A weekend in Ruah

22 - 25 October 2021 - Ruah Park, Pretoria

We had planned a family weekend and 60th birthday celebration at Ruah Park, just north of Roodeplaat Dam in Pretoria. My wife and son left early on the Friday meeting up with the brothers on route. I could only leave after work, but arrived to find the campsite and tents already setup with a cold beer waiting - good timing.

It is a well-appointed camp ground, with each site having it's own kitchen and ablution block which is pretty neat. It is situated in a valley which does mean you look across the river and can easily see what your neighbours are up to - unlike Matamba where we camped earlier this year.

Nevertheless, we got the fire going and had an enjoyable evening with good banter and plenty to keep us hydrated whilst we watched the 'scary' moon rising.

Moon rising through the trees on the ridge

I was the only one up early on Saturday morning for an orientation walk around the camp. As we were in a valley, it took some time for the sun to crest the ridge, but I did watch the moon set.

Setting moon

In the pre-dawn gloom, I had a pair of African Firefinch foraging around the edge of the dam

African Firefinch (Lagonosticta rubricata)

But the morning highlight was undoubtedly a male Red-chested Flufftail that flew out of a ditch into some reeds and slowly crept into the undergrowth and disappeared. This is my second sighting in as many months!

Male Red-chested Flufftail (Sarothrura rufa)

As the sun rose, I encountered a few vocal Orange-breasted Bushshrike, but the bush was too thick to get any clear images.

Orange-breasted Bushshrike (Chlorophoneus sulfureopectus)

And the Water Lily flowers slowly opened up to soak up the morning light

Water Lilies

Walking back to camp, a few Arrow-marked Babbler made themselves known. This one carrying food to a nest somewhere close by

Arrow-marked Babbler (Turdoides jardineii)

The Southern Marked Weavers were making both new and dismantling old nests

Male Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus)

Sitting at our campsite at lunch, a Giant Kingfisher was seen hunting over the dam

Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima)

We had a chilled afternoon and another great evening around the fire. Sunday morning I was up early again but this time for a walk along the ridge. A Blesbuck looked out of place in this habitat

Blesbuck (Damaliscus pygargus phillipsi)

Not many bird photo opportunities on the ridge as the habitat was pretty thick, but I did get this backlit Red-eyed Dove between the foliage

Red-eyed Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata)

And this unidentified Lizard

Lizard sp.

Back down in the camping grounds a small flock of Bronze Mannikin's stopped by near the Weaver colony

Bronze Mannikin (Lonchura cucullata)

The Village Weaver's were pretty active

Male Village Weaver (Ploceus cucullatus)

Female Village Weaver (Ploceus cucullatus)

I came across this pair of preening Arrow-marked Babbler's - love is in the air!

Arrow-marked Babbler (Turdoides jardineii)

In the afternoon, we spent some time at the pool where Black Cuckooshrike's were calling in the trees around us

Male Black Cuckooshrike (Campephaga flava)

After the swim, I had another short walk around the campsite finding a stunning and vocal male Violet-backed Starling

Violet-backed Starling (Cinnyricinclus leucogaster)

And later a vocal Striped Pipit

Striped Pipit (Anthus lineiventris)

Just before sunset, whilst sitting around the fire a raptor flew by high overhead. My camera was in the tent, so a mad rush to open the zip and grab my camera and shoot off a few images to confirm it was indeed a Euro Honey Buzzard

European Honey Buzzard (Pernis apivorus)

I sat down, put my camera on the ground next to me and went to close the tent zip. Next thing, I turn around and see a cloud of dust as my son slides down the bank bank toward the dam, to save my camera that suddenly rolled down the slope. Insurance claim avoided!

Over the weekend, I also photographed a number of Damselflies; Common Citril