The usual suspects

08 August 2021 - Glen Austin Pan

I will try and visit this site at least once a month, especially with the onset of spring and through the summer months. 

Today was a brief visit and on arrival I was greeted by a pair of Cape Longclaw's as I got out the car.

Cape Longclaw (Macronyx capensis)

Activity and diversity on the pan was quite low compared to previous visits, but the usual suspects were present. Good numbers of Yellow-billed Duck, this one against the urban backdrop

Yellow-billed Duck (Anas undulata)

as well as White-faced Whistling Duck

White-faced Whistling Duck (Dendrocygna viduata)

and a fly-by of a few Red-billed Teals

Red-billed Teal (Anas erythrorhyncha)

There were a couple of grubby looking Sacred Ibis around the fringes of the pan

African Sacred Ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus)

As well as the usual and raucous Grey-headed Gull's

Grey-headed Gull (Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus)

In-flight head scratch

The Blacksmith Lapwing was vocal on it's patch whilst a younger bird was also seen passing by

Blacksmith Lapwing (Vanellus armatus)

Crowned Lapwings are found in the surrounding grassland

Crowned Lapwing (Vanellus coronatus)

and Speckled Pigeons often pass by overhead, or drop in for a quick drink

Speckled Pigeon (Columba guinea)

But, nothing special or out of the ordinary today.

Kyalami Estates - July Round-up

31 July 2021 - Kyalami Estates

We are now into mid-winter and as expected bird numbers are low, with generally only resident birds recorded. July yielded 53 species and as always there were a few highlights; Black-headed Oriole, Lesser Honeyguide, Red-throated Wryneck, Green Pigeon, Burchell's Coucal, African Harrier-Hawk, Sacred Ibis and a White-breasted Cormorant.

I managed to photograph a number of birds in my garden and these included; Amethyst Sunbird

Amethyst Sunbird (Chalcomitra amethystina)

A crappy record shot of the Black-headed Oriole

Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus)

Black-throated Canary

Black-throated Canary (Crithagra atrogularis)

Cape Robin-Chat

Cape Robin-Chat (Cossypha caffra)

Dark-capped Bulbul

Dark-capped Bulbul (Pycnonotus tricolor)

Speckled Mousebird

Speckled Mousebird (Colius striatus)

Grey Go-Away-bird, the comedians around the garden

Grey Go-away-bird (Corythaixoides concolor)

Cape Sparrow, both male and female

Cape Sparrow (Passer melanurus); female on the left

Rose-ringed Parakeet

Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)

Courting Laughing Dove

Laughing Dove (Spilopelia senegalensis)

Red-eyed Dove

Red-eyed Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata)

and Speckled Pigeon

Speckled Pigeon (Columba guinea)

Around my feeders there was a fair bit of action; Black-collared Barbet

Black-collared Barbet (Lybius torquatus)

Cape Sparrow

Female Cape Sparrow (Passer melanurus)

A trio of Grey Go-away-bird's

Grey Go-away-bird (Corythaixoides concolor)

Cape Glossy Starling

Cape Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis nitens)

Southern Masked Weaver, already in breeding plumage

Male Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus)

Red-headed Finch

Red-headed Finch (Amadina erythrocephala)

and the always welcome and smaller Cut-throat Finch

Male Cut-throat Finch (Amadina fasciata)

On walks to the main park, I also managed to photograph a Lesser Honeyguide, which are normally quite tough to see

Lesser Honeyguide (Indicator minor)

An adult Reed Cormorant drying it's wings

Reed Cormorant (Microcarbo africanus)

Southern Fiscal on a cold morning

Southern Fiscal (Lanius collaris)

Southern Masked Weaver nest building and already in breeding plumage; getting an early start in mid-winter

Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus)

Southern Red Bishop, still in non-breeding plumage

Southern Red Bishop (Euplectes orix)

The awesome Thick-billed Weaver

Thick-billed Weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons)

and a White-throated Cormorant that was present at one of the dams for 4-days and obliging enough to allow for a few portrait pics

White-breasted Cormorant (Phalacrocorax lucidus)

The view over Sandton and Jozi from the main park - never get tired of it

Sandton and Jozi Skyline