A crisp morning at the Farm

20 May 2024 - Northern Farm

I had a brief early morning visit to the Farm, but took a different route after entering the gate just after sunrise.

In the open fields, I found a pair of Namaqua Dove feeding on the twin track road

Female Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis)

Male Namaqua Dove (Oena capensis)

Driving back toward the bigger dams, a Cape Grassbird emerged from the verge and sat quietly in the shade 

Cape Grassbird (Sphenoeacus afer)

At the dam, a Goliath Heron surveyed it's domain from the top of a Willow Tree

Goliath Heron (Ardea goliath)

I managed to catch a glimpse of a Giant Kingfisher as it passed by at speed

Giant Kingfisher (Megaceryle maxima)

I saw a small Accipiter fly into a Blue Gum and after some time managed to relocate it - a cracking Little Sparrowhawk

Little Sparrowhawk (Accipiter minullus)

I then finished off at the quarry where I had Levaillant's Cisticola

Levaillant's Cisticola (Cisticola tinniens)

Lesser Swamp Warbler

Lesser Swamp Warbler (Acrocephalus gracilirostris)

and a fair number of Cape Teal's which are always great to see at the Farm - as they are considered uncommon to scarce. I was happy with a few BIF images too.

Cape Teal (Anas capensis)

On the way out, I could see the Heron colony was getting a little more active with both Black-headed and Grey Heron present. 

Unfortunately, a shorter than normal visit - but always enjoyable

Grey (Ardea cinerea) and Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala)