14 December 2022 - Morningside
A few days back a Buff-spotted Flufftail had been heard calling in a Morningside Garden. Plans were hatched and arrangements made with the house owner to try and glimpse this elusive species out of range in Gauteng. The attempt by the first group was successful, so arrangements were again made for a second group to try.
Richard Crawshaw confirmed the time and a small group including Selwyn Rautenbach, Neil Puntis and myself were gathered at the gate by 5:30am. Once inside, we assembled quietly behind a camo net whilst the bird called regularly from the corner of the garden in a dense patch of plants and shrubs.
It was all to no avail, as the bird remained fixed in this spot and didnt venture any closer as it did a few days ago - so near, yet so far.
A quizzical Cape Robin-Chat checked us out
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| Cape Robin-Chat (Cossypha caffra) |
At 7am we accepted defeat. I guess the consolation was that it was not seen again, but continued calling for a few more days before moving into much thicker bush outside the private garden
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