Lesser Florican - August 2023

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Saturday 31 January 2015

Makalali Game Reserve - Week 2

Yet another great week on the game reserve. Some incredible animal encounters this week, thankfully from the vehicle this time. Bird activity has also been good as the temperature has been lower due to local thunderstorms etc.

Probably the highlight was flushing a Small Buttonquail from the roadside one morning. 

I will add the very long mammal list after the trip next week when I visit the Western Cape with my brother. 

All birds capitalised below are all lifers, and yet again only birds of note are included. 

The many highlights this week are:

SMALL BUTTONQUAIL 
Wooly-necked Stork 
Red-breasted Swallow 
RETZ HELMETSHRIKE 
Pygmy Kingfisher 
Brubru 
White-fronted Bee-Eater
White-browed Robin Chat
BRONZE-WINGED COURSER 
Lanner
Common Scimitarbill
Black-bellied Bustard
PURPLE INDIGOBIRD
Collared Sunbird
Crowned Hornbill
Verreaux's Eagle Owl
Giant Kingfisher
Black Stork
African Black Duck

An afternoon visit to Legalametse waterfalls produced a couple of new birds in the more cultivated habitats. 

WHITE-WINGED WIDOWBIRD
White-browed Robin Chat
Lesser Masked Weaver
Black-collared Barbet
AFRICAN FIREFINCH
Golden-breasted Bunting

 was nearly its' prey, but thankfully they weren't hungry
 Southern Ground Hornbill


 Retz Helmet Shrike
 Fiery-necked Nightjar
 African Hawk Eagle
Verreaux's Eagle Owl