15 December 2023 - Waterfall Estates
I caught up with an old friend Ron Searle who has retired in Waterfall Estates for a morning walk along the Jukskei River. The walk brought back memories, as I used to mountain bike this rich highveld grassland area long before Waterfall was developed. Most of the grassland species have now been lost as a result of the development, but there is still a reasonable green belt along the river.
Driving into the retirement village, I noted quite a few Mountain Wheatear's. They used to occur occasionally in Kyalami Estate, but have all absconded to Waterfall
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| Mountain Wheatear (Myrmecocichla monticola) |
There were big numbers of Black Duck on the river - more than I have seen in a long time
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| African Black Duck (Anas sparsa) |
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| The male on the right |
Along with Glossy Ibis - amazing how their plumage varies, depending on the light
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| Glossy Ibis (Plegadis falcinellus) |
Common Reed Warbler were vocal in most of the reed beds
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| Common Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus baeticatus) |
Willow Warblers were calling and a few seen in the riverine habitat
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| Willow Warbler (Phylloscopus trochilus) |
However, the bird of the morning and a good Gauteng record was a single Painted Snipe foraging in the shallows of the river. Each time I got close, it ran under the overhang on the steep bank only to re-emerge when it felt danger had passed
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| Male Greater Painted Snipe (Rostratula benghalensis) |
It was an enjoyable morning's walk with great conversation.
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