16 June 2022 - GECKO Conservancy
Our group arranged another Grass Owl survey at a couple of sites in the Conservancy to check on the status of the chicks ringed on the previous visit and also if there was any sign of breeding for the second time.
Whilst waiting for all the group to arrive at the first site, I managed to photograph Jameson's Firefinch
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| Jameson's Firefinch (Lagonosticta rhodopareia) |
and a poor record image of Brown-crowned Tchagra. Both species were new for me in this Pentad
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| Brown-crowned Tchagra (Tchagra australis) |
There was also an obliging and singing Streaky-headed Seedeater
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| Streaky-headed Seedeater (Crithagra gularis) |
Once the group arrived we went and checked on the two nests and to our utter dismay all the chicks ringed previously had died. We attributed this to the inexperience of the young female being unable to provide enough food for herself and her young - very sad indeed and a big loss to the population.
However, we did find the female and hopefully she will have better success with her next clutch
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| Female African Grass Owl (Tyto capensis) |
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| Cape Longclaw (Macronyx capensis) |
We then checked the final site and first found a Marsh Owl
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| Marsh Owl (Asio capensis) |
And later a pair of Grass Owls that we suspect were the same pair we searched for at the second site this morning, so that was really encouraging. We now need to check on them in a months time, to see if they are breeding and fingers crossed that the site is not burnt by a winter fires.
African Grass Owl (Tyto capensis)
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