in no way area… sitting in the hide for a few negative because both personas minutes, there would be a steady are incredibly appealing... one is stream of zebra, wildebeest, kudu, as a magnet for thirsty mammals, impala, waterbuck and warthog during the dry season – there may as the most regular protagonists. be one or two birds present, but And then the elephants would nothing to write home about… come through, bossing proceed- but when the Limpopo Floodplain ings and drinking their fill or is waterlogged Maloutswa be- splashing in the water. comes like a miniature Okavango On that first encounter with Delta teaming with birdlife that the Hide, my colleague and I were can be so plentiful it’s almost over- staying in the nearby Limpopo Tent- whelming… ed Camp, which, as I said, was not My first experience with yet open to the public. As we were Maloutswa was in drier times, on an official visit, we had license just before Limpopo Tented Camp to push the usual time limits of be-

55 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 56 compact enough for a wheelchair Pan was in flood… So for years I But this is a birding publication, and to use. Still, a small stream need- campaigned for the hide to be up- it’s the birds that we are interested in… ed to be crossed just before getting graded to meet more acceptable Even in the dry season, the ac- to the actual hide. Some thin latte universally accessible standards, tion starts in the palisaded parking poles had been used to create a so that all visitors could get into area… Look out for Crimson-breast- bridge, and this uneven raised sur- the hide independently, and that ed Shrike being in the bushes next to face meant assistance from a com- the viewing slots were more con- the ablutions. panion was required to get over it ducive to binocular use by a seated But when the Limpopo Flood- in my chair… And later, I would person… plain receives sufficient rain and discover that during the wet sea- Things often move slowly in the pans fill up and the surrounding son, the ground along the pathway SANParks, particularly in remote ground cover become rank flood- was transformed into mud, and locations, and the inaccessibility ed grassland, and water lilies start to thus getting there became a bit lingered for around the first 10 adorn the Pan, this Hide becomes a of a nightmare for me when the years of my relationship with the birder’s Mecca… Hide, but then I think in around 2014 the pathway to the hide Right Crimson-breasted Shrike can be seen at close pathway was damaged quarters in the Hide’s parking area during flooding, and © Derek Engelbrecht. when rebuilt a magnif- Below Compare the rank flooded grasses flanking icent firm smooth even the Pan to the earlier image of bare earth and the boardwalk now takes criss-cross of game trails. Greater Painted-snipe and visitors the entire way Egyptian Geese certainly prefer it… from the parking zone © Chris Patton.. into the Hide itself.

Above The access boardwalk to Maloutswa Hide is now a wonderful firm even surface, and the thrill of an- ticipation in travelling along its length is always worth experiencing © Chris Patton.

Right And some of the viewing slots have been lowered so that children, wheelchair users and other height compromised people can enjoy the views from Maloutswa © Chris Patton. 57 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 58 picture opportunities for those with patience prepared to peruse the Pan from the protection of the Hide. And even in the dry season, there are birds to look out for. A pair of Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl have a nesting site in the woodland ad- jacent to the boardwalk to the Hide. They can be heard grunt- ing in contact with their partners, even in the middle of the day. I hope readers will get as much joy from visiting the Hide as I have had over the years. Author e-mail: [email protected]

Below Hamerkop © Derek Engelbrecht.

Above A Knob-billed Duck head on at Maloutswa Pan The heron family is repre- © Chris Patton. sented by the squat members of the tribe with their extendible necks like Green-backed Her- The luxuriant grass will attract on and Dwarf Bittern, and both various rallids from an assortment night-herons, to the more ele- of crakes to Lesser Moorhen and gant egrets and larger herons. Allen’s Gallinule. Waterfowl come Grey Crowned Crane and Pink- in large numbers… Knob-billed backed Pelican are some of the larg- Duck, White-faced Whistling er species that have been recorded Ducks, Egyptian and Spur-winged at the Hide, and aquatic storks are Geese, and there may be some Af- well-represented too. rican Pygmy Geese too, perhaps at- Plovers, sandpipers, prat- tracted by the water-lilies that also incoles, painted-snipes and Pied entice jacanas. Kingfisher present other pleasant 59 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 60 Birdlife Polokwane merchandise Shopping bags @ R30-00 Key rings/bottle opener @ R30-00 Car license discs @ R10-00

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Now available at: www.callidendron.co.za Pick n Pay Cycad Woolworths Mall of the North 61 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 62 https://www.thebirdinglife.com/

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63 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 64 Bird Briefs

Handicapped Olive Woodpecker Ingrid Weiersbye E-mail: [email protected]

he photo of Derek Engel- pose body part indeed assumes brecht's stabbed thumb huge importance. in the previous issue A nest-hole in a tall cedar in allowsT me to share another Olive our garden here in the KwaZu- Woodpecker anecdote, again fo- lu-Natal Midlands has been used cusing on the bill. To a bird, a bill is everything; Below The injury-caused seriously de- to a woodpecker, this multi-pur- formed bill © Ingrid Weiersbye. Above The probing upper mandible for three years at least. It is used spears the pupa © Ingrid Weiersbye. currently throughout the year by the family of three to roost in. It has had two clutches raised in it, both twisted and no longer forming a with the female woodpecker I got single point, hence the name scis- to call 'scissor-bill'. The resultant sor-bill. offspring from the family unit of I have a strong suspicion either 3 or 4 birds regularly forage that the conflict came to a head in the garden. in 2020 whilst we were away. The Photos of the female in Sep- Black-collared Barbets put strong tember 2019 with a newly fledged pressure on the woodpeckers to chick clearly show her with an oust them from their hole, and undamaged bill. In January 2020, they in turn put up a spirited de- there was a fierce take-over bid of fence, all the time keeping just out the nest by Black-collared Barbets - of reach of the barbets' powerful then lock-down kept us away from bills. Although the Olive Wood- KwaZulu-Natal, and monitoring pecker has a dagger of a bill, I im- ceased. agine it is no match for the bulldog In September 2020, we re- clamping power of the barbet's. It's turned, and photos showed that just possible that the female down her once dagger-shaped bill was in the nest-hole was attacked by 65 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 66 the barbet during one of these con- with the upper hoopoe-like bill, and Cape Vulture resightings flicts and had her bill clamped and once speared, she had to struggle Derek Engelbrecht twisted by the intruder. to manoeuvre the food item off the E-mail: [email protected] As I observed her, I got to no- upper bill tip down onto the tree tice that her scissor-bill progressively trunk to then scoop it into her gape deteriorated until the lower mandi- with the lower mandible. Invaria- ble started to splinter, and even more bly the food item was dropped, and he following two Tag C287: Cape Vulture distressing, the upper mandible she would flutter down to try and tagged vultures were The bird was tagged as a juve- continued to grow way beyond the catch it, seldom successfully. Wood- seen at the Mockford nile by David Pretorius, also on 15th length of the lower bill. This meant peckers have a long barbed tongue VultureT Restaurant west of Polok- December 2016 at Blouberg Nature she could only access grubs in holes but in this case it didn't extend far wane on 12 June 2021. Reserve. The straight-line distance enough to be of use. between the tagging and resighting Sadly, the accompa- Tag C285: Cape Vulture locality was 120.4 km and the days nying photos show elapsed were 1 641 days (4y, 5m, her at a point where 29d). she was really struggling to feed. Since then, I have not seen her at the nest, and another female woodpeck- er appears to have taken over with the male.

Above The bird struggling to remove the pupa onto the tree-trunk, possibly using the foot © Ingrid Weiersbye.

Right Occasional success The bird was tagged as a ju- enables the bird to lower its venile by Elba Swardt on 15th De- head sideways onto the pupa cember 2016 at Blouberg Nature and scoop it into gape. This Reserve. The straight-line distance maneuvering effort took 4 Acknowledgements Thanks to Johan Van minutes © Ingrid Weiersbye. between the tagging and resighting locality was 120.4 km and the days Wyk, reserve manager at Blouberg Nature elapsed were 1 641 days (4y, 5m, Reserve, for providing me with the details 29d). of the tagged birds.

67 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 68 The standardisation of bird names in Northern Sotho Table 1. A summary of the results of the analysis of bird names in Northern Sotho. (Sesotho sa Leboa / Sepedi) Category Number Number % out of Johan Meyer of entries of unique unique E-mail: [email protected] entries entries 281 208 45.6 491 188 41.2 Only 1 species (species-specific name) 305 60 13.2 orthern Sotho is one names for birds found in Lesotho General name for >1 species, same family of the Sotho languag- in Sesotho. Therefore, there is still a 1077 456 General name for >1 species, different families es or rather a cluster need to standardise the bird names of dialectsN with a standard lan- in Northern Sotho, at least for the species-specificTotal data entries names as Venda name of the Southern Ground guage. The standard language is birds in the Limpopo and Gauteng and 30 times more than Ndebele Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri. called Northern Sotho or Sesotho provinces, if not the whole of south- (Meyer 2021a, 2021b). A full list of It is either legotutu or lehututu. sa Leboa. Since the standard lan- ern Africa. To do this, a standard all the names found in Northern The name for falcon can either guage is based on the dialect of the methodology is needed with clear Sotho with their English equiva- be in class 7 (sepekwa) or class 9 Pedi tribe, it is also called Sepedi. guidelines or principles. lent and the family to which the (pekwa). In both cases, the name In the constitution it is called Sepe- bird belongs can be found in the that occurs the most in the data- di, but many people are not happy Proposed Methodology Appendix after the References. base was used. with that since it does not reflect The method used to create spe- After analysing the docu- 4. Certain species or group of all the dialects that make up the cies-specific names for all southern mented names, four cases arose: birds have no known name. This standard language. In this article, Africa birds in Northern Sotho is 1. One name is used for many is true for almost all seabirds as the language will be referred to as set out below. species. Lepidibidi is used for all Northern Sotho is not spoken at Northern Sotho. Names were collected from ducks. Descriptive parts were the coast. Northern Sotho is the fourth various literature sources, mainly added to distinguish between largest language of South Africa dictionaries and articles. All the species. Group names in terms of the number of home names of birds in Northern Sotho 2. A single bird species has A group name was chosen for language speakers. It is the Sotho found were documented. A data- many names. The Western Cat- each group of birds after analysis language with the most speakers in base of bird names was made us- tle Egret Bubulcus ibis is called of the documented names. These South Africa and is only spoken in ing the same method as described Modišane, Modišadikgômo, groups did not always correspond South Africa. by Meyer (2021a) for Venda bird Ledišadikgômo, Kgogonokane, to the names of groups in English Bird names in many languag- names. The results of the database Kgogobadimo. The name that or Afrikaans. These names were es have been standardised. How- are summarised in Table 1. A total appeared most in the database chosen using the following prin- ever, this is not the case for the of 1077 data entries were made, of or that was the most relevant was ciples: African languages (Meyer, 2020). which only 456 were unique en- used. 1. Traditional Northern So- The bird names in Zulu for the tries; 45.6% of the unique entries 3. As standard Northern So- tho words were chosen over birds of KwaZulu-Natal is the only was a species-specific name. This is tho is a collection of various di- loanwords, even if the loanword case where bird names for a region lower than the 55.6% of Venda but alects, variations in the spelling has a more general use. Exam- of South Africa have been stand- higher than the 13.2% of Ndebele of names occur, or the names are ples are tladi and not flaminko ardised (Koopman et al., 2020). (Meyer 2021a, 2021b). However, in different noun classes. An ex- for flamingo and legelhe and Ambrose (2020) standardised the Northern Sotho had twice as many ample of spelling variation is the not papalagae for parrot.

69 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 70 2. Where no name exists, 4. Loanwords were not used names from Setswana, Sesotho for birds found in southern Af- or Silozi were used, for example rica. Two exemptions were the ntodi for cormorant, which is the word for penguin (phenkwine) Setswana name. and peafowl (phikoko). 3. If no name exists according to the two previous principles, Names at species level new names were coined. These Once a group name was cho- names are not always mere direct sen, names up to the species lev- translations of English or Afri- el were given. Descriptive names kaans names. The description were used as much as possible, or behaviour of the birds were describing the appearance or be- Mankutukutu -Secretarybird © Derek Engelbrecht Tsoko - Narina Trogon © Derek Engelbrecht taken into account. The gannets haviour of the species. Places or were called seswinyo, mean- regions are only used for names ing the diver. If two nouns were combined, the class prefix of the second noun was left out. Leeba Below There are no species-specific (dove) and ledimo (storm) be- names for our two guineafowl species in comes leebadimo (storm dove = Northern Sotho. Both Helmeted (Left) and Crested Guineafowl (Right) are called petrel). Kgaka © Derek Engelbrecht.

Legwa - Cape Crow © Derek Engelbrecht Maliberwani - Melodious Lark © Derek Engelbrecht

71 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 72 Lefokori - African Wattled Lapwing © Derek Engelbrecht Serala - African Pipit © Derek Engelbrecht when a good descriptive name kaans and the proposed Northern cannot be found. The names Sotho name. In the final column, were kept as short as possible. the direct translation into English of the proposed Northern Sotho Spelling name is given. A general name for No hyphens are used except to fa- the family is chosen as Dikgwale cilitate reading, e.g. Brown Nod-

francolins and quails francolins Asian partidge “coqui francolin” mountain francolin wing francolin red francolin eastern Kalahari francolin francolin” “crested spurfowl rock bill spurfowl red cape spurfowl bill spurfowl orange spurfowl throat red black leg spurfowl quail brown quail” “harlequin blue quail peacock (singular kgwale). Certain spe- dy Anous stolidus - Peolwanewat- cies had a species-specific name le-sotho le kgolo. The descriptive that was used. The remainder of part of the name is written loose the species was divided into three and after the group name. No hy- groups, francolins (dikgwale, sin- phens are used between the nouns, gular: kgwale), spurfowl (mahoho, copulas and the descriptive part singular: lehoho) and quails (dikh- (adjective or noun), e.g. Black wiri, singular: sekhwiri). Descrip- Stork Ciconia nigra is Lentlopodi tive species-specific names were Lebudiane thaba ya Kgwale Bohlabela ya Kgwale Kgalagadi ya Kgwale Lesogo Lehoho la leswika Lehoho la molomohwibidu Lehoho la Kapa Lehoho la molomomodipa Lehoho la mogolohwibidu Lehoho la leotoso Pilo se setalalerata Sekhwiri Phikoko le leso and not Lentlopodileleso, then given. For the Indian Peafowl Lentlopodi leleso or Lentlopo- Pavo cristatus, a loanword, phikoko di-le-leso. Although Ambrose (plural: diphikoko) was used. This (2020) used hyphens for the bird is found in numerous sources, names in Sesotho, this is not the and it is an introduced species. standard way of writing in North- Afrikaans Northern Sotho translation Direct ern Sotho and looks artificial. Conclusion

Asiatiese PatrysSwempie Asia ya Kgwale Laeveldpatrys Bospatrys Kaapse Fisant Natalse Fisant KwartelAfrikaanse Bontkwartel se sesotho Sekhwiri Bloukwartel Bloupou Only the group name is capital- There are enough species-specif- ised, e.g. Black Stork is Lentlopodi ic names and general names in le leso and not lentlopodi le leso, Northern Sotho for birds to make Lentlopodi Le Leso or Lentlopo- a standardised list of names for the di le Leso. Compound nouns are birds of southern Africa in North- written as one word. Hyphens ern Sotho. Following the above-

English are only used as explained above; mentioned principles will make a therefore the Cape Shoveler Anas list more acceptable. It should be smithii is Lepidibidileho la Kapa stressed that the list and principles Francolins and QuailsFrancolins Partridge Chukar Francolin Coqui en Kwartels Patryse FrancolinGrey-winged FrancolinRed-winged le Dikhwiri Dikgwale Bergpatrys Shelley’s Francolin Francolin River Orange Rooivlerkpatrys Francolin Crested Kalaharipatrys SpurfowlHartlaub’s lephegohwibidu ya Kgwale SpurfowlRed-billed Spurfowl Cape Klipfisant Natal Spurfowl Rooibekfisant SpurfowlRed-necked SpurfowlSwainson’s Quail Common Rooikeelfisant Quail Harlequin Bosveldfisant Blue Quail Indian Peafowl and not Lepidibidi-leho la Kapa or should not be seen as set in stone, Lepidibidi leho la Kapa. and input would be greatly appre- ciated. Example of a family An example of a family of birds, References and sources consulted the Phasianidae (francolins and African Languages. Birds and Trees List: spurfowl), are given in Table 2. The English - Sesotho sa Leboa. Available at

Scientific Name table contains the scientific name https://africanlanguages.com/sdp/ff/. [ac-

Phasianidae chukar Alectoris coqui Peliperdix afra Scleroptila levaillantii Scleroptila shelleyi Scleroptila gutturalis Scleroptila sephaena Dendroperdix Pternistis hartlaubi Pternistis adspersus Pternistis capensis Pternistis natalensis Pternistis afer Pternistis swainsonii coturnix Coturnix delegorguei Coturnix adansonii Excalfactoria cristatus Pavo and the name in English, Afri- cessed 12 June 2021]. Table 2. Scientific, English, Afrikaans and the proposed Northern Sotho name of southern African representatives species in the representatives African of southern Northern name Sotho proposed and the Afrikaans English, Scientific, 2. Table Northern name. Sotho proposed of the English into direct translation the gives column last The Phasianidae. family 73 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 74 Appendix. Bird names in Northern Sotho Ambrose D. 2020. Lesotho annotated bib- tho--Afrikaans, Afrikaans--Noord-Sotho. Family Scientific Name Northern Sotho English liography: Section 167A. Birds including Pretoria: JL Van Schaik. Struthionidae Struthio camelus Mpšhe Common Ostrich annotated species checklist. Ladybrand: Lourens LJ. 2004. On the generic nature House 9 Publications. of common Northern Sotho bird names: Anatidae Alopochen aegyptiaca Lefalwa Egyptian Goose Avibase - The World Bird Database. Avail- a probe into the cognitive systematiza- Anas undulata Lepelebele Yellow-billed Duck able at https://avibase.bsc-eoc.org/avibase. tion of indigenous knowledge. South Plectropterus gambensis Moselamotlaka Spur-winged Goose jsp?lang=EN. [accessed: 10 September African Journal of African Languages Phasianidae Coturnix coturnix Kwekwe Common Quail 2016]. 24(2): 95−117 Dendroperdix sephaena Lehwerehwere, Lesogo Crested Francolin Beyer G. 1926. Sotho-Vogelnamen. Meyer IJ. 2020. Bird names in the Afri- Peliperdix coqui Lebudiane Coqui Francolin Zeitschrift für Eingeborenen-Sprachen 16: can languages of southern Africa. The Caprimulgidae Caprimulgus pectoralis Seribišane Fiery-necked Nightjar 302–310. Lark 32: 45−48. Department of Arts and Culture. 2013. Meyer IJ. 2021a. Bird names in Venda Musophagidae Corythaixoides concolor Mokgowe, Mokowe, Grey Go-away-bird Mokwe, Mokwenete Multilingual Natural Sciences and Tech- (Tshiven a). The Lark 34: 53−59. Otididae Ardeotis kori Kgori Kori Bustard nology term list for Grade 4 to 6: English Meyer IJ. 2021b. Bird names in Ndebele - Afrikaans - Setswana - Sepedi - Sesotho. (isiNdebele).ḓ The Lark 35: 57−61. Lophotis ruficrista Mosweleswele, Kgwar- Red-crested Korhaan akgwara, Kgwarakgwara, South Africa: Department of Arts and Mojalefa MJ. 2009. Divination expressed Mošwelešwele Culture. through poetry: The divinatory poems Cuculidae Centropus burchellii Mpue Burchell’s Coucal FitzPatrick Institute for African Orni- of Johannes Mokgwadi. South African Chrysococcyx caprius Makaokele Diederik Cuckoo thology. Names Database. Available at Journal of African Languages 29(1): Cuculus solitarius Bjalapeu, Morakhulong Red-chested Cuckoo http://www.fitzpatrick.uct.ac.za/fitz/pub- 96−108. lications/robertsvii/database. [accessed 21 Mojela VM, South African National Columbidae Columba arquatrix Leebamphepana, Leeba- African Olive Pigeon sodi, Lephapane December 2018]. Lexicography Units, Sesotho sa Leboa Columba guinea Leebašupi Rock Pigeon Gautschi JR. 2010. Hello South Africa National Lexicography Unit. 2018. Pic- Phrasebook: 11 Official Languages. Jo- ture Dictionary English - Sesotho sa Oena capensis Lengetlane, Lenketane, Namaqua Dove Mankotane, Mankwet- hannesburg: Hello South Africa Pub- Leboa Gr R-3. South Africa: South Afri- lana, Mmankwetla, Mok- lishing. can National Lexicography Units. gorwane, Segorwane IOC World Bird List: http://www.world- Paizee D. 2013. Oxford First Bilingual Spilopelia senegalensis Leebakgwethe, Lee- Laughing Dove birdnames.org. [accessed 10 September Dictionary: Sesotho and English. Cape bakoko 2016]. town: Oxford University Press. Streptopelia capicola Leaba kgorwana, Man- Ring-necked Dove Koopman A, Porter R, Turner N. 2020. Ramashala I. 2008. Sepedi made easy: a kurwane Birds of KwaZulu-Natal and their Zulu step-by-step guide to learning and mas- Streptopelia semitorquata Leeba la mahlomahubedu Red-eyed Dove names. Cape Town: Trustees of the John tering Sepedi. Johannesburg: ALAS. Treron calvus Lephui African Green Pigeon Voelcker Bird Book Fund. Steadman I. 2014. South African Multi- Rallidae Fulica cristata Kgwale ya meetse, Red-knobbed Coot Kriel TJ. 1983. Pukuntšu - Woorde- lingual Dictionary. Cape Town: Pharos. Lefudi boek. Noord-Sotho--Afrikaans, Afri- Uys I. 2008. The English, Afrikaans, Gallinula chloropus Kgogomeetse Common Moorhen kaans--Noord-Sotho. Pretoria: JL Van Northern Sotho, Tswana Aid. Cape Gruidae Balearica regulorum Lehemu Grey Crowned Crane Schaik. Town: Pharos. Grus carunculata Motlathomo Wattled Crane Kriel TJ, Van Wyk EB, Makopo SA. 1989. Wilken P. 1994. Understanding everyday Phoenicopteridae Phoenicopterus minor Tlatšana Lesser Flamingo Pukuntšu - Woordeboek. Noord-So- Northern Sotho. Cape Town: Maskew Turnicidae Turnix hottentottus Sehwiri Fynbos Buttonquail Miller Longman.

75 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 76 Family Scientific Name Northern Sotho English Family Scientific Name Northern Sotho English Turnix sylvaticus Mperinyane Common Buttonquail Otus senegalensis Kgaribišanyane, African Scops Owl Recurvirostridae Himantopus himantopus Mmotlanakane Black-winged Stilt Leribišane Charadriidae Vanellus coronatus Letletlerwane Crowned Lapwing Trogonidae Apaloderma narina Tsoko Narina Trogon Ciconiidae Ciconia abdimii Lekololwane Abdim’s Stork Upupidae Upupa africana Hupu, Khukhu, Kukuku, African Hoopoe Kukuu, Leremakatsaka, Ciconia ciconia Leakapula, Lentakaran- White Stork Pupupu, Segologolo wane, Lentlopodi, Lentlopodi le lešweu Phoeniculidae Phoeniculus purpureus Senkgamogwete Green Wood Hoopoe Leptoptilos crumenifer Mmakaitšimeletša Marabou Stork Rhinopomastus cyanomelas Kuela Common Scimitarbill Threskiornithidae Bostrychia hagedash Lengao Hadada Ibis Bucorvidae Bucorvus leadbeateri Legotutu, Lehututu Southern Ground Hornbill Geronticus calvus Mokhooto Southern Bald Ibis Bucerotidae Tockus leucomelas Mokgothopitsi Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill Ardeidae Botaurus stellaris Khwitimohlaka Eurasian Bittern Coraciidae Coracias caudatus Lehlake, Letlakela Lilac-breasted Roller Bubulcus ibis Kgogobadimo, Western Cattle Egret Ledišadikgomo, Lybiidae Trachyphonus vaillantii Mphago Crested Barbet Madišadipere, Modiša, Tricholaema leucomelas Serokolo Acacia Pied Barbet Modišadikgomo, Indocatoridae Indicator indicator Tsehlo Greater Honeyguide Modišana, Tšhwedietane Picidae Geocolaptes olivaceus Llapaleome Ground Woodpecker Scopidae Scopus umbretta Lešianoka, Mamašia- Hamerkop noke, Mašianoka, Falconidae Falco naumanni Seotsanyana Lesser Kestrel Mmamašianoka, Malaconotidae Laniarius atrococcineus Palamafsika Crimson-breasted Shrike Mmašianoka Laniarius ferrugineus Malobe Southern Boubou Sagittariidae Sagittarius serpentarius Hlame, Mankutukutu, Secretarybird Mankutukutu, Mmamo- Tchagra senegalus Mmamapena. Tshekane Black-crowned Tchagra langwane, Mokolokute, Telophorus zeylonus Mpherwane, Tswilodi Bokmakierie Thlame, Tlhame Campephagidae Coracina caesia Mmaselakgwahla Grey Cuckooshrike Accipitridae Accipiter badius Matsenelela, Mmat- Shikra senella Laniidae Eurocephalus anguitimens Leagakametlwa Southern White-crowned Shrike Aquila rapax Kobokobo, Ntšhu- Tawny Eagle Lanius collaris Tsemedi, Tšokatšokane Southern Fiscal kobokobo Urolestes melanoleucus Motsilodi Magpie Shrike Aquila verreauxii Lejapela Verreaux’s Eagle Oriolidae Oriolus larvatus Khulong Black-headed Oriole Buteo augur Nkgodi, Segodi Augur Buzzard Dicruridae Dicrurus ludwigii Thekwane Square-tailed Drongo Elanus caeruleus Mmallakokwane, Seg- Black-winged Kite Monarchidae Terpsiphone viridis Letsobe, Mmakgwadi, African Paradise Flycatcher wetšane, Sehlabamaeba- Mothoapea na, Seutlamaeba Corvidae Corvus albicollis Mmankgoro White-necked Raven Gyps coprotheres Rrantswe Cape Vulture Corvus albus Legatswatswa, Mogaga- Pied Crow Neophron percnopterus Kgonyaihlo Egyptian Vulture bane Polemaetus bellicosus Mmakgwana Martial Eagle Corvus capensis Legogobane, Legwa, Cape Crow Tytonidae Tyto alba Mmakgohlo Western Barn Owl Legwaba, Mmamog- omilo, Segogobane, Strigidae Bubo africanus Lešibiri Spotted Eagle-Owl Sephurapeo Bubo lacteus Lekota Verreaux’s Eagle-Owl Paridae Parus pallidiventris Segege Cinnamon-breasted Tit

77 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 78 Family Scientific Name Northern Sotho English Family Scientific Name Northern Sotho English Remizidae Anthoscopus minutus Kgororwane, Leswarelela Cape Penduline Tit Nectarinia famosa Tšhekgere Malachite Sunbird Alaudidae Chersomanes albofasciata Motinyane Spike-heeled Lark Passeridae Passer melanurus Lemphorokgohlo la Kapa Cape Sparrow Mirafra africana Pulaekhudile, Tshehle- Rufous-naped Lark Ploceidae Euplectes afer Rramakgatho Yellow-crowned Bishop lamedupe Euplectes progne Lephaka, Lephakga Long-tailed Widowbird Mirafra cheniana Maliberwani Melodious Lark Quelea quelea Leragane, Lerwerwe Red-billed Quelea Pycnonotidae Phyllastrephus terrestris Seruane Terrestrial Bulbul Estrildidae Estrilda perreini Rramphitlimphitli Grey Waxbill Pycnonotus capensis Lekolo Cape Bulbul Lagonosticta rubricata Mošalašopeng African Firefinch Pycnonotus tricolor Lekwete, Rankgwetšhe, Dark-capped Bulbul Lonchura cucullata Sejamoroko Bronze Mannikin Rrampšokgodi Ortygospiza atricollis Lebonyane Quail Finch Hirundinidae Riparia paludicola Lekabelane Brown-throated Martin Pytilia melba Kgakanagae Green-winged Pytilia Macrosphenidae Sylvietta rufescens Kurutle Long-billed Crombec Uraeginthus angolensis Tlwere, Tšwee Blue Waxbill Acrocephalidae Hippolais icterina Radikwero, Rametlae Icterine Warbler Viduidae Vidua macroura Mmalekutu Pin-tailed Whydah Locustellidae Schoenicola brevirostris Thatha Fan-tailed Grassbird Vidua regia Lehelo Shaft-tailed Whydah Cisticolidae Camaroptera brachyura Lellakakwana Green-backed Camaroptera (female) Cisticola chiniana Lekgere, Matea, Mateane Rattling Cisticola Motacillidae Anthus cinnamomeus Serala African Pipit Cisticola fulvicapilla Setwaneng Neddicky Anthus leucophrys Tlholapula Plain-backed Pipit Cisticola tinniens Moteane Levaillant’s Cisticola Motacilla aguimp Mogofepitswana, Mose- African Pied Wagtail Prinia subflava Nanaswi, Teteretere Tawny-flanked Prinia lakatane Zosteropidae Zosterops capensis Mmalakaneng, Lentsiana Cape White-eye Fringillidae Crithagra mozambica Thaganyane Yellow-fronted Canary Zosterops pallidus Setsiololo Orange River White-eye Serinus canicollis Tale Cape Canary Sturnidae Creatophora cinerea Lefokori African Wattled Starling Uraeginthus granatinus Lete Violet-eared Waxbill Onychognathus morio Lebutswa Red-winged Starling Emberizidae Emberiza tahapisi Motweditwedi Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Buphagidae Buphagus africanus Thagatsukudu Yellow-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus Legame, Tšhomi Red-billed Oxpecker Muscicapidae Campicoloides bifasciatus Tantabe Buff-streaked Chat Cossypha dichroa Tšhakga Chorister Robin-Chat Click on the links below to view my work and participate Cossypha heuglini Monotobidi White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha humeralis Lekonko White-throated Robin-Chat in the discussion ... Monticola rupestris Mmaratasebilo Cape Rock Thrush Oenanthe familiaris Letlerenyane Familiar Chat Oenanthe pileata Thoromedi Capped Wheatear Saxicola torquatus Thisa African Stonechat Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris Leseka Mocking Chat Nectariniidae Anthreptes aurantius Tswitswana Violet-backed Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea Taletale Olive Sunbird

79 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 80 Long-billed larks in the Eastern Cape grassy but still has a Ka- Alan Collett roo scrub component. E-mail: [email protected] Bedford has true grass- land in the mountains, but almost as far as Grahams- town in the Carlisle Bridge hen I was part of hence their bills do not require such area, there is scrubby Ka- an Eastern Cape a long, strong bill. Their plumage is roo with very little grass. birding group on also overall browner to fit into the The Steytlerville district Facebook,W there would always be a winter grass (see p83). is true Karoo right up to lively debate when someone post- It follows then that Karoo the Kouga and Cocks- ed a photo of a Long-billed Lark Long-billed Larks will be found in comb Mountains. Yet, in the Mountain Zebra National the Karoo and Eastern Long-billed that area is 100 km east Park. The discussion always cen- Larks will be found in the grass- of where the grasslands tred around whether it was Ka- lands. The difficulty occurs when start in other areas. roo or Eastern Long-billed Lark. those two biomes are drawn on a Just as the habitat Indeed, the birds in the 'genuine' map. Where are the boundaries, does not change sudden- and how does Karoo change into ly, it has been my expe- Karoo (as opposed to those in the Karoo Long-billed Lark grassy Karoo) are slightly bigger, grassland moving in an easterly rience that the birds also SABAP2 data, accessed 18 June 2021 have longer, stronger bills, are more direction? It is definitely not a case don't change suddenly. grey on the nape, and generally are of the Karoo ending and grassland The Mountain Zebra Na- greyer and more streaked below starting within a space of 100 me- tional Park is an excellent than the birds in the eastern grassy ters. Even deep into what could be area to focus on because Karoo and genuine grassland. called the genuine Karoo (Prince many photos get taken It is an established fact that Albert, Beaufort West, Carnarvon, there. The Park also has habitat plays a significant role in Namaqualand), given good wet a good mix of grass and determining where birds occur. seasons, there is grass. Still, for the Karoo scrub, although it Habitat shapes the birds so that the sake of this article, we will call these tends to be more grassy birds will be shaped to best fit into areas genuine Karoo. Around Wil- in good wet seasons. that habitat after very long periods lowmore, Graaff-Reinet and Mid- Why is it always of time. For example, the plumage delburg, the amount of grass starts so difficult for birders colouration of Long-billed Larks increasing going east, gradually be- to decide which spe- in the Karoo will be what best suits coming natural grassland along the cies they are looking the substrate or habitat in that re- east coast and into Mpumalanga. at? One of the reasons gion, hence the greyer colouration. But even so, it is not all that simple. is that the features of Their bills will also be best suited to In the Eastern Cape, the two the two species can be penetrate the hard, dry soils of the biomes are present along with oth- looked at subjectively. Karoo. In contrast, the birds in the er biomes in a mosaic that makes My interpretation of bill grassland content with generally it very difficult to depict them on length and all the oth- Eastern Long-billed Lark softer soil, with more humus and a map. The Cradock area is very er features may not be SABAP2 data, accessed 18 June 2021 81 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 82 Karoo Long-billed Lark © Alan Collett

the other, and interpretation will Above Some of the Long-billed Larks sway birders one way or the other. in the Eastern Cape show features in- termediate between Karoo and Easten Eastern Long-billed Lark has Long-billed Lark. These images are of been reported 122 times in pentad the same bird and show the heavily 3210_2525 (the reception area) and streaked breast associated with Karoo Karoo Long-billed Lark has been Long-biled Lark, but a relatively weak reported 38 times. This points to at- and somewhat shorter bill of an East- ern Long-billed Lark © Alan Collett. lasers either seeing both species, or some atlasers interpreting the fea- tures differently to others. The East- ern Long-billed Lark photo from For a species to be recognisable, the Mountain Zebra National Park there must be a way of recognising it (MZNP) on the next spread, with its as a species. In the west (Karoo), they more robust bill is the type of bird can be recognised as Karoo Long- Eastern Long-billed Lark © Alan Collett that causes confusion in the MZNP. billed Larks, and in the east (grass- The other two Eastern Long-billed land), they are Eastern Long-billed the same as yours. Another rea- er species. But the main reason is Larks are from Fish River, 35 km Larks, but in the transition zone, it is son they are not easy to identify that the Long-billed Larks in the north of Cradock at the same lati- very difficult to always identify them. is that there will often be a fea- transition zone are not definite- tude as MZNP and in the same hab- I have heard birders suggest they be ture that fits one species on the ly Karoo or Eastern Long-billed itat. The Karoo Long-billed Larks lumped together as they were in the same bird, but then another fea- Larks. Like the habitat, they fall are all from Rietbron and Graaff- past, and this certainly would make ture leans more towards the oth- somewhere between being one or Reinet. identification easier.

83 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 84 Karoo Long-billed Lark © Alan Collett Karoo Long-billed Lark © Alan Collett Karoo Long-billed Lark © Alan Collett West of Rietbron, Eastern Cape. Rietbron, Eastern Cape. Graaff-Reinet, Eastern Cape.

Eastern Long-billed Lark © Alan Collett Eastern Long-billed Lark © Alan Collett Eastern Long-billed Lark © Alan Collett Katkop Farm, 40 km north of Cradock, Eastern Cape. Katkop Farm, 40 km north of Cradock, Eastern Cape. Mountain Zebra National Park, Eastern Cape.

85 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 86 Missing, presumed dead: Mokgalaje the Short-clawed Lark Reserve, and the increase in woody short grass, trees that are generally in Derek Engelbrecht cover is clear from these images. the 1−2m height range with a cano- E-mail: [email protected] Ground-level changes in the hab- py diameter also in the 1−2 m range. itat structure in the two core areas These ground-level photos show for Short-clawed Lark in the Polok- many of the trees in the two core wane Game Reserve in 2003 and areas now exceed the size threshold Fifteen years, 8 months and 1 The fact that his territory has re- 2004, and again in 2021, show the preferred by Short-clawed Lark. The day, or 5725 days! It seems as if the mained vacant supports our findings extent of the increase in woody cov- reason for its habitat preference can reign of the world's oldest known that changes in the habitat structure, er in a relatively short space of time. be drawn back to its spectacular dis- lark, Mokgalaje the Short-clawed notably an increase in the woody Marr et al's. (2017) findings showed play flights. Lark, has come to an end. I ringed component of the vegetation in the Short-clawed Lark's preferred habi- Mokgalaje on 24 May 2005 in the Polokwane Game Reserve, have cre- tat include areas with small amounts Below Mokgalaje in 2015 back of the Polokwane Game Reserve ated unfavourable habitat for Short- of grass cover, lots of bare ground, © Derek Engelbrecht. and he was last seen in his territory on clawed Larks in this reserve (Marr et 24 January 2021. He was an absolute al. 2017). A population census in the record-breaker as the next oldest lark reserve in 2007 revealed the presence on record is a Crested Lark in Germa- of 55 territorial Short-clawed Lark ny, found dead 11 years and 7 months males. We haven't done another cen- after being ringed (Fransson et al. sus since then (one is on the cards for 2017). Through the years, he was the September 2021), but I'll be surprised star pupil of my project on the life his- if there are even as many as 20 terri- tory strategies of Short-clawed Lark. torial males in the reserve at present. A considerable amount of what we The decline of Short-clawed Lark in know about Short-clawed Lark can be the reserve follows the same pathway attributed to him. as several other open-habitat species Since I last saw him in January which are either declining or locally 2021, at least four attempts to relocate extinct in the Polokwane Game Re- him have failed. It doesn't seem like serve, e.g. Spike-heeled Lark, Secre- he was ousted by another male, as the tarybird, White-bellied and North- territory has remained vacant since ern Black Korhaan. This is matched his departure. Even his mate of the by a concomitant increase of wood- 2020/21 season appears to have ab- land species such as Southern Yel- sconded. I also searched neighbour- low-billed Hornbill, Groundscraper ing territories to see if there had been Thrush and Red-crested Korhaan. a subtle shift in territorial boundaries, The Google Earth images accompa- but still no luck. Surveys in near- nying this note (next spread) show by suitable habitat also failed to find changes in the habitat structure him. Thus, the available evidence sug- between 2001 and 2021. Both sets gests he either perished or left the area represent the core areas for Short- searching for greener pastures. clawed Lark in the Polokwane Game

87 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 88 Site 1 - central Polokwane Game Reserve 2001. Site 2 - south-east of Polokwane Game Reserve 2001; Ellipse = Mokgalaje's territory.

Site 1 - central Polokwane Game Reserve 2021. Site 2 - south-east of Polokwane Game Reserve 2021; Ellipse = Mokgalaje's territory. 89 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 90 For a male to perform its aerial display flight, he needs a relatively large open area, free of obstructions such as tall trees. Equally important, the display needs to be seen. An in- crease in tree cover increases the number of potential obstructions. Large trees (2−4 m height and can- opy diameter) present as much as an obstacle as a hindrance to be seen by potential mates and rivals. Apart from these inherent requirements in the species biology, changes in the vegetation structure may also cause a change in the predator suite. This, Site 1 - central Polokwane Game Reserve 2 August 2003. Site 1 - central Polokwane Game Reserve 4 June 2021. in turn, may negatively impact upon, amongst others, the nesting success of Short-clawed Lark. I always say that managing habitat for Short-clawed Lark is a conservationist's nightmare. Their stronghold is rural farmland where veld management practices such as heavy grazing and trampling by live- stock maintain a short grass sward with lots of bare ground. Further- more, the reliance on wood har- vesting as a source of fuel and for construction purposes in rural are- as results in small, even-sized trees, which creates the ideal habitat struc- ture for this species (Brewster et al. Site 2 - south-east of Polokwane Game Reserve 21 July 2004. Site 2 - south-east of Polokwane Game Reserve 4 June 2021. 2010; Marr et al. 2017). Whether or References https://euring.org/data-and-codes/longev- Above Eye-level changes in the habitat not Mokgalaje is still alive, the hab- Brewster CA, Mooketsa K, Herremans M. ity-list?page=4 [last updated 19 September structure of the two core areas for Short- itat changes over the lifetime of this clawed Lark in the Polokwane Game 2010. Status of Short-clawed Lark Certhilau- 2017, accessed 19 June 2021]. lark highlight how subtle changes Reserve. The images at Site 2 were taken in da chuana in south-eastern Botswana. Afri- Marr SM, Grosel JI, Engelbrecht GD. 2017. in habitat structure can significantly Mokgalaje's territory © Derek Engelbrecht. can Bird Club Bulletin 17: 32–34. Habitat preference of the eastern popula- impact a population and, ultimately, Fransson T, Jansson L, Kolehmainen T, tion of the Short-clawed Lark Certhilauda the species. Perhaps this was Mok- Kroon C, Wenninger T 2017. EURING list chuana in the Limpopo province, South galaje's last and lasting message. of longevity records for European birds. Africa. Ostrich 88(1): 73−77. 91 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 92 Marabou Storks breeding in the Limpopo Province Border Post in the Limpopo River breeding season of African Skimmers in the Derek Engelbrecht Valley. Are these birds the canaries in Limpopo Province. The Lark 27: 73–78. E-mail: [email protected] the coal mine? Only time will tell, but McKenzie DR. 2020. Breeding range exten- in the meantime, keep 'em peeled for sion record of Southern Carmine Bee-eater African Pitta. Merops nubicoides in Botswana. The Lark 32: Acknowledgements A special word of 39−43. arabou Stork has a ic records of breeding attempts in thanks to Duncan McKenzie who encour- Simmons RE. 2015. Marabou Stork Leptopti- widespread distri- north-eastern South Africa, only one aged Ronald Wainwright to report this in- los crumeniferus. In: Simmons RE, Brown CJ, bution in sub-Saha- attempt, a nest in 1969, appears to teresting record. Kemper J (eds), Birds to watch in Namibia: ran Africa,M with numbers estimated have successfully fledged two young red, rare and endemic species. Windhoek: somewhere between 200 000 and (Elwell 1970; Whyte et al. 1993). References Ministry of Environment and Tourism ad and 500 000 birds and increasing (Dod- I was recently contacted by Ron- Brown M, Peacock F. 2015. Marabou Stork Namibia Nature Foundation. pp. 181−182. man and Diagana 2006). Its strong- ald Wainwright, who notified me of Leptoptilos crumeniferus. In: Taylor MR, Pea- Stalmans M, Botha A, Scott T, Kaltenecker hold in southern Africa is centred two Marabou Stork nesting records cock F, Wanless RW (eds), The 2015 Eskom G, Monadjem A. 2020. Marabou Stork Lep- around the Zambezi River Valley, on the Limpopo River between the Red Data Book of Birds of South Africa, Le- toptilos crumenifer breeding in the greater the Okavango Delta, the Kruger Na- Platjan and Pontdrift Border Posts in sotho and Swaziland. Johannesburg: Birdlife Gorongosa landscape, Mozambique. Ostrich tional Park (Stalmans et al. 2020), but December 2020. According to Ron- South Africa. pp. 389−390. 91: 338−342. there are also substantial numbers on ald, there were two nests; one on the Dodman T, Diagana CH. 2006. Numbers and Whyte IJ, Otto JPA duT, Barton B. 1993. Mar- the Polokwane Plateau. Compared to Botswana side of the Limpopo Riv- distribution of waterbirds in Africa: Results abou nesting in the Kruger National Park. the large breeding colonies of 1 000+ er with two well-grown chicks and of the African Waterbirds Census, 2002, 2003 Ostrich 64: 186. pairs in East Africa, nesting colonies another nest on the South African & 2004. Wetlands International. in southern Africa are much smaller side with a single, well-grown chick. Elwell N. 1970. Marabous in winter – by the (Stalmans et al. 2020). Furthermore, These are the first breeding records hundred. Bokmakierie 22: 69–71. Below The first Marabou Stork nest in Marabou Stork breeding has only for Marabou Storks in the Limpopo the Limpopo Province in more than 50 Engelbrecht D. 2020. Notes on the 2019 occurred at 34 known localities in Province since 1969! Furthermore, it years © Ronald Wainwright. southern Africa: one in Swaziland, is also one of only two sites in South one in Botswana, 24 small colonies Africa where Marabou Storks are scattered over Zimbabwe (mainly now known to have bred successfully. in the Zambezi River Valley, Hara- It is interesting that these breed- re region and Gonarezhou in the ing records follow on the recent es- south-eastern Lowveld), six in Na- tablishment of breeding populations mibia, a relatively large meta-pop- of two other species with their tradi- ulation of 380 nests comprising five tional breeding strongholds in the re- colonies in the greater Gorongosa gion being in the Zambezi River Sys- region of Mozambique, and a small, tem. Since 2016, African Skimmers recently established population of bred successfully at various localities 5−12 pairs in the Phongola Game in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Reserve in KwaZulu-Natal, South provinces in South Africa (Engelbre- Africa (Brown and Peacock 2015; cht (2020), and McKenzie (2021) re- Simmons 2015; Stalmans et al. 2020). ported a breeding colony of Southern Although there are three histor- Carmine Bee-eaters near the Platjan 93 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 94 A plea for a list of the birds feeding at your bird feeders African Grey Hornbill predation by a Honey Badger Tjaša Zagoršek Grietjie Stander and Derek Engelbrecht E-mail: [email protected] E-mail: [email protected]

work for BirdLife partner it possible to get from you a list of he sealing of nest cavi- as well as artificial nests (nest box- organization DOPPS in birds that you know are coming ty entrances is a unique es), is seldom recorded (Kemp 1967; Slovenia. This year we have to feed on the bird feeders in your trait exercised by horn- Kemp 1995; Van de Ven 2017). joinedI the team Bird Buddy that is country? bills. TThe female seals herself inside However, Chacma Baboons Pap- working to create a smart bird feed- Please email Tjaša with your the nest cavity, leaving only a nar- io ursinus, Rock Monitors Varanus er. The point of this feeder is that it list and cc thelarknews@gmail. row vertical slit through which the albigularis, Honey Badgers Mellivo- can recognize birds by the image of com. We will then compile a list of male hornbill feeds her and later ra capensis and large raptors have the bird that is coming to feed on some of the most unusual birds at the chicks. It is widely accepted that all been documented to predate on the feeder. Right now we are cre- your garden feeder for a future is- this seal, created mostly from faeces, the nest contents of hornbill nests ating a world database of the birds sue of The Lark. mud, invertebrates and dry material, (Kemp 1995; cf. Hockey et al. 2005). that are coming to feeders. Since functions as an anti-predator mech- During one of my nest box we would like this database to be anism protecting the nest contents checks at Mogalakwena River Re- as complete as possible, we would Below A Lesser (left) and juvenile Greater from predators as well as intraspe- serve (Alldays, Limpopo), I noticed be really grateful for your help. Is Honeyguide (right) sharing their wax feeder cific and interspecific competition that the seal of a hornbill occupied in Polokwane © Derek Engelbrecht. for nesting cavities (Kemp 1995). nest box was broken. The African Although the seal hardens once dry Grey Hornbill Lophoceros nasutus and creates a solid brick-like effect, female that nested in the nest box re- if a predator can break the seal, ac- cently departed, and the chicks were cess to the nest contents is relatively still too young to have broken the easy. The seal as a predator detergent seal to fledge. On closer inspection, showed its importance in the Kala- I noticed the remains of the hornbill hari. Two predations events, one by chicks on the ground below the nest a Cape Cobra Naja nivea and anoth- box. Something managed to break er by a Slender Mongoose Galerella the seal, entered the nest box, and sanguinea, occurred at Southern predated on the three African Grey Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus leu- Hornbill chicks. comelas nests after the chicks failed The two trail cameras I had up to re-seal the nest entrances in time at the nest box captured the perpe- following departure of the females. trator, a Honey Badger, in action Had the chicks sealed the entrances and recorded the predation event in time, these predators would most perfectly. Below are screenshots of likely have been unable to enter the the trail camera footage of the event nest box, or at least had more diffi- and a short description. The footage culty entering it (Van de Ven 2017). includes that of both the trail cam- Predation on natural hornbill nests, eras.

95 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 96 The trail cameras did not record The Honey Badger first appeared any movement for approximately on the trail camera at 20:46 on 23 an hour. The Honey Badger left and April 2021. It immediately started what it did during this hour is un- breaking the seal of the hornbill oc- known, but I doubt it took an hour to cupied nest box. Having powerful eat the hornbill chick. The trail cam- claws of up to 25 mm on the front eras recorded it again, an hour later feet (Stuart and Stuart 2013), it (21:57), struggling to pull out anoth- didn’t seem like a challenging task. er chick. Again, it only took about 1 minute to get the chick from the nest box (see photo).

It showed incredible agility and flexibility. It manoeuvred its way The Honey Badger took a bit more around the nest box, trying to time getting the last chick from the find the best spot to claw open the nest box (2 minutes), but it man- sealed entrance. It took the Honey aged to remove it in the same man- Badger roughly 4 minutes to break ner as the other two chicks (see the seal wide enough to fit its front photo). leg through the opening (see pho- to).

The Honey Badger struggled for about 1 minute, wriggling its front All three chicks were eaten by the leg inside the nest box, trying to pull Honey Badger at the same spot, as one of the chicks out. It seemed like seen in the photo. After killing and it used its claws to hook and pull eating the last chick, it checked the the chick closer to the nest box en- nest box one last time at 22:07 and trance. Once a part of the chick was disappeared. The predation event outside the entrance, it grabbed it lasted roughly an hour and twenty with its mouth and pulled it from minutes (20:46−22:07). the nest box.

97 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 98 Since the predation happened References at night, I don’t believe sound, such Carter S, du Plessis T, Chwalibog A, as chicks begging for food, attracted Sawosz E. 2017. The Honey Badger in the Honey Badger. They have a keen South Africa: Biology and Conserva- sense of smell (Carter et al. 2017) and tion. International Journal of Avian and most likely used it to detect the horn- Wildlife Biology 2(2): 2–4. bill occupied nest box. Predominantly Hockey PAR, Dean WRJ, Ryan PG. nocturnal, Honey Badgers are known 2005. Roberts birds of southern Africa. to be generalist and opportunistic car- Cape Town: The Trustees of the John nivores, predating on a range of prey Voelcker Bird Book Fund. including small mammals, scorpions, Kemp AC. 1969. Some observations on insect larvae, eggs, and reptiles (Cart- the sealed-in nesting method of horn- er et al. 2017). Even though hornbills bills (Family: Bucerotidae). Ostrich, are meticulous about nest sanitation 40(S1):149–155. by excreting from the vertical slit left Kemp AC. 1995. The Hornbills. Bucero- in the seal, removing food remains tiformes. Oxford: Oxford University and faecal matter from the nest cavity Press. (Kemp 1995), occupied nest boxes still Stuart C, Stuart M. 2013. A Field Guide have a typical nest odour. This could to the Tracks and Signs of Southern, have been enough to interest the Hon- Central and East African Wildlife. Cape ey Badger and for it to pursue break- Town: Struik Nature. ing the seal, resulting in the predation Van de Ven TMFN. 2017. Implications of the three hornbill chicks. Although of climate change on the reproductive I was saddened about the loss of the success of the Southern Yellow-billed three African Grey Hornbill chicks, the Hornbill, Tockus leucomelas. PhD the- intelligence, agility, and perseverance sis, Cape Town: University of Cape of the Honey Badger were honestly Town. impressive.

99 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 100 Hooded Vulture - 12 June 2021. At least 9 juveniles at the Mockford Vulture Restaurant (Birdlife Polok- wane club outing). Lappet-faced Vulture - 12 June 2021. At least four adults at the Mockford Vulture Restaurant (Birdlife Polok- wane club outing). Western Osprey - 5 June 2021. An Western Osprey © Leonie Kellerman overwintering bird seen at Flag Boshielo Dam (Leonie Kellerman). Ovambo Sparrowhawk - 8 May ... and a bit beyond 2021. A bird soaring in the Polok- wane Game Reserve (Daniel Engel- Interesting sightings brecht). 16 April 2021 - 15 June 2021 Palm-nut Vulture - 3 June 2021. Share your interesting sightings seen within a 100 km radius of One flying over Letaba Estates Polokwane. Please submit your sightings to thelarknews@gmail. (Daniel Engelbrecht); 6 June 2021. An adult seen at Entabeni Safari com and include the date, locality and a brief write-up of your Conservancy in the Waterberg (Bi- Palm-nut Vulture © Daniel Engelbrecht sighting. Photos are welcome but will be used at the discretion of anca Boswell). the editors. Pied Avocet - 8 May 2021. One bird SABAP2 Out of Range record; Regional rarity; National Rarity seen at the Madea/Sebayeng Wet- lands (Derek Engelbrecht). Non-passerines Compiled by Derek Engelbrecht Secretarybird - 8 May 2021. One African Rail - 8 May 2021. At the seen in grasslands at Vencor East George's Valley/Magoebaskloof (Richter Van Tonder); 12 June junction at Haenertsburg (Rich- 2021. A single bird seen at Mock- ter Van Tonder). ford Piggery (Birdlife Polokwane African Skimmer - 25 May 2021. club outing). Secretarybird © Richter Van Tonder A single bird stayed a few days at Southern Bald Ibis - 27 April 2021. Letaba Estates (Johan Botma). A single bird seen on the sports Bronze-winged Courser - 24 April fields of the University of Limpopo 2021. An adult bird seen in the (Susan Dippenaar). Polokwane Game Reserve (Dan- iel Engelbrecht). Passerines Diederik Cuckoo - 8 May 2021. African Red-eyed Bulbul - 12 June An unusually late immature bird 2021. Three birds at Lowlands Farm seen at the Madea/Sebayeng Wet- on the Randfontein road (Schalk African Red-eyed Bulbul lands (Derek Engelbrecht). Diederik Cuckoo © Derek Engelbrecht and Annette Van Schalkwyk). © Annette Van Schalkwyk 101 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 102 Best of the Rest Limpopo Province Non-passerines Bronze-winged Courser - 18 May 2021. An adult seen on banks of the Mogalakwena River at Lim- pokwena Lodge (Derek Engel- brecht). Denham's Bustard - 6 May 2021. Bronze-winged Courser © Derek Engelbrecht One seen 10 km southwest of Set- tlers (Stephan Terblanche). Great White Pelican - 26 April HELP SAVE OUR SEABIRDS 2021. A flock of 80+ individuals 5 km north of Mopani Rest Camp, irdLife South Africa is collaborating with the Department of Kruger National Park (Leigh- Environmental Affairs and the FitzPatrick Institute of African Ann Hoets). Ornithology to rid the island of mice and restore it towards its once-pristineB beauty. Pink-backed Pelican - 17 April 2021. One seen at Vogelfontein, The bait required to cover the island alone will cost upwards of R30 Nylsvley Nature Reserve (Christo million. To help raise the necessary funds, please would you consider Venter); 24 April 2021. A single Great White Pelican © Leigh-Ann Hoets sponsoring one or more hectares of land on Marion Island. bird at Vogelfontein, Nylsvley Na- At R1000 (US$90), you can aid us in ensuring that this monumental ture Reserve (Jody De Bruyn); 29 project will be successful. May 2021. Two birds still present Once completed, Marion Island will be the largest island from which at Vogelfontein (Wilma Moreby) mice have successfully been eradicated. and these birds were present until Be a part of history, and sponsor one (or more) hectares of this beau- at least 5 June 2021 (Arnold Van tiful oceanic gem. Zyl). For more information about this very worthwhile project and how to become a sponsor, please visit https://mousefreemarion.org/about/ Passerines African Golden Oriole - 27 April Pink-backed Pelican © Wilma Moreby 2021. A bird seen at the bridge at Pafuri (Leigh-Ann Hoets). Percent of target reached: Karoo Thrush - 23 May 2021. A 5.73% bird caught on a trail camera in a Sponsored Hectares: 1741 ha garden near Ndlovumzi Game Re- Sponsors: 657 serve, 15 km west of Hoedspruit (Darren Pietersen). Malachite Sunbird - 26 April 2021. One seen in Hoedspruit (Garrett Marion Island Sponsor Map Fitzpatrick). Karoo Thrush © Darren Pietersen August 2020 103 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 104 Club outing Where? LetabaLetaba Estates Date: 1717 July 2021 EVENTS Contact: RichterRichter Van Tonder Cell: 082082 213 8276

Shopping list: African Skimmer (Waterploeer), African Cuckoo-Hawk (Koekoek- valk), African Finfoot (Watertrapper), Half-collared Kingfisher (Blouvisvanger), Grey- Birdlife Polokwane Club Meeting rumped Swallow (Gryskruisswael). Lizard Buzzard (Akkedisvalk), Green-capped Ere- Date: 06 July 2021 momela (Donkerwangbossanger), Time: 18:30 Venue: (details to be confirmed) Klub uitstappie Birdlife Polokwane Club Meeting Waar? PPlaaslaas Hugomond (Mogwadi area) Datum: 1414 August 2021 Date: 03 August 2021 Kontak: RichterRichter Van Tonder Time: 18:30 Sel: 082082 213 8276 Venue: (details to be confirmed)

Birdlife Polokwane Club Meeting Date: 07 September 2021 Inkopielys: Ons was nog nie by die plaas nie maar die gemengde bosveld belowe Time: 18:30 'n goeie spesielys vir die tipiese bosveld spesies. Roofarend (Tawny Eagle), Gevlekte Sandpatrys (Burchell's Sandgrouse) en Witkatlagter (Southern Pied Babbler) is van Venue: (details to be confirmed) die spesies wat wel in die omgewing voorkom. 105 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 106 Klub uitstappie Waar? Club Ranch Safaris Datum: September 2021 (date to be confirmed) Kontak: Richter Van Tonder Sel: 082 213 8276

Inkopielys: Visuil (Pel's Fishing-Owl), Witkopkiewiet (White-crowned Lapwing), Bosveldpappegaai (Meyer's Parrot), Tropiese Waterfiskaal (Tropical Boubou), Saalbe- kooievaar (Saddle-billed Stork), Langstertglansspreeu (Meves's Starlinling)

Remember to cut the straps on disposable masks before throwing away The Virtual African Bird Fair is back on 31 July 2021 for its second edi- tion!

Make sure not to miss the biggest event in African birding. This virtual event includes a star-studded line-up of speakers, opportunities to inter- act with exhibitors and online stores, networking with other birders on the continent and around the world, and even an online auction.

The proceeds from this event are put straight back into supporting BirdLife South Africa’s important conservation work.

For details on how to register, please see BirdLife South Africa’s website and social media, or email [email protected]

107 The Lark 36 The Lark 36 108 Cinderella's page

Birdlife Polokwane honours the LBJs of this world which may never make it onto a cover page.

Bushveld Pipit © Leonie Kellerman

109 The Lark 36