Sunday 12 September 2010

Cape Town to Springbok

Quite a lot seen on the long drive north from Cape Town to Springbok, though much remained unidentified due to poor or very brief views. A short stop at a fuel station just south of Malmersbury was very productive with several Southern Red Bishops and Cape Weavers around a small pool showing very well with White-throated Swallow, Brown-throated Sand Martin and White-rumped Swift hawking insects over the pool.

male Southern Red Bishop
White-throated Swallow
female Cape Weaver

Nearby 2 Black-necked Herons, Black-shouldered Kite and a few Blue Cranes by the road and Spur-winged Goose, African Spoonbill and White-necked Raven over.

Many Great Crested Grebes and Egyptian Geese on Olifants Reservoir along with several Yellow-billed Ducks, Red-billed Teal, African Spoonbill, South African Shelduck and both White-breasted and Reed Cormorants. Further north, raptors seen by the road included 3 Pale Chanting Goshawks, Jackal Buzzard and Booted Eagle whilst Karoo Prinia, African Crow and Southern Ant-eating Chat also seen. Also a party of Chacma Baboons seen lounging on a large rock and several Springbok and Rock Dassies by the road late afternoon.

Little seen due to the Goegap Reserve we were hoping to visit being closed by the time we got there early in the evening, though Pale-winged Starling, Karoo Lark, Southern Masked Weaver, Laughing Dove, Acacia Pied Barbet, Malachite Sunbird and a Yellow Mongoose seen in the area.


Yellow Mongoose

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