Bird Survey – 7 And 14 September 2024
The purpose of our visit was threefold:
- To complete and submit full protocol cards of birds observed to the South African Bird Atlas Project 2 (https://sabap2.birdmap.africa/)
- To record birds for the Inter Metropolitan Bird Challenge (https://www.birdlasser.com/challenges/tswhanebbc2024/overview)
- To identify birds not currently on the Crocodile River Reserve list
On the recommendation of Terry O’Donoghue our survey was split into two:
- On 7 September we tackled the area east of the Jukskei/Crocodile Rivers (06:00 to 13:00).
Total species recorded: 96
- On 14 September we tackled the area to the west of the rivers (06:00 to 10:00).
Total species recorded: 55
We were unable to complete our planned route due to a broken fanbelt necessitating our vehicle having to be collected by an AA lowbed truck!
The highlights of our survey were as follows:
- Seven new species for the Reserve list (Lazy Cisticola, Nicholson’s Pipit, Rose-ringed Parakeet, Village Weaver, White-browed Scrub Robin, Orange-breasted Bush-shrike and Eastern Long-billed Lark)
- Five raptor species seen (Black-winged Kite, Marsh Owl, African Fish Eagle, Black-chested Snake Eagle and Ovambo Sparrowhawk)
- One Red Data species observed (African Finfoot in the Klein Krokodil River upstream of the confluence with the Jukskei River)
- Being attacked by Vijay’s very aggressive male Ostrich!
Other interesting birds recorded were a single Goliath Heron, a flock of Red-billed Oxpecker and a covey of Coqui Francolin.
We would be keen to repeat this during the summer months when all the migrant species are back in town!
Thank you to Dalene van der Merwe, Don, Vijay Loosen and especially Terry for making this survey possible.
Philip Calinikos and Toriso Tlou.
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