Kirstenbosch Bird Walk – 22 February 2022 led by Graham Pringle.

We were really blessed with a perfect day weather-wise with clear skies, no wind, and not excessively hot.
By the time we got going just after eight, forty three birders and non birders had arrived for the walk.
Kirstenbosch had also advertised the walk and so there were quite a few “garden members” present and many were interested in when future walks would take place. Linda Hibbin explained the rationale behind the walks and this seemed to be well received.

Because of the number and the need to spread out a bit, a few of the Cape Bird Club members assisted in seeing that everyone could be helped with identifying the birds. These included Linda Hibbin, Daryl and Lynette de Beer, Dennis and Gigi Laidler and Penny Dichmont.

We basically followed the route taken on the monthly counts as this took in most habitats and it worked well. At the start we were surrounded by Olive Thrushes all being very vocal and actually drowning out the Sombre Greenbuls for a change. This was however short lived!

From the start we moved slowly up the grassed area towards The Dell and within the first 100 meters or so had very close sightings of Black Saw-wing, Olive Thrush (calling), Karoo Prinia, Southern Double-collared Sunbird, Speckled Mousebird, Southern Fiscal and Cape Robin-chat and so we were off to a good start. A bit further and we got African Dusky Flycatcher, Cape Bulbul and Red-eyed Dove.

Things then quietened down considerably and the route along the edge of the Enchanted Forest and across the “Boomslang” produced very few birds which was quite surprising. The next really productive area was at the top end of the gardens on the path alongside the Dam when there were a number of Orange-Breasted Sunbirds all frantically feeding and oblivious to our presence. There were also a number of Cape Sugarbirds, some posing nicely for the cameras.

As far as new species was concerned things remained quiet until we stopped at the water feature next to the Garden Office and here there were a number of great photographic opportunities for Swee Waxbill and Bronze Mannikin. Throughout the morning we had wondered why we had not seen a single raptor and whilst at the water feature three raptors suddenly appeared above us but circling very high before heading off in the direction of the mountain.

Gigi Laidler and Jacque Smit managed to take a couple of photos of the closest Raptor and after much debate it was thought that it could be an Immature Rufous-breasted Sparrowhawk.
On further investigation, once the photos had been downloaded, the consensus was that it was actually a Juvenile Black Sparrowhawk.

The final tally of confirmed species for the morning was 29 which was probably a bit below par considering the time of year and ideal weather conditions.
Everyone however appeared to enjoy the morning.

 

Photographs by Daryl de Beer, Gigi and Dennis Laidler.

Report by Graham Pringle.

 

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