South Africa - Day 3 - 15/1/15

What a brilliant day. As usual I was out just before light (5am) and I worked all morning in the areas east of Brandvlei. By far the highlight of the morning were two Bat-eared Foxes that sat by the side of the road for a very short time. All morning was spent searching for Sclater's Lark without success, but there was still plenty to see.

I then headed north on the R27 and concentrated my efforts 20-40km South of Kenhardt, where after spending a couple of sweltering hours in the 40 celcius heat, I was finally rewarded with a Lark duo. I was buzzing after this and I soon found myself heading north to Kakamas where I stayed at Meerkat Compound, via a couple of stops on the Orange River. 

This amazing day was rounded off with one of the best steaks I've ever had, and a cold cider. Perfect!!!

Species capitalised are lifer, and only birds of interest included. 

East of Brandvlei

Black-chested Prinia - 7

Sabota Lark - 3

SCALY-FEATHERED FINCH - 6

Karoo Korhaan - 1

Haasfontein Road east of Brandvlei

Black-eared Sparrowlark - 16

Rufous-eared Warbler - 5

LARK LIKE BUNTING - 10+

Karoo Korhaan - 2

GREATER KESTREL - 2

20-30km sth of Kenhardt

SOCIABLE WEAVER - ca. 80

White-rumped Swift - 1

SCLATER'S LARK - 2 at Booysen Dam

STARK'S LARK - 2 at Booysen Dam

Layard's Tit-babbler - 1

Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk - 8

Keimoes

RED-EYED BULBUL - 4

Southern Red Bishop - 2

Red-billed Quelea - 50

Helmeted Guineafowl - 2

Kakamas

ORANGE RIVER WHITE-EYE - 1

Karoo Thrush - 2

Spotted Flycatcher - 1

African Palm Swift - 2

Red-eyed Bulbul - 7

 Karoo Korhaan

 horrid picture of a delightful little bird - Black-eared Sparrowlark

Namaqua Sandgrouse

 Greater Kestrel

 Sclater's Larks - one of the highlights of the trip. Note the dark 'teardrop' which is diagnostic of this species.

 Stark's Lark - note the crest

 Sabota Lark - it was so hot this bird refused to move out of the shade, allowing very close approach

 Lark-like Bunting

 Sociable Weaver nest - bigger then my car

 sparse!!

 outskirts of Brandvlei

R27

South Africa - Day 2 - 14/1/15

I started my 15hr birding day at Akkerendam NR just north of Calvinia where annoyingly the reserve didn't open for cars until 8am. I decided to walk in and then drive in later. A few nice birds knocking about but not the hoped for Cinnamon-breasted Warbler.

I then started the 150km drive to Brandvlei stopping and starting as I went. A long list of species seen here and even better I was alone for the most part. This area of SA is deadly quiet. 

Once arrived in Brandvlei I birded to the east of town until dark where I arrived at my accommodation with a meal waiting for me. A long but rewarding day in temperatures reaching 42 Celsius. 

Species capitalised are lifers and only species of note are included below. 

Akkerendam  NR/Calvinia

Grey-winged Francolin - 8

Booted Eagle - 1

Layard's Tit-babbler - 1

PALE-WINGED STARLING - 20

Mountain Wheatear - 1 female 

Alpine Swift - 5

Bokmakiere - 10

Karoo Prinia - 4

R27-Calvinia to Brandvlei

Yellow Canary - ca. 80

Spike-heeled Lark - 10

TRACTRAC CHAT - 6

Karoo Chat - 10

Familiar Chat - 15

Fairy Flycatcher - 3

Southern Grey Tit - 2

Spotted Thick Knee - 1

South African Cliff Swallow - ca. 100

African Marsh Warbler - 1

BLACK-EARED SPARROWLARK - 1 male

DUSKY SUNBIRD - 2

Grey-backed Sparrowlark - 50

Yellow-bellied Eromomela - 3

Black-chested Snake Eagle - 1

East of Brandvlei

KAROO LONG-BILLED LARK - 5

Long-billed Crombec - 2

Pin-tailed Whydah - 2

Namaqua Warbler - 2

BLACK-CHESTED PRINIA - 1

Namaqua Sandgrouse - 6

 Spike-heeled Lark

 Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk

 Southern Grey Tit

 Namaqua Dove

 Karoo Long-billed Lark

 stunning scenery in Bushmanland

this was my attempt at abandoning my car on the R27. It was for a Black-eared Sparrowlark though, but thankfully this road is as quiet as it looks in this picture.

South Africa - Day 1 - 13/1/15

Being my second visit to this brilliant country (the previous being in 2011 with Chris Glanfield) I am concentrating my first five days in the Northern Cape as this was an area I hadn't yet covered. The two weeks after I'll be volunteering on s game reserve near Hoedspruit.

My Emirates flight arrived early into Cape Town but then the very painful task of queuing at immigration commenced. Once through that obstacle, I got the car from First Car Rental and hit the N7 northbound.

I only stopped once on the N7 as I had to be in Calvinia before dark. The main point of interest today was Nieuwoudtville where I was over the moon to find a stunning Ludwig's Bustard in one of the many cultivated fields just north of the town. This was my main target of the Northern Cape (having missed it in 2011 around the Karoo) so it was a good start. 

Birds in capital letters indicate a lifer, and only birds of interest are included below. 

Cape Town to Vanrhynsdorp

African Spoonbill - 2

Blacksmith Plover - 13

Yellow-billed Duck - 1

South African Shelduck - 3

Black-shouldered Kite - 3

Jackal Buzzard - 4

Blue Crane - 3

Nieuwoudtville  

LUDWIG'S BUSTARD - 1

Cape Weaver - 5

Cape Bunting - 2

Pied Starling - 50

Nieuwoudtville to Calvinia

Southern Pale Chanting Goshawk - 6

Southern Black Bustard - 11

Southern Ant-eating Chat - 2

Large-billed Lark - 10

African Stonechat - 10

White-backed Mousebird - 1

Steppe Buzzard - 5

Grey-backed Cisticola - 1

Mammals today

Yellow Mongoose - 1

Rock Hyrax - 20

Savannah Babboon - 2

the adventure begins

 Ludwig's Bustard - a dream start

 Southern Black Bustard

western cape meets northern cape

Pett, Scotney & Dungeness 11/1/15

Another productive day in the far east of the county and a quick excursion into foreign land. No real surprises but nice to be out. Finally caught up with the Yellowlegs at Pett after two previous dips, but no events of this date five years ago at Pett (King Eider).

Pett Levels

Lesser Yellowlegs - 1

Bearded Tit - 5

Common Scoter - ca.50

Red-throated Diver - 2

Scotney GP (Sussex)

Scaup - 1

Black-necked Grebe - 3

Dungeness area

Whooper Swan - 1 on Walland

Bewick's Swan - 85 on Walland

Cattle Egret - 2

Merlin - 1

Smew - 5

Great White Egret - 4

 Lesser Yellowlegs at Pett - unfortunately not the Greater found today in Hants

 Black-necked Grebe at Scotney

Cattle Egret along Denge Marsh Road

Chichester GPs & West Dean Woods 7/1/15

Finally a morning off, which allowed me to see the Dusky Warbler down at Chichester GPs found on Monday by Adam. It was a great bird to see, and also nice to hear it calling. Having not gone for the 2005 bird at Climping, I was very pleased to claw this one back.

Afterwards I enjoyed a very productive hour just west of Stapleash Farm, West Dean Woods. I soon found four Hawfinch that showed superbly. Also four Red Kites in the area. A great morning out before work.

 Dusky Warbler on East Trout Lake - Sussex Tick

Hawfinch at West Dean Woods

Cuckmere Haven & Pevensey 4/1/15

I was relieved to have survived my standby this morning, and with this good news I was straight out the door and down the patch for the first time this year.

Afterwards I took the old man to Pevensey where we enjoyed the whole afternoon at Horse Eye with continuous views of Short-eared Owls and great scope views of the Richard's Pipit, all topped off with a lovely sunset on a still, calm evening. 

Cuckmere Haven

Greenshank - 1 still on AGP pool

Snipe - 1

Barnacle Geese - 5

Grey Plover - 3

Pevensey Levels

Richard's Pipit - 1 -after re-positioning myself I had great scope views. 

Hen Harrier - 1 ringtail

Short-eared Owl - 6

Marsh Harrier - 2

 Dunlin down the Cuckmere

 Short-eared Owl at Pevensey

 Richard's Pipit at Pevensey

East & West Yorkshire 1/1/15

A great twitch today with Jake, Ian and Adam up to Yorkshire. I drove the whole way which surprised myself as I feel I'm getting too old already for these overnight drives etc.

Anyway, a great start to the year with two British ticks (Blyth's Pipit also a world tick), and both mega status. Very little in the way of supporting casts, but a good day with plenty of laughs. 

Fraisthorpe, Yorks

LITTLE BUSTARD - 1 presumed 1st winter male

A couple of hundred people present at first light, and we fortunately didn't have to wait long to see this awesome bird. It kept low in the kale field but in the scope the views were brilliant. 

Calder Park, Yorks

BLYTH'S PIPIT - 1 - Good scope views when perched in the trees. 

Goosander - 5

Billing Aquadrome, N'hants

Ring-necked Duck - 1 female showed distantly and rather brief 

 Little Bustard at Fraisthorpe

Blyth's Pipit at Calder Park