We arrived at
Strandfontein Pans at 8:45 on Tuesday, September 6th in a strong cold wind from
the south east. This cold wind makes birding at Strandfontein and Rondevlei
difficult.
The first birds
we saw were a large group of Cattle Egret – Bubulcus
ibis – many in breeding plumage with
pinkish buff plumes on the head, back and breast. Bills, bright Orange/Yellow.
On the first pan large numbers of Cape Teal – Anas capensis, Southern Pochard – Netta erythrophtalma and Black-necked Grebe – Podiceps nigicollis, some in breeding plumage.
Blacksmith
Plovers – Vanellus armatus, Speckled
Pigeon – Columba guinea, Cape Turtle
Dove – Streptopelia capicola, feeding
on the road between pans one and two. On pan two Yellow-billed Duck – Anas undulata with Young, Red-billed Teal – Anas erythrorhyncha, Common Moorhen – Gallinula chloropus, Hartlaub’s Gull
– Lanus hartlaubi, Swift Tern – Sterna bergii and White-Breasted Cormorant – Phalacrocrax carbo.
On the South
Eastern Pans we had stunning views of Greater Flamingo’s – Phoenicopterus ruber flying with the conspicuous flame red wing, a
fantastic site. Here we also had great sightings of Cape Grassbird – Sphenoeacus afer, African Black Oystercatcher – Haematopus moquini, Black-winged Stilt –Himantopus himantopus and Spurwinged
Geese – Plectropterus gambensis.
The western pans
had White-backed Duck – Thalassornis leuconotus
, Maccoa Duck – Oxyura maccoa,
Levailiant Cisticola – Cisticola tinniens,
African Marsh Harrier – Circus ranivorous,
White-necked Raven – Corvus albicollis,
Pied Crow – Corvis albus, African
Pipit – Anthus cinnamomeus, Yellow
Bishop – Euplectes capensis and Cape Longclaw
– Macronyx capensis.
The cold wind made
birding from the Rondevlei Hides unpleasant. On arrival we saw African Fish
Eagle – Haliaeetus vocifer, overhead,
Cape Robin-chat – Cossypha caffra, Karoo Prinia
– Prinia maculosa, Black-headed Heron
– Ardea melanocephala, Cape Bulbul - Pycnonotus capensis and Glossy Ibis – Plegadis falcinellus.
From the hides we
had great sightings of Cape Shoveler – Anas smithii, Sacred Ibis – Threskiornis aethiopicus, Black-crowned
Night Heron – Nycticorax nycticorax, Reed
Cormorant – Phalacrocorax africana,
African Darter – Anhinga melanogaster
, African Purple Swamphen – Porphyrio porphyrio
, Grey Heron – Ardea cinerea, Great
Crested Grebe – Podiceps cristatus
and African Spoonbill – Platalea alba.
No wind at Kirstenbosch
Botanical Gardens, possibly one of the most beautiful botanical gardens in the
world and a mass of spring colour. We had fantastic sightings of Cape Spurfowl
– Francolinus capensis, Cape Sugarbird – Promerops cafer, Southern Double-collared Sunbird – Nectarinia
chalybea, Egyptian Geese – Alopochen
aegyptiacus, Sombre Greenbul – Andropadus
importunes, Olive Thrush – Turdus
olivaceus, African Harrier Hawk – Polyboroides Typus, Forest Buzzard
– Buteo trizonatus, Black Saw-wing - Psalidoprocne holomelaena and Spotted Eagle Owl – Bubo africanus.
A great days
birding enjoyed by all with 11 endemic’s.
Endemic in Red