River Warbler - Dip # 3

17 March 2024 - Zaagkuilsdrift

It is that time of year - River Warbler!

Again Richard Crawshaw, Selwyn Rautenbach, Marlina and I met early and were on the road by 4am heading north to Pienaars River.

Although the late summer has been very dry and the floodplain was also dry, we were still optimistic or perhaps hopeful. We weren't the only ones, once we reached Zaagies that were looking for this skulker. We had a quick stop on Crake Road which was also dry - no sign of any Crakes, but we did get a relatively obliging Common Whitethroat - but still so much harder to photograph in SA than in Kuwait!

Common Whitethroat (Curruca communis)

And a Zitting Cisticola on the road verge

Zitting Cisticola (Cisticola juncidis)

We headed to a different area to last year and were in place, waiting and listening as the sun started rising. We waited and waited and did not even hear one calling - we were in touch with others and they confirmed the same - this was not the year for these elusive Warblers - just too dry. We did have a Gabar land close to us

Gabar Goshawk (Micronisus gabar)

So many Orb Spiders (perhaps a two different species) in the thickets on the edge of the floodplain - I need to confirm the ID's 

Orb Spider sp.

Arachnophobia

Over the floodplain, many Black-winged Pratincole's feeding on the wing

Black-winged Pratincole (Glareola nordmanni)

We had Terrestrial Brownbul in the thickets where we had parked our car

Terrestrial Brownbul (Phyllastrephus terrestris) 

And a single White-backed Vulture overhead

White-backed Vulture (Gyps africanus)

There were so many African Plain Tigers in the dry wetland

African Plain Tiger (Danaus c. orientis)

But I did manage to find just one White-winged Plain Tiger amongst them

White-winged Plain Tiger (Danaus c. alcippus)

Along with an African Blue Pansy

African Blue Pansy (Junonia o. madagascariensis)

After begrudgingly giving up again, we headed to the bridge where Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters were hawking and bathing from the overhead lines

Blue-cheeked Bee-eater (Merops persicus)

A few Little Swifts were still around the bridge where the breed in numbers in the summer

Little Swift (Apus affinis)

There were numbers of Cattle Egret on the floodplain

Western Cattle Egret (Bubulcus ibis)

In the village we tried for Penduline Tit, but only managed Burnt-necked Eremomela as the morning warmed up considerably

Burnt-necked Eremomela (Eremomela usticollis)

So, although the company was great - the result was really disappointing and I have to wait another year to try again - this is now becoming a nemesis bird!