Kyalami Estates - February Round-up

28 February 2022 - Kyalami Estates, Midrand

Summer is dwindling to an end as birds start quietening down with migrants preparing to leave. The Freckled Nightjar's still entertained us early evenings and mornings as they call when flying over my house (I still havent found where they roost during the day). We had a Black Sparrowhawk fly over whilst playing tennis and Green Pigeon were heard occasionally during the month. I had one African Harrier-Hawk on one of my morning walks around the park where Willow Warbler were also still calling.

I recorded 54 species and as usual managed to photograph some of the Estate birds on morning walks, when I didnt have the dogs with me.

From my balcony, I managed to see and photograph African Palm Swift

African Palm Swift (Cypsiurus parvus)

White-rumped Swift

White-rumped Swift (Apus caffer)

Cape Glossy Starling

Cape Glossy Starling (Lamprotornis nitens)

Grey Go-away Bird

Grey Go-away-bird (Corythaixoides concolor)

The usual Hadeda Ibis

Hadeda Ibis (Bostrychia hagedash)

and low key image of a Speckled Pigeon coming to my feeders

Speckled Pigeon (Columba guinea)

Around the Parks, the African Harrier-hawk, looks like a young bird

African Harrier-Hawk (Polyboroides typus)

A single Black Duck

African Black Duck (Anas sparsa)

Bronze Mannikin's feeding on grass seeds

Bronze Mannikin (Lonchura cucullata)

African Olive Pigeons abound and are actually pretty cools Pigeons

African Olive Pigeon (Columba arquatrix)

And Karoo Thrush forage in the gardens

Karoo Thrush (Turdus smithii)

The Dark-capped Bulbul's young are now independent

Dark-capped Bulbul (Pycnonotus tricolor)

Whilst Egyptian Goose seem to breed all year round - here a portrait of an adult

Egyptian Goose (Alopochen aegyptiaca)

Rose-ringed Parakeets also had breeding success this year

Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)

Whilst the juvenile Southern Fiscal is now almost in adult plumage

Immature Southern Fiscal (Lanius collaris)

The striking adult is still in attendance

Adult Southern Fiscal (Lanius collaris)

The Southern Masked Weavers are still attending young in one of the nests - not sure how many broods they have had this season

Male Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus)

Female Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus)

Even Southern Red Bishop's are still sporting breeding plumage, but this will transition pretty quickly in the next month. I managed a pretty decent BIF image of one male

Male Southern Red Bishop (Euplectes orix)

Female Southern Red Bishop (Euplectes orix)

Thick-billed Weavers are also still displaying around their nests

Male Thick-billed Weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons)

Male and Female Thick-billed Weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons)

Female Thick-billed Weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons)

Here is a typical birdscape for the Thick-billed Weavers and a Bishop photobomb

Thick-billed Weaver (Amblyospiza albifrons) birdscape

On one of my walks, I saw this diminutive Tawny-flanked Prinia (in tricky light conditions) catch a rather large Praying Mantis and dismantle and devour it in pretty quick time

Tawny-flanked Prinia (Prinia subflava)

There is always something interesting to see, even in familiar environments - always remain curious! Don't forget to look up every now and then

The moon

And also not to forget the floral kingdom either

Flowers and dew jewels