The Cape Bird Club

A morning at Zandvlei by  Margaret Maciver 

Klaas's Cuckoo.                                    Hartlaub's Gulls chasing the Fish Eagle.

On the spur of the moment, I decided to visit Zandvlei Nature Reserve one morning in May, to see if the weekend rain had revived the birds. It was the most awesome cool clear morning, and the Klaas's Cuckoo waiting at the car park agreed. He was still calling when I left over two hours later.

photograph by Greg Morgan                                                          photograph by Ann Koeslag

Purple Heron.                                                         Little Bittern.

The canal and lake was filthy and littered and the birds were cautiously making their way through the mess. There were dozens and dozens of coot and various duck species, and a male Little Bittern was catching the early morning sun, right out in the open. Flocks of Little Egrets patrolled each waterway, four Purple Herons tried to hide in the reeds, and no fewer than four Malachite Kingfishers had a committee meeting along one canal. LDC sunbirds chased each through the greenery. There were birds to see, and especially to hear, around every bend on the path.

photograph by Greg Morgan                                                 photograph by Greg Morgan

Malachite Kingfisher .                                      Double collared Sunbird.

The prize, however, was still to come. I reached the edge of the lake, near the old entrance gate, and was looking at the vast numbers of birds. The Dabchicks were chuckling, Purple Gallinules clambered around the reeds, and a large flock of Reed Cormorants and Darters were chasing a small shoal of fish. The pair of hovering Pied Kingfishers caught something every time they plunged.

photograph by Greg Morgan                                                   photograph by Greg Morgan 

Darter.                                                             Grey Heron.

Suddenly half the birdlife erupted vertically and you just know the Fish Eagle is around when that happens. In amongst an absolute swarm of Shovellers and Coot, a Fish Eagle gracefully dropped down, feet first, and caught a huge carp right in front of me. It was so big that he dropped it, but it might also have been because he (or she) was also being attacked by gulls. Thinking that the show was over, I resumed looking at all the other species which had just frozen during all the action. Suddenly the Fish Eagle came back, right to where he had dropped the carp, extended one foot and casually collected his meal, while still fending off four enraged Hartlaub’s Gulls. How clever of him to see a fish in amongst all the junk floating in the water, from old tyres down to plastic bags. This time he just skimmed across the water with his prize to a far bank where the meal was consumed, and life returned to normal.

photograph by Greg Morgan                                                             photograph by Greg Morgan

African Fish Eagle with fish.......                                ...........retrieved fish.

photograph by Greg Morgan                                                   photograph by Greg Morgan

Pintailed Whydah                                               Cape Bulbul

Back at the car park a small flock of Cape Weavers, with the males already bright yellow, were having a slanging match with a pair of Bokmakeries. Pin-tailed Whydahs and Common Waxbills urged them on while the Bulbuls went about their own business. I found an area full of ants which was attracting, amongst others, Cape Robin, Cape Sparrow, Spotted Prinia, Masked Weavers and a Fiscal Shrike. These must have been very appetising as most of the birds ignored me while gulping down ants.

photograph by Greg Morgan                     photograph by Greg Morgan                    photograph by Greg Morgan

Masked Weaver.                        Fiscal Shrike.                            Bokmakierie.

It’s amazing how areas come alive after rain, and the birds all seem to have woken out of a deep sleep. Everything was calling, from francolins down to tiny sunbirds. As I left, the Klaas's Cuckoo and Bokmakeries called goodbye and the Fish Eagle could be heard joining in from further away.

We birders do have some awesome times.