A Tropical Birding SET DEPARTURE tour South Africa ... · Tropical Birding - Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger, September 2019 +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]

Tropical Birding - Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger, September 2019

www.tropicalbirding.com +1-409-515-9110 [email protected] p.1

A Tropical Birding SET DEPARTURE tour

South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger

5-22 September 2019

Eastern endemics and Drakensberg Extension

22-28 September 2019

TOUR LEADER: Crammy Wanyama

Report and photos by Crammy Wanyama

Malachite Sunbird see at a few locations

Despite the continued drought that has hit South Africa and the fires that are both controlled and wild, we managed to have a fantastic trip. The conditions made finding birds a little harder, but we did very well with most of our targets. The results for the main tour were incredibly impressive from the Cape to the

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mountainous forests of Wilderness, to the much drier but clear-skied Karoo and the Guetang and Mpumalanga provinces that we visited. Wakkerstroom’s grasslands and Kruger’s wooded habitats in Mpumalanga, although dry, presented a whole lot of birds that delighted our greedy eyes. The extension to the more greener and forested Kwazulu-Natal treated us to its range restricted forest species that we so desired to see. We enjoyed an excellent mammal experience and magnificent scenery that this vast country offers. Photography for the casual photographers among the group was great, and we had a clean sweep on highly desired families like rockjumpers, turacos, and others, before returning home with over 480 species of birds for the entire trip. Day 1 - September 6, 2019: Birding Kirstenbosch Botanical Gardens By September 6, we had every participant of the tour in Cape Town. It was nice outside, with pleasant birding weather. We decided to start in the afternoon with the botanical gardens to collect a few endemics and see one of the most significant botany collections in the world. Sightings of the magnificent Southern Double-collared Sunbird and a roosting pair of Spotted Eagle-Owl at the beginning qualified our start as “fancy”.

Spotted Eagle-Owl were among the first birds we saw on our first day.



We covered the facility’s well-attended microhabitats in search for species that would favor particular spots. The Cape Robin-Chat, Sombre Greenbul, Cape White-eye, Cape Bulbul, and Olive Thrush showed up at several spots, the Southern Boubou skittishly fed in the thick cover. We also had great looks at very well sun-lit Common Waxbills. The African waxbill species have brilliant colours; all that is needed at a sighting is perfect lighting. We saw the Cape Batis and a pair of Lemon Doves feeding in the thicker forest grounds; this is typical of this dove species. We explored the proteas and the surroundings and got more endemics among which the extremely long-tailed Cape Sugarbird, Malachite and Orange-breasted Sunbirds, Forest Canary, Cape Francolin and Cape Canary showed up very well. The sky gave us quick looks at Cape Town’s widely spread Red-winged Starlings, Rameron Pigeons, Red-eyed Dove and a pair of Cape Crows. Quite a lengthy list of birds for a simple afternoon walk. We returned to our accommodation, and after a few minutes, we visited a nearby restaurant and enjoyed very fresh seafood that was swimming earlier in the day. The team tried enjoyed wines in the world’s wine capital.

Brilliant views of female and male Cape Sugarbirds

Day 2 – September 7, 2019: Pelagic Trip and Birding the Southern Part of the Peninsular The weather forecasts reported excellent conditions for this day; sunny with tolerable temperatures. The Pelagic trip went, and the results on return were awe-inspiring. With the remaining team, we visited Boulder’s Beach and got a pleasant experience with the all-year resident African Penguins. We proceeded to the Table Mountains National Park, where we visited the Cape Point, and the Cape of Good Hope which happens to be the furthest South-western point on the African Continent. We scanned the nearby and far away rocks and over the Ocean and saw African Black Oystercatcher, four species of Cormorants; Cape, Crowned, Great and a few Bank. A few Cape Gannet also showed up, Swift Tern and Common Ostrich walking through the fynbos.



Male Cape Sugarbird

We connected with our Pelagic team and headed for the False Bay Nature Reserve. The sewage ponds complex here is a perfect birding habitat that attracts a couple of grassland and shower birds. A birding drive here sees a surprisingly good percentage of South African Duck species and 50% of the continent’s flamingo species. While entering the reserve, we saw Zitting and Levaillant’s Cisticolas, Cape Longclaw, Ring-necked Dove, Greater Flamingo, and three species of Ibis; Hadada, Sacred and Glossy. We saw Cape Shoveller, Cape and Hottentot Teals, Red-billed, Yellow-billed and Maccoa Ducks, Southern Pochard, South African Shellduck, Spur-winged Goose, Red-knobbed Coot, Eurasian Moorhen, African Swamphen, Pied Avocet, Black-winged Stilt, our first Common Greenshank, Little and Eared Grebe, Great White Pelican, White Stork, and African Marsh Harrier and so much more. Day 3 – September 8, 2019: Birding West Coast National Park and the Surroundings An early morning start saw us to the mountains that are northeast past West Cape National Park. In the windy weather, we managed to find most of our targets. The few stops we did, brought a couple of birds that are easier in this part of the country and challenging in other parts that the tour covers. We saw a few widespread birds this morning that included South Africa’s National bird; the Blue Crane, the very vocal Bokmakierie, Fiscal Flycatcher and Southern Fiscal. For the birds of prey, we got excellent views of Jackle Buzzard, Black Kite, Black-winged Kite, Rock Kestrel, Pale Chanting Goshawk and the Vulnerable Black Harrier. We did an excellent job finding a few small brown birds that some birders like to refer to as little brown jobs and they included; Grey-backed Sparrow-Lark, Capped Wheatear, Lark-like Bunting, Chestnut-vented Warbler, African Hoopoe, Large-billed, Red-capped, Cape Clapper and Cape Larks. In the mountains, we found Protea Canary, Cape Grassbird, Red-backed Cisticola, Orange-breasted Sunbird and very nicely observed Cape Rock Hyrax.



Southern Double-collared Sunbird

After delicious fresh seafood lunch at Langebaan, we proceeded to the West Coast National Park. The park’s looked great, with a very well-vegetated habitat all around and our visits to the bird hides and on the drives, we were able to see Arctic, Common, Sandwich, Swift and Caspian Terns and Lesser Flamingo. A single Little Stint was feeding close to three Curlew Sandpipers and a few White-fronted Plovers. Through the bushes, we saw Bar-throated Apalis, Southern Penduline Tit a guide only Cloud Cisticola view and Black Bustard among others. Day 4 – September 9, 2019: Birding to Gordon’s Bay This morning saw us off towards the east, getting to Harold Porter Botanical Gardens and beautiful surrounding birding spots. Some of the targets today included endemics like the Cape Siskin which we saw very nicely on the ground in a less than 4 metres reach, Alpine and White-rumped Swifts, Verreaux’s Eagle and Familiar Chat. In the effort to find the Cape Rockjumper, we only managed to hear them calling but got views of the Ground Woodpecker and Victorin’s warbler that would require a better.



Cape Rock Hyrax

Day 5 – September 10, 2019: Birding De Hoop National Park to Bontebok NP and Surroundings

Grey-winged Francolin at De Hoop National Park



Daylight caught up with us in the Agulhas Plains where we scanned the fields for new birds among which some individuals we had seen earlier. After a proper breakfast at Bredasdorp, we scanned the bushes and the fields for ground-dwellers. The Southern Red Bishop breeding colonies and Klaas’s Cuckoo were among our first sightings. The Agulhas Long-billed Lark was easy to find as they fed and patched on ground and farm fence poles. We god great looks at hundreds of African and a few Long-billed Pipits, three deferent sightings of displaying Denham’s Bustards, Cloud Cisticola, a very nice Martial Eagle that was drinking at one of the farm and two skittish Grey-winged Francolins. When we arrived at De Hoop National Park, the Bontebok Antelope that had at one point been near extinction, was the first mammal we saw. Our drive around the park was suitable for four individuals of the Southern Tchagra. On heading to our accommodation we got two sightings of paired Karoo Bustards, these, we had struggled to find earlier.

Denham’s Bustard at Agulhas Plains

Day 6 – September 11, 2019: Birding to Wilderness after a Beautiful Morning Drive at Bontebok NP Our visit to Bontebok targeted a subspecies of Cape Lark, and yes, we did get great views of displaying individuals, which followed much hope right from the entrance into the park, three individuals were calling. We visited a viewing point behind whose deck was a nesting pair of Olive Woodpecker. We scanned down the river and found a Three-banded Plover flying in; usually, this species blends nicely within its feeding habitat, so seeing it fly in, made things a lot easy. At the same spot, we struggled to get beautiful views of the Olive Bush-shrike. The nearby thickets and fields, showed us Denham’s Bustard for the second day during the tour and our Mammal list grew with Hartebeast, Cape grysbok and a pair of African Bush Elephants on the way to Wilderness.



On arrival to our place at Wilderness, we added the beautiful Knysna Turaco, Swee Waxbill, Streaky-headed Seed-eater, Chorister Robin-Chat, Grey and Amythest Sunbirds, among others right in the gardens of our accommodation.

Forest Canary seen at Kirstenbosch and Wilderness

Day 7 – September 12, 2019: Birding Garden Route National Park Our prime habitats here were afro-montane forest and a few inland lakes; forest birding anywhere requires the best weather if birding is to be great. The weather forecasts the night before were not promising good results, and we experienced a little challenge. The forest interior was pretty dark, but that did not de-rail my very determined team that kept scanning every slightest movement in the vines. Interestingly, our first sighting in the forest was a big-time skulker; Knysna Warbler which we managed to locate by call and got stunning views through tangles of course. When we were birding the Half-collared Kingfisher trail, we looked for the African Finfoot. We never found one but got good looks at African Black-headed Oriole, Green Wood-hoopoe, Knysna Woodpecker, African Dusky Flycatcher, Grey Cuckoo-shrike and Terrestrial Brownbul that were feeding on the forest flow. The Big Tree trail was another amazing trail that we covered and added the canopy loving Yellow-throated Woodland Warbler, which is a very tiny restless old-world warbler.



Knysna Turaco

We smartly utilised the rainy moments by visiting the lakes where the birds would still be active. The lakes got us sorted for several of our ducks including a single Maccoa that was with Southern Porchards and a very distant White-backed Duck. While covering them we got three Kingfisher species for the day, starting with the Giant Kingfisher which is the largest of them, Pied and Malachite. A magnificent African Fish Eagle showed up flying by and also had brief looks at a well breeding-plumaged African Paradise Flycatcher. These were a lot of good birds for a day that did not have the most excellent weather. Day 8 – September 13, 2019: Birding to Karoo National Park via the Swartberg Pass Today we were headed for a complete habitat change, from the montane forest through the Swartberg Pass down to the much drier Karoo. This means a complete deferent quality of birds and other wildlife. Our early start led to right arrival timing at the very popular Swartberg Pass, a very scenic drive that leaves not only first-timers awed but also regular visitors. The rocks here are precious habitat for some of South Africa’s endemics, among which is the Cape Rockjumper which is one of the only two currently known members of this bird family. A few stops that we made before seeing the day’s significant targets brought a Protea Canary, Southern Tchagra, Orange-breasted Sunbird, Cape Siskin, Alpine Swift and a few others all of which we had seen earlier. We got good looks at the big-sized Cape Rock-Thrush, the short-tailed Sentinel Rock-Thrush and three individual of the very territorial Cape Rock Jumper, the later despite being a magnificent bird, it was high on the want list of some of the members.



Cape Rockjumper at Swartberg Pass

Protea Canary can be tough to find sometimes



We approached the Karoo and enjoyed the regions fresh and highly celebrated free-range Karoo Lamb before heading to the park. The beautiful dry country here, rocky grounds with scrub and bushes brilliantly host Karoo Scrub-Robin, Fairly Flycatcher, Karoo and Sickle-winged Chats, White-throated Canary, Mountain Wheatear, Dusky Sunbird and Yellow-throated Petronia. We were delighted to observe them nicely. Day 9 – September 14, 2019: Birding Karoo National Park It was full of day birding, and game viewing drives within the lovely and reddish-looking park. We scanned its small shrubs, looked around the rocks, watched through the Acacia bushes, overhead into the skies and for as much as we could look into the mountains. Although it is a semi-arid area, we experienced reasonably beautiful birding weather; hot days can mean tough birding here. The Karoo Long-billed Lark was one of the prime targets at the early start, and yes we got it. The other Lark species we saw included the uncommon Sclater’s and Spike-healed Larks. Other new birds we saw included; Ludwig’s Bustard, Greater Kestrel, one Perigrine Falcon that was on the ground by a human-made pond scheming for easy prey, Namaqua Sandgrouse, Namaqua Warbler, White-throated and Black-headed Canary. We also got exceptional views of Layard’s Warbler, Tractrac Chat, Chat Flycatcher, Southern Anti-eater Chat, and at vast rocky and mountainous areas we got our Pale-winged Starlings.

A very nice Layard’s Warbler at Karoo

Day 10 – September 15, 2019: Transfer to Cape Town for Johannesburg After a whole amazing ten days around the Cape, we had to transfer and explore the other glowing areas of this gifted country. We started early and visited a few planned birding stops within the Karoo habitat that we saw for the last time on the tour. Our new species for the day was the Karoo Thrush which we found around a moist habitat in the farming areas. We then flew into Johannesburg for a single night stay in preparation for the next day’s activities.



Great views of Orange River Francolin on the way to Wakkerstroom

Day 11 – September 16, 2019: Birding to Wakkerstroom This morning, we visited Suikerbosrand Nature Reserve’s grassy habitats. At Suikerbosrand, we were delighted to nicely see the skittish Orange River Francolin among the first birds. A male came close and offered us plenty of observation time. We continued birding the stretch and found Black-chested Prinia, Wailing and Wing-snapping Cisticolas, a reasonably big flock of Zebra Waxbills, African Quail-finch, Swainson’s Francolin and our fist Plain-backed Pipit. We proceeded to our hotel for check-in and enjoyed a nice warm lunch. The chef here made some of the best Lamb Chops, fries and vegetables throughout the trip. In the afternoon, we visited the surrounding marshes and grasslands where we found African Snipe, Black Crake, Red-throated Wryneck, Wahlberg’s Honeyguide and also saw a lovely pair of Lazy Cisticolas. In the marshes, we heard Red-chested Flufftails, although we did not successfully pull them out. Day 12 – September 17, 2019: Birding Wakkerstroom Wakkerstroom is one of South Africa’s most top birding destinations. The habitats here are montane grasslands and wetlands with a few wooded habitats down the mountain slopes. These unique habitats attract a bunch for breeding birds among which some are highly restricted range endemics. We explored these from morning to sunset, focusing on the most restricted range endemics. The marsh was suitable for some widely spread species like African Rail, Black Crake, African Snipe, Common Squacco Heron and the migratory Wood Sandpiper.



A flock of Zebra Waxbills presented good photography opportunities

The endemic Botha’s Lark



White-bellied Bustard

We found the Eastern Long-billed Lark, Buff-streaked Chat, Drakensberg Prinia, the tough African Rock Pipit and a total of six Secretary Birds. We saw Botha’s and Rudd’s Larks which are both restricted range endemics, Southern Bald Ibis, White-bellied Bustard, Cinnamon-breasted Bunting and the African Harrier-Hawk. Day 13 – September 18, 2019: Birding to Kruger On the day, we transferred to one of the worlds top-notch wildlife parks, Kruger does not have so many matches, to be honest. A diversely habituated large park with the big and small game to an outstanding bird list record. The drive there was very birdy, although we did not stop much, we had a plan to get there and start adding woodland species along with its sky loving species to our list. It is a norm on our tours that we add birds along the way regardless of the hurry and any other possible challenges. So, we got a Rufous-breasted Sparrow-hawk, a pair Red-winged Francolins, Northern Black Flycatcher and a Bateleur. The Bateleur is a short-tailed Eagle with fascinating flight behaviour. When we approached the park, birding took a toll; we got Southern Yellow-billed and Northern Red-billed Hornbills, Rufous-crowned Roller, Crested Barbet, a Bearded Woodpecker that was flushed by the colourful Lilac-breasted Roller.



Common Waxbill

We had our lunch at Skukuza Rest Camp, and if one has been here, it is good to learn that it is still as birdy as before! We dined with Greater Blue-eared Starlings, African Green Pigeon, Brown-headed Parrots, African Pied Wagtail, White-breasted Sunbird, Water Thick-Knee, Common Sandpiper, Common Bulbul, White-fronted Bee-eater, Wire-tailed Swallow and African Fish-Eagle. Our mammal list took a great twist toward the positive side with both Blue and Black Wilderbeasts, a pride of six Lions, Common Warthog, African Buffalo, several matriarchal hards of African Bush Elephants, Giraffes and Common Zebra among others. We also found and saw the vocal Arrow-marked Barbers, Magpie Shrikes, White Helmet Shrikes and White-backed Vulture. Day 14 – September 19, 2019: Birding Kruger National Park We started the morning with a walk around our rest camp, this walk, besides being full of birds, impressive mammals like the Honeyburger can also be expected. Although we looked for one, our mission was not successful! So, around the cabins and the nearby thickets, we collected a whole bunch of this location’s birds. We saw Southern Red-billed, Southern Yellow-billed and African Grey Hornbills. We got another look at the Terrestrial Brownbul, Mariqua and White-bellied Sunbirds. We found one Sulphur-breasted Bush-shrike which we found following its “coffee or tea” call, Greater Blue-eared Starlings, Brubru, Cape Crombec, Red-headed and Lesser Masked Weavers and a very lovely Yellow-breasted Apalis. We had our very bird-full breakfast from the restaurant’s outside seating and easily photographed Arrow-marked Babblers and Crested Barbets before checking out.



Brown-hooded Kingfisher

Driving out of the campsite, we added the well patterned White-throated Robin-Chat, and along with the game drives, we did several stops to scan and observed the skies. Our efforts paid off with both Black-crowned and Brown-crowned Tchagras, Green-winged Pytilia, Jameson’s Firefinch, Kori and Red-crested Bustards, Sabota Lark and Red-backed Scrub-Robin. Being very dry, most of the Ploceus species were on full non-breeding plumage.

Red-throated Wryneck



However, we managed to pull out a few of them nicely, and the Long-tailed Paradise-Whydah was one of those that mixed up with Red-billed Queleas, we saw Blue Waxbills and Golden-breasted Bunting among several other finches. We found a very small kill at one point, and this attracted a pair of the massive Lapped-faced, White-headed and several White-backed Vultures.

We enjoyed great views of Orange-breasted Sunbird from the first day of the tour

Day 15 – September 20, 2019: Another day of Exploring Kruger National Park The previous day had confirmed extremely productive birding around the gardens, in the early morning hours, we took on it for this day too. Honestly, we were not disappointed at all; the birds called everywhere and flew from every angle. Right by our thicket-surrounded rooms, the White-browed Robin-Chat sang all morning. We looked for them and saw all the beauty bestowed in them. We saw a Diederik Cuckoo, Red-collared Barbet, Collared and Scarlet-chested Sunbirds, a couple of the colourful Purple-crested Turaco, African Green Pigeon, Spectacled Weaver as a new weaver for the trip. Later we went for breakfast from which we saw Brown-headed Parrots, Common Scimitarbill and Green Wood-hoopoe by a mere turning of the neck. Our game drive along the Sabie River was full of mammals, including a pride of 9 Lions and very rewarding for the birds. At one spot we got three of the Firefinch species possible on this tour, African, Red-billed and Jameson’s Firefinch, Shaft-tailed Paradise-Whydah, Southern Black Tit, two Burnt-necked Eremomela, Pearl-spotted Owlet, Hooded Vultures, Great Egret, Striated Heron, a skittish Juvenile African Jacana, Hamerkop, one very distant Black Cuckoo-shrike and Brown-hooded and Giant Kingfishers. These and several others were before lunch. The afternoon session saw several of the birds we had seen earlier and only added Red-faced Cisticola to our list.



Cape Francolin

Day 16 – September 21, 2019: Birding to Johannesburg to End the Main Tour Even after a whole three nights stay in Kruger, it felt like we would spend a whole week in this much wildlife endowed African Park. We left Kruger before breakfast and drove to Hazyview, where we enjoyed a very proper breakfast and a few birds in and around the gardens. The Karuchane Thrush and the nicely-plumaged Ground Scraper Thrush, the Village Weavers, were seen working on nesting material from the palm trees in the garden and a Golden-tailed Woodpecker showed up very nicely while trying to pick a larva out of the tree back. At the same location, we heard Lizard Buzzard and Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird calling. We continued to Johannesburg, and after checking in to our accommodation facility, we headed north to Zaagkuildrift, which is at the edge of the Kalahari. It was a lot drier than expected when we got here, but we were able to get a few of the expected specialities. On the way there, a Black-breasted Snake-Eagle attracted us, and we pulled over to enjoy great flight views. At the final point, we saw the White-quilled Bustard, Southern Pied Babbler, Kalahari Scrub-Robin, Black-chested Prinia, Shikra, Knob-billed Duck, among other birds. Day 17 – September 22, 2019: Birding to uMkhuze Game Reserve With the group smaller now, we set off early and went back to Suikerbosrand. Looking at the habitat condition and how the Eastern Clapper Lark had been behaving recently, we counted on a 20% chance. It is a good bird worth trying even at 5% chances. With less hard luck for the Lark, we proceeded to Marievale Bird Sanctuary. Marievale is an excellent location for shorebirds birds. The bird hides we visited gave us some of the most exceptional Ducks photography opportunities and the paths were also fantastic. Our new birds included



the Fulvous Whistling-Duck, Whiskered Tern, several Ruff individuals, much better Hottentot Teal views and the Intermediate Egret. We proceeded to uMkhuze arriving in the evening and catching up with our first Stripped Kingfisher at the Park entrance.

We saw up to nine Secretary Bird individuals

Day 18 – September 23, 2019: Birding Mkhuze and Transfer to St. Lucia This park is famous for its “African Big Five” that mammal viewers treasure so much. Furthermore, for the birders, It has an unbeatable match of specials of southern Mozambique. Like several other places, the drought was evident here. The fires had done incredible coverage within the park, and this made birding a little hard. The good news is, we looked for birds and yes we found a number of them. We started with a walk around Mantuma Rest Camp and a drive through the park’s well-maintained roads to the well-tended bird hides. The efforts rewarded us with Bearded Scrub-Robin, Purple-banded and Neergaard’s Sunbirds, Crowned and Trumpeter Hornbills, Black-bellied Starling, Croaking Cisticola, Crested Guineafowl, Yellow-throated Petronia, Grey Tit-Flycatcher, Red-fronted Tinkerbird, African Jacana, Yellow-throated Canary, Tambourine Dove, Square-tailed Drongo, Rudd’s Apalis, and many more. We continued to the more vegetated St. Lucia, where we had our lunch before checking-in before checking in. We visited Gwalagwala trail of the touristic St. Lucia town and also birded around our hotel’s flowering tree. These two spots added Olive Sunbird, White-eared Barbet, Holub’s Golden, Forest and Thick-billed Weavers, Yellowbill, Red-capped Robin-Chat and the gorgeous Livingstone’s Turaco to our list. After dinner, we decided to end our day with an African Wood-owl on the same drive that targeted the Square-tailed and Swamp Nightjars. Back to our hotel, a Greater Galago awaited our return.



African Golden Weaver

Day 19 – September 24, 2019: Birding St. Lucia and the surround Before transferring to Eshowe With some coffee, we headed to the St. Lucia Estuary, to catch up with a few more shower birds. Although it was not as productive as expected, we managed to find a few Sanderling individuals, a single Lesser Sand Plover, Common Ringed Plover, White-faced Whistling Ducks and Southern Brown-throated Weavers while they worked on their nests. We went back to the Gwalagwala forest trail, with hopes of bettering some of the previous day’s views and ended up with brilliant views of a Brown Scrub-Robin. We proceeded to the Crocodile Park that is within iSimangaliso Wetland Park and saw the Fasciated Snake-Eagle, Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird and the Red-chested Cuckoo. When we got to Eshowe Isimangaliso, we visited the sacred Dlinza forest, one of the prime forest specialty host of the Zulu land birds. Here, most of our targets like Narina Trogon, Delgorgue’s Pigeon, Scaly-throated Honeyguide and Spotted Ground-Thrush called all the time but eluded us. Spectacular observations of the Green Twinspot and Lemon Dove were a high mode of compensation.



Lemon Dove

Day 20 – September 25, 2019: Birding Zulu Land This part of the country is a lot more green and very attractive in its way and home to some extremely restricted-range species. Although it is such a treasurable location, our birding was not the best on this day! The weather was extremely unwelcoming! The weather changed every less than ten minutes, rain, high-speed wind and a few sunspots for less than five minutes! We visited Ongoye Forest Reserve, which is the only host location for the Green Barbet in the whole of Southern Africa. After a walk around the open areas that did not pay well, we decided to return to Dlinza Forest. At Dlinza, things bettered a little with a small mixed flock that brought about Olive Bush-shrike, Forest Weaver, Golden-tailed Woodpecker, Black Cuckoo-shrike, African Emerald Cuckoo and a few others. Other birds from and around these two forested habitats included Green Twinspot, Trumpeter Hornbill, Delegorgue’s Pigeon, Collared Sunbird, Chorister Robin-Chat among others. We also visited Umlalazi Nature Reserve and looked for Black-throated Wattle-eye and Palm-nut Vulture that did not show up. Day 21 – September 26, 2019: Birding to Underberg A bright morning like for today was something we needed. We headed back to Dlinza and bettered our looks at the Delegorgue’s Pigeon and got our only views of the Narina Trogon and also worked hard for the Scaly-throated Honeyguide. We saw three individuals of this Honeyguide. After a pleasant birding walk and a lovely breakfast, we went on the road to Underberg scanning fields for Grey-crowned and Wattled Cranes, both species we saw quite well. At Underberg, we scouted its grasslands and streams looking for Pale-crowned Cisticola and got the Half-collared Kingfisher hunting by one of the streams. Three raptors, African Fish Eagle, Peregrin Falcon and Wahlberg’s Eagles showed up.



Cape Canary

Day 22 – September 27, 2019: Birding Sani Pass Our tour continued to the Sani Pass, the most scenic drives in this region. The weather was way much more beautiful than expected; Except for being dry like most of the places we had covered, San Pass was bright, sunny with no winds. We were able to get our targets including the first Mountain Pipit for the season, Bearded Vulture nesting at a distance, the Southern Grey Tit that had eluded us earlier and up to five Drakensburg Rockjumper individuals. The Rockjumper is a regional endemic and a primary target for this extension. The Gurney’s Sugarbirds were not here! More birds like a pair of Barn Owls, Barratt’s Warbler, African Black Duck, African Yellow Warbler, and the endemic Drakensberg Siskin all added to our list. It was a perfect day in brief. Day 23 – September 28, 2019: Birding Marutswa Forest, Sappi Stanger and to Durban We decided to end the trip simply and nicely by carefully choosing the last spots to visit for finding new good birds and also better views of some seen earlier. Marutswa Forest and Sappi Stanger bird hide were the spots of the day. At Marutswa forest, before the walk, one flowering tree attracted a bunch of sunbirds; Amethyst, Collared, and Greater Double-collared, the Forest Canary that we had seen at Kastenbousch Botanical Gardens and Wilderness also joined the party. We spent a few minutes here, eating our packed breakfast before heading into the forest. We hoped to find the Bush Blackcap here, so we made several attempts to find one in vain! Along the trail, we looked out for the Orange Ground-Thrush and found it by following its song. After spectacular observations of the beautiful Orange Ground-Thrush, we walked ahead looking for Cape Parrots.



Purple-crested Turaco

Livingston’s Turaco during Gwalagwala trail walk

When the parrots are calling, finding them becomes more natural. For the first session of our walk, they were silent, and suddenly they started to communicate. A pair flew in and gave us spectacular sun-lit views of an endangered bird. Less than six hundred individual of this magnificent species remains out in the wild as a result of petting, breeding habitat loss and other factors.



We proceeded to Durban to catch up with departure flights for some members and a trip to Sappi Stanger. A very well-tended to bird hide is in a perfect position to see a couple of shorebirds on a good day like the one we had. We bettered our views of the Knob-billed Duck and the Kittlitz’s Plovers. Several shorebirds dominated by Ruff, Little Stint and Common Sandpiper, White-faced Whistling Duck, Water Thick-Knee, Splendid views of breeding male Fan-tailed Widowbird and not to mention the last but least group of Pectoral Sandpipers that are a Vagrant sighting with in the area. We headed to Durban to mark the end of a fantastic birding and nature trip.

BIRD LIST The taxonomy of the bird list follows eBird/Clements (available here: http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/) H=Heard only, G=seen by guide only

STRUTHIONIFORMES: Struthionidae

Common Ostrich Struthio camelus

ANSERIFORMES: Anatidae

White-faced Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna viduata Fulvous Whistling-Duck Dendrocygna bicolor White-backed Duck Thalassornis leuconotus Knob-billed Duck Sarkidiornis melanotos Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca South African Shelduck Tadorna cana Spur-winged Goose Plectropterus gambensis Hottentot Teal Spatula hottentota Cape Shoveler Spatula smithii African Black Duck Anas sparsa Yellow-billed Duck Anas undulata Cape Teal Anas capensis Red-billed Duck Anas erythrorhyncha Southern Pochard Netta erythrophthalma Maccoa Duck Oxyura maccoa

GALLIFORMES: Numididae

Helmeted Guineafowl Numida meleagris

http://www.birds.cornell.edu/clementschecklist/download/



Crested Guineafowl Guttera pucherani

GALLIFORMES: Phasianidae

Cape Francolin Pternistis capensis Natal Francolin Pternistis natalensis Swainson's Francolin Pternistis swainsonii Red-necked Francolin Pternistis afer Crested Francolin Dendroperdix sephaena Red-winged Francolin Scleroptila levaillantii Orange River Francolin Scleroptila gutturalis Gray-winged Francolin Scleroptila afra

PHOENICOPTERIFORMES: Phoenicopteridae

Greater Flamingo Phoenicopterus roseus Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor

PODICIPEDIFORMES: Podicipedidae

Little Grebe Tachybaptus ruficollis Great Crested Grebe Podiceps cristatus Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis

COLUMBIFORMES: Columbidae

Rock Pigeon Columba livia Speckled Pigeon Columba guinea Rameron Pigeon Columba arquatrix Delegorgue's Pigeon Columba delegorguei Lemon Dove Columba larvata Mourning Collared-Dove Streptopelia decipiens Red-eyed Dove Streptopelia semitorquata Ring-necked Dove Streptopelia capicola Laughing Dove Streptopelia senegalensis Emerald-spotted Wood-Dove Turtur chalcospilos Tambourine Dove Turtur tympanistria Namaqua Dove Oena capensis African Green-Pigeon Treron calvus



PTEROCLIFORMES: Pteroclidae

Namaqua Sandgrouse Pterocles namaqua

OTIDIFORMES: Otididae

Kori Bustard Ardeotis kori Ludwig's Bustard Neotis ludwigii Denham's Bustard Neotis denhami White-bellied Bustard Eupodotis senegalensis Karoo Bustard Eupodotis vigorsii Red-crested Bustard Eupodotis ruficrista Black Bustard Eupodotis afra White-quilled Bustard Eupodotis afraoides

MUSOPHAGIFORMES: Musophagidae

Livingstone's Turaco Tauraco livingstonii Knysna Turaco Tauraco corythaix Purple-crested Turaco Tauraco porphyreolophus Gray Go-away-bird Corythaixoides concolor

CUCULIFORMES: Cuculidae

White-browed Coucal Centropus superciliosus Green Malkoha Ceuthmochares australis Dideric Cuckoo Chrysococcyx caprius Klaas's Cuckoo Chrysococcyx klaas African Emerald Cuckoo Chrysococcyx cupreus Red-chested Cuckoo Cuculus solitarius

CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Caprimulgidae

Fiery-necked Nightjar Caprimulgus pectoralis

CAPRIMULGIFORMES: Apodidae

Alpine Swift Apus melba African Swift Apus barbatus Little Swift Apus affinis



Horus Swift Apus horus White-rumped Swift Apus caffer African Palm-Swift Cypsiurus parvus

GRUIFORMES: Sarothruridae

Red-chested Flufftail Sarothrura rufa H

GRUIFORMES: Rallidae

African Rail Rallus caerulescens Eurasian Moorhen Gallinula chloropus Red-knobbed Coot Fulica cristata African Swamphen Porphyrio madagascariensis Black Crake Zapornia flavirostra

GRUIFORMES: Gruidae

Gray Crowned-Crane Balearica regulorum Blue Crane Anthropoides paradiseus Wattled Crane Bugeranus carunculatus

CHARADRIIFORMES: Burhinidae

Water Thick-knee Burhinus vermiculatus Spotted Thick-knee Burhinus capensis

CHARADRIIFORMES: Recurvirostridae

Black-winged Stilt Himantopus himantopus Pied Avocet Recurvirostra avosetta

CHARADRIIFORMES: Haematopodidae

African Oystercatcher Haematopus moquini

CHARADRIIFORMES: Charadriidae

Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola Blacksmith Lapwing Vanellus armatus Crowned Lapwing Vanellus coronatus Wattled Lapwing Vanellus senegallus



Lesser Sand-Plover Charadrius mongolus Kittlitz's Plover Charadrius pecuarius Common Ringed Plover Charadrius hiaticula Three-banded Plover Charadrius tricollaris White-fronted Plover Charadrius marginatus

CHARADRIIFORMES: Jacanidae

African Jacana Actophilornis africanus

CHARADRIIFORMES: Scolopacidae

Bar-tailed Godwit Limosa lapponica Ruff Calidris pugnax Curlew Sandpiper Calidris ferruginea Sanderling Calidris alba Little Stint Calidris minuta Pectoral Sandpiper Calidris melanotos African Snipe Gallinago nigripennis Common Sandpiper Actitis hypoleucos Common Greenshank Tringa nebularia Marsh Sandpiper Tringa stagnatilis Wood Sandpiper Tringa glareola

CHARADRIIFORMES: Glareolidae

Collared Pratincole Glareola pratincola

CHARADRIIFORMES: Stercorariidae

Brown Skua Stercorarius antarcticus

CHARADRIIFORMES: Laridae

Gray-hooded Gull Chroicocephalus cirrocephalus Hartlaub's Gull Chroicocephalus hartlaubii Kelp Gull Larus dominicanus Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia Whiskered Tern Chlidonias hybrida Common Tern Sterna hirundo



Arctic Tern Sterna paradisaea Great Crested Tern Thalasseus bergii Sandwich Tern Thalasseus sandvicensis

SPHENISCIFORMES: Spheniscidae

African Penguin Spheniscus demersus

PROCELLARIIFORMES: Diomedeidae

Yellow-nosed Albatross (Atlantic and ndian) Thalassarche chlororhynchos White-capped Albatross Thalassarche cauta Black-browed Albatross Thalassarche melanophris Royal Albatross Diomedea epomophora

PROCELLARIIFORMES: Procellariidae

Southern Giant-Petrel Macronectes giganteus Northern Giant-Petrel Macronectes halli Cape Petrel Daption capense White-chinned Petrel Procellaria aequinoctialis Great Shearwater Ardenna gravis Sooty Shearwater Ardenna grisea

CICONIIFORMES: Ciconiidae

Black Stork Ciconia nigra Woolly-necked Stork Ciconia episcopus White Stork Ciconia ciconia Saddle-billed Stork Ephippiorhynchus senegalensis Marabou Stork Leptoptilos crumenifer Yellow-billed Stork Mycteria ibis

SULIFORMES: Sulidae

Cape Gannet Morus capensis

SULIFORMES: Anhingidae

African Darter Anhinga rufa



SULIFORMES: Phalacrocoracidae

Long-tailed Cormorant Microcarbo africanus Crowned Cormorant Microcarbo coronatus Great Cormorant Phalacrocorax carbo Cape Cormorant Phalacrocorax capensis Bank Cormorant Phalacrocorax neglectus

PELECANIFORMES: Pelecanidae

Great White Pelican Pelecanus onocrotalus

PELECANIFORMES: Scopidae

Hamerkop Scopus umbretta

PELECANIFORMES: Ardeidae

Gray Heron Ardea cinerea Black-headed Heron Ardea melanocephala Goliath Heron Ardea goliath Purple Heron Ardea purpurea Great Egret Ardea alba Intermediate Egret Ardea intermedia Little Egret Egretta garzetta Black Heron Egretta ardesiaca Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis Squacco Heron Ardeola ralloides Striated Heron Butorides striata Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax

PELECANIFORMES: Threskiornithidae

Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus African Sacred Ibis Threskiornis aethiopicus Southern Bald Ibis Geronticus calvus Hadada Ibis Bostrychia hagedash African Spoonbill Platalea alba



ACCIPITRIFORMES: Sagittariidae

Secretarybird Sagittarius serpentarius

ACCIPITRIFORMES: Accipitridae

Black-winged Kite Elanus caeruleus African Harrier-Hawk Polyboroides typus Bearded Vulture Gypaetus barbatus White-headed Vulture Trigonoceps occipitalis Lappet-faced Vulture Torgos tracheliotos Hooded Vulture Necrosyrtes monachus White-backed Vulture Gyps africanus Cape Griffon Gyps coprotheres Bateleur Terathopius ecaudatus Black-chested Snake-Eagle Circaetus pectoralis Brown Snake-Eagle Circaetus cinereus Fasciated Snake-Eagle Circaetus fasciolatus Martial Eagle Polemaetus bellicosus Long-crested Eagle Lophaetus occipitalis Wahlberg's Eagle Hieraaetus wahlbergi Booted Eagle Hieraaetus pennatus Tawny Eagle Aquila rapax Verreaux's Eagle Aquila verreauxii African Hawk-Eagle Aquila spilogaster Lizard Buzzard Kaupifalco monogrammicus H

Pale Chanting-Goshawk Melierax canorus Gabar Goshawk Micronisus gabar African Marsh-Harrier Circus ranivorus Black Harrier Circus maurus African Goshawk Accipiter tachiro Shikra Accipiter badius Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk Accipiter rufiventris Black Goshawk Accipiter melanoleucus Black Kite Milvus migrans African Fish-Eagle Haliaeetus vocifer Common Buzzard Buteo buteo G



Jackal Buzzard Buteo rufofuscus

STRIGIFORMES: Tytonidae

Barn Owl Tyto alba

STRIGIFORMES: Strigidae

Cape Eagle-Owl Bubo capensis H

Spotted Eagle-Owl Bubo africanus Verreaux's Eagle-Owl Bubo lacteus Pearl-spotted Owlet Glaucidium perlatum African Wood-Owl Strix woodfordii

COLIIFORMES: Coliidae

Speckled Mousebird Colius striatus White-backed Mousebird Colius colius Red-faced Mousebird Urocolius indicus

TROGONIFORMES: Trogonidae

Narina Trogon Apaloderma narina

BUCEROTIFORMES: Upupidae

Eurasian Hoopoe Upupa epops

BUCEROTIFORMES: Phoeniculidae

Green Woodhoopoe Phoeniculus purpureus Common Scimitarbill Rhinopomastus cyanomelas

BUCEROTIFORMES: Bucorvidae

Southern Ground-Hornbill Bucorvus leadbeateri

BUCEROTIFORMES: Bucerotidae

Crowned Hornbill Lophoceros alboterminatus African Gray Hornbill Lophoceros nasutus Southern Yellow-billed Hornbill Tockus leucomelas Southern Red-billed Hornbill Tockus rufirostris



Trumpeter Hornbill Bycanistes bucinator

CORACIIFORMES: Alcedinidae

Half-collared Kingfisher Alcedo semitorquata Malachite Kingfisher Corythornis cristatus Brown-hooded Kingfisher Halcyon albiventris Striped Kingfisher Halcyon chelicuti Giant Kingfisher Megaceryle maxima Pied Kingfisher Ceryle rudis

CORACIIFORMES: Meropidae

White-fronted Bee-eater Merops bullockoides Little Bee-eater Merops pusillus

CORACIIFORMES: Coraciidae

Lilac-breasted Roller Coracias caudatus Rufous-crowned Roller Coracias naevius

PICIFORMES: Lybiidae

Crested Barbet Trachyphonus vaillantii White-eared Barbet Stactolaema leucotis Green Barbet Stactolaema olivacea G

Yellow-rumped Tinkerbird Pogoniulus bilineatus Red-fronted Tinkerbird Pogoniulus pusillus Pied Barbet Tricholaema leucomelas Black-collared Barbet Lybius torquatus

PICIFORMES: Indicatoridae

Wahlberg's Honeyguide Prodotiscus regulus Scaly-throated Honeyguide Indicator variegatus

PICIFORMES: Picidae

Rufous-necked Wryneck Jynx ruficollis Cardinal Woodpecker Chloropicus fuscescens Bearded Woodpecker Chloropicus namaquus



Olive Woodpecker Chloropicus griseocephalus Ground Woodpecker Geocolaptes olivaceus Knysna Woodpecker Campethera notata Golden-tailed Woodpecker Campethera abingoni

FALCONIFORMES: Falconidae

Rock Kestrel Falco rupicolus Greater Kestrel Falco rupicoloides Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus

PSITTACIFORMES: Psittacidae

Cape Parrot Poicephalus robustus Brown-headed Parrot Poicephalus cryptoxanthus

PASSERIFORMES: Campephagidae

Black Cuckooshrike Campephaga flava

PASSERIFORMES: Oriolidae

African Black-headed Oriole Oriolus larvatus

PASSERIFORMES: Platysteiridae

Black-throated Wattle-eye Platysteira peltata H

Cape Batis Batis capensis Woodward's Batis Batis fratrum G

Chinspot Batis Batis molitor Pririt Batis Batis pririt

PASSERIFORMES: Vangidae

White Helmetshrike Prionops plumatus

PASSERIFORMES: Malaconotidae

Brubru Nilaus afer Black-backed Puffback Dryoscopus cubla Black-crowned Tchagra Tchagra senegalus Brown-crowned Tchagra Tchagra australis



Southern Tchagra Tchagra tchagra Southern Boubou Laniarius ferrugineus Crimson-breasted Gonolek Laniarius atrococcineus H

Bokmakierie Telophorus zeylonus Sulphur-breasted Bushshrike Telophorus sulfureopectus Olive Bushshrike Telophorus olivaceus Four-colored Bushshrike Telophorus viridis H

Gray-headed Bushshrike Malaconotus blanchoti H

PASSERIFORMES: Dicruridae

Common Square-tailed Drongo Dicrurus ludwigii Fork-tailed Drongo Dicrurus adsimilis

PASSERIFORMES: Monarchidae

African Crested-Flycatcher Trochocercus cyanomelas African Paradise-Flycatcher Terpsiphone viridis

PASSERIFORMES: Laniidae

Southern Fiscal Lanius collaris Magpie Shrike Corvinella melanoleuca

PASSERIFORMES: Corvidae

Cape Crow Corvus capensis Pied Crow Corvus albus White-necked Raven Corvus albicollis

PASSERIFORMES: Chaetopidae

Cape Rockjumper Chaetops frenatus Drakensberg Rockjumper Chaetops aurantius

PASSERIFORMES: Stenostiridae

Fairy Flycatcher Stenostira scita

PASSERIFORMES: Paridae

Southern Black-Tit Melaniparus niger



PASSERIFORMES: Remizidae

Southern Penduline-Tit Anthoscopus minutus

PASSERIFORMES: Alaudidae

Spike-heeled Lark Chersomanes albofasciata Karoo Long-billed Lark Certhilauda subcoronata Eastern Long-billed Lark Certhilauda semitorquata Cape Lark Certhilauda curvirostris Agulhas Lark Certhilauda brevirostris Black-eared Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix australis G

Chestnut-backed Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix leucotis Gray-backed Sparrow-Lark Eremopterix verticalis Sabota Lark Calendulauda sabota Karoo Lark Calendulauda albescens Rudd's Lark Heteromirafra ruddi Cape Clapper Lark Mirafra apiata Eastern Clapper Lark Mirafra fasciolata Red-capped Lark Calandrella cinerea Sclater's Lark Spizocorys sclateri Botha's Lark Spizocorys fringillaris Large-billed Lark Galerida magnirostris

PASSERIFORMES: Nicatoridae

Eastern Nicator Nicator gularis H

PASSERIFORMES: Macrosphenidae

Cape Crombec Sylvietta rufescens Cape Grassbird Sphenoeacus afer Victorin's Warbler Cryptillas victorini

PASSERIFORMES: Cisticolidae

Yellow-bellied Eremomela Eremomela icteropygialis Burnt-neck Eremomela Eremomela usticollis Namaqua Warbler Phragmacia substriata



Green-backed Camaroptera Camaroptera brachyura Bar-throated Apalis Apalis thoracica Yellow-breasted Apalis Apalis flavida Rudd's Apalis Apalis ruddi Tawny-flanked Prinia Prinia subflava Black-chested Prinia Prinia flavicans Karoo Prinia Prinia maculosa Drakensberg Prinia Prinia hypoxantha Rufous-eared Warbler Malcorus pectoralis Red-faced Cisticola Cisticola erythrops Rock-loving Cisticola Cisticola aberrans Rattling Cisticola Cisticola chiniana Red-headed Cisticola Cisticola subruficapilla Wailing Cisticola Cisticola lais Rufous-winged Cisticola Cisticola galactotes Levaillant's Cisticola Cisticola tinniens Croaking Cisticola Cisticola natalensis Piping Cisticola Cisticola fulvicapilla Zitting Cisticola Cisticola juncidis Desert Cisticola Cisticola aridulus Cloud Cisticola Cisticola textrix Pale-crowned Cisticola Cisticola cinnamomeus G

Wing-snapping Cisticola Cisticola ayresii

PASSERIFORMES: Acrocephalidae

African Yellow-Warbler Iduna natalensis African Reed Warbler Acrocephalus baeticatus Lesser Swamp Warbler Acrocephalus gracilirostris

PASSERIFORMES: Locustellidae

Barratt's Warbler Bradypterus barratti Knysna Warbler Bradypterus sylvaticus Little Rush-Warbler Bradypterus baboecala



PASSERIFORMES: Hirundinidae

Plain Martin Riparia paludicola Banded Martin Riparia cincta Rock Martin Ptyonoprogne fuligula Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica White-throated Swallow Hirundo albigularis Wire-tailed Swallow Hirundo smithii Pearl-breasted Swallow Hirundo dimidiata Greater Striped Swallow Cecropis cucullata Lesser Striped Swallow Cecropis abyssinica Rufous-chested Swallow Cecropis semirufa Mosque Swallow Cecropis senegalensis South African Swallow Petrochelidon spilodera Black Sawwing Psalidoprocne pristoptera

PASSERIFORMES: Pycnonotidae

Sombre Greenbul Andropadus importunus Yellow-bellied Greenbul Chlorocichla flaviventris Terrestrial Brownbul Phyllastrephus terrestris Yellow-streaked Greenbul Phyllastrephus flavostriatus Common Bulbul Pycnonotus barbatus Black-fronted Bulbul Pycnonotus nigricans Cape Bulbul Pycnonotus capensis

PASSERIFORMES: Phylloscopidae

Yellow-throated Woodland-Warbler Phylloscopus ruficapilla

PASSERIFORMES: Sylviidae

Layard's Warbler Sylvia layardi Chestnut-vented Warbler Sylvia subcoerulea

PASSERIFORMES: Zosteropidae

Cape White-eye Zosterops virens African Yellow White-eye Zosterops senegalensis



PASSERIFORMES: Leiothrichidae

Southern Pied-Babbler Turdoides bicolor Arrow-marked Babbler Turdoides jardineii

PASSERIFORMES: Buphagidae

Red-billed Oxpecker Buphagus erythrorynchus

PASSERIFORMES: Sturnidae

European Starling Sturnus vulgaris Wattled Starling Creatophora cinerea Common Myna Acridotheres tristis Pale-winged Starling Onychognathus nabouroup Red-winged Starling Onychognathus morio Black-bellied Starling Notopholia corusca Burchell's Starling Lamprotornis australis African Pied Starling Lamprotornis bicolor Greater Blue-eared Starling Lamprotornis chalybaeus Cape Starling Lamprotornis nitens

PASSERIFORMES: Turdidae

Spotted Ground-Thrush Geokichla guttata H

Orange Ground-Thrush Geokichla gurneyi Groundscraper Thrush Psophocichla litsitsirupa Kurrichane Thrush Turdus libonyana Olive Thrush Turdus olivaceus Karoo Thrush Turdus smithi

PASSERIFORMES: Muscicapidae

African Dusky Flycatcher Muscicapa adusta Pale Flycatcher Agricola pallidus Chat Flycatcher Agricola infuscatus Gray Tit-Flycatcher Fraseria plumbea Ashy Flycatcher Fraseria caerulescens Fiscal Flycatcher Melaenornis silens Southern Black-Flycatcher Melaenornis pammelaina



Karoo Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas coryphoeus Brown Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas signata Bearded Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas quadrivirgata Kalahari Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas paena Red-backed Scrub-Robin Cercotrichas leucophrys Cape Robin-Chat Cossypha caffra White-throated Robin-Chat Cossypha humeralis White-browed Robin-Chat Cossypha heuglini Red-capped Robin-Chat Cossypha natalensis Chorister Robin-Chat Cossypha dichroa White-starred Robin Pogonocichla stellata Sentinel Rock-Thrush Monticola explorator Cape Rock-Thrush Monticola rupestris African Stonechat Saxicola torquatus Buff-streaked Chat Campicoloides bifasciatus Sickle-winged Chat Emarginata sinuata Karoo Chat Emarginata schlegelii Tractrac Chat Emarginata tractrac Southern Anteater-Chat Myrmecocichla formicivora Mountain Wheatear Myrmecocichla monticola Capped Wheatear Oenanthe pileata Familiar Chat Oenanthe familiaris

PASSERIFORMES: Promeropidae

Gurney's Sugarbird Promerops gurneyi Cape Sugarbird Promerops cafer

PASSERIFORMES: Nectariniidae

Collared Sunbird Hedydipna collaris Orange-breasted Sunbird Anthobaphes violacea Olive Sunbird Cyanomitra olivacea Mouse-colored Sunbird Cyanomitra veroxii Amethyst Sunbird Chalcomitra amethystina Scarlet-chested Sunbird Chalcomitra senegalensis Malachite Sunbird Nectarinia famosa



Southern Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris chalybeus Neergaard's Sunbird Cinnyris neergaardi Greater Double-collared Sunbird Cinnyris afer Mariqua Sunbird Cinnyris mariquensis Purple-banded Sunbird Cinnyris bifasciatus White-breasted Sunbird Cinnyris talatala Dusky Sunbird Cinnyris fuscus

PASSERIFORMES: Ploceidae

Red-billed Buffalo-Weaver Bubalornis niger White-browed Sparrow-Weaver Plocepasser mahali Red-headed Weaver Anaplectes rubriceps Spectacled Weaver Ploceus ocularis Cape Weaver Ploceus capensis African Golden-Weaver Ploceus subaureus Southern Brown-throated Weaver Ploceus xanthopterus Lesser Masked-Weaver Ploceus intermedius Southern Masked-Weaver Ploceus velatus Village Weaver Ploceus cucullatus Forest Weaver Ploceus bicolor Red-billed Quelea Quelea quelea Southern Red Bishop Euplectes orix Yellow Bishop Euplectes capensis White-winged Widowbird Euplectes albonotatus Red-collared Widowbird Euplectes ardens Fan-tailed Widowbird Euplectes axillaris Long-tailed Widowbird Euplectes progne Grosbeak Weaver Amblyospiza albifrons

PASSERIFORMES: Estrildidae

Swee Waxbill Coccopygia melanotis Green-backed Twinspot Mandingoa nitidula Common Waxbill Estrilda astrild Southern Cordonbleu Uraeginthus angolensis Green-winged Pytilia Pytilia melba



Red-billed Firefinch Lagonosticta senegala African Firefinch Lagonosticta rubricata Jameson's Firefinch Lagonosticta rhodopareia Red-headed Finch Amadina erythrocephala Zebra Waxbill Sporaeginthus subflavus Quailfinch Ortygospiza atricollis Bronze Mannikin Spermestes cucullata

PASSERIFORMES: Viduidae

Pin-tailed Whydah Vidua macroura Eastern Paradise-Whydah Vidua paradisaea Shaft-tailed Whydah Vidua regia Variable Indigobird Vidua funerea G

PASSERIFORMES: Passeridae

House Sparrow Passer domesticus Cape Sparrow Passer melanurus Southern Gray-headed Sparrow Passer diffusus Yellow-throated Bush Sparrow Gymnoris superciliaris

PASSERIFORMES: Motacillidae

Cape Wagtail Motacilla capensis African Pied Wagtail Motacilla aguimp African Pipit Anthus cinnamomeus Mountain Pipit Anthus hoeschi Long-billed Pipit Anthus similis Plain-backed Pipit Anthus leucophrys Yellow-tufted Pipit Anthus crenatus Orange-throated Longclaw Macronyx capensis

PASSERIFORMES: Fringillidae

Common Chaffinch Fringilla coelebs Yellow-fronted Canary Crithagra mozambica Forest Canary Crithagra scotops Black-throated Canary Crithagra atrogularis



Lemon-breasted Seedeater Crithagra citrinipectus Brimstone Canary Crithagra sulphurata Yellow Canary Crithagra flaviventris White-throated Canary Crithagra albogularis Protea Canary Crithagra leucoptera Streaky-headed Seedeater Crithagra gularis Cape Siskin Crithagra totta Drakensberg Siskin Crithagra symonsi Cape Canary Serinus canicollis Black-headed Canary Serinus alario

PASSERIFORMES: Emberizidae

Golden-breasted Bunting Emberiza flaviventris Cape Bunting Emberiza capensis Lark-like Bunting Emberiza impetuani Cinnamon-breasted Bunting Emberiza tahapisi

A handsome Nyala male



MAMMAL LIST Reference:

- The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species: Mammals of South Africa - Mammal Species of the World". National Museum of Natural History. Smithsonian Institution - Animal Diversity Web. University of Michigan Museum of Zoology. - https://en.wikipedia.org/

HYRACOIDEA: Procoidea

Cape hyrax Procavia capensis

PROBOSCIDEA: Elephantidae

African bush elephant Loxodonta africana

PRIMATES: Galagidae

Brown greater galago Otolemur crassicaudatus

PRIMATES: Cercopithecidae

Sykes' monkey Cercopithecus albogularis G

Vervet monkey Chlorocebus pygerythrus Chacma baboon Papio ursinus

RODENTIA: Sciuridae

South African ground squirrel Xerus inauris Smith's bush squirrel Paraxerus cepapi Red bush squirrel Paraxerus palliatus Eastern gray squirrel Sciurus carolinensis

RODENTIA: Muridae

Vlei rat Otomys irroratus Sloggett's vlei rat Otomys sloggetti Bush karoo rat Otomys unisulcatus

LAGOMORPHA: Leporidae

Cape hare Lepus capensis Scrub hare Lepus saxatilis



CETACEA: Delphinidae

Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin Tursiops aduncus

CARNIVORA: Felidae

Lion Panthera leo

CARNIVORA: Herpestidae

Marsh mongoose Atilax paludinosus Yellow mongoose Cynictis penicillata Cape grey mongoose alerella pulverulenta Slender mongoose Galerella sanguinea Banded mongoose Mungos mungo Meerkat Suricata suricatta

CARNIVORA: Hyaenidae

Spotted hyena Crocuta crocuta H

CARNIVORA: Canidae

Black-backed jackal Canis mesomelas

CARNIVORA: Otariidae

Cape fur seal Arctocephalus pusillus

PERISSODACTYLA: Equus

Burchell's zebra Equus quagga burchellii Cape mountain zebra Equus zebra zebra

PERISSODACTYLA: Rhinocerotidae

Southern white rhinoceros Ceratotherium simum simum

ARTIODACTYLA: Suidae

Common warthog Phacochoerus africanus



ARTIODACTYLA: Hippopotamidae

Hippopotamus Hippopotamus amphibius

ARTIODACTYLA: Giraffidae

South African giraffe Giraffa giraffa giraffa

ARTIODACTYLA: Bovidae

Red hartebeest Alcelaphus buselaphus caama Black wildebeest Connochaetes gnou Blue wildebeest Connochaetes taurinus Bontebok (we also saw Blesbok D.p.phillipsi) Damaliscus pygargus Springbok antelope Antidorcas marsupialis Steenbok Raphicerus campestris Cape grysbok Raphicerus melanotis African buffalo Syncerus caffer Nyala Tragelaphus angasii Bushbuck Tragelaphus scriptus Greater kudu Tragelaphus strepsiceros Blue duiker Cephalophus monticola Red forest duiker Cephalophus natalensis Gemsbok Oryx gazella Grey rhebok Pelea capreolus Impala Aepyceros melampus Waterbuck Kobus ellipsiprymnus Mountain reedbuck Redunca fulvorufula



Spotted Sand Lizard

Reptile List

1. Leopard Tortoise Stigmochelys pardalis 2. Angulate Tortoise Chersina natalensis 3. Marsh Terrapin Pelomedusa subrufa 4. Moreau’s Tropical House Gecko Hemidactylus mabouia G 5. Spotted Sandveld Lizard Nucras intertexta 6. Drakensberg Crag Lizard Pseudocordylus melanotus subviridis 7. Black Girdled Lizard Cordylus cordylus 8. Stripped Skink Trachylepis Striata 9. Ground Agama Agama aculeata 10. Southern Rock Agama Agama planiceps 11. Southern Tree Agama Acanthocercus atricollis 12. Nile Crocodile Crocodylus niloticus 13. Brown House Snake Boaedon fuliginosus



Southern Tree Agama

A Tropical Birding SET DEPARTURE tour South Africa ... · Tropical Birding - Trip Report South Africa: Fairest Cape to Kruger, September 2019 +1-409-515-9110 [email protected]

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