Kyalami Estates January Round-up

31 January 2025 - Kyalami Estates

A New year means the start of a new monthly list for my home patch. I recorded 60 species which was still 2 less than the previous high of 62 in 2022.

No notable species, but breeding is in full swing for a number of species. Around the main park, I had the resident African Wattled Lapwing

African Wattled Lapwing (Vanellus senegallus)

Spotted Thick-knees in the verge gardens complimented by some summer flowers

Spotted Thick-knee (Burhinus capensis)

I don't know how many nests the Southern Mask Weaver builds during the breeding season, but it seems he has no off button

Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus)

Down at St Ledger, the male Southern Red Bishops were on display and for sure the Bishops don't build as many nests as the Weavers in a single breeding season

Southern Red Bishop (Euplectes orix)

Thick-billed Weaver's share the same reedbed as the Bishops. This male still working hard to attract a female to it's nest

Thick-billed Weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons)

Late summer, the Bullrushes start 'exploding' and their fluffy seeds are dispersed by the wind near and far - but add a Christmas feel to the nests lower down

Thick-billed Weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons) nest

The resident Cape Weaver is also a frenetic nest builder

Cape Weaver (Ploceus capensis)

There were a number of invertebrates around - an unidentified Fly

Fly sp.

And a green Hawkmoth in the house - perhaps a Silver-barred Nephele

Silver-barred Nephele (Nephele argentifera)

I also had a few butterflies - Pioneer Caper White

Pioneer Caper White (Belenois aurota)

and a few Blues; Black-bordered Babul Blue

Black-bordered Babul Blue (Azanus moriqua)

along with Babault's Zebra Blue

Babault's Zebra Blue (Leptotes jeanneli)

Local Patches

25 January 2025 - Beaulieu and Glen Austin

I had a brief afternoon visit to Beaulieu Bird Sanctuary to discover it is quite popular with families on a summers afternoon which did not bode well for some quiet birding. Nevertheless, I walked around the perimeter and was delighted to find a single Goliath Heron 'basking' in the late afternoon sun

Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath)

Another unexpected special despite the crowds, was a Long-crested Eagle on the perimeter of the Fairy Forest

Long-crested Eagle (Lophaetus occipitalis)

Invasive Pom Pom's were all over the place, which is a concern. Not as much for the Bee's which were prolific

Pom Pom

Not sure what these are, but I don't believe they are invasive?

Amongst the Pom Pom's

I then headed to Glen Austin to check if there were any Yellow-crowned Bishops and lo and behold there were a few males on display which is great news

Yellow-crowned Bishop (Euplectes afer)

Twitch On

12 January 2025 - Mkhombo Dam

We were a little late to the Yellowleg's party at Mkhombo Dam, but figured that today could be the last opportunity to try and connect with it, given the warnings about rising water levels from the dam which was slowly flooding the prime and preferred habitat of this vagrant wader.

The weather was overcast, but no forecast of rain for the morning. A 4x4 wasnt optional, but rather mandatory, as we found out later in the morning. I had an early start and picked up Rob Cliff on the way from Midrand and then meeting up with Mike K, Billy, Dale and Jarred on the Pienaar's River exit road. We opted for the longer way through Libangeni, to get to the dam.

Already the track along the dam were under water, so we took it slow, trying to stay on the firmer water-logged ground, before finding an open area to park where we exited the cars and started scanning.

Whilst searching, we did pickup good numbers of Yellow Wagtail

Western Yellow Wagtail (Motacilla flava) 

Did we finally see the mega 11th Lesser Yellowlegs? Yes, but views were distant, as it was flighty without being provoked and with many birders still to come, we wanted to ensure it remained present. But still, elation for our small group as well as the many other birders who had the same idea we had, given the weather predictions

Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes)

But wait, there's more. The vagrant Red-throated Pipit had also been seen earlier, so it would have been silly not to have tried for it, since we were already here. We didnt succeed. But I did get this Yellow-billed Stork flyby amongst other species seen.

Yellow-billed Stork (Mycteria ibis)

However, this was when the adventure turned to carnage, as the muddy tracks deepened and slowly turned most routes into a quagmire and ended with many 4x4's of all brands getting stuck along much of the route in an out of the Dam.

It certainly was an adventure and a challenge, as most twitches should be and will be remembered and talked about for a long time.

Searching for Amphibian's

10 January 2025 - Northern Farm

I had made arrangements with a team from Johannesburg Zoo to conduct an Amphibian Survey on the Farm. I was at the gate before Mhandlo arrived and picked up a Spotted Fly on the road to the parking area in the pre-dawn gloom

Spotted Flycatcher (Muscicapa striata)

I chased this Grass Yellow for sometime, before it finally settled in the thick new grass where it would have rested until the sun came out and warmed up the day

African Grass Yellow (Eurema h. solifera)

Once the team of 2 arrived, we headed to the first wetland where they donned their waders. I wasnt quite as properly equipped, so walked the edges of the wetland. I didnt find any frogs, although I did hear a few - but did find some other interesting invertebrate species, of which this small and delicate Lacewing was tough to locate and then photograph

Lacewing

A pretty interesting Caterpillar

Afromurzinia lutescens

and a couple of Levaillant's Cisticola's after flushing a male Red-chested Flufftail from almost under my feet.

Levaillant's Cisticola (Cisticola tinniens)

Back at the car, there were many Banded Groundling on the road after the sun had risen a little in the sky

Female Banded Groundling (Brachythemis leucosticta)

Male Banded Groundling (Brachythemis leucosticta)

We then moved to another wetland further down the valley with the team only recording Common River Frog in the first wetland. At the next, stop we found a dead Bullfrog in the road which was sad, but also encouraging to note that they probably occur in this wetland. No other amphibians here, but I had my first record of Cape Weaver for the farm and outside of Kyalami Estates where they do breed - I was pretty chuffed with that. 

Here 4 species in one bush, including the single Cape Weaver along with Thick-billed Weaver, Southern Masked Weaver and Red-billed Quelea

Male Cape Weaver (Ploceus capensis)

In the same wetland and same bush, a few Red-billed Quelea's too

Red-billed Quelea (Quelea quelea)

In the adjacent grassland, Red-veined Dropwing

Red-veined Dropwing (Trithemis arteriosa)

and this pretty cool Solitary Wasp with a distinctive yellow abdomen

Solitary Wasp

The last stop was one of the grey water dams where nothing was found in and around the reed fringes - amphibians prefer clean water! But, I did get a small flock of Black-throated Canaries

Black-throated Canary (Crithagra atrogularis)

Sadly the survey didnt produce what we had hoped, but if somehow we can improve the water quality from Johannesburg Water and City of Johannesburg coming out of the treatment plant, then life will return to these once thriving dams.