Kyalami Estates - January Round-up

31 January 2024 - Kyalami Estates

After all the excitement around our Flufftail, as well as returning from holiday, there wasnt much birding done during January. I still managed to record 55 species on morning walks with Marley, which was still 2 more species than January 2023.

From the garden, Palm Swifts were seen most morning - it does help that my neighbour has tall Palms in his garden that they use to roost in

African Palm Swift (Cypsiurus parvus)

In the main park, Bronze Mannikin's enjoyed feeding on the new seeding grass

Bronze Mannikin (Spermestes cucullata)

Along with Black-throated Canary's

Black-throated Canary (Crithagra atrogularis)

A Brown-hooded Kingfisher entertained for a few days, using the children's jungle gym as a perch from which to hunt

Brown-hooded Kingfisher (Halcyon albiventris)

Whilst looking and listening for the Flufftail, I photographed a few other species - Red-eyed Dove

Red-eyed Dove (Streptopelia semitorquata)

Tawny-flanked Prinia

Tawny-flanked Prinia (Prinia subflava)

and Yellow-fronted Canary

Yellow-fronted Canary (Crithagra mozambica)

At the main dam, the White-throated Swallow's were present

White-throated Swallow (Hirundo albigularis)

As well as the Red Bishops, the males still resplendent in their summer regalia. I tried another low key image against the light

Southern Red Bishop (Euplectes orix)

In my garden, there were numbers of Brown-veined White's

Brown-veined/Pioneer Caper White (Belenois aurota)

And an array of Carpenter Bee's - both male (2 colour variants). Carpenter Bee's derive their name from their nesting behaviour - nearly all species burrow into hard plant material, such as dead wood or bamboo. The Carpenter Bee genus includes around 500 bees, in 31 sub-genera.

Male Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa caffra)

Male Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa caffra)

and females

Female Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa caffra)

Lastly, a dramatic B+W image of the moon behind some clouds

Daytime moon