Kyalami Estates July Round-up

31 July 2024 - Kyalami Estates, Midrand

July seemed to be a quiet month and it was confirmed when I checked that I only recorded 42 species which was down 46 species last month.

I didnt use my camera much either, but certainly did when I found a flock of 7 African Green Pigeon's that had roosted overnight in my neighbours garden

African Green Pigeon (Treron calvus)

Whilst enjoying the Green's an African Olive Pigeon decided to join them while they were still thawing out after a pretty cold night

African Olive Pigeon (Columba arquatrix)

I did record a Black-headed Heron flyover

Black-headed Heron (Ardea melanocephala)

And created an abstract with this Grey Go-away Bird

Grey Go-away Bird (Crinifer concolor)

There was of course another Blood Moon whose name escapes me now

Blood Moon setting

I will try and be a bit more diligent next month with both my observations and images......

Return to the Aloe Farm

21 July 2024 - Aloe Farm

My wife and I combined an early morning visit to the Aloe Farm along with a late breakfast at a quaint wedding venue at the base of the Magaliesberg.

We were at the Aloe Farm by 7am and enjoyed a quiet walk-around this impressive nursery with its equally enchanting gardens. Compared to my first visit and despite the Aloes still being in flower, hardly any Sunbird's were present which really was a surprise. Nevertheless, there were more than enough other species for an enjoyable 2-hours.

A Red-billed Firefinch after flying up from the ground where it was feeding

Red-billed Firefinch (Lagonosticta senegala)

Male Cape Sparrow's are pretty handsome, if you take the time to look a little more closely

Cape Sparrow (Passer melanurus)

There is a Cape Weaver colony at the farm, so they were certainly the most abundant species this morning

Male Cape Weaver (Ploceus capensis)

Female Cape Weaver (Ploceus capensis)

I found a Black-headed Oriole in the gardens

Black-headed Oriole (Oriolus larvatus)

along with Southern Boubou

Southern Boubou (Laniarius ferrugineus)

and the always cool, White-throated Robin-Chat

White-throated Robin-Chat (Dessonornis humeralis)

It was then time to go and enjoy a well deserved breakfast, after a crisp winter's morning at the Farm. Will try and come back again in the summer to see if the White-fronted Bee-eaters are nesting.

An afternoon with the Eagles

20 July 2024 - Walter Sisulu Botanical Gardens

It had been many years since I last visited the Botanical Garden's which aside from their floral beauty have been put on the map by the resident and nesting Black Eagles (Verreaux's Eagles).

It had been reported that a nest had been constructed and egg's were laid, so I opted for a late afternoon visit to have the sun behind me if and when I did get an opportunity to see them.

The Gardens are certainly popular and the car park was pretty full when I arrived. It is a fair walk to the waterfall view site, but there are more than enough birding distractions along the way. The Aloes were flowering which attracted many Sunbird's - here an Amethyst

Male Amethyst Sunbird (Chalcomitra amethystina)

as well as Cape Weavers, who also love Aloes

Male Cape Weaver (Ploceus capensis)

And later a female White-bellied

Female White-bellied Sunbird (Cinnyris talatala)

When I got to the viewsite, it turned out to be a waiting game. I had a brief glimpse of the female on the nest, but no sign of the male. Dark-capped Bulbul's fluttered around me

Dark-capped Bulbul (Pycnonotus tricolor)

A male Cape Rock Thrush landed close by and as quickly flew off again

Male Cape Rock Thrush (Monticola rupestris)

Cape Robin-chats hopped along the walkway

Cape Robin-Chat (Dessonornis caffra)

Suddenly an Eagle came from high up, went into a steep dive and and then stalled before landing against the light at the top of the waterfall

Verreaux's Eagle (Aquila verreauxii)

It spent some time surveying its domain before flying off the way it came, but much lower

When it returned

It landed just above the nest and a few times I managed to get both birds in frame - but there were certainly a long way off and high against the cliff

It then decided to move on again and flew back to roost nearer to the falls, by which time it was pretty dark, as the sun set behind the ridge

It really is a privilege to have these magnificent Eagle breeding on our doorstep and in Gauteng - long may they continue to stay and breed..

Kyalami Estates - June Round-up

30 June 2024 - Kyalami Estates

June was not a bad month for the Estates and I recorded 50 species which was up by 8 species for the previous year.

Not many species in the garden, but I did have Black-collared Barbet

Black-collared Barbet (Lybius torquatus)

A female Cardinal Woodpecker whilst braai'ing one weekend

Female Cardinal Woodpecker (Dendropicos fuscescens)

and Southern Masked Weaver male, already sporting his summer breeding regalia

Male Southern Masked Weaver (Ploceus velatus)

Not much recorded in the main park, but St Ledger was certainly productive - I had a full house of Sparrowhawk's this month which was a real thrill....

Little Sparrowhawk high overhead

Little Sparrowhawk (Accipiter minullus)

Black Sparrowhawk with a half-hearted attempt to catch a Feral Pigeon - I was ready, it was unsuccessful unfortunately!

Black Sparrowhawk (Accipiter melanoleucus)

and Ovambo Sparrowhawk feeding in the Willow Tree

Ovambo Sparrowhawk (Accipiter ovampensis)

I also had a Black-winged Kite pass by overhead

Black-winged Kite (Elanus caeruleus)

Crested Barbet feeding in the Poplar Forest

Crested Barbet (Trachyphonus vaillantii)

The dam had the resident Common Moorhen

Common Moorhen (Gallinula chloropus)

and the not so often seen Red-knobbed Coot

Red-knobbed Coot (Fulica cristata)

Whose Boss?

Along with Reed Cormorant

Reed Cormorant (Microcarbo africanus)

Karoo Thrush were loving this fruiting tree, my favourite kind of habitat image - showing how you really see the bird, most times.

Karoo Thrush (Turdus smithii)

whilst the Parakeet's seem to love the Willow's

Rose-ringed Parakeet (Psittacula krameri)

Other distractions included Dandelion's - colour and B+W. I quite like the stylised B+W

Dandelion

Red-hot Pokers in the Poplar Forest

Fire in the Forest

Butterflies included both Twin-dotted Border species

Eastern Dotted Border (Mylothris a. agathina)

Southern Twin Dotted Border (Mylothris r. haemus)

and a new species for the Estate in the the form of an African Angled Grass Yellow

African Angled Grass Yellow (Terias b. brigitta)

June was another one of the blood moon months, I caught it setting early one morning which I enjoyed more than the rising moon from my balcony

Blood moon