30 April 2023 - Kyalami Estates, Midrand
Summer is slowly fading away as we enjoy the cooler weather and changing colours of autumn. 55 species recorded during April, so pretty similar to the previous month, but also with it's own highlights.
From my garden, the usual resident species, like Cape Sparrow
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| Male Cape Sparrow (Passer melanurus) |
and African Hoopoe
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| African Hoopoe (Upupa africana) |
However, one late afternoon while enjoying a sundowner on our balcony, I was alerted by the local Pigeons being put up by this brute of a Black Sparrowhawk that came cruising past overhead - certainly the avian apex predator in our neighbourhood. The light was really low, but he was truly magnificent
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| Black Sparrowhawk (Accipiter melanoleucus) |
Down at St Ledger Dam, Reed Cormorant were to be seen - this one from the class of 2023
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| Reed Cormorant (Microcarbo africanus) |
Common Moorhen are still growing and not yet in adult plumage
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| Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus) |
The Rose-ringed Parakeet's seem to enjoy the Willow Trees
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| Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri) |
While the resident Southern Fiscal was seen enjoying the sun on one of the Acacia's
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| Southern Fiscal (Lanius collaris) |
Barn Swallow are surprisingly scarce to see in the Estate, but this one was part of a small flock starting their northerly migration and flew by overhead
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| Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) |
However, the highlight for this month was recording a pair of Fork-tailed Drongo's for the first time in the Estate and even both of the Pentad's that include Kyalami Estates - unfortunately, they only seemed to stay 1-day. But great to see....
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| Fork-tailed Drongo (Dicrurus adsimilis) |
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