BIRDING IN SOUTH AFRICA

tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-291519972012-02-12T04:53:19.035+03:00BIRDING IN SOUTH AFRICAWE OFFER FREE ACCOMMODATION TO BIRDERS VISITING OUR AREA, THE SOUTHERN PART OF THE LIMPOPO PROVINCE. IT INCLUDES THE KRUGER PARK, HOEDSPRUIT, PHALABORWA AND TZANEEN'S MAGOEBAS KLOOF AREA. HOW CAN WE HELP YOU?Birding in South Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605512674254608812noreply@blogger.comBlogger221100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29151997.post-70040713670934355342008-03-04T20:03:00.001+03:002008-03-04T20:21:37.733+03:00I have moved my blog

Please follow my posts at http://sekororo.blat.co.za/

Birding in South Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605512674254608812noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29151997.post-77664684892599482372008-01-18T12:42:00.002+03:002008-02-18T12:47:36.288+03:00Birding Visitors

We have had several visitors last year from different countries. There is nothing more encouraging to go birding with foreign birders. They make even the birds which have became very common to me very interesting as I share in their excitement seeing them for the first time. Remember you are all very welcome.

Birding in South Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605512674254608812noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29151997.post-10533939516603044212008-01-17T20:15:00.000+03:002008-01-17T20:20:38.382+03:00Cape visit

WE really enjoyed our Cape holiday. The best part was at Boulders Bay in Cape Town where we could walk and swim with the African Peguins. What a rare privilege to be so near to them and did the children enjoy it!

Birding in South Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605512674254608812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29151997.post-47311798681360412022008-01-17T20:09:00.001+03:002008-01-17T20:12:53.661+03:00Birding in Kruger Park

As we drove along a dirt road the Giant Eagle Owl swooped down in the road. We couldn't see what it caught as it quickly flew back up to it's perch in a huge Jackal-berry tree. What a huge bird and how cute it's bright pink eye-lids. It made screeching noises at us before flying off to another big tree further away from the road.

Birding in South Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605512674254608812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29151997.post-55678418491376114492008-01-04T17:32:00.001+03:002008-02-18T19:45:38.701+03:00Updated Bird List

Sekororo Garden Bird List 2006/7 updatedBirds seen more than 3 times perching in garden (with Roberts numbers)1. 71 Cattle Egret2. 81 Hamerkop3. 94 Hadeda Ibis4. 127 Black-shouldered Kite5. 128 African Cuckoo Hawk6. 136 Booted Eagle7. 154 Lizzard Buzzard8. 169 Gymnogene9. 171 Peregrine Falcon10. 172 Lanner Falcon11. 203 Helmeted Guineafowl12. 352 Red-eyed Dove13. 354 Cape Turtle Dove14.

Birding in South Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605512674254608812noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29151997.post-1474160735409067592008-01-04T17:19:00.000+03:002008-01-17T20:06:38.029+03:00GREAT SUMMER BIRDING!

Just watched the Gymnogene raid the Paradise Flycatcher's nest in our Boabab tree!New additions to garden bird list (thanks to birding visitors Tony & Marilyn from Australia) are the White Throated Swallow and the Black Saw-wing.We drove up to Magoebaskloof and ticked the Bat Hawks once more, Olive Bush Shrike, Starred Robin and Grey Cuckooshrike.Cape Glossy Starling

Birding in South Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605512674254608812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29151997.post-47511788873057106792007-08-03T11:51:00.001+03:002007-08-03T11:58:59.651+03:00Moholoholo Rehab center for birds & animals

Moholoholo is a 40min. drive from home. Here you can have vultures sitting on your arm while feeding them. Have a Yellow bill Kite sit on your head. Except for the other animals you can touch, you'll learn about the explanation of the links in the ecosystem of vultures, Hiena's and predators.

Birding in South Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605512674254608812noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29151997.post-5898542050338215092007-08-03T11:41:00.000+03:002007-08-03T11:47:20.112+03:00Day visit to nearby Kruger Park

Highlight of today's visit wasn't a bird but a pride of 7 lions who killed a Giraffe! It is always a hair raising experience to see them so close up. Those yellow eyes looking right through you.

Birding in South Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605512674254608812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29151997.post-47656497299986901722007-07-28T15:35:00.000+03:002007-07-28T15:49:20.188+03:00Our mountain

The northern Drakensberg mountain passing behind our house and home of the rare Taita Falcon that nests here.

Birding in South Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605512674254608812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29151997.post-6635738047861976322007-07-07T19:02:00.001+03:002007-07-07T19:07:49.568+03:00

The pond area is getting more covered and bushy. More and more birds utilize the pond to drink and bath. An African Pygmy Kingfisher stayed here the whole summer and I had to stock up with small fishes from the nearby dam every now and then.

Birding in South Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605512674254608812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29151997.post-8294388142442952072007-07-07T18:42:00.000+03:002007-07-07T18:49:59.750+03:00

The garden is coming on great! While the lawn is establishing itself I am adding some endemic trees all around the house and some flowering crawlers on the fences to attrack sunbirds.

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Some special visitors to the garden: The Gymnogene has been hunting almost weekly among the acacia's, especially at the squirrel hole in front of the house, but no luck so far. I think the hole, on the left of the larger tree trunk, is to deep.The White helmeted Shrikes and all three- yellow, red and grey-billed hornbills frequent the jackalberry tree.The grey-headed bush shrike has been very

Birding in South Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605512674254608812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29151997.post-1164349643867401482006-11-24T09:17:00.000+03:002006-11-24T09:27:23.876+03:00Places to visit nearby

Last week we drove through the Strijdom tunnel up to the escarpment. It's an hour drive. We camped at beautiful Graskop and visited the surrounding forests, waterfalls and vistas. Long-crested eagle, Purple-crested Turaco and othe forest and higher altitude species abound.It's a nice cool-down to go up there when it gets steaming hot down here in the Lowveld.

Birding in South Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605512674254608812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29151997.post-1163268224239052432006-11-11T21:03:00.000+03:002006-11-11T21:03:44.253+03:00Gardens on the wild-side

Having a wild-garden with wild grasses, indigenious trees and shrubs has it's benefits with birds but snakes also enjoy the environment. A black mamba, boomslang and brown house snake wa seen in the garden for November alone!! I took this photo of Arrow-marked Babbler in a shrub near the fence. They are a noisy bunch but do warn you when there is a snake around when they make a huge commotion.

Birding in South Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605512674254608812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29151997.post-1163163200902947152006-11-10T15:17:00.002+03:002006-11-10T15:53:21.553+03:00Fisherman at the pond!

The guidebook says Brown-hooded Kingfisher occasionally fish and I've caught it catching my Koi from the pond this week! White-crested Helmet Shrikes pass through the garden more often now. The masked weaver has builb 9 nests in the Flamboyant Tree but only two females have reared chicks in them and the male kas stripped my palm trees from almost all there leaves for nesting material. The

Birding in South Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605512674254608812noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29151997.post-1163161785837976022006-11-10T15:17:00.000+03:002006-11-10T15:29:45.850+03:00Summer Birds are here!!!

Jacobin's and Klaas's Cuckoo are both back and letting everyone know. Golden breasted bunting has become a daily vistor to the garden. The Groundscraper Trush is nesting. Booted eagle has been seen catching a snake inside the fence!!Pair of African Cuckoo Hawk has become regular visitors as well as a Gymnogene which now perch up to 30m from the house. African Green Pigeons are having a feast in

Birding in South Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605512674254608812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29151997.post-1150659717080526652006-06-18T22:33:00.000+03:002006-06-18T22:41:57.090+03:00MORE BIRD FRIENDLY

OUR NEW GARDEN IS SLOWLY TAKING SHAPE. THE FISH POND HAS BEEN COMPLETED AND THE LITTLE BIRD BATH WAS FINISHED YESTERDAY. I HAVE ADDED PAPAYA TREES, A BANANA AND SOME FERNS. WE GOT REEDS IN THE NEARBY RIVER AND PLANTED THEM IN POTS BEFORE SUBMERGINGING THEM IN THE POND. NOW LET'S WAIT AND SEE WHAT NEW BIRDS WILL SHOW UP!

Birding in South Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605512674254608812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29151997.post-1149689344325403802006-06-07T17:02:00.000+03:002006-06-07T19:51:00.653+03:00NEW WINTER GARDEN BIRDS!!

THE BLACK CUCKOOSHRIKE, MARICO SUNBIRD, BLACK-HEADED ORIOLE AND GREEN-CAPPED EREMOMELAS HAVE BEEN SEEN TODAY IN THE GARDEN. SEEMS LIKE AS THE SURROUNDING LANDSCAPE GETS DRIER MY GARDEN BECOMES MORE ATTRACTIVE.THE PUFFBACK HAS BEEN ALL OVER TODAY WITH HIS CHIT-CHAT CALL.

Birding in South Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605512674254608812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29151997.post-1149438619431808402006-06-04T19:23:00.001+03:002006-06-18T22:55:11.266+03:00GOOD BIRDING SITE NEARBY

WE SPENT 3 DAYS CAMPING AT NEARBY SWADINI CANYON RESORT. BIRDING IS EXCELLENT. KUDU ANTELOPE AND BUSHBUCK PASS FREELY BETWEEN THE CARAVANS AND TENTS. A HIKE TO THE WATERFALL OR A BOAT TRIP ON THE DAM OFFER GOOD BIRDING. EVEN THE CAMPSITE IS PROMISING. WE SAW RED-BILLED SHRIKE WHILE SWIMMING IN THE WARM WATER POOL!!I took this picture in April this year.

Birding in South Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605512674254608812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29151997.post-1149528234178979682006-06-04T19:23:00.000+03:002006-06-18T22:46:12.226+03:00NEIGBOURHOOD REPORTS!!

TWO STRAY ELEPHANTS WERE FOUND IN OUR NEIGHBOORHOOD A WHILE AGO. THEY HAD TO BE SHOT AND THE COMMUNITY DEVOURED THEM, CUTTING MEAT WITH AXES. A HIPPO KILLED A YOUNG LADY LAST YEAR. THERE ARE TWO CROCODILES IN THE DAM BELOW THE HOUSE. SOMETIMES IT IS JUST GOOD TO REMEMBER THAT AFRICA IS DIFFERENT FROM THE REST OF THE WORLD, YOU KIND OF FORGET ABOUT IT.I took this photo of an elephant on our last

Birding in South Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605512674254608812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29151997.post-1149335538510507592006-06-02T11:52:00.001+03:002006-06-04T19:13:46.820+03:00TODAY'S GARDEN BIRDS

THE YELLOW HORNBILLS HAVE BEEN ENJOYING THE GUAVAS. MANY BLUE WAXBILLS AFTER WE CUT THE GRASS. A BLACK-HEADED ORIOLE CAME TO INVESTIGATE THE MARULA TREE TODAY BUT THE FRUIT HASN'T RIPEN YET. EARLY LAST NIGHT A SQUARE TAILED NIGHTJAR WAS FLIGHING AROUND THE GARDEN CATHING INSECTS.

Birding in South Africahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00605512674254608812noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-29151997.post-1149238722182781732006-06-02T11:52:00.000+03:002006-06-02T11:58:42.196+03:00DAY TRIP TO KRUGER PARK, 1 JUNE 2006

WE LEFT HOME AT 06:00 IN THE MORNING AND ARRIVED AT THE PHALABORWA GATE AT 07:10. IT WAS A WARM DAY WITM MANY BIRDS ON THE ROAD. A BREEDING HERD OF ELEPHANT AND A HERD OF BUFFULO CROSSED THE ROAD ON THE WAY TO LETABA CAMP.NEAR THE RIVER WE SAW SADDLE-BILLED STORK, SPOONBILL AND MARABOU STORK. NEAR THE CAMP RESTAURANT A BIRDING PARTY OF YELLOW-BREASTED APALIS, CROMBEC, PARADISE FLYCATHER AND

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