photograph by Frank Hallett                                                     photograph by Frank Hallett

Female Cape Batis.                                              Male Cape Weaver.

Lisle explained that there are two dams on the farm which are very good birding areas and therefore we crossed Highlands Road and walked to the first dam. From the road we could see Common Moorhen, Red-knobbed Coot and African Darter in the reeds on the edge of the dam. Near some farm buildings Lisle said there had been a Wood Owl but we couldn’t find it. As we approached the other side of the dam there were Black Saw-wings and Greater Striped Swallows flying overhead, Cape White-eyes, Cape Sparrows and Cape Weavers flying in and out of the bush around us.

The weavers were very actively nesting in the reeds on the side of the dam and the call of a Little Rush-Warbler alerted us to its presence and then showed itself beautifully for us all to see. A male and female Paradise Flycatcher were also flitting in and out of the reeds.

photograph by Frank Hallett                                                photograph by Frank Hallett

Little Rush-Warbler.                                          Female Paradise Flycatcher.

We then walked to the second dam, which is rather larger than the first and has an island with many weaver nests and a hide overlooking the island. Lisle told us that a week previously the large heronry which used to be on the island was mysteriously wiped out.
It then started to rain lightly and the birds looked quite miserable on their perches.

photograph by Frank Hallett                                                 photograph by Frank Hallett

Hide at the second dam.                                  White Throated Swallow looking rather
                                                                      miserable in the rain.

When the rain stopped the birds came out and several were seen feeding their young, including Karoo Prinia and Levaillant’s Cisticola.

photograph by Frank Hallett 

Levaillant’s Cisticola.

On the dam we saw White-faced Duck and Black Crake amongst the water lilies and reeds.

photograph by Frank Hallett                                                        photograph by Frank Hallett

White-faced Duck.                                                  Black Crake.

Walking along the road we saw a very small frog which we were unable to identify and a Southern Grey headed Sparrow.

photograph by Frank Hallett                                                        photograph by Frank Hallett

Unidentified frog.                                                    Southern Grey-headed Sparrow.

We then walked back to the farm house and wandered around the beautiful garden and extensive nursery. In the indigenous section there was a host of birds including Swee and Common Waxbills, Malachite Sunbirds, Cape Sugarbirds and Fiscal Flycatchers.

photograph by Frank Hallett                                                        photograph by Frank Hallett 

Female Malachite Sunbird.                                     Fiscal Flycatcher.

Although the rain made an appearance every now and then it didn’t dampen our spirits much and the outing was thoroughly enjoyed by all. This is certainly a venue which we would like to visit again in the future as we saw 42 species in the morning, although we dipped out on some of the specials to be seen there, including Brown-backed Honeybird and Little Bittern. We would like to thank Jessie Walton for allowing us to come to her farm and Lisle Gwynn for leading the outing.

Frank Hallett.