Birdwatching Trip Report from South Africa

Tim Cleeves, Andre Farrar, Adrian Pitches, Roy Taylor, Colin Wells - and Glen Holland

Summary:
The five of us spent two weeks in South Africa from Nov 24th - Dec 8th 2002 in the company of Glen Holland, a South African now living in New Zealand, and his son Kyle.

Glen devised an itinerary that concentrated on the endemics found in KwaZulu Natal but also included three days in the Cape. Our group trip total was exactly 450 species and we saw 47 mammal species, including the Big Five.

Glen was an excellent tour leader - a great birder, driver, cook and interpreter (he speaks Zulu and Afrikaans). His ability to mimic birds - and call them in - is particularly impressive.

Glen is planning another tour to southern Africa in 2005.

His email address: glen-nat@xtra.co.nz

Introduction:
Perhaps even more so than the Gambia, South Africa is "Africa for beginners." You can drink the water, the infrastructure is First World and birding is very well developed.

And with the weak rand (c. 15 rand = £1), South Africa becomes an even more attractive birding destination: our total tour cost was just £1,500 per person (including flights).

Although Andre, Roy and Colin had been to Africa before, neither Tim nor Adrian had birded in sub-Saharan Africa so most of the birds were new.

We saw 98 of the 175 Southern Africa endemics or near-endemics.

Highlights: Black Harrier (and a further 36 raptor species); displaying African Broadbill; African Penguin; Wattled, Blue and Grey-crowned Cranes; both Rockjumpers; both Sugarbirds; both Giant Petrels, Pintado Petrel and three albatross species on a pelagic out of Capetown; six species of bustard/korhaan; Cape Parrot; Rudd's Lark; Yellow-breasted Pipit; Spotted Thrush; nine robins; Blue Swallow; Green and Pink-throated Twinspots.

Taxonomy: The newly published third edition of Birds of Southern Africa by Sinclair, Hockey and Tarboton ("Sasol III") was our Bible.

All of the recent splits, eg Long-billed Larks, are illustrated. The taxonomy is adventurous i.e. diverges from Birds of Africa or African Bird Club checklists. Of the more controversial splits, we rejected White-breasted Cormorant, Steppe Buzzard and African Purple Gallinule. But we consider Rock Kestrel Falco (tinnunculus) rupicolus as a valid species (male and female have similar plumage - unlike Common Kestrel).

The species order in our list largely follows Sasol III.

Itinerary:

Sat 23rd Nov (Adrian's 40th birthday) - KLM flights to Amsterdam from Manchester and Newcastle then overnight flight to Jo'burg.

Sun 24th Nov - Transfer to Durban/Rendezvous with Hollands/Drive Durban to Underberg via Pietermaritzburg. Overnight at Rob Guy's homestead.

Mon 25th Nov - Rob Guy trip up the Sani Pass and into Lesotho. Overnight in Underberg.

Tues 26th Nov - Xumeni forest and Hella Hella. Drive to Wakkerstroom.

Weds 27th Nov - Wakkerstroom lark fields and wetland.

Thurs 28th Nov - Drive Wakkerstroom to Eshowe via Vryheid.

Fri 29th Nov - Eshowe forest

Sat 30th Nov - Eshowe forest then drive to Cape Vidal via Richard's Bay

Sun Dec 1st - Cape Vidal then drive to Hluhluwe via Richard's Bay

Mon Dec 2nd - Hluhluwe-Umfolozi game reserves

Tues Dec 3rd - Hluhluwe to Mkuze game reserve

Weds Dec 4th - Mkuze

Thu Dec 5th - Drive Mkuze to Durban. Fly Durban-Capetown.

Fri Dec 6th - West Coast National Park

Sat Dec 7th - Pelagic (Tim, Andre, Adrian)/Tanqua Karoo (Roy, Colin, Glen)

Sun Dec 8th - Rooi Els and Stony Point a.m./Depart Capetown p.m. for home

Daily Diary:

Nov 24th - Broke our journey from Durban to Underberg at Pietermaritzburg (PMB). Gardens near Darvill Sewage Works (or Darvill Resources Park as it is now known) yielded Spotted Dikkop, Speckled Mousebird, Red-billed Wood Hoopoe, Plum-coloured Starling, Olive Thrush, Cape Robin, Chinspot Batis and Amethyst Sunbird.

The sewage works were very productive with African Darter, Reed Cormorant, Black-headed Heron, Spur-winged Goose, Yellow-billed Duck, White-faced Whistling Duck, Hottentot Teal, Jackal Buzzard, African Fish Eagle, Three-banded and Blacksmith Plovers, African Palm Swift, Diederik Cuckoo, White-throated Swallow, White-necked Raven, Red-collared Widow and Pin-tailed Whydah amongst others. A tickfest for Tim and Adrian.

En route to Underberg we saw our first Goliath Heron and African Marsh Harrier - and the first of many Black-shouldered Kites and Steppe Buzzards.

Underberg nestles under the Drakensberg mountains. We stayed in the comfortable cottage at the home of Rob and Bella Guy (rguysani@hotmail.com). Their garden held Cape and Southern Grey-headed Sparrows, Drakensberg Prinia, Greater Striped Swallow, Olive and Cardinal Woodpeckers, Cape Weaver and Southern Boubou. The feeders attract Malachite and Greater Double-collared Sunbirds.

Nov 25th - Rob piloted us in his 4x4 stationwagon on an expedition up the Sani Pass through the Drakensbergs and into Lesotho. A fabulous day's birding in blazing sunshine.

We passed through farmland, wetlands, wattle thickets, protea scrub and zig-zagged up rocky hillsides on to high altitude (3,000m) steppe.

Lowlands: Southern Crowned Crane, White-backed Duck, Cape Shoveler, Southern Pochard, African Rail, Black Saw-wing, Yellow Warbler, Long-tailed Widow, Orange-breasted Waxbill, Cape Canary. Cape Rock Thrush at the border-post.

Trading Post bushes: Bush Blackcap, Cape Batis, Dusky Flycatcher, Sharp-billed Honeyguide.

Protea zone: Ground Woodpecker, Horus Swift, Black Swift, Gurney's Sugarbird, Buff-streaked Chat.

Rocky slopes: Cape Vulture, Fairy Flycatcher, Yellow-rumped Widow, Drakensberg Siskin and Drakensberg Rockjumper - one of THE birds of the trip.

We watched from close range as the Rockjumper approached a Jackal Buzzard on the ground as the raptor raked out a nestling from the undergrowth.

Sani Pass and into Lesotho: Southern Bald Ibis, Sickle-winged Chat, Thick-billed and Red-capped Larks, Sentinel Rock Thrush, Mountain Pipit. Unusual sightings of Black Stork - and a soaring migrant Secretarybird.

Rock Kestrel, Rock (Yellow-tufted) Pipit, Rock Martin, Mountain Wheatear, Southern Grey Tit, Layard's Tit-babbler, Cape Bunting and Spotted Prinia - Sani Pass marks the watershed between Spotted/Karoo Prinia and Drakensberg Prinia.if they are separate species.

Back in South Africa after the border post closed at 16.00: Stanley's Bustard, Wattled Crane (two adults and a juvenile), African Spoonbill, Black Sparrowhawk, Wattled Plover, Rameron Pigeon, Cliff Swallow - and a vagrant Grey Plover.

Nov 26th - Rob took us to Xumeni Forest and Hella Hella this morning before we embarked on the six-hour drive to Wakkerstroom.

Xumeni is a surviving fragment of native evergreen forest with some very special birds. We saw 7 Cape Parrots (world population is now c. 500), Crowned Hornbill, Narina Trogon, Grey Cuckooshrike, Collared and Lesser Double-collared Sunbirds, Terrestrial Brownbul, Yellow-throated Warbler, Bar-throated Apalis, Forest Canary. We also heard Knysna Lourie, Orange Thrush and Chorister Robin.

Another small island of natural habitat in the sea of alien conifer and eucalyptus plantations was the grassland at Hella Hella. Here we saw 5 of the endangered Blue Swallow - probably the best swallow in the world. A Blue Crane flew in just over our heads to complete the moment. Also: Ayre's (Wing-snapping), Wailing and Croaking Cisticolas, Broad-tailed Warbler and Yellow-rumped Widow.

The long drive to Wakkerstroom via Howick, Ladysmith, Newcastle and Volksrust was enlivened by an unexpected sighting of 3 Southern White-bellied (Barrow's) Korhaans in a roadside field.

We arrived in Wakkerstroom at 18.00 and in the hour before dark saw Southern Crowned Crane, Night Heron, African Rail, Ethiopian Snipe, Red-billed Teal, Swainson's Francolin and 5 African Marsh Owls. TC and AF saw a Bittern - a rarity in South Africa.

Nov 27th - A cold and misty start as we slowly drove the dirt roads around the larkfields of Wakkerstroom. Bird guide Duncan McKenzie (dmck@vhd.dorea.co.za) accompanied us.

We notched up Grey-winged Francolin, Golden Bishop, Spike-heeled Lark, Southern Ant-eating Chat, Crowned Plover and a flock of 5 Blue Korhaan plus chick before we caught up with the critically endangered Rudd's Lark in songflight.

The sun broke through at 07.00 when we found a juvenile Pallid Harrier - the same plumage as the Shetland bird in September 2001.

Mammal highlights were many Yellow Mongooses - and Meerkats ! A male Amur Falcon was seemingly the first (late) arrival of the summer - we'd expected 100s. We saw more later in the day.

Quail and Quailfinch came next. At Fickland Pan we added Cape Shelduck and Maccoa Duck to our wildfowl list - and 22 summer-plumaged Whiskered Tern.

Mid-morning at Wakkerstroom Vlei we found another vagrant Grey Plover.

We avoided the heat of the day with a siesta then headed off on a circuit south of Wakkerstroom mid-afternoon. At the bridge over the Slang River we had Ground Woodpecker, Mountain Wheatear and singing male Cinnamon-breasted Rock Bunting. And a flock of Amur Falcons enjoying a flying ant swarm.

At 18.00 we finally connected with a very skulking Yellow-breasted Pipit in THE field this endangered species nests in outside Wakkerstroom.

Nov 28th - We did another tour of the larkfields first thing in search of Botha's Lark - but no joy. Another six-hour drive next - from Wakkerstroom to Eshowe via Vryheid.

En route to Vryheid we saw Rufous-naped Lark and Black-bellied Korhaan. A short stop near the railway viaduct at Vryheid yielded 2 male Jacobin Cuckoos, a pair of Mocking Chats and White-browed Scrub Robin.

We reached Eshowe at 14.00 and embarked on a "pelagic" on a shallow-draught boat on the giant Goedertrouw Dam. It was breezy i.e. choppy and the prospect of African Finfoot, White-backed Night Heron and Half-collared Kingfisher rapidly diminished. But we did see Giant, Pied and Malachite Kingfishers and 2 Water Dikkop. Back on dry land we saw Blue Waxbill.

This evening we had the cultural experience of Shakaland - a meal and traditional dances in a reconstructed Zulu village. Tim and Adrian showed the assembled tourists that Englishmen are never afraid to participate in a display of tribal dancing.

Nov 29th - Dlinza Forest in Eshowe is another important forest reserve. It has a canopy boardwalk that takes you 20m above the forest floor - the only aerial boardwalk in South Africa. See www.zbr.co.za/boardwalk

Despite the drizzle, we notched up Olive Sunbird, Green-backed Camaroptera (Bleating Warbler), Yellow-bellied Bulbul, Green Coucal, Purple-crested Turaco, Little Sparrowhawk, African Goshawk, Square-tailed Drongo, Chorister and Natal Robins. We also had excellent views of Spotted Thrush on the nest then two adults on the ground feeding fledglings.

This is THE place to see Spotted Thrush, another threatened species.

Around the Bishop's Seat clearing we had good views of both Red-chested and Emerald Cuckoos, Blue-grey Flycatcher and a Gymnogene clambering around a tree looking for nests.

At Rutledge Park we found 2 African Green Pigeon in the rain.

We moved on to the Ntumeni area p.m. and picked up some excellent birds: Long-tailed Wagtail, Olive Bush-shrike and African Pygmy Kingfisher. Yellow and Thick-billed Weavers were nesting in the same reedbed.

Nov 30th - Another damp early morning visit to Dlinza Forest. Blue-billed Firefinch - and Forest Weaver from the canopy boardwalk - were the only new birds. Overlooking the canopy here is the best place to see Delegorgue's (Bronze-naped) Pigeon but only RT saw one.

Time for the drive down to the hot and humid coast. A brief stop at Mtunzini yielded Lesser Honeyguide before we dropped down to Richards Bay. The 'Quiet-we-are-laughing' lagoon (Zulu name) was very productive for herons, White-backed Duck, the only African Pygmy Geese of the trip, Osprey, White-winged Black Tern, Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Cape Reed Warbler, Brown-throated Weaver - and our first (small) Crocodile.

In the town of St Lucia we had Livingstone's Turaco in a suburban garden. A quick scan of the river mouth gave us Caspian and Swift Terns, single Grey-headed and Cape Gulls, Pink-backed Pelican, White-fronted Plover and a very large croc.

Driving down the Cape Vidal road through the Greater St Lucia Park (a World Heritage Site) we started to see our first game - Warthogs, Kudu, Reedbuck, Waterbuck, Zebra.

A fine male Cuckoo Hawk, Brown Snake-Eagle, Red-breasted Swallow and Grey Waxbill enlivened the trip to our chalet in the dune forest at Cape Vidal.

Then we put the binoculars down and went for a swim in the Indian Ocean.

Dec 1st - Our target species here were Woodward's Batis, Brown Robin and Green Twinspot.

And we saw them all before breakfast - plus Red-backed Mannakin, Golden-tailed Woodpecker and Samango Monkey.

We headed back to St Lucia after breakfast and checked out the sewage ponds outside the town. Great views of the "banana-bill" Green Coucal, Scarlet-chested Sunbird, hordes of Palearctic waders and 51 Grey Herons.

Lunch at the St Lucia Crocodile Farm - and Yellow-rumped Tinker Barbet. In town a marauding troop of 30 Banded Mongooses and Klaas's Cuckoo.

A two-and-a-half-hour drive to Hluhluwe interspersed with Striped Kingfisher, Lemon-breasted Canary, Lizard Buzzard - and a flat tyre !

Drove into Hluhluwe Game Reserve at 17.30. In the remaining hour of daylight we had White Rhino (with Red-billed Oxpeckers in the rhino's ear !), Nyala, Impala, Blue Wildebeest, Giraffe - and a LEOPARD.

As we drove up to our chalets at the Hilltop Camp we had a Spotted Eagle Owl on the lawn.

Dec 2nd - Hluhluwe-Umfolozi is effectively two reserves linked by a corridor of land. It's the oldest national park in Africa - established in 1895.

We spent most of today in the Umfolozi reserve. It was hot !

Driving from Hilltop to the Umfolozi entrance we notched up Black Cuckoo-shrike, Southern Black Tit and the truly gorgeous Gorgeous Bush-Shrike. Raptors included Martial Eagle, White-backed Vulture, Wahlberg's Eagle and Booted Eagle.

In Umfolozi we saw White-fronted Bee-eater, White-crested Helmet-Shrike, the marvellous Crested Barbet and Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike.

Then by the river at 10.30 Andre shouted: "LION !" There were four males lazing on the riverbank.

Later on Tim announced: "ELEPHANT !" It passed across the road right in front of the vehicle - the only one we saw. Suddenly we were within sight of the Big Five - we just needed Black Rhino.

Back to the birding: Lilac-breasted Roller, Pallid/Pale Flycatcher, Kurrichane Thrush, Southern Brubru, Sabota Lark, Little Bee-eater, Lappet-faced Vulture and Golden-breasted Bunting were added to the list before we headed back to camp for a siesta.

Tonight we did a three-hour pre-booked nightdrive from Hilltop with Kyle as one of the spotlighters. And an excellent job he did - Fiery-necked Nightjar, three Water Dikkop, two Lion cubs and two Small Spotted Genets amongst all the antelopes, wildebeest and buffaloes.

Dec 3rd - Cool and overcast today. Three hours pre-breakfast birding yielded Yellow-spotted Nicator, two more Jacobin Cuckoos together, Black-collared Barbet, White-winged Widow, White-throated Robin and Bateleur.

Then we drove out of the park to Hluhluwe town to pick up supplies and have the tyre mended. A Crowned Eagle soared beside the road as we headed off.

It was a two-hour drive to Mkuze and now it was hot again. Six Grey Go-away Birds were a good find once we left the main road at the Mkuze turn-off.

MkuzeReserve reputedly has some of the best birding in Africa. But after a year without rain, most of the pools had dried up. This meant fewer waterbirds - and far fewer mosquitoes.

Indeed I saw none, which was a relief in the worst area for malaria on the trip. Shame we spent £160 on Malarone tablets.

We arrived in the early afternoon and soon found Bearded Robin, another Orange-breasted Bush-Shrike - and a Red-fronted Tinker Barbet excavating a nest-hole in the tree outside the Hollands' tent. (We stayed at the delightful Mantuma tented camp).

We spent the two hours before dusk in the Kumasinga Hide overlooking a shrunken water hole. Two African Pygmy Kingfishers flitted around and Tambourine Dove came to drink.

So did a herd of wildebeest, a troop of baboons.and a single BLACK RHINO !

So Tim and I, the African neophytes, wrapped up our Big Five in 48 hours.

Heading back to the vehicle we had brief views of an African Barred Owlet - and heard an African Broadbill calling.

Dec 4th - African Broadbill had to be our priority this morning and we headed back to the sand forest at 04.30

It was misty and drizzling - not very auspicious for the total solar eclipse scheduled for later.

Once again, Glen rapidly served up the specials: Crested Guineafowl, Blue-mantled Flycatcher, Rudd's Apalis, another male Narina Trogon, Neergard's and Grey Sunbirds - and a pair of Pink-throated Twinspot.

Then we heard the broadbill again close by and very soon were enjoying 'scope views of its amazing "puffball" display flight - or display jump to be more accurate. An excellent bird and hard to find anywhere else in Africa.

A stunning Purple-banded Sunbird came next and the first of several eclipse false alarms. Was it getting dimmer - and cooler ? As it was totally overcast, we never established exactly when the eclipse took place. It was some time between 08.00 and 08.30 !

New birds for the trip were Sombre Bulbul, Flappet Lark, Grey Penduline Tit, Fan-tailed Flycatcher, Black Cuckoo and Crested Francolin.

At Nsumo Pan there was some water - plenty. Enough for a herd of 20+ Hippopotamus, a Pink-backed Pelican colony - and a Marabou Stork.

In the acacia savanna we found a juvenile Black-breasted Snake Eagle eating a sizeable snake, Acacia Pied Barbet, Three-streaked Tchagra and a pair of Broad-billed Roller.

After another mid-day break, we headed back into the savanna p.m. It was still cool and overcast. We had a Secretary Bird actually walking - all our other sightings had been of birds uncharacteristically soaring. A two-metre-long Rock Python crossing the road provided some good pictures - and would have provided more than a match for the Secretary Bird.

We also saw perched Martial and Wahlberg's Eagles, Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill and a flighty Bearded Woodpecker.

Another organised three-hour night drive tonight provided point-blank views of European Nightjars on the deck, Spotted Eagle Owl, Greater Bush Baby and a fantastic Small Spotted Genet in a tree stalking, catching and eating a bright orange snake in the spotlight.

Dec 5th - The long trek to Capetown.

An early morning walk from the campsite to the dried-up riverbed produced two Heuglin's Robin and another pair of Broad-billed Roller. A drive into the savanna produced a male Black-bellied Korhaan, White-throated Robin, Yellow-throated Petronia and a juvenile Gorgeous Bush-Shrike.

From 09.30 to 17.00 we travelled to Durban airport via Mtunzini. In Mtunzini we soon spotted a Palm-nut Vulture on top of a raphia palm. And on the Raphia Palm walkway we caught up with Scaly-throated Honeyguide. Around the pools of the nearby prawn farm we saw a good range of waders - and our only Green-backed Heron of the trip.

We caught the 19.00 SAA flight to Capetown, arriving at 21.00, collected another minibus and drove to the Jabulani Guest House in the northern suburb of Durbanville.

Dec 6th - Two-and-a-half days in the Cape start here. A lovely sunny day started at 05.45 in the guest house garden with Fiscal Flycatcher, Cape Bulbul - and Starling !

We headed north for the West Coast National Park via Koeberg. On the fynbos next to South Africa's only nuclear power station we got to grips with Karoo Robin, White-backed Mousebird, Bokmakierie, Chesnut-vented Tit-Babbler and Spotted/Karoo Prinia again.

On the grass verge we saw our only Capped Wheatears with Pearl-breasted Swallows flying over their heads. On the road itself trotted three Bontebok - a split from Blesbok ? And, at last, our first Ostriches. Some had crèches of chicks of a very wide age range.

Even before we reached Koeberg, we'd already logged our first Black Harrier. And we saw another two before we entered the West Coast National Park (WCNP) at 08.45.

It was already very hot and we stopped for breakfast beside a small lake where we had another Black Harrier flypast - and Cape Teal, Cape Francolin, Namaqua Dove, White-throated Canary and Lark-like Bunting.

We moved on to the GeelbeckLook-out and found two Southern Black Korhaans. Another Black Harrier (our fifth) flew overhead providing the best views yet. Two White Pelicans also flew past.

At Langebaan we saw Cape and Crowned Cormorants, Hartlaub's and Cape Gulls - and a Cape Fur Seal. At the Oliphantskop Sewage Farm we saw our first Kittlitz's Plovers.

And at the Cerebos Saltworks, where the temperature was now 40 degrees Celsius, we found the scarce Chestnut-banded Plover together with White-fronted, Kittlitz's, Three-banded and Ringed Plovers.

The saltpans also held Greater Flamingo, Avocet, Whimbrel, Turnstone and 100s of Black-necked Grebes.

Heading south, we caught up with Cloud Cisticola at Tinie Versfeld then we returned to the coast at Yzerfontein to connect with Bank Cormorant and 34 African Black Oystercatcher.

Dec 7th - The team split in two today. Tim, Adrian and Andre headed south on a pelagic out of Simonstown while Glen, Roy and Colin stayed on dry land and headed north to the Tanqua Karoo.

100s of African Penguin lined up on Boulders beach was the first seabird highlight and in the next seven hours at sea we logged Shy, Black-browed and Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatrosses, Northern (red tip to bill) and Southern (green tip to bill) Giant Petrels, Pintado Petrel, White-chinned Petrel, Cory's, Great, Sooty and Manx Shearwaters, Cape Gannet, Storm and Wilson's Petrels, Subantarctic Skua, Sabine's Gull - and Dusky Dolphin.

Meanwhile, the Karoo tour yielded: African Black Duck, Pale Chanting Goshawk, Greater Kestrel, Karoo Korhaan, Burchell's Courser, Namaqua Sandgrouse, Karoo Lark, Grey-backed Finchlark, Namaqua Warbler, Rufous-eared Warbler, Cinnamon-breasted Warbler, Karoo Eremomela, Yellow-bellied Eremomela, Pririt Batis, Karoo Chat, Tractrac Chat, Familiar Chat, Dusky Sunbird, Pale-winged Starling, Black-headed Canary.

Dec 8th - We had four hours to find the remaining four target species on our list. We headed east through Stellenbosch to Rooi Els (see page 62 of Essential Birding - Western South Africa by Callan Cohen and Claire Spottiswoode).

We found everything beginning with "Cape" - Cape Francolin, Cape Rock Thrush, Cape Bunting, Cape Grassbird, Cape Siskin, Cape Sugarbird (and the fabulous Orange-breasted Sunbird) and, at last, Cape Rockjumper.

A drive round the coast brought us to Stony Point and the other mainland colony of African Penguin.

Time to put the ticklist away and start the long journey home.

REFERENCES:

Cohen, C. & Spottiswoode, C. Essential Birding - Western South Africa. Struik Publishing, Capetown, 2000.

Newman, K. Newman's Birds of Southern Africa (The Green Edition) Sappi, Capetown, 1997.

Sinclair, I., Hockey, P. & Tarboton, W. Sasol Birds of Southern Africa (Third Edition), Struik Publishing, Capetown, 2002.

WEBSITES:

SOUTHERN AFRICAN BIRDING www.sabirding.co.za/ The best site of all - maintained by Guy Gibbons with excellent site info in the Bird Spots section
BIRDING AFRICA www.birding-africa.com/ Very useful site which links to
CAPE BIRDING ROUTE www.capebirdingroute.org Cohen & Spottiswoode text online
ZULULAND BIRDING ROUTE www.zbr.co.za/ All the gen for KwaZulu Natal
ZEST FOR BIRDS www.zestforbirds.co.za/ Good pelagics and rarities site
PELAGICS - Anne "Albatross" Gray www.annealbatross.org
ACCOMMODATION - Eshowe - The Chase www.geocities.com/thechasefarm/
ACCOMMODATION - Wakkerstroom - Weaver's Nest www.weavers.co.za
ACCOMMODATION - Hluhluwe/Mkuze/Cape Vidal - KZN Wildlife www.kznwildlife.com

BIRD LIST

001. Ostrich Struthio camelus - 100+ WCNP 06/12
002. African Penguin Spheniscus demersus - 100s Boulders 07/12; 100s Stony Point 08/12
003. Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis - Common
004. Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus - Wakkerstroom 27/11
005. Black-necked Grebe Podiceps nigricollis - 100s Cerebos saltworks 06/12
006. Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris - 50+ on pelagic 07/12
007. Shy Albatross Thalassarche cauta - 50+ on pelagic 07/12
008. Atlantic Yellow-nosed Albatross Thalassarche chlororhynchos - 10 on pelagic 07/12
009. Southern Giant Petrel Macronectes giganteus - at least 2 definites on pelagic 07/12
010. Northern Giant Petrel Macronectes halli - at least 5 definites on pelagic 07/12
011. White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis - 100s on pelagic 07/12
012. Cory's Shearwater Calonectris diomedea - 100s on pelagic 07/12
013. Great Shearwater Puffinus gravis - 20+ on pelagic 07/12
014. Sooty Shearwater Puffinus griseus - 50+ on pelagic 07/12
015. Manx Shearwater Puffinus puffinus - 1 (a rarity !) on pelagic 07/12
016. Pintado Petrel Daption capense - 1 behind the trawler on pelagic 07/12
017. Wilson's Petrel Oceanites oceanicus - 10 on pelagic 07/12
018. European Storm Petrel Hydrobates pelagicus - 4 or 5 on pelagic 07/12
019. Cape Gannet Morus capensis - off Yzerfontein 06/12; on pelagic 07/12
020. African Darter Anhinga rufa - Common
021. Reed Cormorant Phalacrocorax africanus - Common
022. Crowned Cormorant Phalacrocorax coronatus - Langebaan 06/12; Simonstown 07/12
023. Bank Cormorant Phalacrocorax neglectus - Yzer 06/12; S'town 07/12; Stony Pt 08/12
024. White-breasted Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo - Common
025. Cape Cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis - L'baan 06/12; S'town 07/12;Stony Pt 08/12
026. White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus - 2 flying north WCNP 06/12
027. Pink-backed Pelican Pelecanus rufescens - St Lucia 30/11; colony at Mkuze 04/12
028. Goliath Heron Ardea goliath - Common
029. Purple Heron Ardea purpurea - 1 at Wakkerstroom 27/11
030. Grey Heron Ardea cinerea - Common
031. Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala - Common
032. Yellow-billed Egret Egretta intermedia - Common
033. Little Egret Egretta garzetta - Common
034. Great White Egret Egretta alba - Common
035. Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis - Common
036. Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides - 4 or 5 Richard's Bay lagoon 30/11
037. Eurasian Bittern Botaurus stellaris - 1 seen by TC and AF, Wakkerstroom 26/11
038. Black-crowned Night Heron Nycticorax nycticorax - Wakkerstroom 26/11 + 27/11
039. Green-backed Heron Butorides striatus - Mtunzini prawn farm 05/12
040. Black Stork Ciconia nigra - 1 in Lesotho 25/11
041. White Stork Ciconia ciconia - 1 near Underberg 25/11 - a unique double !
042. Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus - Mtunzini 30/11;St Lucia 01/12;Mkuze 03/12
043. Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumeniferus - 1 at Nsumo Pan, Mkuze 04/12
044. Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus ruber - 1 near Koeberg + 100 at Cerebos pans 06/12
045. African Spoonbill Platalea alba - Common
046. Hamerkop Scopus umbretta - 1 on its nest at Underberg 25/11; Wakkerstroom 27/11
047. Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus - Common
048. Hadeda Ibis Bostrychia hagedash - Very common: its 'La di dah' call heard everywhere
049. African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus - Common
050. Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus - 3 Lesotho + 22 Underberg 25/11;3 W'rm 27/11
051. Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis - Common
052. Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiacus - Common
053. South African Shelduck Tadorna cana - 2 at Wakkerstroom 27/11
054. White-faced Duck Dendrocygna viduata - PMB sewage works 24/11; Mtunzini 05/12
055. White-backed Duck Thalassornis leuconotus - U'berg 25/11; W'rm 27/11;R Bay 30/11
056. African Pygmy Goose Nettapus auritus - 2? + 1? Richard's Bay lagoon 30/12
057. Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma - Underberg 25/11; Wakkerstroom 27/11
058. Maccoa Duck Oxyura maccoa - Fickland Pan, Wakkerstroom 27/11
059. Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata - Common
060. African Black Duck Anas sparsa - Karoo 07/12
061. Cape Shoveler Anas smithii - Common
062. Cape Teal Anas capensis - WCNP 06/12
063. Red-billed Teal Anas erythrorhyncha - Wakkerstroom 26-27/11
064. Hottentot Teal Anas hottentota - Pair at PMB 24/11
065. Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius - Lesotho 25/11; En route 26/11; Mkuze 04/12
065. Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotus - 1 at Umfolozi 02/12
066. Cape Vulture Gyps coprotheres - Drakensberg 25/11; 20 at a carcase 26/11
067. White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus - Hluhluwe 02/12; Mkuze 03/12
068. Lammergeier Gypaetus barbatus - 2 over the Drakensberg 25/11
069. Palm-nut Vulture Gyphohierax angolensis - 1 atop a palm tree, Mtunzini 05/12
070. African Fish Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer - Common
071. Osprey Pandion haliaetus - 1 over Richard's Bay lagoon 30/11
072. Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus - Hluhluwe + Mkuze 03/12
073. Black-breasted Snake Eagle Circaetus pectoralis - Juv. eating snake, Mkuze 04/12
074. Brown Snake Eagle Circaetus cinereus - 1 on Cape Vidal road 30/11;pair Mkuze 05/12
075. Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax - 2 at Mkuze 05/12
076. Wahlberg's Eagle Aquila wahlbergi Hluhluwe + Mkuze 02-05/12
077. Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus - 1 at Hluhluwe 02/12; 1 at Mkuze 04/12
078. African Crowned Eagle Stephanoaetus coronatus -1 at Hluhluwe 03/12
079. Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis - Pair in Guys' garden 25/11; Xumeni 26/11
080. Booted Eagle Hieraeetus pennatus - Hluhluwe + Umfolozi 02/12
081. Jackal Buzzard Buteo rufofuscus - Common
082. Common/Steppe Buzzard Buteo buteo vulpinus - Common
083. Gymnogene Polyboroides typus - Goedertrouw Dam 28/11;Dlinza 29/11;St Lucia 30/11
084. European Marsh Harrier Circus aeruginosus - 1 creamcrown Wakkerstroom 27/11
085. African Marsh Harrier Circus ranivorus - En route 24/11;U'berg 25/11;en route 26/11
086. Black Harrier Circus maurus - 5 around the WCNP 06/12
087. Pallid Harrier Circus macrourus - Juvenile, Wakkerstroom 27/11
088. Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk Melierax canorus - Karoo 07/12
089. Yellow-billed Kite Milvus aegyptius - Abundant
090. Black-shouldered Kite Elanus caeruleus - Very common
091. African Cuckoo Hawk Aviceda cuculoides - ? beside Cape Vidal road 30/11
092. Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus - Hluhluwe 01/12; Mkuze 03+04/12
093. Little Sparrowhawk Accipiter minullus - Adult + juv Dlinza 29/11; The Chase 30/11
094. Black Sparrowhawk Accipiter melanoleucus - Juvenile, Underberg lake 25/11
095. African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro - 1 at Dlinza 29/11
096. Lanner Falcon Falco biarmicus - Drakensberg 25/11; En route 26/11
097. Amur Falcon Falco amurensis - 30+ Wakkerstroom 27/11
098. Lesser Kestrel Falco naumanni - Distant flock of 4/5, Koeberg 06/12
099. Rock Kestrel Falco rupicolus - 1 in Lesotho 25/11; 1, Koeberg 1, Tinie Versfeld 06/12
100. Greater Kestrel Falco rupicoloides - Karoo 07/12
101. Crested Francolin Peliperdix sephaena - 2 adults + 2 chicks, Mkuze 04/12
102. Grey-winged Francolin Scleroptila africanus - 2 pairs, Wakkerstroom 27+28/11
103. Cape Francolin Pternistes capensis - WCNP 06/12; Rooi Els 08/12
104. Swainson's Francolin Pternistes swainsonii - Wakkerstroom, 26+27/11
105. Crested Guineafowl Guttera pucherani - Common in Mkuze sandforest 04+05/12
106. Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris - Common
107. Common Quail Coturnix coturnix - 1 flushed at Wakkerstroom 27/11
108. African Rail Rallus caerulescens - Singles at Underberg 25/11 and Wakkerstroom 26/11
109. Black Crake Amaurornis flavirostra - PMB Sewage Works 24/11
110. African Purple Swamphen Porphyrio porphyrio - Underberg 25/11; W'stroom 26/11
111. Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus - Underberg 25/11
112. Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata - Common
113. Wattled Crane Grus carunculatus - 2 adults + juv., Underberg 25/11
114. Blue Crane Anthropoides paradisea - 1 Hella Hella 26/11; 2 W'room 27/11;3 Cape 6/12
115. Southern Crowned Crane Balearica regulorum - 2 Underberg 25/11;2 W'stroom 26/11
116. Stanley's (Denham's) Bustard Neotis denhami - 1 + 1 with chick, Underberg 25/11
117. Southern Black Korhaan Eupodotis afra - 2 Geelbeck look-out, WCNP 06/12
118. Karoo Korhaan Eupodotis vigorsii - Karoo 07/12
119. Barrow's (Southern White-bellied) Korhaan Eupodotis barrowii - 3 roadside 26/11
120. Blue Korhaan Eupodotis caerulescens - 5 + chick, Wakkerstroom 27+28/11
121. Black-bellied Korhaan Eupodotis melanogaster - En route 28/11; Mkuze 04+05/12
122. African Jacana Actophilornis africanus - PMB Sewage Works 24/11
123. Water Dikkop Burhinus vermiculatus - 2 Goedertrouw Dam 28/11; 3 Hluhluwe 02/12
124. Spotted Dikkop Burhinus capensis - PMB 24/11
125. African Black Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini - 34 at Yzerfontein 06/12
126. Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus - Common
127. Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta - 5 Cerebos Salt Works 06/12
128. Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola - 1 en route from St Lucia to Hluhluwe 01/12
129. Grey Plover Pluvialis squatarola - Two inland ! Underberg 25/11 & W'stroom 27/11
130. Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula - Mtunzini Prawn Farm 05/12 & Cerebos 06/12
131. Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius - Langebaan sewage farm & Cerebos 06/12
132. Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris - Common
133. Chestnut-banded Plover Charadrius pallidus - Cerebos Salt Works 06/12
134. White-fronted Plover Charadrius marginatus - St Lucia 30/11 & Cerebos 06/12
135. Blacksmith Plover Vanellus armatus - Very common
136. Wattled Plover Vanellus senegallus - Underberg 25/11 & Wakkerstroom 27/11
137. Crowned Plover Vanellus coronatus - Wakkerstroom/Hluhluwe/Langebaan
138. Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus - 1 Cerebos Salt Works 06/12
139. Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis - Wakkerstroom/Mtunzini
140. Greenshank Tringa nebularia - Wakkerstroom/Goedertrouw Dam/St Lucia/Cerebos
141. Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola - PMB/W'stroom/Richard's Bay/St Lucia/Mtunzini
142. Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos - W'stroom/Goeder/R's Bay/St Lucia/Mkuze
143. Little Stint Calidris minuta - Wakkerstroom/St Lucia/Mkuze/Mtunzini/Cerebos
144. Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea - St Lucia/Mtunzini/Cerebos 100+
145. Ruff Philomachus pugnax - PMB/Wakkerstroom/Goedertrouw/St Lucia
146. Ethiopian Snipe Gallinago nigripennis - Wakkerstroom
147. Turnstone Arenaria interpres - 1 Cerebos Salt Works 06/12
148. Burchell's Courser Cursorius rufus - Karoo 07/12
149. Subantarctic Skua Catharacta Antarctica - 1 on the pelagic 07/12
150. Arctic Skua Stercorarius parasiticus - 2 off Yzerfontein 06/12 & 6 on pelagic 07/12
151. Cape Gull Larus (dominicanus) vetula - 1 St Lucia 30/11; common at the Cape
152. Grey-headed Gull Larus cirrocephalus - 1 St Lucia 30/11
153. Hartlaub's Gull Larus hartlaubii - Common at the Cape
154. Sabine's Gull Larus sabini - 10 on the pelagic 07/12
155. Caspian Tern Sterna caspia - 180 St Lucia rivermouth 30/11 & Cerebos 06/12
156. Swift Tern Sterna bergii - 20 St Lucia rivermouth 30/11 & Cerebos 06/12
157. Sandwich Tern Sterna sandvicensis - 1 St Lucia rivermouth 30/11 & Cerebos 06/12
158. Common Tern Sterna hirundo - Langebaan & Cerebos 06/12
159. Little Tern Sterna albifrons - 1 at Quiet-we-are-laughing Lagoon 30/11
160. Whiskered Tern Childonias hybridus - 22 Wakkerstroom 27/11 & Quiet Lagoon 30/11
161. White-winged Black Tern Childonias leucopterus - Quiet Lagoon 30/11
162. Namaqua Sandgrouse Pterocles namaqua - Karoo 07/12
163. Rock Dove/Feral Pigeon Columba livia - Common
164. Speckled (Rock) Pigeon Columba guinea - Underberg & Langebaan
165. Rameron (African Olive) Pigeon Columba arquatrix - Underberg 25/11
166. Delegorgue's (Eastern Bronze-naped) Pigeon Columba delegorguei - Eshowe (RT)
167. Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis - Very common
168. Cape Turtle Dove Streptopelia capicola - Very common
169. Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata - Common
170. Emerald-spotted Wood Dove Turtur chalcospilos - Cape Vidal/Hluhluwe/Mkuze
171. Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria - 1 at Kumasinga waterhole, Mkuze 03/12
172. Namaqua Dove Oena capensis - West Coast National Park 06/12
173. African Green Pigeon Treron calva - 2 Rutledge Park, Eshowe 29/11
174. Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus - 7 Xumeni forest 26/11
(Knysna Lourie Tauraco corythaix - Heard at Xumeni 26/11)
175. Livingstone's Lourie Tauraco livingstonii - St Lucia/Cape Vidal
176. Purple-crested Lourie Musophaga porphyreolopha - Eshowe/Mkuze
177. Grey Go-away-bird Corythaixoides concolor - 6 outside Mkuze 03/12 & Mkuze 05/12
178. Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius - Eshowe/Mkuze
179. Black Cuckoo Cuculus clamosus - Mkuze 04/12
180. Jacobin Cuckoo Oxylophus jacobinus - 2 Vryheid/2 Hluhluwe/Mkuze
181. Diderick (Diederik) Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius PMB/Underberg/Vryheid
182. Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas - St Lucia 01/12
183. African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus - Eshowe 29/11
184. Green Malkoha Ceuthmochares aereus - Eshowe 29/11 & St Lucia 01/12
185. Burchell's Coucal Centropus burchelli - Mkono, Eshowe 29/11 & Richard's Bay 30/11
186. Spotted Eagle Owl Bubo africanus - Hluwe 01/12 +Mkuze 04/12 +2 chicks Cape 06/12
187. Marsh Owl Asio capensis - 5 Wakkerstroom 26/11
188. African Barred Owlet Glaucidium capense - 1 Mkuze 03/12
189. European Nightjar Caprimulgus europaeus - 2 Mkuze nightdrive 04/12
190. Fiery-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus pectoralis - Hluwe nightdrive 02/12+Mkuze 03/12
191. Alpine Swift Apus melba - Underberg 25/11 + Hella Hella 26/11
192. Common Swift Apus apus - Wakkerstroom 27/11 + Cape 06/12
193. African Black Swift Apus barbatus - Sani Pass 25/11 + Vryheid 28/11
194. Little Swift Apus affinis - Very common
195. Horus Swift Apus hours - Sani Pass 25/11
196. White-rumped Swift Apus caffer - Common
197. African Palm Swift Cypsiurus parvus - PMB 24/11
198. Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina - Xumeni 26/11 & Mkuze 04/12
199. African Broadbill Smithornis capensis - Mkuze 04/12
200. Red-faced Mousebird Urocolius indicus - Umfolozi/Hluhluwe/Mkuze
201. Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus - PMB/Umfolozi
202. White-backed Mousebird Colius colius - Cape 06/12
203. Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima - Underberg/Goedertrouw/Hluhluwe
204. Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis - Wakkerstroom/Goedertrouw/Mtunzini Prawn Farm
205. Malachite Kingfisher Alcedo cristata - Underberg; 2 Goedertrouw; 2 Mtunzini
206. African Pygmy Kingfisher Ispidina picta - 1 Eshowe 29/11 + 2 Mkuze 03/12
207. Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris - Eshowe/Cape Vidal/Hluhluwe/Mkuze
208. Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti - En route to Hluhluwe 01/12 & Mkuze 05/12
209. European Bee-eater Merops apiaster - Mkuze 04/12 & WCNP 06/12
210. Blue-cheeked Bee-eater Merops persicus - Richard's Bay 30/11 & Mkuze 04/12
211. White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides - 4 Umfolozi 02/12 + Hluhluwe 03/12
212. Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus - 2 Umfolozi 02/12
213. Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudate - 1 Umfolozi 02/12
214. Broad-billed Roller Eurystomus glaucurus - 2 Mkuze 04/12 & 2 Mkuze 05/12
215. Trumpeter Hornbill Bycanistes bucinator - Eshowe/Mkuze
216. Crowned Hornbill Tockus alboterminatus - Xumeni/Eshowe/Cape Vidal
217. Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus leucomelas - 6 Mkuze 04/12
218. Green (Red-billed) Woodhoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus - PMB/En route
219. Common (Greater) Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas - Umfolozi/Hluwe/Mkuze
220. African Hoopoe Upupa africana - PMB 24/11 + Hluhluwe 02/12
221. Scaly-throated Honeyguide Indicator variegates - 1 Mtunzini raphia palms 05/12
222. Lesser Honeyguide Indicator minor - 1 Mtunzini town 30/11
223. Sharp-billed Honeyguide/Brown-backed Honeybird Prodotiscus regulus Berg 25/11
224. Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus - 2 Ntumeni 29/11 + 2 Hluhluwe 03/12
225. White-eared Barbet Stactolaema leucotis - Eshowe/Mtunzini/Mkuze
226. Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii - Umfolozi 02/12 + Hluhluwe 03/12
227. Acacia Pied Barbet Tricholaema leucomelas - Mkuze 04/12
228. Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus bilineatus - St Lucia Crocodile Farm 01/12
229. Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus pusillus - Mkuze 03/12
230. Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus - Sani Pass 25/11 + W'stroom 27/11
231. Red-throated Wryneck Jynx ruficollis - Underberg/Hluhluwe
232. Olive Woodpecker Dendropicos griseocephalus - Guys' garden, Underberg 25/11
233. Cardinal Woodpecker Dendropicos fuscescens - Underberg/Hluhluwe
234. Bearded Woodpecker Dendropicos namaquus - 1 Mkuze 04/12
235. Golden-tailed Woodpecker Campethera ambingoni - 3 Cape Vidal 01/12+Mkuze 04/12
236. Rufous-naped Lark Mirafra africana - Vryheid 28/11 + Hluhluwe 02/12
237. Flappet Lark Mirafra rufocinnamomea - Mkuze 04/12
238. Sabota Lark Mirafra sabota - En route 26/11 (Or Melodious Lark ?) + Umfolozi 02/12
239. Karoo Lark Certhilauda albescens - Karoo 07/12
240. Large-billed Lark Galerida magnirostris - Lesotho 25/11 + Cerebos Salt Works 06/12
241. Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea - Lesotho/Wakkerstroom/Cerebos
242. Rudd's Lark Heteromirafra ruddi - 1 in songflight, Wakkerstroom 27/11
243. Spike-heeled Lark Chersomanes albofasciata - Wakkerstroom
244. Grey-backed Sparrowlark Eremopterix verticals - Karoo 07/12
245. Red-breasted Swallow Hirundo semirufa - Cape Vidal road 30/11 + Hluhluwe 03/12
246. South African Cliff Swallow Hirundo spilodera - Underberg/Wakkerstroom
247. Greater Striped Swallow Hirundo cuculluta - Underberg/Wakkerstroom
248. Lesser Striped Swallow Hirundo abyssinica - PMB/Goedertrouw Dam
249. Barn (European) Swallow Hirundo rustica - Common
250. White-throated Swallow Hirundo albigularis - PMB/Underberg/W'stroom/Goeder
251. Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii - Goedertrouw Dam 28/11
252. Pearl-breasted Swallow Hirundo dimidiata - 2 Koeberg 06/12
253. Blue Swallow Hirundo atrocaerulea - 5 Hella Hella 26/11
254. Rock Martin Hirundo fuligula - Lesotho 25/11 + Rooi Els 08/12
255. Banded Martin Riparia cincta - Underberg/Wakkerstroom
256. Brown-throated Martin Riparia paludicola - PMB 24/11
257. Black Saw-wing Psalidoprocne holomelaena - Underberg 25/11 + Eshowe 29/11
258. Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis - Common
259. Square-tailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii - Eshowe 29/11
260. Black Cuckooshrike Campephaga flava - Hluhluwe 02/12 + Mkuze 04/12
261. Grey Cuckooshrike Coracina caesia - Xumeni 26/11 + Eshowe 29/11
262. Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus - PMB 24/11 + Eshowe 30/11
263. White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis - PMB/Underberg/Rooi Els
264. Pied Crow Corvus albus - Underberg/Hluhluwe/Cape
265. Cape (Black) Crow Corvus capensis - PMB 24/11
266. House Crow Corvus splendens - Durban 24/11
267. Grey Tit Parus afer - Lesotho 25/11 + Langebaan 06/12
268. Southern Black Tit Parus niger - Hluhluwe 02/12 + 03/12; Mkuze 04/12
269. Cape Bulbul Pycnonotus capensis - Capetown 06/12
270. Dark-capped (Black-eyed) Bulbul Pycnonotus tricolor - PMB/Eshowe
271. Terrestrial Brownbul Phyllastrephus terrestris - Xumeni 26/11 + Eshowe 29/11
272. Bush Blackcap Lioptilus nigricapillus - Sani Pass road 25/11
273. Sombre Greenbul Andropadus importunes - Mkuze 04/12
274. Yellow-bellied Greenbul Chlorocichla flaviventris - Eshowe 29/11 + Mkuze 03/12
275. Eastern (Yellow-spotted) Nicator Nicator gularis - Hluhluwe 03/12
(Orange Ground Thrush Zoothera gurneyi - Heard at Xumeni 26/11)
276. Spotted Ground Thrush Zoothera guttata - Eshowe 29/11
277. Kurrichane Thrush Turdus libonyanus - Hluhluwe 02/12 + Mkuze 03/12
278. Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus - Common
279. Cape Rock Thrush Monticola rupestris - Lesotho border/Wakkerstroom/Rooi Els
280. Sentinel Rock Thrush Monticola exploratory - Lesotho 25/11
281. Cape Rock-jumper Chaetops frenatus - Rooi Els 08/12
282. Drakensberg (Orange-breasted) Rock-jumper Chaetops aurantius - Sani Pass 25/11
283. Familiar Chat Cercomela familiaris - Rooi Els 08/12
284. Karoo Chat Cercomela schlegelii - Karoo 07/12
285. Tractrac Chat Cercomela tractrac - Karoo 07/12
286. Sickle-winged Chat Cercomela sinuate - Lesotho 25/11
287. Mountain Wheatear Oenanthe monticola - Lesotho 25/11 + Wakkerstroom 27/11
288. Buff-streaked Chat Oenanthe bifasciata - Sani Pass 25/11 + Wakkerstroom 27/11
289. Capped Wheatear Oenanthe pileata - Pair, Koeberg 06/12
290. African Stonechat Saxicola torquata torquata - Very common
291. Southern Ant-eating Chat Myrmecocichla formicivora - Wakkerstroom
292. Mocking Cliff-Chat Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris - Pair, Vryheid 28/11
293. Chorister Robin Cossypha dichroa - Eshowe 29/11
294. Natal Robin Cossypha natalensis - Eshowe 29/11 + St Lucia 30/11
295. Cape Robin Cossypha caffra - PMB/Underberg/Cape
296. White-throated Robin Cossypha humeralis - Hluhluwe 03/12 + Mkuze 05/12
297. White-browed (Heuglin's) Robin Cossypha heuglini - Mkuze 05/12
298. Bearded Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas quadrivirgata - Mkuze 03/12
299. Brown Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas signata - Cape Vidal 01/12
300. White-browed Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys - Vryheid 28/11 + Mkuze 04/12
301. Karoo Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas coryphaeus - Cape 06/12
(White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata - Heard at Xumeni 26/12)
302. Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler Phylloscopus ruficapilla - Xumeni 26/11
303. Willow Warbler Phylloscopus trochilus - Wakkerstroom/Mkuze
304. Yellow-bellied Eremomela Eremomela icteropygialis - Karoo 07/12
305. Karoo Eremomela Eremomela gregalis - Karoo 07/12
306. Grey Penduline Tit Anthoscopus caroli - Mkuze 04/12
307. Cape Penduline Tit Anthoscopus minutes - WCNP 06/12 (RT only)
(Barratt's Warbler Bradypterus barratti - Heard at Xumeni 26/12)
308. Little Rush (African Sedge) Warbler Bradypterus baboecala - PMB 24/11
309. Broad-tailed Warbler Schoenicola brevirostris - Hella Hella 26/11
310. Lesser Swamp (Cape Reed) Warbler Acrocephalus gracilirostris - Lagoon 30/11
311. African (Marsh) Reed Warbler Acrocephalus baeticatus - Wakkerstroom 27/11
312. Dark-capped (African) Yellow Warbler Chloropeta natalensis - Berg 25/11+Vryheid
313. Cape Grassbird Sphenoeacus afer - Underberg/WCNP/Rooi Els
314. Cinnamon-breasted Warbler Euryptila subcinnamomea - Karoo 07/12
315. Green-backed Camaroptera (Bleating Warbler) Camaroptera brachyura - Eshowe
316. Fairy Flycatcher Stenostira scita - Sani Pass 25/11
317. Layard's Tit-babbler Parisoma layardi - Lesotho 25/11
318. Chestnut-vented Tit-babbler Parisoma subcaeruleum - Cape 06/12
319. Long-billed Crombec Sylvietta rufescens - Hluhluwe 01/12 + Umfolozi 02/12
320. Bar-throated Apalis Apalis thoracica - Xumeni 26/11
321. Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida - Cape Vidal 01/12 + Mkuze 04/12
322. Rudd's Apalis Apalis ruddi - Mkuze 04/12
323. Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops - Umfolozi 02/12
324. Lazy Cisticola Cisticola aberrans - Ntumeni 29/11
325. Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chinianus - Goedertrouw/Hluhluwe
326. Grey-backed Cisticola Cisticola subruficapillus - Cape 06/12
327. Wailing Cisticola Cisticola lais - Hella Hella 26/11
328. Rufous-winged (Black-backed) Cisticola Cisticola galactotes - Richard's Bay 30/11
329. Levaillant's Cisticola Cisticola tinniens - PMB/
330. Croaking Cisticola Cisticola natalensis - Hella Hella 26/11
331. Neddicky Cisticola fulvicapillus - Vryheid
332. Zitting Cisticola (Fan-tailed Warbler) Cisticola juncidis - Common
333. Cloud Cisticola Cisticola textrix - Tinie Versfeld 06/12
334. Pale-crowned Cisticola Cisticola cinnamomeus - Underberg/Wakkerstroom
335. Wing-snapping (Ayres') Cisticola Cisticola ayresii - Hella Hella/Wakkerstroom
336. Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava - PMB 24/11
337. Karoo (Spotted) Prinia Prinia maculosa - Lesotho 25/11 + Cape 06/12
338. Drakensberg Prinia Prinia hypoxantha - Underberg 24/11
339. Namaqua Warbler Phragmacia substriata - Karoo 07/12
340. Rufous-eared Warbler Malcorus pectoralis - Karoo 07/12
341. Spotted Flycatcher Muscicapa striata - Goedertrouw/Hluhluwe/Mkuze
342. African Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta - Sani Pass 25/11
343. Ashy (Blue-grey) Flycatcher Muscicapa caerulescens - Eshowe/Cape Vidal/Mkuze
344. Grey Tit-flycatcher (Fan-tailed Flycatcher) Myioparus plumbeus - Mkuze 04/12
345. Southern Black Flycatcher Melaenornis pammelaina - PMB 24/11 + Eshowe 29/11
346. Fiscal Flycatcher Sigelus silens - Capetown 06/12
347. Pale Flycatcher Bradornis pallidus - Umfolozi 02/12
348. Blue-mantled Crested Flycatcher Trochocercus cyanomelas - Mkuze 04/12
349. African Paradise Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis - PMB/Vryheid/Eshowe/Mkuze
350. African Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis - Mkuze 04/12
351. Cape White-eye Zosterops virens - PMB/Xumeni
352. Pririt Batis Batis pririt - Karoo 07/12
353. Cape Batis Batis capensis - Sani Pass road/Xumeni/
354. Woodwards' Batis Batis fratrum - Cape Vidal 01/12
355. Chinspot Batis Batis molitor - PMB/
356. Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis - Common
357. African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp - Vryheid/Goedertrouw
358. Mountain (Long-tailed) Wagtail Motacilla clara - Ntumeni 29/11
359. African Rock (Yellow-tufted) Pipit Anthus crenatus - Lesotho 25/11
360. Mountain Pipit Anthus hoeschi - Pair, Lesotho 25/11
361. African (Grassveld) Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus - Common
362. Bushveld Pipit Anthus caffer - Umfolozi 02/12 (RT only)
363. Yellow-breasted Pipit Anthus chloris - 1 Wakkerstroom 27/11
364. Yellow-throated Longclaw Macronyx croceus - Ntumeni 29/11 + Mkuze 05/12
365. Orange-throated (Cape) Longclaw Macronyx capensis - Underberg/W'stroom/Cape
366. Red-backed Shrike Lanius collurio - PMB/Hluhluwe/Mkuze
367. Fiscal Shrike Lanius collaris - Common
368. Southern Boubou Laniarius ferrugineus - Underberg 25/11 + Cape Vidal 01/12
369. Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegala - Hluhluwe 03/12 + Mkuze 04/12
370. Brown-crowned (Three-streaked) Tchagra Tchagra australis - Mkuze 04/12
371. Bokmakierie Telophorus zeylonus - Cape 06/12
372. Orange-breasted Bush-shrike Telophorus sulfureopectus - Umfolozi/Mkuze
373. Olive Bush-shrike Telophorus olivaceus - Mkono campsite, Eshowe 29/11
374. Gorgeous Bush-shrike Telophorus quadricolor - Hluhluwe 02/12 + Mkuze 05/12
375. White-crested Helmet-shrike Prionops plumatus - Umfolozi/Hluhluwe/Mkuze
376. Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus cubla - Xumeni 26/11 + Mkuze 04/12
377. Brubru Nilaus afer - Umfolozi 02/12
378. Cape Glossy Starling Lamprotornis nitens - Hluhluwe 02/12
379. Black-bellied Starling Lamprotornis corruscus - Eshowe 29+30/11
380. Pale-winged Starling Onychognathus nabouroup - Karoo 07/12
381. Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio - Underberg/Rooi Els
382. Violet-backed (Plum-coloured) Starling Cinnyricinclus leucogaster - Common
383. Pied Starling Spreo bicolour - Underberg/Wakkerstroom/Cape
384. Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea - Cape 06/12
385. European Starling Sturnus vulgaris - Underberg/Capetown
386. Indian Myna Acridotheres tristis - Common
387. Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorhynchus - Hluhluwe/Mkuze
388. Gurney's Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi - Sani Pass 25/11
389. Cape Sugarbird Promerops cafer - Rooi Els 08/12
390. Orange-breasted Sunbird Anthobaphes violacea - Rooi Els 08/12
391. Eastern Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea - Eshowe/Mtunzini
392. Grey Sunbird Cyanomitra veroxii - Mkuze 04/12
393. Amethyst (African Black) Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystine - PMB
394. Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis - St Lucia 01/12
395. Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa - Common
396. Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris - Xumeni/Eshowe/Cape Vidal
397. Lesser (Southern) Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris chalybea - Xumeni/Cape
398. Greater Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris afra - Guys' garden (GH only)
399. Neergaard's Sunbird Cinnyris neergaardi - Mkuze 04/12
400. White-bellied Sunbird Cinnyris talatala - Vryheid 28/11
401. Dusky Sunbird Cinnyris fusca - Karoo 07/12
402. Purple-banded Sunbird Cinnyris bifasciata - Mkuze 04/12
403. House Sparrow Passer domesticus - Durban/St Lucia
404. Cape Sparrow Passer melanurus - Guys' garden, Underberg 24/11
405. Southern Grey-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus - Guys' garden, Underberg 24/11
406. Yellow-throated Petronia Petronia superciliaris - Hluhluwe 02/12 + Mkuze 05/12
407. Thick-billed Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons - Ntumeni 29/11 + Mkuze 03/12
408. Forest (Dark-backed) Weaver Ploceus bicolour - Eshowe 30/11 + Mkuze 04/12
409. Lesser Masked Weaver Ploceus intermedius - Umfolozi 02/12
410. Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis - PMB/Mkuze
411. Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis - Common
412. Yellow Weaver Ploceus subaureus - Ntumeni 29/11 + Richard's Bay 30/11
413. Southern Brown-throated Weaver Ploceus xanthopterus - Richard's Bay 30/11
414. Southern Masked Weaver Ploceus velatus - Common
415. Village (Spotted-backed) Weaver Ploceus cucullatus - Common
416. Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea - Common
417. Yellow-crowned (Golden) Bishop Euplectes afer - Wakkerstroom
418. Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix - Common
419. Yellow Bishop (Yellow-rumped Widow) Euplectes capensis - Sani Pass/Hella Hella
420. Red-shouldered (Fan-tailed) Widow Euplectes axillaries - Common
421. White-winged Widow Euplectes albonotatus - Hluhluwe 03/12
422. Red-collared Widow Euplectes ardens - Common
423. Long-tailed Widow Euplectes progne - Common
424. Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura - PMB/Underberg
425. Dusky Indigobird (Black Widowfinch) Vidua funereal - Road to Mkuze (GH only)
426. Blue-billed (African) Firefinch Lagonosticta rubricata - Eshowe 30/11+Hluhluwe 3/12
427. Common Waxbill Estrila astrild - Common
428. Grey Waxbill Estrilda perreini - Cape Vidal 30/11 + Hluhluwe 03/12
429. Blue Waxbill Uraeginthus angolensis - Goedertrouw 28/11 + Umfolozi 02/12
430. Orange-breasted Waxbill Amandava subflava - Underberg 25/11
431. African Quailfinch Ortygospiza atricollis - Wakkerstroom 27/11
432. Bronze Mannikin Lonchura cucullata - PMB 24/11
433. Red-backed Mannikin Lonchura nigriceps - Cape Vidal 01/12
434. Green-winged Pytilia (Melba Finch) Pytilia melba - GH only
435. Green Twinspot Mandingoa nitidula - ? Cape Vidal 01/12
436. Pink-throated Twinspot Hypargos margaritatus - ? + ? Mkuze 04/12
437. Cape Canary Serinus canicollis - Underberg/Wakkerstroom
438. Forest Canary Serinus scotops - Xumeni 26/11
439. Lemon-breasted Canary Serinus citrinipectus - En route 01/12
440. Yellow-fronted (Yellow-eyed) Canary Serinus mozambicus - Common
441. Yellow Canary Serinus flaviventris - Lesotho 25/11 + WCNP 06/12
442. White-throated Canary Serinus albogularis - WCNP 06/12
443. Streaky-headed Seedeater Serinus gularis - Common
444. Black-headed Canary Alario alario - Karoo 07/12
445. Cape Siskin Pseudochloroptila totta - Rooi Els 08/12
446. Drakensberg Siskin Pseudochloroptila symonsi - Sani Pass 25/11
447. Lark-like Bunting Emberiza impetuani - WCNP 06/12
448. Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi - Wakkerstroom 27/11
449. Cape Bunting Emberiza capensis - Lesotho/Rooi Els
450. Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris - Umfolozi 02/12

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