Kyalami Estates - January Round-up

31 January 2022 - Kyalami Estates

Well, we are now into a new year with all that comes with it. January was a little subdued, as we were still in the post Plett blues and also recovering from Omicron - but I managed some birding around the Estate whilst walking the dogs.

I have now been back home for just over a year and this post is the start of the 2nd year for my SA Blog - not too many readers yet, but I'm hopeful that this will change and grow over time.

I recorded 62 species with a couple of notable records - however the most exciting was that the Freckled Nightjar's are still present early evenings and mornings. Other good birds included Green Pigeon, Barn Owl, Lesser Honeyguide, African Harrier-Hawk, breeding African Reed Warbler and Burchell's Coucal.

I did get my camera out and tested using the Flash + MagMod with mixed results on a few dull and overcast days - African Olive Pigeon

African Olive Pigeon (Columba arquatrix)

Cape White-eye

Cape White-eye (Zosterops virens)

Hadeda Ibis

Hadeda Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash)

Fiscal Flycatcher

Fiscal Flycatcher (Melaenornis silens)

Cape Wagtail

Cape Wagtail (Motacilla capensis)

Common Myna

Common Myna (Acridotheres tristis)

Blacksmith Lapwing

Blacksmith Lapwing (Vanellus armatus)

And African Wattled Lapwing

African Wattled Lapwing (Vanellus senegallus)

On one of the brighter days, I spent some time at the dam in the main park where Red Bishops are still breeding

Male Southern Red Bishop (Euplectes orix)

Female Southern Red Bishop (Euplectes orix)

Along with Thick-billed Weavers

Male Thick-billed Weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons)

and Southern Masked Weaver

Male Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus)

Meanwhile, in the garden Speckled Pigeon joined the Laughing Dove's to forage the seeds on the ground - scraps from the feeders above

Speckled Pigeon (Columba guinea)

At the St Ledger Dam, I found breeding African Reed Warbler - here the male in full song

Male African Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus baeticatus)

I then saw the female feeding a juvenile in the reeds - the juvenile posed for a bit

Juvenile African Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus baeticatus)

Later, I caught the female feeding the juvenile, but this time in the tree above me - so that was pretty satisfying

Female and Juvenile African Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus baeticatus)

In the same tree, a Cape White-eye was having it's own breakfast

Cape White-eye (Zosterops virens)