A current submit by fellow author Peter on this weblog (Birding Zaagkuildrift Highway) made me return to my notes and images of my very own birding outings there. The Zaagkuildrift street was not too removed from the place I lived, however I nonetheless solely visited this website twice, which doesn’t make justice to the unbelievable birds that may be seen right here. The realm is roofed largely with acacia thickets that border the flooplain of the Pienaarsrivier, making for an enormous variety of species on the proper time of 12 months (significantly late summer season).
Throughout one go to, I hoped to see a Striped Crake that had been seen by different birders within the space. Whereas unsuccessful (I used to be wanting into a special course when another birders glimpsed it…), the floodplain space hosted another specials. A big flock of Black-winged Pratincoles handed overhead, offering me one of the best views I’ve had till then of this lovely species. Pratincoles, along with the carefully associated coursers, are amongst my favorite birds. Their elegant form and silky plumage are at all times very satisfying to look at.
Black Herons and White-faced Whistling Geese are among the many many different species which might be often round. Whereas widespread, this is likely one of the nearer locations to my dwelling the place I might see these birds, a small teaser once I was not capable of go to extra mouthwatering localities just like the Nylsvlei wetland additional away.
The identical is true for Blue-cheeked Bee-eaters. Teams of those birds usually fly by gracefully, on the fringe of the floodplain, by no means perching to supply some prolonged views. This isn’t actually an issue although as most bee-eaters are much more vibrant in flight anyhow.
The thickets close to the floodplain are a haven for an entire vary of starlings, shrikes, babblers, finches, indigobirds, whydahs, warblers, and numerous different passerines. I had my first sighting of Kurrichane Buttonquail right here, as a gaggle of round seven birds exploded from the bottom underneath my toes, scattering within the bushes (see featured picture). Village Indigobirds are common right here, usually perched on the tops of acacia bushes, their black, shiny look indicating nothing about their parasitic nature.
Far more elusive alternatively are the River Warblers, that are most likely the primary attraction of this space. The closest I obtained to a sighting of this fowl was an olive-brown warbler flitting round at midnight understorey – it might not likely have been anything however on the similar time the sighting was not enough to make certain. Whereas irritating on the time, this provides me ample motive to return to this website, as this beast stays a possible lifer!