Birding in South Africa, November-December 2002


Home Birding Spots South Africa 2002	Site Map

Birding in South Africa, November-December 2002

Pretoria, Pilanesberg National Park, Kruger National Park, Blyde River Canyon

Two Lappet-faced Vultures (the large dark birds) surrounded by White-backed Vultures. A Hooded Vulture (the smaller brown bird) is walking between the White-backed Vultures. Kruger National Park.

With more than 900 species of birds recorded (about 1/10th of all species in the world), South Africa is a birders paradise.

The main reason for me travelling to South Africa was the total solar eclipse on December 4th. The eclipse wasn't particularly successful but our group also did a lot of game viewing (great fun!) and most birding was done either as part of the game viewing or at the rest camps. Fortunately, our guides knew quite a lot about birds and they found many species we otherwise would have missed. Still, passerines are way underrepresented in our bird list. Species I would have no problem identifying at home - like the Willow Warbler - wasn't "ticked" here, there are simply too many confusing species of "Little Brown Jobs" in southern Africa. As it was our first visit to South Africa and the visit was short, we concentrated on the more easily identifiable species.

So there are a lot of reasons to make another visit.

Major sites visited

Pretoria: The capital city. Most birds were seen in the garden of the Jensen Safaris guest house or within a few streets from the guest house.

Pilanesberg National Park (PNP): Pilanesberg National Park is the third largest national park in South Africa, located some 120 km north-west of Pretoria. It comprises an almost perfectly circular mountain massif some 25 km in diameter. It's the caldera of an ancient volcano that erupted about 1300 million years ago. More than 300 species of birds have been recorded.

Tswaing Meteorite Crater: The Tswaing Meteorite Crater is an impressive sight. The crater is a little more than one kilometer in diameter and 100 meters deep. It is located about 40 km north of Pretoria. And birding can be quite rewarding. Come as early in the morning as possible - especially in the summer.

Kruger National Park (KNP): Covering an area of nearly two million hectares, world-famous Kruger National Park is the flagship of South Africa's national parks. Kruger is home to more than 500 species of birds and 147 species of mammals.

Blyde River Canyon (BRC): The Blyde River Canyon is an impressive gorge - the third largest in the world. Quite a few species characteristic of rocky areas were seen, including Cape Rock-Thrush, Familiar Chat, and Mocking Cliff-Chat.

Itinerary

30/11: Pretoria, PNP: The moment we arrived at the Jensen Safaris guest house we noticed a lot of birds in the garden. We had our first bulbuls, mynas, and weavers, a Karoo Thrush (the only one we saw on the trip), a Crested Barbet, and a lot of swifts (including Little Swift) and swallows in the air.
After lunch we went to PNP. Along the road we had several Black-shouldered Kites and red-rumped swallows. I wasn't able to identify any of the swallows.
At the Bakubung Gate PNP we saw our first Red-winged Starlings. Driving through PNP quickly produced an overwhelming number of species. It was really a hard job trying to id as much as possible. Mammals: Elephant, Giraffe, White Rhino, etc.

1/12: PNP: Morning safari starting as soon the gate opened at 05:30.
After breakfast we visited a hide at a dam (sorry, didn't get the name) producing Darter, Spoonbill, three species of ducks, our first African Fish-Eagle, Kori Bustard, Common Ringed Plovers (funny to see familiar species here), Blacksmith Lapwings, Pied Kingfisher, and Greater Striped Swallows. Our first Nile Crocodile, Burchell's Zebra, Hippo.
After lunch we visited the Ratlhogo Hide. Unfortunately the waterhole was dry. Most noteworthy were two Verreaux's Eagles. Lots of Helmeted Guineafowls. Mammals: Warthog, Kudu, Impala.
Game viewing later that day also gave us a lot of bee-eaters (mostly Europeans), Lilac-breasted Roller, and a Secretarybird. Mammals: Wildebeest, Sable Antelope, Buffalo, Eland, Brown Hyaena, etc.
The Bakgatla Camp was home to Crested Barbet, lots of bulbuls, Pied Crows flying over the camp, Cape White-eye, sparrows, and many Southern Masked-Weavers.

2/12: PNP, Tswaing Meteorite Crater, Pretoria: Morning safari again starting at 05:30.
Our first Ostrich at the Mankwe Dam. Mammals: Springbok, Black Rhino, Lion, etc.
Bakgatla Camp: Kurrichane Thrush, Cape Wagtail.
In Pretoria, a Hadeda Ibis was flying over the Jensen Safaris guest house.

3/12: Pretoria, KNP: Black-shouldered Kites and whydahs/widowbirds along the road to KNP.
We entered KNP at the Phalaborwa Gate. From the gate to the Mopani Camp we saw our first Martial Eagle and three Southern Ground-Hornbills - fascinating animals.

4/12: KNP: Eclipse day. Soon after we left the Mopani Camp at 04:15, we had a short glimpse of a nightjar. At the Nwarihlangari eclipse viewing site we had Levaillant's Cuckoos and Arrow-marked Babblers.
After the eclipse we drove southwards along the Shingwedzi River and continued at the road close to the Mozambiquan border. The trip along the Shingwedzi River produced an overwhelming number of species including many herons and storks, a group of Spoonbills, Comb Duck, Jacana, Black-winged Stilt, Common Sandpiper, colorful Woodland Kingfishers, and a Red-backed Shrike. Many Nile Crocodiles, Hippos, and a lot of other mammals.
At the Tropic of Capricorn Loop, vultures were gathering at a week-old Buffalo carcass (video frame).
An afternoon trip in the Mopani area and along Nshawu gave us 15 White Storks, Brown Snake-Eagles, Montagu's Harriers, a Black-bellied Bustard (photo), Namaqua Dove, Red-billed Buffalo-Weavers at nest, and a group of Red-billed Queleas with a Cinnamon-breasted Bunting. Shortly before the Mopani Camp we saw two Saddle-billed Storks flying over our heads - an amazing sight.

5/12: KNP, BRC: Before sunrise at the Tropic of Capricorn Loop, we saw five male ostriches dancing around one female - an unforgettable sight. It was too dark to even think of photographing. Shortly after, we passed a group of two male and four female Kori Bustards. A few vultures at the carcass.
Around 07:00 we stopped at three young male Lions opening a freshly killed Buffalo - another unforgettable sight.
We passed the Letaba, Olifants, and Satara camps and left KNP at the Orpen Gate. Quite a few species were added to our list while we drove southwards through KNP: Hamerkop, Yellow-billed Kite (we had seen many dark kites but this one was the only we could id 100%), Three-banded Plover, Wood Sandpiper, Speckled Mousebird, Giant Kingfisher, White-fronted Bee-eater, Grey Hornbill, Black-collared Barbet, Wire-tailed Swallow, Fork-tailed Drongo (finally we managed to id a drongo), Grey-backed Camaroptera (video frame), and Red-billed Oxpecker (a long-awaited species, the first two sitting on a Buffalo).

6/12: BRC: It was difficult to concentrate on the breakfast as we had Trumpeter Hornbill, Cape Rock-Thrush, Greater Double-collared Sunbird, and Pin-tailed Whydah (the only whydah/widowbird we managed to id) just outside the windows of the restaurant.
Other species seen at the Aventura Blydepoort Resort and in the gorge just below were: Hadeda Ibis, Jackal Buzzard, Greater Striped Swallow, Rock Martin, Olive Thrush, Familiar Chat, Red-capped Robin-Chat, Mocking Cliff-Chat, Cape Batis, Cape Wagtail, Red-winged Starling, and Cape White-eye.

7/12: BRC, Pretoria: Our last day in South Africa. Many Cattle Egrets and Black-shouldered Kites and a single Spur-winged Goose were seen along the road to Pretoria.
Closer to Pretoria, flocks of Southern Red Bishops were seen.
In Pretoria: Hadeda Ibis sitting on a street lamp, Grey Go-away-bird, Hoopoe, Fork-tailed Drongo.

Systematic list

English and Scientific names follow the "Sasol Birds of Southern Africa", 3rd edition.

Birds seen/heard by others in our group but not seen/heard by me are marked in yellow.

("Sasol III" page) English name, Scientific name, Danish name ...

(142/4) Common Ostrich, Struthio camelus, Afrikansk Struds
2/12: 1 Mankwe Dam PNP, 5/12: 6 (5 males + 1 female in play - what a sight!) Tropic of Capricorn Loop KNP
(56/6) African Darter, Anhinga rufa, Afrikansk Slangehalsfugl
1/12: PNP, 4/12: KNP
(56/1) White-breasted Cormorant, Phalacrocorax lucidus, Hvidbrystet Skarv
Common PNP, 4/12: KNP, 6/12: BRC
(62/3) Little Egret, Egretta garzetta, Silkehejre
2/12: 1 PNP, 4/12: Shingwedzi River KNP
(62/2) Great (White) Egret, Egretta alba, Sølvhejre
2/12: 2 PNP, 4/12: Shingwedzi River KNP
(60/3) Grey Heron, Ardea cinerea, Fiskehejre
30/11: PNP, 4/12: Shingwedzi River KNP
(60/1) Goliath Heron, Ardea goliath, Goliathejre
4/12: 3 ad. + 1 imm. at nest Shingwedzi River KNP, 5/12: 1 Olifants River KNP
(62/4) Cattle Egret, Bubulcus ibis, Kohejre
5/12: 1 Olifants River KNP, 7/12: BRC-Pretoria
(66/3) Green-backed Heron, Butorides striatus, Mangrovehejre
4/12: 2 Shingwedzi River KNP
(72/4) Hamerkop, Scopus umbretta, Hammerhoved
5/12: 1 Letaba River KNP
(68/4) Yellow-billed Stork, Mycteria ibis, Afrikansk Skovstork
4/12: Shingwedzi River KNP, 5/12: Olifants Camp KNP
(70/3) African Openbill (Openbilled Stork), Anastomus lamelligerus, Afrikansk Gabenæb
4/12: 1 Shingwedzi River KNP
(68/3) White Stork, Ciconia ciconia, Hvid Stork
4/12: 15 Nshawu KNP
(70/2) Saddle-billed Stork, Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis, Saddelnæb
4/12: 3 Shingwedzi River KNP, 4/12: 2 north of Mopani KNP, 5/12: 2 Letaba River KNP
(70/1) Marabou Stork, Leptoptilos crumeniferus, Marabustork
4/12: Shingwedzi River KNP, 5/12: Olifants Camp KNP
(74/1) Hadeda Ibis, Bostrychia hagedash, Hadadaibis
2/12: 1 Pretoria, 4/12: Shingwedzi River KNP, 6/12: 2 BRC, 7/12: BRC-Pretoria, 7/12: 1 Pretoria
(74/4) African Sacred Ibis, Threskiornis aethiopicus, Hellig Ibis
30/11: ~10 PNP
(72/3) African Spoonbill, Platalea alba, Afrikansk Skestork
1/12: 1 PNP, 4/12: 12 Shingwedzi River KNP, 5/12: Olifants Camp KNP
(78/1) White-faced Duck, Dendrocygna viduata, Nonnetræand
1/12: PNP
(76/2) Egyptian Goose, Alopochen aegyptiacus, Nilgås
Common PNP, common KNP
(76/1) Spur-winged Goose, Plectropterus gambensis, Sporegås
7/12: 1 BRC-Pretoria
(76/4) Comb (Knob-billed) Duck, Sarkidiornis melanotos, Knopgås
4/12: 1 Shingwedzi River KNP
(80/2) African Black Duck, Anas sparsa, Sodfarvet And
1/12: PNP
(80/1) Yellow-billed Duck, Anas undulata, Gulnæbbet And
1/12: PNP, 7/12: BRC-Pretoria
(154/4) Secretarybird, Sagittarius serpentarius, Sekretærfugl
1/12: 1 PNP
(112/5) Black-shouldered Kite, Elanus caeruleus, Blå Glente
Common along roads
(112/4) Yellow-billed Kite, Milvus aegyptius, Gulnæbbet Glente
Black/Yellow-billed Kite: Common KNP, 7/12: BRC-Pretoria
(92/1) African Fish-Eagle, Haliaeetus vocifer, Afrikansk Flodørn
1/12: 1 PNP, 2/12: 1 Mankwe Dam PNP, 4/12: 2 Shingwedzi River KNP, 5/12: 1 Letaba River KNP
(88/4) Hooded Vulture, Necrosyrtes monachus, Hættegrib
4/12: 3 Tropic of Capricorn Loop KNP, 5/12: 3 Tropic of Capricorn Loop KNP
(86/5) (African) White-backed Vulture, Gyps africanus, Hvidrygget Grib
4/12: 8 Tropic of Capricorn Loop KNP
Video frame
(86/1) Lappet-faced Vulture, Torgos tracheliotus, Øregrib
4/12: 2 Tropic of Capricorn Loop KNP
(94/1) Brown Snake-Eagle, Circaetus cinereus, Mørk Slangeørn
4/12: 2 Mopani area KNP
(108/5) Montagu's Harrier, Circus pygargus, Hedehøg
4/12: 2 (male + female) Mopani area KNP
(106/3) Steppe Buzzard, Buteo vulpinus, Steppevåge
4/12: KNP
(104/2) Jackal Buzzard, Buteo rufofuscus, Sjakalvåge
6/12: 1 BRC
(100/1) Verreaux's Eagle, Aquila verreauxii, Sort Ørn
1/12: 2 (ad. + juv.) Ratlhogo Hide PNP
(100/2) Martial Eagle, Polemaetus bellicosus, Kampørn
3/12: 1 Phalaborwa-Mopani KNP, 4/12: 1 KNP, 5/12: 1 Olifants River KNP
(136/2) Swainson's Spurfowl (Francolin), Pternistes swainsonii
PNP, KNP
(142/2) Helmeted Guineafowl, Numida meleagris, Perlehøne
Common PNP, KNP
(156/1) Kori Bustard, Ardeotis kori, Koritrappe
1/12: 1 PNP, 5/12: 6 (2 male + 4 female) Tropic of Capricorn Loop KNP
(160/1) Black-bellied Bustard (Korhaan), Eupodotis melanogaster, Sortbuget Trappe
4/12: 1 Mopani area KNP
Photo
Larger photo
(148/5) African Jacana, Actophilornis africanus, Afrikansk Bladhøne
4/12: 2 Shingwedzi River KNP
(162/4) Black-winged Stilt, Himantopus himantopus, Stylteløber
4/12: Shingwedzi River KNP, 5/12: 2 KNP
(164/1) Common Ringed Plover, Charadrius hiaticula, Stor Præstekrave
1/12: PNP, 4/12: 1 Shingwedzi River KNP
(164/3) Three-banded Plover, Charadrius tricollaris, Trebåndet Præstekrave
5/12: 3 Letaba River KNP
(170/5) Blacksmith Lapwing (Plover), Vanellus armatus, Broget Vibe
Common PNP, common KNP
(168/1) Crowned Lapwing (Plover), Vanellus coronatus, Kronvibe
1/12: 1 PNP
(180/3) Wood Sandpiper, Tringa glareola, Tinksmed
5/12: 1 Olifants River KNP
(180/1) Common Sandpiper, Actitis hypoleucos, Mudderklire
4/12: 1 Shingwedzi River KNP
(222/4) Laughing Dove, Streptopelia senegalensis, Senegaldue
Common PNP, common KNP
(222/3) Cape Turtle-Dove, Streptopelia capicola
Common PNP, KNP
(222/2) Red-eyed Dove, Streptopelia semitorquata, Rødøjet Skoggerdue
1/12: 1 Ratlhogo Hide PNP
(224/5) Namaqua Dove, Oena capensis, Namaquadue
4/12: 1 Mopani area KNP, 5/12: 2 Mopani area KNP
(230/6) Grey Go-away-bird (Lourie), Corythaixoides concolor, Grå Larmfugl
Common PNP, 4/12: Mopani Camp KNP, 7/12: 1 Pretoria
(234/2) Levaillant's (Striped) Cuckoo, Oxylophus levaillantii
4/12: Nwarihlangari KNP
(244/) Nightjar sp., Caprimulgus sp., Natravn sp.
4/12: 1 north of Mopani Camp KNP
(250/3) Little Swift, Apus affinis, Lille Sejler
30/11: Pretoria, PNP, KNP - the only swift we managed to identify
(252/5) Speckled Mousebird, Colius striatus
5/12: 3 Letaba Camp KNP
(256/1) Woodland Kingfisher, Halcyon senegalensis, Skovisfugl
4/12: 2 Shingwedzi River KNP, 5/12: 2 Letaba Camp KNP, 5/12: 2 Olifants River KNP
(254/1) Giant Kingfisher, Megaceryle maxima, Kæmpestødfisker
5/12: 1 Olifants River KNP
(254/2) Pied Kingfisher, Ceryle rudis, Gråfisker
1/12: PNP, 4/12: Common Shingwedzi River KNP, 5/12: 1 Letaba River KNP
(258/4) White-fronted Bee-eater, Merops bullockoides, Hvidpandet Biæder
5/12: 2 Olifants River KNP
(258/2) Blue-cheeked Bee-eater, Merops persicus, Grøn Biæder
1/12: 1 PNP
(258/1) European Bee-eater, Merops apiaster, Biæder
Common PNP
(260/1) Southern Carmine Bee-eater, Merops nubicoides, Sydlig Karminbiæder
30/11: 1 PNP
(262/3) European Roller, Coracias garrulus, Ellekrage
4/12: 1 Mopani area KNP
Photo
(262/1) Lilac-breasted Roller, Coracias caudata, Lillabrystet Ellekrage
1/12: 1 PNP, common KNP
(268/4) African Hoopoe, Upupa africana, Afrikansk Hærfugl
7/12: 1 Pretoria
(266/6) Red-billed Hornbill, Tockus erythrorhynchus, Rødnæbbet Toko
1/12: PNP
(266/5) Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill, Tockus leucomelas
Nickname: "Flying Banana"
Common PNP, KNP
Photo: 5/12 Satara Camp KNP
Larger photo
(266/4) African Grey Hornbill, Tockus nasutus, Grå Toko
5/12: 1 Olifants Camp KNP
(264/3) Trumpeter Hornbill, Bycanistes bucinator, Trompetérhornfugl
6/12: 1 BRC
(264/1) Southern Ground-Hornbill, Bucorvus leadbeateri
3/12: 3 Phalaborwa-Mopani KNP, 4/12: 1 KNP, 5/12: 1 KNP
(272/3) Black-collared Barbet, Lybius torquatus
5/12: 1 Letaba Camp KNP
(272/5) Crested Barbet, Trachyphonus vaillantii, Toppet Perleskægfugl
30/11: 1 Pretoria, 1/12: 1 Bakgatla Camp PNP, 7/12: 1 Pretoria
(294/1) Barn (European) Swallow, Hirundo rustica, Landsvale
Abundant
(294/3) Wire-tailed Swallow, Hirundo smithii, Trådhalesvale
5/12: 1 Letaba River KNP
(292/5) Greater Striped Swallow, Hirundo cucullata
1/12: 2 PNP, 6/12: 2 BRC - the only red-rumped swallow we managed to identify
(298/5) Rock Martin, Hirundo fuligula, Bleg Klippesvale
6/12: BRC
(300/1) Fork-tailed Drongo, Dicrurus adsimilis, Gaffelhalet Drongo
5/12: 1 Letaba Camp KNP, 7/12: 1 Pretoria
(304/2) Pied Crow, Corvus albus, Broget Krage
1/12: Bakgatla Camp PNP, 7/12: BRC-Pretoria
(308/1) Arrow-marked Babbler, Turdoides jardineii, Plettet Larmdrossel
4/12: Nwarihlangari KNP
(310/3) Dark-capped (Blackeyed) Bulbul, Pycnonotus tricolor
Abundant
(316/1) Cape Rock-Thrush, Monticola rupestris, Kapstendrossel
6/12: 1 BRC
(314/4) Kurrichane Thrush, Turdus libonyanus, Kurrichanedrossel
2/12: 2 ad. feeding 1 imm. Bakgatla Camp PNP, 5/12: Letaba Camp KNP
(314/3) Olive Thrush, Turdus olivaceus, Olivendrossel
6/12: 1 BRC
(314/2) Karoo Thrush, Turdus smithi
30/11: 1 Pretoria
(318/1) Familiar Chat, Cercomela familiaris
6/12: BRC
(324/2) Red-capped Robin-Chat (Natal Robin), Cossypha natalensis
6/12: 1 BRC
(322/3) Mocking Cliff-Chat, Thamnolaea cinnamomeiventris
6/12: 1 BRC
(356/5) African Paradise-Flycatcher, Terpsiphone viridis, Afrikansk Paradisfluesnapper
1 female PNP
(340/7) Grey-backed Camaroptera (Bleating Warbler), Camaroptera brevicaudata
5/12: 1 Letaba Camp KNP
Video frame
(360/2) Cape Batis, Batis capensis, Kapbatis
6/12: 1 BRC
(362/1) Cape Wagtail, Motacilla capensis, Kapvipstjert
30/11: 2 PNP, 2/12: 1 Bakgatla Camp PNP, 6/12: 2 BRC
(372/4) Red-backed Shrike, Lanius collurio, Rødrygget Tornskade
4/12: 1 Shingwedzi River KNP
(372/2) Magpie (African Long-tailed) Shrike, Corvinella melanoleuca
Common KNP
(382/5) Red-winged Starling, Onychognathus morio, Rødvinget Sortstær
Common PNP, KNP, 6/12: BRC
(380/2) Cape Glossy Starling, Lamprotornis nitens
Common PNP, KNP
(380/1) Greater Blue-eared Starling, Lamprotornis chalybaeus, Blåøret Glansstær
KNP
(384/1) Common (Indian) Myna, Acridotheres tristis, Almindelig Mynah
30/11: Pretoria, 1/12: Bakgatla Camp PNP, 7/12: Pretoria
(384/5) Red-billed Oxpecker, Buphagus erythrorhynchus, Rødnæbbet Oksehakker
5/12: 5 Letaba-Olifants KNP
(392/1) Greater Double-collared Sunbird, Cinnyris afra, Stor Halsbåndsolfugl
6/12: 2 (male + female) BRC
(358/5) Cape White-eye, Zosterops virens
1/12: 3 Bakgatla Camp PNP, 6/12: BRC
(394/2) House Sparrow, Passer domesticus, Gråspurv
1/12: Bakgatla Camp PNP, 7/12: Pretoria
(394/3) Cape Sparrow, Passer melanurus, Kapspurv
1/12: 2 (male + female) Bakgatla Camp PNP
(394/6) Southern Grey-headed Sparrow, Passer diffusus
1/12: 1 Bakgatla Camp PNP
(396/1) Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver, Bubalornis niger, Rødnæbbet Bøffelvæver
4/12: 3 Nshawu KNP
(398/2) Southern Masked-Weaver, Ploceus velatus, Sydlig Maskevæver
Common Bakgatla Camp PNP, KNP
(402/1) Red-billed Quelea, Quelea quelea, Blodnæbsvæver
4/12: ~20 Nshawu KNP
(402/4) Southern Red Bishop, Euplectes orix
7/12: BRC-Pretoria
(406/1) Pin-tailed Whydah, Vidua macroura, Dominikanerenke
6/12: 1 male BRC - the only whydah/widowbird we managed to identify
(424/4) Cinnamon-breasted (Rock) Bunting, Emberiza tahapisi
4/12: 1 Nshawu KNP