Big Bird Challenge cont.

14 June 2025 - Hoogland Spa

Following my morning at the Aloe Farm and The Mill, I detoured to Hoogland Spa on the way home. This was my first visit to this site which is well-known for Short-toed Rock Thrush.

It was late in the morning when I arrived and already pretty hot. After parking, I added Mocking Cliff Chat

Male Mocking Cliff Chat (Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris)

Large Rock Martin

Large Rock Martin (Ptyonoprogne fuligula)

And Familiar Chat

Familiar Chat (Oenanthe familiaris)

I then did the walk through the hills that should produce the Rock Thrush - not a peep or sound. I dipped photographically on Lazy Cistic which I heard and then saw briefly A pair of Pearl-breasted Swallows also did not play ball - so some early frustrations already.

On the way back to the car, I did add Wryneck. Just a confirmation image - nothing more!

Red-throated Wryneck (Jynx ruficollis)

And then on the drive out Neddicky (got that earlier at the Aloe Farm)

Neddicky (Cisticola fulvicapilla)

and the last bird of this outing, Black-winged Kite

Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)

But, I was still happy with the outcome, as I did manage a few target species

 

The Big Bird Challenge

14 June 2025 - Aloe Farm

Its always fun to set yourself a new goal or objective and to this end I entered myself in the 365-day Big Bird Challenge. In essence a photographic big year with entrance fees going to a conservation initiative. Of course, with the available time I have and the few trips I have planned, I set myself a target to photograph 400 species in a calendar year.

It seems a little low, but only once you start, do you realise its perhaps not as easy or straight forward as you think. It will certainly give my birding a whole new perspective, as normally birds you see or hear, you just check off on your list for the day, weekend or holiday/outing - now you actually have to track each one down and for me get a decent image.

Obviously I started in my Estate and will post those at the end of this month, but for the first weekend, a morning at the Aloe Farm in Magaliesberg seemed a reasonable place to start, as the Aloes were in full flower and spectacular.

The main attraction of course is the myriad of Sunbirds, predominantly made up of White-bellied and Amethyst who seem to fight over certain Aloe species when there is more than enough for all. The Amethyst's were stunning in amongst the assault of colours

Male Amethyst Sunbird (Chalcomitra amethystina)

As were the White-bellied

Male White-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris talatala)

A Neddicky also enjoyed the Aloes

Neddicky (Cisticola fulvicapilla)

In previous visits last year, I never connected with Marico, so I was on a mission to find one today. Nowhere to be seen on the Aloe, but I did finally find a few away from the Aloes altogether, but enjoying the Wild Dagga in natural habitat - they are really cool

Male Marico Sunbird (Cinnyris mariquensis)

A dark form Brown-throated Martin on the telephone line was unexpected

Brown-throated Martin (Riparia paludicola)

Of course there are many other species on the Farm/Nursery, including Cape Weaver

Cape Weaver (Ploceus capensis)

And Southern Masked Weaver's

Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus)

Southern Boubou's are quite confiding at the Farm, not so in the Estate where I live

Southern Boubou (Laniarius ferrugineus)

A lone Kurrichane Thrush in the leaf litter was good to see

Kurrichane Thrush (Turdus libonyanus)

Numbers of Red-faced Mousebird's hanging around and enjoying the early morning rays

Red-faced Mousebird (Urocolius indicus)

The Skeerpoort Vulture Colony is on the south side of the Magaliesberg, but one or two were seen from the Farm

Cape Vulture (Gyps coprotheres)

Before leaving to The Mill for some supplies followed by Hoogland Spa, a Tree Squirrel caught my eye - good to see, but doesn't count for the challenge

Tree Squirrel (Paraxerus cepapi)

My challenge has now truly started and it is a matter of just keeping up the cadence and not forgetting the common species whilst also chasing those that you may miss in the coming months

Kyalami Estates May Round-up

31 May 2025 - Kyalami Estates

The birding activity starts dropping off quickly after the migrants depart and it reflects in the numbers recorded during the month - only 48 and 4 less than the highest recorded in 2021.

Nevertheless the change of seasons is still enjoyable with the few species I managed to record. I have noted that the numbers of assorted Rosy-faced Lovebirds are increasing in the Estate - not sure if this is a good thing at all

Rosy-faced Lovebird (Agapornis roseicollis)

Southern Fiscals are either in the main Park or down at St Ledger

Southern Fiscal (Lanius collaris) 

A Large Rock Martin was an unexpected visitor in the Estate, but are very common/resident in and around the buildings at Kyalami Corner

Large Rock Martin (Ptyonoprogne fuligula)

Highlight of the month was this immature Black Sparrowhawk trying unsuccessfully to catch a Green Woodhoopoe out of the raucous flock

Black Sparrowhawk (Accipiter melanoleucus)

Its almost like they were laughing at or mocking his amateur moves

Green Wood-hoopoe (Phoeniculus purpureus)

Even as we move into Autumn, there are still some invertebrates around; Broad Scarlet

Broad Scarlet (Crocothemis erythraea)

and a Red-veined Dropwing for comparison

Red-veined Dropwing (Trithemis arteriosa)

The Epaulet Skimmer is becoming more familiar

Epaulet Skimmer (Orthetrum chrysostigma)

I was delighted to find good numbers of Masai Sprites on one section of the St Ledger Dam. Their distinctive red eyes and thorax really do stand out

Masai Sprite (Pseudagrion massaicum)

Painted Lady's dont seem to be as numerous as previous years

Painted Lady (Vanessa cardui)

General diversity will start diminishing as we head into winter

Highveld high-altitude grassland

17 May 2025 - Suikerbosrand

This was my first and long overdue visit to this highveld reserve this year and I was hoping to catch some of the early winter visitors that can be recorded here.

As always, a stop at the Mugg & Bean on route to enjoy on Eendracht Road while the sun was rising. I just enjoyed the dawn chorus before heading to the gate where there was already a queue of cars with hikers and bikers waiting to get in.

Suikerbosrand has certainly picked up in popularity over the past year. Once through, I headed to Reception and enjoyed exploring the habitat on the various walking paths. Red-throated Wryneck's were calling close to the car park

Red-throated Wryneck (Jynx ruficollis)

Around some of the picnic areas, Mocking Cliff Chats looking for scraps

Mocking Cliff Chat (Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris)

Red-eyed Bulbul's are not as obliging as their cousins in urban Gauteng

African Red-eyed Bulbul (Pycnonotus nigricans)

I also had Fiscal Flycatcher of which there are numerous around Reception

Fiscal Flycatcher (Sigelus silens)

I lucked out with one of the winter specials - Fairy Flycatcher which are really tricky to photograph as they hardly ever stay still!

Fairy Flycatcher (Stenostira scita)

There were a few Bar-throated Apalis around too

Bar-throated Apalis (Apalis thoracica)

As usual, I spent more time than planned in and around the reception and as I was short of time, didnt have enough time to do the full circular route. So, I spent a little time on the dual track road, finding another winter special - Sentinel Rock Thrush against the sun

Sentinel Rock Thrush (Monticola explorator)

Followed by a Cape Bunting

Cape Bunting (Emberiza capensis)

There were a few of the resident reptiles warming up in the sun - I suspect this pair are Ground Agama's

Ground Agama (Agama Aculeata)

These are the more common Highveld Crag Lizards

Highveld Crag Lizard (Pseudocordylus melanotus)

While on this rock we also have Southern Rock Agama joining the Crag Lizards

Southern Rock Agama (Agama atra) with the Crag Lizards

On the way home, I realised that this was the most reptiles I had seen on any previous visit - so that in itself was quite special